Mütter und Söhne

Buffy

(worried) Spike!

Giles

Why didn't your chip go off?

Buffy

We were at the Initiative... (looks at Spike)

Spike

(looks at Buffy) There was a choice.

Buffy

(looks at Giles) Right. Either repair the chip, or to remove it.

Giles

You removed the chip?

Buffy

(smiling, trying to look innocent) Yeah.

Buffy

(turns to face Giles) Spike has a soul now. That's what's gonna stop him from hurting people.

Giles

Buffy...

Buffy

He can be a good man, Giles. I feel it.

Buffy

How do you know about slayers?

My mother was one. She was killed when I was four.

A very punk Spike is fighting with a young black woman in a New York subway car. He overpowers her, and, straddling her on the floor, he breaks her neck. (from episode 5x07 "Fool For Love")

Buffy

(nervously) Um, something got her... a demon—?

A vampire.

(Principal Wood watches the rear view mirror suspiciously) So, how do you two know each other?

Buffy

(answering too fast) He works with me. Uh, you know, in the struggle against evil.

He's a vampire.

Nice coat. Where'd you get it?

A very punk Spike takes a leather duster from the woman he just killed, and puts on the coat. (from episode 5x07 "Fool For Love")

Spike

(walks by Wood without looking at him or stopping) New York.

Spike

(exhilarated) Well, all right. Got the moves, don't you? I'm gonna ride you hard before I put you away, luv.

You sure about that? You actually look a little wet and limp to me. And I ain't your "luv."

Spike

(grinning) I spent a long time trying to track you down. Don't want the dance to end so soon, do you, Nikki? The music's just starting, isn't it? (tosses the stake back toward her; it lands on the pavement; Spike starts to walk away, but swings around on a lamp post, staring at her) By the way...love the coat. (walks away)

(from behind the bench) Mamma!

(goes up to Robin, squats down to be on eye-level with him) You did a good job, baby boy. You stayed down just like mamma told you.

Can we go home now?

Uh-uh. It's not safe there anymore. How 'bout I leave you over at Crowley's house, and you can play with those spooky doodads that you like.

No, I wanna stay with you.

(looks back over her shoulder, then back at Robin) Yeah, I know you do, baby. But remember, Robin, honey what we talked about. Always got to work the mission. (Robin looks down) Look at me. (Robin looks at Nikki) You know I love you, but I got a job to do. The mission is what matters...right? (Robin nods) That's my boy. Come on.

Robin? (turns to look)

Buffy

Spike! (nods her head toward Robin)

Spike

Little tip, mate. (offers Robin a hand to help him stand) Stake's your friend. Don't be afraid to use it. (starts to walk away, but notices Robin staring at him) What?

(glaring at Spike, mumbling under his breath) Just waiting for my moment.

10 INT. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY Robin is peeking out of his window through the Levelor blinds, watching the students in the hallway. His hand is bandaged. Buffy walks up to his door.

Buffy

Situation still normal. (shrugs) Well, or as normal as this school ever sees.

(lets go of the blinds) So it appears. (turns)

Buffy

(puts her purse down) Well, no fires, no one's head's going kablooey. And the swing choir and the marching band have gone back to their normal, healthy seething resentment.

(smiles) Yeah, it's been pretty quiet around here since you shut down that seal. (walks up to Buffy) You just may have stopped this thing, Buffy.

Buffy

No, it can't be that easy.

You call that easy?

Buffy

Hey, any apocalypse I avert without dying? Yeah, those are the easy ones.

(looks down) You know, you're, uh...You're something else, Miss Summers. (looks at Buffy) You know, I've been watching you when you're out patrolling, and you, um— You remind me of my, um...

Buffy

Your mother?

Yeah. Yeah, what I remember of her, anyway.

Buffy

Got to tell you, not a line every girl likes to hear, but—in this case— (smiles) compliment taken. Maybe you're right. Maybe everything is fine.

