Buffy vs. Dracula

Episode 5.1

Written by Marti Noxon

Full episode synopsis from Buffyguide (http://www.buffyguide.com/episodes/buffyvsd.shtml)

Riley goes to Spike’s crypt to get information about Dracula. Spike reveals that he knows Dracula, insinuates that he and Dracula are rivals/equals, and suggests that Dracula poses a danger to Buffy with his "showy gypsy stuff."

This episode is significant in terms of Spike’s redemption for the following reasons:

1. It reiterates that Spike is in a "gray" area, fitting in neither the human world nor the demon world.

2. It represents Spike as a voice of reason or honesty in his advice to Riley regarding Dracula.

This episode is significant for a future Buffy/Spike relationship for the following reasons:

1. Buffy is clearly restless with her "nice guy" boyfriend (Riley) and becomes enthralled by a vampire (Dracula)—a recurring desire in her life? With Angel out of the picture, Spike is a likely candidate.

2. Buffy talks about her patrolling as if it's "hunting"--setting up a parallel between herself and vampires, who also hunt.

3. Spike shows a slight interest in/awareness of Buffy’s lovelife.

Transcript by joan the english chick for the Psyche transcripts site:

http://www.psyche.kn-bremen.de/79buffyvsdracula.html

Cut to Riley opening a crypt door and walking in. Candles are lit everywhere. He walks in, looking around.

What preoccupies me most whenever I watch this episode is that, in the Buffyverse, a summer has passed by. No major crises can ever occur in summer, of course -- no Big Bads like Adam or the Mayor -- but presumably the characters continue to see one another and interact; relationships must progress. This applies to the Spike scene because it's the first time we see Riley showing any real familiarity with Spike in previous episodes, Spike was just the mysterious "Hostile 17" to Riley. Riley had only seen Spike in the company of the SG before (Goodbye Iowa, New Moon Rising) or in the presence of Adam (Primeval). Now, after several more months have gone by, Riley knows where to find Spike and is quite casual about strolling into his crypt asking for information. This is the first scene in which Riley and Spike are the only ones present; the first scene in which Riley talks directly to Spike. And Riley seems pretty cool and calm about it. He has accepted the idea that there is at least one HST who can be allowed to live and go free, not be "tagged and bagged." [clairel]

SPIKE: Well, well.

Spike emerges from the shadows holding a crossbow.

SPIKE: You can take the boy out of the Initiative, but you can't take the Initiative out of the boy.

RILEY: I'd put that down, unless you're bucking for one hell of a headache.

Spike hesitates, puts the bow down.

SPIKE: I can't be too careful. I got quite a few demons after me these days.

This is a reminder that Spike's no longer one of the evil gang. And Riley makes it equally clear that Spike's not part of the good gang, either. So S5 puts Spike in the grey zone from the start. [pljoy]

RILEY: I'm looking for some information. Might pay a little.

SPIKE: (shrugs) I'll play. (Goes over to a couple of chairs)

RILEY: What can you tell me about Dracula?

SPIKE: Dracula? (scoffs) Poncy bugger owes me eleven pounds, for one thing. (Puts a cigarette in his mouth)

RILEY: You know him?

SPIKE: Know him? We're old rivals. (Lights cigarette) But then he got famous, forgot all about his foes. (Points at Riley) I'll tell you what. That glory hound's done more harm to vampires than any slayer. His story gets out, and suddenly everybody knows how to kill us. (Sits down) You know, the mirror bit?

RILEY: But he's not just a regular vampire. I mean, he has special powers, right?

SPIKE: Nothing but showy gypsy stuff. What's it to you, anyway?

RILEY: He's in town. Making his presence known.

SPIKE: (smiling) Drac's in Sunnydale-way? (Puts feet up on a cassock) I guess the old boy needed closure after all.

RILEY: Actually, he's gunning for Buffy. But I'm out to find him before he gets another shot at her. (Sits)

SPIKE: Tough talk, cowboy. But you're not gonna catch him napping in a crypt. No, the count has to have his luxury estate and his bug-eaters and his special dirt, don't he?

He definitely appears saddened that Dracula isn't in town to see him, and I got the underlying impression that he feels that Buffy is 'more important than him' because Dracula is there to see Buffy and not him. [caroline]

RILEY: So you're saying I should check out mansions, that sort of thing?

SPIKE: No. (stands) I'm saying ... you should go home to your superhoney. Have a nice, safe snog. You're out of your depth on this one, boy. (Turns his back on Riley)

The mere fact that Spike is thinking about R/B snogging, and goes out of his way to mention it, shows his continuing preoccupation with the Slayer's romances. There is an edge in Spike's voice when he speaks the above-quoted line that seems rather bitter and ironic, belying the surface message which seems to be encouraging Riley to be with Buffy, and perhaps, paradoxically, hinting at Spike's tacit wish that Riley should not be with Buffy. [clairel]

Once again, even when Spike gives sound advice - - stay home, you're out of your league on this one - - he garners a harsh response from Riley. [pjloy]

RILEY: You've helped Buffy before, so she has a problem with killing you now that you're helpless. (Spike still turned away)

RILEY: I don't.

Spike turns to face him, walks up to him.

SPIKE: I'd like to see you try.

Snarky, snarky attitude. Lots of bravado to remind us that he was -- and still wants to be -- the Big Bad. [pjloy]

Riley stands, gets in Spike's face.

RILEY: Would you?

They stare each other down. Finally Spike looks away.

SPIKE: Pfft.

You can tell how frustrating it is for Spike to have to back down to Riley. But maybe this is for the best. He has to learn to deal with people – even those he doesn't particularly like -- without eating them. [alanesue]

Riley walks to the door.

SPIKE: (calls out as Riley is at the door) You're never gonna find him.

Riley leaves.

SPIKE: (to himself) Not before he gets to her.

Not sure how this was delivered. Is it hinting that Spike hopes Drac gets to Buffy first ... or that he fears it? [pljoy]

He says it softly, without malice, and there seems to be worry and dread in his voice and mannerisms. It's not 100% worry; there's some ambivalence there, but he's not liking the situation. There are hints in the delivery of this line that he actually *cares*. [davendeanna]

I didn't get a sense that Spike exactly seemed concerned that Dracula would get to Buffy. He just accepted it as something that was inevitable -- really, his resignation is similar to Angel's in "Prophesy Girl" when he finds out that Buffy is slated to die at the hands of the Master because of Prophesy. [alanesue]

If Spike were the Spike of old, he ought to be saying this with relish -- hoping that Buffy would be demolished by Dracula -- but instead I perceive a somber, rueful tone in his voice. At the same time, there is a tension in the jaw and neck muscles that makes me think Spike is really bothered by the idea of Dracula getting to Buffy. [clairel]

Almost seems to root for Drac at the end. But then, given Riley's actions toward him, who wouldn't root for the count? [pjloy]

He's still got a chip -- the one on his shoulder, not just in his head. [alanesue]

Almost seems to root for Drac at the end. [pjloy]

See the shooting script at:

http://www.mustreadtv.com/buffyscripts/dracula1.html

In the shooting script Spike says that in exchange for information, he gets his 'heckling time', which I think pretty much describes his relationship with Buffy and the other Scoobies at this point, they go to him when they need him, but they have to put up with his nasty verbal jabs. [caroline]

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