newspaper headline: PROFESSOR FOUND MURDERED

BUFFY: Faith.

GILES: You sure?

BUFFY: One of her pieces. I recognize the brush work.

GILES: Brutally stabbed. Mr. Wirth, visiting professor of geology. There's nothing in here that bellows motive.

WESLEY: Random killing, perhaps? Fit of rage? Everybody does seem to be going a bit mad, lately. Faith has something of a head start.

BUFFY: Doesn't read. I think it's homework.

GILES: The Mayor wanted the good professor out of the way.

BUFFY: Which leads to the question, how come? I'm gonna destroy the entire city, but I take the time to kill harmless Lester first?

GILES: Tying up loose ends? Lester had something or knew something.

BUFFY: Then I wanna know too. The Mayor's trying to hide. I say we go seek.

WESLEY: Ah. By attempting to keep a valuable clue from us, the Mayor may have inadvertently led us right to it.

BUFFY: What page are you on, Wes, cause we already got there.

WESLEY: Yes, well. You will go tonight. Look over his apartment. Anything of note, report back here.

BUFFY: I just love it when you take charge, you man, you.

WESLEY: Uh, we... was that a yes? I have trouble keeping track.

BUFFY: I'll go.

GILES: Be careful. If Faith should show up...

BUFFY: I don't think she'll show. Been there, killed that. She's not much for follow-up.

GILES: Nonetheless, keep watch. Faith has you at a disadvantage, Buffy.

BUFFY: Cause I'm not crazy or cause I don't kill people?

GILES: Both, actually.

BUFFY: I hear you. I can't kill her, fun as it may sound. I can make her cry uncle, though, and I mean to.

WESLEY: Don't let your feelings about Faith interfere with your work.

BUFFY: Stopping Faith is my work. Take a beat to love the synergy.

• Faith vs/& Buffy
• Giles & Buffy vs Wesley

written by: Joss Whedon; . Full transcript at:
http://www.studiesinwords.de/55grad-1.html