Prologue
1 INT. MEAT PACKING PLANT— NIGHT 1
JASMINE smiles beatifically down at CONNOR and ANGEL, then walks
between them and picks up Cordelia’s cloak, slipping into it and covering
her nakedness.
JASMINE
(smiles)
It’s all so…
ANGEL
Unworthy.
JASMINE
Wonderful.
She looks down at CORDELIA’s comatose body and kneels beside her.
JASMINE
Cordelia… thank you. For protecting me and nourishing
me. Your spirit has been my shelter. But you can rest
peacefully now. I’m here.
CONNOR
That’s all she wanted. To give you life.
JASMINE
And I can feel all of it. The cold floor, the air. This skin.
Everything is perfect.
Angel looks down, ashamed.
ANGEL
No, it’s not. I came here to kill you.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
4
He holds his sword out to Jasmine.
ANGEL
I should be punished.
JASMINE
Angel, I can feel your suffering. But now… (raises sword)
that suffering is going to end.
Angel closes his eyes and waits for the killing blow. After a moment,
when it doesn’t come, he opens them to find Jasmine has disappeared.
Opening credit sequence.
Act I
2 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— OFFICE/LOBBY— NIGHT 2
FRED moves manically around the room gathering up the scattered books
and cleaning up the office while LORNE sits calmly on the desk, watching
her and sipping a Seabreeze.
FRED
I should have done this a long time ago. I don’t know what
I was thinking, letting these books be all unorganized.
LORNE
Well, one does tend to let the housekeeping slide during an
apocalypta-lite. Hey, honey, all this to’ing and fro’ing is
making me edgy… er.
A whining, grinding noise echoes through the hotel. Fred whirls around
nervously.
FRED
What’s that?
LORNE
Oh, relax. It’s just the buzz saw. Nothing to get worked up
over. It’s Gunn and Wes down in the basement. They’re
dismembering that armor-plated demon Skip.
FRED
Oh, right. Well, there’s been an awful lot of dismembering
going on in that basement lately if you ask me.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
5
LORNE
Well, it’s been a busy month.
FRED
God, why did it have to be her?
LORNE
I think you skipped a groove, darlin’.
FRED
Cordelia. Why couldn’t the Beast’s master have chosen
some horrible, evil, awful person to be its vessel?
LORNE
It wouldn’t have been much in the way of camouflage.
FRED
He’s been gone so long.
LORNE
You shifted gender pronouns, sweetheart. Not that I’m
judging.
FRED
Angel. Do you think he found them?
LORNE
Them being?
FRED
Connor and Cordy.
LORNE
Well…
FRED
Maybe he got there too late and she already had it.
LORNE
And by “it” you must mean—
FRED
The baby or the hellspawn or whatever it is. Skip said the
Beast’s master was using Cordelia to give birth to itself.
What if Angel didn’t get there in time to stop it? Or worse,
what if he did get there in time? Do you think he’d
actually… you know…
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
6
LORNE
(nervous)
Dismember mama?
FRED
Would Angel really kill Cordelia?
LORNE
(nods)
To save the world?
Fred slumps into a chair, dejected, then looks up as the front door opens.
FRED
Son of a bitch!
Her eyes go cold and she grabs a dagger from the desktop, then charges
out into the lobby.
LORNE
Okay, not that I was expecting a transition but still…
He gets up and goes out into the lobby as well where he finds Fred
holding Connor at the point of the dagger.
FRED
(re: Connor’s knife)
Drop it, junior!
LORNE
Fred, don’t get too close!
CONNOR
Drop it?
FRED
You heard me. Drop the knife.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
7
CONNOR
(perplexed)
But you’re always after me to clean up after myself. I was
just going to put it away.
Fred hesitates and looks from Connor’s smiling face to Lorne, then back
at Connor again.
FRED
Are you still evilish? ’Cause I’m confused.
ANGEL
(o.s.)
Guys, it’s okay. He’s with me.
They look behind them to find Angel standing next to where Cordelia lies
sleeping on the sofa. Fred drops the dagger and runs over to her.
FRED
Oh, my god! Cordelia. She’s not…
ANGEL
No, she’s not dead. She’s just resting. She’s in a peaceful
place.
GUNN and WESLEY enter dressed in stained coveralls. Wesley checks
Cordelia’s vital signs.
FRED
No, I meant… she’s not pregnant.
ANGEL
Oh, no, not anymore.
WESLEY
Then you were too late? The thing was born?
LORNE
I’m guessing it wasn’t a chubby little cherub, huh?
ANGEL
(smiles)
Not exactly.
GUNN
But you killed it? It’s dead, right?
ANGEL
Well, I… I tried. I was going to. I just…
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
8
He sits down on the stairs and puts his head in his hands.
