'The Prom' Story Code '3ABB20' by Marti Noxon

The Senior Prom is coming: Buffy tells Angel she wants him to take her, and Anya announces that she wants Xander to ask her to be his date. Angel is surprised when Joyce turns up at his mansion to discuss Buffy, but she assures him that she knows he cares for her daughter. At the library, Giles informs them that the pages Willow stole from the Mayor explain that the Ascension is when a human transforms into a demon, becoming the living embodiment of an immortal - and on Graduation Day, Mayor Wilkins will do exactly that, although it is unknown what kind of demon he will become. Wesley and Giles decide to be chaperones at the Prom. Angel has a nightmare, in which he and Buffy get married but she bursts into flames immediately after the ceremony. That night, he tells Buffy that the Mayor was right about their relationship, and if they survive the Ascension, he is going to leave Sunnydale. The next day, Buffy tells Willow that she and Angel have broken up, and feels that she cannot breathe without him. Xander is shocked to learn that Cordelia is working in a clothes store; her dad lost all of their money, and now they have nothing. A monstrous dog-like creature suddenly bursts through the store window and attacks a boy trying on a tuxedo; it is just about to attack a girl in formal dress when it unexpectedly leaves. Outside, a boy seems to be controlling the monster using a remote control device. Later, at the library, the gang view the security tape from the store; Wesley identifies the creature as a Hell Hound, trained solely to kill, which feeds on brains. After Xander covers for Cordelia by not mentioning that she works at the store, Oz notes that the boy with the remote is Tucker Wells, who is in his chemistry class. Willow breaks into Tucker’s email account, while Giles figures out that the Hell Hounds are trained to attack anyone in formal wear - and will attack everyone at the Prom. Buffy runs into Angel and tells him that someone is trying to ruin the Prom, but turns down his offer of help. Cordelia learns that someone paid off the dress she was working to pay for. Buffy reveals to Giles that she and Angel have broken up. That night, at the Prom, Wesley is startled to see a stunningly beautiful Cordelia arrive; Willow and Oz turn up, while Cordelia subtly thanks Xander for the dress. Buffy discovers where Tucker is keeping the Hell Hound; she overpowers him and is about to lock him in another room when she discovers more empty cages - there are actually three Hounds on the loose. Buffy races to the Prom and manages to kill the creatures before they can ruin the dance. She finally makes it to the Prom, and reassures Giles that she has taken care of everything. Xander is disappointed at not being named Class Clown, and Buffy is taken aback when Jonathan asks her to come up to the stage - and even more amazed when he tells her that they have all noticed what she has been doing. Announcing that, thanks to her, the Graduating Class of 1999 has the lowest mortality rate ever, he presents Buffy with the Class Protector Award. Buffy is overwhelmed; Wesley and Cordelia dance; and then Angel arrives in a tuxedo - he will be leaving the next day, and so he and Buffy share their last dance together…

Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), David Boreanaz (Angel), Seth Green (Oz), Anthony Stewart Head (Rupert Giles), Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce), Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers), Emma Caulfield (Anya), Danny Strong (Jonathan), Brad Kane (Tucker), Andrea E. Taylor (Salesgirl), Mike Kimmel (Butcher Guy), Bonita Friedericy (Mrs. Finkle, store manager), Joe Howard (Priest), Tove Kingsbury (Tux Boy), Michael Zlabinger (Student at Mike), Damien Eckhardt (Jack Mayhew), Monica Serene Garnich ("No" Girl), Stephanie Denise Griffin (Girl in store)
Directed by David Solomon

TX (US): 11th May 1999
TX (UK - Sky One): 19th November 1999
TX (UK - BBC): 7th September 2000

Notes:
*Featuring Buffy, Xander, Willow, Giles, Oz, Cordelia, Faith and Angel

*This episode was shown out of order in the US, due to the tragic Columbine High School shootings