[Transcript of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" episode Angel at buffyology.com.]
In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.
COLLIN tosses stones into the pool. He takes a few more from the MASTER's hand. DARLA enters the lair, furious.
Zachary didn't return from the hunt last night.
The Slayer.
Zachary was strong and he was careful and still the Slayer takes him... as she has taken so many of my family. (beat) It wears thin. Collin, what would you do about it?
I'd annihilate her.
Out of the mouths of babes...
Let me do it, Master. Let me kill her for you.
You have a personal interest in this?
I don't get to have any fun.
I will send The Three.
The Three?
Three tough guys light cigarettes. The Three appear around the corner, moving at a steady, deliberate and menacing pace. They are hulking men, dressed in medieval armor-- intimidating in their mere presence. The tough guys see them coming and hurriedly leave.
A cockroach scurries across the floor, chased by a laughing patron.
Get it! Go get it, right there!
I got it!
She holds the roach up to the bartender and drops it into his jar.
Free drink, please.
The bartender nods his head and goes to get the drink.
Ah, the fumigation party.
BUFFY and WILLOW are sitting at a table in the corner.
Hmm?
It's an annual tradition. The closing of the Bronze for a few days to nuke the cockroaches.
Oh.
It's a lot of fun. What's it like where you are?
I'm sorry, I was just thinking about things...
So, we're talking about a guy?
Not exactly a guy. For us to have a conversation about a guy, there'd have to be a guy for us to have a conversation about. Is that a sentence?
You lack a guy.
I do. Which is fine with me, most of the time, but...
What about Angel?
Angel? I can just see him in a relationship. 'Hi, honey, you're in grave danger. I'll see you next month.'
He's not around much, it's true.
When he is around... it's like the lights dim everywhere else. You know how it's like that with some guys?
Oh, yeah!
She looks meaningfully over at XANDER. Xander is on the dance floor, making a fool of himself. He sidles up to a girl, bumping and grinding pathetically.
Hey, Annie! (sees her boyfriend) Dino, just leaving!
He backs away and bumps into CORDELIA.
Ouch! Please get your extreme oafishness off my two-hundred- dollar shoes!
I'm sorry, I was just--
Getting off the dance floor before Annie Vega's boyfriend squashes you like a bug?
Oh, so you noticed.
Uh-huh.
Yeah, thanks for being so understanding.
Sure.
Y'know, hey, I don't know what everyone's talking about. That outfit doesn't make you look like a hooker.
Off her furious look, he quickly leaves the dance floor and scampers over to Buffy and Willow.
Boy, that Cordelia is a regular breath of vile air. What are you vixens up to?
Just sitting here, watching our barren lives pass us by. (sees a roach) Oh, look, a cockroach.
She stomps it, pleased with herself.
Whoa, well, let's stop this crazy whirligig of fun! I'm dizzy!
All right, now I'm infecting those nearest and dear to me. I'm gonna call it a night.
She starts to get up and leave.
Oh, don't go!
Uh, yeah. It's early. We could, um, dance!
Rain check? Good night.
She leaves. A disappointed Xander turns to Willow who holds her shoe up to him.
Want a free drink?
Buffy makes her way out of the Bronze looking bummed. She passes the stairs and suddenly ANGEL is there, watching her.
Buffy senses something and turns to look. Angel is gone. She continues on.
Buffy is walking home. She senses something and stops to look behind her. Nothing. She continues and walks past an alley. She hears a breath and stops.
It's late, I'm tired, and I don't wanna play games. Show yourself.
One of The Three roars and drops down to the sidewalk behind her. She reaches into her coat, pulls out a stake and quickly spins around to stake the vampire, but another of The Three grabs her arm as she swings. The third member grabs her other arm, pinning her.
Oh! Okay, okay, nice...
They pull her into the alley and slam her up against a fence. The first one approaches her, leering menacingly.
Okay, look, I really don't want to have to fight all three of you... unless I have to.
She kicks him in the crotch, elbows the one to her right and tries to punch the one to her left. He blocks her swing and thrusts his knee in to her gut, slamming her into the fence. The other two recover and grab her again. The second one slowly approaches her with death in his eyes. Buffy is terrified and struggles to get away.
Opening credit sequence.
