Épisode L'ultime combat S05E22 - Angel Saison 5

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Angel and company spend the day as if it were their last as they prepare to bring down the evil Circle of the Black Thorn. Putting their lives on the line, Spike confronts a demon cult, Lorne faces off with Lindsay, Gunn takes on an evil senator and Angel battles Hamilton, the henchman of the Senior Partners...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Angel, Gunn, Lorne, Wesley et Spike se mettent tous d’accord pour aller jusqu’au bout. Gunn se demande s’ils ne peuvent pas les tuer tous à la fois mais Angel sait que le Cercle de l’aiguille noire est sans doute le groupe le plus puissant sur Terre. Cependant, séparés, ce sont de simples démons. Les six minutes bientôt écoulées, ils doivent jouer le jeu et faire semblant d’être ennemis. Gunn pense qu’Illyria serait un bon atout mais Angel est sceptique et lorsque Lorne dit qu’elle est entièrement domptée et qu’elle garde un œil sur Drogyn en ce moment même, Angel dit qu’il faut y aller maintenant car Drogyn est mort. Spike le frappe et Angel le maintient alors qu’Hamilton entre dans le bureau. Les six minutes sont définitivement écoulées. Angel ordonne à Wesley de surveiller et de calmer Illyria si besoin est puis il referme la porte se retrouvant seul avec Hamilton. L'agent de liaison annonce à Angel que les membres du Cercle désirent le voir parce qu’ils s’inquiètent de la situation avec le reste de l’équipe.

Gunn, Wesley, Spike et Lorne arrivent chez Spike et retrouve Illyria en sang et allongé sur le sol. Ils apprennent que c’est Hamilton le responsable de ce carnage et qu’il a emmené Drogyn avec lui. Lorne ne fait pas vraiment confiance à Angel mais Gunn espère tout simplement que le Cercle, lui, le lui fera.

Gros plan sur une table avec le symbole du Cercle de l’aiguille noire. Tous les membres du groupe y sont assis et récitent une sorte de prière sauf Angel. Sebassis déclare qu'Angel met en danger le cercle avec les insurrections du reste de son équipe. Cyvus Vail lui dit qu’il est en pleine ascension et qu’il ne doit se laisser freiner par ses subordonnés, mais il est interrompu par le serviteur de Sebassis qui marche sur ses tuyaux et l’empêche de respirer. Angel pousse le serviteur et demande à Vail si c’est juste ses collègues qui posent problème, et, Cyvus Vail lui répond que c’est Wesley qui semble le plus instable. Le sénateur Brucker pense que Gunn ne l’est pas du tout par contre et Sebassis ne voit pas Spike comme une menace mais Angel est leur centre d’intérêt pour le moment. Izzy pose devant lui le rouleau de la prophétie de Shanshu en lui demandant de la signer de son sang afin qu’il ne redevienne jamais humain en signe de loyauté envers le Cercle. Angel dit qu’il ne désire plus redevenir humain et signe la Prophétie de son sang.

Angel regarde fixement l’extérieur de la fenêtre de son bureau lorsqu’Harmony rentre. Il lui demande si ça lui manque et si elle se rappelle ce que c’est que d’être humain car lui ne se rappelle pas. Harmony lui répond qu’elle a toujours su que sa vie se finirait après le lycée et qu’elle n'apprécie pas vraiment la vie en tant qu’être humain. Puis, elle lui avoue qu’elle sait que quelque chose se prépare mais Angel veut qu’elle reste en dehors de ça. Puis, le vampire lui demande d’occuper un peu Hamilton.

Plus tard, dans le bureau d’Angel, Lindsey ne peut pas croire qu’Angel veut de son aide, et Angel lui rappelle que ce n’est pas pour lui qu'il lui demande ça mais pour Wolfram&Hart. Lindsey pense qu’ils ne peuvent pas battre les Associés Principaux car ils sont bien plus puissants qu’eux mais Angel est convaincu que si les humains sont si forts c’est parce qu’ils sont justement prêts à se battre quoi qu’il advienne. Lindsey accepte.

Dans l’appartement de Spike, Wesley a besoin de choses pour soigner Illyria. Il décide de passer chez Wolfram&Hart mais Spike est inquiet à propos d’Hamilton et a bien peur qu’il ne décide de venir l’achever. Angel débarque dans l’appartement et dit qu’il ignorait qu’Hamilton s’en était pris à Illyria, puis, il leur dit que c’était lui qui avait emmené Drogyn au Cercle pour qu’Angel le tue et prouver ainsi aux membres qu’il était bien des leurs. Angel déclare que cette nuit, ils tueront tous les membres du Cercle. Il demande ensuite à chacun d’entre eux de profiter de cette dernière journée pour faire ce qu’ils ont envie et surtout de la vivre comme si c’était la dernière.

Lorne chante « If I ruled the World » dans un bar, Angel rend visite à Connor, Spike se saoule dans un bar. Gunn vient aider Anne à porter des cartons pour le déménagement du foyer, elle lui parle un peu de ce qui se passe dans le quartier. Gunn lui demande ce qu’elle ferait si elle savait que tout ce qu’ils font ne sert à rien car ils sont contrôlés par des forces qui se foutent de tout ça. Elle lui répond qu’elle chargerait le camion avant que les nouveaux trucs arrivent. Wesley est en train de soigner, quant à lui, Illyria, et le Dieu lui demande pourquoi il ne fait pas ce dont il a envie pour son dernier jour. Il lui répond qu’il n’existe pas de journée idéale sans Fred et qu’il préfèrerait qu’Illyria ne prenne plus sa forme à nouveau lorsque l'Ancien le lui propose.

Quelque part, toujours dans ce bar, Spike lit de la poésie aux autres clients du bar et Angel parle à Connor de Nina. Connor lui avoue qu’il sait qu’il est son fils car toute sa mémoire est revenue à lui mais qu’il préfère désormais oublier. Il lui dit qu’il comprend ce qu’il a fait et le remercie pour ça.

Chez Wolfram&Hart, Lindsey et Eve s’embrassent et elle lui dit qu’elle doute qu’Angel ait confiance en lui. Il lui répond qu’Angel a besoin de toute l’aide qu’il peut trouver et que lorsque tout sera fini, ils verront bien ce qui se passera. Il lui demande de se mettre à l’abri le temps que tout soit terminé.

Chez Spike, Angel et le reste de l’équipe mettent en place leur plan. Angel dit qu’un d’entre eux le trahira : Spike lève la main pour dire que c’est lui, mais Angel se tourne vers Wesley et lui dit que Vail pense que Wesley veut le doubler (Wesley répond que ça n’est pas très flatteur) et ajoute qu’il le fera entrer chez le démon-sorcier. Illyria s’occupera de Izzeria le diable et ses amis démons quand ceux–ci sortiront de leur dîner habituel et elle devra les tuer à ce moment là. Gunn est chargé de tuer le sénateur Brucker qui se trouvera dans son bureau et Angel lui rappelle qu’elle vient des profondeurs de l’enfer et qu’elle est entourée de vampires. Alors qu’Angel est prêt à parler à Spike, ce dernier lui dit qu’il refuse de porter tout ce qui ressemble à une amulette, un bracelet ou à un autre bijou et Angel lui dit qu’il aura juste un hochet. En effet, Spike est chargé de rendre le bébé (pour le sacrifice) à sa mère (Amanda) et de démembrer la famille adoptive : les démons Brethen. Sebassis étant le plus fort, le plus puissant et le plus craint des membres, il s’en chargera lui même. Il se retourne vers Lorne qui lui dit qu’il n’est pas un guerrier, de ce fait, il est le maillon faible de l’équipe, mais Angel lui demande juste de seconder Lindsey. Wesley ne comprend pas pourquoi il a accepté que Lindsey fasse parti de l’équipe, mais Angel dit qu’il est certain qu’il risque autant sa peau qu’eux.

