(Dawn's bedroom)

DAWN: Why didn't you tell me?

BUFFY: We were going to. It just...

(she trails off. Dawn gives her an angry look)

JOYCE: We thought it would be better if we waited until you were older.

DAWN: How old am I now?

JOYCE: You're fourteen, sweetheart, you know that.

DAWN: No. The monks. When did ... when did they ... (trails off)

BUFFY: Six months ago.

DAWN: I've only been alive for six months, huh?

JOYCE: Honey, you've been alive a lot longer than that to us.

DAWN: You don't know that! You don't know anything. I'm, I'm just a key, right? Everything about me is made up.

BUFFY: Dawn ... Mom and I know what we feel. I know I care about you. I know that I worry about you-

DAWN: You worry about me because you have to. I'm your job. Protect the key, right?

BUFFY: I worry because my sister is cutting herself!

DAWN: Yeah? How do you know? Maybe this is just another fake memory from my fake family.

JOYCE: Sweetheart-

DAWN: Get out.

BUFFY: Dawn...

DAWN: Get out, get out, get out!

(Her voice rises to a shriek on the last two words. Joyce and Buffy get up to leave. Dawn lies down on the bed, curls up hugging a stuffed animal. )

• Angsty Traumatic Confrontations
• Buffy & Dawn
• Dawn as the Key

written by: Steven S. DeKnight; Transcribed by Joan the English Chick (pisces@englishchick.com).. Full transcript at:
http://www.studiesinwords.de/91bloodties.html