Teacher's Pet

Template:Buffyepisode

"Teacher's Pet" is the fourth episode of the first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and is the fourth episode overall.

Synopsis

One evening at the Bronze, Xander suavely saves the Slayer from a menacing vamp, then mounts the stage to play his guitar solo and "kiss her like she has never been kissed before." He is rudely awakened from this beautiful dream to find himself stuck in the hell known as biology class, and Dr. Gregory is about to call on him. After class, Dr. Gregory, who is the only teacher to believe in and encourage Buffy, is killed by an unseen monster.

That night at the Bronze, Xander is taunted by fellow student Blayne for his lack of sexual prowess. When Buffy and Willow arrive, Xander smoothly puts his arms around both girls in order to buff up his reputation. Buffy rushes off when Angel shows up. He gives her his jacket to warm her and as he's taking it off, she notices several slashes on his arm. She jokes that somebody must have attacked him with a big fork. He warns her about the new threat and to not let him corner her as he'll "rip [her] throat out." He leaves quickly after the warning.

The next day, Buffy informs Giles that Angel warned her about a "fork guy." The substitute biology teacher, Natalie French, shows up and turns every boy's head. She seems to have a thing about insects, especially the praying mantis. At lunch, Cordelia finds the headless body of Dr. Gregory in the cafeteria locker. The Scoobies try to figure out if there is a connection to the Master, but don't rule out that there is a second monster about. Later that nght, Buffy goes into the park and confronts a vampire who has a large claw in place of a right hand. The fight is interrupted by the police, and the vampire flees. While in pursuit, she sees the vampire come up behind Miss French, who just stares at him. To Buffy's surprise, the vampire bolts in panic.

At school the next day, Buffy is sent to a counselor to help her get over seeing the dead body. This makes her late for the surprise test that Miss French gives the class - a test where she helps Xander with a question. Buffy looks through the window in the door, and Miss French turns her head 180 degrees to look at her. Later, Miss French asks Xander over to her house in the evening to work on a project.

Back in the library, Buffy figures that Miss French must be a praying mantis and convinces the Giles and Willow. They discover that Blayne, who worked on a project with Miss French the day before, never came home that night. Buffy tries to warn Xander, but he brushes her off, saying that she is just jealous.

Miss French welcomes Xander with a drink, a fire in the fireplace, and a revealing dress. The drink knocks him out just when she turns into an insect. Xander wakes up in a cage next to Blayne who tells him how she mates like a praying mantis, biting off men's heads in the process. In the library, the gang discovers that the She-Mantis lures virgins to her for her mating ritual. Willow reveals that Xander is a virgin then calls Xander's mother and finds out that he isn't home. They realize that he's in great danger. Buffy gets Giles to record bat sonar, while Miss French chooses Xander to be her next victim. When the remaining Scoobies visit the house where Miss French is supposed to live, they find a nice old woman who is the real Ms. French, but retired in 1972. To quickly find Xander, Buffy tracks the one-handed vampire, who is so scared of the She-Mantis that he knows just which house is the right one. After finding the right house, the vampire attacks Buffy, but she quickly stakes him with a broken fence post. Buffy breaks through the window when the mantis is about to mate with Xander. She slays the insect, using the bat sonar to weaken it. Xander then destroys the eggs that are in the house.

Buffy, in Angel's jacket, later meets him at the Bronze. He tells her to keep it, and Buffy is obviously smitten. Later, Buffy puts Dr. Gregory's glasses in his classroom closet, not noticing that there are She-Mantis eggs attached to the bottom of a shelf.

Continuity

• It is revealed that Xander's middle name is LaVelle which he apparently hates, as he told Miss French to "guard that secret with her life".

• Angel gives Buffy his leather jacket in this episode. She will be seen wearing if off-and-on from here on out.

• Xander begins a habit of entering into relationships with literally monstrous women in the series, the exception being Cordelia (who, ironically, later became a half-demon on Angel )

• Xander is a virgin; he will continue to be one until he sleeps with Faith.

Appearances

Individuals

• Angel
• Cheryl Template:1stMention
• Claw
• Cordelia Chase
• Dr. Ferris Carlyle (offscreen)
• Principal Bob Flutie
• Natalie French
• Natalie French/She-Mantis
• Rupert Giles
• Dr. Stephen Gregory
• Xander Harris
• The Master (Only mentioned)
• Blayne Moll
• Willow Rosenberg
• Buffy Summers
• Unidentified substitute teacher
• Unidentified Blayne's friend
• Unidentified homeless man

Organizations and Titles

• Order of Aurelius
• Scooby Gang
• The Slayer
• Watcher

Species

• Human
• Vampire
• She-Mantis

Locations

• The Bronze
• She-Mantis' lair
• Sunnydale High
  • Sunnydale High School library
• Weatherly Park

Weapons and Objects

• Stake
• Machete

Body Count

• One vampire, dusted by Xander Harris (in his dream)
• Dr. Stephen Gregory, decapitated by the She-Mantis
• Claw, staked by Buffy Summers
• The She-Mantis, hacked to death by Buffy at her nesting lair

Behind the Scenes

Broadcast

• "Teacher’s Pet" captured a Nielsen rating of 2.0 on its original airing.

Deleted Scenes

• This scene was cut because of length:

Buffy: "Dr. Gregory didn't chew me out or anything. He was really cool. But Flutie showed him my permanent record. Apparently, I fall somewhere between Charles Manson and a really bad person."

Willow: "And you can't tell Dr. Gregory what really happened at your old school?"

Buffy: "I was fighting vampires? I'm thinking he might not believe me."

Willow: "Yeah, he probably gets that excuse all the time."

Cordelia: (just arriving) "Here lies a problem. What used to be my table occupied by pitiful losers. Of course, we'll have to burn it."

Buffy: "Sad, you have so many memories here. You and Lawrence, you and Mark, you and John. You spent the better part of your 'J' through 'M' here."

Pop Culture References

• The title, Teacher's Pet, refers to a song by the English metal band Venom from their infamous album Black Metal. ^{[citation needed]}

• When describing Ms. French's head-twisting abilities, Buffy references The Exorcist.

• In the library, Willow's comment, "Inquiring minds want to know," is a reference to the slogan used by the tabloid newspaper The National Enquirer.

• While talking to Miss French at her home, Xander nervously talks about the Greek food shawarma.

• Xander complains about the numerous dark beings on the Hellmouth, calling it "Monster Island."

• The tease at the end of the episode shows one of the Mantis Monster eggs, hidden away in the science lab, beginning to hatch. This could be interpreted as a reference to Creature Feature Cinema, where the monster is frequently shown to have survived in some form, regardless of intent for a sequel. In continuity-based television, however, such a tease is almost always indicative of a follow-up sometime later in the series. In this case, the fate of the creature's offspring is never addressed.

Music

• Superfine - "Already Met You" (Plays as Xander is dancing at the Bronze in his daydream.) (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Album)
• Superfine - "Stoner Love" (Plays when Xander smashes the mantis eggs.)
• Walter Murphy - original score

International Titles

• French: Le Chouchou du prof (The teacher's Pet)
• Portuguese: O Queridinho da Professora
• Finnish: Opettajan lemmikki

Other

• The real Mrs. French was played by actress Jean Speegle Howard, director Ron Howard's mother. Her husband, Rance Howard, appeared on Angel.

