Angel

Zachary didn't return from the hunt last night.

Darla

The Slayer.

Zachary was strong, and he was careful. And still the Slayer takes him... as she has taken so many of my family. (takes a breath) It wears thin. Collin, what would you do about it?

I'd annihilate her.

(inhales) Out of the mouths of babes...

Darla

(makes her way down) Let me do it, Master. Let me kill her for you.

You have a personal interest in this.

Darla

(disappointed) I don't get to have any fun.

I will send the Three.

Darla

(intrigued) The Three? Cut to an alley. Three tough guys are lighting up cigarettes. The Three come around a corner at a steady, deliberate pace. The men see them coming and leave. Cut to the Bronze. A cockroach is being chased along the floor.

Get it! Go get it, right there!

I got it! She holds the roach up to the bartender and drops it into his jar.

Willow

Ah, the fumigation party. Cut to Buffy and Willow sitting at a table.

Buffy

Hmm?

Willow

It's an annual tradition. The closing of the Bronze for a few days to nuke the cockroaches?

Buffy

(not paying attention) Oh.

Willow

It's a lot of fun... What's it like where *you* are?

Buffy

(looks up and smiles) I'm... sorry, I was just... thinking about things...

Willow

So, we're talking about a guy?

Buffy

Not exactly a guy. For us to have a conversation about a guy, there'd have to be a guy for us to have a conversation about. Is that a sentence?

Willow

(smiles) You lack a guy.

Buffy

I do. Which is fine with me, most of the time, but...

Willow

What about Angel?

Buffy

Angel? I can just see him in a relationship. 'Hi, honey, you're in grave danger. I'll see you next month.' Willow: He's not around much, it's true.

Willow

Oh, yeah! (looks over at Xander) Xander is on the dance floor, making a fool of himself. He dances up to a girl.

Xander

Hey, Annie! (sees her boyfriend) Dino, just leaving! He backs away and bumps into Cordelia.

Cordelia

Ouch! Please get your extreme oafishness off my two-hundred- dollar shoes!

Xander

I'm sorry, I was just...

Cordelia

...getting off the dance floor before Annie Vega's boyfriend squashes you like a bug?

Xander

Oh, so you noticed.

Cordelia

Uh-huh.

Xander

Yeah, thanks for being so understanding.

Cordelia

Sure.

Xander

Y'know, hey, I don't know what everyone's talking about. That outfit doesn't make you look like a hooker! (laughs) He leaves the dance floor and goes over to Buffy and Willow.

Willow

Just sitting here, watching our barren lives pass us by. (sees a roach) Oh, look, a cockroach. (stomps it) Buffy lifts her eyes to see and then turns them back down.

Xander

Whoa, well, let's stop this crazy whirligig of fun! I'm dizzy!

Buffy

Alright, now I'm infecting those nearest and dear to me. I'm gonna call it a night. (gets up) Willow: Oh, don't go!

Xander

Uh, yeah! It's early! We could, um, dance!

Buffy

Rain check? Good night. (leaves) Xander lets out a breath. Willow holds her shoe up to him.

Willow

Want a free drink? Buffy makes her way out of the Bronze looking bummed. She passes the stairs. Angel is watching her go. Buffy senses something and turns to look. Angel is gone. She continues out. Cut to the street. Buffy is walking home. She senses something and stops to look behind her. Nothing. She continues and walks past an alley. She hears a breath and stops.

Buffy

It's late, I'm tired, and I don't wanna play games. Show yourself. One of the Three roars and drops down to the sidewalk behind her. She reaches into her coat, pulls out a stake and quickly spins around to stake the vampire. Another of the Three grabs her arm as she swings.

Angel

Good dogs don't... (punches the vampire) ...*bite*! Buffy is surprised, but quickly regains her head. Using the support of the two vampires holding onto her arms, she kicks up with both feet and hits them both in the face with a straddle kick. One of them grabs her again and holds her against the fence. Angel continues to fight the other two, punching one and snap kicking the second. One of them pulls a piece of iron bar off of a window.

