Buffy Season 5 Episode #83: "No Place Like Home"; Transcript

Czech Republic-Monastery, night 2

As he beam slides home, one of the monks calls fearfully to the other
in Czech.
Monk 2: It's coming. It's going to kill us!
Monk: Our lives aren't important. We have to protect the Key.
The two monks race to the center of the great room and join a third
senior member of their order. They kneel on the floor before the
senior monk, around several lit candles and magick talismans.
Senior Monk: Help me perform the ritual.
All three monks extend their arms and begin chanting. As they speak
the ancient words, a tremendous crash echoes through the monastery and
the massive wooden door trembles in its frame. As the junior monks
glance fearfully at the door, the elder admonishes them.
Senior Monk: Concentrate. Concentrate.
The ritual resumes and a breeze springs up inside the chamber. The
relentless pounding on the door continues; the crossbeam starts to
splinter.
Suddenly, a bright flash of light leaps from the center of their
circle. Then all goes dark as the door finally gives way and shatters,
blasted into the room in pieces.

Sunnydale Industrial District, night 3

A sign mounted on a chain link fence:

PRIVATE PROPERTY
NO TRESPASSING
VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED

Now

Buffy flies into frame and slams against the sign. She ducks just as a
vampire's fist smashes into it where her head was an instant
before. The vampire is a huge, burley Hell's Angel biker-type, and he
looms menacingly over Buffy.
Biker vamp: I've always wanted to kill the Slayer.
Buffy: And I've always wanted piano lessons. So really, who's surprised we
have all this unexpressed rage?
Buffy punctuates her words with blow after blow, knocking the hulking
vampire back several feet. He retaliates with a brutal punch to her
face, sending her reeling. She blocks a second blow and wrenches the
demon's arm behind his back and flattens him against the fence.
Buffy: But honestly? I think I'm expressing mine better. Tell you what... you
find yourself a good anger management class...
The vampire throws her off but she slams him back into the fence again
and whips out a stake.
Buffy: And I'll jam this pokey wood stick through your heart.
Before the vampire can react, Buffy stakes him to dust and slips the
stake back into her coat.
Buffy: I think that sets the world speed record for closure.
Man: Hey!
A bright light shines in Buffy's eyes as she turns to see the factory
night watchman approaching.
Night watchman: Miss, if you're looking for one of those rave parties, I'm afraid
you're late. Chased a bunch of kids out of here last night.
Buffy: Oh, right. Yeah. Darn. My fellow ravers will be so disappointed. It
was my turn to bring the Bundt cake.
Night watchman: You know, if it was my call, I'd let you do whatever you want. It's
not like anybody's using this place or nothin'. But they just don't
pay me enough to argue with the boss so...
Buffy: Already gone!
She turns to leave but the guard stops her.
Night watchman: Oh, hey! Hold it, miss. Take your... whatever this is with you.
He bends over, picks up a glowing yellow orb and hands it to Buffy,
who looks at it curiously.
Buffy: Thank you.
Night watchman: Glow balls, huh? (laughs) I swear, I don't get your generation. What is that
thing?
Buffy: I'll let you know as soon as I find out.
She turns and walks off into the night.

PtI

Buffy is preparing a breakfast tray for her mother. Dawn enters, smiling.
Buffy: Dawn, touch nothing.
Dawn: Who died and made you the Iron Chef?
Buffy: Look, Mum's sick and I made her a nice non-instant breakfast for
once. And I don't need you...
Dawn knocks over the rose vase on the tray.
Dawn: Oops!
Buffy: ...doing that.
Joyce enters in her bathrobe, smiling.
Joyce: Oh! Check out the "Pamper Mum" platter. (to Dawn) You two do all this?
Dawn: Oh, Buffy helped.
Buffy can't believe her sister.
Buffy: I didn't "help"...
Joyce: I'm sure you did. (sits down) So neither of you is pregnant, failing
or under indictment? (off their looks) Just checking.
Buffy: We knew you were feeling less-than-great so...
