Buffy has a nightmare about being attacked by the Master. Later in class, a
student opens his book and spiders emerge and attack him, while a young boy
stands outside the classroom window. In his lair, the Master explains to the
Anointed One that fear is the most powerful force in the world, and changes are
about to take place.
Buffy, Willow and Xander question the spider boy, who says he's had recurring
nightmares about such attacks. Later in class, Buffy finds out there is a test she's
totally unprepared for. As soon as she starts writing, she glances at the clock and
sees almost the entire hour is up. Again, the boy appears. Later, a girl goes into
the school basement and is attacked by a huge Ugly Man. Questioned in the
hospital, she's able to provide one clue: the attacker said the words "Lucky
Nineteen."
Xander enters a class to find everyone staring at them -- he's only wearing boxer
shorts. Buffy finds a newspaper picture of the boy who keeps appearing. The
article says he's in a coma after falling down the steps after a little league game.
Buffy notices his uniform number: 19. Giles says even though the boy's in the
hospital, perhaps Buffy has been seeing his astral body, which can travel through
time and space. Buffy's father picks her up at school and explains he left home
because Buffy caused so much trouble and was a disappointment to him. He
leaves Buffy in shock -- and the boy appears again. Willow and Xander talk to
Giles, who explains that their nightmares have been coming true, leaving everyone
vulnerable to all sorts of danger. Buffy finally confronts the boy, who explains that
Ugly Man wants to kill him. Suddenly, the Ugly Man appears and starts to attack
Buffy, who is no match for him.
Giles warns Xander and Willow that Buffy's nightmares could be fatal, and they
must find her. Willow's attempt leads her into her own nightmare: she is onstage in
an opera for which she is woefully unprepared. Xander's search leads him to yet
another nightmare: a clown he feared from childhood chases him with a knife. Buffy
and the boy manage to escape Ugly Man by literally jumping from school during
the day into a cemetery at night. The Master appears and shoves Buffy into an
open grave. Willow, Xander and Giles need to find Buffy -- unless Billy is awoken,
all reality will become nightmares within hours. They notice a cemetery -- in
darkness -- is across the street, and go to investigate. Seeing Buffy's headstone,
Giles laments not protecting her better, until Buffy emerges -- as a vampire. Giles
says it's reversible, if only Billy could wake up. They go to the hospital and Ugly
Man appears again. Buffy manages to attack him. She asks the little boy to finish
the job -- he walks up to him and peels something off his face. Buffy returns to
normal, and the real little boy awakens from his coma. His little league coach
enters and is shocked to find the boy awake. Buffy confronts him about beating up
the boy for losing a game -- when he tries to flee, Xander grabs him. Buffy's dad
shows up after school and cheerfully greets her -- another happy ending at the
Hellmouth.
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