Season 1, Episode 2

Written by Joss Whedon

Directed by John T. Kretchmer

Original Airdate: 10 March 1997

"The Earth is doomed."

Rupert Giles

REGULAR 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

GUEST CAST

• Mark Metcalf as The Master

• Brian Thompson as Luke

• David Boreanaz as Angel

• Ken Lerner as Principal Bob Flutie

• Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers

• Julie Benz as Darla

• Eric Balfour as Jesse McNally

CO-STARRING

• Mercedes McNab as Harmony Kendall

• Jeffrey Steven Smith as Adam

• Teddy Lane Jr. as Bouncer

• Deborah Brown as Girl

SYNOPSIS

• Just as Luke is about to make Buffy a meal, he burns his hand on the cross, given to her by Angel. He jumps back and Buffy is able to get out. Xander and Willow are being attacked by vampires and Buffy arrives just in time to save them all but Jesse, who has been taken away by Darla. Luke and Darla guide Jesse to the Master where he becomes the bait for a trap for Buffy.
  
  Giles and Buffy tell Xander and Willow all about the life of a Slayer and the truths about vampires and demons. Xander is offended when Buffy tells him he can't help save Jesse because that is her job. Willow ends up helping Giles research by doing work on the computer. When Buffy realizes where the vampires are coming from, Willow gets on the Net and searches for information on the sewer systems and underground tunnels. At the mausoleum, Buffy finds the entrance and the mystery guy shows up again warning her not to go down there. He tells her his name is Angel and then directs her where to go.
  
  Xander shows up as Buffy is making her way to the tomb and tells her that he is going to help whether she likes it or not. They find Jesse and they all run off when several vampires come after them. Jesse leads them into a room with no way out and then vamps out. Buffy throws him outside the room and then closes the door. Buffy and Xander escape through the ventilation system and head back to the library. After researching, Giles and Willow find out that the Harvest is a mass feeding for the Master to allow him to break free of his underground tomb.
  
  Meanwhile, Luke has been chosen as the Vessel, the vampire that will feed and provide the strength the Master needs to break free. Buffy drops by her house to get supplies but ends up getting grounded by her mom. When Buffy finally sneaks out of the house and they go to the Bronze, it turns out to be too late. Luke and several other vampires have already gotten there and are beginning the Harvest.
  
  Buffy crashes the party and fights with Luke while Xander, Willow and Giles sneak people out through the back. Xander angrily confronts Jesse and a stake is accidentally shoved into Jesse's chest when someone bumps into him. Buffy tricks Luke into thinking the sun has risen by throwing a stand through a window but it is only a lamp. He is distracted for a few seconds, which is enough for Buffy to stake him.
  
  Now, the Master can't rise and the Harvest has been stopped. As Angel says, "She did it. I'll be damned."

TRIVIA

• This episode, as well as the previous one Welcome to the Hellmouth, originally aired as a two-hour movie on the WB. On all subsequent showings, as well as its international airings, the movie is split into two separate episodes.

• When aired as a single episode, this episode sometimes features a Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer... segment that recaps the events of Welcome to the Hellmouth. Some versions of the episode do not.

• This episode sees the first official appearance of Mercedes McNab as Harmony. McNab originally auditioned for the role of Buffy, but Joss gave her the role of Harmony when she didn't get the part. She appeared in the unaired pilot, but makes her first appearance in an aired episode here.

• According to the original script for this episode, the Master's real name is Heinrich Joseph Nest. Although never stated on screen, it is considered canon. It's also mentioned in Christopher Golden's novel "Spike and Dru: Pretty Maids All in a Row."

CONTINUITY

• Willow says to Buffy at the end of this episode, “Maybe you could blow something up. They’re really strict about that.” Buffy blew up the entire school in Graduation Day (Part 2).

• Giles mentions to himself that the Earth is doomed at the end of this episode, and in Chosen, he says the same thing.

GOOFS

• Cordelia clearly states that Friday night is no-cover night at the Bronze. So why is everyone paying money?

• Cordelia says she is going to the Bronze that Friday, the night of the Harvest. Oddly, everyone is back in school the following day.

• Buffy wears the cross that Angel gave her, but it keeps disappearing and reappearing around her neck.

• Buffy sticks a pool cue into the off-screen vampire in the Bronze. He falls back but doesn't dust.

Welcome to the Hellmouth | The Harvest | Witch | Teacher's Pet | Never Kill a Boy on the First Date

The Pack | Angel | I Robot, You Jane | The Puppet Show | Nightmares | Out of Mind, Out of Sight | Prophecy Girl