Buffy: That was very... artistic.
Angel: Yeah.
Buffy: Wasn't what I expected. I've never actually seen... Well, from the title I thought it was about food.
Angel: Well there was food.
Buffy: Right. The, the scene with the, the food. So, feel like getting some hot chocolate? Or some cold shower?
Angel: Buffy, you don't have to worry about me.
Buffy: Just don't like to rub your nose in it. Suddenly wondering where that expression comes from.
Angel: Look, I don't need to see movies to get worked up. Just being around you does that just fine. Doesn't mean that I'm gonna lose control, that I'm going to be frustrated around you. It feels nice, just to feel.
Buffy: It doesn't drive you crazy, when we're close?
Angel: Watch this. *they share a long kiss* See? Safe as houses.
Faith: Check out the lust bunnies.
Buffy: Patrol?
*Faith nods.*
Angel: Council has you back on active duty?
Faith: Finally.
Angel: I'll see you soon.
Faith: Don't worry, big guy. Just keeping her warm for you.
*Faith and Buffy walk off, arm in arm.*
Faith: Gotta tell you, B. The willpower thing, nice job.
Buffy: Thanks.
Faith: But, the close but no cigar thing with Angel. I don't know if I could handle, you know, the way you're not handling it.
Buffy: Faith, when it comes to Angel, do me a favor. Duck!
Demon: Hold it, whoa! Stake me now, and you never find out what I got for ya, huh? Think about it. Demon seeks Slayers, highly unusual?
Faith: Talk fast.
Demon: How would you like to get your hands on the Books of Ascension?
Buffy: Never heard of 'em.
Demon: Books of Ascension. Very powerful works and I'm not talking about the prose. They deal with some, ah, dark stuff.
Mayor: And you say he has the Books of Ascension, or will soon, and he was, what, willing to sell them?
Faith: That's what I said.
Mayor: Hmm. You know what I wish? I wish you'd pull your hair back. I know, I know, fashion's not exactly my thing, but, gosh darn it, you know, you've got such a nice face. I can't understand why you hide it.
Faith: Yeah, sure. Whatever. It's just a matter of time before this demon guy is gonna spill. Then Buffy and the superfriends are gonna...
Mayor: You know, you worry too much for a girl for your age. That's unnecessary stress. Luckily, I've got just the thing. *he pours a glass of milk and hands it to Faith. She takes it, and holds it from the bottom like it's alien.* 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.
*Faith is still looking at the milk. She sets the glass down on the desk.*
Faith: And if Buffy gets to him first?
Mayor: 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. *he chuckles* Oh, come on, don't worry. Drink up. There's nothing uncool about healty teeth and bones.
Wesley: And you say this demon wanted cash? That's very unusual.
Giles: Demons after money. Whatever happened to the still beating heart of a virgin? No one has any standards anymore.
Xander: What's this Ascenscion mean?
Giles: I'm not sure.
Wesley: No, not really a common term in demonology.
Willow: Ooh ooh! The Marenschadt Text. I think in the section on genocide, they mention Ascenscion.
Buffy: Well, we have a winner.
Xander: And, more importantly, two losers.
Giles: Where did you find that volume?
Willow: In the top of your book cabinet with the stuff you try to keep hidden.
Xander: Hidden? Are there any engravings I should know about? Uh, frolicking nymphs of some kind?
Willow: No. Just magic secrets Giles doesn't think I'm ready for.
Giles: There's a reference here to the journal of Desmond Kane, pastor of a town called Sharpsville. "May 26, 1723. Tomorrow is the Ascenscion. God help us all." It was the last anyone heard.
Wesley: Of Kane?
Giles: Of Sharpsville. The town more or less disappeared.
*Cordelia marches into the library and approaches Wesley.* Cordelia: I have something important to ask you.
Xander: Important? Let's start calculating those odds, people.
Cordelia: What are you doing Friday night?
Wesley: Uh, I, uh, as always my sacred duty as a Watcher prevents me from, ah... Why?
Cordelia: I have a paper to write for English and you're English, so I thought ... *she sees Buffy and Xander watching* What? Is it so wrong to be getting an insider's perspective? *she turns back to Wesley* I study best in a good restaurant, around eightish? Think it over?