Harmony est allongée sur son lit en sous vêtements avec du sang au coin des lèvres et une main vient lui essuyer les lèvres. Il s’agit d’Hamilton ! Elle s’assoit sur le lit et attrape un verre de sang sur sa table de chevet et Hamilton la prend dans ses bras. Elle a de nouveau trahi Angel.
Angel donne rendez-vous à l’équipe dans le ruelle derrière l’hôtel Hyperion une fois leur mission effectuée. Lorne annonce à Angel que c’est son dernier boulot et qu’après il ne le trouvera pas dans la ruelle et qu’il ne devra pas essayer de le chercher. Spike se pose des questions sur la prophétie Shanshu, s’ils s’en sortent vivants, lequel des deux redeviendra vivants? Angel lui dit qu’il ne faut pas rêver car ils n’en sortiront pas vivants.

Wesley va à la rencontre de Cyvus Vail et après quelques minutes de discussion, une boule magique apparaît dans le creux de sa main. De son côté, Spike habillé d’une toge, suit le bébé emmené par les démons. Gunn arrive dans les bureaux du sénateur, prêt à la tuer. Lindsey et Lorne arrivent quand à eux, dans le bar où se trouvent les démons Sahvrin et ils commencent à se battre. Illyria arrête Izzeria et ses démons dans leur voiture. Angel retourne chez Wolram&Hart et demande une fois de plus à Harmony d’occuper Hamilton et de préparer sa voiture. En arrivant dans ses appartements, Angel sort un long poignard d’une boîte et Hamilton rentre dans la chambre. Ils se battent et Hamilton envoie Angel traverser une fenêtre pour atterrir dans le hall. Angel se dispute alors avec Harmony à propos de sa nouvelle trahison et il la vire. Hamilton arrive et continue de frapper Angel et le jette à nouveau en l’air. Hamilton lui dit que c’est dommage qu’il n’ait pas eu le temps de tuer Sebassis mais Angel lui répond que c’est déjà fait : Lorsque l'esclave de Sebassis a marché sur les tuyaux de Vail, Angel lui a inoculé du poison, s'en servant ainsi comme intermédiaire pour contaminer Sebassis. Celui-ci meurt doucement dans son bain. Angel pensait que c’était avec Hamilton qu’il fallait qu’il se retrouve et il lui confie qu’il pensait s’en sortir un petit peu mieux et Hamilton le jette à nouveau.

Spike s’empare du bébé mais les démons le découvre et lui bloque le passage, ils se battent, Lindsey est lui aussi en train de se battre de son côté. Wesley ne semble pas s’en sortir, Vail est beaucoup plus puissant que lui et Wesley est alors sans défense. Hamilton frappe Angel encore et encore et il est prêt à l’achever lorsque Connor débarque pour aider son père. Gunn est en plein affrontement avec les vampires du sénateur Brucker, puis il s’approche d’elle et lui lance une hachette dans la tête. Cependant, de plus en plus de vampires arrivent. De son côté, Illyria s’éloigne de la voiture de Izzeria et de ses amis... elle est complètement détruite.

Lindsey a fini son travail et tue le dernier démon. Lorne est impressionné par son maniement des sabres et Lindsey ajoute qu’il n’y serait pas arrivé sans ses notes aigües. Lindsey aime le fait qu’il soit un membre à part entière de l’équipe mais Lorne est prêt à partir. Lindsey lui demande pourquoi il ne lui fait pas confiance et lui propose de chanter pour le convaincre qu’il a changé. Lorne sort soudain une arme de sa poche et tire sur Lindsey en lui disant qu’il l’a déjà fait (chanter). Lindsey lui demande alors pourquoi il a fait ça et Lorne lui répond que c’est sa toute dernière mission et que l’ex-avocat ne fait pas partie de la solution. Lindsey n’en revient pas de se faire éliminer par un « sous-fifre ». Il meurt et Lorne part en disant “Allez, salut les copains”.

Wesley est suspendu en l’air chez Cyvus Vail qui le contrôle. Wesley sort un poignard mais Cyvus l’arrête et s’empare d’un autre couteau et le lui plante dans l'abdomen. Wes essaye d’utiliser une dernière boule magique et envoie Cyvus dans le mur, puis, il retombe à terre. Illyria arrive au même instant et trouve Wesley mourant. Elle lui dit qu’il va mourir dans quelques instants. Wesley lui confesse qu’il est heureux qu’il soit là et Illyria avoue qu’il était inquiet pour Wesley. Il sait désormais qu’il va mourir et Illyria lui demande s’il veut qu’il lui mente. Wesley répond qu’il est prêt, puis Illyria se change en Fred. Elle lui caresse le visage en lui disant combien il lui a manqué. Elle l’embrasse et lui dit que très bientôt il ne souffrira plus et qu’ils seront de nouveau ensemble. Wesley lui dit qu’il l’aime et elle qu’elle l’aime aussi. Elle pleure et Wesley meurt dans ses bras. Elle se relève et Vail lui dit que cette mort insignifiante est vraiment touchante mais que ce combat n’a jamais été une affaire de mortels. Illyria, complètement détruite, se tourne vers lui et alors qu’elle reprend son apparence divine, elle lui assène un phénoménal coup de poing qui explose le crâne de Vail.

De retour chez Wolfram&hart, Angel et Connor continuent de se battre contre Hamilton. Il envoie Connor dans le porte de l’ascenseur puis il frappe Angel en lui disant que jamais il ne pourra le battre parce qu’il est invincible : la force du loup (Wolf), du bélier (Ram) et du cerf (Hart) sont en lui et leur puissance coule dans ses veines. Angel se transforme alors en vampire et lui saute dessus pour le mordre. Hamilton tente de l’écarter mais Angel boit son sang. Leur puissance est alors égale et Angel parvient à tuer Hamilton en lui brisant la nuque. L’immeuble se met soudain à s’écrouler et Angel ordonne à Connor se rentrer chez lui pour se mettre en sécurité. Angel va ensuite dans son bureau et Eve est là. Il lui dit qu’il est temps de partir et elle demande après Lindsey. Il lui laisse entendre qu’il ne reviendra pas. Puis, il part.

Angel arrive le premier dans la ruelle derrière l’Hypérion. Il pleut à torrent et Spike arrive à son tour, suivi de Gunn et Illyria qui annonce à l’équipe que Wesley est mort. Illyria paraît ivre de douleur, et de ce fait, incontrôlable. Une armée de démons approche de la ruelle et un immense dragon survole nos quatre rescapés. Illyria dit qu’ils ne résisteront pas plus de dix minutes et Gunn répond « Alors qu’elles soient mémorables ». L’heure est venue de ce lancer dans le combat final. Angel dit qu’il se ferait bien le dragon. Gros plan sur Angel, Gunn, Spike et Illyria, puis que Angel qui dit « Allez, au boulot »...

1 INT. SECRET CHAMBER - NIGHT
Angel walks through a dark hallway into a chamber.

LINDSEY (V.O.)
To be a Black Thorn is to the senior partner's instrument on Earth.

Cut to:

2 INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT
Lindsey is sitting at the table, surrounded by Spike, Gunn, Lorne and Wesley.

LINDSEY
Wouldn't make it on the circle's radar until he killed one of his lieutenants.

Cut to:

3 INT. SECRET CHAMBER - NIGHT
Angel steps back and twists Drogyn's head until his neck breaks. Angel pushes Drogyn's body to the floor. A robed, masked demon offers his hand to Angel.

DEMON
Welcome to the fold.
(Angel shakes hands)

Cut to:

4 INT. ANGEL'S OFFICE - DAY
The gang is surrounding Angel now, each armed: Gunn with a sword, Spike with his fists, Wesley with a shotgun, and Lorne with a crossbow.

