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Season 6, Episode 4
Written by Douglas Petrie and Jane Espenson
Directed by Douglas Petrie
Original Airdate: 15 October 2001
"You do research now? Want a cappuccino and a
pack of cigarettes to go with it?"
Buffy
REGULAR CAST
SPECIAL GUEST STAR
GUEST CAST
CO-STARRING
SYNOPSIS
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Buffy attempts to repair a leaky pipe in her
basement only to have it burst and flood the basement. At breakfast, the
gang discusses the damage while Xander and a plumber examine the damage
caused by the pipes. The plumber advises Buffy that a full re-piping is
necessary and hands her a very large bill. The size of the cost leads to
Buffy finding that with the hospital bills and funeral costs, the
Summers girls are pretty much broke. Anya suggests charging for slaying
which leads to an argument with Xander about their engagement, but Buffy
manages to keep her cool and is determined to find a way around the
problem.
Buffy goes to a bank to consult with a loan director, which is hardly a
positive experience as Buffy finds that without a job and no real
collateral, she can't get a loan. A demon breaks through the office
window, interrupting the meeting and Buffy fights it, despite her
conservative clothing. While money is stolen from the bank, a security
guard tries to intervene in the fight, but is unable to help the
situation. The demon escapes and Buffy returns to the loan officer to
discuss the possibility of getting paid for saving his life.
Later that night, Willow tries to upset Buffy purposely in order to get
her to express some real anger but Buffy doesn't fall for it. Anya
continues to try and force Xander to announce their engagement and he's
ready to but not until everyone has arrived. Dawn wants to help with
research, but Tara thinks she's too young and that fact is proven when
Dawn looks at a picture in one of the books. Buffy isn't pleased that
Dawn is researching with the gang but Dawn is able to identify the
bank-robbing demon Buffy encountered earlier. Giles returns to have a
happy reunion and intense discussion with Buffy before meeting up with
the rest of the gang.
The bank robbing demon, a M'Fashnik, throws a fit in front of his
"controllers," Jonathan, Warren and Andrew (brother of Tucker)
complaining that the Slayer still lives even though they got the money
from the bank. The three guys argue both with the demon and each other,
then Jonathan, Warren, and Andrew think up a way to accommodate the
demon without killing Buffy. Giles takes the couch at the Summers home
and talks with Buffy, telling her he'll help her take care of the
financial problems in the morning. The three guys discuss their mission:
taking over Sunnydale, and somewhat agree unanimously that none of them
want to kill Buffy, but Warren secretly provides Buffy's address to the
M'Fashnik demon so he can kill her.
Giles and Willow have a heated discussion the next morning regarding the
spell and Willow's rash judgments to try something so risky without
enough information. Willow stands up for herself, even threatening
Giles. Spike finds Buffy on the back porch and the two exchange small
talk about life and money. Giles and Dawn both have trouble sleeping and
go for a snack. The M'Fashnik crashes their late night cereal party, but
Buffy catches him. A fight ensues with Buffy and Spike working together
against the M'Fashnik.
The fight ends up in the basement where the demon latches on to one of
the pipes and Buffy immediately attacks as the expensive pipes are
threatened. The "super villain" guys consider their future plans and
agree that hypnotizing and making Buffy their willing love slave is a
priority. The Scooby Gang regroups after the demon is taken care of and
hopelessly attempts to save the furniture that was destroyed in battle.
A phone call reveals that Angel needs to meet with Buffy and she needs
the same so she leaves to meet him at a neutral location.
TRIVIA
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Tom Lenk makes his first appearance as
Andrew in this episode. He previously appeared as Cyrus, one of
Harmony's minions, in Real Me. The
character of Andrew became popular and was brought back as part of the
Scoobies in season seven.
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According to Doug Petrie, a special
waterproof floor was built for the flooded basement set. Sarah Michelle
Gellar and Michelle Trachtenberg allowed themselves to be soaked during
filming, and Doug even bought Sarah a special towel with her name on it
for braving the icy water.
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Buffy producers had originally
planned for Tucker Wells to be part of the nerd trio, and for him to be
the leader. Brad Kane was unavailable so the character of Andrew was
written.
CROSSOVER
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Angel discovers that Buffy is alive during an
off-screen phone call from Willow in the Angel episode
Carpe Noctem. Angel calls the Slayer who goes off to meet him - not
in Sunnydale, not in LA, but somewhere in the middle. This is a nod
towards the fact that there are no more Buffy/Angel
crossovers now that Buffy has moved from the WB to UPN.
CONTINUITY
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This episode marks the final time Giles
is knocked unconscious. He also comments that that's how he knows he's
in the States.
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Anya's comments about charging for
slaying doesn't sound so strange to Angel, who regularly does so in Los
Angeles.
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The fact that nobody remembers Andrew
becomes a running joke. His brother Tucker was seen in
The Prom.
GOOFS
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When Giles wears a short-sleeved shirt, his
Eyghon tattoo is missing.
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Why don't Tara and Willow help out by
getting part time jobs? It seems quite selfish of them to live at
Buffy's house without contributing any money.
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In his short space of time in England,
Giles has got a flat in Bath, seen some old friends and almost made a
new friend. Why didn't he come straight back to Sunnydale when he found
out about Buffy? He was barely in England when Willow called him.
Bargaining
(Part 1) |
Bargaining (Part 2) |
Afterlife |
Flooded |
Life
Serial
All the
Way |
Once More, With Feeling |
Tabula Rasa |
Smashed |
Wrecked |
Gone
Doublemeat
Palace |
Dead Things |
Older and Far Away |
As You Were |
Hell's Bells |
Normal Again
Entropy |
Seeing Red |
Villains |
Two to Go |
Grave
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