Season III: Quickening

GUNN
(voice-over)
Previously on Angel:

HOLTZ
(Takes a closer look at him)
You're not human.

SAHJHAN
Fine. My mistake - I just thought you might want help killing Angelus and Darla.

Season ?: ?

ANGEL
What about my son?

WESLEY
He has a role to play - I've located commentaries on the Nyazian text, the prophecies concerning your son.

WESLEY stares down at his notepad

WESLEY
The Father will kill The Son.

SEASON III - Sleep Tight

JUSTINE
Bastard! I'll kill him for this - You have to get out of here.

JUSTINE falls against WESLEY

WESLEY
You have to get to a hospital

JUSTINE
No I just have to do…

JUSTINE pulls out a knife and slices it across the side of WESLEY'S neck. WESLEY falls to his knees, pressing one hand over the cut, as JUSTINE pulls the baby out of his grip.

SEASON III - Sleep Tight

ANGEL
No! NO!

HOLTZ jumps into the roiling red air of the portal and disappears from view.
ANGEL jumps after him, but is thrown back by a lighting bolt lashing out from the
portal and hitting him full in the chest. ANGEL flies backward, landing with a
hard thud and rolls to look back at the portal.

SEASON III - Forgiving, hospital scene

ANGEL
You son of a bitch, you're gonna pay for what you did! You took my son! You son of a bitch! You bastard!

Cut to - Angel being dragged out of the room by the orderlies.

SEASON III - The Price

FRED
The Destroyer! I remember…The Destroyer is coming.

CORDELIA
Right. We got that. Any idea when?

Suddenly there's a HUGE ELECTRICAL CHARGE in the middle of the lobby, accompanied by a LOUD CLAP OF THUNDER.

FRED
Now.

Cut to - a teenaged CONNOR
Hi Dad.

SEASON III - Benediction

WESLEY
A test Lilah?

LILAH
Oh, don't look so grim. I just needed to know whether or not I was wasting my time.

SEASON III - Benediction

HOLTZ
You promised. You said you'd do anything for me. Come on, Justine. I'm not asking you to follow me into hell. Just help send me there. Do it!

Crying, her hand still over HOLTZ', JUSTINE plunges the awl into his neck.

SEASON III - Benediction

CONNOR looks up from HOLTZ' body. The puncture marks in his neck are obvious.

CONNOR
Angelus.

SEASON III - Tomorrow
Hyperion Hotel

LORNE
Leaving - on the midnight train to Georgia. Actually it's the nine eighteen flight to
Vegas tomorrow, but where is the poetry in that? This is because of me. A buddy of mine has a club just off the strip, and he needs a singer and a seer. I could maybe do a little good.

SEASON III - Tomorrow

ANGEL waking up to the sounds of a screwgun as Connor seals him into the metal coffin.

JUSTINE (V.O.)
You don't wanna kill him? After what he did? What do you wanna do?

SEASON III - Tomorrow

ANGEL
Why are you doing this?

CONNOR
You killed my father.

ANGEL
No, I didn't.

SEASON III - Tomorrow

CORDELIA is being drawn up in the cone of light.

SKIP (V.O.)
You're a great warrior, Cordelia. The battle that we're all a part of is fought on many different plains and dimensions. You've outgrown this one. You've become - a higher being.

SEASON III - Tomorrow
Hotel lobby

FRED (V.O)
Where did everybody go?

SEASON III - Tomorrow

We see Cordy rise up to the heavens as Angel's coffin floats to the bottom of the ocean.

SEASON IV - Factions

The Hyperion Hotel. FRED and GUNN sit as the electricity goes out.

GUNN
Fred, honey we don't have a business to run…Honey, we're Angel Investigations without the Angel, without a link to the powers and without a resident demonologist

SEASON IV - Factions - BEACHSIDE VIEW OF SUNSET - EXT

The camera pans down into the ocean, deeper and deeper until it moves towards a large box covered in algae - the camera moves around to window on the top to show…

CLOSE UP - ANGEL'S FACE, IT'S PALE, THIN AND CRACKED

SEASON IV - Factions - Wolfram & Hart

LILAH
You really should learn to play with others Wes.

WESLEY
Its my project and my meeting Lilah.

LILAH
I'm your department head - You should fill me in before the meeting.

CUT TO - CONNOR and JUSTINE fighting side by side, dusting nests of vamps

CUT TO - Wolfram & Hart
Wesley and Lilah are speaking

LILAH
We want you to run a sub - division of special projects - focusing specifically on Angel investigations

CUT TO - WESLEY'S apartment
Fred has come to visit.

FRED
I thought you would help - I never said it but I've thought god knows how many times over the last 5 months that if we went to Wesley he would sort this mess out - now I realise you were to busy being evil to fight evil…

CUT TO - CORDY'S chamber

Her eyes are closed as she meditates. CORDY'S skin stops glowing - her eyes open and she looks up.

CORDY
Angel!?

CUT TO - SCENE - Joey's Bar - INT - DAY

FRED and GUNN cautiously enter the bar - then dive back to avoid a vampire that is flung across the room - GUNN stakes it

3 Vamps run at FRED & GUNN - GUNN knocks them to the ground as FRED stakes them - they move towards the bar and see CONNOR & JUSTINE over the other side of the pool table

GUNN
Need a hand?

CONNOR looks up and is caught off guard by the vampire he was fighting - JUSTINE finishes the vampire she was fighting and goes to help him.

JUSTINE
Not from you - not from anybody!

SCENE CUTS TO - Joey's Bar, fighting in progress

CORDY floating about 3 feet above the air - her skin is still gold and blue and she is still wearing oracle robes. She slowly lands on the ground - and her clothes change back into the ones she was wearing in TOMORROW.

GUNN
Cordy!

FRED
You're Back.

