A Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode written by Marti Noxon and transcribed by Joan the English Chick (pisces@englishchick.com).
Original Air Date: April 17, 2001
Transcriber's Notes:
TeaserBuffy in the Summers house, turning toward the living room.
BUFFY: What are you doing?
GILES VOICEOVER: Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
Buffy walking into the living room, seeing Joyce on the sofa.
PARAMEDIC: Your mother's dead.
Buffy in the hospital.
BUFFY: She just wouldn't believe me.
Dawn in the school bathroom.
DAWN: Oh god.
BUFFY: I still don't think she does.
Dawn talking to Ben.
DAWN: I'm not real.
BEN: You're the key. Go, before she finds you. She's here.
Ben morphing into Glory.Episode opens on Buffy walking into a darkened room. She is surrounded by shiny coffins. She walks between them looking at each, stops next to one. There's a display of urns behind her. Buffy lifts the lid of the coffin. It's empty.
The lights come on. Buffy looks up, startled.
GILES: Buffy, you're here.
Giles, Dawn, and the funeral-home director enter. Buffy drops the lid of the coffin and folds her arms.
GILES: You all right?
BUFFY: Yeah.
DIRECTOR: Did you find something?
BUFFY: (nods) This one.Dawn walks over and stares at the coffin.
DIRECTOR: (OS) It's a fine choice. It speaks of your deep feeling for the deceased.Giles and the director turn to leave. Buffy follows but Dawn remains. The others stop and look back at Dawn.
BUFFY: You don't like it?
DAWN: (still looking at the coffin) No, it's not that. It's just ... what if Mom ... what if she'd like something else better?
BUFFY: Dawn...
DAWN: I mean, how do we know for sure? She's the one who has to be in it forever.
BUFFY: Dawn, maybe it wasn't such a good idea you coming along.
DAWN: (turns to look at her) It's fine. It's just ...
BUFFY: I'm serious. Y-you shouldn't have to deal with this stuff.
DIRECTOR: If you'd like a few more minutes to decide-
BUFFY: No. I, it's done, it's fine. (to Dawn) Okay?Dawn nods.
BUFFY: Okay.
Buffy turns and walks out with the men following. Dawn remains staring at the coffin.
Wolf howl. Opening credits.
Guest starring David Boreanaz, Clare Kramer, Charlie Weber, Troy T. Blendell, Amber Benson as Tara, and Joel Grey as Doc. Written and directed by Marti Noxon.
Act I
Fade in on Dawn in the Summers dining room, standing by a side table, looking at the card in a flower arrangement.
GILES: (OS) I checked prices at different florists, and the funeral home seems to be fairly competitive.
Dawn turns and we see the table, laid out with food. Xander sits at left eating. Giles and Buffy sit side-by-side at the end of the table, looking at paperwork.
BUFFY: Let's just go with that, it's easier.
DAWN: (sits at the other end) What color flowers?Willow enters with a pitcher of water, pours a glass, and sits opposite Xander.
BUFFY: Uh, white. (looks at Giles) They're nice.
GILES: Yeah.
BUFFY: (to Giles) Uh, what about an announcement? People are gonna be expecting a wake after the burial unless we say something.
GILES: Um, well, we could put a, a line in the program expressing your mother's preference not to have one.
WILLOW: There's no wake?
BUFFY: Mom didn't like them. She said that potlucks are depressing enough as it is.
DAWN: She said that? When?
BUFFY: Uh, right before she went in for the operation. We had a talk about what she wanted ... in case. (looks down)
DAWN: She never said anything to me.
XANDER: I'm sure she just didn't wanna upset you, Dawnster. Now you better get to work on that dinner. You barely touched it.
BUFFY: You really should eat something.
DAWN: Why should I? You're not.
BUFFY: This isn't about-The cordless phone on the table rings. Buffy sighs.
BUFFY: (to Giles) I'm all phoned out. Will you? Unless it's my dad.
GILES: Of course.Giles answers the phone. Buffy returns to the papers.
GILES: Hello? Yes, yes they did. (Buffy looks at him) Thank you. (gets up) The, uh, funeral is at, uh, three tomorrow. Do you know the Brown Brothers mortuary?
Giles walks out of the room, still talking. Buffy and Dawn look disappointed.
BUFFY: Can't believe he still hasn't called.
XANDER: Your dad's still AWOL, huh?
