"Reprise"
Angel enters an old, abandoned building, walks slowly down the hallway to one of the apartments. He opens the door and turns on a light. The room is filled with goats. He opens another door in the apartment and sees two guys reading through a step-by-step on how to do a sacrifice. One of the guys notes they need to use the ceremonial dagger to do the deed, but he didn't find that in the box with the rest of the supplies. The other guy tells him to find it. They both search for it.
Behind them, Angel is holding the dagger. He tells them he couldn't help but notice the goats. Lots of goats.
One of the guys points out that he's got their dagger. Angel embeds it into the wall and tells them they can sue him, or have their bosses do it. He knows the building is owned by W&H.
One of the guys asks what Angel wants. Angel wants to know what W&H are having them worship. The guy tells Angel it's none of his business, he wants to know who Angel is.
In a flash, Angel in in vamp face, both guys pinned to the wall by one hand on each of their throats. He tells them he just doesn't like to see good blood wasted.
One of the guys says they don't know anything. They get paid to make the sacrifices and say the words, that's all. They don't know anymore than that. Angel finds it a little hard to believe that they have no idea what the ritual they're performing is for. The guys tell him it's all in Latin, they don't understand it, W&H told them to just "sound it out." They only know that the sacrifice has to be made by midnight or something is going to be very angry.
Angel thinks making something angry sounds like a good idea as he releases them and smashes the crate they're using for an altar along with the ritual paraphernalia.
Francine and her daughter are at the new office. Gunn is standing behind the daughter and notes there's no sign of the third eye. Cordelia tells her the kids won't notice and her hair will grow back soon, as she puts a baseball cap on the kid. Cordelia assures Francine the eye won't come back, as she looks to Wes for confirmation of that.
Wesley, who's sitting in a wheelchair, tells her it shouldn't, the "curative charm" seems to have worked.
Francine tells them they can't thank them and they can't pay them. She holds up a piece of paper and tells them the bill is ridiculous. Her husband says it's absurd.
Wesley wonders what her husband would think was a fair price for removing the third eye from the back of their daughter's head.
Francine tells him "nothing". Her husband says that it's impossible to be bitten by a demon, resulting in a third eye growing out of one's head so obviously, they are running some kind of scam and they aren't paying a cent. She takes her daughter by the hand and leaves the office.
Cordelia starts to follow her out. Wes tells her to let her go. It's easier for her to see them as con artists than to face the truth of the situation.
Cordelia reminds him they have bills to pay. Gunn notes that Cordelia does have a point. Wes offers that perhaps, given some time, Francine and her family will change their minds.
Gunn figures that's unlikely as he puts on his coat. Cordelia asks where he's going. Gunn says he's going to check out his neighborhood. He figures he can do more good there than hanging around with Wes and Cordelia at the office.
Wes figures something is bound to come up. Gunn tells them to let him know when that happens.
At the offices of W&H, Lilah steps off the elevator and meets up with Lindsey. She's anxious. She says she's been trying to reach him. Lindsey keeps walking. She wants to know where he's going. He tells her it's time for lunch. Lilah thinks they have more important things to worry about. She reminds him the review is in two days. Lindsey assures her he's aware of that. Lilah points out that everyone is on edge, they're scared and they should be. She hands Lindsey a manila envelope, everything she could find on the last 75 year review. She tells him that the last review made the Christmas purge of '68 look like a party. Nearly half of mid-management was terminated.
Lindsey tells her he'll read the information. She informs him he'd better because they are co-vice presidents of the division, it's both of them on the line, not just him. She's included some suggestions on how they can "pump up" their portfolio before the review on Friday.
Lindsey isn't interested. He tells her they'll either pass the review or not, last minute rituals and rites aren't going to make any difference. Lilah says that others seem to think it will help. One of the lawyers took her first born out of daycare and offered it as a sacrifice. She figures the woman was kissing up. Lilah thinks on that a minute and comes to the conclusion that maybe her mother was right. She should have had kids.
Lindsey tells her they'll stand by their record, they don't have anything else. Lilah figures that's it then, they're finished. She reminds him that they've made mistakes, two of which are still out there somewhere. She asks if he's heard anything. She wants to know that he'd tell her if he heard anything from Darla or Dru.
Lindsey reminds her they were torched. Even for strong vampires, it takes time to recover from something like that. Lilah figures they'll probably choose the review to show up. Lindsey tells her not to worry about it. Lilah says there are no second chances here. Nothing can happen between now and the review to mess things up.
At the police station, Angel is telling Kate about the increase in rituals, it has to mean something but he's not sure what. She's busy filing, not really interested, as he continues to think out loud about what all of it means. Kate offers that "maybe they're just trying to make it rain" and asks why this is so important to Angel as she walks back to her desk.
Angel tells her it's important to him because it's important to them. He needs her help, he doesn't have the resources to do it. She's not sold on the idea that he needs her help and she's not in the mood to give any. Angel tells her that she could at least get them for slaughtering animals without a permit. She snaps that she can't get anybody on anything. She's been relegated to desk duty pending the outcome of a hearing coming up on Friday.
Angel doesn't know what she's talking about.
Kate fills him in. The zombie-raising Captain, Atkinson, filed a complaint against Kate for allowing access to his office to someone who beat him up.
Angel reminds her the guy was raising zombie cops and turning them loose on the streets. Kate sarcastically notes that Internal Affairs will certainly understand that when she tells them and the matter will go away. She knows they've been looking for a reason to get rid of her. Being a cop is all she's ever wanted. She can't deal with it right now.
Angel says he's sorry.
Kate wonders if he is, really. She figures IA might have some questions about something else as well. She pulls a folder out of the desk drawer and lays out a succession of photos of dead lawyers taken in the Manners' wine cellar. Angel tells her she had nothing to do with that.
Kate wonders if that's really true considering that several W&H attorneys were threatened at the offices by an intruder, an intruder she picked up and released three hours before the wine cellar massacre.
Angel says she knows who was responsible for what happened at the wine cellar. Kate's not so sure. Forensics says that the killer or killers didn't have to break in, they had to break out. Someone had locked the doors, leaving the victims trapped with their attackers. She figures she is finished "helping" Angel.