Buffy

Look out! Angel turns around, only to be sliced in the chest with the bar. Buffy shoves an open palm into her assailant's chin, pushing him off of her, punches him once in the gut and then slams both fists into his head. Angel is bent over in pain and is about to be stabbed again. Buffy quickly side kicks his attacker in the face, and he falls back away from Angel. She helps Angel up.

Angel

It's alright. A vampire can't come in unless it's invited.

Buffy

I've heard that before, but I've never put it to the test. (leans on the door, sees his wound) Oh... I'll go get some bandages, just... take your jacket and your shirt off. She heads into the kitchen. Angel looks out the window one last time and follows her. He takes off his jacket and his T-shirt. Buffy looks at him from behind and sees his tattoo of a griffin straddling a large "A" below his right shoulder. She brings over the first aid kit.

Angel

(smiles) Why would I do that?

Buffy

You tell me. You're the Mystery Guy that appears out of nowhere. I'm not saying I'm not happy about it tonight, but... if you are hanging around I'd like to know why. (finishes bandaging) Angel: Maybe I like you.

Hi! What are you doing?

Buffy

There's a lot of weird people outside at night... Joyce starts toward the kitchen. Buffy comes after her.

I am. We're a little gallery. You have no idea how much...

Buffy

(interrupts) Well, then why don't you go upstairs and get into bed, and I can bring you some hot tea?

That's sweet! (suspiciously) What'd you do?

Buffy

Can't a daughter just be concerned about her mother? Angel comes into the living room behind Buffy. Joyce sees him.

Hi.

Angel

Hi.

Buffy

Oh! Okay... Um... Angel, uh, this is my mom. Mom, this is Angel. Uh, we ran into each other on the way home.

Angel

Nice to meet you.

What do you do, Angel?

Buffy

He's a student. (her mother gives her a disbelieving look) Uh, first year community college. Angel's been helping me with my history, you know I've been toiling there.

It's a little late for tutoring. I'm gonna go to bed, and, uh, Buffy? (starts up the stairs) Buffy: I'll say good night and do the same! Joyce looks back down at her daughter and nods.

Buffy

Good night! We'll hook up soon and do that study thing! She closes the door. Angel is still there behind it. They go up the stairs and into her room. She closes the door quietly.

Angel

Look, I don't wanna get you in any more trouble...

Buffy

And I don't wanna get you dead. They could still be out there. (moves to the center of the room) So, uh, (realizes) oh... two of us, one bed. That doesn't work. (faces him) Um, why don't you take the bed? Y'know, you're wounded...

Angel

I'll take the floor.

Buffy

Uh, no, that's not...

Angel

(reassuringly) Oh, believe me, I've had worse.

Buffy

Okay. Um, then why don't you check and see if the Fang Gang is still loitering and, um, keep your back turned while I change? Angel goes over to the window to have a look. Buffy goes to her closet and changes.

Angel

I don't see them.

Buffy

Y'know, I'm the Chosen One, it's my job to fight guys like that. What's your excuse?

Angel

Uh, somebody has to.

Buffy

Well, what does your family think of your career choice?

Angel

They're dead. She has finished changing and comes over to him.

Buffy

Was it vampires?

Angel

(faces her) I-it was.

Buffy

I'm sorry.

Angel

It was a long while ago.

Buffy

So, this is a vengeance gig for you.

Angel

(pauses) Y-you even look pretty when you go to sleep.

Buffy

Well, when I wake up it's an entirely different story. They go over to her bed. She hands him the comforter from it.

Angel

Hmm?

Buffy

Do you snore?

Angel

I don't know. It's been a long time since anybody's been in a position to let me know. He turns his head to look at her. She smiles and settles in to sleep. Cut to the library the next day.

Xander

He spent the night? In your room? In your bed?

Buffy

Not *in* my bed, *by* my bed.

Willow

That is so romantic! Did you, uh... I mean, did he, uh...

Buffy

(smiling) Perfect gentleman. The girls exchange smiles.

Xander

Buffy, c'mon, wake up and smell the seduction. It's the oldest trick in the book.