GUNN
We know what you've been doing.

Angel grabs Wes's shotgun barrel and pushes it away from him while kicking Wesley to the ground. Spike charges Angel, but Angel punches him first. Gunn raises his sword, but Angel blocks his swing and hits him in the head with the barrel of the shotgun. Lorne points his crossbow at Angel and fires a shot, hitting Angel in the shoulder. Angel drops the shotgun. Angel grabs Lorne around the neck and holds him as a hostage.

ANGEL
(pulls a crystal out of his pocket, holds it out in front of him)
Involvere.
(the crystal glows and sends a force throughout the entire room)
(lets go of Lorne)
All right, we have 6 minutes.

SPIKE
'Til what?

ANGEL
The glamour collapses.

Cut to:

4a EXT. ANGEL'S OFFICE - DAY
Zoom out past the glamour, to show what those on the outside looking in would see. Continue zooming out to show that Marcus Hamilton is standing outside Angel's office, watching them through the window.

ANGEL (V.O.)
As far as anyone outside this room is concerned, we're still at each other's throats.

Cut to:

4b INT. SECRET CHAMBER - NIGHT
The lights go up in the room, and the robed demons remove their masks. Many of the demons Angel has encountered this season are there, including Archduke Sebassis, Cyvus Vail, Senator Brucker, and others.

ANGEL (V.O.)
I'm talking about killing every single member of the Black Thorn.

Cut to:

ANGEL
You need to decide for yourselves if that's worth dying for.

Everyone's got a serious look on their faces.

SPIKE
(raises his hand)
I'm in.

WESLEY
(looks at Angel)
I'm in.

As the camera zooms out slowly, show Gunn and finally Lorne raise their hands.

Fade to black.

END OF RECAP.

THE START OF THE EPISODE

PROLOGUE:

5 INT. ANGEL'S OFFICE - DAY
Resume. Angel has just asked everyone to vote on taking on the members of the Circle of the Black Thorn.

ANGEL
Then we're all agreed.

SPIKE
Yeah, we're all one big happy Manson family.

GUNN
We taking 'em all at once?

ANGEL
Can't. Circle of the Black Thorn is the most powerful group in this plane of existence. Together, they'd vaporize us, but separated, they're just demons.

WESLEY
(having retrieved his shotgun, slings it over his shoulder and walks toward Angel)
When do we make our move?
(Angel hands his pistol back to Wesley)

ANGEL
Soon. In the meantime, we have to keep up the infighting. The circle needs to believe we're coming apart at the seams.

GUNN
What about Illyria?

ANGEL
(crosses his arms)
What about her?

GUNN
Move like this, wouldn't hate having Blue Thunder in our corner.

ANGEL
Can't trust she'll come down on our side.

LORNE
Trust me, she's housebroken. She was babysitting Drogyn—

ANGEL
She was with Drogyn?

SPIKE
Relax. The two of them were getting on well enough.

ANGEL
You have to get over there now.

WESLEY
Why? What is it?

ANGEL
Drogyn's dead.

SPIKE
(angrily, walks up to Angel)
And how do you know that, Kreskin?

ANGEL
Because I killed him.

SPIKE
What?
(Angel punches Spike in the face)
Ow! You son of a—
(swings at Angel, misses)

Angel grabs Spike around the throat as Hamilton walks in through the office door.

HAMILTON
Sorry. Didn't know you were... in conference.

ANGEL
I was just making a closing statement...
(lets go of Spike, pushes him toward the door)
...unless somebody didn't hear me.
(Gunn, Spike, and Lorne file out the door; Angel stops Wes on his way out)
Goes for you, too, Wes. Illyria's your responsibility. Make sure she doesn't get twitchy.
(closes the door behind the others)

HAMILTON
Well, you've got yourself a problem.

ANGEL
Nothing you have to worry about.

HAMILTON
Oh, not me. Your new friends. The Black Thorn. They're very concerned.

ANGEL
Tell them to send me a memo. I'm busy trying to run a business.
(sits at his desk)

HAMILTON
You can tell them yourself. They want to see you right now.
(grins, turns toward the door)
No rest for the wicked.

Fade to black.

Opening credits.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ACT I:

6 INT. SPIKE'S BASEMENT APARTMENT - DAY
Spike, Gunn, Lorne and Wesley come back to Spike's apartment to find it trashed. Illyria is lying face-down, unconscious on the floor.

WESLEY
(rushes to her side)
Illyria.
(turns her to face him)

SPIKE
(he and Gunn crouch around Illyria)
Bloody hell.

WESLEY
Illyria, can you hear me?
(she opens her eyes and nods faintly; Wes pulls her into his arms, holding her to his chest)

SPIKE
Who did this to you?

ILLYRIA
It was Hamilton. Took Drogyn.

LORNE
Straight to his buddy Angel. I'm telling you, our fearless leader has fearlessly lost it. There's no part of this that makes any sense. We could be next.

GUNN
I don't think we're being monitored here.

LORNE
I'm not playing to the crowd, Gunn. I tell you, I still don't trust the man.

GUNN
(stands)
We don't have to trust him. We just gotta pray the Black Circle does.

Cut to:

7 INT. SECRET CHAMBER - DAY
In the secret meeting chamber of the Circle of the Black Thorn, the members gather to begin a meeting.

CIRCLE MEMBERS
(chanting in unison)
Of the world's woe, now convene. All is bound by the circle and its thorns. Invisible, inviolate, we, the seeds of the storm, at the center of the world's woe, now convene.

SEBASSIS
(drinking a blue liquid from a champagne flute)
(to Angel) The circle does not abide secrets.

ANGEL
Which is interesting for a secret society.

SEBASSIS
Remember your place, vampire.
(claps quickly)

ANGEL
My place is in the circle.

SEBASSIS
This morning's insurrection did not go unnoticed.

ANGEL
You mean my people.

SEBASSIS
They tried to kill you. An embarrassing affront, to say the least.

VAIL
And the stepping stone to disaster. You have ascended, Angel. You should not be burdened with this kind of—
(gasps, checks his tubes)
Aah!
(notices the scrawny, pale slave wearing a blindfold and tripping over Vail's tubes)
Sebassis! Your manservant has become tangled in my bodily fluids again!

Angel leans forward and pushes the slave away from Vail.

SEBASSIS'S SLAVE
Eeeep!

ANGEL
My people are the problem?

SEBASSIS
Some of them, yes.

ANGEL
Some? Who missed the cut?

VAIL
We're interested in Mr. Wyndam-Price. He seems intriguingly unstable.

SEENATOR
Mr. Gunn, on the other hand, does not, which is a pity. He had so much potential.

SEBASSIS
He is not, however, our greatest concern.

ANGEL
If the next words out of your mouth are "Kill Spike", we just might have to kiss.
(smirks)

SEBASSIS
Spike is not the threat. You are.
(signals Izzy)
You've proven your loyalty to the circle. Regrettably, there's something stronger than loyalty... hope.

Izzy produces a cylindrical document holder, pulls a document out of it, and unrolls it on the table in front of Angel.

ANGEL
This is the Shanshu Prophecy.

SEBASSIS
The original.

SENATOR
The vampire with a soul will play a pivotal role in the apocalypse.

VAIL
And as a reward, will become human.

SEBASSIS
A paranoid person might think you're trying to manipulate us in an attempt to fulfill this prophecy.

ANGEL
I have no desire to become human.

SEBASSIS
Oh, good. Then you won't mind signing that pesky future away. Through that document, the prophecy can be undone. Your signature there will remove any opportunity that you will ever earn your once-precious humanity. Will you sign it?

ANGEL
Of course.
(Izzy takes out a pen; Angel leans forward, begins to sign it)

IZZY
(grabs the pen from Angel, stabs him in the left hand with it)
It's gotta be signed in blood.

