THE
WEIGHT OF THE WORLD
Glory prepares for the ritual to open the portal, talking to her minions and
Dawn, who has no choice but to listen as she's tied up and gagged. Spike
reports that he can't see Glory anywhere, but the gang has a new problem as
Buffy has been reduced to a state of cationic. Spike tries to violently force
Buffy back to normal, which only leads to a fight with Xander, and Willow
forcing the two guys apart with magic. She takes over, giving orders to
everyone, as Buffy is unable to do so. When mentioning Ben and Glory sharing a
body, Spike realizes that some sort of Glory magic makes the humans forget that
bit of information every time it's revealed to them.
Glory first attempts to comfort a frightened Dawn, but starts to loose her cool
as she realizes she's feeling guilt. With Anya looking over Tara, Willow
prepares herself for a spell that will allow her into the mind of the Slayer.
Things go as planned and Willow finds herself talking to a young Buffy. Willow
witnesses Buffy's memory of baby Dawn being brought home by Joyce and Hank.
At the hospital where Giles was getting care, Xander fills him in on Willow's
plans. Spike returns after investigating Glory's apartment with little
information on her whereabouts. Dawn reveals to Glory that she remembers the
transformation from Ben and this really worries Glory as she realizes she and
Ben is closer to the surface than before. She asks to have Ben taken out of her
body, but it is the punishment she must face for her crime. In Buffy's mind,
Willow watches Buffy at the magic shop and then the First Slayer tell Buffy of
her future and her "gift."
Glory brags to Dawn about her superiority but Dawn knows there is one person
who can beat the god: Buffy. At her house but in present time, Buffy calmly
acknowledges that death is her gift, before going to Dawn's room and smothering
the young girl with a pillow. Glory finds her body taken over by Ben and after
some encouragement from Dawn, Ben takes her and runs. Willow watches as scenes
from earlier begin to repeat and she watches baby Dawn be brought home again.
Spike and Xander go to visit Doc for information on Glory but quickly find that
he's playing for the other team. With his super speed and long tongue, Doc has
the guys at a disadvantage. Spike is able to recover a box Doc threw into the
fireplace while Xander stabs the reptilian creature with a sword before they
leave. Unfortunately, the sword doesn't kill Doc. Before Buffy can go to kill
Dawn again, Willow stops her and asks her why.
A good distance away from Glory's hideout, Dawn breaks away from Ben and hits
him with a chain. As she makes her escape though, she's again in the grasp of
Glory. Ben and Glory battle for control of the body until Glory manages to
convince Ben that he must cooperate with her. As he regains control, he takes
hands Dawn over to some of Glory's minions. Buffy reveals to Willow that she
gave up in her heart and that she thinks she is the reason Glory has Dawn and
Dawn will soon die. Willow tells her that it's not over yet and she can still
do something to stop it.
Buffy finally comes out of her state, crying and needing the support of Willow.
As they return to the magic shop, Xander tells Buffy that Ben and Glory are one
in the same. After reviewing the information Spike stole from Doc, Giles
reveals that a bloodletting ceremony will occur to open the portal and there is
only one way to stop it. Dawn must be killed.