WWDD: S2E4 “INCA MUMMY GIRL”

On the way to school, Joyce tells Buffy and Dawn for the first time (come on, mom!) she signed them up for the student cultural exchange program. Joyce just started a new Spanish class and is excited to practice with Ampata. Understanding passes between Dawn and Buffy, both recognizing the potential problems a stranger in the house could bring. Dawn helps Buffy de-slayer her room but gets distracted by a Giga Pet in one of the desk drawers. Buffy’s Giga Pet is dead (of course!), so Dawn hits the reset button to get a new Giga Pet and forgets to move the weapons in the other desk drawers.

The night Ampata arrives, Joyce has to work late while some guy installs a new computer system at the gallery, so she takes Dawn with her while Buffy picks up Ampata. When they get home, Dawn immediately likes Ampata, who conspicuously tells her about mummies and Incan princesses. Later, while journaling in the “Dawnmester Chronicles” about how it was SO UNFAIR that Xander AND Willow were over while she was stuck doing STUPID homework at the gallery, the inexplicable sound of a pan flute catches her attention.

The next day, Dawn experiences a betrayal when she learns Ampata and Xander are going to the dance together. She refuses to come out of her room while Ampata gets ready. Giles comes over and Dawn can hear him talking to Buffy in her room. She (obviously) eavesdrops and as soon as they leave, Dawn darts into Buffy’s room to look inside Ampata’s chest, confirming her worst fears: An evil mummy must have done something evil to force Xander to fall in love with her! Fretting for Xander’s safety, Dawn eagerly awaits Buffy’s arrival home. When Buffy finally comes home, Dawn’s relieved to hear that both Xander and Willow are okay. Dawn tells Buffy she opened Ampata’s chest. Buffy’s irritated by Dawn’s snooping, but they spend the next hour together anyway, brainstorming ways to get rid of the mummified body in Buffy’s room.