Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1996–2003): Season 7, Episode 1 - Lessons - full transcript

Sunnydale High is re-opened, with a new designed campus and a new principal, Robin Wood. It is Dawn's first day at school there and Buffy accompanies her to class, only to discover evil spirits lurking in the basement.

Previously on
Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Tara? Oh, God!

Somebody!

- Things just got worse.
- How worse?

End of the world worse.
Willlow's going to destroy it.

I love you.

Things really suck lately.
That's all gonna change.

And I'm gonna be there
when it does.

Make me what I was.

We will return your soul.

It's about power...



Who's got it,
who knows how to use it.

So, who's got
the power, Dawn?

Well, I've got the stake.

- The stake is not the power.
- But he's new.

- He doesn't know
his strength.

He might not know all those fancy martial
arts skills they inevitably seem to pick up.

Who's got the power?

- He does.
- Never forget it.

It doesn't matter how well-prepped
you are or how well-armed you are.

You're a little girl.
Woman.

Little woman.
I'm taller than you.

He's a vampire.
Okay? Demon?

Preternaturally strong, skilled with
powers no human could possibly ever...

Excuse me...
I think I'm stuck.



You're stuck?

My foot's caught
on a root or something.

I don't even know
how I got down there.

If you girls could just
give me a hand?

So, he's got the power.

- Zip it.
- I really appreciate it. It's just so dark,

and I don't even know
what I'm doing here.

Whoa!

Whew. Thanks.
That was a help.

Unfortunately,
it was the last...

Thing you'll ever do.
Listen up. I'm the Slayer.

You don't want to get into it with me.
You want blood? You can have hers.

Power.
He's got it.

He's going to use it.
You don't have it, so...

Use that. Perfect.

Buffy!

It's real.
It's the only lesson, Dawn.

It's always real.
Let me see.

It's nothing.
It's just a scrape.

Plus, I had a plan
the whole time.

Really?
Yeah. I planned to...

get killed, come back as a vampire and
bite you. You wanted to be trained.

Well, just the next time...
You did pretty well.

I did?
Yeah.

'Cause, you know,
with the whole rolling thing,

I was actually using his strength,
and it was very tai chi.

Plus,
I nearly got the heart.

My first time out,
I missed the heart too.

No way.
Just the once.

Well, the next
vampire I meet...

The next vampire you meet,
you run away.

I just wish that was all
we had to worry about.

Vampires, demons, they're nothing
compared to what's coming.

I know. I just can't
believe it's back.

Believe me. I thought
I was long past it.

I guess you never are.

Just a few more days
till it starts,

and then we'll never know
what's coming next.

It is my great pleasure and privilege
to announce the official opening,

on the very ground
that it first stood upon,

of the brand-new,
state-of-the-art...

Sunnydale High!

That doesn't belong there.
No, it doesn't.

That's a flora kua Alaya.

Native of Paraguay,
if my botany serves.

Is there anything you don't
know everything about?

Synchronized swimming.
Complete mystery to me.

Yep. Paraguay.

Where does it come from?
Paraguay.

You brought it through the earth.
It's all connected...

The root system, the molecules,
the energy.

Everything's connected.

You sound like
Miss Hartness.

She's taught me a lot.

Then why aren't you
in your lesson?

Sorry.

- It's all right. She was just...
- Afraid.

Yeah.
They all are.

The coven is...

They're the most amazing women
I've ever met,

but there's this...
This look that they get,

like I'm gonna turn them all into
bangers and mash or something...

Which I'm not even really sure
what that is.

They're cautious.
I trust you understand that.

I don't have that much
power, I don't think.

Everything is connected.

You're connected to a great power,
whether you feel it or not.

Well, you should just
take it from me.

You know we can't.

This isn't a hobby
or an addiction.

It's inside you now,
this magic.

You're responsible
for it.

Will they always be afraid of me?
Maybe. Can you handle it?

I deserve a lot worse.

I killed people, Giles.

I've not forgotten.
When you brought me here,

I thought it was
to kill me...

or to lock me in some mystical
dungeon for all eternity...

or with the torture.

Instead, you go
all Dumbledore on me.

