Synopsis:
Picking up where the feature film left off, Buffy Summers
and her mom move to Sunnydale, California, for a fresh start,
unaware of the evil lurking in this quiet suburb. Somewhat
reluctant in her role as the slayer, Buffy quickly makes friends
and enemies at her new school. While also meeting her new
"Watcher," Giles, the mercurial school librarian, her newly
assembled team encounters the ever-abundant unearthly creatures
in Sunnydale.
Written by: Joss Whedon
Directed by: John Kretchmer
Original Airdate: March 10, 1997
Destructo Girl Recap:
As this episode begins, Buffy's still in the coffin with Luke
looming over her and moving in for the kill when he suddenly
jerks back. The cross that the man I opted to call Angel has
burned him. This seems a little weird to me, because I paid
attention at the end of Welcome to the Hellmouth as she was
lying there, knowing this was coming, and I didn't see it.
I also paid attention at the beginning of this episode and
didn't see it. I think it's supposed to be tucked down in
her shirt, but still, shouldn't we see the chain from the
necklace? Oh well. She kicks him away and bails out of there.
Out in the cemetery, she kicks a vamp off of Willow and scares
him off before attacking two that are dragging Xander away.
Once he is saved, she asks about Jesse and is informed that
Darla took him. Looking around the now peaceful cemetery,
she whispers, "Jesse."
Song.
Xander, Willow and Buffy have gathered with Giles in the library as he tells them all about how in the beginning, demons were the ones in control of the planet. There were no humans or animals, just them. Xander can't believe they are having a discussion about *vampires* and Buffy sarcastically says they were just humans in need of a facial and that the whole part where the vamp turned to dust was a trick of light - then admits that is what she thought the first time she saw a vampire. Xander asks if vampires are demons and Giles explains how a vampire mixed its blood with a human and infected it. That human bit another and another and now they roam the Earth, turning some and killing others as they wait for us humans to die out. Ha! When will they learn? We're like roaches! We'll never leave.
In the Master's lair, Darla brings Jesse in, but the Master can tell that he's already been "tasted." He bitches Darla out for bringing him leftovers while she can go wherever she pleases and he is stuck below ground. She begs for forgiveness and explains that they had more offerings until some girl came and made trouble. Luke backs her up, saying that the girl was strong and new how to fight well. He and the Master wonder if she is a Slayer.
Back in the library, Giles explains what a Slayer is before telling Xander he knows all he needs to about vampires. Xander asks how to kill them and Buffy tells them that he doesn't. It's her job and saving Jesse is her responsibility. She thinks he may still be alive. Willow, who is freaking out, asks why they can't call the police. Giles points out that they won't believe them and Buffy adds that they wouldn't be equipped to fight vampires. With that question answered, they try to figure out where Darla took Jesse. Buffy says she didn't see anything, but as soon as they got out of the cemetery, they could have driven off. Willow points out that they didn't hear a car (I would think that they could have heard a car and not noticed… those are things you hear all the time so they don't stand out, but what do I know) and Giles suggests they went underground. Buffy explains that vampires "really jam on sewer systems." Xander informs them that there are electrical tunnels running all over Sunnydale. Giles thinks that if they had a diagnostic of the layout, it would be helpful but his only idea as to how to get it is through the building the commission which, as Buffy quickly points out, they "so don't have time." Willow offers another way.
The Master asks Luke if he has any proof that she is the Slayer. Luke replies that she fought him and is still alive, which the Master agrees is good evidence, asking Luke when the last time that happened was. Luke shamefully admits that it was 1843, Madrid - the guy caught him sleeping. The Master says that she can't interfere with the Harvest and Luke is quick to vow not to let that happen. The Master sees Jesse in a new light now, realizing that if she is the Slayer, she will come to them to save him. Jesse has just been upgraded to bait.
In the library, Willow has "stumbled upon" the plans for the sewer system. We find that she dabbles in hacking. Naughty girl! Buffy realizes that there must be access to the tunnels from the mausoleum. Xander's all gung ho to help, but Buffy's not down with the civilians heading into the battle zone. Giles asks Willow to help with research on the internet, as he hates computers. Buffy leaves, vowing to bring Jesse back if he is alive.
Buffy's caught heading off of school grounds by Principal Flutie. She covers and says that Giles wanted her to go buy a book, but Flutie's not having it. As he locks the gate, he tells her that he doesn't care how they do things in Britain - Sunnydale is a closed campus and she is not leaving. Of course, as soon as he is gone, Buffy uses some of her slayer moves and hops over the gate.
