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PROLOGUE:
1 INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT
Men are talking in a far corner of the otherwise desolate warehouse. It's a black man with a French accent, flanked by two very large white guys, sitting across the table from Wesley.EMIL
It comes down to trust. There's no Better Business Bureau for what we do. Customer complaints are dealt with through... killing, torture, beating... sometimes...fire.
(looks at his body guards)
We call it "word of mouth advertising."WESLEY
If I'd known this was going to be a seminar, I'd have worn my name tag.EMIL
(Laughs)
Just want to make sure we know where we stand.WESLEY
Right now you're standing on the brink of my patience. I agreed to meet with your distributor, Emil, not your...muscle.EMIL
What? Dante and Philip? They're assistants. Here to make us more comfortable. Don't think of them as "muscle."
(Wesley glares)
Are you hungry? I could get Dante to fix you a fish sandwich of some sort.WESLEY
This is a waste of time.
(stands)EMIL
Please, please.
(Wesley sits)
My distributor is simply cautious. He'd like me to verify the merchandise before we move forward. Now...who is this?Fred walks up to the table carrying a silver briefcase.
WESLEY
My muscle.FRED
(opens the case and begins assembling a gun)
What we've got here is a modification of the TS-113 Sniper Rifle. We've altered its targeting and firing mechanisms to fit the parameters you gave us. Scope works along amplified thermal wavelengths.EMIL
God... You are making me so hot right now.FRED
Wow. Turned on by a woman holding an enormous gun. What a surprise. We replaced the delivery system with a Bylantine energy charge, eliminating the need for conventional ammunition.WESLEY
Wolfram & hart has 200 units ready now. We'll begin making more once we receive payment.EMIL
And your boss doesn't mind selling this exciting weaponry to someone like me?WESLEY
As long as it doesn't show up in L.A. We choose our battles, Emil, and you sidestepped the issue of payment.EMIL
You'll get your money.WESLEY
(stands, disassembles the gun)
You'll get nothing until I meet with your distributor. I'm not going through middlemen.EMIL
Ah! Did you just refer to me as a "middleman"? You're lucky Wolfram & Hart has such good word-of-mouth advertising.
(reaches into his coat for something)
(pulls out a pen and paper; writes down a number)
There. Call this number. He'll arrange everything.
(hands the paper to Wesley)
To think, I used to sell this guy collapsible swords. Almost makes me—One of Emil's bodyguards chokes and grunts as his body is yanked into the air by a hook through his neck. Wesley pushes Fred out of the way behind him, and they hide behind some 55-gallon drums.
EMIL
(stands)
No one double-crosses me!FRED
What hit that guy?WESLEY
Not sure.Emil and his other guard are on the offensive now, holding thier guns out. Wesley pulls out his guns, leans out around the barrels, and decides to go out shooting using both guns at once.
FRED
Yes, thank you, Wesley. I'd love a gun.Wesley shoots Emil's remaining bodyguard, who drops to the ground. A man dressed entirely in black (even his face is covered) drops down from the ceiling in front of Emil. Emil backs away.
EMIL
(stammering)
I don't want any...The man dressed in black throws a chain-like weapon at Emil, wrapping it around his neck. With a jerk, the man in black breaks Emil's neck. Wesley witnesses the assault and pulls his guns, but the man in black is gone before Wesley can get to him. Wesley proceeds cautiously around the vicinity, searching for others when he's attacked by another man in black. Angel bursts into the warehouse through a window and fights the man in black who was after Wesley. Angel grabs his opponent's chain and wraps it around the man's neck. Angel yanks on the chain, snapping the man's neck, but electricity surges around the break. Angel pulls the black knit full-face mask off of the man to discover he hasn't got a face at all—only a ridged metal plate where his face should be. Angel stares at him, confused; Wesley joins him. From behind them, Fred moans softly.
WESLEY
Fred!
(runs back to her)ANGEL
(confused)
Fred?Wesley goes to Fred's side to discover that she's been hit through the shoulder. Wesley presses a handkerchief to her wound and stares past her into space. Angel stands over them, glaring.
Fade to black.
Opening credits.
ACT I:
2 INT. ANGEL'S OFFICE - DAY
Wesley is standing in front of Angel's desk, staring solemnly into the distance.ANGEL (O.S.)
(angrily)
She could have been killed.EVE (O.S.)
(calmly)
Medical's optimistic. She should be up and about soon enough.Show that Angel is standing behind his desk, leaning on his chair, flanked by Eve.