Lindsey walks into his place, Darla is there, lying on the couch looking frail. He tells her he would have come home for lunch, but things are a little insane at the office with the review pending. He asks how she's feeling. She tells him she's stronger, thanks to his finding her. She doesn't know how he found her in the sewer. Lindsey tells her that Dru told him where she was. Darla says that Dru is gone. Lindsey thinks she'll be back. Darla doesn't think so. She says Lindsey is the only one who hasn't left her. He assures her he never will.
He hands her a bag, she removes a bottle of blood from it. Darla is disappointed to note that the blood is cold. Lindsey says it's the only way to keep it fresh. Darla knows there are other ways. She smells it, smiles, she's happy that it's at least human.
Lindsey gets up, he's headed for the shower. Darla wonders why he always takes a shower when he comes home from the office even though he's never "dirty." Lindsey says he always is as he heads for the bathroom. Darla rolls her eyes in response when his back is turned.
After he's out of the room, Darla (who is clearly not as weak as she's led Lindsey to believe) throws off the blanket, gets up and stretches. She heads for one of the bags Lindsey put down when he came in and removes the manila envelope Lilah had given Lindsey earlier. She opens it and peruses the contents, the report on the 75 year review.
Angel enters the karaoke bar and approaches the Host. A couple of lawyer looking types are performing onstage. Angel is anxious, edgy. He wants to talk. Angel says that something is coming. The Host notes the influx of the "morally ambiguous" crowd being a clue as he looks toward one of the tables. Angel recognizes them as W&H lawyers.
As Angel stares at the occupants of the table, the Host advises him that he knows what he's thinking and throwing himself across the room and tearing their heads off isn't a good idea. Angel knows the Host has read them, he wants to know what's coming. The Host tells him he can't divulge what he reads in others to anyone else. Angel wants to know if it's bad. The Host concedes that though he can't tell what he's read in others, he can share what he overheard in the men's room. The lawyers are sweating what's coming up on Friday.
Angel asks what that's about.
The Host explains they are concerned about the 75 year review, but perhaps more accurately, concerned about the one doing the review.
Angel asks what it is. The Host says it's something evil, without mercy. Angel's looking for a one word description of just what it is. The Host says he can tell him in two, "Senior Partner" and walks away.
Angel follows him to a table. He wants more information. The Host isn't anxious to provide any more. Angel says he understands he can't divulge the destiny of anyone he's read, he doesn't care about that, he cares about getting to the senior partners, that's his destiny.
The Host wonders if that's really it, he hasn't read any destinies with Angel in them recently. He says that the rituals Angel's been interrupting are meaningless, just the desperate reactions of people who are scared trying to earn some brownie points. The entity they're trying to impress doesn't impress. He tells Angel that stopping the rituals won't stop "it" from entering this world on Friday. Angel still wants to know what "it" is and how he can stop it.
The Host says he doesn't know what "it" is and Angel can't stop it. Angel wants to know if it can be killed. The Host offers that most things that take form to travel between dimensions can be killed. Angel looks to him for more information. The Host tells him, "The Band of Blacknil". He doesn't know what it is and he's already given Angel more than he should have. Angel starts to leave, the Host stops him and tells him "Home Office", he picked it up from several of the lawyers. Angel wonders what it means. The Host doesn't know. Angel gets up and heads out. The Host calls after him and tells him he's picked up something else, they'd really like Angel dead.
Angel looks toward the lawyers who are all staring at him. He returns the glare briefly, then walks out.
Back at the hotel, Angel is rifling through various books, seemingly looking for one in particular. He looks through the cabinet, doesn't find what he's seeking.
At the new office, Angel comes in and heads for the rear of the office. He's got a purpose and it's not to visit. He doesn't look at Wes and Cordelia who are in the office, just heads for the bookshelf. Wesley asks warily if they can help him as he watches him stride toward the bookshelf.
Angel doesn't answer, he starts going through the books.
Wesley informs him that area is for "employees only." Angel notes that they took all the books. He finds the one he's looking for and grabs it from the shelf. Cordelia snatches it out of his hand, positions herself between him and the bookshelf and tells him no, she's in the middle of that one, he can take a different one. She removes the phone book from the shelf and shoves it into his chest.
Angel drops the phone book to the floor. He icily warns her, "Don't make me move you."
Wesley realizes it's not wise to push him at this point, even if Cordelia doesn't. He rises from his wheelchair and tells Cordelia to give Angel the damn book so he can get out. She pauses a second, then pushes Angel back a bit, takes the book from the shelf and shoves it into him.
As he's leaving, Cordelia says she doesn't know what he is anymore. He calls back to her, "I'm a vampire. Look it up."
Wesley sits down carefully and tries to get Cordelia's attention but she's off on a riff. She says if it were anybody else, she'd suggest they get laid, work it out that way. But of course, she knows that doesn't work for Angel because getting happy means getting evil. Then again, she doesn't think that might be so bad because then they could just stake him.
Wesley finally gets her attention and asks for an ambulance. Cordelia notices blood soaking through his shirt from his previous gunshot wound.
At the hearing, one of the board's officers is asking Kate if she has anything to offer in her defense. One of the others, Lou, implores her to say something to defend herself. Kate doesn't see the point since everything from the past 8 months has been dredged up for this hearing, all laid out without context and she's expeced to explain. She says she was doing her job.
One of the officers on the board says it looks more like she's been isolating herself, withdrawing from association with other cops, developing a bizarre interest in macabre cases and she hasn't seemed to have been able to explain why. He asks if it is correct that she was the one who found her father's body after he'd been murdered. She verifies that's true and that no arrests were ever made in the case.
A woman on the board thinks Kate must find that very frustrating. Kate says she's managed to deal with it. The woman notes that Kate came straight back to work after her father's death, she didn't take any personal time. Kate doesn't figure that's anybody's business. The woman says everybody needs to take grieving time, they're not judging her. Kate figures they're just firing her. The guy tells her she stopped being a part of the force long ago. Kate asks what she's supposed to do. The woman tells her they'll make psychological counseling available as part of her severance package.
Kate tells them they have no clue what's going on. The guy wonders if this is where she'll start talking about monsters. He directs her to turn in her gun and badge. She gets up, lays them on the table and walks out.
Angel enters a bookstore and asks the clerk if he's Denver (the clerk from "Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been"). Denver recognizes Angel. As they go through the stacks, Denver tells him that Angel changed his life. When the vampire that was willing to kill a demon to save humans came into his shop, he realized there really must be good in the world.
