[Transcript of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" episode End Of Days at buffyology.com.]
FAITH stands over the wooden box and smashes the padlock off with her boot. She kneels before it and swings the lid open to reveal... several hundred pounds of plastic explosive connected to a detonator and timing device. The timer counts down:
Everybody get down!
Faith dives into the murky sewer water just as the bomb explodes with a tremendous fireball. The pressure wave tosses the girls around like matchsticks.
As BUFFY stares at the ancient weapon embedded in the rock, the trapdoor above slams open and CALEB stalks down the stairs.
So... you found it. Not impressed. 'Cause the question now, girly-girl, is can you pry it from solid rock before I come over there and--
Buffy reaches out and casually lifts the axe. It pops free without any effort at all. She holds it up and turns toward Caleb who stops in his tracks, for the first time uncertain and fearful.
Darn...
Opening credit sequence.
Resume. While Buffy calmly examines the weapon, Caleb holds out his hand for it, his false bravado a cover for his fear.
Now before you go hurtin' yourself with that thing, why don't you do yourself a courtesy and hand it over now?
Yeah? You want it?
She flips the weapon around and readies it for action. Caleb takes a step back as she advances on him.
You don't even know what you got there.
I know you're backing away.
You think wieldin' some two-sided doo-dad's gonna make a difference?
THE FIRST appears next to Caleb as Buffy. She speaks to Caleb but stares hatefully at Buffy.
Let her go, Caleb.
He hesitates, clearly not liking the idea.
I said, let her go.
If I let her go, she slices me open with that thing.
Buffy watches the exchange, disconcerted at seeing The First as a mirror- image of herself.
No, she doesn't. She hasn't got time. She has friends and her friends are in trouble. (to Buffy) Faith go boom.
I'm not lettin' her out of here with that thing.
Sure you are. Then you'll come back for it later... when she's got her back turned.
Caleb stands aside and Buffy seizes the moment, running up the stairs and leaping out the trapdoor into the winery above.
The underground chamber is in shambles. Portions of the tunnel have caved in, fires burn intermittently all over, scorched debris covers everything.
AMANDA struggles to her feet, finds a flashlight lying nearby and searches the rubble for the others.
Hey! Hey, Faith! Anybody! Is anybody here?
Me!
Amanda turns around to find CARIDAD limping toward her.
Is anybody else alive?
Hello? Anyone?
I'm... I'm here!
The two girls find VI and help her to her feet
Who else we got?
Don't know.
You okay?
I think my arm is broken.
As they help her along, their flashlight beams pick out other girls lying in the wreckage. Some injured, some dead.
I guess I'm lucky.
KENNEDY staggers out of the smoke, dazed and battered.
Where's Faith?
I don't know.
Find her.
An electrical junction explodes nearby, showering them with sparks.
Maybe we should get the hell out of this place. They could--
Find her!
The four of them look across the chamber where several other potentials are pulling Faith out of the brackish water. She hangs limply in their arms.
Oh, god!
Kennedy runs over to them.
Is she alive?
Breathing, weak pulse.
We gotta get her out of here!
Which way is out?
There's other girls. There's more than Faith! We don't even know how many of us are still...
A deep-throated menacing growl echoes through the tunnels from somewhere not-too-distant.
...alive.
What was that?
I could have been grinding metal, it could have been--
No. It was one of them.
That's not possible!
How'd it get in here?
Kennedy and another potential pull Faith up and support her between them.
Plan?
Run!
With Kennedy leading the way, the group of about 10 girls runs off down the shattered tunnel. They all round a bend to find the way blocked by a caved-in wall of rocks and debris.
Oh, no... it's blocked!
Oh, my god!
I told you this wasn't the way.
Cut the chatter! Up and over, wounded first! Let's go!
The girls climb the debris pile and crawl down the other side, lifting Faith over and easing her down gently. Soon all the girls are over, with Vi bringing up the rear. As she swings her legs over the top and starts down, a Turok-han vampire suddenly leaps to the top of the rubble, its snarling fangs inches from her neck. Kennedy yanks her down and away from the feral creature.
