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Angel Season IV Episode #80: "Release" Transcript

Written by Steven S. DeKnight
Directed by James A. Contner

Co-Producers: Skip Schoolnik, Steven S. DeKnight- Consulting Producers: David Fury, David Greewalt, Tim Minear - Co-Executive Producer: Jeffrey Bell – Executive Producers: Joss Whedon, Sandy Gallin, Gail Berman, Fran Rubel Kuzui, Kaz Kuzui

Disclaimer: "Angel"; is (c) 2000 by the Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation; "Angel"; is produced by Mutant Enemy, Inc., Greenwolf Corp, Kazui Enterprises, and Sandollar Television for Twentieth Century Fox Television.

Originally Aired on Mar 12th 2003



Prologue
1 INT. WESLEY’S APARTMENT— DAY 1
WESLEY and FAITH enter his apartment. He leads her over to a chair while
he goes to get a salve for her wounds.
WESLEY
Sit here.
She stands before the chair silently, blood dripping off her and spattering
on the floor as Wesley comes back with ice wrapped in a towel. He
presses it gently to her split lip.
WESLEY
Hold this.
She holds the ice pack to her face while he gingerly checks her for other
wounds. He squeezes her shoulder and she winces.
WESLEY
I’ll get bandages.
FAITH
No drama. I’m good.
WESLEY
You were nearly killed.
FAITH
I could use a shower.
He lets it drop and points the way toward the bathroom..ANGEL
Release
4
WESLEY
(beat)
Of course.
She walks slowly toward him and down the hall.
WESLEY
Faith, are you sure you’re okay?
FAITH
A little sticky.
She hands him the compress and heads into the bathroom.
CUT TO:
2 INT. WESLEY’S APARTMENT— BATHROOM— NIGHT 2
Faith steps into the bathroom and stares at her beaten and bloody
reflection in the mirror, then takes her clothes off slowly and painfully.
Her entire body is one big bruise. Scrapes and cuts cover her from her
feet to her head.
She opens the shower door, steps in and turns on the water. It sluices
down her body, washing away the blood, turning into a crimson swirl as
it circles the drain.
She stares straight forward, her face an emotionless mask, then suddenly
her icy calm breaks and she punches the shower wall, shattering the tile.
Her rage floods out of her like a breaking dam and she pounds the wall
with a primal scream, her fists crashing through the sheetrock.
Then she gets herself under control and her practiced calm and emotional
detachment descends once again. She puts her head under the water and
washes the blood from her face..ANGEL
Release
5
CUT TO:
3 INT. BAR & POOL HALL— NIGHT 3
Demons and vampires share drinks and shoot pool while ANGELUS
regales several lesser vampires with tales of his recent exploits. A vampire
waitress walks over and sets a glass of blood down in front of him.
WAITRESS
Compliments of the lady.
He turns around and to find a female vampire waving to him from the
bar. He waves back, then turns back to his tablemates with a grimace.
ANGELUS
Yeah. As if. (to vampires) Anyway, I couldn’t believe how
easy it was luring the Slayer into my little “welcome home
from prison” party.
VAMPIRE #1
Wish I could have been there when she saw the Beast.
ANGELUS
The guy wasn’t going to win any personality contests but
he put on a good show. Slapped her around real nice.
VAMPIRE #2
Like a little bunny?
ANGELUS
(smiles)
A bloody, whimpering bunny. Once she was tenderized, I
gave rocko the shaft. Never saw it coming. Dumb-ass.
REG
Yeah, soul-boy, nice job bringing the sun back.
Angelus looks over to the bar where FRANCIS, a horned demon with one
horn sliced off, quickly turns back to his drink. Angelus smiles and stands
up.
Francis pretends to be surprised to find Angelus standing behind him.
FRANCIS
Oh, hey, Angelus! Buy you a warm one?
ANGELUS
Maybe after..ANGEL
Release
6
FRANCIS
After what?
ANGELUS
After I rip out your windpipe till it stops making that
annoying talky sound.
FRANCIS
(nervous)
Wait, I have a condition. Whoop! Goh-boy! Dirty bitch!
Tourette’s. You’ve heard of it, right?
ANGELUS
Yeah, causes uncontrollable impulses. Like yanking out
throats.
He seizes the creature by the neck and starts squeezing. As the demon
chokes and gasps, the MASTER’s disembodied voice calls out to Angelus,
deep and resonant.
MASTER
(o.s.)
Hello, Angelus. It’s time we had that talk.
Opening credit sequence.
Act I
4 INT. BAR & POOL HALL— NIGHT 4
Still holding Francis by the neck, Angelus looks around, confused,
searching for the source of the voice that only he can hear.
ANGELUS
(to Master)
Where are you?
FRANCIS
(choking)
Wherever you want me to be, buddy!
MASTER
(o.s.)
I’m where it’s warm and soft…
Angelus drops Francis and walks out into the center of the room, talking
to the ceiling. The other demons look at him like he’s gone nuts..ANGEL
Release
7
ANGELUS
Hide-and-seek, huh? Okay. I’ll play.
MASTER
(o.s.)
Playtime’s over. You’ve been a bad boy. Killed my favorite
pet.
ANGELUS
Yeah, well, I thought that might get your attention.
Angelus looks around and sees the stares of the other vampires and
decides to take the conversation to a more private area.
5 INT. BAR & POOL HALL— BACK ROOM— NIGHT 5
Angelus emerges into a shadowy back room where vampires lounge in
drug-induced stupor with their human prey draped across them.
MASTER
(o.s.)
Initiative. I like that. But you needn’t have bothered. I’ve
had my eyes on you for some time.
A JUNKIE GIRL wraps her arms around Angelus and smiles dreamily.
JUNKIE GIRL
Hey, baby, how about a hit?
Angelus tosses her aside with hardly a thought, concerned only with the
voice in his head.
