[Transcript of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" episode Potential at buffyology.com.]
RONA and VI make their way though the cemetery among the gravestones. They're obviously nervous and worried. Both hold stakes at the ready but they look more like scared children than warriors.
A branch snaps behind them and they turn toward the sound, terrified. Suddenly Rona is punched in the head and she collapses to the ground. SPIKE leaps out of the shadows in front of Vi who raises her stake to strike but Spike bats her hand aside easily. He wrenches her arm up behind her back, spins her around, baring her neck. His fangs descend toward her soft flesh and then... stop. His face morphs back to normal.
Okay, these two are dead. Why?
Rona gets to her feet, annoyed.
'Cause the black chick always gets it first?
What was that, Rona?
Reveal BUFFY, MOLLY and KENNEDY watching from a short distance away. As usual, Molly takes constant notes on a small pad.
I'm dead because he's a vampire. I don't have Slayer strength, Slayer speed... it wasn't a fair fight.
Fine. (to Vi) Do you think I care if it's a fair fight?
No! No, sir. You don't play by the rules and I have learned a valuable lesson... of some sort.
Spike twists her arm a little harder and she yelps.
Okay, Spike.
He smiles and lets her go.
You're right. You don't have Slayer strength but that doesn't mean that you're not strong. You have inherent abilities that others do not have.
Not like you do.
No. Not yet. But it's there. You have the potential. You have strength, speed, instinct... you just have to learn to trust yourself. Rona, what did your instincts tell you to do just then?
Block his attack, keep him off balance, gain the advantage...
No, they didn't.
They told me to run.
Vi?
They told me to run. (glances at Spike) They're still sorta telling me to run.
Don't fight on his terms. If your gut's telling you to run, run. Regain the higher ground. Make the fight your own. Spike, what did your instincts tell you to do just then?
Hunt. Kill.
Buffy takes out a stake and saunters casually toward Spike.
Come at me. Full speed.
She turns her back on him and faces the girls.
He needs to kill to live. That tells you everything you need to know.
Spike's face goes feral and he leaps at her from behind with a vicious snarl. She neatly sidesteps and he lands face-first on the edge of a gravestone. She jumps onto his chest, straddling him, and seizes him by throat, her stake poised to strike.
Instinct. Understand his but trust yours. You were chosen for a reason.
Spike gasps in pain and Buffy looks down at him, concerned.
Are you okay?
Fine. A couple of ribs ain't quite set right since... I'm fine.
Let me see.
No.
Spike...
She raises his shirt and feels along his chest. He gently takes her hand and pushes it away.
I'll be okay.
That's hot.
So we're supposed to like make out with them or something?
Careful, Buffy. Just when you think it's part of the lesson, he'll hurt your arm.
Buffy looks around and realizes how she must look to the girls and gets to her feet. She pulls Spike up after her.
Molly, Kennedy, let's go. You're up. Next lesson.
She glances over at Spike, then down at the ground, suddenly uncomfortable.
Opening credit sequence.
Buffy paces the basement, axe in hand, while the potential Slayers argue amongst themselves. DAWN watches from the stairs. Buffy has finally had enough. She hurls the axe across the room and embeds it in the wall. The girls look up in stunned silence.
You're all going to die. But you knew that already because that's the cool reward for being human. The big desert at the end of the meal. Don't kid yourselves, you guys. This whole thing is all about death. You think you're different because you might be the next Slayer? Death is what a Slayer breathes, what a Slayer dreams about when she sleeps. Death is what a Slayer lives. My death could make you the next Slayer. (beat) Oh, goody. Rapt attention. I love that so much.
She crosses the room and pulls the axe out of the wall.
Now where was I? Ah. If we go with what Anya's resources are telling us, then The First is in remission for a while, which we think means advantage us.
Well, what does that mean? About The First.
Best we can tell, he-- or, more precisely, it-- was putting a lot of stock in that ¸ber-vamp thing. The Chaka Khan.
Turok-han?
Buffy doesn't acknowledge her contribution and continues her speech uninterrupted.
So when I kicked its ass, the whole Firsty Circus decided to back off for a while. The good news: it means we probably don't have to worry about it pulling Spike's strings for a while. Here's the half-empty: time away means time to regroup and part of that regrouping is coming back stronger than ever. The odds are against us. Time is against us. And some of us will die in this battle. Decide now that it's not going to be you. I know you're all tired... far away from home... anxious. But you're all special. Most people in this world have no idea why they're here or what they want to do.
