PROLOGUE:

In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.

Sunnydale Park after dusk. The playground is deserted. The carousel slowly turns, and the swings move in the light evening breeze. The only person there is a boy sitting on the jungle gym, waiting for his ride home.

James:  C'mon, Mom. She's always late.

The camera pans around him until Drusilla can be seen slowly walking toward him from behind.

Drusilla:  Are you lost?

James:  (looks back at her) No. My mom's just supposed to pick me up is all. (climbs out of the gym)

Drusilla:  Do you want me to walk you home?

James:  No, thank you.

Drusilla:  (touches the gym) My mummy used to sing me to sleep at night. (slowly walks around the gym as she sings) Run and catch / The lamb is caught in the blackberry patch... She had the sweetest voice. What will your mummy sing when they find your body?

James:  (looks at her nervously) I'm not supposed to talk to people.

Drusilla:  Oh. Well, I'm not a person, see, so that's just...

Angel suddenly steps between her and the boy.

Angel:  (to the boy, sternly) Run home.

The boy only hesitates for a moment before running off. Drusilla watches him run away in dismay. Angel takes a breath and turns around to face her.

Drusilla:  My Angel!

Angel:  Hello, Drusilla.

Drusilla:  (slowly approaches) Do you remember the song mummy used to sing me? Pretty.

Angel:  I remember.

Drusilla:  (senses) Yes, you do.

Angel:  Drusilla, leave here. I'm offering you that chance. Take Spike and get out.

Drusilla:  Or you'll hurt me?

Angel looks down at the ground.

Drusilla:  (senses) No. No, you can't. Not anymore.

Angel:  If you don't leave it'll go badly. For all of us.

Drusilla:  My dear boy's gone all away, hasn't he? To her.

Cut to the roof of the building across the street from the park.

Angel:  Who?

Buffy walks along the roof keeping watch.

Drusilla:  The girl. The Slayer.

Buffy senses something and heads for the edge of the roof. Cut to the park.

Drusilla:  Your heart stinks of her. (puts her hand on his chest) Poor little thing. (cut to Buffy) She has no idea what's in store.

Buffy looks over the edge and sees them standing close together. She can overhear.

Angel:  This can't go on, Drusilla. It's gotta end.

She tilts her head and reaches up for a kiss.

Drusilla:  Oh, no, my pet. This is just the beginning.

She pulls away without kissing and gives him an evil smile. She keeps her head turned to him as she slowly walks away. Buffy swallows at what she sees. Angel watches Drusilla go for another moment, then turns to leave also. Buffy steps away from the edge of the roof and runs off.

Opening credits roll. Buffy's theme plays.

Sunnydale High School the next morning.

Jenny:  It's a secret!

Cut inside. Jenny and Giles come down the stairs.

Giles:  What kind of a secret?

Jenny:  Uh, the kind that's secret. You know, where I don't actually tell you what it is.

Giles:  I think it's customary that when two people are going out on an evening that they, they both have an idea of where they're going.

Jenny:  Oh, come on! Where is your sense of adventure?

Giles:  Well, I, I... Uh, how will I know what to wear?

Jenny:  (looks at his tweed suit) Do you own anything else?

Giles:  Uh, w-well, not as such, no, um...

Jenny:  (laughs) Rupert, you're gonna have to trust me.

Giles:  Alright, alright, I p-put myself in your hands.

Jenny:  That sounds like fun. (starts on her way) Okay, tomorrow night, 7:30, right?

Giles:  Yes.

Buffy comes up to him as Jenny leaves.

Buffy:  Hey.

Giles:  Hello. (they start to the library) Um, did we hunt last night?

Buffy:  I did a couple quick sweeps downtown.

Giles:  Any encounters?

Buffy:  Nothing vampirey.

Giles:  Uh, I've been researching your friend Spike. Uh, the profile is fairly unappetizing. But I-I still haven't got a bead on why he's here.

Buffy:  You'll figure it out.

Giles:  You alright? You seem a little glum.

Buffy:  I'm fine.

They stop outside the library.

Giles:  Why don't you take the night off?