Buffy

What? Saving my life? Getting slashed in the ribs?

Xander

Duh! I mean, guys'll do anything to impress a girl. I-I once drank an entire gallon of Gatorade without taking a breath. (grins) Willow: It was pretty impressive. Although later there was an ick factor.

Giles

(coming to the table) Can we steer this riveting conversation back to the events that happened earlier in the evening? (Buffy sits down) You left the Bronze and were set upon by three unusually virile vampires. (puts a book in front of her) Did they look like this?

Buffy

Yeah. What's with the uniforms?

Giles

It seems you encountered the Three. Warrior vampires, very proud and very strong.

Willow

(to Giles) How is it you always know this stuff? You always know what's going on. I never know what's going on.

Giles

Well, you weren't here from midnight until six researching it.

Willow

No, I was sleeping.

Giles

Uh, o-obviously you're hurting the Master very much. He, he wouldn't send the, the Three for just anyone. We must step up our training with weapons.

Xander

Buffy, you should stay at my house until these Samurai guys are history.

Buffy

(turns to him) What?

Xander

Ah-ah-ah, don't worry about Angel, Willow can run to your house and tell him to get out of town fast.

Giles

Angel and Buffy are, are not in any immediate jeopardy. Eventually the Master will send someone else, but in the mean time the Three, having failed, will offer their own lives in penance. Cut to the Master's lair.

We failed in our duty, and now our lives belong to you. He hands the Master a spear. The Master passes it to Darla. She starts to walk around behind the Three as the Master goes over to Collin.

Pay attention, child. You are the Anointed, and there is much you must learn. (crouches beside him) With power comes responsibility. True, they did fail, but also true, we who walk at night share a common bond. The taking of a life -- I'm not talking about humans, of course -- is a serious matter. One of the Three raises his head in hope.

So you would spare them?

Hmm. (gets up) I am weary, and their deaths will bring me little joy. The Master begins to walk away, and Collin follows. Darla watches them go and smiles. She lifts the spear and dispatches the first of the Three. The Master stops and turns to Collin.

Buffy

Cool! Crossbow! (lifts it out, sees the bolts) Huh. Check out these babies. (takes out a bolt) Hmm. Goodbye stakes, hello flying fatality. What can I shoot?

Giles

Um, nothing. The crossbow comes later. He takes the crossbow from her and goes to put it back. Buffy is disappointed.

Buffy

Giles, 20th Century? I'm not gonna be fighting Friar Tuck.

Giles

You never know with whom or what you'll be fighting. (puts on his head pads) And these traditions have been handed down through the ages. (grabs his staff) Now, you show me good, steady progress with the quarterstaff, and in due course we'll discuss the crossbow. Put on your pads.

Buffy

(laughs) I'm not gonna need pads to fight you.

Giles

Well, we'll see about that. En garde! He makes several thrusts and she parries them all. She takes the offensive, pushes his staff to the floor and punches him in the face. She comes around with the staff into his back, and again to knock his legs out from under him. He falls onto his back. She stands over him.

Buffy

Angel?

Angel

Hey. She turns on her desk lamp.

Buffy

Brought you some dinner. It's a little plateless, sorry. She hands him a plastic bag full of food that she pilfered from dinner. He accepts it and looks at it.

Angel

Uh, I read a little. Buffy looks over to her diary. It's out of place.

Buffy

My diary? You read my diary? (goes to put it in a drawer) That is *not* okay! A diary is like a person's most private place! (comes back to him) I... You don't even know what I was writing about! 'Hunk' can mean a lot of things, bad things. And, and when it says that your eyes are 'penetrating', I meant to write 'bulging'.

Angel

Buffy...

Buffy

And 'A' doesn't even stand for 'Angel' for that matter, it stands for... 'Achmed', a charming foreign exchange student, so that whole fantasy part has nothing to even do with you at all...

Angel

Your mother moved your diary when she came in to straighten up. I watched from the closet. I didn't read it, I swear. She just looks at him.

Buffy

Oh! (looks down, realizing what she just said) Oh.