Angel grunts as he pulls the pen out of the back of his hand. He signs his name on the top of the document with his right hand.

Cut to:

8 INT. ANGEL'S OFFICE - DAY
Angel is standing in his office alone, staring out the window, when Harmony walks in.

HARMONY
Um...Angel? Just wondering where everybody is.

ANGEL
You ever miss it? You were turned, what... 5 years ago?

HARMONY
Oh, that. Yeah. Graduation night. I don't know. It's weird. Part of me always knew life would end after high school. I was very popular, you know. The whole "golden years" thing.

ANGEL
I don't remember what it was like... being human. It was too long ago.

HARMONY
(shrugs)
Not so great. Zits. Dandruff. Mortality. Although I do remember... my heart.
(smiles)
And the way it would thump when I kissed a really hot boy for the first time.
(nods)
That was cool. Angel? Something's going down, isn't it? And everybody's in on it except me.

ANGEL
You're not a part of this.

HARMONY
I could be. I'm your assistant, after all. I could, I don't know... assist you or something.

ANGEL
Hamilton.

HARMONY
Hamilton?

ANGEL
(walks over to his desk)
Need to get some things done, pay a quiet visit to Archduke Sebassis. I'd like to keep our liaison out of the loop.

HARMONY
Out of the loop? That's where I live.

ANGEL
Distract him. I don't care how. Throw some punches at him, some files. Just keep him busy for as long as you can.
(walks toward the door)

HARMONY
What are you going to do now?

ANGEL
One more thing I don't want to.

Cut to:

9 INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
Angel is meeting with Lindsey. Angel's pacing. Lindsey is sitting at the conference table.

LINDSEY
You gotta be joking. Why on God's green and verdant Earth would I trust you, huh? Or you, me?

ANGEL
'Cause it's not about us, Lindsey. It's about them. The wolf. The ram. The hart. The ones we've been fighting against forever.

LINDSEY
You can't beat 'em.

ANGEL
Maybe they're not there to be beat. Maybe they're there to be fought. Maybe fighting them is what makes human beings so remarkably strong.

LINDSEY
(stands)
You're not talking about the kind of strength human beings have.
(sits on the edge of the table)
This is not about coveting your neighbor's ass, your buddy's job, the last Mallomar in the box. You're talking about fighting flesh and something that passes for blood demons with enormous power, and they will mow you down.

ANGEL
Maybe... but I keep thinking that once this world was theirs and now it's not.

LINDSEY
Isn't it?

ANGEL
Give me the hell on Earth speech, Lindsey. I know how bad things are, how much sway the demons hold. I happen to be the greatest mass murderer you've ever met.

LINDSEY
Never given you props for that, have I?

ANGEL
There's always going to be power, and there's always going to be corruption.

LINDSEY
So again I ask you—

ANGEL
'Cause it's not what I'm expected to do. 'Cause you're good in a fight. And let's say we come up rolling 7s and this does go our way. We tear up this firm, someone's going to have to step in. I know that's what you want. Now, I'm a lot more comfortable with the thought of you in that position than anyone else.

LINDSEY
The devil you know.

ANGEL
That'd be you.

LINDSEY
And what if you roll snake eyes?

ANGEL
You'll talk your way out of it. You'll tell them I forced you to help me. Tell them I made my scary face.

LINDSEY
Believe it or not, I was actually talking about you. You don't care about being squashed like a bug?

ANGEL
You haven't heard a word I've said. For, like, years back.

LINDSEY
Well, you get a little speechy, all right? And I breeze out. I got the Cliff Notes—honor and humanity. Absolute good. I heard it. So here's the plot twist—I'm in.

ANGEL
Why?

LINDSEY
Everybody goes on about your soul. Vampire with a soul. Nobody ever mentions the fact that you're really a vampire with big brass testes. This is gonna be a circus. I mean, win or lose, you're about to pick the nastiest fight since mankind drop-kicked the last demon out of this dimension. And that you don't do without me. If you want me, I'm on your team.

ANGEL
I want you, Lindsey.
(beat)
I'm thinking about rephrasing that.

LINDSEY
Yeah, I think I'd be more comfortable if you did.
(turns away)

Cut to:

10 INT. SPIKE'S BASEMENT APARTMENT - DAY
Wesley, Spike and Gunn are standing in a circle, talking, while Lorne sits in a chair in the corner, watching Illyria.

GUNN
How's she doing?

WESLEY
She needs more care than I can provide here. I have to get some supplies from home. Watch over her for me.
(grabs his coat)

SPIKE
Fat lotta good that's gonna do if Hamilton decides to make another house call.

ANGEL
Hamilton did this?

LORNE
You didn't know?

ANGEL
He brought Drogyn.

WESLEY
To the circle... so you could kill him to prove you'd gone over.

LORNE
Yeah. Say, any other tips on how to be a hero we could share with the boys and girls at home?

ANGEL
I didn't have a choice. They would have killed us both—

GUNN
We get it. We'd just like to know if they're gonna need any of the rest of us as proof.

SPIKE
Pick us off one by one, you know.

ANGEL
No, they won't. We're killing them all tonight.

Fade to black.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ACT II:

11 INT. SPIKE'S BASEMENT APARTMENT - DAY
Resume. Angel has just told Wesley, Lorne, Spike, Gunn and Illyria that he plans to take out the members of the Black Circle tonight.

ANGEL
I want you all to do something for me, for yourselves. Take the day off.

SPIKE
What?

GUNN
Angel, if we're planning to assassinate the power elite of the apocalypse tonight, shouldn't we be cowboying up?

ANGEL
We'll be ready, but today, I want you guys to go out. Live. Do whatever you want.

Cut to:

12 INT. CARITAS KARAOKE NIGHT CLUB - DAY
A microphone stands on stage waiting for a performer to take his place in front of it.

ANGEL (V.O.)
Live the day like it's your last... 'cause it probably is.

LORNE
(steps up to the microphone holding a drink, sits on the stool, starts singing)
If I ruled the world,
Every day would be the first day of spring,
Every heart would have a new song to sing,
And we'd sing of the joy every morning would bring...

Cut to:

13 INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
Angel stands in a stairwell for a moment before finally walking out into the main area of the coffee shop. He walks up to a table where someone is studying.

ANGEL
Hi.

Connor looks up from his books

Cut to:

14 INT. BAR - DAY
Someone is sitting at a bar, finishing a beer. He picks up a shot of whiskey. Pan out to reveal it's Spike. He gestures "cheers" to the bartender before shooting the whiskey down. Someone bumps into Spike, pushing him into the large biker-type standing next to him. The man glares meanly at Spike.

SPIKE
Ahh. Nice crowd.

BARTENDER
(refills Spike's whiskey glass)
It can get pretty ugly in here, I gotta warn you.

SPIKE
(drinks the shot)
What I'm after. Couple more shots of courage, and I may make my presence felt.

BARTENDER
(refills Spike's whiskey glass)
Your funeral.

SPIKE
Well, I never had a proper one.
(grins, drinks the shot)

Cut to:

15 EXT. EAST HILLS TEEN CENTER - DAY
Outside the East Hills Teen Center, a blonde woman coordinates packing a truck with boxes and furniture with the help of a couple young men.

ANNIE
(sees Gunn walking up the street)
Charles.

GUNN
Annie.
(they hug)
How you doing?

ANNIE
Pretty good, I guess. We got a bunch of furniture donated. Gotta move this stuff to the new shelter.

GUNN
Still fighting the good fight, huh?

ANNIE
That's the drill. How are things uptown?

GUNN
More fight, less good.
(grabs a box)
Seen Rondell or the guys? I hit some of the old spots. Didn't see anyone.

