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Previously
Want to get your hands on|the Books of Ascension?
You got the books?
We want to take Angel's soul away.
The Mayor's built this town for demons|and, come graduation day, he's gettin' paid.
- Think we missed anything?|- We know all she knows.
You played me!
- I know you only did what I asked.|- I never wanted it to go that far.
You demons can't resist|a run-and-stumble, can you?
One down. One gone.
- Scabby demon got away?|- Scabby demon number two got away.
Scabby demon number one,|big check in the slay column.
I don't like this no-mouth thing.|It's disquieting.
Well, no mouth means no teeth.
Unless they have them somewhere else.
Morning, girls. We've been researching|the Mayor's forthcoming Ascension.
- It's pretty riveting stuff.|- What do we know?
What don't we know?
- Tell her, Giles.|- Based on the date, graduation day,
..and the Mayor being impervious to harm,|I've cross-referenced
He's a cross-referencing fool.
..and eliminated several possibilities.
It's not the ritual flaying|of the demon Azorath, nor the
I don't know what's going to happen.
- That was kind of an anticlimax.|- We don't know anything?
- The Faith-Angel thing was for nothing?|- No.
If nothing else, Angel's charade has|brought Faith's treachery into the open.
And this information about the Ascension|will prove useful, eventually.
I just need to put it together.
Terribly sorry. I was detained.
Official Council business.
Mr Giles, you were speaking?
I was filling Buffy in on my progress|on the research of Ascension.
Oh. And what took up the rest of the minute?
Touch�.
Of course my work is unofficial.
I'm sure, however, with the resources|of the Council at your disposal,
you will have something to add.
Well, I am pleased to state, with certainty,
that the demon Azorath|will not in any way be involved in
I'm sure we'll find out more soon.
The demon Azorath?
So, have you talked to Angel lately?
Not really. Seeing him bad,|even pretend bad and with Faith
He only kissed her for the greater good.
I know. But to the naked eye|it looked like fun.
Or maybe it wasn't.|Maybe he wasn't even tempted.
- I just wish I could be sure.|- As always, I advise you to ask.
Like he'd tell me?
Hogan!
- Great game, man.|- Thanks.
Hogan Martin thinks he's so hot.
Like we should be awed|because he can put a ball in a net.
- Hey, Xander.|- He said my name. He knows my name.
- Hey, Willow.|- Hi.
Look. I can't make it to|the study session after school today.
- Can we do it fifth period?|- OK. Did you finish the reading?
- Most of it.|- Percy!
- I'll finish it at lunch.|- That's my little trooper.
What are you doing to him?|I heard him complete a sentence.
It had a clause and everything.
- Watching the game?|- Wouldn't miss it.
See ya, Hogan. Ladies.
You're going? I didn't know|you liked basketball.
I didn't either, but I've started getting into it.|Especially now we're in the championships.
Too bad you're patrolling.|We're all goin'. Oz, Xander, everybody.
Great. Everybody who isn't currently Buffy.
- You touched one of the demons?|- A good touch, not a bad touch.
Anyway, it's been itching like crazy.
No big. Just another problem for|the good people at Lubriderm, right?
Is this the demon in question?
In the disgusting flesh.
- What?|- It says it can infect the host.
Infect?
Oh, infect the host with|"an aspect of the demon".
- That's all it says.|- "An aspect of the demon"?
- It is rather terse, isn't it?|- You mean, like a part of it?
There could be any number of explanations.|A new fabric softener can cause irritation.
In any case, I would advise not to|attempt to track the one that got away.
Let's minimise your exposure.
Part of the demon.|I hope it's not the outside part.
H-O-G-A-N!
It's Hogan! Go, Hogan!
Is it me, or is this really lame?
I usually enjoy lameness|and this is leavin' me cold.
According to Freddy's latest editorial:
"At the pep rally, pseudo-prostitutes|provoke men into a *** frenzy,
which, when thwarted, results|in pointless athletic competition."
- And the downside being?|- The school paper is edging on depressing.
