[Transcript of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" episode After Life at buffyology.com.]
WILLOW, TARA, XANDER and ANYA make their way through the dark alleys.
She's at home. She has to be. We just need to get there and she'll be there.
This is the fastest way?
Absolutely.
You sure?
Hey, I've done a lot of fleeing on these mean streets. I know all the shortcuts.
Anya points to a burning barrel as they pass.
I don't like this. Look, fire. Fire is rarely a sign of imminent safety.
I wish we were there already.
Hey, hey, don't worry, ladies, I'll get us there just fine. My senses are primed for danger and nothing's going to--
Xander yelps in surprise as three Hellions on motorcycles roar past them from behind. The demons ignore them and shoot on down the alley.
Xander stumbles back, rattled. The girls steady him.
I'm okay. (pats himself) Four. Four limbs.
Well, at least the demons almost hit you on the way out of town.
Yeah, now that their leader's gone they seem to be making with the big skedaddle.
It was Buffy, right? We saw her and it was really Buffy?
I think we screwed it up. She's broken.
No! She's not broken! She's just... disoriented from being tormented in some hell dimension. Probably tortured and... it's like we don't even know how much time has passed there for her-- possibly years. That's not something you just get over. Oh, my god. What if she never gets over it?
And you think of this now?
What are you thinking, Willow? That she's... that she's not right or maybe dangerous?
BUFFY and DAWN stand on the sidewalk. The street behind them is littered with charred debris.
Home! See? You're back home. We're all okay now.
Buffy just stares at the house, disheveled and unhappy.
Opening credit sequence.
Buffy stands in the foyer as Dawn closes the front door behind them. Buffy moves toward the living room, almost in a daze. She winces in pain when Dawn turns on a light.
Ow.
Dawn watches anxiously as Buffy surveys the living room.
It's different.
A little. Willow and Tara live here now and we... we didn't do much.
Buffy stares at a framed photo of Joyce on the table.
We moved some of the chairs and took out some of the little tables but...
Dawn trails off as Buffy turns and heads toward the dining room. Dawn follows, turns on the light in the dining room.
This is the same. Except the computer stuff.
A laptop computer sits at one end of the dining room table.
That's Willow's, obviously. We eat at the other end... obviously.
Dawn looks up the stairs after Buffy for a moment, then follows.
The faucet is running. Dawn turns it off and turns to Buffy, who stares at her reflection in the mirror.
Dawn carefully begins wiping her sister's neck with a washcloth.
There you are. Knew you were under that dirt somewhere.
Buffy doesn't react, just continues staring at her reflection.
You remember what Mom used to say? "Either wash that neck or plant potatoes." (beat) Yeah, I never thought it was funny either.
Dawn indicates Buffy's shirt.
You want to button that or...
Buffy looks down. Her hands are still bloody. Dawn notices them for the first time.
Oh... ow.
Dawn gently lifts Buffy's hands to look at them. Buffy jerks them back.
We'll... take care of that after.
Okay.
Here, I'll do the shirt. And then we'll do your hands.
Buffy frowns, looks around.
See how nice you look...
Buffy walks away before Dawn can finish buttoning.
Buffy walks into Willow and Tara's room. Dawn enters behind her, turns on the light. Again, Buffy winces.
Mom's room. I know it's really different now.
Willow and Tara. This is their room.
Yeah, well, it seemed to make the most sense. No one was using it and it's the biggest. But you know, now that you're here, we'll have to figure out something to do.
Buffy turns to leave again. Dawn sighs and blocks her way.
Buffy? You want to like stop? We can... we can sit down and talk.
What else is different?
Do you mean about the house or...
Buffy shrugs, doesn't look at her.
Let's see... Giles. It's so weird. He left today. Because you were... He'll come right back. I'll call him. Someone'll call him.
What...
What what?
Buffy seems to be drifting in and out of reality. She snaps out of it again.
What... will you say to him?
The door opens downstairs. Buffy goes on full alert, looks around anxiously.
What's that?
It's okay. It's okay.
Dawn! Dawn! Are you there?
It's just Spike. (to Spike) I'm here!
