[Connor nearly gets killed by a vampire Spike sired 25 years ago. Faith gets sprung from prison. And Buffy has a very vivid dream about Angel.]
Buffy and Giles are preparing to take the Potentials out on patrol/training. Spike is also ready to go out. The Potentials, looking through the weapons chest in the living room, are still buzzing about Connor. Giles agrees with Kennedy that a Slayer should not live on the kind of junk food Connor seemed content to subsist on. Spike and Buffy stand in the front hallway.
SPIKE: Had a civilized chat with our Angry Young Man this afternoon. He threatened to kill me, but he was very polite about it.
BUFFY: Connor seems to be everywhere and nowhere at the same time. He hit the school today. Robin's very taken with him.
SPIKE: Principal Vengeance sounds like just the gent to tamp down Connor's seething rage. He'll learn to hate you a lot less, and hate me a lot more.
BUFFY: Robin doesn't hate you. He's just, you know, uneasy around you.
SPIKE: You're uneasy around me. Wood's downright contemptuous.
BUFFY: So he's a skeptic. Can you blame him? Give him time. You coming?
SPIKE: Fraid not. I plan to be ambushed tonight.
BUFFY: You say that like it's a good thing.
SPIKE: Three old mates. Talking big at Willy's last night. Clem gave me the head's up. They were trying to recruit other vamps into their lynch mob. Clem said they didn't get any takers.
BUFFY: That's good. Means the vamps in this town are afraid of you.
SPIKE: That's what I'd like to think. But chances are they're more afraid of you. Which is why I have to go solo. The sight of the Slayer would probably scare them away. Don't worry. They're nothing I can't handle.
Spike heads out and walks downtown. After making himself conspicuous, he retreats to a decent-sized alley, lights up a smoke and waits for the attack. They show up before he before he finishes his first cigarette.
SPIKE: Been a while, boys. Max, you cut your hair. I see you lost the nose ring, Syd. And Elton, you're looking non-threatening as always.
ELTON: It's Roland.
SPIKE: Sure it is Elton. And I'm Achilles. Never knew you three had a death wish.
SYD: Always knew you did,"
Syd stands in the center, Max to Spike's left, and Elton to Spike's right. Max pulls out a broad sword, Elton pulls out an aluminum baseball bat, and Syd pulls out a five foot long 2x4, sharpened at the end.
SPIKE: You brought an arsenal. I'm flattered.
Principal Wood had been tracking these vampires for a few blocks, waiting for the right time to take them on. Then he saw them prepare to take Spike on. He decides to watch and wait. With any luck, they'd kill Spike, he'd take one or two with him, and Robin would finish off the rest. Considering how heavily-armed they are, Wood is glad he didn't attack them on his own.
Spike stands three feet in front of Syd, waiting for them to make the first move. Syd tries to stake him with the 2x4. Spike dodges the thrust and grabs the stake. He hits Syd with its butt end, uses the weapon to block Max's sword slash, and then whacks Elton in the head before he can land a blow with his bat. Spike punches Syd with a right uppercut, and he flies back. Spike tosses the lumber into a dumpster at the other end of the alley, grabs Elton, and throws him into Max, knocking both of them to the ground. The cigarette still dangles between his lips. Spike inhales one last time as he walks over to Syd before tossing his smoke to the ground. Syd throws a right punch. Spike blocks it and slams Syd face-first into the wall.
SPIKE: I'm disappointed, Syd no-so-Vicious. Thought Elton would be the first to fall.
Spike stakes Syd in the back. Elton attacks from the front while Max comes at Spike from behind. Spike charges Elton, who swings for Spike's skull. Spike grabs the bat. Max swing for Spike's head from behind. Spike ducks and pushes Elton away. Max goes for the legs, but Spike jumps in the air and kicks Max in the face, knocking him on his back. Elton clubs Spike in the ribs. Spike turns around and throws a right hook. Elton dodges to his right and swings for the left side of Spike's face. Spike grabs the bat with his left hand and punches Elton twice in the stomach with his right. Spike kicks Elton away with his right foot, and takes the bat into his own hands. He turns around to face Maxwell, blocking the sword with his bat. The steel sword hitting the aluminum bat makes a funny ping sound which Spike finds undignified for a fight to the death. He bashes Max's left knee and turns around to finish off Elton, who backs away as Spike approached. Spike clobbers him twice in the head.
