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| Episode 17, Season 1 Title: "Eternity" Written by: Tracey Stern Directed by: Regis B. Kimble Original Air Date: 4 April 2000 Teaser: 
Angel and Wesley are sitting in the back of a darkened room as they consider their surroundings. Apparently it's not too late for them to leave this dire situation. They can still get out, there's still time. The lookS on their faces are pensive and filled with dread. Then a voice booms from the distance and we turn to see . . . Cordelia!? Our budding actress has finally landed a role. It's the interior of a playhouse and Cordy is on stage in a less than brilliant performance of a period piece. Wesley and Angel find it rather torturous to watch as she forgets her line and wonder how many hours it will be before the pain stops. An hour, maybe two . . .
Act I: 
Wesley and Angel walk down the street outside the theater with Cordy, who is eager to hear their reviews of her performance. They both avoid committing themselves to the obvious when Cordy is suddenly excited by the crowd across the street. Talent manager Oliver Simon, whom both Cordy and Angel met at a Hollywood party, is escorting Rebecca Lowell, an actress made famous by her role of Raven in 'On Your Own', a now defunct series. As Cordy rambles her adulation, Angel notices a car down the street. When Rebecca starts to cross, the car barrels down on her and Angel runs to the rescue, reaching her in time but getting hit as the speeding car rushes by. Rebecca and Oliver come to thank him, with rewards in hand, but he declines. Even more amazing to Rebecca is the fact that Angel has no clue who she is. Cordy explains that 'he's culturally retarded that way.' Introducing him as the Dark Revenger, Cordy gives Rebecca one of their cards.
In the office the next day Cordy bubbles that the newspapers picked up the incident and included a picture of her elbow with Rebecca. Angel feigns disinterest, but is visibly disappointed that here is no mention of him. Rebecca arrives, and she and Angel go into his office to talk. She notices his disdain for sunlight and concedes she's a 'night person' too. She invites him to her house to watch her show, the one she didn't win an Emmy for. She also shows him the threatening letters she's been receiving. She's up for a new part and needs some peace of mind. He reveals that he has already checked out the hit and run car, which was stolen, but he refuses to take her case. Later, Cordy berates Angel for not taking the case and costing her the chance to rub elbows with the famous. Wesley observes that Angel is attracted to Rebecca and agrees this 'may not be the right case for you.' Cordy feigns a vision to convince Angel otherwise and is not too happy that 'Mr. distance has intimacy issues.' Meanwhile at Rebecca's, she is having a massage poolside and being reminded she's not getting any younger. That evening she hosts a party. After all the guests have gone, she hears something. Suddenly Angel bursts through the plate glass window, runs past her and attacks an intruder. A fight ensues and Angel gets trapped under a fallen bookcase giving the man time to escape. As Angel gets up Rebecca notices, in front of her mirrored wall, that Angels casts no reflection. Act II: 
The police and Oliver arrive. He goes to deal with the press, and Rebecca goes upstairs after everyone has left insuring Oliver that with half the entertainment press camped on her front lawn she'll be safe. Upstairs she calls out to Angel who is still there. He tells her he's not what she thinks. She admits that she thinks 'vampire', but is curious not frightened. She's obsessed with his youthful appearance and the apparent lack of drawbacks to being a vampire. "You're really not afraid?" Angel asks, and she concedes that she doesn't want to be alone tonight.
The next day at the office, Wesley informs Cordy that Angel was at Rebeccas. Curious why he did take the case, Wesley informs her he's been keeping tabs all along. When Cordy realizes he spent the night she gets worried about 'the curse'. Wesley explains how rare it is to find 'true happiness' as Angel did with Buffy. But Cordy goes to see for herself. At RebbecaÍs, Cordy arrives with Lattes in hand and a huge cross around her neck. She's relieved that it's Angel, knowing that 'evil Angel would never wear those pants.' And Angel explains that he told Rebecca what he is. 
Meanwhile Rebecca meets Oliver for lunch where he informs her she's still up for the part, but must audition. This leaves her visibly upset. Later, back at her house, Rebecca explains the situation to Angel as she works out on the treadmill. She needs this part; she also needs the stalker off her back so she can concentrate. Rebecca invites Angel, as her bodyguard, to escort her to a premiere that night.