In the hallway of the school, Willow and Xander are walking and making a list of things she should search for on the internet to get them some more information on vampires. They talk about how weird it is, knowing what they know when everyone else around them is completely oblivious to the evil in their town. Xander can't believe how much his life has changed in just a day. He's worried about Buffy and obviously still thinking that it's a good idea for him to go join her in her search for Jesse.
Buffy returns to the mausoleum and finds the door that must lead to the tunnels chained up. Sensing him behind her, she turns and finds the mysterious stranger I opted to call Angel standing there. David Boreanaz does some truly horrendous acting in this scene. Even when I loved Angel beyond sanity, I cringed at the delivery of some of his lines. Anyway, they talk a bit and Buffy finally gets his name out of him - Angel! Good God, I am good! Hehe. He warns her that she ought not to be putting herself at risk like this with the Harvest coming. She asks why he won't stop it and he confesses that he is afraid. Buffy kicks the door open and tells him that she has a potential friend down there and asks him if he knows what a friend is. He gets a pained look on his face (gotta give props to David… he did a good job of that). Angel advises that once she hits the tunnels, she head east towards the school - that's probably where they will be. She asks if he is going to wish her luck, but he says nothing… until she is out of earshot.
Buffy creeps through the tunnels, which are not surprisingly, very dark. A rat crosses over her feet and, unlike me, she doesn't scream or cry or have much of a reaction at all. I'm sure my rat-loving friend, Mary Ann, would yell at me for saying that, but it's true. She continues on until she hears a noise and whips around to find Xander there. He says that he followed her; he couldn't just sit around and do nothing. Buffy says she understands, but then orders him to leave. Xander refuses, saying Jesse is his friend and he has to try to help him. Buffy apparently accepts, because she continues on through the tunnels.
Still in the tunnels, Xander goes through a list of things that kill vampires - in a cool, non-preachy way so that we all learn this stuff without feeling like we are watching a PSA. He remarks, though, that he doesn't actually *have* anything that will kill the vamps. Buffy sarcastically remarks "Good thinking," and hands him a cross. Xander explains that the part of his brain that would have said to bring stuff was too busy telling him not to come, but that he did bring a flashlight, which he turns on. Buffy quickly orders him to turn it off. He asks what else will kill a vampire, and she names a few other things, including beheading. Xander sheepishly asks if she has done some beheading in her time. She nonchalantly gets into a story involving a thick-necked football player and an X-Acto knife, until she realizes that it's freaking Xander out, but he admits that it's "oddly comforting."
Back in the library, Giles reads about the Harvest in one of his books, grimly realizing that it happens that night.
Cordelia and a friend (later to be identified as Harmony, so I am going wild and crazy again and calling her that now!) sit in a computer class, talking about their plans for the night at the Bronze. Cordelia prattles on about how Buffy tried to kill her, totally blowing the whole thing out of proportion (shocker, huh?). Another student (who, I'm sorry, but I could never see Cordelia - who totally judges others based on appearance- being friends with) joins the conversation. Harmony gossips that Buffy got kicked out of her old school and Cordelia says it must be because she is crazy. Willow, who has been silently listening in, defends her new friend. Cordelia promptly tells her off, saying that she doesn't horn in on Willow's private conversations because she is boring. Ouch. Willow doesn't respond, but instead goes over to the printer to grab some papers. As Cordelia orally wonders how to save the program she's just finished, Willow tells her to hit "Deliver." Finding the "Del" key, Cordelia hits it. Hehe.
Back in the tunnels, Buffy tells Xander that the must be getting closer - there aren't any rats now. They find Jesse on the ground and think the worst, but find he is still alive. His leg is shackled to something, though. It's too dark for me to say what. It doesn't matter, because Buffy has him freed within seconds. The three of them make a run for it as Jesse says they knew Buffy was coming and he was bait. Xander sarcastically thanks him for the warning. Vampires start to appear from all over and it's actually pretty creepy. Jesse leads them they way he thinks they originally brought him, but they find a dead end. As Buffy tries to come up with a plan, Xander turns around… and finds that his friend is now a member of the undead. Eeps.