SPIKE: Don't know how you survived this long, Elton.
And with that he stakes him. Spike tosses the bat in the dumpster as proof of his confidence. Max comes at him, sword in hand.
SPIKE: Is that really necessary?
Max swings twice. Spike backs up and out of the way. Max tries to stab Spike in the stomach. Spike turns to the side to avoid the blow. Max tries an overhand blow. Spike ducks, moves to the side, and sweeps his legs out. When Max falls, Spike slams his right foot down on the blade, and kicks Max in the face with his left. He picks up the sword and brakes it over his knee before throwing both pieces in the dumpster.
SPIKE: That's better. This is how I wanted it. You and me. Fists and fangs. And with your flunkies out of the way, we can have finally have some fun.
Spike throws a right jab, which Max ducks. He throws a right hook, which Spike blocks, but lands a left jab to Spike's face. Spike smiles.
SPIKE: See what I mean?
He dances around, looking for an opening. Max does likewise. Spike throws a right, Max grabs him, and tosses him into the wall. Spike waits for Max to charge in. When he does, Spike hits him twice in the face. Max grabs Spike's arms and head-butts him. Spike knees Max in the stomach and pushes him away. Spike tries a right punch. When Max blocks it, Spike lands a right roundhouse kick. He hits Max with a left jab, blocks Max's counter-punch, and connects with a right hook. Max retreats and circles round. He tries a roundhouse kick. Spike blocks this attempt and lands a flying left roundhouse, knocking Max back in the wall. Then he moves in and stakes him. Spike walks over to the Bronze to kick back. Wood heads off for home. He's not ready to take Spike on. But at least this gave him the opportunity to scout Spike and learn his moves.
Anya's apartment. The lights are on. Things got going so fast she never had a chance to turn them off. Anya falls back onto the bed and tries to catch her breath.
ANYA: That was, vigorous. To put it mildly.
CONNOR: Just following your lead.
Connor is more than a little flush himself. He begins to get dressed.
ANYA: Why are you putting clothes on?
CONNOR: Going to kill something.
ANYA: Oh, right. Vampires. Does killing get you in the mood?
Connor had never thought about this.
CONNOR: I guess it does. Don't worry, I'll be back soon.
The Bronze. After drinking his beer, Spike walks around the club looking for vampires to kill. He hears a teenage girl's voice from behind.
ELEKTRA: Care for a dance, handsome?
SPIKE: You're a little young for my tastes.
Spike says this as he turns around. When he sees who it is, he stops talking. She is tall, statuesque even, with long light-brown hair and big blue eyes. For Spike, it is like seeing a ghost.
ELEKTRA: That wasn't always the case.
Elektra sidles up next to him and grabs the lapels of his black leather jacket.
ELEKTRA: Twenty five years ago this April. Mud Club. Talking Heads. Swept me off my feet during "Psycho Killer." Tasted me during "Heaven." You were wearing this same coat. Looks a little worse for wear after all these years. But you sure don't.
She places her hands on his chest, puts her lips two inches away from his, and smiles. Amidst all the guilt and revulsion and fear he is feeling, Spike tries his best to maintain his composure.
SPIKE: What brings you to these parts?
ELEKTRA: Ran into Max's boys in LA. It's like a vampire Woodstock up there. Hitched a ride with them. Just like old times. They hit on me. I beat them up. They stopped hassling. I'm only here for you, Spike. You know I'm an East coast girl. What brings you to the Left Coast? You always said you loathed Southern California. Something about the music being insipid and the women annoying.
SPIKE: Sunny D's a demon-friendly oasis in an otherwise barren wasteland of stuccoed, pastel-colored tackiness.
