[Transcript of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" episode Hush at buffyology.com.]
Professor MAGGIE WALSH lectures to BUFFY, WILLOW and the class. RILEY leans against the wall.
So this is what it is, talking about communication, talking about language... not the same thing. It's about inspiration. Not the idea, but the moment before the idea when it blossoms in your mind and connects to everything. It's about the thoughts and experiences that we don't have a word for. A demonstration: Buffy Summers, come on down to the front here.
Buffy hesitates, then stands up and moves down to the front of the class.
A typical college girl, one assumes. (to Buffy) Lie down on my desk
What?
Go ahead, you're perfectly safe.
Oh.
Buffy sits, then lies down on the desk, resting on her elbows.
Riley, if you could oblige.
A demonstration, right?
Be a good boy.
Riley leans over Buffy. He puts a hand on her waist.
This feels very strange.
Don't worry. If I kiss you, it'll make the sun go down.
They kiss, hesitantly at first, as the class watches. As their kiss becomes more passionate, it gets darker. Pull back to reveal the classroom is now empty.
See?
Buffy sits up.
Fortune favors the brave.
Faintly we hear a little girl humming.
Do you hear that?
Buffy walks towards the sound, moving out into the corridor.
Slowly the humming resolves into words. Buffy sees a little GIRL standing motionless at the end of the corridor holding an ornate wooden box. The little girl chants in a sing-song voice.
Can't even shout, Can't even cry. The Gentlemen are coming by.
Looking in windows, Knocking on doors. They need to take seven And they might take yours.
Can't call to mom, Can't say a word. You're going to die screaming But you won't be heard.
Riley touches her from behind and she turns to him but instead of Riley, a horrific desiccated face leers at her, lips drawn back in a grotesque rictus, rotted teeth glowing in the ambient light.
Buffy starts awake-- she's sitting next to Willow back in the lecture hall. It's daytime again and full of students.
So I'll see you all Monday for a final review session.
Man that was an exciting class, huh?
Oh, yeah. Well...
And the last twenty minutes was a revelation. Just laid out everything we need to know for the final. I'd hate to have missed that.
Just tell me I didn't snore.
Very discreet, minimal drool.
Oh, yay.
They both stand up and start walking out of the lecture hall.
So were you dreaming?
Yeah, it was kind of intense.
Riley steps out from behind a column.
Intense, really? 'Cause you seemed so peaceful.
Riley walks with them.
Of course it was only for a moment.
Right. Hey, you guys headed over towards Judd?
Student Center.
Oh, great. So this dream...
You know, you guys go. I'm gonna do... the thing. (to Buffy) So I'll see you after Wicca group? Bye.
Bye.
Bye.
So tell me about your dream. As a Psych major I'm qualified to go 'hmmm.'
Willow sneaks back to eavesdrop on their conversation.
I don't really remember it.
Well, did I appear at all in this dream?
There might have been a cameo.
Is that right?
Maybe more like a featured role.
Romantic lead?
Willow smiles and heads away in the opposite direction. Follow Buffy and Riley.
I'm not saying a word.
Buffy and Riley exit the building into a bright sunny day.
So what have you got going on for tonight?
Oh, patrolling.
Patrolling?
Uh, petroleum.
Petroleum?
Uh huh.
Tonight you have crude oil.
And homework. What about you?
Oh, you know, grading papers.
Ah, that'll be fun.
Not petroleum fun but it passes the time.
So I uh...
Yeah...
I guess I won't see you until...
Yeah...
Riley leans down to kiss her but Buffy suddenly pulls back.
What papers?
Papers?
Buffy realizes the moment is gone.
Grading-- what papers? We only have the final.
Oh, yeah. Late papers-- I gotta look at.
Oh, okay. Neat.
So...
Class.
I'll see you then.
Yeah.
Riley turns and leaves.
Fortune favors the brave.
Opening credit sequence.
GILES is on the phone, talking with Buffy about her classroom dream.