Joyce: Yeah, the headaches they said would go away.
Buffy: Well, what did the doctor say?
Joyce: Oh, take four of some-pills a day and come back for tests.
Buffy: So they don't know what's wrong?
Joyce: Not yet.
Buffy: Well, that's unacceptable. I think we should get a second opinion.
Joyce: Well, we need a first opinion first, honey.
Buffy: Okay, we'll go right now.
Joyce: Buffy, I know you're concerned, okay? But don't be. I'm still the
mom. Which means I get to worry about you two. Which is a good thing
because you're a Vampire Slayer. (pulls Dawn onto her lap) And
you... you are my little punkin' belly!
Dawn: Oh, mum! That's like my kid name.
Joyce: So I can't be retro?
Buffy notes Joyce and Dawn's easy camaraderie and feels a little excluded.
Buffy: Did you ever have any names for me?
Joyce: No... I think you were always just Buffy.
Dawn: I got some names for ya...
Buffy is hurt but covers. Joyce suddenly remembers something.
Joyce: What are you doing hanging around here? Isn't this Giles' big day?
Buffy: Oh! Bigger than big. It's his grand opening.
Joyce: So go. Bring me back a... I don't know... a flying broomstick or something.
Dawn: Those never really work.
Joyce: Whatever. Book club tonight?
Dawn: Uh-huh.
Buffy: You guys have a book club? (off their looks) Okay, I'm gonna go. I
will be back later. (to Joyce) What time is your doctor's appointment?
(off her exasperated look) I just want to know... take it easy. I want
you to relax all day, keep your feet up, plenty of Oprah.
Dawn: Plus you can check my rain forest report and you know there's like eighty bazillion old
board games-
Buffy grabs Dawn by the arm and drags her out of the house.
Dawn: Hey! You said I couldn't come.
Buffy: Changed my mind.
Buffy enters The Magic Box and glances up at the quaint bell that rings when she
opens the door. She strolls into the store, taking in the curios and
knickknacks lining the shelves. The store is quiet and empty. She
looks up to find Giles standing serenely in the center of the store,
dressed in a spangled purple robe and pointed purple warlock's
cap. Giles smiles at Buffy cheerily who merely stares him
down. Finally, he drops the faìade and shrugs out of the costume just
as Dawn bursts through the door behind Buffy, gasping for breath.
Dawn: I told you you couldn't ditch me! (looks around) Whoa... Mr. Giles!
This place is so... wow. I mean, check out all the magic junk.
Giles: Our new slogan...
Dawn: So when's it open? You know, for customers?
Giles: Since nine this morning, actually.
Buffy: Dawn. Go. Browse. And-
Dawn: "You break it, you bought it." Heard you the first sixty times.
Dawn wanders into the recesses of the store to check the place out.
Giles: Still, not to worry. No, I've got feelings about this place. Magick's
a small niche market but... well, think about
it. Sunnydale... monsters... supply and demand. They'll be lining up
around the block in no time.
Buffy: Yeah. You'll be making money hand over fist.
Suddenly puzzled, she holds her hand over her fist.
Buffy: Which I guess is a good thing.
Giles: You all right? You seem a little distracted.
Buffy: It's just my mum's still sick and we have no idea what the deal is.
Giles: She is getting medical attention?
Buffy: Yeah. We have a highly trained medical staff working 'round the clock
to tell us diddly.
Giles: I'm sorry. Still, you know, time and patience... both great comforts-
The bell jingles as Willow and Riley enter. Willow runs in, excited.
Willow: Giles! Where's your hat and cloak?
Riley: Yeah, the hype was out of control.
Dawn: Willow! You gotta see this. They have the coolest
talismens... mans... talisguys. I-
Buffy: Actually, I have a little Scooby-centric deal to deal with first.
Buffy reaches into her bag and removes the glowing yellow globe.
Buffy: I put this before the group. What the hell is it?
Giles: It appears to be paranormal in origin.
Willow: How can you tell?
Giles: Well, it's so shiny.
Buffy: Found it on patrol.