ELEKTRA: Oh, Spike. Don't try to lie to your own girl. Saw mummy in Montreal a few months back. She told me how you had gone all Angel. Funny, cause you ripped on him so much back in the day. Said you'd sooner die than suffer his sorry fate. Gosh. The irony would kill me if I wasn't already dead.
She reaches into Spike's jacket pocked, pulls out his stake, places it in his right hand, and guides it to her heart. She puts her arms around his neck, tousles his hair with the tips of her fingers and thrusts her waist up against his, arching her back just enough to keep the stake from doing any damage.
ELEKTRA: Go ahead. Isn't this what you do now? Or don't you have the guts to kill your own creation?
SPIKE: Not in here. Don't want to make a scene.
He puts the stake back in his pocket. She lets go of him, but only moves back about a foot.
ELEKTRA: Why? Cause were in public? You sired me in public. Didn't care what the hundreds of onlookers might say. Back then you were untouchable. No one messed with Bloody Billy. I was a Jersey girl from Bergen and you were this exotic golden-haired superman who totally blew my mind. I saw how everyone respected you. Remember when you made the vamps pay homage to you on the anniversary of the Slayer's death? You and Dru were King and Queen of New York, and I was your Princess. Now look at you. What the hell happened, Spike? [she laughs as she asks this]
SPIKE: Hubris. Nowhere to go but down. Same old story. Once upon a time used to dress so fine, through the bums a dime in your prime, I'm a loser so why don't you kill me. [He takes out his stake and puts it in her hands.] Why don't you? You're only telling me something I've told myself about a million bloody times. Go ahead, Elektra. Put me out of my sodding misery.
ELEKTRA: After all you've given me?
She reaches her right hand deep into the left pocket of Spike's jeans and puts the stake in the pocket. Her fingers linger for a few seconds, making Spike most uncomfortable. When she removes her hand, Elektra makes fun of Spike's skittishness.
ELEKTRA: What's the matter? Am I too young for you? Nonsense. I'm old enough to be the Slayer's mother. How old would I be by now? Right. 42. With a husband, kids, probably a house in Chatham. Luckily you rescued me from a life of boredom and mediocrity. [as if Spike didn't feel guilty enough already]
SPIKE: It's not something I'm proud of.
ELEKTRA: Wasn't talking bout siring me. Big deal. You made me a vampire. So what? Most vampires are losers. You taught me that. I was talking about our time as a family. Those three years the two of you took me around the world. You made me better than the rest. Don't tell me you're not proud of that. Remember how Dru cried when I left the nest?
SPIKE: She always sobs at weddings. Or sirings, as was the case on that occasion. How were things with Alexander?
ELEKTRA: Fun while it lasted. But he couldn't live up to my expectations. Couldn't live up to you, I guess. Then again, who can?
SPIKE: These things take time. Took Dru twenty years to find me.
ELEKTRA: And it took Darla like one-and-a-half centuries to find Angelus, blah, blah, blah, mummy said the exact same thing. You two are SO predictable.
SPIKE: How has the single life been? I'm sure you've made a name for yourself. You better have, or I'll stake you right here out of disappointment.
They both smile at Spike's joke. He figures they should have a conversation before he kills her. It was the least he could could do.
ELEKTRA: Haven't snuffed a Slayer yet. Unlike you. Or mummy. I heard there was one in Boston like five years ago, but when I got there they said she had just left town. Lucky for her. [Elektra laughs. Spike smiles] That's what you get for slumming in Europe. Spent a few years there. Went all around. I was in Tuscany when I heard what those vile Czechs did to mummy. Couldn't find you two. So I went to Prague and killed everything in sight. You know, vengeance. Teach them not to mess with my family. Vamped a few nuns in an abbey in Moravia as a tribute to mummy. When I finally arrived in Beantown, I moved in on this sorry-ass vampire gang in Kenmore Square, and totally took over. Made everyone do what I said. Ruled ALL the clubs on Landsdowne. Then I got this gang of Vulok demons to work for me down in Texas.
SPIKE: Vuloks? That's impressive. How'd ya pull that off?
ELEKTRA: Killed the Movari demon who was their master.
SPIKE: I'm impressed. Even I haven't killed one of those. You poked its eyes out without getting bitten? And the tusks weren't a problem?