CONNOR
You’ve got to stop torturing yourself, dad. (to others) He
was like this all the way back in the car.
WESLEY
It escaped, then?
ANGEL
Disappeared. Didn’t even say goodbye.
FRED
Is that like baby evil?
WESLEY
I imagine we’re not talking about a baby.
CONNOR
No.
GUNN
Okay, so what are we dealing with?
FRED
Eight legs? Three heads? Horns?
LORNE
Hey!
FRED
No offense.
CONNOR
Two legs, one head, no horns.
LORNE
Let me guess… green?
ANGEL
No. Kind of… mocha. We need to find her.
WESLEY
Agreed.
They both head for the weapons cabinet.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
9
GUNN
Hope this thing’s easier to kill than the Beast.
CONNOR
Kill? No. No killing.
GUNN
Since when?
ANGEL
(smiles)
Since we’ve all been saved.
FRED
Oh, well, that’s crazy talk.
ANGEL
(laughs; to Connor)
They don’t understand.
CONNOR
No.
ANGEL
(to Wesley)
We don’t want to kill her. We just want to find her… so we
can worship her. That’s all.
He takes the weapons from them and put them back in the cabinet. The
others stare at Angel and Connor warily.
CONNOR
She’s amazing. You’ll go nuts.
GUNN
Yeah, that’ll definitely help us relate better.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
10
ANGEL
When you meet her, you’ll understand.
He smiles at them, a faraway look in his eye.
WESLEY
Angel, whatever you’re feeling right now, it’s some form
of enchantment.
ANGEL
Yeah.
WESLEY
It’s a spell. Think. Even before its birth, this thing
controlled Cordelia, caused her to do unspeakable things.
It’s evil. Remember the rain of fire? Permanent midnight,
all the horrors done in its name—
JASMINE
(o.s.)
Must be rectified.
Jasmine walks in through the front door and smiles at the group. Angel
and Connor instantly drop to their knees before her. Lorne stares in
wonder.
LORNE
My god…
JASMINE
People keep saying that.
Fred is entranced.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
11
FRED
I’m just going to… do this.
And she drops to her knees as well.
JASMINE
For so long you’ve all been drowning in the fighting and
the pain.
Gunn kneels down before her as she descends the stairs.
JASMINE
I’d like to help. If you’ll have me.
Wesley eagerly kneels at her feet.
WESLEY
Tell us what to do.
CUT TO:
3 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— CORDELIA’S ROOM— NIGHT 3
Gunn lights candles while the others tend to Cordelia, who lies sleeping in
her bed. Jasmine watches, satisfied.
LORNE
(re: Cordelia)
Eternal bliss. It suits her.
FRED
Cordelia must be so happy to be the one who brought you
here. What an honor.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
12
JASMINE
I’m the one who’s honored. By Cordelia… and by all of
you. I can’t tell you how good it is to be back.
She sits on the edge of Cordelia’s bed and everyone gathers around,
sitting in various chairs and on the floor in front of her.
WESLEY
Back? Then you’ve been here before?
JASMINE
Yes. In the beginning, before the time of man, great beings
walked the earth. Untold power emanated from all
quarters: the seeds of what would come to be known as
good and evil. But the shadows stretched and became
darkness and the malevolent among us grew stronger.
The earth became a demon realm. Those of us who had
the will to resist left this place but we remained ever
watchful.
GUNN
You’re a Power That… Was?
JASMINE
(smiles)
But then something new emerged from deep inside the
earth— neither demon nor god.
WESLEY
Man.
JASMINE
(nods)
And it seemed, for a time, that through this new race, a
balance might be restored.
FRED
I guess we really let you down.
JASMINE
But you didn’t. It was we who failed you. We became little
more than observers. I could no longer bear to just watch.
All the suffering… I had to find a way back. But first, I
needed a miracle.
She lays her hand on Connor’s cheek.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
13
JASMINE
And so I arranged one. Through you, Angel. Through
Darla. That is where my parentage began. Two
vampires— creatures once human, corrupted by
darkness— and you with a soul. A miracle already.
ANGEL
But how?
JASMINE
Through Lorne.
LORNE
Huh?
JASMINE
The day Lorne sent Angel and human Darla into the trials
to earn a new chance at life.
ANGEL
I failed.
JASMINE
No, you earned that life and there it is. (points at Connor)
All these events unfolded that I might re-enter this physical
plane. I know there’s been chaos.
WESLEY
All the events we’ve witnessed these past months, all the
madness… it was birth pains.
JASMINE
But the storm has passed.
LORNE
And here comes the sun.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
14
ANGEL
And Cordelia? Will she wake up?
JASMINE
If we take hold of the world, strip away the thorns, win the
battle, then yes, I think she will.
FRED
How do we do that?