Angel

I did a lot of thinking today. I really can't be around you. (Buffy looks up) Because when I am...

Buffy

(looks down) Hey, no big. Water... over the bridge, under the bridge...

Angel

When I am all I can ever think about is how badly I want to kiss you.

Buffy

...over the dam... (looks up at him) Kiss me?

Angel

I'm older than you, and this can't ever... I better go.

Buffy

H-how much older?

Angel

I should...

Buffy

(approaches him) ...go... You said... They kiss. They kiss again. They kiss passionately. She puts her arm around him. The kiss goes on for several moments. Angel suddenly pulls back and looks away.

Buffy, what happened? She backs away from the window. Her mom takes her by the shoulders. She looks at her mom and shakes her head.

Buffy

Uh, nothing. I saw a shadow. They both look out the window. ~~~~~~~~~~ Part 2 ~~~~~~~~~~ The next morning at Sunnydale High. The team is walking up the steps from the street toward the building.

Willow

Angel's a vampire?

Buffy

I can't believe this is happening. One minute we were kissing, and the next minute... (to Giles) Can a vampire ever be a good person? Couldn't it happen?

Giles

A vampire isn't a person at all. (clears his throat) It may have the movements, the, the memories, even the personality of the person that it took over, but i-it's still a demon at the core, there is no halfway.

Willow

So that'd be a no, huh?

Buffy

Well, then what was he doing? Why was he good to me? Was it all some part of the Master's plan? It doesn't make sense! They've reached a bench where Willow and Buffy sit.

Xander

Alright, uh... (sits also) ...you have a problem, and it's not a small one. Let's take a breath and look at this calmly and objectively. Angel's a vampire. You're a Slayer. I think it's obvious what you have to do. (grins) Buffy doesn't react, so Xander looks up to Giles for support.

Giles

(crouches down) Uh, it is a Slayer's duty...

Xander

I-I know you have feelings for this guy, but it's not like you're in love with him, right? Buffy looks away.

Cordelia

What?! He looks at Cordelia. She's looking somewhere else, but turns to him.

Xander

(to Cordelia) Not vampire... (to Buffy) How could you love an umpire? Everyone hates 'em! Cordelia looks back at another girl wearing the same dress she is.

Cordelia

Where did you get that dress? (pursues her) This is a one-of- a-kind Todd Oldham. Do you know how much this dress cost? Is this a knockoff? (checks the label) This is a knockoff, isn't it?! Some cheesy knockoff! This is exactly what happens when you sign these free trade agreements! The two girls disappear into the building.

Buffy

You think *we* have problems... Cut to the hall outside Angel's apartment. He comes through the door and goes to his apartment door. He unlocks it and goes in. Cut inside. There are a bunch of old books stacked along the wall. He closes the door and goes over to turn on a lamp. When he straightens back up he senses a presence.

Angel

Who's here?

Darla

A friend. He quickly faces the voice. Darla comes out of the shadows wearing a Catholic schoolgirl uniform.

Angel

A lifetime.

Darla

Or two, but who's counting?

Angel

What's with the Catholic schoolgirl look? Last time I saw you it was kimonos.

Darla

And last time I saw you it wasn't high school girls. (flares the skirt) Don't cha like? (approaches Angel) Remember Budapest? Turn of the century? You were such a bad boy during that earthquake.

Angel

You did some damage yourself.

Darla

Is there anything better than a natural disaster? (walks away) The panic. The people lost in the streets. It's like picking fruit off the vine. (reaches the bed) Nice! You're living above ground, like one of them. You and your new friend are attacking us, like one of them. (walks to the window) But guess what, precious? You're not one of them. She draws the window blinds open, letting in a stream of sunlight. Angel is blinded, and he stumbles backward to get out of the light.

Angel

No. But I'm not exactly one of you either.

Darla

(walks to the fridge) Is that what you tell yourself these days? She opens the refrigerator and sees the bags and bottles of human blood.

Angel

Maybe you don't wanna be.