She hands the object to Giles. Riley: May be more where that came from. I say we go back out again tonight.
Buffy: Um... sure.
Dawn: You can't patrol. Buffy said.
Buffy: No, I didn't.
Dawn: Yeah, remember? You said it'd be easier if you didn't have to look out for anybody.
Buffy: Well, I wasn't talking about Riley.
Riley: Don't worry about it.
Dawn: Oh, she just said you look even cuter when you're all weak and kitteny
and she'd better go solo or you'd get hurt. So welcome to the
club. She'll never let me go either.
Buffy is mortified and furious. Giles, Willow and Riley look away,
uncomfortable. Dawn finally registers the awkward silence.
Dawn: What? What?
Riley: Giles, you got that danger room set up out back? I'm feeling the need
for a little physical rehab about now.
Giles hands the globe to Willow.
Giles: Of course, yes. (to Willow) If any customers do-
Willow: On it.
Buffy: Dawn, we're going.
Dawn knows she's in trouble and heads out, dejected. Willow stops
Buffy before she leaves.
Willow: Buffy, wait. Go easy on her.
Buffy: Why?
Willow: I can't help it. I just have all this involuntary empathy for
Dawn. 'Cause she's, you know, a big spaz.
All of Buffy's pent-up frustrations suddenly pour out.
Buffy: She's so annoying. Especially now that mum's sick. She's all over her
while I have to be the grown-up and the two of them are like the
Giggle Twins and why can't I ever be L'il Punkin' Belly?
Willow: While I don't feel qualified to address the last part, I can tell you
that Dawn's not just the youngest, she's the baby and maybe your mum
needs that right now.
Buffy: Dawn doesn't care what my mum... (beat) You just have no idea how much
I wish I were an only child these days.
The crash of breaking glass comes from the rear of the store.
Dawn: Oops!
Buffy winces and looks knowingly at Willow.
Buffy and Dawn enter their house, Dawn still going on about the incident at the shop.
Dawn: We can't all be born with big, fancy, Chosen One reflexes, you know.
Buffy: Shh! mum?
A soft moan comes from the living room.
Buffy and Dawn rush to Joyce, who is lying on the couch in obvious distress.
Buffy: mum!
Dawn: What's wrong?
Joyce: It's just my head.
Buffy: I'm taking you to the doctor.
Joyce: No, sweetheart. I'm fine.
Buffy: We don't know that. We don't know anything. We're going.
Joyce: I just need my prescription. Please?
Buffy picks up the slip and stands.
Buffy: Hospital pharmacy open?
Joyce: Mmm-hmm.
Buffy: Ten minutes.
She heads out.
In the sunnydale hospital the technician hands Buffy a bottle of pills and she turns
to leave, examining the bottle as she goes. She passes two orderlies and a nurse
wheeling a patient down the corridor on a gurney. Ben, the nurse,
calls out to Buffy, stopping her.
Ben: Hey! It's Buffy, isn't it?
She looks at him, confused.
Ben: Ben... but you can call me man-nurse. Everybody else here does.
Suddenly the patient sits up, struggling to get off the gurney. It's
the factory night watchman from the night before.
Night watchman: I don't belong here. I have important instructions. Fascists!
Ben pushes him back down while the orderlies fasten his restraints.
Ben: Now you're hurting the nice orderly who's here to help you. (to nurse)
I need nine cc's of Phenobarbital in this guy n-
Buffy steps up and slams the man down onto the gurney with one arm and
effortlessly holds him there.
Ben: Or not. (to orderlies) Now let's strap him. (to patient) For your own
good, I promise. (to Buffy) You know, not to be rampantly sexist in
the workplace, but you've got some serious muscles for a girl.
Buffy: I... um...
Ben: Radioactive spider bite.
Buffy: How'd you guess?
Ben: I'm a doctor- well, almost.
The night watchman seizes Buffy's arm and looks at the medicine bottle
she's holding.
Night watchman: Doesn't even help. Doesn't make a damn bit of difference!
