Buffy drops out of college, notifying one of her professors about the decision and regretting the need to make the decision. She tells her Poetry professor that she really did like the class and that she hopes to come back next semester, however, at the moment she has to look after her sister. The Professor says that he's sorry to see her go.

Ben finds himself fired from his job at the hospital because Glory has been monopolizing the human form they share, (Ben's not actually been there for two weeks - hence the firing). Glory takes a bath while she demands that her blindfolded minions tell her everything they know about the Key.

Dawn and Buffy are called into Dawn's principal's office where Dawn's poor grades are discussed.The principal is very worried, especially as Dawn is a bright child. Buffy is mortified that her sister is skipping school. The principal sends Dawn outside so she can have a word with Buffy in private.

At the magic shop, Anya talks about patriotism and how money ties into that, the good old US of A being the birthplace of capitalism and everything. She starts making some predujiced remarks about old French people and Xander attempts to rein her in. Anya goes off to make the customers buy something.

Buffy seeks Giles's advice about being Dawn's mother figure then takes her sister home, attempting an authortive role with Dawn. She doesn't want to lose her sister.

Glory's minions provide her with enough information to conclude who the Key is and Glory leads the way to gather it.

Tara and Willow discuss their relationship and Willow's powers as a witch, but the discussion ends up angering Willow when Tara expresses her fear that Willow may eventually decide that being a lesbian is not what she wants. Willow is hurt that the girl she loves could say such a thing and storms out to calm down, leaving Tara looking very unhappy.

Buffy talks with Dawn about how Dawn's situation needs to improve in school or Buffy could possibly lose guardianship of Dawn. Dawn wants to know why Buffy never told her that before.Dawn adds that she's not even a real person, why should the Key go to School?

Depressed over her first major fight with Willow, Tara goes to a cultural fair, but finds herself sitting next to Glory on a park bench.

Giles finds one of Glory's minions at the shop and questions him about Glory's plans. He won't talk so he sends the girls to get some string to tie him up, while their backs are turned there is a loud cracking noise and the minion looks in decidedly worse state than before.

The minion mentions that Glory has discovered the Key and that it is Tara. Willow goes into a slight panic and rushes out to find and save her girlfriend. She sees Tara and Glory sitting together as she runs through the crowd trying to cast a protection spell but a Chinese dragon gets in her way as Glory plunges her hands into Tara's brain. By the time Willow reaches Tara, Glory is gone, as is Tara's mind.

At the hospital, doctors look after Tara while Willow plans her vengeance against Glory. Buffy tries to clam her down by telling her that none of them are powerful enough to stop her. Willow doesn't want to listen though, not after seeing what's been done to the woman she loves more than anything.

Buffy arranges for Dawn to be kept safe by Spike in some underground caves while she takes care of the issues involving Tara. Dawn worries that she is evil and feels guilty, but Spike tries to convince her otherwise.

Buffy thinks she's talked Willow out of any attempts to go after Glory, but Spike and Dawn later convince her that one can't be talked out of something like that. Willow works on a quiet rage and goes to the magic shop to gather dangerous magic supplies in preparation for her attack on Glory. She pulls out the books on the seoncd level (where all the dangerous books are kept) until she finds a locked book entitled, Darkest Magic. She breaks the lock with an axe and the pages fly open.

At Glory's place, Willow makes an unexpected, but grand appearance, floating a good twelve inches in the air, eys black as night, casting spells wildly, all in attempts to attack and destroy Glory. She throws lightning and tars the air so the God of bad home perms can't move.

Unfortunately, the god is far more powerful than the witch, and Willow is almost seriously wounded, but Buffy is there to stop it. Buffy and Glory battle ferociously, until one of Willow's force fields allows Willow and Buffy to escape.

The next day, Willow, Tara, Buffy and Dawn eat while discussing the responsibilities that Willow and Buffy have now. Glory suddenly appears as one of the walls surrounding them is violently destroyed.

Tara goes into a rave about cracking walls and ceilings falling down. She then turns to look at Dawn and says that she is the most beautiful glowing green light. She reveals that Dawn is the Key. Glory smiles, triumpantly.