Dawn looks away, Buffy's words striking a nerve.
You do. You have a mission. A reason for being here. You're not here by chance. You're here because you are the chosen ones.
She turns and heads up the stairs, noticing Dawn for the first time.
Dawn, you better hurry up and eat something so you're not late for school.
Buffy sits at her desk talking with Xander on the phone.
Xander, I know... I'm sorry. If you're going to take a shower at my house, lock the door. Of course they're curious.
AMANDA, one of Buffy's students, approaches her cubicle and Buffy waves her in while she continues with Xander.
Hey, I gotta go. Has Giles checked in yet? I thought he was picking up that Chao-ahn girl in Shanghai yesterday. Okay, well let me know if he does. Bye. (hangs up) Amanda, right? I'm all yours.
Do people ever think you're weird?
I guess... sure. In a charming, endearing, lovable... (off her look) yeah.
I feel like people think I'm weird and so they pick on me. But I might be. Weird.
Amanda, why do you think you're weird?
One of the boys who picks on me... I kind of... see, if a guy picks on you, is it weird to think he's cute?
Oh...
It's just the last few times I've seen him, I've wanted to, you know, pick on him. Extra. More.
Uh-huh.
The thing is, I can't tell. My mom says when a guy teases you, it means he likes you.
Sometimes that's true.
Is it weird? We're mean to each other and we like each other.
Well, it depends. I mean, sometimes that's how people relate. Being mean to each other... even mortal enemies. Then with the... and that leads to no good-- absolutely no good-- and much confusion, and then it's over-- absolutely, seriously, definitely over-- and that's confusing, too-- the over part-- which it is. Over. (off Amanda's look) So maybe.
Buffy offers a wan smile but Amanda just looks confused.
Buffy enters to find the place in shambles and a huge argument in full bloom between XANDER, ANDREW, Rona and Vi. Andrew suddenly cuts through it all by screaming.
Why do we always have to yell?!
I was only gone a couple of hours.
WILLOW walks in from the dining room.
Buffy...
Hey, everybody, look. It's Willow. Perhaps with a blunt weapon of some sort.
Buffy, we just got news.
Buffy and Willow share a look, then everyone follows Willow into the dining room.
The group, including ANYA, is gathered around the table.
And she's sure?
Positive. Althenea said the seers located another potential Slayer here in Sunnydale, someone that already lives here.
Oh, god...
All these girls flocking to town and this one's already here and under our noses?
Wait, the seers couldn't find out her name or her address or anything? Am I getting the definition of "seer" wrong?
I was going to take the girls out tonight for a little show- and-tell but maybe now I shouldn't.
They were so excited. You're going to break their little hearts.
This town is lousy with Bringers. I don't want to risk that they find this new girl first.
No, you should go. I can do a spell to find her tonight. I just have to get together a few ingredients. But you shouldn't skip your training. It's too important.
You think you can handle it?
No problemo.
Yeah, you guys have more important things to do.
Okay, I'll take them.
Yes!
Andrew, you're not going.
The weapons are all laid out on the counter. Molly, Vi and Rona sort through them. Molly picks up a crossbow with relish.
Oh, crossbow! Gotta love it... feels like I'm stormin' a castle.
You do a lot of that, do you?
I might if I had a beauty like this.
Dawn enters and heads for the fridge. Molly points the weapon at her.
Halt!
Okay, see, that's why we don't point the weapons in the kitchen.
It's not loaded.
That's always the lead quote under the headline "Household crossbow accident claims teen."
Molly reluctantly puts it back down.
Oh, a mace!
Yeah, that's better.
Gotta go with the stake. It's classic. I like the feel of wood in my hand.
Kennedy saunters in with a smile.
Lost me there. Hey, are we gearing up already?
Oh, right. You guys are going on your little group patrol.
More than that. It's an outing.
I'm think that tonight we might actually get to kill things.
I've killed things sometimes--
Buffy and Andrew enter arguing and cut her off.
I'm not begging!
You're like a small dog dancing for Snausages.
You don't want me coming along because you think I'm evil.
He doesn't seem evil exactly.
He's not evil but when he gets close to it, he picks up its flavor, like a mushroom or something.
But I'm reformed! I'm like Vegeta on Dragonball Z. I used to be a pure Saiyan and now I fight on the side of Goku.
