Prologue
1 EXT. LOS ANGELES/SANTA MONICA— VARIOUS— DAY 1
A beautiful sunny day in Los Angeles. The kind of day southern California
is legendary for. People everywhere are smiling and happy. A man comes
to a stop on Santa Monica Boulevard, at the 3rd Street Promenade. He
smiles to a group of girls and waves them across the street. As they smile
back and start to cross, the man suddenly jumps, startled, as FRED runs
into the driver’s side window of his car. She’s frightened, desperate, and
immediately bolts across the street in front of him into the crowds on the
Promenade with WESLEY and GUNN in hot pursuit.
Wesley stops after a moment, looking aorund, searching for Fred but she
seems to have disappeared.
GUNN
All right, now I’m getting mad.
WESLEY
We’ll find her.
GUNN
We’ll do a whole lot worse than just find her.
Wesley spots Fred walking away from them across the shopping plaza
her red coat standing out among the crowd.
WESLEY
There.
They both take off after her, careening among the shoppers and
pedestrians. Wesley almost knocks a woman over.
WESLEY
Sorry!
He catches up and grabs Fred’s arm, spinning her around only to find it’s
not Fred at all. The girl stares at Gunn and Wesley, confused.
WESLEY
Your jacket…
GIRL
A woman just gave it to me. She said Jasmine wanted me
to have it. Isn’t that sweet? Isn’t Jasmine the best?
A look of awe momentarily crosses Wesley and Gunn’s faces.
ANGEL
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GUNN WESLEY
Best of the best. She’s so wonderful.
Then it’s back to business.
GUNN
(to Wesley)
We should split up. She can’t be far.
They run off in opposite directions as we pan down past a large flowered
planter, through a metal grate and down into the storm sewers where
Fred crouches, peering upward apprehensively.
When it’s clear that Wesley and Gunn have moved off, she turns and runs
off into the dark tunnels.
Opening credit sequence.
Act I
2 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— LOBBY— DAY 2
A pretty young woman enters the teeming lobby of the hotel. Dozens of
people are all gathered to see Jasmine. She looks around for a moment,
then heads over to the check-in counter and takes a place at the end of a
long line waiting to see LORNE.
LORNE
(to old woman)
I’m awfully sorry. I wish there was something I could do,
really. Next.
The old woman walks off and the next MAN in line steps forward,
ANGEL
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MAN
I’m too late, aren’t I? For a room?
LORNE
Yeah, ’fraid so, buckaroo. Singles, suites, even the mouse
holes are triple-booked. I’ve got pilgrims pitching pup
tents in the parking lot. Try saying that three times fast
and you’ll get a sense of the day I’m having.
The man drops a set of keys on the counter.
MAN
I’ll give you my house if I can stay. It’s nice. There’s a pool.
LORNE
Sorry, it doesn’t work that way around here, partner.
Jasmine doesn’t want your things and neither do I.
MAN
I just want to be near her, you know? I saw her on the
news last night and want to say thanks for making me
feel…
LORNE
Hey, preachin’ to the choir. I thought Our Lady of the
Perpetual Seabreeze was the real deal till the divine Miss J
walked right through that door and into my ass. (off his
look) Which is where my heart is. Physiologically. I can
show you an x-ray.
An excited murmur ripples through the crowd as JASMINE walks down
the stairs flanked by ANGEL and CONNOR.
LORNE
(to man)
Hey, don’t be shy, slim jim. Go get some of that gorgeous
goodness.
The man joins the crowd at the base of the stairs as Jasmine addresses
them all.
JASMINE
Hello, and thank you all for coming.
She moves among the people and stops before a pregnant Chinese
woman. The woman stares at Jasmine in awe as Jasmine places her hand
on the woman’s belly and speaks to her in Chinese.
ANGEL
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JASMINE
(subtitle)
Your child will lead a healthy and loving life.
The woman smiles and bows before Jasmine.
ANGEL
(to Jasmine)
How do you do that?
JASMINE
Mandarin’s not so tough when you’ve been around a
zillion years.
ANGEL
I mean, how is it that you always know exactly what each
person needs to hear?
JASMINE
I just look into their hearts. Though sometimes, it’s right
on their face.
She turns to a middle-aged Mexican man with a smile.
JASMINE
Señor…
MAN
¿Sí?
JASMINE
Su bigote te da fuerca y dignida. [Your mustache provides
you great strength and dignity.]
MAN
Gracias. Muchas gracias.
ANGEL
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CONNOR
I wish I could see what you see.
JASMINE
You will.
Angel looks over as Gunn and Wesley enter the lobby. Gunn shakes his
head and Angel turns to Jasmine.
ANGEL
Excuse us for a moment?
He and Connor step away and join Wesley and Gunn in the office.
CUT TO:
3 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— OFFICE— DAY 3
When the door is closed, the four talk freely about their Fred problem.
GUNN
This close and she pulled a Houdini.
CONNOR
What’s a Houdini?
WESLEY
She escaped.
ANGEL
Fred’s obviously learned a trick or two here at Angel Inc.
but we’ll catch her.
CONNOR
I’ll find her. Bring back her scalp.
WESLEY
No. Jasmine wants her alive.
ANGEL
Wes is right. Fred gets to live until we understand why she
rejected Jasmine’s love.
CONNOR
Why would anybody reject love?
GUNN
Maybe because she has a history of doing that.