Buffy:  Okay. That'd be nice.

Giles:  Yes. You could spend some time with Angel.

Buffy:  I don't know. He might have other plans.

She walks off to class. Giles wonders what that was all about.

Cut to class. Buffy opens a note from Willow.

Note:  Do you know who she was?

Boy:  Well, it seems like Louis XVI was just sort of a weak king.

Buffy and Willow glance at each other. Buffy starts to write an answer to the note.

Teacher:  That's fair enough. Uh, any other impressions?

The camera pans forward to Cordelia sitting in front of Buffy. Xander is across from her in front of Willow, and looks over at Cordelia with his head propped up on his fist.

Cordelia:  I just don't see why everyone's always picking on Marie Antoinette. I can so relate to her. She worked really hard to look that good, and people just don't appreciate that kind of effort.

Buffy has finished her answer to Willow's note.

Answer:  No  Dark hair  Old dress  pretty

Cordelia:  And I know the peasants were all depressed...

Xander:  I think you mean 'oppressed'.

Cordelia:  Whatever. They were cranky.

Buffy folds the note and hands it back to Willow.

Cordelia:  So they're, like, 'Let's lose some heads'. Uhhh! That's fair. And, and Marie Antoinette cared about them. She was gonna let them have cake!

The camera pans over to Willow finishing another note.

Teacher:  Yes, well, that's a very interesting perspective.

Willow hands Buffy the note.

Teacher:  Um, would anyone else like to comment?

Buffy opens the note.

Note:  Vampire?

The bell rings. Cut to the hall. Buffy, Willow and Xander come out of class.

Buffy:  I don't know. I don't think so. They seemed pretty friendly.

Xander:  Who's friendly?

Buffy:  No one.

Willow:  Angel and a girl.

Buffy:  Willow, do we have to be in total share mode?

Xander:  Hey, it's me. If Angel's doing somethin' wrong, I wanna know. 'Cause it gives me a happy! (smiles)

They head into the lounge.

Buffy:  Mm, I'm glad someone has a happy.

Xander:  Aw, you just need cheering up. And I know just the thing! (does a wild move) Crazed dance party at the Bronze!

Buffy:  I dunno. (crosses her arms, depressed)

Xander:  Very calm dance party at the Bronze? (Buffy gives him a glum look) Moping at the Bronze.

He sits on a couch next to Willow. Ford walks up the steps behind Buffy.

Ford:  I'd suggest a box of Oreos dunked in apple juice, but maybe she's over that phase.

Buffy uncrosses her arms and turns around.

Buffy:  Ford?

Ford:  Hey, Summers!

They embrace.

Ford:  How ya been?

Buffy:  Oh, my God! What are you doing here?

They let go and hold both hands.

Ford:  Uh, matriculating.

Buffy:  Huh?

Ford:  I'm finishing out my senior year at Sunnydale High. Dad got transferred.

Buffy:  This is great!

Ford:  I'm glad you think so.

Xander is not pleased.

Ford:  I didn't think you'd remember me.

Buffy:  Remember you? Duh! We only went to school together for seven years. You were my giant fifth grade crush.

Xander:  So! You two know each other.

Buffy:  Oh! (turns to Xander and Willow) I'm sorry. Um, this is Ford! Uh, Billy Fordham, this is Xander and Willow!

Buffy and Ford go to sit on the other couch.

Xander:  Hi.

Ford:  Hey.

Willow:  Nice to meet you!

Buffy:  Uh, Ford and I went to Hemery together in L.A. (to Ford) And now you're here. For real?

Ford:  Dad got the transfer, and boom, he just dragged me outta Hemery and put me down here.

Buffy:  This is great! Well, I mean, it's hard, sudden move, all your friends, delicate time, very emotional, but let's talk about me! (puts her hand on his knee) This is great!

Willow:  (smiles) So, you two were sweeties in fifth grade?

Buffy:  Not even. Ford wouldn't give me the time of day.

Ford:  Well, I was a manly sixth-grader. I couldn't bother with someone that young.

