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4x19 - Magic Bullet

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ANGEL (V.O.)
Previously on Angel:

1     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Cordelia has just revealed her pregnancy to Angel, Fred, Wesley, and Gunn, who stare at her, stunned. Connor walks up to her side. Cordelia's rubbing her belly.

LORNE
(walks in from outside, sees Cordy) A mystical pregnancy right under my beak?

Cut to:

2     INT.     CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
The gang is gathered in Cordelia's room where Cordelia is now laid out on her bed. Gunn and Fred are lighting candles. The group is arranged in a loose circle as they all stare at the woman, smiling.

GUNN
You're a power that... was?

Cut to:

3     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Fred and Lorne are in the lobby when Angel and Connor come back. Wesley and Gunn run into the lobby and join the others.

ANGEL
We've all been saved. (kneels)

CONNOR (O.S.)
She's amazing.

LORNE (O.S.)
Eternal bliss.

WESLEY (O.S.)
Tell us what to do.

Cut to:

4     INT.     BOWLING ALLEY - NIGHT
While the woman and Fred chat, a vampire attacks the woman, slicing her arm with his fingernails. Angel grabs the vampire and pulls him off of the woman. Fred gasps at the atrocity.

FRED
You're hurt.

Cut to:

5     INT.     BATHROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Fred diligently washes the woman's shirt in the sink, scrubbing hard, making a froth with the soap. Her hands are getting raw.

Cut to:

6     INT.     ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
In a huge suite that's been decorated and prepared for the woman, Fred walks in carrying the woman's shirt.

FRED
(walks into the room holding the shirt up and scrutinizing it) I scrubbed 'til my fingers bled, but I couldn't get out the— (looks up at the woman and sees a horrifying vision of maggot-infested decaying bloody flesh where the woman's face should be)

WOMAN
Fred?

Cut to:

7     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
The AI gang discusses Fred's behavior.

WESLEY
I can't believe Fred's evil.

WOMAN
We'll find Fred, but not tonight. Tomorrow will be easier than today.

Cut to:

8     INT.     DINER - DAY
The television is playing in the background. The TV host just introduced the woman Cordy gave birth to as "Jasmine."

WOMAN / JASMINE
Good morning, Los Angeles. (Fred looks up at the TV when she hears the woman's voice; the woman, Jasmine, is wearing a sprig of jasmine flowers in her hair) Thank you for inviting me.

Fred stares at the diner's corner television in shock. People are coming in off the streets to watch Jasmine on the TV. The people kneel, mesmerized by Jasmine's voice. Fred turns and stare at them in disbelief.

Cut to:

9     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
The AI gang discusses Fred's behavior.

WESLEY
As long as she's out there, she's a threat.

ANGEL
We have to kill her.

Fade to black.

The Start Of Episode

Prologue:

10     EXT.     VARIOUS - DAY
It's a beautiful day, and everyone in town seems to be happy and cheerful.

BEACH BOYS (V.O.) Scenes around Los Angeles are shown.
Wouldn't it be nice if we were older, then we wouldn't have to wait so long.
And wouldn't it be nice to live together in the kind of world where we belong.
Palm tree lined avenue.
City aerial shot.
Two people driving down the street in a classic convertible.
An ice cream truck vendor handing out free ice cream to kids in the park.
A girl riding her bicycle.

Cut to:

11     EXT.     INTERSECTION IN LOS ANGELES - DAY
Two girls who've just been shopping walking out to an intersection, waiting, and the car driver at that intersection waves them to cross the street, smiling. The girls giggle and wave back sweetly. The man watches them cross the street.

BEACH BOYS (V.O.)
Know what's gonna make it that much better—when we can say "good night" and stay together.
Oh, wouldn't it be nice...

Fred runs into the driver's side door of the car in the intersection, startling the driver.

DRIVER
Wha—?!

Fred looks harried, pauses to look behind her, then runs away. Wesley and Gunn are following her.

Cut to:

12     EXT.     SHOPPING CENTER - DAY
Wesley and Gunn stop running and look around.

GUNN
All right, now I'm getting mad.

WESLEY
We'll find her.

GUNN
Do a whole lot worse than just find her.

WESLEY
(spots a woman in the shopping center patio) There.

Wesley and Gunn run after her.

WESLEY
(pushes past a girl) Sorry.

Gunn grabs the woman's arm, but when she turns to face them, it's not Fred.

WESLEY
Your jacket?

SHOPPING WOMAN
A woman just gave it to me. She said Jasmine wanted me to have it. (smiling) Isn't that sweet? Isn't Jasmine the best?

GUNN
(simultaneously with Wesley) Best of the best.

WESLEY
(simultaneously with Gunn) She's so wonderful.

GUNN
We should split up. She can't be far.

Wesley and Gunn run off trying to find Fred.

Cut to:

13     INT.     SEWER - DAY
Pan down to show Fred hiding in the sewer under the shopping center. Fred turns and walks away down the sewer pipe.

Fade to black.

Opening credits.

ACT I:

14     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - DAY
A girl walks into the crowded lobby and looks around. Lorne is manning the reservation's desk where people are standing in line between velvet-ropes.

LORNE
(to customer) I'm awfully sorry. I wish there was something I could do, really. Next?

MAN IN LOBBY
(walks up to the desk) I'm too late, aren't I? For a room?

LORNE
Yeah, 'fraid so, Buckaroo. Singles, suites, even the mouse holes are triple-booked. I got pilgrims pitching pup-tents in the parking lot. Try saying that three times fast and you'll get a sense of the day I'm having.

MAN IN LOBBY
(takes keys out of his pocket) I'll give you my house if I can stay. It's nice. There's a pool.

LORNE
Sorry, it doesn't work that way around here, partner. (pushes keys back) Jasmine doesn't want your things, and neither do I.

MAN IN LOBBY
I just want to be near her, you know. Saw her on the news last night. And I wanted to say thanks for making me feel— (breaks down into tears)

LORNE
Hey, preaching to the choir. I thought Our Lady of the Perpetual Sea Breeze was the real deal until the Divine Miss J walked right through that door and right into my ass—which is where my heart is...physiologically. I could show you an x-ray.

The crowd oohs and ahs as Jasmine enters the room. Angel and Connor are with her.

LORNE
(to the man at the desk) Hey, don't be shy, Slim Jim. Go get some of that gorgeous goodness.

JASMINE
Hello, and thank you all for coming.

Jasmine walks up to a pregnant oriental woman in the lobby and speaks to her.

JASMINE
(speaking Mandarin Chinese)
SUBTITLE: Your child will lead a healthy and loving life.

CHINESE WOMAN
Ohhh... (pleased, she bows respectfully repeatedly)

ANGEL
How do you do that?

JASMINE
Mandarin's not so tough when you've been around a zillion years.

ANGEL
No, I mean, how is it that you always know exactly what each person needs to hear.

JASMINE
Just look into their hearts. And sometimes, it's right on their face. (walks up to a mustached man in the lobby) Señor...

MEXICAN MAN
Si?

JASMINE
(speaking Spanish) Tu bigote te da fuerca y dignida.
SUBTITLE: Your moustache provides you great strength and dignity.

MEXICAN MAN
(smiles broadly) Gracias. Muchas gracias.

CONNOR
I wish I could see what you see.

JASMINE
(to Connor) You will. (to others in the lobby) Hello. My love is all around you.

ANGEL
(sees Wes and Gunn return, to Jasmine) Will you excuse us for a moment? (he and Connor walk back toward the office)

Cut to:

15     INT.     OFFICE AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - DAY
Angel and Connor join Wes and Gunn in the office.

GUNN
This close, then she pulled a Houdini.

CONNOR
What's a Houdini?

WESLEY
She escaped.

ANGEL
Fred's obviously learned a trick or two here at Angel, Inc. But we'll catch her.

CONNOR
I'll find her. Bring back her scalp.

WESLEY
No. Jasmine wants her alive.

ANGEL
Wes is right. Fred gets to live until we understand why she rejected Jasmine's love.

CONNOR
Why would anybody reject love?

GUNN
Maybe 'cause she has a history of doing that.

ANGEL
Whatever the reason is, we have to find her so Jasmine can straighten her out.

Cut to:

16     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - DAY
Jasmine is surveying the crowd when she sees Angel, Connor, Wesley, and Gunn walk back out into the lobby disappointed. Jasmine frowns for a moment, but then smiles again as she selects people from the crowd.

JASMINE
(to a girl) Would you like to come with me? (to the man who offered his house to Lorne) And you, my friend, will you join us?

MAN IN LOBBY
Yes. Thank you.

JASMINE
Bless you all for coming. (leaves, followed by the two she picked from the crowd)

GUNN
(watching Jasmine go) You think she'll ever pick us?

WESLEY
If we're lucky. But not before we find Fred.

Cut to:

17     INT.     MAGIC BULLET BOOKS - DAY
Fred walks into the "Magic Bullet Books" store. Its front door is painted with mystical symbols and the phrase "Everything THEY don't want you to know."

FRED
(walks up to the store clerk) Um, hi. You probably don't remember me—

SHOPKEEPER
Three days ago. Mass hypnosis. You wondered if it was possible.

The shopkeeper is in his late 20's and wears a black T-shirt with gray aliens printed on it. Although he's not rude, the shopkeeper seems gruff and his remarks are pointed—sharply contrasted with the "happy" people elsewhere.

FRED
I read those books. Some wacko theories, by the way. All of the mass hypnosis theories seem highly flawed to me. I'm looking for a type of mind control that could affect everyone across the board.

SHOPKEEPER
(beat) I might have a book on that.

FRED
(reading book titles) Astral Projections. Satan's Dictionary? (to the clerk) You must get some pretty colorful customers in here.

SHOPKEEPER
Used to. You're the only customer I had since last time you were here.

FRED
Oh.

SHOPKEEPER
(holds up a book picturing a crime scene) Not a huge demand for photo books of serial killer autopsies when you're living in a utopian wonderland. (clears throat) You know what I mean?

FRED
I hadn't really though it— Must be hard.

SHOPKEEPER
Hard? Are you kidding? It's great.

FRED
Great? Really?

SHOPKEEPER
(shrugs, without smiling) Yeah. Look at me. I've never been happier.

FRED
Uh, sure. I see it now. You're practically glowy.

SHOPKEEPER
I was flicking through the radio the other night—there's nothing really good on since Art Bell retired. But, uh, ended up listening to this woman talk.

FRED
Jasmine.

SHOPKEEPER
Yeah. You too, huh? (shakes head) What a breath of fresh air she is. I listened for almost an hour. I'm a new man. I-I used to be obsessed with mind control. I read everything I could get my hands on.

FRED
And you don't believe in it anymore?

SHOPKEEPER
I believe. (shrugs) I just don't worry about it anymore. (walks behind the counter)

FRED
(walks up to the counter, leans forward, talks fast, a little agitated) So, you don't worry that it's possible for someone to send out a biological or electronic trigger that effectively overrides your own sense of ideals and values, and replaces them with an alternative coercive agenda that reduces you to little more than a mindless meat puppet?

SHOPKEEPER
Wow. People used to think that I was paranoid. (Fred sighs) I mean, don't get me wrong. I still got the implants in my head. C.I.A. is still listening in. It just doesn't bother me anymore. Instead, I—I beam Jasmine's love up to their satellite, you know? Share the love with those M.K.-Ultra bastards.

FRED
(grins sarcastically) That'll teach 'em.

SHOPKEEPER
Hey. Now I get it.

FRED
You do?

SHOPKEEPER
Yeah. I know what you're doing.

The shopkeeper reaches into the desk drawer and pulls out a pistol. Fred's eyes widen. Then he pulls out a yo-yo and then a book entitled "Making Mind Control Work for You." He holds the book up for Fred to see.

SHOPKEEPER
You want to fight fire with fire. Make sure the government and the other savages learn about Jasmine's love.

FRED
Exact— (plays along) that's exactly right. Why should we be the only shiny, happy people?

SHOPKEEPER
We don't need to use the evil tools of (with air quotes) "the man" when we have (with air quotes) "the wo-man". We need to trust that Jasmine's love will reach the rest of the world just like it reached us.

FRED
(shakes head, grins through gritted teeth) Oh, happy day.

Cut to:

18     INT.     SEWER - DAY
Connor and Angel are walking through the sewers under Los Angeles.

CONNOR
She's been down here.

ANGEL
How old were you when you realized you could track like this?

CONNOR
I don't know. Five, six. We didn't exactly celebrate birthdays in Quor-Toth. Holtz made up a game so I could practice.

ANGEL
What do you mean he'd hide things for you to find?

CONNOR
Kind of. He'd tie me to a tree and then run away.

ANGEL
(shocked, stops walking) What?

CONNOR
(shrugs) You know, so I'd have to escape and then find him. One time it only took me five days.

ANGEL
Five days. He abandoned you... Connor, that's terrible. That's—

CONNOR
(unfazed) Why I'm so good at tracking. Fred rested here for a while.

ANGEL & CONNOR
(they stop walking, close their eyes, and simultaneously) Jasmine wants us back at the hotel.

Cut to:

19     INT.     JASMINE'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - DAY
A clip from Jasmine's "Good Morning LA" appearance plays back on a laptop computer.

JASMINE
(recorded) Before the time of man, great beings walked the Earth. Untold power emanated from all quarters—

JASMINE
(stops the playback and laughs) I sound like the prologue to one of those movies about magical dwarves.

GUNN
Hobbits. And you watch movies?

JASMINE
I love movies.

LORNE
Well, then you should know this is the greatest story ever told.

JASMINE
(touches Lorne's arm and smiles) Sweet.

WESLEY
The design team will have your site ready to go in a couple of days. Just let me know when you want it to go online.

JASMINE
Soon. (stands)

GUNN
I still don't understand why you don't just sashay into a TV studio, say, "scoot over Regis" and sweet-talk your love to the whole wide world.

JASMINE
(smiles) It's not the world's time yet. There's still a lot I have to learn. (there's a knock at the door) Come in.

ANGEL
You called us.

CONNOR
How did you do that?

ANGEL
We felt it.

JASMINE
We're all becoming connected—all of us. And, now that you're all here, I want to test that connection. We're going to find Fred.

CONNOR
Isn't that what we've been trying to do?

JASMINE
This is different. No more running around town. Everybody, join hands. I can't do this alone. Not yet. I want y'all to close your eyes. Now, picture Fred. Picture what she looks like: her face, her big brown eyes, the way she styles her hair, the clothes she likes the wear, the sound of her voice, what she looks like when she smiles. Now concentrate. Where are you, Fred? I'm looking for you.

The AI gang is in a circle, holding hands while Jasmine talks.

Cut to:

20     EXT.     MOTEL - DAY
Fred walks up to the motel desk to ask for her room key.

FRED
219.

DESK CLERK
Sure. Here you go. (hands her the key)

FRED
Thanks. (walks away)

Fred walks past an old woman smoking a cigarette, leaning against the wall outside the motel desk. The woman snaps her head to Fred as she walks by.

Cut to:

20a     INT.     JASMINE'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - DAY
Jasmine's still in the circle, with her eyes closed.

JASMINE
I see her. (smiles) I see Fred.

Cut to:

Fred walks up the stairs toward her room. As she walks past a window, a man looks out and watches her intently. As Fred approaches her room, a man and a hooker come out of their room, giggling and cuddling until suddenly they snap their heads toward Fred. They start walking toward Fred, and she backs away. The man who watched her from the window comes out of his door and starts following Fred, who's running away now. As she runs back down the stairs, the old woman smoking the cigarette grabs Fred's arm. Fred pulls away from her, and runs away past a car with a man sitting in the front seat. The man watches Fred and pulls out of the parking lot to follow Fred.

Cut to:

20a     INT.     JASMINE'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - DAY
Jasmine's still in the circle, with her eyes closed.

JASMINE
There's nowhere to run, dear.

Cut to:

JASMINE (V.O.)
My love is all around you.

Fred runs away as fast as she can. Now other drivers are noticing her and following her. Fred runs across the street past a man who's pouring gasoline into the tank of his blue car. The man in the white car runs into the blue car, igniting the gasoline in a fiery explosion. The driver steps out of the white car, catching fire, and walks toward Fred.

BURNING MAN
Fred, don't be afraid. Don't be afraid, Fred.

Fade to black.

ACT II:

21     INT.     JASMINE'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - DAY
As the AI gang stands in a circle holding hands and searching for Fred telepathically, the hand Jasmine's holding Connor's with turns red and emanates smoke.

CONNOR
Ah!

Jasmine's knees buckle, but Angel and Connor are there beside her to hold her up.

ANGEL
Easy! Lorne, a chair!

Lorne pulls up a chair, and Connor and Angel place Jasmine in it. Gunn and Wesley come to her side as well.

WESLEY
What happened?

CONNOR
Her hand got hot.

WESLEY
(inspecting Jasmine's hand) She's badly burned.

LORNE
Call a doctor

JASMINE
No, no, I'll be fine. I just need to rest.

ANGEL
We should get you a doctor.

JASMINE
I'm fine. I saw Fred, clear as I'm seeing you. (stands) Obviously, there're some painful kinks to work out, but it's a start.

CONNOR
She got away, didn't she?

JASMINE
Yes. But don't worry. Everybody who loves me now knows what she looks like, knows to catch her, knows to call us. There's no place Fred can hide.

WESLEY
What do you want us to do?

JASMINE
You already know.

ANGEL
She's right. There's work to do here. We have a hotel full of people, people who have needs.

LORNE
You know what they say about people who need people...

CONNOR
They're the luckiest people in the world.

LORNE
(everyone looks at Connor) You been sneaking peeks at my Streisand collection again, kiddo?

CONNOR
Just kinda popped out.

JASMINE
This is what I'm talking about. Everything is becoming connected—the same way I saw Fred.

ANGEL
Are you saying that we're becoming psychic?

JASMINE
No, what I'm saying is—

GUNN
Hot water just went out down on the third floor—

WESLEY
And there's a plumber in the lobby who can (astonished) help us.

JASMINE
That's what I'm saying. Now, I need to rest, focus on healing my hand. (turns to walk away, then stops) Oh, there're a pair of sisters in the lobby.

ANGEL
Blondes.

LORNE
The Bailey twins.

GUNN
I'll ask them if they'd like to come up and visit you.

JASMINE
(smiles, faces the gang again) Exactly what I was thinking. This is only the beginning. No one will ever have to feel lonely again.

Cut to:

22     EXT.     HIGHYWAY OUTSIDE LOS ANGELES - DAY
Fred is walking along the side of a highway in the hills outside L.A. There aren't many cars, but an SUV passes her by. A couple of seconds later, the SUV slams on the brakes and accelerates in reverse toward Fred. Fred backs up, frightened, and stumbles off the road, falling down the steep hillside.

Cut to:

23     INT.     CAVE - DAY
Fred falls down into a cave and lands on a greenish creature that's living there.

FRED
Ohh! Get off!

Fred and the creature wrestle until Fred sees an axe nearby and grabs it. Sitting on top of the creature, she rears back with the axe—just then, the creature throws up his hands in surrender.

CREATURE
(panicked) I'm vegetarian!

Now is the first time we can see the creature well. He's about 3 feet tall, green skin, sharp pointed fingers, two antennae coming off of his noseless face like a moustache, and numerous small pointed teeth. He's also kind of plump.

FRED
Really? With those choppers?

CREATURE
(rolls eyes, sighs) OK. I eat fish and occasionally vermin, but that's it, I swear! You believe me, don't you?

FRED
You're still breathing, aren't you?

CREATURE
More like hyperventilating. You scared the cream cheese outta me. What're you doing?

Fred gets up off of the creature, who then retreats back to his own corner of the cave. Fred stands and inspects her shoulder wounded from the fall. She starts taking off her jacket.

CREATURE
Don't—don't do that. (Fred ignores him, and looks under her shirt at her wound) Go on. Get a room.

FRED
Sit down! Any monkey business, and I'll chop you down like a cherry tree.

The creature sits. Weakly, Fred sits across the cave from it.

CREATURE
So, we just gonna sit here like this?

FRED
Maybe.

CREATURE
Can you give me a time frame? Because I got a bladder the size a jujube.

FRED
Shut up! I'm trying to figure some stuff out.

Stares at the small campfire in the middle of the cave.

Cut to:

24     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - DAY
Wesley is standing at a podium set up in the lobby, addressing a crowd of people gathered there. Gunn and Lorne are flanking Wesley.

WESLEY
Consider her armed, dangerous, and quite possibly insane. Don't let her grace or gentle beauty fool you. Winifred Burkle (points to a huge poster of Fred) is a monster, a siren hoping to lure you away from Jasmine and onto the rocks of heresy and destruction.

GUNN
Amen to that.

WESLEY
Now, uh, Lorne has a few important announcements and, as I understand, a very special surprise. (steps away from the podium, takes away the poster of Fred)

LORNE
Blessings and moon-pies, brethren and sistren. I'll cut right to the chase and start with the hourly Jasmine report. Her royal yumminess is currently resting after a particularly exhausting day. No word yet whether she'll make a drive-by this evening or not. (crowd seems disappointed) Good news for you third floor faithful: the hot water's back on. (crowd seems happy) OK, and now—and now it's time for that big surprise we've been talking about. Tonight we're gonna try kicking it a little different at fellowship hall because tonight—tonight is open mic night. (crowd cheers) That's right, that's right, love bugs. So anyone who wants to get up here and share their personal joy about good queen Jasmine is more than welcome. So, who wants to get the ball rolling?

YOUNG BOY
(standing at the podium) "Why I Love Jasmine" by Lenford Detweiler. I love Jasmine because she makes food taste good.

A woman wearing a pink prom dress stands at the podium sobbing.

ROCK DUDE
(standing at the podium, a long-haired blond guy pumps up the crowd) Jasmine rocks. Jasmine rocks.

DEAF WOMAN
(standing at the podium, signing)
SUBTITLE: I wish I could be in Fred's skull...so I could explode her brain and kill her for rejecting Jasmine.

LORNE
(singing, accompanied by an electric guitarist) Freddie's dead...Oh, that's what I said.

VERY OLD WOMAN
(standing at the podium) I have 37 cats, and I've just changed all their names to Jasmine.

A woman wearing a pink prom dress stands at the podium sobbing.

ANGEL & CONNOR
(singing at the podium, accompanied by an acoustic guitarist) Now we realize how happy you've made us, oh, Jasmine. You came and you gave without taking...

GUNN
We should be doing this every night.

ANGEL & CONNOR
(singing) And we'll keep you forever, oh, Jasmine. You came and you gave without taking... And we'll keep you forever, oh, Jasmine.

Cut to:

25     INT.     CAVE - NIGHT
Fred's still staring at the ground, sitting across from the creature.

CREATURE
Kinda drafty in here, what with that hole you smashed in the roof. You mind if I quest for fire? (stands, Fred stands and rears back the axe threateningly, the creature sits back down, pouting) Forget it. I'll just freeze to death. Not like I care anymore. On the run like an animal.

FRED
You don't live here?

CREATURE
Do you live in a dirt hole?

FRED
No.

CREATURE
Do you want to live in a dirt hole?

FRED
No.

CREATURE
(angrily) Then why the hell do you think that I live in a dirt hole?

FRED
You're a demon.

CREATURE
(stands, indignant) I'm an executive demon, thank you very much. I had an office and an assistant and a beautiful porcelain cup for my tea. Now I live in a dirt hole because of those freakin' Jasmaniacs and their demon jihad!

FRED
Wait. You're here because of Jasmine? Me too. I'm a fugitive too.

CREATURE
Wow. Amazing. Two beings dissimilar as you and me discovering a shared link against a common foe. Huh. The irony. My feelings for you are changing. (shrugs) I feel warmth. (sighs) Wait. No, I don't. (holds up hands) That's just me wetting myself because you wouldn't let me pee! Thanks for nothing.

FRED
Hey, I'm as new to this fugitive thing as you are. That's what I've been trying to suss out all night—how Jasmine controls people. We have to stop her!

CREATURE
OK, fine, we'll stop her, but not tonight. (walks back to his corner of the cave) Not 'til I've had a little shuteye. (pulls up his blanket from a pile on the floor) I'm beat. (Fred sees a pile of severed human hands under the blanket) Huh. Hey, these yours? 'Cause I've never seen 'em before. Why would anyone keep a stash (picks up a hand) of these tasty little—uh, disgusting meaty things like this laying around? (shrugs) OK, so, not a vegetarian. (breaks a finger off the hand, takes a bite of it, offers the hand to Fred) Finger food? (lunges at Fred, growling) I got your demon jihad right here! (attacks Fred on the floor)

Fred reaches for the axe nearby on the floor, and swings it at the creature, landing it in its head. The creature stops moving. Fred stands, panting. She looks at her wounded shoulder—now bleeding even more and has an epiphany.

Cut to:

26     EXT.     MAGIC BULLET BOOKS - NIGHT
A small crowd of people are gathered around the door of the bookstore, staring at Fred whom they've cornered.

FRED
(staring straight ahead) Here I am. Come and get me.

Cut to:

27     INT.     JASMINE'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Jasmine wakes, smiling.

JASMINE
Fred.

Cut to:

28     INT.     MAGIC BULLET BOOKS - NIGHT
Fred walks inside the book store, where the shop keeper waits for her.

SHOPKEEPER
(waves) Hey, Fred.

FRED
You know my name.

SHOPKEEPER
You're famous.

FRED
(still holding the axe) I'll chop out your implants, you come any closer.

SHOPKEEPER
No need to worry. We're under strict orders not to hurt you.

FRED
(backs toward the front desk) So, Jasmine's coming for me?

SHOPKEEPER
Yeah. Could I get your autograph?

FRED
(walks behind the front desk) Anything for a fan. Who should I sign it to? (reaches inside the desk drawer)

JASMINE
(walks into the shop, followed by Angel and Connor) To me, of course. (to the shopkeeper) And to reward you for your faithfulness: Dallas, November 22, 1963—there was no second gunman. Oswald acted alone.

SHOPKEEPER
(on his knees) Oh, my God!