"Can't even shout, can't even cry, the Gentlemen are coming by." It sounds vaguely familiar. You're sure it's nothing you heard when you were a child? (beat) Oh, all right. Nothing else? Well, it could definitely be one of your prophetic dreams or it could just be the eternal mystery that is your brain. But I'll check it out and let you know if I find something. All right. Bye bye. (to Spike) Have you heard of a group called the Gentlemen?
SPIKE stands in the kitchen, eating and searching the cabinets.
Group of what?
The Gentlemen.
Dunno.
You certain?
No. We're out of Weetabix.
We are out of Weetabix because you ate it all-- again.
Get some more.
I thought vampires were supposed to eat blood.
Yep, well sometimes I like to crumble up the Weetabix in the blood-- give it a little texture.
Since the picture you just painted means I will never touch food of any kind again you'll just have to pick it up yourself.
Sissy.
XANDER and ANYA enter the courtyard in the midst of a heated argument.
I don't get what this is coming from.
Well, what am I supposed to think?
Well, how could you say I'm using you?
You don't care about what I think, you don't ask about my day...
You really did turn into a real girl, didn't you?
Anya stops, mad.
See! You make jokes during my pain. You don't care about me at all.
Xander takes her by the arms.
I care about you.
How much? (beat) What do I mean to you?
I... we, you know, we spend... (gives up) We'll talk about it later
Xander turns and enters Giles' apartment and Anya follows.
Well, I think we should talk about it now.
Thank you for knocking.
If you don't know how I feel about--
I don't. This isn't a relationship. You don't need me. All you care about is lots of orgasms.
A moment of shocked silence. Everyone in the room turns to stare at Xander.
Okay, remember how we talked about private conversations and how they're less private when they're in front of my friends?
Oh, we're not your friends. Go on.
Please don't.
This is important.
Yes, but why is it here?
Mom said you wanted me to swing by.
Oh, yes, well I meant after sunset. I need you to take Spike for a few days.
What?!
I'm not staying with him!
I have a friend who's coming to town and I'd like us to be alone.
Oh, do you mean an orgasm friend?
Yes, that's exactly the most appalling thing you could have said.
He's not roaming around. He stays with me, he's going to get tied up again.
What about us, our romantic evening?
I'm not having these two shag while I'm tied to a chair three feet away.
Giles sits and puts his head in his hands in pure exasperation at the absurdity of the situation.
That's not exactly one of my fantasies either.
So you're blowing off our evening because of him?
I don't want him to come either!
All three start arguing loudly at the same time, leaving Giles to just sit and stare, speechless.
The Wicca Group: a gathering of about 15 girls, including Willow and TARA, a shy, mousy girl. They sit on couches and chairs and the floor. Other students occasionally wander by or study quietly in other parts of the room.
WICCA GIRL 1
We come together, daughters of Gaia, sisters to the moon, we walk with the darkness, the wolf at our side through the waterfall of power to the blackest heart of eternity. (suddenly perky) I think we should have a bake sale!
WICCA GIRL 2
I don't know...
WICCA GIRL 1
You guys like a bake sale right? I mean we need money for the dance recital and you know I do an empowering lemon bundt.
WICCA GIRL 2
The most important thing is the Gaian newsletter. We need to get the message of blessing out to the sisters. Also, who left their scented candles dripping all over my Woman Power shrine?
Well, this is good. I mean, this is all fun ya know, but there's also other stuff that we might show an interest in as a Wicca group.
WICCA GIRL 1
Like what?
Well, there's the wacky notion of spells. You know, conjuring, transmutation...
WICCA GIRL 2
Oh, yeah. Then we could all get on our broomsticks and fly around on our broomsticks.
WICCA GIRL 1
You know, certain stereotypes are not very empowering.
WICCA GIRL 3
I think that one person's energy can suck the power from an entire circle. No offense.
Well, maybe we could--
WICCA GIRL 2
Yeah, Tara. Guys... quiet. Do you have a suggestion?
Tara is about to say something, then just looks down and shakes her head.
WICCA GIRL 2
Okay, let's talk about the theme for the Bacchanal.
