Original subtitles

-Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer-- -Spike!

Why didn't your chip go off?

-We were at the Initiative. -There was a choice.

Right. To either repair the chip, or to remove it.

-You removed the chip? -Yeah. Spike has a soul now.

That's what's gonna stop him from hurting people.

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

How do you know about Slayers?

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

-Something got her? A demon? - A vampire.

-So, how do you two know each other? -He works with me.

Uh, you know, in the struggle against evil.

He's a vampire. Nice coat. Where'd you get it?

New York.

(thunder rumbling)

Well, all right! Got the moves, don't ya?

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." (grunts)

(groaning)

-(groans) -(grunts)

(grunting, groaning continues)

(roars)

I spent a long time tryin' to track you down.

You don't really want the dance to end so soon, do you, Nikki?

The music's just startin', isn't it?

(thunder continues)

By the way,

Love the coat.

Mama?

You did a good job, baby boy.

You stayed down, just like Mama told you.

Can we go home now? Uh-uh.

It's not safe there anymore.

How about I leave you over at Crowley's house?

And you can play with those spooky doodads that you like.

No, I want to stay with you.

Yeah, I know you do, baby.

But remember, Robin, honey, what we talked about.

Always gotta work the mission.

Look at me.

You know I love you.

But I got a job to do.

The mission is what matters, right?

That's my boy. Come on.

Robin?

(grunting)

(groaning)

(shouts)

Spike!

(growling)

(shouts)

A little tip, mate.

The stake's your friend. Don't be afraid to use it.

What?

Just waiting for my moment.

(theme music playing)

(bell ringing)

(chattering)

Situation still normal.

Well, or as normal as this school ever sees.

So it appears.

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.

Yeah, it's been pretty quiet around here since you shut down that Seal.

You just may have stopped this thing, Buffy.

No, i-it can't be that easy.

You call that easy?

Hey, any apocalypse i avert without dying?

Yeah, those are the easy ones.

You know, you're, uh, you're something else, Miss Summers.

I've been watching you when we're out patrolling, and you're, um--

You remind me of my, um--

Your mother? Yeah.

Yeah, what I remember of her anyway.

I gotta tell you, not a line every girl likes to hear,

but in this case, compliment taken.

Maybe you're right. Maybe everything is fine.

Everything's terrible! Total catastrophe!

Giles, what's wrong?

Have you seen the new library? Th-th-there's nothing but computers.

There's not a book to be seen. I-- I don't know where to begin, Buffy.

I-- I mean, who do-- who do we speak to?

Uh, th-that would be me. Hi. I'm Robin Wood.

Oh, uh, sorry. Yes, uh, Rupert Giles. Sorry.

Uh, B-Buffy tells me that you're something of a freelance demon fighter.

Listen. Excuse me. Oh, yes.

Um, I, um-- I'm relieved. I--

We're running dangerously low on allies.

So, we didn't stop it then?

Um, no, the, uh, Seers of the coven

are certain the First is continuing to gather its forces.

I'm afraid war is inevitable.

-So, we should go before the school board. -What?

Well, I-- I can have my backup library sent from home in the meantime.

-You know, it's not much, but-- -Giles.

Knowledge comes from crafted bindings and pages, Buffy,

not ones and zeros.

So, did you bring back any Potentials?

Um, no, actually, my-- my, uh, my trip was about something else.

It's, um, regarding Spike. Spike. What about him?

I told you my concerns

when you recklessly chose to remove the chip from his head.

-Wait, sorry. Chip? -Uh, it's a long story.

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

And that would be the abridged version.

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

-Unless the First triggers him again. -Triggers the chip?

No, the trigger's a posthypnotic 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?

Not anymore. It was killing him, Giles!

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

Because the military gave him a soul?

Sorry.

We don't know that the trigger is inactive.

What I brought back may help us to disarm it--

Ascertain exactly what it is that causes Spike's behavior.

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

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

It wasn't like it had a catchy hook or anything,

you know, like, "I'm comin' up, so you better get this party started."

Uh, boring, old and English.

Hmm. Just like you-- ull Brynner.

Yul Brynner.

But a-- a British Yul Brynner.

This thing you brought to keep Spike from killing again--

How's it work?

It will require a bit of magic.

Well, we couldn't have put these chains back up a week ago.

No. We gotta work on Spike now, of all times.

What?

(chuckles) Nothin'.

What are you doin' here? You came to see the show?

I thought you might need support.

Uh-huh. (sighs) right. Let's get this over with.

What are you gonna do? Some hypno-beam, a disarming spell?