*Cordelia leaves, self-assured. Wesley is speechless.*
Xander: And on the day the words "flimsy excuse" were redefined, we stood in awe and watched.
Demon: Hey, Slayer! You know, I wasn't expecting company. Give me a minute and I'll have the place tidied up for you.
Faith: You got the books?
Demon: Well, that depends. You got my money?
*Faith decks him.* Demon: You're tough in negotiations and I respect that. Check 'em out. Now ah, that is quality merchandise. That's worth five grand easy.
Faith: Books of Ascenscion.
Demon: Mm hmm. Original editions and everything. Uh, great condition. Okay, it's a little worn on one spine, some slight foxing, but otherwise, perfect. Now, the five grand, it's ah, you know, negotiable.
Faith: I don't like to haggle.
*She pulls a knife out of her jacket and stabs him. He struggles and they roll on the floor, but she eventually kills him, his body on top of her. When she pushes the body off, it seems to take her more effort then it should, given her strength. She stares at the blood on her hands, horified.*
Faith: Angel. I got nowhere else to go. Look, I hate asking for help, but I'm asking, 'cause, uh, I'm in trouble. I'm in trouble. The real bad kind.
Angel: It's okay.
Faith: No, it's a couple of county lines over from okay, believe me.
Faith: I'm scaring myself.
Angel: I know the feeling.
Faith: That's why I came to you. I don't want to get all twelve steppy, but remember when you told me that killing people would make me feel like some kind of god? *she holds out her hands; they're still covered in the demon's blood* 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.
Angel: Faith, you need help. You can't do this alone.
Faith: 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.
Angel: Not like me. I didn't have a choice. But you do. You can stop this.
Faith: Angel, I'm so scared. *she hugs him* Angel: It's alright, shh, it's okay.
*As they seperate, Faith hesitates and they're almost kissing. Angel pulls away.*
Angel: Whoa. Faith, I... look, I can be here for you. But not like that, all right? I'm with Buffy.
Faith: Buffy, yeah. I didn't mean it like that.
Faith: You love her, don't you?
Angel: I love her.
Faith: Good for you. The two of you, you're lucky. Friends?
Angel: Yeah, we're friends.
Faith: Then I'm lucky too.
Faith: 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 would be different, too?
Angel: We'll never know.
Faith: Right. How could we?
Angel: Take care of yourself.
Faith: Lifetime of practice.
*She kisses Angel on the cheek before leaving*
Mayor: 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.
Faith: I was thinking more along the lines of a long weekend, but okay.
Mayor: There's more than one way to skin a cat. And I happen to know that's factually true. We want to 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.
Wesley: Find anything?
Giles: Six course banquet of nothing with a scoop of sod-all as a palate closer.
Giles: Perhaps I should contact the Council, maybe run a search...
Wesley: No. I don't, uh, it should be I that ... The Council isn't entirely aware that I'm letting you work for me-- um, with me. I don't think they'd be very happy at the idea of the two of us collaborating.
Giles: Well I wasn't about to burst into glorious song about it myself.
Xander: Got the address. I beat it out of Willy the snitch personally.
Buffy: You beat up Willy?
Xander: Sure! Well, actually, let's just say I applied some pressure. Or more accurately, that I asked politely, and then, uh, okay, I bribed him.
Buffy: How much?
Xander: Twenty-eight bucks. Does the Council reimburse for that kind of stuff?
Giles: Did you get a receipt?
Xander: Damn.
Buffy: It's down by the bus station. Not the nicest part of town.
Giles: Again. See, no standards. I mean, any self-respecting demon should be living in a pit of filth or a nice crypt.
Faith: Where we going, girlfriend?
Buffy: Actually, I can handle this one solo.
Faith: Why should you get to have all the fun? Share, share, that's fair, right?
Buffy: Right. Got our demon.
Faith: Oh, well, let's go look him up.
*Buffy walks out quickly and Faith follows her.* Xander: Is it me or did it just get really cold in here?
Buffy: Missed you last night.
Faith: Yeah, I was patrolling. No shortage of scum you gotta watch in Sunnydale, right?
Buffy: So I've heard.
*Buffy & Faith find the body of the demon*
Buffy: Looks like somebody got here first.
Faith: Betting they got the books, too. Some hit.