• This episode is Xander-centric and is the first of several episodes of the series to focus on someone other than Buffy.

Quotes

PROLOGUE:

The Bronze. A girl is screaming. A vampire is advancing on Buffy as she 
backs into a pole. She throws a solid right to his face followed by a 
left. The vampire isn't fazed, and he grabs her and throws her onto a 
pool table. He leans over her to bite. Xander comes up behind the 
vampire, grabs him by the shoulders and pulls him off of Buffy.

Xander:  May I cut in?

He bashes the vampire's head into the pool table, turns him around and 
punches him in the gut and the face. The vampire falls to the floor, 
unconscious. Buffy is impressed and gives him a big smile. Xander offers 
her his hand to help her off of the pool table.

Xander:  You alright?

Buffy:  (exhales) Thanks to you!

She slides off of the table and notices Xander's hand.

Buffy:  You hurt your hand! Will you still be able to...

Xander:  ...finish my solo and kiss you like you've never been kissed 
before?

He gives her a wink and starts back to the stage. The vampire gets back 
up and growls at Buffy. Xander sees him, breaks the leg off of a chair 
that's been knocked over and throws the makeshift stake at the vampire. 
Buffy watches the stake fly into the vampire's chest, and he falls dead. 
She turns her gaze back on Xander. He jumps up onto stage and grabs his 
guitar to continue his solo. Buffy looks up at him adoringly and 
advances to the stage as he plays.

Buffy:  You're drooling.

Xander gives her a confused look.

Cut to science class. It's dark because Dr. Gregory is giving a slide 
show.

Buffy:  Xander!

He wakes up from his daydream and shakes his head. Buffy indicates the 
corner of her mouth.

Buffy:  You've got a little...

He picks up on her gesture and quickly wipes the drool off of his mouth 
and chin.

Dr. Gregory:  Their ancestors were here long before we were. Their 
progeny will be here long after we are gone. The simple and ubiquitous 
ant.

He turns off the projector, turns the lights on and begins walking up 
the aisle.

Dr. Gregory:  Now. If you read the homework you should know the two ways 
that ants communicate.

He stops at Xander's lab table and leans on it to face Buffy.

Dr. Gregory:  Miss Summers.

Buffy:  (on the spot) Ways that ants communicate.

Dr. Gregory:  (nodding his head) Mm.

Buffy:  With other ants.

Dr. Gregory:  From the homework.

Behind him Willow tries to get Buffy's attention.

Dr. Gregory:  Ants are communicating...

Buffy:  (sees Willow's signals) Um, uh, uh...

Willow strokes Xander's back, indicating "touch".

Buffy:  Touch...

Dr. Gregory:  (nodding) Mm-hmm.

Buffy:  And, um...

She looks at Willow again. She is sniffing Xander, indicating "smell".

Buffy:  (confused) B.O.?

Several students laugh. Willow gives her a disappointed look.

Blayne:  Thank God someone finally found the courage to mention that!

Dr. Gregory:  That would be 'touch' and 'smell', Miss Summers. Is there 
anything else Miss Rosenberg would like to tell you?

Willow quickly turns away in her seat. The bell rings. Dr. Gregory 
starts to move back to the front of the class.

Dr. Gregory:  Alright, chapters six through eight by tomorrow, people. 
(stops and looks back at Buffy) Can I see you for a moment?

Buffy nods. Cut to after the other students have left the room. Buffy 
leans against a lab table. Dr. Gregory idly reviews his slides.

Dr. Gregory:  I gather you had a few problems at your last school?

Buffy:  Well, what teenager doesn't?

Dr. Gregory:  Cut school, get in fights, burn down the gymnasium... 
Principal Flutie showed me your permanent record.

He walks to the front of the class, and Buffy follows him.

Buffy:  Well, that fire, I mean, there was major extenuating 
circumstances. Actually, it's, uh, kinda funny!

Dr. Gregory:  Can't wait to see what you're gonna do *here*.

He goes to the closet, gets his other glasses from his coat and cleans 
them.

Buffy:  Destructo Girl. That's me.

Dr. Gregory:  But I suspect it's gonna be great.

Buffy:  You mean, 'great' in a bad way?

Dr. Gregory:  (looks at her, then back at his glasses) You have a first-
rate mind and you can think on your feet. Imagine what you could 
accomplish if you actually did the...

Buffy:  ...the homework thing.

Dr. Gregory:  The homework thing. I understand you probably have a good 
excuse for not doing it. (closes the closet and walks back to his lab 
table) Amazingly enough, I don't care. I know you can excel in this 
class, and so I expect no less. Is that clear?

Buffy:  Yeah! Sorry.

Dr. Gregory:  Don't be sorry, be smart. (looks at another slide) And 
please don't listen to the principal or anyone else's negative opinion 
about you. Let's make 'em eat that permanent record. Whadaya say?

He looks up at Buffy and gives her a little smile. She smiles back.

Buffy:  Okay! Thanks.

He nods his head. She grabs her bag.

Dr. Gregory:  Chapters six through eight!

Buffy looks back at him with a smile and leaves the classroom. Dr. 
Gregory puts the slide down, goes over to turn off the lights and comes 
back to his slide-viewing plate. While he concentrates on the slides, 
the closet door opens. Cut to a view of Dr. Gregory from the closet. The 
camera advances on him. Cut in front of him. He's concentrating on the 
slides. Cut behind him. A large, green mantis claw goes around his neck. 
Dr. Gregory looks up behind him and screams. The claw drags him off of 
his chair. His glasses hit the floor and break, and an instant later so 
does he.

Opening credits roll. Buffy's theme plays.


PART 1:

The Bronze. The live band is Superfine, playing "Already Met You". 
Xander dances lamely through the crowd.

Lyrics:  The first date's the worst date / It's hard to know just what 
to do / And I take you to dinner / You don't eat, you just play with 
your food

Xander is on the dance floor and looks around. He makes his way to the 
stage and gives the singer an acknowledging nod and grin.

Lyrics:  And there's something familiar...

The singer gives him a "get outta here" look.

Lyrics:  About every word you say

Xander is disappointed and moves away from the stage.

Lyrics:  It's hard to believe it's happened again / I already met you / 
And I already met you / You're like my last girlfriend / Yes, and the 
girlfriend I had before her

Xander goes over to the bar where Blayne and his friend are sitting.

Blayne:  Seven, including Cheryl. I'll tell you, though, her sister was 
lookin' to make it eight!

Boy:  Ooo, Cheryl's sister? The one in college?

Blayne:  (nods) Home for the holidays and lookin' for love! She's not my 
type, though. Girls really gotta have something to go with me.

Xander:  (interrupting) Something like a lobotomy?

The two boys look at him.

Blayne:  Xander. How many times you score?

Xander:  Well, uh...

Blayne:  It's just a question.

Xander:  Are we talking today, or the whole week?