JASMINE
One evil at a time. Much damage has been done in my
name. There are demons— forces of hate— all over this
city.
FRED
We’re going to destroy them.
JASMINE
We’re going to change the world.
ANGEL
(smiles)
Finally.
CUT TO:
4 INT. BOWLING ALLEY— NIGHT 4
A vampire holds a severed human head in his hands like a bowling ball
and lines up his shot. He rolls the head down the lane but it misses the
pins altogether.
VAMPIRE #1
Aw, that ain’t gonna work.
He looks back up the lane at his friends, a group of about fifteen
vampires, all lounging around and carousing.
VAMPIRE #2
Could have told you that. Now clean up my lane, jackass.
The first vampire stalks down to the end of the lane and picks up the
head.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
15
VAMPIRE #1
“Let’s go to L.A.,” you said. “Sun’s gone out,” you said.
“Gonna be the feast of the century.” But the sun is back
and here we are wasting our time. Bowling.
VAMPIRE #2
I’m telling you, something big is coming and when it gets
here, we’re going to be in prime position for—
ANGEL
(o.s.)
An ass whuppin’?
The vampires turn around to find Angel and his crew, along with Jasmine,
standing in the door.
They charge the vampires, blades and weapons swinging and finding
their marks. Jasmine circles the melee, keeping her distance from the
fighting, guarded by Fred who has a crossbow ready to fire. Jasmine
motions to one of the benches.
JASMINE
Sit with me.
FRED
Do you think we should?
JASMINE
We have nothing to fear.
FRED
Umm… okay.
They sit down and watch the battle raging all around them.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
16
JASMINE
Now what are we going to call me?
FRED
You don’t have a name.
JASMINE
No.
FRED
You should have a name.
JASMINE
(laughs)
Yes.
FRED
I don’t know… I can’t imagine one word summing you up.
I mean, you’re a superior being. Shouldn’t you… don’t you
want to choose it yourself?
JASMINE
No one born to this earth can choose their own name.
They’re named by those who love them. There are some
rules even I must follow.
Suddenly one of the vampires breaks free from Angel and attacks Jasmine
before Fred can raise the crossbow. The vampire sinks its claws into her
arm before Angel is able to yank him off of her.
Fred kneels before Jasmine, examining the wound, stricken with anguish.
FRED
I’m so sorry! It’s all my fault.
JASMINE
I’ll be fine. You tried to caution me. I should have listened.
Angel hurls one vampire into the bowling alley’s cement wall while the
vampire that attacked Jasmine runs back behind the lanes and into the
nest of shadows among the pin-setting machinery. Angel sees him go and
gives chase.
ANGEL
Hey! You hurt her, you scum.
The vampire runs across the back of the bowling alley and out the
emergency fire door.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
17
5 EXT. LOS ANGELES STREETS— OUTDOOR CAFE— NIGHT 5
Angel chases the vampire out into the night and through an outdoor café
next door. The vampire, looks behind him, terrified and runs right into
one of the patrons, JOHN STOLER, and they both tumble to the ground.
Angel leaps on the vampire and yanks the creature to its feet just as
Connor rounds the corner and tosses Angel a stake.
CONNOR
Dad!
Angel catches it and slams it through the vampire’s chest. The creature
disintegrates to the shocked and stunned amazement of the café’s
customers. Angel looks around at the frightened people surrounding him
as the rest of the crew arrives with Jasmine.
ANGEL
It’s all right. It’s over. You’re safe now.
WOMAN
What— (sees Jasmine) Oh…
She drops to her knees in awe and when everyone else in the café sees
Jasmine, they do the same.
JASMINE
Everyone, please, stand up. If you wish to honor me,
honor each other. We are all one.
MAN
You’re hurt.
JASMINE
I’ll be all right. Everything will be all right.
MARGARET, a pretty blonde girl, stares up at Jasmine, enraptured.
MARGARET
All my life… so empty. That’s over now, isn’t it?
JASMINE
Yes, Margaret. It’s over. I know you. I know you all. I’ve
come here for you, to bring you the gift of peace. You will
be free from the pains you’ve suffered.
Behind them, John Stoler stands gets to his feet and makes his way
through the crowd, a look of horror on his face as he stares at Jasmine.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
18
JASMINE
The world will change forever and you will know the
power of my love. The chaos will fade and harmony will
reign.
Stoler picks up a knife from one of the café tables and raises it.
STOLER
Monster… it has to die!
Stoler charges Jasmine with the knife but Angel’s face goes feral and he
intercepts him. He throws Stoler to the ground and pounds him, punching
him over and over.
FADE OUT
Act II
6 EXT. LOS ANGELES STREETS— OUTDOOR CAFE— NIGHT 6
Resume. Angel beats Stoler mercilessly. Finally, Jasmine steps in and stops
him.