Giles

(walks up to Buffy) Everything's terrible. Total catastrophe.

Buffy

Giles, what's wrong?

Giles

Have you seen the new library? There's nothing but computers. There's not a book to be seen. I—I don't know where to begin, Buffy. I mean, who do we speak to?

Uh, that would—that would be me. (offers his hand to Giles) Hi. I'm Robin Wood.

Giles

Oh, sorry. (shakes Robin's hand) Rupert Giles. Sorry. Buffy tells me you're something of a freelance demon fighter. (Robin points to his office door, then closes it) Oh, yes, yes. I, um, I'm relieved. We're running dangerously low on allies.

Buffy

So, we didn't stop it, then?

Giles

(leans forward on Robin's desk) Uh, no, the seers at the coven are certain the First is continuing to gather its forces. I'm afraid war is inevitable. (stands) So, we should go before the school board.

(confused) What?

Giles

Well, I can have my backup library (Buffy rolls her eyes) sent from home in the mean time. It's not much, but—

Buffy

Giles.

Giles

Knowledge comes from crafted bindings and pages, Buffy, not ones and zeros.

Buffy

So, did you bring back any potentials?

Giles

Um, no. Actually, m-my, uh, (takes off glasses to clean them) my trip is about something else...regarding Spike.

Buffy

Spike? What about him?

Giles

I told you my concerns when you recklessly chose (puts glasses on) to remove the chip from his head.

Wait, sorry, chip?

Giles

Uh, it's a long story.

Buffy

The military put a chip in Spike's head so he couldn't hurt anyone.

Giles

And that would be the abridged version.

Buffy

But he wouldn't hurt anyone anymore because he has a soul now.

Giles

Unless the First triggers him again.

Triggers the chip?

Buffy

No, the trigger's a post-hypnotic thing. The First put it in his head. It was—made him— He was killing again.

So, he has a trigger, a soul, and a chip?

Giles

Not anymore.

Buffy

(angrily) It was killing him, Giles.

The trigger?

Buffy

No, the chip. The trigger's not active anymore.

Because the military gave him a soul? (Buffy and Giles glare at Robin, who throws up his hands) Sorry.

Giles

We don't know that the trigger is inactive. (walks over to the window) What I brought back may help us to disarm it, to ascertain exactly what it is that causes Spike's behavior.

Buffy

It was that song, Giles. I'm telling you, it was that song that Spike was singing.

Giles

He has no memory of it. Is there any part of it that you can remember?

Buffy

It wasn't like it had a catchy hook or anything like "I'm coming up, so you better get this party started." It was boring, old, and English. Just like you—ull. Yule Brenner. (Giles crosses his arms and glares at Buffy) A British Yule Brenner.

(to Giles) This thing you brought to keep Spike from killing again... How's it work?

Giles

Well, it will require a bit of magic.

Xander

(mumbling) No, we couldn't have put these chains back up a week ago. Nah, we gotta work on Spike now, of all times.

Spike

What?

Xander

(sighs, stands, looks around) Nothing. (walks away)

Spike

(to Robin) What are you doing here? You came to see the show?

I thought you might need support.

Spike

Uh-huh. Right, let's get this over with. (to Giles) What're you gonna do? Some hypno-beam? A disarming spell?

Giles

(walks up to Spike, but keeps his distance) Not exactly. The First has brainwashed you. There's something in your subconscious that it's using to provoke a violent reaction. So... (takes a small box out of his pocket, and takes a small rock out of the box) we have to put this in your brain.

Spike

Bugger that!

Giles

The Prokaryote stone will move within your mind to reveal the root of the trigger's power. Can unleash ideas, images, memories... Hopefully, once you understand what it is that's...(rolls his eyes) setting you off, you can break its hold on you.

Dawn

Hopefully? So, it might not work?

Giles

The stone's just a catalyst for the process. The rest is up to Spike.

Spike

And how do expect to get that hunk of rubble into my cranium?