ELEKTRA: Whadya think I used to poke the eyes out? [Spike smiles]
SPIKE: That's my girl. Smart AND tough.
ELEKTRA: Now that we're caught up, what next? How bout one last dance before you kill me?
SPIKE: Never was one for dancing.
ELEKTRA: Things have changed. You used to go to places like this to make vampires, not kill them. Why so much stalling? Can't look your kin in the face when you stake them, a la your role model Angel?
She wanted to provoke Spike into releasing some of his old rage.
SPIKE: You no me better than that, Leks.
ELEKTRA: Single combat. Fair fight. Always were a stickler for honor. Maybe that's what did you in.
Elektra grabs a man who was walking past them and throws him into Spike. She turns and runs for the back exit. Spike chases after her, pushing people aside to get to the door. When he steps outside and looks up in the air.
SPIKE: You can't hide from me, Leks. I know all your tricks.
ELEKTRA: And I know all of yours.
She's on top of the roof. She runs to the edge and leaps over the alley onto another building. She continues running from building the building, keeping to the middle, so she could go either way when she gets to the end of the block. Spike follows on the ground. Before she gets to the end of the block, Elektra runs away from Spike and towards Main Street. She leaps down onto Main and weaves in between the traffic. Spike sprints after her. He crosses the street just as Elektra takes a quick left and ducks down a side street. She crosses paths with a teenage boy coming the other way, and pushed him up against the wall. He's exactly as tall as she is, and not much heavier. Nothing like killing an innocent to use as a hostage to keep a vampire-with-a-soul at bay. When Spike looks down the side street, he notices that Elektra is attacking Connor. He decides to hang back and see how this plays out. He has no idea she is fighting someone from the other side of their family.
ELEKTRA: Hello cutie.
She runs her fingers through his floppy brown hair and stairs deeply into his eyes. Connor notices that Elektra is very attractive. He also notices she thrusted his back into the wall a little too forcefully, and held him there a little too firmly.
ELEKTRA: What's a nice boy like yourself doing out all alone at this late hour?
Connor puts his hand on her heart, just to make sure. Spike thinks he might also be copping a feel.
CONNOR: Killing you.
Connor pushes her away and hits her face with a left jab and a right hook. Elektra staggers backwards.
ELEKTRA: Funny, cause that's exactly what I was gonna say.
She goes bumpy. This boy seemed powerful, and Elektra was always up for a good scrape. Connor charges right at her, and she keeps him at bay with a right cross to the jaw. He tries a left, which she blocks. She lands a left, and he lands a right. They spar for a few seconds, blocking each other's attacks, neither quickly gaining the upper hand. Connor leaps in the air, spins his body like a screwdriver, and kicks Elektra in the head before landing on his feet.
ELEKTRA: Not bad. Might wanna keep you. Got a girlfriend?
Connor hates it when vampires hit on him. It's like they know he almost one of them. He leaps at Elektra. She grabs him and tosses him face-first into a wall, then kicks him in the spine. He turns around just in time to get kicked in the face by a right roundhouse. He moves away from the wall and decides to exploit his quickness and mobility. After dodging a couple of her punches, Connor hits Elektra twice in the face and kicks her in the stomach before landing a right uppercut to her chin. She throws a left, which he blocks. Connor lands two left hooks. Thinking he's done enough damage, he grabs his stake with his right hand and goes for the kill. Elektra leans left, grabs his right arm with her right hand, pulls it behind his body, and puts herself right behind him. Spike is proud. She did it exactly the way he taught her to. Before Elektra can bite Connor, he leaps in the air and does a backflip. Now he's behind Elektra. She elbows him in the nose knocks him down with a spin kick. Spike had never seen anyone escape that predicament the way Connor had, so that impressed him. But he was also impressed with how Elektra kept her head and responded to Connor's surprise move.