ANGEL
That's not the point. What the hell was Fred doing there in the first place?WESLEY
I needed someone who could explain the weapon convincingly.ANGEL
Nobody else here knows how to explain a gun?WESLEY
I needed someone who wouldn't arouse Emil's suspicion. Someone I could trust.ANGEL
And so conveniently, the only person who could go with you was Fred.WESLEY
What is that—ANGEL
She shouldn't have been there. It was a reckless decision.WESLEY
Fred has more than proven herself in the field. There was no reason to think—ANGEL
We found her bleeding to death on the ground.
(glares at Wesley)
From now on, you clear it with me before using any of my people.WESLEY
Your people?ANGEL
Got it?Wesley turns and leaves.
EVE
Kinda hard on him, weren't you?ANGEL
She could have—EVE
Been killed. So you said. I think you're making too big a deal about this. And from what I understand, her wound wasn't all that severe.ANGEL
You weren't there. You didn't see her.EVE
But she's OK. And you're still beating him up.ANGEL
He can be careless.EVE
Focuses too much on the big picture? Overlooks the people involved?ANGEL
Something like that.EVE
Willing to risk anything... or anyone... for the greater good. Look, hey... I'm just asking. Could it be there's another reason you're getting so mad at him about this?
(Angel looks down)
Mmm... stealing your son, for instance?ANGEL
(walks back to his desk)
We don't talk about my son.EVE
You don't trust Wesley, do you? I mean, I can see that. He did turn Connor over to your sworn enemy.ANGEL
He didn't mean for that to happen. He thought he was doing the right thing.EVE
And I guess it all worked out. Connor's OK, you're happy... Maybe Wesley knew what he was doing after all. Even if he doesn't remember any of it.ANGEL
That's got nothing to do with—
(sighs)
I just want to be kept informed. That's all.EVE
Is it? Or are you worried about the next time Wesley betrays you trying to do "the right thing"?Cut to:
3 INT. WESLEY'S OFFICE - DAY
Wesley's staring out his office window when Fred walks in with her arm in a sling.FRED
(smiling, chipper)
They gave me the all clear.WESLEY
(softly)
I was just coming down to find you.FRED
Though I do have to take a boatload of antibiotics. Apparently, there's some concern about where that grappling hook's been. Oh, we're taking the cyborg apart in the lab right now. You should see how intricate it is. It's like an M.C. Escher picture, but with wires and flesh instead of geese.WESLEY
I'm sorry about what happened, Fred.FRED
Are you kidding me? I feel bad because all I had to do was hide, and I couldn't even do that right.WESLEY
I should've done a better job protecting you.FRED
(stares in disbelief)
What?WESLEY
(sighs)
That didn't come out...FRED
Do you realize how patronizing that sounds? Protecting me?WESLEY
I just meant you shouldn't have been there in the first place.FRED
That's not for you to decide.WESLEY
Yes, it is, actually. I made the call. I screwed up.FRED
Listen to you. You're blaming yourself because poor Fred got hurt. Stop trying to be all valiant. You're coming off like a self-pitying child.WESLEY
(staring past Fred)
Hello, father.FRED
Oh, yeah, that's mature. Well, I wish I was your father. I'd tell you to grow up.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE (O.S.)
It doesn't work. I've tried.Fred turns to see an older gentleman standing in the doorway behind her.
WESLEY
(to his father) What are you doing here?FRED
You're Wesley's—ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
I see manners are still my son's strong point.
(offers his hand to Fred)
Roger Wyndam-Price.FRED
(clumsily tries to shake with her uninjured hand)
Oh. How do you do? Winifred Burkle. I—I didn't realize you were— um, we were just—
(turns to face Wesley, embarrassed)
I, um, have an employee that I have to belittle and to show him I'm in charge. I should let you two catch up. It was really nice to meet you. I'm sure I'll see you again soon.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
The pleasure is mine.
(Fred grimaces, exits)
"A self-pitying child." Imagine how humiliating that will be for her employee.WESLEY
What are you— Is mom all right?ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
She's fine. Sturdy as ever. No, you and I have business to discuss.WESLEY
(nods)
Business. Oh. Of course.
(clears books off his couch)
Please... sit down.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
(sits)
As you may well know, the watcher's council was destroyed last year.WESLEY
I heard.
(sits beside his father)ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
The remaining former watchers, myself included, have decided to reform the council, and I've been sent to contact you.WESLEY
Are you saying the council wants me to come back?ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Not necessarily. Your name's proven to be a point of contention. There is some who believe that your tenure as watcher ranks as our most embarrassing failure.WESLEY
Really? I beat out everybody dying in an explosion as most embarrassing failure.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Friends and colleagues lost their lives in that event, Wesley. A little respect.WESLEY
Sorry.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
The council have agreed to take you back, pending my assessment. I'm here to evaluate you.WESLEY
I see. Well, I'll save you the trouble. I'm not interested.