Group together! Form a circle. Nobody panic. It's all of us, one of him. We can take one of these things.
The girls surround Kennedy in an arc, weapons raised, faced-off against the Turok-han.
Unnoticed on the stairs behind them, a second Turok-han appears and stalks toward them.
ANDREW dumps a bag full of cookies, crackers and other assorted snacks on the table and a half-dozen potentials grab eagerly for them.
It was pretty amazing. A whole grocery store, just abandoned. Food lying around everywhere... well, the produce was on its way to funky town but... the apples still look pretty good so everyone should check those out.
GILES enters and snatches a package of pastries off the table.
Oh, Jaffa Cakes!
He rips them open and eats one, a look of pure pleasure on his face, as the door opens and XANDER, WILLOW, DAWN and ANYA enter.
Did you find Buffy?
No.
But you did that spell with the little lights... the locator.
It crapped out on us, though.
No, it didn't exactly.
It just took us to an empty house. She must have moved on already.
I'm afraid we have slightly worse news here. Faith hasn't returned with the other girls. Something's gone wrong.
I've been here keeping morale up. 'Cause that's important.
We have to go to her.
I guess so.
Yes, I'll stay here and keep working on that morale thing.
Kennedy and the other girls keep a wary eye on the Turok-han in front of them, braced and ready to fight.
Remember the training. Everybody... get ready.
The Turok-han in front her charges and she moves to meet it head-on. But the other Turok-han leaps off the stairs and tackles her from behind, scattering the other girls. Kennedy flips the creature over her back and backpedals, terrified.
There's another one!
Move, move, move! Up and over!
Not that one! That one!
She turns her flashlight on a third Turok-han dropping down a metal ladder from above. The beast snarls and seizes one of the girls, throwing her to the ground. The three Turok-hans all leap on the hapless girl, their claws slashing, tearing her to pieces.
Weapons! Over there!
Kennedy grabs a lance tipped with a curved blade and turns to attack the feral vampires with it. One of the creatures breaks off from slaughtering the girl and charges Kennedy as she swings the blade over and down. It's clawed hand stops the lance and snaps it in two, it's other hand shooting out to seize her by the throat and lift her off the ground.
As Kennedy gasps, choking to death, a chunk of the ceiling suddenly breaks free and crashes to the floor. The Turok-han drops Kennedy and turns to face Buffy as she drops down from above, her new bladed weapon held at the ready.
As the three vampires charge her, she spins, her moves almost ballet-like as the blade bites into their flesh. She decapitates one and stabs another through the heart with the pointed wooden end of the shaft. Both instantly disintegrate into ash. The third grabs her from behind but she flips up and over, then brings her blade around in an arc, slicing through its throat. As the dust dissipates, Buffy turns to Kennedy who holds her wounded throat, gasping.
Get the wounded. We're leaving.
Are there more?
There's always more. Let's move.
Injured girls lie everywhere on the floor. Buffy, Anya, Dawn, Willow and the others help treat them with what limited supplies they have.
Will, come here. She's losing a lot of blood.
Got it.
Buffy sees Giles and Xander carrying Faith in through the front door and runs over to them.
The room upstairs is ready for her.
Good.
I hope we're in time.
Is she okay? Is she gonna be okay?
I'm sure she'll be fine. (to Buffy) Right?
Careful!
Just mind her head.
I'll be up in a second.
Buffy heads back into the living room for bandages.
You guys heal fast, right? You Slayers?
Yeah.
So she'll be okay?
I don't know.
What's with the axe thing?
Buffy hefts the weapon, holding it up for them to see.
I took it from Caleb. It might be important.
Let's hope!
I think we got punished.
What?
We... we followed her. And it was--
It didn't work out.
You guys, it was a trap. It's not her fault. That could have just as easily happened to me.
So are you... are you like back?
Buffy shakes her head, weary, as she heads upstairs.
I don't know. I guess I'm not leaving.
So we got a plan now or anything?
Yeah, there's a plan. Get ready. Times up.