The two boys snicker. Xander spots Buffy and Willow coming down the 
stairs.

Xander:  Ooo! Duty calls!

He leaves the bar and approaches the girls as Blayne and his friend 
watch.

Xander:  Babes!

The girls look back at him. He comes up to them with his arms wide open 
and grabs them both around the shoulders.

Buffy:  What are you doing?

Xander:  (to Buffy) Work with me here. Blayne had the nerve to question 
my manliness. I'm just gonna give him a visual.

Willow:  (throws her arms around him tightly) We'll show him!

Xander looks back at Blayne, gives him a thumbs up and puts his arm back 
around Willow. The two boys seem impressed.

Buffy:  (distracted) I don't believe it.

Xander:  I know, and after all my conquests.

Buffy sees Angel and goes over to him.

Xander:  Who's that?

Willow:  That must be Angel! I think?

Xander:  That weird guy that warned her about all the vampires?

Willow:  That's him, I'll bet you.

Xander:  Well, he's buff! She never said anything about him being buff!

Willow:  You think he's buff?

Xander:  He's a very attractive man! How come *that* never came up?

Cut to Angel. Buffy comes up to him.

Buffy:  Well! Look who's here!

Angel:  Hi.

Buffy:  I'd say it's nice to see you, but then we both know that's a big 
fib.

Angel:  I won't be long.

Buffy:  No, you'll just give me a cryptic warning about some exciting 
new catastrophe, and then disappear into the night. Right?

Angel:  You're cold.

Buffy:  You can take it.

Angel:  (takes off his jacket) I mean, you look cold.

He puts his jacket around her shoulders. Cut to Willow and Xander.

Xander:  Oh, right! Give her your jacket. It's a balmy night, no one 
needs to be trading clothing out there!

Cut to Buffy and Angel.

Buffy:  A little big on me. (notices a series of cuts on Angel's arm) 
What happened?

Angel:  I didn't pay attention.

Buffy:  To somebody with a big fork?

Angel:  He's coming.

Buffy:  The Fork Guy?

Angel:  Don't let him corner you. Don't give him a moment's mercy. He'll 
rip your throat out.

Buffy:  Okay, I'll give you improved marks for that one. Ripping a 
throat out, it's a strong visual, it's not cryptic!

Angel:  I have to go. (leaves)

Buffy:  (stares after him) Sweet dreams to you, too.

Cut to Sunnydale High the next morning. Buffy and Giles are walking 
along in front of the school. Giles is eating an apple.

Giles:  That's all he said? Fork Guy?

Buffy:  That's all Cryptic Guy said: Fork Guy.

Giles:  I think there are too many 'guys' in your life. (laughs)

They meet Willow sitting on a bench.

Giles:  I'll see what I can find out. (looks up at the sky) God, every 
day here is the same.

Buffy:  Bright, sunny, beautiful, how ever can we escape this torment?

Willow gives her a smile. Buffy puts down her bag and sits down next to 
her.

Giles:  Really.

Xander comes up behind Giles as he turns to leave.

Giles:  Good morning.

Xander:  Mornin'. (to the girls) Guess what I just heard in the office? 
No Dr. Gregory today. Ergo, those of us who blew off our science 
homework aren't as dumb as we look.

He reaches down and flips Willow's book closed. She has to stop it from 
sliding off of her lap.

Buffy:  What happened, is he sick?

Xander:  They didn't say anything about sick, something about missing.

Buffy:  He's missing?

Xander:  Well, let me think. Um, the cheerleaders were modeling their 
new short skirts, that kinda got... Yeah! Yeah, they said missing.

Willow and Buffy exchange a look.

Xander:  Which is bad?

Buffy:  If something's wrong, yeah!

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

Xander:  I'm really sorry, I'm sure he'll...

He looks up and sees Miss Natalie French walking toward them.

Xander:  I, uh, huh...

The girls look to see what's distracting him.

Xander:  Uh, huh... huh...

Cut to a slow motion shot of Natalie walking. She comes right up to 
Xander, who just stares at her.

Natalie:  Could you help me?

Xander:  Uuuuuuhhhhhh... Yes!

Willow and Buffy give each other amused looks.

Natalie:  I'm looking for Science... 109.

Xander:  Oh! It's, um...

He looks around himself, trying to remember the way. He turns back to 
Natalie.

Xander:  (smiles) I go there every day!

Natalie laughs.

Xander:  (looks to the girls for help) Oh, God, where is it?

Willow and Buffy just shrug. Blayne appears behind Natalie and 
introduces himself.

Blayne:  Hi! Blayne Mall. I'm going there right now. It's not far from 
the varsity field where I took All-City last year. (smiles smugly)

Natalie:  Oh! Thank you, Blayne!

She and Blayne leave. Xander's gaze follows them for a moment, and then 
he turns back to Willow and Buffy.

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

The girls nod their heads and give each other a smile.

Cut to science class. Natalie is writing her name on the board. Buffy, 
Willow and Xander walk in. Buffy spots Dr. Gregory's glasses on the 
floor and picks them up.

Willow:  What's wrong?

Buffy:  Dr. Gregory dropped his glasses... Why wouldn't he pick them up?

She sets the glasses on the lab table and gives Natalie a glance as she 
walks to her stool. Natalie faces the class.

Natalie:  My name is Natalie French, and I will be substituting for Dr. 
Gregory.

Buffy:  Do you know when he's coming back?

Natalie:  No, I don't, um, (checks her roster) Buffy. They just call and 
tell me where they want me.

Blayne:  (in a low voice) I'll tell you where I want you.

Natalie:  Excuse me, Blayne?

Blayne:  Uh, I was just wondering if you were gonna pick up where Dr. 
Gregory left off.

Natalie:  (smiles) Yes. His notes tell me you were right in the middle 
of insect life.

She picks up a mantis mounted in a clear plastic box.

Natalie:  The praying mantis is a fascinating creature. Forced to live 
alone. Who can tell me why? Buffy?

She puts the mantis back down.

Buffy:  Well, the words 'bug-ugly' kinda spring to mind.

There's lots of muffled laughter.

Natalie:  There is nothing ugly about these unique creatures. The reason 
they live alone is because they're cannibals!

Buffy:  Eww!

Everyone in class looks disgusted.

Natalie:  Oh, well, it's hardly their fault! It's the way nature 
designed them: noble, solitary and prolific. Over 1800 species 
worldwide, and in nearly all of them the female is larger *and* more 
aggressive than the male.

Blayne:  (aside to Buffy) Nothing wrong with an aggressive female.

Buffy angles her head and gives him a look. Natalie picks up her 
notebook and starts to walk around the room.

Natalie:  The California Mantis lays her eggs, and then finds a mate...

She looks at Xander. He stares back.

Natalie:  ...to fertilize them. Once he's played his part, she covers 
the eggs in a protective sack and attaches it to a leaf or twig out of 
danger. Now, if she's done her job correctly, in a few months she'll 
have several hundred offspring.

She has made her way back to the front of the class and puts down her 
notebook.

Natalie:  You know, we should make some model egg sacks for the science 
fair. Who would like to help me do that after school?

