Sleeper
(Xander’s Apartment)
(There's a knocking at the front door. Xander comes out of his bedroom, groggy and grouchy. The knocking continues.)
Xander: (sighs) OK, OK, I'm coming. I'm up. It's 4:30 in the morning. Sweet mamalooshin. (through door) Who is it?
Buffy: It's me.
Xander: (opens door) Buffy?
Buffy: (walks inside hurriedly) Where's Spike?
Xander: Spike?
Buffy: Spike. Xander, is he here?
Xander: No, he's out. At least he was when I got home.
Buffy: Any idea where he went?
Xander: I don't know, creature of the night, Buff. He's probably out creaturing. (Buffy looks out the window) Why, what happened? Is he in trouble?
Buffy: I hope not.
(House Basement – Night)
(Spike's humming a song to himself, digging a hole in the dirt basement floor. He stops, dusts off his hands and looks down. Pan over to show the young woman he killed in the previous episode. He grabs her up by her jacket collar, looks her in the face, and callously throws her into the grave. He buries her in the dirt, still humming.)
(England – Day)
(A middle-aged man comes into his apartment, reading a book. When he looks up, he notices that the place has been broken into. There's a broken flower vase, plus furniture is disarranged.)
Man: Nora? Nora?
(He walks into the next room and sees a teenage girl lying on the floor, apparently stabbed in the back. She's not moving. The man looks stunned momentarily, then someone cloaked in a full-length hooded black robe tries to stab him with a silver curved dagger. The man's reflexes are quick, though, and he blocks with his briefcase. He runs to grab a sword from his collection, but is attacked from behind by another robed person. He falls to the ground, landing next to the young girl.)
(Sunnydale – Summers Residence – Night)
(Willow comes home hurriedly through the front door.)
Willow: Buffy? (starts to go upstairs)
(From the living room, Dawn answers. She's sitting on the floor in front of the couch, hugging a pillow, amid the destruction from her earlier encounter.)
Dawn: She's not here.
Willow: Dawn? Oh my God. (goes to her side) What're you— Dawn, what happened here? What— You're cut.
Dawn: I'm all right.
Willow: Let me see, make sure. (turns her face to inspect it)
Dawn: I saw Mom.
Willow: What?
Dawn: She was here, Willow. I saw her. She was here, and she spoke to me.
Willow: Oh, sweetie.
Dawn: No, she was right here, and—and then she wasn't. She—
Willow: It wasn't her.
Dawn: What?
Willow: At least, I don't think. I-I saw something too, and it looked like... someone else, but it wasn't.
Dawn: I don't understand.
Willow: It's the Big Bad, Dawn. The one we knew was coming.
Dawn: But, that's what she said. Mom, she said that things were coming, that things were on their way, and that she loves us. So, it had to be her, right? I mean, her warning was true.
Willow: (shakes head) I don't know. I just don't think we can trust anything right now.
Dawn: So maybe the evil thing messing with you was here too. Only maybe it was the thing trying to keep mom away. 'Cause she was trying to protect me. Maybe.
(Xander’s Apartment)
(Xander's making himself a cup of coffee while chatting with Buffy.)
Xander: Why would a vampire lie about who sired him. What's that? Some kind of status symbol for the undead. My sire can beat up your sire. (sits)
Buffy: I'm not saying I don't believe him.
Xander: You just don't want to. OK, let's look at this objectively. Figure it out in a cold, impersonal, CSI-like manner 'cause we're a couple of carpet fibers away from a case.
Buffy: Spike can't be the one doing this. He couldn't if he wanted to.
Xander: Why not?
Buffy: Well, for one thing, pain chip, remember? He can't hurt anyone.
Xander: Didn't stop him from hurting you. (Buffy looks away) Hey, objective here. Maybe the chip's not working anymore.
Buffy: Oh, it's working. I've seen it.
Xander: Is it? Or is that what Spike wants you to think?
Buffy: You think it's an act?
Xander: I don't really know. And neither do you.