(stands, walks to the door)ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
This is no time to be stubborn, boy. The council are giving you a chance to clear your name... our name.WESLEY
Sorry you made the trip, but I'm perfectly happy where I am.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Ha ha ha. Wolfram & Hart. So this is the haven of evil, is it?
(walks out the door)Cut to:
4 INT. LOBBY - DAY
WESLEY
(follows his father out the door)
Not anymore. This isn't the Wolfram & Hart—
(bumps into the doorway, stumbles into a woman walking down the hallway, knocking her papers to the ground)
Oh! Sorry.WOMAN
(picking up the papers; Wesley helps)
It's OK. No problem.WESLEY
Sorry.
(the woman walks away)
You have the wrong idea about this place.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Do I? The atrocities committed by Wolfram & Hart are quite well documented.WESLEY
We're working to change that. Under our control, this firm's becoming a powerful weapon, one that I think can make a difference. Believe me. We take our work here very seriously.LORNE
(walks off the elevator; talking on his cell phone)
You're killing me. If Louis Gossett, Jr. wants this foam party to happen, he'll keep his mouth zipped tight. I've been working on this guest list all week. Yes, my entire week. I don't care about Iron Eagle II, Van. Nobody did. Oh, no. Don't tell him that.
(hangs up the phone)
Wesley Wyndam-Price, you should be ashamed. I didn't know you had a younger brother.WESLEY
Lorne. Yes. This is my father, Roger Wyndam-Price.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
How do you do?LORNE
A father? Well, I don't believe it. Well, OK, I do believe it, but only 'cause I heard you were in the building. Ha ha ha. Well, look at you. It's like Winston Churchill and a young Richard Harris had a beautiful love child, which, according to my sources, may not be as ridiculous as it sounds.
(chuckles)WESLEY
Lorne runs our entertainment division.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Entertainment division. Well, I can see how that would be very useful in the fight against evil.GUNN
(walks down the steps)
You'd be amazed at how many horrible movies we've stopped.WESLEY
Gunn, this is my father.GUNN
It's an honor. This place is buzzing about you. Better watch out. If you're anything like your son here, we might put you to work.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
You might well be out of luck.GUNN
(to Wesley) Hey, listen, the lab called for you. They're working on Robocop upstairs. Need your help.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Robocop?WESLEY
We had an encounter with a cyborg last night while we were infiltrating a weapons ring. I should head up there.
(to his father) Would you like to come along?ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Yes... if I'm not in the way.WESLEY
No, not at all.Wesley and his father walk upstairs. Lorne and Gunn look at each other then walk away.
Cut to:
5 INT. SCIENCE LABORATORY - DAY
Angel is standing over the opened corpse of the cyborg while Fred explains what she's found.FRED
We found cybernetics throughout the body, in most cases replacing entire organic systems.ANGEL
Was it human?FRED
We think so. The nervous system seems human at least, but the rest of the technology is so foreign to us. We can't be sure of anything right now. This thing really blurs the line between human and robot.SPIKE
(playing with a glass beaker on a shelf nearby)
Aha! So you're not ruling out that a human being could've boffed a robot. Sex with robots is more common than most people think.
(Eve makes a face)FRED
(stares blankly at Spike)
Um, the cybernetics require central processing to function, which means if we can crack its memory, we may find a record of everything it's done till this point.ANGEL
And maybe figure out who or what it wanted.SPIKE
(knocks the beaker off the shelf)
Hey! Did you—
(holds up his hands)
Sorry.FRED
Um, so far, we haven't had much luck decoding the encryption.KNOX
It seems to be a binary-based system, so we'll get there eventually. We just have to find the right transform variable.ANGEL
OK, I need you on this till we get some answers.FRED
You got it.EVE
Let us know if you need more resources.Wesley and his father walk into the lab.
WESLEY
Everyone, I'd like you to meet my father, Roger Wyndam-Price.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Hello.SPIKE
Daddy, eh? I always thought Wesley was grown in some sort of greenhouse for dandies.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Spike.SPIKE
(grinning)
You've heard of me?ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
No. We've met. 1963. My colleagues and I fell upon you slaughtering an orphanage in Vienna. Killed 2 of my men before you escaped.SPIKE
Oh... how've you been?ANGEL
I didn't know your father was coming to visit, Wesley.
(holds out his hand)
I'm Angel. Pleasure to meet you.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
(stares at Angel's hand)
Do you really expect me to shake that?ANGEL
I'm not real comfortable with hugging. No. I realize this may be somewhat of a horror show to you. But I hope you can keep an open mind. We really are doing good work here.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
So I'm told. Incessantly, in fact.WESLEY
I heard we could be of some use.FRED
Of course. Um, we were just going over the autopsy.ANGEL
Fred, keep me posted.
