Shells
Illyria: This is grief? Im watching human grief, its like offal in my mouth.
Wes: If you stay here youll taste it every day. Every second. Look. Humans rule the earth. It will last for millennia. Like roaches crawling everywhere. Crying and sweating and puking their feelings all over you. Go back. Sleep until the humans are gone. They are stupid and weak. Theyll kill each other off and you can return to the world you deserve. Leave this shell.
Spike: Cant even get drunk. Why would anyone make a bottle this small? Its inhuman. Thousands would have died if youd saved her.
Angel: Yeah.
Spike: She wouldnt have wanted that.
Angel: Yeah. Tried calling Wes. Theres no answer.
Spike: Guess shes gone then. Its like a bloody tease. Its like, heres what a bottle of Jack would look like if you actually had one or heres a drink but its very far away.
Angel: What does that mean? Really?
Spike: Its a play on perspective.
Angel: Gone. What does it mean that shes gone?
Spike: In the world of men a person dies they stay that way.
Angel: Unless youre a vampire.
Spike: Or the ghost of one that saved the world.
Angel: Or Buffy. Death doesnt have to be the end. Not in our world. Rules can be broken. All you have to do is push hard enough.
Harmony: Gonna torture him?
Gunn: Thinking about it.
Harmony: Can I help? Im really good at it.
Gunn: Thanks but this is kinda personal.
Harmony: Why do you think I want to help? Because Ive got some kind of blood lust? . . . . Well, ok, that, too, but Freds my friend. We went out for drinks all the-- once. And if Poindexter had anything to do with hurting her then Im in for a big, fat pound of flesh.
Knox: [laughs] Im sorry. Its just, um, its not what you think. Its, its, its beautiful. Tell them. Tell them what happened.
Wes: The infection, Illyria, consumed her. Took over her body.
Gunn: But its still Fred, right? This things just controlling--
Wes: Shes. Gone.
Gunn: You dont know that.
Harmony: Wait, Im confused. It looks like Fred but its not?
Knox: Shes so much more than that now. Beyond flesh, beyond perfection. I loved Fred, I really did. She had a warmth, took you in and held you until everything cold and distant melted away. She was the most beautiful, perfect woman I ever met. Thats why I chose her. Shes the only one that was worthy.
Gunn: Wes, dont. We need him. I know how you feel.
Wes: You dont-- . . . You didnt feel her die. She was shaking with pain and terrified and so brave. She was better than anyone Ive known. Better than. . . . Shes gone.
Angel: I know. Now lets get her back.
Gunn: Lornes right. We should have seen this coming.
Angel: Wouldnt have made a difference. Drogan said the sarcophagus was preordained to be released. Nothing could have stopped it from arriving.
Gunn: Thats not completely true. I played a round of piñata with lab-boy while you were gone. The sarcophagus was stuck in customs and it should have stayed there but someone got it out.
Wes: Who?
Gunn: Im working on it.
Wes: Oh. Youre working on it. Good for you Charles, not a moment to lose.
Angel: Wes. I know youre hurting but keep your footing, I need you sharp - all of you - for Freds sake.
Wes: There is no Fred any more.
Gunn: You dont know that!
Wes: I watched it gut her from the inside out. Everything she was is gone, there is nothing left but a shell.
Angel: Then well figure out a way to fill it back up.
Spike: The thing only took over her body. Its the tip of the theological.
Angel: Its the soul that matters.
Spike: Trust us. Were kind of experts.
Gunn: What about her. . . If her organs have been liquified.
Spike: Flash-fried in a pillar of fire saving the world. I got better.
Wes: You really believe theres a chance of bringing her back?
Angel: Freds soul is out there, somewhere. Well find it and put it back where it belongs. Then well make every son-of-a-bitch who had a hand in this pay. We all on the same page?
Gunn: Where do we start?
Knox: Ive been waiting so long for this. Ive loved you from the moment I saw you. I was eleven, you were ancient, pressed between the pages of the forbidden text. I would stare at you for hours, locked in my room. My mom thought I was looking at porn.
Illyria: My last Kwahazan was taller.
Angel (on the phone): Himalayas, I thought she was in South America.
Spike: Got a branch in Tibet? Id like a couple sherpas.
Angel (on the phone): Alright, look, what do you mean shes not on this plane? You just said . . . . Astral projection? Well, is there anyway to get her astral over to L.A.? Giles, this is an emergency. . . . No, no, Im not going-- Dont put me on hold. . . . .
Wes: Never a witch around when you need one.
