(Giles apartment, courtyard)

BUFFY: Something horrible is going to happen, Giles.

GILES: It was an earthquake, Buffy. A not uncommon occurrence in southern California. No reason to think it was anything more.

BUFFY: Oh, I so have a reason. A darn good reason. The last time we had an earthquake, I died.

GILES: Yes, I know that - and - therefore I completely understand your anxiety.

BUFFY: Oh, good. Because I'd hate for my little untimely horrible death concern to be ambiguous.

GILES: But unless evidence suggests otherwise, I think that we can assume that it's shifting landmasses and not a portent of some imminent doom. Now in the meantime, I've got a few theories about our mysterious commando friends.

BUFFY: Oh. Really?

GILES: Now based on the locations of our various sightings, and - Spike's *reluctant* description of their underground installation...

BUFFY: What if the quake was a sign? Ah, a bad omen and we just ignore it? There is going to be a lot of red faces when the world comes to an end.

GILES: Buffy, *if* the quake heralds some such catastrophe, I'm sure there will be other signs to follow, which will afford us *plenty* of time to avert it. Now, - I believe that the commando installation is either very close to, or directly underneath your school, now if that is the case I'm convinced that one or more of them may be in your very midst.

BUFFY: Plague!

GILES: What?

BUFFY: What if the end of the world is coming in the form of a plague? Then too many people may be infected by the time we actually...

GILES: Buffy! Will you stop worrying about what may be and concentrate on what is! Vigilance is all very good, but as we are getting close the is a much more pressing question.

• Giles role as Watcher

written by: Marti Noxon, David Fury, and Jane Espenson; . Full transcript at:
http://www.studiesinwords.de/67doomed.html