Dawn shoots Buffy a look, then heads downstairs. Buffy follows.
SPIKE slams the door angrily, looking up the stairs.
Thank god. You scared me half to death... or more to death. You! I could kill you.
Spike...
I mean it. I could rip your head off one-handed and drink from your brain stem.
Look.
Dawn turns as Buffy walks down the stairs behind her.
Yeah? I've seen the bloody bot before. Didn't think she'd patch up so--
He stops, staring quizzically at Buffy. Buffy continues down the stairs, returning his gaze.
She's kind of... she's been through a lot... with the... death. But I think she's okay.
Buffy suddenly notices her shirt is still unbuttoned and begins buttoning it.
Spike? Are you okay?
I'm... what did you do?
Me? Nothing.
Buffy clutches the top of her shirt closed and looks up at Spike fearfully.
Her hands.
Buffy lowers her hands, puts them behind her back, looks uncomfortable.
I was going to fix them. I don't know how they got like that.
I do. Clawed her way out of a coffin, that's how. (to Buffy) Isn't that right?
Yeah. That's... what I had to do.
Done it myself.
Throughout this, Spike continues staring at her as if he thinks he's dreaming. Now he snaps out of it.
We'll take care of you. Come here.
He puts his arm around Buffy and guides her into the living room.
Get some stuff... mercurochrome, bandages.
Okay.
She heads for the kitchen and Spike follows Buffy into the living room.
Buffy sits on the sofa and Spike sits on the coffee table facing her. He takes her hands in his and looks at them. Then he looks up at her face and their eyes meet.
How long was I gone?
Hundred forty-seven days yesterday... hundred forty-eight today. Except today doesn't count, does it? (beat) How long was it for you... where you were?
Longer.
Dawn reappears carrying medical supplies.
Got the stuff.
As she enters the living room, the front door bursts open and the rest of the gang rushes in.
Is she here?
She's here!
You're here.
We didn't know where you were.
You ran away.
Buffy!
Are you okay?
You knew she was back?
Spike quietly eases out the front door; no one notices.
How did you know?
You're not a zombie, are you?
Anya!
Are you in pain?
What do you remember?
What do you know about what happened?
Buffy withdraws into herself; she can't handle the barrage of questions.
Hey! Back off!
They stare at Dawn in shocked silence.
You did this. What did you do?
A spell. We did a spell.
We didn't think it worked but--
Is she going to be okay?
I'm okay.
Everyone looks over at Buffy.
I'm going to be fine. I remember. You brought me back.
What was it like?
I, I can't...
It's okay. You don't have to talk about this, Buff. Hey, do you want something? Anything. Pizza. I'll get you pizza.
Buffy likes pizza.
Yeah, something to eat--
She doesn't want pizza.
I just meant--
Guys! Back off.
Right. Dawn's right. We should just be quiet and let Buffy tell us what she needs.
Everyone turns to Buffy expectantly. She looks uncomfortable and stands up.
I think I... just want to go to sleep.
That's a good idea. You should sleep.
Right. Long day. But Buffy... be happy. We got you out. We really did it.
Awkward silence.
Tired.
Well, yeah. I mean... jet-lag from hell has gotta be, you know, jet-lag from hell.
My room is still...
Yeah. Yes. It's your room.
Buffy exits. The others watch her go, then look at each other.
Well, she's fine! Normal. She used to go to bed all the time!
Anya and Xander exit and head down the walk.
I think Willow's wrong. I don't think she's particularly normal at all.
Well, she just got back. Give it time. I bet in a week she'll be our little Bufferin again.
Oh, yes, 'cause six or seven days, that's all you really need to get over eternal hell experiences.
Xander's attention is drawn by a furtive noise from the shadows.
Who's that? Spike?
Spike leans against the tree in the front yard, smoking.
What are you doing out here? I hope you're not going to start your little obsession now that she's around again.
Spike grabs Xander and spins him around, slams him up against the tree and holds him there.
Hey!
You didn't tell me. You brought her back and you didn't tell me.
Well, now you know.
I worked beside you all summer.
