Graduation Day (Part 2)

Writer/Director : Joss Whedon

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

Main guest stars : Eliza Dushku as Faith, Harry Groener as Mayor Richard Wilkins III, Alexis Denisof as Wesley Wyndham-Pryce, Armin Shimerman as Principal Snyder, Larry Bagby III as Larry, Danny Strong as Jonathan, Mercedes McNab as Harmony, Ethan Erickson as Percy.

Original broadcast date : May 18, 1999

For a few minutes after a truck takes Faith¹s unmoving body away, Buffy just stands there on the balcony, in complete shock. Then she drops the knife to the ground and climbs down the fire escape, just in time: in the apartment, the Mayor and some vampires are inspecting the damage, searching for Faith. Wilkins shows real concern for the rogue Slayer, barking orders to his vampires to find Faith, and then repeating to himself that she¹ll be all right.

While Giles, Xander and Cordelia ­ the latter indignant of the fact that Buffy fired Wesley ­ research the demon Olvikon at the library, Willow, at the mansion, looks after Angel. Sweating profusely and delirious, the vampire mistakes Willow for Buffy, and starts passionately telling her how much he needs her. After correcting him and urging him back to sleep, she steps out and tells Oz about Angel¹s worsening condition.

Buffy comes in, and when Willow asks her if she got to Faith, she doesn¹t answer; instead, she asks them to leave her alone with Angel. She then steps into Angel¹s room; he tells her that he¹s ready to die, but she protests that he has to live, and takes off her jacket. Pulling her hair away from her neck, she asks him to drink her.

Horrified, he refuses to kill her, and tries to stumble away from her. He suggests Faith as a solution, but she informs his that she killed Faith, and that this is the only way. Then she hits him ­ again and again ­ to provoke him into biting her. Finally, he goes into full vamp face and does bite her. As he drinks, slowly, Buffy crushes a metal jug, then kicks at a table, breaking it in two, trying to get him to stop before it¹s too late. He finally does stop ­ but Buffy is unconscious.

Angel runs into the hospital, carrying Buffy, pleading with the doctors to save her. As they snap to work, Angel, out of frustration, breaks off a door handle, then goes out to a payphone to contact Giles. Right beside him, in another room, a doctor is explaining to the Mayor that although Faith¹s broken bones and damaged kidney are healing fast, the head trauma and massive blood loss has put her into a coma from with she¹s likely to never emergeŠ

The camera pans in on Faith¹s bruised face; the Mayor caresses her hair, telling her that it¹s her day. A nurse comes in and tells the doctor that he¹s needed for the other girl with severe blood loss. Realizing who this must be, the Mayor crosses through a laboratory separating the two rooms, goes to Buffy¹s bed, and puts his hand over her mouth and nose, choking her. A nurse catches him in the act, though, and calls for help. Angel comes rushing in and pulls the Mayor away from Buffy; the two argue, then Angel flings him across the room. The Mayor laughs it off, tells Angel that this is not over, and leaves.

Giles, Willow, Oz and Xander show up, and Angel explains to them that Faith is in a coma, and that Buffy forced him to drink from her, curing him. Willow is worried that Buffy might become a vampire, but Angel reassures her ­ Buffy didn¹t drink from him. Xander takes the opportunity to once again express his dislike of Angel, accusing him of draining the girl who loves him to save his own ass. Giles breaks it up by suggesting Angel go home, since the sun will be up soon.

Buffy is dreaming that she¹s back in Faith¹s apartment, where boxes are packed and piled ­ a sign that someone is leaving. She spots a cat on the bad, and wonders who¹ll take care of him. Faith appears, saying it¹s a she. Buffy muses that there¹s something she¹s supposed to be doing; Faith answers “Oh yeah. Miles to go. Little Miss Moffett, counting down from seven-three-oh.” (Note: this episode takes place 730 days before Buffy¹s death in “The Gift”Š).