- Have you guys noticed that?|- I always go straight to the obits.
- What are you doin', Buffy?|- Nothing.
Checking for horns.
You know, Buffy I don't even think Giles|is right about you becoming like a demon.
I mean, he's totally burnt, you know?|Dealing with Faith and this Ascension thing.
Between you and me,|he's not doing his best work.
What if he is right? I'm gonna grow this|demon part and we don't know what it is.
I mean, it could be claws or scales
- What?|- Was it a boy demon?
T-O-M!
It's Tom! Go, Tom!
- They really are very good.|- Their spelling's improved.
You know, Oz, I look at all this beauty,|all these healthy young women,
and I wonder why I ever|wasted my time on Cordelia.
Look at her. She's no|better-looking than the rest.
- None of them are really my|- Oh, my God! He's lookin' at her.
He's got his filthy adult|Pierce-Brosnany eyes all over my Cordy.
You're a very complex man, aren't you?
It's just I'm scared, Will.
There's this thing in me|and I can't find it. I can't stop it.
What if it changes me?|I mean, not just the way I look.
All of a sudden, I could be|something that's not me.
Oh, sorry. They spelled Percy|and I have to show support. He's needy.
But I heard you what you were saying.
And I would be frightened too,|but I'm sure you're gonna be OK.
Still got a mouth.
Sorry.
That's OK. I didn't see you,|so I should have known you were there.
- What are you doing here?|- It's a dangerous time, you know. With Faith.
Yeah. Faith.
She, well Faith,|what can you say about her?
I just want to make sure that you're|you know, OK. That you're safe.
And the fact that you're right here.|Does that mean Faith's around?
Are you tracking me or are you tracking her?
I'm tracking you.
Something's bothering you.
A lot of things.
The most recent being this demon.|Actually, two.
I touched one of them and now I'm gonna|get a big case of the bumpies or a tail.
"Aspect of the demon."
- You know the drill.|- By rumour. But that doesn't mean anything.
I mean, sometimes demons,|they exaggerate their power.
Demon hype. Maybe not.
I spend all my time in the dark here anyway.
It's not like I'd be at a game, with my friends,
where someone could see me|in my new monster part.
I won't let anything happen|to you if I can help it.
No matter what, I'll always be with you.
I'll love you, even if|you're covered with slime.
I liked everything until that part.
- Right at the buzzer. Three points for the win.|- It was intense.
For a minute I thought|you'd make an expression.
I felt one comin' on, I won't lie.
I've never seen anyone jump like Hogan.|They should call him The Jumper.
Or a name that isn't an article of|women's clothing. Hey, remember when the
Hm, quietness. We either lost or we won|and you don't want me to feel bad.
Yeah, it wasn't really a good game.
Tall hoops, but then, tall guys.|What's the point?
- Pretty dull.|- Are you crazy? It was an incredible game.
I've never cheered so hard in my life.|I still have knee marks on my back.
From the pyramid.
Yeah, well, I still bet patrolling was|way better, cos wow, important.
Well, I thought I saw a four-legged demon.
But it was just a dog.
- A weredog?|- Regular.
- Tough luck.|- Yeah.
- I wonder if they've kissed,|- It really bugs you, huh?
- What?|- Cordelia and Wesley, smooching.
Man, you read my mind.
Whoa, there. You watch|where you're going now.
I'm sorry, Mr Beech. I will.
Students, if we could just|get rid of all the students,
When I'm a gillionaire and you're|flippin' burgers, who's the loser?
Maybe I'll take French, I said, How hard|can it be? French babies learn it, Idiot,
I swear, some day my pants|are going to fall right off,
Buffy's so beautiful,|I mean, look at that body,
God, I'd love to shove her against|that locker right now and just ooh!
Is this the thing? The aspect thing?|Because it is way better than a tail.
I have a hard time as it is|finding jeans that fit.
Buffy, slow down.
I'm not even convinced that|this is genuine mind-reading.