ANGEL
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ANGEL
Whatever the reason is, we have to find her so Jasmine can
straighten her out.
CUT TO:
4 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— LOBBY— DAY 4
Angel and the others emerge from the office. Jasmine can tell by their
expressions that they failed to find Fred and her expression darkens
momentarily. Then she smiles again and turns to the pretty girl who
walked in earlier.
JASMINE
Would you like to come with me?
The girl eyes go wide and she grins from ear to ear, nodding. Jasmine
turns to the man who offered Lorne his house.
JASMINE
And you, my friend. Will you join us?
MAN
(eager)
Yes, thank you.
Jasmine starts back up the stairs, her two chosen ones following.
JASMINE
(to crowd)
Bless you all for coming.
Across the lobby, Gunn and Wesley watch them go.
ANGEL
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GUNN
Think she’ll ever pick us?
WESLEY
If we’re lucky… but not before we find Fred.
CUT TO:
5 INT. MAGIC BULLET BOOKSTORE— DAY 5
An occult/conspiracy theory themed bookstore. Fred walks in and finds
the owner, TED, shelving books among the stacks. He’s a squirrelly little,
guy. Paranoid and hyperactive.
FRED
Hi. You probably don’t remember me…
TED
Three days ago. Mass hypnosis. You wondered if it was
possible.
FRED
I read those books. Some wacko theories, by the way. All
of the mass hypnosis theories seem highly flawed to me.
I’m looking for a type of mind control that could affect
everyone across the board.
TED
I might have a book on that.
He heads over to the counter and Fred peruses the books on the reading
table.
FRED
Astral Projections… Satan’s Dictionary? You must get some
pretty colorful customers in here.
TED
Used to. You’re the only customer I’ve had since the last
time you were here.
FRED
Oh.
TED
Not a huge demand for photo books of serial killer
autopsies when you’re living in a utopian wonderland.
You know what I mean?
ANGEL
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FRED
(awkward)
I hadn’t really thought… must be hard.
TED
Hard? Are you kidding? It’s great.
FRED
Great? Really?
TED
Yeah. Look at me. I’ve never been happier.
He stares at her, stone-faced.
FRED
Sure. I see it now. You’re practically glowy.
TED
I was flicking through the radio the other night. There’s
nothing really good on since Art Bell retired. I ended up
listening to this woman talk.
FRED
Jasmine.
TED
Yeah. You, too, huh? What a breath of fresh air she is. I
listened for almost an hour. I’m a new man. I used to be
obsessed with mind control. I read everything I could get
my hands on.
FRED
And you don’t believe in it anymore?
ANGEL
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TED
I believe. I just don’t worry about it anymore.
FRED
So you don’t worry that it’s possible for someone to send
out a biological or electronic trigger that effectively
overrides your own sense of ideals and values and replaces
with them with an alternative coercive agenda that reduces
you to little more than a mindless meat puppet?
TED
Wow. People used to think that I was paranoid. I mean,
don’t get me wrong. I’ve still got the implants in my head.
The CIA is still listening in. It just doesn’t bother me
anymore. Instead, I beam Jasmine’s love up to their
satellite, you know. Share the love with those MK-ULTRA
bastards.
FRED
That’ll teach ’em.
TED
Hey, now I get it.
FRED
(wary)
You do?
TED
Yeah. I know what you’re doing.
He opens a drawer beneath the counter and starts going through the
contents. He casually takes out a revolver and sets it on the counter while
he looks through the drawer. Fred’s eyes go wide and she starts to back
away.
Ted finds what he’s looking for and holds it up: a book called Making Mind
Control Work for You.
TED
You want to fight fire with fire. Make sure the government
and the other savages learn about Jasmine’s love.
FRED
(relieved)
Exactly. That’s exactly right. Why should we be the only
shiny, happy people?
She reaches for the book but he pulls back.
ANGEL
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TED
We don’t need to use the evil tools of “the man” when we
have “the woman”. We need to trust that Jasmine’s love
will reach the rest of the world just like it reached us.
Fred grits her teeth in frustration.
FRED
Oh, happy day.
CUT TO:
6 INT. LOS ANGELES STORM SEWERS— DAY 6
Connor and Angel search the tunnels for Fred.
CONNOR
She’s been down here.
ANGEL
How old were you when you realized you could track like
this?
CONNOR
I don’t know. Five… six. We didn’t exactly celebrate
birthdays in Quortoth. Holtz made up a game so I could
practice.
ANGEL
You mean he’d hide things for you to find?
CONNOR
Kind of. He’d tie me to a tree and then run away.
ANGEL
What?
CONNOR
You know. So I’d have to escape and then find him. One
time it only took me five days.
ANGEL
Five days? He abandoned you and then… Connor that’s
terrible. That’s—
CONNOR
Why I’m so good at tracking. Fred rested here for awhile.
ANGEL
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Suddenly both he and Angel close their eyes and smile.
ANGEL & CONNOR
(unison)
Jasmine wants us back at the hotel.
They nod to each other and turn and head back the way they came.
CUT TO:
7 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— JASMINE’S ROOM— DAY 7
Jasmine sits at the table before a laptop computer, watching a QuickTime
clip of herself on the Good Morning L.A. television show.
JASMINE
(on screen)
Before the time of man, great beings walked the earth.
Untold power emanated from all quarters.
Jasmine smiles at the clip and looks up at Gunn, Lorne and Wesley.