ANGELUS
(to Master)
You like to watch, huh?
MASTER
(o.s.)
One of the many things we have in common.
ANGELUS
Oh, I don’t know about that. I’m more of a hands-on kind
of guy.
He walks over to a vampire who is feeding on a willing young girl and
yanks him to his feet..ANGEL
Release
8
ANGELUS
Scram!
The vampire runs off and his food follows him.
ANGELUS
(to Master)
Okay, come on. You got a pair or the wind you’re blowing
up my tailpipe’s all you can muster? Hey, here’s a kooky
idea. Now that I’ve killed your little pet rock, how about a
little face-to-face, huh? Assuming that you’ve got one.
MASTER
(o.s.)
Don’t—
CUT TO:
6 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— CORDELIA’S ROOM— NIGHT 6
CORDELIA sits on her bed, her eyes a milky, cataract white, talking to
Angelus through a glowing red charm in her hand. On this side of the
conversation, her voice is normal, her own.
CORDELIA
—worry. We’ll meet. When you’re—
CUT TO:
7 INT. BAR & POOL HALL— BACK ROOM— NIGHT 7
MASTER
(o.s.)
—ready.
ANGELUS
Oh, come on. Why the stall, huh? You whipped up a rain
of fire, blotted out the sun, earthquakes… all to maneuver
the Brady Bunch into releasing Angel’s inner me. Don’t
you want to kick the tires?
MASTER
(o.s.)
So beautifully—
CUT TO:.ANGEL
Release
9
8 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— CORDELIA’S ROOM— NIGHT 8
CORDELIA
—vain. But the whirlwind doesn’t always revolve around
you. Destruction sometimes is its own—
CUT TO:
9 INT. BAR & POOL HALL— BACK ROOM— NIGHT 9
MASTER
(o.s.)
—reward.
ANGELUS
Hey, you’re preaching to the guy who ate the choir. But
wait… it was you, wasn’t it? You just pulled the wrong
strings to make them think it was their idea. Got them to
yank that white, fluffy soul and stuff it in a jar and then
gone, baby, gone!
MASTER
(o.s.)
Couldn’t risk them—
CUT TO:
10 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— CORDELIA’S ROOM— NIGHT 10
CORDELIA
—putting it back in you. I have wonderful plans for you,
my—
CUT TO:.ANGEL
Release
10
11 INT. BAR & POOL HALL— BACK ROOM— NIGHT 11
MASTER
(o.s.)
—sweet boy.
ANGELUS
Oh, yeah. But the thing is, as far as plans go, I make my
own so, you know… thanks for stopping by my head.
He turns to walk out.
MASTER
(o.s.)
You would dare to defy me?
ANGELUS
Defy who? A big, scary voice? Whoa! Hey, I’ve got one of
those, too. You want to hear it? (hands over his mouth) You
can kiss my vampire ass! (normal) That do anything for ya?
CUT TO:
12 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— CORDELIA’S ROOM— NIGHT 12
Cordelia quickly closes her hand over the charm and returns her eyes to
normal as the door opens and CONNOR enters.
CONNOR
Hey, brought you another blanket. Gotta keep warm.
He spreads the blanket over her as she feigns fatigue.
CONNOR
You okay?
CORDELIA
Just a little woozy. Could be the whole Angelus nailing me
with a crossbow thingy. Or… it could be the baby. His way
of saying—
CUT TO:.ANGEL
Release
11
13 INT. BAR & POOL HALL— BACK ROOM— NIGHT 13
ANGELUS
Hello! Hey, I’ve got places to go, friends to kill. Well, not
actually my friends but you get the idea. You got any
more bluster you want to blow up there? (beat) That’s
what I thought.
A drugged vampire in the corner comes out of his stupor long enough to
watch Angelus talking to himself. He strokes the hair of the unconscious
girl lying in his lap.
VAMPIRE
Dude, whatever you’re on… I’ll give you the girl for a
gram.
Angelus ignores him and walks out.
CUT TO:
14 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— CORDELIA’S ROOM— NIGHT 14
Connor caresses Cordelia while they lie on the bed and talk.
CORDELIA
Are you sure Faith’s all right?
CONNOR
Yeah. When Wesley called, he said that she was hurt pretty
bad but she’s a Slayer. They’re really strong, right?
CORDELIA
For a human. God, I can’t believe Angelus killed the Beast.
CONNOR
He fought dirty.
CORDELIA
Maybe this means we did the right thing, bringing Angelus
back.
CONNOR
Right. He’s a real hero.
CORDELIA
Connor, Angelus cannot fight his true nature. It’s who he
is. But by killing the Beast, he’s made the world a little
safer… for our family. You didn’t have that the first time
around but now you will..ANGEL
Release
12
CONNOR
I won’t ever let anything hurt you. Either of you.
CORDELIA
I know you won’t. But just remember… this is ours.
Nobody else needs to know how lucky we are.
CONNOR
Are you ashamed of me?
CORDELIA
What? No.
CONNOR
Then why don’t you want to tell them?
CORDELIA
Because they wouldn’t understand. Our baby is growing
so fast. It would scare them and that fear might make
them want to kill it. Like they wanted to kill you. But trust
me, Connor, it won’t be too long. They’re all going to
know what’s growing inside of me.
She reaches out and lovingly caresses his face.
CUT TO:
15 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— LOBBY— NIGHT 15
GUNN hands a trank pistol to FRED and another to LORNE.
GUNN
Meet your new best friend. If super-bad shows up, the
sanctuary spell should keep us safe but….ANGEL
Release
13
FRED
But? There’s always a “but”. When this is over can we
have a big “but” moratorium?
Lorne eyes his gun skeptically.
LORNE
Did I mention the only shots I’m good at involve tequila?
FRED
(to Gunn)
You don’t think Angelus is planning a repeat performance,
do you? I mean, he’s got to know we’d be prepared.