TEASER

INT. - JOEY'S BAR - NIGHT

Cordelia looks down at her regular clothing and smiles to herself.

CORDELIA
That's better.
(notices the Oracles marking on her arms, licks her finger and tries to wipe them off - they don't come off)

The entire group stands for a moment, taking in the shock of CORDELIA suddenly appearing as she did, when CONNOR makes the first move, rushing at her, yelling in fury. CORDELIA recovers quickly and simply holds up a hand and flicks her wrist. CONNOR goes flying across the room. CORDELIA, FRED and GUNN all look surprised at this, but CORDY recovers quickly as if she's always had this ability.

GUNN
Oookay…

CONNOR rights himself and gets to his feet. CORDELIA cocks an eyebrow impatiently.

CORDELIA
You don't want to be messing with Auntie Cordy, do you Connor? 'Cause this time I'm not as likely to glow and drain you of your powers as I am to smack that sweet little face of yours. (pause) Or worse.

FRED
Actually, he prefers Ste-nothing.

CONNOR
You.

CORDELIA
Me.

CONNOR considers his next action for a moment, then smirks. He glances down at JUSTINE, still on the ground with GUNN standing over her, then turns tail and runs out of the room.

FRED
STEVEN!

CORDELIA waves her hand, cutting off FRED.

CORDELIA
Let him go.

JUSTINE moves on the ground but GUNN is standing above her. CORDELIA notices her. She crosses the room and GUNN moves out of the way, shielding FRED behind him as best he can. CORDELIA hauls JUSTINE to her feet and begins to choke her.

CORDELIA
Where is he?! Where is Angel?!

JUSTINE, despite being choked, manages a small, evil smile.

CORDELIA
Tell me. Where is he?! What did you do to him?!

JUSTINE tries to speak, can't because of the choking. CORDELIA relaxes just a millimeter and JUSTINE spits in her face. CORDY, shocked, doesn't wipe it off.

FADE TO BLACK

CREDITS

ACT TWO

INT- JOEY'S BAR - WHERE WE LEFT OFF

CORDY returns to choking JUSTINE until FRED pulls them apart. FRED stands between CORDELIA and JUSTINE, GUNN stands behind her, ready for whatever happens next.

FRED
Cordy! Cordy! Stop! If you kill her, we'll never know what happened to Angel.

CORDELIA steps into JUSTINE'S personal space.

CORDELIA
Get chatty. Now.

GUNN
Okay, okay. Everyone, just back off, calm down. I vote we take our little POW here back to the hotel, back on our turf. Then we can pump her for info and you…you can tell us what's been up with you for the past five months or so.

CORDELIA
There's time for catch-up later. I'm back for a reason. Angel's in danger. He's dying. I saw it…sort of. But I can feel it.

FRED
You can feel Angel?

CORDELIA
He's suffering. In pain.

JUSTINE (laughs)
Good. He deserves that and more. Steven will be pleased.

CORDELIA moves as if to strike but GUNN steps in and pulls JUSTINE towards the door. Suddenly she breaks loose and head butts him, knocking him backwards and onto the floor. She reaches down suddenly and grabs a KNIFE out of her boot, taking FRED by the arm and pulling her back, knife at FRED'S throat.

JUSTINE
Back off NOW or Ms. Texas here goes the way of the Brit. Think Angel'll come back and try to smother her with a pillow, too?

GUNN scrambles to his feet, enraged.

GUNN
Let her go! Now! She's got nothing to do with you and your mission!

CORDELIA
(gently) Gunn…

She closes her eyes briefly, calming herself, then opens them. They're steely and suddenly they *flick* to one side and JUSTINE'S knife goes flying, soon followed by JUSTINE herself. Her body flies backward out of the room and down the staircase, landing with a sickening thud at the bottom of the lobby steps.

INT - LILAH'S OFFICE - NIGHT

WESLEY is sitting at LILAH'S computer, hacking into it. We see that he's reading the reports he was not allowed access to in FACTIONS - the surveillance reports on Angel Investigations.

WESLEY (under his breath)
(reading) The subject, Angel, has been missing for several months, as has the Seer, Cordelia. The anagogic demon, known as The Host, has also departed, leaving only the two known as Gunn and Fred. The subject {son} has not been seen at the hotel but there are others tracking him.

He sits back, realizing.

WESLEY
Angel's gone. Cordelia…gone. They're missing. For months. Fred didn't tell me…Gunn. (realizes) Lilah didn't tell me.

His jaw sets and he continues reading when he hears LILAH in the hall. He quickly exits the reports and returns her computer to normal, crossing to a chair in a darkened corner of the office. Just before the door opens, his eye catches something and he does a double-take as he sinks into a chair in the corner of the room. The camera pans over to show us a large BOX sitting on a bookshelf. We don't know what it is…but WES obviously does.

LILAH
(speaking to someone in the hall)
And if I have to repeat myself, Christopher, the consequences will involve things your uncle in Acquisitions can do nothing about.

She enters the room and approaches her desk, unaware of WESLEY'S presence until she turns around.

LILAH
What are you doing in here?

WESLEY
(smiles softly)
Waiting for you…of course.

LILAH (skeptical)
And why's that?

WESLEY approaches her confidently, mere inches from her face.

WESLEY
One of the…perks…of sleeping with the boss.

LILAH, getting it, glances at her desk.

LILAH
You aren't serious. That's what the interns do when they think we're not around.

WESLEY moves in, slipping an arm around her waist and pulling her to him, their mouths mere inches from each others, his hands splayed on her hips, pulling them to his own.

WESLEY
Ask me again if I'm serious.

She gasps in pleasure. They proceed to lay back on the desk, kissing passionately.

INT- HYPERION HOTEL - NIGHT

GUNN
I still can't believe you were an Oracle. Angel told me 'bout them. Were you blue?

CORDY
(distracted)
Yeah. Sorta.

