Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Episode | LIES MY PARENTS TOLD ME

The teaser opens with a flashback, Spike and Nikki fighting in Central Park in 1977.Wood (as a young child) is watching the fight.There’s some Nikki/Spike banter, and he doesn’t want to end the dance yet. He compliments her coat.

Present day. Wood’s fighting vamps in an alley.Spike turns up to save him and tells Wood not to be afraid to use that stake.Wood mutters something about how he is waiting for his moment. He squeezes the stake so hard his hand drips blood.

Wood and Buffy talk in the high school, talking about how things have been quiet since the seal was shut down.Wood tells Buffy she reminds him of his mother when she’s patrolling.

Giles explains that his trip is about Spike, that he has something that might disarm the trigger. Wood gets interested.

Back at the ranch, the SiTs are disappointed that they aren’t a part of what is going on in the basement.In the basement, Xander is shackling Spike to a wall. Wood is down there too.Giles holds up a stone, saying they need to put it in Spike’s brain to bring out his subconscious and disarm the trigger. Willow chants, and the rock turns into a slimy thing. Spike complains and Buffy holds Spike’s hand.

Another flashback, to 1880. He’s reading his poetry to his tubercular mom, she likes it.Some sweet conversation between William and his mom. She sings the song that we know as Spike’s trigger song.

Back in the basement, Spike freaks out, hits Buffy (who was still holding his hand). Then he picks up his cot and throws it at Dawn, knocking her to the ground!

Willow tends to Dawn upstairs and Anya says something bitchy about Spike, while downstairs Spike recovers from his little outburst. Giles asks him what he remembers.Spike says he remembers the song his mom sang to him, but that is all. Giles starts grilling Spike, saying he’s not cooperating, and that the trigger still works.At some point around here Willow gets a call from Fred in L.A.

Another 1880 flashback, this time with Spike and Dru doing naughty things on William’s family couch.Spike brings out his mother out to be introduced to Drusilla. He tells Dru that she will like his mom and that they will have a lot of fun together.Spike explains his new nature to his mom and then bites her.

Spike comes out of his flashback. Wood calls Giles over to talk to him and explains he was raised by a watcher.Giles recognizes the name, and after some exchange realizes that Spike killed Nikki.Wood convinces Giles that something needs to be done about Spike, and persuades him to distract Buffy for a few hours.

Wood talks Spike into going to his house while Giles takes Buffy out on a training session, and starts getting into lecture mode.Buffy is unimpressed, and accuses Giles of treating her like she’s 16. He talks about moving on and how she has to be a general.

Wood takes Spike into his garage, and locks the door behind him. Spike notices that he has a collection of crosses all over the walls, and starts to get a bit twitchy.Wood starts rattling on about the kind of person Spike is, and finally reveals that Spike killed his mother. He explains that he doesn’t want to kill Spike now that he’s changed, he wants to kill the monster that murdered his mother, and then hits a key on the computer, cuing the trigger song and causing Spike to vamp out. Wood gets all pleased with himself.

Back to 1880. Spike is looking for his mother. He hears the song playing from the darkness, and finds her, holding a music box. She’s not sickly anymore, of course.Spike is thrilled, and wonders what kind of things she’d like to do first. Mom says she wants to be rid of him, quotes his awful poetry, and makes disparaging remarks about it.

Cut back to the present, where Wood is beating Spike with brass knuckles.

Back to 1880, where Spike’s mom is getting even crueler, telling him that she wished she’d have just dashed his brains out as a baby and spared herself a horrible life of boredom.It seems that it keeps switching several times between abuse from Spike’s mom and abuse from Wood.

Buffy and Giles in the cemetery. Buffy goes to kill a vampire, and Giles stops her from delivering the death blow.Giles questions Buffy as to whether she’d let the vamp live to save the world, and Buffy gets flippant, making small talk with the vamp.Then he asks if she’d let vampy kill him to do the same. After some thought, Buffy realizes that she would. Giles goes on about how they are all expendable in this war, and that nothing should interfere with their chances of winning.Then he brings up Spike.

Spike is still being beaten. Wood tears the duster off him, and Spike is in and out of flashback. Really nasty and incestuous remarks from mom.

Spike is horrified and heartbroken, and she orders him to get out and attacks him. They struggle for possession of her walking stick, it snaps in two. Spike says he’s sorry.

Cut back to Wood, who hesitates. Spike mutters again that he’s sorry.

Back to 1880, Spike stakes his mom, who momentarily reverts to her familiar, kindly expression before she explodes into dust.

Cut to Spike and Wood where Spike comes to his senses and starts get the uper hand.Spike explains that his mom was a Slayer, he’s a vampire, that’s how it works and she knew it.Really amazing stuff here from Spike, about the nature of Slayers, about his own mom, about love.He flips on the song, and it no longer affects him. Spike says he has his free will back, and that he wanted him to know that before he kills him. He bites into Wood.

