Halloween

Written by: Carl Ellsworth Directed by: Bruce Seth Green

Cast : Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers, Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris, Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg, Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase, Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles, and David Boreanaz as Angel.

Guest stars : Seth Green as Oz, James Marsters as Spike, Robin Sachs as Ethan Rayne, Juliet Landau as Druscilla, and Armin Shimmerman as Principal Snyder.

Original broadcast date: Oct. 27, 1997.

It is two nights before Halloween, and at ŒPop¹s Pumpkin Patch¹ Buffy is fighting a vampire. She dusts him, unaware that another vamp is recording her efforts on tape from the shadows.

Meanwhile at the Bronze, Angel waits awkwardly by himself. Cordelia comes over to flirt with him, undeterred when he says he is waiting for Buffy. It¹s meant to be their first date. Buffy walks in and sees them laughing together. She almost leaves, but Angel spots her. Cordy insults her hair, which still has straw in it from the fight. Realizing that she could never find time to look as polished as the other girl, Buffy tells Angel to forget it. She should have known better than to think they could be together. She doesn¹t have time for dates; she is not a normal girl. Buffy goes home, leaving Angel a little confused!

At school the next day, Snyder is rounding up Œvolunteers¹. He needs students to take groups of small children out Trick or Treating, and makes Buffy, Willow and Xander sign up. Costumes are mandatory! This dashes Buffy¹s hopes of a quiet night. Vamps traditionally stay in on Halloween.

Xander goes to get a soda from the machine, and Larry asks if Buffy is his girl. He has heard that she is Œfast¹. Xander defends her honour, and they end up in a fight. Buffy saves him, and he gets annoyed with her. “A black eye heals, but cowardice has an unlimited shelf life!” Xander storms off, and Wil asks about last night¹s date. Buffy tells her about Cordelia¹s flirtations, but Willow says that she¹s not Angel¹s type. She says it¹s too bad they can¹t sneak a look in Giles personal files to find out more about AngelŠ

In the library, Buffy attracts Giles¹s attention while Willow steals a journal. Running out of ideas to distract him, she says that Miss Calendar thinks he¹s a babe! The two girls retreat to the restroom to look at the book.

In the journal is an ink drawing of an elegant woman dated 1775. Angel was eighteen, and still human. Buffy envies the way the woman looks, but Wil points out that it was probably her Œjob¹ to look good. What other responsibilities would she have had? Cordelia comes in, and asks about Angel. They tell her that he is a vampire, but she doesn¹t believe it.

Later, at a new fancy dress shop, Buffy is unimpressed by Willow¹s choice of a boring ghost costume. She explains that Halloween is a Œcome as you aren¹t¹ night, and that Wil should think about something a little more sexy! Xander just buys a plastic gun to go with the fatigues he has at home. Buffy falls in love with a dress like the girl in the journal was wearing. The owner makes her an offer, and she takes it.

In his lair, Spike watches the tape of Buffy ­ studying the way she fights. Druscilla tells him that everything is switching Œfrom outside to inside¹. She says that Halloween will make the Slayer weak. Someone has come to change it allŠ

In the back of the costume shop, the owner kneels before a shrine to the two-faced god, Janus. He swears allegiance to chaos.

Halloween night, and Willow is at Buffy¹s house getting changed into her costume. Buffy has persuaded her to dress sexy instead, and she looks great! The doorbell rings, and Buffy goes to let Xander in. He compliments her on how she looks in the period dress, and Willow comes downstairs with her ghost costume on over the other clothes. She chickened out!

At school, Snyder assigns them groups of children. Larry is dressed as a pirate, and tries to intimidate Xander. Cordelia has dressed as a cat, and talks to Oz about her boyfriend, Devon. As Oz walks away he bumps into Wil, but doesn¹t recognize her because of the costume.