The vampire grabs Buffy's head and moves in to bite. Angel comes up behind him, grabs him by the hair and pulls him off of her.
Good dogs don't...bite!
Buffy is surprised, but quickly regains her head. She kicks both of the other vampires off her. One of them grabs her again and holds her against the fence. Angel continues to fight the other two, obviously as good at fighting as Buffy herself. One of them pulls a piece of iron bar off of a window.
Look out!
Angel turns around, only to be sliced in the chest with the bar. Buffy shoves an open palm into her assailant's chin, pushing him off of her, punches him once in the gut and then slams both fists into his head. Angel is bent over in pain, about to be stabbed again. Buffy quickly side kicks his attacker in the face, and he falls back away from Angel. She helps Angel up.
Run!
They come running out of the alley and tear off down the street. The Three give chase, gaining on them.
Buffy and Angel jump over the bushes in front of her house and run up onto the porch. The Three are hot on their trail. Buffy gets the front door open.
Get in! C'mon!
She rushes inside and Angel is right behind her. Buffy slams the door on one of the vampire's hands. He struggles a moment, but pulls his hand back out. She slams the door shut and locks it. The vampire looks in through the glass. Another one looks in through a window.
It's all right. A vampire can't come in unless it's invited.
I've heard that before, but I've never put it to the test. (re: his wound) Oh... I'll go get some bandages. Just take your jacket and your shirt off.
She heads into the kitchen. Angel looks out the window one last time and follows her.
He takes off his jacket and his t-shirt, revealing an elaborate stylized tattoo of winged creature on his back. Buffy sees the tattoo as she brings over the first aid kit. She opens it and begins to bandage him.
Nice tattoo. I was lucky you came along. How did you happen to come along?
I live nearby. I was just out walking.
So you weren't following me? I just had this feeling you were.
Why would I do that?
You tell me. You're the mystery guy that appears out of nowhere. I'm not saying I'm not happy about it tonight, but... if you are hanging around I'd like to know why.
Maybe I like you.
Maybe...
They smile at each other. Buffy hears the front door open and quickly moves to intercept her mom.
Buffy pulls JOYCE into the house and closes the door.
Hi! What are you doing?
There's a lot of weird people outside at night...
Joyce starts toward the kitchen and Buffy rushes after her.
I just feel better with you safe and sound inside. You must be beat.
I am. We're a little gallery. You have no idea how much--
Well then why don't you go upstairs and get into bed... and I can bring you some hot tea?
That's sweet! (suspicious) What'd you do?
Can't a daughter just be concerned about her mother?
Angel walks into the living room behind Buffy. He's put his shirt and jacket back on. Joyce sees him and she realizes the reason behind Buffy's odd behavior.
Hi.
Hi.
Oh! Okay... um... Angel this is my mom. Mom, this is Angel. We ran into each other on the way home.
Nice to meet you.
What do you do, Angel?
He's a student. (off her mother's look) First year community college. Angel's been helping me with my history. You know I've been toiling there.
She obviously knows Buffy isn't telling her the whole story. She starts up the stairs.
It's a little late for tutoring. I'm gonna go to bed, and Buffy?
I'll say good night and do the same!
Joyce looks back down at her daughter and nods.
It was nice to meet you.
Buffy at the front door holding it open.
Good night. We'll hook up soon and do that study thing!
She closes the door but Angel is still there in the house. They quietly go up the stairs and into her room.
She eases the door softly closed and turns to him.
Look, I don't want to get you in any more trouble...
And I don't wanna get you dead. They could still be out there. So, uh ... two of us, one bed. That doesn't work. Why don't you take the bed? Y'know, you're wounded...
I'll take the floor.
No, that's not--
Oh, believe me, I've had worse.
Okay, then why don't you check and see if the Fang Gang is still loitering and... keep your back turned while I change?
Angel goes over to the window to have a look. Buffy goes to her closet and changes.
I don't see them.
Y'know, I'm the Chosen One. It's my job to fight guys like that. What's your excuse?
Somebody has to.
Well, what does your family think of your career choice?
They're dead.
She has finished changing and comes over to him.
Was it vampires?
It was.
I'm sorry.
It was a long while ago.
So, this is a vengeance gig for you.
You even look pretty when you go to sleep.