(leaves)FRED
Sure.
(points to a circular device in the abdomen of the cyborg)
We found a series of symbols we haven't been able to decipher.WESLEY
Yes. Interesting.KNOX
We're reading trace radiation signatures, so we've been hesitant to crack it open.FRED
Could be a bomb, some sort of self-destruct device.
(Fred fumbles with a gadget on the table)KNOX
(to Fred) Let me help you with that. You shouldn't...FRED
Thanks. Anyway, we were wanting you to decipher it before we went digging around in there. Wesley handles this sort of stuff for us all the time. He's a genius when it comes to languages.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Oh, the academy didn't make him head boy for nothing.
(takes off his glasses)
Mind you, as I recall, the pickings were a bit slim that year.WESLEY
The pattern indicates a Hellenic derivation. I'd say early Moracian, in fact. It's a directive of some sort, a battle prayer... or a binding spell. The full text is obscured.
(pushes some flesh away from the circular device inside the cyborg's abdomen)
I'll need to prepare some sort of effective counter spell—The device starts beeping. Knox and Fred stare at Wesley, frightened.
ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
What did you just do?WESLEY
Unless I'm very much mistaken, I've just activated the bomb.Fade to black.
ACT II:
6 INT. SCIENCE LABORATORY - DAY
Resume. Wesley has just tripped the cyborg's device.KNOX
Do you see a trip mechanism?WESLEY
(tensely)
You mean the one I just tripped? Get everyone out of here. We have to evacuate the entire building!SPIKE
(starts to leave, then stops)
Wait. What the hell am I worried about?FRED
Look for an incident device—a switch or a circuit breaker of some sort.WESLEY
There's nothing.
(grabs Fred's arm; starts pushing her away)
Fred, you have to get out of here. Get away from this building, as far as possible. We have no idea how powerful the blast could be.FRED
What about you?WESLEY
I'll stay with the bomb, try to diffuse it. It could be our only—
(the cyborg's device stops ringing)
(to his father) What did you do?ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
These symbols were, in fact, Dutrovic in origin, not Moracian, as you surmised. When interpreted correctly, these symbols spell out the proper procedure for handling the cyborg's power core, including this fail-safe, in case someone trips the self-destruct device. Quite simple really.Cut to:
7 INT. ANGEL'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Angel is sitting behind his desk looking at Fred and Wesley.ANGEL
What happened?SPIKE
(stepping up in front of Fred and Wesley, eagerly)
I can explain. Apparently, when Percy here was younger, he used to be known as "head boy."ANGEL
Yeah. I already knew that.SPIKE
Right. I have nothing else to report.
(walks away)WESLEY
(sighs)
I accidentally tripped the cyborg's self-destruct mechanism.FRED
Anyone could have made the mistake. Wesley was just trying to interpret some symbols for us.WESLEY
Luckily, my father was there to correct my error.ANGEL
Right. Your father. Where is he, anyway?FRED
Well, Lorne's keeping him entertained.Cut to:
7a INT. LOBBY - NIGHT
A very bored Roger Wyndam-Price listens to Lorne's excited banter about his Hollywood friends.LORNE
So I am covered in cherries. The police are just pounding on the door, and Judi Dench starts screaming, "oh, that's way too much to pay for a pair of pants!" Ha ha ha!Cut to:
FRED
Come to think of it, that's probably not the best idea. I'll go rescue him.
(exits)SPIKE
I'm finished here, too. If you want, I can have someone type up the report about head boy.ANGEL
Get out.SPIKE
Suit yourself.
(exits)WESLEY
It was a stupid mistake.ANGEL
Yeah, well, your father's visit just rattled you.WESLEY
I find it hard to think straight when he's around.ANGEL
Fathers and sons. That can be torture sometimes. Look, you should see this. Came from your department. Reports of assassins that sound a lot like our cyborg.
(gives Wesley a report)WESLEY
(reading the report)
Hmm. Group of them took out a demon cabal in Jakarta. Another group destroyed the Tanmar Death Chamber. Sounds like they're doing our work for us.ANGEL
These are good guys?WESLEY
I don't know. I should reference this with the markings we found, find some clues as to their origin.ANGEL
Get on it. If these guys are on our side, then somebody should tell them before they start trying to kill us again.Cut to:
8 INT. LOBBY - NIGHT
Fred is walking with Wesley's father down the hallway.FRED
He was how old?ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Ha ha. 6 or 7. He must have taken the scroll from my library.
