ANGEL: What's the case?

WESLEY: Corbin Fries. The lowest piece of pond scum I've met in, oh, hours. He's about to get 20 years for kidnapping, pimping—

ANGEL: I saw the file.

WESLEY: Yeah, well, personally, I think he deserves to be eaten by weasels, but he's hinting we'd best help him. Threatening, actually.

(Fries arrives)

ANGEL: Mr. Fries.

HARMONY: Mr. Fries, this is Angel.

WESLEY: I've been bringing him up to speed on your case.

FRIES: Terrific.

KEEL: Desmond Keel.

WESLEY: One of ours.

ANGEL: Nice to meet you.

KEEL: I've heard, uh, things.

HARMONY: Would anybody like coffee?

FRIES: Oh, yeah, let's all chit-chat and have tea and crumpets 'cause I got so much time. Here's the skinny: Tomorrow the D.A. Puts my tit in a wringer for good and all, and that... does not stand with me. Butt-munch here, he got his law degree at dog training school, and the prosecution has everything they've ever dreamed of.

ANGEL: Because you're guilty.

FRIES: Of course I'm guilty. What the hell are you changin' the subject for? The point is, when Holland Manners was running things, this would've never got to trial. Now, I bring a lot of money into this firm, more than most, and I don't do that so I can be handed over to the frickin' law. (points at Angel) You... gotta get me off.

ANGEL: It's strange, my lack of incentive.

FRIES: You think I give a ferret's anus about your new regime here? Yeah, I know who you are, and I care to the sum of zero. You're my lawyers. And if you don't do every last thing to keep me out of jail, you will regret it.

KEEL: Well, we can't dance around this one. We're not in a position to have anyone killed. (to Angel & Wes) Not that we would. And the jury's, uh, tamper-proof. Literally. I think one of the D.A.'s shamans has conjured a mystical shield around them.

WESLEY: So this one has to be won on the merits of the case.

KEEL: Now, we have top men on this—

FRIES: Who are doing jack! I am not gonna be made an example of. Either you get me off tomorrow—

ANGEL: I think you should calm down.

FRIES: To hell with calm down. Either you get me off, or I drop the bomb.

WESLEY: Bomb?

FRIES: Let me put it this way: If they bring in a conviction, bye-bye, California. I say the magic word, the only people left standing are gonna be the ones that are already dead.

HARMONY: Oh, well, that's a relief. (realizes) I mean— (angrily) Hey!

• Wolfram & Hart

written by: Joss Whedon; Original transcript by CariCranberry. Edited & formatted for this site by me.. Full transcript at:
http://www.buffyworld.com/angel/season5/transcripts/5x01_tran2.php