Lineage

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.