(Cut to Joyce altering a red cape on her sewing machine. )

BUFFY: Thanks again for doing this at the last minute.

JOYCE: I'm just glad I could find it. There. Try it now. I let down the hem and loosened it a little around the hood.

BUFFY: Oh, it feels better. Oh, no. Someone is getting nostalgic face.

JOYCE: I'm sorry. I'm thinking about the little girl who wore that. What is it? Five? Six years ago.

BUFFY: Yeah, little red riding hood was the cutting edge in costumes.

JOYCE: Your father *loved* to take you out.

BUFFY: He was such a pain! 12 years old and I can't go trick-or-treating by myself?

JOYCE: He just wanted to keep you safe.

BUFFY: No, he wanted the candy. I was just the beard.

JOYCE: Oh, that's not true actually. The candy was for me. - Your father loved spending time with you.

BUFFY: Not enough, I guess.

JOYCE: Buffy.

BUFFY: Oh, that just paved right over memory lane, huh?

JOYCE: Our divorce had nothing to do with you.

BUFFY: I don't know. - I'm starting to feel like there is a pattern here. - Open your heart to someone, and he bails on you. Maybe it's easier to just not let anyone in.

JOYCE: I thought it might be easier. You must have noticed that I am not exactly the social butterfly I was when I was with your dad. I don't think I made a single new friend the year we moved to Sunnydale.

BUFFY: Why not?

JOYCE: Fear. I didn't believe I could trust anyone again. It's taken time and a lot of effort, but I've got a nice circle of friends now. - I mean, don't get me wrong. I - I'm still a little gun shy. It certainly didn't help that my last boyfriend turned out to be a homicidal robot. I will *always* be here for you. And you got Mr. Giles and your friends. Believe me, there is nothing to be afraid of.

• Buffy & her mom

written by: David Fury; . Full transcript at:
http://www.studiesinwords.de/60fearitself.html