All the boys raise their hands.

Natalie:  (pleased) Good!

Cut to the cafeteria. Buffy, Willow and Xander are in line.

Buffy:  Hot dog surprise. Be still, my heart.

Willow:  Call me old-fashioned, I don't want any more surprises in my 
hot dogs.

Xander:  I wonder what she sees in me? It's probably the quiet good 
looks coupled with a certain smoky magnetism.

Willow raises her eyebrows at him. She turns to Buffy and they smile.

Xander:  Miss French. You two're probably a little young to understand 
what an older woman would see in a younger man.

Buffy:  Oh, I understand.

Xander:  Good!

Buffy:  The younger man is too dumb to wonder why an older woman can't 
find someone her own age, and too desperate to care about the surgical 
improvements!

Xander:  (taken aback) What surgical improvements?

Willow:  (to Buffy) Well, he is young.

Buffy:  And so terribly innocent!

Xander:  Hey, those that can, do. Those that can't *laugh* at those 
who... can do.

Blayne comes up next to Xander, getting lots of food.

Blayne:  Gotta carb up for my one-on-one with Miss French today. When's 
yours? Oh, right, tomorrow. You came in second, I came in first. Guess 
that's what they call natural selection. (leaves)

Xander:  Guess it's what they call a rehearsal! (to the girls) 
Rehearsal... (laughs lamely)

The girls smile. Buffy goes over to get some utensils. As she walks back 
Cordelia comes in through the exit and bumps into her.

Cordelia:  (to Buffy) Excuse you!

She goes behind the counter, showing a piece of paper to the cafeteria 
workers.

Cordelia:  Medically prescribed lunch. My doctor ships it daily... I'll 
only be here as long as I can hold my breath.

She opens a refrigerator and screams. Inside is a headless body. Buffy 
and Willow run to see what's wrong. Cordelia backs away from the fridge.

Cordelia:  (hysterically) His head! His head! Oh, my God, where's his 
head?!

Buffy and Willow arrive to see what's inside. Buffy stares in disbelief. 
Xander is close behind and has to look away when he sees. Willow looks 
squeamish. The name on the body's lab coat is "Dr. Gregory".

Cut to the library. Giles pours a glass of water. He brings it over to 
Buffy, who is sitting on the steps with Willow. Both girls have deeply 
sad looks on their faces. Buffy has been crying.

Giles:  (hands the glass to Buffy) Here. Drink this.

Buffy:  (idly takes the glass) No, thank you. (takes a sip)

Xander:  (behind Giles) I've never seen...

Giles looks back at Xander.

Xander:  (shaken) I mean, I've never seen anything like... That was new.

Willow:  Who would wanna hurt Dr. Gregory?

Giles:  Uh, he didn't have any enemies on the staff that I'm aware of. 
He was a civilized man. I liked him.

Buffy:  So did I.

Willow:  (looks up at Giles) Well, we're gonna find out who did this. 
We'll find them and we'll stop them.

Buffy:  Count on it.

Giles:  What do we know?

Buffy:  Oh, not a lot, um... (sniffs and wipes a tear from her nose) He 
was killed here on campus. I'm guessing the last day we saw him.

Giles:  How do you work that out?

Buffy:  He didn't change his clothing.

Xander:  This is a question that no one particularly wants to hear, 
but... where did they put his head?

Willow:  Good point. I *didn't* wanna hear that.

Buffy:  Angel! (gets up) He warned me that something was coming.

She takes another sip of water as she walks over to the table.

Giles:  Yes. Yes he did, didn't he? I wish I knew what he meant. I've 
been trying to gather more information about the Master, our, uh, local 
vampire king. There was one oblique reference to a, a, a vampire who 
displeased the Master and cut his hand off in penance.

Buffy:  Cut off his hand and replaced it with a fork?

Giles:  I don't know what he replaced it with.

Xander:  So, why would he come after a teacher?

Giles:  I'm not certain he did. There was an incident two nights ago...

He walks over to the counter, picks up a newspaper and returns with it.

Giles:  ...uh, involving a homeless person in Weatherly Park. He was 
practically shredded, but, uh, nothing like Dr. Gregory.

Buffy:  (looks at the paper) Fork Guy doesn't do heads.

Giles:  Not historically.

Buffy:  And Dr. Gregory's blood wasn't drained.

Xander:  So there's something else out there? Besides Silverwareman? Oh, 
this is fun, we're on Monster Island.

Buffy:  We're on a Hellmouth. It's a center of mystical convergence. 
Guess it's the same thing. (walks toward Xander)

Giles:  Well, unpleasant things do gravitate here, it's true, but, uh, 
we don't know there's anything besides this chap. He's still our likely 
suspect.

Buffy:  Where was that guy killed? Weatherly Park?

Giles:  Buffy. (advances toward her) I know you're upset, but, uh, this 
is no time to go hunting, not until we know more. Please promise me you 
won't do anything rash?

Buffy:  Cross my heart.

Cut to the park at night. Buffy climbs the fence. She walks through the 
park, carefully looking around. A bum comes up to her, startling her.

Bum:  Shouldn't be out here at night, little lady. Dangerous.

The bum leaves. She notices another bum on the ground in front of a 
bench, and she checks him out. He's okay, just asleep. Buffy continues 
stalking. Dogs bark in the distance. Buffy finds some shrubbery covering 
a sewer access hole. She moves it aside, and Fork Guy jumps out at her. 
She rushes backward. He swings with his claw, but misses. She slams her 
straight arm into his gut, then again into his back. He swings again, 
but Buffy dodges him. She backhand punches him in the face, does a 
roundhouse kick to his jaw and backhand punches his face again. He takes 
another swing at Buffy, but she evades it. She front kicks him. He 
lunges at her, and she grabs his arm and flips him over onto his back. 
Buffy tries to stake him, but he rolls away and back onto his feet. She 
kicks him again, and he staggers backward and falls. Buffy hears voices 
and turns to see people with flashlights coming over the hill.

Voices:  Hold it! Police! Did you see that? I got nothing here!

Buffy looks back and forth between Fork Guy and the posse. The vampire 
runs off.

Voices:  I heard it. Spread out. Let's go over here. This way, this way. 
Alright...

Buffy makes tracks after the vampire.

Cut to the fence at the edge of the park. Natalie is walking home on the 
other side with grocery bags in her arms. The vampire stalks her and 
climbs over the fence. Buffy comes running up. The vampire lands behind 
Natalie. Buffy reaches the fence and watches. Natalie senses the 
vampire, stops and turns to face him. Fork Guy hisses and runs away in
fear. Natalie watches him go. Buffy can't believe what she's seeing. The
vampire crosses the street, lifts a manhole cover and climbs down. 
Natalie continues her walk home. Fork Guy pulls the manhole cover back 
into place. Buffy came only stare after Natalie, her mouth agape.


PART 2:

Sunnydale High, the next morning. Cut to the library.

Giles:  You went hunting last night.

Buffy:  Yes.

He walks into his office. She follows behind him.