Buffy: No, mm-mmm. There's something. I-I can feel it. He's different. He's changed. And, if it is an act, then the Oscar goes to...
(Spike comes in the front door, and Buffy and Xander both stare at him. He stops in his tracks.)
Spike: Well, this can't be good. You here at this hour. There trouble?
Buffy: No, no trouble. I was just— Uh, we were just—
Spike: (nods) Right. (shuts door) None of my business. No worries. (starts walking to his room)
Buffy: (walks up to him) Spike, I— How was your night?
Spike: 'S all right. And yours? Did you, uh, bag any baddies?
Buffy: One. Vampire. Uh, someone I used to know, actually, a little. Holden. Holden Webster.
Spike: You knew him, huh? (walks closer to her) That must've been a picnic.
Buffy: Yeah.
Spike: Well, I'm gonna turn in before I drop. (goes to his room) G'night. (closes door behind him)
Xander: (stands) You see that? You see how he reacted when you mentioned Webs? Cool as Cool Whip. What's up with that?
Buffy: The sun's coming up. I need to get home and check on Dawn. We need to keep an eye on Spike.
Xander: Whoa, whoa, whoa. When you say we you mean me. And me's gotta go to work. I got a big client meeting in a couple of hours.
Buffy: Xander, this is serious. We cannot let him leave this house until we know if he's killing again. We need to find someone that can watch him.
(Time Lapse – Day)
(Anya's at Xander's apartment, and she's a little upset with him. Xander's opening all the blinds in the living room area.)
Anya: Uh-uh. Forget it, Harris.
Xander: Come on, Anya. You said you'd do it on the phone.
Anya: Yeah, but that— (lowers her voice) That was before you told me Spike's killing again, and now you want me to be alone with him?
Xander: You didn't mind being alone with him before.
Anya: What was that?
Xander: Nothing. Look, we don't actually know that he's killed anyone. You know, lately. Might all just be a mistake.
Anya: Yeah, but you don't think so. OK, have you searched his room for clues? Trophies from victims? Killers like to keep trophies sometimes. Scalps, necklaces made from human teeth.
Xander: You know, it didn't occur to me to look, but thanks for the tip. OK, so you'll be safe in here. Plenty of sunlight for you to hide in. (tries to leave)
Anya: (follows him) What? That's it? You're not at least gonna like leave me a crossbow or a flame thrower? Something to protect myself?
Xander: We don't want him to know we suspect anything. Besides if he tries to leave, I don't want you confronting him. Call Buffy and just let her know that he's on the move. You're gonna be fine. (grabs his hard hat and briefcase)
Anya: Better be, because if I get vamped, I'm gonna bite your ass.
Xander: (walks out the door) Wouldn't be the first time. (smiles, closes door)
Anya: What was that?
(Summers Residence)
(Willow's quietly closing the door to Dawn's room. Buffy runs up the stairs yelling.)
Buffy: Dawn? Dawn!
Willow: (softly) Buffy, it's OK. She's OK. Not hurt. She's just exhausted. Finally fell off to sleep.
Buffy: What the hell happened? Downstairs looks like—
Willow: Hell happened? Yeah. This big evil that's been promising to devour us—well I think it's started chomping.
Buffy: Oh, God. And it started with Dawn?
Willow: Both of us. Buffy, this thing knows us. It made us think that we were talking to people we knew. Mine said it came with a message from Tara. But Dawn actually saw... your Mother. This thing—it had me for a while—I mean, before it started letting loose with the pulse-pounding terror. But before that, the lies were very convincing. It just seems real.
Buffy: Lies.
Willow: I mean maybe—maybe to confuse us, to mess us up. Or maybe just to be cool.
Buffy: Vampire I killed last night told me Spike sired him—two nights ago.
Willow: Well, that's impossible, right? So maybe it was another one. A fake-out. You got one too. It wasn't a real vamp.
Buffy: It dusted real enough.
Willow: Buffy, do you think Spike is—
Buffy: I can't. (sighs) I hope not. But if I'm wrong and he is, then I have to see it for myself. I have to be there to stop it.