JASMINE
(walks back to stand in front of Fred) You know that I love you, don't you, Fred? And there's nothing that you can do or say to make me stop loving you.

FRED
(staring straight ahead) I'm so sorry.

JASMINE
It's OK. I forgive you.

FRED
No, I'm talking to Angel. I hope he can forgive me.

Fred raises a gun, points it at Jasmine, and shoots. The bullet goes through Jasmine, and, covered in her blood, pierces the shoulder of Angel, who's standing right behind her. Angel vamps out in a rage and charges Fred, violently pulling her out from behind the front desk. He pushes her back against the desk, takes the gun from her hand, and points it at her jaw. Fred winces in panic.

Fade to black.

ACT III:

29     INT.     MAGIC BULLET BOOKS - NIGHT
Resume. Angel has a gun pointed at Fred's head as he holds her down on the front desk.

ANGEL
Dumb idea for such a smarty. You know bullets don't kill me. (cocks the gun) Want to see how they work on you?

FRED
(crying) Look at her.

Angel looks at Jasmine and sees the same horrifying face that Fred saw before—rotting, maggoty, bloody flesh. Angel's vamp face recedes as shock overtakes him. He shakes his head in disbelief and backs away from Fred. He drops the gun.

ANGEL
No.

JASMINE
Angel.

FRED
(to Angel) I'm sorry. (stands) I had to show you. I'm so sorry.

CONNOR
Show you what?

ANGEL
No. It can't be. No.

JASMINE
(touches her wounded shoulder, looks at her hand covered in her own blood) My blood...

CONNOR
(walks up to Angel) Dad, what's going on?

Fred eyes the gun on the floor.

JASMINE
Don't. He's been infected. I'm sorry, Connor. He's as dead to us as Fred.

FRED
(picks up the gun, points it at Jasmine) I loved you so much.

Fred shoots the gun at Jasmine's body three more times before Connor charges at Fred, knocking her down behind the front desk.

CONNOR
(to Jasmine) We need to get you out of here.

Angel walks past Connor toward Fred, but Connor grabs Angel and throws him against a bookshelf.

CONNOR
(walks up to Angel, picks him up) You ruined everything. (throws Angel behind the front desk, then to Jasmine) I don't understand. How'd it happen?

Angel picks up Fred in his arms and carries her out of the store. Connor goes to follow, but Jasmine stops him.

JASMINE
Let them go.

CONNOR
They need to be stopped.

JASMINE
(through gritted teeth) I need your help.

SHOPKEEPER
(stands) Wow. So much blood.

JASMINE
Stay away from it—both of you. We need to clean this up.

CONNOR
I'll do it.

JASMINE
(frowns) No. Burn it to the ground.

SHOPKEEPER
(too quickly) OK. (lights a book with his lighter; Jasmine and Connor leave the shop; he calls after them) You want me to stay here?

Cut to:

30     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
The lobby is still crowded with people, but it's set up like a cafeteria now. Lorne, Gunn, and Wesley are sitting at a table together eating desserts and drinking fruit punch.

LORNE
As scrump-dilly-icious as these hot dishes are, they'd be a whole lot tastier if our cocoa-colored queen were here. (takes a bite)

GUNN
I heard that. I keep shoveling pie into my hole and steel feel empty. (stares at a bite of pie) Anybody else picking up on some weird hurdy-gurdy feelings?

WESLEY
Something's definitely off, but without Jasmine around, I can't sense it specifically. You getting anything?

LORNE
Oh, just a visual on our lovely leader. (takes a bite)

GUNN
A visual? Really. Some gift you've got there, Kreskin. Where is she?

LORNE
(points behind Wesley and Gunn with his spoon) Over yonder.

Wesley and Gunn turn to look behind them. They see Jasmine walk in, wrapped in a blanket. Connor is with her. Jasmine gives them a meaningful glance.

WESLEY
Shouldn't Angel be with them?

Wesley, Gunn, and Lorne stand and follow Jasmine and Connor into the office.

Cut to:

31     INT.     OFFICE AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Jasmine's staring at the wall, unhappily, as the others walk in.

JASMINE
I'll make this brief. Fred infected Angel. He's gone. Lost to us.

GUNN
What?

JASMINE
Don't worry. I'm not so easily undone as that.

WESLEY
Any idea how she did it, how Fred turned him?

JASMINE
Yes. My kindness turned him. By being loving to Fred, I opened the door to her hate. By trying to save Fred, I lost Angel. It won't happen again. We must eradicate their hate.

Cut to:

32     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Jasmine walks out to a lobby full of people. She's still wrapped in a blanket.

JASMINE
(to a biker dude) You. (to a young woman) You. (to an old man) And you. Come with me. Connor. (Jasmine walks upstairs, Connor follows)

LORNE
I can't believe little old Fred managed to sway Angel back to the dark side.

GUNN
Evil. Not evil. Evil again. Wish he'd make up his mind.

WESLEY
I guess the good news is it doesn't matter anymore. Jasmine says Angel has to die, he dies.

Cut to:

33     INT.     ALLEY - NIGHT
Fred is lying on the street, unconscious, while Angel leans against a wall. Fred wakens and sits up, weakly.

FRED
Angel...you OK?

ANGEL
Bullet feels like a bee sting.

FRED
That's not what I meant—

ANGEL
I know what you meant. I don't want to talk about it.

FRED
(stands) I think you do.

ANGEL
I miss her so much. I never...

FRED
I know. It's been over a week, and I still cry. Part of me wishes I still believed the lie.

ANGEL
Well, why don't we? I mean, I'm not exactly clear on—

FRED
Jasmine's blood. It was on the bullet that hit you. Somehow it breaks her spell when it mingles with ours. I think it must've got in my system when I was trying to get the blood off her blouse.

ANGEL
You did the right thing, Fred. It took a lot of courage. (Fred turns away and cries) It must've been hard for you. (stands)

FRED
(crying) I'm sorry. I've been so alone and scared. (shakes her head) I'm not like you, not a champion.

ANGEL
(walks up to Fred) Everything I see says different.

FRED
(turns to face Angel) We need more of Jasmine's blood. We have to help the others.

ANGEL
We'll never get close to her, not now.

FRED
Then we need another way. (Angel gets an idea) What?

ANGEL
It's pretty horrible, but ma—

People walk by them, talking and laughing. Fred reaches up to Angel and kisses him. Angel puts his arm around her. A few moments later, they stop kissing.

FRED
(whispering) You think they bought it?

ANGEL
(whispering) I did. I—I mean, I didn't hear anything.

JASMANIAC WOMAN
Angel.

JASMANIAC MAN
You're dead, Fred.

Angel and Fred turn to see that small group of people staring at them menacingly.

ANGEL
I'm thinking they didn't buy it.

The group charges toward Angel and Fred.

Cut to:

34     INT.     HALLWAY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Jasmine leads the three people from the lobby to her room. She stops Connor from going in with her.

JASMINE
Stand guard. No one comes into the hallway. (goes into her room and shuts the door)

Cut to:

35     INT.     JASMINE'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
The three people wait patiently, staring at Jasmine.

JASMINE
(points to an empty corner of her room) Over there. (the people walk over to the corner) Take off your clothes.

The people take off their clothes, following Jasmine's orders without question. Jasmine walks up to a mirror and unwraps the blanket from her body. She stares at her wounded shoulder, then closes her eyes. The wound heals itself.

Cut to:

36     INT.     CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Cordelia is lying on her bed, still unconscious. Her room is filled with lit candles. A small group of people are standing in her room, staring at her. They leave. Angel opens the window from the outside, blowing out some of the candles with the motion. He starts to sneak into the room, but falls off of the window ledge, tumbling into the room instead. He stands up. Fred comes in the window as well, and closes the window behind her. They stare at Cordelia.

FRED
I can't even count all the ways this is wrong.

ANGEL
It's not like she'll feel it. Right? I mean, she's—

FRED
Brain dead? The expression doesn't leave a lot to the imagination, does it?

ANGEL
Just makes what I have to do a little easier.

Angel takes a knife out of his back pocket. Angel and Fred kneel down beside Cordelia. Angel kisses Cordelia's head.

ANGEL
(whispers) I'm so sorry.

Angel holds out the knife, and suddenly Cordelia's hand reaches up and grabs his wrist.

Fade to black.

ACT IV:

37     INT.     CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Resume. Cordelia's hand has just grabbed Angel's wrist as he went to cut her.

ANGEL
Oh, my God. She's awake. Cordy? Cordelia? (holds her hand) Can you hear me? We're right here. (excited, to Fred) Did you see that? She grabbed my hand.

FRED
Angel, people in comas—sometimes their bodies just do things— Mumble words, maybe even open their eyes. Doesn't necessarily mean they're waking up.

ANGEL
But it could, right? I mean, stranger things have happened.

FRED
Like Cordelia giving birth to a beautiful ebony goddess?

ANGEL
(sad) Not the example I was looking for, but yeah.

FRED
I know. Sorry. Maybe we should get this over with.

Fred reaches toward Cordelia's hand with the knife. Angel's hands are wrapped around Cordelia's.

Cut to:

38     INT.     HALLWAY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
As Connor stands guard outside Jasmine's room, he closes his eyes and basks in the green glow emanating from her room.

Cut to:

39     INT.     CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Fred holds a small bowl under Cordelia's hand to catch the blood as it drips from her.

FRED
Is that enough?

LORNE
(walks into the room) Any more room at the inn?

Angel and Fred quickly kneel at the bedside, facing away from the door. Lorne closes the door behind him, then looks around the room at all the knocked-over candles.

LORNE
Look at this. Pigs in paradise. Mind if I pay my respects to the woman who made peace on Earth a possible possibility? (prays) Thank you, Cordelia, for your sacrifice, for bringing our Jasmine into the world— (notices blood trickling from Cordy's hand down the blanket) Hey. (Angel turns around; Lorne sees him) Hey! What're you doing to the h— (Angel puts his hand over Lorne's mouth; Lorne mumbles) Unclean! Unclean!

Cut to:

40     INT.     HALLWAY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
As Connor stands guard outside Jasmine's room, he closes his eyes and basks in the green glow emanating from her room. Jasmine opens the door, glowing with green light herself, and walks up to Connor smiling.

CONNOR
You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

JASMINE
My sweet boy.

CONNOR
(looks inside the room) Where are those people?

JASMINE
(matter-of-factly) I ate them. (walks down the hall)

CONNOR
(nods, smiles) Cool.

Cut to:

41     INT.     HALLWAY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Angel and Fred sneak out into the hallway. They find Lorne sitting on the floor against the wall looking extremely depressed.

ANGEL
You sure you can do this?

LORNE
(nods, sips from a flask) Hallelujah.(frowns)

Cut to:

42     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Lorne walks into the lobby, feigning happiness.

LORNE
(to a couple walking out the front door) Hey, I'm praisin' Jasmine. How 'bout you?

WOMAN
Yeah.

LORNE
Ha ha. OK. (claps, looks around, whispers to himself) Tonight, the role of Judas Iscariot will be played by Krevlorneswath of the Deathwok Clan. (to people) Hey, feeling the love, huh? Thank you, Jasmine. Feeling the love. (to Wesley and Gunn, who are stacking chairs) Hey, good news, my devoted darlings. Jasmine's pulling you out of stacking duty and wants to see us ASAP for a little TLC.

WESLEY
Really? I haven't sensed anything. Have you?

GUNN
No. And everything else has been feeling pretty clear.

LORNE
Tout de suite, mes amis. (grabs a chair, revealing a band-aid on his wrist)

WESLEY
What happened to you?

LORNE
(stuttering) What do you mean?

WESLEY
Your wrist. You've cut it.

LORNE
Oh, that's is— (chuckles) That's a long, boring story. (waves) Come on.

Lorne walks out of the room, Gunn and Wesley follow.

Cut to:

43     INT.     HALLWAY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Gunn and Wesley are following Lorne down the hallway. Lorne holds open the door for them. After they go in, Lorne grabs a baseball bat from behind some boxes and follows Gunn and Wes into the room, wielding the bat. Lorne shuts the door. Sounds of people being knocked out come from the room.

Cut to:

44     INT.     ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Gunn and Wesley stare forlornly at the ground.

WESLEY
How did you figure it out?

FRED
It was Angel. He figured since Cordy gave birth to Jasmine, they might share a blood link as well as a mystical one.

ANGEL
We hoped Cordy's blood would have the same effect when we exposed you to it.

GUNN
Thanks for nothing.

LORNE
Yeah, you slashed this wrist, and I'm ready to do the other one myself.

WESLEY
Everything we believed...deception.

ANGEL
And how do we convince several million other people that Jasmine's message is false?

FRED
It's impossible. Even if we're able to develop a synthetic analog to the blood, there's—I mean, how do we fight something this huge and powerful?

ANGEL
I don't know yet, but what I do know is I'm not leaving this hotel without my son.

WESLEY
(stands) I'll get him. I've kidnapped him before.

Cut to:

45     INT.     HALLWAY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Wesley walks down the hall, frowning. Connor follows him, smiling. Wesley opens the door, Connor walks inside. Wesley follows him.

Cut to:

46     INT.     ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Connor walks into the room, smiling.

CONNOR
(chuckles) What? (sees Fred) Hey! (Angel grabs Connor's arms) No!

ANGEL
It's gonna be OK.

FRED
You've been lied to. We all have.

ANGEL
Don't make this any harder.

CONNOR
Let go.

Gunn approaches Connor, ripping his shirt, but Connor kicks Gunn, sending him back.

ANGEL
Easy.

CONNOR
Don't.

Wesley picks up Gunn's knife from the ground and holds it to Connor's throat. Wesley dips his fingers in the bowl of Cordelia's blood and slices Connor's chest shallowly. Wesley rubs Cordelia's blood into the cut.

CONNOR
(winces) Aah! (growls at Angel) I'll kill you.

ANGEL
It'll pass.

LORNE
Right, 'cause Lord knows he's never tried that before.

GUNN
You're back with us now, Connor.

Connor stops fighting back. Angel lets him go. Wesley touches Connor's face. Connor looks around at the others in the room.

ANGEL
Sorry. The only way to make you see.

FRED
What you're feeling is normal. We're all feeling it. The sadness—it gets better after a while.

CONNOR
(softy) Jasmine.

ANGEL
You understand why we're here?

CONNOR
(nods, shakes his head, walks toward the door, opens it, yells out the door) They're here! Come quick! They're here.

Cut to:

Closing credits.


Episode Information:

Creator: Joss Whedon
David Greenwalt
Producer: Ben Edlund
Co-Producer: Skip Schoolnik
Stephen S. DeKnight
Consulting Producer: David Fury
David Greenwalt
Tim Minear
Co-Executive Producer: Jeffrey Bell
Executive Producers:

Joss Whedon

Sandy Gallin
Gail Berman
Fran Rubel Kuzui
Kaz Kuzui

Produced By: Kelly A. Manners
Written By: Jeffrey Bell
Directed By:

Jeffrey Bell

Starring:

David Boreanaz as Angel
Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase
J. August Richards as Charles Gunn
Amy Acker as Winifred "Fred" Burkle
Vincent Kartheiser as Connor
Andy Hallett as Lorne
and Alexis Denisof as Wesley Wyndham-Pryce

Guest Star:

Gina Torres as Jasmine
Danny Woodburn as Creature
Patrick Fischler as Ted

Co-Stars: Terrylene as Deaf Woman
Mia Kelly as Woman
Andre Hotchko as Man in Lobby
Ajgie Kirkland as Black Man
Michael McElroy as Young Boy
Chad Williams as Rock Dude
Phyllis Flax as Very Old Woman
Amy Raymond as Weeping Woman
Steve Forbess as Mexican Man

4x18 - Shiny Happy People

on . Posted in Btvs Guide - Angel Script

WESLEY (V.O.)
Previously on Angel:

1     INT.     CONNOR'S PLACE - NIGHT
Connor and Cordelia are in bed together, making love. Lying on top of Cordelia, Connor kisses her tenderly amid gentle undulations under the sheets.

Cut to:

2     INT.     CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Cordelia shows her very pregnant belly to Connor.

CORDELIA
Connor, we're having a baby.

Cut to:

3     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
The Fang Gang discuss Cordy in the lobby.

ANGEL
We don't know if it's really Cordy.

FRED
Or what she's got baking in her oven.

GUNN
Evil and pregnant? I'm guessing it ain't cookies.

Cut to:

4     INT.     BASEMENT AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Angel and team are confronting Cordelia. Fred and Wesley are pointing guns at Cordelia.

CORDELIA
Took you long enough to figure it out.

Connor jumps through the glass roof, landing near Angel and Cordelia.

ANGEL
Connor, wait!

Angel reaches for Connor, but Connor just pushes him away hard, throwing Angel into Wesley. Fred aims her tranq gun at Connor, but Connor grabs her hand, redirecting the dart toward Angel as he tries to stand.

CONNOR
(reaches his hand to Cordelia) Come on! (Cordelia takes his hand)

Cut to:

5     INT.     WAREHOUSE SOMEWHERE IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
Connor listens while Cordelia talks to him.

CORDELIA
Maybe there's another way. A way to bring our baby into the world now.

CONNOR
How?

CORDELIA
I'll need some very special things.

Cut to:

6     INT.     WAREHOUSE SOMEWHERE IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
Connor grabs the virgin girl by her bound hands and drags her crying into the other room. Connor puts virgin girl on the ground in the center of the circle where Cordelia was chanting before. The girl looks up to see Cordelia swinging a huge butcher's knife at her head. Connor just stands there, watching Cordelia murder this girl, listening to the sounds of blood spattering as Cordelia makes the killing blow. The girl collapses in the middle of the circle.

Cut to:

7     INT.     WAREHOUSE SOMEWHERE IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
Cordelia is screaming in pain as Connor attends to her. The building is still shaking.

CORDELIA
It's coming. (laughs) The beginning of a new world.

ANGEL
She lied to you, Connor.

Angel takes his sword and walks up to Cordelia, who doesn't move. She grunts in pain, glaring at Angel. Angel rears back the sword.

ANGEL
I'm so sorry.

Connor gets up and tries to go after Angel again, but instead Cordelia screams and a bright green-white column of light shoots up from her body in a blast of energy. Angel and Connor are both knocked back to the walls. The column of light turns into a prismatic sunburst display as the entity within Cordelia leaves her body. In the bright light, something octopus-like with tentacles is moving. Angel sits up and look at it. As the light retracts, the form of the entity becomes more and more human-shaped. Finally, the light is absorbed completely into the entity—it looks like a human woman. Cordelia passes out. Angel stands and charges toward the creature, screaming, but then stops in his tracks.

ANGEL
Oh, my God. (drops to his knees) You're beautiful.

WOMAN
(smiles) Angel.

Fade to black.

The Start Of Episode

Prologue:

8     INT.     WAREHOUSE SOMEWHERE IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
Resume. Angel has just knelt at the feet of the woman-like creature Cordelia gave birth to. The woman bends to pick up a blanket to wrap around her body.

WOMAN
(looks around, smiles) Oh, it's all so—

ANGEL
Unworthy?

WOMAN
(smiling) Wonderful. (kneels beside Cordelia) Cordelia, thank you for protecting me and nourishing me. Your spirit has been my shelter, but you can rest peacefully now. I'm here.

CONNOR
That's all she wanted—to give you life.

WOMAN
And I can feel all of it: (smiles) the cold floor, the air, (stands) this skin. Everything is perfect.

ANGEL
(frowning, looks up at the woman) No, it's not. I came here to kill you. (hands her his sword) I should be punished.

WOMAN
(takes the sword) Angel, I can feel your suffering, (raises the sword) but now that suffering is going to end.

Angel waits with his head hung low for her to execute him, but after a moment he looks up, and she has disappeared.

Fade to black.

Opening credits.

ACT I:

9     INT.     HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Fred is obsessively gathering up books from the office floor. Lorne is sitting on the desk straightening the bankers lamp on it.

FRED
We should've done this a long time ago. I don't know what I was thinking letting these books be all unorganized.

LORNE
Well, one does tend to let the housekeeping slide during an Apocalyptolite. (turns on the desk lamp) Hey, honey, all this to-ing and fro-ing is making me edgy...er.

FRED
(hears a buzzing noise) What's that?

LORNE
Oh, relax. It's just a buzz saw. Nothing to get worked up over. It's Gunn and Wes down in the basement. They're dismembering that armor-plated demon, Skip.

FRED
Oh, right. Well, there's been an awful lot of dismembering going on in that basement lately, if you ask me.

LORNE
Well, it's been a busy month.

FRED
God, why'd it have to be her?

LORNE
I think you skipped a groove, darlin'.

FRED
Cordelia. Why couldn't the Beastmaster have chosen some horrible evil awful person to be its vessel?

LORNE
Wouldn't have been much in the way of camouflage.

FRED
He's been gone so long.

LORNE
Y-you shifted gender pronouns, sweetheart. Not that I'm judging—

FRED
Angel. Do you think he found them?

LORNE
Them being...?

FRED
Connor and Cordy.

LORNE
Well...uh....

FRED
Or maybe he got there too late, and she already had it?

LORNE
And by "it," you must mean—?

FRED
The baby. Or, hell spawn or whatever it is. (Lorne shakes his head and sips his drink) Skip said the Beastmaster was using Cordelia to give birth to itself. What if Angel didn't get there in time to stop it? Or, worse, what if he did get there in time? Do you think he'd actually...you know?

LORNE
Dismember mama? (chuckles nervously)

FRED
Would Angel really kill Cordelia?

LORNE
To save the world?

FRED
(looks out into the lobby) Son of a bitch! (grabs a knife and runs out to the lobby)

LORNE
(stands) OK, not that I was expecting a transition, but still... (follows Fred into the lobby)

FRED
(holds the knife at Connor) Drop it, junior.

LORNE
Fred, don't get too close.

CONNOR
(calmly) Drop it? (smiles)

FRED
You heard me. Drop the knife.

CONNOR
But, you're always after me to clean up after myself. I was just gonna put it away.

FRED
(squints, looks closer at him) Uh, are you still evil-ish? 'Cause I'm confused.

ANGEL
Guys, it's OK. He's with me.

FRED
(sees Cordelia lying on the couch) Oh, my God. (runs to her side) Cordelia. She's not—

ANGEL
No, she's not dead. She's just resting. She's in a peaceful place.

Wesley and Gunn run into the lobby and join the others.

FRED
No, I meant...she's not pregnant.

ANGEL
Oh. No. Not anymore.

WESLEY
Then you were too late? The thing was born?

LORNE
I'm guessing it wasn't a chubby little cherub, huh?

ANGEL
Not exactly.

GUNN
But you killed it? It's dead, right?

ANGEL
(backs up) I—I tried. I was going to. I just, uh— (sits down on the steps and weeps)

CONNOR
You got to stop torturing yourself, dad. He was like this all the way back in the car.

WESLEY
It escaped, then?

ANGEL
Disappeared. Didn't even say goodbye.

FRED
Is that, like, baby evil?

WESLEY
I imagine we're not talking about a baby.

CONNOR
No.

GUNN
OK, so what are we dealing with?

FRED
Eight legs, three heads, horns...?

LORNE
Hey!

FRED
No, offense.

CONNOR
Two legs, one head, no horns.

LORNE
Lemme guess: green?

ANGEL
(stands, smiles) No. Kind of... mocha. We need to find her.

WESLEY
Agreed.

The gang, except for Connor and Angel, head for the weapons cabinet.

GUNN
Hope this thing's easier to kill than the Beast.

CONNOR
(follows them) Kill? No. No killing.

GUNN
Since when?

ANGEL
Since we've all been saved.

FRED
Oh, well, that's, uh, crazy talk.

ANGEL
(to Connor) They don't understand.

CONNOR
No.

ANGEL
We don't want to kill her. (takes the axe away from Wesley) We just want to find her so we can worship her. That's all.

CONNOR
She's amazing. You'll go nuts.

GUNN
Yeah, that'll definitely help us relate better.

ANGEL
(smiles) When you meet her, you'll understand.

WESLEY
Angel, whatever you're feeling right now, it's some form of enchantment.

ANGEL
(looks wistful) Yeah.

WESLEY
It's a spell. Think. Even before its birth, this thing controlled Cordelia, caused her to do unspeakable things. It's evil. Remember the Rain of Fire, permanent midnight, all the horrors done in its name—

WOMAN (O.S.)
Must be rectified.

Everyone in the room turns to look at the woman Cordelia gave birth to. Connor and Angel fall to their knees immediately. Everyone else stares at her in awe.

LORNE
My God.

WOMAN
(smiles) People keep saying that.

Lorne kneels.

FRED
I'm just gonna... (kneels) do this.

Gunn kneels.

WOMAN
For so long, you've all been drowning in the fighting and the pain. I'd like to help...if you'll have me.

WESLEY
(kneels) Tell us what to do.

Cut to:

10     INT.     CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
The gang is gathered in Cordelia's room where Cordelia is now laid out on her bed. Gunn and Fred are lighting candles. The group is arranged in a loose circle as they all stare at the woman, smiling.

LORNE
Eternal bliss. It suits her.

FRED
Cordelia must be so happy...to be the one who brought you here. What an honor.

WOMAN
(sitting on the bed beside Cordelia) I'm the one who's honored...by Cordelia, and by all of you. I can't tell you how good it is to be back.

WESLEY
Back? Then you've been here before?

WOMAN
Yes. In the beginning, before the time of man, great beings walked the earth. Untold power emanated from all quarters—the seeds of what would come to be known as good and evil. But the shadows stretched and became darkness, and the malevolent among us grew stronger. The earth became a demon realm. Those of us who had the will to resist left this place, but we remained ever-watchful.

GUNN
You're a power that... was?

WOMAN
But then something new emerged from deep inside the earth—neither demon, nor God.

WESLEY
Man.

WOMAN
And it seemed, for a time, that through this new race, a balance might be restored.

FRED
Guess we really let you down.