FRED
Like a Smurf-blue or like a…well…I guess there aren't too many other blue people…

CORDELIA sits on a chair. FRED and GUNN exchange worried glances.

GUNN
Well, I guess that explains why you couldn't let anyone know where you were…being in another dimension an all. You ascended.

That gets CORDY'S attention.

CORDELIA
You have no idea what Ascension looks like. Trust me. I was prettier. And not a reptile.

FRED
(looks up the stairs)
What are we going to do with her? Shouldn't we be looking for Connor?

CORDELIA
No. Not yet. Justine can tell us everything we need to know.

GUNN
Yeah, but that doesn't seem to be her first choice of plans. Unless you're ready to let me have a whack at her. And I do mean whack. (imitates some punches)

FRED
Cordy, you said you could feel Angel…that means he's alive, right? And…you're all…Oracle-y…Are you getting anything off of him now?

GUNN
Like an S.O.S. vibe?

FRED
Yeah…if she could feel him all the way in another dimension…you'd think the waves
would be stronger here than when they were travelling inter-dimensionally.

GUNN
Kinda like how you get better reception on a cell phone when you're on the street than in a tunnel?

FRED
Sorta…yeah.

They turn to CORDELIA.

FRED
Cordy?

CORDELIA is staring into space.

FRED
Cordy? Are you okay?

CORDELIA
(shakes herself out of it)
Uh…yeah.

GUNN
What's wrong?

CORDELIA looks up the stairs and rises to her feet.

CORDELIA
We don't have much time to waste. I'm getting answers. Now.

She runs up the stairs without looking back, leaving FRED and GUNN staring worriedly after her.

INT - UPSTAIRS, HYPERION HOTEL - NIGHT

CORDELIA rounds the corner and head down a hallway, stopping at a door. She bursts through the door and the camera rolls back to reveal JUSTINE tied to a chair.

CORDELIA
Let's have that chat now.

JUSTINE
(smirks)
You know? I'm not much on the girl-talk. Never have been.

CORDELIA
Yeah, well, you're not here to grow. You're only here to share.

JUSTINE
I'll never tell you what happened. You'll have to kill me…And oh…even then I won't be able to tell you, will I?

CORDELIA
(considers)
You know? You're right. Why don't we skip the whole "speaking" part and just get to the sharing?

JUSTINE
What?

CORDELIA moves behind JUSTINE and pulls up a chair, sitting in it, then placing her hands on either side of JUSTINE'S head. CORDY closes her eyes as JUSTINE begins to struggle.

JUSTINE
Hey! Hey! What are you doing? What's going on?

CORDELIA ignores her and begins to breathe steadily. After a moment she begins to glow and her face starts to contort slightly. Then her eyes fly open wide, panicked.

Suddenly we see what she does. ANGEL, locked in a box, JUSTINE and CONNOR standing over him, sealing him in. She then sees ANGEL's box sinking to the bottom of the ocean…and then she sees ANGEL himself, as he is now…thin, almost gaunt, pale, skin cracking and blue.

CORDELIA breaks the trance, yanking her hands from JUSTINE'S head and sits back, her breathing coming quickly now. She looks at her hands, shaking like crazy, her eyes wide with horror.

JUSTINE
What did you do to me? I'm gonna kill you! I'm gonna kill you, you hear me?

CORDELIA doesn't even hear her, so deep is her panic and despair. She stumbled up and out of the chair, leaving the room. Outside she stumbles a ways down the hall, then collapses, leaning against the wall, tears in her eyes. She begins to sob. JUSTINE can hear her because the door is still open, and she's confused and angry at CORDELIA'S reaction.

JUSTINE
(softly)
What…?
(then realises)
She saw…

FRED and GUNN rush up the stairs, having heard the wails all the way in the lobby.

GUNN
Cordy! What did she do? What did she do to you?

CORDELIA shakes her head but is unable to speak.

FRED
Are you okay? What's going on? Cordy?

She leans down and cradles the girl in her arms, looking up at GUNN, worried and confused. GUNN is just pissed.

GUNN
He's dead, isn't he? You got the answer. He's dead. She killed Angel.

Again, CORDY shakes her head.

CORDELIA
N-no…no…

GUNN
Not dead?

FRED
Cordy…tell us…tell us what's wrong.

CORDELIA calms down a bit.

CORDELIA
(speaking more to herself)
He…I know where he is. I was on my way up…he was going down…

FRED and GUNN exchange a glance.

GUNN
Down? They…they buried him alive?

CORDELIA
No…well…yes…

FRED
Which is it?

CORDELIA
They put him in a coffin. Connor…Connor did this. She helped…she killed Holtz…made Connor think Angel did it…then they put him in a coffin…sealed it…and dropped it in the ocean. He-he's at the bottom of the ocean.

FRED and GUNN take this in, horrified. GUNN slumps to the floor, FRED'S jaw sets.

FADE TO BLACK

INT.- HYPERION HOTEL - MOMENTS LATER

FRED carefully eases CORDY out of her arms and stands up, moving past GUNN and bursting into the room, ready to kick some ass. JUSTINE'S not there.

FRED prowls around the room, kicking over the rag-tag furniture, pulling up the mattress as best she can.

FRED
Where are you?! Where are you?! Come out!

There is a sound coming from the room's bathroom. FRED turns towards the bathroom and pushes open the door to reveal JUSTINE. She's hung herself with the ropes used to bound her hands. FRED stares at her for a moment, then screams.

GUNN and CORDELIA come running into the room and see JUSTINE. He pulls FRED into his arms.

GUNN
It's okay, it's okay baby. It's okay.

CORDELIA's eyes are blank as the three of them walk out of the room and back into the lobby. CORDELIA heads for the phone and picks it up.

CORDELIA
I'm calling Wesley. We need help.