Buffy and Willow walk toward their room.
So not stellar, huh?
Talk-- all talk. Blah blah-- Gaia-- blah blah-- moon, menstrual, lifeforce, power thingy. You know, after a couple of sessions I was hoping we would get into something real but...
No actual witches in your witch group?
No, just a bunch of wanna Blessed-Be's. You know, nowadays every girl with a henna tattoo and a spice rack thinks she's a sister to the Dark Ones.
They enter their dorm room.
Will, I'm sorry it was a bust. I know you were looking to go farther in that department.
I'd just like to float something bigger than a pencil someday. Hey, how's with you and Riley? You two seemed pretty snuggly after class.
See above, re: talk-- all talk.
Do I have to tie you two together?
We almost but...
Well, get with it. I need my vicarious smoochies.
I don't know... I get nervous and I start babbling and he starts babbling and it's a babblefest. Plus, every time we talk, I have to lie. The Slayer thing comes up one way or another. I wish I could just come clean.
FORREST and Riley climb out of a pit containing a raging demon. Covered with sweat and breathing heavily, it's obvious they've just had an intense workout of some kind. We catch them in mid-conversation.
Well, you can't.
Yeah, I know I can't but it bugs me this time.
This is the burden we bear, brother. We have a gig that would inevitably cause any girl living to think we are cool upon cool. Yet we must Clark Kent our way through the dating scene never to use our unfair advantage. Thank god we're pretty.
But it's just... Buffy's special.
You think she's special. Wow. The first 486 times you told me, it didn't register. But now I see that you think she's special.
See, you're naturally inclined to talk too much. I don't have that.
Then get with the kissing.
They enter the elevator.
Riley Finn.
Initiative vocal code match complete.
The elevator begins to rise.
Xander tightens the ropes on Spike's chair before turning out the light to go to sleep.
Don't see why I have to be tied up.
It's just while I'm sleeping.
Like I'd bite you anyway.
Oh, you would.
Not bloody likely.
I happen to be very biteable, pal. I'm moist and delicious.
All right, fine. You're a nummy treat.
And don't you forget it.
Spike begins to taunt him, mimicking Anya.
Xander, don't you care about me?
Shut up!
We never talk.
Xander holds up a warning finger.
Shut up!
Xaaannnder...
Shut up!
Giles studies at his desk, researching Buffy's dream.
They need to take seven... take seven what?
A knock at door. Giles get up and opens it. A striking black woman, OLIVIA, stands there with a big smile on her face.
Olivia!
Sorry I'm so late. The flight was a horror.
Oh, no... bad weather?
Baseball movie.
Oh, so sorry.
Yeah. That's enough small talk, don't you think?
She reaches over and draws him toward her and they begin to kiss passionately. Giles moves with her toward the bedroom, all thoughts of research forgotten.
Establishing. The clock reads 1:00.
Pale gray, skeletal hands set an ornate box down on a table and slowly open it. The faint whispering of thousands of voices can be heard. The words are indistinct but while faint, the sound belies a multitude of voices.
The boy is sleeping. Suddenly he gasps in his sleep and a light mist emerges from his mouth and floats out the open window.
Like the boy, the man is sleeping, and like the boy, he suddenly expels a puff of mist which drifts out the door.
Giles and Olivia sleep soundly after having made love. They both gasp simultaneously as the mist drifts from their mouths.
The process repeats, first with Willow, then Buffy.
The small puffs of mist from each individual all merge into one immense cloud that streams over the homes and streets of Sunnydale toward the clocktower and into the ornate wooden box on the table.
When the entire cloud as entered the box, the same skeletal hands gingerly close it, sealing it tight.
Pan up to the body and face belonging to the hands. This is one of the GENTLEMEN. Dressed in a black suit and tie, with a crisp white shirt, his face is grayish-white with silver teeth. His mouth is drawn back in a horrid leering rictus. The creature has no hair and its eyes dance with inhuman glee. It is the face from Buffy's dream.
