Original Air Date: May 12, 1997
Story by Joss Whedon
Teleplay by David Greenwalt
Directed by Bruce Seth Green
Summary
Buffy has a nightmare about being attacked by the Master.
Later in class, a student opens his book and spiders emerge
and attack him, while a young boy stands outside the
classroom window. In his lair, the Master explains to the
Anointed One that fear is the most powerful force in the
world, and changes are about to take place.
Buffy, Willow and Xander question the spider boy, who says
he's had recurring nightmares about such attacks. Later in
class, Buffy finds out there is a test she's totally
unprepared for. As soon as she starts writing, she glances at
the clock and sees almost the entire hour is up. Again, the
boy appears. Later, a girl goes into the school basement and
is attacked by a huge Ugly Man. Questioned in the hospital,
she's able to provide one clue: the attacker said the words
"Lucky Nineteen."
Xander enters a class to find everyone staring at them --
he's only wearing boxer shorts. Buffy finds a newspaper
picture of the boy who keeps appearing. The article says he's
in a coma after falling down the steps after a little league
game. Buffy notices his uniform number: 19. Giles says even
though the boy's in the hospital, perhaps Buffy has been
seeing his astral body, which can travel through time and
space. Buffy's father picks her up at school and explains he
left home because Buffy caused so much trouble and was a
disappointment to him. He leaves Buffy in shock -- and the
boy appears again. Willow and Xander talk to Giles, who
explains that their nightmares have been coming true, leaving
everyone vulnerable to all sorts of danger. Buffy finally
confronts the boy, who explains that Ugly Man wants to kill
him. Suddenly, the Ugly Man appears and starts to attack
Buffy, who is no match for him.
Giles warns Xander and Willow that Buffy's nightmares
could be fatal, and they must find her. Willow's attempt
leads her into her own nightmare: she is onstage in an opera
for which she is woefully unprepared. Xander's search leads
him to yet another nightmare: a clown he feared from
childhood chases him with a knife. Buffy and the boy manage
to escape Ugly Man by literally jumping from school during
the day into a cemetery at night. The Master appears and
shoves Buffy into an open grave. Willow, Xander and Giles
need to find Buffy -- unless Billy is awoken, all reality
will become nightmares within hours. They notice a cemetery
-- in darkness -- is across the street, and go to
investigate. Seeing Buffy's headstone, Giles laments not
protecting her better, until Buffy emerges -- as a vampire.
Giles says it's reversible, if only Billy could wake up. They
go to the hospital and Ugly Man appears again. Buffy manages
to attack him. She asks the little boy to finish the job --
he walks up to him and peels something off his face. Buffy
returns to normal, and the real little boy awakens from his
coma. His little league coach enters and is shocked to find
the boy awake. Buffy confronts him about beating up the boy
for losing a game -- when he tries to flee, Xander grabs him.
Buffy's dad shows up after school and cheerfully greets her
-- another happy ending at the Hellmouth.
Miscellaneous Info
-The Master has met the last Slayer (did he
kill her), we know this because he says "So you're the
Slayer. You're prettier than the last one."
Quote of the Week
Joyce: You want to go to school?
Buffy: Yeah! Why not?
JoyceL Okay... Good day to buy that lottery ticket.
My Rating
2.5/5
Cast