WOMAN
But you didn't. It was we who failed you. (stands) We became little more than observers. I could no longer bear to just watch all the suffering. I had to find a way back. But, first I needed a miracle. And so I arranged one. (touches Connor's face) Through you, Angel, through Darla. That is where my parentage began. Two vampires—creatures one human corrupted by darkness. And you with a soul—a miracle already.

ANGEL
But how?

WOMAN
Through Lorne.

LORNE
Huh?

WOMAN
The day Lorne sent Angel and human Darla into the trials to earn a new chance at life.

ANGEL
I failed.

WOMAN
No, you earned that life. And there it is. (points to Connor) All these events unfolded that I might reenter this physical plain. I know there's been chaos.

WESLEY
All the events we've witnesses these past months, all the madness, it was birth pains.

WOMAN
But the storm has passed.

LORNE
And here comes the sun.

ANGEL
And Cordelia—will she wake up?

WOMAN
If we take hold of the world, strip away the thorns, win the battle—then, yes, I think she will.

FRED
How do we do that?

WOMAN
One evil at a time. Much damage has been done in my name. There are demons, forces of hate, all over this city.

FRED
We're going to destroy them.

WOMAN
We're going to change the world.

ANGEL
Finally.

Cut to:

11     INT.     BOWLING ALLEY - NIGHT
A middle-aged balding vampire holds up a severed human head and throws it down a bowling lane as if it were his bowling ball. The head doesn't roll very well, and stops short of knocking over his pins.

BOWLING VAMPIRE 1
(sighs) Aw, that ain't gonna work.

BOWLING VAMPIRE 2
Could've told you that. Clean up my lane, jackass. (pushes the other vampire down the lane)

BOWLING VAMPIRE 1
(picks up the head, walks back to the front of the lane) "Let's go to L. A.," you said. "Sun's gone out," you said. "Going to be the feast of the century." But the sun is back, and here we are wasting our time...bowling.

BOWLING VAMPIRE 2
I'm telling you, something big is coming, and when it gets here, we're gonna be in prime position for—

ANGEL
An ass whoppin'?

Angel and gang are poised and ready to attack the two vampires and the group of other vampires with them at their lane. Angel, Gunn, Wesley, Connor, Fred and the woman are there. The men all engage the vampires in a fight, but Fred protects the woman, staying at her side through the fighting.

WOMAN
(walks past the fighting men, talks to Fred) Sit with me.

FRED
Do you think we should?

WOMAN
I have nothing to fear. (they sit)

FRED
OK.

WOMAN
No, what're we going to call me?

FRED
You don't have a name!

WOMAN
No.

FRED
You should have a name.

WOMAN
Yes.

FRED
I don't know. I can't imagine one word, you know, summing you up. I mean, you're a superior being. Shouldn't you— Don't you want to choose it yourself?

WOMAN
No one born to this earth can choose their own name. They are named by those who love them. There are some rules even I must follow.

While the woman and Fred chat, a vampire attacks the woman, slicing her arm with his fingernails. Angel grabs the vampire and pulls him off of the woman. Fred gasps at the atrocity.

FRED
(nearly in tears) I'm so sorry. It's all my fault.

WOMAN
I'll be fine. You tried to caution me. I should have listened.

ANGEL
(chases the vampire down an alley, out of the back of the building) Hey! You hurt her, you scum!

Cut to:

12     EXT.     BOWLING ALLEY - NIGHT
Angel chases the vampire that attacked the woman out of the building, to a cafe at the side of the bowling alley. The vampire tries to jump over a table, but lands instead on top of the man sitting at that table, knocking him down and inadvertently cutting the man with his fingernails. Angel pulls the vampire off of the man. Connor followed Angel out.

CONNOR
Dad! (throws Angel a stake)

Angel stakes the vampire. The rest of Angel's team follows Angel and gathers outside. The cafe patrons stand, startled at the commotion.

MIDDLE-AGED MAN PATRON
Over there!

ANGEL
It's all right. It's over. You're safe now.

AWED WOMAN PATRON
Wh— wha— (turns, sees woman) aw! (falls to her knees)

Other patrons fall to their knees.

WOMAN
Everyone, please, stand up. If you wish to honor me, honor each other. We are all one.

Other patrons stand.

MIDDLE-AGED MAN PATRON
(to the woman) You're hurt.

WOMAN
(smiles) I'll be all right. Everything will be all right.

MARGARET
All my life, so empty. That's over now, isn't it?

WOMAN
Yes, Margaret, it's over. I know you. I know you all. I've come here for you to bring you the gift of peace. You will be freed from the pains you've suffered. The world will change forever, and you will know the power of my love. The chaos will fade, and harmony will reign.

The young man that the vampire fell on and scratched grabs a knife from a nearby table and, in tears, stares at the woman.

YOUNG MAN
Monster. It has to die!

The young man lunges at the woman and tries to attack her with the knife, but Angel interferes, pushing the man down and punching him repeatedly in vamp facade.

Fade to black.

ACT II:

13     EXT.     BOWLING ALLEY - NIGHT
Resume. Angel is in vamp facade, pummeling the young man that attacked the woman, punching him repeatedly in the face.

WOMAN
(touches Angel's shoulder) Angel, that's enough. (Angel's vamp face recedes)

YOUNG MAN
(crying) Don't you see it? (shakes his head) No. (the woman reaches her hand toward the young man's face) Don't you touch me!

WOMAN
(lays her hand on his face) Poor thing. (to Wesley) Wesley.

WESLEY
I'll call an ambulance. (walks away)

WOMAN
All of you, so loving, so strong. How can I ask you to understand that a man like this, so full of fear, anger, so along—he will always be alone, but we have found each other.

The crowd members smile.

Cut to:

14     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Wesley and Gunn are sitting on the steps, polishing their weapons, talking to the woman.

GUNN
What about... Helen?

WESLEY
Helen.

GUNN
It's got a ring.

WESLEY
Yes, it does. However, something along the lines of... Dianthia or Iphigenia.

GUNN
Those are some long lines.

WESLEY
Or Aristophila, which means—

WOMAN
"Supreme lover of mankind." (smiles) That's lovely.

GUNN
Well, Helen was my grandma's name.

WOMAN
Helen is beautiful as well.

WESLEY
All right. What about—

FRED (O.S.)
Clorox.

They look up to see Fred standing on the stairs holding the woman's shirt in her hands.

GUNN
"Clorox, she bleaches away the hate."

WESLEY
Probably best we avoid brand names.

GUNN
(nods) Mm-hmm.

FRED
No, I—I meant the shirt. (to the woman) know I can get this stain out.

WOMAN
It's not important, Fred.

FRED
No, it is. I can make it good as new again.

WOMAN
There's really no need. It's just a shirt.

FRED
But it's yours. And it was on you, on your holy bodiness. And it's my fault you were attacked.

WOMAN
(still holding a towel to her wounded arm, stands) Nonsense. There is no fault. It was a new and vivid experience. To be able to bleed, feel things, anything—even pain—is a gift. You people take your senses for granted.

FRED
Club soda. (runs out of the room)

GUNN
(chuckles) May as well let her do her thing.

WESLEY
Yes, Fred can be quite single-minded when she is focused on a problem.

GUNN
Yeah.

WOMAN
You love her very much—both of you. Don't you see? You both have the same love. That should bring you closer together, not drive you apart.

CONNOR
(walks into the room carrying bandages) I'm sorry you were hurt.

WOMAN
Oh. (lifts the towel from her wounded arm) Ah. (sees her arm is completely healed)

CONNOR
But there was so much blood.

WOMAN
I heal quickly. It must be a benefit of being a former power, I guess. (smiles)

CONNOR
What was wrong with that man? Why did he want to hurt you?

WOMAN
I'm not sure. Some people can't accept change. It scares them, and that fear becomes hatred, and they take that hatred out on others... (looks toward the garden door) or sometimes on themselves.

Cut to:

15     EXT.     GARDEN AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
The woman walks outside to find Angel leaning against a railing, staring at the ground.

WOMAN
That fragrance... It's lovely. What is it?

ANGEL
Must be the jasmine.

WOMAN
Oh, night blooming. So beautiful, so lonely...like you.

ANGEL
(looks up at her, then away) I shamed you.

WOMAN
No.

ANGEL
I did. I almost killed that man. I think I would have if—

WOMAN
Angel, you were only trying to protect me. There can be no shame in that.

ANGEL
I don't want to fail you again.

WOMAN
Then don't.

ANGEL
It's not that simple.

WOMAN
Why isn't it?

ANGEL
'Cause...what I'm feeling.

WOMAN
You must let go of your anger towards that poor soul.

ANGEL
No, not anger...happiness. (woman smiles) I'm so happy that you're here.

WOMAN
And that's a problem?

ANGEL
For me, yes. (looks away) If I get too happy, if I allow myself to feel what I'm feeling, (nearly in tears) Angelus might—

WOMAN
I know. But soon none of that will matter. Evil will be banished by the deeds we will do, Angel. Even the evil that's inside of you. That too will be gone, and all that will be left is the beauty.

ANGEL
Eradicate all evil.

WOMAN
Yes.

ANGEL
Is that even possible? We've been fighting for so long. (shakes his head)

WOMAN
I know. I've seen it all. It's why I've come back. (tilts Angel's head up) You are my general. I have faith in you.

ANGEL
You... have faith in me?

WOMAN
(looks up to the patio where the others have gathered) I have faith in all my warriors, each and every one of you. You are all up to the task.

Cut to:

16     INT.     VARIOUS - NIGHT

WOMAN (V.O.)

While the woman speaks, show various scenes of what the AI gang is doing.
You're not alone anymore. I will be with you everywhere you go. I'll be at your side, Angel, Connor, Gunn, and Wesley fight bad guys.
  Fred diligently washes the woman's shirt in the sink, scrubbing hard, making a froth with the soap.
guiding your hands,
Angel severs some creature's head.
giving you strength. With my help,
Wesley throws a knife into a creature's body.
all things are possible.
Fred continues to scrub the woman's shirt; her hands are getting raw.
There will be no doubt,
Angel throws a stake to Connor who stakes a vampire.
no worry, no fear, for you will know you cannot be beaten. Angel, Connor, Wesley, and Gunn fight bad guys together.

Cut to:

17     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
A newscaster delivers the news on television as Angel, Connor, Wes, and Gunn look on.

NEWSCASTER
(on television) After several weeks of sky-rocketing homicide rates, finally this week a dramatic decrease in southland murders. The Sheriff's Department spokesman attributes the drop to their new "Tough on Crime" policy instituted last month—

ANGEL
(turns off the television) Hm. A little "Credit for the Divinity Behind the Scenes" policy wouldn't suck. (smiles at the woman)

WOMAN
It's not important who gets the credit. What matters is that we're winning.

WESLEY
If we keep going at this rate—

GUNN
L.A.'s gonna be one big, fat no-demon zone. Hello, Garden City.

ANGEL
(to the woman) You never doubted us. Not for a second.

WOMAN
There's no room for doubt, Angel. Only love.

Lorne walks into the lobby.

CONNOR
Hey, we made the news. Dramatic decrease in southland murders this week.

LORNE
Oh, hey, so much for that nagging apocalypse. (to the woman) Hey, uh, speaking of dramatic, I've got a smidge of surprise for you...upstairs.

WOMAN
Surprises. They're one of my favorite things about being human. (Lorne giggles, he and the woman leave)

The men stare after her as she leaves.

ANGEL
Isn't she—

CONNOR
Yeah.

GUNN
A miracle.

FRED
(walks into the room) Well, I tried. (holds up a shirt) What do you think?

WESLEY
It looks brand new.

FRED
(cries) It is. I—I bought a new one. (sits)

WESLEY
Even better.

FRED
(crying) I know.

Angel and Wesley go to Fred's side.

ANGEL
What's the matter? She'll love it.

FRED
I know, but she's not here.

GUNN
She's just upstairs.

FRED
Yes, but, (holds the shirt to her chest) when she's not around, (sobs) I hurt.

Cut to:

18     INT.     ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Lorne opens the door to a huge suite that's been decorated and prepared for the woman.

WOMAN
Oh, Lorne...

LORNE
It's, uh, it's too diva, isn't it? Diva, deity—it's a thin line.

WOMAN
It's lovely. There's that wonderful smell again— (walks up to a vase full of flowers) jasmine. Oh, really, Lorne. It's more than I could ask for.

LORNE
Oh, well, I'm as tickled as, uh, someone so tickled they're out of similes.

WOMAN
Thank you again, Lorne. (Lorne walks out of the room, but leaves the door open; Connor paces outside) You're troubled. Come in, Connor. Tell me what's bothering you.

CONNOR
(enters the room) I— I can't.

WOMAN
Of course you can. You can tell me anything.

CONNOR
Cordelia used to say that to me. It's just—having you here, I finally know why I was created. For you—to help bring you here.

WOMAN
That and so much more.

CONNOR
But, I don't deserve—I shouldn't be so happy. I've done things. I betrayed my dad, hurt people...

WOMAN
I know... all of it. I've watched you—not just these past days—but all your life and before. Connor, you deserve all the happiness I can bring you.

CONNOR
(smiles slightly) Why me?

WOMAN
I needed a unique soul to help create me. Yours. Even before you were born, I chose you to be my father. And now we're going to transform the world.

CONNOR
But my father—he's the champion.

WOMAN
Everything has its season. It's your time, Connor. Your destiny.

FRED
(walks into the room holding the shirt up and scrutinizing it) Hi, I know it's not the exact same shirt, but it's pretty close, and I scrubbed the other one 'til my fingers bled, but I couldn't get out the— (looks up at the woman and sees a horrifying vision of maggot-infested decaying bloody flesh where the woman's face should be) blood.

Fade to black.

ACT III:

19     INT.     ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Resume. Fred stares in horror at the disgusting face of the woman. Maggots crawl in and out of the bloody eye-sockets of the woman's rotting face. Fred is frozen with fear.

WOMAN
Fred? Is something wrong?

FRED
(cries) I—I'm sorry.

CONNOR
I'll get her some water. (stands)

FRED
(gasps, puts her hands out to stop Connor from leaving the room) No, don't. I mean, I'll be fine.

Gunn, Wesley, and Lorne walk down the hallway toward the woman's room.

GUNN
Sounds like someone's—

The guys walk into the woman's room.

LORNE
What? What's all the booing and hooing, sweet pea?

WESLEY
Fred, there's no reason to cry. She's right there.

FRED
(crying) I—I know. I just started thinking what it would be like if you weren't here, and I guess I kinda lost it.

WOMAN
I'm not going anywhere, Fred. You can trust in that.

FRED
(closes her eyes) I think I just... (backs herself toward the door) need some time alone to...you know, count my blessings 'cause there's so many, and it's good to, um, take stock. (leaves the room crying)

Cut to:

20     INT.     CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Fred sits on the edge of the bed beside Cordelia's unconscious body.

FRED
Cordelia, it's me. I'm here. Hello? Remember before the big brain suck and Lorne read you, and it was all scary, headachy pukiness? What if that's all true? Only worse, 'cause we don't even know to fight back, not even Angel. Cordelia, I wish you could—

ANGEL (O.S.)
I know what you're thinking.

Fred turns to see Angel standing in the doorway behind her.

FRED
(stands) You do?

ANGEL
(walks into the room) Sometimes, when I look in her eyes, I've seen it too. It's overwhelming. The lies, the deceit...just melts away. (smiles) Nothing left but the beauty.

FRED
(looks away) Um...yeah, it's...incredible.

ANGEL
(walks up to Cordelia) I can't believe I almost... Seems like a lifetime ago.

FRED
(shakes her head) It's all so different from what we expected.

ANGEL
Big, hideous evil trying to end the world? (smiles) Nice to be wrong.

FRED
Yeah, and now that she's here, everything just... seems so easy.

ANGEL
I know. Feels like a dream.

FRED
Mm-hmm. But have you noticed how we all just kinda do what she says, don't ask questions?

ANGEL
Isn't it a relief? Constant questioning—it's finally over.

Fred makes a nervous fake half-smile.

Cut to:

21     INT.     HOSPITAL RECEPTION - NIGHT
Fred goes up to the reception desk at the hospital and talks to the nurse sitting there.

FRED
Um, hi. Um, yes. I'm looking for a patient—a man. He was brought in Thursday, named Stover.

NURSE
(looks at Fred) Are you a family member?

FRED
Am I—? Yes. I have a family. I'm a member. (nurse looks at Fred again) He's my brother. Father. My father's brother.

NURSE
(looking at the computer) I have a Stoller.

FRED
Half-brother. Uncle. Half-uncle. Stoller. That's it. Please, I—I need to know if he's all right.

NURSE
Dr. Keller treated him.

FRED
Is he still here?

NURSE
He was transferred to— (looks at the computer, surprised) Oh.

Cut to:

22     INT.     HOSPITAL PSYCHIATRIC UNIT - NIGHT
Fred walks into the hall of one floor and up to the door labeled "Psychiatric Unit". It's locked with an electronic keypad. Fred looks inside and then hides near the door until someone comes out. Fred sneaks in through the doors before they lock again. She goes into the room of the young man from the cafe. He's lying on a bed in a dark back corner of the room.

FRED
John? John Stoller?

YOUNG MAN
(doesn't look toward Fred) Go away.

FRED
John, I have to ask you...Do you have a history of mental— What I mean to ask is, uh, have you been in this particular ward before?

YOUNG MAN
You mean, am I crazy?

FRED
Well, were you before Thursday?

YOUNG MAN
(tearfully) Leave me alone.

FRED
(walks slowly toward the man) I don't think you're crazy. I think I know what happened. I think I know what you saw because... I saw it too. The woman you attacked—

YOUNG MAN
(shakes head) Not a woman.

FRED
Her face—it's horrible, isn't it? Decaying, blood, things living there.

YOUNG MAN
(crying) You did see it?

FRED
Yes.

YOUNG MAN
Did it touch you?

FRED
What?

The young man turns his head to face Fred, revealing that the side that was in shadow has been transformed into a hideous demony color and texture. One half of his face—where the woman touched him—is now gray and wrinkly and bulging, covered with bumps. Even his eye is different now, a silvery black.

YOUNG MAN
(crying) Don't let it touch you.

FRED
(shocked) Sh-sh-she did that to you?

YOUNG MAN
(tries to sit up) Untie me, please. I have to get out of here. I have to finish it.

FRED
Finish what?

YOUNG MAN
She has to die. We have to kill it.

FRED
We? (nervously) No, I—I—uh, I mean, maybe, but, no...

YOUNG MAN
You said you saw it.

FRED
I did.

YOUNG MAN
You've been called too.

FRED
Called?

YOUNG MAN
Called. To the mission.

FRED
Called. (shakes head) No, I... I don't get called. I'm not the called type. I, you know, take messages for my boss. He gets called. Called?

YOUNG MAN
It's our duty. Others won't see. (shakes head)

FRED
You're wrong. If what we saw is true, there are people who will understand, who will help.

YOUNG MAN
(sits up) You've been called.

FRED
No. Like I said, I— (Fred's cell phone rings) OK, that's just eerie. (takes out phone and looks at it) It's Angel. They're probably wondering where I am.

YOUNG MAN
You have to do it.

FRED
(backs out of the room) I—I have to go. Thank you for your time. I'm sorry to have disturbed you.

YOUNG MAN
Don't trust her. Don't trust anyone!

Cut to:

23     EXT.     GARDEN AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Fred walks back to the hotel, but it's bustling with people. Two girls rush past her to get inside.

GIRL 1
I've never seen you like this.

GIRL 2
I'm telling you, you have to meet her. Come on.

Cut to:

24     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Fred walks into the lobby of the hotel, and it's full of people—hundreds. Lorne's having a conversation with some strangers.

LORNE
We are just excited head over teakettle about this entire event. I-I just can't even believe— (sees Fred) Hey, hey, hey, pumpkin. Where've you been?

FRED
Out. (looks around at all the people) What happened?

LORNE
Oh, she went out for a walk—it was like A Hard Day's Night—everybody followed her back. Isn't it fabulous. (points to someone else) Oh, hey, hey, hey. (to Fred) Excuse me, darling.

WESLEY
(to strangers) Can you believe this? (Fred comes up to him) What is it?

FRED
I need you. (pulls Wesley aside) If I told you something—you know, that maybe you didn't want to know even—you'd trust me, right?

WESLEY
Of course.

FRED
I...went to see that man from the restaurant. The one who—

WESLEY
The attacker? Why?

FRED
That's what I wanted to know—why he would do that. Wesley, he saw something. We both s-saw something. I needed to know if it was the same something.

WESLEY
And?

FRED
It was. Wesley, I know you're going to find this hard to accept, but—

Gunn looks down and watches Wesley and Fred converse.

WESLEY
Rotting flesh? Really?

FRED
You don't believe me.

WESLEY
If you say you saw it, I believe you.

FRED
(smiles, relieved) He told me not to tell anyone, but I-I knew if I came to you—

WESLEY
You did the right thing.

The woman walks into the room on the balcony. The crowd cheers.

FRED
You'll help me?

WESLEY
Of course I'll help you. Wait here. (walks away)

Fred watches Wesley walk up to Gunn and tell him something. They both stare at her. Wesley continues up the stairs and whispers to Angel, Connor, and the woman. Gunn whispers something to Lorne. Fred watches all this from the lobby floor. She backs herself slowly toward the weapons cabinet and opens it while the others talk about her—she grabs a dagger and a crossbow. Connor and Angel look at her and see Fred arming herself. Fred points the crossbow at the woman, who is flanked by Angel and Connor.

FRED
I'm sorry. (pulls the crossbow trigger)

Fade to black.

ACT IV:

25     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Resume. Fred shoots the crossbow at the woman, but Angel jumps in front of her, taking the arrow in his shoulder. Connor jumps down after Angel, both landing on the lobby floor. Connor pulls the arrow out of Angel's shoulder and helps him stand. Wesley rushes downstairs.

LORNE
(walks up to Fred) Fred! Are you crazy? What— I mean— (Fred grabs Lorne and puts the dagger to his throat) Fred!

FRED
(to Angel, Connor, and Wes) Don't come near me!

ANGEL
Put down the knife, Fred.

FRED
I'll kill him!

GUNN
You don't know what you're doing.

FRED
(yells) I'll kill him, Charles!

LORNE
(to Fred) Easy, kiddo, huh?

WOMAN
There's nowhere you can go, Fred. My love will follow you everywhere.

Fred pushes Lorne forward into the others and rushes out the front door.

LORNE
(angry) Hey!

Angel and the others start to follow Fred, but the woman stops them.

WOMAN
Let her go. Now is not the time. We are all gathered here in peace. Let's not let her take that away from us.

Cut to:

26     INT.     JEEP - DAWN
Fred drives the jeep down the road all night. Finally, when day breaks, she pulls over to the side of the road, stops the car and sobs.

Cut to:

27     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
The AI gang discusses Fred's behavior.

WESLEY
I can't believe Fred's evil.

GUNN
Should've seen it coming.

LORNE
Nothing like a homicidal maniac to put a damper on an impromptu spiritual gathering. (shakes his head)

WOMAN
What they saw tonight—it's not what I would have wanted, but now they all understand the reality of what hatred can do to a person.

ANGEL
(walks into the lobby with a bouquet of jasmine) The reality is...we need to find Fred.

WOMAN
(takes bouquet) Thank you, Angel. The scent—it soothes me.

ANGEL
We leave now. Connor and I can probably still track her. (Connor and Angel walk toward the door)

WOMAN
I know you're all in pain. You trusted Fred, and she betrayed you.

GUNN
(stands) Forget us. She tried to kill you.

WOMAN
And the sadness that brings me is immeasurable.

LORNE
I should've just let her cut my head off. My species—decapitation loophole.

CONNOR
Still might've stabbed you, let you bleed to death.

ANGEL
(paces) Why didn't I see it?

WOMAN
Angel, none of us did. You can't blame yourself.

ANGEL
(sits) She was acting weird earlier, and I just thought it was Fred being Fred.

WESLEY
That man at the hospital—I'm still shocked she would go to see him.

GUNN
Once he had her there, (shrugs) must've monkeyed with her brain somehow.

CONNOR
Maybe he made her do it, (shrugs) with magic or something.

WOMAN
I doubt even Fred understands why she's so determined to destroy everything we're trying to create, which makes her even more dangerous.

ANGEL
We have to kill her. (everyone sighs at the thought) There's no other way.

WESLEY
As long as she's out there, she's a threat.

WOMAN
It may come to that. But first, we have to try to help her. Get to the root of the hatred that's infected her heart.

ANGEL
The only way to do that is to bring her home. (stands) Let's go.

WOMAN
No. We'll find Fred, but not tonight. Tomorrow will be easier than today. We'll have eyes everywhere.

Cut to:

28     INT.     DINER - DAY
A man hands a plate of two eggs, bacon, and hashbrowns to a woman sitting at the counter drinking a cup of coffee. It's Fred.

DINER GUY
Here you go. Looks like you just lost your best friend.

FRED
All of them. I never thought—

DINER GUY
Yeah, well, that's life in the big city. (hands her a bill)

TV HOST
Welcome back. Chef Arnold Michske will join us later, but right now, we have the most amazing surprise. Please join me in welcoming a very special visitor: Jasmine!

WOMAN / JASMINE
Good morning, Los Angeles. (Fred looks up at the TV when she hears the woman's voice; the woman, Jasmine, is wearing a sprig of jasmine flowers in her hair) Thank you for inviting me. This is a special day.

Fred stares at the diner's corner television in shock.

TV HOST
We want to know everything about you. Start at the beginning.

People are coming in off the streets to watch Jasmine on the TV. The people kneel, mesmerized by Jasmine's voice. Fred turns and stare at them in disbelief.

JASMINE
Trish, in the beginning, before the time of man, great beings walked the Earth. Untold power emanated from all quarters—the seeds of what would come to be known as good and evil. Yet there was a balance. But the shadow stretched...

While Jasmine speaks on television, Fred stands and walks out of the diner, onto the sidewalk—it's empty. The streets are empty too. No one in the entire city is outside.

Cut to:

Closing credits.