Morning. Buffy wakes and gets out of bed. She grabs her toothbrush and shuffles to the bathroom.
Buffy yawns and brushes her teeth, then turns and leaves the bathroom.
Buffy is puzzled by a girl who runs past her, crying silently.
Buffy sees that Willow is just waking up.
Good morning.
She stops, confused as to why she's talking but no sound is coming from her.
Hey.
Buffy feels her throat, massaging it. She swallows hard.
Good morn-- good-- (rising panic) Will, can you hear me?
No, I've gone deaf!
No, I don't think so. We can't speak--
Willow tries to scream. Nothing. Buffy and Willow leave their room and walk hesitantly into the corridor.
Several students wander up and down the corridor in various states of confusion and panic. No one can talk at all. With all the activity and emotion present, the building is eerily silent.
Xander is in full-on panic.
What's going on? Why can't I talk? (to Spike) You! You did this to me!
Spike, still tied to his chair, looks witheringly at Xander and makes a vulgar gesture.
I can't talk...
Xander picks up the phone and calls Buffy.
The phone rings and Buffy picks it up; she realizes she can't say hello and there's no voice on the other end either, so she hangs up in frustration.
Xander realizes he can't talk either and hangs up. Spike looks at him like he's a complete idiot.
Riley runs down the stairs with Forrest to the hidden Initiative elevator in the wall of the frat house. Riley stands still while the computer scans his eye.
Retinal scan accepted.
They enter the elevator and the doors close.
The elevator starts descending. Forrest writes on a pad and holds it up for Riley to read: "It's all over town". Suddenly the elevator lurches to a halt.
Vocal code not accepted. Please state your name for vocal identification.
Riley leans over to the vocal reader and shouts twice. All that comes out is a weak gasp.
Vocal code not accepted. Unauthorized beings will be considered hostile.
Riley opens a panel in the elevator and accesses a keypad. Forrest stares at Riley, silently urging him to work quicker.
Please commence vocal identification in the next 20 seconds to avoid countermeasures.
Panicked, Riley slides a card in a slot. An LED flashes "Enter Override Code" and beeps. Riley frantically punches in a code on the keypad.
Override code incorrect. Lethal countermeasures engaged.
A green gas begins streaming into the car from a small opening in the floor.
Suddenly, the elevator opens to reveal an annoyed Walsh, shaking her head at their foolishness. Riley and Forrest rush off the elevator, relieved to be alive. Walsh points at something on the wall behind them: a sign that reads "In case of emergency use stairway".
Tara enters and finds everyone depressed and listless. Some are crying, others just wander aimlessly. One student drops a glass and the resulting crack and shatter is like a gunshot ripping through the eerie quiet.
Some stores are closed, dogs bark and people wander around in a stupor, not sure what to do or where to go. Willow and Buffy walk down the middle of the street, looking around with worry and wonder.
A man sits in the street, his head on his briefcase. Willow draws Buffy's attention to a guy is selling Dry-Erase message boards with an attached neck-string for $10 a piece.
Willow and Buffy arrive with message boards around their necks. Xander, Anya, Giles and Olivia greet them. Spike just smirks. Giles clasps Buffy's arm reassuringly and Buffy takes his hand in hers. She looks down at Giles' desk, covered with books and notes.
Anything?
Giles shakes his head sadly. Willow takes off her message board and writes on it, holding it up for Giles with a smile.
Giles smiles back and hugs her.
Suddenly Xander snaps his fingers, drawing their attention to the TV.
Big news item from Sunnydale, California. Apparently the entire town has been quarantined due to an epidemic of, as strange as this may sound, laryngitis.
It seems the town has been rendered unable to speak. There's no word yet what might have caused this or what other effects might be seen from this epidemic. Local authorities have issued a statement-- a written statement, I should say-- blaming recent flu vaccinations. A few skeptics call it a city-wide hoax.
In the meanwhile, Sunnydale has effectively shut down. All schools and businesses will be closed for the time being and residents are advised to stay home and rest up. The Centers for Disease Control have ordered the entire town quarantined. No one can go in or out until the syndrome is identified or the symptoms disappear. We'll bring you more on that as it develops.
