Calvary

RECAP:

WESLEY(V.O.) Previously on Angel:

1    EXT. SKY TEMPLE CLUB ON KIMBALL BUILDING ROOF - NIGHT Angel, Wesley, Gunn and Lorne walk up to the club entrance armed and ready to fight, but when they see the Beast, they stop dead in their tracks. Still hulking and intimidating even when compared to Angel and his gang, the Beast chuckles at the sight of them. It's standing inside a square made from human bodies that have been laid out in formation. At the center of the square, the Beast is holding a man in the air, dangling him by the foot. The way the body hangs, it forms sort of an "X" shape.

LORNE (V.O.) Evil's coming, Angel, and it's planning on staying.

The Beast kneels on one knee, punching the floor at the center of his human square, sending a trail of fire out along the floor in the shape of the Eye of Fire symbol. A shock wave emanates from the area, knocking everyone back a few feet. The fire is tall now, taller than the beast. The Beast leaps straight up into the sky, riding the fire that he created.

Cut to:

2    INT. LILAH'S OFFICE AT WOLFRAM AND HART - DAY Lilah is sitting at her desk, talking on the phone.

LILAH (to phone) Find that beast.

Cut to:

3    INT. CONFERENCE ROOM AT WOLFRAM AND HART - DAY The Beast plunges its forefinger into Lilah's abdomen. She screams in agony as he wiggles it around. He pulls the finger out of her and pushes her off the table; she lands on the floor. The Beast stares at Connor, who's just come into the room. Connor runs at the Beast with sword in hand, but the blade breaks on the Beast's skin. The Beast then punches Connor so hard that he flies across the room, where his body hits a pillar, causing it to crumble on top of him, burying him in debris.

WESLEY (V.O.) That thing won't quit 'til everyone's dead.

Cut to:

4    INT. SEWER UNDER WOLFRAM AND HART - DAY Lilah and Wesley slide down the chute and land in a sewer. Lilah moans and coughs as she lands. They sit up.

WESLEY Go underground, change your name.

Cut to:

5    INT. CONNOR'S PLACE - DAY Standing, holding the assembled artifact in front of him, the Beast breathes out black smoke into the orb which rests on two metal wings.

WESLEY (V.O.) The Beast is planning to block out the sun permanently.

Cut to:

6    EXT. STREET BEHIND CONNOR'S PLACE - DAY The sun becomes blocked out by blackness.

Cut to:

7    INT. CONNOR'S PLACE - DAY The Beast walks up to Angel.

BEAST Join with me, Angelus.

Cut to:

8    EXT. STREET BEHIND CONNOR'S PLACE - DAY Cordelia and Connor are waiting anxiously by the car. Angel and crew come out of the building, and Cordelia runs to them.

ANGEL I'm telling ya, I don't know this beast.

WESLEY We need Angelus.

Cut to:

9    INT. BASEMENT AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Wesley and Gunn are strapping Angel to a table inside the cage. The shaman places a jar on a table.

The shaman goes inside the cage with Angel, shutting the door behind him. Angel is lying on the table in the cage. Connor, Cordy, Gunn and Wesley look on. The shaman puts his hand on Angel's head, closes his eyes, and when the shaman's eyes open again, they're red.

SHAMAN It is done.

Angelus turns his head to look at Angel's gang as they watch him.

CORDELIA Angelus.

Cut to:

10    INT. OFFICE AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Close-up of a drawing depicting the aerial view of a park. Wesley walks up to the picture and opens it like a door, revealing a safe behind it. He twists the dial on the safe door to the right combination. Cordelia's standing behind him, holding the receptacle that contains Angel's soul. Fred, Gunn, and Lorne are also in the room.

GUNN Taking out Angel's soul. Putting it in a jar. I hope we know what we're doing.

Cut to:

11    INT. BASEMENT AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Wesley walks downstairs into the basement and stands a few feet away from the cage. Angelus walks up to the cage bars.

ANGELUS You want to impress the girl. Move in, get her to love you, and after a couple days of flowers and chocolate covered cherries, (bangs his hands on the bars) you'll bend her over the kitchen counter—

Cut to:

12    INT. OFFICE AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Wesley walks up to Fred, puts his hand on her neck and kisses her passionately. She puts her hand on his neck, but then slides it down to his chest and pushes away. Gunn walks in, and they look away from each other.

GUNN (to Fred) You better tell me what the hell I just walked in on.

Cut to:

13    INT. LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Connor sneaks through the lobby while Gunn and Wes are still arguing in the office.

WESLEY (steps up to Gunn, softly) Face it, Gunn; you can't give her what she needs.

Gunn punches Wesley in the face. He stumbles back, but stays standing.

FRED Charles! Stop it!

Gunn hits Fred in the face with his elbow inadvertently as he rears back for another punch at Wesley. Fred screams and falls to the floor, covering her busted lip.

GUNN (looks at Fred and realizes what he's done) Fred...

Cut to:

14    INT. BASEMENT AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Wesley is still interviewing Angelus.

ANGELUS You're still the same loser none of the other kids wanted to sit with at lunch.

WESLEY Yet you're locked in that cage, and I'm out here.

ANGELUS Won't be in here forever.

Cut to:

15    INT. LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Lorne, Fred and Gunn are sitting in the lobby, watching Angelus on the monitor.

WESLEY I think he's told us everything he's going to.

