aired on: May 1, 2001

written by: Rebecca Rand Kirshner

directed by: David Grossman

Buffy is visiting her professors to process her paperwork for withdrawing from the College. She obviously regrets the decision, but she explains that taking care of her little sister, Dawn, has to take priority. She hopes to be able to return next semester.

Ben arrives at the hospital to find out that he has been missing for two weeks. He can't explain that he shares a body with his sister, Glory. That they are both Gods from a hellish dimension that borders ours - just one thin reality away. That Glory is quite mad and doesn't care about anything but finding The Key and causing more destruction. Ben wants to keep his job, but he has no way to excuse his behavior. As he cleans out his locker, he rants at how unfair life is treating him. Soon, he begins to swoon and protest what is about to happen. As he cries out his own name in an attempt to preserve his identity, he transforms into Glory again. And she decides that it's feeding time.

Glory relaxes with a bubble bath in a rather small tub. Three of her minions hover, with blindfolds on, around the rim of the tub. She allows them to grovel for a while, before lecturing them on their failure to bring her The Key. Then, she instructs them to give her all the details of what they observed of Buffy's life and she will determine who The Key is based on their account.

Buffy and Dawn are in Dawn's Principal's Office. Buffy is horrified to find out that Dawn has been skipping school lately. Principal Stevens is sympathetic to the fact that they just lost their mother. When she hints that there is more to Dawn than meets the eye, both Summers women become nervous. In the back of their minds, they are both scared that someone will discover that Dawn is actually the mystic artifact known as The Key, that Glory is looking for. But Stevens is merely referring to the fact that Dawn could be a great success at school if she were motivated enough. Buffy is trying to reassure Stevens that she will turn things around, when the Principal requests that Dawn leave the room.

Willow and Xander are chilling at the Magic Box as Anya obsesses over two browsing customers. Anya explains that she has come to the realization that besides being human, she belongs to the group of humans known as Americans. She is proud to have a human heritage to call her own, especially one with such a great tradition as capitalism. She praises the profit-oriented system and disparages the couple as not being patriotic, since just looking doesn't promote capitalism. She then begins an attack on the French for being anti-American. Xander finally has to stop her and basically, but gently, tell her to stop being a bigot. She decides to go over and convince the couple to buy something.
Buffy and Dawn arrive.

Xander tries to cheer her up about dropping out of school, but she insists that it's just temporary. He tries to be supportive, but the very word brings juvenile images to his mind, like bras and supporters, but he gets the message across. Buffy asks Willow to help Dawn with homework and then requests some private time with Giles.

In the back physical training room, Buffy expresses her fears to Giles that she won't be able to cope with being Dawn's surrogate mother. Giles tells her that she needs to impose discipline on Dawn. Buffy is so uncomfortable with the idea that she practically begs Giles to do the job for her. When she says that Dawn will obey him, he snorts at the idea. He reminds Buffy that she never listened to him. She insists that she does listen and he recommends that she listen close to what he has to say now. It's Buffy's duty now; she's Dawn's only surviving family and it's in Dawn's best interests that she does it now. Buffy responds to the idea that Dawn needs for Buffy to live up to her responsibility.

After one last try to convince Giles, she pledges to be strong and firm and motherly.

Buffy emerges from the back to find everyone lying on the floor in a triangle shape while Dawn stands in the middle. Everyone is giggling and Buffy immediately accuses Dawn of not doing her homework like she was told. Giles, Xander and Anya quickly wander away, but Willow remains by Dawn's side to defend her. She insists that they were working on geometry, using their bodies as examples and just made a few math puns that got them laughing. Dawn protests that it was helping her learn, but Buffy sternly decides that they should leave.

As Dawn angrily retrieves her books, Willow tries to appease Buffy. Buffy tells Willow that Dawn's schoolwork must come first right now, but Willow argues that they weren't interfering with that. Willow reminds Buffy that accusing her of being anti-learning is silly. Buffy admits that she's very worried about everything. Willow suggests that she unwind by visiting a World Culture Fair being held; she can relax without relaxing her emphasis on education. Buffy tells Willow that her life has to be dedicated to Dawn now and not herself.

Glory is smiling as she gives her followers final instructions on how to capture The Key.

Willow and Tara are in Willow's dorm room. Tara thinks that Buffy's stern attitude is understandable, but Willow thinks that it's extreme and likely to lead to more rebellion from Dawn. Tara remembers when her mother died, how she had to care for her younger brothers. She thinks that Willow doesn't really understand the situation. Willow becomes upset that Tara doesn't seem to think that her opinion matters. Willow hesitates to go further, but when Tara presses, Willow admits that she thinks that of Tara a lot. Tara has been living on her own longer, she's known she was a lesbian longer, she's been a witch longer than Willow - Willow feels like "the junior partner".