Still not coming.
It's not fair! Spike just killed people and he gets to go.
Spike didn't have free will. You did.
I hate my free will.
Spike enters in typical black duster, looking impatient. The girls greet him cheerfully.
So this is where you're all hiding. We ready to go or what?
Let's go, girls.
Buffy and Spike head for the door. The girls all choose weapons and follow, excited, leaving Dawn and Andrew alone in the kitchen.
Do you want to play Dragonball Z?
She turns away, exasperated.
Willow sets out the ingredients for her spell on the table. Dawn and Andrew sit to one side.
Okay, I've got my tumbleweed, my eggs, my chrysalises... chrysali?
Dawn shrugs.
My butterfly transformer pods. Hey, where's my snakeskin?
Andrew holds it up like a puppet.
At your sssservice, Misss Rosssenberg, sssir.
Willow glares at him and he hands it over.
Can you imagine if every once in a while people just wriggled out of their skin and left it behind them, like on the sidewalk. Talk about embarrassing.
Willow and Dawn ignore him as usual.
Hey, do you think this girl-- this potential-- goes to Sunnydale?
Hmm... well, I guess probably, huh? I mean, she's gotta be about that age.
Could be anybody. Could be that glamazon in gym class... what's her name? Or my lab partner, Margo the freak. Boy, I hope not because she totally fainted right in the middle of our fetal pig dissection. Somehow I just don't think she's cut out for the slayage biz.
Killing pigs is just so wrong... and also hard.
Dawn stares at him, confused.
Well, we'll know soon enough who the next potential is. Somebody's life is about to change.
How long will it take? Will we find out who it is right away?
Pretty much. The spell will conjure up this brilliant light and the light will find the potential and illuminate her with a glowing aura.
Cool.
I've enchanted this map so that we can track her basic location. We'll have to hotfoot it but I'm betting we find her tonight.
You know if it is Margo, she is so gonna faint.
Willow tosses her ingredients in sequence into the burning fireplace and recites her incantation while Dawn, Anya and Xander watch. As the spell progresses, a glowing orb of crimson energy starts to form within the flames.
To light the aura of the new, Skin of snake and chrysalis, too.
To indicate the fresh reborn, Tumbleweed and rose bush thorn.
An egg that means the life to come, Take this, o spirits, and my spell is done.
She tosses the egg into the flames and the room is immediately suffused with a noxious stench.
Oh, good god! What is that smell?
I'm fairly sure that's the smell of a hard-boiled egg being thrown into a fire.
Uh-huh?
The smell will lead us to the potential.
Or some poor soul who ate too many chimichangas.
The crimson glow emerges from the fireplace and hovers in the middle of the room.
She'll also be lit with a brilliant aura.
Is it supposed to be shimmying all over like that?
I don't know... I don't think so.
So you messed up the spell again. At least it smells... otherworldly.
Willow glares at Anya who points at the energy ball.
Oh, look! Pretty.
I suck. I'm sorry, you guys. Maybe we could figure something out on the computer?
Good call. I'm gonna open the door and let this place air out.
She walks over to the front door and as soon as she moves, the glowing energy cloud follows her.
Don't worry, Will. It's really no big.
I just... I was sure that it was going to work.
Willow notices the energy's movement and calls out to warn Dawn.
Dawn!
She turns just as the ball of energy rockets toward her. It slams into her and hurls her against the front door. Dawn stands there dazed as the others stare at her in shock. A warm glow emanates from her body.
I think it worked.
Resume. Dawn slides to the floor as Xander and Willow rush to her side.
Dawn!
Dawn, are you okay?
She nods, confused, as Xander helps her to her feet.
Maybe you did it wrong. Was it ambiguous in any way? Did you maybe say "potential sailors" because I do like the water?
I did it right.
Wow, she... you're a potential. You could be the next Slayer.
Oh...
She turns and sits down, stunned.
Yes, it's like one second you're this klutzy teenager with fake memories and a history of kleptomania and then suddenly you're a hero. A hero with a much abbreviated life span.
This is huge! We have to think about this.
I can't think about this! It doesn't fit in my head.
A Slayer... makes sense, I guess. Remember that thing about they share the same blood or whatever?
Yeah, I never got that.
She has to die. I mean, if I was ever the Slayer, it would mean she died.
Well, it's a lot like being the Pope in that way except you don't have to be some old Catholic.