Cut to:

16    INT. BASEMENT AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Cordelia and Angelus are talking.

CORDELIA We're putting your soul back. (grins)

ANGELUS (whispers) We'll see.

Cut to:

17    INT. OFFICE AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Cordelia walks into the office where Lorne, Fred, and Gunn are staring at the safe.

FRED Angel's soul. It's gone.

Pan over to show the empty safe.

Fade to black.

The Start Of Episode

Prologue:

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: Since the sun is blotted out in metro Los Angeles, I will not describe the setting in terms of day or night as it's irrelevant until the plot point is resolved. Scenes that take place outside the affected area will be described appropriately.

18    INT. WORSHIP AREA A shaman prays in a sacred space lit by candles. Sounds come from a nearby room—sounds of people fighting, things breaking. The shaman, covered head to toe in purple cloth, except his eyes, throws dice as he chants. Someone throws a man through the curtain of beads that separates this room from the next; he lands in front of the praying man, out cold.

SHAMAN Must acquire better guards. (looks up to see who has come to see him)

Connor, Cordelia, and Wesley enter the room.

WESLEY Angel's soul has been stolen.

SHAMAN I have no need for the vampire's soul.

CONNOR Then where is it?

SHAMAN That... (rolls dice, reads them) I cannot discern, but it is still viable within the Muo-Ping.

CONNOR Muo-what?

WESLEY It's still safe within the container.

CORDELIA Angel's soul has been misplaced. I bet this sort of thing happens all the time. What do you have as a backup plan to re-ensoul somebody?

SHAMAN There is no other way known to me. Without the Muo-Ping... (shrugs) you're screwed.

CONNOR And what happens if the Muo—container thing breaks or gets opened?

SHAMAN Then, like all things, the soul can be returned... or destroyed.

Cut to:

19    INT. LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Gunn and Fred are watching Angelus over the monitor set up in the lobby. Gunn pours gasoline into a tank.

ANGELUS (through the monitor) Awfully quiet up there. I've had time to think, and I've realized something important. Being evil is wrong. I want to be good. I want to be Angel again. You hear me? I'm ready!

GUNN (tests the flamethrower he's just refueled) I'm ready too, fang boy.

FRED (sighs) He knows, doesn't he? That his soul's missing.

GUNN Probably knew before we did.

FRED I hope that shaman can help us.

GUNN That shaman should never have been brought here. Now, instead of just worrying about the big bad Rocky, we got Darth Vampire living in the basement.

FRED Bringing Angelus was our best chance.

GUNN That you talking, or Wes?

FRED You were pushing for it too, Charles.

GUNN Then maybe I did the wrong thing.

ANGELUS (through the monitor) Like smacking your girl around? I betcha Wes would never hit her. He's all proper and English. And that accent—Oh, chicks just love a good accent. Makes 'em all buttery in their nether regions. Isn't that right, Fred? You know, I had a bit of an Irish brogue back in the day. If you'd like, I could use it on you when I rape you to death... or—

GUNN (turns off the monitor) Son of a bitch.

FRED He's just— It's just words.

GUNN Yeah.

FRED And that's the only way he can hurt us. He knows he's never getting out.

Cut to:

20    INT. BASEMENT AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Lilah emerges from the shadows, carrying a crowbar, and walks up to Angelus's cage. Angelus sees her and smirks.

Fade to black.

Opening credits.

ACT I:

21    INT. BASEMENT AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Resume. Crowbar-toting Lilah stands in front of Angelus's cage. She's looking ragged, dirty, and weak.

LILAH The great Angelus.

ANGELUS Oh, come on. You can do better than that. Try playing up the awe and the reverence a bit. "The great Angelus."

LILAH Great—being locked in a cage.

ANGELUS (walks toward Lilah) Yet managing to display better grooming habits than you. (puts his hands on the bars) Look at yourself, Lilah. All these years wanting to meet me. Couldn't run a comb through your hair, maybe slap on a little lipstick. (condescending) Evil doesn't have to mean sloppy.

LILAH (calmly) Stop it.

ANGELUS Ooh. Feeling touchy, are we?

LILAH The Beast. I want you to stop it.

ANGELUS Oh. (beat) Not sure I really want to. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a big fan of the horn job, although he did bring on permanent midnight. Gotta give him props for that.

LILAH (raising her voice) Can you do it, or not?

ANGELUS Mmm, why is your thong in such a bunch, counselor. You're a professional.

LILAH (chuckles) Working the sewers. Beast took everything. Killed them all.

ANGELUS It's all the damage. He does have a flair for it.

LILAH Not just at the office. Everybody. Field ops. Liaisons. People out sick that day. But not me. Not yet. (exasperated) Why is he picking on us? We're the bad guys!

ANGELUS Apparently, not bad enough. But there is a bright side—you have a devoted boyfriend who loves and cares—oh, wait. You don't. (chuckles) Your life really is crap.

LILAH And yet, I'm not the monkey in the box. I want that thing destroyed. You're the only one who can do it.

ANGELUS Maybe... we can work something out.

Cut to:

22    INT. LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Gunn and Fred are standing in the lobby, facing each other and talking, while the monitor to Angelus's cage is turned down. Fred's arms are crossed as she listens to Gunn.

GUNN What Angelus said about me—I didn't mean to hurt you. I would never do that.

FRED I know. I just can't help but think (uncrosses her arms) if you didn't attack—

GUNN Attack? That's how you see it? I attacked him! What do you call what he was doing in the office before I walked in?