Darla

I'm not afraid of you. I bet she is, though. (starts to leave) Or maybe I'm underestimating her. Talk to her. Tell her about the curse. Maybe she'll come around. And if she still doesn't trust you, you know where I'll be. She exits the apartment, leaving an angry Angel behind. Cut to the library. Buffy is looking through a book. So are Willow and Xander. Giles comes up behind Xander and startles him.

Giles

Here's something at last.

Xander

Can you please warn us before you do that?

Giles

There's nothing about Angel in the texts, but it suddenly occurred to me that it's been ages since I've read the diaries of any of the watchers before me.

Willow

(to Buffy) That musta been so embarrassing when you thought he had read your diary, but then it turned out he hadn't, but then he felt the same way... (Xander gives her a look) I'm listening.

Giles

There's mention some two hundred years ago in Ireland of, of Angelus, the one with the angelic face.

Buffy

They got that right.

Xander

(clears his throat) I'm not saying anything, I have nothing to say.

Giles

Does this, uh, Angel have, um, a tattoo behind his right shoulder?

Buffy

Yeah, it's a, it's a bird or something.

Xander

Now I'm sayin' something. You saw him naked?

Willow

So, Angel's been around for a while.

Giles

Not long for a vampire. Uh, two hundred and forty years or so.

Buffy

Huh! Two hundred and forty. Well, he said he was older.

Giles

(sits and looks through the diary) Angelus leaves Ireland, uh, wreaks havoc in, in Europe for, uh, several decades, and then, um, about eighty years ago, the most curious thing happens. He, he comes to, uh, to America, um, shuns other vampires, and, and lives alone. There's, there's no, no record of him hunting here.

Willow

So he *is* a good vampire! I mean, on a scale of one to ten, ten being someone who's killing and maiming every night, and one being someone who's... not.

Giles

I say that there's no record, but, uh, vampires hunt and kill. It's, it's what they do.

Xander

Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly.

Buffy

He could've fed on me. He didn't.

Xander

Question: a hundred years or so before he came to our shores, what was he like then?

Giles

Uh, like all of them. Uh, a vicious, violent animal. Cut to the Master's lair.

Darla

Don't think I'm not grateful, you letting me kill the Three.

How can my children learn if I do everything for them?

Darla

But you've gotta let me take care of the Slayer.

Oh! You're giving me orders now!

Darla

(walks away) Okay, then, we'll just do nothing while she takes us out one by one.

Do I sense a plan, Darla? (she turns around) Share...

Darla

(walks back) Angel kills her and comes back to the fold.

Angel! He was the most vicious creature I ever met. I miss him.

Darla

So do I.

(considers) Why would he kill her if he feels for her?

Darla

To keep her from killing him.

Hmm. (to Collin) You see how we all work together for the common good? That's how a family is supposed to function! Cut to the school at night.

Willow

Okay, so let's review. Cut to the library. Buffy and Willow are studying.

Buffy

Huh? (comes back to earth) Oh! Um, reconstruction... Uh, reconstruction began after the... construction, which was... shoddy, so they had to reconstruct.

Willow

After the destruction of the Civil War.

Buffy

Right. Civil War. During which Angel was already, like, a hundred and change...

Willow

Are we gonna talk about boys, or are we gonna help you pass history? Buffy looks up at Willow. She closes the book.

Buffy

(smiles) Unbelievable! Darla continues to watch and listen.

Willow

Wow! And it is kinda novel how he'll stay young and handsome forever, although you'll still get wrinkly and die, and... Oh, and what about the children? (Buffy looks at her) I'll be quiet now.

Buffy

No, it's okay. I need to hear this. I need to get over him so I can...

Willow

So that you can... (makes a stabbing gesture) Buffy: Like Xander said, I'm the Slayer, and he's a... vampire. God, I can't! He's never done anything to hurt me... (collects herself) Okay, no, I need to stop thinking about this. Okay, let's give another half an hour and maybe something will sink in. And then I'm going home for some major moping. Darla smiles and backs away.

Hello?

Darla

Hi! I'm Darla? A friend of Buffy's?

Oh! (exhales) Nice to meet you.