JASMINE
I sound like the prologue to one of those movies about
magickal dwarves.
GUNN
Hobbits. And you watch movies?
JASMINE
I love movies.
LORNE
Well, then you should know, this is the greatest story ever
told.
JASMINE
Sweet!
WESLEY
The design team will have your site ready to go in a couple
of days. Just let me know when you want it to go online.
JASMINE
Soon.
ANGEL
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GUNN
I still don’t understand why you don’t just sashay into a TV
studio, say “Scoot over, Regis” and sweet-talk your love to
the whole wide world.
JASMINE
It’s not the world’s time yet. There’s still a lot I have to
learn.
A knock at the door.
JASMINE
Come in.
Angel and Connor enter, excited.
ANGEL
You called us.
CONNOR
How’d you do that?
ANGEL
We felt it.
JASMINE
We’re all becoming connected. All of us. And now that
you’re all here, I want to test that connection. We’re going
to find Fred.
CONNOR
Isn’t that what we’ve been trying to do?
JASMINE
This is different. No more running around town.
Everybody, join hands.
They all form a circle and link hands in the center of the room.
JASMINE
I can’t do this alone. Not yet. I want you all to close your
eyes. (beat) Now… picture Fred. Picture what she looks
like. Her face… her big brown eyes… the way she styles
her hair… the clothes she likes to wear… the sound of her
voice… what she looks like when she smiles. Now
concentrate. Where are you, Fred? I’m looking for you.
CUT TO:
ANGEL
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8 EXT. LOW-COST MOTEL— DAY 8
Fred walks up to the window and asks for her key. An old woman leans
against the wall nearby, smoking.
FRED
Two-nineteen?
CLERK
Sure, there you go.
FRED
Thanks.
Fred takes the key and walks into the motel courtyard. The old woman’s
head suddenly snaps around and follows Fred as she passes by.
CUT TO:
9 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— JASMINE’S ROOM— DAY 9
Jasmine smiles.
JASMINE
I see her. I see Fred.
CUT TO:
10 EXT. LOW-COST MOTEL— DAY 10
Fred heads up the exterior stairwell to the second-floor landing. As she
walks past the rooms, a face suddenly appears in one of the windows,
watching her. Ahead of her, a hooker and her client emerge from a room
and they both suddenly turn and stare at her.
ANGEL
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Unnerved, Fred backs away, heading toward the stairs. As she rounds the
corner at the bottom, the old woman seizes her by the arm and spins her
around. She breaks free with a gasp and runs toward the street only to
find the way blocked by the motel clerk. She switches directions and runs
through the parking lot toward the opposite street. As she passes a row of
cars, one starts up and pulls out, following her.
CUT TO:
11 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— JASMINE’S ROOM— DAY 11
JASMINE
There’s nowhere to run, dear. My love is all around you.
CUT TO:
12 EXT. LOS ANGELES STREETS— DAY 12
Fred runs down the sidewalk, glancing back over her shoulder at the car
following her. Another driver pulls across the sidewalk, cutting her off
and she dashes out into the street, heading for the opposite side.
The first car instantly accelerates, heading straight for her. She leaps out of
the way at the last second and tumbles to the grass as the driver slams
into a parked car. Both vehicles explode in a massive fireball.
Fred rolls onto her back and stares in shock as the driver gets out of
flaming car and walks calmly toward her, his clothes ablaze.
The fire starts melt his flesh but he seems not to notice it as he reaches his
hand out toward her.
MAN
Fred? Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid, Fred.
FADE OUT
Act II
13 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— JASMINE’S ROOM— DAY 13
Jasmine’s eyes roll up in her head and her hand starts to smoke. Connor
lets go of her hand with a yelp of pain as Angel catches Jasmine before she
can fall to the floor.
ANGEL
Easy! Lorne, a chair.
ANGEL
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WESLEY
What happened?
CONNOR
Her hand got hot.
Wesley examines Jasmine’s hand.
WESLEY
She’s badly burned.
LORNE
Call a doctor.
JASMINE
No! No, I’ll be fine. I just need to rest.
ANGEL
We should get you a doctor.
JASMINE
(firm)
I’m fine. I saw Fred. Clear as I’m seeing you. Obviously
there are some painful kinks to work out but it’s a start.
ANGEL
She got away, didn’t she?
JASMINE
Yes, but don’t worry. Everybody who loves me now
knows what she looks like. Knows to catch her. Knows to
call us. There’s no place Fred can hide.
WESLEY
What do you want us to do?
ANGEL
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JASMINE
You already know.
ANGEL
She’s right. There’s work to do here. We have a hotel full
of people. People who have needs.
LORNE
You know what they say about people who need people.
CONNOR
They’re the luckiest people in the world.
They all look at Connor, shocked.
LORNE
You been sneakin’ peeks at my Streisand collection again,
kiddo?
CONNOR
It just kinda popped out.
JASMINE
This is what I’m talking about. Everything is becoming
connected, the same way I saw Fred.
ANGEL
Are you saying that we’re becoming psychic?
JASMINE
No, what I’m saying is—
GUNN
Hot water just went out down on the third floor.
WESLEY
And there’s a plumber in the lobby who can… help us?
JASMINE
(smiles)
That’s what I’m saying. Now I need to rest, focus on
healing my hand.
She turns heads toward her bedroom, then stops.
JASMINE
Oh, there are a pair of sisters in the lobby.