FRED (looks away, shakes her head) I don't know what—

GUNN He was kissing you! (Fred looks at him) Don't lie to me. It's the one thing you're not good at.

FRED It just happened.

GUNN Because you let it. I've never felt so much for anyone. I would do anything for you, but it's not enough, is it?

FRED Charles, I'm—

GUNN I can't do this anymore, Fred. I'm tired of you looking everywhere but at me. (Wes walks through the front door, followed by Connor and Cordelia; Fred turns to look) Like that.

Gunn walks away. Wesley walks up to Fred.

WESLEY What is it?

FRED I just can't make heads or tails out of this banishing text. You guys have any luck?

CONNOR Yeah, but it was all bad. Shaman didn't have the soul. Doesn't know who took it. Doesn't know how to find it.

CORDELIA Other than that, everything's peachy. Any word from Lorne and his contacts?

GUNN (looks at the monitor) Dammit! (grabs a gun and runs downstairs)

Wesley looks back at where Gunn was and sees the monitor showing someone talking to Angelus. Wesley runs to join Gunn. Cordelia, Connor, and Fred follow them.

Cut to:

23    INT. BASEMENT AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Lilah hears someone coming, and turns to look. Gunn runs down the stairs with a tranquilizer gun and shoots it at Angelus. The dart lands in Angelus's arm as he was reaching for Lilah. Angelus winces. Lilah drops her crowbar and flees the room, back toward the dark corner from which she emerged. Angelus collapses. Gunn points the gun at Angelus as Wesley and the others make it downstairs.

GUNN (to Wesley) Lilah—ran off into the sewers. (Wes runs after Lilah, Connor follows) Connor, wait. You should wait here, make sure it isn't a setup. Might be others.

Cut to:

24    INT. SEWER Lilah runs away through the sewers with Wesley in close pursuit. He follows her up a ladder

Cut to:

25    INT. BASEMENT AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Gunn's still pointing the gun at Angelus.

GUNN (to Connor) Check the locks.

Connor pulls on the cage door, but it's still locked. He notices the crowbar Lilah left behind and kicks it away from the cage.

GUNN What kind of brain fart made that witch try and let Angelus out?

CORDELIA I want to know how she even knew he was here.

CONNOR Maybe she took Angel's soul.

GUNN She's a muckety-muck at Wolfram and Hart. It's her job to know.

FRED I thought the Beast killed everyone at Wolfram and Hart.

GUNN Maybe she cut some kind of deal with it.

CONNOR You really think she has a connection to the Beast?

Cut to:

26    INT. SEWER Wesley continues his pursuit of Lilah through the sewer system. Lilah jumps out from a hiding spot and tries to hit Wesley, but she's still weak, and he catches her arm easily.

LILAH (holding her side and walking away from him) You're a son of a bitch, you know that? (sits next to a wall and tends to her bleeding stomach wound)

WESLEY When I said "go underground," I didn't think you'd— Is that where the Beast—?

LILAH I can't make it stop.

WESLEY I could take a look at it.

LILAH Uh, I'm fine.

WESLEY How did you know we had Angelus?

LILAH Big magic, taking a champion's soul. Makes ripples. I still know some people that like ripples. That was your idea—to bring him? Great minds...

WESLEY Aren't foolish enough to release him.

LILAH I wasn't. (stands, paces)

WESLEY So the crowbar...?

LILAH I had to make him believe I was desperate.

WESLEY Not much of a stretch, really, is it? And you always wanted Angelus.

LILAH No, Wolfram and Hart did, but it doesn't matter anymore. I just—I just want my life back. All my pretty things. I'm selfish that way. That's why we wouldn't have worked out.

WESLEY (softly) There are many reasons we wouldn't have worked out, Lilah. (she looks away, Wes looks around the area and sees a book and picks it up) Rhinehardt's Compendium.

LILAH I need to find a way to make it pay.

WESLEY (flips through the book) I already checked. There's nothing in here that even remotely... (notices a passage) describes... (finds an illustration of the Beast) him. It's identical to my copy except for this passage. How is that possible?

LILAH It's not a local copy. Pulled some favors, got it on the pan-dimensional black market.

WESLEY But still—should be the exact same text. Unless...

LILAH Unless, what?

WESLEY Well, we'd have to check more books from other dimensions, but what if there were other references to the Beast at one time that had somehow been removed. What would something that powerful need to hide?

Cut to:

27    INT. BASEMENT AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Gunn, Cordelia, Connor and Fred are in the basement talking, guarding Angelus in the cage.

GUNN Lilah or not, something is doing the Beast's dirty work.

CORDELIA It would explain how giant lava boy could tiptoe past us to take out Manny.

CONNOR And butcher that family, those priestesses.

FRED Even though Lilah's evil, I don't see her hacking up all those people.

GUNN OK, maybe it's not just her. Maybe...maybe the big bad Beast had minions doing his dirty work.

ANGELUS (wakes) Morons. The big rock doesn't have minions. (tries to sit up) It is the minion.

FRED No, it's not. We've seen what it can do.

ANGELUS You've just seen the warm-up act.

CORDELIA What are you saying?

ANGELUS I'm saying there's something bigger. Something worse. The Beast has a boss.

Fade to black.

ACT II:

28    INT. BASEMENT AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Resume. Angelus is talking to Gunn, Cordelia, Fred and Connor.

GUNN Worse than the Beast?

