School Hard (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Episode)
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| "School Hard" | |||
| Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode | |||
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 3 | ||
| Directed by | John T. Kretchmer | ||
| Written by | David Greenwalt | ||
| Story by | David Greenwalt Joss Whedon | ||
| Production code | 5V03 | ||
| Original air date | September 29, 1997 | ||
| Guest actors | |||
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| Episode chronology | |||
| ← Previous "Some Assembly Required" | Next → "Inca Mummy Girl" | ||
| List of Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes | |||
"School Hard" is episode three of season two of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The story for the episode was conceived by series creator and executive producer Joss Whedon and co-executive producer David Greenwalt, with Greenwalt penning the teleplay. It was directed by John T. Kretchmer, the second and final episode he directed for the show. The narrative intertwines two stories, one of Spike and Drusilla, legendary vampires from Angel's past, coming to Sunnydale and Buffy Summers's attempts to keep her mother and Principal Snyder from meeting at Parent-Teacher night, which she has to organize. Unfortunately for her, this is when Spike chooses to attack.
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Plot synopsis
Principal Snyder assigns Buffy and Sheila Martini (Alexandra Johnes) to prepare the school lounge for parent-teacher night on Thursday. Whoever does the better job will not be expelled. Sheila's continued indifference puts even more pressure on Buffy, who already has a tough time balancing slaying with a social life.
That night, a new pair of vampires arrive in town, Spike and Drusilla, who interrupt a gathering by the Anointed One (Andrew J. Ferchland) to discuss The Master's (Mark Metcalf) departure. Spike promises to kill Buffy as he has killed two Slayers already. Drusilla is quite ill, having been injured by an angry mob in Prague.
While the Scoobies are busy preparing for the parents, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) and Jenny Calendar (Robia LaMorte) show up to inform Buffy that Saturday will be the Night of Saint Vigeous, named after the leader of a vampire crusade, and that during that night, the natural abilities of vampires will be enhanced. Buffy is unimpressed.
Buffy tries to combine school and social life by studying French at the Bronze. Spike is there, too, and sends one of his minions to attack someone, prompting Buffy to fight the minion. He watches while Buffy kills his minion, then steps out of the shadows and tells her that he will kill her on Saturday. He later brings Sheila, who is enthralled by his bad boy charms, to the weak Drusilla as food.
Giles does not recognize Spike from Buffy's description. Angel walks in on the meeting and tells them that Spike is a large problem, and then leaves. Later, Giles finds a reference to Spike as "William the Bloody," and discovers that he has indeed killed two slayers already.