ANGEL
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ANGEL
Blondes.
LORNE
The Bailey twins.
GUNN
I’ll ask them if they’d like to come up and visit you.
JASMINE
Exactly what I was thinking. This is only the beginning. No
one will ever have to feel lonely again.
CUT TO:
14 EXT. GRIFFITH PARK— DUSK 14
Fred walks along the side of the road winding through the park. She’s all
alone, the sun lowering on the horizon, the wind whistling forlornly
through the trees.
She watches warily as an SUV passes her by. It proceeds past her up the
road for about 200 feet, then screeches to a halt. Tires squeal as it backs
toward her at high velocity.
She jumps off the road into the bushes and loses her footing, tumbling
down an embankment and crashing through the roof of a small cave.
15 INT. GRIFFITH PARK— CAVE— DUSK 15
Fred crash-lands on top of a gnome-like CREATURE. It’s green with small
worm-like tentacles trailing off either side of a mouth filled with small but
sharp teeth. The little beast fights with her and they both roll across the
dirt floor, a tangle of arms and legs, toward the creature’s campfire.
Fred spots a hatchet and grabs it, rolling on top of the creature and raising
it to strike. It holds up its hands in surrender and she hesitates.
CREATURE
I’m vegetarian!
FRED
Really? With those choppers?
CREATURE
Okay. I eat fish and occasionally vermin. But that’s it, I
swear! You believe me, don’t you?
ANGEL
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FRED
You’re still breathing, aren’t you?
CREATURE
More like hyperventilating. You scared the cream cheese
out of me.
Fred stands up and the creature rolls away, watching as she checks her
injuries, wincing at the sore spots. She strips off her jacket and kneads her
bruised shoulder.
CREATURE
What are you doing? Don’t do that. Come on, get a room!
FRED
Sit down! Any monkey business and I’ll chop you down
like a cherry tree.
She wields the hatchet, menacingly and the beast reluctantly complies.
Fred gingerly sits down on the opposite side of the cave from him,
groaning from her aches and pains.
CREATURE
So we’re just going to sit here like this?
FRED
Maybe.
CREATURE
Can you give me a time frame? ’Cause I got a bladder the
size of a Jujube.
FRED
Shut up! I’m trying to figure some stuff out.
She stares down at the ground, frightened and alone, not sure what to do,
as the creature watches her warily from across the room.
CUT TO:
16 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— LOBBY— NIGHT 16
Wesley stands behind a podium, flanked by Gunn and Lorne, addressing
all of Jasmine’s followers gathered in the lobby. He points to a poster-size
photo of Fred.
ANGEL
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WESLEY
Consider her armed, dangerous and quite possibly insane.
Don’t let her grace or gentle beauty fool you. Winifred
Burkle… is a monster, a siren, hoping to lure you away
from Jasmine and onto the rocks of heresy and
destruction.
GUNN
Amen to that.
WESLEY
Now… Lorne has a few important announcements and, as
I understand, a very special surprise.
He takes the photo off the easel and steps aside for Lorne to take the mike
over a swell of applause.
LORNE
Blessings and moon pies, brethren and sistren! I’ll cut right
to the chase and start with the hourly Jasmine report. Her
Royal Yumminess is currently resting after a particularly
exhausting day and there’s no word yet whether she’ll
make a drive-by this evening or not. (disappointed
murmurs) Good news for you third-floor faithful: the hot
water’s back on. (cheers) Okay, and now… now it’s time
for that big surprise we’ve been talking about. Tonight
we’re going to try kicking it a little different at the
fellowship hall because tonight… tonight is open mike
night. (more cheers) That’s right, that’s right, love bugs, so
anyone who wants to get up here and share their personal
joy about good Queen Jasmine is more than welcome. So
who wants to get the ball rolling?
CUT TO:
ANGEL
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An eight-year-old boy at the mike with a sheaf of papers in his hand.
LINFORD
(reads)
Why I Love Jasmine, by Linford Detweiler. I love Jasmine
because she makes food taste good…
CUT TO:
A twenty-something woman. She just stands there crying, overcome with
emotion.
CUT TO:
A long-haired slacker-type, leading the crowd in a boisterous chant.
GUY
Jasmine rocks! Jasmine rocks! Jasmine rocks!
CUT TO:
A deaf woman at the podium signing.
DEAF WOMAN
(subtitle)
I wish I could be in Fred’s skull so I could explode her brain
and kill her for rejecting Jasmine.
CUT TO:
Lorne, singing to the accompaniment of a rock guitarist sitting behind him
at the podium.
LORNE
(sings)
Freddie’s dead! Oh, that’s what I said.
CUT TO:
An old woman in her 70’s.
WOMAN
I have 37 cats and I’ve just changed all their names to
Jasmine!
CUT TO:
The weeping woman, still weeping.
ANGEL
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CUT TO:
Angel and Connor, singing to the tune of Mandy. The same guitarist
provides back-up but this time on an acoustic guitar.
ANGEL/CONNOR
(unison)
Now we realize how happy you made us,
Oh, Jasmine…
And you came and you gave without taking
And we’ll keep you forever,
Oh, Jasmine…
Gunn and Wesley watch from across the lobby, smiling.
GUNN
We should be doing this every night.
Wesley nods blissfully as he listens to the music.
CUT TO:
17 INT. GRIFFITH PARK— CAVE— NIGHT 17
Fred sits morosely in the corner with the creature across from her,
fidgeting nervously.