Elektra was now beginning to understand what Spike meant when he told her he could have "danced all night" with the Subway Slayer. She was going to take this slow, let the human tire himself out, and have some fun in the meantime. She has her elbows in against her chest, ready to block his attacks. Connor comes at her swinging, but can't connect. Elektra counters with a few punches to the body before tossing Connor down on his face. He rises to his feet before she can kick him while he's down. Connor shoots his right leg at her face, but she backs up just in time, and the blow falls short by an inch. Connor tries a left spin kick, which is just what Elektra expected. She grabs his left leg in mid-air. Connor leaps up, kicks her in the chin with his right leg, and does another back flip.
ELEKTRA: You're a little tall for a gymnast, but you sure can tumble.
She kicks Connor in the mouth. He tries to kick her in the head. She ducks, kicks him in the ribs, punches him in the throat with her left fist, and decks him with a right hook that sends him rolling on the ground.
ELEKTRA: See what I mean?
Spike laughs. He loathes puns, but he loves prophetic taunts. Connor is getting very angry. He flies at Elektra and kicks her in the collarbone. She grabs Connor. He tries to overpower her, but Elektra tosses Connor to the ground. He springs to his feet. She hits his right cheek. He punches her back. Trying to follow this up, he steps towards her with his right foot and throws a right hook. She bends down, turns around, and clobbers Connor with a right reverse kick. When she lands this kick, her head is touching her left knee. Connor's impressed. And frustrated. This only makes him more careless. He attacks, but she hits him before he has a chance to hit her. She lands a right-left combination to the face. Then a right kick to the stomach followed by a right kick to the chin. Elektra can tell by watching Connor's hips that he is about to attempt a left spin kick. She sweeps his right leg out from under him with her left leg. Without a leg to stand on, Connor spins a few times in the air before landing on his back. Elektra presses her right foot down on Connor's throat.
ELEKTRA: Looks like you met your match, Wonder Boy.
Connor grabs her right foot with both hands. He pulls it off his throat, and pulls Elektra down to the ground. Connor quickly sits up and stakes her. Spike winces. She had fought so well. He felt it was a shame she died from such a careless mistake. Spike didn't want her to win. He planned to intervene and kill her before she killed Connor. He wasn't letting her escape and attack the Potentials or, God forbid, talk to Buffy. But he wished she had died on her feet. Spike walks back to Buffy's house, shaken by the surprise visit. He had seen his victims in his mind. He had seen them in mirages. But this was the first time he had seen one in the flesh.
Connor sits on the ground for about twenty seconds, catching his breath. Elektra has also left him shaken, physically if not psychologically. He slowly gets up and continues on the the cemetery, his intended destination.
Faith walks out of her cell to watch tv with the rest of the inmates, even though she has a television in her cell. Watching alone is just no fun for her. She sits down among about 20 other prisoners.
FAITH: Turn to channel 12.
MARTHA: We were here first. This is what all of us want to watch. This is what we always watch.
FAITH: Five by four.
Martha immediately changes the channel. Everyone knows you don't want Faith to be anything but five by five. Faith leans back, chews her gun and relaxes. A guard comes over and tells her the warden wants a word with her. She goes to see her.
FAITH: What have I done this time?
WARDEN: You're endangering the other prisoners.
FAITH: Only when they deserve it.
WARDEN: That's not what I mean. Those people who've been attacking you are a risk to the general population.
FAITH: And you're blaming me!?
WARDEN: No. I'm freeing you.
FAITH: Is this a joke?
WARDEN: You're too much of a liability to have around. And you have been a model prisoner, in your own unique way. Helped keep the peace. Hell, you've made the peace. Believe me, if you ever need a job, the state of California will be more than happy to hire you as prison guard. Also, I talked to the D.A. and he said there was an 80% chance you would win your appeal next month and get sprung on a technicality. Prosecutors hate it when their convictions get overturned. Officially, we're suspending your sentence and putting you on parole for 25 years. Which means if you do so much as shoplift a tube of lipstick from the corner bodega, you'll be back in here for the rest of your life. You seem to like it here. But I don't you like it enough to want to want to make it your permanent address. You walk at noon tomorrow. Here's hoping I never see your face again.
FAITH: This is for real?
WARDEN: Someone really wants you dead, and it's the luckiest break of your life. Now get out before you start pretending to thank me.