On the bed, the knife with which Buffy stabbed Faith appears and disappears. Faith gives Buffy a hint ­ the Mayor¹s human weakness won¹t go away. She tells Buffy to take whatever she needs from the apartment, then asks her if she¹s readyŠ Buffy wakes up in her hospital bed, gets up, and shuffles a bit unsteadily to Faith¹s room, where she softly kisses the other Slayer on the forehead. Then, fully dressed, she emerges out in the waiting room, telling the gang to get ready. Then dressed, Buffy walks out to the waiting room, telling her friends to get everyone ready. When they ask for what, she answers “war”.

At the library, exposes her demented plan to everyone. Cordelia exclaims that they couldn¹t come up with anything crazier, but Oz corrects her by suggesting they attack the Mayor with hummus, just to keep things in perspective. Buffy informs Xander that he¹ll be the key of the plan, with his military training. She then tells her friends that the Mayor¹s vulnerability is human weakness (his affection for Faith) and that she plans to use it. Cordelia makes a last-ditch effort to convince everyone that the plan is crazy, and suggests that they instead attack the Mayor with the Ebola virus or something similar. Xander mocks her by going back to the hummus idea, prompting Oz to say “He¹ll never see it coming” (har har).

Wesley then comes in, awkwardly asking if he can help. He explains he¹s not there in Council capacity, that he just wants to do whatever he can. After angrily telling him off, Buffy grudgingly admits that the Watcher has at least made the effort.

In his office, the Mayor explains another plan to a group of vampires. He tells them that when the eclipse happens, they are to come out and make the students run; he also instructs them to only kill and not feed, because he¹ll have to eat within the first few minutes in order to keep his new form.

Back at the library, Buffy informs Xander and Angel that they¹ll be working together, and they immediately start bickering. Buffy breaks it up, impatiently telling them they¹re like little old ladies. She then instructs Giles to get as many weapons as he can, and leaves, saying that there¹s something she needs to pick up. Meanwhile, Xander and Willow go out to brief other students on the plans, including Harmony and Percy. Wesley and Cordelia remain at the library, packing books. In a short but comical romantic scene, they inch closer to each other, Wesley asking her if there¹s something that could keep him from going back to Britain. They kiss, then stop, then kiss again ­ and discover they¹re not meant for each other. They go back to packing books, a bit embarrassed.

Larry and Jonathan are helping unload supplies from Oz¹s van. After they leave, Oz and Willow remain alone in the van, kissing, taking advantage of what little time they have left. In the library, Buffy informs Angel that Giles is out getting the weapons, and that she got what she needed. He interrupts, telling her that after all is done with, he won¹t say goodbye, he¹ll just go. After he leaves, Buffy takes out something wrapped in a handkerchief ­ the knife, still stained with Faith¹s bloodŠ

Outside the school, Willow and Oz, in their gowns, make their way to their seats, just as Principal Snyder introduces Mayor Richard Wilkins III. Buffy and Willow realize with horror that the Mayor intends to go through the whole speech (evil!). But just after Willow wishes the Mayor to “ascend already”, the eclipse takes place, and Wilkins jolts in pain. He tries to keep going, but finally admits to the students that although it¹s too bad he can¹t finish the speech, he doesn¹t mind the transformation coming a bit early. Grunting and moaning, he turns into a VERY big serpent, which rises high above the school and roars.

At Buffy¹s signal, the students, gathered in one large group, take off their gowns, revealing the weapons hidden underneath. At Xander¹s command, a first wave armed with firethrowers and flaming arrows have a go at the demon. Then some students turn the other way to launch an attack on a group of vampires coming up from behind. The vampires are caught between two enemies, the students on one side and a group led by Angel, Wesley and Percy on the other. Meanwhile, the Mayor does some damage, eating first a student, then Principal Snyder, and killing Larry with his tail. Harmony gets drained by a vampire.

Buffy orders everyone to regroup and fight the vampires, leaving her alone to fight the Mayor. She taunts him, holding up the blood-stained knife and telling him how easily it slid into Faith ­ like butter. She then asks him, “You wanna get it back from meŠ Dick?” Roaring in anger, the Mayor-demon chases her inside the school, breaking down walls on the way. Once inside the library, she plunges through a window to safety, as the Mayor-demon, startled, exclaims “Well, gosh!” Then, a large explosion rocks the school, destroying the library and the demon.