CREATURE
Kind of drafty in here, what with that hole you smashed in
the roof. You mind if I quest for fire?
He gets up to put wood on the campfire but Fred stands up, hatchet
raised. He quickly sits back down.
ANGEL
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CREATURE
Forget it. I’ll just freeze to death. Not like I care anymore.
I’m on the run like an animal.
FRED
You don’t live here?
CREATURE
Do you live in a dirt hole?
FRED
No.
CREATURE
Do you want to live in a dirt hole?
FRED
No.
CREATURE
Then why the hell do you think that I live in a dirt hole?
FRED
You’re a demon.
CREATURE
I’m an executive demon, thank you very much. I had an
office and an assistant and a beautiful porcelain cup for my
tea. Now I live in a dirt hole because of those freakin’
Jasmaniacs and their demon jihad.
FRED
Wait… you’re here because of Jasmine? Me, too. I’m a
fugitive, too.
CREATURE
Wow, amazing! Two beings, as dissimilar as you and me,
discovering a shared link against a common foe. Huh. The
irony. My feelings for you are changing. I feel… warmth.
Wait. No, I don’t. That’s just me wetting myself because
you wouldn’t let me pee! Thanks for nothing.
FRED
Hey, I’m as new to this fugitive thing as you are. That’s
what I’ve been trying to suss out all night— how Jasmine
controls people. We have to stop her.
ANGEL
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CREATURE
Okay, we’ll stop her. But not tonight. Not till I’ve had a
little shut-eye. I’m beat.
He walks over to a pile of blankets and lifts off the top one, revealing four
severed human hands. Fred gasps in shock and the creature looks down,
realizing his gig is up.
CREATURE
(nervous chuckle)
Hey… these yours? ’Cause I’ve never seen ’em before.
Why would anyone keep a stash of these tasty little—
He picks one of the hands up.
CREATURE
—I mean, disgusting meaty things like this laying around?
(off her look) Okay. So… not a vegetarian.
He cracks off one of the fingers and munches on it. Fred’s face wrinkles in
disgust.
CREATURE
Finger food?
She’s not buying it. He drops the hand, bares his teeth and charges her.
He leaps on her, driving her to the ground and sinks his teeth into her
shoulder.
CREATURE
I got your demon jihad right here!
The little beast bites her again, pulling away a chunk of flesh and eating it.
Fred screams in pain and her flailing hand closes around the hatchet lying
next to her. She raises it up and slams the blade down into the back of the
creature’s head, killing it.
ANGEL
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She heaves the dead monster off of her and struggles to her feet, holding
her injured arm. As she looks down at the blood oozing from the wound,
a realization hits her.
CUT TO:
18 EXT. MAGIC BULLET BOOKSTORE— NIGHT 18
Fred stands in front of the bookstore surrounded by people, all followers
of Jasmine, all staring at her blankly.
FRED
Here I am. Come and get me.
CUT TO:
19 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— JASMINE’S ROOM— NIGHT 19
Lying in bed, Jasmine’s eyes suddenly snap open.
JASMINE
Fred.
CUT TO:
20 INT. MAGIC BULLET BOOKSTORE— NIGHT 20
Fred enters the store to find Ted staring at her like the others.
TED
Hey, Fred.
FRED
You know my name.
TED
You’re famous.
He starts toward her and she raises her hatchet.
FRED
I’ll chop out your implants if you come any closer.
TED
No need to worry. We’re under strict orders not to hurt
you.
FRED
So Jasmine’s coming for me?
ANGEL
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TED
Yeah. (beat) Hey, could I get your autograph?
He starts forward again and she raises the hatchet, stopping him.
FRED
Anything for a fan.
She moves behind the counter and opens the drawer, searching for a pen.
FRED
Who should I sign it to?
JASMINE
(o.s.)
To me, of course.
Fred looks up as Jasmine enters the store, flanked by Angel and Connor.
Ted drops to his knees and bows his head before her.
JASMINE
(to Ted)
And to reward you for your faithfulness… Dallas.
November 22, 1963. There was no second gunman.
Oswald acted alone.
TED
(shocked)
Oh, my god!
Jasmine smiles, then turns to Fred. Her smile turns predatory.
JASMINE
You know that I love you, don’t you, Fred? And there’s
nothing you can do or say to make me stop loving you.
ANGEL
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FRED
I’m so sorry.
JASMINE
It’s okay. I forgive you.
FRED
No. I’m talking to Angel. I hope he can forgive me.
She lifts her hand from inside the drawer to reveal she’s holding Ted’s
gun. She aims it at Jasmine and fires. The bullet punches through
Jasmine’s shoulder and buries itself in Angel’s chest. He reels backward,
then whirls on Fred, his face vampiric.
As Connor rushes to Jasmine’s aid, Angel leaps across the room, yanks
Fred out from behind the counter, seizes the gun from her and jams it up
under her chin, cocking the hammer.
FADE OUT
Act III
21 INT. MAGIC BULLET BOOKSTORE— NIGHT 21
Resume. Fred lies on her back on the counter with Angel holding the gun
to her head.
ANGEL
Dumb idea for such a smarty. You know bullets don’t kill
me. You want to see how they work on you?
ANGEL
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FRED
(gasps)
Look at her.
Angel looks over at Jasmine and sees a moldering corpse, maggots
squirming in its eye sockets.
