The Replacement

Episode 5.3

Written by Jane Espenson

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

Synopsis of Spike’s Scenes:

When the Scooby Gang goes to a dump to track a Toth demon, they run into Spike scavenging. Later, we find out that in his crypt Spike has been dressing a mannequin to look like Buffy.

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

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

* He is shown to have a mannequin dressed up like Buffy, suggesting extreme interest in her.

Line by Line Analysis of Script

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

http://www.psyche.kn-bremen.de/81replacement.html

Cut to exterior location, night. Giles, Xander, Buffy, Riley, and Willow walk along cautiously. Buffy carries a large axe.

BUFFY: The city dump. Where smells go to relax and be themselves.

RILEY: People say they're recycling. (shakes head) They're not recycling.

(Xander pats him on the shoulder)

WILLOW: I found a spell so you can't smell anything, but it does it by taking your nose off, so ... no.

They hear noises and see someone rooting around in the trash.

RILEY: What are *you* doing here, Spike? (We see that Riley has a crossbow)

Hmm, Riley still has that stupid crossbow? Did I mention how happy I was when he left the show and I never had to deal with his posturing over-compensating for his own inadequacies crap personality again? Now, what I notice in this scene is how utterly polite Giles and Willow are to Spike, compared to how rude Buffy and Riley were in the two earlier episodes. I'm feeling sad about that now, I miss them being decent. [caroline]

Spike straightens up, holding a mannequin arm.

SPIKE: Oh, there's a nice lady vampire who set up a charming tea room over the next pile of crap. What do you think I'm doing? I'm scavenging, ain't I? (Holds up a small lamp in the other hand)

WILLOW: Very pretty.

Willow's encouraging comment to Spike that his new lamp is "very nice" hearkens back to the old Willow of season 4, the Willow who was genuinely concerned about Spike committing suicide and who assiduously made sure that he didn't do it ("Doomed") -- even though he had been trying to kill her not long before, and reminded her that given the chance he would try again. Willow used to have infinite patience and tolerance for Spike, it seemed, but the comment about the lamp in "The Replacement" is, as far as I know, the last nice thing she has to say to, or about, Spike. [clairel]

Spike nods and turns to put the arm and the lamp in a shopping cart nearby.

GILES: Spike, um ... we're looking for a demon, um... tall, robed, skin sort of hanging off. Deep voice?

SPIKE: You mean a great tall robe-y thing like that one? (Pointing behind them)

They all turn and see Toth standing there. He points his stick at them.

Fire flashes out of it and they all duck just in time.

RILEY: Take cover!

SPIKE: Big guy! Kick her ass!

Her, singular, and it seems more like he wants to see a really good Slayer fight with this thing than it does that he wants him to actually kill her. He's encouraging Toth to come fight her. He sounds like a fan at a Soccer match. It's more entertaining than what's on the telly. [davendeanna]

Toth fires again. Buffy and Xander duck aside, and the bolt shatters Spike's lamp which he's still holding.

SPIKE: Oh, very nice! I was on your side! (angrily tosses the pieces of lamp aside)

Certainly Spike is very much the outsider here, seemingly by his own will. When the Toth demon attacks, he seems eager for it to win, and expresses outrage at the destruction of his lamp by the demon's weapon: "Hey, I was on your side!" Before the demon appears, Spike's remarks to the SG are cranky and facetious. The tongue-in-cheek comment about the "nice lady vampire" emphasizes his differences from the SG, his vampiric status. The mere fact that he is scavenging in a junkyard is humiliating, and perhaps his bitterness at being caught out in a humiliating situation exacerbates the sharpness of his remarks. [clairel]

and

Cut to Spike in his crypt, arranging a mannequin. As the camera moves out we can see that the mannequin is from the waist up only (no legs). Spike arranges its clothing, then turns away and takes a long blonde wig from his shopping cart and carefully places it on the dummy's head. He smiles slightly.

SPIKE: Very posh.

He turns away as if to get something else, but suddenly whirls and aims a kick at the mannequin. It falls over and its head comes off, bouncing on the floor. Spike kicks it into the air and catches it. The wig is still on. Spike holds the head up and gazes at it.

SPIKE: Oh, slayer. (Rubs his thumb along its cheek) One of these days....

Yes, and here is born the plot that will eventually be Buffybot, curses. However, at this point, I interpreted it more as pentup anger that would be released against Buffy as soon as Spike got that chip out of his head, I hadn't yet thought about Buffy Love...but who had? [caroline]

Probably the most significant development for Spike in this episode is that it is in the junkyard that he acquires his mannequin, and we see him with it back home, already fantasizing that it is Buffy. His fantasy seems more violent that amorous, but already (after kicking the mannequin head) he is fondling it and gently murmuring an ambiguous comment: "Oh, slayer. One of these days." [clairel]

I had noticed that in the episode. His initial touch of the mannequin does seem very gentle and lover-like. At least up until he beats the heck out of it. Conflicted much? [jacqueline]

 

Signs that Spike cannot be redeemed:

Key Changes from Shooting Script:

See the shooting script at:

http://www.mustreadtv.com/buffyscripts/replacement1.html

Note: the shooting script describes Spike’s touch of the mannequin as "almost tenderly."

 

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