Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1996–2003): Season 5, Episode 19 - Tough Love - full transcript

When Tara falls victim to Glory's incredible power, Willow embraces dark magic and launches a counterattack.

Previously on
Buffy the vampire slayer.

Tell me what kind of demon
I'm fighting.

Glory isn't a demon.
She's a god.

We had to hide the key. Made
it human and sent it to you.

- Dawn.
- I'm not real.

You're the key.

Go. Before she finds you.
She's here.

I won't help her find the key. I
would never do that to an innocent...

- An innocent?
- It's not a person.

- What about the key?
- He indicated that it was a person.

I'll tell you
who the sodding key is.



The vampire is lying to me.

The slayer is going to kick
your lopsided ass.

- Professor Lillian?
- Buffy.

I'm sorry that I missed
the lecture today.

Was it good?

Um, of course it was.

Do you want me to try?

Yes, thanks. The slide is
stuck in the... thing.

Okay. Um, I just
came by to tell you...

That, uh, I have
to drop this class.

Um, all my classes,
actually.

I'm not finishing
the semester.

I wish, um...

I just... I can't be
in school right now.



I have to take care
of my sister.

Yes, i...
I thought you might.

I was very sorry
to hear about your loss.

Um, I have these forms from the registrar's
office that I need you to sign.

Oh. Yes.

Thanks.

Is there something else? No.

Yes. Yeah.

Um, I wanted to tell you
how much I enjoyed this class.

I mean, I know that
I wasn't the best student,

but I really learned a lot.

And I really like poetry.

I really do.

Ooh. Sorry.

I'm glad you
like poetry, Buffy.

I wish I had time for it,
but I just don't right now.

Well, maybe short poems.

Yeah, like those Japanese ones
that, um, sound like a sneeze.

Haiku?
Right.

Maybe those.

And hopefully, I'll be back next
semester when I'm more myself again.

Benjamin.

This is a pleasant surprise.

I'm sorry I'm late.
You're not late.

But, sir... you can't be late
to a job that you don't have.

Interestingly enough,
I've decided to give your job...

To someone
who will actually do it.

Honest to god, Ben. I've been
calling you for two weeks.

Where the hell you been?
I didn't wanna...

I'm sorry to fire you, but I
need somebody I can count on.

I haven't been here... i haven't
been here in two weeks.

There's an explanation
for this,

which I can't exactly
give you.

I... can I just tell you
it's not my fault?

Sure. You can also tell me that
the dog ate your homework...

Or maybe eating Twinkies
made you do it.

Or maybe, yeah, that there's really
a wicked, demonic creature...

Living inside you that takes
control of your body...

And forces you
to do its bidding.

Take responsibility
for your actions, Ben.

I... this...

You know, forget it.
Just forget it.

This is so unfair. You're
taking everything away from me.

Everything I worked for,
I earned, I care about.

These are my choices. This is
my life, and you're ruining it.

No. No.

Not here. Not now. Please.

I'm Ben. I'm Ben. I'm Ben.

I'm Ben. I'm Ben. I'm Ben.

I'm Ben. I'm Ben.

I'm hungry.

Ahh. They got this part
right, that's for sure.

Lot of sucky things
in this dimension.

Bubble baths?
Not one of 'em.

Know what I mean?

I am in thunderous
agreement,

oh glittering,
glistening glorificus.

I wasn't
talking to you.

Uh, begging your pardon,
and begging in general,

but were you
talking to me?

Eww. Yeah, right.

Like any of you
have ever bathed anyway.

Oh, but we do,
your scrumptiousness.

We bathe in your splendiferous
radiance, your aromatic...

How 'bout you shut up and listen to
me, you disgusting little fools?

Okay. Now I asked
for the key,

and you brought me
a vampire.

A pulseless, impure,
follicley-fried vampire.

Loofah.

So, what I think we have here...

Is a failure for you
to do your frickin' jobs!

Pardon my French.