As the evening draws to a close, the shop owner completes his ritual. All around the town, people become whatever they have dressed as! Willow can¹t breathe. She falls to the floor, and rises from her body as a ghost. She runs over to Xander, who is patrolling the streets. His weapon is now real, and he doesn¹t know her. He is further freaked out when she walks right through him! Wil tries to explain that they¹ve become their costumes. She spots Buffy, and asks her what to do as monsters swarm toward them. Buffy takes one look and passes out!

Xander scares the monsters away by firing his gun. Willow revives Buffy, who thinks it is 1775. Wil takes them to Buffy¹s house (fortunately Joyce is away), and someone starts banging on the door. Xander goes to open it incase it¹s a Œcivilian¹, but the arm that bursts through the door is not human! He scares it off by firing a few rounds, then runs outside to help when he hears screaming. Buffy rambles on about him deserting them, and Willow wonders why she couldn¹t have dressed as Xena!

Xander rescues Cordelia, and brings her into the house. She¹s the only one who hasn¹t turned into her costume. Willow explains the situation to her, then leaves to get some help.

Spike is stalking the streets, reveling in the chaosŠ At Buffy¹s house, Xander finds a photograph of him, Buff and Willow. He says that Willow must have been telling the truth, but Buffy won¹t believe it. Angel comes in, and is relieved to find them okay ­ until they ask him who he is!

In the library, Giles is scared half to death when Willow walks in through the wall!

Cordy explains to Angel what is going on, and just then all the lights go out. Xander takes her to check on the front door, and sends the other two to check on the back. The back door is openŠ A vamp jumps out at Buffy, but Angel pins it to the floor. He vamps out, and Buffy screams and runs from the house.

Willow has updated Giles. They wonder why Cordelia didn¹t change, and then remember that she got her costume at a different shop. They decide to check out the new shopŠ

Xander, Angel and Cordy go looking for Buffy. Angel says she is defenseless at the moment, and Spike overhears him. The race to find the Slayer is on!

Giles and Willow enter the costume shop “Ethan¹s”. It appears deserted. They find the shrine at the back of the shop, and the owner arrives. Giles seems to recognize him, and tells Willow to go. When she leaves, Ethan turns to Giles and says ŒHello Ripper!¹

Buffy is in an alleyway. She trips, and Larry the pirate grabs her! Xander arrives and attacks him, beating him senseless. It gives him an odd sense of closure. Cordy and Angel arrive, and she tells Buffy that Angel¹s okay. Willow appears and tells them to get inside ­ Spike is leading a gang of vamps and monsters their wayŠ

Ethan asks Giles if he is pleased to see his old mate. He brags of how clever his spell was, and compliments Giles on his act. Giles says it¹s no act ­ this is who he is now. Ethan laughs. He says the scoobies have no idea who Giles really is, and what he¹s capable of. Ignoring him, Giles tells him to break the spell and he¹ll let him live. He savagely attacks EthanŠ

The scoobies run into an old warehouse. Xander tries to block the door, but the gang breaks through. Spike corners Buffy, and is thrilled to find her terrified and helpless! The monsters restrain Angel and Xander as Spike pins her down. He leans down to biteŠ

Ethan has had enough! He tells Giles to break the statue of Janus. Giles lifts it above his head, unaware that his prisoner has escaped.

Xander breaks free. He grabs his gun and aims it at Spike, but it has become a plastic toy. The monsters turn back into kids, and the Slayer is her old self again. She beats the hell out of Spike, and decides that she is better off as herself.

Willow wakes up on the porch where she first collapsed. She picks up the ghost costume to cover herself, but decides she doesn¹t need it. A van stops to let her cross the road. Oz is driving. As she crosses the road, full of confidence, he murmurs ŒWho is that girl?¹

Later, in Buffy¹s room, Angel asks why she thought he¹d like her better dressed that way. He says he hated the girls in that century as they were so dull! Buffy kisses him.

Early the next morning, Giles returns to Ethan¹s shop. It has been cleared out. An ominous note on the counter reads ŒBe seeing you¹.

