Family

Writer/Director: Joss Whedon

Cast : Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers, Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris, Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg, Marc Blucas as Riley Finn, Emma Caulfield as Anya, Michelle Trachtenberg as Dawn Summers, James Marsters as Spike, Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles. Main guest stars : Amber Benson as Tara, Clare Kramer as Glory, Charlie Weber as Ben, Mercedes McNab as Harmony Kendall, Steve Rankin as Mr. MacLay, Kevin Rankin as Donny, Amy Adams as Cousin Beth. Original broadcast date : November 7, 2000 My one-line description: If I had a father like that, I’d look for magical solutions, too. Picking up the night of the events in “No Place Like Home”, the episode begins with Willow and Tara in bed, telling stories and snuggling. Tara wonders if Buffy found out anything at the factory… At the Summers house – Joyce and Dawn are asleep - Buffy is telling Giles about Dawn’s supernatural origin, of which the teen isn’t aware. The also discuss Joyce’s illness, and Buffy promises to take care of both her mom and her sister. They also decide it would be best to keep Dawn’s origin a secret. At the factory, a dishevelled Beast – Glory, her name is – rises from the rubble, stating that now she’s really upset… As the Scoobies help Buffy move out of her dorm room and back at the house, Tara tries to join the banter by making a joke, but nobody gets it and it falls flat. A slightly embarrassed Tara takes some boxes to the car, while Willow reminds the gang about Tara’s surprise birthday party the next evening at the Bronze. At the hospital, Ben and another intern are discussing the sudden increase in mental patients. Ben leaves for the locker room, where a Lei-Ach demon is poised to attack him… but Glory stops it, telling it she needs a favour… At the Magic Box, Xander and Buffy are racking their brains trying to find a gift for Tara; that problem, plus the fact they’ve found zero information on Glory, is giving Buffy a headache. Xander suggests she go a few rounds in the training room. Spike and Buffy are fighting… sexual tension… and then shift back to reality, where Spike is having sex with Harmony, adamant he was only thinking of her… At the Magic Box, Giles asks Buffy and Xander for a progress report (meaning about Glory) and the two rattle off gift ideas for Tara. Giles is amazed that they’re in a magic shop and have no gift ideas for Tara – but he’s interrupted by a man looking at some spell books. Tara and Willow enter, and Tara stares at the man… whom she introduces as her brother, Donny. She seems as happy to see him as she would be seeing a spider. Then her father, Mr. MacLay, enters the shop, wearing as joyous an expression as Robert Stack in “Unsolved Mysteries”. Tara awkwardly greets her father, calling him “sir”, and her cousin Beth. They make dinner plans for later, and the brother, the father and the cousin finally leave, re-warming the atmosphere about 200 degrees… At Buffy’s house, Riley has unpacked for his girlfriend, something she’s grateful for – especially since she has other matters to deal with. Dawn wants to go to dinner at a neighbor’s house, but Buffy, being a bit overprotective, denies her permission. Riley wants to know what’s going on, but Buffy refuses to tell him. He leaves a bit angrily, telling her to let him know if ever she decides to let him in. Tara finds her father in her dorm room, looking disapprovingly at all the witchcraft stuff. He tells her that he’s taking her home because of the “evil” inside her; she argues that her power doesn’t feel evil, and he comments that evil never does. As he leaves, he asks her how she thinks her friends will react when they see her “true face”. Elsewhere, Glory instructs the Lei-Ach demon to take care of the girl who’s been annoying her. The demon informs her that the girl is in fact the Slayer, and Glory orders it to find and kill her. Willow tells Tara that she’s going to a Scooby meeting, and Tara decides not to go, claiming all that’s going on. Willow agrees, as she leaves, to give her a progress report later on. At the Magic Box, Giles gives the gang an update. As he speaks, Tara sneaks out of the training room and, unseen, blows a magic powder at them… Meanwhile, a dejected Riley is at Willy’s Place, where a beautiful woman – Sandy - flirts with him. After a bit, he tells her that his heart belongs to another, and that besides, he never goes out with vampires, since they’re never interested in his intellect… (har har). At Spike’s crypt, Harmony, who has just returned from town, happily informs Spike that a Lei-Ach demon is recruiting other demons to kill the Slayer. Spike is pleased with this, and decides to get a decent seat to watch the killing. On campus, Cousin Beth is unhappy that Tara won’t come home to help take care of her father and brother. Then she finds out that Tara did a spell to hide her demon half from her friends, and she threatens to tell her father. Someone knocks on the door of the Magic Box, and Willow answers – but she sees no one there, not even the three invisible demons… Beth points out that her father will tell her friends about her demon part, and suggests Tara tell them first. The invisible demons walk through the Magic Box unnoticed, and one of them goes to the training room where Buffy is going at a punching bag. She hears the demon growl, and starts fighting it. Xander tries to help, but another demon stops him at the doorway. As the fighting grows, Giles hides Dawn under a counter. Spike arrives and enjoys the scene, but soon goes to help Buffy. Tara enters to find the Scoobies fighting invisible demons, and realizes her spell did this. She quickly reverses it, and the gang kick the demons’ asses. Just as the fight ends, Tara’s father enters the shop and informs the gang that Tara is a demon, and that he has to take her with him. Willow asks Tara if she really wants to leave, but Mr. MacLay cuts it short by pressuring his daughter. Having had enough, Buffy steps up to him and tells him he’ll have to go through her if he wants to take her. Dawn joins his sister, and one by one all the Scoobies except Spike move to Tara’s defence. Cousin Beth tells them she hopes they’ll like hanging around with a disgusting demon, and Anya asks what kind of demon Tara is. The family doesn’t know and doesn’t care – evil is evil. Spike decides to make it simple, and hits Tara. He howls in pain, thus ascertaining that Tara is no demon. The family had simply passed on the legend through generations to control its women. On Tara’s request, the family leaves. The next day, the gang celebrate Tara’s birthday at the Bronze. Giles gives her a crystal ball, and Dawn gives her a broom. A slow comes on, and Willow asks Tara to dance. As they snuggle, Tara confesses that she wasn’t sure Willow would like her if she met her family. Willow replies that seeing how far Tara has evolved from her family makes her proud of her. As they dance, resting their heads on each other’s shoulder, the two girls float in the air… Summary by OttsFiveByFive.

