Buffy Logo 'Lies My Parents Told Me'
Story Code '7ABB17'

by David Fury
and Drew Goddard
Buffy

New York City, 1977: Nikki the Slayer battles Spike, while her son Robin watches from behind a park bench. When the fight ends in a draw Spike leaves, remarking on her leather coat; Nikki talks to Robin and explains that her mission is to kill vampires, which she must fight alone.

Sunnydale, the present. Robin Wood fights by Buffy’s side killing vampires, hating the fact that he has to fight alongside Spike as well. He manages to stop himself staking the vampire, but his frustration is obvious from the way that he grips a stake so hard that blood pours from his hand. The next day, Giles visits Buffy at school and is introduced to Wood; Giles is concerned about Spike being de-chipped and being used by the First, resulting in Wood’d confusion over everything that has happened to Spike so far. Giles is worried that the First could activate Spike’s trigger at any time, and intends to do something about it. Later Spike, Robin, Willow, Xander, Dawn, Giles and Buffy gather in the Summers’ basement in front of a chained Spike; Willow casts a spell using a Prokaryote stone, bringing it to life and instructing it to crawl into Spike’s brain to dig out the nature of the trigger.

London, 1880. For the delectation of his mother, Young William recites his soppy love poetry for Cecily, the object of his admiration. William loves his mother very much and is concerned about her failing health; he sits at her feet as she sings him a lullaby.

Sunnydale, the present. Spike thrashes about as his trigger is activated, knocking Dawn over with some furniture.

London, 1880. William, now re-born as a vampire, takes Drusilla home and introduces her to his mother, whom he then transforms into a vampire.

Sunnydale, the present. Wood takes Giles to one side and talks to him about Spike, telling him that they would be better off if the vampire were dead; he asks Giles to distract Buffy for a while, and Giles agrees. Wood informs Spike that Buffy instructed him to stay with Spike for a while, but when they enter Wood’s workroom Spike finds that the walls are covered with crosses. Wood claims he is going to help Spike with his trigger, but as he puts on a pair of studded gloves he tells Spike that he killed his mother, Nikki; he then uses his computer to play a copy of the song that William’s mother sang to him - activating Spike’s trigger.

London, 1880. William is relived when his mother is reborn, now glowing with health and vitality. But it soon becomes apparent that more than her appearance has changed; twisted with bitterness, she cruelly tells William that she has wanted him gone for a long time, and that his poetry is appalling. Devastated, William stakes his mother, but just before she turns to dust William sees the true image of his mother looking gratefully back at her son.

Sunnydale, the present. Giles takes Buffy to the cemetery to train, but when a vampire rises he tells her not to stake it. While Buffy and the vamp trade punches, Giles tries to make her realise that she will have to make difficult choices, demonstrating by not letting her kill the vampire. Realising that he is talking about Spike, Buffy stakes the vampire and rushes off to help him. Meanwhile, Wood has beaten Spike up, but the moment the vampire comes to terms with the memory of his mother he begins to fight back; Spike tells Wood that he and Nikki were natural enemies, and that it is not Spike’s fault that she abandoned her son. Nikki was everything to her son, but her world was vampires and demons instead of being a mother. As Spike thanks Wood for getting rid of his trigger he realises that although his own mother was taken over by a demon, she truly loved him before he turned her. Spike transforms into his vampire face, telling Wood that he is going to kill him. Buffy then arrives and finds Spike leaving the workroom, while Wood lies slumped on the floor - still alive. Spike warns that next time, he will kill him. Buffy explains to Wood that they need Spike, as he is the only warrior they have; if an altercation such as this happens again she will let Spike kill him. Later, at home, Buffy checks on Dawn; Giles tries to explain his actions to Buffy, believing that killing Spike was for the greater good. Buffy calmly replies that Giles has taught her everything that she needs to know - and then she closes the door in his face…

Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), James Marsters (Spike), Emma Caulfield (Anya), Michelle Trachtenberg (Dawn), Anthony Stewart Head (Rupert Giles)
Directed by David Fury

TX (US): 25th March 2003

Notes:
*Featuring Buffy, Xander, Willow, Anya, Dawn and Giles

*Working title: 'Mothers and Sons'