CORDELIA That's—that's not possible.

ANGELUS How did you survive this long being so retarded?

GUNN Cut the fu-manchu. What do you know?

ANGELUS Quite a bit, bright boy. (stands) Maybe I'll fill in the blanks sometime.

CONNOR How do you know there's something worse than the Beast?

ANGELUS (nastily) 'Cause I have a brain, son. The Beast I knew was big into smash and slaughter. Had the brawn to be really good at it too, but the big picture—not his strong point. But whoa! Flash forward. Now he's all rain of fire, destroying the Ra-Tet, blotting out the sun. Big moves for a guy whose head is made out of rock.

CORDELIA Maybe he got smarter.

ANGELUS And maybe I'll sprout some wings and flutter away. There's something else out there—more powerful, more vicious—pulling all the strings. Ooh, don't know about you, but I'm just dying to find out what it is.

Cut to:

29    INT. LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Wesley and Lilah come in through the front doors to find Fred, Connor and Cordelia watching the monitor.

LILAH What, no cake?

FRED Where is it?

LILAH Where is what?

CORDELIA Angel's soul.

LILAH Oh, that what.

WESLEY She didn't take it.

CONNOR How do you know?

WESLEY Because she told me.

GUNN And you believe her? Lying's her job.

LILAH He's got a point. (opens her coat and turns around, inadvertantly revealing her wound to the others) You wanna search me?

CORDELIA What happened?

WESLEY She was injured in the attack on Wolfram and Hart.

GUNN The place was a slaughterhouse. How'd she make it out?

LILAH (sits) Got lucky.

CORDELIA Ah, maybe it was more than that. (walks up to Lilah) What were you doing downstairs with Angelus?

WESLEY She was gathering intel.

GUNN With a crowbar? She's the only one to make it out of Wolfram and Hart alive, then she shows up right after Angel's soul goes missing.

WESLEY I've already told you, she didn't have anything to do with that.

CONNOR Maybe she knows who did.

FRED (glaring at Lilah) Or who's controlling the Beast.

LILAH Controlling?

GUNN Angelus thinks rock-boy's just the muscle. Not that I trust him any more than you.

CORDELIA Everything that's happened—it's part of a bigger plan with something even worse than the Beast sketching the blueprints.

WESLEY That's what he's been trying to hide. There might be something in the text we—

CORDELIA Text?

WESLEY (holds up a book) Lilah found a passage in Rhinehardt's Compendium.

FRED But we searched that already. There's nothing in there.

WESLEY Because all references to the Beast have been erased in this dimension.

LILAH I got my copy of Rhinehardt's... way out of town. (smirking to Fred) I'm surprised you didn't think of that.

GUNN That's why Angel didn't remember the Beast.

WESLEY His memory's been wiped clean, just like the book's.

CONNOR Why does Angelus remember?

FRED Because his mind wasn't here when the spell or whatever was cast, right?

WESLEY (walks up to Fred) We should compare this passage with the information Wolfram and Hart extracted from Lorne. There might be—

GUNN (grabs the flamethrower) Yeah, have fun with that.

FRED Charles...

GUNN (starts walking away) Somebody needs to be downstairs, make sure nobody else tries to intel our boy.

CORDELIA (Fred starts to follow him, but Cordelia stops her) Let him go. I know this is hard. I know we're all tired and hurting, but we have to stay focused. We need to figure out what's coming, and how to get Angel back before it does, because if this is as bad as I think it is, we'll need him more than ever.

Cut to:

30    INT. BASEMENT AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Angelus is standing in the middle of the cage. The tip of the flamethrower is lit, as Gunn sits off to the side pointing the flame-thrower torch at Angelus, but not looking at him.

ANGELUS You know what I like about you? You play to your strengths. You know what they are, and you stick to 'em. You don't find that much these days. Everybody always trying to expand their horizons, actuate their potential, and all that other touchy-feely crap. But not you. You don't try to change... because you know your place. (Gunn looks at Angelus) That'll go a long way towards keeping you alive. Well, a lot longer than the others. Man, you guys really are on a streak. You let L.A. nearly burn to the ground, lost the sun, let the creepy crawlies practically take over the city. But you know that's OK. At least you've got the love of a good woman. 'Til she dumps you for a guy with a bigger horizon.

GUNN (looks down) It's her life.

ANGELUS (walks up to the bars) Oh, wait—did I miss it? Did she already let you down easy? (Gunn looks at Angelus) Cheer up, buddy. Not like we didn't see it coming. Especially after what happened to her old professor. (Gunn looks at Angelus, wide-eyed) Come on, even Angel's not that stupid. The way things changed between you two... the furtive looks, all that guilt. Mm. There's nothing like your first murder. Don't worry, I won't tell what our little girl did.

GUNN She didn't—

ANGELUS Yeah! (claps once) So, it was you—stepping up and being the man!

GUNN I did what I had to do.

ANGELUS (paces back and forth in front of the bars) I guess Fred didn't quite see it that way, huh? Wow. You do a chick a favor, you think she'd be grateful, but no. Mm-mm. She still goes for the broody smart guy, all mysterious and tortured. I guess, when you think about it, for the first time in your life, you just weren't dark enough. (Gunn fires the flamethrower at Angelus, sending him back; Angelus chuckles) Maybe there's hope for you after all, Chuck.