We didn't tell you. It was just... we didn't, okay?
Listen. I've figured it out. Maybe you haven't, but I have. (points to house) Willow knew there was a chance that she'd come back wrong. So wrong that you'd have... that she would have to get rid of what came back. And I wouldn't let her. If any part of that was Buffy, I wouldn't let her. And that's why she shut me out.
What are you talking about? Willow wouldn't do that.
Oh. Is that right?
Look. You're just covering. Don't tell me you're not happy. Look me in the eyes and tell me when you saw Buffy alive, that wasn't the happiest moment of your entire existence.
Spike scowls at Xander and walks off.
That's the thing about magick. There's always consequences. Always!
Spike gets on his motorcycle and rides off.
Buffy stands in front of the mirror, still dressed, staring blankly at her reflection. A door closes. Buffy starts and looks toward the hallway.
Tara brushes her hair in front of the mirror as Willow enters.
Hey.
Did you get through to London?
Yeah. He's going to head back as soon as he can. I'm not sure, like maybe a couple days.
How did he take it?
I'm not sure. I mean... glad but kinda weirded out, which I get, you know? Lots of "dear lords". And I think I actually heard him cleaning his glasses.
Are you worried?
Worried? Tara, it worked fine. It's all good.
Hey, Will, this is me. It doesn't all have to be "good" and "fine". This is the room where you don't have to be brave. I still love you. If you're worried you can be worried.
Well... I'm not unworried. I mean, what happened, that was intense. That's... gotta change you.
Willow turns off the light and gets into bed with Tara.
When Angel came back, Buffy said he was wild. Like an animal.
Buffy's not like that.
Yeah.
But?
Willow points at her head.
It's just kinda... noisy up here tonight, you know?
Yeah.
Tara snuggles up to Willow.
Is this better?
Yeah. I think it makes things quieter in here.
You know what I think? I think we all just assumed crash positions.
Huh?
It's like... we were all tensed up, like we were expecting it to screw up. We weren't prepared for it to actually go right.
Yeah. (beat) Tara?
Yeah?
If things did go right, wouldn't you think she'd be... happier? Like, wouldn't you think she would be so happy that we brought her out?
Sure she is. You thought she'd say thanks. Be more grateful.
Would I be a terrible person if I said yes?
Give her time. She'll get there.
Right. No need to be in a big furry hurry.
Exactly. I'm sure it's okay.
Buffy sits on her bed, still dressed.
After a moment, she gets up and picks up a picture from the bedside table: Buffy, Xander and Willow hugging and smiling.
She puts it back and turns to her bulletin board which is covered with more pictures of her friends in various combinations, all smiling.
Suddenly the images change: all the flesh melts away and the smiling faces become moldering and skeletal.
Buffy closes her eyes in anguish, opens them again. The photos are back to normal.
Willow and Tara sleep soundly.
Something crashes against the framed picture above the bed. The glass shatters and rains down on Willow and Tara. They both bolt awake.
Buffy?
Buffy is silhouetted at the foot of the bed, backlit by moonlight.
What did you do? Do you know what you did? You're like children. Your hands smell of death. Bitches! Filthy little bitches, rattling the bones. Did you cut the throat? Did you pat its head?
Buffy grabs a crystal ball off a nearby table and throws it at them. Willow and Tara shriek as it smashes against the wall above their heads.
The blood dried on your hands, didn't it?
Oh my god, oh my god.
You were stained! You still are. I know what you did!
Willow jumps out of bed and turns on the lights. The room is empty. Buffy is gone. Tara looks down at the bed.
The glass. There's no glass.
Buffy's room is dark. A sliver of light appears as the door opens; reveal Buffy asleep in bed.
Willow and Tara exchange a look, then Willow pulls the door shut.
Willow and Tara come back in, confused.
Okay, what in the frilly heck is going on?
Maybe we dreamed it.
Right. Right. Wrong! (points at their heads) Different brains.
Oh, yeah.
Tara goes to the table and picks up the crystal ball that Buffy shattered.
Well... what was it talking about? Did you understand it?
Well, I understood the words but... no.