Buffy: This wasn't just a hit. This was somebody's idea of a party.
Faith: *disterbed* Maybe the guy put up a fight. *getting freaky* We gotta get going. Come on, nothing we can do here now. You coming?
Buffy: I went to Angel's last night and Faith was there. They looked sort of intimate.
Willow: No way. I know what you're thinking and no way!
Buffy: You're right. Faith would never do that.
Willow: Faith would totally do that. Faith was built to do that. She's the do that girl.
Buffy: *freaking* Comfort, remember comfort, here?
Willow: *Willow's really getting into the anti-Faith rant* I mean, please, does Angel come up to Faith's standards for a guy? Let's see, is he breathing?
Buffy: Actually, no.
Willow: *calming* But Buffy, Angel. There's no way he would ever do that. I mean, you're the only thing in the world to him.
Buffy: Sometimes I wonder. Angel and Faith have a lot in common.
Willow: Well, what did he say?
Buffy: Say? You mean when I straightforwardly asked him what was going on?
Willow: So you bailed?
Buffy: I couldn't. I mean, not...
Willow: Enough. Stop with the crazy. Go talk to Angel.
Buffy: But I ...
Willow: No. Go. I give you leave to go. *She points her finger* Buffy: Thank you.
Faith: Hey. Sorry to bust in uninvited.
Angel: What do you want?
Faith: Look, I'm not so good at apologies. Mostly because I think the world's out to screw me so I'm generally more owed than owing.
Faith: You don't trust me.
Angel: It's not that.
Faith: Hey, no problem. Join the club.
Angel: Look, Faith. I know what you're going through, alright, and how hard it can be. It's important you have somebody who's been there and who understands what you're going through. *Angel puts his hands on Faith's shoulders and turns her around to face him* Look, I want to trust you.
Faith: Chump.
Faith: I wanted to do this the old-fashioned way, but hey, your loss. Lucky I've got some tricks Buffy don't know yet.
Angel: You don't have to do this.
Faith: I know, but it's fun. Now relax, it'll be over soon.
Angel: 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.
Angel: 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 I'm just glad you did.
Faith: I've got my reasons.
Angel: Let me guess. You summoned back the true Angelus because you need a new boy toy. Doesn't work that way.
Angel: Funny thing about vampires, Faith. We don't establish meaningful dialogue with Slayers.
Faith: Not how Buffy tells it.
Angel: I should have known you'd like it on top.
Faith: You want to listen or you want to die?
Angel: As long as you're there, I mostly want you to wriggle. But I'm listening.
Faith: Now all you got to do is play nice and call truce and I'll hook you up with the real power in this town. Interested?
Angel: Very.
Faith: Then get ready to meet the new boss.
Wesley: Our enemy has us at a disadvantage. We seem to be consistently one step behind him. Now he has the Books of Ascenscion. We must take definitive action.
Cordelia: You have the greatest voice. Have you ever thought about doing books on tape?
Xander: Way to focus CC.
Giles: Wesley, why don't you take the group and start looking?
Wesley: Right.
Cordelia: I'm in Wesley's group.
Giles: There is just the one group.
Cordelia: Yes! And I am in it.
Faith: So, can I keep him?
Mayor: Let's just take things step by step for the moment. Now then, Angelus, may I call you Angel?
Angel: Well, actually, I'm thinking more along the lines of you calling me Master.
Mayor: Ah. You know, Angelus, attitude may get you attention, but courtesy wins respect.
Angel: Hey, I don't mean to rush things here but are you trying to get to some kind of point?
Mayor: Kids today. Rush rush rush. Well the point, Angel, is you're a very powerful young man, good for Faith, and there just may be future for you in Sunnydale. I see you're admiring my letter opener.
Angel: Well, actually, I was thinking of stabbing you through the heart with it.
Mayor: 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.
Angel: Mmmm. Can't be killed, but you don't like germs?
Mayor: Uck, eew, awful things, unsanitary. But my question is, now that Faith has brought you back, what are your intentions?
Angel: Well, gee, sir, I thought I'd find that Slayer that's given you so much trouble and torture, maim, and kill her.
Mayor: Fine! You know it's nice to see you're not one of those slacker types running around town today. Torture Buffy. Killing her's fine, just make it a slow one.