(Wesley walks past them)
Wesley, I was just telling Winifred about the time that I caught you with the resurrection spell.WESLEY
Oh, right.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
I couldn't remember. Why were you doing that?WESLEY
A bird had flown into my windowpane. I think I was trying to bring it back to life.FRED
I can't believe you could even read a resurrection spell at age 7.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Oh, his mother thought he was quite the prodigy. Well, luckily, I caught him, or we'd have had zombie birds pecking out his little eyeballs.Fred giggles.
WESLEY
I was hoping to enlist your expertise in some research.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Oh, no. You're not gonna try and blow me up again, are you?WESLEY
Probably not.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Well, then, my expertise is yours.
(to Fred) Would you excuse us?Cut to:
9 INT. WESLEY'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Wesley and his father walk into the office.WESLEY
The Dutrovic markings suggest an eastern origin. There might be something in the Journals of Saitama.
(walks over to a table full of large, leather-bound books)ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
That, uh... Winifred... she seemed to like you.WESLEY
Yes, well, she's a very special person.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
So... do you think a lot of her? Does she know how you feel about her?WESLEY
(picks out a book, then looks at his father)
I'm really not going to discuss this with you.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
What? Oh, you have a girlfriend already. Well, Wesley, how am I supposed to know these things?WESLEY
For starters, you might have asked.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
All right, well, I'm asking now.
(Laughs)
What a surprise. You're being defensive.WESLEY
You want to talk about me. All right. The last girl I was with I had to chop into little tiny pieces because a higher power saw fit to stab her in the neck.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
(takes off his glasses)
You don't want to discuss it. Fine. But spare me the sarcasm. It's too embarrassing.WESLEY
I have work to do, father.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Look, all I'm saying is... if you like this girl, tell her. That's all. No need for a tantrum.WESLEY
(whispers to the book)
The Saitama Codex.When Wesley opens the book, the blank pages magically fill with text.
ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
What did you just do?WESLEY
These are source books, uh, templates. Um, I use them to call forth material in our archives.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
So, you can simply call forth anything as powerful as the Saitama Codex?WESLEY
Yeah, the archive is extensive. We have, well, almost any text you can think of.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Do you realize how dangerous these books are?WESLEY
(flipping through the book)
Well, in the wrong hands, of course.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Yes. Yes, of course. So, you have them displayed... open on a table.WESLEY
The most powerful items in my department I keep secure in a vault.
(sighs)
I know what I'm doing, father.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Well, I hope your vault is a little safer than this room. Do you even have a lock on that door over there?WESLEY
(snaps)
Gaining access to this building isn't easy. Believe me, the books are safe where they are.Cut to:
10 EXT. ROOF - NIGHT
Six cyborgs in their all-black outfits jump out of a helicopter onto the roof of Wolfram & Hart.Cut to:
11 INT. ELEVATOR - NIGHT
Eve walks onto the elevator by herself. Spike apparates beside her.SPIKE
Not to sound self-absorbed, but you can't seem to keep your eyes off me.EVE
Now, why would that make you sound self-absorbed?SPIKE
Don't think I haven't noticed. You've been very keen on what I've been doing lately.EVE
(sighs)
How's it going, by the way? You able to affect the world yet?SPIKE
Does that scare you? Are you worried that ol' Spike might be bustin' loose of your shackles?EVE
What are you talking about?SPIKE
Save the innocent act. Your "here to help" cheerleader routine may work on Angel, but I see right through it. There's more to you than you're letting on.EVE
Could say the same for you. Unless you really are happy to haunt around here for eternity.SPIKE
Well, that's the problem, isn't it? Figure I'm trapped here for a reason... and you're part of that reason. That amulet that did this to me—Wolfram & Hart gave it to Angel. Gotta assume they meant to make him a ghost, not me. So, why am I here? Why don't they just let me go?EVE
(innocently)
Who said the amulet was meant for Angel?
(the lights in the elevator go out)
That's odd.SPIKE
(whispering)
I know what this is.
(yelling)
You'll never take me to hell, Pavayne!
(emergency lights come on in the elevator and an alarm sounds)
(embarrassed)
Oh. Well, that's just something I say... when, uh... it gets dark.Cut to:
12 INT. LOBBY - NIGHT
The alarm is blaring throughout the building. Angel comes out of his office to investigate, as does Gunn.ANGEL
What's happening?GUNN
We've lost power, communications.ANGEL
All right, can somebody please shut off the—
(Alarm stops)
That's better.GUNN
Not sure it is. I think that means we lost security, too.SPIKE
(apparates in the lobby just outside the elevator)
Uh, something's wrong with the elevator.ANGEL
Get security online. I need to know if this is a false alarm.The cyborgs come into the lobby, punching out one of the men. More cyborgs jump down behind Angel and Gunn.
