Something wicked has been preying on Sunnydale students - and whatever it is, its methods are pretty gruesome. Buffy locates some human bones that have been picked clean, and knows that she's dealing with an unearthly evil. Some help from the Scooby Gang would be ideal, but they've run into trouble of their own. Oz and Xander are literally mesmerised by a hottie new chick band headlining at the Bronze, and Willow has been capture by Sunnydale's latest resident carnivores.
What they need is the Slayer. But in order to help her friends, Buffy must first dust a vampire - one that has an urgent interest in Joyce Summers, the unique ability to resist sunlight, and an open invitation to the Summers' house . . .