Buffy:  It was terrible. I moped over you for months. Sitting in my room listening to that Divinyls song 'I Touch Myself'.

She realizes how what she just said could be taken and casts a nervous look at Xander and Willow.

Buffy:  Of course, I had no idea what it was about.

Ford nervously scratches his temple with his finger. Xander just smiles and nods.

Buffy:  (to Ford) Hey, are you busy tonight? We're going to the Bronze, it's the local club, and you have to come.

Ford:  I'd love to! But if you guys already had plans... Would I be imposing?

Xander:  No, only in the literal sense.

Ford:  Okay, then! I, I gotta find the admissions office, (gets up) uh, get my papers in order.

Buffy:  Well, you know what, (gets up) I'll take you there, and I'll see you guys in French! (takes Ford's arm)

Ford:  It was good to meet you. (they go)

Xander smiles at them until they've gone. Next to him Willow has a thoughtful look on her face.

Xander:  (sarcastically) This is Ford, my bestest friend of all my friends! Jeez, doesn't she know any fat guys?

Willow:  (realizes) Oh, that's what that song is about?!

Cut to the Bronze. Xander, Willow and Ford are playing pool. Ford sinks his shot and sets up for another as Buffy arrives at the table.

Buffy:  Ford! You made it.

Ford:  Wasn't hard to find.

Willow:  Buffy, Ford was just telling us about the ninth grade beauty contest, and the, uh, swimsuit competition.

Buffy:  Oh, my God, Ford, stop that! The more people you tell, the more people I have to kill.

Ford:  You can't touch me, Summers. I know all your darkest secrets.

Xander:  Care to make a small wager on that?

Buffy:  I'm gonna go get a drink. Ford, try not to talk.

She heads for the bar and finds Angel there.

Buffy:  Hi.

Angel:  Hey! I was hoping you'd show.

Buffy:  (sees he has a drink) You drink! I mean, drinks. Non-blood things.

Angel:  There's a lot about me you don't know.

Buffy:  I believe that.

Cut to the pool table. They're racking them up. Ford sees Buffy with Angel.

Willow:  That's Angel.

Xander:  He's Buffy's beau. (sarcastically) Her special friend.

Ford:  He's not in school, right? He looks older than her.

Xander:  You're not wrong.

Cut to the bar.

Buffy:  So. What'd you do last night?

Angel:  Nothin'.

Buffy:  Nothing at all. You ceased to exist?

Angel:  No, I mean I stayed in, read.

Buffy:  Oh.

She goes back to the pool table without another word. Angel stands there confused for a moment, then follows her.

Ford:  Didn't want that soda after all?

Buffy:  Not thirsty.

Willow:  Hey, Angel.

Ford:  Hi.

Buffy:  (turns to Angel) This is Ford. We went to school together in L.A.

Angel:  Nice to meet you. (shakes Ford's hand)

Ford:  Whoa! Cold hands!

Xander:  You're not wrong.

Buffy gives Xander a look.

Angel:  So, you're here visiting Buffy?

Ford:  No, I'm actually here to stay. Just moved down.

Willow:  Hey, Angel? Do you wanna play?

Buffy:  Y'know, it's getting really crowded in here tonight. Um... I'm a little hot. (to Ford) You wanna take a walk?

Ford:  Um, sure! That'd be nice.

Buffy:  Okay, then, um... (to the others) I'll see ya tomorrow. (leads Ford out past Angel)

Angel:  Good night.

Ford:  Take care.

Xander:  Okay, once more with tension.

Angel:  He just moved here?

Xander:  Yeah. And, boy, does he move fast.

Willow:  Well, Angel, we could still play.

She moves the rack into position, and when she looks back up Angel is gone.

Willow:  See, you made him do that thing where he's gone.

Xander dismisses her comment and gets ready to break.

Cut outside to the alley. Buffy and Ford stroll slowly along.

Ford:  So, that was your boyfriend?

Buffy:  No. Uh, yeah. Maybe. Could we lay off the tough questions for a while?

Ford:  Sorry. So! What else do you do for fun around here?

She hears noises coming from around the corner and suspects a vampire.

