"Nightmares"
Buffy has a nightmare about being attacked by the
Master. Later in class, a student opens his book and spiders emerge and
attack him, while a young boy stands outside the classroom window. In his
lair, the Master explains to the Anointed One that fear is the most powerful
force in the world, and changes are about to take place.
Buffy, Willow and Xander question the spider boy, who says he's had recurring
nightmares about such attacks. Later in class, Buffy finds out there is
a test she's totally unprepared for. As soon as she starts writing, she
glances at the clock and sees almost the entire hour is up. Again, the boy
appears. Later, a girl goes into the school basement and is attacked by
a huge Ugly Man. Questioned in the hospital, she's able to provide one clue:
the attacker said the words "Lucky Nineteen."
Xander enters a class to find everyone staring at them -- he's only wearing
boxer shorts. Buffy finds a newspaper picture of the boy who keeps appearing.
The article says he's in a coma after falling down the steps after a little
league game. Buffy notices his uniform number: 19. Giles says even though
the boy's in the hospital, perhaps Buffy has been seeing his astral body,
(I think I saw an X-Files on this) which can travel through time and space.
Buffy's father picks her up at school and explains he left home because
Buffy caused so much trouble and was a disappointment to him. He leaves
Buffy in shock -- and the boy appears again. Willow and Xander talk to Giles,
who explains that their nightmares have been coming true, leaving everyone
vulnerable to all sorts of danger. Buffy finally confronts the boy, who
explains that Ugly Man wants to kill him. Suddenly, the Ugly Man appears
and starts to attack Buffy, who is no match for him.
Giles warns Xander and Willow that Buffy's nightmares could be fatal, and
they must find her. Willow's attempt leads her into her own nightmare: she
is onstage in an opera for which she is woefully unprepared. Xander's search
leads him to yet another nightmare: a clown he feared from childhood chases
him with a knife. Buffy and the boy manage to escape Ugly Man (how ugly?)
by literally jumping from school during the day into a cemetery at night.
The Master appears and shoves Buffy into an open grave. Willow, Xander and
Giles need to find Buffy -- unless Billy is awoken, all reality will become
nightmares within hours. They notice a cemetery -- in darkness -- is across
the street, and go to investigate. Seeing Buffy's headstone, Giles laments
not protecting her better, until Buffy emerges -- as a vampire. Giles says
it's reversible, if only Billy could wake up. They go to the hospital and
Ugly Man appears again. Buffy manages to attack him. She asks the little
boy to finish the job -- he walks up to him and peels something off his
face. Buffy returns to normal, and the real little boy awakens from his
coma. His little league coach enters and is shocked to find the boy awake.
Buffy confronts him about beating up the boy for losing a game -- when he
tries to flee, Xander grabs him. Buffy's dad shows up after school and cheerfully
greets her -- another happy ending at the Hellmouth.