[Transcript of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" episode This Year's Girl at buffyology.com.]
BUFFY makes her bed, tucking in a sparkling white sheet.
They smell good, don't they?
Reveal FAITH on the opposite side of the bed, tucking in the sheet on the other side.
What?
Clean sheets. Like summer.
I wouldn't know.
Right. I forgot.
I noticed.
I wish I could stay, but...
Oh, you have to go.
It's just that--
Little sis coming. I know.
So much to do before she gets here.
They walk around to end of bed and face each other.
Now I really have to...
So go. Don't let me keep--
Bright red drops of blood fall onto the sheet.
Damn. Just when we'd made it so nice. (beat) Are you ever gonna take this thing out?
Pan down to reveal Buffy holding the hilt of Faith's assassin knife protruding from a bloody gash in Faith's belly. Buffy's gaze hardens and she gives the knife a sharp twist. Faith recoils in pain as we
Pan down from a shot of various hospital monitoring devices (EEG, EKG, etc.) to Faith lying comatose in a hospital bed. The previous scene was a dream, a vision being played out in Faith's unconscious mind.
It's storming outside. Faith sleeps on as the thunder booms and lightning crashes around her.
Opening credit sequence.
XANDER and WILLOW examine the Initiative weapon that Buffy salvaged from her encounter in the storm sewers. GILES and Buffy look on, hopeful Xander's paranormal military expertise will enable him to restore it to working order.
So here it is. The latest in state-of-the-art combat technology. I gotta say, it doesn't look that complicated.
So can you repair it?
Sure. As soon as I get my master's degree in advanced starship technology.
Well, why don't we experiment? Press some buttons, see what happens.
I'd like to veto that.
Second. It's called a blaster, Will, a word that tends to discourage experimentation. Now, if it were called the Orgazmater, I'd be the first to try your basic button-press approach.
Just tell me. Can you repair it or not?
I'm working on it, I'm working on it. (to himself) I blow a hole in my mom's azalea patch, the neighbors will not be pleased.
Buffy sits down, looking exhausted.
Are you all right? You've been patrolling round the clock for three days straight now. I thought you could use some--
What? Some rest? There's a demonoid killing machine out there, Giles. It doesn't only work the night shift.
I was going to say perhaps you could use some backup but now you mention it, building up your strength may not be a bad idea.
Just get the blaster working. That's all the strength I need.
Are you sure?
Why? Because ray guns aren't in the Slayer handbook? Will, you haven't seen this Adam thing. He's the Terminator without the bashful charm. He's deadly and the last time we met, he kicked my ass.
Oh no, blast away, by all means. I only meant... no word about Riley?
They keep telling me that he's fine. That's all they'll say.
Maybe they're telling the truth.
Maybe. I don't even know what the Initiative's version of "fine" is. I mean, they could be forcing him back onto medication or torturing him for all I know.
From what we've seen, I doubt they'll be trying to hurt him.
The only thing I know for certain is that my boyfriend is locked away and I'm not helping.
Across the room, the blaster short circuits sending a whopping jolt through Xander whose body spasms and contorts. No one else seems to notice, however and he glumly turns back to working on the gun.
Maybe Giles has a point. I mean, Riley is their top gun guy. Doesn't make sense that they'd hurt him.
All I know is that the Initiative has all those brain-washy, behavior modification guys.
So?
So what happens when they start not liking his behavior?
RILEY reaches over to the bed stand for Buffy's scarf, then gets out of bed, groaning in pain. He pulls on a shirt, then walks out of the room.
The soldier posted to guard Riley's room blocks his way.
Stand down, soldier. (no response) Stand down before I put you down.
FORREST approaches and addresses the sentry.
You heard the man. At ease.
The soldier steps back without a word and resumes his post.
The shish kebab that walks like a man. Looks like you're feeling better. Walking around, threatening people and all that.
He was in my way. I got places to be.
Really. And where were you thinking of going?
You know where I'm going.
Don't even tell me you're headed to that girlfriend of yours. Look at you. One good conjugal visit and you're back in intensive care to stay.
You wouldn't understand.
How about you explain it to me then?
GRAHAM arrives, clearly uncomfortable with the dispute between Riley and Forrest.
We all friends here, fellas?
Absolutely. Riley here was about to explain why he's leaving us so very quickly.