Giles:  When you assured me you wouldn't. (takes a sip from his mug)

Buffy:  Yes, I lied, I'm a bad person, let's move on.

Giles:  (opens his file cabinet) Did you see someone with a fork?

Buffy:  More like a jumbo claw.

Giles:  (turns to face her) Oh. Well, uh, at least you're not hurt.

Buffy:  And I saw something else. Something much more interesting than 
your average run-of-the-mill killer vampire.

Giles:  Oh?

Buffy:  Do you know Miss French, the teacher that's subbing for Dr. 
Gregory?

Giles:  (smiles) Yes. Yes, she's lovely. In a, a common, extremely well 
proportioned way. (puts some files away)

Buffy:  Well, I'm chasing Claw Guy last night, and Miss Well 
Proportioned is heading home. The Claw Guy takes one look at her and 
runs screaming for cover.

Giles:  (confused) He what? Ran away?

Buffy:  He was petrified.

Giles:  Of Miss French?

Buffy:  Uh-huh! So I'm an undead monster that can shave with my hand... 
How many things am I afraid of?

Giles:  Not many. And not substitute teachers, as a rule.

Buffy:  So what's her deal?

Giles:  I think perhaps it would be a good idea if we kept an eye on 
her.

Buffy:  Then I better get to class.

She leaves the office.

Cut to Buffy rushing down the stairs in the halls. She is stopped by 
Principal Flutie.

Mr. Flutie:  You were there. You saw Dr. Gregory, didn't you?

Buffy:  Um, you mean yesterday in the cafeteria when we found him...

Mr. Flutie:  Don't say dead! Or decapitated, or decomposing, I'd stay 
away from D-words altogether. But you witnessed the event, so this way, 
please. (starts down the hall)

Buffy:  (stops him short) Well, no, I'm gonna be late for biology...

Mr. Flutie:  Extremely late! (starts down the hall again) You have to 
see a counselor. Everyone who saw the body has to see a crisis 
counselor.

Buffy:  But I really don't need...

Mr. Flutie:  We all need help with our feelings. Otherwise we bottle 
them up, and before you know it, powerful laxatives are involved. I 
really believe if we all reach out to one another we can beat this 
thing. I'm always here if you need a hug, (jumps back) but not a real 
hug! Because there's no touching, this school is sensitive to wrong 
touching.

Buffy:  But, I really, really don't...

Mr. Flutie:  No, you have to talk to a counselor and start the healing. 
You have to heal.

Buffy:  But Mr. Flutie, I...

Mr. Flutie:  Heal!

He sits her down in a chair outside of the counselor's office and paces 
off. Buffy leans back in the chair and looks bummed. Then she hears 
Cordelia inside the office.

Cordelia:  I don't know what to say, it was really, I mean, one minute 
you're in your normal life, and then who's in the fridge? (the camera 
pans over to show her inside) It really gets to you, a thing like that. 
(cut inside) It was... let's just say I haven't been able to eat a thing 
since yesterday. I think I lost, like, seven and a half ounces? Way 
swifter than that so-called diet that quack put me on. Oh, I'm not 
saying that we should kill a teacher every day just so I can lose 
weight, I'm just saying when tragedy strikes, we have to look on the 
bright side. You know?

Cut to Buffy. What she's hearing is just too weird.

Cordelia:  Like, how even used Mercedes still have leather seats!

Cut to science class. Natalie is giving a pop quiz, and is walking along 
the aisle.

Natalie:  Keep your eyes straight ahead on your own test.

She comes up behind Xander.

Natalie:  (in a low voice) I think you meant 'pollination' for number 
fourteen. (puts her hand on his shoulder) I'll see you here after 
school.

Cut to the hall. Buffy comes running to class and looks in through the 
door window.

Buffy:  Oh, great, a pop quiz.

Cut inside. Natalie suddenly straightens up. Buffy looks in. She sees 
Natalie turn her head around 180 degrees. Her eyes go wide with 
amazement. She quickly rolls away from the window.

Cut to the library. Buffy and Willow come in.

Buffy:  No, I'm not saying she craned her neck. We are talking full-on 
Exorcist twist.

Willow:  Ouch!

Buffy:  Which reminds me, how come Blayne, who worked with her one-on-
one yesterday, isn't here today?

Willow:  Inquiring minds wanna know.

Buffy:  (to Giles) Any luck?

Willow sits down in front of the PC and begins a search.

Giles:  Um, I've not found any creature as yet that strikes terror in a 
vampire's heart.

Buffy:  Try looking under things that can turn their heads all the way 
around.

Giles:  Nothing human can do that.

Buffy:  No, nothing human. There are some insects that can. Whatever she 
is, I'm gonna be ready for her.

She turns and hops up the stairs to the stacks. Giles takes off his 
glasses.

Giles:  What are you going to do?

Buffy:  (turns back to answer) My homework.

She continues up into the stacks. Willow looks up at her and smiles, 
then continues her search. Buffy comes running back.

Buffy:  Where are the books on bugs?

Cut to the science classroom. Natalie is at the desk spreading butter on 
a slice of bread. She's about to open a plastic container when she hears 
Xander come in and looks up.

Xander:  Hi!

Natalie:  Oh, Hi! I was just grabbing a snack. Can I fix you something?

Xander:  No thanks, I never... eat when I'm making egg sacks. (sees the 
model) Wow, if this were real the bugs would be...

Natalie:  ...as big as you!

Xander:  Yeah! So! Where do we start?

Natalie:  Oh, Xander! (gets up) I've done something really stupid. I 
hope you can forgive me.

Xander:  Oh, forgiveness is my middle name! Well, actually it's LaVelle, 
and I'd appreciate it if you guard that secret with your life. (laughs)

Natalie:  (laughs) I have a teacher's conference in half an hour, and I 
left the paint and papier-mâché at home. I don't suppose you'd like to 
come to my place tonight to work on it there?

Xander:  (swallows) Come to, uh... your place?

He flashes to his guitar solo for a moment.

Natalie:  7:30? Here's my address. (writes it down)

Xander can't believe his luck.

Natalie:  (hands him her address) I'll see you tonight?

Xander:  (in a high, squeaky voice) Yeah!

Cut to the hall. Xander comes out of the classroom.

Xander:  (pumping his fists into the air) Ooo, yes!

Cut inside the classroom. Natalie opens the container now. It's full of 
crickets. She dumps them onto the buttered bread and folds the slice in 
half. She takes a bite. Crunchy!

Cut to the library. Buffy comes out of the stacks with a book.

Buffy:  Dig this: 'The praying mantis can rotate its head 180 degrees 
while waiting for its next meal to walk by.' (slams the book shut) Ha! 
(silence) Well, c'mon, guys. Ha!

Willow:  Well, Miss French is sort of big. For a bug?

Giles:  And she is, by and large, woman shaped.

Buffy:  (makes her way down to them) Okay. Factoid 1: Only the praying 
mantis can rotate its head like that. Factoid 2: A pretty whacked-out 
vampire is scared to death of her. Factoid 3: Her fashion sense screams 
predator.

Willow:  It's the shoulder pads.

Buffy:  Exactly.