We've got to call Buffy! She's going to be so excited.
No, we can't. She didn't bring her cell phone.
Well, sure. Because all the important people are with her.
You're important now.
Dawn gets up and starts pacing.
What happens now?
Well, you could start by maybe sitting still for a sec.
I can't. I need to know what happens to my life.
Well, I guess Buffy trains you.
Right. I train with the potentials-- other potentials-- learn to do the stuff they're learning.
We also have to protect you from the eyeless guys. The ones with the sharp, sharp knives.
Bringers.
It's okay. We'll protect you.
What if they saw the spell?
Saw the spell? Dawn, they can't see flashcards. Big ones.
We did a big, orange, powerful spell! What if they sensed it? What if they're on their way?
Andrew walks into the room.
Are we going to replace the microwave? 'Cause I was thinking some Orville Redenbacher with some fresh butter flavor. (off their looks) What's going on?
Dawn's going to be a Slayer.
Holy crap. (to Xander) Excuse me. Plucked from an ordinary life... handed a destiny...
Say Skywalker and I smack you.
Does Buffy know?
She didn't take her phone.
Incommunicado.
Well, we'll tell her as soon as she gets back.
Let's not.
What? Dawn, she has to know.
I know. Just not right away. (beat) Guys, when Mom appeared to me she said--
Dawnie...
No, please. She said something about Buffy and I'm thinking... I'm just not so sure Buffy will be happy for me.
Of course she will.
Will she? I mean, I'm not even sure I'm happy for me. Everything's different for me now.
That's because you're a part of something larger. Like being swallowed... by something larger.
This... this is too much for my head again. I can't take... I need to be... room.
She gets up and runs upstairs to her room. Xander turns to Anya, frustrated.
Nice job with the "getting swallowed" analogy.
Well, it is a mixed bag, you know. If she gets to be the Slayer, then her life is short and brutal and if she doesn't, then it smells of unfulfilled potential. My "swallowed" analogy looks pretty sweet right now, doesn't it?
It's not like that. It's like she's part of this huge power. I know what that feels like. It feels wonderful.
Yes! Willow so captured it. It's like... well, it's almost like this metaphor for womanhood, isn't it? The sort of flowering that happens when a girl realizes that she's part of a fertile heritage stretching back to Eve and--
I'll pay you to talk about Star Wars again!
This isn't about womanly power. This is about the fact that Dawn just might have bought herself an early death.
We don't know that.
Right. All we know is that everything just changed.
Dawn listens to them arguing from her room upstairs. She slowly closes the door and tries to absorb everything.
Someone should go find Buffy. I still think she needs to know.
Hey, Willow, what if she doesn't like it?
Are you worried about what Dawn said? About the ghost? Xander, we don't even know if that really was Joyce.
And we don't know what she meant about Buffy.
I'm not talking about that. I mean, what do you think Buffy's going to do with this information? Jump up and down? Teach Dawn the secret handshake? She knows what this means.
Short, brutal life. Sharp, sharp knives. I covered this.
Right. You think Buffy really wants that for Dawn?
While the other's continue to argue downstairs, Dawn walks over to the mirror and stares at her reflection.
And besides, Dawn doesn't want us telling her yet.
Dawn's freaking out. Her input? Not worth that much right now.
She's a child. Of course she can't handle this.
Hey, something out there says she can handle this and a helluva lot more. Something out there chose her.
I'm chosen.
Sure, she can handle it. Is that why she's hiding in her room right now?
She's just getting used to it. Let it happen. She doesn't have to rush.
He's right. We shouldn't rush her. Rushing's only going to get her killed.
Xander nods in agreement and Willow concedes the point.
Dawn goes to the window, opens it and looks out. After a moment, she comes to a decision and crawls out into the night.
Buffy, Spike and the girls walk into a smoky room populated by vampires and demons of all shapes and sizes. Rona looks around, confused.
This is a bar.
Best damn field trip I ever took.
Look, they're all...
They're demons! It's a demon bar. It's like a gay bar only with demons.
One particularly large DEMON with fleshy tendrils hanging from its face calls out and stands up.
Spike! Long time. Nice of you to bring snacks.
Touch them and lose your privates.
The demon glares at him but backs off.
I didn't like him.
Nice job of blending in, girls.
We're a bunch of 15-year-olds in a demon bar. How much blending did you think we were gonna do?