I don't explain because I don't have to. I'm the one in charge.
Things change.
Do they?
Hey, in case you failed to notice, we're in a world of hurt around here. Now's the time for us to band together, not go flying off our separate ways.
Forrest has a point, Riley.
We have a problem, we deal with that problem. Y'know, the most important part of the equation now is that we keep said problem within the family.
Family? Is that what we are? (beat, hard) Step aside.
Forrest doesn't move, just stares him down.
Faith lies in bed, monitors quietly recording the progress of her life.
Suddenly a bright flash of white light and we
and MAYOR RICHARD WILKINS lie on a picnic blanket eating sandwiches and enjoying the beautiful sunny day.
Think it's gonna rain?
Nonsense. It's a beautiful day. Now eat your sandwich.
I don't know. It just always seems like it starts raining about now.
You're too young and too pretty a girl to start wearing worry lines on your face.
A grass snake crawls onto the blanket between them and the Mayor picks it up.
Hey there, little fella. I don't know where you belong but it's not here with us.
He sets the snake free in the grass.
There you go. (to Faith) You see, there's nothing going to spoil our time together. Who wants cheesecake?
Faith smiles, then suddenly looks up with fear as Buffy strides purposefully up behind the Mayor with Faith's ornate dagger and in one fluid motion slices the Mayor's throat and guts him.
NO!
I told you I had things to do.
Terrified, Faith desperately tries to crawl away as Buffy steps across the remains of their picnic lunch and raises the knife high to strike.
Faith is still in a coma but she's no longer still as death-- her eyes dart back and forth beneath closed lids.
Buffy Willow and Xander patrol, looking for clues to Adam's whereabouts.
Spread out.
Not too far.
So not a problem.
Buffy walks around a copse of trees, shining her light back and forth. She turns to check behind her and her light reveals the corpse of a demon strung up between two trees, it's chest sliced open and surgically eviscerated. Xander and Willow emerge from the trees behind it and stare in open-mouthed shock.
The group is uncharacteristically shaken by the sheer brutality of what they've just seen.
I've never seen anything like that.
And I can go a long healthy stretch without seeing anything like that again.
It had to be Adam who killed it but why?
He's studying biology. Human, demon, whoever he can get his hands on and take apart.
He's finding out what makes things work.
I really don't want to be around for the final exam.
It's not coming to that. The Initiative created this thing and they can't stop it. But we will.
Question: Will hiding in a cavern with stockpiled chocolate goods be any part of this plan?
No.
Xander sits down next to Willow.
Told you.
What's first?
Riley. I'm not leaving him down there with the people that created this thing. I don't care how many guns they have, I'm going in. Okay. Will, I need you to hack into their security mainframe and buy me a ten-minute shutdown of operation systems.
That could be...
Tricky. Not impossible. If you can't do it online, then use magick. Xander, any gear you've been saving for a rainy day, I want you to give to me.
You want stealthy stuff?
No, we tried sneaking in. This time we're going to use force. I figure I'll go in through the elevator shaft, use the cable as towlines, then blast open the facility doors and find the infirmary.
Am I really worth all that?
Buffy turns around to find Riley standing behind her and her face lights up with relief and joy. She jumps up and runs to him, wrapping her arms around him. He returns the gesture, then flinches in pain.
Riley! Oh, god, I'm sorry! Did I hurt you?
No, a giant skewer through the rib cage hurt me. That was just a reminder.
How did you get out?
I walked.
They didn't try to stop you?
Oh, they did. Repeatedly. But then I told them they couldn't keep me without a major ass-kicking one way or another. So here I am.
That's... great, Riley, and y'know, there's no polite way to ask you this but did they put a chip in your brain?
Xander starts giving Riley's head a detailed inspection.
Beg your pardon?
Forget it. We're just happy to have you back.
Yeah, we were pretty worried about you for a while, mister.
Me, too.
Suddenly Riley remembers how he pushed Willow around before.
Hey, I know my behavior was pretty out there...
Forget it. Tell you what, you two crazy kids take down a killer cyber-demon-hybrid-thingy and we'll call it all even.
Taking down Adam's going to be tough. There's no way to predict what he'll throw at us.
You're here. Whatever comes, we can handle it.
Faith runs in a blind panic. Buffy walks calmly after her, holding the assassin's dagger, gaining inexplicably but inexorably.
