Buffy attempts to repair a slightly leaky pipe in her basement only to have it burst it about a million different places and flood out the Summers' basement.

At breakfast, the gang discuss the basement while Xander and a plumber friend of his examine the damage caused by the pipes. The plumber advises Buffy that a full re-piping is necessary and hands her a very large bill, it looks like a telephone number - and it's reduced because the girls are good friends with Xander. The size of the cost leads to Buffy finding that with the hospital bills and the cost of two funerals, the Summers girls are pretty much broke.

Anya suggests charging for slaying which leads to an argument with Xander about their engagement, but Buffy manages to keep her cool and is determined to find a way around the problem. Buffy goes to a bank to consult with a loan director, which is hardly a positive experience as Buffy finds that without a job and no real collateral, she can't get a loan.

A demon breaks through the office window, interrupting the meeting and Buffy fights it, despite her conservative clothing, a handy envelope opener creates a leg freeing slit up the side of her dress. While Buffy is fighting the demon, a security guard tries to intervene by shooting at it. Buffy is thrown at the security guard who she tells off because guns are nothing but trouble and while all this is going on the bank is robbed. The demon escapes and Buffy returns to the loan officer to discuss the possibility of getting paid for saving his life.

He's not having any of it unfortunately. Mainly because the bank was robbed.

Later that night, Willow tries to upset Buffy purposely in order to get her to express some real anger (Apparently Will slept with Riley- well actually that was a lie to cover up her temptestuous affair with Angel) but Buffy doesn't fall for it.

Anya continues to try and force Xander to announce their engagement and he's ready to but not until everyone has arrived. Dawn wants to help with research, but Tara thinks she's too young and that fact is proven when Dawn looks at a picture in one of the books ("That's a strange place for a horn...").

Buffy isn't pleased that Dawn is researching with the gang but Dawn is able to identify the bank-robbing demon Buffy encountered earlier, M'Fashnik - but is that mmmmmmmmm as in mmmmm cookies or Mah as in Mah!.

Giles walks into the Magic Box to have a happy reunion, a rib cracking hig and intense discussion with Buffy before meeting up with the rest of the gang. The bank robbing demon, a M'Fashnik, throws a fit in front of his "controllers," Jonathan, Warren and Andrew (brother of Tucker from "The Prom") complaining that the Slayer still lives even though they got the money from the bank.

The three guys argue both with the demon and each other, then Jonathan, Warren, and Andrew think up a way to accommodate the demon without killing Buffy.

Giles takes the couch at the Summers home and talks with Buffy, telling her he'll help her take care of the financial problems in the morning.

The three guys discuss their mission plan: taking over Sunnydale, and somewhat agree unanimously that none of them want to kill Buffy, but are more than happy to hypnotise her and make her their love slave. Unbeknown to the others, Warren secretly provides Buffy's address to the M'Fashnik demon so he can kill her.

Giles and Willow have a heated discussion the next morning regarding the spell that brought Buffy back and Willow's rash judgments to try something so risky without enough information. Willow stands up for herself, even threatening Giles. (Which I feel is rather unwise)

Spike finds Buffy on the back porch, hiduing for the argument about her inside and the two exchange small talk about life and money.

Giles and Dawn both have trouble sleeping and go for a snack.

The M'Fashnik crashes their late night cereal party, but Buffy catches him. A fight ensues with Buffy and Spike working together against M'Fashnik. Buffy gets really narky when the dmeon smashes her table her door and an antique lamp. The fight ends up in the basement where the demon latches on to one of the pipes and Buffy immediately attacks as the expensive pipes are threatened. She beats him to a less-alive demopny pulp. spike sticks his head down the basement steps and asks Buffy if she noticed it was flooded down there.

The "supervillain" guys consider their future plans and agree that hypnotizing and making Buffy their willing love slave is a priority.

The Scooby Gang regroups after the demon is taken care of and hopelessly attempts to save the furniture that was destroyed in battle. Not even Xander can save the coffee table. A phone call off camera reveals that Angel needs to meet with Buffy and she needs the same so she leaves to meet him at a neutral location. leaving Giles to sort out the mess.