Angel asks if Denver's ever heard the term "Home Office." Denver asks how things went with the Thesulac. Angel says he doesn't know, he figures it probably killed everyone. Denver is disappointed to hear the news but notes that at least Angel tried. Angel clarifies that he walked out and pretty much let the demon have the place and everyone in it. He gets back to the subject that's got his attention, the "Home Office." He notes that they can't determine for sure where the "Home Office" is but Denver seems to be fairly certain the senior partner is a Kleynach Demon.
Denver looks through a book, finds an illustration and shows it to Angel. Denver says many "dark entities" choose the form of a Kleynach when they manifest because they can come and go at will with the ring, they don't have to be risen or conjured. Angel wants to know about the ring. Denver points out the illustration and explains the "Band of Blacknil" is a simple ring but it provides the power that allows the demon to move between dimensions. It is the ring that will bring it here and take it back.
Angel asks if anyone can use the ring, if he could use it to get back to the "Home Office." Denver figures it's possible, if Angel is crazy. He wonders if he realizes the "Home Office" is probably Hell. Angel figured that was likely. Denver wonders why anyone would want to go to Hell. He realizes that Angel's plan is to go there and take out as many of them as he can. He thinks that will make up for the time --- Angel stops that train of thought with a look. Denver still thinks the plan is crazy, it's suicidal.
Angel just wants to know if the ring will take him to where he needs to go. Denver isn't sure, but tells Angel he's got to get a hold of it first. To get it, he has to kill the Kleynach. Angel wants to know how to do it.
Denver goes to the stacks and retrieves a book. He tells Angel that in order to get the ring, he needs the glove. Angel thinks he's kidding. Denver assures him he's not. He reads from the book that the Kleynach rose up and engaged in your usual demon fare of chaos and destruction. All who tried to defeat them were incinerated, except for one knight who had a glove "fashioned and blessed by all the powers of light." He shows Angel an illustration of the glove in the book as he heads to another room. He says anyone wearing the glove can kill the demon by grabbing its throat.
Denver comes back into the room with the glove. He tells Angel he got it at a yard sale, he's been using it as an oven mitt. He'll give it to Angel, no charge. He tells Angel that he did change his life that day back in the 50's and this time he thinks --- before he can finish that sentence, blood pours from his mouth. He drops the glove. Angel looks down and sees the end of a sword's blade sticking through Denver's stomach. As he catches him, he sees Darla standing behind Denver. Darla gives the sword another shove, skewering Angel on it as well, pinning him to Denver's body as they both fall to the floor.
Darla picks up the glove and tells Angel the ring is about power, not vengeance. She tells him vengeance comes later. She kicks him in the head before leaving.
Angel extricates himself from the business end of the sword but remains lying on the floor.
Wesley is resting on the couch at his place, Virginia brings a tray with tea. Wes notes that he stood up to Angel, that' s what was important. Virginia figures it would have been smarter to do it metaphorically, at least then he wouldn't have broken stitches. Virginia realizes she didn't really think about what Wes was doing as being dangerous. Wes point out that it's always been dangerous and reminds her of the circumstances that led to their meeting in the first place.
Virginia says she grew up with monsters and things, she can handle that. Guns are another matter entirely. Wes offers that the gun was used by a zombie, if that helps her deal with it better. Virginia says that doesn't help. She asks if Wes always feels it's a battle worth fighting since most people don't even acknowledge the evil around them, let alone risk themselves to stand against it. She wonders if Wes would consider giving up the fight. Wes wonders if she could be with someone who could give up. Virginia doesn't know but she does know that she finds it very difficult to handle the concerns and the fears.
Wes say he knows it's difficult for her. Virginia tells him she just doesn't like seeing him get hurt. Wes says he didn't mean that, he meant it's difficult for her breaking up with him. Virginia says nothing, just looks at him.
Kate arrives at her apartment. She puts down the box containing her belongings from the precinct. She pours herself a drink and walks over to shelves on the wall, filled with memorabilia from the department. She shoves it all to the floor, picks up a picture of her father and breaks down, crying.
Outside the offices of W&H, Lilah arrives with two burly bodyguards in tow. She tells them to stay close to her. As she walks toward the building, Angel drops down on the guards and takes them out with no effort. Lilah figured she wasted her money when she hired them.
Angel notes that she isn't parking in the underground garage anymore. Lilah wants to know what he wants. Angel says he wants from her what he took from Lindsey as he grabs her hand.
Angel and Lilah are on an elevator inside W&H. He presses her finger against a button that ID's her print. A voice asks which floor. Lilah tells Angel that he'll meet security wherever he goes as soon as he steps inside. Angel says he's counting on that. He grimaces and puts his hand to his side where Darla had impaled him earlier. Lilah notices out of the corner of her eye.
In the office, Cordelia answers the phone. She boggles the "Angel" part of Angel Investigations when answering. On the other end of the line, Wes asks what that was about. Cordelia says it's just a name she's not saying. She asks what he wants. Wes says he's not feeling well, he's going to stay home tomorrow. Cordy says no problem, it's not like they're drowning in business. He should go ahead and take it easy, spend some time with Virginia.
Wes doesn't tell her about the breakup, just suggests that she should get out and enjoy herself some, there must be someone she can call. Cordelia admits there isn't anyone, she doesn't really have any friends. Wes tells her that isn't true. Cordelia says he doesn't count. Wes thanks her for that. She figures he knows what she meant. Wes tells her things will get better for all of them, he believes that. Cordelia tells him she'll check on him tomorrow and bids him good night.
As Cordelia is leaving the office, the phone rings. She picks up, it's Francine Sharp. Francine tells her she was hoping someone would still be in the office. Cordelia asks if her daughter is okay, if the eye came back. She tells Francine they don't offer money back guarantees, if that's the case, then realizes they never got paid in the first place.
Francine offers to pay for their services after all and asks Cordelia if she can come by the house to pick up the check. Cordelia asks for the address and tells her she's on the way.
Francine hangs up the phone and tells a large, pasty looking Skilosh demon standing next to her that "one of them is on their way here now." The demon touches her head gently with one hand, then snaps her neck.
