After dinner Tuesday evening, Giles sat with his books at the dining room table, looking troubled. Buffy came in to talk.
BUFFY: What's wrong? Besides what's always wrong around here.
GILES: The young woman who showed up yesterday was a Potential Slayer.
BUFFY: I figured. The First doesn't go after just any teenager.
GILES: Here name was Carmelita. Last month, I was supposed to travel to Honduras to pick her up. The trip was cancelled after I was told she had disappeared and was presumed dead.
Buffy realized this was worse than their usual assassinations. A lump formed in her throat.
BUFFY: They kidnapped her, kept her all this time, and dropped her off a few feet from safety so that I could watch her die.
GILES: Clearly, our enemies are escalating their efforts. And that's not the worst part.
BUFFY: You know what's coming?
GILES: No. But I have some idea of what's already happened. I can't get in touch with Robson. Or with any of the Seers. For the last several days, I haven't been able to contact anyone from the Council. Either they all went into hiding without notifying me -
BUFFY: Or they're all dead. Oh God.
GILES: The Reapers appear to be finishing what the Bringers started. That must be why so far only a few of them have showed up in Sunnydale.
BUFFY: The First is isolating us.
GILES: They seem intent on preventing any outside help from reaching us.
BUFFY: Then why didn't they try harder to kill Faith before she came here?
GILES: Because they wanted her at the Hellmouth. The demon attacks in prison were too feeble to kill her, but sensational enough to get her released. And that single Reaper engaged her in Los Angeles to remind Faith who her number one enemy was and to show her she couldn't battle it on her own.
BUFFY: Are you saying they're going to try to use Faith against us?
GILES: There isn't time. If that were their intention, the First would have brought Faith here months ago.
BUFFY: But why fight two Slayers?
GILES: Fulfillment of their prophecy. That's my best guess. The graffiti on the Reapers alludes repeatedly to two Slayers. They must believe that both Slayers have to be present before the climactic battle can begin.
BUFFY: We can easily deal with these Reapers. I dusted the uber-vamp by myself. What do they plan to throw at us that's tough enough to take down two Slayers?
GILES: The glyphs allude to something older than demons and rarer than gods. I wish I could tell you more.
BUFFY: Big bad says just enough to scare us but not enough give us anything useful. Some things never change.
Spike meets Cecil behind a tavern.
CECIL: You wanna have a beer while we talk?
SPIKE: Hand it over, CC.
CECIL: I hate when you're all business.
SPIKE: Why? That's all you've ever been.
CECIL: But I have fun with my work. Anyhoo, I got good news and bad.
SPIKE: Start with the bad. And pray it's not bad enough to make me stake you.
CECIL: Those Reapers are gone.
SPIKE: I'm sensing someone welshed on his end of the bargain.
CECIL: I checked everywhere. I swear! They vanished. But I found all their nests. The demons are too scared to try to retake them.
SPIKE: How could you find empty nests?
CECIL: These guys have a very distinctive scent. Like burning rubber. Which makes it very easy to sniff out where they slept the night before. [hands Spike a sheet of paper] Sixteen nests.
Spike does a little math.
SPIKE: That would be all of them.
CECIL: Then you got what you need.
SPIKE: Assuming they're stupid enough to return to their old lairs.
CECIL: Look at the pattern. This is precision placement. Each Reaper is 1.4 miles from any other Reaper. Slightly closer than they were yesterday. Now that red dot's the Hellmouth. Observe how they radiate symmetrically around it. Like a wave pattern. How many did you and the Slayers kill yesterday?
SPIKE: Two.
CECIL: So they move closer to the Mouth when their numbers are reduced. It looks like a fairly simple mathematical relationship. If I figure out the algorithm, I can tell you where they'll be depending on how many are left. You'll be able to know in advance no matter what.
SPIKE: Same time tomorrow.
CECIL: I'll probably have it all figured out by then.
SPIKE: And the night after.
CECIL: But you'll have all you'll need!
SPIKE: If that's the case, you won't have a reason to avoid me.
Spike walks away with his usual swagger. Cecil nervously glances both ways, then scampers off into the darkness. After a quick check of the tunnels turns up nothing, Spike returns home.
SPIKE: They're gone.
GILES: The Reapers have left town?
SPIKE: Or they found a way to make themselves invisible. But even then I could smell them. Wouldn't be the first time a beasty took the night off.
GILES: We can still go patrolling. If the Reapers fail to show, they are always vampires to slay.
KENNEDY: Giles, can we go to the Bronze?
GILES: I don't know if that would be wise.
KENNEDY: Why not? It's just as safe as staying here.
BUFFY: She's right.
GILES: Of course. I forgot the club was included in the deal resulting from Spike's unspeakable deeds.
ANYA: Let's not forget about Angel's.
BUFFY: Can we forget about both?
GILES: I suppose a night out would help calm the girls after yesterday's [takes off glasses, rubs eyes] unpleasantness.
