The Evil Death Mask starts a-humming. The dead start rising everywhere. Why did it only raise a cat the previous night, and half the corpses in Sunnydale tonight? Don't ask me, I just work here. The lack of attention to detail in this episode is shocking.

Party. Xander and Cordelia mack inappropriately. Buffy tries to avoid them, but Xander sees her. They chat, but they're pretty much ignoring Buffy and doing the couple-y thing. Cordy mentions the Night Hawk nickname. More on that later. All Buffy's friends are doing an incredible job of making her feel like a stranger in her own house. Buffy overhears some jerk telling another jerk that the party is for "some chick that just got out of rehab." Cut to Joyce and Pat in the kitchen, getting lit. The coup de grace comes when Buffy overhears part of their conversation: "Having Buffy home, I thought it was going to make it all better, but in some ways, it's worse." Ouch and double ouch. That was a little out of context, but still. Buffy goes up to her room and starts packing. Meanwhile, lots of zombies approach the house.

A 1-800-COLLECT commercial without Carrot Top. I miss those days.

Giles finally reads the page he missed earlier. He tries to call chez Summers, but Jerk #1 answers, and basically hangs up on him, calling him "Mr. Belvedere." How eighties. Willow finds Buffy packing and starts bitching her out. The ensuing conversation is pretty heartfelt, and Willow was probably coming to try to talk things out with Buffy, but I really don't care, as I am already so over Willow for this episode. Buffy: "You guys were doing fine without me." Willow: "We were doing the best we could! It's not like we had a lot of choice in the matter." Buffy: "Sorry that I had to leave. But you don't know what I was going through." Willow: "But I'd like to." Buffy: "You wouldn't understand." Okay, let's take a break. Why wouldn't she understand? She's supposed to be your best friend! And Willow, here's a quarter. Buy yourself a clue. What the hell do you think happened with Buffy and Angel? Willow whinges that she didn't have anyone to talk to about "scary life stuff" like dating and magic, and that Buffy "[was her] best friend." Past tense, Willow? It's not like people are lining up for the job. Buffy looks like she's about to lose it.