(Xander’s Apartment)
(Anya's at Xander's apartment, and she's sitting on the couch near the windows in the living room area. The sun's not shining as brightly through the windows. Anya's staring at Spike's door. She stands, sighs, and saunters closer to it.)
(Spike’s Room)
(Anya sneaks into Spike's room quietly, holding a stake in her hand. Spike's sleeping shirtless in the bed. She sneaks over to his dresser and goes through each drawer looking for something. The shot shows that Spike's wearing nothing under the sheets. Anya goes through his pants which are on the bed, then through his shirt which is on the floor. He rolls over, and she continues rifling through his stuff. He wakes and grabs her wrist. She's frozen in panic.)
Spike: Anya, do be specific and tell a fellow just exactly what you're doing here.
Anya: Well, Spike... I'm here, obviously... for...um...sex.
Spike: (sits up, retracts) Uh, beg pardon.
Anya: (kneels beside bed, holding stake) You and me. Here and now. Let's go. Let's... get it on, you big bad boy.
Spike: Wait, wait, Anya. Just a minute. This is not exactly—is that a stake?
Anya: Yes. Kinky. (puts the stake down)
Spike: Uh, well, yeah, but what do you—?
Anya: Shh. (presses her finger to his lips) No questions. No talking. I can't help it. I can't stop thinking about you and us and our brief but unforgettable time together. I mean, it's—why else would I be here? I mean, it's not like I'm snooping around looking for proof that you're some sort of wacked out serial killer. (laughs) I don't know why I said that. Forget I said that. It's craziness talking. It's just nerves. Nerves. Nerves and-and horniness. Oh, just shut up, William, and take me. Take me now. (breathes hard)
(Anya has slowly inched closer and closer to him while she talked. She leans over his chest, and kisses his neck. Spike has backed away as far as he can, but there's a wall preventing further retreat, so he just lies there, still and unresponsive. Anya notices the utter lack of reciprocation and sits up.)
Spike: (sighs) Anya.
Anya: Hmm?
Spike: It's not that I'm not tempted. Obviously, if things were different, you're a ripe catch.
Anya: I got it. No problem, I understand. (beat) You think I'm fat.
Spike: What?
Anya: Well, it's either that or the haircut.
Spike: Ridiculous. The do's quite fetching.
Anya: Oh, right. Now you like the haircut.
Spike: Love it.
Anya: Sure, as a friend.
Spike: Anya.
Anya: You know, you were a lot more fun when you didn't have a soul.
Spike: Oh, come on. Now, I've just explained to you—
Anya: All I'm saying is soulless Spike would have had me upside down and half way to happy land by now.
Spike: I need my pants.
(Anya throws him his pants poutily, but she doesn't move.)
(Living Room)
(Still pouting, Anya's sitting in Xander's easy chair, reading a magazine near a floor lamp. Spike comes out of his room, clothed, buttoning his shirt.)
Spike: Didn't mean to hurt your feelings, luv.
Anya: (pouts, doesn't look at him) Who's hurt. I'm fine.
Spike: Right. Look, uh, I got things to do.
Anya: Don't stick around on my account. (Spike walks out of the apartment. Once he's gone, Anya puts down the magazine and picks up the phone and dials.) It's me. He's leaving.
(Downtown Sunnydale – Night)
(There's lots of people bustling about in the streets. A musician is playing his harmonica on the corner. As Spike passes him, the song changes, and Spike starts humming along. Buffy's only a few paces behind, following Spike. The crowd is dense, and he's difficult for her to follow. She watches him go up to a young woman in line to get into a club. He whispers in her ear, and she walks off with him, hand in hand. Buffy tries to follow, but it's getting more difficult. Spike's got his arm around the young woman now.)
Woman: So, um, what kind of name is Spike?
(Buffy's lost him in the crowd now, looking around hoping to spot him again.)
(Alley)
(Spike's led the young woman into an alley.)