At W&H, a crowd of lawyers is gathered in one of the upper floor offices. Robed men are chanting, while walking around a pentagram on the floor. Lindsey checks his watch. Nathan Reed notes that Lilah hasn't shown up and that doesn't look good. They are co-vice presidents, after all.
A guard approaches Nathan and whispers something to him. Nathan tells the guard to deal with it. Lindsey asks what's going on. Nathan tells him that someone just let a vampire onto the floor.
Lindsey scans the room as the robed figures continue the ritual. He sees Angel bring Lilah into the room. Lindsey shouts for security, Lilah takes advantage of the distraction to elbow Angel in the side, where he was wounded earlier. She gets away from him. In the resulting confusion, Angel gets a moment to scan the room, unnoticed.
He pulls a bottle of holy water from his coat pocket and approaches a brunette woman from behind. He yanks the wig off of Darla and throws the holy water on her, causing her to morph into game face.
He grabs her gloved hand but she manages to knock him backward a few feet. A couple of security guards make a go at Darla, but she dispatches them easily. Angel gets back up and comes at her again, throwing her against the wall. While Angel and Darla beat on each other, the attention of everyone else in the room is on the pentagram. The robed form of the Kleynach begins to materialize above it.
Angel finally gets the glove from Darla. A couple of security guys get Darla pinned down, one of them armed with a stake. Lilah tells them to "stake the bitch". Lindsey punches Lilah in the face then gets the security guy off of Darla.
While this is going on, Angel puts on the glove and takes a leap at the Kleynach, grabbing it by the throat with his gloved hand. The Kleynach disintegrates. The momentum of the leap carries Angel crashing through the window, down several stories to the concrete below.
In the ensuing confusion, Lindsey helps Darla escape.
Angel finds the ring lying next to him, picks it up and pulls himself up. He looks at the ring, figures he's ready to get into the "Home Office." He puts the ring on, prepared to finish it. Angel looks to the side as he hears the sound of an elevator door opening.
Applause is heard coming from the elevator. Angel approaches it and sees Holland standing inside. Holland congratulates him on his victory. Angel notes that Holland isn't alive. Holland acknowledges that yes, he's dead, but his contract with W&H extends well beyond that.
He invites Angel into the elevator, he figures he's earned it. Angel looks at Holland as he enters the elevator. Holland assures him he's not a ghost either as he displays the bite marks on his neck. He's just dead. He knows Angel wants to get to the "Home Office" and tells him it's a one way trip.
Angel looks out onto the plaza before the elevator door closes, he notices an elderly homeless woman pushing a shopping cart loaded down with her possessions. The elevator doors close. The car heads down.
Holland wonders if Angel's plan is to destroy the senior partners, finish W&H once and for all. Angel acknowledges that's a good guess. Holland wonders exactly what Angel figures to gain in the end. Angel believes it will be the end. Holland suggests it will surely be the end of Angel but he wonders what he thinks it will accomplish in the grander scheme of things. Angel says he doesn't care about that. Holland thinks he does or he wouldn't be there.
Holland ponders there having been some mention of Angel in an ancient prophecy or something, he's supposed to prevent something but what was that again? Angel replies with, "the Apocalypse." Holland notes yes, that was it, another one of those. He notes that they do have one on the schedule and if Angel were to prevent it, he'd save a lot of lives. Holland thinks he should probably do that. He says that of course all the people Angel saved would just have the next one to face, but there's always going to be something.
Angel tells Holland he isn't going to win. Holland knows this, they aren't after something as pedestrian as 'winning'. He finds the idea amusing. Angel asks him why then, if they're not trying to win, why fight. Holland thinks that's a question Angel should be asking himself. For W&H, there isn't a fight so winning and losing don't enter into the equation. They are eternal, they simply go on. The firm has existed since the dawn of time, in one form or another. Holland says that they exist in the hearts and minds of every living thing and that's what makes things so difficult for Angel. Holland points out that "the world doesn't work in spite of evil, it works with us. It works because of us."
The elevator stops its descent. The doors open. Angel starts to walk out and sees the plaza in front of W&H, just as he left it before he entered the elevator. The elderly homeless woman pushes the shopping cart loaded down with her possessions. Holland welcomes him to the "Home Office". He figures Angel must have known, considering the things he's seen, the things he's done. As they look out on the people milling about, interacting in various ways, Holland observes that everyone has some evil in them or they wouldn't be human, they'd be angels.
The futility of it all overwhelms Angel as he drops the glove and steps off the elevator, dejected, despondent, depressed.
Holland smiles and tells him to have a nice day as the elevator doors close.
Angel walks down the street, lost in his own thoughts.
At her place, Kate takes a bottle of pills from the medicine cabinet.
Angel continues down the street, glancing at the others on the street as he walks past.
Wes is lying on his couch, clutching a pillow.
Cordelia picks up her things and leaves the office, heading for Francine's.
Angel arrives at the hotel, the answering machine has picked up. He walks past the desk and stops when he hears Kate's voice on the machine. She blames Angel for making her trust him, for making her believe. She says they'll say she couldn't take the heat. She figures Angel wouldn't care, but she won't care either. She lies down on the floor, a pill bottle and a bottle of liquor next to her. Angel listens to the machine, too lost at the moment to do anything. He shuts the machine off. He goes upstairs.
Angel enters his room. He senses her behind him and without turning asks Darla what she wants. He asks her if she wants the ring and drops it to the floor. Darla makes a run for the ring. Angel grabs her and throws her against the wall, asking if it's something else that she's looking for.
He presses against her, kisses her. She shoves him away and tells him not to play games. He tells her he isn't, he just wants "to feel something besides the cold." He shoves her again and falls on top of her. They paw at each other, kiss some more. Darla starts to laugh. She pushes him off. He wants to know why she's laughing. He grabs her and slams her through the glass bedroom doors, to the floor.
Darla looks a little shaken, sitting on the floor in the midst of the broken glass from the door. Angel asks her if she feels the cold. He grabs her and jerks her to her feet. She asks what he's doing. He says nothing matters. He kisses her, hard. They both fall onto the bed, undress each other and finish it.
There's a storm outside. The bedroom window is open. The wind is blowing inward. Lightning flashes. Angel and Darla are in bed, asleep.
A clap of thunder sounds as Angel bolts upright in bed, his expression and reaction eerily similar to his waking experience in "Surprise" (BtVS, season 2).
