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| Episode 12, Season 2 Title: "Blood Money" Written by: Shawn Ryan & Mere Smith Directed by: R.D. Price Original Air Date: January 23, 2001
"The universal symbol of the one thing we don't have!" Across town Angel is walking along a better of part of L.A., when he bumps into a young woman carrying a large box. The box tumbles to the ground as clothes fall out. She apologizes and Angel gladly helps return the items in the box. In response to his questions, she reveals that they are donations for her workplace, the East Hills Teen Center on Crenshaw. They exchange smiles and part. Angel returns to his room at the Hyperion Hotel filled with black and white photos of the young woman. He places the woman's wallet on the table displaying her driver's license and her name, Anne Steele. Several photos capture Lindsey by her side and Angel peruses them all intently.
"I thought she said he breathed fire! " In another part of the sewers, Angel pays a business call to the lizard snitch, Merl. Angel walks into his place without a problem - demon lairs aren't protected by the same rules as humans'. Angel asks Merl for some information on the girl. He finds a few interesting facts: She's changed her name a few times, but no criminal record, except that Wolfram and Hart helped the shelter out after they almost lost the lease for the center - pro-bono. Any W & H pro-bono work comes with strings attached, so Angel knows something up; however, Merl assures him that the center is legitimate.
"What's the matter? In the meantime, Merl is popular tonight as he gets a visit from a tall blue demon looking for "Angel's lackey." Merl quickly corrects him, "Independent Contractor." In typical canary style, Merl spills the beans and confesses to taking photos and obtaining information for Angel about a girl. The demon only says that he and Angel have "an unfinished history." Merl knows the real reason behind Angel's investigation: W & H's star lawyers. Merl has his visitor's complete attention.
"No, no, no. Begging... A frightened Lilah enters Lindsey's office the following day. He assures her that Angel won't kill humans, but Lilah points out, "He's not playing by the old rules anymore." Their conversation is interrupted by a blue demon named Booone. With a touch of a Southern drawl, Boone reveals he's there because of "a grudge with a fellow named Angel." The two co-vice presidents find this a welcome surprise.
"I've got to know..."
"To our new Agency." At the Hyperion, Angel looks at the DL photo of Anne and then at the black and white photos of her and Lindsey, thinking about the connection as he takes them down. Merl is returning to his place with Chinese take-out in his boney hands, but before he can savor his dinner, he gets his face slammed into the wall. Merl's popularity continues to increase, it seems, as he turns to find Lilah and her goons have paid him a visit. He gets hussled a bit until he starts: "Last couple of days, I've been following this girl. . .. ." Lilah is listening as if her life depended on it. It's the middle of the night when Angel visits Anne, ready to confess what he's doing. He shows Anne the photos and returns her wallet. Anne becomes clearly upset and thinks Angel is stalking her but he corrects her. As explanation for his actions, he reveals W & H's plan to swindle the money from the fundraiser for the center. Anne refuses to believe but just then, Lindsey barges in and interrupts Angel's campaign. He accuses Angel of being unstable, while Anne steps aside and lets Lindsey take charge. Suddenly another surprise shows up in the form of Boone. Angel immediately recognizes his old friend as Boone wastes no time in attacking. Both tear up the center with their fight. Angel runs out, and Lindsey catches Boone's arm before he can follow and puts on a show for Anne as a pretense to protecting her. He whispers aside to Boone that he will have the opportunity to take care of Angel later. Lindsey comforts Anne, while she tries to make sense of it all.
Lindsey tries to explain to Anne about Boone and Angel, but she knows Angel can't be human after surviving the beating he took. The crooked lawyer reveals Angel's vampire status, but she's calm about these revelations. She quickly gets to the point and asks him straight out if he plans to swindle the center with the fundraiser. Lindsey plasters on a plastic smile as he lies to her and explains about expenses but clarifies that the firm does not steal. She points out with confidence, "He says he has proof." This doesn't sit too well with Lindsey but he counters otherwise. Anne seems to doubt Lindsey's assurances, while Lindsey is intrigued about Angel's supposed "proof." In a park nearby, Lilah and Lindsey are taking a walk discussing his discovery. They attempt to figure out what "proof" Angel has to prove their scheme. Both co-workers accuse each other of being taped of their plan to steal two million dollars from the center. They work each other into a frenzy of all the possibilities and humiliations that Angel has planned for them. Lindsey is positive that Angel will show up at the party. He calls to beef up security at the ball and orders a vampire detector. The lawyers refuse to give up so easily.
"Do you believe that?" Later that evening, the fundraiser is in full swing. A special memorial video of Holland Manners and his dedication to helping the needy is playing on large screens. The firm is doing everything possible to touch the hearts of their guests. Lilah introduces Anne to Nathan Reid, one of the liasons to the Senior Partners who's going to report on their progress. Above the dancing and champagne drinking, Lindsey is ensuring that the vampire detector, Vorn, is in place. Serving as Master of ceremonies, Lilah begins the event by introducing the celebrities of "Life Lessons"-- Serena Tate, Holden Raynes C.J. McCard and Jordan Johns, all dressed as characters from a bad Western. They waste no time as they begin to 'hold-up' the guests, who comply by placing large envelopes full of money or jewelry into the bags the cowboys carry. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jenkins donated $25,000 in cash alone, which makes the goal of two million an easy one to catch. As the bags get full, the celebrities stack them onto tables where the firm's accountants sit, ready to count it all. Security is tight as the guards offer an update to Lindsey that Angel is still a no-show. Above the balcony, Vorn's hood opens to reveal Angel's face, but Boone is ready and surprises him from behind, determined to finish the fight from so long ago.
"This whole thing was a setup."
"I'm just here for the show." Late that evening, Lindsey and Lilah are receiving a reprimand from Nathan, who is recounting all of the night's disasters of embarrassing the firm, losing two million dollars, but especially, "violating company policy by hiring an assassin to kill Angel." Nathan advises them to "start piling up wins fast." Lindsey is extremely upset and makes the mistake of demanding Angel's death to make it easier for them. Nathan carefully explains that Angel cannot be killed, "Because Angel is a major player... in the apocalypse." He refers to the prophecies and the final battle. The firm wants to ensure that Angel is on their side, even if it means sacrificing Lilah and Lindsey, which of course they are willing to do. At the Hyperion Hotel, Angel throws away the last of the photos. He's about to leave, when Boone walks in with the money and offers a challenge. Boone reminds him, "I gotta know." Their gazes lock in challenge as Boone attacks. A while later, Angel arrives at the center and lays the bag full of money and jewelry on Anne's desk. Angel's face is bloodied and bruised. She inspects the money and, holding up a soiled stack of bills, asks, "What's this?" Angel replies, "Blood." All is terribly quiet as Anne's pauses a moment, then says, "It'll wash." She keeps counting the money as Angel turns back to the L.A. night.
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