Well.
That was... very...
artistic.
Yeah.
It wasn't what I expected.
I've never actually seen...
Well, from the title,
I thought it was about food.
Well, there was food.
Right. Th-The scene with the... food.
So, feel like getting some hot chocolate
or some cold shower?
I'm sorry.
I wanted to take you out somewhere fun.
It's been a long time since I've been to the movies.
They've changed.
A little scary.
And a little not, which is also scary.
I'm sorry.
I just don't like getting you worked up like that.
We can't actually do any of those things.
You'd lose your soul,
and besides, I don't even own a kimono.
Buffy, you don't have to worry about me.
I just don't like to rub your nose in it.
Suddenly wondering where that expression comes from.
Look, I don't need to see movies to get worked up.
Just being around you does that just fine.
It doesn't mean that I'm gonna lose control,
or that I'm gonna be frustrated around you.
It feels nice just to feel.
It doesn't drive you crazy when we're close?
Watch this.
See?
Safe as houses.
Check out the lust bunnies.
Patrol?
Council has you back on active duty?
Finally. They want us down by Mercer.
OK.
Good night.
I'll see you soon.
Don't worry, big guy.
Just keeping her warm for you.
I gotta tell you, B.
The willpower thing? Nice job.
Thanks. What?
The "close but no cigar" deal with Angel.
I don't know if I could handle, you know,
the way you're not handling it.
Faith, when it comes to Angel, do me a favor. Duck!
[Groans]
Ow! What are you, nuts?
Going around punching people?
People?
So what, I'm a demon. That makes it OK?
Hold it! Whoa!
Stake me now and you'll never find out what I got for you.
Huh? Think about it.
Demon seeks slayers. Highly unusual?
Talk fast.
How'd you like to get your hands
on the Books of Ascension, huh?
Never heard of them.
Books of Ascension... very powerful works,
and I'm not talking about the prose.
They deal with some dark stuff,
and the mayor, he would hate it
if somebody got ahold of them before he... Well, you know.
Don't know. Before he what?
Hey, hey, read 'em and weep.
That's all I got to say.
Tomorrow I get the books.
Meet me here, and if the price is right,
well, I give the books to you.
Not really looking to trade with a demon.
And if this were still a barter economy,
that would be a problem. I want cash, princess.
5 large for the whole set.
So you can buy... I'm guessing here...
some skin care products?
Plane ticket out of the hellmouth
before it's adios, slayer loco.
So, 5 G's? What do you say?
I think "Die, fiend," sums it up,
wouldn't you say?
Oh, let him go.
I don't think he falls into the deadly threat to humanity category.
Demon's a demon.
I'd like to know more about these Books of Ascension.
Anything that would pin the mayor down would be great.
Yeah... it'd be great.
And what exactly did this demon look like?
Demonic.
Ah. And you say he has
the Books of Ascension, or will soon,
and he was, what, willing to sell them?
That's what I said.
Hmm.
You know what I wish?
I wish you'd pull your hair back.
I know, I know, fashion isn't exactly my thing,
but gosh darn it, you know, you've got such a nice face.
I can't understand why you hide it.
Yeah. Sure.
Whatever.
It's just a matter of time
before this demon guy's gonna spill.
Then Buffy and the Super Friends...
You worry too much for a girl your age.
That's unnecessary stress.
Luckily, I've got just the thing.
There you go.
Now, first you load up on calcium,
then find this demon, kill the heck out of him,
and bring the books to me.
And if Buffy gets to him first?
Oh, well, frankly, I don't like to think about that.
I like good, positive, up thoughts.
If you fail me in that way,
well, you know, replacing Mr. Trick was chore enough.
Oh, come on, don't worry. Drink up.
There's nothing uncool about healthy teeth and bones.
And you say this demon wanted cash.
That's very unusual.
Demons after money.
Whatever happened to the still-beating heart of a virgin?
No one has any standards anymore.
Well, he said the books were worth the price.
What's this ascension mean?
I'm not sure.
No, not really a common term in demonology.
Ooh, ooh! The Merenshtadt text!
I think in the section on genocide,
they mention ascension.
Well, we have a winner.
And more importantly, 2 losers.
Where did you find that volume?
In the top of your book cabinet
with the stuff you try to keep hidden.
