Buffy Season III Episode Guide: Graduation Day PtI

While picking up his graduation cap and gown, Xander admits fearing for his own life to Cordelia, who could care less. Willow laments over the end of her high school era, while Buffy is bummed over having to fight the Mayor instead of graduating. Xander surprises them with news that Mayor Wilkins himself will be the guest speaker at their graduation commencement. Meanwhile, Faith visits a professor named Lester Worth at his office. As Lester soon finds out, Faith was sent by the Mayor to get him out of the picture. Without learning why, Lester Worth screams in agony as Faith plunges her knife into his stomach. Afterwards, at her apartment, Faith reports her successful mission to Mayor Wilkins, who waits for her to step out behind the screen and show off her new dress. When she finally does, Mayor Wilkins takes a moment to compliment her on her beauty, reminding Faith that she has as much reason to celebrate the upcoming Ascension as he does.

At Sunnydale High, Anya tries to ask Xander out on a date. When he brings up the Ascension in his response, a look of horrific recognition washes over Anya's face. Xander takes Anya to the library, where Wesley has just finished ordering Buffy to investigate Professor Worth's office for any clues as to why he was murdered. After taking a seat, Anya tells them of a previous Ascension that she witnessed eight hundred years ago. She describes the difference between a pure demon and tainted demons, the latter of which are familiar to Buffy and the gang. The pure demon, however, is what the Mayor will become during his Ascension... and it's much bigger than anything they've ever seen. Outside, Principal Snyder briefs Mayor Wilkins on the commencement schedule. The Mayor commends Snyder on a job well done, then pays a visit to the library. Shocked by his intrusion, the gang listens intently as Mayor Wilkins looks over the articles they've been studying. When the Mayor vows to devour Buffy, Giles loses it and drives a fencing sword straight through his chest. Mayor Wilkins laughingly pulls it out and wipes off the blade before leaving the library. Anya heads outsides shortly after, and Xander follows her out. Despite his request for her to stay and help out, Anya insists that the only thing they can do is run.

While Buffy packs her mother's clothes and various belongings in a bag, Joyce comes home and wonders what's going on. Buffy begs her mother to leave town, for her presence would pose a fatal distraction from what she needs to do. Joyce is reluctant to miss her daughter's graduation, but she accepts Buffy's reasons. At the Rosenberg home, Willow and Oz try to find a spell that may help stop the Ascension, but to no avail. Distressed by Oz's usual lack of visual emotion, Willow asks him to realize the danger that they're facing. Taking a cue, Oz silences Willow's panicked ramblings with a kiss. Suddenly calm and at peace, Willow sinks back onto her bed, taking Oz down with her. Meanwhile, Angel finds Buffy just as she's finishing up her search of Professor Worth's office. Outside, Buffy can't hide her discomfort over Angel's continuing presence in Sunnydale. In the middle of their ensuing argument, an arrow flies down from above and pierces Angel's chest. Buffy is too busy with the collapsed Angel to notice Faith standing on the roof of the nearby movie theater. Brandishing a large bow, she assures an accompanying vampire that she intentionally missed Angel's heart.

Buffy takes Angel back to the library, where Giles helps her remove the arrow. Wesley, meanwhile, goes over Professor Worth's work and discovers some reports on a buried fossil at a volcano site. Unfortunately, Angel soon realizes that the pain hasn't gone away. Infected by a poison that the arrow was carrying, Angel collapses once again. While Wesley contacts the Council for any information on an antidote, Giles and Buffy take Angel to his mansion. Willow and Oz, who are resting under the covers on the bed and reflecting on what they've just done, get a call about the news. Faith goes to the Mayor's office to tell him about the poisoned Angel. Mayor Wilkins dismisses Faith from his office, then proceeds with the ritual of Gavrok, which involves eating some of the spiders inside the box. Back at Sunnydale High, Willow and Oz work on identifying the poison. Willow gives Xander a list of materials she needs from the magick shop to do her job. Xander exits the library to find Anya waiting for him in the library. She tries to persuade Xander to leave with her, but he tells Anya that he needs to stay and help. At the mansion, Wesley informs Buffy and Giles that the Council refuses to aid the vampire Angel in any way. Buffy then decides to quit the Council and ignore any further orders from Wesley, despite his protests. Buffy heads off to the school, leaving Giles and a stunned Wesley behind at the mansion. At the science lab, Willow identifies the poison, while Oz learns that the only cure is the blood of a Slayer. Buffy takes this as her cue to finish off Faith once and for all. A concerned Xander tries to reason with Buffy, but she's determined to step up to Faith's challenge, regardless of the consequences.

While Buffy heads off to Faith's apartment, Oz and Willow go to the mansion, and Giles returns to the library. There, he and Xander find a reference to an Ascension that took place near the volcano that Professor Worth was studying. Apparently, the fossil found buried at the site was this very same demon, defeated by the molten lava. Buffy arrives at Faith's mansion and brings her up to speed on how Angel can be cured. Their ensuing battle takes them all over the apartment and through the window. Outside, Buffy handcuffs herself to Faith to keep the battle going. After some close-quarters combat, Faith succeeds in breaking the handcuffs apart. Buffy pulls out the knife that Faith left behind in the cafeteria, the same one given to her by Mayor Wilkins. Buffy then shocks both Faith and herself by finishing the deed, stabbing Faith in the stomach with the knife. Seeing a truck coming down the street below her, Faith decides to have the last laugh. Buffy can do nothing as Faith falls over the edge of the roof, crashing onto the cargo bed of the truck below. Buffy watches helplessly as Angel's cure is driven away.

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