GUNN
It doesn’t mean we drop our guard. If he pops a fang in
here, thwack him where it hurts.
LORNE
Good night, not-so-sweet prince.
GUNN
I’m going to re-check downstairs. Make sure he can’t creep
in through any of the sewer tunnels.
FRED
Yeah, if Lilah managed to break and enter—
She spins and cocks the gun, aiming it at Connor as he descends the stairs.
CONNOR
Thought you were more of a taser girl..ANGEL
Release
14
FRED
Sorry, I…
She lowers the gun, embarrassed.
GUNN
How’s Cordy?
CONNOR
Well, you know… tired, I guess.
FRED
Maybe I should stop up and ch—
Connor moves in front of her to stop her.
CONNOR
No! She doesn’t want to see anyone yet. She just wanted
some… soup. Really hot soup.
He turns and heads into the kitchen. When he’s gone, Lorne shakes his
head.
LORNE
Odd bird. And getting birdier.
FRED
You don’t think he and Cordy are still…
LORNE
Could be the love bug but I’m not picking up warm
fuzzies. Whatever it is, I just can’t get a good read on it.
GUNN
Not much of the warm or the fuzzies going on these days.
Why should they be any different?
FRED
He’s probably just upset about Faith benching him.
Anybody else think maybe that was a humongous
mistake?
LORNE
Not unless we want to get Angel back in anything other
than a dustpan.
GUNN
Connor’s better off playing nursemaid or whatever he’s
doing with Cordy that I really don’t want to know about..ANGEL
Release
15
FRED
Yeah, but Wes said Faith kind of got demolished. She’s
supposed to be our best chance of getting Angel back…
but what if she’s not up to it?
CUT TO:
16 INT. WESLEY’S APARTMENT— NIGHT 16
Wesley snaps a medical briefcase shut containing syringes and vials as
Faith enters from the bathroom.
FAITH
Squeaky clean. Let’s blow. (off his look) Right. Sorry about
your bathroom. Come on, let’s do it.
WESLEY
I’m not worried about the bathroom… although I’m fairly
sure my security deposit’s a complete loss. I need to know
you’re in the game, Faith. All the way.
She glares at him as she picks up her gear bag.
FAITH
Five by five, boss.
She turns her back on him and walks out the door.
CUT TO:
17 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— OFFICE— NIGHT 17
Fred sets down the trank gun and searches the bookshelves for a
reference guide.
FRED
If I were a runic transcription guide, I would be….ANGEL
Release
16
She finds the book.
FRED
…shelved wrong.
ANGELUS
Talking to yourself, Fred? A lot of that going around.
Fred spins around to find Angelus standing behind her smiling.
FRED
You can’t hurt me. We did a no-demon-violence thingy.
ANGELUS
Oh, the sanctuary spell. Shucks. Oh, wait a minute… I think
I…
He takes a golden pendant out of his pocket and twirls it on his thumb.
ANGELUS
Oh, yeah. Kinda thought you pesky PI’s would be
humming that old tune so I picked up a little somethin’
somethin’. Lets me be as demony as I want to be.
FRED
I don’t believe you.
He takes the book from her and slams it into the wall inches from her
head with enough force to shake the building. She gasps in terror.
ANGELUS
How about now?.ANGEL
Release
17
FRED
(trembling)
What do you want?
ANGELUS
Maybe I just miss you. (beat) Well, since you brought it
up… let’s talk Beastmaster. What do you got?
FRED
Nothing.
ANGELUS
Come on, Fred. All this raw material, brainiac like you…
you must have a theory.
FRED
If I did, you’re the last person I’d tell.
ANGELUS
(smiles)
Well, all right, then. I’ll just have to figure it out myself,
huh?
He starts to gather up all of Fred’s books, diagrams and research on the
Beast.
ANGELUS
Let’s see… these… this… thanks for nothing!
FRED
I do know one thing. You’re out of your league. What
you’re up against? He’ll make you his bitch, just like the
Beast. So if you’re going to kill me, just get it over with.
She glances down at Angelus’ little charm and sees an inscription on the
back.
FRED
“Made in China”?
She lifts a glass pitcher off the shelf and shatters it against his head,
sending him reeling backward. He drops the charm as she snatches her
trank gun from the table and fires. Angelus ducks at the last moment and
the dart thuds into the map of L.A. behind him as he dashes out into the
lobby..ANGEL
Release
18
18 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— LOBBY— NIGHT 18
Lorne walks in as Angelus charges directly at him and Fred fires again.
Her aim is off and the dart hits Lorne in the chest, dropping him like a
sack of concrete.
FRED
Lorne!
Angelus leaps from the floor up to the balcony level and turns, using the
book as a shield as Fred fires her last dart. The trank hits the book and
Angelus grins down at her.
ANGELUS
Can’t beat a good book.
Fred fires again but her gun clicks empty.
ANGELUS
(laughs)
Too bad. I was just starting to have fun.
CONNOR
(o.s.)
Why stop now?
Angelus turns to find Connor running at him along the balcony. Connor
throws a punch right at Angelus’ head but the magickal barrier springs
up, deflecting the blow and hurling Connor over the balcony rail to the
floor below. Unharmed, Angelus looks down at Connor as Fred runs to
his side.
FRED
Connor!
ANGELUS
Well… isn’t that interesting.
FADE OUT
Act II
19 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— LOBBY— NIGHT 19
Resume. Angelus leaps off the balcony and lands in front of Fred. He
takes the dart out of the book and tosses it to the floor in front of her..ANGEL
Release
19
ANGELUS
Nice try, Fred. You think about how close you came to
stopping me when I’m slaughtering all your friends.
(winks) Toodles.
He heads out the front door as Fred eyes him warily, then gets up to
check on Lorne.
CUT TO:
20 EXT. HYPERION HOTEL— COURTYARD— NIGHT 20
Wesley and Faith enter the front courtyard, heading for the hotel.