KENNEDY: Plus, Liz Phair's playing tonight.
SPIKE: She is!! Bloody fabulous. It been a long time since I've seen that bird.
BUFFY: Would this be another one of your ex-girlfriends?
Spike gets a good laugh out of this.
SPIKE: I wish. [he realizes that might not have been the best response] Look, I'm just a fan. I've never even met the bird. Besides, she's married.
KENNEDY: Recently divorced.
SPIKE: Really. [smiles.] Buffy, I'm kidding.
KENNEDY: Like you'd have a chance with her. I'm pretty sure you're not her type.
BUFFY: She's also recently gay?
KENNEDY: I wish. [notices Willow glaring at her] God! Lighten up. Do you two take hafta be such jealousy queens? Wait a minute. We don't have tickets. Show's probably been sold out for weeks.
ANYA: We all have a ticket. Her name's Buffy.
BUFFY: I'm not going to beat up the doorman and force our way in there.
FAITH: Been there. Done that.
ANYA: Lorne talked to Bruce – that's the owner. He's aware of how many times you saved his clientele from grisly mass slaughter. Your presence is worth money to him. If anything, Bruce should pay you. That's why he hasn't made you pay a cover charge for six years.
BUFFY: The Bronze has a cover charge?
XANDER: Five dollars normally. Ten when there's a band. Although, now that I think about it, I've only paid when I wasn't with you.
WILLOW: Me too.
SPIKE: I've never paid. With or without the Slayer.
ANYA: That's because you sneak in.
GILES: This is all very interesting, but there must be a limit on the number of non-paying guests Buffy would be allowed to bring in.
ANYA: If she came with hundreds of "friends," perhaps. But from a cost-benefits perspective, there's no reason for Bruce to turn Buffy away and risk the bad publicity of mass murder just because she wants a couple dozen people not to pay for admission.
WILLOW: Except that can't happen now.
ANYA: Bruce doesn't know about the protection spell.
SPIKE: If he did, could I get free beers and maybe a couple of those onion flower things? I think I deserve at least that.
XANDER: Yeah, you deserve a whole lot more.
SPIKE: You mean free beers for life?
XANDER: That's not what I had in mind. So are we going?
BUFFY: It'll do them good to get out. [stops Dawn as she walks towards the door] Not you.
DAWN: Why not!?
BUFFY: You have homework.
DAWN: That's not a good reason. I always have homework.
BUFFY: Which means you should do it on the nights you're not busy researching monsters.
Dawn pouts and sulks her way up the stairs.
BUFFY: Okay Andrew. You're in charge of this house for tonight. Think you can handle the responsibility?
ANDREW: I'm ready to serve the cause.
BUFFY: Good. Can you give it a good cleaning while we're out?
ANDREW: You won't be disappointed.
Buffy, Giles, Anya and Xander walk into the foyer.
GILES: You know I'm not comfortable with exploiting the hostage for menial labor.
ANYA: It's a matter of simple efficiency. Andrew is the least skilled at demon killing. Therefore, he helps us best by doing our non-demon killing work for us. Everyone contributes in their best possible way.
BUFFY: How do you contribute?
GILES: Buffy, please. Anya is our friend. She is here because we love her and care about her irregardless of her abilities.
XANDER: What do you mean you love her?
ANYA: And what do you mean I'm useless!?
GILES: Last time I try paying someone a bloody compliment.
WES: I found a spell for transferring visions without, well, intimate contact. Though I'm not sure if we have access to all of these ingredients. Specifically these two.
Lorne looks at the book.
LORNE: I know a demon who can get us those.
WES: Which brings us to the bigger question.
Wes, Fred, Lorne and Gunn look at Angel, who is taken aback by all the sudden attention.
ANGEL: What?
GUNN: Who you gonna give the visions to?
ANGEL: Sorry. That would be the question of the moment. Obviously not you, or Fred, or Wesley. What demon friends do I have who could take on this burden?
FRED: Hello! He's sitting right in front of you.
LORNE: Moi? Oh no. Heaven to Betsy no. Empaths can't get visions. All I'd see or hear would be static. The powers interfere with each another.
ANGEL: Lorne mentioned that earlier today. I just assumed he told you guys as well. It's a shame to let the visions continue going to waste. But if I can't find anyone I can trust -
WES: What about Connor?
FRED: You want Angel to give the visions to Connor?
ANGEL: My son is NOT a demon.
WES: Yes, but he does have demonic powers. And he's alive.
GUNN: You think it's a good idea to have something else messin' with that kid's brain?
ANGEL: Connor doesn't need this.
WES: You just said it would be a shame for this gift to go to waste. As far as I can tell, this is the only other option.
FRED: I agree with Charles. It's too big of a risk. When things go wrong with Connor, he makes sure they go wrong for everybody.
