Entropy

Writer: Drew Greenberg Director : James A. Contner

Cast : Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers, Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris, Emma Caulfield as Anya, Michelle Trachtenberg as Dawn Summers, James Marsters as Spike, Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg.

Main guest stars : Amber Benson as Tara, Danny Strong as Jonathan, Adam Busch as Warren, Tom Lenk as Andrew.

Original broadcast date : April 30, 2002

My one-line description: You don¹t always need a wish to get revenge.

In a cemetery, Jonathan, Warren and Andrew, on all-terrain vehicles armed with spikes (!) are chasing a couple of vampires. They get close, but no banana, as they knock into a headstone and collide. Warren yells that they “need that disk”, as the two vampires run out the gatesŠ Into the awaiting arms, so to speak, of the Slayer. She attacks one of them, forcing it to drop a metal disk it was holding. As Warren, unbeknownst to Buffy, snatches it up, Spike, perched upon the wall, grabs the other vampire by the collar and pulls him up. As Buffy fights the first vampire, they chat ­ Spike again asks her about telling her friends about them, but she brushes off the issue ­ and dusts the vampire. Spike lets go of the second vampire, asking at the same time why Buffy won¹t sleep with him. After she dusts the vampire, she turns away from him, saying, “Because I don¹t love you.”

In his apartment, Xander lies on the floor, guzzling beer and listening to music, looking very depressed. Finally, he gets up and goes for a walk. As he passes some bushes, Anya, watches him goŠ

The next day, Willow meets up with Tara after class and awkwardly asks her out for coffee. It¹s quite apparent the two are in the process of making up, smiling at each other as they areŠ Meanwhile, Buffy has taken Dawn out on a shopping date, but it proves rather difficult, since Dawn has stolen stuff from most of the stores and, although she¹s returned what she still had and is paying for the rest, she can¹t really go in. They finally find a pet shop, and Dawn obliges by accepting to go see the puppies.

In the nerds¹ basement, Jonathan is working some mojo on the disk, as an eager Warren looks on. Jonathan acts very distant, telling Warrant that after this, they all go their separate ways. Warren agrees, then walks away. He and Andrew talk discreetly about how increasingly untrustworthy Jonathan is getting to be, and Warren reassures Andrew ­ they won¹t have to trust him much longer.

Xander comes home and finds Anya in his apartment. Startled, he launches into a very sincere apology for his behaviour, but she won¹t have any of it. She asks him if he still wants to marry her, and he hesitates before answering that someday, yes, when they¹re both ready, he¹ll want to. He professes his love for her and confesses to being an idiot. With her back turned to him, she turns into her freshly-restored vengeance demon face, and starts to wish him some really bad things ­ like having his intestines tied into a knot. It doesn¹t work, however, even though he tells her that he is definitely aching. Angry, she storms outŠ

The next day, over coffee, Anya learns from Halfrek why her vengeance wishes didn¹t work ­ she can¹t grant her own wishes. Halfrek suggests she get someone else to wish Xander harm.

At the Summers house, Buffy ­ obviously still trying to get forgiveness for the whole basement deal in Normal Again ­ is making a hearty breakfast for Dawn. Lil¹Sis is impressed, for sure, by the pancakes and all the different kinds of syrup. But then she tells Buffy that she doesn¹t have to try so hard to be forgiven. As Buffy panics, wondering when exactly she turned into the mom who tries too hard, Dawn explains that instead of Buffy hanging out with her, she¹d like to be the one hanging out with BuffyŠ on patrol. But that¹s something Buffy isn¹t ready to accept ­ she reminds Dawn that she works very hard to keep her safe from that world.

On an outside terrace, Willow and Tara are having coffee, just catching up on events. Anya arrives, and after the two girls, really glad to see her, hug her and invite her to sit down, she starts talking about her pain at Xander¹s betrayal. In a series of overlapping sequences, Anya tries to trick Willow and Tara (on the terrace), Dawn (at the Magic Box) and Buffy (on her porch) into wishing Xander harm. But all of them, although they prove very understanding, diplomatically shy away from cursing Xander from what he did.

Increasingly frustrated at not getting what she wants, Anya blows up at Xander as he walks up to her and Buffy. Congratulating him on the fact that they all still love him, she storms off. Xander wants to go after her, but Buffy holds him back. Angry, he kicks at a plastic gnome sitting on Buffy¹s lawn. Noticing the ugly thing for the first time, Buffy is outraged that someone would display such poor taste (“Did Willow put it there? Because if I¹d known, I¹d have crawled out of my grave much earlierŠ”). But then Xander discovers that the gnome actually hides a small camera, filming Buffy¹s house.

Xander, of course, immediately suspects Spike. Hence, Buffy¹s visit to the vampire¹s crypt, where she questions him about the camera. Rather offended, he denies having anything to do with it and tells her he would never spy on her. He reminds her that he loves her, and that the changes he¹s undergone because of her are real. Buffy answers that she believes they¹re realŠ for him. Angry, Spike tells her to get out. Nonplussed, she leaves.