Buffy: I've met this guy. He's a security guard. He's not crazy.
Ben: If you say so...
Night watchman: They're coming at you. Don't think you're above it, missy. They come
through the family! They get to your family!
Buffy: My family? What do you mean?
He lets go of her arm and the pill bottle falls to the floor.
Ben: Let's get him to Exam One. Now would be nice.
Buffy stares after him as the orderlies wheel him out. Ben picks up
Buffy's pills and hands them to her.
Ben: I'm real sorry about that. Here. For your mum?
Buffy: Yeah, thanks.
Ben: She's not feeling better?
Buffy: Not yet but she will be. I'm starting to figure out what's wrong.
The same factory where Buffy found the glowing orb. A voice echoes in
the cavernous chamber, speaking in Czech.
Man: God help me!
Pan down to reveal the monk from the Czech monastery crouched on the
floor amid a circle of lit candles and magickal icons similar to the
one we saw before. He's marking locations on a map of Sunnydale.
Suddenly, a deep boom reverberates through the factory and he looks up
fearfully at the tempered steel door. The massive portal shudders as
it's struck by some titanic force from outside.
Monk: The Beast!
The pounding continues and the steel buckles inward with each
blow. The door suddenly flies into the room, taking a good portion of
the surrounding wall with it.
When the dust settles, Glory, an attractive blond woman in a
form-fitting red dress stands incongruously amid the rubble. She
strides into the room and smiles manically at the Monk who cringes in
fear.
Glory: There you are. I have been looking all over for you.

PtII

Giles hands a couple their purchase with a smile in The Magic Box.
Giles: Thank you for choosing to shop at The Magic Box and please do come again.
Willow stands at the counter, perusing an ancient tome. Giles waits
until the couple leaves the store, then bounds over to her, giddy.
Giles: Did you see that? Customers! Real, live customers! They came in and I
gave them things and they gave me money and then they left! It's
brilliant!
He jumps back to the cash register to deposit the cash.
Willow: Congratulations. You're an official capitalist running dog. But I
gotta tell ya...on the orbular front? We're batting zeroes.
Giles: Well, we'll just have to keep trying.
A group of customers enters and begins browsing. Giles calls out to them.
Giles: If there's anything you need help with, let me know.
One of the customers is Anya who stops at the main display table,
examining the items. She picks up a small bag of dust and carries it
over to Giles.
Anya: Your conjuring powder is grotesquely over-priced.
Giles: Anya...
Anya: I'm sorry. I'm nearly out of money. I've never had to afford things
before and it's making me bitter.
Giles: The change is palpable. That stuff doesn't come cheap.
Anya: Well, you're getting ripped off. I could hook you up with the troll that sheds it.
Buffy runs in, flustered.
Buffy: Giles, I have an idea what's making my mum sick.
Giles: Have you spoken with her doctors?
Buffy: They won't find anything. What's hurting her- it's
supernatural. (picks up the orb) The night watchman who found this
thing? He went crazy- like overnight.
Willow, Giles and Anya back away cautiously.
Buffy: It won't hurt us. I had it on me all night. But this guy, he saw things... he said things.
Giles: Such as?
Buffy: They'll come at me through my family.
Giles: Who will?
Buffy: I don't know... yet. But whatever touched this guy, it made him see
through what the rest of us are seeing. He knew someone's hurting my
mum and they're trying to get to me.
Giles: It's possible but still... the ramblings of a madman aren't much to go on.
Buffy: Yeah, but it's a start. We need to find out who's making my mum sick and how.
Willow: Then what?
Buffy: Then I hunt them... find them... and kill them.
Glory has the Monk tied to a chair and gagged in the factory. He's been beaten
severely. She paces around him while she talks, frequently getting
right up in his terrified face.
