(Magic Box. the phone rings, and Giles answers)

GILES: Magic Box, your one-stop spot to shop for-

BUFFY: (on phone) Giles, it's me.

GILES: Buffy! You all right?

(Cut to Buffy in the hospital, on a pay phone.)

BUFFY: No, I'm really not.

(she takes an ice-pack from a nearby rack of medical supplies; sighs)

BUFFY: I-I couldn't stop her. I couldn't even slow her down.

GILES: Where are you?

(she puts the ice-pack inside her jacket, on her shoulder)

BUFFY: Sunnydale Memorial.

GILES: Are you badly hurt? I'll, I'll come right over.

BUFFY: No. No, I-I just wanted to warn you that that thing she conjured, it's loose -- it's a big snake thing. Not mayor big, but it's pretty (winces) lethal looking.

GILES: Do you know why she raised it?

BUFFY: I don't know yet.

GILES: I'll warn the others. We'll get weapons, we'll fan out-

BUFFY: Wait. What time is it?

GILES: Half past four, why?

BUFFY: School's out. Dawn's on her way over to you. Giles-

GILES: Understood. We'll keep her safe here until you arrive.

BUFFY: Thanks. And Giles...

GILES: Yes?

BUFFY: Dawn's kind of fragile right now. About Mom. She doesn't know how bad it is.

GILES: We'll not say a word.

BUFFY: (sighs) Well, my mom's gonna wake up soon, and I should ... be there when the doctors tell her.

GILES: She's in good hands, Buffy. There's really nothing else you can do.

BUFFY: Okay. Bye.

GILES: Bye.

(a little later.... Buffy sits on the hospital bed next to Joyce as the doctor talks. Joyce reacts to the news, turning her head away, then composes herself and turns back as she puts on a brave smile for Buffy.)

• Buffy & Giles

written by: David Fury; Transcribed by Joan the English Chick (pisces@englishchick.com).. Full transcript at:
http://www.studiesinwords.de/86shadow.html