Some time later, ambulances and fire trucks are surrounding the burning school; a whining and moaning Wesley is being rolled into an ambulance, and Buffy is looking for Angel. Giles joins her, and they behold the scene together. He then giver her the diploma he saved from the flames, before going to see how Wesley is doing, leaving Buffy alone with her thoughts. Then, through the smoke and the dust, she spots Angel. They look at each other from afar, and finally Angel turns his back on her and leaves.

Buffy and friends gather around the smouldering ruins of Sunnydale High. Oz asks them to take a moment to realize that they survived high schoolŠ As they leave, the camera pans to a Sunnydale High yearbook, engraved with the words “The future is ours”.

Summary by OttsFiveByFive.

Episode Ratings

Mac -
“In my top 3, that includes ‘Lover’s Walk’ and ‘Earshot’. A fitting end to Sunnydale High. Fire bad, tree pretty.”

DJ Angelus - <—TIED for Best Episode of the Season—>
“Everyone wants to go out os HS with a bang. Buffy did it best by blowing up the whole school. Go Buffy it’s your Graduation Day.”

Quotes

Graduation II

(B=Buffy, G=Giles, X=Xander, W=Willow, C=Cordelia, O=Oz, A=Angel, J=Joyce, PS=Principal Snyder, WP=Wesley, F=Faith, M=Mayor Wilkins, H=Harmony )
—
X: Here’s your coffee, brewed from the finest Columbian lighter fluid.
G: Thank you. Horrible.
X: Aren’t you supposed to be drinking tea, anyway?
G: Tea is soothing. I wish to be tense.
X: OK. But you’re destroying a perfectly good cultural stereotype here.

G: Look through the Kepler volumes. Any reference to the demon Olvikan: powers, weaknesses, hat size. There has to be something.
X: Still batting zero? But I mean, uh, in cricket?

C: I demand an explanation.
X: For what?
C: Wesley.
X: Uh… inbreeding?
C: So very funny. Any minute, I’m sure to laugh.

G: Buffy no longer needs a watcher.
C: But does he have to leave the country? I mean, you got fired and you still hang around like a big loser. Why can’t he?

A: I can’t leave you. I was wrong. I need you.
W: Oh! You mean you need Buffy!
A: Willow?
W: Yes! Right! Willow!

O: Any change?
W: He’s delirious. He thought I was Buffy.
O: You, too, huh?

M: Murderous little fiend. Did you see what she did to my Faith?
A: Hadn’t made any plans to weep over that one.

M: Well, looks like somebody’s been eating his spinach.

M: The show’s not over, but there will be a short intermission. Don’t want to miss the second act. All kinds of excitement.
A: I’ll be there.

X: Well, it’s just good to know that when the chips are down and things look grim, you’ll feed on the girl who loves you to save your own ass.

X: Gosh, I’m really gonna miss him when he leaves town.

F: Miles to go. Little Miss Muffet counting down from 7-3-0.
B: Great. Riddles.

B: Is this your mind or mine?
F: Beats me.

B: Is Angel here?
O: He had to go. Got kinda sunny.

B: That’s the basic plan. So. Am I crazy?
W: Well, crazy is such a strong word.
G: Let’s not rule it out though.
B: You don’t think it can be done?
G: I didn’t say that. I might, but not yet.

C: I personally don’t think it’s possible to come up with a crazier plan.
O: We attack the Mayor with hummus.
C: I stand corrected.
O: Just keeping things in perspective.
C: Thank you.

C: My point is, crazy or not, it’s pretty much the only plan. Besides, she’s Buffy and she’s Slay Gal. Little Miss Likes to Fight. So . . . .
X: I think there was a Yay vote buried in there somewhere.

X: Key? Me? Okay, pride . . . humility . . . and here’s the mind-numbing fear. What do I have to do?

X: Ooo! Rocket launcher?!

B: Faith told me to play on his human weakness.
W: Faith told you? Was that before or after you put her in a coma?
B: After.
W: Oh.

C: Of course! That’s it! We’ll attack him with germs.
B: Great! We’ll get him cornered and then you can sneeze on him.
C: No! No. We’ll get a container of Ebola virus and . . . and . . . or, it doesn’t even have to be real. We can get a box that says Ebola on it and . . . um . . . chase him! //silence// With the box.
X: I’m starting to lean towards the Hummus Offensive.
O: They’ll never see it coming.