Cut to:

31    INT. OFFICE AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Wesley and Fred are researching.

FRED (holding a book) This is hopeless. The Orb of Thesulah is the only way I can find to restore Angel's soul, but that only works if it's moved on to an afterlife or something, not floating in a jar somewhere. (closes the book and places it on the desk in front of Wes)

WESLEY (stands) We'll find a way to bring Angel back.

FRED How?

WESLEY The way we always do: skill, perseverance, luck.

FRED (scoffs) Not a lot of that going around.

WESLEY We'll be all right.

FRED (looks at Wesley) As long as we stick together.

WESLEY Fred. What happened between me and Gunn— I didn't mean— That's not what I wanted. Could you tell him that?

FRED (tears welling up in her eyes) I don't think he'll listen. We're not— We're not together anymore.

WESLEY Oh. Not because of what I did?

FRED Things just haven't been right. Not for a while.

WESLEY (walks up to Fred) I think this is the part where I'm supposed to say I'm sorry, and I'm really trying to be, but—

Lilah and Cordy come into the room.

LILAH Any progress?

FRED Not really.

LILAH Pity.

WESLEY I made some headway cross-referencing, but there's no telling how long it'll take to get anything definitive.

CORDELIA But you have made some progress?

LILAH Sure looks like he's trying.

WESLEY I'll relieve Gunn, see if I can get anything else out of Angelus.

LILAH So, what now? Ouija board?

FRED (glares at Lilah, then past her into the lobby) Lorne.

Cut to:

32    INT. LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Lorne has just come into the lobby. Fred runs out of the office to meet him.

FRED Did you find out anything?

LORNE Zip. Zilch. (notices Lilah) And what in the hell is succu-bitch doing here?

CORDELIA Still trying to figure that out. So, nothing?

LORNE I've talked to every contact that hasn't beat it for higher ground. Nobody's heard bo-peep about Angel's soul.

LILAH Forget about the goody-goody. You want to kill the Beast and give his boss a run for his evil? The answer is downstairs in a cage—sick Angelus on him.

CORDELIA Do you know what Angelus would do if we let him out?

LILAH Kill you all in a bloody shower of violence, but hey— (puts her hands together as if in prayer) greater good.

CORDELIA We'll find another way. I'm sure if we just all—

LILAH What? Hold hands and sing a hymn? That might be a little hard when the Beast is ripping your guts out. (walks away, up the stairs)

CORDELIA Lilah, I know things look grim right now.

LILAH (without turning around) Don't go watchtower on me Saint Cordelia. I don't think I could stomach it.

CORDELIA Man, I'd love to punch your face in.

LILAH (turns to look at Cordy) Are you trying to turn me on?

CORDELIA What's sad about people like you, Lilah—it all comes down to fear.

LILAH (nods) Fascinating. Now that we've got that settled. (walks upstairs)

CORDELIA You're too scared to believe in anything because you're too scared to hope. You won't even open your eyes to the possibility.

LILAH (giggles, faces Cordy) You don't get it, do you, twinkie? I'm what I believe in. And you think I got this far by sticking my head in the sand? The Beast that eviscerated me has a boss, and that boss is going to end life as we know it, and nobody is coming to save us! Not Angel, not the Powers that Be, and not the forty-damn-second cavalry! (Cordelia's head snaps back) So if anybody has scales on the rise— (white-eyed Cordelia looks at Lilah) it's you.

CORDELIA (smiling) I can bring him back. I know how to re-ensoul Angel.

Fade to black.

ACT III:

33    INT. BASEMENT AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Fred comes downstairs to get Wesley who's guarding Angel.

ANGELUS Hey, we were just talking about you. At least I was, anyway.

WESLEY What is it?

FRED Cordelia had a vision. She knows how to put his soul back.

ANGELUS (chuckles) I guess the Powers saw how bad you guys suck.

FRED Doing better than you!

WESLEY Fred...

ANGELUS Ooh, she really has put on spunk, hasn't she, Wes. Not the same, shy, bitchcow we pulled out of Pylea.

FRED (crosses her arms) There's only one bitch here, and I'm looking at him.

ANGELUS Oh, come on, we all know it's for the best. Now you can go for the real prize. (walks toward Wes) Mm. Man, I'm telling ya... man, if I swung that way... Look at him— (whistles) all rugged and handsome and brains... man, he's damn-near perfect.

WESLEY Thank you.

Wes and Fred head upstairs.

ANGELUS Except the part about banging Lilah for the past six months. (Wes stops, Fred turns to look at Angelus) That kinda takes the shine off him.

Fred laughs nervously, then looks at Wesley, whose face shows guilt.

WESLEY Fred...

FRED No, it—it's none of my business. I should... (goes upstairs)

Angelus chuckles.

Cut to:

34    EXT. CEMETERY Gunn and Connor are digging in the ground.

CONNOR Are you sure this is the right spot?

GUNN Well, the landmarks look like what Cordy described in her vision.

CONNOR Never fought a soul-eater before.

GUNN Hmph. And I'm not planning to. Cordy says this thing was buried by the Chumash a couple hundred years ago. Don't expect it to put up too much of a fight.

CONNOR So, what if we can't find it?

GUNN Then we're screwed. The skull of the soul-eater is the main piece of the spell Cordy saw. Without that— (Gunn's shovel hits something metal) Clear it off. Ooh, thank you, Powers that Be! About damn time.

Gunn climbs down into the hole to unlock the box.

CONNOR Want me to do that?