Glory: You know, when you think about it, I'm the victim here. First off, I
don't even want to be here. And I'm not talking about this room or
this city or this state or this planet. I'm talking about the whole
mortal coil now, you know? It's disgusting! The food... the
clothes... the people. I could crap a better existence than
this. (beat) But... okay- and feel free to tell me if this next part
gets a little too personal, because I'm told I have boundary issues-
but I'm hurt! Yes, by your incredibly selfish behavior. Newsflash,
hairdo: it's not always about you. All I want is the Key! Why? Why
can't you tell me where the Key is? (beat; realizes) Oh! Forgive
me... monky. Sometimes I just... I get so anxious- like there's
something deep inside of me and it's swelling up and it's making me
crazy!- that I forget there's all that duct tape on your face!
Glory rips the tape off violently and smiles at him. It's clear now that she's insane.
Glory: Now... tell me where the Key is.
Glory shoves her knuckles into the monk's eyes and wrenches his nose.
Glory: Or I'm going bowling.
She holds him there, sputtering in pain, then releases him.
Glory: It's okay, it's okay, it's okay! The stutter's sexy. Keep it coming.
The Monk stares at her for a beat then whispers in Czech.
Monk: Zabbij me... zabbij me. (Kill me... kill me.)
Glory stands up, enraged.
Glory: Josve novem svete, tak prohoba speak American! (We're in the New World
now so please, for God's sake, speak American!)
Monk: I... will tell you... (spits) nothing.
The Monk glowers at her, scared but defiant. Glory sighs and suddenly seems on the verge of
tears.
Glory: Fine. You know what I wish? I wish that you could feel what I'm feeling right now.
She backs away from the Monkand we now see a security guard chained
to a steam pipe behind her. He hunches over, terrified.
Guard: Lady, whatever you are... whatever you're on, please.
Glory: 'Cause I don't know how much more of this I can take.
Guard: I have a wife. Her name's Jennifer. We have two daughters.
Glory is in her own world. Her focus is on the monk. She pays no
attention to the guard.
Glory: I bet this is fun for you, isn't it? Say it. Why? You don't even own
the damn thing and I want it, I need it and I gotta have it now and
you keep refusing to tell me where the Key is!
Glory starts to come apart mentally.
Glory: It's typical! The whole mortal meatsack comes complete with stink and
bile sweat and protein. Yes, I said humans! Not now, mummy's talking!
Wriggling, piling, prowling, crawling, clowning, cavorting, doing it
over and over and over and over until someone's gonna sit down on
their tuffet and make this birthing stop!
With a strangled cry of despair, Glory puts her fingers on either side
of the hapless guard's head. White light flares and his eyes go wide
with shock and pain. He collapses to the floor, whimpering and
gasping, while Glory takes a deep breath and stands, calm and
refreshed.
Glory: Ahh... that is so much better.
The Magic Box is bustling with customers now. Anya is working the register
and Buffy and Willow are at the counter, busily researching. A
customer approaches Willow with an antique hourglass.
Customer: Do you gift wrap?
Willow: Do we! (to Anya) Do we? (Anya nods) Oh! We do. Little help...
Giles is desperately trying to manage the customers and answer a flurry of questions.
Giles: No, no. Ground cloven hooves are 30% off. The whole ones are full
price. (turns around) That's not... candy!
He looks up with relief as Xander enters the store.
Giles: Xander! There's too many of them... people! And they all seem to want things.
Xander: I hear ya. Stay British. You'll be okay.
He pats Giles on the shoulder then heads over to Anya.
Xander: The thousand-yard stare. Damn! You hate to see it on any man but especially in
retail.
Anya wraps up a woman's purchase and hands it to her.
Anya: Please go.
The woman walks away, shaking her head.
Xander: Anya, the Shopkeeper's Union of America called. They wanted me to tell
you that "please go" just got replaced with "have a nice day".
Anya: But I have their money. Who cares what kind of day they have?
Xander: No one. It's just a long cultural tradition of raging insincerity. Embrace it.
Anya calls out to her customer.
Anya: Hey, you! Have a nice day.
Xander: There's my girl!
Anya grins with pride and Xander wanders over to Buffy. In b.g.,
Willow is utterly failing at gift wrapping the hourglass.