GUNN eases FRED onto a couch then walks over and takes the phone out of CORDELIA'S hand.

GUNN
No. No Wesley.

CORDELIA
What? Look, I know what he did with Connor and Angel was bad…but…We need help, you guys. Angel's alive! And he's twenty-thousand leagues under the sea…and it's just the three of us now. We need him.

FRED (rises from the couch)
No. No Wesley.

CORDELIA
Tell me why.

FRED
He's not on our side anymore, Cordelia. He's working for Wolfram and Hart now.

Close in on CORDELIA'S shocked face.

INT. - WESLEY'S APARTMENT - DAY

WESLEY is looking over some paperwork from Wolfram and Hart when there is a knock on the door. He rises and answers it, surprised to see CORDELIA standing on the other side. He's too shocked to say anything.

CORDELIA (annoyed)
Are you going to invite me in?

WESLEY moves aside and she enters, then turns around to face him.

CORDELIA
So, this is where the enemy sleeps.

WESLEY
If you've come here to snip at me, let me save you the trouble.

CORDELIA
(ignores him)
I've known you for how long now, Wes? Almost four years. I know you pretty well, wouldn't you say? We're friends?

WESLEY doesn't answer her.

CORDELIA
No, we're not friends. A friend of mine would never do what you've done. You've switched sides. You're working against us now, rather than with us…towards the goal you've had since your Watcher days!

WESLEY looks away, he can't deny it.

WESLEY
It's not entirely like that, Cordelia.

CORDELIA
Then explain it to me.

He can't.

WESLEY
Was there something you needed?

CORDELIA stares at him a moment, then realizes she's not going to get anywhere with him.

CORDELIA
Yeah…I need your help. Connor and Justine…they buried Angel alive and dumped him in the ocean. He's alive…down there…somewhere. I can't get him out alone. I need your help.

WESLEY
How do you know this?

CORDELIA
(dismissively) I know. Did you know I've been gone for months now? Is that in your reports you provide the lawyers? (she waves a hand, indicating the papers strewn about his dining room table) I ascended, Wesley. Not in a snake-like way…I became an Oracle. And I came back here because Angel called to me. I can feel him…he's hurting, he's dying down there. He's alone, he's scared…and I think he's going a little crazy.

WESLEY says nothing.

CORDELIA
I know there's an Oracle in Wolfram and Hart. Lilah took Angel to see her. Well, not took so much…but you get the point. You can get me there. You can help save Angel.

WESLEY is quiet for a moment, then crosses his arms.

WESLEY
You've come to the wrong person.

CORDELIA
Wesley…please.

WESLEY
(turns his back to her)
I'm sorry, I can't help you.

CORDELIA
(stares at him)
You could…if you wanted to. If you cared. I have faith in you, Wesley. Help us…do the right thing.

WESLEY
I'm not the same person you knew four years ago, Cordelia. Not the same person at all. Perhaps you might know this is you'd paid any attention in the past year or so.

CORDELIA
(beat)
Maybe you're right.

She turns to leave, gets to the door, then turns back.

CORDELIA
I never thought I'd be disappointed in you.

She leaves.

WESLEY ponders her words for a moment, trying not to let them affect him. After a moment he crosses to the window and watches CORDELIA get into Angel's car and drive off. A moment later he leaves as well.

INT.- HOLTZ'S LAIR - DAY

CONNOR walks in and closes his eyes, remembering his father for a moment. He walks around for a few moments, fingering a few of the possessions HOLTZ left behind. Suddenly he sniffs the air and looks around. Rummaging through some of the junk on the floor he finds JUSTINE'S KNIFE. He picks it up and looking it over, running his fingers over the blade and handle. From the corner of the screen we see movement…a rat. Suddenly CONNOR flings the knife and impales the rat to the floor. Blood splatters and lands on PHOTOGRAPHS of the Angel Investigations team.

CONNOR walks to the photographs and pulls the photo of ANGEL off. He stares at it for a moment, then crumples it in fury. In a blind rage he begins to tear apart the entire room. After flinging the table across the room he falls to his knees, panting, not really feeling that much better. After a few moments of collecting himself, he leaves.

INT.- ANGEL'S COFFIN UNDER THE OCEAN

The camera moves through the water until we see the ghostly hint of ANGEL'S coffin. It moves down until we see his face, blue and dark, cracked. He is meditating, his eyes closed, and suddenly the scene switches to what's going on in his head. FLASHES of CORDELIA, laughing with him, and CONNOR fighting at his side play out. CONNOR points his crossbow at something and we flash back to see ANGEL'S face twitch. Suddenly, back in the CONNOR-vision, we see ANGEL's face turn from a smile to an evil grin, and he MORPHS into vamp-face. This isn't ANGEL, folks.

It's ANGELUS.

With lightning fast speed we see ANGELUS kill CONNOR and drink him dry. CONNOR'S body falls to the ground and the camera follows it…revealing the wide-eyed stare of CORDELIA'S corpse.

In the coffin, ANGEL's eyes pop open and he gasps, then anxiously begins banging on the box.

INT.- WOLFRAM & HART - NIGHT

WESLEY walks up to the front door of WOLFRAM & HART and lets himself in using his security card. He approaches the desk of the security officer, an easy smile on his face.

WESLEY
Evening.

SECURITY OFFICER
Evening. Can I help you?

WESLEY (signing in on the log)
Damned reports. Can't get them out of my mind, figured I might as well do something productive with them.

SECURITY OFFICER
Sure thing, Mr…(takes Security card) Wyndham-Pryce. If you'll step through…

He indicates a large tube and WESLEY approaches it, stepping through.

SECURITY OFFICER (checks monitors)
Okay.

WESLEY steps back through and begins to head for the elevators.

SECURITY OFFICER
Just a moment, sir.

WESLEY stops dead, nervousness on his face. He turns and faces the OFFICER.

