Origin

PROLOGUE:

1 INT. SCIENCE LAB - DAY An unshaven Wesley is standing in Fred's old office overlooking Illyria in the lab below. She's standing beside a table prepared with petri dishes, vials, and a microscope, but she's not touching them or doing anything except staring straight ahead with her arms crossed. Wesley blinks groggily as he watches over Illyria. She turns her head to face him when Angel walks in and stands beside Wesley.

WESLEY She's either... counting oxygen molecules or analyzing the petri dish she just put into her mouth. Or sleeping. I can never quite tell.

ANGEL You sure this was a good idea?

WESLEY Oh, we have plenty of petri dishes.

ANGEL I meant—

WESLEY I know what you meant.

ANGEL You don't have to do this all yourself.

WESLEY Who else is there? We're running out of people, Angel. We're getting no further with Gunn—

ANGEL I'm not leaving Gunn in a hell dimension. We'll get him out. In the meantime, I need you to let us help you with her.

WESLEY She's my responsibility.

ANGEL She's our responsibility. If she's gonna be here, there are things that we should be doing— Testing her powers, studying her. (shifts) She put a whole petri dish in her mouth?

WESLEY Illyria can be... difficult. Testing her might be hard without getting someone seriously hurt.

ANGEL We'll make Spike do it.

WESLEY Good. (Illyria's gaze shifts to another part of the lab) She doesn't understand our world. She needs someone to guide her. She needs—

ANGEL When was the last time you slept? You're not her savior. I need you here, working, not off drinking yourself into a coma, chasing ghosts. Fred's dead, Wes. You're still alive. Start acting like it.

Wesley stares at Illyria as Angel walks out.

Cut to:

2 INT. WESLEY'S OFFICE - DAY A middle-aged, upper middle-class couple sits in chairs across from Wesley, who's at his desk.

FATHER We had nowhere else to go. Our son was... getting the mail.

MOTHER We could see him from the living room. He was walking across the driveway, and this van—

FATHER It must have been going 50, 60 miles an hour. It hopped the curb, and it ran right into him. It slammed him right into the side of the garage, and then... backed up and sped off.

WESLEY (somewhat disinterested) And the police think this was intentional? Has homicide found the van?

FATHER (leans forward) You don't understand.

MOTHER (shaking her head) Our son's not dead.

WESLEY (suddenly interested) He's not?

FATHER No. He's fine. The van hit him, and he got right up.

MOTHER He hardly has a scratch on him.

FATHER Police said it was dumb luck, but if you saw it...

MOTHER One of the officers called us later, said our son might be different.

FATHER (Wesley hurriedly picks up the phone) He mentioned that there was a law firm in Los Angeles that dealt with... things like this.

WESLEY (on the phone) Harmony, would you ask Angel to come in here, please?

MOTHER Our son's downstairs. He thinks that we're here to set up a trust.

FATHER We didn't know what else to tell him.

MOTHER Please, will you help us?

WESLEY (leans forward) Of course.

Cut to:

3 INT. LOBBY OF WOLFRAM & HART - DAY Angel is walking though the lobby toward his office when he hears a familiar voice behind him.

CONNOR (O.S.) Hey, dad!

Angel recognizes Connor's voice and turns slowly to see that Connor is standing behind him, having just come off the elevator into the lobby of Wolfram & Hart.

Fade to black.

Opening credits.

ACT I:

4 INT. LOBBY OF WOLFRAM & HART - DAY Resume. Angel has just seen Connor step off the elevator and call out to his father.

ANGEL What— What are you—

CONNOR Dad?

The couple from Wesley's office step out into the lobby followed by Wesley.

FATHER Yeah, it's OK. Come on over.

CONNOR (walks forward, past Angel, toward the couple from Wesley's office) You know, they have dried scorpions in the vending machines downstairs. (the father pats Connor on the shoulder)

WESLEY Angel, good. (Angel walks toward the group) This is Laurence and Colleen Reilly, and this is their son—

CONNOR (offers his hand to Angel) Connor. (shakes hands with Angel) Hi. Nice to meet you.

WESLEY The Reillys need to talk about some issues regarding Connor here, and I thought we could—

ANGEL (sighs) No.

WESLEY What?

ANGEL I'm sorry. There must be some mistake. We can't help you. (walks away)

Cut to:

5 INT. ANGEL'S OFFICE - DAY Wesley has come into Angel's office to discuss the Reillys' case.

WESLEY (pacing) A van ran him down. He got up and walked away... unharmed.

ANGEL (staring angrily out his office window at the Reilly family) How'd they find us?

WESLEY Police officer mentioned our name, said we might be able to help.

ANGEL We're not taking this case.

WESLEY Why not?

ANGEL (turns away, walks to his desk) Because with everything going on, we don't have time to deal with small stuff like this.

WESLEY Small stuff? This is what we do... or what we're supposed to do. They need help. And they seem like good people.

ANGEL All the more reason to get them out of here. We know what this place does to good people.