GUNN Uh, I got it. (something's hand reaches up out of the box and grabs Gunn's throat) Oh!

Connor stabs the creature with his sword. Connor and Gunn scramble to get out of the hole quickly.

CONNOR You OK?

GUNN (panting) Oh, I so don't need that kind of crap. Let's just chop its head off and get— (looks into the hole, and sees that the creature is no longer there) OK, this thing is really starting to piss me off.

The soul-eater creature is super-fast, and can appear and disappear in an instant. It appears behind Gunn, and he punches it. Connor joins in, but the soul-eater knocks him down. Every time Gunn or Connor tries to throw a punch at it or swing a sword at it, the soul-eater vanishes before they can make contact with it. When Connor engages it in a fight, the soul-eater puts its hand on his chest. Connor can't move, and just hangs there, suspended from the soul-eater's hand. Its hand starts to glow a chartreuse color on Connor's chest. Connor screams. Gunn runs up to them and cuts off the soul-eater's arm with his sword. Connor falls down and the greenish light goes back into his body. Gunn cuts off its head. Connor throws the arm away in disgust. The head starts writhing and twitching on the ground in front of Gunn. Gunn hits it several more times with his sword until the head finally stops moving.

CONNOR (stands, walks up to Gunn) Nice.

GUNN Yeah, sometimes you just gotta keep whacking. (picks up the head)

CONNOR You think it'll work?

GUNN It better. If there's really something badder than the Beast, we've got to get Angel back before it comes.

Cut to:

35    INT. CAVE In a triangular shaped room lit dimly with two torches, the Beast prays.

BEAST I am honored you've come. Fire, death, and darkness have I bestowed in your name. (kneeling in the corner, the Beast raises a knife) Now, this humble token I offer, forged of my unworthy bones. A tribute to your power.

Cut to:

36    INT. LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Cordelia and Fred walk into the lobby carrying magical items. They're talking to Wes and Lorne who are sitting at the front desk preparing items of their own.

CORDELIA Seven talismans built to spec.

FRED Sometimes I hate this life.

CORDELIA Dumpster diving for week-old buffalo wings, definitely not in the job description.

FRED (holds up a magical item) Try declawing scavenged road kill for three sacred talons.

CORDELIA Never do I have the happy, frolicking puppy visions. Always bones and death and...

Connor and Wes come through the front door.

CONNOR We got the skull of the soul-eater. (sets it on the table in front of Cordelia)

CORDELIA I'm just saying...

WESLEY It looks rather fresh.

GUNN Yeah, we moved up its expiration date. (snickers)

WESLEY Cordy?

CORDELIA (closes her eyes for a moment) I just see the skull. It doesn't have any...(sneers) you know...parts.

WESLEY Right. Take it to the kitchen. Remove the flesh and the soft tissue. (Connor and Gunn take the skull and leave the room. Cordelia follows)

LILAH (enters the lobby) It's just like being at work, except suits by Liberace.

LORNE Wesley, would you please warn this walking infection that I haven't forgotten how she poked my head open like a Capri-Sun. And while my love for humanity allows me to tolerate her presence, if need be I will smack her down! Be a doll. Thanks. (stands, leaves)

WESLEY With all the excitement, I thought you would have escaped by now.

LILAH Well, I would have, but, um, (looks at watch) it's Thursday, which means that everyone who should be in the weekly briefing is, um, dead.

WESLEY So you have nowhere else to go?

LILAH Just waiting to prove that your Powers That Be are all hat and no cattle. And if they do pull it through, well then braid my hair, and call me Pollyanna. (smiles) The upside of being in it for yourself, Wes—you always end up on the winning team.

FRED Wesley... (Wes and Lilah turn to look at Fred; Fred looks uncomfortable) Cordy had a question. (leaves quickly)

Cut to:

37    INT. BASEMENT AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Cordy and the gang are setting up a magical circle on the floor in front of Angelus's cage while he looks on. The skull is at the center, while twigs are arranged in the shape of a circle around it. White candles are lit on the perimeter.

ANGELUS Have you all lost your mind? You're going to use black magic to restore my soul? People, this never goes well. Am I the only one paying attention?

LILAH Ten-to-one, the entire hotel gets sucked into a hell dimension.

GUNN You, two—with the shutting up.

ANGELUS Talk about eleventh-hour desperation. Face it, you're grasping. No jar, no soul.

CONNOR (lighting a candle) You sound pretty desperate yourself.

CORDELIA Do you have the vial? (Wes hands her a vial)

ANGELUS Let's be realistic. Even if your precious champion makes another guest appearance, you can't stop the apocalypse. Bottom line is you're going to lose. The last thing you smell will be each other's blood.

Cordelia pours the contents of the vial on the skull.

FRED That's you're opinion.

LILAH You tell him, honey.

FRED You, shut your fat mouth.

ANGELUS (chuckles) Look at you—heroes. So tangled up in your own crap, you can't even find the world to save it.

CORDELIA Does everyone have their talismans?

ANGELUS Hell, even Angel knew you never stood a chance. You want to know why he really let me out? Because he finally gave up. He knew you were all too weak and selfish to stop what's coming. He gave up his soul because he gave up on you.

CORDELIA You're right. Buh-bye. (gestures with her hand, sending Angelus flying to the back wall)

WESLEY In degera...

ANGELUS (struggling to stand) Don't kid yourselves...