Mimosa.

Mmm.

Vitamins.

So I think you better rack
your little Minion brains...

And tell me everything you saw when you
were spying on Buffy and her wacky pals.

Everything. Mmm.

Then I'll figure out
who the key is.

You lied to me?

I didn't lie e-exactly.
Really?

What about all the times I asked you
how school was, and you said "fine"?

Well, it was.

You didn't ask if I was
in it when it was fine.

I-I don't know
what to say.

I'm sure you're aware
that the past few months,

you know, have been
kind of hard for dawn.

Not that I'm saying
that's an excuse.

I understand. Your mother was a lovely
woman, and we'll all miss her very much.

I know how difficult
it must be.

It is, especially for dawn.
She's just a kid.

Well, I think
we both know...

That dawn is a lot more
than just a kid.

She's a talented young girl
with a sharp mind...

When she puts the effort in.

Look, I realize that there's
been some ball-dropping,

but I'm sure
this will all...

Dawn, why don't you wait
outside for a few minutes?

Honey, old saying: "A watched
customer never buys."

They would
if they were patriotic.

Okay, I'm going in.
Patriotic?

Yes. I've recently
come to realize...

There's more to me
than just being human.

I'm also
an American.

Yes, I suppose you are,
in a manner of speaking.

You were born here...
Your mortal self.

Well, that's right,
foreigner.

So I've been reading a lot
about the good ol' us of a,

embracing the extraordinarily
precious ideology...

That's helped
to shape and define it.

- Democracy?
- Capitalism:

A free market dependent on the profitable
exchange of goods for currency,

a system of symbiotic beauty
apparently lost on these old people.

Look at 'em...
Perusing the shelves,

undressing the merchandise
with their eyeballs...

All ogle, no cash.

It's not just annoying.
It's un-American.

Appalling. Almost as if they no
longer think money can buy happiness.

Totally
un-American.

You know what else is un-American?
French people.

- You don't say?
- From what I hear, they don't tip.

Now, French old people... that's really
the bottom of the barrel, you know?

An, how's about we try being a bit less
prejudiced and a bit more inclusive?

Not us, just you.

Fine. I'm gonna make
those fogies buy things.

Hey, what's up? It's dawn
Giovanni and the buffster.

Hi.
Hey, everybody.

I trust everything
went well at university.

Yep. I'm, uh,
all dropped out.

Good on you. Welcome
to the real world.

Lot of fun to be had
on the outside. You'll see.

Well, it's just for now. I'm thinking that
I'm probably gonna go back next semester.

And that's cool too. Whatever you
choose, you've got my support.

Just think of me as...

As your...

You know, I'm searching for supportive
things, and I'm coming up all bras.

So something slightly more
manly, think of me as that.

Seriously,
whatever you need.

Thank you. Actually, I need to
talk to Giles alone for a minute.

Cool. That's cool.

Dawn, why don't you get
started on your homework?

Uh, if you need help,
wil, could you...

Okay.

I just don't know
what I'm gonna do.

She's messing up. I'm messing up.
It's a mess.

You're going to have to
put your foot down with her.

I try. It's just my foot's
not used to being put down.

I want you to do it. You can
be the foot putting-downer.

No, Buffy,
I don't think I can.

Please?
Pretty please?

I mean, your foot
is way bigger than mine,

and you're so much
more a grown-up than me.

Dawn needs an authority figure,
a strong guiding hand.

She'll listen to you.

Just like
you always have.

I listen.

I do.

Well,
then perk up your ears.

I may be a grown-up,
but you're her family.

Her only
real family now.

She needs you
to do this.

Right. She needs me.

Me, the grown-up,

the authority figure,
the strong guiding hand,

and stompy foot that is me.

That's the spirit.

Okay. I can do this.

I know you can.

Please?
No.

Okay. Here we go.

Early to bed,
early to rise.

Balanced breakfasts, hospital corners.
It's a new beginning.