Look, it's okay. Usually you come to a place like this, you want to be seen. You want to scare someone or make contact.
Or have a strong drink?
Not usually that.
You don't drink?
Sure, I do. I mean, no. That'd be wrong.
Do they card?
Nope. Go ahead. Down all the yak urine shots or pig's blood spritzers you like.
The girls back away from the bar, disgusted.
Gross.
You got that right. Prices they charge, you could get human blood. Straight from the body. (off their looks) Vampire?
Look, if I come here, it's because I gotta wring information out of something large, scary, drunk... and with a roomful of friends that don't care very much for the Slayer. Remember that. There's not a being in here that wouldn't gladly rip your throat out.
Buffy?
Buffy turns around to find CLEM, her loose-skinned demon friend standing behind her. She smiles and greets him with a hug.
Girl, how you been?
Clem! You look great. So toned.
He's ripping out her throat right now.
Oh, my god. It is so good to see you. I saw this great show on the History Channel the other night that I knew you would love and then something went all flooey with my TiVo.
You know what? Can I talk to you for a second over here?
Yeah.
She pulls him to the side and whispers in his ear.
You think she dated him, too?
Buffy leads Clem back over to the group.
Okay, everyone. (to Clem) These are the girls.
Howdy. So you girls are going to deal with demons, huh? Just let me tell you this...
He leans forward like he's going to whisper a secret to them and they all lean toward him to hear it. Suddenly his entire face peels back and a nest of snakelike tentacles shoots out right at the horrified teenagers.
I could use a shot of that yak urine right about now.
Dawn walks alone down the dark street, pondering the strange twist her already bizarre life has taken. She looks up as she comes across Amanda walking in the opposite direction.
Hey.
Hey, Dawn. Whatcha doing?
Just walking. You?
Yeah. Just walking, too. (long beat) Okay, well... have a good walk. I guess I'll see you Monday morning?
Yeah.
Dawn looks down and keeps walking. Amanda hesitates, then turns around.
You all right?
Sure. Just walking, you know.
Amanda nods and brushes her hair back from her forehead, revealing a small but bloody gash.
Are you all right? You've got a thing.
Amanda feels her forehead and smiles ruefully.
I guess I... I had bit of a... it's been a bizarre night.
What happened? Who did that to you?
Nobody... exactly. I don't think you'd exactly believe me.
Try me.
I was at school late because of Swing Choir and I tore my sweater-- you know, the striped ones we wear-- so I went to Home Sciences to sew it up and by the time I was finished, the place was empty so it was all echoey and lonely and... then there was this guy-- or thing-- and it was... it scratched me and I kinda dodged it and it kinda hit its head.
What kind of thing?
I don't know. It was messed up in the face, around hereabouts.
She points to her forehead and nose.
And when it scratched at you, did it... was it scratching with its teeth?
Is it real? Was it really a vampire? I bet you think I'm crazy.
I believe you.
Yeah? (smiles) Well, cool. The thing is, after it hit its head, I kinda freaked out. I trapped it in a room and it's still there and now I don't know what to do.
It's okay. This is totally dealable. Don't worry.
Well, I was thinking of getting your sister.
You know something about my sister?
Well, I've heard people talking. A lot of them think she's some kind of high-functioning schizophrenic but I also heard that maybe... like maybe she could help with this kind of thing. Do you think we should go get her?
She's out. I'll take this one.
Amanda helps Dawn through the window. She lands awkwardly on her feet and steadies herself.
Whew! I think I strained something. Maybe something I'll need later in life.
Come on. The vampire is upstairs. (beat) Are you spooked out?
No. I'm all right. I can do this. It's mostly instinct. I think.
The window slams shut behind them and Dawn yelps like a frightened puppy. Amanda giggles nervously as they continue out into the corridor.
So if he scratched me with a tooth, am I... I'm not going to turn into one, am I?
Only if he slashed open one of his own veins and led you to drink deep of his blood.
Nope.
Good. You're lucky he didn't hurt you way more than that.
Right. He can do that. So... I was thinking. We don't have to kill the vampire, do we?
What?
Just suppose he got out and was maybe like encouraged toward the gym while the marching band was playing because the way they look down on the Swing Choir, it might be, you know, funny. (off her look) I'm just sayin'...
Dawn just shakes her head and leads Amanda upstairs. They round the corner and approach the classroom where Amanda trapped the vampire.
Well, he didn't break down the door, anyway.
