SPIKE: There you are. Do you realize I could just walk in here, no invite needed? This town really is theirs now, isn?t it? (beat) I heard. I was over there. That bitch. She?s all about smiles and reformation when you?re on your feet. And the moment you?re down? She?s all about the kicking, isn?t that right? Makes me want to?

BUFFY: It wasn?t just Faith. It was all of them and it?s not like they were wrong. Please leave.

SPIKE: No, this?ll change your tune. I came here ?cause I got something to tell you. (triumphant) You were right. Caleb is trying to protect something from you and I think you were spot on all the way. I think it?s at the vineyard. (blank look) So? You were right. Buffy?

BUFFY: I don?t feel very right.

SPIKE: You?re not fooling me.

BUFFY: What do you even mean?

SPIKE: Well, you?re not a quitter.

BUFFY: Watch me.

SPIKE: You were their leader and you still are. This isn?t something you gave up. It?s something they took.

BUFFY: And the difference is?

SPIKE: We can take it back.

(...)

SPIKE: No?

BUFFY: No.

SPIKE: You mean ?no? as in ?eventually??

BUFFY: You really have problems with that word, don?t you?

SPIKE: You can get them back.

BUFFY: Can, maybe. Should? I?m just so tired?

SPIKE: They need you.

BUFFY: Well, I?

SPIKE: It?s bloody chaos over there without you.

BUFFY: It is?

SPIKE: Yeah, it?s? there?s junk food cartons, sleeping bags not rolled up? everyone?s very scared and unkempt.

BUFFY: Sounds dire.

SPIKE: I didn?t see a lot. I came, hit Faith a bunch of times and left.

BUFFY: Really? (covers) I mean, I?m not glad of that?

SPIKE: Say the word and she?s a footnote in history. I?ll make it look like a painful accident.

BUFFY: That?s my problem. I say the word, some girl dies. Every time.

SPIKE: There?s always casualties in a war.

BUFFY: Casualties? it just sounds so casual. These are girls. That I got killed. (beat) I cut myself off from them, all of them. I knew I was going to lose some of them and I didn?t? You know what? I?m still making excuses. I?ve always cut myself off, I?ve always? being the Slayer made me different but it?s my fault I stayed that way. People are always trying to connect to me but I just? slip away. (beat) You should know.

SPIKE: I seem to recall a certain amount of connecting.

BUFFY: Oh, please. We were never close. You just wanted me because I was unattainable.

SPIKE: You think that?s all that was?

BUFFY: Please, let?s not go over the past.

SPIKE: Oh, no. Hold on here. I?ve hummed along to your pity ditty and I think I should have the mike for a bit.

BUFFY: Fine. The stage is yours. Cheer me up.

SPIKE: You?re insufferable.

BUFFY: Thank you. That really helped.

SPIKE: I?m not trying to cheer you up.

BUFFY: Then what are you trying to say?

SPIKE: I don?t know! I?ll know when I?m done saying it. Something pissed me off and I just? unattainable! That?s it.

BUFFY: Fine. I?m attainable. I?m an attain-athon. Can I please just go to sleep?

SPIKE: You listen to me. I?ve been alive a bit longer than you and dead a lot longer than that. I?ve seen things you couldn?t imagine and done things I?d prefer you didn?t. I don?t exactly have a reputation for being a thinker. I follow my blood which doesn?t exactly rush in the direction of my brain so I make a lot of mistakes. A lot of wrong bloody calls. A hundred plus years and there?s only one thing I?ve ever been sure of. You. Hey, look at me. I?m not asking you for anything. When I say I love you, it?s not because I want you, or because I can?t have you. It has nothing to do with me. I love what you are, what you do, how you try. I?ve seen your kindness and your strength. I?ve seen the best and the worst of you and I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are. You are a hell of a woman. You?re the one, Buffy.

BUFFY: (teary) I don?t want to be the one.

SPIKE: I don?t want to be this good-looking and athletic. We all have crosses to bear. (she smiles) You get some rest now. I?ll check in before first light. You can decide how you want?

BUFFY: Spike?

BUFFY: Could you stay here?

SPIKE: Sure. That diabolical torture device, the comfy chair. Do me fine.

BUFFY: No. I mean? here. Will you just hold me?

(he does)

• Buffy & Spike
• Slayerhood

written by: Rebecca Kirshner; original transcript by Buffy vs Angel. Edited by me.. Full transcript at:
http://ww3.buffy-vs-angel.com/buffy_tran_142.shtml