Well, when I wake up it's an entirely different story.
She hands him the comforter from her bed.
Here. Sleep tight.
He lays the comforter down on the floor next to her bed as she gets into it.
Angel?
Hmm?
Do you snore?
I don't know. It's been a long time since anybody's been in a position to let me know.
He turns his head to look at her. She smiles and settles in to sleep.
Buffy is relating last night's adventure to Xander and Willow.
He spent the night? In your room? In your bed?
Not in my bed, by my bed.
That is so romantic! Did you, uh... I mean, did he, uh...
Perfect gentleman.
The girls exchange smiles.
Buffy, c'mon. Wake up and smell the seduction. It's the oldest trick in the book.
What? Saving my life? Getting slashed in the ribs?
Duh! I mean, guys'll do anything to impress a girl. I once drank an entire gallon of Gatorade without taking a breath.
It was pretty impressive. Although later there was an ick factor.
GILES walk out of his office with a large, dusty tome in his arms.
Can we steer this riveting conversation back to the events that happened earlier in the evening? You left the Bronze and were set upon by three unusually virile vampires. (puts the book in front of her) Did they look like this?
Yeah. What's with the uniforms?
It seems you encountered The Three. Warrior vampires, very proud and very strong.
How is it you always know this stuff? You always know what's going on. I never know what's going on.
Well, you weren't here from midnight until six researching it.
No, I was sleeping.
Obviously you're hurting the Master very much. He wouldn't send The Three for just anyone. We must step up our training with weapons.
Buffy, you should stay at my house until these Samurai guys are history.
What?
Don't worry about Angel. Willow can run to your house and tell him to get out of town fast.
Angel and Buffy are not in any immediate jeopardy. Eventually the Master will send someone else, but in the mean time The Three, having failed, will offer their own lives in penance.
The Three are on their knees before the Master, humbled.
We failed in our duty and now our lives belong to you.
He hands the Master a spear. The Master passes it to Darla. She moves behind The Three as the Master walks over to Collin.
Pay attention, child. You are the Anointed, and there is much you must learn. With power comes responsibility. True, they did fail, but also true, we who walk at night share a common bond. The taking of a life-- I'm not talking about humans, of course-- is a serious matter.
One of The Three raises his head, hopeful.
So you would spare them?
I am weary and their deaths will bring me little joy.
The Master begins to walk away, and Collin follows. Darla watches them go and smiles. She lifts the spear and dispatches the first of The Three. The Master stops and turns to Collin.
Of course, sometimes a little is enough.
He looks over at Darla as she kills the next one and then turns away.
Giles sets a sign on the door that reads:
Library Closed for Filing
Please come back tomorrow.
Buffy is checking out the weapons case. She lifts out an old-fashioned wooden crossbow.
Cool, crossbow! Check out these babies. (takes out a bolt) Hmm. Goodbye stakes, hello flying fatality. What can I shoot?
Nothing. The crossbow comes later.
He takes the crossbow from her and goes to put it back. Buffy is disappointed.
You must first become proficient with the basic tools of combat. And let's begin (picks up two long poles) with the quarterstaff. Which, incidentally, will require countless hours of vigorous training. I speak from experience.
Giles, 20th Century? I'm not gonna be fighting Friar Tuck.
You never know with whom or what you'll be fighting.
He puts on his pads.
And these traditions have been handed down through the ages. Now, you show me good, steady progress with the quarterstaff, and in due course we'll discuss the crossbow. Put on your pads.
I'm not gonna need pads to fight you.
Well, we'll see about that. En garde!
He makes several thrusts and she parries them all. She takes the offensive, pushes his staff to the floor and punches him in the face. She comes around with the staff into his back, then sweeps his legs out from under him. He falls onto his back. She stands over him.
Good. Let's move on to the crossbow.
Establishing.
Buffy walks into her room. As she closes the door, she looks around.
Angel?
Hey.
She turns on her desk lamp.
Brought you some dinner. It's a little plateless. Sorry.
She hands him a plastic bag full of food that she pilfered from dinner. He accepts it and looks at it.
So! What'd you do all day?
I read a little.
Buffy looks over to her diary. It's out of place.