Cut to:

6 INT. BASEMENT OF SUBURBAN HOUSE - DAY A fresh bloody heart is dropped into a pile of bloody hearts. Zoom out to show the demon that's been torturing Gunn dropped it before heading away from the table where Gunn is lying with his chest cut open and bleeding. While the demon is away cleaning his knife, Gunn's open chest wound starts healing itself, and in a moment, his chest is perfectly unharmed again.

GUNN (comes to with a start, sitting up) Aah! (panting, looks around, doesn't notice the demon jab the knife into a side table) Who was it... What am I... I was lookin' for something. (the demon hands Gunn a small appliance-sized light bulb) (Gunn calls out towards the upstairs) It's OK. Found it! (turns, heads back upstairs)

Cut to:

7 INT. TRAINING ROOM - DAY Someone knocks Spike across the room. Pan over to show it was Illyria. They're in a training room—a large circular room empty except for the various weapons lining the walls and an observation window.

ILLYRIA You break so easily. (Spike shakes his head and gets to his feet) Why do you bother getting back up?

SPIKE Right. (panting) We need to set some ground rules. First off— (makes a wide hand-gesture signaling an invisible wall between them) no more punching me in the face. (points at her) Secondly, when I punch you in the face, you tell me how you feel so I can write that down on my clipboard. (bends to pick up his clipboard from the floor) Third—no touching my clipboard. (holds up 4 fingers) Fourth—

ILLYRIA I enjoy hurting you.

SPIKE (chuckles, sarcastically) Well, we're gonna have to fix that, 'cause—

Without flinching, Illyria kicks Spike in the face. Spike drops his clipboard and punches Illyria in the face with all his might, then giving her a nod of "how'd you like that?". Her head turns slightly at being punched, but it doesn't seem to faze her as she backhands him, sending him across the room and into the door. She smiles. Wesley walks in to see Spike in a heap on the floor.

WESLEY (looks down at Spike with a smirk) How goes it?

ILLYRIA I've been hitting the half-breed. He makes noise.

SPIKE (gets to his feet, sighs) We're off to a bit of a rough start, but don't worry. I'll break her.

WESLEY She's not a horse, Spike. You know, this room is equipped with automated training devices, and you don't have to test her by just... allowing her to pummel you.

SPIKE We're working on the basics. But don't worry— I'm writing it all down.

WESLEY (sighs) OK. Fine. (crosses his arms)

ILLYRIA (to Wesley) You reek of frustration. Curls off of you like smoke.

SPIKE Actually, love, we call that scotch. 12-year Lagavulin, if I'm not mistaken. Good choice.

WESLEY It's nothing. I'm just, uh... I had a...slight disagreement with Angel.

SPIKE Oh, old broody-pants got you wound up, eh? Keep in mind, he can't get laid without maybe going crazy. Makes it funny.

ILLYRIA In my time, a leader would punish your insolence with death.

WESLEY (sighs) We're not being insolent, Illyria.

SPIKE I am.

WESLEY (puts his hands on his hips) It's just, uh... I don't always understand Angel.

ILLYRIA Yet you follow him willingly. You're loyal to him.

WESLEY He's earned it. I...trust he knows what he's doing.

Cut to:

8 INT. ANGEL'S OFFICE - DAY Angel is pacing angrily in his office when someone walks in off screen.

ANGEL (yelling) What the hell is going on?

HAMILTON (pan over to show it was Hamilton who walked in, calmly) Angel? I'm at your disposal.

ANGEL My son walks in through my door!

HAMILTON And you make him walk right out again. I found that interesting.

ANGEL I want him as far away from here as possible!

HAMILTON Yes. But it might have been smart to get some information out of him first. It could help us understand what's happening.

ANGEL (gets up in Hamilton's face) Tell you what. Why don't you just tell me?

HAMILTON Let's be clear about this. Things run differently now. I'm not a little girl. You and I won't be making love on this couch any time soon. (walks away) Now, with that in mind, how can I help you?

ANGEL (closes the office door) The senior partners and I had a deal.

HAMILTON Yes, you did. They took your son—your raging psychopathic son—gave him a new family, changed his memories, changed everyone's memories, actually, in order to give him a new life, a normal life.

ANGEL And I came to work here!

HAMILTON And we couldn't be happier. The senior partners honor their deals. And believe me, they have no desire to upset such a...profitable partnership.

ANGEL (sarcastically) So this is just a... an unfortunate coincidence. (sits down at his desk)

HAMILTON Oh, no, I didn't say that. I said the senior partners weren't behind it. This isn't an accident. Someone out there's trying to send you a message... and they're using your son to do it.

Cut to:

9 EXT. STREETS OF LOS ANGELES - NIGHT The Reilly family is driving down the road in their SUV. Father is driving, Mother in the passenger seat, and Connor in the back seat.

MOTHER Where are we supposed to go now?

FATHER I'm sure there's someone else who can... handle our trust.

CONNOR (leans forward) Um, just so you know, you guys don't have to keep pretending. I know we were there because of the van thing.