Xander: Did you ever think in a million years you'd miss the high school library?
Buffy: Someone put a spell on my mum. Something to make it seem like she's sick.
Xander: That's a new kind of nasty. Any suspects?
Buffy: Well, I've got the list narrowed down to just under infinity.
Willow carries the hourglass over to Anya, the wrapping paper hanging off it.
Willow: Does this look right to you?
Anya: Sure, if you wrapped it with your feet.
Anya takes the hourglass and starts wrapping it herself. Willow frowns
and turns away.
Anya: You know, Buffy, there used to be this French sorcerer back in the
16th I-don't-know-what named-
Giles: Cloutier?
Anya: So cute in his little knickers. But he had this one spell demons just
hated called tirer la couture.
Buffy: "Rotate many foodstuffs"?
Willow: "Pull the curtain back".
Anya: A spell to see spells... well, a trance to see spells, actually, but
you get the idea. Try that.
Buffy: What do you mean "see" spells?
Giles: Well, all spells leave a trace signature. It's just not perceptible to
the human eye. In this case, it could be the image of a hand choking
your mother.
Anya: Or a cloud of mist around her.
Willow: Or maybe the shape of the demon that's performing the spell?
Giles: Possible, yes.Anya holds up the perfectly-wrapped hourglass, beaming.
Buffy: Okay, so I'll do what Monsieur Silk Knickers did. I'll go home, I'll
get trancey and I'll see what's affecting my mum.
Willow: I don't know, Buffy. Trances?
Giles: Yes, Buffy, the Sorcerer Cloutier was legendary. His skills at
achieving higher states of consciousness were-
Buffy: Better than mine? (to Willow) I knew he was gonna say that. (to Giles)
But I've been practicing concentration skills. I know I'm close.
Giles: Are you ready?
Buffy: It's my mum. I'll get ready. (to Willow) What do I need?Buffy sits on the floor in the
middle of her bedroom and dumps out a
bag of incense, powders and other magickal talismans.
Buffy: Thanks for coming over. I really appreciate the help.Riley steps into frame and hunkers
down next to her.
Riley: Sure thing. So what do I do?
Buffy: Lots. Tons. Lots and lots of tons. This is all kinda-
Riley: New terrain?
Buffy: All prayin', no slayin'. Okay, so the incense needs to be
ignited... and there's a job. And this stuff needs to get poured
around me in a circle, counter-clockwise-
Riley: So you need me to light incense and pour sand?
Buffy: Magick incense... and spooky sand... and the ritual itself is-
Riley: Something you do alone. You sure this isn't just your way of trying to
make me feel less- what are the words?- cute and weak and kittenish?
Buffy: Kitteny.
Riley: Right. Much manlier. Look... I really am okay.
Buffy: I know.
Riley: So I'm not quite Super Guy anymore. It was borrowed power anyway. Had to give it
back some time.
Buffy: I know you can handle yourself. I just didn't want to see you get hurt.
Riley: Maybe instead of you trying to take care of me, we agree to take care of each other.
Deal? Buffy smiles and nods.
Buffy: Done.She stands and they shake hands. Riley leans over and kisses her forehead.
Riley: For luck. He turns to go but she pulls him back.
Buffy: Hey, a girl needs more luck than that.Riley smiles and kisses her tenderly.
Riley: Have a nice trip. He heads out and she closes her bedroom door behind him. Buffy
prepares for the ritual: incense is lit, conjuring powder is
poured in a circle on the carpet. She sits, cross-legged, in the
center and places her hands on her knees. She closes her eyes and
begins meditating.The silence is broken by a knock on the door.Dawn: What are you doing?
Buffy: My boyfriend. Go away.Dawn: Liar. Are you doing magic?
Buffy: No, I'm not! Buffy's house.
Dawn: Can I watch?
Buffy: No, you can't!Dawn: Oh, come on! Please, please, like times ten and cubed?
Please? Dawn tries to open Buffy's door but Buffy slams it in her face.