Tara sees something behind Willow and gasps in fear. Willow turns to look. Some kind of distortion moves across the wall toward the door, then it's gone.
What was that?
There's something in the house.
What is it after? Is it... Buffy?
I don't know.
That's it. I'm going to call. I hope Xander's up.
Anya leans over Xander in the bed.
Xander, are you up? I can't sleep. (beat) Play a word game with me. Xander, are you awake? Okay, I'm going to describe an adjective with accurate but misleading clues and then you have to guess what it is. (beat) Xander? (pokes him) Xander?
Still nothing. The phone rings and Xander bolts awake.
Huh? What? Do what?
That oughta do it.
Xander reaches across her and grabs the phone.
Hello?
Xander, it's me, Willow. We were just attacked.
Attacked? A vampire?
No, it was Buffy. Or something that looked like her.
Like she was possessed.
And then she just disappeared and we saw something... a little... there's something in the house.
In the house? All right, Willow, you need to get out of there, just get everyone out.
Anya suddenly looks over, her eyes glowing and completely white. She laughs crazily and moves toward Xander.
Wake up Buffy and Dawn. Don't make a big deal--
Anya approaches with a knife. She cuts her own face and cackles. Xander looks up in shock. He jumps up and grabs the knife as Anya crumples to the floor, unconscious. Her face is unblemished. He kneels beside her.
Anya! Anya!
A bulge appears in the carpet next to Xander's foot and moves away from them into the kitchen.
Xander? Xander!
The gang is gathered in the back yard, sitting together on lawn chairs.
Very bad. Very, very, very bad. Bad.
He's all traumatized.
Well, whatever it is, it's not the traditional haunting because it's not limited to one specific place and there's not, you know, a dead person.
Not any more.
I bet it's a hitchhiker.
A hitchhiker?
Standard way to travel through dimensions. Some demon-thing sees someone moving between worlds and grabs on for the ride.
You mean like some hell-beastie rode in with Buffy? Like... we're responsible for this?
Assume crash positions.
I think we shouldn't have brought Buffy back. I knew it was going to end badly. I should have said something.
Okay, fine but... what are we going to do? I mean, I'm feeling the need for some vigorous doing, you know?
It's okay. We just kill the beastie and then all is good. We're rolling in puppies! Right?
Can we do that? Kill it?
We killing something?
Buffy stands in the doorway wearing jeans and a t-shirt, holding a coffee mug.
Buffy! You're not supposed to be up.
How are you feeling? Are you okay?
So what are we killing?
A demon you brought back from hell with you.
Oh.
It's not like she's making it sound. A little haunting-type stuff. Boo-scary, everything's normal.
You shouldn't worry about it.
I remember something... last night...
She trails off, loses focus. They wait for her to continue.
Buff?
The photographs. Of us. They changed.
How did they change?
They were... dead. I mean, we were dead. Like... dead bodies? But then they were okay. So I just, you know, figured it was me. That I was going crazy.
Well, maybe you are. Going crazy. From hell. (off Willow's look) No. You're fine.
You are. And Buffy, we're so glad.
Yeah. This thing, this haunting thing, we'll fix it and then we'll still have you back, which is... it's so important.
Yes.
It's wonderful.
Buffy is stone-faced.
We should get to work.
Willow, Buffy, Tara, Xander and Anya sit around the table going through the books. Dawn peers over Willow's shoulder.
What's the list?
Possible hitchhikers.
Demons that might have come out of hell at the same time Buffy did.
"Skaggmore demons, Trellbane demons, Skitterers, Large and Small Bone-Eaters". If we get to pick, I say we go with the Small Bone-Eaters.
Well, that just means they prefer to eat things with small bones, like you.
That's just what we have so far. Five species of demons that have been known to move trans-dimensionally. Two of them may be invisible in this dimension and two others can perform spells to alter perception.
Well, that's four. What's the other one like?
Like the others, only dripping with viscous fluid.
Eww.
So should we concentrate on how to kill those or should we try to find more?
I'm not sure. Maybe... maybe some of us can keep going finding more and the others--
I miss Giles.