The chase leads into a cemetery. It begins to thunder and storm, the rain sluicing down out of the sky. Faith continues running, looking behind her to find Buffy gaining on her. She doesn't see the open grave until it's too late and falls in. Buffy
walks up to the pit, pauses for a moment then steps off into the grave after Faith. The sound of fighting comes from the grave, then nothing.
Suddenly a hand shoots out of the hole and grips the wet grass, pulling up. Faith hauls herself bodily out of the grave, having survived her encounter with Buffy. She stands in the sheeting rain and looks up at the sky, letting the water cascade down her body.
CU: Faith's sleeping face. Her eyes snap open.
After eight months, Faith the Vampire Slayer is awake.
Faith lies awake in bed listening to the noises of the hospital around her. She looks at the monitors, then at IV tube in her arm. She slowly raises her hand and clenches it into a fist. Then she throws the covers aside, rips out the monitor cable and the IV from her hand and leaves.
Faith walks slowly down the hall, taking in her surroundings. A YOUNG WOMAN visitor comes through the doors at the end of the hallway, dressed in a long red sweater and jeans. She sees Faith and approaches her.
Excuse me. Do you know how to get to Third Floor West?
What?
The woman notices Faith's hospital gown and the sickly pallor of her skin.
I see... you need some help or something?
Graduation.
What?
Graduation. I gotta get to Sunnydale High School graduation. Now.
Well, you can't. I mean, Sunnydale High School isn't even there anymore.
What day is it?
Friday.
What date? The date.
February 25th.
What year?
Maybe I should get you a nurse...
What happened to the school?
Don't you just want to--
Just tell me.
Well, it was a tragedy, really. Lots of students died... the principal, the mayor. I really think maybe I should get you some help.
Faith walks out of the hospital wearing the young woman's clothes.
Buffy and Riley are in her room to talk things out.
You know, I never stopped thinking about you.
Me neither. (re: scarf) All I had in there was this one little part of you.
It's just the scarf part of me, really.
Sure it is. Just knowing you were out there... that you cared. Do you think we're being watched?
I don't know. Does the Initiative do that?
Maybe.
You seem a little... somewhere else. Is there anything I can do?
Give me an order. That's what I do isn't it? Follow orders.
You don't have to.
Don't I? All my life that's what I've been groomed to do. They say "Jump", I ask "How high?" I get the job done. Just don't know if it's the right job anymore.
I know how you feel. Giles used to be part of this Council and for years all they ever did was give me orders.
Ever obey them?
Sure. (beat) The ones I was going to do anyway. The point is, I quit the Council. And I was scared. But it's okay now.
Now see, that's where you and I are different. I just suck at the whole gray area thing.
It's a choice: go back in there and make some changes from the inside or you can quit the team, fight demons in your own way.
You make it sound so simple. I don't even know what my way is.
Well, it's time to find out.
I'm a soldier. Take that away, what's left?
A good man.
She leans over and kisses him, then crawls into his lap and starts kissing and running her lips over his head.
What're you doing?
I am looking for brainwashy chips in your head.
Finding any?
Not sure. But I should probably keep looking just in case. (beat) You've been strong long enough, Riley Finn. I'm here for you. And we're going to find this demon and we're going to kill it together. And in the meantime, you are going to stop torturing yourself.
Sure about that?
It's an order.
She leans in to kiss him again.
A DOCTOR interrogates Faith's NURSE in the presence of a POLICE DETECTIVE.
What do you mean, she just wasn't there?
I don't know. I came to check the monitors like I always do at eight o'clock. Eight o'clock is my shift. I got here on time.
You found the bed in this condition?
I haven't touched a thing.
Get the duty rosters and check the log. I want to know exactly what happened. Coma patients do not just get up and walk away.
We are checking every room on every floor.
Walk me through this one more time. You knew this woman was wanted for questioning in a series of murders and there's no security on this wing?
You don't understand. There's no way that girl was going to wake up.
Doctor...
This can't be happening.
A SECOND NURSE runs in.
Did you find her?
Another woman, unconscious and badly beaten. And she's been stripped.
Everyone but the original nurse rushes out of the room. The nurse goes to a phone on the wall and dials.
It's happened. Send the team.
