Synopsis of Checkpoint
Written by TK
Buffy's living room
Buffy and the gang are having a group meeting. Giles mentions that some council members are coming from England with info about Glory. Buffy is irrationally worried about their arrival, and only Giles knows that it's because Dawn is the key. Dawn listens in on their meeting from the stairs and Buffy freaks out when she realizes Dawn is there, even though they really weren't talking about anything that Dawn couldn't hear.
Glory's hotel room
Glory is sick and lying on the floor. Two of her worshipful demons come in dragging some poor guy of the street and she feeds on him. She's immediately better, back to her catty old self. She reminds her demon slaves that they cut it a little close that time. One of her demons tells her that the signs of alignment are moving faster and she has even less time to find the key. Glory is fairly relaxed, 'cause she thinks the Buffy knows where the key is, and Glory isn't worried about dealing with little miss slayer.
Magic shop
Giles is in the middle of business when about eight council people walk in and shut the place down. Quentin Travers announces that Buffy will have to go through a review before the council can trust her with the disturbing information they've gathered about Glory.
Buffy's history class
Buffy's professor is talking about how hard Rasputin was to kill. She mentions that it's possible Rasputin wasn't killed. The professor makes fun of her for her conspiracy theories.
Cemetary
Later that night, Buffy is out her anger at the professor on a vamp. She takes a momentary breather and Spike jumps in and kills the vamp. Spike expects her to be grateful but she's just annoyed that he got in the way. They end up tossing insults back and forth at each other, Spike digging her about men leaving her.
Hospital
One of Glory's demons shows up and tells Ben that Glory wants him to find out more about the slayer, Buffy. Ben is surprised to hear that Buffy is the slayer, and is reluctant to do as Glory asks. He tells the demon he has a message for Glory.
Magic shop
Giles is telling the council folks how great Buffy has been lately when Buffy herself walks in. The council reminds her that slayers come and go, but the council is the real force in fighting evil, and the slayer is just their instrument. They tell her about the review she'll have to go through before they trust her with the info about Glory. Giles gets pissed off about the way that they're treating Buffy, and they threaten to close down the magic shop for good and have Giles deported back to England if Buffy doesn't submit to their review.
Glory's hotel room
Glory's demon minion comes in and he's been beat up. That was Ben's message: he won't help Glory. Glory is sad that Ben won't help her, but figures she can do it on her own.
Magic shop
Buffy and Giles are both frustrated with the council. Buffy is scared of failing the review and worried about Dawn. She wonders what the review will be like.
The council folks conduct a series of interviews with Anya, Willow, Tara, Xander, and even Spike. None of the interviews seem to go particularly well.
Buffy's training room
One of the tests is that Buffy has to fight a Japanese trained fighter guy while she's blind-folded and protecting a dummy. Quentin Travers is going to give her instructions using Japanese Aikido and stuff terms. Giles tries to translate for Buffy since she has no idea what Quentin is talking about. Buffy finally gives up trying to follow instructions and just kicks the guys ass. She also ends up getting the dummy an axe to the head. Quentin tells her that later tonight they'll talk strategies. Buffy thinks she didn't do very well and is worried about tonight.
Buffy's home
Buffy comes home and Glory is there. Glory tells her if she doesn't hand over the key, she'll kill her family and friends. Dawn walks in and Glory asks Dawn about the key, making Buffy incredibly nervous, but Glory is left none the wiser.
Spike's cave
Buffy comes in with her mother and Dawn and asks Spike to protect them. Spike, after being ornery about it, agrees to do so. Spike and Joyce bond over their mutual love for the NBC soap opera, "Passions."
Magic shop
The Scoobies are hiding the balcony, watching the council folk and being annoyed at them. Quentin mentions that Buffy is twenty minutes late. Giles says she'll be here.
Some back alley
Buffy realizes she's running late and gets a move on. She is attacked by an armor-clad person who tackles her. (The armor includes a chain-mail thingy over the face, so it's impossible to tell who or what it is.) She gets up, and then realizes that she's surrounded by three of these same armor-clad beings and they're brandishing long shiny metal swords that they're spinning expertly. As they circle her, she mentions that now is not a good time for this. They don't seem to care and they attack her. She puts up a fabulous fight, knocks two of them out and tackles the other, pulling of his mask. He's just a man, with a strange symbol tattooed on his forehead. He's says he's one of the Knights of Byzantium, and they are her enemy. She asks if they're working with Glory, and he says that they'd never align themselves with that beast. The Knights of Byzantium want to destroy the key, and if that means destroying Buffy to do it, then so be it. The man tells Buffy to go ahead and kill him, because many more will follow, but she lets him go, taking his sword with her.
Magic shop
Buffy arrives with the sword, and says that the review is off. She has realized that she has the power, and that's why Glory was in her house and didn't kick her ass, because she has something Glory needs. And that's why the council is here, because they need a slayer or they're nothing. Buffy insists that there will be no review, Giles will be reinstated with full salary and back-pay, she'll still work with her friends, and she gets the info on Glory. Quentin Travers agrees with her and tells her that Glory is not a demon. She's a god. Buffy is blown away.
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