Buffy:  Um, my purse. I-I, I left my purse at the Bronze. Uh, could you get it for me?

Ford:  Uh, okay. (heads back)

Buffy:  Good. Run! Thanks!

He starts to jog. A second later she starts running in the opposite direction and around the corner. Ford looks back and stops when he sees she's gone. He can hear a woman crying. He starts to walk back. When he's almost there a woman comes running around the corner and past him. He continues on, and is startled by a metal trashcan flying in front of him and into a stack of crates. He can hear punching and grunting. He sees someone hit the pavement face first. He peeks around the corner and sees a vampire get up and take a swing at Buffy. She ducks the punch and kicks the vampire in the face. The vampire swings again, and Buffy grabs his fist and holds on while she punches him in the face. Ford watches as she pulls out a stake and thrusts it into the vampire's chest. He staggers back into the wall and explodes into ashes.

Ford:  What's goin' on?

Buffy is surprised and spins around to face him.

Buffy:  Um... uh, there was a, a cat. A cat here, and, um, then there was a-another cat... and they fought. The cats. And... then they left.

Ford:  Oh. I thought you were just slaying a vampire.

Buffy:  What? Whating a what?

Ford:  I know, Buffy. You don't have to lie. I-I've been trying to figure out the right time to, to tell you. I know you're the Slayer.

Buffy is taken aback.

Cut to later in Willow's room. She's on the phone with Buffy.

Willow:  Just like that he told you?

Buffy:  Just like that. (cut to her room) Said he found out right before I got booted from Hemery.

Willow:  Wow! (cut to her) It's neat! Is it neat?

Buffy:  (cut to her) Yeah, I guess it is. I don't have to constantly worry that he's gonna find out my dark secret. It just makes everything easier.

Cut to an alley. Ford is heading for the Sunset Club. He knocks on a heavy metal door, and the viewport opens. It closes and the door opens to let him in. Cut inside. A welder is cutting the knob off of the inside door. Ford goes down the stairs to the main area. Dark gothic music sets the mood, and everyone is dressed in black and pale makeup. "Never Land", by The Sisters of Mercy, is playing.

Lyrics:  I had a face on the mirror / I had a hand on the gun

Diego meets him at the base of the stairs.

Diego:  Ford? Hi, Ford?

Ford:  Hey!

Diego:  Well, how'd it go?

Ford:  It went good.

Diego:  Good? That's, that's it? That's all we know? Well, when are we...

Ford:  (interrupts) Soon.

Diego:  Oh, soon, okay. Y'know, you could gimme a little more information here. I'm trusting you. I'm out on a limb here. Not to mention the lease is almost up on this place. Who's gonna cover that?

Ford:  Marvin...

Diego:  Diego! C'mon, man, it's Diego now.

Ford:  Diego. (takes out a pill) Ritalin. Everything's gonna be fine.

He pops the pill as Chantarelle comes over and hands him a drink.

Ford:  Just make sure you're ready when I say. True believers only.

Chantarelle:  (smiles) I can't wait!

Diego:  Right, whatever, I still think I should be in on the plan.

Ford:  Diego, you gotta trust me.

He sees a scene from a Jack Palance vampire movie playing on the TV.

TV:  Alright.

Ford:  A couple more days and we'll get to do the two things every American teen should have the chance to do: die young, and stay pretty.

He looks spaced out as he mouths the words of Jack Palance in the movie.

Jack:  So... You play your wits against mine. Me, who commanded armies hundreds of years before you were born. Fools!

Willow's room. It's neat and clean and everything is in place just so, except for some clothes on her bed. She's in her nightshirt brushing her hair. There is a knocking on her balcony door, which catches her off guard. She drops her brush on the bed, goes to the door and pushes the blinds apart to see who it is.

Willow:  Oh! (opens the door) Angel! What are you doing here?

Angel:  I wanted to talk to you.

Willow:  (looks around) Oh, well...

She gestures for him to come in, but he just stays standing there.

Willow:  Well?

Angel:  I can't. Unless you invite me, I can't come in.