You're most likely projecting your
When I walked in, you thought:
"Look at her shoes. If a fashion magazine told|her to, she'd wear cats strapped to her feet."
I
The demons are telepathic!|That's why they don't need mouths,
- Of course. The demons are telepathic.|- I know. You just told me.
That's why they don't need mouths.|And you should have known.
- This is astounding.|- I was in the hallway.
The principal has|"Walk Like an Egyptian" in his head.
And the boys of this school|are seriously disturbed.
It's weird, but Giles, think about it.|Think about what I could do.
It could be very useful. You could|anticipate your opponent's every move.
- Turn his plans against him.|- Oh, way better than that!
- Jealousy.|- Buffy. Right. Very good.
- I knew that,|- That's the tool Iago uses
to undo Othello. But what's his motivation?
What reason does Iago give|for destroying his superior officer?
Cassio has my place,|'twixt my sheets he's done my office,
He was passed over for promotion.
Cassio was picked instead.
And people were saying|that Othello slept with his wife.
Buffy did the reading?|Buffy understood the reading?
When did she study?|Was I supposed to study?
Miss Murray's kinda hot,
I was gonna say Cassio,
- I hate her,|- Any other reason?
- Race!|- Good, Nancy. Can't overlook that.
Look at them scrambling for the teacher's|praise like pigeons for old bread crusts,
Will, who's that guy?
It's Freddy Iverson. He writes those|editorials for the school paper. He's sardonic.
Bread crusts, that's deep,|I should write that down,
Is there something else at work here?
Well, he sort of admits himself|that his motives are spurious?
He does things because he enjoys them.
It's like he's not really a person.
He's the dark half of Othello himself.
Buffy. Really
Very astute. I said something|quite like that in my dissertation.
I know. I mean, I agree. With that.
And doesn't that also explain|Othello's readiness to believe Iago?
Within seconds, he turns on Desdemona.
He believes that she's been unfaithful.|We're all like that.
We all have our little internal Iagos,
that tell us our husbands or our girlfriends,|or whatever, don't really love us.
We can never really see|what's in someone's heart.
Oh, sorry.
Sorry about the daytime.
I just ducked out of school and|that's when they have it!
You look good.|I mean, I know I saw you last night, but
sometimes things can change real quick.
I mean, really quickly.|Listen to me, I'm talking like Faith.
You know, not that she was|so bad to have around.
You know, before the evil.
You know, I think she was hurting a lot.
And some people, protective-type|people might be drawn to that, I guess.
- Well, the thing about Faith|- You can't get into my mind.
How did you Why not?
It's like the mirror. The thoughts are there,|but they create no reflection in you.
You got your aspect of the demon.
Yeah. Giles doesn't know|how long it's gonna last.
- But it's OK. A little headachy, but|- You don't have to play games with me.
Ever.
- You're not exactly here's-what-I'm-thinkin'.|- So ask me.
- But that would have made sense.|- What do you want to know?
Faith? How I felt kissing her?
Pretending to have no soul?|Watching you suffer?
- Well, since you bring it up|- I hated hurting you.
More than I can stand.
Look, the thing about Faith
I'd understand.
She has that whole|bad-girl thing workin' for her.
Kissing her meant nothing. I don't want|a bad girl. I've done that before.
I've lived a long time, Buffy.|And I'm past that.
I've been with dozens of girls like her. More.
- Oh, this honesty stuff is fun!|- And there's no comparison.
In 243 years, I've loved exactly one person.
Who?
It is me, right?
Next time, just ask.
OK.
Buffy, careful with this gift.
A lot of things that seem strong and|good and powerful - they can be painful.
Like, say immortality?
Exactly. I'm dying to get rid of that.
Funny.
I'm a funny guy.
She can read our minds?|Our every impulse and fantasy?
- Every one.|- Oh, God,
I don't see what this has to do with me,
Well, I think it's great. I mean,|you enjoy your other slayer powers.
It'll be fun. Did you see|Nancy's face in class today?