FAITH
We track him, we find him, we—
ANGELUS
Get your asses kicked? I don’t know… wild guess!
Faith looks up in shock as Angelus walks down the sidewalk toward
them, then she drops her gear bag, ready to fight as Wesley raises the
trank rifle.
Faith attacks but Angelus parries her blows then punches her, sending her
reeling backward into Wesley. He goes down and the rifle flies out of his
grip into the bushes. Angelus rushes forward and yanks Wesley to his
feet, then holds him as a shield, his hand wrapped around Wesley’s throat.
ANGELUS
Sucky spell, huh? You think it’d at least go to the sidewalk.
FAITH
Let him go. This is between you and me..ANGEL
Release
20
ANGELUS
It’s never just between you and me, Faith. Wes will always
be in the middle.
She hesitates, unsure.
ANGELUS
That’s it. Do the math. Can you get to me before I snap his
neck? You still that fast? Wes is just dyin’ to find out, aren’t
ya, Wes?
WESLEY
(to Faith; gasping)
Do it!
ANGELUS
That’s it! Come on, do it! Take your shot and save the
world. Come on, what are you waiting for?
Faith stands there, helpless, as Angelus tightens his grip.
ANGELUS
It’s all about choices, Faith. The ones we make and the
ones we don’t… oh, and the consequences. Those are
always fun, huh? Don’t worry about good old Wes. What’s
one more dead body to us? Come on… where’s my girl?
GUNN
Faith!
She spins and catches the rifle Gunn tosses to her as he runs out of the
hotel, pistol raised. Angelus hurls Wesley across the courtyard directly
into Gunn, sending them both to the ground. Faith raises the rifle and
fires but Angelus leaps up and over the outer wall of the hotel,
disappearing into the night.
Gunn gets up and runs out to the street as Faith helps Wesley up.
WESLEY
(choking)
Go!
She heads after Gunn but stops when Gunn turns back inside.
GUNN
He’s gone..ANGEL
Release
21
Faith stares out into the darkness, troubled, wondering if she made the
right decision.
CUT TO:
21 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— CORDELIA’S ROOM— NIGHT 21
Connor runs into the room flushed with excitement.
CONNOR
Cordy! Cordy!
The room is empty. He looks around, confused for a moment, until the
toilet flushes in the bathroom and Cordelia walks out, limping slightly.
CORDELIA
What?
CONNOR
Are you okay?
CORDELIA
Sure. Except for the morning sickness that can’t tell time.
CONNOR
Good. I mean, that you’re okay.
CORDELIA
Why wouldn’t I be?
CONNOR
Angelus. He was here again.
CORDELIA
(hard)
Excuse me? (off his look; innocent) He was?
CONNOR
Downstairs. He caught Fred alone, used a fake charm.
Fooled her long enough to take everything we had on
whoever the Beast was working for.
CORDELIA
(sotto)
That son of a bitch…
CONNOR
He nearly killed Wesley outside the hotel but Gunn and
Faith chased him off..ANGEL
Release
22
CORDELIA
(dry)
Yay for our side.
CONNOR
Lilah’s book, that stuff from Lorne’s head… why does he
want all that?
CORDELIA
I don’t know but whatever Angelus is up to, I’m thinking it
can’t be good.
CONNOR
Just lucky no one got hurt this time.
CORDELIA
So the sanctuary spell held up? No demon violence in the
hotel?
CONNOR
(evasive)
Yeah, it worked.
CUT TO:
22 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— LOBBY— NIGHT 22
Lorne snores blissfully away on the sofa as Gunn comes back in from
outside.
GUNN
All I’m saying is he tries dancing in here and pulling a Dark
Shadows again, he’s gonna get a dart up his evil ass.
FRED
Well, his ass moves pretty quick. He got the book and the
Wolfram & Hart papers.
GUNN
Not your fault.
FRED
I bet they think it was.
She looks across the lobby where Faith sits with Wesley. He’s drinking a
glass of water and swallowing painfully..ANGEL
Release
23
GUNN
Like they were any help.
Fred holds up Angelus’ trinket.
FRED
Supergirl wouldn’t have fallen for a cheap hunk of crap
like this.
GUNN
I’m just glad it was. If anything happened to you…
FRED
Charles, can we maybe—
She’s cut off by the sound of a shotgun being racked as Wesley brings his
12-gauge into battery.
FAITH
What are you doing with that?
WESLEY
Changing the game.
FAITH
I thought we weren’t going for the kill?
WESLEY
We’re not. But if we get another chance, I want to slow
him down long enough to trank him.
FRED
By blowing his legs off?
GUNN
(to Wesley)
You need someone to help with that?
Wesley hands Faith a trank pistol then turns to Gunn.
WESLEY
No, I need someone I trust to watch the hotel. Someone
who can actually hurt Angelus.
GUNN
Oh, I’m all over that..ANGEL
Release
24
WESLEY
(to Fred; re: trinket)
Be careful. Next time he shows up, he might be packing
the real thing.
He smiles tentatively at Fred, then turns with Faith and heads for the
front door.
CUT TO:
23 EXT. HYPERION HOTEL— COURTYARD— NIGHT 23
Faith pushes in front of Wesley as they leave the hotel.
FAITH
We’ll start with a perimeter sweep. I’ll take point. Stay
frosty. If he’s still in the area—
WESLEY
You’ll let him escape again?
FAITH
This coming from the boy hostage?
WESLEY
Angelus was right. You should have gone for him.
FAITH
He would have killed you..ANGEL
Release
25
WESLEY
And how many will he have the chance to murder now
because you let that make a difference? (beat) Angelus is an
animal. The only way to defeat him is to be just as vicious
as he is.