JASMINE
Angel, that’s enough.
Stoler lies on his back, his face bloody, sobbing.
STOLER
Don’t you see it?
Jasmine steps forward and looks down at him. She extends her hand
toward his bloody face.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
19
STOLER
No, don’t you touch me!
She caresses his cheek.
JASMINE
Poor thing. (beat) Wesley?
WESLEY
I’ll call an ambulance.
Jasmine turns and addresses the crowd.
JASMINE
All of you… so loving, so strong. How can I ask you to
understand that a man like this, so full of fear, anger, so
alone… he will always be alone. But we have found each
other.
The crowd nods appreciatively and smiles, caught in her spell.
CUT TO:
7 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— LOBBY— NIGHT 7
Gunn and Wesley clean their weapons and stare at Jasmine lovingly. She
sits across the room on the settee, holding a bandage to her injured arm.
GUNN
What about Helen?
WESLEY
Helen…
GUNN
That’s got a ring.
WESLEY
Yes, it does. However something along the lines of
Dianthia or Iphigenia…
GUNN
Those are some long lines.
WESLEY
…or Aristophila, which means—
JASMINE
Supreme lover of mankind. That’s lovely.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
20
GUNN
Well, Helen was my grandma’s name.
JASMINE
Helen is beautiful as well.
WESLEY
All right, what about—
FRED
(o.s.)
Clorox.
She walks down the stairs holding Jasmine’s torn shirt.
GUNN
Clorox… she bleaches away the hate.
WESLEY
Probably best we avoid brand names.
FRED
No, I meant this shirt. (to Jasmine) I know I can get this
stain out.
JASMINE
It’s not important, Fred.
FRED
(anxious)
No, it is. I can make it good as new again.
JASMINE
There’s really no need. It’s just a shirt.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
21
FRED
But it’s yours and it was on you, on your holy body-ness.
And it’s my fault you were attacked.
JASMINE
Nonsense. There is no fault. It was a new and vivid
experience. To be able to bleed, feel things, anything, even
pain, is a gift. You people take your senses for granted.
FRED
Club soda!
She suddenly bolts from the room with the shirt.
GUNN
May as well let her do her thing.
WESLEY
Yes, Fred can be quite single-minded when she’s focused
on a problem.
GUNN
(laughs)
Yeah.
JASMINE
You love her very much. Both of you. Don’t you see? You
both have the same love. It should bring you closer
together, not drive you apart.
Gunn and Wesley nod and exchange a look of understanding as Connor
enters and approaches Jasmine.
CONNOR
I’m sorry you were hurt.
She lifts the bandage and checks her wound. It’s completely healed.
CONNOR
But there was so much blood.
JASMINE
I heal quickly. It must be a benefit of being a former
Power, I guess.
CONNOR
What was wrong with that man? Why did he want to hurt
you?
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
22
She seems momentarily troubled.
JASMINE
I’m not sure. Some people can’t accept change. It scares
them. And that fear becomes hatred and they take that
hatred out on others. Or sometimes… on themselves.
CUT TO:
8 EXT. HYPERION HOTEL— SOLARIUM— NIGHT 8
Jasmine walks out into the garden where Angel sits, staring silently into
the night.
JASMINE
That fragrance… it’s lovely. What is it?
ANGEL
Must be the jasmine.
JASMINE
(sniffs)
Mmm… night blooming. So beautiful. So lonely. Like you.
ANGEL
I shamed you.
JASMINE
No.
ANGEL
I did. I almost killed that man. I think I would have if—
JASMINE
Angel, you were only trying to protect me. There can be
no shame in that.
ANGEL
I don’t want to fail you again.
JASMINE
Then don’t.
ANGEL
It’s not that simple.
JASMINE
Why isn’t it?
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
23
ANGEL
Because of what I’m feeling.
JASMINE
You must let go of your anger toward that poor soul.
ANGEL
No, not anger. Happiness. I’m so happy that you’re here.
JASMINE
And that’s a problem?
ANGEL
For me, yes. If I get too happy, if I allow myself to feel
what I’m feeling, Angelus might…
JASMINE
I know. But soon, none of that will matter. Evil will be
banished by the deeds we will do, Angel. Even the evil
that’s inside of you. That too will be gone and all that will
be left is the beauty.
ANGEL
Eradicate all evil?
JASMINE
Yes.
ANGEL
Is that even possible? We’ve been fighting for so long.
JASMINE
I know. I’ve seen it all. It’s why I’ve come back. You are
my general. I have faith in you.
ANGEL
(surprised)
You have faith… in me?
JASMINE
(smiles)
I have faith in all my warriors.
Angel follows her gaze to the balcony where Gunn, Wesley, Connor and
Fred stand watching.