Buffy and Giles in the cemetery. Giles tells Buffy that Spike is a liability, that Angel knew well enough to leave but Spike doesn’t.Buffy defends Spike, saying that she wants him there, and that it’s not his fault the First is manipulating him.Giles makes the point that Ben wasn’t responsible for what Glory did, and then admits that he killed Ben.Buffy slowly realizes what is going on and she runs off.

Spike emerges from Wood’s house, wearing his duster again. Buffy rushes to him, trying to make sure he’s okay, but he pushes her hands away.She asks what happened, and Spike opens the door to reveal Wood, messed up but still alive. Spike explains that he let him live because he killed Nikki, but if he so much as looks at him funny again, he’ll kill him. He walks away.

Buffy turns to Wood. Some talk about her mother, about Spike. She says that she needs him to win this war, and that if Wood tries anything again, Spike will kill him. But more importantly, she’ll let him. She says the mission is what matters, and walks away, leaving him there.

Buffy is taking care of Dawn, as Giles approaches. She gets up, moves to her room. Giles starts to explain again that this was for the greater good, and Buffy tells him that Wood failed.Giles says it doesn’t matter, she still needs to learn.

Buffy cuts him off, says she thinks he’s taught her everything she needs to know. And slams the door in his face.

End Show.

Episode | DIRTY GIRLS

A girl is running from some bringers. The girl, Shannon, makes it to a road, where she manages to flag down a vehicle. The nasty old pickup truck stops, and Caleb opens the door to Shannon. Relieved, Shannon jumps into the vehicle and they speed away. Caleb makes some comments when Shannon thanks God he was there, and then starts in on how she should be in bed. Shannon says she is headed for Sunnydale. Caleb asks why she was being chased, and she dodges around the answer. Caleb has an answer: Because she’s a whore! She’s dirty and has no soul. Those Harbingers are his boys!

Caleb heats up his car cigarette lighter, he uses it to heat up his ring, which has an arcane symbol on it. Meanwhile, Shannon has been trying to escape, but the vehicle has no passenger door handle. Caleb taunts her and then brands her neck with the symbol, spouting off about cleansing in over-the-top revivalisms. He says that there are some people in the car behind them headed to Sunnydale, and that Shannon needs to give a message to the Slayer. We don’t hear what the message is yet - Caleb stabs Shannon in the gut and whispers it to her, before chucking her out of the truck.

Caleb drives off, and the other vehicle pulls up. It’s Willow and Faith. Willow says they need to get her to a hospital.

We’re at Xander’s apartment he’s in bed and a hot SiT is talking to him. She’s scared, she’s young, and she’s never been with a man before. Another girl gets on the bed, and says she’s never been with a man before, either. They both mention that neither of them has been with a man in front of the other one. Xander worries that they’ll be overheard and the bedroom door opens, revealing all the other SiT’s engaged in a slow-motion pillow fight. They’re bouncing around in their skivvies, shrieking and giggling, and feathers are flying.

Back to reality. Rona walks in on Xander, saying that one of the SiTs has the flu and that the toilet is backed up, due to the contents of said SiT’s stomach. The other SiTs are visible behind her, dressed in decidedly un-sexy PJs.

At the hospital, Faith and Willow talk, worrying over whether or not Shannon will regain consciousness. Faith seems a little pissed off that she wasn’t informed of what was going down in Sunnydale, since she was in danger, too. Willow feels bad about the oversight. Faith wants to leave to find Buffy, as she doesn’t much care for hospitals. Willow figures one of them should stay, and, of course, is the one stuck there. Willow expresses concern that Faith is off to find Buffy alone, but Faith establishes that Buffy knew she was coming, and they’ll get along fine.

In the graveyard, an unidentified vamp is fighting with a girl. It’s Spike. Caleb probably saw it from his vantage point in the Nevada desert, where he turned into a raven. Spike and Faith get into a tussle, he knows who she is from her description. Spike says there is a misunderstanding, Faith says she knows who Spike is and that they have met before. He doesn’t remember, of course. Faith says she is reformed, Spike says he is too, and that he reformed way before she did. Faith keeps hitting Spike, he asks her to stop.

Buffy shows up, hits Faith, helps Spike up. Faith wonders what is going on. Buffy explains that Spike is with her, and that he has a soul. Faith asks if it’s like Angel, Spike vehemently says no, Buffy says sort of. The girl Spike was attacking turns out to be a vamp, and Faith pulls the stake out of Buffy’s belt and dusts her. Spike is still pissy about being compared to Angel, saying that Angel is as dull as a table lamp.

