(Dawn notices there are no more pictures of Riley in Buffy's room)

DAWN: You took down his pictures.

BUFFY: Yeah.

DAWN: I ... I think I would've done that sooner. Like, boom! "Don't wanna see that face again."

BUFFY: It wasn't like that. I was never angry with him. (sighs) Okay, that's a lie. But it's not like I don't want to see his face.

DAWN: I was just starting to kinda like the guy, and then ... gone. So fast.

BUFFY: It wasn't really so fast. Him leaving. According to everyone who isn't me, it was kind of gradual.

DAWN: Oh. Does that make it any better?

BUFFY: No.

DAWN: Because you should have noticed earlier?

BUFFY: Stop being insightful. It's creepy.

(she gets serious)

BUFFY: It hurts. In all kinds of horrible ways. In the way where I'm furious at him ... in the way where I blame myself ... and all the little ways I imagine ... how I could have fixed things.

DAWN: It'll get better. (Frowns) Won't it?

BUFFY: I hope so. Yes. It has to.

(Dawn lies down, puts her head in Buffy's lap. Buffy strokes her hair)

BUFFY: I'll just keep going like I have been, and every day it'll get a little bit better.

DAWN: Really? Every day?

BUFFY: Not really. But it'll be better soon.

DAWN: It still feels all sudden to me. With him gone where no one can talk to him.

BUFFY: But you never know. Maybe he'll come back. Maybe he'll hate the jungle ... or maybe he'll want to give it another try. I could ... say all the things I didn't get to say.

• Buffy & Dawn
• Buffy & Riley

written by: Jane Espenson; Transcribed by Joan the English Chick (pisces@englishchick.com).. Full transcript at:
http://www.studiesinwords.de/89triangle.html