Kennedy and Amanda stare after Buffy as she disappears up the stairs.
I still think we got punished.
Buffy enters to find Faith on the bed, Xander and Giles sitting on either side of her, with several potentials looking on.
Is she breathing okay?
Still unconscious, though.
We've still got work to do.
Giles holds the weapon up, examining it closely, fascinated by it.
I think it's maybe some kind of scythe. The only thing I know for sure is that it made Caleb back off in a hurry.
So it's true. Scythe matters.
She pokes him playfully and shares a smirk with Buffy.
And ignoring that, I'd just like to point out that this is really quite ingenious.
He takes a few practice swings with the weapon, clearly delighted by it.
Kills strong bodies three ways.
And you say you sense something when you hold it?
Not much but it's strong. And I knew it belonged to me. I just knew it.
In addition to being ancient, it's clearly mystical.
Yeah, I figured that one out when I King Arthured it out of the stone.
So maybe it's like some kind of traditional Slayer weapon.
I can't imagine how something like this could exist without my having heard of it.
Well, the good guys aren't traditionally known for their communication skills.
Giles catches Buffy's look and gives her a nod of understanding.
Right. Any chance that it might be something other than a tool for killing things?
Well, The First's guys clearly wanted it out of that stone. It's not just a tool. It's important. We need to find out whatever we can. Who made it? When? Why? Does it have a name? I don't know... a credit report? Just find out fast.
We'll start work immediately.
Yeah, don't worry, Buffy, we'll find out everything there is to know.
She walks over to her laptop and starts it up.
Good, because right now, that thing's all we've got going for us.
Working with Anya, Andrew tears a sheet into strips and uses them to bandage one of the girl's wounds.
I liked the real bandages better. These bedsheets are awfully festive.
Yeah, they're going to look like mortally wounded Easter baskets.
What?
Anya pats the girl's arm dismissively and takes a swig from a bottle.
Hey! We're supposed to use that to sterilize wounds. Mr. Giles said.
Come on, what does it really matter?
She hands the bottle to him.
Good point.
Giles knows his single-malt antiseptics.
Andrew downs a swig himself and makes a disgusted face.
Everything's horrible.
Yep. Many of these girls will die. Slaughterhouse is what it is.
What?
Oh... trying to talk will just kill you sooner.
We need supplies and not just bandages and junk. These girls need stitches and painkillers.
Yeah, well, I could use a cookie but I'm not making reckless wishes.
No, no, we can do it. The hospital-- it's gotta be all abandoned like the grocery store. Supplies just lying around for the taking.
He stands and downs another swig of alcohol.
I'm going in.
You are?
And you're coming with me.
She's excited by his take-charge attitude and smiles.
I am?
I think you should drive 'cause that scotch made me a little dizzy.
Okay. I'll get Kennedy to watch the girls. She's tough. Imminent death won't bother her.
What?
Buffy and Xander speak privately in the kitchen.
You got it?
Wait. I'm not to the "got it" place yet. I'm still in the neighborhood of "you gotta be kidding".
You know it's for the good.
I don't. Buffy, do you get that? If I do this, that's it for me for this fight. I feel like you're putting me out to pasture.
Of course I'm not putting you out to pasture. What does that even mean?
Well, you know, it's like... when a cow gets old and loses an eye or its ability to be milked. The farmer takes it and puts it in a different pasture so it won't have to... fight... with the priests. Look, I don't need you to protect me.
I'm not.
I got hurt but I'm not done. I can still fight.
I know. That's why I need you to do this. Xander, I need someone that I can count on no matter what happens.
I just always thought that I would... that I would be there with you, you know, for the end.
Hey!
Not that this is the end!
Thanks a lot.
No, no, no... by "the end" I meant in a heroic, uplifting way. See I'm still optimistic. You're just thrown off a little by this gritty-looking eye patch.
I know what you meant.
I should be at your side. That's all I'm saying.
You will be. You're my strength, Xander. You're the reason I've made it this far. I trust you with my life. That's why I need you to do this for me.