Dawn: Yeah, well, I can smell your stinky incense down the hall, you
know. And your clothes are gonna reek. And if you are doing magick, I
am so telling.Buffy folds up a towel and shoves it under the crack in the door.
Buffy: Fine! Go! Go tell. Go do whatever you want. Just go!Dawn is hurt. Despite everything,
she really wants her big sister's approval.
She turns and walks back down the hall, dejected. She goes
into her room and slams the door.Buffy returns to the circle, sits, and resumes her
meditation.Night. Buffy is still in the lotus position in deep meditation, her
trance deepening with each passing mument. Her eyes suddenly snap open
and she gets up and leaves her room. The house around her appears
grainy, sepia-toned, reality slightly altered.Buffy makes her way down the hall and stairs to
the living room,
taking in her surroundings as she goes, the familiar house suddenly
appearing strange and new. Joyce's voice comes to Buffy as if from a great distance. Buffy
turns to find Joyce dressed and putting on her overcoat.
Joyce: Buffy?
Buffy: mum? Are you going out?Buffy studies her mother carefully but sees nothing
out of the ordinary.
Joyce: Well, either modern medicine's working or I just took the world's best
placebo. Either way, I'm going out for a couple of hours.
Buffy: Nothing...
Joyce: Hmm?
Buffy: There's nothing.Buffy stares intently at her mother, trying to detect anything
abnormal, but everything seems fine. Her attention is suddenly drawn
to a family photograph on the wall behind Joyce. The picture shows
Joyce, Buffy and Dawn smiling happily. Dawn's image appears and
disappears, flickering in and out of the photo like a bad television
reception.
Joyce: Are you sure you're feeling okay? You seem a little out of it. (beat) Hey... Buffy?Buffy:
Yeah. I'm fine. Long day's all. You go, have a good time.Joyce smiles wistfully.
Joyce: You're so grown up. Joyce turns and heads out. As soon as she's gone, Buffy
immediately finds another family portrait and finds the same thing: Dawn fading in
and out. Buffy approaches Dawn's room and cautiously opens the door. Dawn is
not there and Buffy walks slowly in.Buffy stands in wonder as the entire room around her
shifts back and forth between Dawn's normal teen girl setting and a
room full of boxes and odds & ends: an unoccupied storage room.
Dawn's voice echoes from far away, calling to Buffy.
Dawn: Buffy? Buffy. Buffy turns to find Dawn, angry at her intrusion. But Dawn herself is
fading in and out of reality along with all her things.
Dawn: Who said you could come in my room? Buffy finally realizes what's going on.
Buffy: You're not my sister.

PtIII

Resume. Buffy stares coldly at Dawn in their house.
Dawn: Yeah! Like I even want to be related to your nasty self-Buffy rushes forward and
seizes Dawn by the arms.
Dawn: Ow! What are you doing?
Buffy: What are you?
Dawn: Get off me!
Buffy: You want to hurt me?
Dawn: Let go of me, you freak!
Buffy: Then you deal with me.
Dawn: I'm telling mum!
Buffy: You stay away from my mother!Buffy shoves Dawn against the wall with tremendous
force. Dawn stares at Buffy, shocked, and Buffy stares back, her gaze unwavering.
The moment is broken by the ringing of the phone.Buffy answers the phone.
Buffy: What?Giles tries to hear Buffy over the bustle of customers in the Magic Box.
Giles: Buffy? Oh, I'm glad I've caught you. I think we may have
underestimated what we're dealing with.Buffy checks to see if Dawn's nearby before
answering.
Buffy: Go on.
Giles: We've uncovered more than expected about this orb. It's called the
Dagon Sphere and it has a history going back many centuries.
Buffy: What's it do?
Giles: It's a protective device, used to ward off ancient primordial evil.
Buffy: Any word on what this evil looks like?
Giles: Unfortunately, no. This is where- (to customer) Excuse me. (to Buffy)
This is where accounts get vague. All we've managed to uncover so far
is the Dagon Sphere was created to repel That Which Cannot Be Named.
Buffy: I'm going to go back to the factory where I found it. Whoever planted
this doohickey's got answers.
