User:Brian Kurtz/Sandbox

"We are talking full-on Exorcist twist."

- Buffy

Synopsis
Xander falls asleep in chemistry class. As he drools into his sleeve, he dreams of being a suave and courageous vampire killer who saves a grateful Buffy Summers from a vampire at The Bronze. After dispatching his opponent, he hops up on the stage and finishes a guitar solo. Buffy wakes him up and their teacher, Doctor Stephen Gregory, continues his lecture. He grills Buffy on the study of insects, but Buffy stumbles over the questions. As the bell rings, he asks her stay behind after class. Surprisingly, Doctor Gregory offers Buffy words of encouragement. He knows that she is very bright and feels that she is being hampered due to negative opinions brought on from her experiences at Hemery High. Buffy appreciates his comments and develops a newfound respect for the man. After Buffy leaves, something enters the lab and kills Doctor Gregory.

That night at the Bronze, Xander comes upon a fellow student named Blayne Moll and finds him bragging about his alleged sexual conquests. Xander makes a joke and Blayne challenges him to list all of the women that he has bedded. When he sees Buffy and Willow enter the club, he finds an excuse to evade Blayne's uncomfortable questions. Another mysterious individual enters the Bronze as well - Angel. Buffy goes over to him and asks why he is here. Angel sees that she is cold and offers her his leather jacket. When he takes his coat off, Buffy notices three vicious wounds across his left arm. Buffy refers to the assailant as "Fork Guy". Angel warns her that the creature that did this to him is coming for her and she should show him no mercy. With that, he disappears into the night. Buffy says to the empty air, "Sweet dreams to you too."

The next day at school, Xander meets up with Buffy, Willow and Giles and tells them that Doctor Gregory has gone missing. This causes them great concern and Willow even mentions how Doctor Gregory is the only teacher at Sunnydale who doesn't think Buffy is a felon. As they talk, Gregory's substitute teacher, Natalie French, walks up. She is older, but extremely attractive woman and Xander has trouble keeping his wits about him. Blayne Moll appears and offers to show Miss French to her classroom.

The students go to their science class and as they file into the room, Buffy notices Doctor Gregory's glasses on the floor. She knows that the teacher would never willingly go anywhere without his glasses and this makes her suspicious. Miss French conducts her class and teaches them about the life cycle of the praying mantis. She then asks for volunteers to help her out with a science project. Nearly every boy in the class raises their hand.

After class the Scoobies go to lunch. Xander boasts that Miss French has the hots for him. Cordelia Chase comes in to get her medically prescribed lunch from the freezer. When she opens the door, she finds the decapitated body of Doctor Gregory.

Buffy and the others convene in the library to consult with Giles. They describe the incident to him, and this brings up the warning that Angel gave to Buffy. As they discuss the matter further, they determine that "Fork Guy" is not the same creature responsible for killing Doctor Gregory. Giles tells Buffy about a report of a homeless man that was murdered at Weatherly Park. She takes it upon herself to investigate the matter. As she patrols the park she runs into Fork Guy and fights with him. The police show up however and Fork Guy runs off before Buffy has the opportunity to finish him off. Buffy chases after him and watches as he prepares to accost Natalie French who is walking home. Natalie just stares at the man and something about her frightens him. He runs off and escapes through a manhole.

The next day, Buffy tells Giles about what happened. After describing Fork Guy's reaction to Miss French, they decide that it would be best to keep a close eye on her. Buffy leaves the library and heads towards Biology class, but she runs into Principal Flutie. Flutie tells her that everyone who saw Doctor Gregory's headless body is required to visit an on-site crisis counselor. Buffy tries to dodge the matter, but Flutie is insistant and makes her sit outside the counselor's office. After her session, she rushes to class, but as she looks through the window, she sees Miss French's head turn around 180 degrees and stare menacingly at her. Buffy goes to the library and tells Giles and Willow what she had seen. Recalling that there were certain species of insects capable of doing the same thing that Miss French did, Buffy begins sorting through the library books relating to bugs.

Notes & Trivia

 * This episode has been made available on Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Chosen Collection and Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete First Season DVD collections.


 * Doctor Gregory brings up Buffy's troubles at Hemery High School. This was briefly touched upon in the series pilot episode "Welcome to the Hellmouth".


 * In the beginning of the episode, Blayne Moll brags about sleeping with seven girls. By the end of the episode however, it is revealed that he is actually a virgin.


 * Angel and Principal Flutie appeared last in "The Harvest".


 * Doctor Stephen Gregory appeared last in "Witch".


 * Xander's middle name, Lavelle, is revealed in this episode.

Pop culture references

 * Xander sarcastically quips, "We're on Monster Island". Monster Island is a fictional location featured in Toho Productions' Godzilla film series, in particular, the 1968 film Destroy All Monsters.


 * After seeing Miss French's turn around 180 degrees, Buffy describes it as a "Full-on Exorcist twist". This is a reference to the 1973 film The Exorcist where Linda Blair's character Regan MacNeil turns her head completely around while being possessed by the demon Pazuzu.

Quotes
"Don't be sorry. Be smart."

- Dr. Stephen Gregory

"I think there are too many guys in your life."

- Rupert Giles

"He's one of the only teachers that doesn't think Buffy's a felon."

- Willow Rosenberg

"It's funny how the Earth never opens up and swallows you when you want it to."

- Xander Harris

"I wonder what she sees in me. Its probably the quiet good looks coupled with a certain smoky magnetism."

- Xander Harris

"Yes, yes... she's lovely. Well, in a, uh extremely well-proportioned way."

- Giles

"We all need help with our feelings. Otherwise we bottle them up, and before you know it, powerful laxatives are involved."

- Principal Flutie