Discipline,
authority, order.

What is this? I thought I
told you to do your homework.

- I was.
- Please don't lie to me.

I'm not.

We were acting out
a geometry problem,

'cause I read this
really neat article...

That said
kids learn math better...

If you stimulate their,
uh, visual learning pattern.

You know, using the right
side of the brain...

Instead of
just the left?

Stuff like that.
Uh-huh.

So we made a triangle
with our bodies.

And that's when I called Xander
obtuse, and he got really grumpy,

and then dawn said we
were "acute" triangle,

and, well,
hilarity ensued.

Right. Well,
you know what I think?

I think maybe dawn should
do her homework at home.

B-but it was working.
I was really learning.

Please get your stuff.

Fine.
Don't listen to me.

Please don't be
grouchy with her.

Who among us can
resist the allure...

Of really funny
math puns?

It's really important that dawn
finishes her schoolwork right now.

Yeah, I know.

But we were having good,
clean, educational fun.

Then all of the sudden,
it was all gloom and doom...

And the outlawing
of human triangles.

It's really important...

That dawn finishes
her schoolwork right now.

I know it is, and I'm
a big fan of school.

You know me. I'm like...
Go school. It's your birthday.

Or something
to that effect.

Look, Willow, I know that you mean
well, but you just don't understand.

And there's no way that you could.
I do so understand.

You're stressed out.
I'm more than stressed out.

I'm freaked out.

Yeah. Well, maybe you
need a break to de-freak.

Hey, you could go to the world culture
fair if you want to with me and Tara.

I don't think so. Come on.
You can bring dawn.

It'll be fun. Good,
educational-type fun...

In a discipliney
sort of way.

I can't do it, wil.

Don't worry. It's not like
I don't have a life.

I do. I have dawn's life.

Ready?

So it's her.
Under our noses all this time.

I like the detail work
those monks did.

Quirks, foibles, passions.

It's all so cute, so...

Human, you know?

Pretty convincing,
really.

But not convincing enough.

You all know
your assignments.

I think it's time
to collect the key.

It wasn't anything,
really.

Buffy was just a little crabby
at dawn about her schoolwork.

Well, it's understandable.
Yeah, sure it is.

I'd totally be
blowing off classes...

If I were
in Dawnie's shoes.

Sweetie, you wouldn't blow off a
class if your head was on fire.

And I meant Buffy.

- Buffy what?
- Understandable... about the crabby.

She has to look
after dawn now.

Yeah, but not in a miss-minchin's-select-
seminary-for-girls way.

I mean, she's just gonna
make dawnie more rebellious.

I had to deal with my
brother's problems after...

I mean, you can't really
know what it's like to...

Yeah, I know that.

- I didn't mean to...
- No, I just...

I know I can't know
what you went through.

But I just...
It's no big.

I made you mad.
No. No.

All I meant was that...
It's okay.

This whole Buffy thing,
let's just forget it.

No, please. I mean... I mean, tell
me if I said something wrong.

Otherwise, I know I'll say it again,
probably often and in public.

No, I was snippy gal.

It's just... I know
I can't on some level...

It's like my opinion
isn't worth anything...

Because I haven't
been through...

I didn't lose my mom,
so I don't know.

Wil, I'm not the expert.

I mean,
I've only lost the one.

Do I act like
the big knowledge woman?

No.

Is that "no"
spelled y-e-s?

S-o-r-t of.

I mean,
I just feel like...

The junior partner.

You've been doing
everything longer than me.

You've been out
longer,

you've been practicing
witchcraft way longer.

But you're way beyond me there.
In just a few...

I mean, it frightens me
how powerful you're getting.

That's a weird word.

"Getting"?

It frightens you?
I frighten you?

That is so not what I meant. I
meant it impresses... impressive.

Well, I took psych 101.

I mean, I took it from an
evil government scientist...

Who was skewered by her Frankenstein-like
creation before the final,

but I know
what a Freudian slip is.