Episode Information:

Creator: Joss Whedon
David Greenwalt
Producer: Ben Edlund
Co-Producer: Skip Schoolnik
Stephen S. DeKnight
Consulting Producer: David Fury
David Greenwalt
Tim Minear
Co-Executive Producer: Jeffrey Bell
Executive Producers:

Joss Whedon

Sandy Gallin
Gail Berman
Fran Rubel Kuzui
Kaz Kuzui

Produced By: Kelly A. Manners
Written By: Elizabeth Craft & Sarah Fain
Directed By:

Marita Grabiak

Starring:

David Boreanaz as Angel
Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase
J. August Richards as Charles Gunn
Amy Acker as Winifred "Fred" Burkle
Vincent Kartheiser as Connor
Andy Hallett as Lorne
and Alexis Denisof as Wesley Wyndham-Pryce

Guest Star:

Gina Torres as Jasmine

Co-Stars: San Witwer as Young Man
David Figlioli as Vamp Leader
Suzette Craft as Teacherly Woman
Annie Wersching as Awed Woman
Steven Bean as Middle-Aged Man
Lynette Romero as News Anchor
Lyle Kanouse as Diner Counter Guy
Tawny Rene Hamilton as Host of Good Morning LA
Chane't Johnson as Martha Jane
Jackie Tohn as Woman #1

4x17 - Inside Out

on . Posted in Btvs Guide - Angel Script

GUNN (V.O.)
Previously on Angel:

1     EXT.     STREET IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
It's raining and pregnant Darla is lying in the middle of the street. Angel is by her side.

DARLA
This child. It's the one good thing we ever did together.

Darla stakes herself, turning her body to dust, leaving only the baby she was carrying. The baby cries.

ANGEL (V.O.)
His name is Connor.

Cut to:

2     EXT.     HIGHWAY - NIGHT
The world has stopped around Cordelia. She has stepped out of her car, and is talking to Skip, her communicator liaison with the Powers That Be.

SKIP
You'll become a higher being.

CORDELIA
Me?

Cut to:

3     EXT.     HIGHER DIMENSION - NIGHT
Cordelia is in a non-descript place, floating in bright heavenly lights.

CORDELIA
Get me out of here!

4     EXT.     SKY TEMPLE CLUB ON KIMBALL BUILDING ROOF - NIGHT
The Beast kneels on one knee, punching the floor at the center of his human square, sending a trail of fire out along the floor in the shape of the Eye of Fire symbol. A shock wave emanates from the area, knocking everyone back a few feet. The fire is tall now, taller than the beast. The Beast leaps straight up into the sky, riding the fire that he created.

CORDELIA (V.O.)
The rain of fire, even blotting out the sun—those were only the first steps to something bigger.

Cut to:

5     INT.     CAVE
In a triangular shaped room lit dimly with two torches, the Beast prays.

ANGELUS (V.O.)
The Beast has a boss.

Cut to:

6     INT.     WAREHOUSE
The Beast and Cordelia talk.

BEAST
My apologies, my master.

Cut to:

7     INT.     CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Cordelia shows her very pregnant belly to Connor.

CORDELIA
We're having a baby.

Cut to:

8     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Cordelia has just revealed her pregnancy to Angel, Fred, Wesley, and Gunn, who stare at her, stunned. Connor walks up to her side. Lorne walks into the lobby as Cordelia rubs her belly.

LORNE
A mystical pregnancy right under my beak?

Cordelia looks down at her belly as the creature inside writhes visibly under her skin—clearly not a human baby.

Cut to:

9     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Fred and Lorne are sitting next to one another on the couch, talking to Wesley and Gunn who are standing around near the front desk.

FRED
Having two part-demon parents might could explain the...woosh factor.

Cut to:

10     INT.     ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Cordelia walks into a dark room at the hotel. Connor's sitting in a corner, thinking.

CORDELIA
Connor, before our baby comes, I might ask you to do some things...for us.

Cut to:

11     INT.     ANGEL'S OFFICE AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Lorne walks in on a meeting between Angel, Fred, Wesley, and Cordelia.

LORNE
I have this cleansing abracadabra to clear my muddled mind.

CORDELIA
Then you'll be able to read me? (smile tensely)

Cut to:

12     INT.     BASEMENT AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Lorne is preparing potions and incense at the candle-lit table in the basement. He pulls the hood of his cloak over his head and picks up a hymnal. Lorne sings a song that sounds vaguely like a Gregorian chant, except that it has no words, only humming and ooing. Cordelia sneaks silently down the stairs, holding a knife in her hand. Just as Cordelia is standing behind Lorne, ready to stab him, someone turns on the lights. Cordelia looks up and Angel is standing in front of her.

LORNE
(takes a white cloth off of a ball—a "Magic 8 Ball"—and shakes the ball) Has Cordy been a bad, bad girl?

When Lorne turns the "Magic 8 Ball" over, the triangle inside reads "Definitely."

Fade to black.

The Start Of Episode

Prologue:

13     INT.     BASEMENT AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Resume. Angel and team are confronting Cordelia. Fred and Wesley are pointing guns at Cordelia.

ANGEL
All this time it was you, wasn't it?

CORDELIA
Took you long enough to figure it out but nice turn with the Lorne bait. You know, there was a time I would've seen that one coming eons before it ever crossed your tiny little mind.

ANGEL
Because you're so clever.

CORDELIA
On the scale of you to me, pretty damn.

ANGEL
Until now.

CORDELIA
All good things. (sighs) So, what finally tipped off the great detective?

ANGEL
Tongue, slip of.

Cut to:

13a     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
FLASHBACK: Cordelia's rubbing her belly as she tells the gang her good news.

CORDELIA
This, my sweet baby.

Cut to:

ANGEL
"My sweet." Same phrase the Beastmaster kept using when he was whispering in Angelus's head. Thought it was a bit femme for the booming macho act.

CORDELIA
That's it? I get away with bringing the world down around you and two eentsy words tingle your spider sense?

WESLEY
What we already knew. What he found out as Angelus. All the circumstantial led to you.

ANGEL
Just needed to be sure.

CORDELIA
Little late to the table, but I might have a few scraps left.

FRED
Why are you doing this, Cordy.

ANGEL
This thing isn't Cordelia.

CORDELIA
(smiles and shakes her head) Is that what you think, hero?

ANGEL
She would never hurt her friends like this.

CORDELIA
Or maybe you just don't know me very well.

ANGEL
(walks up to Cordelia) I don't want to know you.

Cordelia tries to pull a knife on Angel, but he grabs her wrist, averting her. With his other hand, he grabs her neck, choking her.

ANGEL
(through gritted teeth) Where's Cordelia?

Just then, Connor jumps through the glass roof, landing near Angel and Cordelia.

ANGEL
Connor, wait! Cordy's not what you think.

Angel reaches for Connor, but Connor just pushes him away hard, throwing Angel into Wesley. Lorne tries to shoot Connor with the tranquilizer gun, but misses. Connor kicks Lorne to the ground. Fred aims her tranq gun at Connor, but Connor grabs her hand, redirecting the dart toward Angel as he tries to stand.

CONNOR
(reaches his hand to Cordelia) Come on! (Cordelia takes his hand)

ANGEL
(struggling as the tranquilizers affect him) What... (falls to his knees) are... you? (falls forward, landing face down on the floor)

As Angel collapses, the "Magic 8 Ball" rolls to his side—the triangle inside reads "Ask Again Later."

Fade to black.

Opening credits.

ACT I:

14     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Gunn walks into the lobby where Angel, Fred, Wesley, and Lorne are.

GUNN
(reading his pager) Sorry, just got your message. Being close to Electric Gwen can really screw your equipment. What... (looks up from his pager at the gang) the hell happened to you?

FRED
(holding an ice pack to her face) Cordy's evil. Nice suit.

ANGEL
It's not Cordy.

WESLEY
We don't know that for certain.

GUNN
Whoa. Back it up for the new guy. (puts his pager back in his pocket) You saying popping mama threw you a beating?

LORNE
Kid Vicious did the heavy lifting. Cordy just mwa-ha-ha'd at us. (sips his drink)

GUNN
Why?

ANGEL
Beastmaster.

GUNN
You think she's working for him?

FRED
She is the Master.

GUNN
Guy steps out for a few hours, half the place goes super-villain. (sits beside Lorne)

ANGEL
Conner's not a part of this.

LORNE
Evidence upside my head to the contrary.

ANGEL
He's just... confused... again.

FRED
Now we know what she's been doing with him all this time. She was grooming him...

WESLEY
...as her champion.

GUNN
She's the evil genius that's been two-stepping all over us. (shakes his head) How? And when? (takes Lorne's drink from his hands) Give me a sip of that. (drinks)

LORNE
Hey.

FRED
Has she been like this since she got back from that higher wherever?

GUNN
What about that amnesia thing? Was that a fake-out?

WESLEY
Or a side effect. Descending to a lower dimension was probably disorienting.

ANGEL
Or maybe this thing was curled deep inside for the trip on some kind of, you know, autopilot. Look, all we know for sure is that the real damage didn't start until after Lorne's spell.

Cut to:

14a     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
FLASHBACK: In the hotel lobby, Lorne is giving Cordelia a drop of magical memory potion while Angel and Connor look on. She makes a face.

Cut to:

FRED
Oh, my God. We woke it up.

LORNE
That's what I read. That's what Wolfram and Hart sucked out of my noodle. It wasn't Cordelia's future. It was the smacker-jack surprise.

GUNN
Damn thing's been playing us right from the start.

ANGEL
From the inside... where it could do the most damage. Everything the Beast couldn't have done, it was this thing.

Cut to:

14b     INT.     SECRET ROOM AT GWEN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
FLASHBACK: Manny's reading a magazine in the secret room at Gwen's place when Cordelia sneaks up behind him with an ax, swinging it at his head.

ANGEL (V.O.)
Spiked my blood at Gwen's. Snuck into the vault, killed Manny.

Cut to:

GUNN
Wait a minute. When Gwen and I came in, faux Cordy didn't have any blood on its clothes. How'd it abracadabra that?

WESLEY
Lizzie Borden. It wasn't wearing any.

Cut to:

14c     INT.     SECRET ROOM AT GWEN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
FLASHBACK: Manny's reading a magazine in the secret room at Gwen's place when a naked Cordelia sneaks up behind him with an ax, swinging it at his head.

ANGEL (V.O.)
Stripped down, then gave Manny forty whacks.

Cut to:

GUNN
Quick sponge down in the sink, and—

LORNE
Voila. Shower-fresh murder.

ANGEL
Taking out the Svear priestess was a lot easier. Slip out while the heroes are chasing their tails...

Cut to:

14d     INT.     SVEAR HOUSE - NIGHT
FLASHBACK: Cordelia murders the entire Svear family with an ax.

ANGEL (V.O.)
...and slaughter the only hope of banishing her pet Beast.

Cut to:

14e     INT.     OFFICE AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
FLASHBACK: Cordelia opens the safe where the Muo-Ping container holding Angel's soul was being kept. She removes the container and shuts the safe door.

ANGEL (V.O.)
While everyone was reeling from that failure, it was making sure my soul was off the market.

Cut to:

FRED
And the vision of the spell to re-ensoul you?

ANGEL
Misdirection.

Cut to:

14f     INT.     BASEMENT AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
FLASHBACK: Cordelia is setting up a magical spell while the gang looks on. White smoke purposefully meanders toward Angelus. The smoke surrounds Angleus's body, lifting him off the ground. Pan over to show Lorne's eyes flash glowing red momentarily.

ANGEL (V.O.)
Getting everyone to look over here while the real action was happening over there.

Cut to:

LORNE
That explains why my mojo's been gunked up. Queen Bee-atch put the whammy on me.

ANGEL
And it let the monster out of the box.

Cut to:

14g     INT.     BASEMENT AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
FLASHBACK: Cordelia unlocks Angelus's cage, opens the door. In vamp facade, Angelus grins and pulls Cordy up to him violently.

Cut to:

14h     INT.     CORRIDOR IN HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Lilah's running away as fast as her wounded body will take her, but someone grabs her by the throat from one of the rooms, and pushes her into the doorjamb. It's Cordelia, who proceeds to stab Lilah in the neck with the knife from the Beast's offering; Lilah collapses, falls to the ground.

Cut to:

ANGEL (V.O.)
More misdirection, more blood, all designed to keep us off balance.

WESLEY
It was Cordelia. She murdered Lilah.

ANGEL
We don't know if it's really Cordy.

FRED
Or what she's got baking in her oven.

GUNN
Evil and pregnant? I'm guessing it ain't cookies.

Cut to:

15     INT.     WAREHOUSE SOMEWHERE IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
In a dark, deserted warehouse, Cordelia stands, rubbing her belly and looking around the room. Connor shuts the door behind them.

CORDELIA
Are you sure Angel won't be able to follow us?

CONNOR
I was careful.

CORDELIA
How careful?

CONNOR
Why were they trying to hurt you?

CORDELIA
(turns to face Connor) You know why. (beat) They're afraid of you, of me, what our love has created. They were gonna kill it and me if you hadn't come.

CONNOR
I didn't know where you were. I thought something bad might've happened. Followed your scent. But, I never thought... (shakes his head) How could he do that?

CORDELIA
Because he hates you. I didn't wanna believe it, but he does. (walks around Connor) He hates you for being with me. He can't stand the fact that he lost, that he'll never know the feel of my touch or the warmth of my lips. (kisses Connor's lips) You were right about Angel. He's an animal, and he's turned everyone against us. (hugs Connor)

CONNOR
(whispers into her ear) I'll kill them all before I let them hurt you.

CORDELIA
My sweet, sweet boy.

Cut to:

16     INT.     OFFICE AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Angel comes into the office where Wesley is doing research.

WESLEY
Any luck?

ANGEL
I swept the area 'til daybreak, checked the sewer tunnels in case they went underground, picked up their scent half a dozen times but... (sits)

WESLEY
If Connor doesn't want to be found, he won't. Wasting your time.

ANGEL
I'm getting good at that, huh? It was all there right in front of me. (looks at a sketch he drew of Cordelia) I couldn't see it. Thought of losing her to Connor—

WESLEY
Did exactly what it was supposed to. Play on your emotions to cloud your judgment. (stands, walks to the window) Draw your attention away so this thing could continue to murder anyone it... Least you had a reason for letting it happen.

ANGEL
(stands) Wes, Lilah and I weren't exactly friends—

WESLEY
You were mortal enemies. Why should you care what happened to her?

ANGEL
Because you did.

WESLEY
(turns to look at Angel a moment, then turns his attention to the papers he was researching) There's nothing here. (Angel walks behind the desk) If this thing could obliterate all references to the Beast, it's very unlikely it would leave its own bio laying about.

ANGEL
What about pan-dimensional texts like the one Lilah— (looks at Wes, then looks down)

WESLEY
I have Lorne reaching out to the black markets but it'll take time.

ANGEL
Great, another thing we don't have. (sits behind the desk)

WESLEY
Then let's go to the source. Whatever happened to Cordelia, it took place after her ascension to the higher planes. Maybe the Powers might be able to—

ANGEL
Last couple of times I've asked the Powers That Be for help they made it pretty damn clear they weren't in the business.

WESLEY
But at least one of those was to save Darla's life. A mass-murdering ex-vampire dying of syphilis? A strong "no" is hardly a shock.

ANGEL
You think the Powers couldn't see this thing was masquerading as Cordy? What it was doing to us? They didn't stop it because they didn't want to get their hands dirty. (beat) What we need is somebody who does. Somebody right in the middle of all this.

Cut to:

17     INT.     WAREHOUSE SOMEWHERE IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
Cordelia and Connor walk into a different dark, desolate warehouse.

CORDELIA
(looks around, sighs) More hooks? Great.

CONNOR
We could try to find someplace else.

CORDELIA
No. This'll do for now. (Connor pouts) Hey, it's okay. We're going to be all right.

CONNOR
I know. I just—I can't believe he tried to kill you.

CONNOR
Maybe it wasn't really Angel.

CORDELIA
Connor.

CONNOR
Angelus could've tricked us again. And—

CORDELIA
It was Angel. You know it was.

CONNOR
Everything he said about how I could help make the world a better place, about being a champion.

CORDELIA
Lies... meant to keep you in your place where he can watch you, control you.

CONNOR
But Fred, Gunn, Wesley, even Lorne—I thought they were... good.

CORDELIA
What does that mean, really? (walks away) Being good? Doing the right thing? By who's judgment? Good, evil—they're just words, Connor. Concepts of morality they forced around your neck to yank you wherever they please. You're with me now. You don't have to live by their rules. You remember why?

CONNOR
(smiles) 'Cause we're special.

CORDELIA
That's right. We're special, and our baby is going to be extraordinary.

Cut to:

18     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - DAY
Fred and Gunn are going through items in a cardboard box.

FRED
Scented candles, couple of broken pieces of the Muo-Ping, and some toiletries that smell way too pretty to be evil.

Angel rifles through papers on his desk while Fred talks, and when he finds a metal disk, he flips it in the air, making a pinging sound.

FRED
Not much to go on. As insidious lairs go, it kept Cordy's room nice and tidy. I think it even vacuumed.

ANGEL
Keep working on a way to locate this thing. If I'm not back in a couple of hours—

GUNN
You're dead, we're screwed, end of the world.

FRED
(smiles nervously) Or, you could stay here with us. Here's nice.

ANGEL
I've done this before. Don't worry. Walk in the park.

Cut to:

19     INT.     DEMON CAVE LAIR - NIGHT
Angel is fighting a demon and knocks him out. The demon falls to the floor.

ANGEL
I really hate the park.

Angel picks his sword up off the ground and proceeds further into the chamber. Another demon is in the next room, making growling, grumbly sounds. Angel sneaks up behind the demon, raising his sword, but the demon turns to face him before Angel strikes.

SKIP
(startled) Oh! Angel, geez. Don't they knock in your dimension?

ANGEL
Sorry. Wasn't sure it was you.

SKIP
Powerful demon Skip at your service. Hey, I—I got some more buffalo wings and, uh, the game's on at five if you want to just...

ANGEL
I'm a little pressed right now. When was the last time you saw Cordelia?

SKIP
Who?

ANGEL
She told me you were her guide when she decided to become half-demon.

SKIP
She did, huh? (shrugs) Okay, look, I wanted to give you the heads up but you know how the Powers are—always making with the big hush hush.

ANGEL
What do you know? (paces)

SKIP
This is going to be really hard for you to accept but Cordelia has ascended to a higher plane.

ANGEL
Oh, I know. She's back.

SKIP
Back?

ANGEL
Or at least something that looks like her.

SKIP
Well, wait. Nobody comes back from paradise. Okay, a Slayer once, but that—

ANGEL
So you haven't heard anything.

SKIP
Uh, not since her ascension. Oh, it was beautiful. Should've been there.

ANGEL
You were a part of that?

SKIP
It's in the job description. As Cordelia's guide I'm there for all the important events.

ANGEL
Except her welcome back party. (suspiciously) So why didn't the Powers invite you to that one?

SKIP
Mysterious ways. They can really drive a guy nuts.

ANGEL
Or maybe if you had known something you might've warned us. No, about the only one not keen on that slipping out is the one pulling her strings.

SKIP
Not following you there, champ.

ANGEL
You said it yourself, you were there. (walks up to Skip) Guiding Cordelia to her ascension, seeing her off to a higher plane which is exactly where this thing needed her to be to make its move. So, I'm thinking either you've been played for a dupe like the rest of us or you've been in on this from the start, Skippy.

Skip laughs nervously. Angel joins in the laughter, sarcastically.

SKIP
Angel, buddy, whatever's going on, I'm telling you true... (raises his forearm in front of him, triggers a dagger to be released from his armor) Not a dupe.

Fade to black.

ACT II:

20     INT.     DEMON CAVE LAIR - NIGHT
Resume. Angel and Skip fight in earnest. Angel swings his sword, but it doesn't penetrate Skip's body armor. Skip knocks Angel's sword away and grabs Angel by the neck.

SKIP
Not like last time, is it, monkey boy?

Skip throws Angel across the room.

SKIP
(walks toward Angel) You know, the worst part about signing on for this gig (punches Angel) was having to take a dive when you rescued that runt Billy from his box of fire. (kicks Angel across the room) I mean, come on! You really think a guy built like this would be so easy to drop? (walks up to Angel again) This time we do it for real, champion. This time... (grins) you lose.

Cut to:

21     INT.     WAREHOUSE SOMEWHERE IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
Connor stares out the window, as a guard, while Cordelia talks to him.

CORDELIA
He won't give up. You know that, right? He won't stop until he finds us.

CONNOR
Let him come. I can take him.

CORDELIA
Come over here. (Connor walks up to Cordelia) I want you to know what you're fighting for. (pulls his hand to her belly)

CONNOR
(touches her belly, gasps) It moved.

CORDELIA
Of course it did. That's what babies do when they're happy.

CORDELIA
I can't tell you how thankful I am that I found someone like you. I just wish they could let us be happy.

CONNOR
I'll make them.

CORDELIA
You can't. They're too afraid. But maybe when they see how beautiful our baby is...

CONNOR
You think that would change how they feel?

CORDELIA
Our baby's going to change everything, Connor.

CONNOR
How soon... before we can show them?

CORDELIA
A week? Maybe two? (stands, walks away) But he'll find us before that. I know he will. He'll find us and he'll—

CONNOR
I won't let him. I promise.

CORDELIA
I don't want you killing each other. That's never what I wanted. Maybe there's another way. A way to bring our baby into the world now—before anyone else can hurt us.

CONNOR
How?

CORDELIA
I'll need some very special things. Do you think you can get them for me?

Cut to:

22     INT.     DEMON CAVE LAIR - NIGHT
Skip and Angel are still fighting. Skip throws Angel to the ground.

SKIP
(walks up to Angel) Well, now, this is just embarrassing.

ANGEL
(struggles to stand) Tell me... what happened to Cordelia.

SKIP
Or, what? You'll bleed on me some more?

Angel tries to punch Skip, but he's outmatched. None of Angel's punches faze Skip, who just whales on Angel in return, knocking him to the ground.

SKIP
You know, I've always wondered. How many chunks you gotta hack off a vampire before he goes all dust bunny?

ANGEL
(stands) Tell me what happened...

SKIP
Yeah. Heard that part.

Angel punches Skip in the torso several times, and this time ducks when Skip punches back. Then Angel jumps up to grab onto a chain hanging from the ceiling and swings over Skip's head, landing across the room. Skip punches him to the ground when Angel lands.

SKIP
What are you, Tarzan? See, this is the nefarious meat of it, pal. You die never knowing what really happened to the woman you love. Gotta respect the classics.

Angel grabs a section of chain from the wall and stands. Angel swings the chain at Skip, catching on a spur on Skip's hand. Angel pulls and rips the spur off. Angel swings the chain repeatedly at Skip's face, finally catching on a large spur on Skip's head and ripping it off. Skip screams in pain, holding his hand to his head. He goes for Angel again, but Angel punches him repeatedly in the face.

SKIP
(staggering) You really think that's gonna—

Angel rears back and punches Skip, powerfully this time. Skip falls to the ground, unconscious. Pan down to show Angel had wrapped the chain around his fist when he punched Skip.

ANGEL
Yeah, I do.

Cut to:

23     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Fred, Wesley, Gunn and Lorne are researching in the lobby. Fred's pacing, reading an article.

FRED
Hey, here's something. Maybe I can—

Fred jumps, startled, as a cross-dimensional portal opens up right behind her. It's carrying Angel and an unconscious Skip back to the lobby of the hotel. On the floor beside Skip, the metal disc that Angel took with him is spinning.

FRED
—have an embolism!

WESLEY
What happened?

ANGEL
We had words.

LORNE
Between the pummeling?

ANGEL
Whatever's happened to Cordy, he's a part of it. We need to bind him to this dimension. (groans and sits; everyone stands around gawking; Angel looks up at them) Before he wakes up would be nice.

Cut to:

24     INT.     ALLEY IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
A teenage school girl drops her books and backs away as a vampire stalks her.

VAMPIRE
Mmm... I really love virgins.

The vampire goes to bite the girl, but he turns to dust before anything happens to her. When the dust clears, Connor's standing behind where the vampire was.

CONNOR
You all right?

VIRGIN
He tried to kill—

CONNOR
I know. Did he hurt you?

VIRGIN
No. No, you stopped him. Th-thank you. (crying) Thank you, oh-oh God, thank you so much. Th-thank—

Connor punches the girl in the face, knocking her out.

Cut to:

25     INT.     WAREHOUSE SOMEWHERE IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
Close-up on the girl lying on the floor, unconscious. Her face is bloody and bruised from where Connor hit her.

CORDELIA
She's perfect. Did you get everything else?

CONNOR
(softly) Yeah.

CORDELIA
I know what your heart is telling you, Connor, but it will lie to you if you let it. You have to trust me. Be sad, mourn for her, but never forget the truth. She's one of them. One of the average, normal people that fill this world. But what we're doing will elevate her life beyond that and give her death meaning. Her blood for our baby. (looks at the girl) That's more than fair, (looks at Connor) isn't it?

Cut to:

26     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Skip is standing inside a cylinder of red light. At his feet is a circle of red sand. He touches the light, but retracts his hand. The light disappears.

SKIP
Sand of the red palm. (chuckles) A child's trick.

GUNN
Then why don't you come out and play.

SKIP
In time.

ANGEL
(with crossed arms) You'll have a lot of that after we make your accommodations a little bit more permanent. (walks toward Skip) Fred?

FRED
(holds an open book in her arms facing out, walks toward Skip) Sphere of the Infinite Agonies. Every second a lifetime. Should be able to whip one up in, um... twenty minutes.

ANGEL
Everything you know or she starts whipping.

SKIP
Hey. (holds up his hands) Whoa. I'm just a merc. I go where the deal is and not getting stuck in one of those? Bargain. (beat) Anybody got a cig?

ANGEL
(paces) Cordelia. Where is she?

SKIP
I don't know. This is your dimension, man, you tell me.

ANGEL
The real Cordelia. Not this thing that's been posing as her.