FATHER Oh.

MOTHER I'm sorry, honey, it's just it was—

CONNOR It's cool. I mean, my parents are liars and I can never trust them again, but it's cool. Look...I know you guys are worried, but...the whole point is I'm OK. I got hit and I'm OK. That should make you happy, not like, you know... mental patients. I mean, it turned out fine.

FATHER It's the "getting hit" part. We thought you were dead.

CONNOR Hey, have some faith in me.

FATHER Connor... (pulls the car into a restaurant parking lot)

CONNOR All right. Look, you guys... I'm not saying this isn't weird and all, but we'll get through it. You don't have to be scared.

A demon rips the back door off the SUV and pulls Connor out of the car, throwing him across the parking lot. Other similar demons go after Connor's parents in the car. The Mother screams. Connor gets to his feet and starts fighting the demons. The Father gets out of the car and tries to help Connor.

FATHER Hey! Get off him!

The demons punch the Father, sending him to the ground.

CONNOR Mom!

When Connor sees them go for his mom, he gets to his feet alarmed, and punches a demon so hard, he goes flying across the parking lot.

CONNOR (looks at his hands in shock) Whoa!

Another demon jumps at Connor from a nearby car top, punching Connor and throwing him into another car. Connor cowers on the ground as the demon starts coming back for more, but Angel swoops in from above the car and tackles the demon. Angel engages two demons at once in an amazing display of punches and kicks. To end the fight, Angel raises one of the demons over his head and slams it dramatically into the ground.

CONNOR (gets to his feet) Oh, my God!

ANGEL Connor, listen to me—

CONNOR (in shock) You almost broke that guy in half! (grins) That was awesome!

Fade to black.

ACT II:

10 EXT. STREETS OF LOS ANGELES - NIGHT Resume. Connor just witnessed Angel save his family from the demon attack.

CONNOR Seriously, that was the coolest thing I've ever seen.

ANGEL Well, it's— (smiling) It's not a big deal. I mean, I do stuff like that a lot. There was this one time—

MOTHER (walks out from behind the car helping the Father stand) Connor!

CONNOR (runs to his parents) Dad. Dad!

FATHER I'm OK. (Connor stands on the other side of his father, helping him walk)

MOTHER We need to get him to a hospital.

ANGEL We got doctors at Wolfram & Hart. We can help. (to Connor) You and I have some things we should probably talk about.

CONNOR (looks at the demons on the ground) Yeah. I kinda figured.

Cut to:

11 INT. HALLWAYS OF WOLFRAM & HART - NIGHT Angel and Connor walk out of the medical wing of Wolfram & Hart.

ANGEL Your dad's gonna be fine. He's in good hands. Or claws, as the case may be. They're good doctors.

CONNOR What were those things that attacked us?

ANGEL Some kind of demon. I'm looking into it.

CONNOR Is that what I am? (stops walking) Some kind of demon?

ANGEL (thinks, turns to face Connor) No.

CONNOR Then...what am I?

ANGEL Best we can tell, you're a healthy, well-adjusted kid, with, uh... enhanced abilities.

CONNOR And you're a vampire. (Angel nods slowly, watching for Connor's response) So...demons, vampires, doctors with claws... and I'm some sort of super-hero. (shrugs) OK. (they start walking again)

ANGEL (laughs) You're taking this pretty well.

CONNOR What am I supposed to do, complain? I just don't know how I'm gonna explain it to my parents. You got family?

ANGEL No.

CONNOR Right. Vampire. So, what are you, like 500 years old?

ANGEL No, I'm about— Do I look 500?

CONNOR Do you spend all your time making out with other vampires, like in Anne Rice novels?

ANGEL No. Uh—I used to, but...

CONNOR You have a girlfriend at least?

ANGEL Can't afford to.

CONNOR Must be lonely.

ANGEL I keep busy.

CONNOR Right. So you guys, like, fight crime and save the world here, that sort of stuff?

ANGEL Well, that's the idea.

CONNOR Wow. Is everyone here a superhero? This place must be insane.

ANGEL It's mostly paralegals and secretaries. Pretty boring, really.

As they walk down the hall together, Angel and Connor have to stop as Spike is thrown through the training room doors. His clipboard is thrown after him.

SPIKE (falls to the ground, screaming) You filthy harlot! (gets to his feet) I'm gonna tear your neck out! (charges back into the training room intently)

ANGEL (sighs) You wanna meet some of my co-workers?

CONNOR OK.

Angel leads Connor into the training room.

Cut to:

12 INT. TRAINING ROOM - NIGHT When Angel and Connor walk in, Illyria is standing on Spike's head, holding him down with one foot.

ANGEL Guys, you wanna come here for a second?

Illyria takes her foot off of Spike's head and quickly turns to face Angel.

CONNOR What is she?

Spike gets to his feet.

ANGEL She's a... to be honest, I really don't know. She's some sort of ancient demon.

CONNOR She have any powers?

