(Joyce's hospital room)

DR. KRIEGEL: Well, I guess we're all set then.

(The doctor hands Buffy a piece of paper and three pill bottles.)

DR. KRIEGEL: You've got my home phone number, pager number, and here, these are the medications I talked to you about. The sedative and so forth, painkillers.

BUFFY: Right. No problem.

DR. KRIEGEL: Now, if this is gonna be too much for you, we can make your mom perfectly comfortable here.

BUFFY: No. No, no, I-I got this. We really, really appreciate-

JOYCE: (to Buffy) You look just like your father when he cries.

BUFFY: (to doctor) I-I told you she's been-

DR. KRIEGEL: I know. Joyce?

(Joyce is staring dazedly at Buffy)

DR. KRIEGEL: Joyce. (She looks at him) We're all done here. Why don't you take your girls home now.

JOYCE: Yes. Yes, thank you. Thank you for all your help, doctor.

DR. KRIEGEL: I'll see you in a couple of days.

(He walks off. The Summers women turn away, Buffy and Dawn flanking Joyce and linking their arms through hers.)

JOYCE: Oh, let's get the hell outta here.

(at Buffy's house)

BUFFY: Here we go.

JOYCE: Oh, it's nice to be home.

(Buffy closes the door behind them and turns on the lights. Joyce winces and puts her hand to her eyes.)

DAWN: Do you wanna go in to bed, Mom?

JOYCE: Buffy, no, that light is too bright. It's too bright.

BUFFY: Oh, okay, okay!

JOYCE: It's too bright. Buffy, it hurts. It hurts, it hurts my eyes.

BUFFY: It's off, it's off. You know what, (to Dawn) why don't you turn off the lights in the living room, (to Joyce) and I will take you upstairs and we'll shut off all the lights up there. Okay? Come on.

• Buffy & her mom
• Joyce's Illness

written by: Jane Espenson; Transcribed by Joan the English Chick (pisces@englishchick.com).. Full transcript at:
http://www.studiesinwords.de/87listeningtofear.html