(cemetary, night)

WILLOW: This prince/demon guy was supposed to rise at sunset so aren't we, like, late?

GILES: Of course if I hadn't had to search the globe for our Miss Summers and do battle with that harridan. . . .

XANDER: And if you hadn't gotten lost on campus afterwards . . .

GILES: Never mind. I'll just have to take care of it myself. I've vanquished a few demons in my day without her. Of course, it wouldn't surprise me if we're entirely too late. Demon on the loose, carnage everywhere.

XANDER: Your better demons will clean up after themselves.

GILES: (confused) I don't understand. Umm, there should be ruptured earth and-and broken stone. Oh, well, apparently it hasn't happened yet. A bit of luck.

WILLOW: Or, you know what I bet? I-I bet the Initiative took care of it.

GILES: Who?

XANDER: Oh, Riley and his guys. Probably all over it.

WILLOW: Yeah. It has that "too neat" look. They must have cleaned up the place.

GILES: What?

WILLOW: Oh, they read hot spots. Areas of otherworldy energy. (looking around) They must've picked this place up days ago.

GILES: Stop, both of you. Uh, what, uh . . . What are you talking about? W-what's the Initiative? What. . . what on earth does it have to do with Buffy's new boyfriend?

WILLOW: You know. I'm sure you know. Riley's one of the commandos.

GILES: (exasperated) What?! Well that's marvelous, isn't it? Here I am, spent weeks trying, uh, t-to get a single scrap of information about our mysterious demon collectors and no one bothers to tell me that Buffy's dating one of them?! Who else knows?!

XANDER: No one. No one else knows this. (pauses) Anya, and that's it!

WILLOW: (sheepishly) And Spike.

GILES: Ssspike?! Spike knew?

XANDER: Only the basic stuff. You know, that Riley is a commando and Professor Walsh is in charge.

GILES: (furious) Professor Walsh!? That fishwife!?

WILLOW: You know, she's actually not that bad once you get to-- (sees Giles' look) So, th-the demon is probably a little late. W-we'll just, you know--

GILES: Oh, forget it. Go on. You two clear off. I'll just stay a little longer just in case.

WILLOW: You sure? 'Cause we can stay.

GILES: No. Go.

• Buffy & Giles
• Giles' mid-life crisis

written by: Jane Espenson; Transcribed by Joseph B. Full transcript at:
http://www.studiesinwords.de/68anewman.html