Oh. He's coming back. I talked to him. I know I'm a kind of poor substitute but until then, we'll get it done.
I think I should patrol.
She puts her book down and stands. Willow looks hurt.
Well, I know we'll find something soon.
Yeah.
Buffy heads out.
Do you want us to go with you?
We can do that.
No. I need to go. Sorry.
You should go.
Buffy leaves.
I'll be safe here with the others. Don't worry about me.
Dawn turns away. Her eyes glow, completely white. An evil smile spreads across her face.
Buffy walks among the headstones, distracted.
Anya enters carrying cups of coffee. Everyone is still researching. Dawn stands at a bookcase nearby, perusing the books.
I found one of those 24-hour places for coffee. Remember that bookstore? Well they became one of those books-and-coffee places and now they're just coffee. It's like evolution, only without the getting-better part. Coffee, coffee, coffee, hot chocolate for Dawn. (to Dawn) You're too young for coffee.
Dawn turns and sneers at Anya. Her voice is rough, a deep baritone.
Idiot.
You can have my coffee.
All of you did it. You stupid children. Did you think the blood wouldn't reach you? I smell the death on you. Look at what you've done!
Fire erupts from her mouth and they hit the floor. Several of the books on the table ignite.
Dawn goes limp and collapses to the floor.
Fire! Fire! Fire!
Dawn!
Xander grabs a cushion from a chair and beats out the flames. Anya bends over Dawn.
Oh my god, oh my god. That was it. Like Buffy, with fire.
A ripple moves across the floor.
Is she okay?
Did I look like that? I hope I didn't look like that.
No, I'm sure you looked really glamorous cutting up your face.
Dawn comes around.
What... what is it? What's happening?
You'll be okay.
I bet you'll experience some dry-mouth. (off their looks) Fire.
Was it... did the demon thing have me?
It's okay. It's okay.
Yeah. It's gone.
Yes, but where did it go? I mean, evil things have plans. They have things to do.
Spike paces back and forth restlessly. He turns and punches the wall. He laughs, looks at his bloodied hand.
A noise from upstairs. Spike looks alarmed, picks up a dagger and removes it from its sheath. He goes to the ladder and climbs up.
Spike moves slowly and quietly into the crypt, holding the dagger by his side. He finds Buffy perusing his magazines.
Buffy. You should be careful. Never know what kind of villain's got a knife at your back.
Your hand is hurt.
Hmm. Same with you.
Right.
She just stands there, staring. Spike looks at her, uncomfortable, not sure what to do. He sets the knife down.
Willow's getting pretty strong, isn't she? Bringing you back. It's hard to get a good night's death around here. (beat) You can sit down. Got furniture.
Buffy sits.
You should see the downstairs, too. It's quite posh.
She doesn't say anything. Spike sighs and sits on the edge of a table across from her.
I do remember what I said. The promise. To protect her. (beat) If I had done that-- even if I didn't make it-- you wouldn't have had to jump. But I want you to know I did save you. Not when it counted, of course, but... after that. Every night after that. I'd see it all again... do something different. Faster or more clever, you know? Dozens of times, lots of different ways. Every night I save you.
Xander stands by the window, peering through the blinds. Tara approaches.
It's getting light out. Buffy's probably on her way home from patrolling.
I like sunrise better when I'm getting up early than when I'm staying up late, you know? It's like... I'm seeing it from the wrong side.
Hey, Tara, this is probably crazy... but Spike got me to thinking. This spell we did... it's having consequences, isn't it? I mean, it sure seems like it. And I was just wondering... did you know that this might happen?
No!
Do you think... could someone have known?
Willow is a talented witch and she would never do anything to hurt anyone.
I know, I know. Backing off quickly, hands in the air. (sighs) I just meant--
Thaumogenesis!
Willow looks up from the books. Anya and Dawn jerk awake at Willow's shout.
She's possessed!
Thaumogenesis.
You're right.
I'm not possessed. I think I figured it out. This demon, it's not a demon we let out. It's a demon that we made.
We made a demon? Bad us.
Thaumogenesis is when doing a spell actually creates a being. In this case it was like a side-effect, I guess. Like a price.