Buffy borrows Willow's message board and writes. She turn it around and shows it to Giles: "Keep researching. I should be in town tonight."
Why?
Professor Walsh types at a console and her words are translated electronically into speech by the computer. Walsh is in the midst of a conversation with Riley, Forrest and other Initiative members.
Because there will chaos. You will help keep order. Dress as civilians. A military presence would only increase panic.
Riley writes on a yellow legal pad and show it to Walsh: "What is happening?"
We are looking into it. Go. Help maintain order. We will find an answer.
Buffy walks past a car crashed into a fire hydrant. Water sprays all over the street. Silent people wander, purposeless.
Buffy sees Riley breaking up an impending fight between two men. One of the men won't take no for an answer and Riley pushes him away and turns to the other man, gesturing for him to move along. While Riley's back is turned, the man he pushed picks up a steel pipe and starts to get up to attack Riley. Buffy, approaching from behind, casually grabs the man's wrist and snaps it. He drops the pipe and cries out silently. Buffy takes no notice and walks up to Riley who is finished talking with second man and has seen none of this. Buffy and Riley embrace.
Are you okay?
Buffy nods.
You?
Suddenly, a loud crashing sounds from down the street. Riley indicates he has to go. Buffy points in the other direction, indicating the same. They start to move off in separate directions, but then Riley turns back, grabs her and pulls her to him. They kiss, then continue on their separate ways.
The clock reads 1:50. A door in the tower opens and two Gentlemen, identical to the one we saw with the magickal wooden box, exit. They are dressed impeccably, much like morticians, however, they do not walk, but rather float about 6 inches off the ground, gliding along at a brisk pace. They are accompanied by several lunatics: misshapen creatures leaping and cavorting around them as they hover. These lunatics are wrapped in gauze and wear torn straitjackets.
The first two Gentlemen are followed by two more, also accompanied by several lunatics. The group travels down the street together for a distance, communicating silently with eerie hand gestures, then split off into pairs and head off in different directions.
Giles sleeps but Olivia is awake, troubled by the events of the day. Restless, she slips into a robe and proceeds downstairs to the kitchen.
Movement in the yard of the neighboring apartment catches Olivia's eye and she moves to the window where she glimpses a man in a dark suit passing silently through the back yard. Curious, she leans closer to get a better look. As she does, she comes face to face with a second Gentlemen leering in at her, his hideous countenance only inches from hers. She jumps back in shock.
Two Gentlemen float across the manicured lawn of the main quad, accompanied by several of their lunatics.
The Gentlemen and their lunatics proceed down the second floor corridor, communicating silently with expressive hand gestures. They pass one dorm room after another, including Buffy and Willow's room, rejecting them in turn until they settle upon one which meets their approval.
A male student, asleep in bed, wakes to the sound of pounding on his door. He groggily gets up and shuffles over to the door and opens it. His mouth yawns in a silent scream as he sees the Gentlemen floating there, leering at him.
The lunatics rush in, seizing him by the arms and pinning him down on his bed. They rip open his t-shirt and hold him there while one Gentleman opens a black medical bag. He extracts a scalpel and, with great ceremony, hands it to the other Gentleman. The young man realizes what is about to happen and tries frantically to scream-- to no avail. The Gentleman slowly lowers the gleaming scalpel toward the boy and begins to cut.
Seven jars surround the ornate wooden box that contains the voices of Sunnydale. Four of the jars are empty; three contain freshly-removed human hearts. One Gentleman presents them to the rest who applaud his success.
A security guard keeps students back from the dorm room of the student victimized by the Gentlemen. Buffy scoots past him into the room while his back is turned. She stares, horrified, at the blood-drenched bed.
Giles brings in the morning newspaper while Olivia busies herself drawing a sketch of the creature she saw in the window the night previous. Giles points out two newspaper articles about brutal slayings and another about a fifteen-year-old girl found stabbed with her heart missing. Olivia finishes her sketch and shows it to Giles. The sketch jogs a memory and Giles walks over to a bookshelf and removes a large bound volume titled Fairy Tales.