Giles

Willow? (puts the stone in the box and holds it out toward Willow)

Willow

(walks in carrying a large book) OK. I just hope my pronunciation is in the ballpark. (reading) "Kun'ati belek sup'sion. Bok'vata im kele'beshus. Ek'vota mor'osh boota'ke."

Spike

(recoiling) Oh, you have got to be joking? What now?

Giles

It has to access the cerebral cortex via the optic nerve.

Spike

Oh, bollocks. With all the rubbish people keep sticking in my head, it's a wonder that there's room for my brain.

Giles

(rolls his eyes) I don't think it takes up that much space, do you?

Spike

Ow. Oh, ow!

Buffy

(runs to his side) Spike! Spike, listen to me.

Spike

Yeah.

Buffy

Are you all right?

Spike

How am I supposed to know if this bug-ugly's doing its job—

Yet her smell, it doth linger, painting pictures in my mind. Her eyes, balls of honey. Angel's harps her laugh. Oh, lark. Grant a sign if crook'd be Cupid's shaft. Hark, the lark, her name it hath spake. "Cecily" it discharges from twixt its wee beak.

(proud) Oh, William....

It's just...scribbling.

Nonsense. It's magnificent. I wonder, though. This Cecily of whom you write so often...

(turns) Oh.

Would that be the Underwood's eldest girl?

(shrugs, looks down) Uh, no, uh, no. I do not presume.

She's lovely. You shouldn't be alone. You need a woman in your life.

(looks at the woman) I have a woman in my life.

But you ne— (giggles) Oh... (giggles)

Well, do not mistake me. (takes off his reading glasses) I still have hopes that one day there will be an addition to this household, but I will always look after you, mother. This, I promise.

Should I send the coach for Doctor Gull?

(shakes her head) I'll be all right. It's passed. Just sit with me a while, will you?

Of course.

(singing) Early one morning, just as the sun was shining, I heard a maid sing in the valley below. "Oh, don't deceive me. Oh, never leave me. How could you use a poor maiden so?"

Willow

Dawn!

14 INT. BASEMENT AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - DAY Spike's squatting down on the floor, still chained to the wall. Buffy, Giles, and Robin are the only ones still down there with him, and they're keeping their distance.

Spike

Get these sodding things off me. I'm fine.

Buffy

(arms crossed) Don't you think you should take a little time, calm down?

Spike

I am calm. (to Giles) This stone of yours is—is out, right? Did its job, so I'm de-triggered, right?

Giles

Spike, what do you remember about the song?

Spike

(nods, looks away) Oh, yeah, the song. It's called, uh, "Early One Morning." Old folk ditty.

What's it mean to you?

Spike

Mean? Nothing. It's just, uh, my mum. It was her favorite. She used to sing it to me... (smirks) when I was a baby.

Giles

And...?

Spike

No "and." That's it. Look, shouldn't you check on Dawnie? I clocked the niblet pretty fierce.

Buffy

She'll be OK. She's tough.

Dawn

Ow!

Willow

I'm sorry. (the phone rings, Andrew goes to answer it) Doesn't look like anything's broken?

Dawn

Did you use some sort of a magic x-ray?

Willow

No, that's just what people usually say. (Dawn pouts)

So, Spike's trigger's been active this entire time?

How can Buffy take this for granted? I mean, he lives in our house, we train with him.

Anya

Don't waste your time down that road. Spike's got some sort of "Get Out of Jail Free" card that doesn't apply to the rest of us. I mean, he could slaughter a hundred frat boys, and— (everyone looks at Anya disapprovingly; Anya laughs it off) Forgiveness makes us human. blah-dee-blah-blah-blah.

(holding the phone) Uh, Willow...call for you from L.A. Somebody named Fred. The guy sounds kind of effeminate.

Giles

Spike, listen to me. What is it about your mother?

Spike

I don't know. I got along fine with her. She was a nice lady.

Giles

Well there has to be more than that.

Spike

(screaming) Well, there bloody well isn't!

