GUNN: No offense, Angel. What we need is someone who's an expert on the Shanshu scriptures.

ANGEL: Fine, but Wesley's not here.

EVE: No, but his department is. Maybe somebody there can—

ANGEL: Do what? I'm telling you, I read the prophecy.

(Cut to Sirk's office)

SIRK: You didn't read the prophecy.

ANGEL: I didn't?

SIRK: You read a translation of the prophecy. It's like comparing the King James Bible with the original Aramaic, the Hebrew. Much of the flavor, the subtlety of usage, the historical context has been stripped away. (scoffs) Read the prophecy. You may as well have read a 12-year-old's book report on the subject.

GUNN: (whispers to Angel) I miss Wesley.

ANGEL: OK, Sirk. Point made. Listen, is there anything in the Shanshu that can help us with what's going on?

SPIKE: Yeah. What's it say about me?

SIRK: There is a newly translated group of verses which may perhaps prove relevant. The root of the tree will split in 2. And each thing will seek nourishment from the buried river.

SPIKE: Sounds like a gardening tip.

SIRK: It's metaphor. Please tell me I don't have to explain metaphor to you people.

ANGEL: Sirk, the text.

SIRK: Ah. Here we are. Storm unleashed. The balance will falter until the vampire with a soul drinks from the cup of perpetual torment.

ANGEL: More metaphor.

SIRK: No, that's real.

EVE: So there's a cup.

SPIKE: Perpetual torment? Just know that's not gonna taste very good.

SIRK: He will have the weight of worlds upon him, binding his limbs, grinding his bones to meal until he saves creation... or destroys it.

SPIKE: Uh...right. So, what's in it for me?

SIRK: The vampire will have his past washed clean.

ANGEL: And live again in mortal form. Yeah, that part I know.

SPIKE: Yeah, I bet you do.

GUNN: So, Angel drinks from this cup. Our computers go back on line, phones stop ringing, and people quit turning into homicidal maniacs?

SPIKE: Who says it's Angel supposed to take the swig? Who says it's about him at all?

ANGEL: Aw, come on, Spike. You really think this is about you?

SPIKE: Oh, why the bloody hell not? Just 'cause you—

EVE: Boys, let's focus on the problem at hand. We don't want to be wrong about this.

SIRK: There is no wrong. The drinking of the cup is predestined. That can't be changed. Whoever drinks from it was meant to. When one is confirmed as the central figure of the prophecy, the universe should realign itself.

GUNN: So, this cup thing. Where is it? Does it say?

SIRK: It does offer some details, yes. Housed in the hidden city of Petra. Mm-hmm. Disappears during the crusades. Surfaces again at the Vatican. Vanishes in the third year of the inquisition. Then...yes. Interesting.

ANGEL: What?

SIRK: It's in Nevada.

GUNN: Nevada?

SIRK: Death Valley, to be exact. The earth will thrash and mark the appearance of the cup at the columns.

ANGEL: Columns? That sounds vaguely—

SIRK: And the desert will swallow cup and house whole and— this can only be loosely translated. And the fat lady will sing no more.

ANGEL: Opera.

EVE: Opera?

ANGEL: The columns was an opera house in Death Valley. It was buried in an earthquake in '38. Made headlines in Los Angeles. That's only a few hours away. I can get there and back before—

GUNN: Angel, we got a seriously major crisis going on here. Might not be the best time to go running after some mystical cup.

ANGEL: I really don't have much of a choice. If it's there, I'm just gonna have to accept that the prophecy's real, and hope that it stops this madness. In the meantime, you're in charge. Keep this place quarantined till I get— (looks around the room) Where's Spike?

(Spike's slipped away)

• Angel & Spike
• The Shanshu prophecy/scroll of Aberjian

written by: David Fury & Steven S. DeKnight; Original transcript by CariCranberry. Edited & formatted by me.. Full transcript at:
http://www.buffyworld.com/angel/season5/transcripts/5x08_tran.php