ANNIE
(grabs a chair)
They should be around. They said they'd help me haul this stuff. You know how it is, though. Things come up.
(Gunn and Annie hand the box and chair to the men on the truck)

GUNN
Yeah. You got much vamp trouble these days?

ANNIE
(chuckles)
Never goes away for good. The boys help out, though. We're pretty safe. It gives me time to concentrate on the little things. Crack, runaways, abuse victims, psychotics. The old gang.
(she and Gunn pick up another box each, carrying it to the truck)

GUNN
Yeah, I remember.

ANNIE
It's not so bad. We've had some really decent donations, and it's helping.
(they hand off the boxes to the men on the truck)
We actually have a part-time paid psychiatric staff.

GUNN
What if I told you it doesn't help? What would you do if you found out that none of it matters?
That it's all controlled by forces more powerful and uncaring than we can conceive, and they will never let it get better down here. What would you do?

ANNIE
I'd get this truck packed before the new stuff gets here.
(Gunn nods)
Wanna give me a hand?

GUNN
I do.
(they each take one end of a couch)
1, 2, 3!
(they each lift their end of the couch and bring it to the truck)

Cut to:

16 INT. SPIKE'S BASEMENT APARTMENT - DAY
Wesley is grinding something into a paste in a mortar and pestle, mumbling to himself while doing so. Illyria is sitting behind him on the edge of the bed.

ILLYRIA
I don't understand.

WESLEY
It'll help you heal faster.
(shakes the paste off the pestle, sets it aside)
If you really plan to join us in this fight—
(grabs a strip of muslin and dredges it in the paste)

ILLYRIA
I will fight. I've been broken and humiliated. I will return in kind every blow, every sting. I will shred my adversaries. Pull their eyes out just enough to turn them towards their mewing, mutilated faces.

WESLEY
(pulls the strip out of the paste and walks with it toward Illyria)
You're a very inspirational person. Have I mentioned that?
(brushes her hair away from her neck)

ILLYRIA
You are what I don't understand.

WESLEY
And that would be different because?
(presses the strip to Illyria's skin)

ILLYRIA
Angel told you to do whatever you wanted. Today... tonight, you may all be dead.

WESLEY
Yes. Good point.

ILLYIRA
I am not what you want.

WESLEY
(stands back, turns away, walks to his preparation area)
(his voice nearly cracking)
No.

ILLYIRA
(touches her bandage)
Then why—

WESLEY
(prepares another bandage)
Don't I go off and have one last perfect day? Smell the flowers, or sky-dive, or have a go with Mistress Spanks-A-Lot... or whatever the hell one is supposed to do in this situation.
(places another bandage on Illyria's neck)

ILLYRIA
Mistress who?

WESLEY
There is no perfect day for me, Illyria. There is no sunset or painting or finely-aged scotch that's going to sum up my life and make tonight any... There is nothing that I want.

ILLYRIA
You want to be with Fred.

WESLEY
(finishes bandaging Illyria, wipes his hands on a hand towel)
Yes. Yes, that's where I'd be if I could.

ILLYRIA
I could assume her shape, make her come alive again this once for you.
(looks down)
But you would never ask me to.

WESLEY
The first lesson a watcher learns is to separate truth from illusion. Because in the world of magics, it's the hardest thing to do. The truth is that Fred is gone. To pretend anything else would be a lie. And since I don't actually intend to die tonight, I won't accept a lie. Is it better?

ILLYRIA
(touches her neck)
It's better.

Cut to:

17 INT. BAR - DAY
Spike is sitting on a stool on a stage, talking into a hand-held microphone. The spotlight is on him as he performs a poetry reading. Behind him is a sign that reads "Poetry Slam, Thursdays 4:00". Holding the mic in his left hand, he's got his right hand draped over the mic stand, holding a glass of whiskey in his fingertips. The audience is silent.

SPIKE
"My soul is wrapped in harsh repose,
midnight descends in raven-colored clothes,
but soft...behold!
A sunlight beam
cutting a swath of glimmering gleam.
My heart expands,
'tis grown a bulge in it,
inspired by your beauty...
effulgent."

MAN IN THE AUDIENCE
Yeah!

The audience applauses. Spike receives a standing ovation.

MAN IN THE AUDIENCE
That was great, man.

SPIKE
(standing, smiling)
Thank you. That was for Cecily. All right. This next one's called "The Wanton Folly of Me Mum."

Cut to:

18 INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
Angel's sitting across the table from Connor now. They're in the middle of a conversation.

CONNOR
So she's a werewolf.

ANGEL
And an art student. She does this great pottery. She made me a vase.

CONNOR
But it's the wolf part that Jones's you. There's some full-moon love, am I right? Fur flying.

ANGEL
(staring at Connor, unsure how to react)
Huh?

CONNOR
So vampires really don't understand the concept of jokes.

ANGEL
I understand jokes. I was at the first taping of the Carol Burnett show. Tim Conway was on fire. It was special.

CONNORR
I know you're my father.

ANGEL
(looks down, uncomfortably)
You got your memories back.

CONNOR
Yeah, they're mixed in there with the new ones. Kind of like, uh... a bad dream I had, I guess, a very strange and violent, at times, inappropriately erotic...dream.

ANGEL
You probably have a lot of questions.

CONNOR
(shakes his head)
No. I don't want to make a thing. I get what you did. You know... I'm grateful. That's as far as I want to take it...OK?

ANGEL
(breathes deeply, looks at the papers on the table)
So, what are you working on?

CONNOR
I am applying for an internship. I'm supposed to write up a resume.

ANGEL
Need any help?

CONNOR
Have you ever written a resume before? Ever?

ANGEL
No... but I have very nice handwriting.

ANGEL
You girl.

Cut to:

19 INT. CORPORATE APARTMENT - DAY
Lindsey and Eve are making out on a couch.

LINDSEY
What are you thinking about?

EVE
Angel.

LINDSEY
(stares away)
You simply couldn't have said a worse thing than that.

EVE
(sits up)
Well, you know what I mean.

LINDSEY
I do. It's nice to know you're one of the few things in my life he didn't get his mitts on, you know?

EVE
I don't believe Angel trusts you.

LINDSEY
It ain't about that, love. It's about what he needs, and right now, he needs every hand he can get. As long as I'm fighting on his side, he'll play me fair. When the smoke clears, then we'll see where we stand.

EVE
You sure you can handle the Sahrvins?

LINDSEY
They're sending me in with karaoke boy. How tough can they be?

EVE
With Lorne?

LINDSEY
(puts his arms around Eve)
What's up? You worried about his reading? Said your future's gonna be crappy? He's probably telling you that just to mess with you.

EVE
Yeah, probably.

LINDSEY
If this thing does go down, I want you to stay the hell away from it. I'm not gonna let anything happen to you. Damn, girl, you gave up immortality for me. It's like something out of a fairy tale.

EVE
We don't live in a fairy tale.

Lindsey kisses Eve.

Cut to:

20 INT. SPIKE'S BASEMENT APARTMENT - NIGHT
The gang has reassembled in Spike's apartment. Wesley, Spike and Gunn are sitting down while Angel paces the floor. Illyria is standing behind Wesley. Lorne is sitting on the edge of a table off to the side.

ANGEL
This may come out a little pretentious, but... one of you will betray me.
(Spike raises his hands eagerly)
Wes.

SPIKE
Oh.
(puts his hand down, then suddenly hopeful)
Can I deny you 3 times?

ANGEL
Vail is the sorcerer of the bunch. You know that game. You've seen his place.

Cut to:

20a INT. CYVUS VAIL'S MANSION - NIGHT
Vail walks into the dining room in his mansion, dragging his rack of IV drips with him.

ANGEL (V.O.)
He believes you'd make a play for my spot.

Cut to:

WESLEY
That's not very flattering.