Hidden? Are there any engravings I should know about?
Frolicking nymphs of some kind?
No. Just magic secrets Giles doesn't think I'm ready for.
Giles: Um... Ah, yes. Yes, here we are.
There's a reference here
to the journal of Desmond Kane,
pastor of a town called Sharpsville.
"May 26, 1723.
"Tomorrow is the ascension.
God help us all."
It was the last anyone heard.
Of Kane?
Of Sharpsville.
The town more or less disappeared.
So ascension possibly not a love-in.
I think you should meet with this demon, Buffy.
Yeah? Anybody got $5,000?
I have something important to ask you.
Xander: Important?
Let's start calculating those odds, people.
What are you doing Friday night?
Uh... uh...
As always, my sacred duty as a watcher
prevents me from... Why?
I have a paper to write for English,
and you're English, so I thought... What?
Is it so wrong to be getting
an insider's perspective?
I study best in a good restaurant...
around eightish? Think it over?
And on the day the words "flimsy excuse" were redefined,
we stood in awe and watched.
Wesley: Right. Books of Ascension, mayor, slaughter...
Tell you what.
Why don't we try to find this demon
sooner rather than later,
perhaps persuade him to lend us the books free of charge?
I think Faith might be useful in that persuasion part.
I imagine so.
Where is Faith, anyway?
Hey, slayer.
I wasn't expecting company.
Give me a minute,
and I'll have the place tidied up for you.
You got the books?
Well, that depends.
You got my money?
You're tough in negotiations,
and I respect that.
Check 'em out.
Now, that is quality merchandise.
That's worth 5 grand, easy.
Books of Ascension.
Mm-hmm. Original editions and everything.
Great condition.
OK, it's a little worn on one spine,
some slight foxing, but otherwise perfect.
Now, the 5 grand, it's, you know, negotiable.
I don't like to haggle.
Faith.
Angel...
I got nowhere else to go.
Look, I hate asking for help, but I'm asking,
'cause I'm in trouble, like the real bad kind.
It's OK.
No, it's a couple county lines over from OK, believe me.
I believe you. Look, just talk.
Come on.
Start from the beginning.
Mind if I skip past
the "Mom never loved me" part
and get right to it?
I'm scaring myself.
I know the feeling.
That's why I came to you.
I don't wanna get all 12-steppy,
but remember when you told me
that killing people'd make me feel like some kind of god?
I think I just came down to earth.
It's not human, if that's what you're thinking,
not that that makes me feel any better
or this guy any less dead.
Faith, you need help. You can't do this alone.
I know. For real now, I'm scared...
scared of what I am, what I'm turning into...
cold-blooded, straight-up killer... like you.
Not like me. I didn't have a choice,
but you do.
Look, you can stop this.
Believe me, I don't wanna end up the way everybody said I would...
dead or alone or a loser.
You don't have to.
I don't know.
Maybe it's too late for me.
It's not.
Angel, I'm so scared.
It's all right. Shh. It's OK.
Whoa.
Whoa, Faith. I...
Look, I can be here for you,
but not like that, all right?
I'm with Buffy.
Buffy, yeah.
I didn't mean it like that.
Maybe I did, but I wouldn't press it.
You love her, don't you?
I love her.
Good for you.
The two of you, you're lucky.
We friends?
We're friends.
Then I'm lucky, too.
I better go.
Where?
I need to cool down...
spend some time alone.
Don't worry about me.
You've been a big help. Just knowing somebody cares.
Hey, I know I shouldn't be asking this, but...
do you think if things were different,
that things between you and me'd be different, too?
We'll never know.
Right.
How could we?
Take care of yourself.
Faith: Lifetime of practice.
Faith: It's not like I wasn't trying, OK?
There's no need to convince me.
I'm sure you gave it your level best.
I just don't understand what that boy could be thinking.
Try Buffy Summers,
like in a big, fat, one-track way.
Hey, come on! Don't be discouraged.
You're a bright, young, energetic girl
with a whole life ahead of her,
and I won't tolerate brooding.
So you couldn't give him that one moment of true happiness.
I was thinking more along the lines of a long weekend, but OK.
And he spurned your advances. So be it.
There's more than one way to skin a cat,
and I happen to know that's factually true.