At the Magic Box, Anya is telling Halfrek about her failed attempts to get Xander¹s friend to wish him harm. Halfrek tells her that she needs to find someone who wouldn¹t care what happened to Xander, and just as Anya wonders aloud where she might find such a person, Spike walks in. Halfrek discreetly leaves, and Spike asks Anya if she has some substance against the pain he¹s feeling. Anya answers that she does, and produces a bottle of Jack DanielsŠ

As Willow tries to hack into the camera network via her laptop, Jonathan finally completes his mojo on the disk. He drops some powder on it, and it glows bright, highlighting a spot on a map of Sunnydale laid on the floor. Warren rejoices that they found their target, but the energy from the disk also has the regrettable side-effect of setting the map on fireŠ

At the Magic Box, Anya and Spike are getting hammered, complaining about their problems with Xander and Buffy. Spike heavily criticizes Xander for his actions, and Anya tries to use that to get the vampire to get him to make a wish. However, he doesn¹t get her drift, and although he does say that Xander should suffer, he doesn¹t actually say “I wishŠ”

Meanwhile, at the Summers house, as Xander and Buffy look on, Willow finally taps into the network and finds out there are cameras at various Scooby hangouts ­ her classroom at UC Sunnydale, Xander¹s construction site, etc. She figures out there are probably more, and starts hacking into them as well.

Spike and Anya are getting a bit drunk as they start to bond over their misfortunes and get flirty. While Willow is still trying to tap into the remaining cameras, the vampire and the vengeance demon start kissing, then fall back on the table, undressing.

In the nerds¹ lair, Andrew realizes someone is hacking into their system, and the three dorks rush to their screens just in time to witness the action at the Magic BoxŠ At the same time, Willow stumbles upon the same feed, and tries to prevent Xander and Buffy from seeing what¹s going onŠ in vain.

Dawn walks in, asking what¹s going on, and also witnesses the steamy action. Xander is infuriated, while Buffy is mute with shock and pain. Dawn and Willow see the expression on her face, and suddenly understanding dawns (no pun intended) on them. As Buffy rushes out to the backyard, Dawn follows her; Xander storms out of the room, leaving Willow alone.

In the living room, Xander retrieves an axe from Buffy¹s weapons chest, and leaves for the Magic Box in a hurry. Meanwhile, outside, Dawn and Buffy talk about her relationship with Spike. Dawn acts very supportive, telling her sister that she knows what it feels like to have to hide something from everybodyŠ But then Willow comes out the door, pretty alarmed, and informs them that Xander has left with Buffy¹s axe.

At the Magic Box, Anya and Spike are getting dressed, a bit embarrassed by what just happened. Spike goes out the door, just in time to get whacked at by Xander, who starts pummelling him. However, before he can stake Spike, Anya comes outside, distracting Xander long enough for Buffy to arrive. Xander and Anya have some harsh words at each other, about maturity and revenge. Xander tells her that he¹s disgusted just at the thought that she slept with Spike. “It was good enough for Buffy”, the vampire mutters.

Stunned, Xander looks at Buffy, who doesn¹t say a word and doesn¹t even meet his eyes. Unable to take it all, he just storms off. Buffy also leaves, after a few angry words to Spike. Annoyed, the vampire starts ­ finally ­ to make a wish, but Anya cuts him off.

At the Summers house, Tara shows up at the door of Willow¹s bedroom, rather hot and bothered. After reciting a few sentences about them having to get reacquainted and trust having to be built again, she asks Willow if they can skip it all and get right to the kissing. Elated, the redhead goes to her and they kiss passionately.

Summary by OttsFiveByFive.

Episode Ratings

Mac -

“There we go. An emotional rollercoaster - Buffy style. I’ve been waiting for episode that felt real since ‘Dead Things’. This one did.”

Quotes

Key: B=Buffy, X=Xander, W=Willow, S=Spike, T=Tara, D=Dawn, A=Anya, J=Jonathan, Wn=Warren, Aw=Andrew

S: How ya doin’? *Vampire lays ontop of Buffy* B: Fine…uh…same old, same old.

B: You know what, I tried to kill my friends, my sister last week. Guess how much they hate me? Zero. Zero much. So I’m thinking, sleeping with you, they’ll deal.

W: We should have coffee sometime. Fa, um, Maybe someday this week after class. T: I’m free tomorrow. W: Uh, you could bring a friend. T: I wasn’t gonna. Uh, I mean if you have a friend… W: Oh, uh I’m friendless! T: Yeah, yeah no…no friends. Oh! I mean, I have friends… W: Right. Many dear friends. I mean, yeah…

B: Yeah, but you stole a toothbrush. As far as rebelious teens go, you’re kind of square.

J: If something goes wrong it’s gonna surge. A lot better than an ex-girlfriend… Wn: What’d you say?

Wn: Ah cheer up short-round. You’re about to get us everything we wanted.