Faith walks through streets, confused and alone. She watches families enjoying the night out together and friends boisterously carrying on at a local restaurant. Eventually she makes her way to Giles' apartment and peers in the window from the shadows, listening as Giles, Buffy, Riley, Willow and Xander discuss the Adam problem.
The problem for me seems to be why Adam has stayed dormant as long as he has.
When he's not making performance art out of other demons, that is.
He's probably working off an autonomic power source and because he's straight out of the box, he needs to charge up a while.
Okay, what's he charging up for?
Based on the clues, I'll go with killing spree.
And that's a best case scenario. (picks up blaster rifle) I suppose a little fire power would be a good idea right now.
He flips a series of switches and the blaster hums to life, much to Xander's consternation and amazement.
Hey! How'd you do that? Is there like an on/off button somewhere here?
Blasters are easy. Adam won't be.
Since Professor Walsh designed it, any chance she left instructions lying around somewhere?
Faith watches Buffy put her arm around Riley and kiss him lightly on the forehead.
Well, if she did, they're going to be in the Initiative.
Which we can't get into without mounting a major offensive.
Speak for yourself. (off their look) I'm just saying.
I must admit, a man on the inside would be--
A really good idea. Are you sure you want to be Double Agent Guy?
I'm not exactly sure what you'd call me but I will share information. It's the least I can do.
Riley's right. It is the least he can do.
The phone rings and Giles answers it.
Hello. What? Yes, she is. (to Buffy) It's for you.
Buffy seems a little surprised but gets up and takes the phone.
Hello? What sort of emergency? (shocked look) No, I haven't. Thank you, I'll let you know.
She hangs up. Outside, Faith retreats into the shadows.
What is it?
It's Faith. She's awake. (off their stunned silence) She beat someone up, took her clothing and disappeared out of the hospital. No one knows where she is.
I'd say this qualifies for a Worst Timing Ever award.
What do we do?
Well, we have to find her.
What about Adam?
I'd hate to see the pursuit of a homicidal lunatic get in the way of pursuing a homicidal lunatic.
Well, Faith's not exactly Low Profile Girl. I'll patrol and wait for her to make a move.
But then what?
Oh, I have an idea! Beat the crap out of her.
Good plan.
Good on paper. But we still have a decision to make. Do we hand her over to the cops? They wouldn't know what to do with a Slayer even if they knew we existed.
What about the Council?
Been there, tried that. Not unlike smothering a forest fire with napalm, as I recall.
Well, the Initiative-- they do have containment facilities.
One word: evil.
There's no way around it. Faith is back and whether I like it or not, she's my responsibility.
Yeah, too bad. That was the best coma ever.
We have no idea where she is. We don't know what she's thinking, what she's feeling...
Who she's doing.
She could be terrified. Maybe she doesn't even remember. Or maybe she does and she's sorry and she's alone hiding somewhere.
Well, perhaps there's some form of rehabilitation we just haven't thought about.
And if not, ass-kicking makes a solid Plan B.
I'm not going to rule it out. First thing, we need to find her, then we can take it from there.
Who's Faith?
Buffy and Willow walk down a long set of stairs on the main quad.
What did you tell him?
The truth? That she's my wacky identical cousin from England and whenever she visits, hijinks ensue?
It's good you guys have such an honest relationship.
No, I told him the story. I vagued up a few bits but no flat-out lies.
That's fair. How'd you handle the Angely parts?
I did some editing. It's not that I'm trying to hide anything from Riley, it's just that's a longer conversation and I had a Faith-hunt to do.
Any luck?
Couldn't find her. Don't know exactly where to place that in the luck continuum.
At least you're not alone on this. I bet every cop in Sunnydale is out there looking for her right now.
Pressure's definitely on. I'm telling you, if I were her, I'd get out of Dodge post-hasty.
They reach the bottom of the stairs where a group of students is gathered at a large kiosk. One of the students turns around right in front of Buffy; it's Faith.
But you're not me.
Resume. Faith and Buffy confront each other for the first time since that fateful night on the rooftop eight months before. Willow backs off to the side, clearly unnerved by Faith's sudden appearance.
So check you out, B. Nice. The Big Girl on Campus thing's really working for you.
I've been looking for you.
I've been standing still for eight months, B. How hard did you look?
Are you all right?