JASMINE
Each and every one of you. You are all up to the task.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
24
CUT TO:
9 INT. WAREHOUSE— NIGHT 9
The door slides open and Angel and his crew charge inside, weapons
raised. The vampires inside don’t stand a chance against them. They’re not
just fighting vampires and demons, they’re true believers on a crusade.
JASMINE
(v.o.)
You’re not alone anymore. I will be with you everywhere
you go. I’ll be at your side, guiding your hands, giving you
strength. With my help, there will be no doubt… no
worry… no fear… for you will know you cannot be beaten
CUT TO:
10 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— FRED’S ROOM— NIGHT 10
Fred stands before the sink, scrubbing Jasmine’s shirt. She’s frantic,
desperate to get the stain out.
CUT TO:
11 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— LOBBY— DAY 11
Angel and his crew watch as the results of their work are reported on the
local news.
NEWSCASTER
After several weeks of skyrocketing homicide rates, finally
this week, a dramatic decrease in Southland murders. The
Sheriff’s Department spokesman attributes the drop to
their new “tough on crime” policy instituted last month…
Angel clicks off the TV.
ANGEL
A little credit for the “divinity behind the scenes” policy
wouldn’t suck.
JASMINE
It’s not important who gets the credit. What matters is that
we’re winning.
WESLEY
If we keep going at this rate…
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
25
GUNN
…L.A.’s going to be one big fat no-demon zone. Hello,
garden city.
ANGEL
(to Jasmine)
You never doubted us. Not for a second.
JASMINE
There’s no room for doubt, Angel. Only love.
Lorne comes down the stairs into the lobby.
CONNOR
Hey, we made the news. Dramatic decrease in Southland
murders this week.
LORNE
Well, hey! So much for that nagging apocalypse. (to
Jasmine) But hey, speaking of dramatic, I’ve got a smidge
of a surprise for you. Upstairs.
JASMINE
(laughs)
Surprises. They’re one of my favorite things about being
human.
She takes his arm as he leads her up the stairs. Angel and the others watch
them go, smiling dreamily.
ANGEL
Isn’t she…
CONNOR
Yeah.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
26
GUNN
A miracle.
Fred enters, holding up a shirt.
FRED
Well, I tried. What do you think?
WESLEY
It looks brand new.
Fred starts to cry.
FRED
It is. I bought a new one.
Wesley stares at her puzzled as she sits down on the steps and sobs.
WESLEY
Even better.
FRED
I know.
ANGEL
Well, what’s the matter? She’ll love it.
FRED
I know but she’s not here.
GUNN
She’s just upstairs.
FRED
Yes, but when she’s not around… I hurt.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
27
Gunn nods in understanding.
CUT TO:
12 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— JASMINE’S ROOM— DAY 12
Lorne opens the door and leads Jasmine into a fully-furnished and
decorated suite in the hotel.
JASMINE
Oh, Lorne!
LORNE
It’s… too diva, isn’t it? Diva, deity… it’s a thin line.
JASMINE
It’s lovely. There’s that wonderful smell again. Jasmine.
Oh, really, Lorne, it’s more than I could ask for.
LORNE
Oh, well, I’m as tickled as… someone so tickled they’re out
of similes. I’ll let you have your privacy.
JASMINE
Thank you again, Lorne.
He smiles happily, then turns and walks out.
JASMINE
You’re troubled.
She turns to the door just as Connor walks past. He stops and hesitates.
JASMINE
Come in, Connor. Tell me what’s bothering you.
CONNOR
I… I can’t.
JASMINE
Of course you can. You can tell me anything.
CONNOR
Cordelia used to say that to me. It’s just… having you
here, I finally know why I was created. For you. To help
bring you here.
JASMINE
That and so much more.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
28
CONNOR
But I don’t deserve… I shouldn’t be so happy. I’ve done
things. I betrayed my dad, hurt people…
JASMINE
I know all of it. I’ve watched you— not just these past days
but all your life and before. Connor, you deserve all the
happiness I can bring you.
He looks at her for a beat, then smiles tentatively.
CONNOR
Why me?
JASMINE
I needed a unique soul to help create me. Yours. Even
before you were born, I chose you to be my father. And
now we’re going to transform the world.
CONNOR
But my father… he’s the champion.
JASMINE
Everything has its season. It’s your time, Connor. Your
destiny.
Connor nods. He likes what he’s hearing. Then Fred enters, flustered and
nervous, holding the shirt she bought up for Jasmine to inspect.
FRED
Hi. I know it’s not the exact same shirt but it’s pretty close.
I scrubbed the other one till my fingers bled but I couldn’t
get out the…
She looks up at Jasmine but instead of seeing a beautiful woman, she sees
a rotting corpse crawling with maggots. Fred recoils in horror, terrified.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
29
FRED
(gasps)
…blood.