Woman: What—are you gonna make me guess? (giggles) All right. (they stop walking and embrace, face to face) I'll guess you're a little bit bad, huh? (she kisses him) (Buffy's getting worried. She walks faster and faster until she's at a jog.) Am I right? Are you a bad boy? 'Cause I don't mind. You know, I was getting pretty bored waiting over there in that line. (nuzzles him) I hate waiting. (kisses his neck, he sighs) Know what I mean?
(As Spike's kissing the young woman's neck where he would bite her, Buffy walks into the alley. Spike's eyes widen, and he looks up at her.)
Buffy: You know you want it. You know I want you to.
Woman: (following his glance, but seeing no one there) Um, is everything— (he vamps, she screams, he bites her)
Buffy: (smiles) There's my guy. Now, doesn't that feel better?
(Spike's face de-vamps, and he looks up at Buffy covered in blood. He drops the young woman, stares at Buffy, shudders, and runs away. Buffy smiles and morphs into Spike.)
Spike2: How could you use a poor maiden so?
(Xander’s Apartment – Spike’s Bedroom – Night)
(Buffy storms into Spike's bedroom, and throws him out of bed. He lands on the floor next to the bed.)
Buffy: Did you kill her?
Spike: What?
Buffy: The girl. Last night.
Spike: What girl? (turns on light) What are you talking about?
Buffy: I caught the first act. I missed the curtain call. Did you kill her? Did you turn her? Is she one of your kind now?
Spike: Did-did you—are you following me?
Buffy: Answer the question. Where is she?
Spike: (stands) Who knows? I talked to her is all.
Buffy: Really. (crosses arms) Looked like more than talking to me.
Spike: Well, I certainly didn't off her. Where are you getting this? (grabs a shirt) You know I can't.
Buffy: Right. The chip.
Spike: (incensed) No, not the chip! Not the chip, dammit. You honestly think I'd go to the end of the underworld and back to get my soul and then— (sighs, shakes head) Buffy, I can barely live with what I did. It haunts me. All of it. If you think that I would add to the body count now, you are crazy.
Buffy: So, what—you just troll the Promenade looking for drunk co-eds cause you're hungry for conversation?
Spike: (laughs) Oh, is that what this is? Right.
Buffy: What?
Spike: You're jealous!
Buffy: Don't play games. Not now.
Spike: (puts on shirt) Yeah, you saw me chatting up another bird, giving the eye to somebody else. Touched a nerve, didn't it?
Buffy: Don't flatter yourself.
Spike: It burns, huh? But you can't admit it, so you trump up some charge about me being back on the juice.
Buffy: This vampire I killed told me—
Spike: Told you what? That I go out? Yeah, I talk to people. Women. Talk to them 'cause I can't talk to you.
Buffy: Oh, Spike, save it.
Spike: As daft a notion as "Soulful Spike the Killer" is, it is nothing compared to the idea that another girl could mean anything to me. This chip—they did to me. I couldn't help it. But the soul, I got on my own—for you.
Buffy: I know.
Spike: So, yeah. I go and pass the time... with someone. But that's all it is is time, 'cause—God, help me, Buffy—it's still all about you.
Buffy: Spike, this vampire told me you sired him.
Spike: That doesn't mean—
Buffy: He said you killed him. Dumped him in a parking lot somewhere.
Spike: And you believe him? Vampires aren't—
Buffy: I did follow you last night, and you know what? You didn't look lonely or casual to me. You looked like you were on the prowl.
Spike: You can't know that.
Buffy: So, then, tell me. Tell me what happened. You talked to her, then what?
Spike: We talked. That's all I remember.
Buffy: All you remember?
Spike: I don't know. I go out. I talk to people or I don't. It's boring. It all bleeds together.
Buffy: Well, if you seem to forget that much, then—
Spike: Not that. The taste of human blood. That, I'd remember.
Buffy: You were camped out on the hell mouth talking to invisible people. Recently. How can you be sure of—
Spike: No! You are wrong. You've got an accusation from a pile of dust and not a shred of proof.