Giles:  If you're right, then she'd have to be a shape shifter or a 
perception distorter. On a helpful note, I had a chum at Oxford, 
Carlyle, advanced degrees in entomology mythology.

Buffy:  Entoma-who?

Giles:  Bugs and fairy tales.

Buffy:  I knew that.

Giles:  If I recall correctly, poor old Carlyle, just before he went 
mad, claimed there was some beast...

Willow:  (the PC beeps) Buffy, 911! Blayne's mom called the school. He 
never came home last night.

Giles:  The boy who worked with Miss French yesterday?

Willow:  Yeah! If Miss French is responsible for... Xander's supposed to 
be helping her right now! He's got a crush on a giant insect!

Buffy:  Okay, don't panic, I'll warn him. But I need you to hack onto 
the coroner's office for me.

Willow:  Well, what are we looking for?

Buffy:  Autopsy on Dr. Gregory. I've been trying to figures out these 
marks that I saw on his corpse... I'm thinking they were teeth. And, uh, 
these cuddlies? (points to a picture of a mantis) Should definitely be 
brushing after every meal. (Willow types) (to Giles) And you were saying 
something about a beast?

Giles:  (gets up to go to his office) Oh, uh, yeah, I just need to make 
one transatlantic telephone call. (stops and turns back) Um, this 
computer invasion that Willow's performing on the coroner's office, one, 
one assumes it is entirely legal?

Willow and Buffy answer simultaneously.

Willow:  Entirely!

Buffy:  Of course!

Giles:  Right. Wasn't here, didn't see it, couldn't have stopped you.

Buffy:  Good idea.

Cut outside. Buffy catches up with Xander.

Buffy:  Hey!

Xander:  Hey!

Buffy:  So, how'd it go with Miss French?

Xander:  Well, it's a bit demanding being her absolute favorite guy in 
the universe, but I'll muddle through.

Buffy:  Xander, she's not what she seems.

Xander:  I know, she's so much more.

Buffy:  Okay, um... I'm gonna have to tell you something about her, and 
I'm gonna need you to really listen, okay?

Xander:  Okay.

Buffy:  I don't think she's human.

Xander:  I see. So if she's not human she's...?

Buffy:  Technically? A big bug.

Xander laughs.

Buffy:  This sounds really weird, I'm aware of that...

Xander:  It doesn't sound weird at all, I completely understand. I've 
met someone, and you're jealous.

Buffy:  What?

Xander:  Look, there's nothing I can do about it. Uh, there's just this 
certain chemical thing between Miss French and me.

Buffy:  I know, I read all about it, it's call, um, a pheromone. It's a 
chemical attractant that insects give off.

Xander:  She's not an insect! She's a woman, okay? And hard as that may 
be for you to conceive, an actual woman finds me attractive. I realize 
it's no mystery guy handing out leather jackets, and while we're on the 
subject, what kind of a girlie name is 'Angel' anyway?

Buffy:  What does that have to do with...

Xander:  Nothing! It just kinda bugs me. Look, I really gotta...

He walks off. Buffy turns and watches him go.

Buffy:  Wha...?

Cut to Natalie's house that night. She pours two martinis. Her dress 
shows lots of cleavage. The doorbell rings. She smiles and goes to open 
it.

Natalie:  Hi! Come on in!

Xander stares at her cleavage as he comes in.

Natalie:  Should I change? Is, is this too... (she closes the door)

Xander:  No, no, it's, the most beautiful chest... dress I've ever seen.

She smiles and goes back into the living room. Xander follows.

Natalie:  Thank you. That's sweet. Martini? (offers him one) Oh, I'm 
sorry, would you like something else?

Xander quickly accepts the drink.

Natalie:  (laughs) I just need to relax a little, I'm kinda nervous 
around you. (she sits down) You're probably cool as a cucumber!

Xander:  (sits down) I like cucumbers. Like in that Greek salad thing 
with the yogurt. Do you like Greek food? I'm exempting Schwarma, of 
course, I mean, what's that all about? It's a big meat hive.

They laugh, he nervously, she playfully. Xander gulps the martini.

Xander:  Hhhhhhho! Hello!

Natalie:  Cheers! (clinks their glasses) Can I ask you a personal 
question?

She puts her glass down and gets closer to Xander.

Natalie:  Have you ever been with a woman before?

Xander:  You mean, like, in, uh, the same room?

Natalie:  You know what I mean.

Xander:  Oh, that, uh... Well, let me think. Um...

Natalie runs her fingers though his hair and around his ear.

Xander:  Yeah, there was, uh... several!

She continues her stroke down to Xander's chin.

Xander:  I mean, and, uh, quite a few times... And then there was, uh... 
Oh, she was incredibly... No. Uh-uh.

Natalie:  I know. I can tell.

Xander:  You can?

Natalie:  Oh, I like it. You might say, I... *need* it.

Xander:  Oh! Well, needs should, uh, y'know... Needs should definitely 
be met, as long as it doesn't require ointments the next day, or...

Muffled yelling can be heard from somewhere.

Xander:  Do you hear...

Natalie:  No...

Xander:  Sounds like someone crying...

Natalie:  I don't hear anything. (takes his hand) Your hands are so hot!

Xander flashes to his dream.

Buffy:  Oh, you hurt your hand!

Xander comes back. The drink is beginning to affect him. He leans back 
on the couch.

Xander:  Buffy. I love Buffy. Wow! So that's a martini, huh?

Natalie:  Mm-hmm.

Xander:  (sits back up) Do you hear...

Natalie:  (interrupting) Would you like to touch me with those hands?

Xander:  (looks at Natalie's hands) Your hands are sss... really... (her 
hands morph) serrated! Oh, wow, that martini, I... I really think I have 
to...

Xander falls to the floor unconscious. Two mantis claws drag him away by 
his feet.



PART 3:

Natalie's basement. The camera pans down from the window above the 
stairs to Xander. He's lying unconscious in a cage. There are squishing 
noises. Xander wakes up, looks around, grabs the bars and pulls himself 
up. He sees Natalie as a giant mantis preparing her nest.

Xander:  Miss... French?

Natalie:  Please, call me Natalie.

Xander backs away into the cage.

Cut to the library. Giles is on the phone.

Giles:  Frankly, madam, I haven't the faintest idea what time it is, nor 
do I care. Now, unlock his cell, unstrap him, and bring him to the 
telephone immediately. This is a matter of life and death!

Cut to Willow typing.

Willow:  Got it! Coroner's report, complete with... Yuk! ...color 
pictures.

Buffy:  There *are* teeth marks. Which match perfectly the one insect 
that nips off its prey's head.

Willow:  Okay, I-I don't like this.

Buffy:  Huh! It's the way they feed, head first. It's also the way they 
mate. The female bites off the male's head while they're...

Willow:  No, no, no! See? Xander's, I like his head! I-it's where you 
find his eyes, and his hair, and his adorable smile...

Buffy:  Hey, hey, take it easy, Willow. Xander is not in any immediate 
danger. I saw him leave school. He's probably safe at home right now.

Cut to Natalie's basement. Xander backs up in his cage and is surprised 
by Blayne when he reaches the far corner.