WESLEY
Yes?

SECURITY OFFICER
Your badge.

Duh. WES walks back over and takes it from the man, slips it in his wallet, and nods, then heads back for the elevators. The doors close…and then reopen and we've switched scenes.

INT.- WOLFRAM & HART HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER

WESLEY steps off the elevator and heads down the hall, stopping at a door on the right. He reaches into his pocket and removes a clear stone, then looks around for a moment before opening the door and slipping inside. He ignores the lights and we see him take the stone and smack it against a table. The stone begins to glow, providing enough light for WES to see but probably not enough to draw attention to that room…or to show cameras what he's doing.

He moves to a computer monitor, then ignores it, moving past to some filing cabinets. With a few different time-lapse scenes we see WES steadily going through the cabinets until he finally comes upon what he's been looking for. He moves silently to a drawing table and rolls out the papers. The camera pans over his shoulder revealing blueprints for Wolfram & Hart.

WESLEY (softly, scanning the prints)
Where are you?

FADE TO BLACK

ACT III

INT. - HYPERION HOTEL - DAY

CORDELIA walks into the hotel to find the coroner there. GUNN is signing for JUSTINE'S body. When the coroner's gone CORDELIA turns to GUNN and FRED.

CORDELIA
You were right.

GUNN
Told you.

CORDELIA (obvious upset)
We'll have to deal with that later…Angel's our first priority.

FRED
How are we going to get Angel? He's…well, he's pretty unreachable. Even if we knew precisely where he's located, it's still a matter of getting the equipment to dive down there. Not to mention there might be sharks…oxygen might be an issue, pressure…

CORDELIA (wearily)
What *do* we know?

GUNN walks behind the counter and produces the MAP he and FRED have been using to pinpoint CONNOR'S activities.

GUNN
Ok…we've been trying to keep track since you guys vanished. Here's where Angel's car was found. This is where your car was found.

CORDELIA
What are the rest of the pins for?

FRED
Connor's activities.

CORDELIA
He's been a busy little beaver since I left.

GUNN
They make a triangle…see? So we figure Connor's gotta be hiding out somewhere in this area, between Ravine and Marine St.

CORDELIA
Okay then…you guys start looking for Connor. Be careful…try to explain that we know what happened…and we're not mad…we just want Angel back.

GUNN
But we are mad.

CORDELIA
I'm thinking sharing that bit of info isn't going to be the way to win over our rebellious teenager.

FRED
And he might kill us.

GUNN
Fine, we hunt. What are you going to do?

CORDELIA
I'm going to figure out how to save Angel.

GUNN and FRED collect some weapons and head out. CORDELIA walks into the office and grabs some files before heading upstairs to ANGEL'S room. She walks in and looks around sadly before lying down on the bed and curling up in a ball.

INT. - WOLFRAM AND HART - DAY

WESLEY is prowling the halls of Wolfram and Hart as best he can, making no eye contact with the passer-bys. He runs into LILAH.

LILAH
I need to talk to you. Come to my office.

WESLEY merely nods and they proceed. Once in her office, she walks to the desk and sits on it, he stands before her.

LILAH
How are the profiles coming?

WESLEY
Fine.

LILAH
You have to have them done in time for the meeting. I know deadline's were probably a bit more slack over at Angel's place, but we run things tightly around here.

WESLEY just stares at her, unimpressed. LILAH shrugs it off and pushes off her desk, crossing to the bar and begins preparing herself a drink. WESLEY notices that she's left a key-ring on her desk and moves to it quietly.

LILAH
I shouldn't have to tell you…you're being watched carefully.

WES looks up suddenly. Caught? Nope. She continues talking, her back to him. He looks back at the keys. Sitting on top is an older-looking brass key. WESLEY pockets the keys and leans against the desk, his hand still in his pocket.

LILAH (continues)
More so than the rest of us. You're a hot commodity…and you're dangerous.

She turns around.

LILAH
I don't think you're dangerous…you're valuable, yes…but I think we'll take down Angel with or without you. Of course, it'll go faster with you.

WESLEY
What are you getting at?

LILAH
Just your friendly neighborhood warning…you and I may have…a relationship…but that doesn't make us friends.

WESLEY (sarcastic)
God no…that would just complicate things.

LILAH
Just don't cross me. In the end, I'll win.
(smiles)
Drink?

WESLEY nods and LILAH moves to fix it. While her back is turned WESLEY slips the KEYS back on the desk. He then removes his wallet and kicks it under her desk.

INT. - WOLFRAM & HART - LILAH'S OFFICE - NIGHT

WESLEY opens the door to LILAH'S office, confident and deadly serious. He looks around for a moment, to be sure he's alone, then heads directly for the box. He opens the box and removes an object…the box with the magic spider.

The next shots are time-lapse as we see WESLEY working on the password for the box, unsuccessfully. Hours go by, he's getting frustrated…shirt buttons are unbuttoned, sleeves are rolled up, a little sweat on the brow maybe. He looks around, rubbing at his tired eyes when suddenly something clicks. He turns to the box and punches in on the keyboard, and viola! Open sesame.

He closes the box and returns it to the shelf, then moves to her computer and goes to work, letting the spider free to do it's stuff, then he moves into the encrypted files on her computer. The camera pans around him, from left to right, and reveals the computer screen to show us that he's searching the system. We watch as moves the cursor to the "Search For" field, and then as he types in "White Room."

A moment passes, then another, until…

WESLEY (sings softly)
In a white room…with black curtains…

He makes a few notes on a piece of paper and sticks it in his breast pocket, then thinks better of it and unbuttons his shirt a bit to reveal a white t-shirt underneath. This shirt also has a pocket and he places the paper in there, then rebuttons his shirt.

And just in time. As he shuts down the computer and moves from behind the desk the door flies open.