Yeah. Can they do that?
They're very strong and although they feel pain, they don't hold back because of it.
I guess you're some kind of monster expert, too?
Let's just say it runs in the family.
Dawn turns to the door, steels herself and opens it.
I thought you said it was locked?
It... it was. It was here.
Amanda... it got out.
Pull back to reveal the vampire clinging to the ceiling directly over the girls' heads.
Resume. Dawn and Amanda look around apprehensively at the empty classroom.
Where'd it go?
I don't know. But we have to get out of here.
Dawn backs away and starts to pull the door shut when the vampire leaps down in front of her, grabs the door and yanks it off its hinges with an inhuman snarl. Amanda screams and she and Dawn take off running down the corridor as fast as they can.
They race down the stairs and head for the exit only to find it locked. They spin around just as the vampire rounds the corner behind them.
Amanda is frozen with terror. Thinking quickly, Dawn smashes the glass in the wall next to her and yanks out a fire extinguisher, fumbling frantically with the nozzle.
What are you doing?
I can never remember! Does it have to be right side up or upside down to work? Which is it!
The vampire charges and she gives up, using the extinguisher as a club instead. She cracks the creature in the jaw with a roundhouse blow, sending it sprawling onto the floor. It leaps to its feet and charges again and Dawn smashes it in the head a second time, sending it crashing into the lockers. She raises the extinguisher above her head and throws it into the vampire's face, stunning it. Then she grabs Amanda's hand and pulls her back the way they came, down the corridor and up the stairs.
Buffy, Spike and the girls enter the crypt and shine their lights around, revealing old furniture and signs of recent occupation.
The vampire is an animal. Sometimes they run in packs. Sometimes alone. Who can tell us where we are?
It's a nest.
How can you tell?
Only a vamp could live like this.
Some, yeah. I mean, as a group we're not known for our tasteful dÈcor but in all fairness to the race, this place is seriously lacking in style.
Thank you, Spike.
Merely saying.
He has a point. Vampires can live anywhere-- any way-- they want. Tastes, fashions, living conditions-- they can vary. The animal inside? Always the same.
Spike glances at Buffy, her words opening old wounds.
Where'd you live?
What, you mean before? A crypt, actually, but nicer. A bit more... I don't know if posh is the right word but it was more like...
Comfy.
Excuse me? When did you find it comfy?
Buffy looks at Spike and realizes she's put her foot in her mouth again.
Moving on. You want to stay alive? You have to spot and identify a nest on sight. Look around, all of you. Look for signs that just last night maybe a dozen-- two dozen-- vampires were right where we're standing. (beat) Go ahead.
The girls spread out and start checking the place out.
Work, work, work... and just when this little excursion was in danger of being interesting.
You know something, Spike...
She glances over and sees Molly and Rona standing over a shadowy figure on the floor.
...interesting is not a problem.
Buffy, I think we found something.
It's a body
Buffy walks over and examines the man lying face-down on the floor.
It's not a body. It's leftovers.
The newly-turned vampire turns over and glares up at her.
Amanda and Dawn run for their lives through the halls of the school. Dawn pulls Amanda toward one of the classrooms.
In here!
The run into a chemistry lab and slam the door behind them.
Help me! We need to barricade this.
Amanda picks up a stool.
Too small!
Dawn runs to a large book cabinet and starts pushing it toward the door. Amanda gets on the other side and helps move the massive piece of furniture.
Too big!
They struggle with the cabinet but finally manage to maneuver it into place in front of the door. Dawn sinks to the floor, her back against it.
Stay down.
Think we're safe?
The vampire's face appears in the glass and a massive blow to the door shakes the cabinet at their backs.
The vampire stalks slowly toward Buffy who holds her stake at the ready while she continues to teach the girls.
No one's safe. Not here. Not ever. See this guy?
But he was dead a minute ago.
That was a minute ago. Now?
She decks him.
He's the enemy.
The vampire charges her and tackles her to the ground.
Dawn and Amanda desperately try to hold the cabinet in place against the vampire's onslaught.
Amanda?
Yes?
Listen.
I'm listening.
We're going to get out of this. Both of us. Alive.
The vampire shatters the door behind the cabinet and the girls scream.
Do you believe me?
I believe you.
Good. 'Cause I've got a plan.
Buffy throws the vampire across the room. It instantly rolls back to its feet with a snarl.