And just thought about a lot of things. Buffy, I--
My diary? You read my diary? That is not okay! A diary is like a person's most private place! I... You don't even know what I was writing about! 'Hunk' can mean a lot of things, bad things. And when it says that your eyes are 'penetrating', I meant to write 'bulging'.
Buffy...
And 'A' doesn't even stand for 'Angel' for that matter, it stands for... 'Achmed', a charming foreign exchange student, so that whole fantasy part has nothing to even do with you at all.
Your mother moved your diary when she came in to straighten up. I watched from the closet. I didn't read it, I swear.
She just looks at him, mortified as the realization sinks in.
Oh! Oh...
I did a lot of thinking today. I really can't be around you. Because when I am...
Hey, no big. Water... over the bridge, under the bridge...
When I am all I can ever think about is how badly I want to kiss you.
...over the dam... Kiss me?
I'm older than you, and this can't ever... I better go.
How much older?
I should...
Go... you said...
They kiss. They kiss again. They kiss passionately. She puts her arm around him. The kiss goes on for a while. Angel suddenly pulls back and turns away.
What-- what is it? What's wrong?
He turns to face her and snarls. With horror, she takes in his transformed face-- ridged brow, feral yellow eyes, gleaming fangs-- and screams. He takes a last look at her and jumps out of the window. He slides down the roof and off onto the ground. Buffy goes to the window and watches him run away. Her mother comes running into the room.
Buffy, what happened?
She backs away from the window and her mom takes her by the shoulders, deeply concerned. She looks at her mom and shakes her head. Her voice is a strained whisper.
Nothing. I saw a shadow.
They both look out the window, troubled for different reasons.
The team is walking up the steps from the street toward the building.
Angel's a vampire?
I can't believe this is happening. One minute we were kissing, and the next minute... (to Giles) Can a vampire ever be a good person? Couldn't it happen?
A vampire isn't a person at all. It may have the movements, the, the memories, even the personality of the person that it took over, but it's still a demon at the core, there is no halfway.
So that'd be a no, huh?
Well, then what was he doing? Why was he good to me? Was it all some part of the Master's plan? It doesn't make sense!
They've reached a bench and Willow and Buffy sit.
All right, you have a problem and it's not a small one. Let's take a breath and look at this calmly and objectively. Angel's a vampire. You're a Slayer. I think it's obvious what you have to do.
Buffy doesn't react so Xander looks to Giles.
It is a Slayer's duty...
I know you have feelings for this guy, but it's not like you're in love with him, right?
Buffy looks away.
You're in love with a vampire? What, are you outta your mind?
What?
He looks over at Cordelia who is talking to another girl nearby. She's reacting to something that girl said, but Xander doesn't realize that as she turns toward him.
Not vampire... (to Buffy) How could you love an umpire? Everyone hates 'em!
Cordelia turns back and berates another girl wearing the same dress she is.
Where did you get that dress? This is a one-of-a-kind Todd Oldham. Do you know how much this dress cost? Is this a knockoff? (checking the label) This is a knockoff, isn't it? Some cheesy knockoff! This is exactly what happens when you sign these free trade agreements.
The two girls disappear into the building.
You think we have problems...
Angel unlocks the door to his apartment and enters.
A pile of old books are stacked along the wall. He closes the door and leans over to turn on a lamp. When he straightens back up he senses a presence.
Who's here?
A friend.
He spins and faces the voice. Darla comes out of the shadows wearing a white blouse and a short tartan plaid skirt-- she looks like a student wearing a school uniform.
Hi. It's been a while.
A lifetime.
Or two, but who's counting?
What's with the Catholic schoolgirl look? Last time I saw you it was kimonos.
And last time I saw you it wasn't high school girls. (flares the skirt) Don't ya like? Remember Budapest, turn of the century? You were such a bad boy during that earthquake.
You did some damage yourself.
Is there anything better than a natural disaster? The panic, the people lost in the streets. It's like picking fruit off the vine. (re: the bed) Nice! You're living above ground, like one of them. You and your new friend are attacking us, like one of them. But guess what, precious? You're not one of them, are you?
She draws open the window blinds and a brilliant shaft of sunlight streams into the room. Angel is blinded and burned and stumbles backward to avoid the light.
No. But I'm not exactly one of you either.
