(Knox's spell finishes)

KNOX: Showtime.

SPIKE: (arriving) Any seats left?

ANGEL: If not, we could just stand in the back.

KNOX: Guys, you should scan the headlines here. You can't win this.

WESLEY: Then we all die trying.

ILLYRIA: Why?

ANGEL: You want the short version? Let's 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 you're trying to do, raise your army, reclaim your world, innocent people would die. Like Fred. I can't let that happen.

ILLYRIA: You are the protector of these creatures?

ANGEL: Yes.

ILLYRIA: You'd fight for their lives?

ANGEL: Yes.

ILLYRIA: (looks at Knox) Even this one?

KNOX: (nervously) Is that an issue? Is my life in peril, boss? King?

ANGEL: You're about as low as it gets, Knox, but you're a part of humanity. That isn't always pretty, but it's a hell of a lot better than what came before. And if it comes down to a choice between you and him, then yes, I would fight for his life, just like any other human's. Because that's what people do. That's what makes us—

(A gunshot echoes in the room. Knox looks down at his chest to see he's bleeding from a gunshot wound to the heart. He collapses. Wes is holding the smoking gun.)

ANGEL: (to Wes, exasperated) Were you even listening?

(fade to black. commercial. resume)

ILLYRIA: (angrily) You've destroyed my Qwa'ha Xahn.

SPIKE: Yeah, OK, but you gotta admit, he had it coming.

ILLYRIA: It offends me that you think he matters.

ANGEL: You're right. He's not the problem. You are.

(The fight begins. Illyria's too fast, they can't touch her, but she keeps sending them flying)

ILLYRIA: Unimpressive.

(Illyria does another ultra-slow-mo spell. She turns to get back to her portal-opening, when suddenly Angel's standing cockily in her way)

ANGEL: What's the rush?

(he punches Illyria hard in the face, sending her across the room, the first hit she takes)

ILLYRIA: How?

ANGEL: (RE: crystal) From your sarcophagus. It's connected to you, I'm connected to it.

ILLYRIA: Sneaky.

(she topples him, opens the portal and goes through it. Wes makes a dive for it, managing to squeeze through before it closes. On the other side, he goes skittering across the floor of the temple. Meanwhile, Illyria marches surely up the steps towards her waiting army.)

ILLYRIA: You're too late. My army will rise. This world will be mine once again.

(she arrives at the top of the staircase, only to see her statue is broken, her temple crumbling and her army dead)

ILLYRIA: No. It can't be. It's gone.

(she falls to her knees, runs her hands through the sand)

ILLYRIA: My world is gone.

(Wes walks up behind her; cocks his handgun as he points it at her head)

WESLEY: Now you know how I feel.

(Illyria looks up at Wesley, wide-eyed. A low sound reverberates nearby, and Wesley turns to see a portal has opened up behind him. He looks back at where Illyria was kneeling and sees she's gone.)

• Angel's Mission
• Wesley & Illyria

written by: Stephen S. DeKnight; Original transcript by CariCranberry. Edited & formatted by me.. Full transcript at:
http://www.buffyworld.com/angel/season5/transcripts/5x16_tran.php