GUNN
I'm thinking it's not a false alarm.Cut to:
13 INT. WESLEY'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Wesley and his father were working in the office when the alarm went off.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Does this sort of thing happen very often around here?WESLEY
We should—
(a cyborg bursts into Wesley's office wielding a chain)
Down!
(pushes his father to the ground)Wesley grabs a sword off his wall and engages the cyborg in a fight. The cyborg sends Wesley across the room, where he lands against the wall, sinking to the floor. The cyborg walks toward Wesley's table full of magical books. Wesley's father stands, staring at the cyborg.
WESLEY
Father!
(throws him his sword)Wesley's father engages the cyborg in a fight, but Wesley steps in, knocking the cyborg down.
ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
What do you think you're doing? I had attack priority.WESLEY
We're not fencing.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
We still follow the basic rules.The cyborg starts to stand up, so Wesley grabs the sword out of his father's hands and thrusts it into the gut of the cyborg. The cyborg stumbles backwards as electricity surges around him. He falls to the ground.
WESLEY
There could be more of them in the building. We should get moving.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
That thing went straight for the templates when he burst into the room. You can't leave them like that.WESLEY
Grab the books.They each grab two of the large leather-bound books. Wesley walks toward a bookshelf, pulls a specific book, causing the bookshelf to slide aside, revealing a secret door behind it. Wesley presses his palm to a security reader, and whispers to it.
WESLEY
(whispering)
Elysium.The security door slides open, revealing a secret compartment. Wesley walks inside, and his father follows. Wesley reaches into his pocket, pulling out a set of keys. He selects a key, then unlocks one of many boxes along the wall.
ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
In my days we fought werewolves, vampires, the occasional swamp man. And now we have protohuman cybernetic chain fighters.WESLEY
(puts the books inside the open box compartment)
Yes, well, times are more complicated.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Yeah, I'm beginning to realize that. You handled that fellow... quite readily. At least you haven't gone soft. What's our next move?WESLEY
Are you asking me what I think?ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
(laughing)
Now, don't look so shocked, boy.WESLEY
Well, I think we should contact the others... um, find out to what extent—Wesley's father pulls out a gun and pistol-whips Wesley alongside the back of his head. Wesley falls to the ground, unconscious. Wesley's father takes the keys out of the box, walks across the room to another box, unlocks it, and pulls out a small staff of some sort.
ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
(touches his earpiece)
Phase 1 complete. Begin Phase 2.Fade to black.
ACT III:
14 INT. LOBBY - NIGHT
Angel, Gunn, and others are still fighting off the cyborgs in the lobby. Gunn knocks one out, but another engages him in a fight. The cyborg punches Gunn in the stomach, then throws his chain around Gunn's neck, slinging him into the stairs. Angel sees Gunn being beaten, but has his own cyborg to fight off before he can go to his aid.Cut to:
15 INT. WESLEY'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Wesley comes to inside his vault. He stands and walks out into his main office area. He notices the cyborg he fought with his father is still alive.Cut to:
16 INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
Wesley's father is walking briskly down the hallway when Fred literally runs into him.FRED
Oh! Mr. Wyndam-Price.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Winifred.FRED
What are you— We need to get you to safety.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Now listen to me. Wesley's department has monitored some sort of spatial disturbance on the roof. He's gone to investigate. He asked me to tell Angel immediately.FRED
(frowning)
He sent you by yourself?ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
I'm quite capable of taking care of myself. I just happen to be a bit lost.FRED
Oh. OK. Come on.Cut to:
17 INT. WESLEY'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Wesley bends down over the cyborg to examine him. He pulls the metal shield off of its face, revealing a skinless face beneath. The cyborg grunts in pain.WESLEY
Good. You can feel pain. Can you speak?
(the cyborg doesn't answer)
Let me help you with that.
(pushes the sword further into its gut)CYBORG
(in a tinny, metallic voice)
Stop, stop.WESLEY
Excellent. We're making progress.
(pulls the sword out of the cyborg's gut, causing it to grunt)
Let's see if you have a sense of self-preservation.