SKIP
How'd I ever get spanked by such a chump nut. (looks Angel up and down and sighs) That thing which has turned your life into a burning ring of fire? She is the real Cordelia. (beat) Or at least she's in there somewhere. This whole thing...

GUNN
Is it Cordy or not?

SKIP
Oh, it's her. She just ain't driving.

ANGEL
Something took control of her on the higher plane?

SKIP
Drill a little deeper, Hoss. How you think she got there in the first place?

WESLEY
You're saying her ascension was all part of this thing's plan?

SKIP
No, Cordelia was chosen to become a higher being because she's such a pure, radiant saint. (scoffs) Puh-lease.

Cut to:

27     INT.     WAREHOUSE SOMEWHERE IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
Cordelia's sitting on the floor, chanting in the middle of a circle of lit white candles.

CORDELIA
(chanting) Vanu'esh. Katahn darh'im. Vajra'ha'esh.
Vanu'esh. Katahn darh'im. Vajra'ha'esh.

Connor watches Cordelia chant, then goes into the next room.

Cut to:

28     INT.     WAREHOUSE SOMEWHERE IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
Connor walks into the room beside where Cordelia is chanting. He looks at the girl he brought there; she's still unconscious, sitting on the floor, leaning her head against the wall.

CORDELIA (O.S.)
(chanting in the other room) Vanu'esh. Katahn darh'im. Vajra'ha'esh.
Vanu'esh. Katahn darh'im. Vajra'ha'esh.
Vanu'esh. Katahn darh'im. Vajra'ha'esh.

The girl wakens and gasps as she sees Connor kneeling in front of her.

CONNOR
It's okay. I'm not gonna hurt you.

VIRGIN
(cowering) Please...

CONNOR
Brought you some water.

VIRGIN
(crying) I gotta get home. My mom's gonna be so mad.

CONNOR
(softly) I'm sorry.

VIRGIN
(weeping) I won't tell anyone, I promise. Please, just let me go.

WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
Listen.

CONNOR
(stands) Somebody there?

WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
I've always been here... close to your heart. After all...

The woman steps out of the shadows to reveal it's Darla. Darla's wearing a simple dress and a white cardigan sweater. Her voice is soft and sweet.

DARLA
(smiling sweetly) ...isn't that where a mother belongs?

Fade to black.

ACT III:

29     INT.     WAREHOUSE SOMEWHERE IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
Resume. Darla has just appeared to Connor in the room where he is keeping the adolescent girl he abducted. Cordelia is in the next room, chanting. Connor stares at Darla in shock.

DARLA (O.S.)
The Powers have sent me to give you a message.

CONNOR
You can't be my mother.

DARLA
(softly) I have her memories, her feelings. Isn't that what makes a person who they are?

VIRGIN
(weeping in the corner) Let me go, please... (softly sobbing)

DARLA
(walks toward the virgin girl) I know that sound, the look in her eyes, the smell of fear. (kneels beside the girl) I've nurtured it a thousand times (looks at Connor) in all the people that I've murdered.

CONNOR
My mother's dead. (the girl looks up at Connor)

DARLA
(stands) And I'll always be a part of you. You shared your soul with me once when you were growing inside of me when I'd lost my own. You brought light to my shadow, filled my heart with joy and love. I'd never felt so close to any living thing as I did to my beautiful boy.

CONNOR
Why'd you leave me? (scoffs) Did you hate me that much?

DARLA
Baby, no. I wanted to be with you more than anything.

CONNOR
You killed yourself. I wasn't even born yet. And you—

DARLA
—did what I had to. My life for yours. I did so many terrible things, Connor, so much destruction, so much pain. You were the one good thing I ever did. The only good thing. I'd die every day for the rest of eternity for you. And this... (gestures to the virgin girl) is how you repay me?

CONNOR
(walks away) You don't understand. (turns toward Darla) We need her for our baby to keep it safe.

DARLA
By anointing it in the blood of an innocent? You really think that safety can be plucked from the arms of an evil deed?

CONNOR
Good, evil. They're just words.

DARLA
(shakes her head) Don't let this happen, Connor. Don't let my death mean nothing.

Cut to:

30     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Angel and gang are interviewing Skip about Cordelia.

SKIP
You really think it matters? I mean, nothing I tell you is gonna change what's gonna happen.

ANGEL
Cut the gloom and doom. What's taken over Cordy?

SKIP
Something beyond your comprehension. To give it voice would rend your feeble brain into a quivering mass of—

ANGEL
(looks to Fred) Fred, infinite agony. (walks away)

Fred stands, holding open a book.

SKIP
OK, you got me. It doesn't even have a name.

GUNN
Then what do you call it?

SKIP
Oh, Master or "Hey."

LORNE
Unspeakable horror for real this time.

ANGEL
Ah, it doesn't make sense. Cordy was made a higher being because she proved herself to the Powers by bearing their visions. This thing couldn't have—

WESLEY
Unless it maneuvered her to inherit the visions in the first place.

SKIP
Uh, oh. Better step on it. The rubes are catching up.

ANGEL
It wasn't just her ascension. Everything that's happened to Cordy in the past few years—all of it—was planned.

SKIP
You really think it stops with her, amigo? You have any concept of how many lines have to intersect in order for a thing like this to play out? How many events have to be nudged in just the right direction? (looks at Lorne) Leaving Pylea. (looks at Gunn) Your sister. (looks at Fred) Opening the wrong book. (looks at Wesley) Sleeping with the enemy. (beat) Gosh, (chuckles) I love a story with scope.

GUNN
No way. We make our own choices.

SKIP
Yeah, sure. Cheese sandwich here, uh, when to floss. But the big stuff, like two vampires squeezing out a kid?

ANGEL
Connor.

WESLEY
An impossible birth to make one possible.

SKIP
That's what the kid was designed for.

LORNE
(chuckles) To sleep with mother love?

ANGEL
To create a vessel.

SKIP
Look out. The monkey's thinking again.

ANGEL
Being inside a human makes it vulnerable, doesn't it? That's why it had to stay hidden. Why it needed to create something stronger to pour itself into.

GUNN
Wait. So the big nasty inside of Cordy is going to give birth... to itself?

SKIP
Circle of life. It's a beautiful thing.

ANGEL
How do we stop it?

SKIP
That's the easy part, slick. All you gotta do is find Cordelia and chop her head off.

ANGEL
Has to be another way.

SKIP
Sure. Stab her in the heart, kidney, couple pokes in the lung—

ANGEL
A way that won't kill Cordy in the process.

SKIP
Takes a whole lot of cramming to get that much sweetness into a human. It's in every hair, every cell, every molecule of Cordelia's body and it ain't letting go 'til it got a brand new bag.

FRED
What happens to Cordy then?

SKIP
Drained of her life force during labor. Those contractions are a real bitch.

ANGEL
It'll kill her?

SKIP
Or she'll end up a head of cabbage.

WESLEY
What do you wanna do?

SKIP
The only thing you can do. Kill the woman he loves to save the world. Times like this? Really gotta suck being you.

ANGEL
How do I find her? (Skip doesn't answer; Angel walks forward intimidatingly) How?

SKIP
Well, I'd go with the Bu'shundi ritual but, uh, you're gonna need a sacred Hutamin paw for that—

LORNE
Got it. (stands, goes behind the desk)

SKIP
(shocked) What?

LORNE
Cordy—the real Cordy—kept one in her desk drawer.

SKIP
Probably a knock-off. It's not some trinket you'd throw in a desk drawer—

LORNE
(Lorne pulls the item out of Cordelia's desk) She thought it was a back scratcher.

ANGEL
Get started.

SKIP
Wait, wait. Uh, did I say "Bu'shundi "? I meant "Ru'shundi ". It's—it—whole different— (turns around in disgust) Crap.

Cut to:

31     INT.     WAREHOUSE SOMEWHERE IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
Connor is in the room with the girl he's holding prisoner. The girl is awake now, crying, sitting on the floor. Darla is squatting next to the girl. They both look up at Connor.

CONNOR
They hate us... because we're special.

VIRGIN
(crying, pleading) I don't hate you. Please.

DARLA
They're scared because of what you've done not because of what you are.

CONNOR
They wanted to kill me when I was still inside of you.

DARLA
(stands) But that changed when they saw you, held you in their arms, felt the warmth of your skin, the goodness in your heart.

CONNOR
And it will happen again when they hold my child. (looks at the girl) It's the only way.

DARLA
You have a choice, Connor. That is something more precious then you'll ever know.

CONNOR
What choice? They're hunting us like animals!

DARLA
(walks up to Connor) Because you're acting like one. As a vampire I killed without mercy or remorse because I didn't have a soul. What's your excuse?

CONNOR
(shakes his head) You think I wanna do this?

DARLA
Then don't.

CONNOR
(nearly in tears) I have to.

DARLA
Why? (gestures to Cordelia in the next room) Because she told you? There are things happening, Connor, things that I can't— (sigh) It has to be your choice. You can stop this.

CONNOR
Her blood for our baby's. It's fair, isn't it?

VIRGIN
(weeping) Please, I wanna go home.

CONNOR
(yelling) Shut up!

DARLA
This isn't you, Connor.

CONNOR
You've been gone a long time, Mom. How would you know?

DARLA
Because we shared a soul. I feel the pain, the anger, the hurt, like it were my own. (walks up to Connor, looks him in the eyes) But most of all, I feel the good in you and no matter how much you're beaten or twisted or lied to, it's still there in your heart. I know it, and deep down, you know it, too.

Close-up of Connor's face to show it's tear-streaked as he contemplates the young girl cowering in the corner.

Cut to:

32     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Fred and Gunn are sitting on the stairs, each on a different step, staring off into the distance.

FRED
What do you think he'll do?

GUNN
What he has to, like he always does.

Show they are staring at Angel.

FRED
Will it make a difference? We really are just pieces being moved around a board.

GUNN
Then we'll kick it over and start a new game. Look, monochrome can yap all he wants about no-name's cosmic plan, but here's a little something I picked up rubbing mojos these past couple of years. The final score can't be rigged. I don't care how many players you grease, that last shot always comes up a question mark. But here's the thing—you never know when you're taking it. It could be when you're duking it out with the Legion of Doom, or just crossing the street deciding where to have brunch. So you just treat it all like it was up to you—the world in the balance—'cause you never know when it is.

FRED
You been practicing that?

GUNN
(smiles) Little bit. (chuckles)

Lorne and Wesley come out of the office.

LORNE
Hug your neighbor, kiddies, we got it.

SKIP
(scoffs) You're all puppets.

WESLEY
Shut up.

FRED
Where is she?

LORNE
(looks at the map) Well, according to the scorch marks, downtown, meat packing district.

ANGEL
(comes out of the office) Good work. (takes the map from Lorne)

GUNN
Lets load up.

ANGEL
No, you're not coming, any of you. Whatever's taken over Cordy, it's still her inside. She's still our friend. She's still the woman I... I won't let you carry that. I can't.

SKIP
Anybody got a hanky?

Lorne frowns.

FRED
He's really gonna do it. He's gonna kill Cordelia.

WESLEY
He doesn't have a choice.

FRED
Angel, wait! (runs after him, but Angel goes on out the door)

SKIP
Yup, that'll go well.

Cut to:

33     INT.     WAREHOUSE SOMEWHERE IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
Connor kneels down to untie the bound hands of the virgin girl he's holding captive. Darla stands nearby.

CONNOR
(to the girl) Shhhhh. Shhh. It's okay.

DARLA
You're all right now. Everything's going to be all right.

CORDELIA
(walks into the room) What are you doing?

CONNOR
(frozen) Nothing. I, uh— (stands)

CORDELIA
It's time. Take her in the other room.

DARLA
Listen to your heart.

CONNOR
(to Cordelia) She didn't do anything. We should let her go.

CORDELIA
No we shouldn't. We need her, Connor. Our baby—

CONNOR
Shouldn't be anointed with innocent blood.

CORDELIA
(angrily) Anointed? Who's been filling your head with big, confusing words.

CONNOR
(turns away, paces) Just been thinking about it.

CORDELIA
Or, maybe... a little birdie's been pecking at you behind my back.

DARLA
(to Connor) She'll lie to you.

CORDELIA
You know how much they love to use the magic, Connor. A spell for this, a spell for that.

DARLA
Close her out, baby.

CORDELIA
Whatever you're hearing, whatever you think you're seeing—it's a trick.

DARLA
Don't let her in.

CORDELIA
It's Angel.

DARLA
No.

CORDELIA
Trying to turn you against me with a cheap vision of— (looks to where Darla's standing) Darla.

CONNOR
(to Cordelia) You can see her?

CORDELIA
I see the lies.

DARLA
Connor, listen to me.

CORDELIA
It's not her.

DARLA
You have to let her go.

CORDELIA
It's your father. This is how much he hates you.

DARLA
I love you. Please.

CORDELIA
Torturing you with this sad imitation of your dead mother.

DARLA
(crying) Don't let her do this.

CORDELIA
(pushing) Are you going to let them do this to us? Are you going to let them kill our baby?

DARLA
(desperate) Connor, listen to me...

CONNOR
(yelling, crying) You are not my mother!

Connor grabs the virgin girl by her bound hands and drags her into the other room.

VIRGIN
(weeping) No.

Cut to:

34     INT.     WAREHOUSE SOMEWHERE IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
Connor puts virgin girl on the ground in the center of the circle where Cordelia was chanting before. The girl looks up to see Cordelia swinging a huge butcher's knife at her head. When the girl looks up at Connor, she has Darla's face now.

DARLA
Please, don't do this Connor. Don't—

Connor just stands there, watching Cordelia murder this girl, listening to the sounds of blood spattering as Cordelia makes the killing blow. The girl collapses in the middle of the circle.

CORDELIA
(remorselessly) There. That wasn't so hard, was it?

Fade to black.

ACT IV:

35     INT.     WAREHOUSE SOMEWHERE IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
The dead girl lies on the floor outside the circle, covered in blood. Connor stares at her. Cordelia is lying on bedding inside the circle.

CORDELIA
Connor, we have to do this (writhes) while it's fresh. (rolling, grunting)

Connor stares at the girl's body; it stares back at her. Her blood is spattered on his face. Connor kneels down, places the palm of his hand in the blood pooling around the girl. He then stands and walks up to Cordelia.

CORDELIA
(chanting, writhing) Vanu'esh. Katahn darh'im. Vajra'ha'esh.

Closeup of Connor's bloody palm as he walks to Cordelia.

CORDELIA
(chanting, weakly) Vanu'esh. Katahn darh'im. Vajra'ha'esh. ...darh'im...

Connor stands over Cordelia, staring at her. She pulls up her shirt to reveal the bare skin of her swollen belly.

CORDELIA
Do it, Connor. (panting) Do it now. (panting) Do it now.

Connor presses his bloody palm to Cordelia's belly. She screams. The building starts to shake around them.

Cut to:

36     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
The building is shaking back at the Hyperion Hotel as well. Fred is in the lobby next to Skip. Lorne and Gunn are standing toward the edge of the room. Wesley peeks out of the office.

GUNN
Fred!

Fred loses her balance and falls to the floor. Everyone else falls down as well.

FRED
What's happening?

Debris falls on the circle of red sand surrounding Skip, breaking the circle. Skip steps out of the circle.

SKIP
End of the world, cupcake— (walks toward Fred) for you.

Cut to:

37     INT.     WAREHOUSE SOMEWHERE IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
Cordelia is screaming in pain as Connor attends to her. The building is still shaking.

CONNOR
Cordy! Something's wrong. We have to stop it.

CORDELIA
No, it's coming. (laughs) It's coming. The beginning of a new world.

ANGEL (O.S.)
Or not.

Connor turns to see Angel standing behind him with a sword in hand. Connor stands to face him.

Cut to:

38     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Skip throws Gunn across the room. No one is left standing to oppose him.

SKIP
(laughs) What a bunch of pantywaists. (turns to walk away)

Fred scoots across the floor. Wesley tries hitting Skip across the back with the battle-axe, but Skip's armor deflects the blow.

SKIP
If you can't stop little old Skipper, you really think you got a chance against that?

The building continues to fall down around them.

Cut to:

39     INT.     WAREHOUSE SOMEWHERE IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
Angel confronts Connor as Cordelia lies in the circle, writhing.

ANGEL
She lied to you, Connor.

CORDELIA
Don't listen!

ANGEL
To all of us. That's not Cordelia.

CONNOR
Leave us alone!

Connor charges at Angel. They fight. Connor kicks Angel's sword away.

CORDELIA
Kill him! Kill him, Connor!

Cut to:

40     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Skip saunters up to Fred, and grabs her up by her neck, holding her off the floor.

SKIP
What was that you were saying before? Something about infinite agony? Hmm?

Gunn strikes Skip across the back with his sword, but to no avail because the armor protects him. Skip lets go of Fred and pushes Gunn down.

SKIP
You mind? I'm trying to work here.

Wesley comes out shooting Skip with a pistol. Skip doesn't try to dodge the bullets, but instead makes a show of deflecting them with his chest. Wesley fires a dozen rounds at Skip, but to no avail. Wesley throws the gun to the ground.

SKIP
Do those things ever work? I mean, really. (turns to look around the room)

When Skip turns his head, Wesley notices a break in the armor where Angel had ripped some of it off of his head earlier. Wesley makes a rolling dive for the gun, aims, and shoots at Skip's head. The bullet goes right into the vulnerable spot, entering Skip's head.

SKIP
(mumbles) Well, that ain't right. (collapses)

Skip lands on the floor beside Fred, who looks at him and sighs in relief.

Cut to:

41     INT.     WAREHOUSE SOMEWHERE IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
Connor and Angel are still fighting as Cordelia stays in the circle.

ANGEL
(punches Connor to the ground) You think I wanna do this? I don't have a choice!

Angel takes his sword and walks up to Cordelia, who doesn't move. She grunts in pain, glaring at Angel. Angel rears back the sword.

ANGEL
I'm so sorry.

Connor gets up and tries to go after Angel again, but instead Cordelia screams and a bright green-white column of light shoots up from her body in a blast of energy. Angel and Connor are both knocked back to the walls. The column of light turns into a prismatic sunburst display as the entity within Cordelia leaves her body. In the bright light, something octopus-like with tentacles is moving. Angel sits up and look at it. As the light retracts, the form of the entity becomes more and more human-shaped. Finally, the light is absorbed completely into the entity—it looks like a human woman. Cordelia passes out. Angel stands and charges toward the creature, screaming, but then stops in his tracks.

ANGEL
Oh, my God. (drops to his knees) You're beautiful.

WOMAN
(smiles) Angel.

Cut to:

Closing credits.


Episode Information:

Creator: Joss Whedon
David Greenwalt
Producer: Ben Edlund
Co-Producer: Skip Schoolnik
Stephen S. DeKnight
Consulting Producer: David Fury
David Greenwalt
Tim Minear
Co-Executive Producer: Jeffrey Bell
Executive Producers:

Joss Whedon

Sandy Gallin
Gail Berman
Fran Rubel Kuzui
Kaz Kuzui

Produced By: Kelly A. Manners
Written By: Steven S. DeKnight
Directed By:

Steven S. DeKnight

Starring:

David Boreanaz as Angel
Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase
J. August Richards as Charles Gunn
Amy Acker as Winifred "Fred" Burkle
Vincent Kartheiser as Connor
Andy Hallett as Lorne
and Alexis Denisof as Wesley Wyndham-Pryce

Special Guest Star:

Julie Benz as Darla

Guest Stars: Gina Torres as Master / Woman
David Denman as Skip
Stephi Lineburg as Virgin

4x16 - Players

on . Posted in Btvs Guide - Angel Script

GUNN (V.O.)
Previously on Angel:

1     EXT.    SKY TEMPLE CLUB ON KIMBALL BUILDING ROOF - NIGHT
The Beast kneels on one knee, punching the floor at the center of his human square, sending a trail of fire out along the floor in the shape of the Eye of Fire symbol. A shock wave emanates from the area, knocking everyone back a few feet. The fire is tall now, taller than the beast. The Beast leaps straight up into the sky, riding the fire that he created.

CORDELIA (V.O.)
The rain of fire, even blotting out the sun—those were only the first steps to something bigger.

Cut to:

2     INT.    CONNOR'S PLACE - NIGHT
Connor and Cordelia are in bed together, making love. Lying on top of Cordelia, Connor kisses her tenderly amid gentle undulations under the sheets.

Cut to:

3     INT.    CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Cordelia shows her very pregnant belly to Connor.

CORDELIA
We're having a baby.

Cut to:

4     INT.    LOBBY OF THE HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - DAY
Everyone stops and looks at the front door where Gwen Raiden has just entered.

ANGEL
Gwen.

GWEN
Hi there.

Cut to:

5     INT.    VAULT IN CHANDLER'S AUCTION HOUSE - NIGHT
Angel is standing on the outside of the vault, separated from Gwen by the gate.

ANGEL
What are you?

GWEN
I'm a freak.

Gwen is standing away from them, looking at Gunn lying on the ground. Gwen sighs.

GWEN
Move! (goes to Gunn, shocks him by holding her hands to his chest) There we go.

Cut to:

6     INT.    CONNOR'S PLACE - DAY
Everyone turns to see the Beast standing in the doorway behind them.

BEAST
(walks toward them) Angelus.

Cut to:

7     EXT.    STREET BEHIND CONNOR'S PLACE
Cordelia and Connor are waiting anxiously by the car. Angel, Gwen, Gunn, Fred, and Wesley come out of the building, and Cordelia runs to them.

ANGEL
I'm telling ya. I don't know this beast.

WESLEY
But Angelus might. We need Angelus.

Cut to:

8     INT.    BASEMENT AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
The shaman puts his hand on Angel's head, closes his eyes, and when the shaman's eyes open again, they're red.

Cut to:

9     INT.    BASEMENT AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Angelus is sitting inside the cage.

CORDELIA (V.O.)
Angelus.

Cut to:

10     INT.    BASEMENT AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Gunn, Cordelia, Connor and Fred are in the basement talking, guarding Angelus in the cage.

ANGELUS
There's something bigger. The Beast has a boss.

Cut to:

11     INT.    CAVE
In a triangular shaped room lit dimly with two torches, the Beast prays.

Cut to:

12     INT.    CORRIDOR IN HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Lilah's running away as fast as her wounded body will take her, but someone grabs her by the throat from one of the rooms, and pushes her into the doorjamb. It's Cordelia.

LILAH
He's gonna kill us.

CORDELIA
I know. (stabs Lilah in the neck with the knife from the Beast's offering; Lilah collapses, falls to the ground) Why do you think I let him out? (smiles)

Cut to:

13     INT.    CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Cordelia's talking to Connor.

CORDELIA
Killing Angelus now is the only way to guarantee our family's safety.

Cut to:

14     INT.    BASEMENT AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Chained Angel is mumbling to himself with Connor kneeling over him. Connor rears his hand back, revealing that he's got a stake in it. Faith grabs Connor's wrist, stopping him from staking Angel. Faith and Connor fight. When Connor lands near the cage, Angel grabs his neck through the bars.

ANGEL
Connor, it's over. It's me.

Cut to:

15     INT.    LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Angel turns to face the gang.

ANGEL
So, we're back.

WESLEY
It would seem.

ANGEL
Look, I know things have been—

CORDELIA
(walks down the stairs) Sorry, Angel. But if this is the speech about how the worst is behind us, you may want to save it for later.

Cordelia's wearing a trampy outfit that reveals her pregnancy to the gang.

Fade to black.

The Start Of Episode

Prologue:

16     INT.    LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Resume. Cordelia has just revealed her pregnancy to Angel, Fred, Wesley, and Gunn, who stare at her, stunned. Connor walks up to her side.

CORDELIA
(rubbing her belly) I know it's a bit of a shock. I mean, nobody's more shocked than me. (looks at Connor) OK, maybe him.

Everyone stares at her in silence.

FRED
Um, sorry to be so... but I'm, like you said, kinda shocked.

Angel walks over to the couch and sits down.

GUNN
Yeah, 'cause hasn't it only been like... Definitely shocked.

CORDELIA
I haven't been hiding, or ashamed, or anything... It's just with the Beast and his psycho master, and then Faith and Willow and all that dramarama, not to mention—

ANGEL
Angelus.

CORDELIA
Everything's just been so Clash of the Titans around here. I didn't wanna be a distraction.

LORNE
(walks in from outside, sees Cordy) Wha...? Put me on the short bus, and send me off to clueless school. A mystical pregnancy right under my beak and not even a tingle. Huh.

WESLEY
How long have you known?

CORDELIA
Some time after we brought forth Angelus.

GUNN
That's a couple of weeks. Looks more like eight months.

WESLEY
The last time Cordelia was impregnated, she came to term overnight.

CORDELIA
That was a crawly evil demon thing. This is different.

FRED
Still, shouldn't we try and find out...what's in there?

CONNOR
We already know. Our baby.

GUNN
(to Angel) Well, congratulations. You're gonna have a grandspawn.

CONNOR
You don't know what it's like. How scary it is. I'm gonna have a child, and all you can do is joke 'cause you don't like me. We shouldn't have told 'em. (walks out of the lobby)

FRED
Cordelia...

CORDELIA
I know it's hard to understand. None of you have ever had a living being growing inside of you. And this— (looks at her belly) my sweet baby—we're connected. I feel what it feels. I can't explain it, but I sense its goodness, its love. (turns to walk away, looks down at her belly as the creature inside writhes visibly under her skin—clearly not a human baby; turns back to face the others) You'll see. (smiles) My baby will be here soon, and then you'll all see.

Fade to black.

Opening credits.

ACT I:

17     EXT.    PARK IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
A man stands alone in a plaza while a fountain bubbles behind him. He looks around nervously as people walk by. When he turns around again, Gwen Raiden's standing behind him.

MAN
How'd you do that?

GWEN
I'm a thief. (walks up to the man) Got my stuff? (the man looks around nervously) Would you stop it?

MAN
Stop what?