Episode Ratings

Mac -

“Cute eppy. Sarah, Nick and Aly are tremendous in this one, with a great storyline concept.”

DJ Angelus -

“Kids turning into costumes. Spike going for round 2. All and all a super episode.”

Quotes

Key: B=Buffy, G=Giles, X=Xander, W=Willow, A=Angel, C=Cordelia, PS=Principal Snyder, O=Oz, S=Spike, D=Druscilla, E=Ethan, L=Larry

C: It’s like he thinks being in a band gives him an obligation to flake. Well, his loss is your incredible gain.

C: So, I told Devon, “You call *that* leather interior? My Barbie dream car had nicer seats.”

B: Rough day at the office. A: So I see. B: Hey, it’s a look. A seasonal look.

C: Buffy, love the hair. It just screams ‘street urchin.’

B: You know what? I need to go… put a bag over my head. A: Hey, don’t listen to her. You look fine. B: You’re sweet. A terrible liar, but sweet.

A: I thought we had… B: A date. Yeah, so did I. But who am I kidding? Dates are things normal girls have. Girls who have time to think about nail polish and facials. You know what I think about? Ambush tactics. Beheading. Not exactly the stuff dreams are made of.

X: A bunch of little kids need people to take them trick-or-treating. Sign up and get your own pack of sugar-hyped little runts for the night. B: Yikes. I’ll stick to vampires.

PS: Halloween must be a big night for you. Tossing eggs, keying cars, bobbing for apples. One pathetic cry for help after another. Well, not this year, missy. B: Gosh, I’d love to sign up, but I recently developed carpal-tunnel syndrome, and can tragically no longer hold a flashlight.

X: Halloween quiet? I figured it would be a big ol’ vamp scareapalooza. B: Not according to Giles. He swears that tomorrow night is like dead for the undead. They stay in. X: Those wacky vampires. That’s why I love ’em. They just keeps ya guessing.

X: Hey, Lar, you’re looking cro-mag as usual. What can I do you for? L: You and Buffy, you’re just friends, right? X: I like to think of it less as a friendship, and more as a solid foundation for future bliss. L: So, she’s not your girlfriend? X: Alas, no. L: You think she’d go out with me? X: Well, Lar, that’s a tough question to… no. Not a chance.

L: I heard some guy say she was fast. X: I hope you mean like the wind.

X: Larry was about to pummel me. B: Oh, that? Forget about it. X: Oh, I’ll forget about it. In maybe 15, 20 years when my rep for being a sissy-man finally fades. A black eye heals, Buffy, but cowardice has an unlimited shelf life.

B: I think I just violated the guy-code big time.

W: Boys are so fragile.

B: I was late due to unscheduled slayage. Showed up looking trashed. W: Was he mad? B: Actually, he was pretty unmad, which probably had something to do with the fact that Cordelia was drooling in his cappuccino.

W: Angel would never fall for her act. B: You mean that actually showing up wearing a stunning outfit, embracing personal hygiene act?

B: You’re beginning to scare me, Giles. You need to have some fun. You know, there’s this place you can go, right, and you sit in the dark, and there are these moving pictures, right? And the pictures tell a story. G: Yes, ha ha, very droll.

G: I’ll have you know I have very many relaxing hobbies. B: Such as? G: Well, um, I enjoy cross-referencing. B: Do you stuff your own shirts, or do you send them out?

B: Ms. Calendar said you were a babe. G: She said what? B: Well, she said you were a hunk of burning… something or other. So, what do you think of that? G: Um, I… I don’t, uh… a burning hunk of what?

B: What was I thinking? My god. Shame, shame. I gotta go. G: A babe? I can live with that.

B: I’ll never be like this. W: C’mon, she’s not that pretty. I mean, look at her. She’s got a funny… waist. Look how tiny that is. B: Thank you. Now I feel better. W: No, she’s like a freak. A circus freak. Yuck.

