Even the Brongers had no mystical powers

Glad I wasn't the only one who read the type as Bongers.

In unrelated news, I'm listening to Shriekback right now, AIFG!

t /natter

Oh, you people -- the date/timestamp in CwDP was clearly a shout-out to it being my birthday. Duh!

See, I like Jess's reason.

Because it really sort of distracted me that it was shown (and date stamped) on my dad's birthday. (He died last June.) I found it rather hard to concentrate on it at the time.

Ouch. The scripted death of Anya sounds much more painful to watch.

I'm going with the Jess explanation of the date/timestamp.

More scripty fun.

I liked both how Joss wrote it and ED played it to perfection:

WOOD
Please. I'm much prettier than you.

Faith starts in open-mouthed, victorian shock -- she actually puts a hand to her breast.

a deleted scene, which - if we'd had more of these - might've given a bit more cool, proto-goth girl, morbid little Lilo quality to Dawn over the course of the season...

A messload of Potentials are in the room, some with sleeping bags, some just hanging, all more or less sitting at the feet or Dawn, who sits on her bed, in mid-tale.

DAWN
And the Master grabbed Buffy from behind and bit her, she tried to move but he was too strong, he fed on her blood and he tossed her in the water, cackling insanely as the bubbles rose around her and she slowly drowned to death.
VI
(upset)
Do you have any other stories?

Did Faith's last line here get cut?

FAITH
You're first, B.
Buffy takes the knife, cuts her hand, lets it drip onto the Seal. Faith takes the knife --
FAITH (cont'd)
Pucker up, ladies. We're going to Hell.

I like this bit because (a) it's easy to say "dead cool" but harder to portray it, and the Vi-actress did. Plus, in the scene description Joss is obviously falling in love with his own battle scene.

VI
(dead cool)
These guys are dust.

And the first wave hits, the vamps cresting the edge en masse, swarming over the girls -- Sorry. "Slayers". Who take the horde and beat it back, every single one of them slicing, kicking, twirling, punching, slaying like they've been doing it all their lives. They are taking out a bunch (Spike keeping his end up just fine, thank you), holding off others -- but the vamps keep coming, endlessly. It's brutal and dark and sweaty and bloody and I love it. I love it.

Heh...

BUFFY
(weakly)
Hold the line...
And she holds out her scythe to Faith. A moment, and Faith takes it. Stabs the guy behind her without looking at him. And then goes apeshit on the fuckers.

DAWN

And the Master grabbed Buffy from behind and bit her, she tried to move but he was too strong, he fed on her blood and he tossed her in the water, cackling insanely as the bubbles rose around her and she slowly drowned to death.

I love this because it takes you right back to Spike and Dawn in the crypt with the girl in the coal bin story. ContinuityYay!

I love this because it takes you right back to Spike and Dawn in the crypt with the girl in the coal bin story. ContinuityYay!

I thought so too. Joss has mentioned in interviews that he thought Dawn got cheated, as a character. That he had plans to develop her more but it didn't happen.

There are lots of cut lines in the script, so it's well worth reading to see Buffy going on after her bad pun...

BUFFY
He had to split.
She snorts with dorkish laughter. Angel just shakes his head reprovingly. She stops after a moment.
BUFFY (cont'd)
I'm sorry, I just... ahhhh... I haven't had a good pun in a while.
ANGEL
That would still be the case.
BUFFY
Hey! My kill, my wordplay.
ANGEL
(hands up)
I'm out of line.
BUFFY
Well, I'm still glad you're here.

a bit more Dawn characterization that got lost..

BUFFY
(re: scythe)
I did find out some history on this puppy. I'll fill you in -- And I got some...
(hands over files)
...files, might be helpful, and
(produces amulet)
This. Supposed to be powerful, don't know much more.
GILES
Where'd you get all this?
BUFFY
Angel.
DAWN
Angel?
GILES
He's here.
BUFFY
I sent him back to L.A. To prepare.
She heads out toward the basement, turning back to add:
BUFFY (cont'd)
If we fail.
XANDER
Operative word "If."
ANYA
Operative word "Fail."
DAWN
Or, operative word "Wheeee!"
(crickets)
Nobody gets me.

So there are already two lines I'd use as tags that got cut...

Hey! My kill, my wordplay.

and...

Pucker up, ladies. We're going to Hell.