ANGEL
It'll get you in the door. Illyria...

Cut to:

20b EXT. STREET IN LOS ANGELES - NIGHT
Four people walk out of a restaurant together, heading for a car parked along the street.

ANGEL (V.O.)
Izzerial the Devil and 3 other members of the circle dine together almost every night.

Cut to:

ILLYRIA
I'll make trophies of their spines.

ANGEL
Good to have you on the team. Gunn.

GUNN
Yo.

ANGEL
Your friend Senator Brucker has a campaign office in west L.A.

Cut to:

20c INT. SENATOR BRUCKER'S CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS - NIGHT
The Senator is talking on the phone in front of a large banner for her campaign.

ANGEL (V.O.)
You already know she's pure hellspawn, and she tends to surround herself with vampires.

Cut to:

GUNN
I was hoping it'd be vamps. I haven't dusted nearly enough this year.
(to Spike) No offense.

SPIKE
That's all right.

ANGEL
Spike.

SPIKE
Right.
(stands)
First off, I'm not wearing any amulets. No bracelets, broaches, beads, pendants, pins, or rings.

ANGEL
Fine. All you need is a rattle.

SPIKE
Ah, the baby.

ANGEL
And a legion of the Fell Brethren.

Cut to:

20d INT. LOBBY OF WOLFRAM & HART - DAY
Flashback to three of the Fell Brethren waiting in the lobby outside Angel's office before signing the contract to adopt the baby.

ANGEL (V.O.)
I want the kid returned to his mother and the foster family dismembered.

Cut to:

SPIKE
Done and done.

ANGEL
Archduke Sebassis has over 40,000 demons at his command.

Cut to:

20e INT. SEBASSIS'S MANSION - NIGHT
Archduke Sebassis is taking a bubble bath. His slave prepares a glass of Sebassis's favorite blue beverage by uncorking his vein and allowing his blood to fill the glass.

ANGEL (V.O.)
The other members of the council fear him. He's the key player, so he's mine.

Cut to:

ANGEL
Lorne...

LORNE
Uh, I'm not a fighter, Angelwings. I never had the stomach for it. Looks like I'm your weak link.

ANGEL
I just need you to back up Lindsey.

WESLEY
I still can't believe you brought him in.

ANGEL
He's part of this. It'll be just as dangerous for him as it will be for everyone else on our team.

Cut to:

21 INT. HARMONY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Harmony is lying on her bed in her light blue lacy bra and matching panties when someone reaches out to her, offering his thumb. She sucks on the tip of his thumb.

HARMONY
Mmm.
(sighs)
This just gets better and better every day.

Harmony sits up and the camera follows her to reveal she's in bed with Hamilton. She reaches for her wine glass full of blood from the nightstand and cuddles up to Hamilton.

HARMONY
Anyway—

HAMILTON
Hmm.

HARMONY
About Angel's secret plan...

Fade to black.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ACT III:

22 INT. SPIKE'S BASEMENT APARTMENT - NIGHT
Angel has just handed out assignments to Wesley, Gunn, Spike, Illyria and Lorne.

GUNN
So I guess we're not going back to the office after this.

ANGEL
(shakes his head)
The alley just north of the Hyperion. Everyone who makes it meets there. If we do any damage at all, the senior partners are gonna rain hell on us. So be ready.

LORNE
(pulling Angel aside)
Hey, Ange, uh, I'll do this last thing for you, for us... but then I'm out, and you won't find me in the alley afterwards. Hell, you won't find me at all. Do me a favor. Don't try.
(walks out)

Wesley grabs his coat and walks toward the door with Gunn and Illyria.

GUNN
The day went by fast, huh?

ILLYRIA
Try not to die. You are not unpleasant to my eyes.

GUNN
Uh, thanks. You... try not to die, too.
(shakes hands with Wesley)
Later, then.
(walks out)

Wesley looks at Angel for a long moment before he walks out. Illyria follows. Spike and Angel are the only ones left in the apartment now.

SPIKE
(walks up to Angel)
What do you think all this means for that Shanshu bugaboo? If we make it through this, does one of us get to be a real boy?

ANGEL
(crosses his arms)
Who you kidding? We're not gonna make it through.

SPIKE
Well, long as it's not you.

Cut to:

23 INT. CYVUS VAIL'S MANSION - NIGHT
Cyvus Vail is eating a bowl of soup (that resembles chopped up internal organs in a broth of blood) at one end of the long formal dinner table. Wesley is sitting at the opposite end of the table.

VAIL
I'm curious.
(slurps a spoonful of soup)
Mmm. What makes you think I won't kill you where you sit?

WESLEY
Because you're smarter than the others.
(Vail wipes the corners of his mouth with his napkin)
Smart enough to have your doubts about Angel, and rightly so. He's...unpredictable, and worse, he has a conscience.

VAIL
Well, you make a very persuasive argument.

WESLEY
Wait. It gets better.

Zoom in on Wesley's hand, hidden below the tabletop. He opens up his hand, and a fireball starts to form in his palm.

Cut to:

24 INT. LAIR OF THE FELL BRETHREN - NIGHT
Three hooded figures walk down the hallway. When the baby starts crying nearby, one of the hooded men stops to locate the baby. It's Spike.

Cut to:

25 INT. SENATOR BRUCKER'S CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS - NIGHT
The Senator is sitting at her desk, talking on the phone. Other workers in her office are keeping busy.

SENATOR
(talking on the phone)
I can't officially comment on that, but off the record, if Mr. Conley's recent confession is true, then he's a very sick man who needs professional help.
(turns to face away from the door)
One of the goals of my next term in Washington is stronger federal guidelines.

Gunn walks in, unseen by the Senator, but noticed by others who work in the office. One of the workers swings at Gunn, who ducks and punches back.

Cut to:

26 INT. SAHRVIN LAIR - NIGHT
The Sahrvin are scattered about the room. Some are smoking a hookah pipe and others are drinking and talking. Suddenly, the peaceful atmosphere of the room is disrupted by a loud bang. A man pushes a Sahrvin through the door, busting it down. It's Lindsey.

Cut to:

27 EXT. LOS ANGELES STREET - NIGHT
Izzy and three other people walk to their car parked on the side of the street. They all get in the car. Izzy puts on his seatbelt, starts the engine, and turns on the headlights. When he looks up, he sees Illyria standing in front of the car. She looks at them, cocking her head with curiosity.

Cut to:

28 INT. LOBBY OF WOLFRAM & HART - NIGHT
Angel steps off the elevator into the lobby, where Harmony is waiting at her desk.

ANGEL
Harmony, where's Hamilton?

HARMONY
(stands)
Records room. I've been keeping him busy like you said.

ANGEL
Good. I gotta stop buy the penthouse, but have my car ready, and just—
(walks toward his office)
...make sure Hamilton stays busy.

HARMONY
(smiles, writes something down in her notebook)
No problemo, boss.

Cut to:

29 INT. ANGEL'S PENTHOUSE - NIGHT
Angel steps off the private elevator into his apartment. He makes a beeline for a fancy wooden box on the table; he opens it and takes out a knife with a curved blade. While examining the knife, Angel hears a door close behind him. Hamilton has just walked in.

HAMILTON
Going out?

ANGEL
Why? You wanna order in?

HAMILTON
(walking slowly toward Angel)
I hear you already have plans. Gonna take that when you visit Sebassis? Why don't I think that's a gift?

Hamilton punches Angel immensely hard, sending him through the penthouse windows, where Angel falls outside for a few stories before finally falling through the glass ceiling into the lobby.

Cut to:

30 INT. LOBBY OF WOLFRAM & HART - NIGHT
Angel finally lands on the floor in front of the elevator. Harmony turns to see what happened. Angel moans as he tries to get to his feet.

HARMONY
Oh, my God!