FADE OUT
Act III
13 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— JASMINE’S ROOM— DAY 13
Resume. Fred stares in revulsion at Jasmine as maggots and worms
squirm in the rotting flesh of her face and twist in her empty eye sockets.
When she speaks, the vermin drop out of her mouth onto the floor. No
one else seems to notice anything’s wrong. To them Jasmine is still the
beautiful and radiant woman she’s always been.
JASMINE
Fred? Is something wrong?
She puts her hands over her eyes and starts sobbing.
FRED
I… I’m sorry.
CONNOR
I’ll get her some water.
He stands up and heads for the door but Fred grabs him.
FRED
No, don’t! I mean, I’ll be fine.
Gunn, Lorne and Wesley come in response to all the commotion.
GUNN
Sounds like someone’s…
LORNE
What’s all the booin’ and hooin’, sweet pea?
WESLEY
Fred, there’s no reason to cry. She’s right there.
Fred forces herself to look at Jasmine and pretend like nothing’s wrong.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
30
FRED
I… I know… I just… started thinking about what it would
be like if you weren’t here and… I guess I kind of lost it.
JASMINE
(smiles)
I’m not going anywhere, Fred. You can trust in that.
Fred starts edging toward the door.
FRED
I think… I think I just need some time alone to… you
know, count my blessings ’cause there’s so many and it’s
good to… take stock.
She bursts into tears again and walks out, handing off the shirt to Wesley
as she goes. They watch her go, puzzled.
CUT TO:
14 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— CORDELIA’S ROOM— DAY 14
Fred sits next to Cordelia’s bed, looking down at her as she sleeps.
FRED
Cordelia? It’s me. I’m here. Hello? Remember before the
big brain suck, when Lorne read you and it was all scary,
headachy, pukiness? Well, what if that’s all true? Only
worse, ’cause we don’t even know to fight back, not even
Angel. Cordelia, I wish you could—
ANGEL
(o.s.)
I know what you’re thinking.
She turns to find Angel standing in the doorway.
FRED
(wary)
You do?
ANGEL
Sometimes when I look in her eyes, I’ve seen it, too. It’s
overwhelming. The lies, the deceit…
Fred sighs, relieved.
ANGEL
…it just melts away. Nothing left but the beauty.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
31
FRED
(covers)
Yeah. It’s… incredible.
Angel looks down at Cordelia.
ANGEL
I can’t believe I almost… (sighs) Seems like a lifetime ago.
FRED
It’s all so different from what we expected.
ANGEL
Big hideous evil trying to end the world? Nice to be
wrong.
FRED
Yeah, and now that she’s here, everything just… seems so
easy.
ANGEL
I know. Feels like a dream.
FRED
But have you noticed how we all just kind of… do what
she says? Don’t ask questions?
ANGEL
Isn’t it a relief? The constant questioning… it’s finally over.
Fred nods and smiles, realizing she’s not going to get through to Angel.
CUT TO:
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
32
15 INT. CEDAR SINAI HOSPITAL— CORRIDOR— NIGHT 15
Fred rushes through the crowded hallways of the ER and approaches the
reception desk
FRED
(nervous)
Hi. Yes, I’m looking for a patient. A man. He was brought
in Thursday, name’s Stover.
MARTHA JANE, the on-call nurse, looks at her skeptically.
MARTHA JANE
Are you a family member?
FRED
Am I… yes! I have a family. I’m a member. (off her look)
He’s my brother… father… my father’s brother.
MARTHA JANE
I have a Stoler…
FRED
(agitated)
Half-brother… uncle… half-uncle. Stoler! That’s it. Please. I
need to know if he’s all right.
The nurse stares at her for a moment, then smiles and nods.
MARTHA JANE
Dr. Koelsch treated him.
FRED
Is he still here?
MARTHA JANE
He was transferred to… oh.
She reacts in surprise at the information on the computer monitor.
CUT TO:
16 INT. CEDAR SINAI HOSPITAL— PSYCH WING— NIGHT 16
Fred enters the psychiatric wing of the hospital but finds the door to the
ward locked with an electronic keypad. As she examines it closely, trying
to find a way past it, the door opens from the other side. Fred ducks out
of sight, as a nurse exits the ward, then quickly catches the door before it
closes and ducks inside.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
33
CUT TO:
17 INT. CEDAR SINAI HOSPITAL— STOLER’S ROOM— NIGHT 17
Fred enters the dark room. The only light comes from an x-ray viewer
hanging on the wall. Stoler lies in bed, facing away from her, his arms and
legs in restraints.
FRED
John? John Stoler?
STOLER
Go away.
FRED
John, I have to ask you… do you have a history of
mental… what I mean to ask is… have you been in this
particular ward before?
STOLER
You mean am I crazy?
FRED
Well, were you before Thursday?