LINWOOD
Well, well. Mr. Wyndham-Pryce. Here so late? You know what happens when you burn the candle at both ends don't you? (pause) You get snuffed.

FADE TO BLACK

INT. - LILAH'S OFFICE - NIGHT

Two guards enter the room and stand behind LINWOOD.

LINWOOD
You're working awfully late. I have to wonder, what you could possibly be doing? What, with your loyalty to Wolfram and Hart…I suppose the list of projects you could be working on…in Lilah's office…is just endless.

WESLEY
I dropped my wallet in here earlier and came to retrieve it.

LINWOOD begins pacing.

LINWOOD
Ah. And four hours later you're still looking for it. Interesting. No…wait. Not interesting. Stupid. (to the guards) Get them.

The GUARDS leave.

LINWOOD
You can't say you haven't been warned. We're watching you, Wesley, old boy. We know everything that happens.

WESLEY
You know everything…so this line of questioning really isn't necessary.

LINWOOD
Questioning is the least of what you're going to be put through this evening, Mr. Pryce. You've overstepped your bounds. And here at Wolfram and Hart…why…we're filled with a giddy-sensation at putting you back in your place.

WESLEY
(holds up the wallet)
I tell you again, I was merely looking for my wallet. I came in because I couldn't sleep and figured working on the profiles was better than facing insomnia.

LINWOOD
Aren't you the go-getter? Surprising. Didn't Angel fire you once? I guess after your first firing you snapped to it…no…wait. I seem to recall something in your profile about you being fired once before. By an eighteen-year-old girl, if memory serves…

WESLEY'S jaw clenches.

WESLEY
Yes, I was let go from the Watcher's Council and came to work for Angel. And after being fired, I took the other employees under my wing and we started our own, successful service…and when Angel came back to his senses…I retained the position.

LINWOOD (considers)
Made him beg for forgiveness only to turn on him a year later and kidnap his son. That's underhanded. (thinks) You're never to mention it to the Board. You'll be in a corner office so fast your head will spin.

WESLEY (relaxes)
I trust then our business here is complete?

The door to the office reopens and the GUARDS reenter, now with two DEMONS.

LINWOOD
We'll see.
(to demons)
Question him.

DEMON 1
What are you doing here?

WESLEY (sighs and leans on desk)
Looking for my wallet.

The DEMONS look at each other and nod.

DEMON 2
Have you been engaged in activities this evening that would be frowned upon by Wolfram and Hart?

WESLEY
No. Unless they don't approve of my evening meal. Fried chicken…quite high in fat.

The DEMONS share another look and nod.

DEMON 1
Where do your loyalties lie?

WESLEY
(glances at LINWOOD)
With Wolfram and Hart, of course.

DEMON 2
And your feelings for Angel and the others?

WESLEY
(pause)
Only hatred and betrayal.

The DEMONS consider then turn to LINWOOD and nod. They exit.

LINWOOD
You're clean.

WESLEY
I know.

WESLEY moves past him to leave the room.

LINWOOD
Watch yourself, Pryce. Watch every little step.

CUT TO:

INT. - WESLEY'S CAR - NIGHT

WESLEY looks up at the front of the Wolfram & Hart building as he starts the car and drives off. He picks up his cell phone and hits speed dial.

WESLEY
Cordelia? It's me…(catches himself)…It's Wesley.

(pause)

I need your help.

INT. - CONNOR'S BUILDING - DAY

FRED and GUNN are searching rooms in the broken down building. They open door after door, and find nothing until FRED sees something.

FRED
Charles…here.

GUNN walks to the doorway and looks in.

GUNN
That's Connor's jacket.

FRED
Think he's still here?

GUNN
Only one way to find out. Connor? You here man?

FRED
(stepping into the room)
Steven? It's Fred. Please…we just want to talk to you.

The camera moves around the room and we see CONNOR slip behind a door and back into another room off the one FRED and GUNN are in.

FRED
Steven…we're here to help you. Justine…she's dead. I'm so sorry Steven. She took her own life.

Cut back to CONNOR, the news registering on his face.

GUNN
She's telling the truth, kiddo. Justine…she was bad news, man. I know you want to believe that Angel killed your dad…killed Holtz…but he didn't. Justine did…Holtz asked her to…it was a set up, Con-Steven. You have to believe us.

FRED
Angel's alive, Connor…we know. We know all about it. And we're still here…we're still your friends. Stuff's all…crazy now. And trust me (laughs) I know what it feels like to be all crazy in your head. I was alone once…all alone, and hunted just for being who I was. For being human. And stuff's just rattling rattling rattling around in that brain of yours, and you don't know what to think and you don't know what to believe…'cause there's no room for anything else but the fear in there. It just takes up the whole space.

FRED and GUNN continue to look around.

The camera cuts to CONNOR, hiding, listening.

FRED (continues)
You don't have to be afraid with us, Steven. I mean…heck. You know you could take us out in a heartbeat if you wanted to. But think about. We know that too. And we keep coming back, in spite of the danger, looking for you…because you're important to Angel. And to us.

GUNN smiles softly at his girl.

A moment later, CONNOR appears in the doorway. Wielding an axe.

ACT IV

INT - WOLFRAM & HART - DAY

WESLEY enters an elevator. The doors close and he pulls out a piece of paper from his breast pocket, and punches in a series of numbers on the panel then waits and pushes the emergency stop. In a moment the scene fades to pure white (as we saw in Forgiving).

WESLEY enters the White Room and looks around for a moment when a voice speaks from behind him.

GIRL
It was only a matter of time before you found your way here.

WESLEY whirls and sees the same GIRL from Forgiving, sitting in her chair.

GIRL
And you think I'm going to help you. Tell me…why would I do that? You've betrayed everything you once held dear. I don't really care for betrayal…though revenge can be quite amusing.

