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| - That morning, we open on a shot of a spinning globe and Giles pontificating about demon history. Apparently, demons ruled the Earth long ago but eventually lost their hold on this world. Now, mortal creatures rule the Earth and only a few demons remain. One fly in the ointment: Giles explains that the last demon to leave our reality fed off a human, mixing their blood and creating the first vampire. Repeat ad infinitum. Xander wants to know how to kill vampires, but Buffy insists that any killing be left up to her. Meanwhile, underground, the vamps realize there's a Slayer in town. The Master and Luke discuss snuffing her out before she ruins the Master's plans to ascend. Luke congratulates Jesse on being promoted -- to "bait." Lucky him. Willow demonstrates her computer wizardry by hacking into city plans for sewer blueprints. The gang deduces that the vampires are hiding in a system of tunnels underneath the town and the mausoleum is the entrance, explaining how Luke got the jump on Buffy previously. It's still daylight as Buffy sneakily enters the mausoleum from the night before, only to find the mystery man from earlier . The two trade barbs, and Buffy finally gets a formal introduction to lurking wisdom-bearing guy: Angel. He explains that tonight is the Harvest, after which the Master will walk free. Buffy asks why Angel doesn't stop the Harvest, and he laughingly admits he's scared to. He tries to talk her out of going in, and Buffy asks if he knows what it's like to have a friend; Angel looks shifty and sad. Raw nerve? He gives her some instructions on how to find the Master and after she leaves, whispers, "Good luck." While in the sewers, Buffy spots Xander. She is frustrated that he came when she told him not to. They find Jesse and break his manacles, only to realize they've walked into a trap: they're surrounded by vamps. On cue, Jesse sprouts fangs, revealing he's been turned. Xander holds Jesse off by waving a cross Buffy loaned to him, while Buffy tears a grate off a vent in the ceiling and helps Xander climb through. In the Master's lair, the Master exposes his inner wrist to Luke, who feeds on some of his blood. The Master daubs a symbol onto Luke's forehead and intones that Luke is now his "vessel" of the, and that every person he drains tonight will bring the Master one step closer to freedom. At a loose end, Buffy and Xander skulk back to the library where Giles is -- wait for it -- researching. He exposits that the Master is an ancient and enterprising vampire who attempted to open the Hellmouth long ago. The spell went caca and triggered an earthquake, trapping the Master inside a space-time bubble where he remains to this day. After sharing his findings on "The Harvest" (which we already know), Giles draws a three-pointed symbol on the whiteboard and instruct Buffy to, basically, kill whoever is sporting that symbol. Xander deduces the vampire bash is gong to be held at The Bronze. Over at the Bronze, Cordelia is holding court. Vamp!Jesse is eying her intently. She demands to know what he wants, and instead of answering he wordlessly leads her back onto the dance floor for a twirl. She starts to protest, but can't resist his undead charm. Once inside, Darla's gang kills the lights and music as Luke gets onstage. Cordelia turns to see Jesse and his game face leering at her. Around back, Giles, Xander, and Willow find the back entrance locked as well. Xander says they have to get in there quickly before Jesse does something stupider than usual. Giles lectures Xander to remember that when he sees Jesse he's not looking at his friend, he's looking at the thing that killed him. Upstairs somewhere, there's a sound of crashing glass, and Buffy comes crawling in. From her perch above the dance floor, Buffy recognizes Luke as the Master's vessel. Darla brings the screaming Cordelia out onto the stage meet Luke. He's about to chow down, but is interrupted by henchvamp falling from the catwalk with a loud thud. Luke, smiling, decides that Slayer blood is a better menu item and allows Cordelia scurry off. As they fight, the remaining Scoobies start hustling the scared people out of the building. Cordelia and and Jesse are squirming on the floor, but Xander gallantly comes to the rescue. Jesse tells Xander that he's "a new man," and before he was changed he was a loser who couldn't get a date. Xander positions the business end of his stake right over Jesse's heart. As Jessie snots that Xander lacks the cojones to stake him, he's impaled onto the stake by a random fleeing girl who bumps into him. Poof. Luke finally gets down to business with Buffy, who threateningly picks up a mic stand. Luke tells her that she "forgot" that metal is useless against him, but Buffy tells him that he forgot about sunrise, and she hurls the mic stand at the blacked-out window above the stage. As a bright backstage light shines onto Luke, he starts writhing in anticipation of being burned, and Buffy stakes him from behind. Back in the cavern, the Master falls to his knees, screaming and throwing a little tantrum. Angel steps out of the street to wonder, "She did it! I'll be damned." Sunnydale is safe. For now. The next day at school, Cordelia is gossiping about "gangs on PCP." Xander is of the opinion that "the dead rose. We should at least have an assembly." Giles testifies this might as well be the mantra for the whole series. He says that she'll be ready for the next time. Everyone but Buffy and Giles looks shocked to learn that there might be a next time. Giles says that they are "on the center of a mystical convergence" here. Buffy, sucking on a lollipop, says that she's going to look "on the bright side," and try to see if she can get kicked out of school. Giles, listening to their conversation, adjusts his glasses and mutters to himself, "The earth is doomed."
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