Giles readies a presentation on an overhead projector for Buffy, Willow, Xander and Anya. He pushes 'Play' on a CD player and Danse Macabre by Saint-SaÎns fills the room.
He puts up the first transparency (upside down). Willow and Buffy, sitting next to each other in the front row point and Anya signals for him to flip it over, which he does. These transparencies are Giles' explanation of legend of The Gentlemen and are accompanied by his own crude drawings.
The first transparency: Who are the Gentlemen?
The second transparency: They are fairy tale monsters.
The third transparency: What do they want?
Willow raises her hand excitedly and points to her chest. Xander looks over and cups his hands at chest level.
Boobies?
The fourth transparency: Picture of hearts.
The fifth transparency: They come to a town.
The sixth transparency: They steal all the voices so no one can scream
The seventh transparency: Then
The eighth transparency: A picture of a Gentleman poised over a person in bed with a raised knife, cutting out the person's heart.
Willow and Buffy exchanges disturbed looks. Anya shrugs and eats more popcorn. Xander starts to write.
The ninth transparency: They need seven, they have at least two.
Xander snaps his fingers and holds up his board: How do we kill them?
Buffy pumps her fist up and down at crotch level imitating staking or masturbation depending on your point of view. Apparently the others take the latter view and stare at her incredulously. Realizing the confusion, Buffy grabs a stake from her backpack and does it again, clearing up the misunderstanding.
The tenth transparency: In the tales no sword can kill them.
The eleventh transparency: But the princess screamed once... and they all died.
Willow gets an inspiration and holds up a compact disc, indicating a recorded scream would be an effective weapon.
The twelfth transparency: Only a real human voice
Willow sits back, dejected. Buffy writes on her message board and holds it up.
Giles shrugs in frustration.
The thirteenth transparency: Buffy will patrol tonight
Buffy looks horrified at Giles artistic representation of her indicating the wideness in the hips. Giles indicates the others will hit the books and continue the research.
As they all gather their things to go about their respective tasks, Buffy stops to stare thoughtfully at the drawing of the Gentlemen.
Forrest and Riley and others are in full combat gear and load their weapons, preparing for battle.
Buffy, crossbow in hand, patrols a deserted street.
Riley notices shadows moving in the clocktower. He heads toward the tower.
Tara looks up Willow's "address" in the student directory and writes it down onto a Post-It stuck to an old book open to a chapter titled "Spells of Speech and Silence". She gathers up these things and hurries out of her room.
Tara walks alone with her books. She nervously looks back to see if she's being followed and trips over a line of small shrubs, spilling her books and notes all over the sidewalk. She bends to pick them up, then turns to see two Gentlemen floating toward her, cavorting lunatics in tow. She forgets her things and flees, terrified.
Buffy notices a Gentleman gliding down the other side of the street but before she can investigate, a lunatic leaps from behind a bush and tackles her.
Tara runs down the hall and bangs on one dorm room door after another. After the murders of the night before, the students within are too scared to open their doors
to anyone. Tara lets out a silent scream of frustration and continues on as the Gentlemen round the corner after her. She bolts for the stairwell.
Buffy flips the lunatic to the ground as another grabs her from behind. She delivers a vicious series of kicks and jabs, sending it reeling. The first lunatic gets up and attacks again. Buffy brings it to its knees and then grabs its head and, with one fluid motion, rips violently sideways, snapping its neck. The lunatic instantly drops to the ground, dead. The second lunatic recovers and takes off running. Buffy follows.
Riley enters the front door and is immediately tackled by a lunatic. He kicks it away and pulls an ASP baton from his boot which he uses to beat the lunatic down with several vicious blows to the back and head. Another lunatic joins the fray almost immediately, tackling Riley and sending him crashing into the wall.
Tara runs up the stairs and bangs on door after door, receiving no response.