Not exactly.

The First has brainwashed you.

There's something in your subconscious that it's using

to provoke a violent reaction.

So...

we have to put this in your brain.

Bugger that.

The prokaryote stone will move within your mind

to reveal the root of the trigger's power.

It can unleash ideas, images, memories.

Hopefully, once you understand what it is

that's setting you off, you can break its hold on you.

"Hopefully"? So, it might not work?

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

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

-Willow? -Okay.

Just hope my pronunciation is in the ballpark.

(sighs) (speaks foreign language)

(continues speaking foreign language)

(Cecses speaking foreign language)

Oh, you have got to be joking.

What now? It shall access the cerebral cortex

via the optic nerve.

Oh, bollocks!

With all the rubbish people keep stickin' in my head,

it's a wonder there's any room for my brain.

I don't think it takes up that much space, do you?

(sighs)

Ow! Ow, ow!

Spike!

(groans)

Spike, listen to me. Yeah.

Are you all right?

How am I supposed to know if this bug ugly's doin' his j--

SPIKE'S VOICE: "Yet her smell, it doth linger, painting pictures in my mind.

"Her eyes, bowls of honey.

"Angels' harps her laugh.

"Oh, lark, grant a sign...

"If crooked be cupid's shaft.

"Hark, the lark?

"Her name it hath spake.

"'Cecily,' it discharges...

From twixt its wee beak."

-Tsk. Oh, William. -It's just scribbling.

Nonsense. It's magnificent.

I wonder, though. This Cecily of whom you write so often--

Oh-- (sighs)

Would that be the Underwoods' eldest girl?

Uh, no. No. Uh, I do not presume.

-She's lovely. -(exhales)

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

I have a woman in my life.

But you ne--

(Sighs, chuckles)

(chuckling) oh.

Well, do not mistake me.

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.

(gasps, coughs)

Should I send the coach for Dr. Gull?

No. (sighs)

I'll be all right.

(exhales)

Oh, it's passed. (sighs)

Just sit with me a while, will you?

Of course.

* 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" *

(growling) (gasps)

(growling continues)

(screams)

-Dawn! -(growls)

(shouts)

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

Don't you think you should take a little time, calm down?

I am calm.

This stone of yours is-- is out, right? It did its job?

So, I'm detriggered, right?

Spike, what do you remember about the song?

(sighs) oh, yeah, the song.

It's called "Early One Morning." Old folk ditty.

-What's it mean to you? -Mean?

Nothing. It's just, uh, my mum.

It was her favorite. She used to sing it to me...

when I was a baby.

-And? -No "and." That's it.

Look, shouldn't you check on Dawnie? I clocked the niblet pretty fierce.

She'll be okay. She's tough.

O-ow! I'm sorry.

(phone ringing) WILLOW: Doesn't look like anything's broken.

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

No, that's just what people usually say.

Oh.

So Spike's trigger's been active this entire time.

How can Buffy take this for granted?

I mean, he-- he lives in our house. We train with him.

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--

Forgiveness makes us human. (chuckles) Blah-di, blah, blah, blah.

Uh, Willow, a call for you from L.A. Somebody named Fred.

The guy sounds kind of effeminate.

Look, Spike, listen to me.

What-- wh-what is it about your mother?

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

-Well, there has to be more than that. -Well, there bloody well isn't!

What are you doing? I'm going to unchain him.

Buffy, just-- This is pointless, Giles.

Okay, he doesn't know anything. Your prophylactic stone didn't work.

Because he's not cooperating. This process takes time.

He's blocking whatever's flooding his consciousness,

And what he does-- he's endangered us all.

So the trigger's still working?

Much as ever.

(sighs)

Ooh, such a pretty house you have, sweet Willie.

It smells of daffodils, and viscera.

Don't get too attached now.

We won't be here for long, luv.

Well, then,

Shall we give it a proper good-bye? (growls)

You're a saucy one, aren't you?

(moaning)

(chuckling)

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 the city together, my pet,

lay waste to all of Europe.

The three of us will teach those snobs and elitists

with their folderol just what--

Three? You, me and Mother.

We'll open up their veins and bathe in their blood...

As they scream our names across--

What? You-- You want to bring your mum with us?

Well, yeah.

You'll like her.

(chuckles) To eat, you mean?

(footsteps approaching)

William?

Ah, 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 is this woman?

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

-I beg your pardon? -It's true, Mother.

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?

A little bit. (coughing)

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?

And wh-why are you acting so strangely?

It's all right, Mother.

It's only me.