Buffy: So, I'll get some. (leaves the room)
(Summers Residence – Day)
(Willow's on the laptop, and Anya's looking through the bookcase. Buffy and Dawn are standing nearby.)
Buffy: OK, guys, find me some evidence that he did this.
Anya: Really? Are you sure that's what you want.
Buffy: Find me the proof that he didn't. (Anya sits at table near Willow)
Dawn: You only think Spike is turning people 'cause that vampire told you so, right? But that night we were all told things that weren't true.
Willow: Maybe.
Dawn: What? What maybe.
Willow: Well, just because those weren't the spirits of, you know, our people—just because it was some evil thing, doesn't mean what they said can't be true.
Anya: I used to tell the truth all the time when I was evil.
Buffy: Look, we can't assume anything. We need hard facts.
Anya: Well, if Spike is biting people again, should there be more dead people with neck trauma? Right? We can find that.
Willow: No.
Anya: No, we can't find that? But that's easy. That computer's a moron.
Willow: I mean, no, there's not really an increase in neck injuries, but...
Buffy: But what?
Willow: Oh. Missing people. Eight, maybe. Oh, ten of them. No bodies, they're just missing. Mostly young. Lots of girls.
Dawn: So, it's true? What that vampire told Buffy turned out to be true.
Buffy: Maybe. But it still doesn't prove that it's Spike. Right now, he's the only one who knows for sure.
(Xander’s Apartment – Spike’s Room – Night)
(Spike's getting ready to go out, when he puts on his jacket. He feels something in his pocket—it's the pack of cigarettes one of the young women gave him earlier. Holding it, he flashes back to meeting her at the bar and killing her. He stares at the cigarettes, shocked.)
(Living Room)
(Xander's watching television and drinking beer. Spike comes out of his room and heads for the door, but Xander blocks his way.)
Xander: No, no, no. You're not going out.
Spike: I have to go.
Xander: Buffy was very clear about the not leaving of you.
Spike: I know what the Slayer told you. It's not true. Now let me go, and I'll find a way to prove it.
Xander: OK, I'm gonna list the reasons that won't happen. One— (Spike punches hi in the nose, knocking him out)
Spike: Ow! (Spike leaves the apartment)
(The Bronze)
(Spike's talking to the bartender.)
Spike: She had blonde hair. A nice looking girl. I was here talking with her. (He talks to a waitress.) The other night. I was looking for someone who might've seen her.
Waitress: No, sorry. (Spike sighs)
(Spike looks around the club, and finally walks upstairs.)
(Summers Residence)
(Buffy's talking on the phone with Xander.)
Buffy: He hit you?
Xander: (holding an ice pack to his face) Knocked me out. He's been gone at least half an hour.
Buffy: Any idea where he's headed?
(The Bronze)
(Spike's sitting in a chair on the upstairs catwalk at the Bronze, drinking from a flask. A pretty young woman comes up to him to talk.)
Woman: One of them take your wallet?
Spike: What's that?
Woman: The way you're scanning that crowd—you look like you're out for blood.
Spike: I'm just looking for a certain bird I met here the other night.
Woman: Hmm, (touches his shoulders) was it me?
Spike: Sorry, luv. Don't think so.
Woman: Not even if I ask nice? Or are you the type that has to be convinced. (sits next to him)
Spike: Friendly warning, pet. I'm the type best left alone.
Woman: Huh. I get it. You'd rather I slip into something more comfortable. (she's vamp visage now) Should we pick off the crowd one-by-one, or block the exits and ravish the place?
Spike: Get away from me.
Woman: What's with the wallflower act? You didn't seem so shy when you were biting me. I'm not asking if you wanna be soul mates, just figured you'd wanna have some fun. (looks into crowd) I take him, you take her—or the other way around. Whatever.
Spike: (grabs her) No, you're lying! (she punches him, he pushes her to the ground)
Woman: Is that all I was to you—a one-bite stand?