SPIKE Glad you asked. So far, I've established that she can hit like a Mack truck, selectively alter the flow of time, and, uh... (flips through pages on his clipboard) possibly talk to plants. (gives Angel the clipboard)

ILLYRIA (to Angel) I'd like to keep Spike as my pet.

ANGEL Connor, this is Spike and Illyria. Guys, this is Connor.

CONNOR (swinging his arms nervously at his side) Hi. (Illyria stares at him, looking up and down his body, then into his eyes) Um...I like your outfit.

ILLYRIA Your body warms. (to Angel) This one is lusting after me.

CONNOR Oh... no, I—I— (looks down, chuckling embarrassed) It's just that—it's the outfit. (whispers to Angel) I guess I've always had a thing for older women.

ANGEL (under his breath) They were supposed to fix that.

CONNOR What?

ANGEL Nothing. Connor has brought us a case. We're looking into it, just showing him around.

LORNE (walks into the training room) Hey... you kids playing in the training room?

CONNOR (looking at Lorne) Whoa! Man, this place is way better than college.

LORNE Yeah, Ange-babe, Wes is requesting your presence upstairs. Has a little demon info for your peepers.

Lorne walks toward the door. Angel hands the clipboard back to Spike, then follows Lorne.

CONNOR (waves to Illyria and Spike) It was nice meeting you. (follows Angel and Lorne out of the room)

Cut to:

13 INT. HALLWAYS OF WOLFRAM & HART - NIGHT Lorne leads on down the hallway, but Angel holds the door for Connor.

ANGEL You're in college?

CONNOR Yeah.

ANGEL Where at?

CONNOR Stanford.

ANGEL Really?

Cut to:

14 INT. ANGEL'S OFFICE - NIGHT Wesley is showing pictures of demons to Angel and Connor as Lorne looks on.

ANGEL That's them.

WESLEY Kith'harn demons. In Los Angeles, they're the known henchmen of a warlock called Cyvus Vail.

ANGEL What do we know about him?

LORNE He's powerful. Heads up a large demon empire, has tendrils stretching throughout L.A.

ANGEL Tendril-tendrils?

LORNE Metaphor-tendrils.

CONNOR What does he want with me?

WESLEY If he's using his Kith'harn demons, he's not trying to remain anonymous. (Angel drops the pictures and walks toward the door) Where are you going?

ANGEL Go visit Mr. Vail.

CONNOR I'll come with.

ANGEL No. You're here.

WESLEY Angel, we know hardly anything about this man. If he's trying to bait you—

ANGEL It's not up for discussion.

WESLEY At least take backup—

ANGEL I said I'd take care of it, Wes. Drop it!

Connor and Lorne look uncomfortable at Angel's tone. Wesley watches with disappointment and confusion as Angel walks out of the room.

Cut to:

15 INT. WESLEY'S OFFICE - NIGHT Wesley goes into his office, closes his door, and sits behind his desk to think. A moment later, he picks up the phone, presses a speed-dial button, and speaks.

WESLEY (on phone) Get me everything you can find on Cyvus Vail.

Cut to:

16 INT. VAIL'S PLACE - NIGHT A man sits in a large, elegant chair in a large, well-decorated but empty room. IV drips attached to him hang on a mobile stand. The man, with dark reddish skin and straggly, thinning, white hair, wheezes when he breathes, which he does with the assistance of oxygen tubes. Suddenly the quiet is interrupted when the limp body of a demon is thrown through the door and into the room, landing on the floor and sliding toward the man's feet. Angel walks through the door.

VAIL (wheezing) Did you kill all of my guards?

ANGEL All the ones I could find.

VAIL Mmm. I should have given them the day off. (turns a knob on one of his IV drips) I wasn't trying to kill your son, you know. I simply needed him to understand what he is capable of.

ANGEL How do you know about Connor?

VAIL I built him.

Cut to:

17 INT. WESLEY'S OFFICE - NIGHT Lorne is sitting at a reading table set up in Wesley's office, reading under the glow of a banker's lamp. Harmony walks into the office carrying files, which she hands to Wesley.

HARMONY These are everything the clerk had on Vail, and this... (steps out of Wes's line of sight to reveal Illyria standing behind her) was down wandering around human resources.

ILLYRIA Spike is resting.

WESLEY Thank you, Harmony.

Harmony exits.

LORNE (reading a file) Here we go. Vail listings under accounts paid.

WESLEY Wolfram & Hart did business with him?

LORNE Yeah. Looks like he was one of their go-to warlocks when it came to the magical mojo. Specialized in memory restructuring, mind control, temporal shifts. (flips to the next page) Oh, boy.

WESLEY What is it? (stands, walks toward Lorne's table)

LORNE You could buy Bolivia for what we paid him on this one.

WESLEY (reading the file Lorne handed him) Not just him. He supervised some of the most powerful sorcerers on the west coast.

LORNE Manpower like that, I'm guessing he wasn't doing card tricks.

WESLEY Some sort of reality shift, and it— Oh...