Okay.
Also, you can't shoot a bow and arrow anymore and every time you pick up a sword, I worry that you're going to break one of our good lamps.
Hey!
Don't look at me. You're the one who said I'm gonna die.
I never said that you were going to die. I implied that you were going to die. It's totally different.
Yeah, okay. Sure.
Besides, if you die, I'll just bring you back to life. That's what I do.
Hours of research later. Giles sits on the bed with books piled around him while Willow works the computer.
Okay, before the vineyard was just, you know, a vineyard, it was a monastery. It could have been put there then. Some creepy monks messing with powers they don't understand.
No, it's older than that. It's pre-Christian.
Okay, well, I found references to stories the monks used to tell about something older. Like some kind of pagan temple.
Native American?
No. I don't know... (sighs) Okay, maybe we're just going about this the wrong way. Maybe we should research the weapon itself.
She brings up a website showing the evolution of axe-type weapons.
Look, maybe it's the Axe of Dekeron, said to have been forged in hell itself, lost since the Children's Crusade where it was said to have killed... oh. Children. I hope that's not it.
Well, I have references to the Sword of Moskva, the Reaper of the Tigris... how are we supposed to narrow this down? The illustrations are never clear enough. (frustrated) Oh, damn, we're running out of time. We really haven't got anything useful.
Willow goes over to the scythe and picks it up. She closes her eyes and holds it with both hands, concentrating.
Do you sense any of the power that Buffy spoke about?
Gotta say no. Must be a Slayer thing.
Tapping into magicks might help with that.
Maybe. But, I mean, if Caleb is scared of this thing... it must be pretty dangerous and tapping into that...
She quickly puts the axe back down on the bed and steps away.
Willow, you could do it without endangering yourself.
If I tried something big, I'd change and then it's all black hair and veins and lightning bolts. I can hardly do a locator spell without getting dark roots.
And if it was necessary?
Honestly? I don't know.
She goes back to the computer and clicks her way through the website.
All right. Do what you can. That's all any of us can do.
I guess so. (off website) Man, none of these sound right. I mean, look. Here's one that's just "m" question mark. What the heck is that?
She indicates an entry on the screen marked only with
Let me see. That's not a question mark. It's the International Phonetics Alphabet symbol for glottal stop.
A whoey?
A sort of gulpy noise. Now I'm remembering something here. (beat) Hieroglyphs. Hieroglyphs stand for sets of consonants, as you know.
Yes, absolutely.
The "m" plus glottal stop is represented by a picture that's commonly thought to symbolize a sickle or a scythe. It's in thousands of carvings in Egypt, throughout the ancient world.
Carvings like you'd have on a pagan temple?
Go back. See what else we can find out about this temple. The scythe is a symbol of death. Let's see where these pagans buried their dead.
Xander and Dawn rummage through his car parked on the street in front of the house.
Xander, my crossbow is not out here. I told you, I don't leave crossbows around all willy-nilly. Not since that time with Miss Kitty Fantastico.
Hey, did you know I have to take a driving test every year now?
Because you're old?
No, because of my eye. It's a whole state law. They don't trust my depth perception anymore.
That sucks.
And you know what's even worse? All the stupid "it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye" jokes. "Hey, Xander, so no more fun and games, huh?"
Giles was just having fun with you.
That's not the point. It's an obvious joke. It would be like someone calling me a cyclops.
Dawn looks up at him and laughs but he just stares at her.
Okay, so not that funny.
I mean, give me some "eye of the beholder" jokes, you know? Or some "eye for an eye" jokes or maybe even a post-modern I, Claudius joke. It's about standards, Dawnie.
I know.
Just be creative.
Look, everyone's still kind of on guard around you but before you know it--
Xander suddenly seizes her by the back of the neck and clamps a rag over her mouth. The sedative in the rag works quickly and she slumps unconscious within seconds. He sets her down inside the car on the passenger seat, then runs around and gets in the other side. The car starts up and pulls away into the night.