Yeah, She's hardly even human any more,
How can I be her friend now?|She doesn't need me,
- No, I do need you.|- OK. What are you talking about?
Because you are so creepy right now.
I think there must be some precedents|for occurrences such as this.
I'll research it. Can you give me a hand?
Of course. Where should we start?
I am my thoughts, if they exist in her,|Buffy contains all that is me,
and she becomes me, I cease to exist,
What am I gonna do?|I think about sex all the time,
Sex, Help! Four times five is thirty,
Five times six is thirty-two, Naked girls,
Naked women, Naked Buffy, Oh, stop me!
- God, Xander, is that all you think about?|- Actually
Bye.
Xander has just illustrated something.
Chances are, you're all going to be thinking|whatever you least want Buffy to hear.
It's a question of mental discipline.
- He's right.|- Look at Cordelia! No, don't look at Cordelia,
She's a student, Oh, I am bad,|I'm a bad, bad man,
Excuse me.
- What's it like, Buffy?|- I don't know. I mean, it's a little weird, but
Look, please don't think|I don't need you, because I do.
And I want to share this with you.
It's like all these doors are opening to|all these worlds and I can walk right inside.
No one else exists either,|Buffy is all of us, We think, therefore she is,
She knows so much,|She knows what Oz is thinking,
I never do, Soon she'll|know him better than I do,
- No, don't think that.|- I can't help it, Buffy.
I'm sorry. I just can't.
If you don't need me,|I'm going to follow the redhead.
I guess I won't be writing|Winning Friends through telepathy,
Whatever, I wonder when I can go?|Whatever. Can I go?
Excuse me, can you hear me thinking|in here? I could go out into the hall.
You know what? You stay.|I'm getting a headache. I'll go.
She is so hot,
- I hate my body,|- ..I'll scream from boredom,
- No one'll ever love me,|- What if I never get ***?
I can't believe the test is today,
- I have the worst|- Get rid of the students! It's that easy,
- He has the cutest butt,|- I hate her,
Here. It's happened before.
A man in Ecuador. Quite recently.
- Can we contact him?|- I'd say not.
- He can't communicate with anyone.|- Dead?
No, he's in complete isolation.
The power. He can't shut it off.
It's gotta get better,|Please, tell me it gets better,
I hate school, Am I normal?
Are you through with the mashed potatoes?
She doesn't even know I'm here,
Come on, come on!
She has the sweetest face I ever saw,
If I stand in just the right place
The test is today,
This time tomorrow, I'll kill you all,
- She's really nuts,|- I hate being here,
She touched me!
- I think she's waking up,|- Oh, thank God,
- I'm cold,|- Are you all right?
I told them not to move you.|They probably severed your spinal cord.
I'm OK. No, really. I'm OK.
Listen. There's a killer in the cafeteria.
See? I've been saying for years the lunch lady|will do us all in with that mulligan stew.
- What the hell's a mulligan?|- Someone was thinking it.
"This time tomorrow, I'll kill you all."|I have to find them.
Did you recognise a voice?
- No.|- Boy or girl?
I don't know. I mean, it was hardly human.|It was so full of anger and pain.
- Count.|- No, I have to find them.
Are you sure they meant it?
Who hasn't idly thought about takin'|out the whole place with a semiautomatic?
- I said idly.|- I know the difference.
He she whoever, they meant it.|They're gonna do it.
- She looks so tired,|- How horrible,
- I'm not getting any warmer,|- I bet it was Hogan,
Shut up!
I'm sorry, I just|Could you guys not think so loud?
- Or so much?|- You should go home. I'll take you home.
Yeah, OK. No. I need you to go to the|cafeteria. Make a list of everyone who's there.
- We have to find the killer.|- We'll do it. A list of all the students.
Yeah. Nancy was there, and she's scary.|Oh, teachers too.
Mr Beech, he thought something|about getting rid of all the students.
I can't shut it out, Giles.|It's like this invasion of my head.
It's like there are these strangers|walking around in there.
Look at this. I can't even|be around people any more.