LORNE What? It happened on the day we took over Wolfram & Hart.

Cut to:

18 INT. VAIL'S PLACE - NIGHT Resume. Angel is confronting Cyvus Vail in his receiving room.

VAIL Could you help me up? I'd have one of my guards do it, but, well, you know. (Angel helps him to his feet) Thank you. (wheezing) (Angel rips the oxygen tubes from Vail's face, pushes him back into the chair and squeezes his throat violently) When Connor was 5, he got lost in a department store. (swallows painfully) He wandered off while his family was shopping. It scared the poor child nearly half to death.

ANGEL (leans in, angrily) That never happened!

VAIL Yes... but he remembers it happening. (Angel lets go of Vail who continues wheezing) He remembers screaming in the middle of the store. He remembers his mother rushing towards him. And he remembers his father sweeping him up into his arms.

ANGEL You built his memories.

VAIL I did. He is some of my finest work.

ANGEL What do you want?

VAIL I need someone dead. A demon... named Sahjahn.

ANGEL Sahjahn.

VAIL (gets to his feet, walks past Angel pulling his IV stand behind him) I believe you tussled with him before. He's a nasty little cur!

ANGEL He's gone. I trapped him in a bottle.

VAIL (opens a cabinet) An urn...actually. (reveals the urn is inside the cabinet) It's a morbid thing. Doesn't really go with my decor.

ANGEL He's trapped. Let him rot.

VAIL Urns tend to break. Long lost enemies tend to return. I need finality to my affairs. (holds out his right hand, palm up; waves his left hand at it, conjuring a glowing yellow glass cube in the right hand) Do you know what an Orlon Window is, Angel? (looks at the cube as lights glow and move inside) It's a fascinating little spell. It allows warlocks such as myself to see the past as it once was. You have to be careful with it, though. If it were to break around someone whose mind had been altered, then all his old memories would come rushing back. (Angel glares at Vail and starts toward him) Careful, Angel! I gave Connor his happy life. (the cube fades into thin air) Are you certain you can kill me... before I can take it away from him? I... built your son. (walks past Angel with his IV rack in tow) I am not the sort of man you want as an enemy. (grunts, wheezes as he sits in his chair)

ANGEL Fine. I'll do it. I'll kill Sahjahn.

VAIL If it were that simple, I'd do it myself. No, the prophecy is quite clear. There is only one person who can kill Sahjahn.

ANGEL Connor.

VAIL So...you see our problem. I turned your son into a healthy boy. And now, I need you... to turn him back into a killer.

Fade to black.

ACT III:

19 INT. ANGEL'S OFFICE - NIGHT Connor's sitting in a chair across from Angel, leaning his elbows on the chair arms, and leaning his chin on his clasped hands.

CONNOR (incredulous) He wants me to kill somebody?

ANGEL (stands, walks in front of the desk) A demon named Sahjahn. We've fought him before.

CONNOR Why me? Why do I have to do it?

ANGEL (sits on the edge of his desk) Because you're special. There's a prophecy that says you're the only one who can kill him.

WESLEY Why are we even entertaining this?

ANGEL Vail's made some convincing threats.

WESLEY Since when do we give in to threats?

CONNOR He's not threatening you. He's threatening my family.

WESLEY We can't trust anything from Vail. Angel, he did a massive spell the day we took over Wolfram & Hart. Until we understand why—

CONNOR (to Angel) Is he pretty strong, this Sahjahn?

WESLEY That's a bit of an understatement. Last time you fought him, Sahjahn nearly killed you.

CONNOR Is that true?

ANGEL (looks down) This is different. (looks at Connor) Like I said... you're special.

CONNOR (to Angel) We don't have a choice, do we?

WESLEY Of course we have a choice. We just need time to figure out what Vail did.

ANGEL (closes his eyes) We don't have time.

CONNOR If I kill Sahjahn, Vail will leave my family alone? (Angel nods once) (thinks it over, then stands, determined) What are we waiting for?

Angel stands, glances at Wesley, then walks out.

Cut to:

20 INT. BASEMENT OF SUBURBAN HOUSE - DAY The dungeon master demon pulls a hot poker out of the furnace fire and walks toward Gunn, who's lying on the table, choking on his own blood.

GUNN (coughing) Please...please... I'll do whatever you say—please! (coughs as the demon approaches him) No! No! No!

HAMILTON (walks down the steps into the basement) Sorry to interrupt. (the demon stops torturing Gunn) I'll just need a minute. (the demon steps away)

Hamilton pulls the necklace off of Gunn, and Gunn comes to with a start. He sits up, panting. Hamilton walks toward the demon's stash of tools.

HAMILTON (pointing to one of the tools) Do you know what this thing is? (shakes it) It's a gibbet. Has he put you in it yet? Well, he'll get around to it. Eventually, he gets around to everything down here. (walks toward Gunn) Mr. Gunn, I'm Marcus Hamilton, your new liaison to the senior partners, and I have a proposition for you.

GUNN Oh, yeah?