We wanna take Angel's soul away.
If we can't do it by giving him happiness,
well, by golly, we'll just have to do it
in the most painful way imaginable.
Find anything?
A six-course banquet of nothing
with a scoop of sod all as a palette cleanser.
I've had no better luck.
There must be something about this ascension somewhere.
Perhaps I should contact the Council,
maybe run a search through...
No, I don't...
It should be I that...
The Council isn't entirely aware that I'm letting you work for me.
Uh... with me.
I don't think they'd be very happy at the idea of the two of us collaborating.
Well, I wasn't about to burst into glorious song about it myself.
Why don't you call them?
I think the most expedient plan
would be to find these Books of Ascension themselves.
Buffy, you and Faith must find this demon, and soon.
I'll go back to the scene, see if I can track him.
Wait for Faith.
That could be hours.
The girl makes Godot look punctual.
I'll just go myself.
Buffy, this is a job for the both of you.
This demon could be anywhere.
If these books are as important as he says, he has good reason to hide.
Finding him's going to be extremely difficult.
Found your demon.
Fashion tip, Wes.
Mouth looks better closed.
Got the address.
I beat it out of Willie the Snitch personally.
You beat up Willie?
Sure.
Well, actually let's just say
I applied some pressure, or more accurately,
that I asked politely, and then...
OK, I bribed him.
How much?
28 bucks. Does the Council reimburse for that kind of stuff?
Did you get a receipt?
Damn!
I know this.
It's down by the bus station.
Not the nicest part of town.
Again, see? No standards.
Any self-respecting demon
should be living in a pit of filth or a nice crypt.
I'll remember to mention that.
Mention what?
Where we going, girlfriend?
Actually, I can handle this one solo.
Why should you get to have all the fun?
Share, share, that's fair, right?
Right. Found our demon.
Oh. Well, let's go look him up.
Is it me, or did it just get really cold in here?
Faith, careful.
Right.
Missed you last night.
Yeah, I was patrolling.
No shortage of scum you gotta watch in Sunnydale, right?
So I've heard.
Looks like somebody got here first.
Bettin' they got the books, too. Some hit.
This wasn't just a hit.
This is somebody's idea of a party.
Maybe the guy put up a fight.
We gotta get going.
Come on. Nothing we can do here now.
You coming?
Mint?
Didn't think so.
Well, scheduling a man of your talents
is quite the chore, I'll tell you.
Between the chanting and the sacrifice,
my golf game is shot.
But here... you are.
You know why I've summoned you.
Can you do it?
Need anything from me?
You're not much of a people person, are you?
You have risked great danger in calling on me.
The deadliest magics are needed
to rob this creature of its soul.
Big job, all right.
And so it shall be done.
Oh, that's just swell.
Listen, are you sure you don't want any?
'Cause they're low-calorie. Heh heh.
OK.
Are you OK?
You seem a little on edge.
Is there anything that's wrong?
It's nothing.
All right, all right.
Stop with the third degree.
It's Faith.
What about her?
I went to Angel's last night,
and Faith was there.
They looked sort of...
intimate.
No way. I know what you're thinking,
and no way!
You're right. Faith would never do that.
Faith would totally do that.
Faith was built to do that.
She's the "Do that" girl.
Comfort, remember? Comfort here.
I mean, please.
Does Angel come up to Faith's standards for a guy?
Let's see. Is he breathing?
Actually, no.
But, Buffy, Angel...
There's no way he would ever do that.
You're the only thing in the world to him.
Sometimes I wonder.
Angel and Faith have a lot in common...
and there's so much he doesn't tell me.
But it's so clear,
the way he feels about you.
Buffy, I, too, know the love of a taciturn man,
and you have to look at their actions.
I was.
Well, what did he say?
Say? You mean when I straightforwardly asked him what was going on?
So you bailed?
I couldn't. I mean, not then...
Hey, enough.
Stop with the crazy. Go talk to Angel.
But I just...
No. Go. I give you leave to go.
Thank you.
Faith.
Hey.
Sorry to bust in uninvited.
What do you want?
Look, I'm not so good at apologies,
mostly 'cause I think the world's out to screw me,
so I'm generally more owed than owing.
But I've been thinking about last night,
and I want you to know I'm really sorry.
