Previously on Buffy: Joyce died. Dawn cried. Ben finds out that Dawn's the key and reveals his close relationship with Glory.

Buffy wanders around a darkened coffin-filled room while vaguely threatening music plays. But they're not foolin' you guys, are they? She opens a coffin to reveal…NOTHING. Enter Giles, Dawn, and an annoying Funeral Home Guy. Buffy tells him that she wants the coffin that she's standing by and FHG toadies, "It's a fine choice. It speaks deeply of your feeling for the deceased." Shut up, FHG. Her mother died. She shouldn't have to listen to your insincere prattling. Giles feels the same way I do, and he starts to lead FHG away. Dawn doesn't follow, but instead stands in the middle of the room, staring at the coffin. Buffy notices this and asks Dawn if she doesn't agree with Buffy's choice. Dawn dithers that Joyce might prefer a different coffin, and Buffy apologizes for bringing her along, saying that Dawn "shouldn't have to deal with this." Annoying FHG wonders if they'd like a few more minutes, but Buffy decides that they will stick with her original choice, and Dawn looks upset by the briskness of Buffy's manner.

Credits. My, how I have missed the rockin' theme song.

Buffy and Giles sit at the dinner table making arrangements for the funeral while Xander and Willow have a bite to eat. Dawn fiddles with a bouquet on the sideboard and finally sits in front of her untouched plate. Buffy questions how to word the announcement that there will be no gathering after the funeral and explains, "Mom didn't like them. She said that potlucks were depressing enough." Dawn wants to know when Joyce expressed that view, and Buffy gently tells her that they had a talk before she went in for the surgery, "in case." Dawn seems upset that Joyce didn't say anything to her, and Xander tries to comfort her with the thought that Joyce didn't want to upset her before prodding her to eat some of her dinner. Buffy concurs, and Dawn teenagers back, "Why should I? You're not." They're interrupted by the phone, which Giles answers at Buffy's behest. We learn that she still hasn't been able to get in touch with her dad, and I know that Joss seems to have a Bad Dad thing, but this is a little much. I'm thinking something's not right. What's that you say? The Buffyverse is a wonderful place filled with bunnies and happy little ponies that prance around all day long and everything is tinged with rainbows? Yes, I know. I'm probably just tired. I'm sure everything is just swell. While Buffy works on the wording of the funeral announcement, Dawn wonders what they will do afterwards. No one pays much attention to her, and her feelings are obviously hurt, so she asks Willow if she can hang with her after the ceremony. Willow tells her to ask her sister, and Buffy absentmindedly agrees.