Buffy Season II Episode Guide: Surprise

Buffy has a nightmare that depicts odd images involving Willow and Joyce. Joyce asks her, "Do you really think you're ready?" then drops a plate to the floor. The nightmare comes to a climax as Buffy watches Drusilla drive a stake into Angel's back, turning him to dust before Buffy can reach him. Before Buffy wakes up, Dru says to her, "Happy Birthday, Buffy."

On her way to school, Buffy stops by Angel's place to make sure he's okay. She warns him of her dream, but Angel brushes it off, stating that not all of her dreams come true. At school, Buffy tells Willow that she's planning on taking the next step with Angel. They spot Oz, so Buffy leaves while Willow attempts to ask him out. After some small talk, Willow invites Oz to Buffy's surprise party as her date. Meanwhile, Xander tries to coax Cordelia into dropping their shroud of secrecy and admitting they're a couple. Cordy doesn't agree and walks off, while Giles arrives and asks about the party. Before they can discuss it in detail, Buffy and Jenny arrive. Buffy tells them of her dream, and Giles agrees that it may be a portent. In her computer class, Jenny is visited by her uncle, who has come to inform her of recent news. Both Jenny and her uncle are gypsies, members of the Romani clan. Angel's murder of one of the Romanis led to his curse centuries ago. The curse was designed to make him suffer, and it was long-believed that if he were to experience one moment of pure happiness, the curse would be lifted, and his soul would be taken away. Jenny's uncle informs her the elder woman of their tribe has been reading signs that Angel's fear is weakening. Jenny tells her uncle of Angel's involvement with Buffy. He demands that she do everything in her power to keep them apart, or else Angelus would return to wreak havoc once again.

Elsewhere, in the abandoned factory, Spike and Drusilla are indeed still alive. Due to his severe injuries at the church, Spike is confined to a wheelchair, while a lively Dru prances around. Their henchmen have been collecting boxes and bringing them to the factory, where they will not be opened until Dru's party.

The next day is Buffy's seventeenth birthday, but it doesn't start off so well for the birthday girl. At breakfast, Buffy alludes to getting a driver's license, to which Joyce responds, "Do you really think you're ready?" Buffy watches in startled shock as a plate slips out of her mother's hand and crashes to the floor. At school, Buffy is more worried than ever as she informs Giles of what happened. Giles arranges a meeting with Buffy later that night, as set-up for her surprise party. Jenny meets up with Buffy at the meeting time and tells Buffy there's been a change in plans. They drive to the Bronze, where everybody else is waiting. However, something else is going on, outside the Bronze. Buffy gets out of the car and recognizes Dalton, one of Spike's cohorts, carrying a box. She tries to stop him, but several other vampires arrive and attack her. Their fight sends Buffy and another vamp through one of the Bronze's windows. Everyone gets up and watches Buffy dust the vamp with a drumstick. Oz is confused by this sight, but calmly accepts the fact that vampires exist in Sunnydale. Opening the box to inspect it, they find a disembodied arm inside. Without warning, the arm lunges out and grabs Buffy by the throat. Angel and Giles remove it from her throat and lock it back in the box. Angel realizes that it is a body part of The Judge, an ancient demon that had the power to destroy humanity. It was once dismantled and buried in all the corners of the world, but Spike and Drusilla are doing everything they can to reassemble The Judge. Angel realizes that he has to take the box and travel to a distant country to hide it once more, meaning he'll be away for months. Distressed over his sudden departure, Buffy accompanies Angel to the docks to bid him farewell. Angel gives Buffy her birthday gift: a claddagh ring, worn with its heart pointing toward the owner to express devotion. As they kiss, Dalton and two other vampires spring out of nowhere and attack them. As Buffy and Angel each fight a vamp, Dalton grabs the box and runs. Angel tackles him, but the third vampire recovers the box and runs off. Before Angel can chase him, Buffy is thrown into the water, so Angel has to dive in after her.