Xander:  Ah! Blayne!

Blayne:  (terrified) Oh, God! Oh, God!

Xander:  Are you all right?

Blayne:  Oh, God! (breathes) You gotta get me outta here! You gotta! 
She, she, she gets you, and, uh...

Xander:  What?

Blayne:  ...she, she...

Xander:  What does she do?

Blayne:  Oh, God! Oh, oh, no!

Xander:  Blayne! What does she do?

Blayne:  She, she... she, she takes you outta the cage, and she ties you 
up, and, and... she... she starts movin', and throbbin', and these eggs 
come shootin' out of her! And then...

Xander:  What?

Blayne:  And then...

Xander:  Then what?

Blayne:  She mates with you!

Xander:  Sheeee...

Blayne:  That's not the worst part!

Xander:  That's not?

Blayne:  You seen her teeth? Right while she's, you know, right in the 
middle of... I saw her do it! I don't wanna die like that!

Xander:  Blayne! Blayne! Chill! It's okay. It's gonna be okay. We'll get 
outta this.

Blayne:  (hopeful) You gotta plan? What is it?

Xander:  Just, uh, let me perfect it!

Blayne:  (gives up hope) Oh, God... Oh, God... Oh, God...

Cut to the library. Giles is talking with Carlyle on the phone in his 
office.

Giles:  I-I understand, Carlyle. Yes... I-I'll take every precaution. 
Uh, absolutely, i-i-it sounds exactly like the creature you described. 
Y-you were right all along about everything. Well, n-no, you weren't 
right about your mother coming back as a Pekinese, but... uh... Try to 
rest, old man. Yes... Ta! Bye now!

He hangs up and comes out of his office. Willow and Buffy are at the PC.

Giles:  Dr. Ferris Carlyle spent years transcribing a lost pre-Germanic 
language. What he discovered he kept to himself until several teenage 
boys were murdered in the Cotswolds. Then he went hunting for it.

Buffy:  It being...

Giles:  Uh, he calls her a She-Mantis. This type of creature, the 
Kleptes-Virgo, or, or virgin-thief, appears in, in many cultures. The 
Greek sirens, the Celtic sea maidens, who, who tore the living flesh 
from the bones of, um...

Buffy:  Giles, while we're young!

Giles:  Uh, well, basically the, uh, the She-Mantis assumes the form of 
a beautiful woman and then lures innocent virgins back to her nest.

Buffy:  Virgins? Well, Xander's not a, uh... I mean, he's probably...

Willow:  (quickly gets up, worried) ...gonna die! (goes to the phone)

Buffy:  Okay, okay, (walks around Giles) so this thing is breeding and 
we need to find it and snuff it. (faces Giles) Any tips on the snuffing 
part?

Giles:  Uh, Carlyle recommends cleaving all body parts with a sharp 
blade.

Willow is on the phone in the background behind Buffy talking to 
Xander's mom.

Buffy:  Slice and Dice.

Giles:  Well, whatever you do, it had better be certain and swift. This 
beast is extremely dangerous.

Buffy:  Well, your buddy Carlyle faced it, and he's still around.

Giles:  Yes, in a straitjacket, howling his innards out day and night.

Buffy:  Okay, Admiral, way to inspire the troops!

Giles:  Sorry...

Willow:  (off the phone now) Xander's not home! He told his mom he was 
going to his teacher's house to work on a science project. He didn't 
tell her where.

Buffy:  (to Willow) See if you can get her address off the substitute 
rolls. (to Giles) And you need to record bat sonar, and fast!

Giles:  Bat sonar, right. What?

Buffy:  Bats eat them. (leads Giles to the stairs) The mantis hears 
sonar, its entire nervous system goes kaplooey.

Giles:  Where am I gonna find the...

Buffy:  In the vid library? There're no books, but it's dark and musty, 
you'll feel right at home, go! (exhales) (to herself) I guess I'll 
handle the armory.

Cut to Natalie's basement. Xander and Blayne are in their cages. Xander 
is working on one of the bars.

Blayne:  Don't do anything to make her mad!

Xander pulls the bar out.

Blayne:  (brightens) Hey, alright, now I can get outta my cage! (bummed) 
Into yours. What'd you do that for?

Xander:  A weapon!

Blayne:  (sees Natalie coming) I think you're gonna need it.

Xander looks up and is startled. He drops the bar.

Cut to the library. Miss French's record is coming out of the printer. 
Buffy comes in the door.

Willow:  Getting the address.

Buffy:  Great! Giles?

Giles:  (holding a tape recorder) Recording bat sonar is something 
soothingly akin to having one's teeth drilled.

Buffy:  (takes the tape recorder) Let's roll!

They all head for the door.

Willow:  According to Miss French's personnel records, she was born in 
1907. She's, like, 90 years old!

Giles:  And extremely well preserved!

Cut to Natalie's basement. She is looking back and forth between the 
boys.

Blayne:  Oh, God! (goes through the hole into Xander's cage) Uh, he did 
that, he broke the cage, take him, not me, take him!

Cut to Giles, Buffy and Willow driving up to Miss French's house. They 
get out and run up to the door.

Giles:  What now, exactly? We can't just kick the door down.

Buffy:  Yeah, that *would* be wrong.

She gets ready to kick, but the door opens. An old lady is there.

Miss French:  Hello, dear! I thought I heard... Are you selling 
something? Because I'd like to help you out, but... You see, I'm on a 
fixed income.

Buffy:  I'm looking for Miss French.

Miss French:  I'm Miss French.

Buffy:  Natalie French, the substitute biology teacher?

Miss French:  (laughs) Goodness, that's me! I taught for over thirty 
years. I retired in 1972.

Buffy:  (to Giles) I can't believe this! She used Miss French's records 
to get into the school. She could be anywhere!

Miss French:  No, dear! I'm right here!

Cut to Natalie's basement.

Xander:  What's she doing?

Blayne:  I think it's eeny, meeny, miney...

Xander:  Moe?

The camera closes in on Xander's terrified face.



PART 4:

Natalie's basement. She opens the door to the cage. Xander crawls out on 
his butt, bar in hand.

Xander:  I'm comin', I'm comin'.

When he's just out of the cage he swings the bar and hits Natalie as he 
gets up. She staggers. He runs for the stairs. Halfway up Natalie trips 
him with her claw, and he tumbles back down the stairs.

Cut to Miss French's house. Giles, Willow and Buffy are going back to 
the car.

Willow:  What do we do now?

Giles:  Abject prayer and supplication would spring to mind.

Buffy:  I saw her walking past this park with her grocery bags. She 
lives in this neighborhood.

Willow:  I'm gonna start banging on doors. (heads for the next house)

Buffy:  (stops Willow) Wait, no, we do *not* have time for that!

Willow:  We have to do something!

Buffy:  We will.

Cut to the manhole cover where Buffy saw Claw Guy go in. Buffy lifts it 
off and starts to climb in.

Buffy:  I won't be long. (goes down)

Giles:  W... Buffy?

Cut to Natalie's basement. Xander is tied up with leather straps. 
Natalie is in his face.

