Overall Rating: 9.05 Matt: 9.1 Eric: 9.0 Written by: Dan Vebber Directed by: David Semel Cast : Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers, Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris, Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg, Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase, Seth Green as Oz, Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles, David Boreanez as Angel. Main guest stars : Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers, Harry Groener as Mayor Richard Wilkins III, James Marsters as Spike. Original broadcast date : November 24, 1998 The SAT results are in, and Willow got a disappointing 740 on Verbal. As she complains to her friends, Buffy shows up, actually worried because her high score ­ 1430 ­ might mean she has a real future. As for Cordelia, she¹s quite pleased with her high score, since it means she has a chance of getting of this town no moron would want to come back to. Apparently, one moron does, since that night, a familiar Œ50s DeSoto crashes the "Welcome to Sunnydale" sign. Out spills Spike, dead drunk. Apparently, Drusilla¹s left him, and he¹s intent on having a bad trip down memory lane. Returning to the old burned down factory, still drunk, he surveys the damage, then starts destroying Drusilla¹s dolls, crying and yelling at the same time. The next day at school, Xander sells the idea of a bowling double-date with Willow and Oz to Cordelia ­ no small feat. Both Xander and Willow find out how much their respective lovers care for them ­ Xander learns Cordelia has pictures of him in her locker, and Willow gets a small present from Oz, a little Pez Witch. Packing for a druidic retreat, Giles tells Buffy she should indeed consider going to college in another city while Faith takes over slaying duty in Sunnydale. When presented with Buffy's SAT scores and her option of college, Giles suggests that she should consider it. He also warns her about starting a relationship with Angel again, but Buffy assures him that her and Angel are just friends. At home, Joyce tells Buffy the same thing Giles told her ­ that she should consider leaving town and letting Faith take care of the slaying. Meanwhile, Spike goes to see Angel at the mansion, and yells at him, blaming him for making Drusilla insane. He ends up passing out and waking up the next morning when the sun hits his hand, setting it on fire. He runs to his car and once again gets drunk. Looking for a curse to put on Angel, he goes to a magic shop. But then Willow walks in and buys the ingredients for a "de-lusting" spell. As he hides in the shadows and watches her, Spike gets an ideaŠ Meanwhile, Buffy has gone to see Angel to get his thoughts on what she should do. When he argues that there¹s nothing holding her in Sunnydale, she leaves, disappointed and hurt. That night is the night of the double date, and Willow is in the chemistry lab at school, working on the anti-love spell. She¹s tricked Xander into showing up, but he quickly realizes that she wants him there for the spell, and they argue. As he goes to turn the lights back on, Spike (still drunk) appears, knocks him unconscious and takes both of them to the old factory. There, he forces Willow to perform a love spell that will bring Dru back to him. When Willow argues that she doesn¹t have all the ingredients, he goes out to get what¹s missing. At school, Cordelia and Oz have found the ravaged chemistry lab and warned Buffy about Willow and Xander¹s disappearance. She orders them to go get Giles at the retreat, and goes back to the library to get some equipment. There, her mother calls, and as they talk, Buffy hears Spike enter the house and say "Hello, Joyce". Buffy¹s mother offers Spike a hot drink, and he tells her his sad story, as she listens emphatically. Passing on the sidewalk, Angel sees them chatting and tries to act, but can¹t get in ­ he¹s not invited, and Joyce is terrified of him. Fortunately, Buffy arrives and invites him in. As they threaten Spike, he reveals that he¹s kidnapped Xander and Willow. As a result, Angel and Buffy grudgingly agree to help Spike fix his love spell. As they get the supplies in the magic shop, Spike has a moment of serious soberness and tells Buffy and Angel that they¹re fooling themselves if they think they can ever be just friends, that they¹re condemned to love each other until it kills them. He concludes by saying that he may be lover¹s bitch, but that he¹s man enough to admit it. Meanwhile, Oz and Cordelia are on their way to get Giles, when Oz¹s werewolf sense picks up Willow¹s scent. They make their way to the factory and arrive just in time to find Willow and Xander locked in the basement, passing the time by making out. As the two break apart to find their lovers gaping at them, a disgusted Cordelia runs up the stairs, but falls through the rotten floor impales herself on a metal pipe. Xander, panicking, climbs down and holds Cordy¹s hand until the paramedics arrive. At the magic shop, Buffy and Angel are leaving disgusted by Spike¹s rant, when they¹re assailed by Mr. Trick and a gang of vampires sent by the Mayor to "neutralize" Spike. A huge fight breaks out, and eventually, with the help of some holy water, they scare off the remaining vampires. Spike is invigorated by the fight, and tells Buffy and Angel he¹s realized that to win Dru back he has to become a monster again and torture her until she loves him. The next day is a gloomy one for the Scoobies. While Willow confides to Buffy that now all she wants is for Oz to talk to her again, Xander goes to visit Cordelia in the hospital with a huge bouquet, but she coldly tells him to stay away from her. As for Buffy, Spike¹s warning has sunk in, and she breaks up with Angel, telling him she can¹t see him unless he tells her he doesn¹t love her. Of course, he can¹t, so she leaves. So Willow is sad, Xander is sad, Cordelia is sad, Oz is sad, Buffy is sad, Angel is sadŠ And Spike is a happy, happy man, as he drives on his way to Dru, rocking along to a punk version of Frank Sinatra¹s "My Way"Š Summary by OttsFiveByFive.