You can't think too much. Reacting is better. Could be the difference between staying alive... and that other thing.
She brings her stake down for the killing blow but the vampire knocks it from her grasp. Ducking its follow-up punch, she engages the vampire again, punching and kicking it with tremendous force. Kennedy moves to help her but Spike holds her back.
The vampire is almost through the barricade.
Okay, this plan of mine-- I'm not guaranteeing it'll work.
Better than mine about him eating the marching band. Besides... your plan will work.
In case you haven't noticed, I don't know what I'm doing here!
You're getting it done!
Dawn smiles briefly at the compliment but her satisfaction doesn't last long as the vampire shatters the glass in the door's window and pushes the cabinet into the room. The girls gasp and stand up, backing away from the creature as it stalks into the room after them.
Buffy pounds the vampire to the floor and holds it there by the leg while she delivers blows to its head.
The question is never "What do you think?" It's always "What do you know?" You gotta know, because if you don't, if you make one mistake...
She delivers a punishing uppercut to the vampire's jaw and sends it flipping backward over a low cement bench. It gets to its feet and comes at her again.
Dawn maneuvers around the classroom, trying to keep the lab tables between her and the snarling vampire.
It takes just one vampire to kill you so you've got to know you can take him. Know your environment, know what's around you and know how to use it.
Dawn hurls lab stools and equipment at the creature, anything to keep it away, while Amanda huddles in the corner, terrified. She throws a flask of liquid at the vampire and it shatters. The creature's chest starts smoking as acid eats into its flesh. Taking advantage of the distraction, Dawn runs over to the flag stand and takes down the California flag. She breaks the flagpole over her thigh, crating a makeshift stake.
In the hands of a Slayer, everything is a potential weapon-- if you know how to see it. When you're fighting, you have to know yourself: your brain, your body. Know how to stay calm, centered. Every move is important. Every blow has got to be part of your plan.
Dawn swings the broken flagpole at the enraged vampire, backing him toward the hallway but she suddenly slips and falls to the floor on her back.
Because if you make that one mistake, then it's over. You're not the Slayer... you're not a potential...
The vampire leaps on top of Dawn and its fangs descend toward her neck.
Buffy picks up her stake as the vampire charges her again. She blocks its blows with superhuman speed.
...you're dead. So what do you know?
She hurls the vampire backward across the room.
Right now, the only thing you know for sure? You got me.
She drops the stake, backs out of the crypt with Spike and slams the door, locking the terrified potential Slayers inside with the vampire.
Willow stands outside Dawn's door with Xander and Anya. She knocks and calls out.
Come on, sweetie, open up.
Want me to kick down the door?
Anya...
What? I think it'd be funny. And besides, she's been sulking in there forever.
Xander turns the knob and opens it.
Oh.
They all enter to find Dawn missing.
Crap. (sees the open window) Double crap.
Gone. We've got to find her before the Bringers do.
I can do a locator spell but we've got to hurry and find Buffy.
Dawn cries out to Amanda for help as she struggles to keep the vampire from biting her.
Amanda, help me!
I... I can't!
Amanda!!
Just as the vampire's teeth touch the flesh of her neck, the classroom windows shatter and three Bringers leap into the room. Dawn kicks the vampire off of her as the Bringers approach but they walk right past her and over to Amanda.
No! You don't want her! You want me...
The realization hits Dawn: she's not the potential Slayer. Amanda is.
Two of the Bringers haul Amanda to her feet while the third produces a wickedly sharp dagger.
Dawn gets to her feet and points one of the gas jets on the lab table at the Bringers, then ignites it. The jet of flame knocks the Bringers to the floor, releasing Amanda. Dawn grabs the broken flagpole and heads for the door.
Amanda!
Terrified, Amanda runs after Dawn out into the hallway. They stop at the head of the stairs, panting and out of breath.
What were those?
Amanda, listen to me. Do you remember when you said I was special? Well, I'm not. But the thing is, you are. This is your battle, Amanda.
No, I can't!
Xander turns the corner at the foot of the stairs and listens.
You can! You've got to. Look, I've got your back but this is something you have to do. It's something you were born to do.
At the opposite end of the corridor, the Bringers run into view. Dawn hands the flagpole to Amanda.
Here. This belongs to you.
Xander runs up the stairs as Amanda turns to face the Bringers.
Buffy, up here!
