HOLDEN: So, you meet someone, you form a bond...

BUFFY: But it never lasts.

HOLDEN: Do you mean in all relationships, or just yours?

BUFFY: My parents weren't exactly the paragon of stay-togetherey-ness. Maybe that's part of it. I think there're people out there who'd make it. I just... target the impossible ones... with deadly accuracy.

HOLDEN: You think you do that on purpose? Maybe you're trying to protect yourself?

BUFFY: Protecting myself? From heartbreak, misery, sexual violence, and possible death? Not so much.

HOLDEN: From committing.

BUFFY: I commit. I'm committed. I'm a committee.

HOLDEN: So it's them? You're reaching out, they're just not coming through?

BUFFY: It's different. I think you're confusing me because you're evil.

HOLDEN: I just think you're in some pain here?which I do kind of enjoy 'cause I'm evil now?but you should just ease up on yourself. It's not exactly like you have the patent on bad relationships.

BUFFY: Wouldn't it be cool if I did?

HOLDEN: And what are you?supposed to be settling down already? At 21? You know, my girlfriend at college, she's so sweet. We have this great thing, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna go vampify her just so we can be together forever.

BUFFY: Sire.

HOLDEN: What?

BUFFY: The word?when you turn a human into a vampire?it's you "sire" them.

HOLDEN: Cool.

BUFFY: It's a noun too.

HOLDEN: Oh, I have so much to learn. Come on, isn't this insane? I mean, I was afraid to talk to you in high school, and now we're, like, mortal enemies. Hey, wouldn't it be cool if we became nemeses?

BUFFY: Is that how you say the word?

HOLDEN: We're gonna have to fight to the death, aren't we?

BUFFY: It's the time-honored custom.

HOLDEN: Wow, reality just shows up sometimes, doesn't it? But, you know, I've got the bloodlust pumping, and I kinda get it. I'm looking for a fight. And, oh, it's nothing personal.

BUFFY: Oh, no, I mean, you've been great.

HOLDEN: And fun catching up. I haven't really kept in contact with many of my friends from high school. Guess I'll be looking them up pretty soon.

BUFFY: Yeah.

HOLDEN: Hey, I don't mean to be Count Buttinsky here, but you just don't seem as thrilled. Is it because we're gonna fight?

BUFFY: 'S 'cause I'm gonna win.

HOLDEN: (laughs) Hello. Two years of Tae Kwon Do and vampire strength. I think somebody's counting their chickens.

BUFFY: You're not leaving this graveyard. (shrugs) Can't let you.

HOLDEN: Do the words "superiority complex" mean anything to you?

BUFFY: You think I'm gonna let you go kill a bunch of people? You know I'm sworn to?

HOLDEN: No, no. I get the battle against evil. That's not the issue?

BUFFY: There is no issue. Don't issue me.

HOLDEN: Just answer me this: whose fault was your parents divorce?

BUFFY: (rolls eyes) OK, you know, this is beyond evil. This is insane troll logic. What do my parents have to do with??

HOLDEN: I'm just curious. Your opinion.

BUFFY: They both have a lot of?

HOLDEN: Off the top of your head.

BUFFY: My dad.

HOLDEN: Uh-huh.

BUFFY: He cheated. Um, I think he cheated.

HOLDEN: So, of all of these relationships of yours?that you knew subconsciously were totally doomed?Whose fault is that?

BUFFY: It's incredibly different.

HOLDEN: I was just wondering, is it possible, even a little bit, that the reason you have trouble connecting to guys is because you think maybe they're not worth it? Maybe you think you're better than them.

BUFFY: (glares) Say, there's that bloodlust I was looking for.

HOLDEN: Struck a nerve.

BUFFY: I'm gonna strike a nerve cluster in a minute, you don't get off this. I don't remember you being this annoying.

HOLDEN: You don't remember me at all.

BUFFY: Yes, I do.

HOLDEN: Yeah, like, after 30 minutes of reminding. And I don't take it personally 'cause clearly you were in your own little world in high school. All chosen. All destiny. Who could live with that for seven years and not feel superior?

BUFFY: I'm not. My God, if anything, I?

HOLDEN: What?

BUFFY: I just?(sighs) if you knew what I've done, what I've let myself become. My best friends don't even?You'd laugh, you heard some of the things I've done to them.

HOLDEN: Buffy, I'm here to kill you, not to judge you.

BUFFY: The last guy I was with, it got really? I behaved like a monster, treated him like? But at the same time, I-I let him completely take me over. Do things to me that? (starts to cry) I'm sorry. (wipes eyes) Wow, I didn't mean to get all true-confessions there. I don't know what's wrong with me.

HOLDEN: There's nothing wrong with you. (Holden hits Buffy over the head with a Mary statue, closes in to bite) Everyone's got issues.

(commercial)

BUFFY: You son of a bitch!

HOLDEN: What?

BUFFY: I think I'm gonna kill you just a little bit more than usual.

HOLDEN: Aw, come one. I mean, we had a moment. You opened up. It was really sweet. It make me want to bite you. I'm sorry if I overstepped my bounds. I'm just new to this mortal enemy stuff. Pretty fast learner, though, right?

• Buffy & Spike
• Buffy's Love Life in general
• Slayerhood

written by: Jane Espenson & Drew Goddard; Transcribed by: CariCranberry. Edited by me.. Full transcript at:
http://www.buffyworld.com/buffy/season7/transcripts/129_tran.php