A: At the hospital, he was grieving. Seriously crazed and not just in a homicidal-I-want-to-be-a-demon way.

WP: You haven’t an enormous amount of time.
X: Hey! It’s Mr. States the Obvious!

B: The council is not welcome here. I have not time for orders. If I need someone to scream like a woman, I’ll give you a call.

WP: So there is something I can do? Besides . . . scream like a woman?

M: The transformation should begin at exactly 3:28. I’ll just be finishing my speech. You know, it’s too bad you fellows are going to miss that because I think it speaks to every one of us. I mean, heck, I’ve been working on it for 100 years, it better be good.

B: You and Xander are going to have to work together now. Can you guys handle that?
X: I’m still Key Guy, right?
B: Right.
X: Great. Then Angel, in his non-Key Guy capacity, can work with me.
A: What fun.
X: Hey, Key Guy’s still talking.
B: Oh, that’s good. Start bickering. That’s gonna work great for us. You guys are like little old ladies.

M: No snacking! I see blood on your lips and it’s a visit to the wood shed for you boys.

O: Who’s gonna stoke it up?
B: Feel up to it?
G: I suppose it should be I. Strangely fitting in a grotesque fashion.

M: Remember, fast and brutal. It’s gonna be a whole new world come nightfall, don’t want to weaken now. And boys? Let’s watch the swearing.

X: Harmony, listen, I need to talk to you for a sec.
H: You mean in front of other people?

WP: With Buffy no longer working for the Council, there’s really no place for me here.
C: Guess not.
WP: No reason to stay.
C: No.
WP: No. No cause to hope that . . . I might be needed. . . .
C: Needed. . . .
WP: Or wanted . . . .
C: Wanted
[Kiss attempt #1]
[Kiss attempt #2]
C: Good luck in England.
WP: Yes, well, I’ll drop you a line some time.
C: That’d be great.

O: Are you nervous?
W: Only in a terrified way.
O: We’re gonna make it through this.
W: Are you sure?
O: I sound pretty sure, don’t I?
W: Yeah.
O: Well, then I must be sure.
W: Is that just a comforting way of not answering the question?

PS: Congratulations to the Class of 1999. You all proved more or less adequate.

PS: This is a time of celebration. So sit still and be quiet. Spit out that gum.

PS: Please welcome our distinguished guest speaker, Richard Wilkins III. I saw that gesture. You see me after graduation.

M: Well. What a day this is. A special day. Today is our centennial. The 100th anniversary of the founding of Sunnydale. And I know what that means to all you kids…. Not a darn thing.

B: My god, he’s gonna do the entire speech.
W: Man, just ascend already.
B: Evil.

M: It has begun. My destiny. It’s a little sooner than I expected. I had this whole section on civic pride. But I guess we’ll just skip to the big finish.

PS: This is not orderly. This is not discipline. You’re on my campus, buddy, and when I say I want quiet, I mean //CHOMP//.

B: Hey! Remember this? I took it from Faith. Stuck it in her gut. Just slid in her like she was butter. You wanna get it back from me? Dick?

M: Well gosh!

WP: If I could just get something for the pain. It’s rather a lot of pain actually. Aspirin? Anyone? Perhaps I could just be knocked unconscious?

B: I haven’t processed everything yet. My brain isn’t really functioning on the higher levels. It’s pretty much ‘Fire bad. Tree pretty.’

G: There’s a certain dramatic irony attached to all this. A synchronicity that borders on predestination, one might say.
B: Fire bad. Tree pretty.

G: Must go attend to Wesley. See if he’s still whimpering.

C: Well, that was the most fun you could have without having any fun.
W: What about the part where we kicked some demon ass? I didn’t hate that.

B: If someone could just wake me when it’s time to go to college, that’d be great.

O: Guys, take a moment to deal with this. We survived.
B: It was a hell of a battle.
O: Not the battle. High School. We’re taking a moment…. And we’re done.
X: Well! School’s done. That is so cool!
W: Why do demons even come here? I mean, don’t they know how bad we are?

Credit: The Sunnydale Slayers