LORNE: We've done without the visions for quite a while. [Angel gets up] Where you going, Angelfood?
ANGEL: We don't know what we're talking about. I need to speak with someone who does.
Faith, Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles sit at a table. While Willow, Xander and Giles watch Liz perform "Divorce Song," Buffy and Faith scan the crowd on the dance floor.
BUFFY: Ten o'clock. Madras shirt.
FAITH: Already spotted him.
BUFFY: Your turn.
FAITH: You sure?
BUFFY: I got the first one.
FAITH: Okay. Hey, check it out. He's going to the coatroom.
BUFFY: I think I'll take a look at this.
Buffy follows Faith so the two of them can observe what passes in their line of work for a practical joke. The vampire goes bumpy and tries to bite the woman he's with. She pushes him away, thinking that he's being a little too forward. The vampire is confounded. The woman is looking down at her cell phone, checking her messages, so she can't see how strange this man now looks. He tries to bite her again. His teeth can't penetrate her flesh. It's the darndest thing. The woman pushes him away and slaps him, calls him a creep, and walks away. The vampire goes back to his human face, looks mystified and shakes his head. Buffy and Faith stand outside the room's entrance, looking in and laughing. The vampire walks out of the room. The Slayers stand along the walls. The deeply frustrated vampire goes by them without noticing and leaves the Bronze. Faith follows. When they are outside, she grabs him from behind and hurls him into a wall.
FAITH: Let me guess. That's never happened to you before.
She hits his face with a left hook. He connects with a right cross. Faith jumps in the air and nails him in the nose with a flying right kick. He throws another right cross. This time, Faith grabs his right forearm with her left hand. She holds her stake in her right hand.
FAITH: I'm sure this hasn't happened to you either.
Faith stakes him and heads back inside. While she's gone, Spike and Anya come over to the table with their drinks. Buffy spots Mayor Santos in the balcony. Giles looks up. She takes off her coat as she looks down at the crowd while listening to "Never Said." Estella wears a black tank top and blue jeans. With some pride, Giles catches Spike and Xander staring.
GILES: It's not polite to drool.
XANDER: I was not drooling.
SPIKE: You were just partaking in some slack-jawed ogling.
XANDER: You're one to talk.
GILES: I think I'll say hello.
SPIKE: She's remarkably firm for a woman her age. Frankly, I don't think you're man enough for her, Rupert.
GILES: What do you know about being a man?
Giles leaves them and goes to meet Stella. Spike assumes he was referring to the fact that he's not human. He wasn't. Faith comes back.
FAITH: Maybe we should let the wanna-be's dust one of these chumps. Or Spike could get off his ass and earn his keep.
BUFFY: Not challenging enough?
SPIKE: I think I could give her a challenge.
FAITH: I think B would get jealous.
Angel was in Cordelia's room, asking her advice.
CORDY: I can't believe you're even considering this.
ANGEL: It's not what I want. And it's not what I plan to do. But Wesley's right about one thing: there are two options. Even if one of them is irresponsible and misguided, we should still discuss it before ruling it out.
CORDY: Connor blames you for his problems. He thinks you're the reason his life is so tough. In this case, you'd be proving him right.
ANGEL: The visions wouldn't hurt him as much as they hurt you.
CORDY: Physically, yes. But that's not the worst part. You feel their suffering, their terror. Doesn't Connor already have enough horrible memories in his head?
ANGEL: You know I would never knowingly do anything to hurt him.
CORDY: Oh no. There's a but coming.
ANGEL: You also how special he is.
CORDY: Miracle child. The one-and-only. Isn't that enough pressure?
ANGEL: Think of the advantages this would give him. A champion with a direct connection to the Powers.
CORDY: Why not? Look at what they did to me.
ANGEL: I just think the decision should be his.
CORDY: Why? What does he know about visions? To him, it'll sound like an easier way to find the bad guys. He has no idea what they feel like. None of you do.
ANGEL: So I should keep this from him?
CORDY: That's what fathers do. They look out for their kid's best interests.
ANGEL: That'll just play into Connor's suspicions of me.
CORDY: Better than screwing with his head. You know I know what I'm talking about.
ANGEL: Then one day Connor finds out I could have given him some special power, but I held back. What's he going to think then? That I didn't trust him? That I was afraid of making him more powerful than me? You know how paranoid he can get.
CORDY: But then I tell him what the visions did to me, and he'll understand.
ANGEL: Or you could tell him right now, so that he can make an informed choice.
CORDY: Fine. But you're missing the big picture. Connor doesn't want to be some planet-saving Slayer Boy who has to carry the weight of the world every day of his life. He didn't choose a painful, heroic destiny. He wants what you want – a nice, happy human life. That's why he's gone so ga-ga over Dawn.
ANGEL: Then we give him that choice, and see if you're right.
Angel interprets Cordy's comments to mean that if Connor wants the visions, it's a sign that he will be able to move past Dawn.