Spike and Buffy round the corner and follow him. They make it to the top just as the Bringers attack followed by the vampire. Amanda uses the pole deftly, striking one blow after another, knocking them off their feet and sending them tumbling directly into the path of Buffy and Spike. Buffy stabs one Bringer to death with its own knife then tosses it to Spike.
Here!
Spike dispatches the second, then screams in agony as his pain chip activates.
At the top of the stairs, the vampire attacks Amanda. Much to her own surprise, she manages to hold her own, blocking the creature's blows with the pole. It throws a roundhouse blow at her head and she ducks, kicks the vampire against the wall and slams the pole into its chest. It instantly disappears in a cloud of dust.
Stunned, Amanda turns to Buffy just as she snaps the last Bringer's neck and drops his lifeless body to the floor.
Okay... one minute I'm in Swing Choir and the next... what the hell is going on? You tell me to come to you with problems. Turns out a vampire attacked me! Problem. So I go to your house, only when I get there, this orange cloud hits me.
She was at the doorway.
And I don't know if you're into the drugs but that's not my deal, all right? That cloud hit me and I got a little dizzy and discombobulated.
Buffy looks confused.
It was Willow's spell. She's the potential Slayer.
Buffy and Spike look over at Amanda, realization hitting them.
All the potentials are gathered together, sharing their stories. Amanda now sits among them.
I'm sure the vampire thought we were like four helpless girls. And then Vi actually yells, "We're just four helpless girls!"
That was part of my plan.
When it all started going down, it was like we knew what we were doing, for real.
Yeah, like when you dodged that first attack and then cracked him across the jaw.
No, see I wouldn't have been able to do that if you hadn't took his legs out.
I hurt his arm! Yep. And an arm can be as lethal as a mouth.
When you staked him, seriously, the rush was like--
So you took one out solo?
Yeah, what was that like?
I don't know. I mean... when I saw the vampire... vamp?
Vampire's good, too.
Dawn enters from the kitchen and listens to them talk from the doorway. It's obvious she feels isolated and somewhat let down after finding out she's not a member of their new club.
Cool. Yeah, when that vampire attacked me, I felt this kind of charge, you know?
Like you realize in one instant that your whole life is different.
Exactly. It's that rush you're talking about.
Buffy and Xander enter behind Dawn.
Hey, you okay?
Yeah. I was thinking of hitting the books, do some research on The First. It's in retreat mode right now but you're still going to need to know how to fight it.
Great. Sounds good. (to girls) Hey, you guys. Want to head downstairs, get our newest arrival up to speed?
The girls all stand and follow Buffy out. Amanda flashes Dawn a tentative smile as she passes. When they're gone, Dawn sits down at the desk and starts flipping though some old books. Xander lingers in the doorway, watching her. She notices and looks over at him.
What's up?
He walks over and sits down next to her.
Oh, I'm just thinking about the girls. It's a harsh gig, being a potential. Just being picked out of a crowd. Danger, destiny... plus, if you act now, death.
They can handle it.
Yeah. They're special, no doubt. And the amazing thing is, not one of them will ever know. Not even Buffy.
Know what?
How much harder it is for the rest of us.
No way. They've got--
Seven years, Dawn. Working with the Slayer. Seeing my friends get more and more powerful. A witch, a demon. Hell, I could fit Oz in my shaving kit but come a full moon he had a wolfy mojo not to be messed with. Powerful, all of them. (beat) And I'm the guy who fixes the windows.
Well, you had that sexy Army training for a while and... the windows really did need fixing.
I saw what you did last night.
Yeah, I... I guess I kinda lost my head when I thought I was the Slayer.
Well, you thought you were all special, Miss Sunnydale 2003. And the minute you found out you weren't, you handed the crown to Amanda without a moment's pause. You gave her your power.
The power wasn't mine.
They'll never know how tough it is, Dawnie. To be the one who isn't chosen, to live so near to the spotlight and never step in it. But I know. I see more than anybody realizes because nobody's watching me. I saw you last night. I see you working here today. You're not special. You're extraordinary.
He leans over, kisses her on the forehead, then gets up to leave. Dawn smiles, holding back the tears brimming in her eyes.
Maybe that's your power.
He stops and turns back.
What?
Seeing. Knowing.
Maybe it is. Maybe I should get a cape.
Cape is good.
Yeah.
He gives her another knowing smile and leaves the room. Dawn also smiles to herself and turns back to her research.