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| Written by: Tim Minear | Original Air Date: February 20, 2001 |
Angel enters an old, abandoned building, walks slowly down the hallway to one of the apartments. He opens the door and turns on a light. The room is filled with goats. He opens another door in the apartment and sees two guys reading through a step-by-step on how to do a sacrifice. One of the guys notes they need to use the ceremonial dagger to do the deed, but he didn't find that in the box with the rest of the supplies. The other guy tells him to find it. They both search for it.
Behind them, Angel is holding the dagger. He tells them he couldn't help but notice the goats. Lots of goats.
One of the guys points out that he's got their dagger. Angel embeds it into the wall and tells them they can sue him, or have their bosses do it. He knows the building is owned by W&H.
One of the guys asks what Angel wants. Angel wants to know what W&H are having them worship. The guy tells Angel it's none of his business, he wants to know who Angel is.
In a flash, Angel in in vamp face, both guys pinned to the wall by one hand on each of their throats. He tells them he just doesn't like to see good blood wasted.
One of the guys says they don't know anything. They get paid to make the sacrifices and say the words, that's all. They don't know anymore than that. Angel finds it a little hard to believe that they have no idea what the ritual they're performing is for. The guys tell him it's all in Latin, they don't understand it, W&H told them to just "sound it out." They only know that the sacrifice has to be made by midnight or something is going to be very angry.
Angel thinks making something angry sounds like a good idea as he releases them and smashes the crate they're using for an altar along with the ritual paraphernalia.
Francine and her daughter are at the new office. Gunn is standing behind the daughter and notes there's no sign of the third eye. Cordelia tells her the kids won't notice and her hair will grow back soon, as she puts a baseball cap on the kid. Cordelia assures Francine the eye won't come back, as she looks to Wes for confirmation of that.
Wesley, who's sitting in a wheelchair, tells her it shouldn't, the "curative charm" seems to have worked.
Francine tells them they can't thank them and they can't pay them. She holds up a piece of paper and tells them the bill is ridiculous. Her husband says it's absurd.
Wesley wonders what her husband would think was a fair price for removing the third eye from the back of their daughter's head.
Francine tells him "nothing". Her husband says that it's impossible to be bitten by a demon, resulting in a third eye growing out of one's head so obviously, they are running some kind of scam and they aren't paying a cent. She takes her daughter by the hand and leaves the office.
Cordelia starts to follow her out. Wes tells her to let her go. It's easier for her to see them as con artists than to face the truth of the situation.
Cordelia reminds him they have bills to pay. Gunn notes that Cordelia does have a point. Wes offers that perhaps, given some time, Francine and her family will change their minds.
Gunn figures that's unlikely as he puts on his coat. Cordelia asks where he's going. Gunn says he's going to check out his neighborhood. He figures he can do more good there than hanging around with Wes and Cordelia at the office.
Wes figures something is bound to come up. Gunn tells them to let him know when that happens.
At the offices of W&H, Lilah steps off the elevator and meets up with Lindsey. She's anxious. She says she's been trying to reach him. Lindsey keeps walking. She wants to know where he's going. He tells her it's time for lunch. Lilah thinks they have more important things to worry about. She reminds him the review is in two days. Lindsey assures her he's aware of that. Lilah points out that everyone is on edge, they're scared and they should be. She hands Lindsey a manila envelope, everything she could find on the last 75 year review. She tells him that the last review made the Christmas purge of '68 look like a party. Nearly half of mid-management was terminated.
Lindsey tells her he'll read the information. She informs him he'd better because they are co-vice presidents of the division, it's both of them on the line, not just him. She's included some suggestions on how they can "pump up" their portfolio before the review on Friday.
Lindsey isn't interested. He tells her they'll either pass the review or not, last minute rituals and rites aren't going to make any difference. Lilah says that others seem to think it will help. One of the lawyers took her first born out of daycare and offered it as a sacrifice. She figures the woman was kissing up. Lilah thinks on that a minute and comes to the conclusion that maybe her mother was right. She should have had kids.
Lindsey tells her they'll stand by their record, they don't have anything else. Lilah figures that's it then, they're finished. She reminds him that they've made mistakes, two of which are still out there somewhere. She asks if he's heard anything. She wants to know that he'd tell her if he heard anything from Darla or Dru.
Lindsey reminds her they were torched. Even for strong vampires, it takes time to recover from something like that. Lilah figures they'll probably choose the review to show up. Lindsey tells her not to worry about it. Lilah says there are no second chances here. Nothing can happen between now and the review to mess things up.
At the police station, Angel is telling Kate about the increase in rituals, it has to mean something but he's not sure what. She's busy filing, not really interested, as he continues to think out loud about what all of it means. Kate offers that "maybe they're just trying to make it rain" and asks why this is so important to Angel as she walks back to her desk.
Angel tells her it's important to him because it's important to them. He needs her help, he doesn't have the resources to do it. She's not sold on the idea that he needs her help and she's not in the mood to give any. Angel tells her that she could at least get them for slaughtering animals without a permit. She snaps that she can't get anybody on anything. She's been relegated to desk duty pending the outcome of a hearing coming up on Friday.
Angel doesn't know what she's talking about.
Kate fills him in. The zombie-raising Captain, Atkinson, filed a complaint against Kate for allowing access to his office to someone who beat him up.
Angel reminds her the guy was raising zombie cops and turning them loose on the streets. Kate sarcastically notes that Internal Affairs will certainly understand that when she tells them and the matter will go away. She knows they've been looking for a reason to get rid of her. Being a cop is all she's ever wanted. She can't deal with it right now.
Angel says he's sorry.
Kate wonders if he is, really. She figures IA might have some questions about something else as well. She pulls a folder out of the desk drawer and lays out a succession of photos of dead lawyers taken in the Manners' wine cellar. Angel tells her she had nothing to do with that.
Kate wonders if that's really true considering that several W&H attorneys were threatened at the offices by an intruder, an intruder she picked up and released three hours before the wine cellar massacre.
Angel says she knows who was responsible for what happened at the wine cellar. Kate's not so sure. Forensics says that the killer or killers didn't have to break in, they had to break out. Someone had locked the doors, leaving the victims trapped with their attackers. She figures she is finished "helping" Angel.