Tara insists that Willow is a much better witch, for example, so good that it's scary. Willow worries at Tara's description of her power. She worries that on some level Tara is scared of her. Tara tries to take her words back, but Willow insists that even though the Psych Professor was killed in her own mad scheme before the course completed, Willow still recognizes when someone accidentally speaks the truth. Tara protests that she trusts Willow with her life, but Willow can sense she is holding back. Tara finally admits that things in Willow's life are changing so fast that she's concerned that she won't fit in with the woman that Willow is becoming.

Willow realizes that Tara's real concern is that Willow may decide one day that she's no longer interested in women, or in Tara. Willow is offended that Tara would question their relationship or her commitment to it, so deeply. Willow tells her that she can't prove that she's a lesbian by the number of relationships she's had because she's only ever loved one woman - Tara. Then, Willow walks out.

Glory's henchmen sneak around the Summers' front porch as Buffy and Dawn are in the dining room. Buffy is folding laundry and suggesting a full color chart of Dawn's chores complete with gold stars. Dawn is not enthusiastic about the idea. Buffy tries to stress how important it is that Dawn co-operate with her. Dawn argues that since her life isn't real why should she worry about school - her knowledge up to this point was given to her magically, maybe there's a magic way to skip school entirely. Buffy finally tells her that if she doesn't do well in school the authorities will remove Dawn from Buffy's care. Principal Stevens explained to Buffy when they were alone, that one of the conditions for Buffy to be Dawn's guardian is that Dawn passes her classes. If she fails, Dawn could be handed over to a foster family.

At the Multi-Cultural Fair, Tara sits alone on a park bench. Willow sits alone on pillows in a dark corner of the Magic Box. At the fair, Tara feels a feminine hand slip into hers and their fingers intertwine. Tara smiles as she turns expecting to see Willow, but is horrified to see Glory instead.

Giles notices that Willow is unhappy and Willow explains that she and Tara are fighting. They have never argued before and Willow is deeply depressed. Giles assures her that soon the fight will be over and they will get own with their lives together, knowing it's sometimes okay to quarrel. Giles walks to the back door, behind the sales counter and smoothly opens the door enough to reveal one of Glory's slaves. Giles then slams the door into the small brownish man's head and neatly knocks him down. He hustles the minion to a chair. Anya recognizes him as one of Glory's followers. Giles is calmly threatening as he assures the lackey that he will tell them of Glory's plans. Giles asks Willow and Anya to retrieve some string to tie up the man. When their backs are turned there is a loud cracking sound and the minion begs to be allowed to confess. There is no outward sign of what Giles must have done to the toady, but it was convincing.

He tells them that he is assigned to watch them while Glory retrieves The Key. He mentions that Glory is after the witch and they realize that Glory thinks Tara is The Key because she's the newest member of their group. Willow is running before the little man finishes talking. She shouts to Giles to have Buffy check Tara's room while Willow tries to find Tara at the Fair.

Tara is Glory's prisoner. Glory squeezes Tara's hand and there is a crackling sound as Tara suppresses a cry of pain. Glory instructs her to act natural or Glory will have to begin killing everyone around them. Glory delights in torturing Tara with the thought of how many innocents in the crowd will die if she doesn't cooperate. Blood begins to ooze from Tara's hand as Glory maintains the crushing pressure on it. Glory licks Tara's blood from her hand and then spits it out. She realizes from the taste that Tara is not The Key. In her madness, she accuses Tara of lying to her.

But Glory hopes that Tara will tell her who is The Key. She crushes Tara's hand some more and threatens to drive her fingers into Tara's brain. Glory describes the sensation of being brain sucked as being trapped in a dark little room with all kinds of creepy crawlies that torment you so much that you can't even think about escaping. And the feeling goes on forever. But the pain and the threat of even more, will not make Tara speak. Tara muffles her agony and gives Glory a defiant stare.

Willow sees her lover across a crowd of people. She tries to reach her but must work her way past the mob. She begins to chant a spell, but has trouble getting it right. Willow can see glimpses of Glory's hands deep in Tara's head as she moves through the crowd. Before she can reach Tara or complete the spell, it is over and Willow holds a confused, demented Tara in her arms as she weeps for her lost love.

The group without Buffy and Dawn has gathered again at the hospital. The doctor explains to Willow that Tara will have to sleep overnight at the hospital for observation. Buffy arrives and tells them that she deposited Dawn with Spike, so Buffy is free for as long as they need her.