I'm learning about magic,

all about energy and Gaia
and root systems.

Do you want to be punished?

I wanna be Willow.

You are. In the end,
we all are who we are,

no matter how much we may
appear to have changed.

Dawn? Xander's here.

Just a minute!
You're gonna be late.

I'm comfortable
with that.

Morning. Well, you gotta eat something.
I made cereal.

Okay!
You're unconscionably spiffy.

Client meeting.
How exactly do you make cereal?

Ah. You put the box near the milk.
I saw it on the Food Channel.

You want something? I ate.
I'm good. How are you?

My sister's about to go to the same high
school that tried to kill me for three years,

I can't change districts, I
can't afford private school,

and I can't begin to prepare for what
could possibly come out of there.

So, peachy with a side of keen.
That would be me.

Well, here's a little
something for what ails ya.

Mmm. You got the rest?
Take a look.

Hey. Check out
double-O Xander.

Go. Talk with
your mouth full.

I've got two crews working on this
diabolical, yet lucrative, new campus.

One here,
finishing the science building,

and one here,
reinforcing the gym.

There are no pentagrams,
no secret passageways.

Everything's up to code
and safe as houses.

- Nothing creepy? Strange? From beyond?
- Maybe we're just paranoid?

Well, there is
one interesting detail.

I managed to scare up the plan
from the old high school.

You remember the very center
of Sunnydale's own Hellmouth?

Under the library.
Right.

So, I lined up the plans,
new and old,

and right exactly where the
library was, we now have...

Principal's office.

- So, the principal's evil?
- Or in a boatload of danger.

Well, the last two principals were eaten.
Who'd even apply for that job?

I guess we'll see. Oh,
we have to leave though.

- Do you have everything? Books? Lunch? Stakes?
- Check thrice.

Did you give her the...
No. I was saving it.

What is it?

Back-to-school gift.

It's a weapon,
isn't it?

Yes. It is.

I'm gonna take her to
class, have a look around.

Okay. I'll be on-site all day, so
if you have any needs. Thanks.

Now remember, if you see
anything strange or, you know,

dead...
Got it.

And stay away from hyena people,
or any lizardy-type athletes,

or if you see anyone that's invisible.
Hey, Buffy.

I think it's pretty safe to say I'm not
gonna see anybody that's invisible.

You know, you can still drop out.
Only nerds finish high school.

I don't really think it's fair for you to try
and scare me on my first day of high school,

'cause it is so redundant.
This place is evil.

Tough to let 'em go,
huh?

Hi? I'm Robin Wood,
the new principal.

Oh, uh, Buffy Summers.
This is Dawn.

- Nice to meet you.
- Hi.

So, you're the new principal.
I expected you to be more...

aged.

You seem a bit young to have
such a grown-up daughter.

- No.
- No, uh, sister.

Oh, right. Um.
Of course.

You didn't really think
she's my...

It's my hair.
I have mom hair.

No. I actually have heard
of you, Miss Summers.

You graduated from the old high school.
Am I right?

Um, yeah. How did you... I
better get back to work.

Gotta start deadening young minds. It's
really nice to meet you. You have fun.

That was suspicious.
You betcha. Bye.

Oh, Dawn! I know! You
never know what's coming.

The stake is not the power. To Serve Man
is a cookbook. I love you. Go away.

You know?
I know. Totally.

Okay. I'm Mr. Lonegrin.

Why don't we go around the room
and introduce ourselves, hmm?

Let's start with...

It's not mom hair.

You can't protect her.
Couldn't protect me.

Get out! Get back! Get out!

I love to dance.
I like music.

I'm very into Britney Spears's
early work, before she sold out.

So, mostly her finger painting
and macaroni art.

Very underrated.

Uh, favorite activities include not
ever having to do this again, and, uh...

- Dawn!
- What?

- We have to go. It's not safe.
- But...

We, um...
I mean, I saw...

Can I help you?

No. I, uh...

Dawn, I just thought you were in danger...
of smoking.

I'll be around.

I also have a sister.