Giles

What are you doing?

Buffy

I'm going to unchain him.

Giles

Buffy, just—

Buffy

(whispering) This is pointless, Giles. He doesn't know anything. Your prophylactic stone didn't work.

Giles

(whispering) Because he's not cooperating. This process takes time. He's blocking whatever's flooding his consciousness. And what he does—he's endangering us all.

So, the trigger's still working?

Giles

Much as ever. (turns away in disgust)

Ooh, such a pretty house you have, sweet William. It smells of daffodils...and viscera.

Don't get too attached, now. (twirls her) Won't be here for long, luv.

(sits on the couch) Well then... (pats the seat beside her) should we give it a proper goodbye? (growls seductively)

(walks toward her) You're a saucy one, aren't you? (sits beside her, kissing her passionately, grabs her up in his arms, and flings her across his lap, leaning in to kiss her again) Dru...we'll bring this world to its knees.

It's ripe and ready, my darling, waiting for us to devour its fruit.

We'll ravage this city together, my pet. Lay waste to all of Europe. The three of us will teach those snobs and elitists with their falderal just what—

Three?

You, me, and mother. (Drusilla looks away, disappointed) We'll open up their veins and bathe in their blood as they scream our names across— (he notices Dru's expression) What?

You...you want to bring your mum wif us?

Well, yeah. You'll like her.

(scoffs) To eat, you mean?

William?

(grabs Drusilla's hand, they stand) Uh, mother.

Where have you been? I've been beside myself for days.

You needn't have worried, mother. You'll never have to worry about anything again. Something has happened. I've changed.

I—I don't— Who's this woman?

I'm the other that gave birth to your son.

I beg your pardon?

It's true, mother. (holds out his hand to Drusilla, she takes his hand and walks forward) Drusilla—she...she has made me what I am. I am no longer bound to this mortal coil. I have become a creature of the night. A vampire.

Are you drunk?

(looks down) A little bit. (Mother coughs, he walks forward) Think of it. No more sickness. No more dying. You'll never age another day. Let me do this for you.

What are you talking about, a-and why are you acting so strangely?

It's all right, mother. It's only me. (hugs his mother) We'll be together forever.

William...

(vamps out) It only hurts for a moment. (bites his mother's neck)

Willow

Buffy? Hey, I, uh, just got a phone call. I'm gonna have to take off for a while. Maybe a day or two?

Buffy

What's wrong?

Willow

Nothing you need to worry about. I'll give you the full scoop later. Maybe I'll even bring back some good news?

Buffy

Could use a little of that. OK. I guess now is as good a time as we're likely to see for a while. Just hurry back.

Willow

Will do. (walks upstairs)

Giles

Think about what you're doing.

Buffy

I have. (unchains Spike, then walks toward the stairs, with Spike following her)

Giles

Buffy...

Buffy

(continues walking without stopping) Don't.

Mr. Giles... You got a moment?

Giles

What's on your mind?

The same thing that's on yours. (looks up the stairs) We got ourselves a problem.

Giles

Spike. (sighs)

Yeah, if that trigger's still working, then the First must be waiting for just the right time to use it against us.

Giles

It does seem doubtful the First simply forgot it had such a powerful weapon.

Yeah, a while back, it slipped up. It told Andrew it wasn't time yet for Spike. So, whatever the First's ultimate plan is, it's obvious that Spike must play an integral part in that. Something needs to be done.

Giles

(shakes his head) Buffy would never allow it. (walks back downstairs to talk with Robin)

Buffy would listen to her Watcher, wouldn't she?

Giles

I don't think you have much of an idea of the Watcher-Slayer dynamic.

As a matter of fact, I was raised by a Watcher.

Giles

You were?

Bernard Crowley. Took me in when I was a young kid, trained me.

Giles

Crowley. I remember the name. New York based watcher. Resigned shortly after his slayer was— (looks at Robin carefully) You're Nikki Wood's son.

