(Prof Walsh's office. Knock.)

WALSH: Yeah?

(The door opens and Giles steps inside.)

GILES: Professor Walsh, I presume. You're hard to find. These--these halls are quite the labyrinth. I felt like Theseus and the Minotaur in the . . . labyrinth.

WALSH: (a beat) Can I help you with something, Mr. . . . ?

GILES: Giles. Rupert. I'm looking for Buffy Summers. I'm, uh, a friend of hers. And I was her high school librarian.

WALSH: I'm sorry, Buffy's not here. But if I see her . . .

GILES: Buffy's been very influenced by your course. She quotes you quite often. (smiles) Sometimes she sounds like an introductory textbook herself.

WALSH: I don't lecture from the text book. But I'm glad she's inspired by the material. She's bright. All she's really been lacking is encouragement in the academic sect.

GILES: Oh, uh, I think it's best if-if. . . if we let a young person find their own strengths. If you lead a child by the hand then they'll never find their own footing.

WALSH: And if it's true about hiking, ergo, it must be true about life.

GILES: That's not, uh . . . I'm just saying Buffy is, uh, well she's not the typical student. Once you get to know her, she's a very unique girl. I hope you're not going to push her.

WALSH: I think I do know her. And I have found her to be a unique woman.

GILES: "Woman." Of course. How wrong of me to choose my own words.

WALSH: She's very self-reliant, very independent--

GILES: Exactly!

WALSH: --which is not always a good thing. I think it can be unhealthy to take on adult roles too early. What I suspect I'm seeing is a reaction to the absence of a male role model.

GILES: (squinting) Absence?

WALSH: (standing) Buffy clearly lacks a strong father figure.

WALSH: I'm sorry, I have things to do. I'll tell Buffy her *friend* was looking for her.

(she gets back to work)

• Academics
• Buffy & Giles

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