With a cry of fury, Caleb hurls a vat of wine against the wall, shattering it. The First watches, an amused expression on her face.
Not that I care personally but you are wasting a lot of robust, full-bodied Merlot.
Why did you let her go? You know I can take her in a fight!
We'll get her. Calm down.
I'm calm. You should see me when I get angry.
She's powerful right now and you're weak.
You know, all of a sudden, I'm gettin' less calm.
Face it. Your strength is waning. It has been quite some time since we... merged.
Maybe you're right. Okay. Let's do it.
He closes his eyes and readies himself.
Boy, you sure know how to romance a girl. No flowers, no dinner, no tour of the rectory. Just "Okay, I'm ready. Let's do it." Help me. My knees are weak.
Watch what you say now. You're startin' to sound like her. This is a sacred experience for me.
And for me as well. Look, when this is all over and our armies spring forth and our will sweeps the world, I will be able to enter every man, woman and child on this earth, just as I enter you.
Are you tryin' to make me jealous?
I'm trying to make you a god.
He smiles and holds his arms outstretched. The First stands before him and does the same. After a moment, a brisk wind springs up and Buffy disappears as a monstrous creature surges forward and towers over Caleb, wreathed in flame.
I am thy humble servant...
The beast hovers for a moment, then collapses into a brilliant sphere of energy which slams into Caleb, filling him. Caleb staggers and falls to the ground. When he looks up, his eyes are jet black and his voice a demonic rasp.
...and I am ready to serve thee.
Faith is awake. She lies in bed, holding the scythe, her eyes closed, the ghost of a smile on her lips.
You feel it, too, don't you?
Damn... and damn. That's something.
I know.
It's old... it's strong and it feels like... like it's mine.
She locks eyes with Buffy for a beat, then sets it down on the bed.
I guess that means it's yours.
It belongs to the Slayer.
Slayer in charge... which I'm guessing is you.
I honestly don't know. Does it matter?
It never mattered to me. Somebody has to lead. Let's vote for Chao-ahn. It's harder to lead people into a deathtrap if you don't speak English.
It wasn't your fault.
I'm really not looking for forgiveness.
You're not?
What do you want me to say? I blew it.
You didn't blow it.
Tell that to--
People die. You lead them into battle, they're going to die. It doesn't matter how ready you are or how smart you are... war is about death. Needless, stupid death.
So here's the laugh riot. My whole life I've been a loner.
Is that the funny part? Did I miss something?
I'm trying to--
Sorry! Sorry. Go.
No ties, no buddies, no relationships that lasted longer than... well, Robin lasted pretty long. Boy's got stamina.
Buffy's eyes go wide.
Principal Wood? And you? And in my--
Don't tell me you two got wriggly?
No! No, we're just good friends... or mortal enemies depending on which day of the... (sighs) Was that the funny part?
Okay, the point. Me, by myself, all the time. I'm looking at you, everything you have and, I don't know... jealous. Then there I am, everybody's looking to me, trusting me to lead them and I've never felt so alone in my entire life.
Buffy nods realizing that Faith finally gets it.
Yeah.
And that's you, every day. Isn't it?
I love my friends. I'm very grateful for them. But that's the price of being a Slayer.
There's only supposed to be one. Maybe that's why you and I can never get along. We're not supposed to exist together.
Also, you went evil and were killing people.
Good point. Also a factor.
But you're right. I mean, I guess everyone's alone but being a Slayer? There's a burden we can't share.
And no one else can feel it. (beat) Thank god we're hot chicks with superpowers.
Takes the edge off.
Comforting.
Mm-hmm.
Buffy descends the stairs with the scythe as SPIKE enters through the front door.
Honey, you're home.
Yeah.
And you did it. Fulfilled your mission, found the Holy Grail... or the holy hand grenade or whatever the hell that is.
Right now we're going with scythe. You like?
Well, pointy and wooden is not exactly a look I want to know better but it does have flair. I can see why a girl would ditch a fella for one of these.
I'm sorry about that.
It doesn't matter. You're back in the bosom. All's forgiven.