Episode Ratings

Mac -

“Revelations about Tara. This episode solidifies her as a scoobie. The last 15 minutes are simply beautiful.”

Quotes

Key: B=Buffy, G=Giles, X=Xander, W=Willow, R=Riley, S=Spike, A=Anya, D=Dawn, T=Tara, J=Joyce, H=Harmony

W: Tell me a story. T: Okay. Once upon a time, there was a kitty. She was very little and she was all alone and nobody wanted her. W: This is a very upsetting story. T: Oh, oh, but it gets better. ’Cause one day the kitty was running around the street and a man came and swooped her up and took her to the pound. And at the pound there were lots of other kitties, and there were puppies, and some ferrets. W: Were there dolphins? T: Yes, many dolphins at the pound. W: Was there a camel? T: There was the front of a camel. A half-camel. W: Did the kitty get chosen by some nice people? T: Well, now you’ve ruined the ending.

W: I don’t need to be snuggled. T: Vixen.

Glory: Okay. Now I’m upset.

X: Ow! Thumb. Necessary opposable thumb. R: Sorry. Crybaby.

A: But we just helped her move the stuff in a few days ago. //turns, sees Buffy// And it was fun! G: People help each other out, Anya. One of our strange customs. B: Giles, I noticed you’re doing the smallest amount of helping that can actually be called helping. G: Well, I saw myself in more of a patriarchal sort of role. You know, lots of pointing and scowling. //points, scowls// You two, stop that. R: He started it! X: He called me a bad name. I think it was bad. It might have been Latin. G: Stop it, or you’re going to break something. //X & R continue wrestling// B: Or I’m going to break something. //X & R stop immediately//

B: Nothing like getting your ass kicked to make your ass hurt.

T: Yeah, you learn her source, and we’ll introduce her to her insect reflection. //everyone stops & stares at her// Th-that was funny if you, um, studied taglarin mythic rites… and are a complete dork. R: Then how come Xander didn’t laugh? X: I don’t know that taglarin stuff. R: Oh.

A: We have to bring presents, right? Birth is a present thing?

A: Thank you for coming. We value your patronage. Please come again for more purchases! G: Could we perhaps be a little less effusive, Anya? We don’t want to frighten the people. A: I’m just so excited. They come in, I help them, they give us money in exchange for goods, you give me money for working for you. I have a place in the world now. I’m part of the system. I’m a workin’ gal. G: Yes. Well, why don’t you start organizing the shipping orders? A: Oh, no, that’s boring. I just want to do the money parts.

X: You are gonna be there? B: Yeah. Barring monsters.

