BUFFY: I always say patrol's not complete without a trip to the stinky sewers.

ANGEL: I'm sure I saw him come down here.

BUFFY: Couldn't we just let this be the vamp that got away? We could say he was this big. (Holds hands apart, like a fish story.)

ANGEL: What can I say? I need closure.

BUFFY: You need clothes. You don't have a tux, do you?

ANGEL: Since when did patrolling go black tie?

BUFFY: For the prom, silly.

ANGEL: We have more important things to think about right now than a dance, Buffy.

BUFFY: Sorry, Giles. I'll just be quiet.

ANGEL: Come on, don't be that way.

A vampire drops from the roof, growling.

BUFFY: Not now.

Buffy casually stakes the vampire and turns to Angel.

BUFFY: I'm not being that way. Every time I say the word 'prom', you get grouchy.

ANGEL: I'm sorry. I'm just worried that you're getting too...invested in this whole thing.

BUFFY: What whole thing? Isn't this the stuff that I'm supposed to get invested in? Going to a formal, graduating, growing up.

ANGEL: I know.

BUFFY: Then what? What's with the dire?

ANGEL: It's uh, it's nothing.

BUFFY: No, you have 'something' face.

ANGEL: I think we need to talk, but not now and not here.

BUFFY: No. No, if you have something to say, then say it. (silence) Angel, drop the cryptic. You're scaring me.

ANGEL: I've been thinking... about our future. And the more I do, the more I feel like us, you and me being together, is unfair to you.

BUFFY: Is this about what the Mayor said? Because he was just trying to shake us up.

ANGEL: He was right.

BUFFY: No. No, he wasn't. He's the bad guy.

ANGEL: You deserve more. You deserve something outside of demons and darkness. You should be with someone who can take you into the light. Someone who can make love to you.

BUFFY: I don't care about that.

ANGEL: You will. And children.

BUFFY: Children? Can you say jumping the gun? I killed my goldfish.

ANGEL: Today. But you have no idea how fast it goes, Buffy. Before you know it, you'll want it all, a normal life.

BUFFY: I'll never have a normal life.

ANGEL: Right, you'll always be a Slayer. But that's all the more reason why you should have a real relationship instead of this, this freak show. (Buffy is stunned.) I didn't mean that.

BUFFY: I'm gonna go.

ANGEL: (grabs her arm) I'm sorry. Buffy, you know how much I love you. It kills me to say this.

BUFFY: Then don't. Who are you to tell me what's right for me? You think I haven't thought about this?

ANGEL: Have you, rationally?

BUFFY: No. No, of course not. I'm just some swoony little schoolgirl, right?

ANGEL: I'm trying to do what's right here, okay? I'm trying to think with my head instead of my heart.

BUFFY: Heart? You have a heart? It isn't even beating!

ANGEL: Don't.

BUFFY: Don't what? Don't love you? I'm sorry. You know what? I didn't know that I got a choice in that. I'm never gonna change. I can't change. I want my life to be with you.

ANGEL: I don't.

BUFFY: You don't want to be with me? I can't believe you're breaking up with me.

ANGEL: It doesn't mean that I don't ...

BUFFY: How am I supposed to stay away from you?

ANGEL: I'm leaving. After the Ascension, after it's finished with the Mayor and Faith. If we survive, I'll go.

BUFFY: Where?

ANGEL: I don't know.

BUFFY: Is this really happening?

• Angsty Traumatic Confrontations
• Buffy & Angel

written by: Marti Noxon; . Full transcript at:
http://www.studiesinwords.de/54prom.html