We'll be together forever.

William--

It only hurts...

for a moment.

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.

What's wrong? Nothing you need to worry about.

I'll give you the full scoop later.

Maybe I'll even bring back some good news.

(Buffy sighs) could use a little of that.

Okay. Then i guess now is as good a time as we're likely to see for a while.

Just hurry back. Will do.

Think about what you're doing.

I have.

Buffy-- don't.

Mr. Giles?

You got a moment?

-What's on your mind? -The same thing that's on yours.

We got ourselves a problem.

Spike. Yeah.

If that trigger's still working,

Then the first must be waiting for just the right time...

to use it against us.

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

Now, a while back, it slipped up,

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.

Buffy would never allow it.

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

(scoffs) Oh, yes.

(chuckles) 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.

You were? Bernard Crowley.

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

Crowley?

(chuckles) I remember the name. Yeah. New York-based Watcher.

Resigned shortly after his Slayer wa--

You're Nikki Wood's son.

Yes.

Spike killed your mother.

Yes.

Does Buffy know this?

She knows my mother was a Slayer.

She doesn't know about Spike.

And this has nothing to do with personal vengeance?

(scoffs) 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.

You know I'm right.

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?

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.

In case you haven't noticed, our plates are kind of full right now.

Plus, I'm not really sure how I feel about leaving Spike

at Robin's house to watch over him.

For what it's worth, everyone at your house seemed

quite relieved at the arrangement.

Um, Buffy, uh,

while I'm not technically your Watcher anymore--

(sighs) the fact that your life is such chaos, only underscores

The importance of-- of the lessons I can impart to you.

Fine. Impart away.

We're on the verge of war.

It's time you looked at the big picture.

Hello? All I do is look at the big picture.

The other day, I gave an inspirational speech to the telephone repairman.

It takes more than rousing speeches to lead, Buffy.

If you're gonna be a general,

you need to be able to make difficult decisions, regardless of cost.

(sighs) Have you seen me with those girls?

I mean, the way I-I've treated my-- my friends and my family?

A-and Andrew?

Believe me, I know how to make hard decisions.

Well, that's what we're here to find out.

While we work on the basics.

You live in a garage?

It's just a workroom. Kind of my, uh, sanctuary.

(sighs) A little place to unwind, eh?

A hard day's principaling got you down,

you need a place to cut loose, let your hair down.

(door creaking, closing)

SPIKE: So to speak.

What the bloody hell is this?

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,

You'll be all right.

It's a bit much, isn't it?

(beeps)

What's your story, Wood?

No story, really.

Just tryin' to do what's right,

make a difference. (computer beeping)

How about you? What kind of man are you, Spike?

Sorry. Not much for self-reflection.

Yeah, makes sense.

See, you strike me as the kind of guy

who just careens through life...

completely oblivious of the damage he's doing to everyone around him.

-Is that right? -Oh, I know more about you than you think, Spike.

See, I've been searching for you for a--

a very, very long time.

Ever since you killed my mother.

Killed a lot of people's mothers.

Yeah.

You'd remember mine.

She was a Slayer.

So, that's it, isn't it?

You brought me here to kill me?

No, I don't want to kill you, S pike.

I want to kill the monster who took my mother away from me.

(beeps) WOMAN: * Early one morning

* Just as the sun was rising

* I heard a young maid sing in the valley below *

(grunting) * "Oh, don't deceive me--

(roars)

* "How could you use

* A poor maiden so" There he is.

Mother?

Hello, William.

Look at you.

Mmm, yes. All better.

-You're glowing. -Am I?

Yeah.

Well, I suppose I have you to thank for that, don't I?

-However will I repay you? -Seeing you like this is payment enough.

(chuckling) Oh, William.

You're so--

(chuckles) Tender.

Well, this is as it should be, mother.

You and I together, all of London laid out before us.

Ah, yes. "Us."

First, we'll feast. Then the night is yours.

Theater perhaps? Dancing?

Tell me, what's your pleasure? Pleasure?

To take my leave of you, of course.

"The lark has spake from twixt its wee beak."

You honestly thought I could bear an eternity

listening to that twaddle?

-(roars) -That's right, dog! Fight back!

-(growling) -(grunting)

I feel extraordinary.

It's as though I've been given new eyes.

I see everything.

Understand...

everything.

Mother-- I hate to be cruel.

No, I don't. I used to hate to be cruel in life.

Now, I I find it rather freeing.

Nothing less will pry your greedy little fingers

off my apron strings, will it?

Stop, please.

Ever since the day you first slithered from me like a parasite.