HAMILTON Yes. It occurs to us that you might want to get out of here. We can help with that. You know, I've been by your offices, seen your friends. Strange, there's not much activity on the... "rescue Gunn" front. We're not asking you for much. All we need you to do—

GUNN Can I have my necklace back? (Hamilton holds out the necklace and Gunn grabs it) Come on, sparky. Let's go. (putting the necklace back on) This heart ain't gonna cut itself out.

HAMILTON (sighs) Thank you for your time. (walks back up the stairs)

GUNN (lies back down) No, no, no, please! (the demon gets back to work) Please! No! No! No!

Cut to:

21 INT. TRAINING ROOM - NIGHT Angel and Connor are together in the training room.

ANGEL You're not alone in this. I'll be right there with you.

CONNOR You gonna hold Sahjahn down while I stab him?

ANGEL Prophecy doesn't say you can't have a little help.

CONNOR (wringing his hands) Hardly seems fair.

ANGEL Fair's not something we worry about.

CONNOR Maybe you should. I'm not a bully. If I'm gonna do this, you gotta let me do it my way. (starts pacing again) Now I just gotta figure out what my way is.

ANGEL You'll have your whole life for that.

CONNOR Might as well start now.

ANGEL All right. Let me show you a few things.

CONNOR Well, yeah... I'm all noble and stuff, but I'm not an idiot. I've been in one fight in my entire life, and you bailed me out of it. (looks at the weapons on the wall) Should I take one of these with me? An ax, or whatever this thing is. (knocks one of the weapons off the wall; it clangs as it falls to the floor) Sorry.

ANGEL (goes to Connor; picks up the weapon) That's OK. Probably stay away from the weapons for now. (tosses the weapon into the corner)

CONNOR OK. Sorry.

ANGEL (stands next to Connor, talks like a coach) Look, you're faster than Sahjahn. Use it! He talks a lot. He'll try to lull you into slowing down. Don't listen. Hit him quick. Keep moving.

CONNOR Do you really think I can do this?

ANGEL I know you can.

Cut to:

22 INT. ARCHIVES AT WOLFRAM & HART - NIGHT On a mission, Wesley walks into the basement archives of Wolfram & Hart files, followed by Illyria.

ILLYRIA You are so concerned with names, dates, times.

WESLEY (weaves his way through aisles of file cabinets) Reality's being changed.

ILLYRIA Define change. The world is as it is.

WESLEY Not necessarily. (opens a drawer in a filing cabinet)

ILLYRIA You are a summation of recollections. Each change is simply a point of experience.

WESLEY (closes that drawer and opens the one below it) We are more than just memories.

ILLYRIA And yet Fred changed the moment her memory did.

WESLEY (shocked) Fred's memories were changed?

ILLYRIA In places.

WESLEY Can you see what they were before?

ILLYRIA No. (blinks) They're gone. (Wes grabs a file out of the drawer and stands to read it) Does this change your view of Fred? Is she still the person you thought she was?

WESLEY (his jaw drops as he reads the file) No. None of us are.

Wes drops the file as he rushes back out of the filing room. Illyria follows him. As they leave, the camera pans down to reveal the contract signed in blood by Angel.

Cut to:

23 INT. VAIL'S PLACE - NIGHT Angel and Connor walk into Vail's receiving room.

CONNOR This place smells like a retirement home.

VAIL Welcome. I've been waiting for you. (stands)

CONNOR Oh, lord. Look at him.

ANGEL (to Connor) Shh! (to Vail) Listen, Vail, we won't be staying long.

CONNOR (cuts off Angel and stands fearlessly up in Vail's face) Here's how it works. I kill this Sahjahn thing, and we walk. You come near my family again, and I'll slit your throat. (Vail touches his hand to his own throat) (thinks, then adds) And if that doesn't kill ya, I'll chop your whole head off. And if that doesn't work, I'll—I'll just keep... stabbing you till you bleed to death. (Angel looks at Connor, surprised) Understand?

VAIL (nods) I do.

CONNOR Good. So...where is he?

VAIL (points to his left) Right through there.

CONNOR (looks to the adjacent room with a long table beneath a crystal chandelier) OK. (to Angel) See you later. (walks toward the next room)

ANGEL (jumps to Connor's side, whispering) Listen, he's gonna talk to you. Don't let him distract you.

CONNOR I won't.

ANGEL Even if he's on the ground, do not take your eyes off him.

CONNOR OK.

ANGEL Whatever you do, do not—

CONNOR (turns to face Angel) Dude, you're starting to freak me out.

ANGEL (stands back a step) Right. Sorry. (Connor starts to walk toward the room, but Angel grabs his arm) Oh... (straightens Connor's shirt collar) Sorry. Go get him. (Angel steps back as Connor walks into the next room) I'll be right over here. (wrings his hands)

Connor walks up to the table in the adjacent room and notices an assortment of axes and an urn on the table. He walks around the table, taking it all in.

CONNOR What am I suppose— (when he turns to pose this question to Vail, Connor sees that a wall has appeared between him and the other room) OK.