(nods) Yes.

Giles

Spike killed your mother.

(looks away) Yes.

Giles

(looks down) Does Buffy know this?

She knows my mother was a slayer. She...doesn't know about Spike.

Giles

(shrugs) And this has nothing to do with personal vengeance?

Does it matter? He's an instrument of evil. Now he's gonna prove to be our undoing in this fight, Buffy's undoing, and she will never—never see it coming. Now, I'm talking about what needs to be done... for the greater good, Giles. And you know I'm right.

Giles

(sighs) What exactly do you propose?

I just need you to keep Buffy away for a few hours.

Buffy

I don't know, Giles. Is this really a primo time for a training session?

Giles

I'm still your teacher, Buffy. As adept as you are as a slayer, there are always new things to learn. Now, more than ever, it's crucial to maintain focus on your calling.

Buffy

In case you haven't noticed, our plates are kinda full right now. Plus, I'm not really sure how I feel about leaving Spike at Robin's house to watch over him.

Giles

For what its worth everyone at your house seemed....quite relieved at the arrangement. Um, Buffy, uh...while I'm not technically your Watcher anymore, the fact that your life is such chaos only underscores the importance of the lessons I can impart to you.

Buffy

Fine. Impart away.

Giles

We're on the verge of war. It's time you looked at the big picture.

Buffy

Hello! All I do is look at the big picture. The other day, I gave an inspirational speech to the telephone repair man.

Giles

It takes more than rousing speeches to lead, Buffy. If you're going to be a general, you need to be able to make difficult decisions regardless of cost.

Buffy

Have you seen me with those girls? (paces) I mean, the way I've treated my friends and my family and... Andrew. Believe me, I know how to make hard decisions.

Giles

Well, that's what we're here to find out. (a vampire reaches out of his grave) While we work on the basics.

Spike

You live in the garage?

This is just a work room. Kind of my, uh, sanctuary. (walks in, Spike follows)

Spike

A little place to unwind, eh?

Spike

A hard day's prinipaling got you down, you need a place to cut loose, let your hair down—so to speak.

Spike

(looks around) What the bloody hell is this?

Well, I told you. It's my, um, sanctuary. It's the hell mouth, Spike. You can never be too careful. Just, um, stay away from the walls, and you'll be all right. (goes to his computer)

Spike

It's a bit much, isn't it? (beat) What's your story, Wood?

No story, really. Just trying to do what's right. Make a difference. How 'bout you? What kind of man are you, Spike?

Spike

Sorry. Not much for self reflection.

Yeah, makes sense. (types on the computer, unbuttons his shirt) See, you strike me as the kind of guy who just careens through life, (takes off his shirt, reaches into a drawer near the computer to strap on fighting paraphernalia to his arms) completely oblivious to the damage he's doing to everyone around him.

Spike

That right?

Oh, I know more about you than you think, Spike. See, I've been searching for you for a very, very long time. (looks at Spike) Ever since you killed my mother.

Spike

I've killed a lot of people's mothers.

(turns back toward the desk to continue putting on his gear) Yeah. You'd remember mine. She was a slayer.

Spike

So, that's it, innit? Brought me here to kill me?

(turns to face Spike) No, I don't wanna kill you, Spike. I wanna kill the monster who took my mother away from me. (clicks the mouse on the computer; a song starts playing; the screen reads "Early One Morning.")

Early one morning, just as the sun was rising, I hear a young maid sing in the valley below. "Oh, don't deceive me. Oh, never leave me. How could you use a poor maiden so?"

There he is.

22 INT. VICTORIAN PARLOR - NIGHT William walks into the house and puts down his coat. He sees the cane his mother used to use when walking.

(looks around) Mother?

(smiling) Hello, William.

Look at you.

Mm, yes. All better.

You're glowing. (smiles)

Am I? Well, I suppose I have you to thank for that, don't I? (shuts the music box) How ever will I repay you?

Seeing you like this is payment enough.