What?
Think of it like the world doesn't like you getting something for free and we asked for this huge gift. Buffy. And so the world said, "Fine, but if you have that, you have to take this, too." And it made the demon.
Well, technically, that's not a price. That's a gift with purchase.
But if we made the demon, how come we can't see it? I mean, all we see is us. Doing stuff.
Well, I think it's out of phase with this dimension. Like its consciousness is here but its body is caught in the ether between existing and not existing.
It doesn't have a body so it's borrowing ours. It borrowed Dawn and Anya...
Or it's manifesting copies of them like it did when Buffy came at us.
It's using them to do stuff. To scare us, attack us.
So we need to un-create it, right? We need to send it the rest of the way out of our world.
Yes. Except that it's linked to the spell. So if we sent it away... it would be like the spell doesn't exist. Like it never happened.
Like it never brought Buffy back?
Yes.
You can't do that. You can't think for a second that you're going to do that.
Dawn...
If you think you can give her back to me and then take her away again? No. That's worse than if you'd never brought her back. You can't mess with people's lives this way!
Dawn, we're not going to do it that way.
How can you let her do this? How can you even talk about letting her go?
Honey, you're not listening. She said we will find another way.
We will.
Then do it!
Willow turns back to her book.
Wait. Wait. Dawn. Everybody hold on.
She smiles.
What? Why are you smiling? That's inappropriate.
Because it's temporary.
What is?
The demon. It's going to dissipate. The only way for it to survive on this plane is if it were to kill the subject of the original spell.
It would live if it killed Buffy?
That's not going to--
Xander lifts his head-- his eyes have gone white.
Thanks for the tip.
He collapses to the floor as the ripples moves across the wall.
Buffy enters, puts her keys on the table and starts up the stairs. Behind her, a white mist slowly coalesces into a vaguely human shape. Arms reach for Buffy as it moves up the stairs after her.
Buffy enters and pauses to look at the pictures on the wall again.
You don't belong here.
Buffy turns to see the mist floating into her room.
Buffy punches it but her fist passes through it. A tendril shoots out and hits her, sending her tumbling into the furniture. She recovers her balance and looks around in confusion. The mist reappears and Buffy punches it again. It swirls and re- forms behind her. She turns and punches again. Still nothing.
The demon hits again and she stumbles out the door into the hallway. She turns and looks back into her room. The mist is gone.
Buffy walks cautiously back into the room.
Did they tell you you belonged here?
The demon reappears in front of Buffy. She grabs its wrist, seems to almost have it, then her hands collapse through it.
Did they say this was your home again? Were you offered pretty lies, little girl?
The mist wraps around Buffy's waist and crushes her.
Or did they even give you a choice?
Xander! Drive faster!
I can't!
I could drive faster and I can't drive!
She's right, you're like a snail. A snail who's driving a car very slowly. Come on, give it the lead foot! We've got to help Buffy with that demon you sent after her.
I did not send the demon, I was possessed. The demon used me to eavesdrop on our conversation.
Great, so now what? We have to talk in some sort of anti-demon secret code?
Ood-gay idea-yay, An-yay.
Stop talking wrong in Pig Latin and drive! Buffy's in trouble!
It's okay, Dawnie. Willow and Tara are doing a spell.
You sure it won't send Buffy back?
No, of course not. It's just that she can't fight this thing if it's all... misty, so they make it more solid, so Buffy can kick its fully-embodied ass.
You sure it'll work?
Willow and Tara sit on the floor facing each other, holding hands. Candles burn around them.
Child of Words, hear thy makers. Child of Words, we entreat. With our actions did we make thee, To our voices wilt thou bend.
Buffy struggles in the grip of the demon. She curls her hands into fists and manages to break free. It hits her and she falls on the bed, rolls off the side onto the floor.
With our potions thou took motive With our motions came to pass. We rescind no past devotions, Give thee substance, give thee mass.
Buffy reaches under the bed and pulls out a battle-axe.
You're the one who's barely here. Set on this earth like a bubble.
Buffy swings the axe at the demon with no effect.