STOLER
Leave me alone.
FRED
I don’t think you’re crazy. I think I know what happened. I
think I know what you saw because I saw it, too. The
woman you attacked—
STOLER
Not a woman.
FRED
Her face… it’s horrible, isn’t it? Decay, blood, things living
there.
STOLER
You did see it.
FRED
Yes.
STOLER
Did it touch you?
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
34
FRED
What?
He turns toward her, revealing his face. The entire left side where Jasmine
caressed him is twisted and deformed, as if the skin has melted like candle
wax. His eye is gone, a useless socket.
STOLER
Don’t let it touch you.
FRED
(horrified)
She… she did that to you?
STOLER
Untie me, please. I have to get out of here. I have to finish
it.
FRED
Finish what?
STOLER
She has to die. We have to kill it.
FRED
We? No. I mean, maybe but… no.
STOLER
You said you saw it.
FRED
I did!
STOLER
Then you’ve been called, too.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
35
FRED
Called?
STOLER
Called to the mission.
FRED
Called… no. I don’t get called. I’m not the called type. I
take messages for my boss. He gets called. Called?
STOLER
It’s our duty. Others won’t see.
FRED
You’re wrong. If what we saw is true, there are people
who will understand, who will help.
Stoler sits up and stares at her.
STOLER
You’ve been called.
FRED
No, like I said—
Her cell phone rings and she takes it out of her pocket.
FRED
Okay, that’s just eerie. It’s Angel. They’re probably
wondering where I am.
STOLER
You have to do it.
FRED
I have to go. Thank you for your time. I’m sorry to have
disturbed you.
STOLER
Don’t trust her. Don’t trust anyone!
CUT TO:
18 EXT. HYPERION HOTEL— NIGHT 18
As Fred makes her way through the outer courtyard, a couple of giggling
girls run past her and up the front stairs into the hotel.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
36
GIRL #1
I’ve never seen you like this.
GIRL #2
I’m telling you, you have to meet her! Come on.
CUT TO:
19 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— LOBBY— NIGHT 19
Fred enters to find the lobby crowded with dozens of people, all milling
about and talking amongst themselves excitedly. Lorne makes his way
among them, falling back into his role as host.
LORNE
(to man)
We are just excited head-over-teakettle about this entire
event. I just can’t even believe—
He looks up and spots Fred and rushes over to her.
LORNE
Hey, hey, hey, pumpkin! Where you been?
FRED
Out. What happened?
LORNE
She went out for a walk. It was like A Hard Day’s Night.
Everybody followed her back. Isn’t it fabulous? (to woman)
Oh, hey, hey! (to Fred) Excuse me, darlin’.
He moves off and Fred makes a beeline for Wesley.
WESLEY
Can you believe this? (off her look) What is it?
FRED
I… I need you.
He pulls her to the side where they can talk privately.
FRED
If I told you something, you know, that maybe you didn’t
want to know even, you’d trust me, right?
WESLEY
Of course.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
37
FRED
I… went to see that man. From the restaurant. The one
who—
WESLEY
The attacker? Why?
FRED
That’s what I wanted to know. Why he would do that.
Wesley, he saw something (beat) We both saw something.
I needed to know if it was the same something.
WESLEY
And?
FRED
It was. Wesley, I know you’re going to find this hard to
accept but…
CUT TO:
The upstairs balcony. Gunn looks down and sees Wesley and Fred
engaged in an intense conversation.
CUT TO:
Back to Wesley and Fred.
WESLEY
Rotting flesh? Really?
FRED
You don’t believe me.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
38
WESLEY
(hesitant)
If you say you saw it, I believe you.
FRED
(relieved)
He told me not to tell anyone but I knew if I came to
you—
WESLEY
You did the right thing.
The lobby suddenly fills with applause as Jasmine enters flanked by Angel
and Connor. They stride across the upper balcony, then stop and look
down on the crowd below.
Fred looks back at Wesley, anxious.
FRED
You’ll help me?
WESLEY
Of course I’ll help you. Wait here.
He moves off, heading for the stairs. She watches as he meets Gunn
halfway and whispers something to him. They both turn and stare coldly
at her, then Wesley continues on up toward Angel and Connor while
Gunn circles the perimeter of the crowd toward Lorne.
Fred backs slowly toward the weapons cabinet as Wesley whispers to
Angel and Jasmine and Gunn does the same for Lorne.
Lorne turns around, his eyes searching Fred out among the crowd, hatred
on his face. She opens the cabinet doors, slips a dagger into her pocket,
then quickly loads a crossbow. She spins around, crossbow raised and
aimed directly at Jasmine.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
39
FRED
I’m sorry.
Her finger tightens on the trigger.