It's all right, Faith.
No, it's not all right.
Yeah, I was freaked. I needed somebody,
but you're with Buffy. I should know better.
OK.
You don't trust me.
It's not that.
Hey, no problem. Join the club.
Look, Faith...
Look, I know what you're going through, all right?
I know how hard it can be.
It's important that you have somebody who's been there, OK,
who understands what you're going through...
and I wanna trust you.
Chump.
Yaa shay Tann, inna nafsak laa tatba'uk ba'd.
Yaa rufukayl al-'aZim, shattit nafsah fii anHaa'i...
Faith!
I wanted to do this the old-fashioned way,
but hey, your loss.
I got some tricks Buffy don't know yet.
You don't have to do this.
I know, but it's fun.
Now relax. It'll all be over soon.
No!
Yaa ruuh idhhabii! Yaa nafs idhhabii!
Utrukii ayyaah wa-'trukiih naHruuman wa-najisan!
[Groaning]
Thanks... so much.
It's good to have the taste of a slayer back in my mouth.
It's like cigarettes, you know?
Just when I thought I'd quit.
No, really. Don't get up.
Ohh... it's good to be back in Sunnydale.
Nice climate...
plenty to eat...
no tortured humanity to hold me down.
But you know what bothers me?
You don't seem to be getting the big picture here, Faith.
Now, I don't know why you turned me,
but let me tell ya...
I'm just glad you did.
I got my reasons.
Let me guess. You summoned back the true Angelus because...
you need a new boy toy.
Sorry. Doesn't work that way.
You wanna be smart, you listen to me.
Funny thing about vampires, Faith...
we don't establish meaningful dialogue with slayers.
Not how Buffy tells it.
Heh heh heh. I should've known you'd like it on top.
You wanna listen, or you wanna die?
Heh heh. As long as you're there, I mostly want you to wriggle.
But I'm listening.
Last time you got like this,
Buffy kicked your ass all the way back to hell.
Do you wanna do better this time?
Still listening.
Good boy.
Now, all you gotta do is play nice and call truce,
and I'll hook you up with the real power in this town.
Interested?
Very.
Then get ready to meet the new boss.
Wesley: Our enemy has us at a disadvantage.
We seem consistently to be one step behind him.
Now he has the Books of Ascension.
We must take definitive action.
You have the greatest voice.
Have you ever thought about doing books on tape?
Way to focus, C.C.
Yes, let's try to stay on track.
We need everyone working together here. Where's Angel?
I don't know.
I went to the mansion, but he wasn't there.
And Faith?
She's missing, too.
Which means nothing. Two unconnected events.
What should we do?
Buffy, I think you should try to retrieve the Books of Ascension.
Check out the mayor's office.
But be damn careful. Do not confront the mayor.
We don't know a thing about him.
I'll go home and stock up on weapons.
Slip into something a little more break-and-enterish.
Right. Willow,
how far did you get with the mayor's files?
Excuse me.
I believe Wesley is running this meeting.
It's, uh, it's quite all right. Willow?
It's all bad news.
By the time I got through the encryptions,
the files were empty.
I guess he saw me coming.
What about the Hall of Records?
Go to the source.
Good idea. There must be information on the mayor there.
Wesley, why don't you take the group
and start looking?
Right.
I'm in Wesley's group.
There is just the one group.
Yes, and I am in it.
Anyone mind if I skip the trip?
I'm gonna cruise town, keep my ear to the ground.
And I think 5's a crowd.
It really is.
I'll drive.
They liked your plan.
Anyone finds anything, check in with me.
Be careful.
So... can I keep him?
Let's just take things step by step for a moment.
Now, then, Angelus... May I call you Angel?
Well, actually, I'm thinking more along the lines
of you calling me Master.
Ahh. You know, Angelus, attitude may get you attention,
but courtesy wins respect.
Heh heh. I am the one responsible for your "new" attitude.
That's why I'm here.
No trouble with the transition? No side effects?
Hmm. Had a soul. Now I'm free.
That's terrific. Poetic, too.
Not that I read much poetry.
Except for those little ones in the Reader's Digest.
Some are quite catchy.
Hey, I don't mean to rush things here,
but are you trying to get to some kind of a point?
Heh. Kids today. Rush, rush, rush.