D-don't you trust me?

- With my life.
- That's not what I mean.

Can't we just go to the fair?

I don't feel real
multicultural right now.

What is it about me
that you don't trust?

It's not that.
I worry sometimes.

You're changing so much,
so fast.

I don't know
where you're heading.

- Where I'm heading?
- I'm saying everything wrong.

No, I think you're
being pretty clear.

This isn't about
the witch thing.

It's about the other
changes in my life.

I trust you. I just...

I don't know where I'm gonna
fit in in your life when...

When...
I change back?

Yeah, this is
a college thing,

just a little
experimentation...

Before I get over the thrill
and head back to boys town.

You think that?
Should I?

I'm really sorry that I didn't
establish my lesbo street cred...

Before I got into
this relationship.

You're the only woman
I've ever fallen in love with,

so how on earth could you
ever take me seriously?

Willow, please.
Have fun at the fair.

Okay, so I think
the next step...

Is to make a chart,
a schedule.

I'll write down all the things you're
supposed to do and when you have to do them,

and then I'll
leave a box next to it,

which you can mark with an "x"
when you've accomplished the task.

What? You want gold stars?

Okay, you can have
gold stars.

I don't want
gold stars.

I don't want
any of this.

I'm just trying
to give you a normal life.

Well, good luck.

What? What am I
doing wrong now?

This is for real,
dawn.

No, it's not.

I'm not real, so why would my
exciting graph of chores be real?

Who cares if a key gets
an education, anyway?

It's a chart,
not a graph.

And you are real.
Yeah?

Those monks put grades "k"
through eight in my head.

Can't we just wait and see
if they drop nine in there too?

Damn it, dawn! This is serious.

Why? Why should I care
about any of this?

Because
they'll take you away.

Take me away?

What do you mean?

They'll take you
away from me.

That's what your principal told
me when you weren't in the room.

If I can't make you
go to school,

then I won't be found fit
to be your legal guardian.

Where would I go?

I don't know.

Dad maybe...
Or foster care at...

I didn't really
want to ask.

You could've
told me that.

I just did.

Is this seat taken?

Well, I hope this
isn't a return.

Everyone wants petrified hamsters,
and they're never happy with them.

- You all right?
- Yeah.

Ah, yes, because your good mood
is both obvious and contagious.

I had a fight with Tara.
It was awful.

Oh, I'm sorry.
Me too.

You two don't quarrel much,
do you?

Never... until today.

Ah, well, it's over.
Over?

How can it be over?
I... I just found her.

- The quarrel is over.
- Oh.

Yeah.

And you'll feel better when
you've made your apologies...

And you'll know that you can
fight without the world ending.

I know it all seems bleak now,
but, as they say,

this too... shall pass.

Wow!

Now, what do
we have here?

Oh, he's one of those things
that work for glory.

Yes, how helpful.

I do, indeed,
work for the god.

Let me go if you do not
wish to incur her anger.

She's not here.

What a marvelous opportunity
for you and me to talk.

I will not
betray glorificus.

I will never talk, no matter
what heinous torture...

Actually, you're talking quite a lot,
just not about the right things.

Tell us why you're here.

No word
shall pass my lips...

That would bring peril
to glorificus.

Girls, get the twine that's on the counter.
Let's tie him up.

Aaah! Oh! Don't.
I'll tell you anything!

Please, whatever you want!
Just... I'll...

Anything.

- What happened?
- He changed his mind.

I'm... I'm supposed
to watch.

We're watching
the slayer's people,

while glory fetches the key.

- Glory knows who the key is?
- Oh, god.

- We've gotta call Buffy.
- Too late. Too late.

Glorificus will find the witch, and
there's nothing you can do to stop her.

Witch?
What do you mean?

- Tara.
- She's the new one among you. It wasn't hard to figure out.

The glorious one will have found her
by now. Willow, wait! I'll go with...