Not that they're clamouring|to be near me anyway. Even you.
I'm sorry, Buffy. It's hard for all of us.
But Wesley and I are|looking for a way to help.
But I'll be OK, right? I mean,|even if you can't get rid of it?
You'll be fine. I promise.
Hit doesn't go away, she'll go insane,
I think we have everyone that was in|the cafeteria. I'll do some computer work.
Match it against FBI mass-murderer profiles.|See if maybe we can rule some people out.
I'm having trouble with the fact that one|of us will gun everybody down for no reason.
Because that never happens|in American high schools!
- It's almost trendy at this point.|- Besides which, Sunnydale High?
The centre of evil and all that?
Let's get to work.|We have till lunch time tomorrow.
We hope.
There. You look better already.
- Thanks, Mom.|- I'm just going to get you another pillow.
- I really don't need one.|- But you need another blanket.
Mom, I'm fine.
How about some soup?
- Chicken and stars?|- Mom, please, just come sit with me?
I've I've got laundry.
Why are you
You had sex with Giles?
- It was the candy. We were teenagers.|- On the hood of a police car?
I'll be downstairs. You feel better.
Twice?
OK, I've taken our list and|narrowed it down to a dozen suspects.
Here are your assignments.
- I was hoping there'd be assignments.|- I think I should work with Wesley.
You have no shame.
Like shame is something to be proud of?
Be quiet.
Sorry, but this is important.
OK, talk to everyone on your list.|And use the sample questions.
Today, people.
Oh, write neatly and label your work sheets.
Fantasies are fun. Aren't they, Jonathan?
I guess.
We all have fantasies where|we're powerful and respected.
Where people pay attention to us.
Maybe.
But sometimes the fantasy|isn't enough, is it, Jonathan?
Sometimes we have to make it|so people don't ignore us.
Make them pay attention.
You know what I'm talking about, don't you?
You want me to pay attention?
- For the yearbook?|- Personality profiles.
Can you ask it again?
Sure. Do you ever feel you've created a false|persona - the guy who does everything right?
- How much of a strain does it put on you?|- Uh, wow. I guess
Moderate strain? Is that a good answer?|I wanna get this right.
Yeah, that's good.
Hi, Mr Beech. I was wondering. Were|you planning on killing people tomorrow?
Oh, it's for the yearbook.
OK, so turn-offs include smoking,|insensitive men and Birkenstocks.
Now, your idea of the|perfect romantic evening.
Candy, let's start with you.
Freddy?
I should have just quit,
Look at him smiling like|he thinks I don't know about her,
- I can't believe I'm getting away with this,|- One more drink, that'll do it,
Seems to be coming along all right.
Buffy's being driven mad,|we have no proof this will work,
and it requires the heart of the second|demon, which we have no idea how to get.
- Negative thinking doesn't solve problems.|- Who is going to get the demon heart?
Burk.
Do I often imagine classmates are spying|on me or otherwise acting suspiciously?
- Right.|- Not till just now.
What? Talk louder, dude.
I'm just saying it's gotta be frustrating.|Having the secret.
You gotta be kinda filling up with resentment.|Unexpressed rage just waiting to burst out?
- Today at lunch?|- What secret? Being gay?
Man, I'm out.
I'm so out I've got my grandma|fixin' me up with guys.
That's nice.
But it sounds like you're|having a rough time with it?
Look
Just do it.
- That Freddy Iverson that does the paper|- He's gay?
No, dude. But I bet he'd put in like a|coming-out announcement for you.
Something tasteful.
Freddy?
- He's the only one we couldn't find?|- Freddy Iverson.
The newspaper guy? But we can't|figure out it's him without the work sheet.
We do have this. Today's editorial, titled|"Big Game Draws Mindless Braindead Mob."
Does he mention the cheerleaders?|Because we were on.
I can't stand this.
I keep wondering if I'm|hurting her with my thoughts.
You're not. Not any more.
She can't pick one thought out of the din.
I got it.
- No.|- I'm gonna help ya.