Lindsey walks into his place, Darla is there, lying on the couch looking frail. He tells her he would have come home for lunch, but things are a little insane at the office with the review pending. He asks how she's feeling. She tells him she's stronger, thanks to his finding her. She doesn't know how he found her in the sewer. Lindsey tells her that Dru told him where she was. Darla says that Dru is gone. Lindsey thinks she'll be back. Darla doesn't think so. She says Lindsey is the only one who hasn't left her. He assures her he never will.
He hands her a bag, she removes a bottle of blood from it. Darla is disappointed to note that the blood is cold. Lindsey says it's the only way to keep it fresh. Darla knows there are other ways. She smells it, smiles, she's happy that it's at least human.
Lindsey gets up, he's headed for the shower. Darla wonders why he always takes a shower when he comes home from the office even though he's never "dirty." Lindsey says he always is as he heads for the bathroom. Darla rolls her eyes in response when his back is turned.
After he's out of the room, Darla (who is clearly not as weak as she's led Lindsey to believe) throws off the blanket, gets up and stretches. She heads for one of the bags Lindsey put down when he came in and removes the manila envelope Lilah had given Lindsey earlier. She opens it and peruses the contents, the report on the 75 year review.
Angel enters the karaoke bar and approaches the Host. A couple of lawyer looking types are performing onstage. Angel is anxious, edgy. He wants to talk. Angel says that something is coming. The Host notes the influx of the "morally ambiguous" crowd being a clue as he looks toward one of the tables. Angel recognizes them as W&H lawyers.
As Angel stares at the occupants of the table, the Host advises him that he knows what he's thinking and throwing himself across the room and tearing their heads off isn't a good idea. Angel knows the Host has read them, he wants to know what's coming. The Host tells him he can't divulge what he reads in others to anyone else. Angel wants to know if it's bad. The Host concedes that though he can't tell what he's read in others, he can share what he overheard in the men's room. The lawyers are sweating what's coming up on Friday.
Angel asks what that's about.
The Host explains they are concerned about the 75 year review, but perhaps more accurately, concerned about the one doing the review.
Angel asks what it is. The Host says it's something evil, without mercy. Angel's looking for a one word description of just what it is. The Host says he can tell him in two, "Senior Partner" and walks away.
Angel follows him to a table. He wants more information. The Host isn't anxious to provide any more. Angel says he understands he can't divulge the destiny of anyone he's read, he doesn't care about that, he cares about getting to the senior partners, that's his destiny.
The Host wonders if that's really it, he hasn't read any destinies with Angel in them recently. He says that the rituals Angel's been interrupting are meaningless, just the desperate reactions of people who are scared trying to earn some brownie points. The entity they're trying to impress doesn't impress. He tells Angel that stopping the rituals won't stop "it" from entering this world on Friday. Angel still wants to know what "it" is and how he can stop it.
The Host says he doesn't know what "it" is and Angel can't stop it. Angel wants to know if it can be killed. The Host offers that most things that take form to travel between dimensions can be killed. Angel looks to him for more information. The Host tells him, "The Band of Blacknil". He doesn't know what it is and he's already given Angel more than he should have. Angel starts to leave, the Host stops him and tells him "Home Office", he picked it up from several of the lawyers. Angel wonders what it means. The Host doesn't know. Angel gets up and heads out. The Host calls after him and tells him he's picked up something else, they'd really like Angel dead.
Angel looks toward the lawyers who are all staring at him. He returns the glare briefly, then walks out.
Back at the hotel, Angel is rifling through various books, seemingly looking for one in particular. He looks through the cabinet, doesn't find what he's seeking.
At the new office, Angel comes in and heads for the rear of the office. He's got a purpose and it's not to visit. He doesn't look at Wes and Cordelia who are in the office, just heads for the bookshelf. Wesley asks warily if they can help him as he watches him stride toward the bookshelf.
Angel doesn't answer, he starts going through the books.
Wesley informs him that area is for "employees only." Angel notes that they took all the books. He finds the one he's looking for and grabs it from the shelf. Cordelia snatches it out of his hand, positions herself between him and the bookshelf and tells him no, she's in the middle of that one, he can take a different one. She removes the phone book from the shelf and shoves it into his chest.
Angel drops the phone book to the floor. He icily warns her, "Don't make me move you."
Wesley realizes it's not wise to push him at this point, even if Cordelia doesn't. He rises from his wheelchair and tells Cordelia to give Angel the damn book so he can get out. She pauses a second, then pushes Angel back a bit, takes the book from the shelf and shoves it into him.
As he's leaving, Cordelia says she doesn't know what he is anymore. He calls back to her, "I'm a vampire. Look it up."
Wesley sits down carefully and tries to get Cordelia's attention but she's off on a riff. She says if it were anybody else, she'd suggest they get laid, work it out that way. But of course, she knows that doesn't work for Angel because getting happy means getting evil. Then again, she doesn't think that might be so bad because then they could just stake him.
Wesley finally gets her attention and asks for an ambulance. Cordelia notices blood soaking through his shirt from his previous gunshot wound.
At the hearing, one of the board's officers is asking Kate if she has anything to offer in her defense. One of the others, Lou, implores her to say something to defend herself. Kate doesn't see the point since everything from the past 8 months has been dredged up for this hearing, all laid out without context and she's expeced to explain. She says she was doing her job.
One of the officers on the board says it looks more like she's been isolating herself, withdrawing from association with other cops, developing a bizarre interest in macabre cases and she hasn't seemed to have been able to explain why. He asks if it is correct that she was the one who found her father's body after he'd been murdered. She verifies that's true and that no arrests were ever made in the case.
A woman on the board thinks Kate must find that very frustrating. Kate says she's managed to deal with it. The woman notes that Kate came straight back to work after her father's death, she didn't take any personal time. Kate doesn't figure that's anybody's business. The woman says everybody needs to take grieving time, they're not judging her. Kate figures they're just firing her. The guy tells her she stopped being a part of the force long ago. Kate asks what she's supposed to do. The woman tells her they'll make psychological counseling available as part of her severance package.
Kate tells them they have no clue what's going on. The guy wonders if this is where she'll start talking about monsters. He directs her to turn in her gun and badge. She gets up, lays them on the table and walks out.
Angel enters a bookstore and asks the clerk if he's Denver (the clerk from "Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been"). Denver recognizes Angel. As they go through the stacks, Denver tells him that Angel changed his life. When the vampire that was willing to kill a demon to save humans came into his shop, he realized there really must be good in the world.