She heads into the kitchen and Spike follows.
And last night? It was just a glitch. A bit of cold comfort from the cellar dweller. Let's don't make a thing of it.
Great. I have work to do.
Oh, yeah. Another solo mission, of course.
Yeah, it is.
That's fine. You don't have to get shirty about it.
I'm not shirty. And what is shirty? That's not even a word.
All right, all right. Big secret mission. It's fine.
It's not a secret. Well, I mean, it is but that's the point of the mission. Find out the secret. This thing was forged by... I don't even know. I mean, something about a tomb on unconsecrated ground. That's what I have to do. I need to find out what this is and why I have it.
And that's the thing the preacher man was so anxious to keep out of your mitts?
That it is.
Well, maybe I'll swing by the vineyard when you go, make sure he's sitting tight.
Great.
Okay.
An awkward silence, then Spike turns to leave he makes it to the back door before Buffy rushes to catch up with him.
You're a dope!
I'm a what?
You're a dope and a bonehead and you're shirty!
Have you gone completely Carrot-Top?
Buffy holds up the scythe.
Do you see this? This may actually help me fight my war. This might be the key to everything. And the reason I'm holding it is because of you. Because of the strength that you gave me last night. I am tired of defensiveness and weird mixed signals. You know what? I have Faith for that. Let's just get to the truth here, okay? I don't know how you felt about last night but I will not--
Terrified.
Of what?
Last night was... (beat) God, I'm such a jerk. I can't do this.
Spike...
It was the best night of my life. If you poke fun at me, you bloody well better use that 'cause I couldn't bear it. It may not mean that much to you but--
I just told you it did.
Yeah, I hear you say it but... I've lived for soddin' ever, Buffy. I've done everything. I've done things with you I can't spell... but I've never been close... to anyone. Least of all you. Until last night. All I did was hold you, watch you sleep... and it was the best night of my life. So yeah, I'm terrified.
You don't have to be.
Were you there with me?
I was.
What does that mean?
I don't know. Does it have to mean something?
No, not right now.
Maybe when...
No, let's just leave it
Okay.
We'll go be heroes.
She nods and smiles as he walks out the back door.
Anya and Andrew enter and head for the shelves of medical supplies. Anya has a pillowcase slung over back, already full of plundered items.
Oh, this one has oxygen tanks.
They'd only be useful if something big was attacking, and then we could shove one down their throat and blow 'em up like Roy Scheider did with that shark in Jaws.
You are the perfect woman.
I've often thought so. Wanna rob?
Let's rob.
They start pulling things off the shelves and stuffing them in their bags.
Oh, cool... gauze and alcohol, tape and sutures if we want to get stitchy with it. Oh, and there's a box of ointment here. I used one of these on a rash once.
Oh, show me.
Well, it's healed up but it was red and crusty with these little itchy places.
Show me the box full of ointments, you little freak. And get cotton packing for the big wounds.
Andrew nods and shoves a stack of packaged bandages in his bag.
It's going to be bad, isn't it?
Yeah.
So how come you're here? I mean, you could just go, right?
Yeah. I did once before.
Before what?
Well, there was this other apocalypse this one time and... well, I took off. But this time, I don't know...
Well, what's different?
Well, I guess I was kinda new to being around humans before. But now I've seen a lot more, gotten to know people, seen what they're capable of and... I guess I just realized how amazingly screwed up they all are. I mean, really, really screwed up in a monumental fashion.
Oh.
And they have no purpose that unites them so they just drift around blundering through life until they die... which they know is coming yet every single one of them is surprised when it happens to them. They're incapable of thinking about what they want beyond the moment. They kill each other, which is clearly insane... and yet here's the thing. When it's something that really matters, they fight. I mean, they're lame morons for fighting but they do. They never... they never quit. So I guess I will keep fighting, too.
That was kind of beautiful. You love humans.
I do not!
Yes, you do. (sing-song) You love them...
Stop it! I don't love them and I'll kill you if you tell anybody.
I won't tell anybody. I won't get a chance to, anyway.