57
EXT. UC SUNNYDALE-- STEVENSON HALL-- WILLOW'S ROOM-- NIGHT57
Willow hears the banging and wakes at her desk. She's afraid but hesitantly approaches the door.
Tara bangs on a door in panic. It opens and a Gentleman grins out at her, holding a dripping, still-beating heart. She flees and runs headlong down the corridor as two more Gentlemen round the corner behind her. Willow runs out to see what's going on and crashes into Tara. Both go sprawling to the floor. Willow turns and sees
the approaching Gentlemen and capering lunatics and grabs Tara, pulling her into the stairwell.
Riley fights furiously with two lunatics but is losing the battle. He is pinned to the floor, reaching desperately for his weapon when the door bursts open and a third lunatic runs in. Almost simultaneously, Buffy crashes through a shuttered window and tackles it.
The distraction allows Riley to throw off his lunatic and press his attack. Buffy and Riley furiously fight the lunatics, oblivious of each other. Buffy incapacitates one lunatic with a vicious blow to the neck, just as Riley kills one by cracking its skull. Riley grabs his plasma rifle just as Buffy grabs her crossbow and they both turn on each other, aiming their weapons at the same moment. A beat as looks of confusion cross both their faces.
Resume. The moment is broken as more lunatics attack. Riley shoots one and it goes down dead, crackling with blue energy. Buffy shoots another with her bow. They both go hand-to-hand with the rest.
Buffy stuns one lunatic, then looks around and sees a rope hanging from the clocktower. She mounts a platform, grabs the rope and swings toward the stunned lunatic. Riley looks up just in time to see Buffy swing into and kick the lunatic. The force of Buffy's kick sends the lunatic flying thirty feet across the room, slamming into the wall with enough force to break every bone in its body. Riley turns to Buffy, stunned by her terrific power.
Giles leaves the kitchen reading a book as Spike enters. They bump into each other and give each other dirty looks.
Spike opens the refrigerator and removes a coffee mug full of blood. He drinks deeply and his face morphs with vampiric pleasure. He walks back into the living room where Anya sleeps on the couch. Spike kneels down to retrieve something off the floor just as Xander enters from the front door. He sees Anya lying unconscious on the couch with a fanged Spike kneeling over her and jumps to the wrong conclusion.
He charges Spike, tackling him and raining blows on him. The commotion wakes Anya and brings Giles and Olivia running. Anya grabs Xander, showing him that she's all right. Relieved, he jumps off of Spike and wraps her up in a warm embrace and kisses her passionately. She's just thrilled to find out he cares so much about her.
Using a somewhat suggestive hand gesture, Anya suggests to Xander that they should go make love now. Spike is annoyed at the whole incident; Olivia smiles at their young love and Giles just looks revolted.
Tara and Willow run down the stairs. Willow limps from her collision with Tara and leans on her for support. The lunatics are close behind. The girls duck into the dorm laundry room and lock the door.
The girls lean against the door as the lunatics pound on it from the outside, trying to break it down. Suddenly, Willow gets an idea and limps over to a large soda
vending machine. Tara follows and they both try and push it over to block the door. The 500-lb. machine barely moves and the strain causes Willow to fall to the floor, clutching her hurt leg. Tara kneels down beside her to offer help.
Willow stops, calms down and stares intently at the soda machine. It starts to shake then moves forward a few inches-- but that's all. Willow slumps back, exhausted. Obviously her magick is not powerful enough to move such a large object.
Tara looks at her for a long moment, comes to some kind of decision, then takes Willow's hand, their fingers interlocked. Willow seems puzzled at first, then understands. They both summon their combined energy and send it out to the soda machine. It leaps across the room and wedges securely into the door alcove, effectively barring the lunatics' entry. Willow looks back at Tara, stunned but thrilled.
A lunatic smashes a large barrel across Buffy's back, sending her sprawling. She spins to meet the challenge and the lunatic takes off, running up the clocktower stairs. She glances over at Riley and, after a moment's hesitation, decides he can take care of himself. She bolts up the stairs after the lunatic that hit her.