Angel and Vail are standing right outside the room Connor's in. They can see what's happening in the room, but Connor can't see them.

VAIL (to Angel) He can't see us anymore.

ANGEL Why not?

VAIL I can't risk Sahjahn getting loose. He has a nasty habit of trying to kill me. But don't worry. Your boy is very brave. I'm sure he'll do you proud.

CONNOR (looks at the urn on the table, sighs as he psychs himself up for the task ahead) Open sesame. Or whatever.

Connor takes the top off of the urn, and silvery smoke emanates from it, assembling nearby, forming Sahjahn.

SAHJAHN (looks around, sees Connor) Thank you, mortal, for releasing me from my cursed prison. In gratitude, I grant you 3 wishes.

CONNOR Really?

SAHJAHN Nah. I'm just messing with you.

CONNOR (frowns) Oh.

SAHJAHN (chuckles) I do appreciate it, though. (stretches his neck) Ahh... that urn wasn't exactly a day at the spa. I owe you one.

CONNOR Right. Well, before you start trying to kiss me, I should probably tell ya... you and I, we're, uh...supposed to fight.

SAHJAHN Is that right?

CONNOR Yeah.

SAHJAHN Now, why would you want— (looks closer at Connor) Ah... you're him.

CONNOR Yeah. I'm me. Hi. You can take a moment, if you want. (points to the table) There's some weapons and stuff over here if you think you'll need them.

SAHJAHN Thanks.

ANGEL (watching Connor and Sahjahn from the other room) No, he's talking to him. Why is he talking to him? I told him not to talk to him.

SAHJAHN Been a while since we've seen each other. How'd Quor-Toth work out for you, anyway?

CONNOR (backs away from Sahjahn) Uh...worked out great. Thanks for asking.

SAHJAHN You know, I've had a long time to plan for this moment. I figured you'd be a lot more... intimidating.

CONNOR Yeah. Well... I figured I was going to Tony Roma's with my folks tonight, but... I'm here. Learn to cope.

SAHJAHN I'll work on it. (pulls a faster than light punch, knocking Connor to the ground)

Upon seeing Connor take a hit, Angel rushes toward the room, but the barrier preventing Connor and Sahjahn from seeing out also prevents Angel from getting in. Angel turns and glares at Vail.

VAIL (to Angel) Sorry. Not your fight.

CONNOR (groans on the floor, but gets to his feet) Ow! God, that really hurt!

SAHJAHN Did it?

CONNOR Yeah! I'm sorry.

SAHJAHN You need to call a time out?

CONNOR No. I'm all right.

Sahjahn takes a couple of swings at Connor, but misses as Connor ducks out of the way each time. Connor punches and connects with Sahjahn's face, and Sahjahn returns the favor, punching Connor and knocking him down.

ANGEL (watching from the other room) (to Vail) Open the doorway. Right now.

VAIL (holding the glowing yellow glass cube in his hand) Or you'll what? Relax. Your son has to grow up sooner or later. Sit back and watch his future unfold. (Sahjahn punches Connor twice in the face; he staggers back, but doesn't fall down) There's no need to bring back the past if we don't have to.

Connor throws a punch, but Sahjahn catches his fist before it connects and punches Connor in the stomach before slinging him across the room. Connor swings at Sahjahn, but doesn't faze him. Sahjahn punches Connor in the kidneys, sending him to the ground.

SAHJAHN (circling Connor) You know...I went through a lot of trouble to get rid of you. What a colossal waste of time that turned out to be. (kicks Connor in the ribs, sending him flying across the room)

Angel sees Connor splayed out on the floor as Sahjahn approaches him menacingly.

ANGEL (turns to Vail) Open it now—

When Angel turns to face Vail, he sees that Vail is frozen in time and isn't holding the box anymore. Angel looks around the room and sees Illyria standing there beside Wesley, who's holding the glowing yellow cube now.

WESLEY You changed the world.

Wesley and Illyria are glaring at Angel.

ANGEL Wes...what are you doing?

WESLEY You sold us out to Wolfram & Hart.

ANGEL Be careful.

WESLEY (looks at the glowing glass cube in his hand) Is this your 30 pieces of silver?

ANGEL Wes...give me that. (approaches Wesley)

ILLYRIA (backhands Angel, sending him flying across the room; he slides across the floor) He doesn't follow you any longer.

Meanwhile, in the next room, Sahjahn is sending Connor flying across the room, and he slides across the floor. Sahjahn grabs Connor by the lapels and lifts him into the air before slamming him on the table. Connor groans.

SAHJAHN These prophecies are turning out to be pretty overrated. I gotta tell you, kid, you're making a good case for the whole concept of free will.

WESLEY (to Angel) You changed the world.

ANGEL He's my son, Wesley. Connor's my son.

WESLEY (looks at Illyria) Did you trade her? Did you trade Fred for your son?

ANGEL What?