Willow:  Oh! (nervous) Well, okay, I invite you. To come in.

She turns around as he comes in, and a look of horror appears on her face when she sees her bra just lying there on her bed out in the open. She quickly rushes over, grabs it and stashes it.

Angel:  I-if this is a bad time, I...

Willow:  No! I just... I'm not supposed to have boys in my room.

Angel:  I promise to behave myself.

Willow:  (still nervous) Okay. Good.

Angel:  I guess I need help.

Willow:  Help? You mean like on homework? No, 'cause you're old and you already know stuff.

Angel:  I want you to track someone down. On the 'Net. (eyes her laptop)

Willow:  (smiles) Oh! Great! I'm so the 'Net girl. (goes to sit at her desk)

Angel:  I just wanna find everything I can. Records, affiliates, I'm not even sure what I'm looking for yet.

Willow:  (types) Good. What's the name?

Angel:  Billy Fordham.

Willow:  Uh, Angel? If I say something you really don't wanna hear, (faces him) do you promise not to bite me?

Angel:  Are you gonna tell me that I'm jealous?

Willow:  Well, you do sometimes get that way.

Angel:  You know, I never used to. (sits on her bed) Things used to be pretty simple. (Willow types) A hundred years, just hanging out, feelin' guilty... I really honed my brooding skills. Then she comes along. (Willow faces him again) Yeah, I get jealous. But I know people. And my gut tells me this is a wrong guy.

Willow:  (nods) Okay. (turns back to the laptop) But if there isn't anything weird... Hey, that's weird.

Angel:  What?

Willow:  I just checked the school records, and he's not in them. (Angel stands up) I mean, usually they transfer your grades and stuff, but he's not even registered.

Angel:  He said he was in school with you guys, right?

Willow:  Let me just see if I can...

Mrs. Rosenberg:  (off camera) Willow? Are you still up?

Willow:  (gets up) (to Angel) Ack! Go! (to her mom) Iiiiiii'm just going to bed now, mom!

Angel goes back out onto the balcony. Willow holds the door.

Willow:  Come by tomorrow at sunset. I'll keep looking.

Angel:  Don't tell Buffy what we're doing, alright?

Willow:  You want me to lie to her? It's Buffy!

Angel:  Just don't bring it up until we know what's what.

Willow:  Okay. I-it's probably nothing.

Angel:  That'd be nice.

She closes the door and frets a bit, nervous about what she has to do.

Cut to the school the next day. Cut inside to a hall near a drinking fountain. Buffy and Ford come into the hall from outside. Willow wants to get a drink.

Buffy:  Willow!

Willow doesn't even press the button on the fountain before immediately turning around, hoping to get away. She realizes she'd never be able to get away with it, and so turns to face them. She fidgets nervously with her hands.

Buffy:  What's up?

Willow:  Nothing.

Buffy:  Do you wanna hang? We're cafeteria-bound.

Willow:  (jumpy) I-I-I'm gonna do work in the computer lab on school work that I have, so I cannot hang just now. Hi, Ford.

Ford:  Morning.

Buffy:  Okay, Will, fess up.

Willow:  What?

Buffy:  Are you drinking coffee again? 'Cause we've talked about this.

Willow is surprised and happy that an explanation for her nervousness has presented itself, and laughs out loud.

Willow:  It makes me jumpy. I have to go. Away. (hurries off)

Buffy is taken aback.

Ford:  Nice girl!

Buffy:  There aren't two of those in the world.

Giles meets them in he hall.

Giles:  Buffy! Um... Yes, uh... (sets down his briefcase and searches his pockets) Ms. Calendar and I are going... somewhere tonight, and she's given, (finds the slip of paper) oh, given me the number of her beeper thingy, uh, in case you need me for, um... (eyes Ford) study help, uh, suddenly. (picks up his briefcase)

Buffy:  He knows, Giles.

Giles:  What?

Buffy:  Ford (indicates him) knows I'm the Slayer.

Ford:  I know.