No! Call Buffy and go look in Tara's room!
I'm gonna check the fair!

Oh, this is nice.

Just hangin' out.
Just us girls.

- You like this sort of thing,
don't you?

AAA...
Don't... make a sound.

Nah, they won't help you.
I'd kill them.

You know that.

There's no one here
that can stop me.

I'll kill her and...
And them.

I'll kill... him...
And her and her.

And it'll
all be your fault.

It's kinda funny,
isn't it?

All these people here
and...

No one
who can do a thing.

Not a person
who can help you.

But that's people
for ya.

They're
pretty worthless.

But keys,
on the other hand...

Keys are worth a very lot.

You lying little tramp.
You're not the key!

You're nothing! Just another
worthless human being!

I didn't...
I hate being lied to.

It makes me feel
so betrayed.

Hey.

You wanna make it
all better?

If you tell me
who the key really is,

I'll let you go.

Think about it.

You think
your hand hurts?

Imagine what you'd
feel with my fingers...

Wiggling
in your brain.

It doesn't kill you.

What it does...

Is make you feel like you're
in a noisy little dark room,

naked and ashamed,

and there are things in the dark that
need to hurt you because you're bad.

Little pinching things
that go in your ears...

And crawl on the inside
of your skull.

And you know, if the noise
and the crawling would stop,

that you could remember
how to get out.

But you never, ever will.

Who is the key?

Fine. Let's get crazy.

Tara! Tara!

By the force of heart
and mindful power,

by waning time
and waxing hour,

I, um... when I decree...

Uh, what is it?
What is it?

No! Nooo!

That... that she I love
must now be free!

Tara!

No! Tara!

Tara, are you okay?

It's dirty.
It's all dirty.

And all over me.
Dirty. Dirty.

Oh, bad. Bad.

Tara.
Tara, I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

Can't she
go home now?

Unfortunately, no. Hospital policy
dictates we keep her for the night.

But does she have to? I can
take care of her at home.

It's poisoned.
Why didn't I tell you that?

It... it has to be
checked, though.

She your sister?

It has to be verified, of course.
Anyone can tell you that.

Of course, of course,
of course.

She's
my everything.

Well, you can get her released
first thing in the morning.

But she's got to spend one
night in the psych ward.

Just for observation.

We'll keep an eye on her, do a couple
basic tests, then you take her home.

Does that sound fair?

Well, you sit tight then, and I'll
send a nurse by in a few minutes...

To pick up Tara.

Man, words cannot express
how much I hate this place.

It's dreadful.

It's like communism.

Hey.
Wil, I'm so sorry.

They kill mice.

Tara.

I'm sorry it
took me so long.

But dawn's safe with spike,
so i...

I can stay as long
as you need.

I'm so scared.

Nothin' to be worried about,
kid. No one's gonna hurt you.

Oh, yeah?

The same no one
who did that to you?

What these?
It's just a few bruises.

Nothing to
write home about.

Hey, chin up, platelet.

Don't get scared.

Maybe glory doesn't
want to kill you.

- Maybe it's something...
- Worse?

Hey. You want to know what
I'm scared of, spike?

Me.

Right now,
glory thinks Tara's the key.

But I'm the key, spike.

I am.

And anything
that happens to Tara...

Is 'cause of me.

Your bruises, your limp...

That's all me too.

I'm like a lightning rod
for pain and hurt.

And everyone
around me suffers...

And dies.

I must be something
so horrible...

To cause so much pain...
And evil.

Rot.

What do you know?

I'm a vampire.

I know something
about evil.

You're not evil.

Maybe I'm not evil.

But I don't think
I can be good.

Well, I'm not good,
and I'm okay.

Don't! Please don't
with that treachery.

I told the cats.

And now I beg my mother,
sitting all alone.

Bye, Tara. I'll see you tomorrow.
I love you.

Willow, no.
It's just for one night.

Yeah, I know,
but it's a whole night.

I don't think
I can sleep without her.