Oh, William, you're so... (touches his face) tender.

Well, this is as it should be, mother. You and I together. All of London laid out before us.

(smiles) Ah, yes. Us.

First, we'll feast. Then the night is yours. Theater, perhaps. Dancing? Tell me, (touches her back) what's your pleasure?

(turns to him) Pleasure? To take my leave of you, of course. "The lark hath spake from twixt its wee beak?" You honestly thought I could bear an eternity listening to that twaddle?

That's right, dog. Fight back.

I feel extraordinary. It's as though I've been given new eyes. I see everything. Understand... (looks at William, frowns) everything.

(disturbed) Mother...

I hate to be cruel— No, I don't. I used to hate to be cruel in life. Now, I find it rather freeing. Nothing less will pry your greedy little fingers off my apron strings, will it?

(looks away) Stop. Please.

(walks closer to William) Ever since the day you first slithered from me like a parasite...

What're you s—

Had I known better, I could have spared myself a lifetime of tedium and just—

Dashed your brains out when I first saw you.

(turns away) God, I prayed you'd find a woman to release me, (looks at him) but you scarcely showed an interest. Who could compare to your doddering housebound mum? A captive audience for your witless prattle.

Whatever I was, that's not who I am anymore.

(snickers, walks up to him) Darling, it's who you'll always be. A limp... sentimental fool.

It hurts, don't it? (straddles Spike, grabs him by the collar) Is this what it felt like (punches Spike) when you beat the life out of her, (punches Spike) toyed with her, (punches Spike, then screams) when you snapped her neck!

Giles

Don't kill him yet.

Buffy

What? Why not?

Giles

Because I'm asking you not to. (Buffy rolls her eyes, then rolls off the vampire; they begin fighting again) Would you let this vampire live if he began saving the world?

Buffy

Sure. (punches the vampire in the face) Seems like a nice enough guy.

Thanks.

Buffy

No problem.

My name's Richard.

Buffy

Hi, Rich. (punches the vampire again, knocking him down) Giles, we had this conversation when I told you that I wouldn't sacrifice Dawn to stop Glory from destroying the world.

Giles

Ah, yes, but things are different, aren't they? After what you've been through, faced with the same choice now, (paces) you'd let her die.

Buffy

If I had to...to save the world. Yes.

Buffy

(the vampire tries to strangle her; to Giles) Can I kill this guy yet?

Giles

No. (Buffy and the vampire continue to fight) So, you really do understand the difficult decisions you'll have to make? That anyone of us is expendable in this war?

Buffy

Have you heard my speeches?

Giles

That we cannot allow any threat that would jeopardize our chances at winning?

Buffy

Yes, I get it.

Giles

And yet there is Spike.

Animal like you. Never cared for anyone but yourself. No one else mattered. (puts on his shirt) Just all about the hunt. (removes Spike's leather jacket, folds it) Yeah. (puts the jacket down)

You want to run, don't you? Scamper off and cry to your new little trollop. Do you think you'll be able to love her? (leans too close to William) Think you'll be able to touch her without feeling me? (William looks around, panicked and disgusted, for a way to escape this disturbing situation) All you ever wanted was to be back inside. (touches his face, his body) You finally got your wish, didn't you? Sank your teeth into me. An eternal kiss.

(shakes his head) No. I only wanted to make you well.

You wanted your hands on me. Perhaps you'd like a chance to finish off what you started.

(pushes her away, looks away from her) I love you. I did. Not like this.

Just like this. This is what you always wanted. Who's my dark little prince? (tries to kiss him)

(pushes her away, knocking her down) No!

Get out. Get out! (stands, swinging her cane at William; they struggle and he breaks the wooden cane; Mother transforms into vampire facade) There, there, precious. It will only hurt for a moment.

I'm sorry.

What?

Spike

I'm sorry.

(turns to Spike) Sorry? You think sorry's gonna make everything right?

