Written by: Joss Whedon

Directed by: Joss Whedon

Transcribed by: AleXander Thompson for Psyche's Transcripts

Copyright © 1997 Alexander Thompson

Disclaimer

I do not own the characters in this story, nor do I own any rights to the television show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". They were created by Joss Whedon and belong to him, Mutant Enemy, Sandollar Television, Kuzui Enterprises, 20th Century Fox Television and the WB Television Network.

This is not a novelization or a script. It is a straightforward and dry transcript of the episode "When She Was Bad". It also includes descriptions of the settings, action scenes and camera movements where I felt they were needed.

I made every effort to accurately transcribe the dialogue from this episode. If you notice anything that is transcribed incorrectly, please let me know and I will post an update. rev 98.09.28

This episode was originally broadcast on September 15, 1997.

Teaser

In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.

The cemetery. The camera pans across it and over to the sidewalk along the border. Willow and Xander are on their way home. Xander has an ice cream cone and takes an occasional lick.

Willow: Okay, um...

Xander: It's your turn.

Willow: I, alright, okay, uh... 'In the few hours that we had together, we loved a lifetime's worth.'

Xander: Terminator.

Willow: Good! Great.

Xander: Um, oh, okay, I got one. (imitating Charlton Heston) 'It's a madhouse! A mad...'

Willow: (interrupts) Planet of the Apes.

Xander: Can I finish, please?

Willow: Oh! Sorry, go ahead.

Xander: '...house!' (indicates she may answer)

Willow: Planet of the Apes. Okay, good. Me. Uh...

Xander: Well?

Willow: I'm thinking. 'Use the Force, Luke.'

Xander: Do I even have to dignify that with a guess?

Willow: I couldn't think of anything. It's a dumb game anyway.

Xander: Well, what else do you wanna do? We already played rock, paper, scissors. My hands cramped up.

Willow: Well, yes, if you're always scissors of course your tendons are gonna strain...

Xander: (interrupts) Y'know, I just gotta say that this has been the most boring summer ever.

Willow: Yeah, but on the plus side no monsters or stuff.

She steps over to the wall and hops up to sit on it.

Xander: I'm just so restless! I'm actually looking forward to school startin' up again.

Willow: Yeah, and that wouldn't have anything to do with a certain girl we both know who is a Vampire Slayer?

Xander: Please, I'm so over her. Did she, uh, mention when she might be gettin' back? About which I do not care.

Willow: I haven't heard from her. I got a couple postcards when she went to L.A., but then, like, nothing.

Xander: Well, she's probably with her dad having a good time.

Willow: And you don't care?

Xander: Well, okay, there might be some interest. I'm a man. I have certain desires, certain needs...

Willow: Uhhh! I don't wanna know.

Xander: I got a movie for ya! (taps her nose with his ice cream)

Willow: (surprised) Xander!

Xander: You're Amish! You can't fight back... 'cause you're Amish! I mock you with my ice cream cone, Amish guy!

Willow: Witness. (pouty) My nose is cold.

Xander: Let me get that for ya. (leans in to lick off her nose)

Willow: Xander! (stops him)

Xander: I'm sorry, I can't help myself. Your nose looks so tasty.

He reaches up with his napkin and gently wipes off her nose. He takes much longer than he needs to and looks into her eyes. He brushes his hand against her cheek. After another moment he starts to move in for a kiss. She responds in kind and tilts her head. They stop just short of making contact and linger there a moment. Xander finally begins to pull back, and when he does he sees a vampire standing on the other side of the wall. Willow notices his glance and looks, too. She screams and jumps off of the wall as Xander pulls her away from the vampire.

Xander: Willow, go!

He puts himself between her and the vampire. She doesn't go, but watches as he punches the vampire in the face. The vampire isn't fazed. He grabs Xander and tries to bite. Xander struggles with him to keep from being bitten. After a few moments of wrestling a hand grabs the vampire by the shoulder and pulls him off of Xander. It's a girl, and she punches the vampire in the face, knees him in the crotch and flips him over onto his back. She turns to Willow and Xander.