Giles:  Oh! Uh, very good, yes. Uh, um, Buffy... (leads Buffy aside) (to Ford) Excuse me. (aside to Buffy) You are not, by any chance, betraying your secret identity just to impress, um, cute boys, are you?

Buffy:  (smiles) I didn't tell him. He knew.

Giles:  Oh! Uh, right then. Well, uh, just remember, if you...

Buffy:  Go! Experience this thing called fun. I'll try not to have a crisis.

Giles accepts that and heads back to his library.

Cut outside the school at night. Buffy and Ford are strolling along.

Buffy:  And on your right, once again, the beautiful campus. I think you've now seen everything there is to see in Sunnydale.

Ford:  Well, it's... really...

Buffy:  Feel free to say dull.

Ford:  Okay. Dull's good. (sees two vampires running) Or maybe not so dull. (Buffy sees them, too) Is that more vampires?

Buffy:  Must be the weather.

She pulls out a stake and a cross, and hands the cross to Ford. He takes it and reaches into his back pocket to pull out a stake of his own. He smiles and waves it about.

Buffy:  Stay close to me.

She hops up the steps the vampires just ran up and cautiously looks around. Ford is close behind, cross and stake held ready. She looks around a corner and sees nothing.

Ford:  Maybe they were just passing through.

Buffy:  (turns around) I don't think so.

A blonde female vampire grabs her from behind and tries to bite. Ford takes a startled step back. Buffy does a high kick into her face, then grabs her by the arm and flips her over onto her back. A male vampire rushes her and grabs her, pulling her over a railing with him. She lands in a crouch on the grass below and gets up while the vampire rolls to his feet. She kicks him in the jaw, making him fall backward. Ford looks down at his stake and cross and then glances at the fight a moment before quickly approaching the other vampire and holding the cross in her face and the stake up and ready. She hisses at him.

Ford:  You've got one chance to live. Tell me what I wanna know, and I'll let you go.

Below Buffy knocks the vampire out with a punch to the face and stakes him. She runs back up the stairs to Ford, who's crouched where the vampire was.

Buffy:  Where's the other one?

Ford:  I killed her. (coughs) I, I killed her and she just turned to dust. It was... amazing!

Buffy raises her eyebrows in surprise.

Cut to Xander, Willow and Angel walking down the alley to the Sunset Club.

Willow:  The only thing I could track down was this address. The Sunset Club. Still didn't find anything incriminating.

Angel:  He leaves no paper trail, no records, that's incriminating enough.

Xander:  Yeah, I'm gonna have to go with Dead Boy on this one.

Angel:  Could you *not* call me that?

He knocks on the door. The viewport opens and the doorman looks out.

Angel:  We're friends of Ford's.

The doorman nods. Cut inside. They walk in through the inside door and look around. It's gloomy in the extreme.

Willow:  (wearing a colorfully striped shirt) Boy, we blend right in.

Xander:  In no way do we stick out like sore thumbs.

Angel:  Let's look around. You guys check out downstairs.

Xander:  Sure thing, Bossy the cow! (they start down)

Willow:  Okay, but do they really stick out?

Xander:  What?

Willow:  Sore thumbs. Do they stick out? I mean, have you ever seen a thumb and gone, 'Wow! That baby is sore!'

Xander:  You have too many thoughts.

Willow is a bit hurt by that. Angel looks down from the balcony and continues around. "Reptile", by Creaming Jesus, is playing.

Lyrics:  The one hungry life / My life with the other

Willow and Xander walk by a man standing in a coffin dressed as a movie vampire.

Man:  (waves) Hi!

Xander waves back and looks around more.

Xander:  Are you probably noticing a theme here?

Willow:  As in 'Vampires! Yay!'?

Xander:  That's the one.

Chantarelle gets up and comes up behind them.

Chantarelle:  You guys are newbies. I can tell.

Willow:  (turns to face her) Oh, no. We come here all the time.

Chantarelle:  Don't be ashamed! It's cool that you're open to it. We welcome anyone who's interested in the Lonely Ones.

Angel comes down the stairs behind them.

Willow:  The Lonely Ones?

Angel:  Vampires.