I don't know, you might survive.
No, you might survive. You know how to handle a weapon and you've been in this world for like a thousand years. I'm not so... (sighs) I don't think I'll be okay. I'm cool with it. I think I'd like to finish out as one of those lame humans trying to do what's right.
Yeah.
So... wheelchair fight?
Later. Anya and Andrew wear surgical masks as caps and spin around the room in wheelchairs, smashing into each other and laughing hysterically.
Buffy walks her familiar path through the graveyard. She comes across a wrought-iron gate overgrown with dead vines and opens it, curious. Inside, she finds an ancient stone pyramid that she's never seen until now. The iron door is topped with an runic symbol.
Buffy approaches and kicks it inward, sending sliding down the a set of stone steps and into a ceremonial chamber.
Buffy enters to find a pagan temple lit by torches set in wall sconces. Jars and baskets are clustered in the corners. Buffy peers into the shadows, looking all around her for some clue as to what this place is. Suddenly a
voice rings out from behind a sheer curtain and the GUARDIAN appears: an elderly woman, dressed in the robes of an ancient culture.
I'd forgotten. I'd forgotten how young you would be. Comes from the waiting. The mind plays tricks. (re: scythe) I see you've found our weapon.
Who are you?
One of many. Well... time was. Now I'm alone in the world.
So what are you? Some kind of ghost?
No, I'm as real as you are. Just... well, let me put it this way: I look good for my age. I've been waiting.
She holds out her hands and Buffy gives her the scythe.
You pulled it out of the rock. I was one of those who put it in there.
What is it?
A weapon. A scythe. Forged in secrecy for one like you who-- I'm sorry. What's your name?
Buffy.
No, really.
Buffy merely shrugs and the Guardian continues.
We forged it in secrecy and kept it hidden from the Shadow Men who--
Yeah, met those guys. Didn't really care too much for 'em.
Ah, yes. Then you know. And they became the Watchers and the Watchers watched the Slayers... but we were watching them.
Oh, so you're like... what are you?
Guardians. Women who want to help and protect you. We forged this centuries ago, halfway around the world.
Hence the Luxor Casino theme.
Forged there, it was put to use right here... to kill the last pure demon that walked upon the earth. The rest were already driven under. And then there were men here, and then there were monks. And then there was a town... and now there is you. And the scythe remained hidden.
I don't understand. How is it possible that we didn't know any of this?
We hid, too. We had to until now. We're the last surprise.
Does this mean I can win?
That is really up to you. This is a powerful weapon.
She hands the scythe back to Buffy.
Yeah.
But you already have weapons. Use it wisely and perhaps you can beat back the rising dark. One way or another, it can only mean an end is truly near.
Suddenly a pair of hands shoot out from behind the curtain and seize the Guardian's head, twisting it violently and snapping her neck. The old woman's lifeless body drops to the ground to reveal Caleb standing behind her.
I'm sorry, I didn't catch that last part on account of her neck snappin' and all. Did she say the end is near... or here?
Xander drives down a lonely California highway. In the seat beside him, Dawn starts to regain consciousness.
Hey, Dawn. Dawn, you awake?
What happened?
I thought you might say that.
Actually, I meant to say "what the hell happened?"
It was chloroform.
Color forms? What?
Chloroform. Are you still loopy?
Sorry about that. Someone knocked me out with chloroform. Xander, where are we going? What's going on? Talk to me!
Away.
He hands her a sealed envelope.
What's this?
Just open it.
Dawn opens the letter, starts to read it.
Dearest Dawn, don't be angry with Xander. He only did what I told him to do. This isn't the place for either of you. Please know that I love you and that everything I do is for you. I promised once to show you this beautiful world and I'm going to do everything I can to make that happen--
Xander suddenly goes rigid and slumps over as Dawn slips a stun gun from her bag and shocks him with it.
She calmly takes control of the car and brings it to a smooth stop, then turns and heads back in the other direction.
Buffy wrestles with Caleb as he tries to wrest control of the scythe from her. She recovers and whacks him in the side of the head with one end of the weapon, then hits him in the gut with the other, then again with the blade-- three shots fast.