(both grunting)

What are you s-- Had I known better,

I could've spared myself a lifetime of tedium and just...

dashed your brains out when I first saw you.

(roaring)

(flesh singeing)

God! I prayed you'd find a woman to release me.

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.

Darling,

It's who you'll always be.

A limp, sentimental fool.

-(roaring) -(grunting)

Hurts, don't it?

This what it felt like...

when you beat the life out of her?

Toyed with her--

(shouting) When you snapped her neck!

-Don't kill him yet. -(gasps) What?

Why not? Because I'm asking you not to.

(grunts)

Would you let this vampire live if it meant saving the world?

Sure. (grunts)

-Seems like a nice enough guy. -Thanks.

No problem. My name's Richard.

Hi, Rich.

(grunting, groaning)

Giles, we had this conversation...

when I told you that I wouldn't sacrifice Dawn

to stop Glory from destroying the world.

Ah, yes, but things are different now, aren't they?

After what you've been through, faced with the same choice now...

you'd let her die.

If I had to.

To save the world. Yes.

(groaning) Can I kill this guy yet?

-No. -(grunts)

So, you really do understand the difficult decisions you'll have to make?

That any one of us is expendable in this war?

Have you heard my speeches?

That we cannot allow any threat that might jeopardize our chances of winning.

Yes, I get it!

And yet there is Spike.

(grunts)

An animal like you never cared for anyone but yourself.

No one else mattered.

Just... all about the hunt.

Yeah.

(breathing heavily) SPIKE'S MOTHER: 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?

Think you'll be able to touch her without feeling me? Hmm?

All you've ever wanted was to be back inside.

And you finally got your wish, didn't you?

Sank your teeth into me, an eternal kiss.

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?

I loved you. I did.

Not like this. Just like this.

This is what you've always wanted.

Where's my dark little Prince?

No!

Get out! Get out!

(gasps)

There, there, precious.

It will only hurt for a moment.

I'm sorry.

What?

I'm sorry.

Sorry?

You think sorry's gonna make everything right?

I wasn't talking to you.

I don't give a piss about your mum.

She was a slayer. I was a vampire.

-That's the way the game is played. -Game?

She knew what she was signin' up for.

-Well, I didn't sign up for it! -Well, that's the rub, isn't it?

You didn't sign up for it, and somehow it's my fault.

You took my childhood. (grunting)

You took her away!

She was all I had. She was my world!

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

Shut up. You didn't know her!

I know Slayers.

No matter how many people they've got around them, they fight alone.

Life of The Chosen One.

The rest of us be damned.

Your mother was no different.

No. Sh--

She loved me.

But not enough to quit though, was it?

Not enough to walk away.

For you.

(sighs) 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.

Huh? So we could be together forever.

She said some nasty bits to me after I did that.

Been weighin' on me for quite some time.

But you helped me figure somethin' 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.

I realize that now.

My mother loved me...

with all her heart.

I was her world.

* Early one morning

* Just as the sun was rising

* I heard a young maid sing

* In the valley below That's a nice little song you got there.

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...

before I kill you.

(roars)

Spike's a liability, Buffy.

He refuses to see it. 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.

Spike is here because I want him here. We need him.

I'm in the fight of my life! Really?

Not you, Richard.

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

It's different now. He has a soul.

And the first is exploiting that to his advantage.

Oh, my god. (grunts)

You're stalling me.

You're keeping me away-- it's time to stop

playing the role of general, and to start being one.

This is the way wars are won!

(sighs)

(panting) Spike.

-What happened? -(sighs)

Oh, my god. I gave him a pass.

Let him live, on account of the fact I killed his mother.

But that's all he gets.

He even so much as looks at me funny again, I'll kill him.

(sighs, sniffs)

(Wood groaning)

(sighs) I lost my mom a couple years ago.

I came home, and I found her dead on the couch.

I'm sorry.

I understand what you tried to do.

But she's dead. Because he murdered her.

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.

Spike is the strongest warrior we have.

And we are gonna need him if we're gonna come out of this thing alive.

If you try anything again, he'll kill you.

(scoffs)

More importantly,

I'll let him.

I have a mission...

to win this war.

To save the world.

I don't have time for vendettas.

The mission is what matters.

Buffy.

I-- (sighs)

I-- I understand your anger.

Please believe me, we d-- we did what we--

He's alive. Spike's alive.

Wood failed.

Well, that doesn't change anything.

What I told you is still true.

You need to learn-- No.

I think you've taught me everything I need to know.

Grr! Arrgh!