BUFFY: The number he left for us in Spain is no good, and I've left messages everywhere. Um, how about a line that just says, 'Following the burial, there will be no wake'? Or gathering? (Shot of Willow thinking about it) 'At the request of Joyce, there will be no gathering'? Uch, that sounds lame.Buffy puts a hand to her forehead. Willow gives her a concerned look, looks at Dawn, gets up and begins clearing the table.
DAWN: What are we gonna do? After, I mean. Are we just gonna ... come back here?
BUFFY: Uh ... I, I don't know. I guess so. Um, how about 'At the request of the family, there will be no wake.'
XANDER: (gets up to move into the chair next to Buffy) Good, yeah, it's got, uh...
DAWN: (to herself) I don't wanna be here.
BUFFY: Should I put it at the top, or just a small line at the bottom?Xander and Buffy bend over the paperwork. Willow re-enters, resumes clearing.
DAWN: Can I go to your place tomorrow?
WILLOW: Tomorrow?
DAWN: After everything.
WILLOW: Um, well, maybe you and Buffy should ... I-I don't mind.
DAWN: (to Buffy) Can I?
BUFFY: (looks up from discussing with Xander) Huh?
DAWN: Can I go to Willow's tomorrow after the service?
BUFFY: (looks at Willow, uncertainly) Um ... i-if you want to. I guess so.
DAWN: I'll, uh, get my sleeping bag out of the attic.She gets up and leaves. Buffy returns to her paperwork.
Cut to: Willow and Xander leaving the house. Xander closes the door and they start down the porch steps.
XANDER: You going home?
WILLOW: I'm gonna stop by my mom's first. Been doing that a lot lately.
XANDER: Yeah. I actually might stop by your mom's too. (she looks at him) Well, I'm not going to *my* place. Those people are scary. (looks up) Speaking of.We see Spike coming up the walkway holding a bunch of flowers.
XANDER: You have got to be kidding.
SPIKE: (sighs) I'm not going in.
XANDER: And you're not leaving those.Shot of Spike's hand holding the flowers.
XANDER: You actually think you're gonna score points with Buffy this way?
SPIKE: This isn't about Buffy. (walks closer)
XANDER: Bull. We're all hip to your doomed obsession.
SPIKE: They're for Joyce.
XANDER: Like you care about her.Spike sighs angrily. Willow steps between them.
WILLOW: Guys, guys, not here.
SPIKE: Care? Joyce was the only one of the lot of you that I could stand.
XANDER: And she's the only one with a daughter you wanted to shag. I'm touched.
SPIKE: I liked the lady. Understand, monkey boy? She was decent. (Xander and Willow exchange a look) She didn't put on airs. She always had a nice cuppa for me.Willow looks sympathetic.
SPIKE: And she never treated me like a freak.
XANDER: Her mistake.
SPIKE: (scoffs) Think what you want.He throws the flowers to the ground and stomps off.
XANDER: Un ... believable.
Willow looks at Xander, bends to pick up the flowers.
XANDER: The guy thinks he can put on a big show and con Buffy into being his sex monkey.
WILLOW: (looking at flowers) Xander... (he looks at her) He didn't leave a card.Xander stares in the direction Spike went, looking surprised. Willow looks sad.
Cut to: a wall covered with old black-and-white pictures of people and children. Pan across the wall. It's the hallway in the upstairs of the Summers house. Through the open door, we see Buffy sitting on her bed staring at nothing. Pan across more photos. We see Dawn sitting on her bed doing the same.
Fade to: graveyard, daylight. Aerial shot of a group of people standing around the coffin. Fade to a shot of Buffy and Dawn standing together. We can see Xander and Giles behind them. Fade to a shot of the coffin.
MINISTER: (OS) We commend to almighty God...
Fade to overhead shot of the group.
MINISTER: (OS) ...our sister, Joyce Summers...
Shot of Willow and Tara holding hands. Fade to shot of Anya and Xander.
MINISTER: (OS) ...and we commit her body to the ground.
Fade to overhead shot of the group. The camera moves down to head height. Buffy and Dawn are at the front of the group. Dawn wears a black dress, Buffy in black pants with a long beige coat over.
MINISTER: (OS) Earth to earth... (shot of Giles) ...ashes to ashes... (shot of Buffy and Dawn. Dawn winces. Pan across the others) ...and dust to dust.
Sound of a shovel digging into earth. Dawn suddenly turns and buries her face in Buffy's shoulder. Buffy puts her arms around Dawn, still staring at the coffin.
Fade to shot of a shovel putting the first dirt on the coffin.