GWEN
Acting shifty. You've never done this before, have you? (laces her arm through his, they start walking) Let me give you a tip, sugar bear. There are over eight million people in this city, and as far as anyone can tell, we're just two of 'em. Just a normal couple. Nobody's gonna give us a second look if you just stop acting shifty.

MAN
(stops walking, breaks away from her and looks her in the eyes) Look, these are very powerful people that you're going up against. If they catch you, they'll kill you—

GWEN
I know the risks, but I'm going in there with or without your help. And I'm not coming out without Lisa. (pulls an envelope out of her back pocket) So, are we gonna dance, or what? (slips the envelope into the man's breast pocket)

MAN
(hands Gwen an 9"x11" envelope he took out of his coat) That's everything. Security, blueprints, background.

GWEN
(smiles) There. That wasn't so bad, was it?

MAN
So, is it that obvious? (laughs) That I've never done—

GWEN
Trench coat. Definite rookie mistake.

MAN
So, I should... dress more like you? You know, maybe when this is all over, you and I could— (Gwen is struck by lightning and sent flying back) Holy sh—

The man runs away as Gwen lies there on the ground. She looks up and talks to him as he runs away.

GWEN
Really, I'm fine. Thanks for asking.

Cut to:

18     INT.    LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Fred and Lorne are sitting next to one another on the couch, talking to Wesley and Gunn who are standing around near the front desk.

FRED
Were we too harsh? (Lorne shakes his head) I was just asking.

WESLEY
No, they were bound to skulk off to neutral corners.

GUNN
(pacing) Two vampires hook up, and—for the only time in vamp history—have a kid, our boy Connor. Then Connor grows up, knocks it out with Cordelia, a part-demon former higher-being. And—quick as you can say "Easy Bake Oven"—there's a gigantic bun in hers. (shakes his head) I don't think we were too harsh.

FRED
The first time Connor tried to attack Angelus, Lorne's sanctuary spell knocked him halfway to Abilene.

WESLEY
Which means Connor is at least part-demon.

LORNE
Yeah, well that was before my spell went all Flop-a-palooza.

FRED
Having two part-demon parents might could explain the... (makes a gesture like a growing belly) woosh factor.

GUNN
Not gonna be long until woosh turns into pop.

LORNE
Speaking of "pop," don't you think our re-ensouled leader should be a part of this little confab?

ANGEL
(walks out of his office into the lobby) Easy Bake. Flop-a-palooza. Woosh. Pop. (points at Wesley) I don't skulk. I've been thinking...about the past few weeks and Angelus—

FRED
Angel, you can't feel guilty for anything Angelus did.

ANGEL
I know. I knew the risks. We all did. (looks at Wesley) And some of us paid a higher price than others. Angelus didn't kill Lilah. She was already dead, killed by the Beast.

Wesley looks pained and upset and confused.

FRED
Well, that's...less terrible.

ANGEL
(to Wesley) There's no excuse for...what Angelus did to her, but... I'm sorry for your loss. (Wesley looks down) We've got two pressing matters: figuring out what we can about Cordelia's pregnancy, and destroying the Beast's master. Lorne you're—

LORNE
Reliable as a cheap fortune cookie?

ANGEL
I was gonna say a guy with good contacts. There have to be rumblings around town about this new player. Talk to your sources. See if anyone knows anyone who might know anything.

LORNE
I'm your demon.

ANGEL
Right. Wesley, if there's experts on mystical births, we're it.

WESLEY
Uh, we'll pull all the files on Darla and her pregnancy and see what we can find.

ANGEL
Gunn, I want you to sit tight for now. It never hurts to have some muscle on deck. (Gunn just glares back at Angel) In the mean time, there has to be a reason why the Beastmaster wanted Angelus. I'm gonna piece together everything I know—things he said to me when he was in my head, everything he's done. Maybe something will—

GWEN (O.S.)
Strike you?

Everyone turns around to see that Gwen has just walked through the front door.

GWEN
Careful what you wish for.

FRED
(stands) Well, look who's back now that the lights are on.

GWEN
Aw, missed you too, babe.

ANGEL
Gwen, it's really not a great time for a social call. We're pretty swamped. You know, uh... apocalypse.

GWEN
Thing is, there's a girl. She's in trouble. It's what you guys do, right?

ANGEL
Well, yeah.

GWEN
So, I'm in a jam. I can't get out of it alone. I need someone suave, a guy who can handle himself in a tight spot.

ANGEL
(swaggers a moment) Gwen, I'd love to help—

GWEN
I meant him. (gestures to Gunn)

Cut to:

19     INT.    ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Cordelia walks into a dark room at the hotel. Connor's sitting in a corner, thinking.

CORDELIA
I've been looking all over for you. Connor, what they said...you can't let it bother you.

CONNOR
I don't care what they say.

CORDELIA
Really? Is that why you retreated to the Fortress of Solitude?

CONNOR
(looks up) It doesn't make sense. (stands)

CORDELIA
Freaking out over pregnancy's pretty much the M.O. with the gang around here.

CONNOR
Not them. You. All that stuff you said about Angelus. And Willow...she—she didn't open a gate to evil. She put back Angel's soul. I almost killed him.

CORDELIA
But you didn't. Angel's back. Everything worked out. Everything happens for a reason, even if it doesn't always seem that way.

CONNOR
How can you say that?

CORDELIA
Think about it. You sinking Angel to the bottom of the ocean. Getting kicked out of the house. Me not knowing who I was and coming to you for help. All of those moments and a million others led to this miracle.

CONNOR
But sending me down to the basement. I had the stake. (walks up to Cordelia) What was the reason for that?

CORDELIA
I thought our baby was in danger, and all my instincts told me that killing Angelus was the only way to protect it.

CONNOR
(sighs) But you were wrong. (sits down)

CORDELIA
(walks up to Connor, kneels in front of him) What's important is that when I needed help, you were there for me. Now I know I can trust you. Completely. No matter what. See? Everything happens for a reason. (stands) Connor, before our baby comes, I might ask you to do some things...for us. (holds up a baby outfit, folds it) And I want you to remember, there's always a reason.

CONNOR
I'll remember.

Cut to:

20     INT.    GWEN'S PLACE - NIGHT
Gunn is playing with small figurines from a table in Gwen's living room. Gwen's gathering some papers and the envelope that the man in the park gave her.

GUNN
So, why me?

GWEN
I told you. I need a suave guy in a tight spot.

GUNN
(scoffs) Suave? (holds the figure out to Gwen) You been collecting these for a while?

GWEN
Yeah, I get one each trip. I just brought the dolphin back from Tahiti. You collect anything when you travel?

GUNN
Uh, yeah. I, uh, I got a big ol' scar on my thigh from Boyle Heights... A piece of vamp stake I picked up a while back in Alhambra... And a couple of burn marks on my hip from Encino... Yep, name a town, I'll show you the souvenir.

GWEN
I didn't mean to...

GUNN
I'm not complaining. Hell, I've seen more here than most people've seen traveling around the world. Someday, maybe. (walks up to Gwen) So, what's so big and bad that Electro-Gwen needs my super-suave assistance? Something about a girl in trouble?

GWEN
Yeah. I did a little black-bag deal-eo for this corp. Happens all the time. Two companies vie for a contract. Company A hires me to make sure Company B's thingamabob doesn't so much bob as bust.

GUNN
And Company A gets a multi-million dollar payday.

GWEN
Right, but this time Company B fought back. (hands Gunn a picture from the envelope) They kidnapped this girl. Her name is Lisa. She's the daughter of the guy who hired me to do the dirty work.

GUNN
And nobody can go to the cops 'cause—

GWEN
Of what I did. So, you see? It's my fault. I have to save her, and I have to do it alone. (Gunn nods, then notices burn marks on the envelope Gwen's holding) Don't ask. (hands Gunn a printout from her envelope) This is everything I could get on the man who's holding her. His name is Takeshi Morimoto. He's the head honcho of the company I tanked. He's promised to kill the girl if Company A doesn't come clean about what they did.

GUNN
This dude's a serious player. (reading from the printout) Chairman Emeritus, honorary degrees, all kinds of charity work, cancer research, wildlife preservation, the Zoo Committee... (beat) Whoa, bank fraud, smuggling, money laundering—

GWEN
And now kidnapping.

GUNN
(looks up at Gwen) This guy know about you?

GWEN
Nope. That's why I think we have a shot of getting to the girl. (stands, walks over to a table where she unfolds a blueprint) They're keeping her at his compound. It's gated. Armed guards, infrared surveillance, dogs, the works. If we're gonna have half a chance— (looks up at Gunn, who's chuckling) You're gonna have to stop grinning like that and share the joke with the entire class. You think this is impossible?

GUNN
No, I think it's fantastic. Listen, I spent most of this year trapped in what I can only describe as a turgid supernatural soap-opera. The fact that I have a chance to go out and really help somebody...Well, you know, it feels good to be doing good. (beat) So, how're we breaking into Fort Knox?

GWEN
We're walking in the front door.

Cut to:

21     EXT.    MORIMOTO'S PLACE - NIGHT
A limousine pulls up in front of a mansion. Gunn steps out, wearing a fancy suit and nice shoes. He holds out his hand to help Gwen out of the limo; she takes his hand with hers, gloved in white satin. Gwen's wearing a red silk dress that looks oriental in design.

GWEN
How're you doing?

GUNN
You tell me. I'm thinking James Bond never looked this fine. (laces her arm through his)

GWEN
I'm thinking you're right.

GUNN
Of course, I'd feel better if we were packing some of his secret weapons.

GWEN
(whispers) Charles, we are the secret weapons. Nervous?

GUNN
Nah. I've gotten into clubs with tighter security than this.

Cut to:

22     INT.    SECURITY DESK AT MORIMOTO'S PLACE - NIGHT
Gwen steps into a scanner that detects body heat, among other attributes. A man sits behind the computer monitor watching for anomalies as people go through. Gwen goes through without a problem. Gunn goes through it next. The guard nods.

GWEN
One down, one to go.

GUNN
Hey, how's your electro-thing gonna do with these metal detectors?

GWEN
Piece of cake.

Guards stand on either side of Gwen and Gunn, who are arm in arm. The guards wave wands over Gwen and Gunn's bodies. Gwen and Gunn walk forward. Gwen hands tickets to a man who scans them.

GUNN
Now, if we can just get out as easily as we got in— (as the guard scans the tickets, an alarm goes off) Why did I even say that?

Security guards surround Gunn and Gwen.

Fade to black.

ACT II:

23     INT.    SECURITY DESK AT MORIMOTO'S PLACE - NIGHT
Resume. Security guards have just surrounded Gunn and Gwen after their tickets caused an alarm to go off.

GUNN
Uh, what...seems to be the problem?

SECURITY GUARD
The electronic imprints on your invitation's been altered.

GWEN
I can explain that. I was struck by lightning. (everyone looks at her) Really. (whispers to Gunn) See how my life sucks?

SECURITY GUARD
Step this way, please. (beat) Please don't make a scene.

GWEN
A little late for that, isn't it? What with the beeping and batons...

GUNN
(whispers to Gwen) Maybe this isn't our night.

GWEN
(whispering) Then we make it our night. This is my one shot, Gunn, and I am not leaving without you-know-who...and if that means we do it the hard way— (starts to pull off one of her gloves)

GUNN
(whispers to Gwen) Ah ah ah. Keep your mittens on, sparky. (speaks to Morimoto as he walks past) Morimoto-san. Konbanwa. (bows)

MORIMOTO
(turns to face Gunn) Konbanwa. Okoshi kudasai arigato gozaimasu.

GUNN
Sorry, didn't follow that last bit. Shot my entire Japanese vocabulary when I said hello.

MORIMOTO
The gesture is still appreciated. (turns to walk away)

GUNN
Mr. Morimoto, I'm Charles Gunn. We met at the zoo benefit last year. You don't remember me, do you? Your wife held that monkey right after my girlfriend did. Ugly little gray thing—the monkey, not my girl. (chuckles) Gwen, you remember Mr. Morimoto. We met him at the zoo benefit.

GWEN
(bows) How could I forget.

GUNN
Mr. Morimoto, in case we don't have an opportunity to speak later, please do me the honor of accepting this humble gift... (pulls a small oval box out of his breast pocket) to thank you for inviting us into your beautiful home.

MORIMOTO
You're too generous.

GUNN
(holding the box out in the palms of both hands) Please. It's just a trinket.

MORIMOTO
(opens the box revealing the small jade tiger inside; Gwen shoots a look at Gunn) It's beautiful.

GUNN
Well, I read somewhere you love tigers.

MORIMOTO
Truly exquisite. Thank you. (walks away)

SECURITY GUARD
(to Gwen and Gunn) If you'll follow me, please.

GWEN
(whispers to Gunn) OK, we tried it your way—

GUNN
(whispers) Hang on. (they watch Morimoto walk away, waiting for acknowledgement)

SECURITY GUARD
This way. Please. (Morimoto pauses, turns to the security guard and signals that Gunn and Gwen can come in) All right. Go ahead.

Cut to:

24     INT.    OFFICE AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Fred and Wesley are sitting at a desk together, researching amongst piles of papers and books.

FRED
(holds a drawing of a red, spike-covered demon) That's supposed to be a kid?

WESLEY
An infant Gatbar demon. The spikes grow to full size in the womb.

FRED
Ouch. Gross factor aside, these pregnancies all seem to be run-of-the-mill demon lifecycle stuff. Nothing mystical about 'em. (sighs, rubs her head, sounds slightly ill)

WESLEY
They're just pictures, Fred.

FRED
It's the pictures in my mind that are getting me. I can't stop thinking about Connor and Cordy...hiding up in that room...imagining what they do up there. (holds her eyelids open) It's like being stuck in a really bad movie with those Clockwork Orange clampy things on my eyeballs.

WESLEY
Why imagine? Reality's disturbing enough.

FRED
Connor's Angel's son. How did he and Cordy get all...(looks away) couply?

WESLEY
They were probably as surprised as anyone. (Fred turns to look at Wesley) But they were both lost, lonely...

FRED
(scoffs) No matter how lonely I was, I would never—

WESLEY
Things happen, Fred. When you're alienated from the people who care about you, you start to look other places.

FRED
(looks away) Hm. Lilah.

WESLEY
We were fighting on opposite sides, but it was the same war.

FRED
(rolls her eyes, scoffs, turns to look at Wesley) But you hated her...didn't you?

WESLEY
(softly) It's not always about holding hands...

Cut to:

25     INT.    BALLROOM AT MORIMOTO'S PLACE - NIGHT
Arm in arm, Gunn and Gwen walk into the main ballroom where the party is located.

GWEN
So, when did you become Mr. Japanese Ambassador?

GUNN
Well, you watch enough Samurai movies, you learn a couple of things about the culture. The first is Reishiki, which is a fancy way of stressing proper etiquette at all times. The other is never underestimate the value of a thoughtful gift.

GWEN
(nods) You mean that gift you stole?

GUNN
(chuckles) Yeah, sorry about that. Hope it wasn't too valuable.

GWEN
Let you in on a little secret? (opens her pocket to allow Gunn to look inside; the jade tiger is in her pocket)

GUNN
You stole it back?

GWEN
It's not like eighteenth century jade is falling off trucks. (looks around the room, then stares toward the corner)

GUNN
What? (a little Japanese girl walks up to the edge of the ballroom; she's surrounded by guards) Is that her? Shouldn't she be tied to a chair or something?

GWEN
Tied up or dressed up, she's a prisoner. Look at the muscle around her. I'm gonna go see if I can get a better look. (walks away, Gunn starts to follow, but Gwen stops her) No, keep an eye on Morimoto.

Cut to:

26     INT.    ANGEL'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Angel's sitting in a chair in his room, drawing. There's no knock at the door, but he calls out from his chair anyway.

ANGEL
Come on in, Cordelia.

CORDELIA
(opens the door, walks in) You know, that never stops creeping me out. (closes the door)

ANGEL
(without looking up) Yeah? I'm kind of creeped out myself.

CORDELIA
Can we not do this right now?

ANGEL
OK by me. I'm kinda in the middle of something anyway.

CORDELIA
Anything coming to mind?

ANGEL
Not really.

CORDELIA
Nothing?

ANGEL
(puts down his sketchpad, stands, walks to the window) Look, to be honest, I'm almost pining for the halcyon days of the Beast.

CORDELIA
Right, 'cause it's not like he slaughtered hundreds of people with his bare hands.

ANGEL
(looking out the window) The Beast was just a flunky.

CORDELIA
Who did his master's bidding.

ANGEL
Killing Manny, stealing my soul, murdering Lilah...those were surgical strikes. Not the smash-and-trash style of the Beast.

CORDELIA
But if lava boy didn't do all that, who did?

ANGEL
(faces Cordelia) His master.

CORDELIA
I'm his master. (beat) I'm his all-powerful master, and I'm gonna break into a guarded room, steal your soul from a safe—not by ripping it open, but by using the combination—then I'm gonna hunt and kill Lilah right under this very roof. Sure. Evil geniuses live for that playing with fire stuff.

ANGEL
You don't understand. This thing was in my head. I've heard him, and he's insane enough to pull those kinds of stunts.

CORDELIA
When you say "insane," you mean, like, diabolical?

ANGEL
(chuckles) No, I mean like deluded and demented. He spoke to me in this cheezy, self-important voice. I bet he doesn't even have a master plan—he's just making it up as he goes along. (Cordelia frowns) Hey, don't worry. We'll figure it out. Come on, anybody as daredevily as this guy will slip up sooner or later. When he does, he's dead. (Cordy smiles a fake smile)

Cut to:

27     INT.    BALLROOM AT MORIMOTO'S PLACE - NIGHT
As the party continues, zoom in on a conversation between a few of the guests.

OVER-JEWELED WOMAN
Meteor showers, earthquakes, that strange thing with the sun. I find it an exciting time to be in Los Angeles.

MORIMOTO
I couldn't agree more. I can't help but feel something wonderful's coming, don't you, Mr. Gunn?

GUNN
Well, something seems to be coming, all right, just ain't so sure I'd call it wonderful. (everyone laughs; Gwen taps Gunn's shoulder; to the guests) If you'll excuse me... (to Gwen) Gwen, you're not gonna b—What is it?

GWEN
They're gonna kill her...tonight.

GUNN
Not gonna happen.

GWEN
We have to act fast. You need to get Lisa and get out.

GUNN
You mean "we" need to?

GWEN
No, I mean "you." I'm going over to the other side of the room to create one hell of a distraction. By the time they've figured out what hit 'em, you'll have her half-way to my place. This is our one shot.

GUNN
Like I said when I signed up, it feels good to be doing good.

GWEN
(looks toward the girl) OK, work your way over there. Wait for my signal. (walks away)

Gwen walks up to a coffee table while Gunn sneaks around behind a column near the little girl. Gwen pushes over the coffee table. Gunn grabs the little girl, putting a hand over her mouth and carrying her off.

GWEN
Oh, my God! Somebody's trying to hurt that little girl.

SECURITY GUARD
(into his radio) This is Bravo-9. We have a situation in progress.

Gwen smiles as the guard goes after Gunn. Gwen turns and walks in the opposite direction.

Cut to:

28     INT.    ROOM AT MORIMOTO'S PLACE - NIGHT
Gunn walks down the hallway with the little girl and ducks into a nearby room.

GUNN
(puts the girl down, shuts the door, and turns to the little girl) Hang in there, we're almost out.

Someone hits Gunn on the head, knocking him out. He falls to the floor.

Fade to black.

ACT III:

29     INT.    ROOM AT MORIMOTO'S PLACE - NIGHT
Resume. Gunn's on the floor after having been knocked out.

GUNN
(stands, grunting in pain) Oh. Oh. Oh. (panting) Ah. Ah. (touches his head where they hit him, Gunn addresses the other men in the room) Now you did it. I'm gonna have to get your lame-ass blood all over my sweet new suit.

The men swing staffs at Gunn, and they begin to fight. Gunn takes the staff from one of the men and defends himself well. The little girl hides in the corner, watching them fight. One of the men grabs a sword and holds it up, staring at Gunn.

GUNN
You know, I spent the last couple of weeks whacking on a giant lava demon and more vamps than I can count. I almost forgot how good it feels to just let off a little steam. (Gunn defeats the last of his opponents, straightening his tie as the man falls to the ground; Gunn goes up to the little girl) All right, let's get you out of here. (the girl stands) It's OK. I'm here to take you home.

LITTLE GIRL
I am home.

GUNN
(confused) No, you've been kidnapped.

LITTLE GIRL
(petulantly) Get out of my house.

GUNN
(thinks for a moment) Your name's not Lisa, is it?

LITTLE GIRL
I'm Aiko Morimoto, and when my daddy finds out you tried to hurt me, (points at Gunn) he's gonna kill you.

Gunn leaves the room.

Cut to:

30     INT.    STUDY AT MORIMOTO'S PLACE - NIGHT
Gwen's using a stethoscope to listen to a combination lock on a safe door. Someone puts a hand on her shoulder. She gasps and turns around to see Gunn standing there.

GWEN
It's you.

GUNN
It was the scanners, wasn't it? Why you wanted me. Angel, no heartbeat.

GWEN
Security scan of a dead guy might've raised a few eyebrows.

GUNN
You know, for about five seconds, I thought you might actually care about something.

GWEN
OK, so what if I didn't tell you about my plan? And so what if I set you up for a fall? When's the last time you had this much fun? I saw your face out there—you were having a great time.

GUNN
It's 'cause I thought I was doing good.

GWEN
You were. Just not the kind that involves saving a fairy princess from an evil king.

GUNN
So Lisa doesn't exist?

GWEN
Yes, she does. (walks back to the safe) And I've liberated her from this steel tomb by now if you'd stop yapping for half a sec. It's a military acronym: Localized Ionic Sensory Activator. L-I-S-A.

GUNN
A weapon? L.I.S.A.'s a weapon?

GWEN
Not a weapon. A covert device worn by black ops. Regulates body temp, heartbeat, body chemistry. Morimoto's company designed it, and I've been hired to steal the beta test.

GUNN
God bless America.

GWEN
Actually China, or North Korea. Not really sure. Morimoto's selling it to the highest bidder.

GUNN
And who are you stealing it for?

GWEN
(walks up to Gunn) Look, there are two things that make me a good thief. I steal what I'm paid to steal, and I don't ask too many questions. (goes back to the safe)

GUNN
Well, good luck with that. (walks away)

GWEN
(calls after him) Nothing's changed, you know. Morimoto's still a bad guy. You're still a good one.

GUNN
(stops, turns to face her) You know, I can't believe I actually took time out of the apocalypse for this.

GWEN
Even the Pres. takes vacations. Besides, if they need you, they'll call. Come on. We started this together. Let's finish it the same way.

GUNN
It's not the same.

GWEN
You can keep the suit.

Gunn walks back to the safe with Gwen.

Cut to:

31     INT.    ANGEL'S OFFICE AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Angel is sitting behind his desk, working on something as Fred and Wesley stand in front of him, staring at him as he works. Fred hands Wesley a cup of gourmet coffee.

ANGEL
(looks up) You know, this would be a lot easier if you two weren't hovering.

FRED
(simultaneously with Wesley) No rush.

WESLEY
(simultaneously with Fred) Take your time.

ANGEL
I think that's it. (pushes his sketch pad forward)

Fred and Wesley walk up to Angel's desk to look at the sketch pad, setting down their coffee on the desk.

CORDELIA
(walks into the office) What's it?

ANGEL
The passage from Lilah's Beasty book. The one Angelus destroyed after the big boomy voice threatened to re-ensoul him.

FRED
Angel's been visualizing the text, trying to recreate it.

ANGEL
Just, you know, a little thing I can do.

CORDELIA
You think there was something in that book that high-and-spitey didn't want us to know about?

ANGEL
He's definitely hiding something.

WESLEY
I recognize the text. It's early Fallorian code system. Let's see... (translating) "The green cart-like vehicle eats..."

As Wesley translates, Cordelia places her hand next to the cup of coffee that's on the desk beside the text. She readies her finger to push the coffee cup over at any moment.

WESLEY
(translating) "I am not a bucket head."

Angel throws down his hands. Cordelia pulls her hand back from the coffee.

ANGEL
Damn it!

WESLEY
It's a tricky language. An inverted serif can alter the meaning of an entire passage.

CORDELIA
What now?

ANGEL
I try again.

Wesley, Fred, and Cordelia are still standing around Angel's desk watching him as he goes back to work. He looks up at them, and they all turn and walk away.

Cut to:

32     INT.    STUDY AT MORIMOTO'S PLACE - NIGHT
Gwen turns the dial on the combination safe while listening to it through the stethoscope. When she unlocks the door, she opens it to reveal yet another safeguard inside: a door locked with and electronic keypad.

GUNN
Crap!

GWEN
(smiles) Nah, this is the easy one.

Gwen takes off her satin glove, and touches her hand to the electronic keypad, shocking it. Gwen opens the safe door and takes out a small metal box from it. She opens the box to show a flat, oblong device inside.

GWEN
(starts walking away) We're outta here. We should split up in case—

GUNN
(stops walking, turns to face Gwen) Oh, no, we're not doing that again. Either we both make it out, or—

GWEN
(staring toward the door) Or neither of us do.

Gunn turns around to see Morimoto and four security guards standing in the doorway.

Cut to:

33     INT.    ANGEL'S OFFICE AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Angel sketches another page full of unusual characters. When he's done, he rips the page off of the sketchpad and hands it to Wesley.

ANGEL
Try this one.

WESLEY
(reads the page) Something about strangling poultry.

ANGEL
(sighs, throws the notepad down on the desk) That's it. I gotta get out of here. (stands)

LORNE
(walks into the room) Ah ah ah. Easy does it, compadre. No huffy exits before (singsongy) I spill the joyous news.

ANGEL
About the baby?

CORDELIA
About El Jefe?

LORNE
Uh, no and no. My sources got nothing on mystical birthin' or the big Kahuna. But Wanda—that demon you recommended—what a peach, by the way. Anyway, she sold me this cleansing abracadabra to clear my muddled mind.

FRED
You're empathic again?