You can sleep
with me.

Well, now, that came out a lot more
lesbian than it sounded in my head.

Wil, you just have to rest.

Okay, right now
there's nothing you can do.

Yes, there is.
No...

No way. You cannot even think
about taking on glory.

You saw what she did to Tara. I
can't let her get away with it.

No, you have to let her
get away with it.

Even I'm no match for her.
You know that.

But maybe I am.
You're not.

And I won't let you go. This
is not your choice. It's mine.

This is not the time.

When, Buffy?
When is?

When you feel like it? When it's someone
you love as much as I love Tara?

When it's dawn,
is that it?

When we have a chance.

We'll fight her
when we have a chance.

You wouldn't last five
minutes with her, Willow.

She's a god.

Fine. I'll wait.

It's the only way.

Yeah.

- Can I do anything?
- Just let me be alone.

You know, I think I'm a little
buzzed from eating that witch!

What a mind she had.

Mmm, nummy treat.

But is your grace not the
slightest bit concerned about...

What, about the slayer?
Don't be stupid.

I know I'm closing in.
The key's as good as mine.

Girl like Buffy's got
just so many friends.

All I gotta do is rip
through 'em, one by one...

Until I finally...

Did anybody order
an apocalypse?

Kali, Hera, Kronos, tonic...

Air like nector,
thick as onyx...

Cassiel
by your second star...

Oh, it's the lover.
That's so cute.

Hold mine victim,
as in tar.

I owe you pain!

It's all my fault. No.

Sweetheart,
it is not your fault.

How's Willow?

She was looking to go all
paybacky on glory for a minute,

but I cooled her
down a little.

Actually, a lot.

So she's not gonna
do anything rash then.

No.

I explained
there was no point.

Mm-hmm.

What?

You...
So you're saying that a...

Powerful and mightily
pissed-off witch...

Was plannin' on goin' and spillin'
herself a few pints of god blood...

Until you, what...
"explained"?

You think she... no.

I told Willow it would
be like suicide.

I'd do it.

Right person.

Person I loved.

I'd do it.

Think, Buffy,

if glory had
done that to me.

Shatter!

Is that it?
Is that the best you can do?

You think I care about all this...
the apartment, the clothes?

Now, sucking on
your girlfriend's mind?

That was something
to treasure.

What's this?
Bag of tricks?

Bag of knives.

Spirit of serpents
now appear.

Hissing, writhing,
striking near.

Now this is getting weak.

And so are you, honey.
Aren't ya?

No!

You know what they used to do
to witches, lover? Crucify 'em.

- They used to bow down to gods.
- Ha. Ooh!

Things change!

That witch
really slowed me down.

Thicken.

This isn't over, you hear me?!
It isn't over!

Chicken salad?
Right here.

Eggplant,
that's me.

Salami with...
Eww! Peanut butter?

Dawn. Yeah, like
eggplant is normal.

It's what,
half egg, half plant?

'Cause that's
just unnatural.

What's Tara got?

Oh, I got her tuna.
Does she like...

Tara?

Plastic and their sick sisters.

Six sick sisters.

- Willow?
- It's okay.

Let's just start slow today.

Buffy, could I have that?

Here you go.

That's my girl.

Can I help?

What are you gonna need?
I don't know.

They gave me a lot of stuff
to keep her calm.

They said I might have
to restrain her at night.

But...
Sometimes she's fine.

She looks at me
and...

She's fine.

- I'm sorry. I couldn't...
- It's okay. I can do this.

I'm gonna take care of her,
even if she never...

She's my girl.

I understand.

I know you do.

Hear that, baby?

You're my always.

I told you this wasn't over.

No! The place is cracking.
It's cracking!

Cracking!
No, no!

- No, Tara, it's okay.
- Oh, look at that.

Look at that.
Oh, the light.

Oh, it's so pure.

Such pure,
green energy.

Oh, it's so beautiful.

Grr! Arrgh!