Xander:  Oh! We usually call them the nasty, pointy, bitey ones.

Chantarelle:  So many people have that misconception. But they who walk with the night are not interested in harming anyone. They are creatures above us. Exalted!

Angel:  You're a fool.

Xander gives him a look.

Chantarelle:  You don't have to be so confrontational about it. Other viewpoints than yours may be valid, you know. (goes away)

Willow:  Nice meeting you.

They turn to Angel.

Xander:  You really are a people person.

Willow:  Now nobody's gonna talk to us.

Angel:  I've seen enough. I've seen this type before. I mean, they're children making up bedtime stories of friendly vampires to comfort themselves in the dark.

Willow:  Is that so bad? I mean, the dark can get pretty dark. Sometimes you need a story.

Angel:  These people don't know anything about vampires. What they are, how they live, how they dress...

A young man dressed exactly like Angel comes down the stairs behind him and looks him up and down before continuing on. Angel clears his throat. They start up the stairs to get out of the club.

Xander:  You know, I love a good diatribe. But I'm still curious why Ford, the bestest friend of the Slayer, is hanging with a bunch of vampire wannabes.

Willow:  Something's up with him, you're right about that.

Diego overheard them and watches them go. The girl talking to him is confused about his reaction.

Girl:  Are you okay?

Cut to the library. Buffy comes in followed by Jenny and Giles.

Buffy:  Sorry to beep you guys in the middle of... stuff, but it seemed really weird.

Giles:  No, you did the right thing. Absolutely.

Jenny:  (stops in her tracks) You hated it that much?

Giles:  No! But, but, uh, vampires on campus is, could have implications. Very, very grave...

Jenny:  You coulda just said something.

Giles:  Uh, honestly, I, I've always, I've always been interested in, in, uh, monster trucks.

Buffy:  You took him to monster trucks?

Jenny:  I thought it would be a change!

Giles:  It was a change.

Jenny:  Look, we could've just left.

Giles:  Wha-what, and miss the nitro-burning funny cars? No, couldn't have that.

Buffy:  Okay, can we get back on the vampire tip here? These guys were here with a purpose.

Giles:  Yes, yes, and, uh, we must, uh, ascertain what that purpose is.

Jenny:  Where's your friend?

Buffy:  I sent him home.

Giles:  (sits at the table) Oh, uh, good. Yes, the less he's involved in all this, the safer he'll be.

Buffy:  He did bag a vamp his first time out.

Giles takes an open book from on top of another and exposes an old picture of Drusilla.

Buffy:  Gotta give him credit for... (notices the picture) that.

Jenny:  Something wrong?

Buffy:  (picks up the picture) Who's this?

Giles:  Um, she's called Drusilla, a sometime paramour of Spike's. She was killed by an angry mob in Prague.

Buffy:  Well, they don't make angry mobs like they used to, 'cause this girl's alive. I saw her with Angel.

Giles:  (taken aback) With Angel?

Jenny:  Isn't he supposed to be a good guy?

Buffy:  (puts the picture back down) Yeah. He is.

Jenny:  I think maybe we need to read up on this nice lady.

Giles:  (gets up and heads for his office) Well, some of my new volumes may be more helpful. Uh, my own research is...

The blonde vampire runs into him as she runs from his office. Jenny draws a startled breath. Buffy comes to Giles' aid, but is knocked to the floor underneath him when the vampire gives him a hard shove. She jumps up onto the table and leaps over the mezzanine railing, making her escape through the stacks. Jenny helps Giles and Buffy up.

Jenny:  Are you guys okay?

Giles:  A book! It took one of my books!

Jenny:  Well, at least someone in this school is reading.

Buffy:  He said he killed it. That's the vampire Ford said he killed.

Cut to Spike's warehouse. Drusilla is talking to her bird as the camera pans around the cage.

Drusilla:  You sing the sweetest little song. Won't you sing for me, hmm? Don't you love me anymore?

The bird is lying dead at the bottom of the cage. Spike comes into the room behind Drusilla.

Spike:  Darling! I heard a funny thing just now. Lucius tells me that you went out on a hunt the other night.