Darla

(exhales) She didn't mention anything about me coming over for a study date, did she?

No, I thought she was studying with Willow at the library.

Darla

She is. Willow's the Civil War expert, but then I was supposed to help her with the War of Independence. My family kinda goes back to those days.

Well, I, I know she's supposed to be home soon. Would you like to come in and wait?

Darla

(comes in) It's very nice of you to invite me into your home. (smiles) Joyce: You're welcome. I've been wrestling with the IRS all night. Would you like something to eat? (starts to the kitchen) Darla: (follows) Yes, I would! She looks at Joyce's neck. Cut to the kitchen.

Let's see what we have. Do you feel like something little or something big?

Darla

(vamped out) Something big! Cut outside. Angel comes walking up to the house. He almost knocks, but then decides to leave. As he goes he hears Joyce scream. He runs around to the back door and kicks it in. He sees Darla biting Joyce.

Angel

Let her go!

Darla

I just had a little, there's plenty more. Aren't you hungry for something warm after all this time? Come on, Angel. Just say 'Yes'! She shoves Joyce into Angel's arms so he can see the bite and smell the blood. He struggles with himself and looks away from the bite. Darla watches with a big smile. Angel looks up at her again with his game face on.

Buffy

Hey! I'm home. She turns toward him and freezes with fear. Angel bares his fangs and growls. ~~~~~~~~~~ Part 3 ~~~~~~~~~~ The Summers house. Cut to the living room window. Angel flies through it and tumbles over the porch, through the bushes and onto the lawn. Buffy comes over to the broken window and looks out at him as he gets up.

Xander

Hey, Buffy! She looks up to see Xander and Willow come in through the kitchen door.

Willow

What happened?!

Buffy

Angel! Cut to the hospital. Giles rushes down the corridor trying to find Joyce's room.

Just, um, your friend came over... I was gonna make a snack...

Buffy

(misunderstands) My friend? Giles comes in.

I guess I slipped and cut my neck on... The doctor said it looked like a barbecue fork. (looks at Buffy) We don't have a barbecue fork. (looks at Giles) Are you another doctor?

Buffy

(looks to see) Oh! Um... No, Mom, this is Mr. Giles.

Oh, the librarian from your school! (confused) What's he doing here?

Giles

Uh, I-I just came to pay my respects, wish you a speedy recovery.

Boy, the teachers really *do* care in this town.

Buffy

Get some rest now. She gives her mom a kiss, and they all go outside the room. Cut to the hall.

Giles

...a little low. It presents itself like mild anemia. Uh, you, you were, uh, lucky you got to her as soon as you did.

Buffy

Lucky? Stupid.

Xander

Buff, it's not your fault.

Buffy

No? I invited him into my home. Even after I knew who he was, what he was, and I didn't do anything about it... 'cause I had feelings for him, because I cared about him.

Willow

If you care about somebody you care about them. You can't change that by...

Buffy

...killing them? Maybe not. But I think it's a start. (starts to leave) Xander: Uh, we'll keep an eye on your mom.

Giles

(chases after her) Buffy! (blocks her way) Buffy: You can't stop me. The Three found me near the Bronze and so did he. He lives nearby.

Buffy

So do I. Cut to the armory in the library. Buffy loads the crossbow with bolts.

Darla

She's out hunting you right now. Cut to Angel's apartment.

Angel

Leave me alone.

Darla

What did you think? Did you think she would understand? That she would look at your face... your true face... and give you a kiss? Cut to Buffy in the library. She takes a practice shot at an anti- smoking poster and nails the guy in the heart.

Angel

Alright!

Darla

What do you want?

Angel

I want it finished!

Darla

That's good. You're hurting me. (smiles) That's good, too. Cut to outside the Bronze. Buffy has the crossbow held ready. She comes through a hole in a fence and goes toward the entrance. She hears glass breaking above her and turns to the noise. She looks around as she goes to the wall where there's a ladder. She starts to climb.

She talks about you all the time. Cut to the hospital room.

Giles

She makes quite an impression herself.

