Buffy Logo 'Living Conditions'
Story Code '4ABB02'

by Marti Noxon
Buffy

Buffy is dismayed when Kathy informs her that she has implemented a system for logging their phone calls, and also makes Buffy feel guilty for drinking her milk. Buffy moans to Willow of the difficulty in sharing a room and keeping her identity as the Slayer a secret. Willow leaves to meet Oz, and so Buffy patrols alone, but is surprised when Kathy catches up with her; a demon attacks them, but Buffy is able to push Kathy out of the way before she sees it; unknown to the Slayer, more demons are watching them from the bushes. Buffy avoids Kathy by hanging out at Giles’ house, and tells him about the demon. Later, at the college dining hall, Buffy meets a nice guy named Parker, before being joined by Willow, Oz and Xander; Kathy appears, wearing one of Buffy’s sweaters, which she promptly spills ketchup onto, annoying Buffy even further. Later, Willow comforts Buffy with the knowledge that Kathy is better that her roomie, who has turned their dorm into one constant party, making it impossible for her to study. After finding that Kathy has labelled all of her food in the fridge, Buffy has a nightmare, involving the demons that were watching her the other night, who pour blood down her throat, and suck her soul out of her. The following day, Giles visits the gang on campus; as Buffy tells him of her nightmare, Kathy appears and tells them that she had the same one. Giles leaves to research it, while Xander, Willow and Oz discuss Buffy’s irrational attitude towards her roomie. Buffy returns to her dorm, and is aggravated to see Parker chatting with Kathy. Willow visits the library to do a paper, so Oz offers to hang out with Buffy to keep an eye on her; on his way to find Buffy, Oz passes a girl, and they notice each other. Three men wearing camouflage also pass by. Later, Buffy tells Oz about Kathy, and gets so wound up that she smashes a bench to pieces. That evening, Buffy and Kathy have the nightmare again. The next day, after Buffy sees Willow talking to Kathy, she becomes infuriated with her friend, stating to her that Kathy is evil and she has proof: she took Kathy’s toenail clippings, and they have grown overnight. Buffy goes to tell Giles, but Willow phones ahead and tells Giles that Buffy has gone insane. Buffy arrives at Giles’, and is tied up by him, Xander and Oz. Believing that Buffy has been possessed by a demon, Giles leaves Xander and Oz to watch her while he goes to get supplies; Buffy is furious with her friends, and as they carefully approach her to check her bonds, knocks them unconscious. She makes for her room to confront Kathy and they begin to fight; Buffy pulls Kathy’s face off, revealing her true demon face. Kathy reveals that the dreams Buffy was experiencing were true - she has been stealing Buffy’s soul so that she can stay in this dimension; by leaving Buffy soulless, it will make Kathy’s people think that she is one of them, and they will take her instead of Kathy. Meanwhile, Giles has also uncovered the truth, and explains the situation to the others ; he manages to perform the spell, and returns Buffy’s soul to her. The girls continue to fight, but are stopped by the sudden appearance of a demon - the one who has been watching Buffy and Kathy for several days. It berates Kathy for running away, and forces her to return to their dimension. Later, Willow moves into the dorm room with Buffy.

Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Seth Green (Oz), Anthony Stewart Head (Rupert Giles), Dagney Kerr (Kathy Newman), Adam Kaufman (Parker Abrams), Paige Moss (Veruca), Clayton Barber (Demon 1), Walt Borchert (Demon 2), Roger Morrissey (Tapparich), David Tuckman Freshman)
Directed by David Grossman

TX (US): 12th October 1999
TX (UK - Sky One): 28th January 2000
TX (UK - BBC): 26th October 2000

Notes:
*Featuring Buffy, Xander, Willow, Giles, Oz and Reily