Drusilla:  My tummy was growly. And you were out. (to the bird) Come on. (whistles) I'll pout if you don't sing.

Spike:  (puts his arms around her) You, um, meet anyone? Anyone interesting? Like Angel?

Drusilla:  Angel.

Spike:  Yeah. So... (kisses her forehead) What might you guys have talked about, then? Old times? Childhood pranks? It's a little off, you two so friendly, him being the enemy and all that.

Drusilla:  (to the bird) I'll give you a seed if you sing.

Spike:  The bird's dead, Dru. You left it in a cage, and you didn't feed it, and now it's all dead, just like the last one.

Drusilla cowers and whines.

Spike:  Oh, I'm sorry baby. I'm a bad, rude man. I just don't like you goin' out, that's all. You are weak. (takes her hand) Would you like a new bird? One that's not dead? (sucks on her finger)

Ford:  This is so cool!

Spike looks up to see him standing among some crates.

Ford:  I would totally live here.

Spike:  (loudly) Do I have anyone on watch here? It's called security, people. Are you all asleep? (walks toward Ford) Or did we finally find a restaurant that delivers?

Ford:  I know who you are.

Spike:  Yeah, I know who I am, too. So what?

Ford:  I came looking for you, Spike. You are Spike, right? William the Bloody?

Spike:  You've got a real death wish. It's almost interesting.

The blonde vampire comes in, walks up to Spike and hands him the book she stole. Spike begins to leaf through it.

Spike:  Oh, this is great. This'll be very useful. (to Ford) So, how did you find me?

Ford:  That doesn't matter. I've got something to offer you. I-I'm pretty sure this is the part where you take out a watch and say I've got thirty seconds to convince you not to kill me? (smiles) It's traditional.

Spike:  Well, (slams the book and strides to Ford) I don't go much for tradition.

He grabs Ford by the ear and lifts him.

Drusilla:  Wait, love.

Ford is in obvious pain, but doesn't scream. Drusilla puts her hand on Spikes's shoulder, and he lets go.

Spike:  Well?

Ford:  Oh, c'mon! Say it! It's no fun if you don't say it.

Spike:  What? Oh. (rolls his eyes and bobs his head) You've got thirty seconds to convince me not to kill you.

Ford:  Yes! See, this is the best! I wanna be like you. A vampire.

Spike:  I've known you for two minutes, and I can't stand you. I don't really feature you livin' forever. (to Drusilla) Can I eat him now, love?

Drusilla shakes her head.

Ford:  Well, feature this: I'm offering you a trade. (Spike turns back) You make me a vampire, and I give you the Slayer.

Ford has their undivided attention. Spike smiles.

The kitchen at the Summers house. Buffy is nursing a cup of coffee. Angel slowly pushes the door open.

Angel:  Buffy. May I come in?

Buffy:  (looks up) Sure. I thought once you were invited you could always just walk in.

Angel:  I can. I was just being polite. (closes the door) We need to talk.

Buffy:  Do we? (picks up her coffee and heads into the dining room)

Angel:  It's about your friend Ford. He's not what he seems.

Buffy:  Who is these days?

Angel:  Willow ran him down on the computer.

Buffy:  Willow?

Angel:  We found this address, we checked it out with Xander, and it turned out...

Buffy:  (disbelieving) And Xander? Wow. Everybody's in. It's like a great big exciting conspiracy.

Angel:  What are you talking about?

Buffy:  I'm talking about the people I trust. Who's Drusilla?

Angel lowers his eyes, seeing he's been caught in a lie.

Buffy:  And don't lie to me. I'm tired of it.

Angel:  Some lies are necessary.

Buffy:  For what?

Angel:  Sometimes the truth is worse. You live long enough, you find that out.

Buffy:  I can take it. I can take the truth.

Angel:  Do you love me?

Buffy:  What?

Angel:  Do you?

She takes a moment to consider her answer.

Buffy:  I love you. I don't know if I trust you.

Angel:  Maybe you shouldn't do either. (turns away)

Buffy:  Maybe I'm the one who should decide!

<