♪ You've done for me
everything I ♪

♪ Have ever dreamed ♪

♪ You are a miracle ♪

♪ In my eyes ♪

♪ How do I ever
say to you ♪

God, they're depressing. Oh, who are they
kidding with that happy, shiny crap?

♪ Everyone I have ever ♪♪

Six weeks tops and she's
calling on me for vengeance.

Ooh, he better
run for cover.

What's that supposed to mean? Oh,
sweetie, you know exactly what it means.

Excuse me? It's the
talk of the order.

They're calling you Miss Soft Serve.
Tell me you don't know this.

But... Who?
Listen, Anya.

I know I've always been
a little competitive with you.

I mean, there was that thing in the
Crimean War. We laugh about it now.

The fact is I've actually
always looked up to you.

You were the single-most hard-core vengeance
demon on the roster, and everybody knew it.

Do I have to mention
Mrs. Cholgash?

Good times.

And then you lost
your powers.

It happens. And you fell
for this Xander guy.

It was a glitch, a summer thing. I
am so back in the vengeance fold.

No deaths, no eviscerations. You're not
goading women into anything inventive,

and you're not delivering
when it is.

I don't even know... That waitress
downtown, wished her husband was a frog?

You made him French.

He's smelly. And with the little
mustache, he... Listen, Anya.

If it was just me... What do
you mean if it was just you?

D'Hoffryn,
the lower beings...

They're all feeling
the heat.

Something's rising.

Something older than the old ones,
and everybody's tail is twitching.

This is a bad time
to be a good guy.

Well, what is this, an intervention?
Shouldn't all my demon friends be here?

Sweetie,

they are.

So, how's it lookin'? Does
the place pass inspection?

Oh, it's great,
if you're a zombie ghost thing.

So, school's back
in session, huh?

Seems like old times.

So, zombies or ghosts?
I'm not sure.

They were in the mirror,
but they disappeared.

Um, but they touched
me, I think.

Let's just start with dead and pissed.
They were after you personally?

They talked about protecting people.
Told me to leave. No damage though.

I think I may have destroyed Dawn's
social life in all of about 30 seconds,

but apart from that, no. Ah,
being popular isn't so great.

Or so I've read
in books.

This isn't a coincidence, you know.
The school being rebuilt.

It means something.
As in what?

Can I borrow
a pencil?

Thanks a lot.

Are you all right?

I'm sorry.

There was a bee. It flew in my eye.
I'm...

I'm very allergic.

I think it's gone.

- Can I go to the bathroom?
- Of course.

Guess it runs
in the family.

Ooh! Sorry.
Whoa.

Miss Summers. I didn't
know you were still about.

Uh, yeah. I was just looking for...
You know, I thought in general,

it was customary for a person
who's graduated to, um,

you know...
Go somewhere else.

Well, it's a new campus.
Just getting to know it.

You know, make sure
it's safe for my sister.

Hey.

What's wrong?

There's someone in here.

It's only me.

No.
It's not.

You know, I, um,
have to be honest.

I actually know a little bit more
about you than I let on before.

Isn't that interesting.
Oh, it really is.

Let's get you
out of here, okay?

Maybe we can get some air.

I'm Dawn.

Kit.

Saw something
pretty creepy, huh?

You wouldn't believe me.

I kinda sorta
think I will.

Was there a pencil
involved in any of...

Come on!

- Just breathe.
- Giles.

I... I... can't.
Goddess.

Just breathe.

What happened?

What do you remember?

We were talking,
and I felt...

I felt the earth.

It's all connected.

It is, but...

it's not all good
and pure and rootsy.

There's deep, deep black.
There's...

I saw...
I saw the earth, Giles.

I saw its teeth.
The Hellmouth.

It's gonna open.

It's gonna swallow
us all.

Hey. Hey,
wake up.

Please wake up.

Oh, God.

Are you okay?

We have to leave.

You're not wrong.

Come on. There's gotta
be a staircase.

The school board recommended I spend
a little time reading your record.

It's, um, quite a page-turner.
Kind of a checkered past.

Uh, more like a plaid.

Kind of a clan tartan
of badness, really.

Uh, you know,
but there were factors.

What did you see...

when I found you
in the stall?

A girl.

She said she died here, and that everybody
dies here and that we would too.