Is that what you tell yourself these days?
She opens the refrigerator and sees bags and bottles of human blood.
You're not exactly living off quiche. You and I both know what you hunger for, what you need. Hey, it's nothing to be ashamed of. It's who we are. It's what makes eternal life worth living. You can only suppress your real nature for so long. You can feel it brewing inside of you. I hope I'm around when it explodes.
Maybe you don't want to be.
I'm not afraid of you. I bet she is, though. Or maybe I'm underestimating her. Talk to her. Tell her about the curse. Maybe she'll come around. And if she still doesn't trust you, you know where I'll be.
She turns and sachets out of the apartment, leaving a fuming Angel behind.
Buffy is looking through a book with Willow and Xander. Giles walks in from his office, startling Xander.
Here's something at last.
Can you please warn us before you do that?
There's nothing about Angel in the texts, but it suddenly occurred to me that it's been ages since I've read the diaries of any of the Watchers before me.
That musta been so embarrassing when you thought he had read your diary, but then it turned out he hadn't, but then he felt the same way... ( off Xander's look) I'm listening.
There's mention some two hundred years ago in Ireland of Angelus, the one with the angelic face.
They got that right.
I'm not saying anything. I have nothing to say.
Does this Angel have a tattoo behind his right shoulder?
Yeah, it's a... it's a bird or something.
Now I'm saying something. You saw him naked?
So Angel's been around for a while?
Not long for a vampire. Two hundred and forty years or so.
Huh! Two hundred and forty. Well, he said he was older.
Angelus leaves Ireland, wreaks havoc in Europe for several decades, and then about eighty years ago, the most curious thing happens. He comes to America, shuns other vampires, and lives alone. There's no record of him hunting here.
So he is a good vampire! I mean, on a scale of one to ten, ten being someone who's killing and maiming every night, and one being someone who's... not.
I said that there's no record, but vampires hunt and kill. It's what they do.
Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly.
He could've fed on me. He didn't.
Question: a hundred years or so before he came to our shores, what was he like then?
Like all of them. A vicious, violent animal.
Darla paces before the Master. The Anointed One sits nearby, silent.
Don't think I'm not grateful, you letting me kill The Three.
How can my children learn if I do everything for them?
But you've gotta let me take care of the Slayer.
Oh, you're giving me orders now!
Okay, then, we'll just do nothing while she takes us out one by one.
Do I sense a plan, Darla? Share...
Angel kills her and comes back to the fold.
Angel! He was the most vicious creature I ever met. I miss him.
So do I.
Why would he kill her if he feels for her?
To keep her from killing him.
Hmm. (to Collin) You see how we all work together for the common good? That's how a family is supposed to function!
Buffy and Willow are studying.
Okay, so let's review. Reconstruction began when? (looks up) Buffy?
Huh? Oh! Um, Reconstruction... Reconstruction began after the... construction, which was... shoddy, so they had to reconstruct.
After the destruction of the Civil War.
Right. Civil War. During which Angel was already, like, a hundred and change.
Are we gonna talk about boys or are we gonna help you pass History?
Buffy looks up at Willow and closes her book.
Sometimes I have this fantasy that Xander's just gonna grab me and kiss me right on the lips!
You want Xander, you've gotta speak up, girl!
No, no. No speaking up. That way leads to madness and sweaty palms.
Darla peeks out from behind the stacks, listening to their conversation.
Okay, so here's something I gotta know. When Angel kissed you... I mean before he turned into... how was it?
Unbelievable!
Darla continues to watch and listen.
Wow! And it is kinda novel how he'll stay young and handsome forever, although you'll still get wrinkly and die, and... oh, and what about the children? (off Buffy's look) I'll be quiet now.
No, it's okay. I need to hear this. I need to get over him so I can...
So that you can...
She makes a stabbing motion.
Like Xander said, I'm the Slayer, and he's a... vampire. God, I can't! He's never done anything to hurt me. Okay, no, I need to stop thinking about this. Okay, let's give another half an hour and maybe something will sink in. And then I'm going home for some major moping.
Darla smiles and backs away.
Okay. The era of the Congressional Reconstruction, usually called Radical...