Buffy: Hi, guys!

The vampire gets up. Buffy turns her attention back to him and kicks him in the chest, sending him flying into a tree, where he gets impaled on a dead branch and bursts into ashes. She turns back to Willow and Xander.

Buffy: Miss me?

Opening credits roll. Buffy's theme plays.

Act One

On the sidewalk.

Willow: Buffy!

Xander: Hey! (hugs her)

Buffy: Hey. Hey, Will! (hugs her)

Xander: (hugs Buffy again) Man, your timing really doesn't suck. (laughs)

Willow: When'd you get back?

Buffy: Uh, just now. Dad drove me down. And I figured you two losers would be getting into some kind of trouble.

Willow: I think we had the upper hand. I-in a subtle way.

Buffy: Does either of you even have a cross? Very sloppy.

Xander: Well, it's been a slow summer. I mean, that's the first vampire we've seen since you killed the Master.

Buffy: It's like they knew I was coming back.

They start to walk.

Xander: So, what about you? How was your summer? Did you slay anything?

Buffy: No. Uh, just hung out, partied some, shopping was also a major theme.

Xander: Well, you haven't lost your touch. That vampire...

Buffy: I did kinda wail on him, didn't I?

Xander: (notices) I like your hair.

Buffy: (giggles) So, how did you guys fare? Did you have any fun without me?

Xander: No.

Willow: Yes!

Xander: Uh, our summer was kinda yawnworthy. Our biggest excitement was burying the Master.

They stop walking.

Willow: That's right, you missed it. (points) Right out by that tree. (Buffy looks) Giles buried the bones and we poured holy water and we got to wear robes.

Xander: Very intense. You shoulda been.

Willow: Have you seen Giles?

Buffy: Why would I do that? I'll see him at school.

Xander: Man, I'm really glad you're back.

Buffy: (looks at the tree again) Me, too.

Cut to Buffy's room. Her dad is helping her mom unpack her things. Joyce opens a suitcase and looks through it.

Hank: Okay, then. This is the last of it. (puts another suitcase on the bed)

Joyce: More clothes?

Hank: Oh, do shoes count as clothes?

Joyce: How much shopping did you let her do?

Hank: Oh, I just thought I was saving you from the big back-to-school clothing nightmare. (unzips the suitcase)

Joyce: My nightmares of Buffy in school have nothing to do with clothes. Did she manage to stay out of trouble in L.A.?

Hank: She did, yeah. She was, um... you know, great.

Joyce: But?

Hank: She was just, I don't know, um... distant. Not brooding or sulking, just... there was no connection. The more time we spent together, the more I felt like she was nowhere to be seen.

Joyce: Hence the shoes?

Hank: (hands her the shoes) I may have overcompensated a little bit.

Joyce: Hmm.

Hank: It's so strange. You know, at least when she was burning stuff down I knew what to say.

Joyce: Well, welcome to my world. I haven't been able to get through to her for so long. I'll just be happy if she makes it through the school year.

Cut to Sunnydale High.

Cordelia: It was a nightmare, a total nightmare.

Cut to her and two friends coming down some stairs and walking across the quad.

Cordelia: I mean, they promised me they'd take me to St. Croix, and then they just decide to go to Tuscany. (exhales) Art and buildings? I was totally beachless for a month and a half. No one has suffered like I have. Of course I think that that kind of adversity builds character. Well, then I thought, I already have a lot of character. Is it possible to have too much character?

Snyder: The first day back. It always gets me.

Giles: Yes.

Cut to the two of them walking along the colonnade.

Snyder: I mean, it's incredible. One day the campus is completely bare. Empty. The next, there are children everywhere. Like locusts. Crawling around, mindlessly bent on feeding and mating. Destroying everything in sight in their relentless, pointless desire to exist.

They stop. Snyder looks around, observing the students.