ANGEL
Hamilton.

HARMONY
(high pitched, defensively, backing away from Angel)
He's not my boyfriend. I mean, I certainly didn't betray you.

ANGEL
(pushing himself to his feet)
Drop the act, Harm.

HARMONY
It's not an act. I'm really this nervous.

ANGEL
(stands)
I knew you'd turn on me. I just didn't know when.

HARMONY
(annoyed)
What do you mean you knew?

ANGEL
Loyalty really isn't high on your list.

HARMONY
Oh, is that right? I'll have you know I am damn loyal, dumbass.
(crosses her arms)

ANGEL
(walks slowly, painfully toward her)
You betrayed me. You are betraying me now, even as we are talking.

HARMONY
(raising her voice)
Because you never have any confidence in me.

ANGEL
No, because you have no soul.

HARMONY
I would if you had confidence in me.

Hamilton is on his way down in the private elevator.

ANGEL
Get out of the building.

HARMONY
Are you firing me?

ANGEL
Among other things, yes.

HARMONY
(meekly)
Do you think I could get a recommendation?

ANGEL
Yeah, OK.

HARMONY
But see, if you don't so much live as the other thing, how—

ANGEL
It's already in the desk.

HARMONY
(excited)
You're the best.
(goes to the desk to get her things)
(Hamilton walks out of Angel's office, slowly heading straight for Angel)
Good luck. Um... may the best man win?
(shrugs, exits)

HAMILTON
(staring at Angel)
So.

ANGEL
Yeah.
(punches Hamilton hard in the stomach, but doesn't make a dent)
(sighs)
Did that hurt at all?

HAMILTON
Little bit.
(grabs Angel by the windpipe; Angel winces as he's lifted off the ground)
But it's all part of the job.
(throws Angel across the room so hard that Angel shatters a support post, going right through it)

Fade to black.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ACT IV:

31 INT. LOBBY OF WOLFRAM & HART - NIGHT
Resume. Hamilton is confronting Angel in the lobby of Wolfram & Hart after discovering that Angel is turning on the Black Circle.

HAMILTON
(picks Angel up off the floor; holds him by the lapels)
The senior partners have expended an awful lot of time and resources on you. Personally, I would have told them not to bother.
(throws Angel across the lobby again, where he crashes into the company logo on the balcony)
(walks upstairs toward Angel)
You're gutter trash, and that's where you should have stayed, drinking and whoring your way through an unremarkable life. But the fates stepped in and made you a vampire, with a soul, no less. A champion. A hero of the people. And yet, you still managed to fail everyone around you. Doyle. Cordelia. Fred. They're all gone. Now it's time you followed.
(grabs Angel up out of the debris, looks into his face)
Did you really think you were gonna kill Archduke Sebassis?

ANGEL
No...I think I already did.

Cut to:

31a INT. SEBASSIS'S MANSION - NIGHT
Flashback to the scene with Archduke Sebassis in his bubble bath. His servant has just prepared a glass of blue blood for him, and the Archduke sips it. Sebassis notices that it tastes funny, and he turns to look at his servant, but the servant has collapsed to the floor, bleeding from his mouth.

Cut to:

31b INT. SECRET CHAMBER - DAY
Flashback to the meeting of the Black Circle earlier, where Angel turned his ring right before pushing Sebassis's slave away from Vail.

ANGEL (V.O.)
I spiked his drink.

When Angel brings his hand away from the slave, a close-up of his hand reveals that there was a tiny needle sticking out from the ring. That's what caused the slave to squeal when Angel pushed him away.

Cut to:

31a INT. SEBASSIS'S MANSION - NIGHT
Sebassis starts convulsing in the bathtub and drops his glass.

Cut to:

ANGEL
I figured you were the one I needed to be alone with.

HAMILTON
Why? So I could kill you?

ANGEL
Well, I thought the fight would be going a little better.

HAMILTON
Oh.

Hamilton throws Angel off the balcony. He lands on the floor of the lobby.

Cut to:

32 INT. LAIR OF THE FELL BRETHREN - NIGHT
The baby is cooing in his crib as Spike approaches him, still disguised in the hooded robe of the Fell Brethren.

SPIKE
Hello, Junior. The name's Spike.
(picks up the baby)
And lucky for you, I'm on a strict diet.

When Spike turns to leave with the baby, he's faced with three of the Fell Brethren standing in the doorway.

FELL LEADER
Place the holy vessel back in the bassinet.

Spike looks at the baby, who even seems to shake his head "no", then looks back at the Fell.

SPIKE
(sighs)
Right.

Spike shrugs off the robe and fights off the brothers' attack while still holding the baby.

Cut to:

33 INT. SAHRVIN LAIR - NIGHT
Lindsey, too, is engages in a fight with his demons, wielding a sword as he mows down one after another of the Sahrvins.

Cut to:

34 INT. CYVUS VAIL'S MANSION - NIGHT
Wesley slings Cyvus's body across the dining room where he hits a wall and slides down into a pile on the floor. Wesley walks slowly toward him.

WESLEY
Your influence on this world is over. The rest of the Circle will wither and die...
(forms another fireball in his palm)
like you're about to.

VAIL
You don't know who you're dealing with, do you, boy?
(groans as he gets to his feet)
(holds out his hand, summons Wes's fireball into his hand, and extinguishes it)
I mean, really. I crap better magic than this. Now then, let me show you what a real wizard can do.

Vail raises his hand and Wesley winces.

Cut to:

35 INT. LOBBY OF WOLFRAM & HART - NIGHT
Hamilton is pummeling Angel in the lobby, punching him repeatedly in the face, but Angel manages to stay on his feet.

HAMILTON
Why do you keep fighting? You signed away your Shanshu. There's nothing in it for you anymore.

ANGEL
(punches Hamilton in the face)
People who don't care about anything will never understand the people who do.

HAMILTON
(punches Angel hard, sending him across the room again)
Yeah, but we won't care.

Angel writhes on the floor, groaning as Hamilton picks up a stake off Harmony's desk. Hamilton walks over to Angel, kneels to pick Angel up by the lapel as he rears back ready to plunge the stake into Angel's chest. But before he can do it, someone punches him in the face, sending him flying across the room away from Angel. Hamilton goes through a glass wall, shattering it. Pan out to show it was Connor who punched him.

CONNOR
Care about that, dress-for-less?
(offers Angel a hand to get to his feet)

ANGEL
What the hell are you doing here?

CONNOR
Come on. You drop by for a cup of coffee, and the world's not ending? Please.

Cut to:

36 INT. SENATOR BRUCKER'S CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS - NIGHT
The fighting in the Senator's office can't go unnoticed at this point. Gunn has engaged nearly everyone else there, but the Senator remains on the phone, unfazed. She snaps her fingers at the one vampire who is still sitting at his desk computer instead of fighting off Gunn. The vampire goes for Gunn, but Gunn stakes him instantly.

SENATOR
(on the phone)
The families are protected against pedophiles and other undesirables. Even the United States govern—

Gunn then turns his attention to the Senator as he reaches to grab the axe from his back and hurls it at the Senator's head. It lands in the middle of her forehead, cutting off her conversation in mid-sentence. She collapses to the floor, still holding the phone to her ear.

GUNN
(to the remaining vampires)
Looks like you boys are gonna need to find a new candidate.
(the vampires encircle Gunn, growling)
And you wonder why folks don't vote.

Gunn straightens his arms, unfurling the stakes he had hidden up his sleeves. He stakes the first one that attacks him, but has to fight off the others with more difficulty.

Cut to:

37 EXT. LOS ANGELES STREET - NIGHT
Illyria is walking away from Izzy's car. The car's hood is smoking, the roof has been smashed in violently, and there's blood stains on the ground near the car doors.