His face shifts back to normal and drops the gun, backing away in shock.
ANGEL
No… no…
JASMINE
(confused)
Angel?
FRED
(to Angel)
I’m sorry. I had to show you. I’m so sorry.
CONNOR
(suspicious)
Show you what?
ANGEL
No, it can’t be.
Jasmine takes her hand from her wound and looks down at the blood,
realizing.
JASMINE
My blood…
CONNOR
Dad, what’s going on?
ANGEL
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He moves toward Angel but Jasmine stops him.
JASMINE
Don’t! He’s been infected. I’m sorry, Connor. He’s as dead
to us as Fred.
Fred leans down and picks up the discarded handgun. She points it at
Jasmine tearfully.
FRED
I loved you so much.
She fires. The bullets slam into Jasmine’s body staggering her. Connor
wrenches the gun away before she can fire more than three rounds and
hurls her over the counter. He turns to Jasmine as Angel starts forward.
CONNOR
(to Jasmine)
We need to get you out of here.
He gut-punches Angel, then hurls him into a set of bookshelves. He yanks
Angel to his feet, furious.
CONNOR
You ruin everything!
He throws Angel across the room and over the counter where he lands
beside Fred. Angel turns Fred over to find her unconscious and scoops
her up in his arms.
CONNOR
(to Jasmine)
I don’t understand. How did it happen?
ANGEL
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31
Connor starts after Angel when he sees Angel stand up and head for the
back door with Fred in his arms but Jasmine stops him. She leans against a
reading table, grimacing in pain from her wounds.
JASMINE
Let him go.
CONNOR
They have to be stopped.
JASMINE
(firm)
I need your help.
Ted peeks up from behind a shelf where he’s been hiding since the
shooting started.
TED
Wow. So much blood.
JASMINE
Stay away from it. Both of you. We need to clean this up.
CONNOR
I’ll do it.
JASMINE
No. (to Ted) Burn it to the ground.
TED
Okay.
He cheerfully takes out a cigarette lighter and sets his store on fire,
starting with the books on the table in front of him.
Connor opens the door and follows Jasmine out. Ted stands amid the
flames and calls after them.
TED
You want me to stay here?
CUT TO:
22 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— LOBBY— NIGHT 22
A dozen dining tables have been set up in the lobby and Jasmine’s
followers are feasting on a buffet of cakes, pies and other sweets. Lorne,
Wesley and Gunn have a table to themselves.
ANGEL
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32
LORNE
As scrump-dilly-icious as these hot dishes are, they’d be a
whole lot tastier if our cocoa-colored queen were here.
GUNN
I heard that. I keep shoveling pie into my hole and still feel
empty. Anybody else picking up on some weird hurdygurdy
feelings?
WESLEY
Something’s definitely off but without Jasmine around, I
can’t sense it specifically. (to Lorne) You getting anything?
LORNE
Oh, just a visual on our lovely leader.
GUNN
A visual? Really? That’s some gift you got there, Kreskin.
Where is she?
LORNE
(points)
Over yonder.
Wesley and Gunn turn around as Connor enters with Jasmine wrapped in
a cloak and heads for the office.
WESLEY
Shouldn’t Angel be with them?
They all share a look, then stand up in unison and head for the office.
CUT TO:
23 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— OFFICE— NIGHT 23
The door opens and Wesley, Lorne and Gunn enter to find Connor sitting
silently with Jasmine.
JASMINE
(curt)
I’ll make this brief. Fred infected Angel. He’s gone. Lost to
us.
GUNN
What?
JASMINE
Don’t worry. I’m not so easily undone as that.
ANGEL
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WESLEY
Any idea how she did it? How Fred turned him?
JASMINE
Yes. My kindness turned him. By being loving to Fred, I
opened to the door to her hate. By trying to save Fred, I
lost Angel. It won’t happen again. We must eradicate their
hate.
CUT TO:
24 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— LOBBY— NIGHT 24
The door to the office opens and Jasmine steps out into the lobby. All
conversation ceases as her eyes scan the crowd. They settle on a hulking
biker-type.
JASMINE
You…
Then a pretty young mother.
JASMINE
…you…
And finally a businessman.
JASMINE
…and you. Come with me. Connor?
She heads up the stairs and Connor follows with the three people Jasmine
selected. The others linger behind in the doorway to the office.
ANGEL
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34
LORNE
I can’t believe little ol’ Fred managed to sway Angel back
to the dark side.
GUNN
Evil, not evil, evil again… wish he’d make up his mind.
WESLEY
Well, I guess the good news is, it doesn’t matter anymore.
If Jasmine says Angel has to die, he dies.
CUT TO:
25 EXT. LOS ANGELES STREETS— ALLEY— NIGHT 25
Fred lies unconscious on the ground. After a moment, she stirs,
awakening, and sits up to find Angel leaning against the wall, watching
her.
FRED
Angel? You okay?
ANGEL
Bullet feels like a bee sting.
FRED
That’s not what I meant.
ANGEL
I know what you meant. I don’t want to talk about it.
FRED
I think you do.
She stands up and walks over to him.
ANGEL
I miss her so much. I never…
FRED
I know. It’s been over a week and I still cry. Part of me
wishes I still believed the lie.
ANGEL
Well, why don’t we? I mean, I’m not exactly clear on—
ANGEL
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35
FRED
Jasmine’s blood. It was on the bullet that hit you.
