(woods. Buffy is patrolling. She's heading towards the cave when Forrest Gates jumps out into the path behind her and she whirls around to face him. They are pointing their blasters at each other. )

FORREST: Don't shoot.

BUFFY: Give me a reason not to?

FORREST: You're killing humans now?

BUFFY: Not yet. (lowers blaster) Beating you senseless should do just fine.

FORREST: I can have a patrol here in under a minute. So here's the plan: you go you're way, I'll go mine.

(Buffy turns and continues to the cave. Forrest starts to follow but stops when she looks back at him. )

BUFFY: I'm checking out that cave.

FORREST: My orders exactly.

BUFFY: Alone?

FORREST: We're spread a little thin, so yeah. Family's tearing apart.

BUFFY: (sarcastic) Family. What kind of family are you? Corleones?

FORREST: We weren't until you showed up.

BUFFY: What? No girls in the club?

FORREST: You think you're the first girlfriend Riley's ever had? Such a big head on that skinny little body. No. You're just the first one to get him to commit treason. Riley had a career. And a future till he met you. And, yeah, I got a problem with that.

BUFFY: A future? A future doing what? Illegal experiments. Torture. Murder. I guess killing someone isn't really a problem for you.

FORREST: Less and less. And why don't you get the hell out of here before I--

(He takes a threatening step to her.)

BUFFY: (angry) Touch me and you'll find out what Slayer strength is like.

FORREST: (gamely) I think it's about time you showed me then.

ADAM: Yes. I think that would be interesting.

(blackout. commercial.)

• Buffy & Riley
• Riley & the initiative
• the Initiative

written by: Douglas Petrie; Transcribed by Joseph B. Full transcript at:
http://www.studiesinwords.de/76theyokofactor.html