WESLEY Everything that's happened since we took over Wolfram & Hart, everything that's happened to— (looks at Illyria, looks down) her... Did you know? Was Fred the price?

ANGEL No. Wes... I can explain. Just put that down.

WESLEY Why are you so afraid of this? He said it would bring back the past. Will it undo what you've done?

ANGEL No. It won't bring her back.

WESLEY Let's find out. (motions like he's going to throw the glass cube to the ground)

ANGEL (rushes toward Wesley, desperately) No! Please. You have to trust me.

WESLEY (cocks his head) I can't. Not anymore.

Wesley slams the glass cube into the ground. As it shatters, the cube releases an explosion of bright yellow light, sending everyone in the room back from the blast.

Fade to black.

ACT IV:

24 INT. VAIL'S PLACE - NIGHT Resume. The Orlon Window has just been broken, restoring the memories of those nearby. The force of the magic knocked everyone to the ground. Wesley, his past memories now available to him, stares at Angel in shock and dismay. Angel sees Wesley reacting to those memories, and remembers his son was nearby as well.

ANGEL Connor— (gets to his feet)

In the adjacent room, Sahjahn has Connor bent over the table, choking him. Connor suddenly reaches up and grabs Sahjahn's throat and squeezes, then uses his grip to sling Sahjahn over the table and away from him. Connor gets to his feet and strikes a menacing pose reminiscent of his first appearance on the show in Season 3.

SAHJAHN (chuckling) Lucky shot.

Connor rolls over the tabletop, grabbing an axe, and faces Sahjahn. Connor now seems more comfortable in his own skin, fighting evenly with Sahjahn. They exchange punches and kicks, but Connor stuns Sahjahn with a punch, and seizes the opportunity by swinging the axe at his head, slicing it clean off. Connor stands over Sahjahn's body, panting. Noticing the barrier between the rooms has vanished, Angel walks tentatively toward Connor.

ANGEL Connor?

CONNOR (noticing Angel) Whoa! You see that? I went a little hard-core there for a second. That guy made me really cranky. (looks at his bloody axe)

ANGEL Are you OK?

CONNOR Yeah. I guess. I don't really like people touching my neck, you know? (rubs his jugular)

ANGEL Connor... uh...

CONNOR Hey, can we... get outta here? I'd like to go back... see my parents. (puts down the axe) This whole fighting thing, I'm not... I'm not really sure it's for me. (looks at Angel)

Cut to:

25 INT. WESLEY'S OFFICE - DAY A haggard and very unhappy-looking Wesley sits at his desk in the dark staring straight ahead. Illyria stands nearby.

ILLYRIA You betrayed Angel. You stole his son. He tried to kill you.

WESLEY Yes.

ILLYRIA Are these the memories you needed back? Does this now make you Wesley?

WESLEY (nods) At least I know what happened.

ILLYRIA Do you? There are 2 sets of memories—those that happened and those that are fabricated. It's hard to tell which is which.

WESLEY (looks confused, shakes his head) Try to push reality out of your mind. Focus on the other memories. They were created for a reason.

ILLYRIA To hide from the truth?

WESLEY (looks pained, looks into Illyria's eyes) To endure it.

Cut to:

26 INT. ANGEL'S OFFICE - DAY Angel is standing in front of the window, looking out at the city, when Connor walks into the office.

CONNOR I thought sunlight burned you up.

ANGEL (turns to face Connor, laughs) Special glass.

CONNOR Cool. You should, like, make a whole suit out of it like the pope has.

ANGEL How's your dad?

CONNOR (looks at Angel, cocks his head) He's fine. They're releasing him now. I should warn you—he's pretty pissed. I told him that you took me out demon fighting and, uh, almost got me killed. He wants to have a talk with you.

ANGEL (nods seriously, heads toward his desk) All right. I'll, uh...

CONNOR I'm kidding! Man, you gotta lighten up. He thinks we spent the whole night doing tests. I told him I could bench press, like, 1,000 pounds.

ANGEL (walks back to Connor) What are you gonna tell them about... who you are?

CONNOR The truth, more or less. I'll tell them that I'm different. I'll tell them it's... actually a good thing. I'll tell them to stop worrying so much.

ANGEL Well, they're parents. (sits)

CONNOR Yeah, I know. They'll feel a lot better knowing you're looking out for me.

ANGEL We still haven't found Vail, but we will.

CONNOR (smirks) I'm not too worried about him. Nothing he can show me I haven't already seen. (Angel isn't quite sure how to take that) Anyway... I just wanted to say good-bye. I gotta go back to my life now. (walks toward the door)

ANGEL (stands, nervously) Oh...do you really have to leave? I mean, right now?

CONNOR I kinda think I should. I need to take care of my parents. This isn't their world. They really don't feel safe here. (looks into Angel's eyes) You gotta do what you can to protect your family. I learned that from my father.

Angel watches Connor walk out of his office toward the elevator. Connor presses the elevator button and waits. When the elevator door opens, he casts one last glance at Angel, then walks onto the elevator.

Fade to black.