Somehow it breaks her spell when it mingles with ours. I
think it must have got in my system when I was trying to
get the blood off her blouse.
ANGEL
You did the right thing, Fred. It took a lot of courage.
She turns away from him, tearful, barely holding herself together.
ANGEL
Look, it must have been hard for you.
FRED
I’m sorry. I’ve been so alone… and scared. I’m not like
you. Not a champion.
ANGEL
Everything I see says different.
FRED
We need more of Jasmine’s blood. We have to help the
others.
ANGEL
We’ll never get close to her. Not now.
FRED
Then we need another way.
He thinks for a minute then looks at her, hesitating.
FRED
What?
ANGEL
It’s pretty horrible but maybe—
Voices come from the end of the alley as several people approach. Fred
quickly grabs Angel and starts kissing him, making out like lovers out on
the town. The voices fade and Fred breaks the kiss, her lips still inches
from Angel’s.
FRED
You think they bought it?
ANGEL
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36
ANGEL
(shaky)
I did. I mean, I didn’t hear anything.
They turn around to find half a dozen men and women staring at them
silently.
WOMAN
Angel…
MAN
You’re dead, Fred.
ANGEL
I’m thinking they didn’t buy it.
MAN
Get him!
The mob charges and Angel and Fred wade in, punching and kicking and
driving them back.
CUT TO:
26 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— CORRIDOR— NIGHT 26
Jasmine leads her three chosen ones to her room. They file in and Jasmine
leaves Connor in the corridor outside the door.
JASMINE
Stand guard. No one comes into the hallway.
He nods and she goes inside, shutting the door behind her.
CUT TO:
ANGEL
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37
27 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— JASMINE’S ROOM— NIGHT 27
Jasmine leads her people inside.
JASMINE
Over there. Take off your clothes.
They instantly obey without question, disrobing before her while Jasmine
walks over to the mirror and examines her bullet wounds. She closes her
eyes and takes a deep breath and a moment later, the wound disappears,
completely healed.
CUT TO:
28 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— CORDELIA’S ROOM— NIGHT 28
Hundreds of flickering candles surround CORDELIA as she sleeps. Two of
Jasmine’s followers stand over her, looking down at her with awe. After a
moment, they back out of the room and close the door.
When they’re gone, Angel’s face suddenly appears at the window,
peering in. He opens the window and crawls in, tripping over the window
sill and tumbling to the floor with a crash, knocking candles and knickknacks
everywhere. He leaps to his feet, listening intently for any reaction
from within the hotel. Fred follows him through the window and they
both approach Cordelia’s bed.
FRED
I can’t even count all the ways this is wrong.
ANGEL
It’s not like she’ll feel it. Right? I mean, she’s…
ANGEL
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38
FRED
Brain-dead? The expression doesn’t exactly leave a lot to
the imagination, does it?
ANGEL
It just makes what I have to do a little easier.
He takes out a knife and kneels next to Cordelia. He looks at her for a
moment, then kisses her on the forehead.
ANGEL
(whispers)
I’m so sorry…
As he raises the knife, Cordelia’s hand suddenly shoots up and seizes his
wrist.
FADE OUT
Act IV
29 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— CORDELIA’S ROOM— NIGHT 29
Resume. Excited, Angel drops the knife and holds Cordelia’s hand.
ANGEL
She’s awake! Cordy? Cordelia, can you hear me? We’re
right here.
No response. She’s still in a deep coma.
ANGEL
(to Fred)
Did you see that? She grabbed my hand.
FRED
Angel, people in comas, sometimes their bodies just do
things… mumble words, maybe even open their eyes. It
doesn’t necessarily mean they’re waking up.
ANGEL
But it could, right? I mean, stranger things have happened.
FRED
Like Cordelia giving birth to a beautiful ebony goddess?
ANGEL
Not the example I was looking for but yeah.
ANGEL
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39
FRED
I know. Sorry. Maybe we should get this over with.
Angel picks up the knife and holds it over Cordelia’s open hand.
CUT TO:
30 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— CORRIDOR— NIGHT 30
Connor stands outside Jasmine’s room, a blissful smile on his face. Behind
him, a radiant green glow starts to emanate from the cracks around the
door to Jasmine’s room.
CUT TO:
31 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— CORDELIA’S ROOM— NIGHT 31
Fred holds a small bowl beneath Cordelia’s hand as Angel lets her blood
drip from the knife wound into it.
FRED
Is that enough?
Before Angel can answer, the door behind him opens and Lorne steps in.
Fred and Angel quickly turn their backs so that he can’t see their faces. In
the dark room, they just appear to be random followers paying their
respects to Cordelia.
LORNE
Any more room at the inn?
He sees the scattered candles on the floor and starts gathering them up.
ANGEL
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40
LORNE
Oh, look at this. Pigs in paradise. Mind if I pay my respects
to the woman who made peace on earth a possible
possibility?
He steps forward and bows his head.
LORNE
Thank you, Cordelia, for your sacrifice. For bringing our
Jasmine into the world and…
He notices a thin trail of blood leaking from Cordelia’s wrist and running
down the bedspread.
LORNE
Hey. (shouts) Hey! What are you doing to the holy—
Angel leaps up and clamps his hand over Lorne’s mouth, shoving him up
against the wall.
LORNE
(muffled)
Unclean! Unclean!