Blayne:  Oh, yeah, here it comes!

Xander:  What? What's happening?!

Blayne:  How do you like your eggs, bro, over easy or sunny side up?

Xander:  Eggs? She's gonna lay some...

He sees her lay some eggs. He flashes to Natalie's lecture in science 
class.

Natalie:  The California Mantis lays her eggs, and then finds a mate to 
fertilize them.

His flashback is over, and he's scared.

Cut to the manhole.

Willow:  (into the hole) Come on, Buffy!

Cut to some bushes. There are sounds of Claw Guy swinging his arm and 
ropes whipping through the air. Buffy pushes Claw Guy out of the bushes. 
His arms are tied behind his back.

Claw Guy:  You!

Buffy:  Me!

She shoves him down the street. Cut to Natalie's street. Buffy is 
pushing Claw Guy down the sidewalk in front of her. Giles and Willow 
follow.

Buffy:  Come on! Come on, where is she? Which house is it? I know you're 
afraid of her, I saw you! Come on!

Claw Guy begins to react to Natalie's presence.

Buffy:  Come on. What? What is it? This is her, isn't it, this is her 
house? This is it! Better than radar!

She lets go of him. Claw Guy cuts the ropes with his blades.

Willow:  Buffy!

He swings at Buffy, but she leans back in time, only to trip and fall 
backward over the miniature picket fence running along the walk to the 
house. Claw Guy jumps to follow. She crawls backward on her butt until 
she hits the fence on the other side of the lawn. She rips a picket from 
the fence and thrusts it into Claw Guy as he takes another swing at her. 
He falls over dead. Giles breathes a sigh of relief.

Cut to the basement. Natalie advances on Xander.

Natalie:  Kiss me! (laughs) Kiss me!

Xander:  Can I just say one thing? HEEEELLLLP! HEEEELLLLP!

Buffy smashes the basement window and slides in.

Blayne:  Uh, hey, o-over here, hello! In the cage!

She pulls her bag though the window.

Buffy:  (to Natalie) Let him go!

She runs down the stairs and sets the bag down. Willow climbs in the 
window, too. Buffy pulls two cans of insect spray from the bag and 
sprays Natalie in the face. Giles climbs in as Willow runs behind Buffy 
to open the cage. The spray disorients Natalie. Giles comes down the 
stairs now too. Buffy points him at Xander.

Blayne:  Help me! Help me!

Buffy:  (to Giles) Get them outta here!

She pulls the tape recorder and a machete from her bag.

Blayne:  Hey, help me! Help me!

Giles undoes the leather straps holding Xander. Natalie retreats to the 
back of her nest. Buffy starts to close in on her.

Buffy:  Remember Dr. Gregory? You scarfed his head? Yeah, well, he 
taught me, you do your homework, you learn stuff. Like what happens to 
your nervous system when you hear this!

She plays the tape. It's Giles' voice. Buffy stares at the machine in 
disbelief.

Tape:  ...extremely important to file not simply alphabetically...

Buffy:  (back to Giles) Giles!

Giles:  (on the floor pointing at Natalie) I-it's the wrong side!

Natalie knocks the tape recorder and machete from Buffy's hands. Giles 
watches the recorder fly over him, hit the ground and slide under a 
refrigerator. He scrambles to get it. Buffy turns her attention back on 
Natalie. Natalie tries to trip Buffy, but she jumps over her claw. 
Xander comes up next to her with a can of bug spray and sprays it into 
Natalie's face. Buffy pushes him away from danger, and Natalie takes the 
opportunity to knock her down. Buffy raises herself onto her hands and 
one leg, and with the other does two crouching side kicks to Natalie's 
legs to keep her at bay. Giles searches under the refrigerator. Buffy 
kicks again. She sees the machete on the floor and grabs it. Giles has 
the recorder now, jumps around on the floor with the recorder in front 
of him and plays the tape. The sounds of bat sonar severely hurt and 
disorient Natalie. She flails her claws around.

Buffy:  Bat sonar. Makes your whole nervous system go to Hell. You can 
go there with it!

She slashes at Natalie fiercely and repeatedly with the machete, hacking 
her to pieces. She's winded afterward. Giles gets up. Willow runs over 
to Xander. Blayne is out of his cage. They look at the carnage.

Giles:  Well, I... I'd say it's deceased.

Willow:  And dissected.

Xander:  (to Buffy) You okay?

Buffy:  Yeah.

Xander:  Just for the record, you were right, I'm an idiot, and God 
bless you!

Buffy lowers her head.

Xander:  (to the others) And thank you guys, too.

Blayne:  Yeah, really!

Giles:  Pleasure...

Willow:  I'm really glad you're okay. It's so unfair how she only went 
after virgins.

Xander laughs and looks back and forth between the girls.

Xander:  (to Willow) What?

Willow:  I mean, here you guys are, doing the right thing, the smart 
thing, when a lot of other boys your age...

Blayne:  Flag down on that play, babe. I am *not*...

Giles:  (interrupts) Well, you see, that's the She-Mantis' modus 
operandi. Uh, she only preys on the pure.

Xander:  Well, isn't this a perfect ending to a wonderful day!

Blayne:  My dad's a lawyer. Anyone repeats this to anybody, they're 
gonna find themselves facing a lawsuit.

Xander:  Blayne! Shut up!

Willow:  I don't think it's bad, I think it's really...

Xander holds up the machete.

Willow:  ...sweet! It's certainly nothing I'll ever bring up again.

Xander takes the machete over to Natalie's nest, looks it over and 
starts hacking away at it.

Cut to the Bronze. Buffy is at the bar wearing Angel's jacket. Angel 
comes up behind her. Buffy senses him and looks up at him.

Angel:  (smiles) I heard a rumor there was, uh, one less vampire walking 
around making a nuisance of himself.

Buffy:  There is. Guess I should thank you for the tip.

Angel:  Pleasure's mine.

Buffy:  Course, it would make things easier if I knew how to get in 
touch with you.

Angel:  I'll be around.

Buffy:  Or who you were?

Angel just smiles and moves around to the other side of her.

Buffy:  Well... Anyway, you can have your jacket back.

Angel:  It looks better on you.

He turns and leaves. Buffy stares after him. Angel gives another look 
back and disappears into the crowd.

Buffy:  (to herself) Oh boy!

Cut to science class the next day. There's a new science teacher.

Teacher:  All midterm papers will be exactly six pages long. No more, no 
less. One third of your grade will be dependent...

The camera closes in on Buffy, daydreaming.

Teacher:  ...on those papers. No more, no less.

The bell rings. Buffy comes back to Earth. Everyone gets up and leaves. 
On the way out Buffy sees Dr. Gregory's glasses still on the lab bench 
where she left them. She picks them up and remembers him. She sees Dr. 
Gregory's jacket still hanging on the hook on the closet door and goes 
over to put the glasses in a pocket. Cut to inside the closet. As she 
closes the door the camera pans down from Buffy to a lower shelf and 
stops on a cluster of She-Mantis eggs attached underneath. One of the 
eggs hatches.