The three return home, and Faith receives a less than welcoming reaction from Giles and Dawn. Giles and Buffy still have some very blatant tension and coldness, and then Giles and Dawn exit. Spike explains to Faith that a lot of the tension wasn’t about her, that Giles tried to kill him for Buffy’s own good. Faith says that makes her feel better about herself, worse about Giles, and still iffy on Spike.

Meanwhile, Caleb is mucking about in a vineyard cellar with his boys. He’s talking to someone, says he was looking for the Lord in all the wrong places. The First appears, in the form of Buffy, and asks if Caleb thinks she/it is God. Caleb says he’s beyond that, and then the FE asks if he likes what she is wearing. Caleb says she’s a DIRTY GIRL. Caleb realizes that this is the form of the Slayer, and reaches out to touch her cheek, which, of course is all go-through able.

Caleb details all the work he’s done for the First, like blowing up the council building, organizing the Bringers. The First says Buffy will be meeting Caleb soon, and Caleb agrees, knowing that she will come to him as curiosity is woman’s first sin.

We get some previous footage of Faith. Andrew is doing a voice over here, as he describes her to the SiTs. Andrew describes how Faith was once briefly good, and we get a fantasy shot of her fighting five ninjas. Then he explains how, like a lot of tragic heroes, she turned to the dark side. More footage. He says that not even the most peaceful and logical races were immune to her, and we get a fantasy shot of Faith fighting a Vulcan. We flash to reality, where the SiTs wonder what Andrew is going on about.

Cut to Wood’s office. Buffy enters, says he looks better, and he replies that he doesn’t. Buffy agrees. Wood says he’ll be fine, as long as Buffy doesn’t intend to beat on him. Buffy says she thought about it, but everything is fine between them, and that she needs him on her side. Wood thanks her, and then fires her. Buffy is indignant, and Wood explains that she needs to focus on the fight. Buffy says the SiTs aren’t battle-tested, and Wood says it is time to test them. Buffy, in a display of patheticness, says maybe she could work part-time, and Wood says no. The mission is what matters. He’s bitter here.

Faith comes down into the basement to smoke. Spike is there, and asks to bum one. He’s shirtless and on his bed. Faith makes a comment about him not needing to worry about cancer, and Spike says that one’s teeth can get yellow. Faith notices the chains by the bed, and Spike says it’s not what it looks like. Faith says there was one guy she hung out with who liked to put her in a schoolgirl outfit and tie her up with a noose. Spike breaks Faith’s over share moment to say that he was dangerous for a while, even after the soul, and Faith says it wouldn’t be any fun to dust him. They keep smoking and contemplate each other. They comment on the noise being made by the SiTs upstairs. Spike wonders why Faith isn’t up there instructing them, and Faith indicates that its not her thing. Spike wants to know why Faith didn’t break out of jail, and Faith says that she stopped herself.

Spike wonders if Faith is over her dangerous phase, and she says she is, more or less. Spike smiles at Faith, clearly liking her. Says she could do better than the guy who used to tie her up. Faith says not to forget who’s on top. Spike says he suspects that would be her. Faith sits down next to him. Faith says she met Spike before, and he finally realizes the body swap thing, which, apparently, Buffy told him about off-screen. Of course, she didn’t tell him who was inhabiting her body. They are really coming on to each other here. Spike remembers exactly what Faith said, and Faith says that Buffy would never have made that kind of offer. And then Spike says that Faith really has been away. Faith is amused about the sexual antics, they get all smiley and intimate with the looks.

Buffy walks in. She starts throwing off a bit of a jealous vibe. Spike wonders why Buffy isn’t at work, and Buffy says she cut back her hours. She figures she’s better off focusing on what is going on around here.

Dawn appears and says that Shannon is out of her sleep induced state. Buffy and Willow go to the hospital and start questioning Shannon, who tells them all about Caleb. Damn, I wanted to know about Cable, so I could find something decent to watch. Shannon imparts the message Caleb has something of Buffy’s. Buffy makes speech to the assembled group. She says she’s going to get whatever Caleb has back, and they’re all coming with her.

A girl called Betty comes into the vineyard, looking for Caleb. Apparently she was really moved by his spiritual words. She starts getting hot and seductive with him. The words called her, she wants to know why. Caleb says it was because of seeking the Power. He guts her in the shadows, and then the body morphs into the First as Buffy, who says that most people don’t like to be visited by the dead. Caleb says it’s all okay, but he misses the feeling of freeing a soul from its body. Others will follow.

The regular cast members and Faith are discussing a plan. Buffy says to start arming the girls, and that they should do some reconnaissance. Giles objects, saying that Buffy has no idea what she’s going into, or even if this guy actually has anything. Buffy says the girls who have been there longest need to be tested, and the weaker ones can stay. Spike comments that this could be a bait and switch routine, thinking that the untrained girls could get killed off while all the most powerful people are away. Buffy tells Willow to stay and Xander also expresses his concern. Buffy indicates that Caleb won’t be expecting an attack this soon. Giles says they need time to prepare, and Buffy tells Giles to go teach the remaining Slayerettes who still need a teacher.