WESLEY Fortis murus... (the candles' flames get suddenly larger and brighter)

ANGELUS (growling) I'll still be around long after your corpses rot.

WESLEY Kesta sartuum... (the building shakes, everyone looks around) Mundi ethericon...

White smoke emanates from the skull and purposefully meanders toward Angelus.

ANGELUS (growling) I promise you. This isn't...

WESLEY Chimera nihilo.

ANGELUS The end.

The smoke surrounds Angleus's body, lifting him off the ground. He winces and screams in pain. The skull in the magical circle explodes. The smoke disappears and Angel falls to the ground.

CORDELIA Angel?

ANGEL (lying on the ground, looks at the gang) I'm so sorry.

LORNE (smiles) It worked.

CONNOR Did it?

ANGEL (sits up) Fred.

FRED What?

ANGEL You came down the stairs. You had blood, and I grabbed you.

FRED I'm fine.

CORDELIA The spell, it worked. I feel it.

WESLEY We have to be sure.

GUNN Get Lorne to read him.

WESLEY Angel, are you aware of what's happened?

ANGEL (stands) I'm back. There's, uh, something else. Something worse—worse than the—

WESLEY The Beast, yes. And we need your help to fight it, but first you have to sing for Lorne—

ANGEL I, uh...

WESLEY To prove it's really you.

ANGEL Oh, right. (clears throat, sings) Raindrops keep falling on my head...do do do do... Just...

LORNE (smiles) Oh yes. Yes! Sweet fancy B.J. Thomas, it's him. It's Angel.

GUNN You sure?

LORNE Yes, yes! The aura has totally changed, and the vibe screams soul! Ha ha! Oh, bless you and your beautiful land line to the PTB, honey! (embraces Cordelia) Mwa!

CONNOR He's back.

FRED Then we can let him out.

ANGEL No. I'm staying in here. I'm doing what's best for the group.

CORDELIA Sine when is locking up the leader what's best for the group?

ANGEL Since when does your vision come with a guarantee? For all we know, this spell is only temporary, and God forbid... (shakes head) I can give orders from down in here. And the new ones are: no more back-biting, fist-fighting, fraternizing, or vengeance. From now on, you focus on one thing: making it out alive. 'Cause I'm only going to say this once: what Angelus told you was a lie. I haven't and will never give up on you. We'll get through this thing. Together.

LILAH (amused) I can't believe we didn't crush you people years ago.

ANGEL Wes, you and Fred get back to Lilah's books. We need any new information we can on this new player. Lilah, make some coffee. Earn your keep around here. (Wes, Fred, and Lilah go upstairs) Lorne, I want you out working low-pro real estate. If this thing is bigger than the Beast, it's gonna be laying down roots. And it'll need square footage.

LORNE Good to have you back, boss. (walks upstairs)

ANGEL In the mean time, Connor, Gunn, work damage control. Sweep the surrounding blocks for civilians. Save who you can. Connor, it's me.

CONNOR (looks down) I know. (walks upstairs after Gunn)

ANGEL Cordy...

CORDELIA No.

ANGEL I didn't say anything.

CORDELIA True, but I thought I should tell you upfront that I don't take orders from guys too scared to step out of their cages.

ANGEL I made the right call. This way, everybody stays safe.

CORDELIA And you don't have to look anyone in the eyes. Bonus.

ANGEL (sighs) I hate that you saw me like that.

CORDELIA (looks down) Guess it's only fair. (looks at Angel) Angelus said you saw me at one of my not-most-shining moments. Besides, you're not him. You think we don't get that, but we do.

ANGEL What if— Wh-what if the spell doesn't last?

CORDELIA The Powers need a champion, Angel. And obviously they need one pretty bad the way things are going. Who knows, you might even be their only hope, Obi-Wan.

ANGEL (smiles) So, how do I go up there?

CORDELIA Easy. Leave him and what you did inside the cage. (unlocks his cage, opens the door; Angel walks out) You're not Angelus. (takes his hand)

ANGELUS (in vamp facade, Angelus grins and pulls Cordy up to him violently) Guess again!

Fade to black.

ACT IV:

38    INT. BASEMENT AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Resume. Cordelia knees Angelus in the groin, punches him in the face, and shuts herself inside the cage, holding onto the bars.. Angelus reaches in and grabs her, pulling her head forward, knocking it on the bars. Cordelia falls to the ground unconscious.

ANGELUS (points at her) Stay down!

Angelus trots upstairs, letting his vampire face fade away, smiling.

Cut to:

39    INT. OFFICE AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Fred's working in the office when Angelus walks up behind her, still impersonating Angel. Fred gasps.

ANGELUS Sorry if I scared you.

FRED Angel... I thought—

ANGELUS Cordy let me out. Actually, I—I asked her to be let out. You know what? Never mind. (turns to go)

FRED No, wait. I'm the one who's sorry. After everything you've been through, I...

ANGELUS (turns back toward her) It has been a little rough.

FRED On all of us. The stress is—

ANGELUS I know I could use a drink. (Fred looks at him, wide-eyed and frozen) Now, you see? That's what I was afraid of. For the rest of your life, you'll only see this evil thing.

FRED You're my friend, Angel. Past is past, and done is done.

ANGELUS (smiles) Thanks, Fred. (shrugs) Can I get a hug?

They hear something crash in the lobby, and they both turn to look. When Fred looks back at Angel, he's gone.

