The Ones Who Aren't Chosen

Dawn's Lament. Once More, with Feeling. Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Does anybody even notice?

Does anybody even care?

BUFFY,

The Vampyre Slayer :

Hey. You okay?

DAWN SUMMERS,

The Princess :

Yeah.

I was thinking of hitting The Books, 

do some research on The First.

It's in retreat mode now, but you're still 

gonna need to know how to fight it.

BUFFY,

The Vampyre Slayer :

Great. 

Sounds Good.

Hey, you guys?

You want to head downstairs, 

get our newest arrival up to speed?

Come on.

DAWN SUMMERS,

The Princess :

What's up?

Xander :

I'm just thinking about the girls.

It's a harsh gig being a Potential.

Just being picked out of a crowd.

Danger, Destiny.

Plus, if you act now, Death.

DAWN SUMMERS,

The Princess :

They can handle it.

Xander :

Yeah.

They're Special, no doubt.

And the amazing thing is, 

not one of them will ever know.

Not even Buffy.

DAWN SUMMERS,

The Princess :

Know what?

Xander :

How much harder it is for The Rest of Us.

DAWN SUMMERS,

The Princess :

No way. They've got the...

Xander :

Seven years, Dawn.

Working with The Slayer, seeing My Friends get

more and more powerful.

A Witch, a Demon.

Hell, I could fit Oz in my shaving kit, but come a full moon, he had a wolfy mojo not to be messed with.

Powerful.

All of them.

And I'm The Guy Who 

Fixes The Windows.

DAWN SUMMERS,

The Princess :

Well, you had that sexy army training 

for a while, and... 

and The Windows really 

did need fixing.

Xander :

I saw What You Did Last Night.

DAWN SUMMERS,

The Princess :

Yeah. I...I guess I kind of lost my head when I thought I was The Slayer.

Xander :

You thought you were all Special.

Miss Sunnydale 2003.

And the minute you found out you weren't, you handed The Crown to Amanda 

without a moment's pause.

You gave her Your Power.

DAWN SUMMERS,

The Princess :

The Power wasn't mine.

Xander :

They'll never know how tough it is, 

Dawnie, to be

The One Who isn't Chosen,

to live so near to the spotlight 

and never step in it.

But I know.

I see more than anybody realises because 

nobody's watching me.

I saw you last night.

I see you working here today.

You're not Special.

You're extraordinary.

DAWN SUMMERS,

The Princess :

Maybe that's Your Power --

Xander :

What?

DAWN SUMMERS,

The Princess :

Seeing. Knowing.

Xander :

Maybe it is.

Maybe I should get a cape.

DAWN SUMMERS,

The Princess :

A cape is good.

Xander :

Yeah.