MINISTER: (OS) The Lord bless her and keep her.
Fade to overhead shot of the group as it breaks up. One by one the others hug Buffy and Dawn.
MINISTER: (OS) The Lord makes his face to shine upon her and be gracious to her.
Shot of Dawn looking upset, Willow and Tara in the background. Fade to shot of Buffy hugging Giles.
MINISTER: (OS) The Lord lift up his countenance upon her...
Shot of Willow and Tara. Tara leans on Willow's shoulder.
MINISTER: (OS) ...and give her peace.
Fade to a shot of Buffy and Dawn standing alone at the grave, with Willow and Tara behind. Dawn turns away from Buffy and walks over to them.
Cut to a closer shot. Dawn takes Willow's arm as the three of them exchange nods. Tara moves over to Buffy, taps her gently on the shoulder.
TARA: Hey, um, Dawn's kind of ready to go. Can we take her with us?
BUFFY: Yeah. She should probably get out of here.
TARA: What about you? We can wait if you want.
BUFFY: I'm fine. Thank you.Tara rejoins the others, whispers to them and they turn to leave. Dawn looks back over her shoulder at Buffy as they lead her away.
Shot of Buffy staring at the grave with a small frown on her face. The camera lingers on her as the daylight lengthens to darkness behind her.
Shot of the grave with Buffy's feet beside it. Another pair of feet appears and walks up beside her.
ANGEL: I'm sorry.
We see Angel standing beside Buffy, both staring at the grave.
ANGEL: I couldn't come sooner.
Buffy doesn't look at him, but she nods slightly and slips her hand into his. They stand looking at the grave, holding hands.
Cut to Willow and Tara's dorm room. Dawn lies on her sleeping bag on the floor, with Willow and Tara crouched on either side.
WILLOW: Oh, Dawn. I wish I could ... help more. (Dawn doesn't look at her) The only thing is ... it'll get better. I promise.
DAWN: (looks at her) You don't know that.
TARA: Sure she does. We're witches. We know stuff.
DAWN: What? (looks from one to the other, sits up) Life goes on, and I forget Mom? (angry) Is that what you're saying?
WILLOW: Not forget, no! I, you... (looks to Tara for help)
TARA: You make a place for her in your heart. It's sort of like she becomes a part of you. Does that make sense?
WILLOW: (nods hopefully) Dawn ... hey, we don't have to talk about this now, uh, you could just go to sleep.
DAWN: No. (gets up) I don't wanna sleep.
TARA: Okay, we can just ... sit, or, or whatever you want.Dawn goes over to a low table where the magical supplies are laid out.
DAWN: Good. 'Cause I know ... what I wanna do now.
WILLOW: Great. (she and Tara get up) What are you up for?
DAWN: You guys are witches ... and you do ... magic and ... stuff.
WILLOW: You want us to teach you something? Uh, like a-a glamour, or, or, I could ... make a stuffed animal dance.
DAWN: I wanna do a spell. I wanna bring Mom back.Shot of Willow and Tara looking concerned.
Shot of Dawn looking determined.
Blackout.
Act II
Fade in on Anya and Xander in bed. Anya is on top of Xander, both covered by sheets.
ANYA: Mm. (breathing heavily, lies down and puts her head on Xander's chest) That was different.
XANDER: (breathing heavily) Yeah. It was more ... intense.
ANYA: (nods) It's because of Joyce.
XANDER: Right. (pause) Huh?
ANYA: Well, she got me thinking ... about ... how people die all the time, and ... how they get born too, and how you kind of need one so you can have the other. When I think about it that way, it ... makes death a little less sad, and ... sex a little more exciting.
XANDER: Again I say, huh?
ANYA: Well, I just think I understand sex more now. It's not just about two bodies smooshing together. It's about life. (Xander looks a little alarmed) It's about *making* life.
XANDER: (alarmed) Right, when ... two people are much older, and ... way richer, and far less stupid.
ANYA: (lifts her head to look at him, laughs) Breathe. You're turning colors. I'm not ready to make life with you, but I could. *We* could. Life could come out of our love and our smooshing, and that's beautiful. (Xander looks relieved) It all makes me feel like I'm part of something bigger. Like I'm more awake somehow. (smiles) You know?
XANDER: Yeah, I do.He lifts his head and they kiss.
Cut to Willow and Tara still reacting to Dawn.
TARA: (steps forward) Of course you wanna bring your mother back, and ... I wish we could, but it's not possible.
DAWN: Why? You guys do magic for all kinds of things.