Gunn: Itll work out. It has to.
Wes: Ive been unreasonable because Ive lost all reason. But I shouldnt be taking it out on you. I know youve done everything you can. Im sorry.
Gunn: So am I.
Angel (on the phone): Yeah, Im still at Wolfram & Hart, what does that have to do with anything? . . . . Yeah? I understand. [throws phone at a wall] Were on our own.
Spike: Good, cause I was wondering.
Angel: Nothings changed. We find Illyria and--
Harmony: smack her a good one for me? So gonna leave a mark.
Illyria: Im ready to begin.
Angel: Or we could just hang out.
Illyria: A warrior. I was beginning to wonder if this world was void of your kind.
Spike: Plenty of us to go around, luv.
Illyria: Two half-breeds and a band of primitives. Is this all that challenges me now?
Angel: That, and a whole lot of bullets.
Wes: Enough to temporarily incapacitate even you.
Angel: We know what you are, Illyria. Weve seen the rest of your kind. All the old ones. Sealed away forever. Like you were. Where you should have stayed. Youve taken something of ours, something very precious. Stand down and I promise, we wont destroy you taking it back. Your choice.
Illyria: I decline.
Harmony: Sorry boss. Maybe if Id stopped her in Gunns office?
Angel: Did she toss you out a window?
Harmony: No.
Angel: Then youre one up on me.
Spike: I fancied I saw a blur just before she went Houdini.
Gunn: Yeah, like she was pulling a Barry Allen. . . . . . Jay Garek? Wally-- She was moving really fast.
Spike: Any thoughts on how were supposed to track Fred or Illyria or whatever the hell that thing was?
Angel: We just do it, thats all.
Spike: Back in the lab, she was standing right there in front of me, but there was no scent. Nothing. Its like she wasnt even there.
Angel: I know.
Spike: Look, I want Fred back as much as any of us, but seeing her there, like that. Maybe she really is--
Angel: No. I lost Cordelia because some thing violated her. Crawled inside, used her up. No way in hell am I letting that happen again.
Wes: She was curious. Thats why Fred didnt put it into containment immediately. How things work. What makes them special. She was always searching for what people couldnt see. She was just curious. I think I hate her a little for that.
Harmony: The girl of your dreams loved you. Thats more than most people ever get.
Wes: I know. But it isnt enough.
Harmony: Got me beat. All I found was a cell phone and a cheese sandwich.
Wes: Was it Knoxs?
Harmony: Had his name written on the bag with a little smiley-face in the o, the big girl.
Wes: The cell phone, Harmony.
Harmony: Oh. Um, I think so. Its got a Rick Springfield screen saver which opens up a whole new set of questions.
Wes: Outgoing numbers have all been deleted. Same for incoming calls.
Harmony: What about missed calls? Knox couldnt have erased them if he didnt have his lady phone on him.
Wes: Three in the last few hours. All from the same person.
Gunn: Everything you know. Or there wont be enough left of you to stitch together, Frankenstein.
Gunn: Then take it back. Everything you put in my head, the law, all the knowledge, take it back, everything. Take more, leave me a vegetable, I dont care. Just bring her back. Please. Bring her back.
Wes: Is there something youd like to tell me Charles? Knox was in contact with the doctor, but you already know that, dont you?
Gunn: Yeah, one of my sources--
Wes: Dont. What he said. About Fred. About her soul. Is it true? What did you do, Charles?
Gunn: It was just a piece of paper. I was losing it, everything they put in my head, everything that made me different. . . special. . . And he could fix it. Make it permanent, so I signed a piece of paper, a customs release form I didnt think anyone would get hurt.
Wes: Nothing at Wolfram & Hart is ever free. You knew that.
Gunn: I couldnt go back. To being just the muscle. I. . . I didnt think it would be one of us. I didnt think it would be Fred.
Wes: I understand not wanting to go back. Not wanting to be who we were. I can understand it and I can forgive it. But you knew what was happening to her. You knew who was responsible and you didnt say anything. You let her die. Im less forgiving about that.
Angel: What the hell did you do?
Wes: What I had to.
Angel: I dont remember seeing stab Gunn on the agenda this morning.
Wes: I avoided the major organs. Hell probably live.
Angel: Is that supposed to make it all right?
Wes: Nothing is all right. Nothing will ever be all right.
Angel: Well get her back, Wes.
Wes: No we wont, Freds soul. . . . Her soul was destroyed resurrecting Illyria.
Angel: Are you sure? What about Gunn.