Giles!
Angel.
Thank God.
Are you all right? Do you hear thoughts?
No. Did you find the killer?
Oh, hey, Oz. You got me.
- What are you gonna do, hold me down?|- You'd better believe it, buster.
You can't threaten a big ***|without getting us pretty darn ticked.
***? What ***?|You're not here about the review?
- The review?|- Yeah. Last Thursday.
"Dingoes Ate My Baby play as if they had|Polish sausages taped to their fingers."
Sorry, man.
No, it's fair.
I get a lot of hate mail, and I thought|you were delivering some personally.
If you find any announcements about me
- Xander, we have to figure this out.|- We have no shot. It could be anyone.
We lose.
We still have a few minutes.
You're OK! Can you hear thoughts?
- Just when I wasn't thinkin' about sex.|- OK, here's the new plan.
We're going to get Snyder|to evacuate the school.
"By tomorrow, you'll all know what I've done.|I'm sure you understand that I had to do it,
and that although death is|never easy, it's the only way."
God! Doesn't anyone write in|to praise the cheerleaders?
- We are so unsung.|- Jonathan. Oh! I had him in my grasp.
- Slippery weasel.|- Split up. Find him.
Jonathan? Are you in here?
Jonathan!
Jello.
I could have done that.
Get away from me.
OK, Jonathan, do you wanna|point that somewhere else?
Don't you try and stop me.
No. No stopping.
Just here for the view.
Hey, look. City Hall.
Go away.
- Never gonna happen.|- You think I won't use this?
- I don't know, Jonathan. I just|- Stop doin' that.
Doing what?
Stop saying my name like we're friends.
We're not friends.
You all think I'm an idiot.
A short idiot.
I don't.
I don't think about you much at all.
Nobody here really does.
Bugs you, doesn't it?
You have all this pain and all these feelings,|and nobody's really paying attention.
You think I just want attention?
No, I think you're up in the clock tower|with a rifle because you want to blend in!
Believe it or not, Jonathan,|I understand about the pain.
Oh, right. Because the burden of being|beautiful and athletic, that's a crippler!
You know what? I was wrong.|You are an idiot.
My life happens to, on occasion,|suck beyond the telling of it.
Sometimes more than I can handle.
And it's not just mine.
Every person down there is ignoring your|pain because they're too busy with their own.
Beautiful ones, popular ones,
the guys that pick on you
Everyone.
If you could hear what they were feeling.|The loneliness, the confusion.
It looks quiet down there.
It's not.
It's deafening.
You know I could have taken that by now?
I know.
I'd rather do it this way.
I just wanted it to stop.
Yeah, well, mass ***?|Not recommended for that kind of pain.
And prison is like school,|only instead of noogies
- What are you talking about?|- Actions having consequences. That stuff.
I wouldn't ever hurt anybody.
I came up here to kill myself,
Rat poison!
Step away from the food.
- OK, let's calm down.|- Vermin. You're all vermin.
You come in here|and you eat and you eat filth.
I don't see this being settled with logic.
- So you're feeling better about Angel?|- Well, we talked.
Then he ripped out the heart of a demon|and fed it to me. Then we talked some more.
See? That's how it should work.
- Morning.|- Hi, Giles.
I'll go to the yearbook office to give them the|murderer profiles. They're really a good read.
- Bye.|- See ya.
- How are you?|- Lovin' the quiet. Nobody in here but me.
- Jonathan, how's he?|- Pretty crappy.
His parents are freaking,|he got suspended, and toting a piece -
not winning him a place with the in-crowd.|But I think he's dealing.
It was good of you to check on him.
Well, it's nice to be able to help someone|in a non-slaying capacity.
Except he's starting to get that look,|like he's gonna ask me to prom.
- It'd probably boost his self-esteem if you|- What am I? St Buffy?
He's like three feet tall.
I'm glad to see you've recovered|from your psychic encounter intact.
- Feel up to some training?|- Sure. After school.
You know - if you're not too busy|having sex with my mother.