CUT TO:
24 INT. OCCULT BOOK SHOP— NIGHT 24
Angelus sits in a wide leather wing-back chair before a warm hearth
reading through the material he stole from Angel, Inc. and wearing a set
of half-lens reading glasses. He takes off the glasses, frustrated, and
throws them at REG, the shop’s proprietor and owner of the glasses. Reg
cowers on the floor, terrified.
ANGELUS
These aren’t helping! Half of this crap is written in some
archaic proto-demon cuneiform and I don’t want to be
rude but I think the other half— they just doodled.
He kneels in front of Reg and jams his finger through the man’s testicle.
Reg cries out in agony.
ANGELUS
Now don’t make me puncture the other one, Reg. I just
want to get some intel on this Beastmaster fella. I mean,
this is an occult shop, right? Like your job is to help me.
REG
(gasping)
I… I don’t know…
ANGELUS
Sure you do. Has a penchant for rains of fire, blotting out
the sun, hmm?
He punctuates his words with blows to the man’s head.
ANGELUS
For… getting… inside… your… head!
Suddenly Angelus reels backward in pain as the Master’s voice thunders
in his head.
MASTER
(o.s.)
Angelus!.ANGEL
Release
26
ANGELUS
Ah! Volume…
MASTER
(o.s.)
I am not well-pleased.
ANGELUS
And I’m not well-deaf.
MASTER
(o.s.)
Do you think me blind, little man, that I don’t see every
move before you decide to make it? Dare to seek me out
again and your insolence will be punished ten-fold.
ANGELUS
Yeah? What are you gonna do? Give me a migraine?
(laughs) You ethereal types with your big swinging
omniscience… when push comes to shove, though, you
gotta send some overgrown slag heap to do your dirty
work. Oh, that’s real spooky.
He turns back to Reg only to find him gone.
ANGELUS
Oh, that’s great! You made me lose my shopkeeper.
MASTER
(o.s.)
This isn’t the way, my sweet. We should be friends, you
and I.
ANGELUS
No. And I’ll tell you why. One, because, you know, I’m evil
so the friends thing, that’s out. And two, if I did have any
friends, they sure as hell wouldn’t be living inside my
head!
MASTER
(o.s.)
Like you’re forced to live inside Angel’s? (chuckle) Because
you’re the voice in there, aren’t you? Just beneath the
surface. Buried under all that goodness. Fully conscious,
fully aware… but trapped. Unable to move or speak.
Powerless to act on your desires. So thirsty, so helpless. It
must be agony.
This gets to Angelus, hits home. He turns to leave..ANGEL
Release
27
ANGELUS
I’m getting real bored with this game.
MASTER
(o.s.)
Then how about a round of show and tell? Soul… soul…
who has your soul?
Angelus turns back to find that a glass container containing a swirling mist
has appeared on the reading table next to the hearth.
MASTER
(o.s.)
Oh, right… me!
Angelus reaches out to snatch the jar but his hand passes right through it.
It’s just an illusion.
ANGELUS
More smoke and mirrors.
MASTER
(o.s.)
Only a glamour, yes. But I assure you, my sweet, this very
moment I hold the real thing in the palms of my very
corporeal hands… and I will restore it if you don’t behave.
I’ll put you back in your box, Angelus, and bury you so far
inside Angel, you’ll never claw your way out again.
Angelus realizes he’s trapped.
ANGELUS
All right. What do you want me to do… master?
CUT TO:
25 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— CORDELIA’S ROOM— NIGHT 25
Cordelia sits on her bed, holding the jar containing Angel’s soul in her
hands and smiling..ANGEL
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28
FADE OUT
Act III
26 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— LOBBY— NIGHT 26
Fred watches as Gunn reloads the trank Gunns, then hands her a pistol.
FRED
You really think he’ll come back?
GUNN
Measure twice, cut once.
FRED
Yeah. Plus, this worked so well the first time.
GUNN
Not your fault.
FRED
I should’ve had him.
GUNN
Fred, you got out of it alive so—
FRED
Because he let me! Why not? All the little mouse could do
was squeak at him..ANGEL
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GUNN
Then next time Minnie will take a chunk out of his cheese.
Look, if you really think you did something wrong, don’t
do it again. That simple.
She looks at him meaningfully.
FRED
Is it?
GUNN
(looks away)
Sometimes.
FRED
Don’t. All we ever do is turn away.
GUNN
Fred—
FRED
I know. Whatever Wes was feeling, whatever he thought
might… I should have told him it was never going to
happen. You think I don’t know that?
GUNN
That’s not what I was going to say.
FRED
But it’s what you think. Isn’t it? (beat) I’m sorry.
GUNN
It’s not about that anymore. You know that.
Fred inches closer and closer to him as she talks, her tone and manner
becoming more intimate.
FRED
All I know is I miss you. Can’t we just go back… before
any of this. I just want to go back, Charles. I just want to…
She leans into him and their lips meet in a kiss.
GUNN
I… I should do a sweep..ANGEL
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He pulls away and picks up his rifle.
FRED
Yeah.
He turns away, uncertain where his feelings lie.
CUT TO:
27 INT. BAR & POOL HALL— NIGHT 27
Faith slams Francis’ head down on the bar.
FRANCIS
Come on! I bruise easy.
FAITH
Gee, I wonder what color you’ll be when I’m done?
Another head slam onto the bar. A vampire stands up and moves
threateningly toward Faith. Wesley instantly has the shotgun up and
pointed point-blank at the creature’s head.
WESLEY
Let’s not, shall we?
The vampire instantly backs off.
VAMPIRE
It’s cool, dude. No worries..ANGEL
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FRANCIS
I don’t remember anything. I was drunk. I thought she
was 18.
FAITH
I’m gonna work real hard on the not understanding that,
lumpy.
FRANCIS
Francis!
She slams his head again.
VAMPIRE
(laughs)
Break his head open! See if there’s any candy.
FRANCIS
Hey, what do I look like? A piñata?
