(Cut to Gregor tied to a pillar in a rear room of the building. Buffy stands in front of him with her arms folded. Dawn and Spike both stand nearby)

SPIKE: You sure Scarface here can habla the English?

BUFFY: He understands me. (to Gregor) Don't you?

GREGOR: You were warned we would return, Slayer.

BUFFY: Took you long enough. What are you supposed to be, some kind of chief?

GREGOR: (sneers) General.

BUFFY: General. In charge of what, getting captured?

GREGOR: You do not frighten me, child.

(he looks at Dawn)

GENERAL: The instrument of chaos must be destroyed.

BUFFY: Look at her that way again, and she will be the last thing you ever see.

General: As I've been told. You protect the key of the Beast.

BUFFY: It's not that simple.

General: Yes, the key has been transformed, given breath, life. Yet this makes no difference; the key is the link, the link must be severed, such is the will of God.

BUFFY: She doesn't remember anything about being this key you're looking for! The only thing that she remembers is growing up with a mother and a sister that love her. What kind of god what demand her life for something that she has no control over? We are not your enemy. Tell your men to stand down.

General: No.

BUFFY: It is not her fault! She's human now!

General: The key is too dangerous to be allowed to exist. No matter what form it has been pressed into.

BUFFY: I will not let anyone tell me-

(Buffy breaks off as we hear Tara's wailing from the other room)

• Dawn as the Key

written by: Steven S. DeKnight; Typed the partial transcript of this episode myself. Full transcript at:
http://www.studiesinwords.de/98spiral.html