Five by five. That's the thing about a coma: you wake up all rested and rejuvenated... and ready for payback.
So much for pleasantries, huh?
What did you think? I'd wake up and we'd go for tea? You tried to gut me, blondie.
You'd have done the same to me if you'd had the chance.
Lets have another go at it. See who ends up on top.
It doesn't have to be like this, you know.
Actually, I think it has to be exactly like this.
Buffy looks around at the other students milling about.
Faith, these are innocent people.
No such animal.
I guess it was too much to hope that you'd use your downtime to reflect and grow.
I could say the same about you. I mean, you're still the same better-than-thou Buffy. I mean, I knew it somehow. I kept having this dream-- I'm not sure what it means-- but in the dream, this self-righteous blond chick stabs me. And you want to know why?
Behind Faith, Willow shrugs her backpack off her shoulders.
You had it coming?
That's one interpretation but in my dream, she does it for a guy.
Willow inches toward Faith from behind, wielding her backpack as a weapon.
Try it, Red, and you'll lose an arm. (to Buffy) I wake up to find the blond chick isn't even dating the guy she was so nuts about before. I mean, she's moved on to the first college beefstick she meets. Not only has she forgotten about the love of her life but she's forgotten about the chick she nearly killed for him. So that's my dream. That and some stuff about cigars and a tunnel. But tell me, college girl, what does it mean?
To me? Mostly that you still mouth off about things you don't understand.
The sound of approaching sirens.
Uh-oh. I guess somebody knows you're here.
Faith looks away for a second, then smashes Buffy soundly in the face. They start fighting furiously to the stunned amazement of the students around them; their skill and power are evenly matched. Two patrol cars screech to a halt some distance away and Willow takes the opportunity to whack Faith with her backpack, distracting her long enough for Buffy to seize her. Faith rips free of
Buffy but, with a glance at the approaching cops, realizes Buffy has won-- for now.
You took my life, B. Payback's a bitch.
Look who's talking.
See you around.
Faith runs off, plowing through police officers and students alike as she sprints across a grassy knoll, leaps a stone wall and disappears. Buffy gives chase but by the time she reaches the wall, Faith is nowhere to be seen.
Willow and TARA walk down the stairs into the common area.
Thanks for coming with. Hunting for a psychopathic super-bitch is definitely in the above-and-beyond category.
It's okay, really. So what do we do if we find her?
Run, flee, maybe skedaddle. We're not here to engage. This is strictly recon. (off Tara's laugh) What?
You said "recon". You're like Cool Monster Fighter.
Well, technically, Faith isn't a monster. And as far as fighting, I'd be lucky to bruise her fist with my face.
Oh.
Tara seems uncomfortable.
What?
Face-punching. I'm not so good with the whole...
She throws some very pathetic punches.
Swimming?
Violence.
Don't worry, we're sure to spot Faith first. She's like this cleavagey slut-bomb, walking around, "Oh, check me out, I'm wicked cool. I'm five by five."
Five by five? Five what by five what?
See that's the thing! No one knows. Buffy can handle Faith and you're plenty safe with me.
So... we recon till nightfall?
Then the ritual hiding begins.
Xander and Giles roam the streets in search of Faith. They're heavily armed.
The point being, I could be the target here. If Faith finds Mr. Xander Harris still in town, she'll go tighter than cat gut. Got a lotta pent up feelings there. I'm only saying.
Yes, I'm sure.
See I can't be held responsible for the effect I have on women.
No...
See Faith and I have this little thing between us called history--
Rattling from a dark alley. Xander charges the blaster and they cautiously approach. A cigarette lighter flares briefly illuminating SPIKE.
Spike?
What are you doing here?
Me? Hey, I'm not the one out of place here.
For your information, smarty, we've got a rogue Slayer on our hands. Real psycho-killer, too.
Sounds serious.
It is. What do you know?
What do you need?
Her. Dark hair. Yay tall, name of Faith, criminally insane.
Have you seen her?
Is this bird after you?
In a bad way, yeah.
Tell you what I'll do, then. I'll head out, find this girl, tell her exactly where you are and then watch as she kills you. (off their look) Can't any one of your damn little Scooby Club at least try to remember that I hate you all? Just because I can't do the damage myself doesn't stop me from aiming a loose cannon your way. And here I thought the evening'd be dull.
