Episode 4, Season 1
Title: "I Fall To Pieces"

Written by: Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt
Directed by: Vern Gilum
Original Air Date: 26 October 1999


Teaser:

Cordelia is in the office reviewing that status of their bills and concludes that they need to charge more of their clients for Angel's services. Doyle offers that Angel projects a certain image and asking for money just isn't a part of it. Angel agrees it's not right when Doyle suddenly has a vision. Melissa Burns who works at Pardell Paper Products is in trouble.

Act I:

Melissa (Tushka Bergan) is correcting the spelling on a cake for a co-worker when flowers arrive for her from Roland (Andy Umberger). She goes into the bathroom and takes a few tranquilizers. As she leaves work, at the end of the day, Angel approaches her in the parking garage. He offers his services of Private Security and gives her a business card. She is visibly shaken, and AngelÍs presence only seems to heighten it.

In the office Angel tells Cordy and Doyle about the encounter and asks them if he's intimidating. Cordy suggests he lighten his wardrobe, but Doyle states that Angel needs to step out of the myth and just be a man. He also intimates that getting paid for his service will allow people to feel that they have completed a debt and give them closure.

Melissa is at an ATM trying to get money from her account. Roland appears and tells her he's changed the number to something more secure, the date of they first went out. He knows she took the pills at her office and seems a bit obsessive. We learn that they have only had one date, and Melissa wants him to leave her alone.

At Angel's office, Cordy answers the phone; itÍs Melissa and she subsequently comes to the office. She tells them that Ronald Meltzer is a neurosurgeon. He knows when she does things, and she feels like he's watching her. Cordy subtlety mentions a fee. After Melissa leaves, Angel tries to figure out how Roland knows what she doing.

That night, as Melissa is getting ready for bed in her apartment, Roland is at his office. He disconnects his eye from his head, and it appears in the mirror of Melissa's room.


Act II:

Angel goes to the Police Station to ask Kate for assistance. His client is being stalked and he hopes she has some information on the stalker. Meanwhile, Doyle accompanies Melissa around at her office for protection.

Kate discovers that Melissa did file a report but the Doctor denied the charges and in return, his lawyers, Wolfram & Hart placed a restraining order on Melissa. Kate offers a cop to watch Melissa but only for a day or two.

Angel goes to Roland's office to see what he can find. He enters his private office and finds a book 'Anything's Possible' autographed by the author, a metaphysical guru. When Roland catches him, Angel gives him a story about his wife being in critical condition, needing unethical treatment and appeals to Roland's emotional obsession. Roland agrees.

Elsewhere, Cordy is in the hospital, posing as a writer, interviewing a female doctor. She learns Roland is a 'severed nerve specialist' but finally gets the real dish that he's quite secretive about his radical techniques.

Angel, back at the office, researches the book his lifted on the computer. He finds that the author, Vinpur Naspudar had a nervous breakdown after he held a retreat for Yogi and Doctors. Angel e-mails him for a meeting.

At VinpurÍs house, Angel fears that Roland might hurt this girl. Vinpur tells Angel that his teachings on Psychic Surgery were based on theory, but Roland was able to shut down the Somatic System and make this reality.

At night, outside MelissaÍs apartment, Roland stands in the bushes as Melissa sleeps. A patrolling policeman arrives and finds Roland to be suspicious but is forced to apologize when Roland raises his hands in surrender and displays nothing but stumps. The hands are no longer there, but unbeknownst to the officer are crawling into Melissa's bed.


Act III:

Melissa wakes and screams. The police officer rushes into her apartment. He proceeds into her bedroom, but there is no sign of trouble until Roland's two hands strangle him. Melissa runs outside and into Angel. As he comforts her, Roland continues watching them from the bushes while his hands return and reattach themselves.

Later after the police arrive, Kate informs Angel that they have print and if they match the doctorÍs theyÍll have him. Angel tells Doyle that Roland has come undone and is killing now. The only way to stop him is by depriving his body parts of oxygen and they will deteriorate. At AngelÍs apartment Doyle seals all the entrances with duct tape. Melissa will stay with Doyle and Cordy for protection. Angel reassures her that she is still in control, Roland is the one coming unglued.

Upstairs Angel looks in the phone book where he can get steel boxes late at night. The phone rings and Cordy answers the 'special' line. It's Roland. He tells Angel he will do his wife's surgery.

Angel arrives at Roland's office to the obvious trap where Roland darts Angel with a tranquilizer filled with a paralyzing and heart stopping liquid. Angel drops to the floor as Roland continues on an emotional rampage about Melissa, then leaves Angel to die.


Act IV:

While Melissa sleeps in AngelÍs apartment, Doyle and Cordy talk about relationships. Cordy hears a noise, and Doyle investigates. Roland's hand is working its way into the apartment. A floating eye appears, and the trap door begins to rattle. As Doyle checks the trap a hand opens the front door and Roland enters. Doyle opens the traps and looks in as a hand grabs him pulling him down. Roland grabs Cordy and locks her in a closet as all his parts return and Melissa awakes. Roland attacks Melissa but she finally has stopped being afraid. She retaliates first physically and then verbally, much to RolandÍs infuriation. Angel arrives just in time to stop Roland from killing Melissa. Roland, not knowing Angel was ñdeadî already, is bewildered, but recovers enough to fight and his body parts begin detaching and flying at Angel. Angel proves too strong for the attack, and Roland literally falls apart.

At the office Cordy is making coffee as Angel explains that Roland is now in 12 steel boxes. Melissa arrives and gives Angel a plant. He hopes it doesn't need light. Cordy in her infinite subtlety coughs, and Angel regretfully reminds Melissa about the bill. She gives him a check and leaves. Cordy and Doyle feel this is cause to go out and celebrate. Angel would rather stay in the office and " . . . not burst into flames."


Summary by CoA Council member, Seeker

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