Buffy, GIles, Kennedy, Molly, Rona, Vi and Amanda stand around a fresh grave waiting for a new vampire to rise. Connor approaches.
GILES: Didn't think you'd make it. What happened to your face?
CONNOR: Stubborn vampire. Don't worry. It's dust. Which seems to be what you're staring at. What's up?
RONA: We're waiting for a new vampire to rise.
CONNOR: Looks boring.
Connor lies down on top of the grave and falls asleep.
KENNEDY: I don't think he's faking.
She pokes him a few times with a stake. He doesn't notice. The other Potentials lean down to touch him and see for themselves. Buffy groans at the way they fawn over him.
VI: He's really hurt.
RONA: Poor guy. His cheeks are all bruised. And he's got that cut above his eye. [she touches his face gently, as does Molly]
MOLLY: And he's got a swollen lip. I think his nose is bleeding. He needs someone to look after him.
Connor has a knack for making women want to take care of him and "mother" him. It makes Giles more than a bit nauseous.
GILES: Please back away from the slumbering man and quit playing Florence Nightingale before I lose my dinner.
KENNEDY: Isn't this dangerous? What if the vampire rises and grabs him?
BUFFY: [smiling at the thought] Then he'll learn an important lesson – don't sleep on fresh graves.
KENNEDY: Is that a lesson that needs learning?
BUFFY: Not if you're sane. But if you're Connor –
Buffy raises her eyebrows. Kennedy gets the joke and snickers. The other Potentials nudge Connor and try to rouse him.
MOLLY: Connor? Connor?
RONA: Why is he so tired?
AMANDA: Even if he was out all evening fighting demons, he shouldn't be THAT exhausted.
Amanda looks around nervously, fearing she gave herself away. But it's true. She went demon hunting with him, and she's not the least bit sleepy.
VI: He does look kinda cute, all peaceful and resting.
MOLLY: Like sleeping beauty.
RONA: Cept he's a guy.
AMANDA: That goes without saying.
RONA: But he is adorable.
AMANDA: That also goes without saying. If we wake him he might be really cranky, and I don't think I want to be around Connor when he's cranky.
A few seconds later, Connor opens his eyes. He reaches his right arm down into the dirt. He's heard the vampire breaking out of his coffin. He grabs the vampire by its collar, rolls over, stands up, pulls it out of the dirt and holds the vampire about six inches off the ground.
CONNOR: Who wants him?
GILES: I believe it was Kennedy's turn.
KENNEDY: That's right. Toss him this way, sleepy head.
The vampire is a bit disoriented from his rising. Kennedy plays it safe, doesn't let him get a hold of her. A few punches, a few kicks, then she stakes him before he fully understands what's going on. Connor hadn't seen her fight before.
CONNOR: Not bad. There's a couple live ones in the forest.
BUFFY: I know. We were gonna hit that place later.
Connor runs off. He can smell the blood from a victim these vampires dragged back to their lair. Buffy looks at Giles.
BUFFY: Can I put a leash on him? It would be for his own good. He keeps this up he'll run into a death trap before long.
GILES: I'm well aware of that danger. Which is why you should follow him.
BUFFY: That's the problem with boys. They always need me to save them.
Buffy goes off after Connor. Giles and the Potentials follow. Connor is standing outside a dugout shack.
CONNOR: Sounds like three of them.
BUFFY: Glad you waited for backup.
CONNOR: Thought I'd give you a chance to kill something.
Buffy rolls her eyes. Giles comes up and whispers in Buffy's ear.
CONNOR: I heard. Sounds good to me.
He's standing about ten feet from Buffy, so she and Giles are more than a little surprised. Buffy kicks open the door and enters, with Connor right behind. She takes the vamp to her right. He gets the one on the left. They both let the third vampire escape, so the Potentials could kill it. Giles thought it was time to see how they'd react to a surprise. Buffy gets in a few quick blows, blocks the vampire's attempts to hurt her, throws the vamp against the wall and stakes it. Connor starts off well. Then the vamp blocks one of his punches, hits Connor in the face, and throws him to the ground. Connor quickly gets up to resume the fight. But Buffy has already stepped in, kicked the vampire in the head, and staked it.