FADE OUT
Act IV
20 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— LOBBY— NIGHT 20
As the crossbow bolt shoots across the lobby, Angel leaps over the railing
and takes it in the shoulder. He crashes to the lobby floor, followed by
Connor who helps him up. Lorne stalks over to Fred, furious.
LORNE
Fred! Are you crazy? I mean— Fred!
She whips out the dagger, flips Lorne around and holds the knife to his
throat, staring at Angel, Wesley and Connor who stop in their tracks.
FRED
Don’t come near me!
ANGEL
Put down the knife, Fred.
FRED
I’ll kill him!
GUNN
You don’t know what you’re doing.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
40
FRED
I’ll kill him, Charles!
LORNE
Easy, kiddo, huh?
JASMINE
There’s nowhere you can go, Fred. My love will follow
you everywhere.
Fred pushes Lorne down the steps and into Angel, then bolts out the front
door. Angel catches Lorne, then starts to head after her but Jasmine stops
him.
JASMINE
Let her go. Now is not the time. We are all gathered here
in peace. Let’s not let her take that away from us.
CUT TO:
21 EXT. LOS ANGELES STREETS— NIGHT 21
Fred drives through the dark, alone. She pulls over to the side of the road
and stares out the window before breaking down in tears.
CUT TO:
22 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— OFFICE— NIGHT 22
The crowd is gone. Just Angel’s crew and Jasmine remain.
WESLEY
I can’t believe Fred’s evil.
GUNN
Should have seen it coming.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
41
LORNE
Nothing like a homicidal maniac to put a damper on an
impromptu spiritual gathering.
JASMINE
What they saw tonight… it’s not what I would have
wanted. But now they all understand the reality of what
hatred can do to a person.
Angel enters with a bouquet of jasmine.
ANGEL
The reality is we need to find Fred.
JASMINE
Thank you, Angel. The scent, it soothes me.
ANGEL
If we leave now, Connor and I can probably still track her.
JASMINE
I know you’re all in pain. You trusted Fred and she
betrayed you.
GUNN
Forget us. She tried to kill you.
JASMINE
And the sadness that brings me is immeasurable.
LORNE
I should have just let her cut my head off. (off her look) My
species… decapitation loophole.
CONNOR
She still might have stabbed you, let you bleed to death.
ANGEL
Why didn’t I see it?
JASMINE
Angel, none of us did. You can’t blame yourself.
ANGEL
She was acting weird earlier but I just thought it was Fred
being Fred.
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
42
WESLEY
That man at the hospital… I’m still shocked she would go
and see him.
GUNN
Once he had her there, he must have monkeyed with her
brain somehow.
CONNOR
Maybe he made her do it, with magick or something.
JASMINE
I doubt even Fred understands why she’s so determined to
destroy everything we’re trying to create. Which makes
her even more dangerous.
ANGEL
We have to kill her. There’s no other way.
WESLEY
As long as she’s out there, she’s a threat.
JASMINE
It may come to that but first we have to try to help her, get
to the root of the hatred that’s infected her heart.
ANGEL
The only way to do that is to bring her home. Let’s go.
He stands up and the others move to follow him but Jasmine stops them.
JASMINE
No. We’ll find Fred but not tonight. Tomorrow will be
easier than today. We’ll have eyes everywhere.
CUT TO:
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
43
23 INT. CITY DINER— MORNING 23
Fred sits at the counter watching TV as the FRY COOK slides a plate of eggs
and bacon in front of her.
COOK
Here you go. Looks like you just lost your best friend.
FRED
All of them. I never thought—
COOK
Yeah, well, that’s life in the big city.
He tears off her ticket and slides it across the counter, then goes back to
the grill. Fred eats her food while the TV plays a morning news show
called Good Morning L.A.
TRISH
(on TV)
Welcome back. Chef Arnold Michske will join us later but
right now, we have the most amazing surprise. Please join
me in welcoming a very special visitor… Jasmine!
JASMINE
(on TV)
Good morning, Los Angeles. Thank you for inviting me.
This is a special day.
At the sound of Jasmine’s voice, Fred looks up at the TV in shock.
TRISH
(on TV)
We want to know everything about you. Start at the
beginning.
JASMINE
(on TV)
Trish, in the beginning, before the time of man, great
beings walked the earth. Untold power emanated from all
quarters: the seeds of what would come to be known as
good and evil. Yet there was a balance. But the shadows
stretched and became darkness and the malevolent among
us grew stronger…
Fred looks around her to find everyone in the diner kneeling on the floor,
expressions of enraptured bliss on their faces as they watch Jasmine on
ANGEL
Shiny Happy People
44
the TV. She gets shakily to her feet and walks quietly out of the diner
unnoticed by the enthralled customers.
Fred walks out onto the street and makes her way alone into the heart of
the city.
FADE TO BLACK
END