A: If you would’ve been more self-aware you would’ve what? Stopped the wedding?! X: No, no see…I never practiced this part.

X: I wish we could just go back to the way things were before. A: *switches to a vengence demon w/ her back to Xander* And I wish you were never born.

A: I wish you felt the pain of a thousand seering pokers, boiling your heart in it’s own juices. X: I know honey, I deserve that. A: I wish you had tentacles where your beedy eyes should be. I, I wish your intestines were ripped apart inside your lousy gut. X: They are. A: Really? Right now? Does it hurt? X: God yes. It hurts so bad it’s killing me. Anya, I love you. I wanna make this work. A: Those are metaphore intestines! You’re not in any real pain! What’s wrong with me??!

B: Ok, what kind of syrup do you want on your pancakes? D: Syrups have kinds?

D: Why don’t I come patrolling with you tonight? B: Oh, and then maybe we can invite over some strangers and ask them to feed you candy…? D: Well, you guys went out patrolling every night when you were my age… B: True, but technically you’re one and a half.

W: Well it was this thing, it just came out of her head. T: God, that’s disgusting. What did it look like? W: Well, let’s put it this way. If I wasn’t gay *before*…

A: You’re lesbians. So the hating of men will come in handy.

A: So tell me more about wishing Xander’s brains and guts would go bloey? D: I didn’t say that. A: Yes you did. D: No, I didn’t. A: I heard you. D: I swear I didn’t say that. A: Didn’t say what?

D: You know, my whole sticking fingers, grabbing hands thing… A: Oh right, the mad thieving.

A: Aren’t you sick of it, don’t you wish guys like that… B: *interrupts* Whoa, guys? There have only been 4…uh, 3, 3, 3 guys. That’s barely plural.

A: God, what kind of lesbians are you?! If you love men so much, go love men!

X: And I’m supposed to what, walk away? Shouldn’t be too hard. That’s what I’m good at, right?

S: I’ve tried to make it clear to you, but you won’t see it. Something happened to me. The way I feel…about you. It’s different. And no matter how hard you try to convince yourself, it’s real. B: I think it is……for you.

B: I know that’s not what you want to hear. I’m sorry. I really am. But Spike, you have to move on. K, you have to get over… S: *interrupts* Get out.

A: What am I supposed to do? Just stumble upon someone who doesn’t give a fig’s ass if Xander gets hurt or not? *Spike walks in* S: Hey, I need a thing.

S: I care. What he done to you, I’d never stoop that low. And I’m an evil, soul-less thing…according to some people.

A: …and I’m off my guard. Happy. I’m singing in the shower and doing my sexy dance. S: Exactly….I have no dance.

S: I was always going above and beyond. I’ve saved the scoobies how many times, and I can’t stand the lot of you. A: Me neither! I hate us! Everybody’s so nice, nobody says what’s on their mind. S: You do. That’s why you’re the only one of ’em I wouldn’t bite if I had the chance. A: Really? S: Absolutely. I have nothing but respect for a women who’s forthright. Drusilla was always straight forward. Didn’t have a single buggering clue about what was going on infront of her, but she was straight about it. That was a virtue.

A: Just one question….can I see your sexy dance? S: I’ll show you mine…

A: Wait. What are we doing? S: Moving on. *Spike and Anya kiss*

A: Wait, you know I’m only doing this because I’m lonely and drunk, and you smell really good… S: See? Forthright. *They kiss again*

Wn: Is that… J: Spike? Aw: He is so cool. And I mean…the girl’s hot too. Wn: *shakes his head* Dude.

D: Hey guys, what’s up? *looks at the computer screen, Willow covers her eyes* D: Uh, huh, oh.

D: This is it? This is the stuff you’ve been protecting me from? You and Spike? B: …and a lot of monsters.

X: *whap* Get up! GET UP! You just gonna sit there? Do nothing?! S: I’m not gonna fight you. Chip. *thud* Xander: Too bad.

A: It was…it was just a thing. I felt bad, and he was just there… B: *looks at Spike* Didn’t take long, did it?

A: You left me Xander…at the alter! I don’t owe you anything! X: So you go and bang the first body you can find, dead or alive?!!

X: You let the evil, soul-less thing touch you. You wanted me to feel something? Congratulations, it worked. I look at you and I feel sick…cause you had sex with that. S: It’s good enough for Buffy… X: Shut up and leave her out of… *Xander looks at Buffy* A: Buffy? B: Xander… X: I don’t wanna know this. I don’t wanna know any of this.

S: You know, I wish… A: *interrupts* Don’t.

T: You know, it takes time. You can’t just have coffee and expect… W: *interrupts* I know. T: There’s just so much to work through. Trust has to be built again…on both sides. You have to learn if, if we’re even the same people we were. If we can fit in each other’s lives. It’s a long and important process…and…can’t we just skip it? Can’t you just be kissing me now? Please credit Hellmouth Central with these quotes when using them for any publication.