(Willow & Tara's dorm room)

WILLOW: It wasn't anything really. Buffy was just a little crabby at Dawn about her school work.

TARA: That's understandable.

WILLOW: Yeah, sure it is! I'd totally be blowing off classes if I were in Dawnie's shoes.

TARA: Sweetie, you wouldn't blow off a class if your head was on fire. I meant Buffy.

WILLOW: Buffy what?

TARA: Understandable. About the crabby. She has to look after Dawn now.

WILLOW: Yeah, but not in a Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Girls way. I mean she's just gonna make Dawnie more rebellious.

TARA: I had to deal with my brother's problems after...I mean, you can't really know what it's like to...

WILLOW: (interrupts) Yeah. I know that.

TARA: I didn't mean to...

WILLOW: No, I just...I know I can't know what you went through. But I just... It's no big.

TARA: I made you mad.

WILLOW: No. No.

TARA: All I meant was that...

WILLOW: It's okay. This whole Buffy thing, let's just forget it.

TARA: No, please. Tell me if I said something wrong, otherwise I know I'll say it again, probably often and in public.

WILLOW: No, I was snippy gal. It's just... I know I can't... on some level. It's like my opinion isn't worth anything because I haven't been through...I didn't lose my mom, so... I don't know.

TARA: Uh, I'm not the expert. I mean I've only lost the one.... Do I act like the big knowledge woman?

WILLOW: No.

TARA: Is that no spelled Y-E-S?

WILLOW: S-O-R-T of. I mean, I just feel like the junior partner. You've been doing everything longer than me. You've been out longer. You've been practicing witchcraft *way* longer.

TARA: But you're way beyond me there! In just a few...I mean... it frightens me how powerful you're getting.

WILLOW: That's a weird word.

TARA: Getting?

WILLOW: It frightens you? I frighten you?

TARA: That is *so* not what I meant. I mean it impresses, impressive.

WILLOW: Well, I took Psych 101. I mean I took it from an evil government scientist who was skewered by her Frankenstein-like creation before the final, but I know what a Freudian slip is. Don't you trust me?

TARA: With my life!

WILLOW: That's not what I mean.

TARA: Can't we just go to the fair?

WILLOW: I don't feel real multicultural right now. What is it about me that you don't trust?

TARA: It's not that... I worry sometimes. You're changing so much, so fast, I don't know where you're heading.

WILLOW: Where I'm heading?

TARA: I'm saying everything wrong.

WILLOW: No, I think you're being pretty clear. This isn't about the witch thing. It's about the other changes in my life.

TARA: I trust you... I just... I don't know where I'm gonna fit in, in your life when...

WILLOW: (interrupts) when I change back? Yeah. This is a college thing. A little experimentation before I get over the thrill and head back to Boys Town. You think that?

TARA: Should I?

WILLOW: I'm really sorry I didn't establish my lesbo street cred before I got into this relationship. You're the only woman I've ever fallen in love with, so, how on *earth* could you ever take me seriously?

TARA: Willow please!

WILLOW: Have fun at the fair.

(Willow storms out. Tara stands there looking upset.)

• Willow & Tara

written by: Rebecca Kirshner; Once again, I'm typing these up myself as transcripts are scarce.... Full transcript at:
http://www.studiesinwords.de/97toughlove.html