Giles: I do enjoy these pep talks. Have you ever considered, given your abhorrence of children, school's principal was not, perhaps, your true vocation?

Snyder: Somebody's got to keep an eye on them. They're just a bunch of hormonal time bombs. (takes two steps away from Giles) Every time a pretty girl walks by every boy turns into a gibbering fool.

Giles spots Jenny coming towards them.

Giles: Ms. Calendar!

Jenny: Mr. Giles!

Giles: Well, I, uh, um... Hello!

Snyder: You see the way these kids gaze at each other... all moony.

Jenny: It's good to see you.

Giles: Yes.

Snyder: You think they're thinking about learning?

Giles: Uh, were you headed to the, uh, faculty room?

Jenny: Sounds like fun!

They head off to the faculty room leaving Snyder behind.

Snyder: I try and tell 'em about the important things in life. Discipline, responsibility, punctuality. Might as well be talking to myself.

Cut inside to the halls. They walk through the student lounge.

Giles: How was your summer?

Jenny: Extreme. I did Burning Man in Black Rock, ohhh, such a great festival, you should've been there. They had drum rituals, mobile sculptures, raves, naked mud dances, you would've just... hated it with a fiery passion!

Giles: I can't imagine finding any redeeming, uh... (stops at the base of the stairs) Naked?

Jenny: Hmm. And you probably spent all summer with your nose in a book.

Giles: Yes. I suppose you'd consider that frightfully dull.

Jenny: Depends on the book. (smiles)

Willow and Xander come down the stairs. Buffy is not far behind them.

Willow: Giles!

Xander: Yo! G-man! What's up?

Giles: Nice to see you. And don't ever call me that.

Jenny: Hi, kids.

Willow: Hi!

Buffy arrives now, too.

Giles: (to Buffy) How are you?

Buffy: Live and kicking.

Willow: Buffy killed a vampire last night.

They all look around to see if anyone overheard.

Buffy: Uh, I think you can get a little more volume if you speak from the diaphragm.

Willow: Sorry.

Jenny: (quietly) We've got vampires? I thought the Hellmouth was closed.

Giles: Well, it's, it's closed, but not gone. The mystical energy that emanates from it is still concentrated in this area.

Xander: Which means we're still the undead's favorite party town.

Giles: I wonder if they're here for any purpose, particularly.

Buffy: You're the Watcher. I just work here.

Giles: Yes, I-I must consult my books.

Xander: Oh, eight minutes and thirty-three seconds, pay up. (Willow hands him a dollar) I called ten minutes before you'd consult your books about something. (to Willow) Thanks.

The bell rings.

Willow: We better get to class.

They all start making their way to their classes.

Giles: Oh, uh, Buffy! (she looks back) Uh, I realize you've only just returned, but when you're ready I-I think we should start your training again.

Buffy: I'm ready. I'll see you after school. (starts to go again)

Giles: Well, I-I-I understand if, if you want a few days to...

Buffy: I'm ready. (leaves)

Cut to the library after school. Buffy does tumbling and kicking exercises that take her all around the library. Then they continue training with the quarterstaff. Buffy swings it at Giles' hand pads. He retreats as she hits. He ducks a swing but she continues around with the quarterstaff and knocks him back into the chairs by the table. Next she practices her punches on the wooden punching dummy. She has a flash of the Master and begins to go crazy on it, throwing continuous rapid punches.

Giles: Buffy, that's enough.

She keeps whaling on the dummy.

Giles: Buffy!

She kicks it, and it breaks.

Giles: Uh, safe to say you've stayed in shape.

Buffy: (breathing hard) I'm ready. Whatever they've got coming next, I'm ready. (bunches her hair above her head) Yeah.

Cut to an old brick warehouse. Cut inside.

Absalom: We have been put down, kinsmen. We have lost our way. We have lost the night. But despair is for the living. Where they are weak, we will be strong. Where they weep, we rejoice. Where they bleed, (laughs) we drink! Within three days a New Hope will arise. We will put our faith in him. (looks over at Collin) He will show us the way.