WILLOW: We do, but...
TARA: This is different. Magic can't be used to alter the natural order of things.
DAWN: But all you do is mess with the natural order of things. You, you make things float, a-and disappear, and-
TARA: But we don't mess with life and death. (Shot of Willow looking upset) Dawn, I know how bad you hurt.
DAWN: You don't. (upset) They put her in the ground.
TARA: They did, and it's awful and unfair, but this isn't the way.
WILLOW: I'm not even sure it's possible, Dawn. I mean, I've ... seen things on resurrection, but ... there's books and stuff ... but I guess ... the spells ... backfire?
TARA: That's not the point.
WILLOW: That's not the point. The, the point is it's bad ... because ...
TARA: Because witches can't be allowed to alter the fabric of life for selfish reasons. Wiccans took an oath a long time ago to honor that.
DAWN: So it's possible ... to bring someone back? They wouldn't have taken an oath if thy didn't know they could do it.
TARA: Maybe they could, but we can't.
WILLOW: She's right, Dawn. It's too dangerous.
DAWN: You said you wanted to help me.Dawn makes an annoyed sound and goes to lie down on her sleeping back with her back turned. Willow kneels beside her.
WILLOW: Dawn...
Willow touches Dawn's shoulder but she jerks away, turns over so her back is to Willow again. Willow looks over at Tara. Tara looks concerned.
Cut to: graveyard, night. Pan across trees and graves. We discover Buffy and Angel sitting on the ground under a tree, leaning against it. Buffy has her legs curled under her and leans against Angel's shoulder. They both look at the grave as they talk.
BUFFY: The funeral was ... (sighs) it was brutal, but it's tomorrow that I'm worried about.
ANGEL: What's tomorrow?
BUFFY: That's exactly what I don't know. Up until now, I ... I've had a road map. Things to do every minute, having to do with Mom.
ANGEL: Tomorrow the stuff of everyday living resumes.
BUFFY: And everybody expects me to know how to do it, because ... (sarcastically) I'm so strong.
ANGEL: You just need some time. I'm sure everybody understands that.
BUFFY: Time's not the issue. I can stick wood in vampires ... but Mom was the strong one in real life. She always knew how to make things better ... just what to say.
ANGEL: Yeah ... you'll find your way. I mean, not all at once, but...
BUFFY: (shakes her head) I don't know. I keep thinking about it ... when I found her. If I had just gotten there ten minutes earlier...
ANGEL: You said they told you it wouldn't have made a difference.
BUFFY: They said ... "probably" ... wouldn't have made a difference. The exact thing they said ... was "probably." I haven't told that to anyone.
ANGEL: Doesn't make it your fault. You couldn't have done anything different.
BUFFY: (annoyed sigh) I didn't even start CPR until they told me. I fell apart. That's how good I am at being a grownup.
ANGEL: Buffy...
BUFFY: And it'd be okay if it was just me I had to worry about. But Dawn...
ANGEL: Look, it's okay. I know you don't feel like it now, but you are strong, Buffy. You're gonna figure this out. And you have people to help you. You don't have to do this alone.
BUFFY: (looks at the sky) It's gonna be light soon.
ANGEL: I can stay in town as long as you want me.
BUFFY: How's forever? Does forever work for you?She turns her head to look at Angel, sighs and sits up to look him in the face.
BUFFY: (apologetically) That's a bad idea. I'm seriously needy right now.
ANGEL: Let me worry about the neediness. I can handle it.They look at each other, then Buffy leans in and kisses him. They kiss softly for a moment. Then it gets a little more heated and they pull away, both breathing harder.
BUFFY: (looks down) I told you. (Angel sighs) You better go.
ANGEL: (another sigh) I'm sorry.
BUFFY: (firmly) No. I'm so grateful that you came, Angel. I didn't think I was gonna be able to make it through the night.
ANGEL: (looks up at the sky) Well, we still have a few more minutes until I have to go.
BUFFY: Good.She puts her head on his chest and leans against him. He puts his arm around her shoulders.
BUFFY: Good.They sit quietly together.
Cut to: exterior hospital, night. Ben walks out, wearing a jacket over his hospital scrubs. He turns a corner and see Jinx lurking. Jinx sees Ben and walks toward him.
BEN: (angrily) Tell my sister I'm sick of running into her Jawa rejects.
JINX: She ... bade me come to you. The news of your relationship with the Slayer-
BEN: We don't have a relationship.
JINX: But ... you attempted to court h