Giles: Buffy, you've heard me say this before but do be careful. Anything
that goes unnamed is usually an object of deep worship or great fear-
maybe both. Have you completed the trance? Seen what's harming your
mother?
Buffy: That's the thing... I just saw-Buffy breaks off when she senses Dawn standing behind her.
Giles: Yes?
Buffy: Nothing. It didn't work.She drops the phone in its cradle and faces Dawn.
Dawn: What are you talking about?
Buffy: Slayer stuff. I'm going out.Buffy heads for the door.
Dawn: Do you really think I care you're the Slayer?Buffy stops and turns to her.
Buffy:What's that supposed to mean?Dawn gives her a cold look.
Buffy: I'll be home in an hour.
Dawn: mum's coming back.Buffy: I'll be back first.With that, Buffy grabs her jacket and
leaves.
Buffy walks down the front steps and is halfway across the lawn when
she stops, sensing something. She reaches behind a tree and yanks
Spike out into the yard.
Buffy: Spike.
Spike: Hi, Buffy.
Buffy: Don't take this the wrong way but...She socks him in the nose.
Spike: Ow!
Buffy: What are you doing here? Five words or less.Spike counts the words on his fingers.
Spike: Out... for... a... walk... bitch.
Buffy: Out for a walk at night by my house. No one has time for this,
William.
Spike: On your merry way, then. You know, contrary to one's self-involved
world-view, your house happens to be directly between parts... and
other parts of this town. And I would pass by in the day but I feel
I'm outgrowing my whole "burst into flame" phase.
Buffy: Fine. Keep going, I cut you a break.
Spike: Oh, yeah. Okay, let me guess... you won't kill me? Wooo... the whole
crowd-pleasing threats-and-swagger routine. How stunningly
original. You know, I'm just passing through. Satisfied? You know, I
really hope so because God knows you need some satisfaction in life
besides shagging Captain Cardboard and I never really liked you anyway
and... and you have stupid hair. He turns and stalks off into the night leaving Buffy not just a
little bit perplexed. She looks down at the base of the tree and notices a
dozen or so cigarette butts where Spike was standing. Having no time
to worry about it now, Buffy heads off to the factory. She doesn't
notice Dawn watching intently from her second-floor window.In the industrial district.Buffy
easily snaps the chain on the fence and heads inside.Buffy flicks on her flashlight and starts
exploring the musty corridors of the abandoned building. Eventually,
she comes across the tremendous gaping hole in the wall and the twisted remains of the
tempered steel door. She examines the wreckage with concern.Buffy's house.Joyce enters,
looking pained.
Joyce: Buffy? Girls?No answer.
Joyce: Where is everybody?She looks in the living room and dining room but sees no
one. Suddenly, Dawn is right behind her, holding a teacup and
saucer. Joyce starts.
Dawn: Hi, mum.
Joyce: Oh! Dawn. Where's Buffy?
Dawn: You don't have to worry about her.
Joyce: You're probably right. I mean, it's not like she's never patrolled
before. Anyway, I was feeling kind of- what's the medical term?-
crappy. So I called off the big night out.
Dawn: Want tea, mum? I made it for you.In the industrial district.Buffy shines her light over
the shattered remains of the blast door, then looks deeper into the room.
She sees the monk, semi-conscious and tied to the chair.
Buffy: Whoa.She runs to his aid and starts loosening his restraints.
Buffy: It was you who planted the Dagon Sphere, right? I got it. Don't worry.
I'm stronger than I look.Glory silently approaches Buffy from behind.
Buffy: I have had experience with stuff like this before. Best of all...Buffy whirls around and
seizes Glory by the throat.Buffy: I'm not stupid.Glory gives Buffy a withering look,
wrenches Buffy's arm from her neck and backhands the Slayer with such force that
she flies 50 feet across the room and impacts the cement wall so hard she cracks it.
Buffy falls to floor and looks up at Glory, stunned at her power.
Glory: You sure about that last part?

PtIV