Act Two

The student lounge. Buffy is upstairs on a couch, off in her own world. Willow and Xander come up the stairs to her.

Xander: Buffy! (no response) Buffy!

Buffy: (back on earth) Fine! I'm fine.

Xander: Good! It's good that you're fine.

Willow sits on the couch opposite Buffy. Xander steps past Buffy and sits on the couch next to her.

Willow: What were you thinking about? (gets out an apple)

Buffy: Nothing.

Xander: Oh, c'mon, you can tell us. We're your bosom friends! The friends of your bosom!

He gets a power bar out of his bag.

Willow: Xander.

Xander winces at his power bar. Willow frowns at her apple. They toss them to each other over the table.

Buffy: I wasn't thinking anything, really.

Willow: What'd you do last night?

Buffy: Mm. Slept. I had weird dreams.

Xander: Dreams are meaningful.

Willow: Tsh! Tell me about it. The other night I dreamt that Xander... Uh, I-it wasn't Xander. I-in fact it wasn't me. It was a friend's dream, and she doesn't remember it.

Buffy: I bet she doesn't.

Giles: (finds them) Buffy!

Buffy: Giles! (gets up) What is it? You look worried.

Giles: This vampire activity, I think I know what they're up to.

Buffy: Well, we'll deal with it.

Giles: I hope it's that simple.

Buffy: It is not to worry. Trust me.

Giles: Oh, I don't know. I mean, (chuckles) I've killed you once, it shouldn't be too difficult to do it again.

Buffy: What?

Giles takes a hard backhand swing at her face, knocking her down onto the table between the two couches. He gets on top of her and begins to choke her. Xander and Willow just sit on the couches and chew away at their food. Willow smiles at Xander. Buffy reaches up to Giles' face and tries to push him off. She claws at him, and suddenly pulls off a mask, revealing the Master underneath. Buffy stares up at him in wide-eyed terror. Cut to Buffy's bedroom. She wakes from her nightmare with a start. She looks around and over at her open window. She sits up and rubs her face. When she looks back at her window again Angel is there, leaning against the sill.

Buffy: Hello.

Angel: Mind if I come in?

Buffy: Be my guest.

Angel: How are you?

Buffy: Peachy. So, is this a social call? It is kinda late. Or, well, it is for me, anyway. What is it for you, lunch hour?

Angel: It's not a social call.

Buffy: Ah. So, lemme guess. That means grave danger. Gosh, it's good to be home.

Angel: I'm sorry. I wish I had better news.

Buffy: So, some of your cousins are in town for a family barbecue, and we're all on the menu!

Angel: The Anointed One. He's been gathering forces somewhere in town. I'm not sure why.

Buffy: Guess I'll find out soon enough, huh?

Angel: You don't sound too concerned.

Buffy: I can handle myself. Besides, I could use a little action anyway.

Angel: Don't underestimate the Anointed One just because he looks like a child. He has power over the rest of them. They'll do anything for him.

Buffy: Is that it? Is that everything? Y'know, 'cause you woke me up from a really good dream.

She turns away from him and lies back down.

Angel: Sorry. I'll go. (turns around to go, but pauses) I missed you.

Buffy: (turns to the window) I missed you?

Angel is already gone. "It Doesn't Matter", by Alison Krauss, plays in the background.

Lyrics: It doesn't matter what I want / It doesn't matter what I need

Cut to Joyce's Jeep the next morning on the way to school.

Lyrics: It doesn't matter if I cry

Joyce: How are your new classes?

Buffy: Good.

Lyrics: Don't matter if I bleed

Joyce: Good. Is there the slightest chance that if I asked you what was wrong you would tell me?

Lyrics: You've been on a road

Buffy looks over at her mother.

Joyce: Course not. It would take all the fun out of guessing.

Lyrics: Don't know where it goes or where it leads

Cut to the halls at Buffy's locker.