Angel asks if Denver's ever heard the term "Home Office." Denver asks how things went with the Thesulac. Angel says he doesn't know, he figures it probably killed everyone. Denver is disappointed to hear the news but notes that at least Angel tried. Angel clarifies that he walked out and pretty much let the demon have the place and everyone in it. He gets back to the subject that's got his attention, the "Home Office." He notes that they can't determine for sure where the "Home Office" is but Denver seems to be fairly certain the senior partner is a Kleynach Demon.
Denver looks through a book, finds an illustration and shows it to Angel. Denver says many "dark entities" choose the form of a Kleynach when they manifest because they can come and go at will with the ring, they don't have to be risen or conjured. Angel wants to know about the ring. Denver points out the illustration and explains the "Band of Blacknil" is a simple ring but it provides the power that allows the demon to move between dimensions. It is the ring that will bring it here and take it back.
Angel asks if anyone can use the ring, if he could use it to get back to the "Home Office." Denver figures it's possible, if Angel is crazy. He wonders if he realizes the "Home Office" is probably Hell. Angel figured that was likely. Denver wonders why anyone would want to go to Hell. He realizes that Angel's plan is to go there and take out as many of them as he can. He thinks that will make up for the time --- Angel stops that train of thought with a look. Denver still thinks the plan is crazy, it's suicidal.
Angel just wants to know if the ring will take him to where he needs to go. Denver isn't sure, but tells Angel he's got to get a hold of it first. To get it, he has to kill the Kleynach. Angel wants to know how to do it.
Denver goes to the stacks and retrieves a book. He tells Angel that in order to get the ring, he needs the glove. Angel thinks he's kidding. Denver assures him he's not. He reads from the book that the Kleynach rose up and engaged in your usual demon fare of chaos and destruction. All who tried to defeat them were incinerated, except for one knight who had a glove "fashioned and blessed by all the powers of light." He shows Angel an illustration of the glove in the book as he heads to another room. He says anyone wearing the glove can kill the demon by grabbing its throat.
Denver comes back into the room with the glove. He tells Angel he got it at a yard sale, he's been using it as an oven mitt. He'll give it to Angel, no charge. He tells Angel that he did change his life that day back in the 50's and this time he thinks --- before he can finish that sentence, blood pours from his mouth. He drops the glove. Angel looks down and sees the end of a sword's blade sticking through Denver's stomach. As he catches him, he sees Darla standing behind Denver. Darla gives the sword another shove, skewering Angel on it as well, pinning him to Denver's body as they both fall to the floor.
Darla picks up the glove and tells Angel the ring is about power, not vengeance. She tells him vengeance comes later. She kicks him in the head before leaving.
Angel extricates himself from the business end of the sword but remains lying on the floor.
Wesley is resting on the couch at his place, Virginia brings a tray with tea. Wes notes that he stood up to Angel, that' s what was important. Virginia figures it would have been smarter to do it metaphorically, at least then he wouldn't have broken stitches. Virginia realizes she didn't really think about what Wes was doing as being dangerous. Wes point out that it's always been dangerous and reminds her of the circumstances that led to their meeting in the first place.
Virginia says she grew up with monsters and things, she can handle that. Guns are another matter entirely. Wes offers that the gun was used by a zombie, if that helps her deal with it better. Virginia says that doesn't help. She asks if Wes always feels it's a battle worth fighting since most people don't even acknowledge the evil around them, let alone risk themselves to stand against it. She wonders if Wes would consider giving up the fight. Wes wonders if she could be with someone who could give up. Virginia doesn't know but she does know that she finds it very difficult to handle the concerns and the fears.
Wes say he knows it's difficult for her. Virginia tells him she just doesn't like seeing him get hurt. Wes says he didn't mean that, he meant it's difficult for her breaking up with him. Virginia says nothing, just looks at him.
Kate arrives at her apartment. She puts down the box containing her belongings from the precinct. She pours herself a drink and walks over to shelves on the wall, filled with memorabilia from the department. She shoves it all to the floor, picks up a picture of her father and breaks down, crying.
Outside the offices of W&H, Lilah arrives with two burly bodyguards in tow. She tells them to stay close to her. As she walks toward the building, Angel drops down on the guards and takes them out with no effort. Lilah figured she wasted her money when she hired them.
Angel notes that she isn't parking in the underground garage anymore. Lilah wants to know what he wants. Angel says he wants from her what he took from Lindsey as he grabs her hand.
Angel and Lilah are on an elevator inside W&H. He presses her finger against a button that ID's her print. A voice asks which floor. Lilah tells Angel that he'll meet security wherever he goes as soon as he steps inside. Angel says he's counting on that. He grimaces and puts his hand to his side where Darla had impaled him earlier. Lilah notices out of the corner of her eye.
In the office, Cordelia answers the phone. She boggles the "Angel" part of Angel Investigations when answering. On the other end of the line, Wes asks what that was about. Cordelia says it's just a name she's not saying. She asks what he wants. Wes says he's not feeling well, he's going to stay home tomorrow. Cordy says no problem, it's not like they're drowning in business. He should go ahead and take it easy, spend some time with Virginia.
Wes doesn't tell her about the breakup, just suggests that she should get out and enjoy herself some, there must be someone she can call. Cordelia admits there isn't anyone, she doesn't really have any friends. Wes tells her that isn't true. Cordelia says he doesn't count. Wes thanks her for that. She figures he knows what she meant. Wes tells her things will get better for all of them, he believes that. Cordelia tells him she'll check on him tomorrow and bids him good night.
As Cordelia is leaving the office, the phone rings. She picks up, it's Francine Sharp. Francine tells her she was hoping someone would still be in the office. Cordelia asks if her daughter is okay, if the eye came back. She tells Francine they don't offer money back guarantees, if that's the case, then realizes they never got paid in the first place.
Francine offers to pay for their services after all and asks Cordelia if she can come by the house to pick up the check. Cordelia asks for the address and tells her she's on the way.
Francine hangs up the phone and tells a large, pasty looking Skilosh demon standing next to her that "one of them is on their way here now." The demon touches her head gently with one hand, then snaps her neck.