LORNE
Please... (holds up a long black cloak) you think this Dungeons & Dragons cloak is a fashion statement? I got to do this whole song and dance—

WESLEY
Well, we're getting nowhere. If you need extra hands...

LORNE
Sorry, I can only take my two. Ritual has to be performed solo. Just me and my shadow, secluded in a dark, dusty nowhere land. Ugh. But the upside is, I should be "all systems go" come sunrise.

CORDELIA
Then you'll be able to read me? (smiles tensely)

LORNE
No worries, dumpling. Come morning, I will be a lean, mean, belly-reading machine.

Cut to:

34     INT.    STUDY AT MORIMOTO'S PLACE - NIGHT
Morimoto and his security guards confront Gwen and Gunn after they have stolen the L.I.S.A.

MORIMOTO
Put that on the desk, and step away. Set it down now.

GWEN
No.

MORIMOTO
I don't think you realize who you're up against.

GUNN
(gestures to two of the security guards behind Morimoto) Just those two girls? I already kicked their ass once. (the guards pull out guns and point them at Gunn and Gwen) But, when you put it like that, maybe we should.

GWEN
(to Gunn) I won't give it back. I can't.

GUNN
(to Gwen) I can. I'm not dying for this.

GWEN
(out loud, to Morimoto) I'm finishing the job.

GUNN
(softly) Gwen, it's too late. We're busted.

GWEN
(glares at Morimoto) I'm not leaving without it.

MORIMOTO
Then you're not leaving at all. (to the guards) Finish it.

GUNN
Gwen, give it to him.

GWEN
(shakes her head) No, I need it.

MORIMOTO
(to his guards) I said finish it!

GWEN
(screaming) It's mine!

With the intensity of her outburst, Gwen sends out streams of blue-white electricity through the room toward the guards. This lightning-like energy emanating from Gwen's fisted hands impacts all the guards and Morimoto as Gwen tenses and screams in a desperate rage. Gunn stares at her in shock.

Fade to black.

ACT IV:

35     INT.    STUDY AT MORIMOTO'S PLACE - NIGHT
Resume. Gwen is shocking Morimoto and his entourage while Gunn stares in shock. Gunn snaps into action, and charges toward Gwen, knocking her down and ending the transmission of energy from her hands. Morimoto and gang fall to the floor.

GUNN
Liar. (stands) You're not stealing it for someone else. It's for you. (helps Gwen to her feet) You think it'll fix you.

Gwen and Gunn leave the room in a hurry while the guards are still passed out.

Cut to:

36     INT.    BASEMENT AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Lorne walks into the dark basement and pauses by the door.

LORNE
Oh, fudgicle.

Lorne takes out a flashlight and walks forward through the still dark room. He sets up white candles on a table and lights them. Unseen by Lorne, Cordelia is watching from a catwalk.

Cut to:

37     INT.    GWEN'S PLACE - NIGHT
Gunn puts the jade tiger back in Gwen's collection.

GUNN
Back where he belongs. I got to give you credit—you are stubborn.

GWEN
I know what I want. (sits in a cushy chair)

GUNN
I get that. At least, I used to. Things aren't always so clear anymore.

GWEN
You seemed pretty clear tonight.

GUNN
Adrenaline rush—when I was trying to save that girl.

GWEN
I meant when you were saving me.

GUNN
(smiles, then shrugs) Hey, I'm just the muscle.

GWEN
Don't knock the muscle, buddy. Makes the girls go all knocky in the knees. But if that's all you were, we never could've gotten into that party tonight.

GUNN
(walks toward Gwen) Oh, you would've gotten in. Of course, the damage would have been significantly higher.

GWEN
Thanks to your brains-over-brawn approach.

GUNN
(sits across from Gwen on the edge of a table) Well, not so much brains as too many movies.

GWEN
Man, they have done a number on you. You really believe this "I'm the muscle" crap.

GUNN
This your version of a pep talk?

GWEN
Could be. Need one?

GUNN
Nah.

GWEN
Good. (laughs nervously) It's not my area of expertise. So, why do you stay if that's all they see in you?

GUNN
I'm a fighter. Born and raised. (beat) You love being a thief?

GWEN
(holds up her gloved hands) I'm a freak. Being a thief makes me a part of something—and not a part at the same time. Tonight? (grins) Yeah, I kinda loved it.

GUNN
You know, for someone loving life, you seemed awfully willing to die for this. (holds up the L.I.S.A.)

GWEN
What you saw tonight, that's as bad as it gets, but even at its best... That thing might let me be—(sighs) well, not normal—but...hold hands, maybe. (nods) So, yeah, guess I was willing to die, or even— (looks away, shakes her head) you wouldn't understand.

GUNN
Sure I do. Brainy, remember? (looks at the L.I.S.A.) You want to show me how this thing works?

Cut to:

38     INT.    BEDROOM AT GWEN'S PLACE - NIGHT
Standing in front of her bed, Gwen slips her dress off of her shoulder, leaving it gathered around her waist. She pulls her hair forward over her shoulder, exposing her back, and lies across the bed. Gunn walks up to the bed and sits on the edge. He opens the L.I.S.A. and takes it out of the box.

GUNN
(looking at the device) How do you fire it up?

GWEN
It's not an X-Box. Just put it on.(Gunn holds the L.I.S.A. over the small of Gwen's back) Careful.

GUNN
(reaches out and touches Gwen's skin, but gets shocked) Ow.

GWEN
(rolls her eyes) Like I said... (Gunn places the L.I.S.A. on Gwen's back) It's chilly.

Gunn leans over Gwen to observe the L.I.S.A. in action. Text scrolls across the tiny screen as soon as it touches her body. Four small wires come out of the body of the device and touch her skin. Lights on the side light up. Six needle-like probes come out of the sides of the device and insert themselves under her skin.

GWEN
What's it doing?

GUNN
You ever seen one of those body-snatcher movies?

The probes continue moving into Gwen's body under her skin. They form a circuit design pattern under her skin for a moment before fading away.

GUNN
Feel any different?

GWEN
Yeah. Not so much. (tentatively, Gunn reaches out to Gwen's back, touching his fingers to her skin) Think it worked. (Gunn runs his hand down her back) It feels good.

GUNN
So...if you couldn't touch, guess that means you've never—

GWEN
(sits up quickly, holding her dress to her chest) Nope. Nope. Anyway, thanks for turning me...off.

GUNN
(chuckles) Anytime. Thank you.

GWEN
For what? The guards? The suit? The almost dying?

GUNN
The most fun I've had...(leans forward toward Gwen) since... (kisses Gwen on the lips)

GWEN
(kisses him back, then pulls back suddenly) You know, um...that device, um, it's a prototype. It might not hold.

GUNN
Well, you've already killed me once. If it happens again, you know where my battery is.

Gunn leans in to Gwen and they kiss.

Cut to:

39     INT.    BASEMENT AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
Lorne is preparing potions and incense at the candle-lit table in the basement. He pulls the hood of his cloak over his head and picks up a hymnal. Lorne sings a song that sounds vaguely like a Gregorian chant, except that it has no words, only humming and ooing. Cordelia sneaks silently down the stairs, holding a knife in her hand. Just as Cordelia is standing behind Lorne, ready to stab him, someone turns on the lights. Cordelia looks up and Angel is standing in front of her.

CORDELIA
Angel...

Cordelia turns to flee, but Fred and Wesley are armed, guarding her exit.

LORNE
(takes a white cloth off of a ball—a "Magic 8 Ball"—and shakes the ball) Has Cordy been a bad, bad girl?

When Lorne turns the "Magic 8 Ball" over, the triangle inside reads "Definitely."

Cut to:

Closing credits.


Episode Information:

Creator: Joss Whedon
David Greenwalt
Co-Producer: Skip Schoolnik
Stephen S. DeKnight
Consulting Producer: David Fury
David Greenwalt
Tim Minear
Co-Executive Producer: Jeffrey Bell
Executive Producers:

Joss Whedon

Sandy Gallin
Gail Berman
Fran Rubel Kuzui
Kaz Kuzui

Produced By: Kelly A. Manners
Written By: Jeffrey Bell & Sarah Fain & Elizabeth Craft
Directed By:

Michael Grossman

Starring:

David Boreanaz as Angel
Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase
J. August Richards as Charles Gunn
Amy Acker as Winifred "Fred" Burkle
Vincent Kartheiser as Connor
Andy Hallett as Lorne
and Alexis Denisof as Wesley Wyndham-Pryce

Guest Stars:

Alexa Davalos as Gwen Raiden

Co-Starring: Dana Lee as Takeshi Morimoto
David Monahan as Garrett
Hope Shin as Little Asian Girl
Wendy Haines as Over-Jeweled Woman
Michael Patrick McGill as Checkpoint Guard
John Fremont as Security Guy

4x15 - Orpheus

on . Posted in Btvs Guide - Angel Script

ANGEL (V.O.)
Previously on Angel:

1     EXT.     SKY TEMPLE CLUB ON KIMBALL BUILDING ROOF - NIGHT
The Beast kneels on one knee, punching the floor at the center of his human square, sending a trail of fire out along the floor in the shape of the Eye of Fire symbol. A shock wave emanates from the area, knocking everyone back a few feet. The fire is tall now, taller than the beast. The Beast leaps straight up into the sky, riding the fire that he created.

CORDELIA (V.O.)
The rain of fire, even blotting out the sun—those were only the first steps to something bigger.

Cut to:

2     EXT.     STREET BEHIND CONNOR'S PLACE
The sun becomes blocked out by black magic.

Cut to:

3     EXT.     STREET BEHIND CONNOR'S PLACE
Cordelia and Connor are waiting anxiously by the car. Angel and crew come out of the building, and Cordelia runs to them.

WESLEY
We need Angelus.

Cut to:

4     INT.     BASEMENT AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
The shaman puts his hand on Angel's head, closes his eyes, and when the shaman's eyes open again, they're red.

Cut to:

5     INT.     OFFICE AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Close-up of a drawing depicting the aerial view of a park. Wesley walks up to the picture and opens it like a door, revealing a safe behind it. He twists the dial on the safe door to the right combination. Cordelia's standing behind him, holding the receptacle that contains Angel's soul. Fred, Gunn, and Lorne are also in the room.

GUNN
Taking out Angel's soul. Putting it in a jar. I hope we know what we're doing.

Cut to:

6     INT.     OFFICE AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Cordelia walks into the office where Lorne, Fred, and Gunn are staring at the safe.

FRED
Angel's soul. It's gone.

Pan over to show the empty safe.

Cut to:

7     INT.     BASEMENT AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Angelus is sitting inside the cage.

CORDELIA (V.O.)
Angelus.

Cut to:

8     INT.     BASEMENT AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Cordelia unlocks his cage, opens the door, letting Angelus out.

Cut to:

9     INT.     CORRIDOR IN HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Wes and Gunn stop in their tracks when they come upon the hallway where Angelus is.

ANGELUS
(looks up, his mouth bloody) Catch ya later.

Angelus runs away from Gunn and Wes down the hallway and out the window.

Cut to:

10     INT.     SEEDY DEMON BAR
Vampires and demons are smoking and drinking in a country-western bar. Angelus walks in.

ANGELUS
The rumors are true. Angel has left the building, and I am back.

Cut to:

11     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Wesley's talking to the AI gang.

WESLEY
We're gonna save Angel, and I know who we need to help us do it.

Cut to:

12     EXT.     PRISON EXERCISE YARD
The gate buzzes, and Faith walks out into the yard.

Cut to:

13     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Wesley and Faith walk in through the front doors.

WESLEY
This is Faith, the vampire slayer.

FAITH
(in Connor's face) If Angelus needs putting down, I'll be the one to do it, not you.

Cut to:

14     INT.     CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Cordelia shows her very pregnant belly to Connor.

CORDELIA
We're having a baby.

Cut to:

15     INT.     BACK ROOM AT DEMON BAR - NIGHT
Faith goes to the side of a woman who's nearly passed out on a couch. Wes picks up a hypodermic syringe from the floor.

FAITH
(to the girl) Can you walk? (looks at the girl's arm covered in track marks)

DRUGGED GIRL
No, but I can fly.

FAITH
(to Wes) What did they do to her?

WESLEY
She did it to herself. They shoot up, the vampires feed... I've read the effects can be quite intoxicating...for both of them.

Cut to:

16     INT.     OCCULT BOOKSTORE - NIGHT
Wearing reading glasses, Angelus sits by the fire, reading through the papers and book he took from Fred.

BEASTMASTER (O.S.)
Angelus!

Angelus is startled, stands, holds his hands to his ears.

Cut to:

17     INT.     DEMON BAR - NIGHT
Angelus is talking to the mysterious voice he heard.

BEASTMASTER (O.S.)
(flash to show white-eyed Cordelia in her room at the hotel saying what Angelus is hearing) I have wonderful plans for you, my sweet boy.

Cut to:

18     INT.     MAURY'S OCCULT BOOKSTORE- NIGHT
Faith and Wesley turn to face Angelus. Wesley cocks the shotgun and fires a round at Angelus who ducks.

ANGELUS
Gotta do better than that, Wes. (throws Wes through a window and over a ledge; he lands 20 feet down; Faith and Angelus fight) Nothing will ever change who you are, Faith. You're just like me.

Enraged, Faith stands and goes after Angelus. She punches and kicks him until he's on the ground. Then she goes over to him, straddling him, and beats him in the face again and again.

FAITH
No! (jumps back, stops hitting him) You're wrong. I'm different now. I'm not like you.

Angelus kicks Faith's ankles, pulling her feet out from under her, sending her to the ground where he is. He goes around behind her, grabs her, and vamps out.

ANGELUS
You will be.

Angelus bites into Faith's neck, and she whimpers.

Fade to black.

The Start Of Episode

Prologue:

19     INT.     MAURY'S OCCULT BOOKSTORE- NIGHT
Resume. Angelus has just bitten into Faith's neck, and he's greedily feeding on her. Suddenly, he drops her and recoils.

ANGELUS
(wipes his mouth, then looks at Faith) What... did you do?

Cut to:

19a     INT.     MAURY'S OCCULT BOOKSTORE- NIGHT
FLASHBACK: Moments earlier, while Angelus and Wes are facing off, Faith is planning ahead.

ANGELUS (O.S.)
You got to do better than that, Wes.

Faith grabs a hypodermic syringe from her boot.

ANGELUS (O.S.)
Come on, I'll give you one more.

A close-up of the syringe shows it's one like the drugged girl from the bar was using. Faith's syringe still has drugs in it. She sticks the needle into her arm and presses the plunger until she has injected all of the drug in the syringe.

ANGELUS (O.S.)
Strike three.

Cut to:

ANGELUS
(staggering, trying to stand) You—you sp— You spiked... (passes out)

WESLEY
(regaining consciousness, to Faith) You all right?

FAITH
(panting, slurring) Kicked his ass. (passes out)

Fade to black.

Opening credits.

ACT I:

20     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Fred is researching at the Front desk when Gunn comes in through the front door carrying a passed-out Angelus.

GUNN
Connor!

FRED
(looks up from her book) Oh, my God! Angelus.

GUNN
(carrying Angelus down the stairs) Pick up your tranq gun. I don't know how much time we have. Connor!

FRED
(goes to Gunn's side) What happened?

GUNN
Wes called, I went.

FRED
Where is he? Where's Faith?

LORNE
(walks into the lobby) Well, what is all the—-Aah! Angelus! He's in the hotel.

GUNN
(to Fred) Gimme steel shackles. (Fred grabs the shackles)

LORNE
Oh, uh, but maybe we're already aware of that.

GUNN
All I had was rope in the truck.

CONNOR
(walks out to the balcony) What's going on?

GUNN
(to Connor) Get down here now. (to Fred) Leg irons too.

CONNOR
(hustles down the stairs) She found him.

LORNE
Wesley and Faith. Where are they?

WESLEY
Get him downstairs.

CONNOR
What happened to Faith?

WESLEY
(walks through the front door carrying unconscious Faith in his arms) She captured Angelus.

FRED
God, what did he do to her?

WESLEY
Gunn?

GUNN
We got it.

LORNE
She looks not well.

CONNOR
She gonna be—

GUNN
(to Connor) Wake up, kid. I need you here.

WESLEY
Help me with her.

Cut to:

21     INT.     HALLWAY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Wesley carries Faith down the hall to a room. Fred and Lorne accompany her. Faith's neck is covered with a bloody bandage.

Cut to:

22     INT.     BASEMENT AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Connor opens the cage door for Gunn, who carries Angelus into it, laying him down on the floor.

Cut to:

23     INT.     ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Wesley lays Faith's limp body down on the bed.

Cut to:

24     INT.     BASEMENT AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Gunn unties Angelus's hands, and Connor places steel shackles on Angelus's hands.

Cut to:

25     INT.     ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Lorne goes to look at Faith—he looks in her eyes, then sees her arm—it's discolored where she injected the drug into it. Taken aback, Lorne turns to look at Wesley, who just stares straight ahead at Faith.

Cut to:

26     INT.     BASEMENT AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Connor and Gunn continue to secure Angelus in the cage.

Cut to:

27     INT.     ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Fred brings in a bowl of water and a towel and sits beside Faith. Fred removes Faith's bandage and seems disturbed when she sees the bloody gash left on Faith's neck by Angelus, but Fred remains calm and continues.

Cut to:

28     INT.     BASEMENT AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Connor and Gunn continue securing Angelus in the cage.

Cut to:

29     INT.     ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Sitting beside Faith, Fred starts to clean Faith's wounded neck.

Cut to:

30     INT.     BASEMENT AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Connor and Gunn finish securing Angelus in the cage.

Cut to:

31     INT.     ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Sitting beside Faith, Fred starts to clean Faith's wounded neck.

Cut to:

32     INT.     BASEMENT AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Connor glares at unconscious Angelus.

CONNOR
He fed from her. There's blood on his breath.

Angelus twitches.

ANGELUS
(mumbling) Kill you....kill....you...

Gunn and Connor jump to their feet and stand back. Gunn points a tranq gun at Angelus.

Cut to:

33     INT.     ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
While Fred's cleaning Faith's neck, Faith twitches and mumbles similar to Angelus.

FAITH
(mumbling) Scratch you out....

FRED
She's not making any sense.

LORNE
(goes up to Wesley, whispering) And speaking of sense, have you gone on permanent sabbatical from yours? Tell me you did not shoot that girl full of junk, and then feed her to Angelus.

WESLEY
It was her choice. Faith knew the risks.

LORNE
(louder) Aw, she couldn't! (Fred glares at them, then quieter) Wesley, I know what that drug does to people. Especially when they super-size the doses to make sure they really get the job done. And you damn well know it too.

Cut to:

34     INT.     CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Cordelia's talking to Connor.

CORDELIA
A coma?

CONNOR
Yeah, that's what it looked like when Wesley brought her in.

CORDELIA
(chuckles, crosses her arms) Like she hasn't pulled that one before.

CONNOR
I don't think she was faking.

CORDELIA
So the slayer snagged Angelus? He's in the hotel? Is he locked up tight in the cage?

CONNOR
Don't worry, Cordy. I'll always protect you. And our family.

CORDELIA
That's sweet. Is he guarded?

CONNOR
Faith really did a number on him.

CORDELIA
(punches Connor, pushing him down) What the hell is it with you and Faith! As if I didn't see the way you looked at her. She cracked her whip, and you liked it. You were practically in her leather-clad lap!

CONNOR
(stands) No, I wasn't? And how'd you do that, anyway? What about the anti-demon spell?

CORDELIA
I told you, Connor, we're different. (turns away) Me and your baby. But I guess you can't even be loyal to our bed, let alone our little family. I thought you were gonna be a better father than Angel was to you.

CONNOR
I will be. I would do anything for us. (Cordelia's eyes flash wider) For you.

CORDELIA
(turns around, calmer, laughing it off) Wow. Are my hormones out of whack, or what? Hello, crazy pregnant lady, out of line! Whoo! (walks up to Connor) Why don't you go see how Faith is doing? Go on. I'm concerned. I want to know—

Cut to:

35     INT.     ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Connor stares at Faith. Wesley's in the corner holding an ice pack to his bruised head. Fred and Lorne are standing near the bed where Faith's resting.

CONNOR
What's going to happen to her?

FRED
(crosses her arms) Actually, I'd like to start with exactly was it, Wesley?

LORNE
Orpheus.

CONNOR
Orpheus?

FRED
Some kind of opiate?

LORNE
Mystical variety. Humans inject it. Vampires feed off the humans. Folks tried to deal it at Caritas—only folks I ever banned from my club.

FAITH
(mumbling) The 'vention.

FRED
So, if ordinary humans do this junk, slayers are all super, right?

LORNE
That's what makes it so dangerous. Orpheus isn't entirely physical. It's an enchanted drug.

CONNOR
Magic. This is what it gets you.

LORNE
That, plus the biting, makes for some serious psychic psychedelia. And the more you take, the deeper you sink.

WESLEY
It leads you down to hell.

Cut to:

36     INT.     BASEMENT AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Angelus is still unconscious in the cage.

WESLEY (V.O.)
And leaves you there.

Cut to:

37     EXT.     NEW YORK HARBOR - NIGHT
A ship pulls into the harbor, past the Statue of Liberty. A sign reads: "United States Immigration, Ellis Island, N.Y."
TITLE: New York, 1902

Huddled masses of men, women, and children are pouring off the ship. A long-haired Angel walks through the crowd which parts for him, leaving him plenty of space. Except Angelus—Angelus just stands there, facing Angel, not intending to move for him, but Angel walks right through him.

ANGELUS
Hey! (turns to watch Angel walk away) What is that about?

FAITH
You tell me. It's your flashback. (charges Faith, but goes right through her; Faith chuckles) You know what the definition of insanity is, baby? Performing the same task over and over and expecting different results. Learned that in murder rehab.

ANGELUS
All right, Miss Blow-It-All. This is my flashback. Why are you in it? (walks away)

FAITH
Don't know. Must be the magic side-effects of my incredibly simple ruse.

ANGELUS
(looks around) All right. So, what is this, huh? Puff-the-Magic-Dragon City? Fairyland?

FAITH
You'd think? Me, I'm guessing it's more like "Angelus, this is your life," because (waves her hand in front of her nose) lack-of-hygiene world sure ain't mine. (looks at Angel) Seriously, man, did you miss the invention of the bath?

ANGELUS
The whole way over here, he crouched in the filth of animals just to avoid human temptation. This isn't my life—it's his!

FAITH
Angel's?

ANGELUS
It annoyed the crap out of me the first time around. This sucks. Why do you get to be Marley's ghost?

FAITH
(sits) 'Cause I'm dying, dumbass.

ANGELUS
Not soon enough.

FAITH
Way I figure, I've got one last job: baby-sit the psycho 'til they shove a soul up your—

ANGELUS
Not gonna happen.

FAITH
(stands) Then, I'm whatever... dust in the wind. Candle in the wind. There'll be a general wind theme.

ANGELUS
Thought those suicidal tendencies got squashed in the big enlightenment.

FAITH
(shrugs) I rolled the dice. Paid even odds.

Cut to:

38     EXT.     BUSY STREET - NIGHT
Jazz music plays and old-timey cars drive through the street. Angelus and Faith find themselves outside the "Blue Mood Lounge". A small group nearby is playing Craps (dice game) on the street. A couple walks down the sidewalk hand in hand. Angelus and Faith look around.

FAITH
Trippy.

ANGELUS
Early 20's by the cars. What is this—Chicago? (sees Angel standing on the other side of the street) Oh, no. I remember this. I remember this place. I gotta get out of here.

FAITH
Why? You freaking out?

ANGELUS
It's coming. (a car speeds around the corner down the street in front of them) Again.

FAITH
What's coming?

ANGELUS
I can't do it again. I won't!

Angel runs into the street right in front of the car.

FAITH
Angel, get out of the road.

Angel continues until he's completely across the street. A small squeaking sound can be heard. Angel turns around to reveal that he's holding a tiny Pomeranian puppy.

ANGELUS
(throwing a fit) Doh!

FAITH
(giggling) Dude, you just rescued a puppy.

A woman comes up to Angel and takes the puppy out of his arms.

WOMAN
Oh, my stars! You saved her, Mister.

Angel just stares at the woman, dumbfounded.

ANGELUS
I'm in hell. This is hell, and I'm in it.

WOMAN
(stroking the puppy) Oh, gee, big fella. How can I thank you?

ANGELUS
We haven't fed on a human in decades. She's begging for it, you moron!

ANGEL
Get lost.

WOMAN
Beg pardon?

ANGEL
Take a hike, Betty. Scram.

WOMAN
(frowns) Well, pound snow, you mook! (storms back into the club)

FAITH
We're reliving Angel's good deeds—you are in hell! Wicked! (laughs)

Cut to:

39     INT.     ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Lorne's sitting on the bed beside Faith.

WESLEY (V.O.)
There's only one thing we can do for Faith, now—

40     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Wesley is talking to Fred and Connor at the front desk.

WESLEY
Finish what she started.

FRED
You mean, re-ensoul Angel?

CONNOR
Impossible. We've been over this: no jar, no soul. No soul, no Angel.

FRED
It's not that simple, Connor. I've been doing some research—

CONNOR
It is simple. Angelus is all that's left. First he slaughtered Lilah, now he's killed Faith.

WESLEY
She's not dead yet.

CONNOR
You're lying to yourselves. You all think that I'm taking this personally so that you don't have to, but inside you know I'm right. We need to put Angelus down.

Willow enters the lobby through the front door, unnoticed by the gang at the front desk.

WILLOW
I don't think so. (everyone turns to look at Willow) I think you need a witch.

Wesley, Fred, and Connor stare at Willow.

Fade to black.

ACT II:

41     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Resume. Willow walks up to the front desk where Wesley, Fred, and Connor are standing.

WILLOW
Did I come at a bad time?

WESLEY
Willow.

CONNOR
She's a witch?

WILLOW
Yes. Hi. You must be Angel's handsome, yet androgynous, son.

CONNOR
It's Connor.

WILLOW
(nods) And the sneer's genetic. Who knew?