(reaches into the cyborg's abdomen, activating the self-destruct device)
What is my father doing? What did he take?CYBORG
No. No.WESLEY
Tell me or you'll be destroyed.CYBORG
(grunting)
You're bluffing. The explosion will kill you as well.WESLEY
Yes, I suppose it will. In fact, I'm guessing it will destroy this entire building, killing everyone, my father included, which would be one way to stop your plan.Cut to:
18 INT. LOBBY - NIGHT
Angel is still fighting with his cyborg, which kicks him across the room. Gunn's cyborg has taken control of the fight, wrapping its chain around his neck and choking him. Spike is walking around the lobby and notices Gunn's situation.SPIKE
Gunn!GUNN
(choking)
Spike... what are you—Spike is standing in front of Gunn, holding his fist out, ready to punch, but also holding his other hand up in a "stop" motion while he thinks.
SPIKE
Sorry. I have to concentrate.
(Gunn chokes more)
Shh. Don't talk.Spike finally throws his punch, connecting with the cyborg's head, knocking it back so that it loosens its grip on Gunn's neck. Spike smiles at his accomplishment, but Gunn just stares at him.
The cyborg hits Angel, knocking him down. Wesley's father knocks the cyborg in the head with a chair, knocking it away from Angel. Wesley's father offers his hand to Angel to help him stand.
ANGEL
(stands)
Thanks.FRED
Angel, Wesley's on the roof. He needs your help.ANGEL
Hey, Gunn, go find out what's happening with security. Fred, there are people down. Go see who's injured.ANGEL
I'll go find Wes.
(walks away)ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
I'm coming with you.
(follows)ANGEL
Look, I don't have time—ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
He's my son.SPIKE
Oh, uh, Eve's stuck in the elevator.GUNN
So tell maintenance.SPIKE
Right. Well, where the bloody hell is maint—
(sighs)
Oh, to be honest, I don't even care.Cut to:
19 EXT. ROOF - NIGHT
Angel runs out onto the roof, followed by Wesley's father.ANGEL
Wesley! Wes! Where's Wesley?No one is on the roof but Angel and Wesley's father.
ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Well, that's just the thing. I'm sorry to have misled you, but this was never about Wesley.
(holds out the wand he stole from Wesley's vault)
Atistrata.
(Angel collapses, clutching his belly and grunting)
It is, by the way, a pleasure to meet you, too.A white smoke flows out of Angel's body and into the wand, making the tip glow white.
Fade to black.
ACT IV:
20 EXT. ROOF - NIGHT
Resume. Wesley's father has just extracted something from Angel on the rooftop.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Don't fight it. It'll be easier for you.
(Angel is still grunting)
(to his earpiece) Ready for extraction. We're finished.WESLEY
(takes the staff out of his father's hands)
Not quite.
(holding a gun pointed at his father)
Hello, father.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
(pulls a gun on Wesley)
Walk away from this, Wesley. You'll never understand what we're trying to do here.WESLEY
You're using the Staff of Devosynn to take Angel's will, make him your slave. Your cyborgs panic a bit too easily.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
That creature is more dangerous to mankind than you realize.WESLEY
You're wrong about him. He's not what you think.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
He's a puppet. He always has been. To the Powers That Be, to Wolfram & Hart. Now he's ours.WESLEY
You went to a lot of trouble to get this staff.Cut to:
20a MONTAGE
Show scenes of Wesley's father taking a gun out of the cyborg's body in the lab.WESLEY (V.O.)
You had us attacked, you smuggled in a weapon...Cut to:
WESLEY
...you brought in an army so you could escape. I don't know why you're doing all this, but did you ever once consider there might be another way? Did you ever once consider talking to me about it?ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
No. You've failed me enough for one lifetime.FRED
(walks out onto the roof)
Wesley!WESLEY
Fred... get out of here!FRED
(goes to Angel's side as he lies helpless on the ground)
What the hell is going on?ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
You know what that vampire is and what he's done, and you follow him anyway?WESLEY
Maybe I know what I'm doing. Why can't you trust that?ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
You disgrace yourself with the council, you join forces with him, and you have the nerve to ask me why I can't trust you?WESLEY
I've done everything you ever asked, and I've done it well.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
I asked for this, hmm? I wanted to be humiliated?WESLEY
No, I suppose I don't know what you really wanted.
(walks toward his father, still pointing a gun at him)
You never had any use for me as a child, and you can't bear the thought of me as an adult. Tell me, father, what is it that galls you so, that I was never as good at the job as you... or that I just might be better?ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Oh, yes, this is Los Angeles. We have to talk about our feelings. Then maybe we'll hug.WESLEY
It's doubtful.In the background, there's the sound of helicopters approaching.
ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Hand me that staff.WESLEY
No.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Now, don't make me shoot you.WESLEY
(walks back to the edge of the roof)
Go ahead.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
Do you know how powerful that thing is?WESLEY
I don't care.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
I will kill you for it. Please believe me.The helicopter is hovering over the roof, shining bright white lights on it.