At the premiere, they arrive to a cheering crowd, where a man with a gun in this belt watches. Once inside, Angel and Rebecca leave by a back entrance. She explains she only comes to these for the photo-op. Just then the man steps out and shoots at Rebecca. Angel leaps up to the catwalk and they fight. Angel tosses him down the stairs where he lays unconscious and Rebecca recognizes him. Later, Angel gives the police his statement as Oliver arrives. Rebecca confronts him with the fact that the stalker was also a stuntman client of Olives. He explains he did it only for the publicity. He regretfully informs her she didn't get the part because she was too mature. She tells him 'Raven' will always be 22. Oliver states 'nobody stays young forever,' as she gazes at Angel. Act III: 
At the office, Wesley has received the ballistics report from the theatre. It seems the bullets were blanks and the stalker was a fake. At the same time in downtown Los Angeles, Rebecca and Cordy are out for a day of shopping. Cordy tries to contain herself as Rebecca asks her what do you get the vampire that has everything.
That night, Rebecca arrives at Angel's apartment with Dom Perignon. Angel gets two glasses as she looks around, finding it only slightly different than what she expected. "There's no coffin." Angel assures her. He then explains that there's no stalker either and she concedes it was Oliver trying to 'revive her flagging career.' She asks him to link arms in a good luck toast but spills champagne all down his shirt. Amused by it, Angel goes to change, but as he does Rebecca slips a powder into his glass. Cordelia is pacing her apartment when Wesley arrives in response to her pages. She tells him that at lunch, Rebecca was more than a little interested about Angel and his history, and specifically was curious as to how one becomes a vampire. Back at Angel's apartment, a slightly drunk Angel explains that he was once very evil and is now trying to atone for his misdeeds. She caresses him and assures him that everyone deserves some happiness. He concedes that he misses the warmth of a touch. Rebecca suggests that he 'turn' her to stop both their loneliness. Angel tells her she doesn't understand what she's asking. She knows there's a price but Angel gets angry and pulls her to the kitchen. He grabs one of his blood bags and spurts it into her mouth. Shocked by his own actions, he realizes something is amiss. He heatedly asks what Rebecca put in the champagne. She admits to drugging him a bit to lower his defenses, but itÍs just a little happy pill. Angel falls into her arms as she explains. Suddenly he nips at her shoulder and she cries out as he pulls away. His face has turn vamp and his fangs are bared in an eerie grin . . . it's Angelus. Act IV: 
Once again, Angelus takes hold as Angel helplessly lurks beneath. He taunts and confronts Rebecca with his true self. He returns her every comment twisted and distorted. "No one ever sees me for who I really am!" Angelus grabs her and throws her across the room. He threatens to torture her for long hours and then she can see if this is the life for her. She is frightened but more upset at not being able to get what she wanted. As he continues to taunt her she grabs a stature and hits him across the face hard. He's amused, so she hits him again then runs for the elevator. When it catches near the top she tries to get out and screams as she is grabbed.
Luckily for her, it's Wesley, and as he helps her get down, Cordy accuses her of making love with Angel. She admits giving him a powerful tranquilizer. Wesley explains that it just simulates bliss, but that it is synthetic and suggests they leave until the affects wear off. Just then the lights go out and Angelus appears in the doorway. Wesley tries to reason with him, trying to reach Angel as he tells him what he feels is not real, it's an illusion, a chemical suggestion. Angelus isn't buying it. He preys on WesleyÍs issues of inferiority and then throws him across the room. He then turns his attention to Cordelia, attacking her poor acting ability with echoes of her performance. She grabs a bottle of water and fends him off with it, claiming itÍs holy water. He thinks she's bluffing but she very forcefully and convincingly insists that this is something she thinks about everyday, the chance he might 'turn evil' again. She takes the precaution of hidden garlic and crosses and has the water blessed every week. She tosses it at him and he jumps, but it is only water. As Cordy retorts "and the Oscar goes to... ," Wesley jumps Angels and drives him into the elevator shaft where he lands unconscious. 
The next morning Angel wakes to find himself roped and chained to his bed. Wesley and Cordy have been watching over him as she asks "Are you still evil?" and Angel replies "I'm so sorry." Wesley states that although things were said, it was the drug and it's best to put it behind them and move on as he leaves the room. It takes a little more discussion to convince Cordy, however, and even then itÍs obvious that it will take time to fully heal. When the apologies are complete and Cordy gets up to walk out, Angel flatly realizes ñYou arenÍt going to untie me, are you?î . . . Her reply is ñhumph!î and with a laugh she walks out. "Guys?" We leave Angel, a little tied up.
Summary by CoA Council member, Seeker
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