Caleb lets go and Buffy leaps backward. He rushes her and unleashes a punch that shatters a stone column to dust on contact.
You're not slipping out of this fight, girl. Can't you see? You can't stop me. I can just keep going back for more. It's like being re-born.
Buffy lunges at Caleb with the scythe and this time he ducks under its blade, avoiding contact. Buffy presses the attack, swinging and thrusting. Caleb can't be touched.
He smiles and stands upright-- a target. Buffy swings the axe blade right at his neck and Caleb, without looking, shoots a hand up and catches the scythe in mid-swing, stopping it cold. With his other hand, Caleb punches Buffy so hard she flies backward into the far wall, sending up a cloud of dust. She drops the scythe on impact.
Caleb and Buffy both reach for the scythe simultaneously. Caleb gets there first and holds the scythe up for all of a split-second as Buffy kicks it from his grip and catches it in the same motion.
She spins, catching Caleb behind the knees with the scythe's shaft and lifting him off his feet. He crashes to the dusty floor. Buffy spins the scythe, stake-end first, and thrusts it downward straight at Caleb's throat.
He catches it an inch above his face and twists hard, flipping Buffy over. Now it's her turn to hit the ground.
Caleb leaps to his feet and Buffy staggers to hers, just in time to receive a devastating punch to the face. It sends her reeling backward. Caleb just keeps hitting her, a maniacal grin on his face.
Buffy tries to defend herself but she's running out of steam. She lies on the floor, writhing in pain as Caleb circles her, not even out of breath.
You know, I gave you ample warning. I told you not to interfere. And you chose not to heed.
Buffy charges across the room at him and he deftly side-steps, using her own momentum to flip her up onto a sarcophagus-like stone platform. She kicks him backward but he quickly recovers and lifts her up, hurling her through a stone column. She's nearly unconscious.
Caleb scoops up the scythe and twirls it his hands as he stands over her.
I was kinda hopin' it'd go this way.
He raises the scythe over his head for the killing blow.
Hey.
Caleb turns and takes a massive blow to the head, sending him careening across the room and into the wall. He drops the scythe and lands on the floor, dazed and half-conscious.
Buffy looks up to find ANGEL standing over her, his hand held out to help her up. She takes it and he lifts her to her feet.
I was never much for preachers.
Angel.
You look good.
You look timely. And also good.
Heard you maybe needed a hand.
Caleb gets to his feet, royally pissed. Angel moves toward him but Buffy holds him back.
Ah. This one of those things you have to finish yourself?
Really kinda is.
Angel backs away and leans casually against a stone column, enjoying the show, as Caleb stalks toward Buffy. She scoops the scythe up from the ground and stands her ground.
You are so gonna lose.
Caleb rushes Buffy and she swings the scythe around in a lightning-quick series of blows. Caleb dodges them all and wrenches the weapon from her grasp, kicking her backward into the wall. He aims the pointed stake end at her and thrusts forward. She dodges at the last instant and the shaft slams into the rock, embedded up to the hilt.
Buffy hurls Caleb away and rips the scythe from the wall, charging at him full speed.
God, I've missed watching this.
Caleb swings at her, one punches after another, but Buffy ducks and weaves, then whips the scythe's blade around sideways in a deadly arc, catching Caleb full in the chest.
He stops, stunned, as Buffy rips the blade back out, opening him up from one side of his body to the other. He staggers backward, laughing at her for a brief moment, before his eyes go wide and a collapses to the floor. His eyes stare sightlessly up at her.
Buffy turns to Angel, winded.
See? Under control.
She walks to Angel, who steadies her.
Well, at least you could tell me you're glad to see me.
She looks up at him and their lips meet in a kiss, tender at first, but building to real passion.
As they kiss, pan over to reveal Spike, watching from the shadows, his face a mask of betrayal and pain.
As he watches Buffy and Angel kiss, The First appears as Buffy, just behind Spike, and whispers in his ear.
That bitch...