Willow: Angel stopped by? Wow. Was there... Well, I mean, was it having to do with kissing?

Buffy: Willow, grow up. Not everything is about kissing.

Xander: (to Willow) Yeah. Some stuff's about groping. (to Buffy) It wasn't about groping?

Buffy: Okay, hormones on parade here? It was pure shoptalk. Remember vampires, pointy teeth, they walk by night, am I ringing a bell?

Willow: What did he say?

Buffy: Oh, something's up. (closes her locker) Nothing I can't handle.

They begin to walk down the hall to class.

Xander: Oh, hey, did you guys hear that Cibo Matto's gonna be at the Bronze tonight?

Willow: Cibo Matto? They're playing?

Xander: No, Willow, they're gonna be clog dancing.

Willow: Cibo Matto can clog dance? (gets a look from Xander) Oh, sarcasm, right.

Xander: We should attend, no?

Cordelia comes out of class and engages them in the hall.

Cordelia: Oh, look, it's the Three Musketeers.

They look at each other, not sure what to make of that.

Buffy: (to Xander) Was that an insult?

Xander: Kinda lacked punch.

Willow: The Three Musketeers were cool.

Cordelia: I see your point.

Xander: I woulda gone with Stooges.

Cordelia: Well, I just meant that you guys always hang out together. So, did you guys fight any demons this summer?

Willow: Uh, yes! Our own personal demons.

Xander: Uh, such as, as, as lust and, uh, thrift!

Buffy: I would have to go with Stooges also.

Cordelia: What are you guys talking about? I'm talking about big squiggly demons that came from the ground? Remember? Prom night? With all the vampires.

Buffy: Cordelia, your mouth is open and sound is coming from it. This is never good.

Xander: No. (takes Cordelia aside) It's, see, we can't mention that stuff in front of other people, Buffy being the Slayer and all.

Willow: You haven't been talking about our little adventure all summer, have you?

Cordelia: Are you nuts? Do you think I would tell people that I spent the whole evening with you? Besides, it was all so creepy. That Master guy? And all the screaming? I don't even like to think about it. (to Buffy) So your secret's safe with me.

Buffy: Well, that works out great. You won't tell anyone that I'm the Slayer, and I won't tell anyone you're a moron. (leaves)

Xander: Now, that was a good insult.

Willow: A little too good.

Cordelia: What's up with her?

Cut to the Bronze that night. People are gathering and going in. Cut inside. Cibo Matto is on stage playing "Spoon".

Lyrics: Don't, don't want the boys

Cut to Willow and Xander sitting at a table. She has a cup of ice cream.

Willow: I just think something's up is all.

Lyrics: Don't, don't note the heat

Xander: Willow, you're paranoid.

Willow: Buffy's never acted like this before. Ever since she got back she's... different.

Lyrics: Can't find a spoon...

Xander: Buffy's always been different.

Willow: She's never been mean.

Lyrics: ...that we have had

Xander: (exhales) Any sign of her? She said she was coming.

Lyrics: The sugar cubes...

Willow: No. The band's cool, though.

Xander: Yeah, cool.

Lyrics: ...can melt our mouth / We belong, yes, to-to-together

Willow dips her nose into her ice cream and smiles, trying to get Xander's attention.

Lyrics: We belong, yes, to-to-together / We belong, yes, to-to-together

Xander: (looks at her) You got somethin' on your nose.

Lyrics: We belong, yes, to-to-together / We belong, yes, to-to-together

The smile disappears from Willow's face, and she wipes the ice cream off with her napkin.

Lyrics: We belong, yes, to-to-together

Cut to the cemetery. Dissolve to the tree where the Master is buried. Four crosses mark his grave. A shovel stabs into the dirt and starts to dig. Another one joins in. The camera pans around to Absalom, Collin and two others watching the first two vampires dig.

Absalom: (to the other two) Don't just stand there. Dig! We have to hurry.

The other two get on their knees and begin to dig. The ground burns their hands.

Vampire: The ground is consecrated! It burns!

