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Episode 7, Season 1 Title: "The Bachelor Party" Written by: Tracey Stern Directed by: David Straiton Original Air Date: 16 November 1999 Teaser: Act I: Downtown, Angel and Doyle battle the vampires and save the young man's life with not too much trouble. In the hallway Angel asks Doyle why he doesn't fight in his demon form face when he's so much stronger that way. Doyle simply replies that it's just not his style. As they leave, one of the vampires they didnÍt stake comes out of hiding and watches them go. Later that night, the vampire follows Doyle back to the office just as Cordy and Pierce drive up. Cordy called it an early evening. Pierce walks her to the door and shares with her his misgivings about the neighborhood. Just then, the vampire appears, says the neighborhood is ñcrappy,î and attacks them. Pierce can't get into his car and drive away fast enough, while the vampire gets Cordy in a headlock. Before he can bite her, she bites him. The vampire is about to finish Cordy when Doyle appears with crossbow in hand. He shoots him in the foot and the vampire pulls it out and throws Cordy to the ground, angered. He charges Doyle and despite having the upper hand, Doyle turns the tables on him and drives the shaft through his heart, dusting him. Beaten up, DoyleÍs first concern is CordyÍs safety, and Cordy„awestruck„tells him that sheÍs impressed and grateful. The next day at the office Cordy is recapping the events for Angel and discovers that rich and handsome just don't cut it for her anymore, she needs someone whoÍs brave and interesting as well. She realizes that she may have feelings for Doyle, although she's gone down the ñXanderî road before, perhaps asking him out for a Mochaccino won't hurt. Doyle is reenacting last nightÍs battle when Cordy walks in on him. She starts to tell him she appreciates his heroism and before she can ask him out, a pretty young woman walks into the office. She greets Doyle as Francis. Cordy asks who Francis is and Doyle replies that is full name is Allen Francis Doyle. He introduces Cordy to Harry, his wife. At those words, CordyÍs smile fades. Act II: Angel pours Doyle a drink. He confides to Angel that the end of their relationship was rough and they hadn't kept in touch. They were barely 20 years old when they got married. Doyle didn't know about his demonic father until he was 21 when his demon form first presented itself. Things didn't work out when Harry found out about this and she left him. Doyle asks Angel to check Richard out as they both have a funny feeling about him. As he leaves, Angel advises Doyle not to tell Cordy; sheÍd want to charge him. That night, Angel„from the rooftops„follows Richard down a dark alley. Angel sees him take a package from a parked car and enter a closed restaurant called StraleyÍs Steak House. Richard then hides something in the freezer. Later, Harry enters the kitchen with gifts and Richard, getting a butcher knife, turns into a demon with red skin and a ridged brow. Angel busts in through the window and attacks Richard but Harry stops him. She explains that Richard's family owns the restaurant, that the package was specialty food items, and explains Richard is an Ano-Movic demon. She is an ethno-demonologist; studying demons is her profession. They met while she was scouting clans in North America. Her interest in demonology was piqued after she learned about DoyleÍs demonic heritage. SheÍs very upset Doyle put Angel up to this. Back at the office, Doyle is upset that Harry is marrying a demon. He admits that Harry wanted to be a part of his life but he pushed her away. He says it she didnÍt leave him because of his demon-half but because of him. Doyle pulls out the divorce papers and signs them. The next day he gives them to Harry. Richard invites Doyle to his bachelor party and Harry invites Cordy to her bridal shower, as she doesn't know too many people in town, especially those under 370 years old. At RichardÍs, while his family is eating dinner, his uncle and brothers are going over the bachelor partyÍs agenda, which includes a stripper, charades, and ends with the ritual eating of the first husbandÍs brains. Act III: Meanwhile at the bridal shower, Harry tells Cordy about the old days with Doyle. He was quite different than. He was a third grade school teacher and a volunteer at a soup kitchen where they met. Cordy is impressed, not to mention shocked. Back at the party Angel senses something odd. Richard and Doyle talk about Harry and Richard asks for DoyleÍs blessing in the marriage. Before he can answer him, Richard is whisked away to the awaiting stripper. Angel follows a Nick and Ben„two members of RichardÍs family„upstairs, where he overhears them chanting performing some kind of blood ritual. At the shower, CordyÍs cell phone rings and it's Angel. He asks Harry to translate the ritual words of some ancient language and although she's rusty, she agrees to check it out in the family library. Angel gets caught and a fight ensues as the strip tease continues downstairs. It takes five guys to get the better of Angel, and they toss him out the window. He bounces off a dumpster and lands on the concrete below, knocked cold. Richard asks Doyle for his blessing to the marriage and he agrees; he doesnÍt want to stand in the way of Harry's happiness again. The group toast to Doyle and then lock him in a box where only his head is protruding. Everyone reveals their true Ano-Movic forms and Richard puts on a bib. Doyle is given a shot to numb his head as they prepare to cut into his skull with a shrimp spoon, no less. Act IV: Things are going a bit slow back at the bachelor party because this ritual hasn't been performed in centuries. They explain to Doyle that it's done to ensure the happiness of the marriage; their union can only be whole if Richard eats the first husbandÍs brains. Doyle takes back his blessing. The family starts to get upset and then as Richard goes to make the first cut Angel bursts through the doors a bit more upset than them and in full vamp face. A big brawl begins and Doyle busts out of the box, changes to his demon form, and joins in the fight. Harry and Cordy arrive to break things up but not before Cordy mistakes Doyle for one of the Straleys and beats him over the head with a tray. Harry asks Richard to explain since they haven't followed any traditions in centuries. But Richard states the family won't give their consent unless they perform the ritual. Harry gives back his ring and walks out.
Summary by CoA Council member, Ned Flanders
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