WESLEY
Oh, I believe you. I was raised by you, after all.
(holding the staff over the edge of the roof)
But I drop this, the crystal shatters, and Angel is restored. So I reckon whether I live or die, your plan has failed.ROGER WYNDAM-PRICE
I see. Well, then... maybe if it's someone you care about—
(grabs Fred, pointing a gun at her head)When his father grabs Fred, Wesley points the gun at his father and shoots it without another moment of consideration. He shoots his father in the chest until his clip is empty—9 times. Wesley's father falls to the ground, and the helicopter departs. Wesley walks up to his father's fallen body and stares, upset. Fred looks at him, then at Angel. Wesley stumbles away, dropping his gun as he goes, and bends over behind a roof vent to vomit. Fred looks after him, concerned. When Wesley stands, he hears the buzzing of electronics behind him. He turns to look and sees his father's body fade into the body of a cyborg, shimmering with electricity. Wesley stares at it in disbelief.
Cut to:
21 INT. ANGEL'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Wesley walks into Angel's office to find him sitting on the couch, holding his belly.WESLEY
How are you doing?ANGEL
Well, you know that worst part about losing your free will?WESLEY
Having no control over your body?ANGEL
Well, there's that and... you get really nauseous.WESLEY
(sits beside Angel)
The effect should wear off before too long.ANGEL
Any idea where these things came from? What they were trying to do with me?
(Wesley shakes his head)
Great. Like we don't have enough to worry about. Now the good guys may be after us, too.WESLEY
We have to assume we crossed some powerful forces when we took over this company.ANGEL
They're all trying to bring us down. The perception is that we're weak.WESLEY
No. The perception is I'm weak. That's why they went for me.ANGEL
They're wrong. You do what you have to do to protect the people around you. To do what you know is right, regardless of the cost. You know, I never really understood that. You're the guy who makes all the hard decisions, even if you have to make 'em alone.WESLEY
Right now I feel like the guy who shot his own father.ANGEL
Well, it was just a robot with a fancy glamour.WESLEY
That thing knew everything about me.ANGEL
You know, if they had access to the Watchers Council's old files, they'd have your background information, character assessments...WESLEY
Psychological profiles. Everything they'd need.ANGEL
Well, like I said... don't beat yourself up. Oh... you know... I killed my actual dad. It was one of the first things I did when I became a vampire.WESLEY
(stares at Angel in disgust)
I hardly see how that's the same situation.ANGEL
(nods)
Yeah. I didn't really think that one through. You should get some rest.WESLEY
So should you.
(stands, exits)Cut to:
22 INT. LOBBY - NIGHT
Wesley walks out of Angel's office to find Spike sitting on the couch, waiting to talk to him.SPIKE
(stands)
Heard what happened up top, offing your dad and all. Don't know if you know this, but, uh... I killed my mum. Actually, I'd already killed her, and then she tried to shag me, so I had to—WESLEY
(holds his hands up in a "stop" motion)
Thank you. I'm...very comforted. Right.
(walks toward his desk)Cut to:
23 INT. WESLEY'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Wesley stands behind his desk, turns his desk lamp on, and sighs. Fred walks up to his office door.WESLEY
(noticing Fred)
If you're here to tell me about how you killed your parents... perhaps it could wait for another time.FRED
What? No. They're fine.
(walks toward Wesley)
It's not like you killed your dad, either.WESLEY
Right.FRED
Part of you knew. Even if you can't admit it to yourself, part of you knew it wasn't him.WESLEY
No. I was sure it was him. You were there. I killed my father.FRED
He was threatening your friends.WESLEY
(turns to look at her)
He was threatening you. He pointed a gun at you, Fred... so I shot him.FRED
(searching his expression)
Wesley...I...KNOX
(walks up to the door)
Hi.
(Fred turns to him)
Oh, sorry to... interrupt. I... but... Fred, you're injured. I know we're supposed to work ourselves to death and all, but I'm guessing that the firm isn't enforcing that rule as strictly as it used you. And I thought I was gonna take you home.FRED
Um, well, I... Wesley and I were just...WESLEY
(softly)
Go. You should go.Fred walks out. Wesley watches her go with Knox.
KNOX
About the arm...have you considered going bionic?Wesley sits down at his desk, looks at the phone, picks it up, and dials.
WESLEY
(to phone) Hello, Mom, it's me. No, everything's fine. I was hoping to speak with Father, actually. Yes, all right. Hello, father, how are—
Oh, I didn't realize it was so early there. I've had a bit of a—
Of course we have clocks in Los Angeles. Listen, I wanted to—
Nothing's wrong. I just... wanted to call... and...see how you were.Fade to black.
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