CONNOR: That was my kill.
BUFFY: Sorry. Force of habit, I guess.
Connor is embarrassed. Buffy's shown him up, and she knows it.
Outside, the Potentials are initially shocked when the vampire charges out towards them. Vi gets out of the way. Kennedy steps up and hits him in the face. She and Rona grab his arms. Molly goes to stake the vamp, but he kicks her away before breaking free from Kennedy and Rona. Amanda looks around, picks up an eight foot-long branch, and stakes the vamp from a distance. Seemed to her like the easiest solution.
Gunn and his soldiers are racing through his old neighborhood along parallel streets, picking off vampires left and right. Gunn is exhilarated. Slaying's never been this easy. It helps that so many vampires are on the streets and completely unprepared for this sort of attack. The vehicle Gunn is in stops outside an abandoned home. Barry, one of the soldiers, looks at the monitor.
BARRY: Four vampires, one human vic, still kicking. Let's move.
Three soldiers enter along with Gunn. The driver and one other soldier stay to protect the vehicle. The soldiers carry their "zap" guns, which now have a wooden stake attached on top of the end of the barrel as a sort of bayonet. They hit two of the vampires with their electric charges and stake them. Gunn fights one himself, land a few punches before shooting out a stake from his left wrist and dusting the vamp. The "victim" they were trying to save is actually fighting the fourth vampire. After a protracted struggle he knocks the vamp to the ground and dusts it. The soldiers shine their flashlights on the man's face.
GUNN: Marcus!?
MARCUS: Charlie! You're back!
They shake hands and pat each other on the back.
GUNN: Glad to know you still in the game.
MARCUS: Like I got a choice.
GUNN: I hear ya.
MARCUS: What's with the white men in black? You workin' for the government?
GUNN: Naw. They workin' for me.
In another part of town, Wesley rides down the street on his motorcycle, heading straight for a vampire. At the last moment he veers a few feet to the left, grabs his sword in his right hand, and decapitates the vamp. He chases down a second vampire like a cavalry man riding down a fleeing enemy. The vampire veers down an alley, but Wesley follows him and finishes him off. Then he hears something on his radio.
STEWART: Got 15 to 20 hostiles barricaded inside a five-story building. Dug in too good for us to storm without heavy casualties.
WES: Tell you what to do . . .
Stewart's truck pulls away and continues vampire hunting a few blocks away. The vampires think the enemy has given up. About five minutes later, Wesley arrives. He parks his bike out of sight and approaches the building on foot. The vampires see easy pickings. Eight of them come out to kill Wesley. At first he's confident. But then he gets nervous. Stu was supposed to be back by now. Wesley tries as best he can to keep the horde at bay. But they surrounded him and start doing some damage. When Wes is on his knees, trying get up, and getting kicked in the mouth for his efforts, he hears the vehicle approaching.
WES: About bloody time.
A grenade is tossed into the crowd of vampires. Wes runs away and hits the deck. The grenade explodes, dusting five vampires with its wooden splinters. Four soldiers get out of the vehicle, shoot down the three other vamps, and stake them. They break through the barricades and burst in on the remaining vamps. Wesley goes around back. He rips off a piece of the wooden railing by the rear exit. Two vampires try to escape, and he impales them. Then he enters the building and helps the men finish off nine more vamps, who are too surprised to put up much of a fight. When they are done, Wes walks out with Stewart.
STEWART: Good plan.
WES: You were 30 seconds late. Try to do better next time.
Wesley gets on his bike and rides off to check on the other team.
The patrol is finished. Giles has taken the Potentials home. Connor is off at Anya's. Buffy walks down Main Street. She hears a familiar voice from behind.
ANGEL: Looking for vampires?
Buffy turns around. She's shocked, but not as shocked as Angel expected.
BUFFY: You're not Angel.
ANGEL: Who else could I be?
BUFFY: You're not real. You're the First.
ANGEL: First what? First love?
