No Place Like Home
Episode 5.5
Written by Douglas Petrie
Full episode synopsis from Buffyguide (http://www.buffyguide.com/episodes/noplacelikehome.shtml)
Synopsis of Spike’s Scenes:
Buffy is leaving her house when she pulls a lurking Spike from behind a tree on her lawn. Spike denies having any particular reason for being there.
This episode is significant in terms of Spike’s redemption for the following reasons:
Spike’s interest in Buffy does not seem to be motivated by a desire to hurt her.
This episode is significant for a future Buffy/Spike relationship for the following reasons:
* Spike acts like a lovesick teenager, not a villain.
Line by Line Analysis of Script
Transcript by joan the english chick for the Psyche transcripts site:
http://www.psyche.kn-bremen.de/83noplacelikehome.html
Buffy walks down the front steps and is halfway across the lawn when she stops, sensing something. She reaches behind a tree and yanks SPIKE out into the yard.
BUFFY
Spike.
SPIKE
Hi, Buffy.
BUFFY
Don't take this the wrong way but...
She socks him in the nose.
SPIKE
Ow!
BUFFY
What are you doing here? Five words or less.
Spike counts the words on his fingers.
SPIKE
Out... for... a... walk... bitch.
BUFFY
Out for a walk at night by my house. No one has time for this,William.
Why does Buffy call him William? Seems very odd for her to suddenly use his first name for the first time. [caroline]
SPIKE
On your merry way, then. You know, contrary to one's self-involved world-view, your house happens to be directly between parts... and other parts of this town. And I would pass by in the day but I feel I'm outgrowing my whole "burst into flame" phase.
BUFFY
Fine. Keep going, I cut you a break.
SPIKE
Oh, yeah. Okay, let me guess... you won't kill me? Wooo... the whole crowd-pleasing threats-and-swagger routine. How stunningly original. You know, I'm just passing through. Satisfied? You know, I really hope so because God knows you need some satisfaction in life besides shagging Captain Cardboard and I never really liked you anyway and... and you have stupid hair.
He turns and stalks off into the night leaving Buffy not just a little bit perplexed. She looks down at the base of the tree and notices a dozen or so cigarette butts where Spike was standing. Having no time to worry about it now, Buffy heads off to the factory. She doesn't notice Dawn watching intently from her second-floor window.
Poor Spike -- 120-whatever going on 15. [caroline]
You know, that's probably why he and Dawn seem to get along so well. Emotionally, they're about the same age, and they both have a lot of the sulky, rebellious teenager about them. [aureliozen]
Several things hit me about this scene:
1. She hits him in the nose instead of staking him, which certainly would have been *my* first reaction given that the last time she'd seen him, he was trying to sink his fangs into her neck, chip or no chip. If threatening her life is only worth a sock in the nose to her, then what *is* upsetting where he is concerned? Oh, that's right. Offers of love and willingess to change. Confusing message, anyone? ;-)
2. What I love about the "Out. For. A. Walk...Bitch" speech is that when he makes it, he adds "bitch" almost as an afterthought, and with that little extra waggle of his pinky and thumb and a sort of squint as if he's doing it pro forma. "Oh, damn, that's right, I'm still supposed to be her enemy. Better call her a bitch. She'll think it odd if I don't." The expression as he does it is very similar to his later one as he is helping Niblet break into the Magic Box and says "Oh, who's bad now!" as he succeeds in picking the lock. It's Spike posing as Big Bad. ;-)
3. The language and metaphors he uses emphasize immaturity both directly and indirectly. Besides all the obvious tip-offs -- he has, after all, been mooning about under her window like Romeo waiting for Juliet to appear and makes the incredibly silly insults about her hair -- there is also that nicely subtle turn of phrase about his "whole burst into flames phase." Who else is usually discussed in terms of "phases they go through" but teens? [jacqueline]
The thing that I loved most about this scene is the fact that he's been there for a long time--ten and a half cigarettes' worth. (Yes, I counted the butts. <G>) And Buffy, who plainly sees all those butts, has to know that he wasn't "out for a walk" at all. This just drove me nuts for ever so long, until it occurred to me that it was one of those things that she just doesn't -see-, even when she's looking right straight at it, because it disturbs her and she doesn't want to acknowledge it. She's had all kinds of evidence that Spike is at least obsessed with her, and it's like it's all gone straight over her head. [dori]
Signs that Spike cannot be redeemed:
He is stalking/watching her.
He calls her a bitch.
Key Changes from Shooting Script:
See the shooting script at:
http://www.mustreadtv.com/buffyscripts/noplacelikehome1.html