WESLEY
Because this is right. And you helped him once before.

GIRL
And you think, as a lower being, that I would help you on his behalf. How wrong you mortals can be.

Suddenly, CORDELIA steps out from behind WESLEY.

CORDELIA
How about me?

GIRL
You. I wondered how he got in here without detection.

CORDELIA
It's amazing what a few mystical powers can pull off.

GIRL
You come here to ask for help on his behalf?

CORDELIA
I'm not with him. (glares at WES) I'm here to ask for help in saving the Champion. The same Champion that our bosses have saved the ass of time after time…the same bosses who gave him a day back, gave him his demon back, so that he can continue the fight.

GIRL (hesistantly)
We, as Oracles, do not make a practice of helping lower beings.

CORDELIA
Duh! Listen! Angel is NOT a lower being. The Sister even said so. And I know you can do it. You're strong, and you're powerful.

GIRL (realizes)
You feel for Angel.

CORDELIA
(ignores this)
Please. Help us. You helped Angel once before…you know he's important. He's suffering…and the world is going to suffer without him in it to make it better.

GIRL
You returned to this plane to help him.

CORDELIA
(sighs)
Yes…I did. Because…he's important to me. He's important to a lot of people. And…the Powers know that. You know that. Look at all the good he's done! You helped him once before…please…help him again. Tell us what he need to know. You and I are equals…and this is my request.

The camera cuts back to the GIRL, considering.

INT. - LILAH'S OFFICE - DAY

LILAH is sitting at her desk, absently leafing through some paperwork. She moves to file something and realizes the cabinet is locked. Mumbling she reaches into her pocket and pulls out her keys, thumbing through them until she finds the cabinet key. As she's unlocking it, something triggers in her mind and she pulls the key ring back out, looking at them. The brass key is missing.

She sucks in a breath and jumps to her feet. The box is still on the shelf.

LILAH
Not good.

She picks up the box and shakes it.

LILAH
(mutters)
It's lined with velvet, you idiot. To *prevent* you from shaking it and breaking things.

She puts down the box and crosses back to her desk, then remembers finding WESLEY in her office earlier. (FLASH back to the scene from ACT II)

Quickly she moves to the computer and her fingers fly over the keys. A screen pops up and shows that her encrypted files have been accessed.

LILAH
(gasps)
The White Room.

She moves to her phone and buzzes LINWOOD.

LILAH
There's been a breach. The White Room. I think you know who.

LINWOOD
(long pause)
And how would he possibly have gotten the information to access the White Room?

LILAH
I-

LINWOOD
Go. Now.

CUT TO the elevator. LINWOOD and LILAH enter it together and punch in the code. Fade to white. The White Room is completely empty.

INT. - CONNOR'S LAIR - DAY

CONNOR is still holding the axe, standing in the doorway.

FRED
Steven…hey.

GUNN
(warily)
Nice axe.

CONNOR'S looking twitchy…like he might bolt at any time, but he stands fast.

FRED
Look…Steven…everything we said is true…we're not here to-

CONNOR
Justine is dead.

GUNN
Yeah…she is. She hung herself, Con-Steven. I swear. We didn't do anything to her.

CONNOR
Why would she do that?

FRED
Cordy…she read Justine's mind…I guess she got a new power since she's been gone…and she saw what you guys did. To Angel. I guess Justine couldn't handle it.

GUNN
We're not here to hurt or to blame. We just want to find Angel and get him out before it's too late. You've gotta believe us, man. Angel did not kill Holtz. Justine did. Cordy saw it all in her vision. Took an awl and poked holes in him to make it look like a vampire. But it wasn't. Holtz wanted to do it, to make you think Angel killed him. He played you.

FRED
We're telling the truth.

CONNOR
You're trusting a demon. You put your trust in the words of demons.

GUNN and FRED exchange a glance.

GUNN
I understand having a problem with demons. I grew up hatin' 'em. They came in, messed up my neighborhood, made it unsafe for us to play in the streets…time was, you couldn't convince me that a demon could be a good thing. Especially after…a vampire turned my sister a while ago…she's gone now. My own sister. I've got plenty of reasons to hate demons. And I did…for a really long time. Me and my crew, we used to make a sport of it, see how many we could bag in one night. (smiles, remembering fondly) And then I met this guy who was fighting the same fight I was. I didn't like him much, especially when I found out he was a demon himself. And then I got to know him and I started helping him out.

CONNOR
You helped him?

GUNN
Yeah…crazy as it sounds. I started helping him so much that eventually…I gave up my past for his fight…and a few other things. (grins at FRED) I may not like the demon, but the man in him's pretty decent. Somewhere along the way I had to admit to myself that I was wrong. Not all demons are bad…some of them are even willing to give their lives for people they've never even met. Some of them would go to all costs to protect the things they love.

Long beat as CONNOR thinks about GUNN'S words.

FRED
You know he's talking about Angel, right, Steven? Angel's the demon he went to work for. I wasn't there…I was in a hell-dimension of my own at the time…but I've heard the stories. Your dad used to be a pretty bad guy, Steven, that's true. And your mom…well…she was a case all in her own right-

GUNN
(coughs)
Fred!

FRED
(quickly)
But since he got his soul back…he's done nothing but try to redeem himself…and he knows he can't…so I think it's pretty impressive that he hasn't given up. And…he was devastated when he lost you. He did everything he could…we all did…you have to believe that.

Something in her words moves CONNOR. He makes eye contact with her and is about to speak when GUNN'S cell phone rings.

GUNN
Hello? Yeah…yeah…Okay.
(hangs up)
We gotta go.

FRED
(confused)
Uh…okay…

They both look at CONNOR. CONNOR stares at them, then his gaze slides to the floor.

CONNOR
(whispers)
Dad?