Go ahead. You wouldn't even recognize her.
Dark hair, this tall, name of Faith, criminally insane. I like this girl already.
Xander and Giles stare at each other for a moment, realizing their mistake.
We're dumb.
Faith's nurse watches as a black helicopter lands in the darkened parking lot and three swarthy and intensely serious looking men dismount and run up to her. They confer briefly and then proceed into the hospital with her as the helicopter lifts off and disappears into the night.
Faith walks the streets. She eyes a storefront display of knives but is spooked by the appearance of a patrol car. She blends in with a passing group of students and ducks into an alley.
From the shadows, a gruff voice calls her name. She whirls and sees a massive DEMON walking toward her.
Faith! Your friend sent me. I got a little remembrance from him.
With a lightning-quick series of kicks and blows, she stuns the demon, then snaps its neck. She bends over and takes a package off the corpse and opens it, revealing a videotape and a small ornate box. Another patrol car shines it's searchlight into the alley. She scampers up a ladder to the building's roof and disappears.
Faith gains entry to an electronics store and slips the videotape into one of the VCRs on sale. Mayor Wilkins appears on the tape, sitting in his office at City Hall.
Hello, Faith. If you're watching this tape, it can only mean one thing: I'm dead and our noble campaign to bring order to the town of Sunnydale has failed-- utterly and completely. (beat) But on the other hand, heck, maybe we won and right now I'm on some jumbo monitor in the Richard Wilkins Museum surrounded by a bunch of kids sitting Indian-style and looking up at my face filled with fear and wonder. (laughs) Hi, kids!
Faith smiles wistfully at the Mayor's silliness.
But the realist in me tends to doubt it. Now Faith, as I record this message, you're sleeping and the doctors tell me you might never wake up. I don't believe that. Sooner or later you will wake up and when you do, you'll find the world has gone and changed on you. I wish I could make the world a better place for you to wake up in but, tough as it is to accept, we both have to understand that even my power to protect and watch over you has its limits. See, the hard pill to swallow is that once I'm gone, your days are just plain numbered. Now I know you're a smart and capable young woman in charge of her own life but the problem, Faith, is that there won't be a place in the world for you anymore. By now I bet you're feeling very much alone. But you're never alone. You'll always have me.
In the video, the Mayor picks up the ornate box.
And you'll always have this. Go ahead. Open the box.
She takes the box out and looks at it.
Don't worry. It's not going to bite. That's my job. (laughs) Go ahead. Open it. Surprise! You won't find these in any gumball machine. See when you've been around as long as I have, you make friends and some of them forge neat little gizmos... just like the one you're holding right now.
She takes out a bizarre-looking metallic device with loops and gears and examines it curiously.
And here's the good news. Just because it's over for my Faith, doesn't mean she can't go out with a bang.
Buffy and Riley discuss her Faith strategy.
She's a very dangerous woman.
Okay, I get it. Faith bad. Do I look like I'm arguing?
Not yet. But you always make that innocent face right before you start.
Figured it out, huh? Damn. It took my mom twelve years to catch on to that one. All I'm saying is, if you're in trouble, I want to help.
You can't.
Give me one reason why.
She throws him a Nerf ball. He catches it but flinches in pain.
That's one.
All right, I'm not exactly Action Guy but there's gotta be something I can do other than sit around waiting for you to pummel this gal.
Riley, the fact that you just called Faith a "gal" only proves that you don't know her.
I've never seen anyone get under your skin this way before. What exactly did she do to you?
It's a long story.
I'm from Iowa. We drive four hours for a high school football game. Try me.
I told you, okay? She hurt me and people I care about. And did I mention the psycho killer part?
There's something you're not telling me.
Riley, I have to go. She's out there.
All right. I'm just saying I think you're holding out on me.
Riley, this isn't a joke. There's a criminally insane woman out there with super-powers who thinks I'm responsible for ruining her life. I know Faith. She'll come after me and she'll come after the people I love.
JOYCE walks to the door in response to a knock. She opens it to find Faith standing there, smiling.
Hi, Joyce.
Faith knocks Joyce unconscious with a single crushing blow, walks in, and shuts the door behind her.
Mind if I come in?
Faith goes through Joyce's makeup drawer, tossing aside one lipstick after another, while Joyce sits on the bed, petrified.