Buffy cautiously emerges into the clocktower gearbox, taking in the hanging ropes, the turning gears and the immense bell. Buffy also spots the mason jars set out on the table. Now only two are empty.
Suddenly she is kicked from behind and falls face forward into the room. The lunatic that kicked her tackles her as two others grab her arms, pinning her in place. She turns to see three leering Gentlemen floating toward her, the foremost brandishing a wickedly sharp scalpel.
The scalpel is inches from Buffy's chest when the Gentleman is blasted backward by a plasma charge. As the creature falls, a second bolt of energy slams into one of the lunatics holding Buffy. Reveal Riley at the door holding his plasma rifle. Buffy shoots Riley a grateful look before doing a standing backflip and laying into the two remaining lunatics.
Riley's rifle malfunctions and he frantically tries make it work. Giving up, he throws it aside and grabs a steel rod, raining blows down on the lunatics as they press their attack. He grabs one, slamming him headfirst into the bell while delivering vicious kicks to another.
Buffy wages a brutal war among the lunatics, kicking, punching, breaking bones. While her attention is on the lunatics, a Gentleman approaches her from behind and stabs her in the back with his scalpel. She gasps as the blade slides in deep and the Gentleman backs away, grasping the scalpel, dripping with the Slayer's blood.
One of the lunatics wraps Buffy in a bear hug from behind, shoving her up against the table holding the captured hearts. Weakened by the stab wound, she can't break free but she notices the ornate wooden box centered between the heart-filled jars. She flashes back to her dream and the box in the little girl's hands and realizes. She frantically tries to get Riley's attention by banging on the table as the lunatic continues to crush her in its arms.
Riley sees her and understands. He runs over and raises the steel bar over his head, bringing it smashing down on one of the jars. He stands back, looking pleased with himself. Nothing happens.
Frustrated, Buffy rolls her eyes and mimics opening and closing a box. Riley looks back down, gets it and smashes the box. Immediately a huge cloud of gray mist is released.
The lunatic holding Buffy throws her down and across the room. Two streamers of mist break off and enter Riley's mouth and Buffy's mouth. Buffy takes in a deep breath, then lets out an ear-shattering scream.
The lunatics drop to the floor twitching as if electrified. The Gentlemen go rigid, shaking and trembling. They raise their hands to cover their ears but it does no good. The scream intensifies and their heads explode one after another.
Buffy smiles with success. Her smile fades as her gaze meets Riley's and the realization of who and what he is sinks in.
Establishing.
Willow and Tara sit in the lounge talking.
You were there looking for me?
I thought maybe we could do a spell-- make people talk again. I'd seen you in the group, the Wicca group. You were... you were different than them. I mean, they didn't seem to know--
What they were talking about?
I think if they saw a real witch they would run the other way.
How long have you been practicing?
Always-- I mean, since I was little. My mom used to... she had a lot of power. Like you.
Oh, I don't have much in the way of power. Really, I mean most of my potions come out soup. Besides, spells going awry, friends in danger... I'm definitely nothing special.
No, you are.
Willow smiles at the compliment. Tara smiles hesitantly, then breaks into a grin.
Well, I thought we made a pretty good team, not getting killed and all... with some soda machine, boom! Pretty cool. Seems like you're kinda powerful.
I'd like to be. I feel like I'm stuck. Like I'm at the door and it won't open.
I know exactly what you mean.
Giles and Olivia lie on his couch.
So would you say this was your best visit ever?
All the time you used to talk to me about witchcraft and darkness and the like-- I just thought you were being pretentious.
Oh, I was. I was also right.
So everything you told me was true?
Well no, I wasn't actually one of the original members of Pink Floyd. But the monster stuff, yes.
Scary.
Too scary?
I don't know.
Giles looks troubled.
A knock at the door. Riley enters, closing it behind him.
Hi.
Hi.
Riley sits on Willow's bed facing Buffy.
Well, I guess we have to talk.
Long beat.
I guess we do.
They sit silently, facing each other, neither one knowing where to begin.