Here I was worried
about not fitting in.

Who are you?

Who are you?
Are you dead?

Stop sayin' that. Whoa.
We're not dead.

We saw creepy dead people, and
we're just trying to get out.

I just came down here for a
smoke, you know, and I saw a...

It was a janitor. He was yelling at me.
I thought he was just pissed, but...

I saw him
in the light.

Wait. You came
downstairs? Where?

Man, I got no clue.
I ran away like a girl.

I don't know
this place at all.

Okay. So we can
run around in circles...

You really think
you can run away?

- It's not real.
- Lesson one:

It's always real.

I tried to run too.

I tried to scream. It doesn't
matter how much you scream.

Nobody ever hears you.

Hear me! Right!
Oh! I got a present.

What is it?
A weapon.

Well, it's clear your sister looks
up to you, which I think is great...

No, she's much,
much worse than me.

Troublemaker. Expulsion is
really the only way to go.

You know, or you could suspend her for...
three years.

Well, how about we give her a chance first.
As long as she keeps her grades up...

Boy, that's loud. That's part of why
we don't allow cell phones in...

Excuse me. Yeah?

Uh, sorry. My dog.
Uh, dog walker.

Three dead?

Oh, my God.

Uh, no. I'll be right there.
Your dogs are dead?

And Buffy? Isn't this reception amazing?
I'm in the freaking basement.

- Okay.
- Sorry about that.

Um, I...
I have to...

Yeah, no. Of course. And good
luck with that... dog tragedy.

Help is on the way, guys.
We've just gotta figure out...

Where did they go?

Dawn!

- Dawn? I'm close by.
- Too late.

But then, you're always
too late, aren't you?

Sure as hell
didn't save me.

- Where's my sister?
- I think she's lost.

If I'm the one who let you die,
why take it out on her?

I'm right here.
Come on. What are you after?

Fear? Revenge?
Tasty brains?

I think I'd like
Dawn to be my girlfriend.

Again, wrong sister. I'm the
one that dates dead guys.

And no offense,
but they were hotties.

I mean, I'm sure
you had a great personality.

Were you busy making out
with your dead boyfriend...

while I was ripped to death
by a werewolf?

Is that why you
let me die?

I was screaming for help
when they pulled me down...

Hello! Not making myself clear.
I don't care how you died.

I'm sorry for your loss, but
where is my sister? Dawn!

She's not gonna hear you.
This place is like a maze.

This place is ours now. It
was built on our graves.

All we want is for you to
leave, so we can rest again.

Actually, I'm thinking all you want
is to get between me and that door.

Who's for finding out why?

If at first
you don't succeed,

cheat.

Dawnie,
we have to get o...

Spike.

Are you real?

Buffy, duck...
What?

Duck?
There's a duck?

No visitors today.
Terribly busy.

Told you he'd get out.

They'll probably
show up in a sec.

Nobody comes in here.

It's just
the three of us.

Have you seen Dawn? She came
down here with some kids.

Don't you think
I'm trying?

I'm not fast.
Not a quick study.

I dropped my board in the
water, and the chalk all ran.

Sure to be caned.

Should've seen
that coming.

What did you do?

I tried to...

I tried to cut it out.

- Dawn?
- Buffy, where are you?

I...

Where are you?

I don't know.
In a room by the furnace.

Near where we fell in. They dragged us
in here, and then they disappeared.

Yeah, they came after me too.
What do they want?

So far, to piss me off.
Please tell me it's working.

Oh, I'm damage-bound. I just can't
figure them. Ghosts can't touch you.

Zombies can't disappear. I don't
know what we're dealing...

- Not ghosts.
- Who was that?

Hold on.
You know what they are?

Manifest spirits controlled by a
talisman, raised to seek vengeance.

A four-year-old
could figure it.

Hang tight.
I'll find you.

These things can hurt you.
You can hurt them too.

Find a weapon.
I'll come for you.

- Spike, you gonna help me out?
- This is my home.

I belong here.
Always been here.

Cheers for stopping by.

It's in the walls.

I'll... get back to you.

Guys?

Resentful dead guys?

This can't be good.