Collin: Dig.

The two vampires continue digging by hand. The grave is shallow, and they soon unearth the Master's skull. Cut to the Bronze. The band starts their next number, "Sugar Water".

Lyrics: The velocity of time... turns her voice into... sugar water

Buffy walks into the Bronze. Angel sees her come in and goes over to her.

Buffy: Hi.

Angel: Hi.

Buffy: So, is there danger at the Bronze? Should I beware?

Angel: I can't help thinking I've done something to make you angry. And that bothers me more than I'd like.

Buffy: I'm not angry. I don't know where that comes from.

Angel: What are you afraid of? Me? Us?

Buffy: Could you contemplate getting over yourself for a second? There's no 'us'. Look, Angel, I'm sorry if I was supposed to spend the summer mooning over you, but I didn't. I moved on. To the living.

She heads over to Willow and Xander's table. Cordelia watches her go by, and wonders about her attitude.

Lyrics: I'm on a concrete way / The wind is blowing...

Buffy: Hey!

Willow: Hi.

Xander: Hey.

Lyrics: ...to the north-northwest

Willow: What's wrong with Angel?

Buffy: Beats me.

Lyrics: It smells like sands of the southern island

Buffy: (to Xander) Let's dance. (pulls at his shirt)

Xander: Ooo-kay. (is pulled by his shirt to the dance floor)

Lyrics: When a black cat crosses my path

Buffy and Xander begin to slow dance. Her movements are very sensual.

Lyrics: A woman in the moon is singing to the earth / A woman in the moon is singing to the earth / La la la, la la la la la la / La la la, la la la la la la

Buffy turns around and spoons in against Xander, pulling his arms around her waist. She grinds her hips and shoulders against him.

Lyrics: La la la, la la la la la la / La la la, la la la la la la

She reaches up with her hand and strokes his face. Angel looks on jealously. Willow watches in disbelief. Buffy continues her grinding.

Lyrics: I'm riding on a camel that has big eyes / The buildings are changing into coconut trees / Little by little

Buffy turns to Xander and tilts her head up to his, close enough to kiss.

Buffy: Xander? Did I ever thank you... for saving my life?

Lyrics: When a black cat...

Xander: No.

Lyrics: ...crosses my path

Buffy slowly slithers around him, making sure not to lose contact with his body.

Lyrics: A woman in the moon is singing to the earth

Buffy: Don't you wish I would?

She breaks off, leaving him standing there. Xander isn't sure what to make of it all, but he knows he doesn't like it.

Lyrics: A woman in the moon is singing to the earth

Buffy goes back to their table and retrieves her jacket.

Lyrics: La la la, la la la la la la

She walks past Cordelia as she makes her way out of the Bronze. Angel follows her with his stare.

Lyrics: La la la, la la la la la la

Xander is still standing on the dance floor, upset and unsure how to react. Cut outside. Buffy exits the Bronze and walks down the alley at a quick pace. Cordelia follows her out.

Cordelia: Buffy. (Buffy stops) You're really campaigning for bitch-of-the-year, aren't you?

Buffy: (turns to face her) As defending champion, you nervous?

Cordelia: I can hold my own. You know, we've never really been close, which is nice, 'cause I don't really like you that much, but... you have on occasion saved the world and stuff, so I'm gonna... do you a favor.

Buffy: And this great favor is...

Cordelia: I'm gonna give you some advice. Get over it.

Buffy: Excuse me?

Cordelia: Whatever is causing the Joan Collins 'tude, deal with it. Embrace the pain, spank your inner moppet, whatever, but get over it. 'Cause pretty soon you're not even gonna have the loser friends you've got now.

Buffy: I think it's about time you start minding your own business.

Cordelia: It's long past.

Buffy: (turns and goes) Nighty-night. (flips up her hood)

Cordelia: I'll just see if Angel feels like dancing.

She is suddenly grabbed by two vampires coming out of the shadows and dragged into an adjacent building.

Part Two