Faith and Buffy stake out the vineyard. They briefly ponder why the Bringers get about so well without eyes. Faith wonders if this is a trap, as the Bringer seemed to want to be followed, but Buffy doesn’t care if he did, she just wants this taken care of. There’s a little tension between Faith and Buffy about the SiTs, and Faith’s reason for coming back to Sunnydale. Buffy brings up that Faith helped Angel, and Faith says that Angel said hi. Faith brings up that she was in Angel’s mind, and Buffy starts to get annoyed. I’m on your side, here, Buffy. Faith makes a comment detailing the closeness and how trippy it was, playing up to Buffy’s annoyance and enjoying it. She then comments about souled vamps, and how she can see both the darkness and the light in Spike, too. Buffy starts to ask how much Faith and Spike something unfinished as they are cut off by the fact that a Bringer is heading for the vineyard cellar door. Faith and Buffy head back to get the troops.

Dawn and Xander are preparing everyone for battle. There’s an interesting thought. The Sit’s are worried, and there is another amusing exchange with Andrew. Rona is worried about the fact that Buffy is taking them all right in to fight the bad guy, and insinuates that Buffy doesn’t care about the SiTs. Xander gives an inspiring and loving speech about Buffy and what she does for them and the world. They can trust Buffy, because she’s earned it. Buffy and Faith wind up overhearing this as they walk in. Buffy is touched and Faith is impressed.

Back at the vineyard, Buffy, Xander, Faith, Spike, and a passel of SiTs get ready to move in for battle. They are going in two groups Spike and Buffy on one team, Xander and Faith on the other. The Buffy/Spike team goes in, and get attacked by Bringers. Its chaos, but they beat off the Bringers causing them to retreat. Then Caleb appears from the shadows, his boots clicking on the concrete. Caleb talks about purifying them, and makes some more comments about filthy women. Then He punches Buffy, hard, sending her flying across the room and knocking her unconscious. Everyone is shocked, and Caleb asks what else they’ve got.

The fight continues. Spike, furious, vamps out and attacks Caleb, but Caleb blocks his punches with ease. He sends Spike flying across the room and he gets temporarily knocked out as well. Red wine is pouring out all over the place. Caleb yells to his boys to come on out. Caleb flounces about through the fight, calm, and manages to backhand Kennedy across the room into a wine rack. Rona, concerned, begins to rush after Kennedy, but Caleb grabs her and snaps her arm over his knee. Caleb tosses a knife to a Bringer so that he can finish off Rona And an arrow pierces the Bringer’s wrist. The Xander and Faith team have arrived! Faith attacks Caleb as the other group of SiTs attack the Bringers, and Xander ascertains the situation. He find’s Buffy’s knocked-out self, and saves her from another Bringer. Caleb manages to send Faith flying, too, after spouting out some biblical references. Random Potential comes up behind Caleb to attack. Caleb grabs her and snaps her neck. Molly watches this in horror, and then Caleb starts to stalk towards her.

Buffy starts to come to. Spike and Faith are both down but are recovering. The SiTs are getting pounded by the Bringers. Buffy looks at Xander, and orders a retreat. Caleb is backing the frightened Molly into a corner, going on and on about cleansing. He holds Molly up and plunges her own knife into her, and Buffy is not able to make it there in time. She screams and attacks Caleb again, but only manages to bring him to one knee.

Xander is helping the girls away as Buffy continues to fight Caleb. She manages to land a good punch and send him flying, and Spike stops her from going after him, stressing the urgency to leave. Xander manages to get Kennedy up, and she runs for the door. He gets grabbed by Caleb. Caleb says that Xander is the one who sees everything, and indicates he’s going to do something about that. He takes his thumb and plunges it into Xander’s eye socket. Spike and Buffy leave Rona when they hear the screams. Spike manages to punch Caleb away before he goes for Xander’s other eye, and Buffy catches Xander. The two of them carry Xander out. Caleb smiles and heads back into the darkness.

Scenes as Caleb does a voice over. The SiTs and Xander in the emergency room. Willow taking care of Xander. Buffy’s house, full of wounded SiTs, as she walks through the rooms. The SiTs are shooting her blaming looks. She can’t look at them. Caleb is talking about the story, and how it is going to have a happy ending.

Buffy walks alone in the night. Caleb talks about the foulness of women and the dirtiness of humans. He says she is filled with despair because she does not know the glory that is coming. Caleb is talking to the FE/Buffy. He says he’ll kill them all, and that is the happy ending.