Come on. Manifest spirits
raised up, controlled by a...

talisman.

Xander.

We need to find
some kind of a weapon,

just to hold them off.

- I got these.
- Kit, gimme your bag.

Do you think
they're gonna come back?

Think they're gonna come back?
We never left.

We'll always be here,
just like you.

No.

Why do you think
we picked you?

The ones no one will miss.
The ones that don't belong.

Spend all your time trying
to get out of high school,

and now you'll never,
ever leave.

Whoa.

Contracty goodness.

Talisman. Talisman.

You can thank
your sister for this.

Thanks, Sis. We just need
to keep them at bay.

The bag!

Yes!

Talisman.

You really wanna
keep this up?

What are you gonna do?
Kill us?

- Are they gone?
- Yeah.

The talisman must've
been destroyed.

How'd you know
it was a talisman?

There's always
a talisman.

The real question is
who put it there.

Come on, you guys.
Let's go find a way upstairs.

Assuming
there is one.

You really weren't kidding
about this place.

I guess
it hasn't changed.

I don't know.
Seems smaller.

You guys are
gonna be okay.

The school's intense, but you'll do
all right, as long as you're careful.

And, uh, you might wanna think
about stickin' together.

Thank you.

Yeah, I mean it. You are
the coolest mom ever.

Okay. Come on. We still have a few
more classes to live through.

"Curiouser and curiouser."

What is? Carlos Trejo and
Kit Hollburn, right?

Possibly the only two students in this school
whose files are as thick as yours was.

You really did your
homework, didn't you?

I was looking for one or both of them to
actually implode in a fearsome way...

right before midterms, but now I see
you got them socializing and hugging,

and actually, if I'm not
mistaken, headed to class.

Well, we shared
an... encounter.

Look. I know you're probably more
than happy to get out of this place,

but I gotta tell ya,
Miss Summers.

I think you belong here.
Hmm, new?

Listen. I know
this school's reputation.

What, you think I got
this job based on seniority?

We got a lot of troubled
students here,

and just enough money to keep
this place from caving in.

Yeah, you might need
a little extra there.

Well, we do have
a community outreach program,

and the money we could pay you
wouldn't even fold,

but it would just be
a couple of days a week?

Are you asking me
to be a counselor?

Well, we have a guidance counselor, but I
was thinking the kids could use someone,

you know, closer to
their age, who's still...

I'm in.

What? You serious? You did hear
the part about the money, right?

Yeah, I heard. My schedule
might be a little "funtastic,"

but, uh,
I'll work it out.

I'd like to keep an eye on this place.
That's great.

Look at that.
It's not even noon,

and I've already bullied my first
family member into helping out.

I'm gonna be
the best principal ever.

Everything is.

I had a speech.

I learned it all.

Oh, God. She won't understand.
She won't understand.

Of course she won't understand, Sparky.
I'm beyond her understanding.

She's a girl... with sugar and spice and
everything useless, unless you're baking.

I'm more than that.

More than flesh,
more than blood,

I'm... You know, I honestly don't think
there's a human word fabulous enough for me.

Oh, my name will be
on everyone's lips,

assuming their lips
haven't been torn off.

But not just yet.
That's all right though.

I can be patient.

Everything is
well within parameters.

She's exactly where
I want her to be,

and so are you,
Number 17.

You're right where you belong.

So, what did you think? You'd get your soul
back, and everything would be Jim-dandy?

A soul's slipperier than a greased weasel.
Why do you think I sold mine?

Well, you probably thought that you'd
be your own man, and I respect that.

But you never will.

You'll always be mine.

You'll always be
in the dark with me,

singing our little songs.

You like our little songs,
don't you?

You've always liked them.

Right from the beginning.

And that's where
we're going.

Right back
to the beginning.

Not the bang.
Not the word.

The true beginning.

The next few months are
going to be quite a ride,

and I think we're all going to learn
something about ourselves in the process.

You'll learn you're
a pathetic schmuck,

if it hasn't sunk in
already.

Look at you...

trying to do
what's right,

just like her.

You still don't get it.

It's not about right.
It's not about wrong.

It's about power.

Grr! Arrgh!