Joyce is doing her taxes and having coffee. She hears creaking on the porch outside and gets up to investigate. She looks out the window and sees nothing so she opens the door a bit and still there's nothing. She closes the door and heads to the front. Darla looks in, the demon in her in full view.
Joyce walks slowly through the living room and hears a knocking on the door. She looks out, sees Darla (demon now hidden-- back to her cute blonde teen look) and opens the door.
Hello?
Hi! I'm Darla? A friend of Buffy's.
Oh, nice to meet you.
She didn't mention anything about me coming over for a study date, did she?
No, I thought she was studying with Willow at the library.
She is. Willow's the Civil War expert, but then I was supposed to help her with the War of Independence. My family kinda goes back to those days.
Well, I, I know she's supposed to be home soon. Would you like to come in and wait?
Darla smiles and bounces happily into the house.
It's very nice of you to invite me into your home.
You're welcome. I've been wrestling with the IRS all night. Would you like something to eat?
Yes, I would!
She eyes the nape of Joyce's neck.
Joyce heads to the fridge and opens it.
Let's see what we have. Do you feel like something little or something big?
Darla flashes her fangs and leaps at Joyce.
Something big!
Angel approaches the house. He almost knocks, but then decides to leave. As he turns, he hears Joyce scream. He runs around to the back door and kicks it in where he finds Darla feeding on Joyce.
Let her go!
I just had a little, there's plenty more. Aren't you hungry for something warm after all this time? Come on, Angel. Just say yes!
She shoves Joyce into Angel's arms so he can see the bite and smell the blood. He struggles with himself and turns away. Darla watches with a big smile. Angel looks up at her again with ridged brow and gleaming fangs.
Welcome home!
She turns and quickly leaves as Buffy walks in from the dining room. Angel looks up.
Hey! I'm home.
She stops in her tracks and freezes with fear and rage at the sight of Angel with her unconscious mother in his arms, bleeding from the neck. Angel bares his fangs and growls.
Angel flies through the living room window and tumbles over the porch in shower of glass. He jumps over the bushes and onto the lawn. Buffy runs over to the broken window and looks out at him as he gets up.
You're not welcome here. You come near us and I'll kill you.
Buffy grabs the phone, dials 911 and goes over to kneel beside her mom.
Mom! Mom, can you hear me?! (to operator) Yes, I need an ambulance, 1630 Revello Drive! My mother cut herself, she lost a lot of blood! Please, please hurry! (shakes Joyce) Mom!
Hey, Buffy!
She looks up to see Xander and Willow come in through the kitchen door.
Oh, my God!
What happened?
Angel.
Giles rushes down the corridor trying to find Joyce's room.
Joyce is lying in bed, groggy but all right.
Do you remember anything, Mom?
Just, um, your friend came over... I was gonna make a snack...
My friend?
Giles comes in the door.
I guess I slipped and cut my neck on... the doctor said it looked like a barbecue fork. We don't have a barbecue fork. (to Giles) Are you another doctor?
Oh! No, Mom, this is Mr. Giles.
Oh, the librarian from your school. (confused) What's he doing here?
I just came to pay my respects, wish you a speedy recovery.
Boy, the teachers really do care in this town.
Get some rest now.
She gives her mother a kiss and they all leave the room.
She's gonna be okay. They gave her some iron. Her blood count was a little...
...a little low. It presents itself like mild anemia. You were lucky you got to her as soon as you did.
Lucky? Stupid.
Buff, it's not your fault.
No? I invited him into my home. Even after I knew who he was, what he was, and I didn't do anything about it... because I had feelings for him, because I cared about him.
If you care about somebody you care about them. You can't change that by--
Killing them? Maybe not. But I think it's a start.
She turns to go.
We'll keep an eye on your mom.
Buffy!
You can't stop me. The Three found me near the Bronze and so did he. He lives nearby.
This is no ordinary vampire-- if there is such a thing. Now he knows you, he's faced The Three. I think this is going to take more than a simple stake.
So do I.
Buffy loads the crossbow with bolts.
Darla is taunting Angel, gloating and gleeful.
She's out hunting you right now. She wants to kill you.
Leave me alone.
What did you think? Did you think she would understand? That she would look at your face, your true face, and give you a kiss?
Buffy takes a practice shot at an anti-smoking poster and nails the guy in the heart.
