The Watchers and The Guardians

35     EXT.     CEMETERY - NIGHT
Buffy walks through a cemetery carrying the scythe. She opens a gate and walks up to a pyramid shaped tomb and kicks down the door.

Cut to:

36     INT.     PYRAMIDAL TOMB - NIGHT
Buffy walks down into the tomb. It's lit inside, although dimly, by torches, giving it an orange hue. Buffy looks around cautiously. A woman's voice comes from behind a drape. 

WOMAN (O.S.)
I'd forgotten. I'd forgotten how young you would be. 

The woman opens the drape, and Buffy sees a very old woman with long white hair standing before her.

WOMAN
Comes from the waiting. Mind plays tricks. I see you've found our weapon.

BUFFY
Who are you?

WOMAN
One of many. Well...time was. Now I'm alone in the world.

BUFFY
So what are you? Some kind of ghost?

WOMAN
(chuckles softly, shakes her head) Nope. I'm as real as you are. Just...well... let me put it this way— I look good for my age. I've been waiting. (holds out her hands; Buffy hands over the scythe) You pulled it out of the rock. I was one of those who put it in there.

BUFFY
What is it?

WOMAN
(admires the scythe) A weapon. A scythe. Forged in secrecy for one like you who— I'm sorry. What's your name?

BUFFY
Buffy.

WOMAN
No, really. (Buffy shrugs) We forged it in secrecy and kept it hidden from the Shadow Men, who—

BUFFY
Yeah. Met those guys. Didn't really care too much for 'em.

WOMAN
Ahh, yes. Then you know. And they became the watchers. And the watchers watched the slayers. But we were watching them. 

BUFFY
Oh! So you're like... what are you?

WOMAN
Guardians. Women who want to help and protect you. We forged this centuries ago, halfway around the world.

BUFFY
Hence, the Luxor Casino theme.

WOMAN
Forged there, it was put to use right here...to kill the last pure demon that walked upon the Earth. The rest were already driven under. And then there were men here, and then there were monks. And then there was a town, and now there was you. And the scythe remained hidden.

BUFFY
I don't understand. How is it possible that we didn't know any of this?

WOMAN
We hid, too. We had to until now. We're the last surprise.

BUFFY
Does this mean I can win?

WOMAN
That is really up to you. This is a powerful weapon. (hands the scythe back to Buffy)

BUFFY
Yeah.

WOMAN
But you already have weapons.

BUFFY
Oh.

WOMAN
Use it wisely and perhaps you can beat back the rising dark. One way or another, it can only mean an end is truly near.

The woman's head cocks slightly to the side, and a cracking noise can be heard. The woman falls to the ground. Buffy looks up and sees Caleb standing there. 

CALEB
I'm sorry. I didn't catch that last part on account of her neck snapping and all. Did she say the end is near... or here?