INT. - ANGEL'S COFFIN

The camera floats down to ANGEL'S box and closes in on his face, his eyes closed, mouth slack before we tumble into…

EXT. - ANGEL'S DREAM STATE - MEADOW

ANGEL and CORDELIA are sitting beneath a tree; a perfect picnic lay out before them. The sun is streaming down, the birds are chirping. And they're kissing gently. Suddenly he hears someone approaching and they look up and smile at CONNOR.

CORDELIA
Connor!

ANGEL
Son!

ANGEL rises to his feet in greeting when CONNOR points a crossbow at him. CORDELIA jumps in the way.

CORDELIA
Noooo!

CORDY takes a shot in the chest and falls back into ANGEL'S arms, dead. ANGEL looks on in horror as he and CORDY fall to the ground.

Suddenly he MORPHS and jumps to his feet, lunging at CONNOR. With lightning fast speed he grabs CONNOR and drains him, CONNOR'S body falling to the ground, opposite CORDY. ANGEL returns to human face, tears falling as he stumbles to the ground and cradles her body, sobbing.

-FADE BACK TO ANGEL'S FACE AS HE'S IN THE BOX-

The camera pulls up and away from the box, rising and coming out of the sea.

EXT. - THE BEACH - NIGHT

The camera continues to move, following the shoreline up to a dock where we see WESLEY'S car come to a screeching halt and he, CORDY and the GIRL from the WHITE ROOM pile out.

GIRL
I haven't see the outside world in quite a while.

CORDELIA (distracted)
We'll do the tourist stuff later, I promise.

Next to them appears GUNN'S truck, and he, FRED and CONNOR exit it. WESLEY stares at CONNOR, stunned.

GUNN
I miss the part of the plan where we get the traitor involved? Or is this all a part of Wolfram & Hart's plan? You on the clock?

CORDELIA
We don't have time for this right now. We needed his help, he's giving it to us.

WESLEY
I'm paying off my debt to Angel…and nothing more.

GUNN
Yeah and-

FRED
Look!

FRED is pointing to the ocean, where, while the rest of them bickered, the ORACLE GIRL has walked out to and is now STANDING on the water. They all watch as she closes her eyes and suddenly the ocean becomes calm, serene. Close in on the GIRL'S closed eyes, FADE TO-

EXT. - ANGEL'S DREAM - MEADOW - PICKS UP WHERE THE DREAM LEFT OFF

ANGEL is holding CORDY'S dead body and sobbing. CONNOR'S body is lying a few feet away.

GIRL
Why are you crying?

ANGEL looks up suddenly, tears streaking his face.

ANGEL
You-you…what are you--?

GIRL
You cry over her. She's not real.

ANGEL looks at CORDY'S body, then over to CONNOR'S.

ANGEL
Not real?

GIRL
Figments. All created in your mind. It's funny, what the mind can do…what it can convince you of.

ANGEL
But…she feels real. He…tasted real.

GIRL
Of course they do. You want them to be, so your mind says they are. But look…

She touches the air and it ripples (CGI) then reveals ANGEL in his box, dreaming, then CORDY, CONNOR, and the gang on the beach, waiting in vain.

ANGEL reaches out to touch, but it fades.

ANGEL
Wesley?

GIRL
He tricked me. I don't care for tricks, unless I'm the one playing them. However, I could not ignore the wishes of another Oracle.

ANGEL
Oracle?

The GIRL indicates CORDELIA'S body.

GIRL
She is one of us now. While you were sinking to the depths of the ocean, she was rising to the heavens. It was her desire that I come to you now. You are needed with them, to help humanity. The Powers deem it so.

ANGEL
You're here to save me. (then) This is going to happen, isn't it? (indicates the bodies)

GIRL
You spend too much of your time on the maybes, and not enough on the certainties. Do not dwell, Champion. You worry as does a mortal.

ANGEL
This can't happen…I can't become him…

GIRL
Then only you can change that.

She turns and looks behind her, at something neither we nor ANGEL can see, then turns back to him.

GIRL
We must go now.

She holds out her hand. ANGEL stares at it.

ANGEL
I'm afraid.

GIRL
I would be too.

ANGEL takes her hand.

CUT TO - THE BEACH

The GIRL'S eyes open and she walks off the water and back onto the beach.

GIRL
It is done.

ANGEL has appeared in the middle of the loose-circle they have formed. He is pale, shuddering, panting on the ground. He's weak and can barely support himself. FRED and GUNN stare at him, then slowly begin to smile and they hug. CONNOR is just staring at the man on the ground. WESLEY watches with no expression on his face. CORDY kneels next to ANGEL and reaches out to him. He looks up into her eyes, recognizes her, and reaches for her, sobbing into her body.

FRED
He needs to eat.

CORDY
I know. Gunn…call an ambulance.

GUNN
They're not going to help him…he doesn't have insurance or I.D. And last time I checked, they don't fancy much just giving people bags of blood to suck on.

Behind them (while the above dialogue is going on) all there is the screeching of tires on the parking lot. It's LILAH and a black ops team pulling up in vans. LILAH jumps out of the car and runs up to the group.

LILAH (to WES)
What in the hell are you doing?!

WESLEY ignores her.

CORDY looks up at GUNN.

CORDELIA
The ambulance isn't for Angel.

She closes her eyes and holds out her arm. Suddenly we see her wrist slashed open and blood begins to pour out. She shoves her wrist to ANGEL'S mouth and forces him to drink. He does, greedily.

CONNOR
NO! Do not!

CORDY takes her other hand and holds it up, pushing CONNOR back while the camera pans around, taking in the expressions of all the gang. GUNN fumbles for his cell phone and dials 9-1-1

GUNN
Yeah…blood loss, big time. South Beach, by the docks. Get here quick.

The camera pans down to CORDY, trying to remain conscious as ANGEL all but drains her.

FADE TO BLACK