For a hundred years you've not had a moment's peace because you will not accept who you are. That's all you have to do. Accept it. Don't let her hunt you down. Don't whimper and mewl like a mangy human. Kill! Feed! Live!
She has pushed Angel to the limit. He jumps up and shoves her against the wall, pinning her arms over her head.
All right!
What do you want?
I want it finished!
That's good. You're hurting me. (smiles) That's good, too.
The night club is closed and dark, in the midst of the fumigation process. Buffy has the crossbow at the ready. She ducks through a hole in a fence and moves toward the entrance. She hears glass breaking above her and turns toward the noise. She spots a ladder running up the wall and starts to climb.
Joyce and Giles are softly talking.
She talks about you all the time. It's important to have teachers who make an impression.
She makes quite an impression herself.
I know she's having trouble with history. Is it too difficult for her or is she not applying herself?
She lives very much in the now and history, of course, is very much about the... then. But there's no reason--
She's studying with Willow, she's studying with Darla. I mean, she is trying.
Darla? I don't believe I know--
Her friend, the one who came over tonight.
Darla came to your house tonight? She's the friend that you mentioned earlier?
Poor thing, I must've frightened her half to death when I fainted. Someone should really check and make sure she's all right.
Yes, someone should, right away. I'll do it.
He grabs his coat and hurriedly leaves.
That school is amazing!
Giles walks with Willow and Xander.
We have a problem.
Buffy steals down the stairs. When she gets to the bottom she quickly turns and scans the room. Angel backs into the shadows. Buffy hears a noise and pivots toward it.
I know you're there. And I know what you are.
Do you?
She faces his voice.
I'm just an animal, right?
You're not an animal. Animals I like.
He growls and comes out of the shadows to face her. She trains the crossbow on him.
Let's get it done!
He growls and begins to run at her, jumping onto a pool table. Buffy tracks him with the bow and shoots, but misses. Angel jumps up onto the catwalk above. Buffy can't see him in the shadows. He swings down and kicks her in the back, knocking her onto the pool table. She kicks out behind her and sends him crashing into the wall. She runs around the table and dives for the crossbow, then rolls onto her back and takes aim. He slowly gets up and snarls.
Angel's face morphs back into his human form.
C'mon! Don't go soft on me now.
Buffy launches the bolt. It hits the wall next to him.
Little wide.
Why? Why didn't you just attack me when you had the chance? Was it a joke? To make me feel for you and then... I've killed a lot of vampires. I've never hated one before.
Feels good, doesn't it? Feels simple.
I invited you into my home and then you attacked my family!
Why not? I killed mine. I killed their friends, and their friend's children. For a hundred years I offered an ugly death to everyone I met and I did it with a song in my heart.
What changed?
Fed on a girl about your age... beautiful, dumb as a post... but a favorite among her clan.
Her clan?
Romany Gypsies. The elders conjured the perfect punishment for me. They restored my soul.
What, they were all out of boils and blinding torment?
When you become a vampire the demon takes your body but it doesn't get your soul. That's gone. No conscience, no remorse... It's an easy way to live. You have no idea what it's like to have done the things I've done... and to care. I haven't fed on a living human being since that day.
So you started with my mom?
I didn't bite her.
Then why didn't you say something?
Because I wanted to. I can walk like a man, but I'm not one. I wanted to kill you tonight.
Buffy looks at her bow then back at Angel. She puts the bow down on the floor and approaches him. She offers him her bare neck.
Go ahead.
He just looks at her in silence.
Not as easy as it looks.
Sure it is!
They turn as Darla eases out of the shadows.
Giles, Willow and Xander are walking down the street.
We're near the Bronze. What now?
Keep looking for her.
I have a question: what if we find her and she's fighting Angel and some of his friends? What the heck are we gonna do about it?
Darla is shaking her head and walking toward Buffy and Angel.
Do you know what the saddest thing in the world is?
Bad hair on top of that outfit?
To love someone who used to love you.
You guys were involved?
For several generations.
Well, you've been around since Columbus, you are bound to pile up a few ex's. You're older than him, right? Just between us girls, you are looking a little worn around the eyes.
