Summers home. Joyce tends the fire, and Buffy snits about the heat. Joyce: "So, angel's on top again?" Buffy looks up, startled, to see her mom holding a star and an angel. Oh, she was talking about the ornament, not Angel! Wow, was that clever! And by the way, is it Christmas or something? Buffy predictably picks the star. The doorbell rings, and Buffy and Joyce exchange a "who the hell could that be?" look. Buffy opens the door to find Faith. She's wearing a jacket, which kind of contradicts the whole "blistering heat" idea. Still, she looks great, as usual. Without saying as much, she conveys that there is no party, and that she didn't have anywhere to go. Buffy graciously says she's glad Faith came. Faith hands Buffy gifts, self-deprecatingly saying that they're "pretty crappy." Joyce warmly greets Faith, and thanks her for the gift. Faith nervously repeats that they're crappy. In a moment I don't know if they had scripted, Joyce nods knowingly. It's hysterical. Buffy says she'll get Faith's gifts.

Buffy walks into her room, but the door shuts behind her to reveal a very out-of-sorts-looking Angel. He's kind of incoherent, and acts like he's on something. The camera focuses on Buffy's neck. Miss Calendar appears behind Buffy, exhorting Angel to "touch her," to "taste her." Buffy tries to tell him that something is manipulating him, and that she knows he's confused. Angel, seemingly slipping, tells her she's the one that's confused. He moves forward. Miss Calendar tells him to go for it, and says that if he does, he'll never have to see "us" again. Is that the royal "us"? Buffy asks how she can help, and Angel snaps and screams, "Leave me alone!" and dives out the window. Unlike the earlier scenes with Angelus, this one actually managed to be scary.

Buffy asks Faith to stay with Joyce. She agrees, but doesn't understand. Buffy promises to explain later. Faith tells her to watch her back.