FAITH
Oh, let’s find out.
FRANCIS
Whoa, whoa! Ease off the contusion. What do you want to
know?
WESLEY
Where’s Angelus?
FRANCIS
Who?
Slam.
FAITH
We’ve been breathing stale beer and blood half the night
in piss-holes like this.
WESLEY
Guess where it led us.
FRANCIS
Look, I’m telling you, I don’t know nothing. On my
mother’s tumor.
Out of the corner of his eye, Francis sees a demon creeping up behind
Wesley with a raised pool cue..ANGEL
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32
FRANCIS
And even if I did, I’d never yak to a couple of flesh bags
that are about to get their internal organs sucked out of
their—
Wesley flips the shotgun around and fires into the head of the demon,
nearly decapitating it.
WESLEY
Strom demon. Face should grow back. Eventually.
He racks the gun and levels it at Francis.
FAITH
Think yours will?
FRANCIS
(quick)
Oh, that Angelus! Yeah, in here all the time. Running his
mouth. “Look at me. I’m so evil.” Real jackass. Never liked
him. I’m on your side.
Slam.
WESLEY
Where is he?
FRANCIS
I don’t know! I swear. He was in here earlier, giving us the
blah blah blah and then he started mumbling to himself
like a big, pretty freak and then he slipped into the back.
FAITH
Back where?.ANGEL
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33
Francis points.
CUT TO:
28 INT. BAR & POOL HALL— BACK ROOM— NIGHT 28
Faith makes her way slowly through the back rooms, pistol at the ready,
with Wesley following. Humans and vampires lie around, limbs entwined,
in catatonic drug-induced stupors. Used syringes and other drug
paraphernalia litter the tables and floors. Faith can’t believe her eyes:
humans allowing themselves to be used as food like this.
FAITH
What the fuck—
They’re both suddenly tackled from behind by a large hulking vampire.
Wesley tumbles to the floor and Faith sends the vampire crashing down
next to him with several swift blows. Wesley quickly rams a stake
through his chest before he can recover and the creature disappears in a
cloud of dust.
FAITH
You okay?
WESLEY
Dandy.
CUT TO:
29 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— CORDELIA’S BATHROOM— NIGHT 29
Connor stands before the mirror making faces, feeling his teeth, checking
for signs he inherited any of his father’s demonic tendencies..ANGEL
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He doesn’t notice the door open behind him or Cordelia watching him
with a smile.
CORDELIA
You know, most teenagers check for pimples.
CONNOR
(embarrassed)
I’m not… I wasn’t—
CORDELIA
You tried to take him, didn’t you? You attacked Angelus
inside the hotel and got spanked by the anti-demon spell.
CONNOR
I’m not a demon.
CORDELIA
I am. At least partly. Kind of a prereq for the visions gig.
CONNOR
You chose that. It’s not the same.
CORDELIA
Why not?
CONNOR
(frustrated)
I mean, why do I… (beat) Cordy, I don’t even know what I
am.
CORDELIA
I do. You’re a daddy. And daddies need to take
responsibility, Connor. You need to face the fact that
we’re… special. Just like our baby’s going to be.
CONNOR
(smiles)
I’m really going to be a father.
CORDELIA
The best. And the only thing you ever have to worry
about is keeping us safe.
She kisses him lightly on the lips..ANGEL
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35
CORDELIA
So why don’t you go back downstairs and see what’s
going on. I’d feel a lot better if I knew everything that was
happening.
He nods and leaves the room and the sweet smile disappears from
Cordelia’s face.
CUT TO:
30 INT. BAR & POOL HALL— BACK ROOM— NIGHT 30
Faith shakes a delirious young blonde girl, trying to rouse her to
consciousness.
FAITH
Hey, we’re gonna get you out of here.
WESLEY
Faith…
He holds up a hypodermic syringe full of drugs.
FAITH
(to girl)
Can you walk?
GIRL
No, but I can fly!
FAITH
(to Wesley)
What’d they do to her?
WESLEY
She did it to herself. They shoot up, the vampires feed, use
them like a filter. I’ve read the effects can be quite
intoxicating… for both of them.
GIRL
(to Faith)
Hey, you’re pretty. You wanna make out?
Faith shakes her head in disgust and hauls the girl to her feet, slamming
her up against the wall.
FAITH
There was a vampire in here earlier. Tall, dark hair— listen!.ANGEL
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She slams the girl harder when her eyelids start to close.
GIRL
Okay! God, what’s your issue?
FAITH
Tall, dark hair, talking to himself.
GIRL
Let go.
Faith decks her.
FAITH
Did you see him?
GIRL
No, I didn’t! Stop it, you’re hurting me.
Faith stares at her a moment, then lets her go and heads for the door.
FAITH
(to Wesley)
She doesn’t know anything.
Wesley nods and walks over to the girl.
WESLEY
Maybe not.
He takes out his knife and rams it through the girl’s shoulder. She shrieks
in agony and Faith recoils, horrified.
FAITH
What are you doing, Wes?
WESLEY
Shut up! (to girl) Tracks on your arms, you’ve been here,
what, two or three days straight? Answer me!
He twists the knife and the girl melts under the pain.
GIRL
(gasping)
Yes… oh, stop!… yes… four… four days.
WESLEY
Then you must have seen the vampire we’re looking for..ANGEL
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GIRL
(nods)
Angelus. I saw him. He’s…
WESLEY
Where is he?
GIRL
I don’t know.
Wesley slams her hard against the wall, using the knife as leverage.
GIRL
I don’t know! Please, stop!
WESLEY
They said he was talking to himself. What was he saying?
GIRL
I don’t know… it was like he was talking to someone else.
It was all a rain of fire and pulling strings and a soul. That’s
all I heard. Please, stop. It hurts!
Wesley yanks the knife out and the girl drops to the floor, sobbing. Faith
runs over to her and starts bandaging the wound while Wesley cleans the
blood off his knife.