(Spike and the vampire fight on the catwalk. She takes a vase and tries to stab him with it, but he wrestles it away from her and stabs her with it instead. The vampire woman falls off of the catwalk, landing in the middle of the crowd before turning to dust right in front of their eyes. The music stops, and everyone stares. Then the music starts up again.)
(Out Front)
(There's a long line outside of the club, and a bouncer guarding the entrance. Buffy walks up to him.)
Bouncer: Hey, sweetheart. If you wanna go in, go ahead. (holds door for her)
Buffy: Oh, uh, actually, I need some help. I'm looking for this guy. Bleach-blonde hair, leather jacket, British accent? Kind of sallow, but in a hot way?
Bouncer: Yeah, yeah, I know the guy. Billy Idol wannabe?
Buffy: Actually, Billy Idol stole his look from—never mind. Has he been here?
Bouncer: This guy your boyfriend or something?
Buffy: No, I-I just—I need to find him, as soon as possible.
Bouncer: Yeah, he comes in here a lot lately. Every night leaves with a different girl. Chicks like Billy Idol.
Buffy: (looks upset) How many girls?
Bouncer: Look, this guy—this not your boyfriend guy—if I were you, I'd lose him. He's a real player.
(Inside)
(Spike's walking to the back of the bar to use the pay phone. Aimee Mann and her band are exiting the stage.)
Aimee Mann: (to band member) Man, I hate playing vampire towns.
(Spike dials the phone.)
Spike: (to phone) Hello? It's me. I'm seeing— I think I'm remembering. I think I've done some very bad things.
Buffy: (on cell phone) Where are you?
Spike: I need—I need to see you. There's a house. 634 Hoffman Terrace.
Buffy: I'll meet you.
(Buffy and Spike hang up their phones. When Spike turns around, there's another Spike standing there, talking to him.)
Spike2: You shouldn't have done that. It's not time yet. Not nearly. You're going against the plan, but we can make it work.
(Spike looks scared and confused.)
(634 Hoffman Terrace – Basement)
(Spike's walking into the basement, followed by Buffy.)
Spike: Down here. (Buffy hesitates at the top of the stairs) You won't come down? I understand. It's a risky proposition.
Spike2: (blocking Spike's way) There's an order. The slayer's not in order. But it can't hurt to play. Get your claws in the mouse, you know?
Spike: You are not here.
Buffy: (comes down the stairs) All right. What do you want to show me?
Spike: I've been remembering. The girl. I walked her home. The one you saw. And the one before that. And I think I killed her. And I think I—I think I killed the lady who lived here. And there might be others.
Buffy: Oh, my God.
Spike: (walks to center of the room, Buffy follows) Here. I-I think I buried them here.
Buffy: Spike, why?
Spike: Well, I don't know, do I? I don't even know how. Shouldn't be able—
(Spike-2 seems to be visible only to Spike. He's pacing in the background, and starts to sing the same song Spike was humming at the beginning of the episode and that the harmonica guy played.)
Spike2: (singing) Early one morning, just as the sun was rising, I heard the fair maid sing in the valley down below. Oh, don't deceive me. Oh never leave me. (sits on stairs) How could you use a poor maid so?
(As Spike-2 sings, Spike is distracted, mesmerized by the song, unable to respond to Buffy, who's trying to get his attention.)
Buffy: What? What is it? Spike! (Spike vamps out and attacks Buffy. She had a stake pointed at him, but he wrenches it out of her hand and throws it away behind him, shattering nearby bottles. Buffy throws him across the room.) What are you doing? (He grabs a shard of glass and swings it at her, cutting her shoulder.) Oh! (She fights with him, and pushes him to the ground.) Spike, listen to me, you don't want to do this. (he pushes her away)
Spike2: And it's just about to get fun.
(Vampires start rising from the basement floor, coming for Buffy.)
Buffy: Oh, God!
(Buffy fights the vampires, who have taken tools from the basement to fight her with. Spike-2 is talking to Spike.)