I-I know she's having trouble with history. I-is it too difficult for her or is she not applying herself?

Giles

She lives very much in the 'now', um, and, uh, history, of course, is, is very much about the, uh... the 'then'. B-b-but there's no reason...

She's studying with Willow, she's studying with Darla, I-I mean, she is trying.

Giles

Darla? I-I-I don't believe I know, uh...

Her friend, the one who came over tonight.

Giles

Darla came to your house tonight? Sh-she's the friend that you mentioned earlier?

Poor thing, I must've frightened her half to death when I fainted. Someone should really check and make sure she's alright.

Giles

(gets up) Yes, someone should, right away. I'll do it. (grabs his coat and leaves) Joyce: That school is amazing! Cut to the hall. He walks with Willow and Xander.

Buffy

I know you're there. And I know what you are.

Angel

Do you? She faces his voice.

Buffy

You're not an animal. Animals I like. She keeps looking around her. He growls and comes out of the shadows to face her. She trains the crossbow on him.

Angel

Let's get it done! He growls and begins to run. He jumps onto a pool table. Buffy follows him with her aim and shoots, but misses. Angel jumps up onto the catwalk above. Buffy can't see him in the shadows. He swings down and kicks her in the back, knocking her onto a pool table. She does a standing back kick at him behind her and sends him into the wall. She runs around the table and dives for the crossbow. She rolls onto her back and takes aim at him. He slowly gets up and growls. ~~~~~~~~~~ Part 4 ~~~~~~~~~~ The Bronze. Angel is in his game face and Buffy has her crossbow trained on him. Angel morphs back into his human form.

Buffy

Why? (gets up) Why didn't you just attack me when you had the chance? Was it a joke? To make me feel for you and then... I've killed a lot of vampires. I've never hated one before.

Angel

Feels good, doesn't it? Feels simple.

Buffy

I invited you into my home and then you attacked my family!

Angel

Why not? I killed mine. I killed their friends... and their friend's children... For a hundred years I offered ugly death to everyone I met, and I did it with a song in my heart.

Buffy

What changed?

Angel

Fed on a girl about your age... beautiful... dumb as a post... but a favorite among her clan.

Buffy

Her clan?

Angel

Romany. Gypsies. The elders conjured the perfect punishment for me. They restored my soul.

Buffy

What, they were all out of boils and blinding torment?

Angel

When you become a vampire the demon takes your body, but it doesn't get your soul. That's gone! No conscience, no remorse... It's an easy way to live. You have no idea what it's like to have done the things I've done... and to care. I haven't fed on a living human being since that day.

Buffy

So you started with my mom?

Angel

I didn't bite her.

Buffy

Then why didn't you say something?

Angel

But I wanted to. I can walk like a man, but I'm not one. I wanted to kill you tonight. Buffy looks at her bow and back at Angel. She puts the bow down on the floor and approaches him. She offers her neck.

Buffy

Go ahead. He just looks at her in silence.

Darla

Sure it is! They turn toward the voice and see Darla coming out of the shadows. Cut outside. Giles, Willow and Xander are walking down a street.

Willow

We're near the Bronze. What now?

Giles

Keep looking for her.

Xander

I have a question: what if we find her and she's fighting Angel and some of his friends? What the heck are we gonna do about it? Cut to the Bronze.

Darla

Do you know what the saddest thing in the world is?

Buffy

Bad hair on top of that outfit?

Darla

To love someone who used to love you.

Buffy

(looks at Angel) You guys were involved?

Darla

For several generations.

Buffy

Well, you been around since Columbus, you are bound to pile up a few ex's. You're older than him, right? Just between us girls, you are looking a little worn around the eyes.

Darla

(smiles) I made him. There was a time when we shared everything, wasn't there Angelus? You had a chance to come home, to rule with me in the Master's court for a thousand years, but you threw that away because of her. You love someone who hates us. You're sick. And you'll always be sick. And you'll always remember what it was like to watch her die. (smiles) You don't think I came alone, do you?

Buffy

I know I didn't. She kicks the bow up into her hands and aims it at Darla.