FAITH
Have you totally lost it?
WESLEY
I avoided the main arteries. She’ll live. If that’s what you
call this. Whatever’s controlling the Beast… it’s made
contact with Angelus.
He picks up his shotgun and walks out. Faith leaves the girl and follows
him, furious.
FAITH
So what— torturing humans part of the new makeover?
WESLEY
I did what I had to because you couldn’t.
FAITH
I hit her.
WESLEY
You think that’s something new to her?.ANGEL
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FAITH
You crossed it back there, Wes. What did—
WESLEY
Oh, you have a problem with a little torture now? I seem
to recall a time when you rather enjoyed it.
FAITH
Yeah, well, it’s not me anymore. You know that.
He raises the shotgun.
WESLEY
Nice to have this along, though… just in case. I remember
what you did to me, Faith. The broken glass, the shallow
cuts… so I would remain conscious.
FAITH
You think I’d hurt you again?
WESLEY
This the part where you tell me you’ve turned a new leaf?
Found god? Inner peace? We both know that isn’t true.
You haven’t changed. You can’t.
Faith backs away but Wesley is relentless.
FAITH
Wes, I—.ANGEL
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WESLEY
Because you’re sick. You’ve always been sick. It goes right
down to the roots, rotting your soul. That’s why your
friends turned on you in Sunnydale, why the Watcher’s
Council tried to kill you. No one trusts you, Faith. You’re a
rabid dog who should have been put down years ago!
Faith rounds on him, enraged, and slams him against the wall, her fist
raised to strike.
WESLEY
See? Wasn’t so hard, was it? It’s what you’ll need to beat
him.
She lowers her arm and steps back, shaking her head.
FAITH
No.
WESLEY
You have to be willing to take it all the way, Faith.
FAITH
I can’t risk killing Angel. Not after what he’s done for me.
There’s gotta be another way.
She turns her back and walks out.
CUT TO:
31 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— LOBBY— NIGHT 31
Fred hands a Seabreeze to Lorne who lies on the sofa, moaning.
LORNE
Smacked in the noggin with a 2x4 wrapped in velvet. Yeah,
that’s what it felt like.
FRED
I am so so beyond sorry.
LORNE
Oh, go on. It’s the first good nap I’ve had since the
apocalypse started. So what’d I miss?
GUNN
Angelus and his usual freak show..ANGEL
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40
LORNE
I see everybody still has their necks attached. The
sanctuary spell must have done it’s thing?
Gunn looks pointedly at Connor who glares back at him.
GUNN
Yeah, it’s working.
LORNE
Hey, one for the good guys.
FRED
And take two away. I let Angelus walk with Lilah’s book
and everything Wolfram & Hart suckered out of your
brain.
LORNE
(smiles)
I was going to have those framed.
GUNN
Vampire Moriarty strolls in waving the anti-mojo mojo…
anybody would have done the same.
LORNE
He had mojo?
FRED
No-jo. He waved this piece of junk in my face and I went
all spinal paralysis.
She holds up the golden trinket and Lorne looks at it with a smile.
LORNE
Put the blame stick down, peaches. Maury’s been peddling
these to tourists since L.A. had cable cars, honey. It fools
the Bermuda shorts off them every single time.
GUNN
Maury?
CONNOR
You know where this guy is?
LORNE
Yeah, sure. He hangs his horns in a shop down on Olive,
why?.ANGEL
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GUNN
(to Fred)
Call Wes. Now.
CUT TO:
32 INT. MAURY’S SHOP— NIGHT 32
Faith and Wesley enter a vast vaulted building. Multiple levels surround a
central atrium with balconies looking out across the marbled floors. The
place is under construction with scaffolding rising up from the floor to the
upper levels.
Faith follows Wesley up a wide staircase to an open area with office
equipment arranged haphazardly around the room.
FAITH
Even if he got the fake hoodoo from this Maury guy, why
would Angelus hang around?
WESLEY
He wouldn’t. But this Maury that Lorne knows may be
able to help us find where Angelus is hiding.
They approach a desk scattered with occult trinkets only to find Maury
lying on the floor on the other side, his throat ripped out.
ANGELUS
No… but I can.
They turn to find Angelus smiling wickedly at them from the shadows.
FADE OUT
Act IV
33 INT. MAURY’S SHOP— NIGHT 33
Angelus smiles at Faith.
ANGELUS
A little birdie in my head told me you’d be here. (shivers)
Exciting!
Faith strides forward and shoots at him with the trank gun. He ducks
aside and the shot misses, then kicks Faith backward into a stack of boxes..ANGEL
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42
Wesley chambers a round in his shotgun and opens fire. Again, Angelus’
demonic reflexes allow him to evade the gunfire.
ANGELUS
You gotta do better than that, Wes!
Wes fires and misses again.
ANGELUS
Come on! I’ll give you one more.
Wesley racks the shotgun but before he can fire, Angelus grabs the barrel,
knocking it upward and the shot goes into the ceiling.
ANGELUS
Strike three!
He wrenches the shotgun from Wesley’s grasp and hurls him over the
balcony and into the scaffolding. Wesley crashes down through the
scaffolding to the level below where he lands unconscious among the
debris.
Faith bolts for the stairs at a dead run but skids to a halt when Angelus
racks the shotgun and levels it at her.
ANGELUS
Uh-oh! Vampire with a gun.
He opens fire repeatedly and Faith dives down the stairs, the buckshot
barely missing her.
ANGELUS
I see why he likes this thing!
Faith tumbles to a stop at the bottom of the grand staircase and looks up
to find Angelus standing right over her, the shotgun’s barrel inches from
her face.
ANGELUS
Wow… you really have gone soft, now haven’t you? Hey,
you remember that time you tried to get Angel to kill you
because you felt all weepy over being such a bad little girl?
Do you still feel that way? Do you still want to die?
