WILLIAM: Mother?

MOTHER: (smiling, healthy) Hello, William.

WILLIAM: Look at you.

MOTHER: Mm, yes. All better.

WILLIAM: You're glowing!

MOTHER: Am I? Well, I suppose I have you to thank for that, don't I? How ever will I repay you?

WILLIAM: Seeing you like this is payment enough.

MOTHER: Oh, William, you're so... tender.

WILLIAM: Well, this is as it should be, mother. You and I together. All of London laid out before us.

MOTHER: (smiles) Ah, yes. Us.

WILLIAM: First, we'll feast. Then the night is yours. Theater, perhaps. Dancing? Tell me, what's your pleasure?

MOTHER: Pleasure? To take my leave of you, of course. "The lark hath spake from twixt its wee beak?" You honestly thought I could bear an eternity listening to that twaddle?

(cut to Wood fighting Spike, present)

PRINCIPAL WOOD: That's right, dog. Fight back.

(back to past)

MOTHER: I feel extraordinary. It's as though I've been given new eyes. I see everything. Understand... (looks at William, frowns) everything.

WILLIAM: (disturbed) Mother...

MOTHER: I hate to be cruel? No, I don't. I used to hate to be cruel in life. Now, I find it rather freeing. Nothing less will pry your greedy little fingers off my apron strings, will it?

WILLIAM: Stop. Please.

MOTHER: Ever since the day you first slithered from me like a parasite...

(cut to Wood vs Spike again -- Spike's losing -- then back)

WILLIAM: What're you s?

MOTHER: Had I known better, I could have spared myself a lifetime of tedium and just?

(cut to Wood vs Spike again -- Spike's losing -- then back)

MOTHER: Dashed your brains out when I first saw you.

(cut to Wood vs Spike again -- Spike's losing -- then back)

MOTHER: God, I prayed you'd find a woman to release me, but you scarcely showed an interest. Who could compare to your doddering housebound mum? A captive audience for your witless prattle.

(cut to Wood vs Spike again -- Spike's losing -- then back)

WILLIAM: Whatever I was, that's not who I am anymore.

MOTHER: (snickers) Darling, it's who you'll always be. A limp... sentimental fool.

(cut to Wood vs Spike again)

PRINCIPAL WOOD: It hurts, don't it? Is this what it felt like (punches Spike) when you beat the life out of her, (punches Spike) toyed with her, (punches Spike, then screams) when you snapped her neck!

• historical flash backs

written by: David Fury and Drew Goddard; originally transcribed by: CariCranberry. edited by me.. Full transcript at:
http://www.buffyworld.com/buffy/season7/transcripts/139_tran.php