Xander tries to reason with Jesse, seeing as how they're friends. Jesse has clearly moved on, though, and wants to serve the Master. As Buffy attempts to push the door closed - it's metal and stuck open - Jesse tells Xander he is going to kill him. Buffy reminds him of the cross she had given him and he holds it up. Jesse steps back, but isn't about to give up. Buffy lets go of the door and flings Jesse out of the room towards the slowly advancing vampires (I can appreciate the suspenseful nature of this scene, but in six years this is the only time I have ever seen vampires move slowly when they are trying to kill someone so it kind of takes away from that). Together, Buffy and Xander work on the door and get it almost closed, but an arm does manage to block them from completely closing it. Buffy manages to shove the arm out of the way and they close and latch the door, but the vampires aren't giving up and she knows they don't have much time. Spotting an air vent in the ceiling, she pries it open and allows Xander to climb out into the ventilation system as one of the vampires is bending the top corner of the door. She barely makes it out before the vamp has bent it enough to reach down and unlatch the door. Xander and Buffy quickly crawl through the tunnels with the vampire not for behind. They quickly find a manhole and climb up and out of the tunnel, but when Buffy is almost completely out, the vampire grabs her ankle. Xander manages to pull her far enough out that the vamp's hand is burned and he gives up. Free, Buffy and Xander collapse outside in what appears to be a power station. Oh, and just as a side note... the vampires hand was really funky. Claws and all inhuman looking, which is completely unlike the vampires we are more familiar with over the years. Perhaps this is a different breed of vampires - really old ones. That could explain the slowness. Old people are *so* slow.
The Master is not pleased that Buffy escaped. He wants to be drinking her heart's blood. Hey, I can understand, in that case. I've been dying for Papa John's pizza for about two weeks now. Anyway, the Master is still confident that Buffy won't stop the Harvest and now he will have someone worth killing when he gets to the surface. There you go; that's 'half-glass-full' optimism if I ever saw it! He sends the vampire who has reported their failure - named Colin - to fetch Luke, but stops him before he can leave, ordering him to apologize. Colin quickly does… and receives a nail in the eyeball for his efforts. Damn, and I thought my boss was mean!
In the library, Giles is working at the table when he hears the door open. He's hoping for Buffy, but gets Willow instead. She's been doing research and found that just before the big earthquake in 1937, there was a rash of murders. Giles is pleased, but quickly corrects himself to say that he isn't pleased that people were murdered, just that they have information. He's so cute. I'm getting off track, though. The people that were murdered appeared to have been killed by vampires and Giles replies, "It's all coming together. I rather wish it weren't."
Down in the Master's lair, Darla watches on as Luke reverently kneels before the Master and kisses his hand (I'm sure all the slashers love this scene) before taking a bite from the inside of his wrist. When Luke pulls back, the Master declares, "My blood is your blood. My soul is your soul." You know that doesn't make much sense to me. I mean, I get the blood part and the whole idea… but what's with the soul line? They don't have souls. Oh well. Luke responds, "My body is your instrument." They finish their little Vessel ritual. Darla looks blissful. I hate her; she's so annoying. Once it's complete, the Master declares that he will walk the Earth tonight and the "stars themselves will hide." Ha, such a fool. He's just the first of many who underestimate Buffy and regret it.
Xander and Buffy return to the library and regrettably inform Giles and Willow that Jesse's now undead. Visibly upset, Xander kicks a trashcan and announces that he doesn't like vampires. Buffy asks Giles if he can make the day any worse and he offers "the end of the world." Way to go Giles! He'll always come through in a pinch. Giles explains how sixty years ago a "very old, very powerful vampire came to our shores, not just to feed." Buffy deduces that he came because Sunnydale is so freaky and Giles agrees, citing how the Spaniards that first settled there named it 'Boca del Infierno', which roughly translates to 'Hellmouth'. It's a portal between this reality and the next and the Master wants to open it. As Buffy and Xander so helpfully add, he wants to bring the demons back and end the world. Willow tells them that there was an earthquake that stopped him back in the day by swallowing half the town - including him. Giles says that opening demon portals are tricky business. I really really believe that. The Master couldn't pull it off… and now he is stuck "rather like a, uh, cork in a bottle." However, The Harvest, which only comes once a century, is supposed to release him. The Master is supposed to draw power from one of his minions while it feeds, the minion being the Vessel. He shows them a three-pointed star on the whiteboard and says it will be wearing that symbol. If Buffy kills the Vessel, the Master won't be freed. She asks where the Harvest is being held, but Giles doesn't know. Xander, however, is immediately sure they will be at the Bronze. All are satisfied with this idea and head out as Buffy tells them she must stop for supplies.