Wes: He let the sarcophagus in to Wolfram & Hart. What he knew, when he knew it, it doesnt change what happened. He let her die.
Angel: So did I. At the well, in England. There was a way to save Fred, but only if thousands of others died in her place. As much as I love Fred I couldnt let that happen. Look I need you to bury it, Wes. Everything youre feeling, everyone you want to hurt, I need you to put it aside and focus on what has to be done.
Wes: Illyria.
Angel: We need to stop her before--
Spike: she unleashes hell on earth?
Angel: What did you get out of the doctor?
Spike: Screams. Various fluids. And a name. Valahanesh.
Spike: What are these smaller bits?
Wes: Her Army of Doom.
Spike: Theres a shock.
Illyria: Your breed is fragile. How is it they came to control this world.
Knox: Opposable thumbs. Um, fire. Television. What they lack in strength they make up for in extraordinary sneakyness.
Illyria: You are deceivers.
Knox: Yes, all of them. They deserve to be punished.
Illyria: They. You dont consider yourself part of your race.
Knox: Not any more. Im with the King. Open the gateway. Raise your army. Wash humanity from the face of the earth and reclaim what was lost to you so many millenia ago when the world was ruled by--
Illyria: Be silent!
Knox: Right. Sorry. My bad.
Harmony: Theres some stuff you need to sign.
Gunn: I dont think Angel wants me to be signing anything right now.
Harmony: Yeah, um, thats what these are about.
Gunn: No body else could stomach bringing these down?
Harmony: Is it true? What theyre saying about you?
Gunn: Guess it is.
Harmony: How could you do that to your friends? To Fred?
Gunn: Because I was weak. Because I wanted to be somebody that I wasnt. Because I dont know where I fit. Cause I never did. Cause a thousand other reasons that dont mean a damn cause shes gone. Shes gone. Shes not coming back. Because of me. I did this, and Im sorry. Im sorry.
Knox: Showtime.
Spike: Any seats left?
Angel: If not, we could just stand at the back.
Knox: Guys, you should scan the headlines, here. You cant win this.
Wes: Then we all die trying.
Illyria: Why?
Angel: You want the short version? Lets start with you walking around looking like the woman you murdered.
Illyria: You think your actions will restore her.
Angel: No.
Illyria: Yet you seek a confrontation you cannot win.
Angel: What youre trying to do? Raise your army? Reclaim your world? Innocent people would die. Like Fred. I cant let that happen.
Illyria: You are the protector of these creatures?
Angel: Yes.
Illyria: Youd fight for their lives.
Angel: Yes.
Illyria: Even this one?
Knox: Is that an issue? Is, is my life in peril, boss? King?
Angel: Youre about as low as it gets, Knox. But youre a part of humanity. That isnt always pretty, but its a hell of a lot better than what came before. And if it comes down to a choice between you and him? Yes, I would fight for his life. Just like any other humans, because thats what people do. Thats what makes us-- [gunshot] Were you even listening?
Illyria: Youve destroyed my Kwahazan.
Spike: Yeah, ok. But you gotta admit, he had it coming.
Illyria: Unimpressive.
Angel: Whats the rush?
Illyria: How?
Angel: From your sarcophagus. Its connected to you, Im connected to it.
Illyria: Sneaky.
Illyria: My world is gone.
Wes: Now you know how I feel.
Spike: That offer still good? Send me abroad, roving agent and all?
Angel: Yeah. Its still good.
Spike: Great. Maybe you should send Gunn. Before Wes has another poke.
Angel: Youre not leaving?
Spike: Its what she would have wanted. Its what I want. I dont really like you. Spose I never will. But this is important. Whats happening here. Fred gave her life for it. Least I can do is give whats left of mine. The fights coming, Angel. We both feel it. And its going to be a hell of a lot bigger than Illyria. Things are gonna get ugly.
Illyria: Ill need your help. Welsey.
Wes: If Im going to help you find your way, youre going to have to change. You mustnt kill.
Illyria: You killed the Kwahazan. In defiance of your leader.
Wes: He murdered the woman I love.
Illyria: And that made it just.
Wes: No. It wasnt just. Im probably the last man in the world to teach you whats right.
Illyria: But you will. If I abide, you will help me.
Wes: Yes.
Illyira: Because I look like her.
Wes: Yes.
Illyria: We cling to what is gone. Is there anything in this life but grief.
Wes: Theres love. Theres hope. Some, theres hope that youll find something worthy. That your life will lead you to some joy. That after everything you can still be surprised.
Illyria: Is that enough? Is that enough to live on?
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