B: It must have been wonderful, to put on some fantabulous gown, and go to a ball like a princess. And have horses and servants, and yet more gowns. W: Yeah, still, I think I prefer being able to vote. Or I will, when I can.

C: Oh, he’s a *vampire*. Of course! But the cuddly kind. Like a care bear, with fangs.

C: Look, Buffy, you may be hot stuff when it comes to demonology or whatever, but when it comes to dating, *I’m* the Slayer.

B: You’re missing the whole point of Halloween. W: Free candy? B: It’s come as you aren’t night. The perfect chance for a girl to get sexy and wild with no repercussions. W: Oh, I don’t get wild. Wild on me equals spaz.

B: I’m really sorry about this morning. X: Do you mind, Buffy? I’m trying to repress.

X: Hello? That was our touching reconciliation moment there.

X: Too bulky. I prefer my women in spandex.

D: Do you love my insides? The parts you can’t see? S: Eyeballs to entrails, my sweet.

S: Once I kill her, you can have your run of Sunnyhell.

S: Did my pet have a vision? D: Do you know what I miss? Leeches.

E: Chaos. I remain, as ever, thy faithful, degenerate son.

B: Halloween is the night that not you is you, but not you, you know?

B: I can’t wait for the boys to go non-verbal when they see you.

X: Buffy, Lady of Buffdom, Duchess of Buffonia, I am in awe. I completely renounce spandex.

X: Hey, Will, that’s a fine… boo you got there.

C: Is Mr. I’m-the-lead-singer-I’m- so great-I-don’t-have-to-show-up-for-my-date-or-even-call going to be there? O: Yeah. You know, he’s just going by Devon now. C: Well, you can tell him that I don’t care, and that I didn’t even mention it, and that I didn’t even see you, so that’s just fine. O: So, what do I tell him? C: Nothing. Geeze, get with the program!

X: Ok, on sleazing extra candy: Tears are key. Tears will normally get you the double-bagger. You can also try the “you missed me” routine, but it’s risky. Only go there for chocolate.

W: She’s not Buffy. X: Who’s Buffy? W: Oh, this is fun.

W: She couldn’t have dressed up like Xena?

W: Not a civilian! X: Affirmative!

X: Big noise scare monster, remember?

B: Surely he’ll not desert us? W: …Whatever.

W: Ok, your name is Cordelia, you’re not a cat, you’re in high school, and we’re your friends. Well, sort of. C: That’s nice, Willow. And you went mental when?

B: Surely some men will protect us? C: What’s that riff?

S: Well, this is just… neat!

X: We must have some kind of amnesia. B: I don’t know what that is, but I’m certain I don’t have it. I bathe quite often.

B: I was brought up a proper lady. I wasn’t meant to understand things. I’m just meant to look pretty, and then someone nice will marry me. Possibly a baron.

A: Oh good, you guys are all right. It’s total chaos out there. X and B: Who are you?

G: Gah! W: Hi! G: So, how… uh… ha.

C: They don’t who they are, everyone’s turned into a monster, it’s like this whole big scene. How are you?

W: I don’t even know what I’m looking for. Plus I can’t turn the page.

W: I’m a ghost. G: Yes. But, um… well, the ghost of what, exactly?

G: Hello, Ethan. E: Hello, Ripper.

C: What’s your deal? Take a pill.

X: It’s strange, but beating up that pirate gave me a weird sense of closure.

E: What, no hug?

G: Break the spell, Ethan. Then leave this place and never come back. E: Why should I? What’s in the bargain for me? G: You get to live.

C: Oh, faboo. More clinging.

S: Look at you. Shaking… terrified… alone. Lost little lamb. I love it!

W: Now, that guy you *can* shoot!

X: It was way creepy. It was like I was there, but I couldn’t get out. C: Yeah, I know the feeling. This outfit is totally skin-tight…

C: Hello? It felt like I was talking. My lips were moving and… X: Give it up, Cordy. You’re never going to get between those two. Believe me, I know.

O: Who *is* that girl?