FAITH
No…
ANGELUS
What’s that?.ANGEL
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43
FAITH
No.
ANGELUS
I can’t hear you!
FAITH
(shouts)
No!
He racks the gun and Faith winces, anticipating the killing blow.
ANGELUS
Too bad… ’cause you’re gonna.
He racks the gun again and again, ejecting all the shells.
ANGELUS
But not like this.
Faith seizes the opportunity and kicks her legs up, knocking the shotgun
from his hands, then she leaps to her feet and squares off. She attacks,
throwing quick jabs before landing a solid blow to Angelus’ head.
ANGELUS
Whoa! Looks like we got a live one…
She throws another punch and he seizes her arm and wrenches it
backward, then slams his fist into her face, stunning her.
ANGELUS
…for now..ANGEL
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44
He spins around, throwing a roundhouse kick to her head and she
collapses to the floor.
ANGELUS
Little tired, sweetie? Want to take a break?
He yanks Faith to her feet and punches her in the gut, then pounds her to
floor again, kicking her hard enough to send her skidding across the floor
to the other side of the room. She lies on her back, gasping in pain. She
rolls over and blood drips from her mouth onto the floor.
ANGELUS
Now this is disappointing. You never used to bleed so
easy.
FAITH
Screw you.
ANGELUS
Hmm… maybe after. I like my girls to lie still.
As Faith holds her broken ribs and struggles to her feet, Angelus looks up
at the scaffolding where Wesley fell. Inside, lying among the shattered
boards and paint cans, Wesley starts to come around.
ANGELUS
Hey, buddy! How’s it going in there? (to Faith) Good old
Wes… you can always count on him to tackle a bad
situation and make it worse. I mean, hey, look how you
turned out. But then again, I guess he didn’t really have
much to work with, now.
Faith laughs through the blood and the pain..ANGEL
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45
FAITH
Save the head-trip, GQ. Wes told me you’d try to get
under my skin, give me just what I need to scratch you
out.
ANGELUS
Oh, don’t tell me! (mocking) The rousing stiff upper lip
speech. Rah rah! Good over evil! Do what must be done!
Hang in there, kitten, it’s almost Friday! Is that what the
scraggly little ponce armed you with to fight the big bad
bogeyman?
FAITH
Yeah. And this.
She slips a dagger out from inside her jacket and whips it at Angelus,
impaling him through the chest. In an instant, she’s on her feet, her fists a
flurry of punches, rocking him backward and throwing him off-balance.
She rips the knife out of him and slashes at him but he dodges and
weaves, then kicks the knife from her hand. It flies up through the air as
Faith beats Angelus back, kicking him fast and hard. She snatches the
knife out of the air as it comes back down and rakes the blade across
Angelus’ chest. The vampire hisses in pain and renews his attack. He kicks
her viciously, sending her tumbling backward, then leaps straight up into
the scaffolding 30 feet overhead.
ANGELUS
That hurt, baby. Kinda liked it. (laughs) How about you?
There’s my girl. I knew she was in there somewhere,
dying to come out and play again.
FAITH
Shut up.
Faith walks among the metal gridwork in the atrium, scanning the upper
levels for Angelus. His voice echoes throughout the marble building
making it hard to pinpoint him.
ANGELUS
I know how it feels. Forced to be someone you’re not.
Hurts to the bone. You try to bury the pain but you can’t
get the hole deep enough, can you? No matter how much
you dig, it’s still there. Broken shards stabbing every time
you breathe, cutting you up inside. You know, there’s only
one way to make the pain stop… hurt someone else.
Faith spins, dagger raised to strike but Angelus seizes her arm, stopping
the blow. He brings her arm down on his leg, then kicks her violently and
she flies up and onto one of the scaffolding grids, her dagger skittering.ANGEL
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46
away across the room. A moment later, Angelus leaps up next to her and
attacks. She dodges him, using the metal latticework to avoid his blows
while trying to land some of her own. They dance across the scaffolding,
dodging and weaving, their movements a kind of obscene ballet.
Faith leaps to the top but Angelus is already there. He hurls her off and
she falls two dozen feet to the hard marble floor below. Angelus jumps
down and lands next to her.
ANGELUS
Come on, Faith, you’re not even trying.
He kicks her in the head, then beats her down to the floor again.
ANGELUS
Or is that why you really came back? Not enough to
punish yourself in prison. Is that it? Still looking for
someone to help beat the bad out of you?
He double punches her to the head. She staggers, drunkenly, stunned.
ANGELUS
You know what the funny part is, darlin’? I could beat you
to death and it wouldn’t make a difference. Nothing will
ever change who you are, Faith.
He pounds her to her knees.
ANGELUS
You’re a murderer…
Another vicious blow to the head.
ANGELUS
…an animal…
He seizes her by the hair and wrenches her head backward.
ANGELUS
…and you enjoy it. Just like me!
With a strangled cry of rage, Faith leaps to her feet and delivers a
stunning uppercut to Angelus’ jaw, rocking him backward. She follows
with a roundhouse kick to his chest, snapping several ribs and driving him
to the floor. Her fury is like a living thing now and she leaps on Angelus,
rolls him over and pounds him, one devastating blow after another. His
head snaps back, then forth, his eyes losing more focus with each
shattering punch. Angelus is hers now. She’s won..ANGEL
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47
But she suddenly catches herself, stops, and backs away.
FAITH
No!
She looks down at him, bleeding and panting with adrenaline.
FAITH
You’re wrong. I’m different now. I’m not like you.
Angelus’ feet shoot out, sweeping her legs out from under her. He yanks
her up by the hair and wrenches her head backward, exposing her neck.
ANGELUS
You will be.
His face shifts and the vampire within rises to the surface.
A strangled cry escapes Faith’s lips as Angelus sinks his fangs into her
neck and begins to drink.
FADE TO BLACK
END

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