GUARDIAN: I?d forgotten. I?d forgotten how young you would be. Comes from the waiting. The mind plays tricks. (re: scythe) I see you?ve found our weapon.

BUFFY: Who are you?

GUARDIAN: One of many. Well? time was. Now I?m alone in the world.

BUFFY: So what are you? Some kind of ghost?

GUARDIAN: No, I?m as real as you are. Just? well, let me put it this way: I look good for my age. I?ve been waiting. You pulled it out of the rock. I was one of those who put it in there.

BUFFY: What is it?

GUARDIAN: A weapon. A scythe. Forged in secrecy for one like you who? I?m sorry. What?s your name?

BUFFY: Buffy.

GUARDIAN: No, really. (realizes she's not joking) We forged it in secrecy and kept it hidden from the Shadow Men who?

BUFFY: Yeah, met those guys. Didn?t really care too much for ?em.

GUARDIAN: Ah, yes. Then you know. And they became the Watchers and the Watchers watched the Slayers? but we were watching them.

BUFFY: Oh, so you?re like? what are you?

GUARDIAN: Guardians. Women who want to help and protect you. We forged this centuries ago, halfway around the world.

BUFFY: Hence the Luxor Casino theme.

GUARDIAN: Forged there, it was put to use right here? to kill the last pure demon that walked upon the earth. The rest were already driven under. And then there were men here, and then there were monks. And then there was a town? and now there is you. And the scythe remained hidden.

BUFFY: I don?t understand. How is it possible that we didn?t know any of this?

GUARDIAN: We hid, too. We had to until now. We?re the last surprise.

BUFFY: Does this mean I can win?

GUARDIAN: That is really up to you. This is a powerful weapon.

BUFFY: Yeah.

GUARDIAN: But you already have weapons. Use it wisely and perhaps you can beat back the rising dark. One way or another, itcan only mean an end is truly near.

(Suddenly a pair of hands shoot out from behind the curtain and seize the Guardian?s head, twisting it violently and snapping her neck. )

CALEB: I?m sorry, I didn?t catch that last part on account of her neck snappin? and all. Did she say the end is near? or here?

• Slayerhood

written by: Douglas Petrie and Jane Espenson; original transcript by Buffy vs Angel. Edited by me.. Full transcript at:
http://ww3.buffy-vs-angel.com/buffy_tran_143.shtml