FRED
Hi Willow.

WILLOW
(walks up to Fred) Hey Fred. It's good to see you. (looks at Wesley) Oh, and it's the Marlboro Man. Or at least his extra stubbly, mentally unstable, insomniac, first cousin of—for the love of Hecate, somebody stop me.

FRED
It's OK. I'm a yammerer from way back.

WESLEY
Are there forces gathering? Did the call of magic draw you here?

WILLOW
Oh, no. More like the call of Fred. (Willow and Fred chuckle)

WESLEY
Of course. Bring in the only living person to ever re-ensoul Angel.

FRED
She has a fresh brain. I thought she might see some things we missed.

WILLOW
Oh, hearing the thoroughness of your research methodology, (smiles at Fred) I don't think that's possible.

FRED
Aw. Go on. (giggles)

WILLOW
We should probably start the debriefing. Where's Cordy?

CONNOR
Unfortunately, the guy you're all trying to magically re-ensoul shot her with a crossbow. She's not up for visitors.

WESLEY
I think she'll want to see Willow. After all, she's traveled a long way, and they have a history together.

Cut to:

42     INT.     CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Cordelia's sitting in her bed when Connor escorts Willow into her room.

WILLOW
Hi there.

CORDELIA
Long time, no see. (to Connor) It's OK, Connor. I'm fine. (Connor leaves the room)

WILLOW
(sits on the bed beside Cordy) How've you been?

CORDELIA
Higher power. You?

WILLOW
Ultimate evil. But I got better.

CORDELIA
You heard about Faith?

WILLOW
(nods) Coma again.

CORDELIA
What about Angelus? Did you go down to see him yet?

WILLOW
I'm way avoidy. Too many memories. I'm just glad I don't have to be in the same room with him when I re-ensoul him.

CORDELIA
Oh, you really think you can pull it off? (feels around under her blanket)

WILLOW
Putting his soul back? It's the first spell I ever learned. I'm not gonna forget that.

CORDELIA
(grabs a knife under the blanket) What about the Muo-Ping?

WILLOW
The jar holding Angel's soul? Therein lies our boneage.

CORDELIA
Stolen right from our safe. And if we can't get the soul out of the jar, we can't put it back in Angel.

WILLOW
Yeah, question is: how do we get the soul out if we don't know where the jar is?

CORDELIA
And apparently, the thing's impervious to magic.

WILLOW
Yeah, I know already tried a standard locator spell, but zero joy.

CORDELIA
(puts down the knife) Right. Plus, Wesley's shaman says there's no way to extract the soul from a distance.

WILLOW
Soul trapped in a glass jar, impervious to magic. It is complicated.

CORDELIA
(nods) Tough nut to crack.

WILLOW
(gets an idea) Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

CORDELIA
(grabs the knife again) I doubt it.

WILLOW
(stands) We just break the jar.

CORDELIA
(gestures to her nightstand) Can you hand me that drink?

WILLOW
(backs to the door, excited) That way we don't have to magic the soul out. We just break the glass around it!

CORDELIA
(impatiently) Great idea. I'm really thirsty.

WILLOW
And then Angel's soul is still released into the ether, and—and there's something called Delothrian's Arrow. We don't even need to know where the target is. (opens the door) Cordy, this is fantastic! We're gonna get him back. (leaves the room)

Cordelia throws the knife just as Willow leaves the room. The knife lands in the door at head level.

Cut to:

43     INT.     ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Lorne's looking after Faith, who's still unconscious on the bed.

LORNE
Don't you worry, princess. It'll all be over soon. I—I've seen lots of girls go through just what you're going through now. (sings softly) There'll be another song for me, and I will sing it. Oh, there'll be another dream for me, someone will bring it.

Cut to:

44     INT.     DONUT SHOP - NIGHT
1970's disco music plays as a long-haired Angel walks into the donut shop past Angelus.

ANGELUS
(rolling his eyes) Bring on the pain!

Angel saunters up to the jukebox and selects a song. He stands there grooving as it starts to play.

FAITH
Mandy, huh? (Angelus sits down in a booth across from Faith) Must kill you he's got a jones for the power-ballads.

Angelus swats as he hears buzzing sound.

ANGELUS
Worse were the concerts. (a couple walks out past Angel, who looks at them longingly) You know what that's like? (Angel sits at the counter) Every time he gets close, I feel it. Wanting to tear their flesh apart. The hunger. It's like a blade in my gut.

FAITH
Only, it's not your gut, princess. Angel's the one that belongs on the outside, not you.

The clerk pours Angel a cup of coffee as Angel tries to recover from his temptation.

ANGELUS
You think it's that cut and dry, don't you? That if Angel gets his soul back—

FAITH
When he gets it.

ANGELUS
You'll just hang up your spurs and ride off into the sunset knowing you put the monster back in his cage. But, (disappears and reappears next to Faith) I'm always here, Faithy. Deep in.

A man walks into the shop.

CASHIER
Hi. Can I help you?

ROBBER
Gimme your money. (shoots into the ceiling) Gimme the cash in the drawer.

CASHIER
(nervous) Oh. OK.

ROBBER
Open it!

CASHIER
Oh, all right. I, uh—

ROBBER
Come on!

CASHIER
I, uh, I just need to...

ROBBER
Now! (shoots the clerk, then runs out of the shop)

ANGEL
(goes to the clerk's side) It's gonna be OK. I'll get you to a hospital. You're—you're gonna be OK. All right? It's—everything's gonna be—

CASHIER
It hurts.

ANGEL
Yeah, I know.

ANGELUS
(mockingly) Doc, I think we're losing him. God, I love this episode! (the buzzing sound occurs again; Angelus swats at the air like there's a fly) What is that buzzing?

Cut to:

45     INT.     CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Cordelia's holding the crystal in her hand, trying to contact Angelus.

CORDELIA
Hear me, Angelus. Heed my warning. Awaken at once. Return from the darkness. Or just lay there and let that red-headed meddler put your soul back. Whichever!

Cut to:

46     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Wesley and Willow are preparing a spell. There's a bubbling jar in front of Willow.

WILLOW
Look, it's working.

WESLEY
I thought Delothrian's Arrow was used to protect good magicks.

WILLOW
It is.

WESLEY
So, how can you use it to break the jar? The Muo-Ping is a sacred object. It's holy.

WILLOW
It's glass, therefore crunchable. The sacred's what's inside. "All life a container..."

WESLEY
"...For the heart of all life." You've studied the Daharim.

WILLOW
It had to be something specific. There's lots of jars in the world—can't shatter them all. I mean, you could, but good things come in jars. Peanut butter, jelly, those two-headed fetal pigs at the natural history museum. (Wes doesn't respond) Come on, everybody loves fetal pigs.

WESLEY
(leans forward) Sorry. I think my sense of humor's trapped in a jar somewhere.

WILLOW
Does seem like you've given in to the grumpy side of the force.

WESLEY
A lot's happened. Not just Angelus. I've been—I've changed. I've seen a darkness in myself. I'm not sure you'd even begin to understand—

WILLOW
I flayed a guy alive and tried to destroy the world.

WESLEY
Oh. So... (stands, doesn't make eye-contact)

WILLOW
Darkness. Been there.

WESLEY
Yeah. Well, I never flayed... (seems sickened) I had a woman chained in a closet.

WILLOW
Hey.

WESLEY
That doesn't compare.

WILLOW
No, dark. That's dark. You've been to a place.

WESLEY
You seem exactly the same as when I left. No other major changes I'm not up on?

WILLOW
(shrugs) Just little things. So, uh, Fred. What's her story?

Cut to:

47     INT.     DONUT SHOP - NIGHT
Angel is squatting next to the clerk.

ANGEL
God, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

The clerk dies. Angel stands and backs away, staring at the clerk.

ANGELUS
So, who's your big hero now?

FAITH
Wasn't even his fault. God, does the guy gotta pay for everything?

ANGELUS
Choices, little girl. The ones you make with your heart of hearts. (Angel goes to the door, but stops and locks the door) Uh-oh. What's gonna happen?

FAITH
He won't.

Angel walks back to the clerk.

ANGELUS
I'm deep in, Faith. Soul or no soul.

Angel vamps out and lifts the clerk.

FAITH
Angel! (Angel bites the clerk) Ugh.

Faith's neck starts to bleed.

FAITH
He was gonna save him.

ANGELUS
Or did he choose to be a little slow on the draw? Whoops! Dinner by armed robbery. Look at him, Faith. You're a murderer. You know just how good that blurry line tastes. You didn't think my hell was private, did ya?

Angel screams.

Fade to black.

ACT III:

48     INT.     ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Lorne dabs away tears from Faith's face. Connor's sitting in a chair in the corner of the room, watching her.

LORNE
She's in the barrens now. They cry for a while. Quiet mostly. Like they're letting go of everything that meant something.

CONNOR
How long...'til...?

LORNE
Not long. You can hold her hand.

Connor stands, but Wesley walks into the room.

CONNOR
Wesley, you did the right thing. She was brave, and she died in battle.

WESLEY
(staring at Faith) It's time.

Cut to:

49     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Fred walks around the lobby in a circle carrying a lit white candle and ringing a bell.

WILLOW
(touches Fred's chin, lifting it higher, smiling) You're good. Good bells. (walks up to the front desk; to Gunn) OK, now all I gotta do is contact the spirit world, harness the Delothrian ebb, and focus it through my little marble of doom here. (holds out a small metal ball) And we'll restore the Muo-Ping's entropic equilibrium.

GUNN
The jar goes smash?

WILLOW
Smash-o-crash.

GUNN
All I need to know. I'll be downstairs in case the Prince of Darkness wakes up. (leaves the room)

WILLOW
OK.

WESLEY
(walks up to Willow) You ready?

WILLOW
(nods) Should be a snap.

A bolt of orange energy hits Willow and sends her sliding across the floor.

BEASTMASTER (V.O.)
Stay your hand, witch! (show Cordelia is holding the crystal again, saying the words of the Beastmaster) You will not interfere with what must come to pass.

WILLOW
(stands, covers her head with her hands and weakly mumbles) Invadoria disparu!

BEASTMASTER (V.O.)
You think to banish me?

WILLOW
(to Wesley) There's somebody in my head.

CORDELIA
(as Beastmaster) As long as the soul is under my protection, it will never be freed.

WILLOW
(to the sky) Vetsche invadoria disparu!

CORDELIA
(as Beastmaster) I'th bid my thongue.

WESLEY
He's enormously powerful. It's the dead Beast's master. He contacted Angelus the same way.

FRED
He wants to stop us from getting the soul.

WILLOW
(black-eyed, holding her hand out, the marble in it floats and starts to glow) Open the window. Fill this stone. Inside, outside. Two made one.

CORDELIA
(as Beastmaster) You wanna go, Glinda? We'll go.

Willow's knocked down by another bolt of energy from the Beastmaster.

CONNOR
Are you sure she can handle it?

WILLOW
(black-eyed, focused on the glowing ball in front of her) Alesh ashtoreth!

The ground starts shaking.

WESLEY
I think she can hold her own.

Cut to:

50     INT.     ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Lorne's talking to Faith while the building shakes around them.

LORNE
It's OK, Faith. It's OK. You just wait. They'll get Angel back, and... (trying to convince himself) it'll all be worth it. It'll all— (Faith gasps and sits up)

Cut to:

51     EXT.     ALLEY - NIGHT
Faith finds herself in a dark alley full of trash.

ANGELUS (O.S.)
It'll all be worth it. Is that what you try to tell yourself, Faithy? Is that the nastly little lie that kept those thighs nice and warm in your prison bunk?

FAITH
(looks around, trying to find Angelus) You kiss your mama with that mouth?

ANGELUS
(shows up behind her, lying on the ground) No, but I ate her with it. (stands without bending his body) And now for a poem. "Faith goes gently into that good night." You're fading fast, baby. I can feel it.

FAITH
All the same, I hear this holler in the distance.

Cut to:

51a     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Still casting the spell, defying the Beastmaster.

WILLOW
Semsa nahl eresh a'lahm!

Cut to:

FAITH
Tells me you're about to get what's coming to you.

ANGELUS
Or not. I've got friends in high places. (further down the alley, Angel stumbles around, knocking over garbage cans) Him, not being one of 'em.

Angel grabs a rat and eats it.

FAITH
Ugh. When is this?

ANGELUS
When isn't it? Twenty years after that stupid donut shop, and his fingers never smelled of anything but rat! "I'm so sorry. I give up. I'm gonna live in a sewer!"

FAITH
He's paying for what he did.

ANGELUS
He's hiding from what he is—which may be a big Psych 101 revelation for you, cupcake, but I already know this crap, so why do I have to go through it again?

ANGEL
Maybe 'cause it's not about you, (stands) jackass.

Cut to:

52     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
The ground is shaking in the hotel. Wesley, Connor, Fred, and Willow are in the lobby.

WESLEY
Do you feel that?

CONNOR
There's something evil rising in the hotel.

Cut to:

52a     INT.     CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
White-eyed Cordelia is chanting in front of the Muo-Ping.

CORDELIA
Seiza jai n'hast engai... Seiza jai n'hast engai...

Cut to:

52b     INT.     BASEMENT AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Gunn feels the ground shake as he guards Angelus in the cage.

Cut to:

An apparition of a huge demonic head floats above the gang in the lobby, growling and shrieking.

CONNOR
What the hell is that?

WILLOW
(to Connor) Ignore it. (to the glowing ball in front of her) Find your target. Leave my side.

Cut to:

52a     INT.     CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Cordelia is sitting in front of the muo-ping, talking to herself.

CORDELIA
OK, then. Huge floaty head not enough to scare you? Then why don't we try— (the glowing ball Willow sent comes straight toward the Muo-Ping; Cordelia puts up a hand to stop it, concentrating hard) And now she is on my last nerve!

Cut to:

WILLOW
Geth na haroth castellum tol.

Cut to:

52a     INT.     CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Cordelia's concentrating hard on keeping Willow's magic marble from getting to the jar.

CORDELIA
If only this were a few weeks later.

Cut to:

WILLOW
Break the glass

FRED
(looks around) Where's Connor?

WILLOW
Let loose the soul!

Cut to:

52a     INT.     CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Connor tries to burst into Cordelia's room, but it's barricaded.

CONNOR
(banging into the door) Cordy! Are you OK?

CORDELIA
(startled, breaks her concentration) Ah! (the marble breaks the Muo-Ping, releasing Angel's soul into the ether, Cordelia turns to look) Oh sh—

Cut to:

53     EXT.     ALLEY - NIGHT
Angel, Angelus and Faith are talking in the alley. Angel is filthy, covered in dirt and grime, wearing a longish hair style.

ANGELUS
I don't believe this! You're the one behind this whole true-Hollywood sob-story?

FAITH
Angel, it's good to see you. (Angelus chuckles) Hate the hair.

ANGEL
Faith, why are you still here?

FAITH
Just waiting to see this pervert get stuffed back into the deep, crazy ground he came from.

ANGEL
Then what? After that, what happens?

Angelus kicks Faith, knocking her down.

ANGELUS
Probably something like that. I had a feeling the rules have changed.

ANGEL
She's not who you're after.

ANGELUS
No kidding, rat boy. The slayer will just be gravy once I finish you off.

BOTH (ANGEL & ANGELUS)
I've been waiting a long time for this.

Angel and Angelus start fighting.

Fade to black.

ACT IV:

54     EXT.     ALLEY - NIGHT
Angel and Angelus are fighting.

ANGEL
Faith, get up! Are you listening?

FAITH
(weakly) Angel, I'm dying.

ANGEL
Yeah. It's a lot easier than redemption, huh? (kicks Angelus)

ANGELUS
(grabs Angel by the neck) Always so concerned with the human condition. (throws Angel down the alley) It's no big mystery, man. They suffer, they die. That's what they're there for.

ANGEL
(lunges at Angelus) I'm not perfect, Faith. Even with a soul, I've done things I wished a thousand times I could take back.

ANGELUS
Yeah, like those Manilow concerts. (throws Angel across the alley) Son of a bitch!

Cut to:

55     INT.     CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Connor bursts into Cordelia's room, pushing the barricade of furniture away from the door.

CONNOR
Cordy! I'm coming in.

Cordelia bangs Connor over the head with a ceramic vase that shatters.

CORDELIA
Oh, Connor, I'm so sorry. I thought it came back. (cries) That horrible floaty head.

CONNOR
Did it hurt you? Is the baby...?

CORDELIA
(high-pitched voice) We nearly got killed.

CONNOR
Willow's spell must've opened a gateway to something.

CORDELIA
Evil. If she keeps at it, there's no telling what will happen. She's already let hell itself into this hotel.

CONNOR
I know. I've seen it. It's not safe for you here. I'm gonna make her stop.

CORDELIA
Connor, you can't! She's too powerful. But you can stop it. The reason for all of this. (whispers) You have to kill Angelus.

Cut to:

56     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Fred, Wesley and Willow are lighting candles and incense in the lobby.

FRED
(looking around) So... now Angel's soul is just floating around out there?

WILLOW
Yeah, until I can channel it into the Orb of Thessulah.

FRED
Connor shouldn't have run off like that.

WESLEY
I'm sure he's just worried about Cordelia.

FRED
Do you ever think their relationship is maybe a little bit...icky?

Cut to:

57     INT.     CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Cordelia's talking to Connor.

CORDELIA
You have to kill your father. You have to. Now, before anything else goes wrong.

Cut to:

58     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Willow and Fred are holding books.

WILLOW
(to Fred) Ready when you are.

FRED
(reading) Quod perditum est invenietur...

WILLOW
(reading) Nisi mort. Nisi al finitei. Te invoc, spirit al trecerii...

Cut to:

59     INT.     CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Cordelia's talking to Connor.

CORDELIA
You know I have fought harder than anyone to save Angel's life, but there comes a time when you have to weigh risk versus reward. And as much as I love Angel...as a friend... killing Angelus now is the only way to guarantee our family's safety.

Cut to:

60     INT.     CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Gunn's still guarding the unconscious Angelus.

CORDELIA (V.O.)
I know it in my heart now. You're not just protecting me. You're protecting the world.

Cut to:

61     INT.     CORDELIA'S ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Lorne's looking after the unconscious Faith.

CORDELIA (V.O.)
Sometimes one death can spare infinite pain.

Cut to:

62     EXT.     ALLEY - NIGHT
While Angel and Angelus are fighting, Faith's lying unconscious against the alley wall.

ANGEL
Faith, wake up!

FAITH
(wakes) I've rolled the bones. You for me.

ANGEL
(walks away from the fight with Angelus to talk to Faith) I used to think that. That there'd be a point when I'd paid my dues.

ANGELUS
(knocks out Angel from behind) Anybody notice a battle with your alter-ego going on here?

Cut to:

63     INT.     HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Connor's walking purposefully down the hallway.

CONNOR (V.O.)
What will I tell the others?

CORDELIA (V.O.)
They can't stop you if they don't know?

CONNOR (V.O.)
What about the sanctuary spell?

CORDELIA (V.O.)
I can fix it. We're special, Connor.

Willow's still working on the spell to re-ensoul Angel in the lobby. She's chanting, facing the Orb of Thessulah. Connor looks over at them.

WILLOW
Te implor doamne. Nu ignora accasta rugaminte lasa orbita sa fie vasul care-i va transporta sufletul la el.

CORDELIA (V.O.)
Special.

Cut to:

64     EXT.     ALLEY - NIGHT
Angel and Angelus are fighting in the alley again. Angel leaves the fight and goes over to Faith's side, holding her up in his arms.

ANGEL
Faith, listen to me. You saw me drink. It doesn't get much lower than that. And I thought I could make up for it by disappearing.

FAITH
I did my time.

ANGEL
Our time is never up, Faith. We pay for everything.

FAITH
It hurts.

ANGEL
I know. I know.

Cut to:

65     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Willow's still working on the spell to re-ensoul Angel in the lobby. She's chanting, facing the Orb of Thessulah.

WILLOW
Este scris aceasta putere este dreptul poporuil meu de a conduce.

Cut to:

66     INT.     BASEMENT AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Connor walks down the stairs into the basement.

CONNOR
Hey, Gunn, you should know...(punches Gunn, knocking him out) they haven't finished the spell yet.

Cut to:

67     EXT.     ALLEY - NIGHT
Angel's talking to a weakened Faith.

ANGEL
Get up! You have to get up now. Faith, you have to fight. I need you to fight. Do you understand what I'm saying?

Angelus sneaks up behind Angel and knocks him out with a metal pipe.

ANGELUS
What won't I miss? The moralizing. Soul's already in the ether, boyo. I can smell it. How 'bout I send it off to that big puppy rescue in the sky.

FAITH
(from behind) Arf arf, psycho.

ANGELUS
Faith. Getting back into the game.

FAITH
I guess I am.

ANGELUS
(swings the pipe at Faith, but she disappears) Hey!

Cut to:

68     INT.     ROOM AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Faith wakes with a start, and without missing a beat, she runs out of the room.

Cut to:

69     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Willow's still working on the spell to re-ensoul Angel in the lobby. She's chanting, facing the Orb of Thessulah.

WILLOW
Asa sa fie, acum.

Cut to:

70     EXT.     ALLEY - NIGHT
Angelus and Angel start to glow and combine into one being.

Cut to:

71     INT.     BASEMENT AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Chained Angel is mumbling to himself with Connor kneeling over him.

ANGEL
(mumbling) I need you to fight.

CONNOR
I'm pretty clear about what you need. (rears his hand back, revealing that he's got a stake in it)

FAITH
(grabs Connor's wrist, stopping him from staking Angel) Break me off a switch, son. (throws Connor against the cage wall) There's about to be a whoppin'.

Faith and Connor fight.

LORNE
(runs into the basement, followed by Fred and Wesley) She's alive. It's a miracle!

Faith continues to kick Connor's butt across the room. When he lands near the cage, Angel grabs his neck through the bars.

ANGEL
Connor, it's over. It's me. Really.

Cut to:

72     INT.     GARDEN AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Faith comes outside to talk to Angel.

FAITH
Hey. (leans forward on the rail)

ANGEL
How're you feeling?

FAITH
Like I did mushrooms and got eaten by a bear.

ANGEL
That about sums it up.

FAITH
Yep.

ANGEL
And now you're going to Sunnydale.

FAITH
I think I prefer the bear, but the way Willow talks it up, that's where I'm needed.

ANGEL
Never stop fighting. (leans on the rail beside Faith)

FAITH
Hey, I was gonna, but someone got all pep-talky on me.

ANGEL
Yeah. I'm sorry I didn't get to see you. Our little brain tour notwithstanding.

FAITH
(smiles) Another time.

ANGEL
(stands) I have a lot to thank you for.

FAITH
Well, that vice is plenty versa. I even start, it's only gonna lead to hugging, and... (shrugs, smiles)

ANGEL
Right. We can't have that.

FAITH
No.

They walk inside.

Cut to:

73     INT.     LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS
Faith and Angel walk inside to see Connor sitting on a couch with Gunn standing in front of him with his arms crossed.

CONNOR
All right. I get it. I messed up.

FAITH
Hey, cheer up, punk. That just makes you one of us.

GUNN
You headed out?

FAITH
Yeah, no tears, big guy. (gives Gunn a high-five)

GUNN
Nah, I'm good. I just wish I could've seen you kicking the crap out of junior, here.

FAITH
It was pretty funny. Wes.

WESLEY
Faith.

FAITH
See. Brits know how to say goodbye. Angel here wanted a hug.

ANGEL
No, I didn't.

FAITH
Been a good show.

GUNN
Yeah, sit back and let the girl do all the heavy lifting.

WESLEY
That's pretty much it.

FRED
(walks out of the office with Willow, who's holding a book) I think that volume's outdated. You'd know better than me, but there's some interesting stuff about hellmouth. Might help.

WILLOW
This is great.

FRED
(extra smiley) I have to say, someday I'd love to bend your ear about the Pergamum Codex. I—I think some of the really obscure passages are actually Latin translated from a demonic tongue, and they're kind of a hoot. (giggles) All this stuff about Bacchanals and spells and—actually, I think it's probably funnier in Latin. You know how that is sometimes.

WILLOW
I'm seeing someone.

FAITH
Time goes by, Will.

WILLOW
OK. Good. Wagons west. See you guys.

ANGEL
Willow...

FAITH
He's going to tell you how much he owes you.

WILLOW
Aw, don't mention it. I got a slayer out of the deal, so we're even-steven. (hugs Angel) I'll tell Buffy you said hi.

ANGEL
Good. Thanks.

WILLOW
(starts to walk out, but stops, turn to them) Oh, um, next time you guys resurrect Angelus, call me first, OK?

Willow and Faith walk out the front door. Angel turns to face the gang.

ANGEL
So, we're back.

WESLEY
It would seem.

ANGEL
Look, I know things have been—

CORDELIA
(walks down the stairs) Sorry, Angel. But if this is the speech about how the worst is behind us, you may want to save it for later.

Cordelia's wearing a trampy outfit that reveals her pregnancy to the gang.

Cut to:

Closing credits.


Episode Information:

Creator: Joss Whedon
David Greenwalt
Co-Producer: Skip Schoolnik
Stephen S. DeKnight
Consulting Producer: David Fury
David Greenwalt
Tim Minear
Co-Executive Producer: Jeffrey Bell
Executive Producers:

Joss Whedon

Sandy Gallin
Gail Berman
Fran Rubel Kuzui
Kaz Kuzui

Produced By: Kelly A. Manners
Written By: Mere Smith
Directed By:

Terrence O'Hara

Starring:

David Boreanaz as Angel
Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase
J. August Richards as Charles Gunn
Amy Acker as Winifred "Fred" Burkle
Vincent Kartheiser as Connor
Andy Hallett as Lorne
and Alexis Denisof as Wesley Wyndham-Pryce

Special Guest Stars:

Alyson Hannigan as Willow
Eliza Dushku as Faith

Co-Starring: E.J. Callahan as Old Craps Man
Jeremy Guskin as Cashier
Peter Renaday as Master's Voice