BUFFY: First Evil. That's what's making me see you.
ANGEL: You mean that boogieman's back? Good thing I'm here to help.
He walks towards her.
BUFFY: Stay away.
ANGEL: Why? If I don't exist, what does it matter? Then again, if I didn't exist, could I do this?
He grabs Buffy around her waist and pulls her close. Now she is as shocked as he had expected. She reaches up and touches his face.
BUFFY: It's really you. It's really you, Angel.
Words can't adequately express how Buffy feels at this moment, so she kisses him. After about twenty seconds, she realizes something about him is different.
BUFFY: Am I really cold, or are you really warm?
She puts her ear to his chest, and hears his heart beating.
BUFFY: You're . . . You're . . . You're human. Angel, you're human.
ANGEL: Why do you think I came back?
BUFFY: When did this happen? How did this happen?
ANGEL: Let's go somewhere and talk.
They go to that restaurant/club where Warren punched Xander. A jazz quartet plays Coleman Hawkins' arrangement of "Body and Soul." Angel and Buffy are dancing.
BUFFY: So that's it? It's over for you?
ANGEL: No. It's just beginning. We're just beginning.
BUFFY: I know. I know. I'm so happy. And still in shock. I meant your whole LA thing is over.
ANGEL: Couple years ago, I learned of a prophecy about a vampire with a soul who averts the apocalypse and then becomes human. Never thought it would happen so soon.
BUFFY: There was an apocalypse? Why didn't I know about this?
ANGEL: Figured you were too busy with things here in Sunnydale.
BUFFY: You figured right. So LA will be safe without you?
ANGEL: Wes, Gunn, Fred, Lorne and Cordy are still there fighting the good fight. Cordy's really happy cause now she gets to be in charge, boss everyone around.
BUFFY: That's always been a dream of hers. Guess all our dreams are coming true. I still can't believe this is happening.
Angel kisses her.
ANGEL: You've had more than enough bad luck. Sooner or later something had to go right.
BUFFY: Guess karma's finally pulling its weight.
They dance for a little while more, then head for home. They climb up through Buffy's window into her room.
ANGEL: Still sneaking back in. Force of habit?
BUFFY: I just didn't want to cause a scene. Then I'd have to wait while you told everyone the story you told me. I want you all to myself tonight.
ANGEL: I was hoping you'd say that.
BUFFY: I still can't believe this is happening.
ANGEL: This might help.
Puts his right hand under her chin and lifts her head upwards so she's looking into his eyes. He leans down to kiss her. She wraps her arms around him, straddles her legs around his waist, and they fall onto her bed. Thereupon they engage in an extended period of what Xander termed "tender, Sarah MacLachlan love." Several hours and numerous moments of happiness later, Angel is asleep. Buffy puts on his shirt and gets out of bed.
She opens the door and sees Willow and Kennedy on the floor in the hallway, with bites on their necks. To the center of the hallway lies Xander with his neck twisted backwards. At the head of the stairs lies Giles, also with neck wounds. Buffy is understandably horrified. But the darkness of the upstairs hallways obscures the full brutality of what has happened. She makes her way down the stairs, which are illuminated by lights from the downstairs hallway. It's as if she's descended from Heaven into Hell. Molly and Vi lie right at the front door, killed as they attempted to escape. Fearing what's next, Buffy turns right and enters the living room, where the lights are still on. Dawn lies sprawled out on the couch by the front window. She looks more peaceful than the other victims, as if carefully placed there by the killer after she was already dead. Rona lies face-up near the fireplace, her eyes still open. Amanda is face down near the rear set of doors to the hallway. Buffy walks through the carnage in tears.
At the back of the living room stands Spike. Blood drips down off his chin. Buffy sees him standing there, his eyes staring off into space as if his mind is somewhere else.
BUFFY: Spike, why? How could you do this? How could you?
Spike launches into rapid hiccups of mad-as-a-hatter laughter.
SPIKE: You expected a happy ending?
Buffy wakes up. It was only dream. But it all all so vivid. It felt so real, the ecstasy as well as the agony. And she knows that with her there is no such thing as just a dream.