I made him. There was a time when we shared everything, wasn't there Angelus? You had a chance to come home, to rule with me in the Master's court for a thousand years, but you threw that away because of her. You love someone who hates us. You're sick. And you'll always be sick. And you'll always remember what it was like to watch her die. (smiles at Buffy) You don't think I came alone, do you?
I know I didn't.
She kicks the bow up into her hands and aims it at Darla.
Hmm, scary.
She produces two gleaming semi-automatic pistols from behind her back, one in each hand.
Scarier.
She shoots Angel and he staggers back against the wall.
Oh, don't worry. Bullets can't kill vampires. Can hurt them like hell, but...
Buffy retreats as Darla opens fire on her. She rolls over a pool table and takes cover behind it.
Giles, Willow and Xander hear the shots from inside the Bronze.
Did you just hear...
They run toward the building.
Buffy reloads the crossbow.
So many body parts, so few bullets. Let's begin with the kneecaps. No fun dancing without them.
She fires several more rounds, splintering the pool table. Buffy pops up with the crossbow and takes a shot at Darla. It strikes home and she doubles over as the bolt slams through her belly. She feigns pain, then slowly straightens back up, smiling.
Close, but no heart.
She rips the bolt from her body and tosses it aside.
Giles, Willow and Xander are crawling along the floor.
We need to distract her, fast!
Buffy, it wasn't Angel who attacked your mom, it was Darla!
Darla turns toward the voice and lets loose a hail of bullets. They hug the floor for cover.
Angel pulls the bolt from the wall as Darla turns her attention back to Buffy and hops up onto the pool table. Buffy jumps up, grabs the edge of the table and pulls, knocking Darla onto her back. She pushes the table away and starts to run for cover. Darla fires off a few rounds as she rides the table across the floor. Buffy leaps for cover over a glass case as bullets shatter it around her.
The pool table slides to a stop and Darla gets up to look for Buffy. She hops off it and advances on the counter, shooting all the way. Giles stands up and flips switches on the lighting controls. The strobes come on and Darla, distracted, looks over at him.
C'mon, Buffy. Take it like a man!
Angel runs up behind Darla, roars and plunges the bolt into her back. Shocked, she cries out in pain and turns to Angel, shocked at his ultimate betrayal.
Angel?
She falls to the floor and explodes into ashes. Buffy comes out from behind the case as Angel looks up from Darla's ashes at her. He pauses for a moment and then turns and leaves.
The Master senses Darla's death and screams smashing things in anger. Finally he sinks to the ground in grief. Collin crawls over to him.
Forget her.
How dare you? She was my favorite. For four hundred years...
She was weak. You don't need her. I'll bring you the Slayer.
But to lose her to Angel! He was to have sat at my right hand, come the day. And now...
They're all against you. But soon you shall rise. And when you do... we kill them all.
The Master smiles at him and gets up. Collin takes his hand and leads him away.
The next night; the group is gathered again.
Ah, the post-fumigation party.
Okay, so what's the difference between this and the pre- fumigation party?
Much hardier cockroaches.
So no word from Angel?
Nah. It's weird, though. In a way I feel like he's still watching me.
Well, in a way he sort of is. In the way of that he's right over there.
Buffy looks over where Willow is pointing and sees Angel. She briefly looks back at Willow and then heads over to him.
I don't need to watch because I'm not threatened. Just gonna look this way.
He and Willow sit at a table with him facing away from Buffy and Angel. Willow watches as Buffy makes her way over to Angel.
I just wanted to see if you were okay. And your mother.
We're both good. You?
If I can go a little while without getting shot or stabbed I'll be all right. Look, this can't--
Ever be anything. I know. For one thing, you're, like, two hundred and twenty-four years older than I am.
I just gotta... I gotta walk away from this.
I know. Me too. (beat, whispers) One of us has to go here.
I know.
They look at each other a moment longer and then close in to kiss. Their lips lightly touch, then it becomes passionate. Buffy reaches her hands up to Angel's neck, runs her fingers through his hair.
Willow and Xander.
What's going on?
Nothin'.
Well, as long as they're not kissing.
Willow just watches and says nothing.
Angel and Buffy separate.
You okay?
It's just...
Painful? I know. See you around?
Buffy walks away. Angel watches her go. The camera pans down to his chest where her cross has left a deep burn.