(restaurant/bar. A waitress brings Ethan & Giles beer.)

Ethan: Brilliant! Now isn't this more fun than kicking my ass?

GILES: No.

Ethan: Oh. It's more fun for me.

GILES: Just tell me what you want to tell me.

Ethan: (mock hurt) Oh, so crass. We used to be friends, Ripper. When did all that fall apart?

GILES: The same time you started to worship chaos.

Ethan: Oh, religious intolerance. Sad, there. I mean, just look at the Irish troubles. Oh, hang on, I'll tell ya. Something happening in the darkworlds. It's always been rumors out there but . . . only one thing's coming through clear.. That something's harming demons and it's not the Slayer. Know anything about it?

GILES: What are they saying?

Ethan: Heh, you know demons. It's all exaggeration and blank verse. "Pain as bright as steel" things like that. They're scared. There's something called "314" that's got them scared most of all. The kind of scared that turns to angry. I know we're not particularly fond of each other, Rupert. But we are a couple of old mystics. This knew outfit, it's blundering into new places it doesn't belong. It's throwing the worlds out of balance. And that's way beyond chaos, mate. We're headed quite literally for one hell of a fight.

• Rupert 'the Ripper' Giles
• the Initiative

written by: Jane Espenson; Transcribed by Joseph B. Full transcript at:
http://www.studiesinwords.de/68anewman.html