Spike

I wasn't talking to you. (Robin kicks at Spike and misses; Spike punches Robin, knocking him down) I don't give a piss about your mum. She was a slayer. I was a vampire. (Spike kicks Robin) That's the way the game is played.

Game?

Spike

She knew what she was signing up for.

(from the floor) Well, I didn't sign up for it. (stands)

Spike

Well, that's the rub, innit? You didn't sign up for it

You took my childhood. (punches at Spike) You took her away. (punches Spike again, but Spike pushes him off) She was all I had. She was my world.

Spike

And you weren't hers. Doesn't that piss you off?

Shut up. You didn't know her.

Spike

I know slayers. (throws Robin against the wall) No matter how many people they've got around them, they fight alone. Life of the chosen one. (Robin appears injured) The rest of us be damned. Your mother was no different.

(not moving, choking a bit) No, she loved me.

Spike

But not enough to quit, though, was it? Not enough to walk away... for you. (kneels beside Robin) I'll tell you a story about a mother and son. See, like you, I loved my mother. So much so I turned her into a vampire... (nods) so we could be together forever. She said some nasty bits to me after I did that. Been weighing on me for quite some time. (points at Robin) But you helped me figure something out. You see, unlike you, I had a mother who loved me back. When I sired her, I set loose a demon, and it tore into me, but it was the demon talking, not her. (stands) I realize that now. (walks toward the computer) My mother loved me with all her heart. I was her world. (clicks the mouse, playing the recording again)

Early one morning, just as the sun was rising, I heard a young maid sing in the valley below. "Oh—

Spike

(unfazed by the song) That's a nice little song you got there. (clicks, stopping the song, turns to face Robin) Thanks, doc. You cured me after all. I got my own free will, now. I'm not under the First's or anyone else's influences now. I just wanted you to know that... (vamps out) before I kill you.

40 EXT. CEMETERY - NIGHT Buffy is still fighting the vampire as Giles watches.

Giles

(pacing) Spike's a liability, Buffy. He refuses to see it, and so do you. Angel left here because he realized how harmful your relationship with him was. Spike, on the other hand, lacks such self-awareness.

Buffy

(stops fighting, turns to Giles) Spike is here because I want him here. We need him. I'm in the fight of my life.

Really?

Buffy

Not you, Richard. (punches him)

Giles

You want Spike here even after what he's done to you in the past?

Buffy

It's different now. He has a soul.

Giles

And the First is exploiting that to his advantage.

Buffy

Oh, my God. (stakes the vampire) You're stalling me. You're keeping me away—

Giles

It's time to stop playing the role of general, and start being one. (Buffy runs off; Giles calls after her) This is the way wars are won.

Buffy

Spike? What happened? (Spike opens the door; Buffy sees Robin sitting on the floor, slumped over) Oh, my God.

Spike

I gave him a pass. Let him live. On account of the fact I killed his mother. But that's all he gets. (starts walking away, but stops) He even so much as looks at me funny again, (points) I'll kill him.

Buffy

I lost my mom a couple years ago. I came home and found her dead on the couch.

(weakly) I'm sorry.

Buffy

I understand what you tried to do, but she's dead.

Because he murdered her.

Buffy

I'm preparing to fight a war, and you're looking for revenge on a man that doesn't exist anymore.

Buffy, don't delude yourself... That man still exists.

Buffy

Spike is the strongest warrior we have. We are gonna need him if we're gonna come out of this thing alive. (Robin sighs) You try anything again, he'll kill you. (Robin laughs) More importantly, I'll let him. (Robin looks at Buffy) I have a mission to win this war, to save the world. I don't have time for vendettas. (walks away) The mission is what matters.

Giles

Buffy...I—I understand your anger. Please believe me, we did what we—

Buffy

(not looking at Giles) He's alive. Spike's alive. Wood failed.

Giles

Well, that doesn't change anything. What I told you is still true. You need to learn—

Buffy

(looks at Giles) No, I think you've taught me everything I need to know. (shuts her door)