Darla

Hmm, scary. She produces two pistols from behind her back, one in each hand.

Xander

Did you just hear... They run to find a way in. Cut inside. Buffy reloads the crossbow.

Darla

So many body parts, so few bullets. Let's begin with the kneecaps. No fun dancing without them. She caps off a few more rounds, and the pool table takes a few hits. Buffy pops up with the crossbow and takes a shot at Darla. She doubles over when it hits her in the abdomen. Buffy watches as she straightens back up again.

Xander

We need to distract her, fast!

Willow

(calls out) Buffy, it wasn't Angel who attacked your mom, it was Darla! Darla turns toward the voice and lets loose a hail of bullets as they hug the floor for cover. Angel pulls the bolt from the wall. Darla turns her attention back on Buffy and hops up onto the pool table. Buffy jumps up, grabs the edge of the table and pulls, knocking Darla onto her back. She pushes the table away and starts to run for cover. Darla fires off a few rounds as she rides the table across the floor. Buffy leaps for cover over a glass case in a dive roll as bullets break it all around her. The pool table has stopped sliding, and Darla gets up to look for Buffy. She hops off of it and advances on the counter while shooting. Giles gets up and messes with the lighting system controls. The strobes come on. Darla looks up at him and stops shooting. Buffy takes the opportunity to change position. Darla sees her move and lets loose another volley.

Darla

C'mon, Buffy. Take it like a man! Angel comes up behind her, roars and plunges the bolt into her back. She is surprised and cries out in pain. She turns to look at her attacker.

Forget her.

(looks up angrily) How dare you? She was my favorite. For four hundred years...

She was weak. You don't need her. I'll bring you the Slayer.

(despondently) But to lose her to Angel! He was to have sat at my right hand, come the day. And now...

They're all against you. But soon you shall rise. And when you do... (puts a hand on the Master's shoulder) ...we kill them all. The Master smiles at him and gets up. Collin takes his hand and leads him away. Cut to later at the Bronze.

Xander

Ah, the post-fumigation party.

Buffy

Okay, so what's the difference between this and the pre- fumigation party?

Xander

Much hardier cockroaches.

Willow

So, no word from Angel?

Buffy

Nah. It's weird, though. In his way I feel like he's still watching me.

Willow

Well, in a way he sort of is. In the way of that he's right over there. Buffy looks over where Willow is looking and sees Angel. She briefly looks back at Willow and then heads over to him.

Xander

I don't need to watch because I'm not threatened. Just gonna look this way. He and Willow sit at a table with him facing away from Buffy and Angel. Willow watches as Buffy makes her way over to Angel. The crowd is slow dancing to "I'll remember you", by Sophie Zelmani.

Did they know what they wanted / The times they kissed me? / And your hands / I held in mine Buffy and Angel reach each other.

Angel

I just wanted to see if you were okay. And your mother.

Buffy

We're both good. You?

Angel

If I can go a little while without getting shot or stabbed I'll be alright. Look, this can't...

Buffy

...ever be anything. I know. For one thing, you're, like, two hundred and twenty-four years older than I am.

Angel

I just gotta... I gotta walk away from this.

Buffy

(nods) I know. Me, too. (whispers) One of us has to go here.

Angel

(whispers) I know. They look at each other a moment longer and then close in to kiss. Their kiss becomes passionate. Buffy reaches her hands up to Angel's neck.

Your eyes / That always make me shiver / Now they are closed / They just sometimes twitch a little Cut to Willow and Xander.

Xander

What's going on?

Willow

Nothin'...

Xander

Well, as long as they're not kissing. Willow just watches and says nothing. Cut to Angel and Buffy.

And your body / I could hold for an hour / It sent me to Heaven / With its heat and power They separate.

Buffy

You okay?

Angel

It's just...

Buffy

...painful. I know. See you around?

I'll remember you / You will be there in my heart / I'll remember you / And that is all that I can do / But I'll remember Buffy walks away. Angel watches her go. The camera pans down to his chest where her cross has left a deep burn.