Inside Buffy's bedroom, she's changed clothes and put her hair up in a ponytail. As she pulls a jacket out of her closet, her mother comes in and confronts her about not hearing her come in the night before and about the fact that Principal Flutie called and informed her that Buffy missed some classes that day. She is worried that it's happening again - they've just barely moved in and Buffy is getting into trouble once again. Buffy promises her that things won't be like they were before and says she *has* to go, but Joyce firmly says no. She's been listening to parenting tapes again. If I ever pop out a kid, I pray to God that I retain my sanity and never listen to parenting tapes… CDs… whatever. Buffy tells her mother that it's really important and Joyce says she understands, "If you don't go out it'll be the end of the world. Everything is life or death when you're a sixteen year old girl." Despite Buffy's efforts, she can't dissuade her mother from grounding her. When Joyce finally leaves, Buffy reaches back into her closet and pulls out a trunk with a false bottom. She's got all sorts of goodies, from crosses to holy water to stakes. Grabbing some goodies, she tosses them in a bag as well as a stake up her jacket sleeve. After closing the trunk back up, Buffy tosses the bag out onto the roof beneath her window before climbing out behind it.
The sun moves past the horizon.
It's night and outside the Bronze. A burly bouncer stands outside the door, collection the cover charge as people pile in.
Inside, Cordelia walks around with her groupies, bestowing them with such great wisdom as "Senior boys are the only way to go," because they have cars and "I have to have the most expensive thing. Not because it's expensive, but because it costs more." Try as I might, I never understood if that last bit of advice made sense but considering it's Cordelia… nah. When one of the girls tries to add a comment, Cordelia rudely shuts her up, before declaring that she loves the song that is playing and drags them all out to the dance floor.
As Cordelia dances on the floor, Jesse watches from a distance. He makes his way towards her and Cordelia notices him - you know, in that special way. He walks up to her and Cordelia turns and starts to leave, but finds herself face-to-face with him. Jesse pulls her into a dance, as she calls him "caveman brain" and protests, but Jesse is much cooler now than he ever was before and Cordelia quickly relents.
Back outside the Bronze, people have stopped coming in and the bouncer is standing alone, counting money. A group of vampires led by Darla approach…
Darla and the vampires walk right past the bouncer, who is demanding ID. It's so like vamps to try and sneak in! Like they're too good to pay a cover charge! Luke gets in his face and orders him inside. Other vamps grab him and force him in with them. Inside the Bronze, the vampires quickly spread out as they lock the door behind them. One runs up to the second floor and flips a switch, effectively killing the lights and music. However, a light soon shines on the stage, where Luke is standing. Upon seeing him in game face, some people in the crowd scream. Cordelia comments that she thought there wasn't a band playing and turns to Jesse to find that he, too, is in game face. She gasps, thankfully. I can only take so much of Cordelia's screaming and enough of that happens later. Luke demands that they bring him the first so the vampires drag the bouncer over to him. He orders everyone to watch as he bites into the man's neck.
As Luke feeds, the Master appears affect - presumably stronger - in his lair.
Luke tosses the bouncer's body to the ground and calls, "Next!" He really should eat slower. He'll fill up too fast this way.
Buffy and co run up to the Bronze's door to find it locked. She tells the rest of them to see if they can get in the back entrance while she finds her own way. Handing them her bag of goodies, she orders them to just get people out and not "go Wild Bunch on [her]."
Giles, Willow and Xander find that the back door is locked too. Xander laments, "We've gotta get in there before Jesse does something stupider than usual." Giles quickly sets him straight - Jesse is dead and when he sees him, he is seeing the thing that killed him. Actually, wouldn't the vamp that turned him be the thing that killed him? He's just seeing the demon that took over his friend's body. Who knows, maybe Giles lied to try and get Xander in the right frame of mind. That kind of makes him sexier, so I'll buy it!
Luke is killing one after another and the Master is growing more and more strong. He is almost free of his barrier.
Darla drags Cordelia away from a protesting Jesse, since "They're all for the Master." Jesse pouts, "I don't get one?"
Buffy manages to gain entrance to the Bronze by breaking a window up high in the building. She creeps about the upper floor before coming to the railing and seeing Luke on the stage below. When she realizes he's the one, she whispers "Vessel," and is noticed by a vampire standing nearby.
Back below, Luke is pontificating about how this will free the Master and they should all be glad to offer their lives to help. Not surprisingly, none of the humans agree. Finally, Darla drags Cordelia over to him and I have happy thoughts of the both shutting up (although just temporarily in Luke's case) when Buffy kicks the vampire off the balcony. Literally. She has Luke's attention now, doing a handstand on the railing and dropping down onto a pool table below. A vampire tries to rush her and she handstands off the table, grabbing a pool cue as she goes, and without so much as looking at the vampire, stakes him with it. She and Luke exchange barbs, the gist being that Luke wants to kill her more than everyone else (aww, how sweet, she's special!) and Buffy being cool with that. Buffy runs and flips onto the stage and they begin to fight. Unfortunately for her, when Buffy pulls her stake out, Luke manages to knock it out of her hand.
