21. Becoming: Part I

Complete story — includes the ending

Giles investigates an ancient stone block found at the museum. Willow and Buffy find a floppy disk belonging to Jenny, and learn that it has a copy of the curse that can restore Angelus's soul. Drusilla and Angelus break into the museum to steal the block, which holds the demon Acathla, who has the ability to suck the entire world into hell. Kendra arrives, having been warned by her Watcher about Acathla's impending resurrection, bringing with her an enchanted sword that can help defeat the demon. Angelus attempts, but fails, to awaken Acathla. Angelus sends a messenger to summon Buffy to the cemetery. Kendra stays behind to protect the others, while Buffy meets and fights with Angelus. Willow and Giles attempt to perform the curse to restore Angelus's soul, but are interrupted by several vampires, including Drusilla, who hypnotizes then kills Kendra and kidnaps Giles. Buffy, realizing the fight was a distraction, rushes back to the school, finding Kendra's body and a comatose Willow. Flashbacks through the episode show Angelus becoming a vampire in 1750s Ireland, tormenting Drusilla in London in 1860, being cursed by Roma in 1898, meeting a benevolent demon called Whistler in 1996, and seeing Buffy for the first time.