Angel: My favorite kind.
Mayor: We don't want a replacement Slayer anytime soon. They can't all turn out like my girl Faith. Have fun.
Faith: Let's do it.
Mayor: Uh, try to have her home by eleven. *Angel and Faith leave.* She's not a little girl anymore.
Xander: I love when you talk, Wesley. I love when you sing, Wesley. Can you say the words jailbait, Wesley? Limey bastard.
Buffy: Okay, let's get the books someplace safe. Where are they?
Angel: Actually, there's been a slight change in plan, Buff.
Buffy: Buff? You just called ... What's the matter with you?
Angel: Nothing. Matter of act, I haven't felt this good in a long time.
Buffy: No.
Angel: Yeah, and I'm just wondering where do I start? Card? Fruit basket? Evisceration?
Buffy: No.
Angel: 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.
Buffy: I will kill you before I let you touch me. Faith, we need to get out of here, now.
Faith: Speak for yourself, B. Me, I like it here.
Angel: One thing I learned about Buffy, she's so cute when she's sleeping.
Willow: Xander, what happened to you?
Xander: 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 uh, I told you so.
Wesley: Angelus has turned? Xander, this is terribly serious. Are you sure?
Xander: Gee, let me think. Kind of hard to tell. Last thing I remember was his fist.
Xander: Let's waste time with a lively debate. Leave Buffy alone. See how dead she gets.
Cordelia: Slow down, Xander. This isn't Wesley's fault.
Xander: Actually, it is. Faith was your responsibility. Guess who's Angel's new playmate?
Willow: Faith and Angel? Together?
Xander: Imagine the possibilities.
Faith: Bondage looks good on you, B. The outfit's all wrong, but, hey!
Buffy: You don't know what you're doing.
Faith: Really? Weird, because 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.
Buffy: Faith, listen to me very closely. Angel's a killer. When he's done with me, he'll turn on you.
Angel: She's right. I probably will.
Faith: Yeah? Hunh. Guess we'll just have to keep you around for a while then. Before we get started, I just want you to know, if you're a screamer, feel free.
Buffy: Why, Faith? What's in it for you?
Faith: What isn't? You know, I come to Sunnydale. I'm the 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's everybody thank? Buffy.
Buffy: Faith, listen to me!
Faith: 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.
Buffy: I am. Always have been.
Buffy: You had to tie me up to beat me. There's a word for people like you, Faith. Loser.
Faith: Mayor's got it wired, B. He built this town for demons to feed on and come graduation day, he's getting paid. And I'll be sitting 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 going to be kibbles'n'bits. Think about that when your boyfriends cutting into you.
Buffy: I never knew you had so much rage in you.
Faith: What can I say? I'm the world's best actor.
Mage: The task is finished.
Giles: Yes. Thank you for coming to me and for that rather effective light show you put on.
Mage: This restores the balance between us, Rupert Giles. My debt to you is now repaid in full. Do not call upon me.
Giles: I shan't. Peace with you.
Mage: And with you.
Wesley: Well, I for one protest. You pitted Slayer against Slayer in a dangerous charade that could've gotten them both killed, without informing me! I'm telling the Council!
Giles: I think you should. We have a rogue Slayer on our hands. I can't think of anything more dangerous.
Buffy: At least now we know.
Giles: And we know a little bit more about the Ascenscion.
Willow: Graduation day. There's a big scary un-fun. At least Angel's not bad, though. That's good, right?
Xander: Yes, I feel so much better knowing that he broke my face in a good way. It's a good bruise.
Mayor: Well, you win some, you lose some. From where I'm sitting, it's batting average that counts. So you lost some friends.
Faith: I wouldn't exactly call them friends.
Mayor: Well, what are you worried about? Chin up! You don't see me looking disappointed. 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, you know, once the Ascenscion starts, the 'in' crowd you're so concerned about? Whoo! They'll be lucky if there's enough left of them to fill a pothole. Promise. Still unhappy? Okey doke. I've got two words that are going to make all the pain go away; Miniature golf.
Angel: How you doing?
Buffy: Been better.
Angel: Not hard to believe. You were a real soldier last night, Buffy.
Buffy: That's me. One of the troops.
Angel: I know how hard it was for you.
Buffy: I really doubt that.