X: Give me sugar. I’ve come to buy sugar. //kiss// A: Mmm! We value your patronage.

B: Your definition of narrow is impressively wide.

G: You can’t be more specific about what she’s like? B: She was kind of like Cordelia, actually. I’m pretty sure she dyes her hair. G: Ah, yes, that one, of course. Our work is done.

X: I’m helping, I’m reading, I’m quiet.

B: You said you got a present already. X: Yeah, that was a tangled web of lies, sweetie.

B: There’s just… that thing. X: That thing. B: That thing of not understanding… X: Half of what she says?

X: But Tara, I just know she likes Willow, and she already has one of those.

B: Uh! I have a present-buying headache.

G: Come up with anything yet? X: Well, candles maybe, or bath oils of some kind. B: I saw a really cute sweater at Bloomies, but I think I want me to have it. G: And you are talking about what on earth? B: Tara’s birthday. We’re at a loss. G: You’re in a magic shop, and you can’t think what Tara would like. I believe you’re both profoundly stupid.

X: What, are we gonna get her some cheesy crystal ball? G: You bloody well better not. I’ve got mine already wrapped.

B: You’re a god. You’re like the god of boyfriends. R: Nah, I just like it when you owe me favors. B: Well, this earns you a big favor. There could be outfits. R: Oh, be still my heart.

D: I’m going to Melinda’s for dinner. B: Since when? D: Nowish. B: You can’t. It’s not safe for you to walk there. D: It’s across the street.

B: Besides, Melinda’s a bad influence. I don’t like you hanging out with someone that… short.

B: She makes me crazy. R: That’s kinda the word I was searching for. B: What? She shouldn’t be going over there. R: Yeah, a lot of young people nowadays are experimenting with shortness. Gotta nip that in the bud.

Glory: blonde. short. Strong for a human… and massively rude! Broke my shoe, took my monk. Do you have any idea who I’m talking about?

Glory: Oh god, please don’t tell me I was fighting a vampire slayer! How unbelievably common. If I had friends and they heard about this…

Glory: You have the cutest little suppurating sores. Has anyone ever told you that?

W: Am I late? Did I miss any exposition?

R: What can I say? The place just reeks of class.

Sandy: This place is such a dive. R: No, no, it’s great. You just have to close your eyes, plug up your nostrils, it’s fine.

Sandy: We could go somewhere else. Someplace more… private. R: Oh, Sandy, Sandy. It’s no good. My heart belongs to another. Besides, I don’t go out with vampires. They’re never interested in my intellect.

H: Apparently he got recruited by some big nether-wig, and now he’s on a mission. You think they might actually do it? Kill her? S: God, that would be… pleasant. H: Well, if they do, I think we should do something… like a gift basket or something.

Dad: What in god’s name is that? S: Lei-ach demon. Fun little buggers. Big with the marrow sucking.

B: You want her, Mr. Maclay? You can go ahead and take her. You just gotta go through me.

B: You want to take Tara out of here against her will, you gotta come through me. D: And me. Dad: Is this a joke? I’m not gonna be threatened by two little girls. D: You don’t want to mess with us. B: She’s a hair-puller. G: And… you’re not just dealing with two little girls. X: You’re dealing with all of us. S: ’Cept me. X: ’Cept Spike. S: I don’t care what happens.

Dad: *We* are her blood kin. Who the hell are you? B: We’re family.

Donny: Tara… if you don’t get in that car, I swear by god I will beat you down. X: And I swear by your full and manly beard you’re gonna break something trying.

Cousin Beth: Well, I hope you’ll all be happy hanging out with a disgusting demon. A: Excuse me… what kind? CB: What? A: What kind of demon is she? There’s a lot of different kinds. Some are very, very evil, and some have been considered to be useful members of society.

S: Why don’t I make this simple. //punches Tara// T: Ow! S: Ow! //clutches head//

S: There’s no demon in there. It’s just a family legend, am I right? Just a bit of spin to keep the ladies in line? You’re a piece of work. I like you.

T: He hurt my nose. S: Yeah, you’re welcome.

T: ’Cause your insect reflection reflects your insignificance in terms of the karmic cycle. A: //thinks// But it’s still not funny.

D: This place is so cool. Except I have to wear this stupid stamp on my hand. X: That’s to keep you from boozing it up. D: Oh, please. Only losers drink alcohol. //everyone lowers their cups//

T: Even when I’m at my worst, you always make me feel special. How do you do that? W: Magic. Credit: The Sunnydale Slayers