Giles must have picked the lock or something, because he bursts in the back door with Xander and Willow. They quickly begin herding people out. When a vampire grabs Xander from behind, Buffy spots him and grabs a cymbal from the drum set and throws it like a Frisbee, effectively decapitating the vampire. She looks amused for a second until Luke wraps his arms around her midsection from behind.
Jesse has found Cordelia again - you know, his little obsession with her is by far his worst characteristic. Anyway, she's struggling as he leans in… presumably to bite her, but if he was going for a smooch, I wouldn't be terribly shocked. Xander approaches from behind with a stake, warning his friend not to make him do it.
On the stage, Luke is still tightly squeezing Buffy is in arms as he informs her, "[He] always wanted to kill a slayer." Yeah, I always wanted to go to the big Bloomingdale's in New York. Here's hoping I have better luck!
Giles and Willow are still helping people out. Giles moves to the front of some stairs and says they will have to open up the front door also when Darla, who was standing on the stairs, jumps him from behind.
Xander still wants to believe that Jesse is still somewhat Jesse and tries to talk him out of killing Cordelia. Two bad ideas right then, Xandman. Jesse stands up and faces Xander, reminding him that Jesse was a dateless loser and he is a new man.
Buffy has apparently passed out and is still in Luke's arms, her head flopped forward and her eyes closed. Luke makes the common bad guy mistake and babbles on needlessly when he should be making with his evil deed because he is wasting time and it ends up screwing him over. Sure enough, as he goes in to bite her, Buffy head butts his face and causes him to release her and stagger back into a wall.
Willow sees Giles fighting Darla off and pulls a jar of holy water out of the bag. Getting Darla's attention, she splashes it in her face and the skanky vamp runs off screaming. Joss says she was originally supposed to die in this episode. Boy am I thrilled he changed his mind. Not.
Jesse grabs Xander and shoves him against a wall. Xander holds the stake up… it's supposed to be pointed at his heart, but it's *way* too high, so I will say it's at his chest. Still, this next part is totally ridiculous… a girl running by bumps into Jesse and basically shoves him into the stake. Xander lets go of the stake and Jesse starts to fall but turns into dust before he hits the ground. A few inches lower and I buy it, but not at this position!
Buffy grabs a microphone stand to use as a weapon. Luke reminds her that metal can't hurt him and Buffy retorts that sunrise can before throwing it at the window behind Luke, allowing light to flood through it. As she grabs the stake she dropped earlier, Luke covers his face with his hand until he realizes he's not burning. Looking out the window, he sees that it's just a bright lamp outside. He's too late, however, because Buffy comes up from behind and stakes him, adding, "It's in about nine hours, moron!"
As Luke stumbles off the stage, the Master holds his hand out, still testing his barrier. When Luke falls to the ground and turns to dust, my Master falls to his knees and screams "Noooooo!" See why you should never count your eggs before they hatch?
Buffy is still standing on stage, her hands on her hips, as two vampires drag Xander towards the door. When she looks directly at them, they exchange a look with each other before quickly releasing him and making a run for it. They race out of the doors and past Angel, who was standing behind some crates. Realizing what has happened; he exclaims, "She did it. I'll be damned."
Alone in the deserted Bronze, Buffy, Giles, Xander and Willow stand in front of the stage and absorb what has happened. Willow asks if they won and Buffy says that they averted the Apocalypse. Xander declares that, "Nothing's ever gonna be the same."
It's another bright and sunny southern California day outside Sunnydale High. Cordelia tells another girl about the ordeal at the Bronze. She claims that she heard it was rival gangs and Buffy knew them. The other girl wishes she had been there and Cordelia agrees. Buffy, who was walking by and overheard, shakes her head and approaches Xander, asking him what he was expecting. He explains that he figured they would at least have an assembly. They are joined by Giles and Willow as the former explains, "People have a tendency to rationalize what they can and forget what they can't." Willow tells them she will never forget and he tells her that is a good thing - she can be prepared for the next time. Willow and Xander are surprised to hear that there could be a next time; they figured this was it. Giles replies that this is life on the Hellmouth. Next time it may not be vampires. Giles, seemingly thrilled, continues, "We're at the center of a mystical convergence here. We may, in fact, stand between the Earth and its total destruction." Buffy decides to think positive - she could always get kicked out of school since, as Xander replies, "'Cause lots of schools aren't on Hellmouths." Willow suggests Buffy blow something up, but Buffy says she was thinking more along the lines of "excessive not studying."
As the three of them walk off together, Giles turns and declares, "The Earth is doomed!"
You know, as much as I love the show as it is now… you have to sometimes miss the good old days.