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| Screencaps courtesy of The Buffy Paradox |
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| 117. Normal Again Jonathan, Warren and Andrew spot Buffy about to enter their driveway, as she searches for them. Andrew summons a Demon to help deflect Buffy from her search. The Demon surprises Buffy, and as they fight it manages to stick a wierd stinger that appears on it's arm into Buffys arm. Buffy is in a mental hospital and two orderlies are trying to inject her with a tranquilizer! Buffy 'comes to' in the alleyway, rubbing at her arm. She seems confused. The next day at college, Willow is hanging around the corridors waiting to see Tara as she comes out of class. Unfortunately, when Tara appears, she is talking to another girl. Willow sees Tara give the girl a light peck on the cheek as they part and drawing conclusions wanders off, dejectedly. Tara sees Willow and watches her go with a concerned look on her face! While at work, Buffy, who seems a bit dazed is spoken to by her Boss. Buffy is wearing a hospital gown and is called by an orderly........'it's time to take your drugs'. her boss tells her that she's acting like she's on drugs. Buffy looks very confused. At home Buffy asks Willow why she isn't seeing Tara that day. Willow tells Buffy that she saw Tara with another girl. She admits that it really bothers her, even though it's probably nothing. When the Doorbell rings Buffy and Willow are surprised and pleased to see Xander.He's looking for Anya and he say's that he understands that he's screwed things up, but he still misses her! Later that night, Buffy bumps into Spike while patrolling the Graveyard. They sit down and talk, while Buffy tells him what happened at the wedding after he left. Xander and Willow show up which makes Buffy pretend that she was just trying to get information out of Spike. Xander starts in with the Spike directed insults, which makes Spike verbaly attack Xander, concerning his treatment of Anya. Willow is caught in the middle, trying to be the peacemaker. Buffy, unnoticed by the others, falls to her knees She is in the corner of a hospital room, obviously confused and frightend. A doctor asks if she knows where she is. When she says Sunnydale, he tells her 'no', she has been in a mental institution for 6 years and there is no such place as Sunnydale! The doctor then brings Buffy's mum and dad into the room. Joyce says "Welcome home, sweetie"! The Scoobs notice Buffy and are concerned about her. Brushing aside Spikes offer to take her to his crypt, they lead her home. Once there, Buffy explains about the Demon who 'stuck' her, and about the wierd hallucinations. The gang go into research mode. Buffy and her parents are in the doctors office. Although her parents are hopeful, the doctor stresses that Buffy has built up a very intricate dreamworld, in which she is a Superhero. He points out that Buffy's delusions used to be epic battles against larger than life villains, but now all she is fighting are three 'nerdy' humans. This proves to him that Buffys fantasies are not comforting to her anymore. Willow tells Buffy that she has found out about the Demon who attacked her. While they talk Buffy confesses to Willow that she has really been in a mental institute before. When she first saw Vampires as a teenager she told her parents, who couldn't handle it and had her commited for a couple of weeks. Buffy wonders about what is real, whether she has been in the institution for the past six years, and all this, Sunnydale, the Scoobies and Dawn is a fantasy. Willow tries to reassure her and tells her that Xander and Spike are tracking down the Demon, which has the antidote to it's poison in it's stinger. Xander and Spike manage to find the Demon, subdue it and bring it back to the Summers residence. Dawn brings Buffy some tea, but their time together fades as Buffy once again slips into her fantasy world. Joyce is telling Buffy that she doesn't have a sister! Dawn picks up on the fact that in Buffy's fantasy, she doesn't exist. She is very hurt and leaves the room. In the basement Willow breaks the stinger off the Demon and starts on the antidote. When she has made it she takes it upstairs for Buffy to drink. Spike enters Buffy's room behind Willow, when Will leaves the room she asks Spike to make sure that Buffy drinks all the antidote. Buffy tells Spike to leave her alone, which upsets him. He tells her that she is addicted to misery and that if she doesn't tell her friends about them, then he will! He leaves Buffy, who appears lost in thought. She pours the antidote into her rubbish bin! Buffy appeals to the doctor, telling him that she wants to stay in 'this' world. The doctor tells her that she has to rid her mind of all the things that are making her think that Sunnydale is real. Her fantasies about her friends are keeping her from becoming 'healthy'! Willow, who believes that Buffy has taken the antidote and is now cured, bumps into Buffy in the hallway, and offers to make her breakfast. Xander enters the house and chatters away to Buffy. She swings at him with the frying pan and then wrestles him down to the basement. He sees a bound and gagged Willow lying there, not far from the still tied up Demon! Xander passes out. Dawn is packing to stay with a friend when Buffy tries to attack her. she chases Dawn from room to room, telling her that she's not real and that she won't be 'healthy' until she gets rid of her. Buffy soon manages to get Dawn tied up in the basement with the others. Buffy unties the Demon and retreats to a nook under the stairs. She watches as the Demon attacks Xander. Tara arrives upstairs and finding nobody around heads for the basement. Joyce encourages Buffy, as Buffy huddles into a corner of her hospital room. Tara sees what is happening and does a spell that releases Willow and Dawn. She then does a spell that sends a shelf unit toppling onto the Demon. Buffy, still under the stairs, reaches through the treads and trips Tara, sending her flying to the bottom of the steps. Huddled in the corner of her hospital room, Buffy calls out 'Willow'. Her mother tries to calm her down, telling her to believe in herself. Buffy is suddenly calm. She agrees with her mother and tells her 'Goodbye'. Buffy comes to her senses and attacks the Demon, killing it by putting her hand through its chest. Still seeming slightly stunned she apologises to her friends. Willow tells her it's ok, and offers to make some more antidote. The doctor in the hospital is shining a light into the eyes of a catatonic Buffy. He tells her distraught looking parents that they've 'lost her'! Episode summary by Spacenewt |