The Prom

"The Prom" is the twentieth episode of the third season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and is the fifty-fourth episode altogether. It was written by Marti Noxon and directed by David Solomon. It originally broadcast on May 11, 1999.

Angel decides to do the right thing and break up with Buffy. Heartbroken, Buffy tries to make sure the rest of her friends can enjoy their senior prom without the interference of a pack of Hellhounds.

Synopsis
Buffy wakes up in Angel's bed at the mansion after the two fell asleep after patrol. Buffy talks a bit about bringing some of her stuff over so every once in a while she could spend the night and she mentions going to the Prom. When she opens the curtains to check for the sun, she accidentally lets in a strong beam and it hits Angel but he manages to move before it really burns him.

At school, Anya, still a mere human being, asks Xander to the Prom. Both are dateless and desperate, so he says yes. Later, Buffy, Willow, Oz, and Xander discuss prom plans, and dresses. Joyce visits Angel at the mansion and tells him she's worried about the effect he's having on her daughter. She tells him that he can't get in the way of her future and if Buffy can't see that he'll have to do something about it. Buffy and Willow are talking prom dresses while Giles is continuing research for the Ascension. They don't know for sure what kind of demon the Mayor will transform into. Giles and Wesley will both be chaperoning the prom, which Buffy protests is going to be the one and possibly last night of fun they'll have in Sunnydale. Meanwhile, in a small house, someone plays a video for a caged dog beast that makes the dog go wild.

Buffy and Angel are in a church getting married. As they exit the church, Angel is fearful of the sun, but it is Buffy that burns up and dies - not him - when they come in contact with the sun's light. Angel awakes from the dream.

While patrolling, Buffy and Angel have an argument. Angel is still disturbed by his dream and the visit from Joyce, telling Buffy they need to talk. He tells her that it's unfair for her to be in a relationship with him because of all the things he can't give her. In order to make her realize how serious he is, he breaks up with her and tells her he doesn't want be with her. He plans to leave Sunnydale after the ascension. Buffy goes to Willow for comfort and she realizes that Angel was right; the two of them really can't be together. But, after such a long and dedicated relationship falls apart so quickly, Buffy just feels horrible and cries.

At April Fools, a store where Cordelia is working, Xander spots her through the window and goes in to tease her for what he perceives as her spending a long time trying to pick a dress. However he is stopped short when an assistant chides Cordelia for speaking to a customer. She reveals that because of her father committing tax fraud, she's now working there to save up for a prom dress because her family lost all of their money, and now she has nowhere to live and she can't afford to go to any of the colleges that accepted her. Xander is clearly shocked by this and can't come up with any words in response while Cordelia says that he can go back to his friends and laugh at her getting her comeuppance for teasing them all this time. Their argument is cut short as one of the beasts that broke free breaks through the window and kills a boy dressed in a tux.

At the library, they study the video of the attack, and spot a guy outside who turns out to be Tucker Wells, who used to have a chemistry class with Oz. Tucker has plans to ruin prom night by sending a hellhound trained to attack those in formal wear after the students. Buffy vows not to let this dog ruin the big night and issues orders for everyone to split up and search for clues. She ends up finding an address at the butcher where Tucker ordered cow brains to feed the dogs. She runs into Angel and the two have a post-break-up argument. As Cordelia leaves work, she finds that her prom dress has been paid for. Buffy returns from her searching and orders everyone else to attend the prom while she takes care of the hounds. She tells Giles that Angel is leaving town. She finds Tucker in his basement and ties him up before he can release the hound, but she also finds out that there are four dogs, and three are already on their way to the school. After killing all of the dogs, Buffy changes into her prom dress and shows up for the dance. Everyone looks amazing dressed up in their tuxes and formal dresses. Cordelia shows up and clings to Wesley (after thanking Xander for paying for her dress, restoring their friendship) while Anya tells Xander of her past, and Willow and Oz just enjoy the evening.

When Class awards are given out, Xander is snubbed for Class Clown but Buffy is actually honored with the Class Protector Award. It turns out Sunnydale High students were actually aware of Buffy's actions when protecting them from the evils of the Hellmouth. She's given an ornately decorated parasol for the award. After she accepts the award, the students continue to dance when Angel surprises her by showing up in a tux. While Angel assures her that his presence doesn't change their status, Buffy is just glad to be held in his arms as they dance.

Starring

 * Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers
 * Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris
 * Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg
 * Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase
 * David Boreanaz as Angel
 * Seth Green as Oz
 * Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles

Guest Starring

 * Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers
 * Alexis Denisof as Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
 * Brad Kane as Tucker Wells
 * Emma Caulfield as Anya

Co Starring

 * Danny Strong as Jonathan Levinson
 * Andrea Baker as Sales Girl
 * Bonita Friedericy as Mrs. Finkle
 * Mike Kimmel as Harv
 * Tove Kingsbury as Tux Boy
 * Michael Zlabinger as Student At Mic
 * Damien Eckhardt as Jack Mayhew
 * Monica Serene Garnich as Pretty Girl
 * Joe Howard as Priest
 * Stephanie Denise Griffin as Tux Girl

Production Information

 * This exchange was cut due to length:
 * Giles: "Fine. You're all suffering from a touch of spring madness, if you ask me."
 * Oz: "Mine is more space madness. But I'll feel better once I get used to the weightlessness."
 * Willow: "Promise me you'll never be linear."
 * Oz: "On my trout."