Ruby Sunset... Burgundy Skyline... Harlot. Mmm, way to go Joyce. Now, normally I wouldn't be going for something this dark, but I read in some magazine that eight months in a coma will damage a girl's natural skin tone. (applies lipstick) Good thing pale is in this year. Or was it last year? (kissing the mirror) Anyway, for real now. I want to ask you something and I want you to promise to be honest and to not spare my feelings just because I could kill you. You promise?
I promise.
Okay. (turns to Joyce) How do I look?
Psychotic.
I was shooting for sultry, but hey. (beat) Bet I know what you're thinking.
Really.
You're thinking "You'll never get away with this!"
Actually, I was thinking "My daughter is going to kill you soon."
That a fact?
More like a bet.
Whoa. You got a pair on you, Joyce, I like seeing that in a woman your age. Guess you can afford to talk that way. I mean, in the world according to Joyce, Buffy is gonna come crashing through that door any minute. But look what I found. (re: Joyce's mail) Buffy Summers, Buffy Summers, Buffy Summers, Buffy, Buffy, Buffy. Lotta letters. She hasn't been by in a while, huh? And you'd think, with a crazy chick like me on the loose-- crazy chick with a wicked grudge against her, no less-- she'd call, give you a heads-up. But Buffy's too into her own deal to remember dear old mom.
You don't know the first thing about Buffy. Or me.
Don't I? I know what it's like. You think you matter, you think you're a part of something and you get dumped. It's like the whole world is moving and you're stuck. It's like those animals in the tar pits. It's like you just keep sinking a little deeper every day and no one even sees.
Were you planning to slit my throat any time soon?
Don't tell me you don't see it, Joyce. You've served your purpose, squirted out the kid, raised her up, and now you might as well be dead. Nobody cares, nobody remembers, especially not Buffy-fabulous-superhero. Sooner or later you're going to have to face it. She was over us a long time ago, Joyce. Too busy climbing onto her new boy-toy to give a single thought to the people that matter. I mean, you're her mother and she just leaves you here to die.
Faith picks up a knife and starts toward Joyce just as Buffy crashes through the bedroom window behind her, tackling her to the floor. Buffy stands up and looks at her mother.
Hi, mom.
Hi, honey.
Faith launches into Buffy and the vicious fight progresses from Joyce's room out into the hallway.
Joyce calls 911 as the Slayers roll down the stairs and clamber to their feet.
Thought I'd go after the green marine, didn't ya? He's a cutie. Looks like he could use a good roll in the sack.
Buffy pounds Faith and knocks her down.
You're not his type. He's not big on sleaze.
Faith pins Buffy against the wall by her neck.
He's probably just never tried it.
Going for the boyfriend again? That's tired.
Buffy wrenches herself free.
Just something to remember me by once I've moved on.
Buffy throws Faith across the dining room table.
Ever occur to you, Faith, that the reason we all forgot you is because we wanted to?
Faith rips a drawer out of the credenza and throws it at Buffy.
Giles enters his apartment and flips the light switch. Nothing. A lamp switches on across the room and a startled Giles looks up to find the three rather serious- looking, leather-clad men waiting for him.
Hello, Rupert.
Giles is shocked.
Faith renews her attack on Buffy, brandishing a knife she pulls from Joyce's silver drawer. Suddenly she stops as she hears approaching sirens.
Police...
She breaks off and runs into the living room with Buffy in close pursuit.
Faith slams the living room door right in Buffy's face and Buffy flies through the glass, shattering it. The two continue fighting and Faith manages to keep Buffy off long enough to put the Mayor's device on her hand. She stops one of Buffy's blows and grips Buffy's hand with her own, the device sandwiched between their palms.
A bright flash of light and an energy discharge follows, stunning both Buffy and Faith.
Taking advantage of the opening, Buffy hammers Faith unconscious.
Joyce runs down the stairs and into the living room.
You okay?
All things considered.
What is that?
Buffy drops it to the floor and crushes it underfoot.
Weapon of some kind. Didn't work, whatever it was.
The police arrive and enter the living room.
Oh, the police.
Buffy looks down at Faith.
She's their problem now.
You sure you're okay?
Buffy hesitates before replying, the hint of a smile playing at her face.
Five by five.
Hold on Buffy as her eyes dance with an insane and menacing light.