Cut to:

38 INT. ANGEL'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Eve is pacing nervously in Angel's office.

Cut to:

39 INT. SAHRVIN LAIR - NIGHT
Lorne treads carefully as he walks around the former Sahrvin lair. The bloody bodies of the demons litter the floor. Lorne looks sick as he takes it all in. Lindsey is washing his hands at the sink.

LINDSEY
Those guys were chumps.

LORNE
Now they're chunks. Demon strength or no, you're quite the master swordsman.

LINDSEY
Well, I couldn't have done it without that high note in MacArthur Park.

LORNE
Slays 'em every time.

LINDSEY
Any word on the rest of the team?

LORNE
For all I know, we are the rest of the team. I haven't heard squat.

LINDSEY
That's weird.
(turns off the water)

LORNE
They'll call.

LINDSEY
(dries his hands)
No, I mean me saying "team" and meaning it. I kind of like the feeling.

LORNE
Yeah, today.

LINDSEY
You really done with them?

LORNE
It isn't my kind of work anymore. It's unsavory.

LINDSEY
Gee, I think it's just getting interesting.

LORNE
Yeah, I bet you do.

LINDSEY
You don't trust me. You don't think a man can change?

LORNE
It's not about what I think. This was Angel's plan.
(sighs)

LINDSEY
Come on.
(smiles)
I could sing for you.

LORNE
I've heard you sing.
(takes out a gun with a silencer and shoots Lindsey twice in the chest)

LINDSEY
(stumbling back, looking at his wounds, then at Lorne)
Why—why did you...

LORNE
One last job. You're not part of the solution, Lindsey. You never will be.

LINDSEY
(points at Lorne)
You kill me?
(collapses to the floor)
A flunky?! I'm not just... Angel...kills me. You don't... Angel...
(his rapid breathing comes to an end as his body goes limp)

LORNE
(sighs, looks down)
Good night, folks.
(drops gun on floor as he walks out)

Cut to:

40 INT. CYVUS VAIL'S MANSION - NIGHT
Wesley is grunting quietly in pain as he's held in the air by Vail's magic.

VAIL
(circling Wesley, scoffing)
Did you really think you had a shot at this? I can bend the very fabric of reality to my will. Your parlor tricks could never kill me, boy.
(standing in front of Wesley, laughs)

WESLEY
(straining)
Then I'll just... have to do this... the old-fashioned way.
(takes out a switch-blade knife, pops the blade and tries to stab Vail)

VAIL
(stops Wesley from stabbing him)
Yes... I suppose we will.
(summons a large knife from the wall to him and thrusts it into Wes's stomach)

Wesley gasps as Vail turns the knife. Wesley conjures one more large fireball in his palm, and it explodes, the force of it sending Vail across the room into a wall, knocking him out, which releases Wesley from his grip. Wesley falls, but lands on his feet. He stumbles and is about to fall to the ground when Illyria rushes into the room. She catches him in her arms and kneels beside him on the floor.

ILLYRIA
Wesley.
(inspects his wound)
This wound is mortal.

WESLEY
(he touches his wound)
Aren't we all?
(looks at her, smiles)
It was good... that you came.

ILLYRIA
I killed all mine, and I was...

WESLEY
Concerned?

ILLYRIA
I think so. But I can't help. You'll be dead within moments.

WESLEY
I know.

ILLYRIA
Would you like me to lie to you now?

WESLEY
(looks at her weakly)
Yes.
(closes his eyes in a slow, pained blink)
Thank you. Yes.
(opens his eyes to see Fred's face, her hand stroking his cheek)
Hello there.

FRED
(trying to smile through her tears)
Oh, Wesley. My Wesley.

WESLEY
Fred.
(whispering)
I've missed you.

FRED
(kisses his lips twice gently, sniffles, kisses his forehead)
It's gonna be OK. It won't hurt much longer, and then you'll be where I am.
(crying)
We'll be together.

WESLEY
I—I love you.

FRED
(smiles through her tears)
I love you. My love. Oh, my love.

Wesley only stares motionless, lifeless in her arms. She lets him go, gently placing his head on the floor. Illyria as Fred blinks slowly and sighs through gritted teeth before getting to her feet. Vail is conscious and on his feet again, standing behind Illyria.

VAIL
(approaching Illyria)
How very touching his meaningless death was, but this fight was never for mortals.
(groans as Illyria turns to face him angrily, in the form of Fred)
Oh.
(chuckles)
Take your best shot, little girl.

Illyria swings a powerful punch at Vail's head, transforming her shape from Fred to blue Illyria in mid-swing, ultimately shattering Vail's head with the force of her swing.

Cut to:

41 INT. LOBBY OF WOLFRAM & HART - NIGHT
Connor and Angel have teamed up to fight Hamilton. They fight hand-to-hand, kicking, punching, and so forth.

HAMILTON
(head-butts Connor)
What is with you people?
(throws Connor into the elevator doors, where he collapses to the floor)

ANGEL
Connor!
(tries to go to Connor, but is blocked by Hamilton)

Angel tries to fight Hamilton but is instead thrown across the room by him again. Angel lands on the concrete steps.

HAMILTON
(straightens his tie, walks toward Angel)
Let me say this as clearly as I can. You cannot beat me. I am a part of them. The Wolf, Ram, and Hart. Their strength flows through my veins. My blood is filled with their ancient power.

ANGEL
(gets to his feet, smirking)
Can you pick out the one word there you prbably shouldn't have said ?
(Marcus Groaning)

ANGEL
Wow ! You really are full of it. () What was that you were saying about ancient power ?
()

HAMILTON
You don't really think you're gonna win this, do you ? You don't stand a chance. We are legion. We are forever.
ANGEL
I guess forever... just got a hell of a lot shorter.

(Connor's moaning)

CONNOR
Is he dead ?

ANGEL
Yeah. He's dead.

(Glasses shattering)

CONNOR
That's not good, is it ?

ANGEL
Wolfram & Hart. They're taking the gloves off.

CONNOR
What do we do ?

ANGEL
You go home... This is my fight.

CONNOR
That's some serious macho... Aah !

ANGEL
Go home... Now !
CONNOR
They'll destroy you.

ANGEL
As long as you're OK, they can't... Go.

Cut to...

EVE
What the hell is going on ?

ANGEL
It's like we're getting kicked out of the garden.

EVE
Where's Lindsey ? Where is he ?

ANGEL
He's not coming for you

EVE
You...

ANGEL
Time to go.

EVE
Go where ?

Cut to...

It's raining. Angel runs in the alley with a sword in the hand and looks for his friends.

SPIKE
Boo

ANGEL
Anyone else ?

SPIKE
Not so far. You feel the heat ?

ANGEL
It's coming.

SPIKE
Finally got ourselves a decent brawl.

Gunn arrives in the alley, an axe in the hand.

GUNN
Damn ! How'd I know the fang boys would pull through ? (as Angel and Spike runs towards him) You're lucky we're on the same side, dogs, because I was on fire tonight. My game was tight.

SPIKE
Supposed to wear that red stuff on the inside, Charlie-boy.

GUNN
(Staring at his bloody hand)
Any word on Wes ?

Spike denies with his head. Illyria arrives, litteraly falling from above.

ILLYRIA
Wesley's dead... I'm feeling grief for him. I can't seem to control it. (a crowd shouting) I wish to do more violence.

SPIKE
Well, wishes just happen to be horses today.

ANGEL
Among other things.

GUNN
Okay. You take the 30,000 on the left...

ILLYRIA
You're fading. You'll last 10 minutes at best.

Thousands of demons are shouting and snarling.

GUNN
Then let's make them memorable.

SPIKE
And in terms of a plan ?

ANGEL
We fight.

SPIKE
Bit more specific

ANGEL
Well, personnally, I kind want to slay the dragon... Let's go to work.

THE END