Cut to:

40    INT. LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS A pile of broken coffee mugs and napkins lies on the floor. Lilah is standing behind them, guiltily, talking to Wesley. Connor and Gunn are in the lobby too.

LILAH It's my inner megalomaniac. I, uh, rebel at serving coffee.

WESLEY Angel, I thought you were confined—

ANGELUS (quickly, edging toward the door) Change in plans. Cordy actually talked me out of staying down there. Now, I've got my own mission.

CONNOR Which is...?

ANGELUS Too dangerous, son. I'm afraid you can't go with me. (stands by the door, pauses, then overdramatically) I have to go save the world. (leaves)

FRED (emerges from the office) So, has anyone seen Cordy?

Pan over to show Cordelia on the monitor, passed out in Angelus's cage.

Cut to:

41    INT. LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Gunn and Connor are doling out weapons from the weapons cabinet.

GUNN Connor's on point. Three party follow-up. Me, Wes, and Fred in the truck. Cordy?

CORDELIA (holding a bag of ice to her head) I don't understand how the spell didn't work.

LILAH Dead ex machina. There's a surprise.

GUNN Cordy.

CORDELIA. We'll be fine. Go. He'll want to feed—a lot.

WESLEY Our only advantage is Angelus might think we want to capture him. I think we're all agreed that's not an option anymore.

GUNN Angelus is on the loose 'cause we brought him in this world. It's our job to take him out of it.

WESLEY Take the shot, any shot you can get.

LILAH Now you're playing my song. (cocks her handgun)

FRED I don't know if I—

GUNN You will.

CONNOR Let's go, while his trail's still hot. (walks out)

Cut to:

42    EXT. STREETS OF LOS ANGELES Angelus is roaming through the streets. It's like a war zone out there, with fires going, dead bodies littering the streets, and abandoned vehicles blocking the road. People are fighting and screaming in the streets.

ANGELUS Like shooting fish in a barrel. Where's the fun in that?

Seeing a little girl running out of a building, Angelus grabs her, but she's a vampire too.

ANGELUS (holding the girl, screaming at her) What happened to pedestrians? Human pedestrians! (puts the girl down, grumbles) Is there no fast food left in Los Angeles?

Cut to:

43    INT. LOBBY AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Cordelia and Lilah are talking.

CORDELIA He let me think I was talking him into it.

LILAH Those evil geniuses... they get you every time.

CORDELIA The Beast, and then Angelus, and now there's something worse. I thought the spell was—

LILAH Divine intervention? Trust me, you have more chances of winning the lottery six times in a row. I had the numbers done.

CORDELIA Just makes me question—

ANGELUS (from the balcony) What's it all for, huh? I would too, if I were about to die.

Angelus jumps down to the main floor of the lobby. Lilah shoots him with her gun until it's out of bullets, then she throws it down. Cordelia shoots an arrow at him with a crossbow, but Angelus catches the arrow in the air.

ANGELUS This time, (throws the arrow back at Cordelia, and it goes into her leg; she gasps and falls to the ground) you stay down! (to Lilah) As for you, you luscious thing. I mean, you were going to let me out of that cage, so, let's see—I'll give you, what, a ten second start. (Lilah runs away) Ten, nine... Now, there's a girl who takes advantage of her opportunities— (Cordelia shoots an arrow at Angelus again, but misses; he turns to her) Don't be jealous, kitten. She's just the warm-up. I'll save the good stuff for you. Eight, seven... (walks out of the room)

Cut to:

44    EXT. STREETS OF LOS ANGELES Connor's out in front of the search party, with Wes, Gunn, and Fred following him. Connor stops in the middle of the street.

CONNOR Doesn't make sense.

WESLEY What doesn't?

CONNOR Angelus would want to feed, but his scent ends here, and it's not a highly populated area.

GUNN It ends here? Somebody pick him up?

CONNOR He would go to the place where he could wreak the most damage.

WESLEY Which doesn't necessarily mean highly populated.

FRED He doubled back.

They all turn and run back to the truck.

Cut to:

45    INT. STAIRWELL AT HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Angelus is wandering around the hotel, looking for Lilah.

ANGELUS Lilah... Oh, Lilah...

Cut to:

46    INT. CORRIDOR IN HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Lilah's walking through the corridor with a battle-axe in hand. Angelus is in a room, whistling. She waits until he's gone to continue, but he jumps out of the woodwork, startling her.

ANGELUS Boo! (knocks her to the ground) Oh, and Lilah, I had such high hopes for us. Your devious mind, my killer instincts. What a team we would have made.

LILAH Could still make.

ANGELUS Always were a closer. Unfortunately, with the new big scary in town, you're just not looking so tough anymore. And I'm a winning team kind of a guy. Couple that with the recent people shortage—you know, you're lucky I'm letting you yak this long.

Angelus lunges at Lilah, but she puts her feet up and pushes him over her into the stairwell behind her. Angelus falls down the stairs, and Lilah pushes a cart down the stairs on top of him. Lilah runs away.

Cut to:

47    INT. CORRIDOR IN HOTEL/ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS Lilah's running away as fast as her wounded body will take her, but someone grabs her by the throat from one of the rooms, and pushes her into the doorjamb. It's Cordelia.

LILAH He's gonna kill us.

CORDELIA I know. (stabs Lilah in the neck with the knife from the Beast's offering; Lilah collapses, falls to the ground) Why do you think I let him out? You stupid bitch. (smiles)

Cut to:

Closing credits.