The point, Angel, is you're a very powerful young man. Good for Faith.
And there just may be a future for you here in Sunnydale.
I see you're admiring my letter opener.
Actually, I was thinking of stabbing you through the heart with it.
Please do.
Nice shot.
You see, I'm what you might call...
impervious.
Can't be killed or harmed in any way.
And that's just a cornerstone
in my plans for this great town of ours.
Hmm. Can't be killed,
but you don't like germs.
Ew. Awful things. Unsanitary.
But my question is, now that Faith has brought you back,
what are your intentions?
Well, gee, sir,
I thought I'd find that slayer that's giving you so much trouble
and torture, maim, and kill her.
Fine.
It's nice to see you're not one of those slacker types
running around town today.
Heh heh heh heh.
Torture Buffy.
Killing her's fine, just make it a slow one.
My favorite kind.
Wonderful. Wonderful.
We don't want a replacement slayer anytime soon.
They can't all turn out like my girl Faith. Heh heh.
Have fun.
Let's do it.
Uh... try to have her home by 11:00.
[Door Closes]
She's not a little girl anymore.
[Sniffles]
"I love when you talk, Wesley.
I love when you sing, Wesley."
Can you say the words "jail bait," Wesley?
Limey bastard.
Hey, guys. Man, where ya been?
You gotta find Buffy. She's going to her place and stock up...
That guy just bugs me.
Faith, Angel.
Hi, Joyce. Nice to see ya.
Is Buffy home?
Upstairs.
Please tell me it's not some vampire thing.
The only vampire here is me, Joyce.
Say... you change your hair?
Highlights.
It's nice.
Knock, knock.
Where have you guys been?
Lookin' for you. Good thing we found you before you left.
We got the books.
They're at the mansion.
We'd take 'em to Giles ourselves,
but I think strength in numbers is the way to go. Come on.
Let me get those for you.
OK, let's get the books someplace safe.
Where are they?
Actually... we have a slight change in plan, Buff.
"Buff'?
You just called...
What's the matter with you?
Nothing. Matter of fact,
I haven't felt this good in a long time.
Angel?
You know, I never properly thanked you
for sending me to hell.
No...
Yeah, and I'm just wondering.
Where do I start? Card? Fruit basket, huh?
- Evisceration? - No.
Yeah, I know what you're thinking.
Maybe there's still some good deep down inside of me
that remembers and loves you,
if only you could reach me.
Then again, we have reality.
I will kill you before I let you touch me.
Faith, we need to get out of here. Now.
Speak for yourself, B.
Me? I like it here.
One thing I learned about Buffy...
she's so cute when she's sleeping.
Hmm.
Hey, I know a way to make investigating the mayor even more boring.
On second thought, no, I don't.
Hey... whoa.
Whoa. Big "Hey, whoa." Guys, check this out.
Wow. Like father, like son.
How about like exact same guy like exact same guy?
Mayor Wilkins is over 100 years old.
He's not human.
I, uh, hate to spoil the mood,
but this is so much worse than you think.
Xander, what happened to you?
You know how some people hate to say I told you so?
Not me. I told you so.
Angel's back, in the really bad sense.
And, um, I told you so.
Angelus has turned?
Xander, this is terribly serious. Are you sure?
Gee, let me think.
Kinda hard to tell.
Last thing I remember is his fist.
We must contact Giles immediately.
Good thinkin'.
Let's waste time with a lively debate.
Leave Buffy alone, see how dead she gets.
Slow down, Xander. This isn't Wesley's fault.
Actually, it is.
Faith was your responsibility.
Guess who's Angel's new playmate.
Faith and Angel? Together?
Imagine the possibilities.
[Chains Rattling]
[Handcuffs Lock]
Mornin', sleepyhead.
You know what I just can't believe?
All of our time together, we never tried chains.
Well, can't dwell on the past.
Especially with the future we have ahead.
Bondage looks good on you, B.
The outfit's all wrong, but hey...
You don't know what you're doing.
Really? Weird, 'cause something about all this just feels so right.
Maybe it's one of those unhappy childhood things.
See, when I was a kid, I used to beg my mom for a dog.
Didn't matter what kind.
I just wanted, you know, something to love.
A dog's all I wanted.
Well, that and toys.