 * In the scene where Angel breaks up with Buffy, Sarah Michelle Gellar has admitted that she "could not stop crying," and the set was closed for 25 minutes to allow her to recover.

Quotes
Giles - "I will be wearing pink taffeta as the chenille does nothing for my complexion and can we please talk about the Ascension?"

Joyce - "I don't have to tell you that you and Buffy come from different worlds." Angel - "No, you don't." Joyce - "She's had to deal with a lot, grow up fast. Sometimes even I forget that she's still just a girl." Angel - "And I'm old enough to be her ancestor." Joyce - "She's just starting out in life." Angel - "I know. I think about it more now that she's staying in Sunnydale." Joyce - "Good. Because when it comes to you, Angel, she's just like any other young woman in love. You're all she can see of tomorrow. But I think we both know that there are some hard choices ahead. If she can't make them, you're gonna have to. I know you care about her. I just hope you care enough."

Oz - "Once again, the Hellmouth puts the "special" in "special occasion"."

Wesley - "Mr. Giles. I'd like your opinion. While the last thing I want to do is model bad behavior in front of impressionable youth, I wonder if asking Miss Chase to dance would-" Giles - "For God's sake, man, she's eighteen. And you have the emotional maturity of a blueberry scone. Just have at it, would you, and stop fluttering about." Wesley - "Right, then. Thanks for that."

Jonathan - "We have one more award to give out. Is Buffy Summers here tonight? Did she, um... [the crowd turns and finds her; she looks surprised at the attention] This is actually a new category. First time ever. I guess there were a lot of write-in ballots, and, um, well, t-the prom committee asked me to read this. "We're not good friends. Most of us never found the time to get to know you, but that doesn't mean we haven't noticed you. We don't talk about it much, but it's no secret that Sunnydale High isn't really like other high schools. A lot of weird stuff happens here." Student #1 - "Zombies!"  Student #2 - "Hyena people!"  Student #3 - "Snyder!"  [people chuckle]  Jonathan - "But whenever there was a problem or something creepy happened, you seemed to show up and stop it. Most of the people here have been saved by you or helped by you at one time or another. We're proud to say that the class of '99 has the lowest mortality rate of any graduating class in Sunnydale history, and we know at least part of that is because of you. So the senior class offers its thanks and gives you, uh, uh, this." [he produces a gold, glittering, miniature umbrella with a small metal plaque attached to the shaft] It's from all of us, and it has written here, "Buffy Summers, Class Protector".

Continuity

 * This episode marks the end of Buffy and Angel's relationship. He would leave Sunnydale after the season finale and start the spinoff Angel.


 * Buffy achieves the high school moment she dreamed of ("Homecoming") and was floored to be recognized by her peers for her work.


 * We learn in this episode that Cordelia's father was guilty of tax fraud of some sort, reducing her family to near poverty. This change eventually leads to her migration to LA, where she will team up with Angel.


 * When Anya asks Xander to the Prom she references the events of "Lover's Walk" and "The Wish".


 * Buffy's line "miles to go before we sleep", references the famous Robert Frost poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening". Faith later references the poem in a dream sequence in "Graduation Day, Part Two" saying, "Miles to go -- counting down from 730."


 * Tucker Wells has an even more obscure brother Andrew, who will become involved starting in season six.


 * Due to the episode "Earshot" not being aired out of respect for the victims of the Columbine massacre, television viewers of this episode were unaware of Buffy stopping Jonathan from committing suicide. The fact that Buffy saved his life makes his presentation of the Class Protector Award to her even more significant.
 * Up until this point, it was normal for civilians in the series to not mention supernatural events that they experience. Giles explained this as the ability of people to "rationalize what they can and forget what they can't" (The Harvest). This episode is the first time that the students of Sunnydale High openly show awareness of the supernatural events at their school. While Buffy is presented with the Class Protector Award, students shout out "Zombies" (Dead Man's Party) and "Hyena People" (The Pack).

Music

 * Christophe Beck - "Class Protector"
 * Christophe Beck - "Deadly Beloved"
 * Christophe Beck - "The Beginning of the End"
 * Cracker - "The Good Life"
 * Fatboy Slim - "Praise You"
 * Kool & The Gang - "Celebration"
 * Prince - "1999"
 * Sister Sledge - "We Are Family"
 * The Lassie Foundation - "El Rey"
 * The Sundays - "Wild Horses" (included on Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Album)