Spike is escorting Dawn through some of the underground caverns near Sunnydale. He tries to lift her spirits, but his limp and healing face are a constant reminder of the threat that Dawn faces. As Dawn wallows in her depression, Spike's expression is the most gentle and sad it's ever been. Dawn admits that she thinks of herself as the threat. She's forced to watch everyone around her get hurt trying to protect her; she's responsible for their pain. She thinks of herself as evil, since she brings suffering to everyone. Spike dismisses her wild ideas. He knows quite a bit about evil and she doesn't fit the bill. She wonders, however, if she can ever be a force for good and Spike doesn't think that being good is so important.

Tara's hand is heavily bandaged and the nurse wheels her away. Xander has to stop Willow from running after her. Willow confesses to being lost without Tara, to the point of not being able to sleep. Anya volunteers to help by taking Tara's place in bed, then realizes how awkward the offer sounds. Buffy consuls Willow to be patient. Willow decides that she is going to get her revenge on Glory. Buffy tries to stop her, but Willow counters every argument with her anger. Willow thinks that her magic may be a match for Glory. She becomes angry at Buffy for not doing something. She wonders who has to be hurt before Buffy will act. Willow finally agrees with Buffy's conclusion that they don't have any way to fight Glory right now. She walks away dejected.

Willow enters the Magic Box at a run and heads straight for where the most dangerous items are stored. She throws books from the shelves and throws weapons in a bag. Secreted behind a row of books she pulls out, not a book of dark magic, not a book of darker magic, but the book of Darkest Magick. She uses a blade to strike the book's lock, the cover flops opens and the pages flap around as if alive.

Glory is at her lavish lair, enjoying the aftereffects of consuming Tara's mind. She is assuring her slavish men that Buffy will not try to attack them even now. Glory thinks that all she has to do is kill all of Buffy's friends until she finds The Key. The room begins to shake and darkness descends. The front doors fly open and Willow levitates into the room about a foot off the floor. The irises of her eyes are jet-black as she chants a spell that encases Glory in an invisible field that makes it hard for her to move. Willow then unleashes bolts of lightning with each hand that causes Glory to cry out in pain.

Buffy has joined Spike and Dawn in the underground. She tells them about Willow's anger and how she talked her out of it. Spike doesn't seem convinced that it's that easy. Buffy doesn't want to believe it, but Spike thinks that anyone would fight back, even against impossible odds, if provoked enough. Dawn convinces Buffy by asking her what Buffy would do if Glory hurt Dawn; doesn't Willow love Tara as much as Buffy loves Dawn? Buffy runs after her friend.

Willow's power shatters the mirror in the room and bombards Glory with the sharp fragments. They shred her dress, but do no harm to the blonde Goddess. Glory begins to mock Willow's efforts. She slaps Willow across the room. Willow's bag magically slides to her side and opens. About a dozen knives rise from the bag and fly at Glory. At super-human speed, she knocks them all away. Willow begins another spell, but Glory throws a coffee table at her, knocking her down.

Willow is panting and her lip is bleeding as she finishes a chant that causes a tentacle to grow from the carpet and encircle Glory's foot. With a kick, Glory disintegrates the tentacle. Willow is beginning to weaken as Glory grabs her by the chin. Willow will not yield as she spits in Glory's face. Glory picks up one of Willow's knives and threatens to pin her to the wall with it.

As Glory pulls her hand back, Buffy grabs her wrist. Glory is amused to see Buffy, until Buffy begins to land some hard blows. It only throws Glory off temporarily and she quickly begins to fight back. Buffy kicks a couch at Glory, to gain some time then she grabs Willow and runs. Willow manages to repeat the spell that held back Glory at first. As they escape, Glory yells after them that this fight isn't finished yet.

At Tara's room, Buffy, Willow, Tara and Dawn are picking through sandwiches for lunch. Willow begins to spoon-feed Tara and Dawn volunteers to take over. Willow tells Buffy that the hospital gave her a lot of medicine and said that Tara may have to be tied down at night. Willow assures them that her love and devotion are enough to do whatever it takes to help Tara. It's unspoken that Tara may remain like a child forever, but Willow is firm that nothing will make her abandon "her girl". Buffy and Willow share a moment of sisterhood, knowing that they each now have someone besides themselves to which to they have dedicated their lives. Willow kisses Tara's forehead with her declaration of love.

Suddenly, one wall of the room is ripped away. They are on the ground floor and Glory stands outside. She reminds them that their fight isn't over. Tara begins to panic and Dawn tries to calm her. Tara sees Dawn as The Key for the first time and begins to babble about her pure, bright green glow. Glory slowly smiles as she realizes that she has found The Key.