But Mom was so busy, you know,
enjoying the drinking and passing out parts of life
that I never really got what I wanted.
Until now.
Faith, listen to me very closely.
Angel's a killer.
When he's done with me, he'll turn on you.
She's right.
I probably will.
Yeah?
Huh.
Guess we'll just have to keep you around a while, then.
Before we get started, I just want you to know:
If you're a screamer, feel free.
Why, Faith?
What's in it for you?
What isn't?
You know, I come to Sunnydale, I'm a slayer,
I do my job kicking ass better than anyone.
What do I hear about everywhere I go?
Buffy.
So I slay, I behave,
I do the good little girl routine,
and who does everybody thank? Buffy.
That's not my fault.
Everyone always asks,
"Why can't you be more like Buffy?"
But did anyone ever ask if you could be more like me?
I know I didn't.
You get the watcher,
you get the mom, you get the little Scooby gang.
What do I get? Jack squat.
This was supposed to be my town.
Faith, listen to me.
Why? So you can impart some special Buffy wisdom?
That it?
Do you think you're better than me? Do you?
Say it. You think you're better than me.
I am.
Always have been.
Um, maybe you didn't notice.
Angel's with me.
And how did you get him, Faith?
Magic?
You cast some sort of spell?
Because in the real world,
Angel would never touch you, and we both know it.
You had to tie me up to beat me.
There's a word for people like you, Faith.
Loser.
Uh-huh. You're just trying to make me mad so I'll kill you.
But I'm too smart for that.
Stick around.
For what? Your boss's lame ascension?
Like I couldn't stop it.
You can't.
I will.
Keep dreaming. No one can stop the ascension.
Mayor's got it wired, B.
He built this town for demons to feed on,
and come graduation day, he's gettin' paid.
I'll be sittin' at his right hand.
Assuming he has hands after the transformation.
I'm not too clear on that part.
And all your little lame-ass friends
are gonna be kibbles and bits.
Think about that when your boyfriend's cutting into you.
I never knew you had so much rage in you.
What can I say?
I'm the world's best actor.
Second best.
Graduation day.
You think we missed anything?
I think we know everything she knows.
May I say something?
[Chains Drop]
Psych.
You played me. You played me!
What are you gonna do, B? Kill me?
You become me.
You're not ready for that.
Yet.
Are you OK?
The task is finished.
Yes. Thank you for coming to me
and for that rather effective light show you put on.
This restores the balance between us, Rupert Giles.
My debt to you is now repaid in full.
Do not call upon me again.
I shan't.
Peace with you.
And with you.
His debt to you is repaid? What did you do?
I introduced him to his wife.
Well, I, for one, protest.
You've pitted slayer against slayer
in a dangerous charade that could've gotten them both killed.
Without informing me!
I'm telling the Council.
I think you should.
We have a rogue slayer on our hands.
I can't think of anything more dangerous.
At least now we know.
And we know a little bit more about the ascension.
Graduation day.
There's a big, scary un-fun.
At least Angel's not bad, though.
That's good, right?
Yes. I feel so much better
knowing that he broke my face in the "good" way.
It's a "good" bruise.
He was only acting, Xander.
It was just an act.
Mayor: Well, you win some, you lose some.
From where I'm sitting, it's batting average that counts.
So you lost some friends.
I wouldn't exactly call them friends.
What are you worried about? Chin up.
You don't see me looking disappointed, do ya?
Heck no. You know why?
Because I know you'll always have me, Faith.
I'm the best, the most important friend you'll ever have.
Besides, once the ascension starts,
the "in crowd" you're so concerned about? Whoo!
They'll be lucky if there's enough of them left to fill a pothole.
Promise.
Still unhappy?
Hmm.
Okeydoke.
I've got two words
that are gonna make all the pain go away...
Miniature... golf.
How you doin'?
Been better.
Not hard to believe.
You were a real soldier last night, Buffy.
That's me.
One of the troops.
I know how hard it was for you.
I really doubt that.
If there's anything I can do to make it better...
Look, I know you only did what I asked,
and we got what we wanted.
I never wanted it to go that far.
I know that.
It's not even a question of that.
It's just after...
I need a little bit of a break.
Please?
You still my girl?
Always.
Grr! Arrgh!