Spike2: You know what I want you to do. (Buffy continues to fight the vampires, but they manage to get a hold on her, one on each arm, holding her up for Spike.) They're waiting for you. Take her, taste her, make her weak.
(Spike stands, and walks toward Buffy menacingly.)
Buffy: Spike, no!
(Spike puts his face near hers, on each side of her neck, but opts to suck from her open shoulder wound he created earlier by cutting her with the glass. As he mouths her, he flashes back to all the things he's done—killing, burying, and all the rest.)
Spike: (in human face) I remember.
(Spike's horrified. His face is one of complete shock and disbelief that he could have actually done those things. He recoils from Buffy, staggering back to the far end of the room. Buffy fights her way free of the vampires' grip. She uses the wooden handle of a garden tool to stake the vampires. Meanwhile, Spike's hiding in a cubbyhole at the back end of the basement, covering his head with his hands. Spike-2 is crouched near him, talking to him.)
Spike2: You failed them. Now she's gonna kill you. You lose, mate.
(An elderly vampire is having difficulty rising from the grave, only able to get her hand out of the dirt. Buffy grabs her hand, pulls her up, and stakes her.)
Buffy: Sorry, ma'am, but it's my job.
(Buffy walks over to Spike, still carrying the wooden handle. She stands in front of him. He looks at her, knowing his fate, and scoots out of the cubbyhole he was hiding in. He holds open his shirt. He's crying.)
Spike: Do it fast, OK? He said you'd do it.
Buffy: Who said?
Spike: Me. It was me. I saw it. I was here the whole time, talking and singing. (sobs) There was a song.
Buffy: What are you talking about?
Spike: I don't know. Please, I don't remember. Don't make me remember. (to invisible person) Make it so I forget again! I did what you wanted!
Buffy: There's something here. (throws away the wooden tool handle)
Spike: Oh, God, no, please. I need that. I can't cry the soul out of me. It won't come. I killed, and I can feel 'em. I can feel every one of them.
Buffy: There's something playing with us. All of us.
Spike: What is it? Why is it doing this to me?
Buffy: I don't know.
Spike: Will you... Help me. Can you help me?
Buffy: I'll help you.
(Spike2 is still watching from the staircase. He sighs and sneers, seeming disappointed.)
(Summers Residence)
(Spike is sitting in a chair, wrapped in a blanket while the others talk in an adjacent room. Buffy, Xander, Anya, Willow and Dawn are all there. Spike's listening to them.)
Anya: And you believe him?
Buffy: You didn't see him down there. He really didn't know what he'd done. It wasn't in his control.
Xander: Oh, an out of control serial killer. You're right, that is a great houseguest.
Dawn: Wait, is he—is he staying here?
Buffy: I don't know. But I'm not letting him out of my sight, that's for sure.
Willow: Buffy, he's been feeding... on human blood. That's gotta do stuff.
Buffy: I'm not keeping him around just to help him. I think there was something there, talking to him, making him do things.
Willow: Something like what was talking to us?
Buffy: Maybe. But if it was, it's been screwing with Spike big time.
Xander: So, you want him around because...?
Buffy: Look, there's something evil working us, and if we are ever gonna have a chance to fight it, we need to learn everything we can about it. This thing has been closer to Spike than any of us.
Willow: And if you want to understand it....
Buffy: I'm gonna have to get close to Spike.
Xander: Nah, it's too dangerous.
Buffy: I don't have a choice. Whatever this thing is, from beneath us, it's bad, and it's only getting worse.
(England – Day)
(Giles enters the flat, looking around. He sees the young woman lying dead on the floor.)
Giles: Oh, dear God! Robson, are you here? Robson! (He gets up and starts looking for Robson, who's found near a chair in the next room. Giles goes to his side.) You too? (takes off his glasses and starts to cry) Dear God, I thought you—
Robson: (eyes flash open) Gather them. It's started.
Giles: It's all right. I understand. I'll take care of it—
(One of the robed men sneaks up behind Giles wielding a battle-axe. He swings it at Giles.)
Season Seven Guide
