'Checkpoint' Story Code '5ABB11' by Douglas Petrie and Jane Espenson

The Scooby gang are holding a meeting at Buffy’s house, and Giles announces that the Watcher’s Council are coming to Sunnydale. While Dawn almost overhears their conversation, Giles points out that the Council would only be coming if they knew something about Glory. Meanwhile, a haggard-looking Glory lies helplessly on the floor of her apartment, until two of her lackeys, Dreg and Jinx, bring her a mailman for her to drain the essence from. Fully revitalised and recovered, Glory tells her lackeys that she has to find the Key quickly as the signs of alignment are moving faster than expected, and only the Slayer stands in her way. Giles and Anya are busy working at the ‘Magic Box’ when Quentin Travers and his entourage arrive and immediately order all of the customers out of the shop, instructing Giles that it will remain closed for the duration of their stay. Quentin tells Giles they have uncovered information about Glory, but before they will reveal it they must ensure that Buffy is prepared for the information by reviewing her methods as a Slayer. That evening, Buffy is fighting a vampire when Spike annoyingly interrupts by leaping in and staking it for her. At the Hospital, Ben the intern is approached by Jinx, who reveals that Buffy is the Slayer; Glory has sent Jinx to ask for Ben’s help, but Ben has other ideas. Buffy visits the ‘Magic Box’, and is informed by Quentin that he and his associates will observe her training and talk to her friends, warning that if they refuse to comply, they will close the ‘Magic Box’ and have Giles deported. When a bruised and battered Jinx enters Glory’s apartment the Beast realises that she will have to find the Slayer herself. Xander and Anya are the first to be interviewed by the Council, and a panicking Anya nervously lies about her past as a demon; Willow and Tara are also questioned, but inadvertently reveal too much about their own private lives. Buffy’s friends are uncomfortable with being questioned, but not Spike, who tells them everything. Later, Buffy is ordered to demonstrate her fighting skills by protecting a dummy whilst blindfolded; things go well - until the dummy ends up with an axe in its head. Buffy arrives home and finds Glory waiting for her, and they have a calm but loaded conversation about the Key. When Dawn enters the living room Glory questions her as well, before telling Buffy that she will torture and kill all of her friends and family and make Buffy watch. After Glory leaves Buffy instructs her mother to pack a bag, and then takes her and Dawn to Spike’s crypt, as he is the only one strong enough to protect them. Giles, Quentin, the Watchers and the Scoobies wait at the ‘Magic Box’ for Buffy to arrive, but while on her way there the Slayer is attacked by three knights fully dressed in chain-mail and armed with swords and spears. Buffy easily overpowers them, holding the last of them to the ground and demanding to know his identity; he tells her that they are the Knights of Byzantium, and are her enemy because she protects the Key, which they want destroyed. Buffy lets him go but keeps his sword; she then calmly and confidently enters the ‘Magic Box’, placing the sword on the table. After telling them about Glory’s visit to her house, Buffy states that she now knows that the Council did not come to Sunnydale to see if she could be let back in - they came to beg her to let them in. When one of the Watchers starts to disagree, Buffy coolly throws the sword into the wall by his head, narrowly missing him. She tells Quentin that a Council without a Slayer is nothing; the Council are to tell her everything about Glory, and then leave, and only contact her if they have more information on Glory; furthermore, the ‘Magic Box’ will re-open, Giles will be re-instated as her Watcher with full salary - backdated - and she will continue to work with her friends. When one of the Watchers tries to point out that they are civilians, Buffy informs him that they are comprised of two very powerful witches, a thousand-year-old ex-demon, and a boy who has clocked-up more field time than all of the Watchers combined. Quentin agrees to Buffy’s terms. Buffy finally asks him what kind of demon Glory is. His answer stuns her - Glory is not a demon. She is a God.

Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Emma Caulfield (Anya), Michelle Trachtenberg (Dawn), James Marsters (Spike), Anthony Stewart Head (Rupert Giles), Amber Benson (Tara), Clare Kramer (Glory), Charlie Weber (Ben), Cynthi LaMontagne (Lydia), Oliver Muirhead (Phillip), Kris Iver (Nigel), Kevin Weisman (Dreg), Troy T. Blendell (Jinx) Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers), Harris Yulin (Quentin Travers), Wesley Mask (Professor Roberts), Justin Gorence (Orlando), Peter Husmann (Mailman), Jack Thomas (Council Member #4), John O’Leary (Council Member #5)
Directed by Nick Marck

TX (US): 23rd January 2001
TX (UK - Sky One): 23rdh March 2001

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