You won't even disturb the air when you go.
Xander, Anya and Dawn run in and recoil at the sight of the demon.
Go! Take Dawn out of here!
Willow has her eyes closed and her face turned upward. Tara continues chanting, not realizing that Willow has stopped.
Child of Words, hear thy makers. Child of Words, we entreat...
Tara trails off as a haze of golden light gathers around Willow. She pulls her hands out of Tara's. Her eyes snap open. They are completely black.
Solid.
The demon snaps into reality and forms into the rotting corpse of a woman. Buffy swings with the axe but the demon grabs the handle. They struggle for a moment, then the demon lets go and hits Buffy, breaking her grip on the axe. The demon hits her again. Buffy goes down.
Buffy picks up the axe, jumps up from the floor, and swings, cleaving the demon's head neatly from its shoulders. The head rolls to a stop at Dawn's feet. Dawn turns her face away, burying her face in Xander's arms.
That's probably the sort of thing I'm not supposed to see, right?
Anya pats Dawn on the shoulder.
Dawn heads down the walk, dressed for school. Buffy opens the door.
Dawn!
What's wrong?
Buffy comes down the stairs holding a brown paper bag.
Lunch.
You made me lunch? Wow. Thanks.
You better go. You've been out since... I got back. And you know what they say... those of us who fail history? Doomed to repeat it in summer school.
Dawn hugs Buffy.
Thank you. Are you okay?
I'm going to start charging money for every person that asks me that.
Everyone's been doing that, huh?
A little bit.
It's because they care about you a lot. When you were gone... it was bad when you were gone. But it'll be better now. Now that they can see you being happy. (beat) That's all they want.
Dawn turns and walks off. Buffy watches her go, thoughtful.
Tara and Willow stock the shelves. The door bell jingles. Willow turns and smiles as Buffy enters.
Buffy! Hey!
Hey, you get Dawn off to school all right? 'Cause I was thinking, if you need help picking her up, I--
It's okay. I got it. (nervous) Look, you guys, there's this thing... so I'm just going to say it. You brought me back. I was in a... I was in hell. I... I can't think too much about what it was like but it felt like the world abandoned me there and then suddenly... you guys did what you did.
It was Willow. She knew what to do.
Okay. So you did that. And the world came rushing back. Thank you. You guys gave me the world. I can't tell you what it means to me. And I should have said it before.
Willow's eyes glisten with tears.
You're welcome.
Welcome home, Buffy.
All three of them hug. Buffy's expression is still less than thrilled.
Buffy exits, closes the door behind her.
Buffy.
Spike stands in the shadows.
Spike, it's daylight and you're--
Not on fire? Sun's low enough, shady enough here. I was going to go inside but I overheard you and the super-friends exchanging a special moment and I came over a bit queasy. Say, aren't you leaving a hole in the middle of some soggy group hug?
Just wanted a little time alone.
She sits down on a stack of packing crates.
Oh, right then.
He starts to head off, then realizes he can't leave the alley without going into the sunlight.
That's okay. I can be alone with you here.
Thanks ever so.
Right.
Buff? Slayer? Are you okay?
She isn't but she composes herself and nods.
I'm here. I'm good.
Buffy, if you're in... if you're in pain or if you need anything or if I can do anything for you...
You can't.
Well, I haven't been to a hell dimension just of late but I do know a thing or two about torment.
He sits beside her.
I was happy.
Spike looks at her, confused.
Wherever I was... I was happy. At peace.
Spike stares, shocked.
I knew that everyone I cared about was all right. I knew it. Time didn't mean anything... nothing had form but I was still me, you know? And I was warm and I was loved and I was finished. Complete. I don't understand about theology or dimensions or any of it, really... but I think I was in heaven. And now I'm not. I was torn out of there. Pulled out... by my friends. Everything here is hard and bright and violent. Everything I feel, everything I touch... this is hell. Just getting through the next moment and the one after that... knowing what I've lost.
She looks over at Spike, then stands up. She walks into the sunlight and pauses.
They can never know. Never.
And then she's gone, leaving Spike alone with her revelation.