At W&H, a crowd of lawyers is gathered in one of the upper floor offices. Robed men are chanting, while walking around a pentagram on the floor. Lindsey checks his watch. Nathan Reed notes that Lilah hasn't shown up and that doesn't look good. They are co-vice presidents, after all.
A guard approaches Nathan and whispers something to him. Nathan tells the guard to deal with it. Lindsey asks what's going on. Nathan tells him that someone just let a vampire onto the floor.
Lindsey scans the room as the robed figures continue the ritual. He sees Angel bring Lilah into the room. Lindsey shouts for security, Lilah takes advantage of the distraction to elbow Angel in the side, where he was wounded earlier. She gets away from him. In the resulting confusion, Angel gets a moment to scan the room, unnoticed.
He pulls a bottle of holy water from his coat pocket and approaches a brunette woman from behind. He yanks the wig off of Darla and throws the holy water on her, causing her to morph into game face.
He grabs her gloved hand but she manages to knock him backward a few feet. A couple of security guards make a go at Darla, but she dispatches them easily. Angel gets back up and comes at her again, throwing her against the wall. While Angel and Darla beat on each other, the attention of everyone else in the room is on the pentagram. The robed form of the Kleynach begins to materialize above it.
Angel finally gets the glove from Darla. A couple of security guys get Darla pinned down, one of them armed with a stake. Lilah tells them to "stake the bitch". Lindsey punches Lilah in the face then gets the security guy off of Darla.
While this is going on, Angel puts on the glove and takes a leap at the Kleynach, grabbing it by the throat with his gloved hand. The Kleynach disintegrates. The momentum of the leap carries Angel crashing through the window, down several stories to the concrete below.
In the ensuing confusion, Lindsey helps Darla escape.
Angel finds the ring lying next to him, picks it up and pulls himself up. He looks at the ring, figures he's ready to get into the "Home Office." He puts the ring on, prepared to finish it. Angel looks to the side as he hears the sound of an elevator door opening.
Applause is heard coming from the elevator. Angel approaches it and sees Holland standing inside. Holland congratulates him on his victory. Angel notes that Holland isn't alive. Holland acknowledges that yes, he's dead, but his contract with W&H extends well beyond that.
He invites Angel into the elevator, he figures he's earned it. Angel looks at Holland as he enters the elevator. Holland assures him he's not a ghost either as he displays the bite marks on his neck. He's just dead. He knows Angel wants to get to the "Home Office" and tells him it's a one way trip.
Angel looks out onto the plaza before the elevator door closes, he notices an elderly homeless woman pushing a shopping cart loaded down with her possessions. The elevator doors close. The car heads down.
Holland wonders if Angel's plan is to destroy the senior partners, finish W&H once and for all. Angel acknowledges that's a good guess. Holland wonders exactly what Angel figures to gain in the end. Angel believes it will be the end. Holland suggests it will surely be the end of Angel but he wonders what he thinks it will accomplish in the grander scheme of things. Angel says he doesn't care about that. Holland thinks he does or he wouldn't be there.
Holland ponders there having been some mention of Angel in an ancient prophecy or something, he's supposed to prevent something but what was that again? Angel replies with, "the Apocalypse." Holland notes yes, that was it, another one of those. He notes that they do have one on the schedule and if Angel were to prevent it, he'd save a lot of lives. Holland thinks he should probably do that. He says that of course all the people Angel saved would just have the next one to face, but there's always going to be something.
Angel tells Holland he isn't going to win. Holland knows this, they aren't after something as pedestrian as 'winning'. He finds the idea amusing. Angel asks him why then, if they're not trying to win, why fight. Holland thinks that's a question Angel should be asking himself. For W&H, there isn't a fight so winning and losing don't enter into the equation. They are eternal, they simply go on. The firm has existed since the dawn of time, in one form or another. Holland says that they exist in the hearts and minds of every living thing and that's what makes things so difficult for Angel. Holland points out that "the world doesn't work in spite of evil, it works with us. It works because of us."
The elevator stops its descent. The doors open. Angel starts to walk out and sees the plaza in front of W&H, just as he left it before he entered the elevator. The elderly homeless woman pushes the shopping cart loaded down with her possessions. Holland welcomes him to the "Home Office". He figures Angel must have known, considering the things he's seen, the things he's done. As they look out on the people milling about, interacting in various ways, Holland observes that everyone has some evil in them or they wouldn't be human, they'd be angels.
The futility of it all overwhelms Angel as he drops the glove and steps off the elevator, dejected, despondent, depressed.
Holland smiles and tells him to have a nice day as the elevator doors close.
Angel walks down the street, lost in his own thoughts.
At her place, Kate takes a bottle of pills from the medicine cabinet.
Angel continues down the street, glancing at the others on the street as he walks past.
Wes is lying on his couch, clutching a pillow.
Cordelia picks up her things and leaves the office, heading for Francine's.
Angel arrives at the hotel, the answering machine has picked up. He walks past the desk and stops when he hears Kate's voice on the machine. She blames Angel for making her trust him, for making her believe. She says they'll say she couldn't take the heat. She figures Angel wouldn't care, but she won't care either. She lies down on the floor, a pill bottle and a bottle of liquor next to her. Angel listens to the machine, too lost at the moment to do anything. He shuts the machine off. He goes upstairs.
Angel enters his room. He senses her behind him and without turning asks Darla what she wants. He asks her if she wants the ring and drops it to the floor. Darla makes a run for the ring. Angel grabs her and throws her against the wall, asking if it's something else that she's looking for.
He presses against her, kisses her. She shoves him away and tells him not to play games. He tells her he isn't, he just wants "to feel something besides the cold." He shoves her again and falls on top of her. They paw at each other, kiss some more. Darla starts to laugh. She pushes him off. He wants to know why she's laughing. He grabs her and slams her through the glass bedroom doors, to the floor.
Darla looks a little shaken, sitting on the floor in the midst of the broken glass from the door. Angel asks her if she feels the cold. He grabs her and jerks her to her feet. She asks what he's doing. He says nothing matters. He kisses her, hard. They both fall onto the bed, undress each other and finish it.
There's a storm outside. The bedroom window is open. The wind is blowing inward. Lightning flashes. Angel and Darla are in bed, asleep.
A clap of thunder sounds as Angel bolts upright in bed, his expression and reaction eerily similar to his waking experience in "Surprise" (BtVS, season 2).
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