CUT TO:
32 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— CORRIDOR— NIGHT 32
The green glow radiating from Jasmine’s room flares in intensity, then
fades as the door opens and Jasmine steps out. Connor smiles, entranced.
CONNOR
You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
She caresses his cheek.
JASMINE
My sweet boy.
CONNOR
Where are those people?
JASMINE
I ate them.
CONNOR
Cool.
ANGEL
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41
She walks off down the hall and he follows her, a look of contentment on
his face.
CUT TO:
33 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— CORRIDOR— NIGHT 33
Fred peers around the corner, then steps out in the hallway, followed by
Angel and Lorne.
ANGEL
(to Lorne)
You’re sure you can do this?
Lorne stares at the floor, depressed, then nods, raises a flask and takes a
deep swig.
LORNE
(dejected)
Hallelujah.
CUT TO:
34 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— LOBBY— NIGHT 34
Lorne walks down the stairs, a huge smile on his face. He claps his hands
as he passes a couple holding hands.
LORNE
Hey, I’m praisin’ Jasmine. How about you?
WOMAN
Yeah.
LORNE
Okay! (sotto; to himself) And tonight the role of Judas
Iscariot will be played by Krevlorneswath of the
Deathwok Clan.
He takes a deep breath and walks down into the lobby where Gunn and
Wesley are helping the others put away the tables and chairs. Lorne
shouts praises to everyone as he passes them by.
LORNE
Hey, feelin’ the love, huh? Thank you, Jasmine! Feelin’ the
love. (to Wesley & Gunn) Hey, good news, my devoted
darlin’s! Jasmine’s pulling you off stackin’ duty. Wants to
see us ASAP for a little TLC.
ANGEL
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42
WESLEY
Really? I haven’t sensed anything. (to Gunn) Have you?
GUNN
No. And everything else has been feeling pretty clear.
LORNE
Tout de suite, mes amis.
He picks up a chair and stacks it to help them finish quicker.
WESLEY
What happened to you?
LORNE
(wary)
What… what do you mean?
WESLEY
Your wrist, you’ve cut it.
LORNE
Oh, it’s… that’s… that’s a long, boring story. Come on.
He leads them toward the stairs.
CUT TO:
35 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— CORRIDOR— NIGHT 35
Lorne heads down the hall with Gunn and Wesley following behind. He
stops before one of the vacant rooms used for storage and opens the
door, allowing them to precede him inside. As he follows them in, he slips
a baseball bat from beneath a pile of discarded boxes in the hall.
The door closes and the sounds of a struggle filter out into the hall.
CUT TO:
36 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— STORAGE ROOM— NIGHT 36
Later. Gunn sits with his head in his hands, devastated. Both he and
Wesley have bandages on their wrists now.
WESLEY
(to Fred)
How did you figure it out?
ANGEL
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43
FRED
It was Angel. He figured since Cordy gave birth to
Jasmine, they might share a blood link as well as a mystical
one.
ANGEL
We hoped Cordy’s blood would have the same effect
when we exposed you to it.
GUNN
Thanks for nothing.
LORNE
Yeah. You slashed this wrist. Now I’m ready to do the
other one myself.
WESLEY
Everything we believed… deception.
ANGEL
And how do we convince several million other people that
Jasmine’s message is false?
FRED
It’s impossible. Even if we’re able to develop a synthetic
analog to the blood, there’s… I mean, how do we fight
something this huge and powerful?
ANGEL
I don’t know yet but what I do know is that I’m not
leaving this hotel without my son.
Wesley stands up.
WESLEY
I’ll get him. I’ve kidnapped him before.
ANGEL
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44
CUT TO:
37 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— CORRIDOR— NIGHT 37
Like Lorne did before him, Wesley leads Connor down the hall toward
the storage room and lets him in.
CUT TO:
38 INT. HYPERION HOTEL— STORAGE ROOM— NIGHT 38
Connor walks in and sees Gunn and Lorne waiting for him.
CONNOR
What?
Then he notices Fred in the corner.
CONNOR
Hey!
Angel seizes him from behind, pinning his arms as they all surround him.
CONNOR
No!
ANGEL
It’s gonna be okay.
FRED
You’ve been lied to. We all have.
ANGEL
Don’t make this any harder.
ANGEL
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45
CONNOR
Let go!
Gunn steps forward with a knife and slices open Connor’s shirt. Connor
lashes out with his feet, kicking Gunn in the belly and sending him
staggering backward. Wesley snatches up the knife and takes over,
placing the blade against Connor’s chest and dipping the fingers of his
other hand in Cordelia’s blood.
CONNOR
Don’t…
Wesley slices, cutting Connor’s chest, then rubs the blood into the wound.
CONNOR
(to Angel)
I’ll kill you!
ANGEL
It’ll pass.
LORNE
Yeah, right, ’cause lord knows, he’s never tried that before.
GUNN
You’re back with us now, Connor.
Connor looks around wildly, then the fight goes out of him. He sags
backward against Angel who lets him go.
ANGEL
Sorry. It was the only way to make you see.
ANGEL
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46
FRED
What you’re feeling is normal. We’re all feeling it. The
sadness… it gets better after a while.
CONNOR
(despair)
Jasmine…
ANGEL
You understand why we’re here?
Connor nods, sadly. He shakes his head and walks aimlessly around the
room, ending up by the door. He stares at the group for a moment, then
opens the door and shouts down the hall.
CONNOR
They’re here! Come quick! They’re here!
FADE TO BLACK
END