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Subject: 5x13R: Red Diamonds and Silk Author: by VKMax, Toothy and Veggieburger [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 16:26:36 02/13/04 Fri Author Host/IP: 62.252.0.6 ANGEL'S OFFICE W&H Opening scene begins where episode 12 left off with Angel and Wes discussing Fred. Faith walks in. ANGEL Faith, I didn't expect you to be here so soon. FAITH Wes if you don't mind, I need to talk to Angel alone. WES Not at all. Actually, I need to meet...ah...someone in Chinatown. We'll talk later about this Angel...and Faith....good to see you here. FAITH You bet Wes, it's just good to be. As Wes leaves, Faith turns to Angel and her tone shifts from upbeat to stern. ANGEL Thanks for coming so fast. FAITH When I get phone calls in the middle of the night from you wanting me to kill someone, then yeah, I think I needed to get here quick. ANGEL Things have changed. You don't understand FAITH You want me to kill Spike don't you? Which is not why I'm here by the way. ANGEL Ok, I guess you do understand a little. But it's more complicated than that. FAITH It's not complicated Angel. I've called one man 'Boss' in my life and his orders sent me to a place I'll never go again. In case you don't remember, the Mayor's prophesy of Ascension didn't work out to well either. You more than anyone should know these things are never what they seem. ANGEL There's more to it, but you're right, I should have never asked you to do something like that. FAITH It's a bitch having all this power and not being able to kill someone isn't it? ANGEL So why are you here? FAITH I'm here cause I spoke to Willow (beat) Not to go all 'little sister grows up' but I'm here to keep my eye on you - all of you ANGEL Faith... FAITH Nah ah - I helped you by breaking out of prison then spending two weeks getting the crap kicked out of me by anything with or without a pulse so now - You're gonna help me. ANGEL How? FAITH By sitting down, shutting up and listening to what I've got to say ANGEL When did you get so domineering? FAITH Always have been - wasn't for that curse, I expect you'd already know. ANGEL Did Buffy send you? FAITH I don't get sent - I arrive. (beat) And, No. You're lucky there's an apocalypse there right now ANGEL Is she in trouble? FAITH A lot less than you'd be if she was here ANGEL I don't get the big problem FAITH Sleeping with the enemy - literally ANGEL Lilahs not the enemy she's the...something else FAITH Something potentially soul stealing? ANGEL No She's... FAITH You're an idiot, a big gel haired, Spike hating, Buffy upsetting, Faith annoying, Enemy sleeping, City unprotecting, Weight putting on, idiot! Angel wake up! Angel is both taken back and hurt by Faith's comments, although he knows what she's saying is true. FAITH well, there's the monthly PMS newsreel Any questions? ANGEL How about we start over. Hi Faith - How are you? FAITH (serious) City of Angel here ANGEL Angels. It's the city of Angels FAITH Only one from where I'm standing ANGEL It's not my city. FAITH Time was when you'd test that theory. (pause) What are you doing here Angel? Get it back. You own this damn city - go save it. Starring David Boreanaz Vincent Karthieser Amy Acker J August Richards James Marsters Stephanie Romanov and Alexis Denisof Special Guest Star Julie Benz Guest Starring Brian T. Skala, Eliza Dushku as Faith Written by: veggieburger, toothy and VKMax INT – HYPERION – EARLY MORNING Connor is half asleep with his leg wrapped around the bed sheet. He begins to stir as the sound of violent coughing wakes him CONNOR (Yawning) You okay? He looks over to a readily dressed Cody who is sat on the chair in the corner reading. CODY Great CONNOR Sounds like you’re trying to show me your innards CODY Huh? CONNOR The coughing – not a nice thing to wake up to CODY Sorry CONNOR Don’t apologise get it seen to. CODY Don’t worry about it – have another dream last night? CONNOR Nice change of subject there. I don’t get it – it’s the same every night. CODY No change? CONNOR No. I’m fighting with Spike and Orio and then my parents collect me and disappear CODY (clearly wanting to avoid him) Breakfast? CUT TO. INT – HYPERION KITCHEN – EARLY MORNING Cody stands by the sink washing his hands with bottled water as he begins to cough harshly, his face going red as he does so. He pours a drink of water and begins to cough once again, raising his hand to his mouth to wipe away a small drip of blood which he spits into the sink. As he sips on the water it begins to cloud where remaining blood seeps into the glass and curdles the water. CUT TO. EXT: WILSHIRE BLVD., near Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills Gunn is driving a luxury sports car (a black Jaguar - natch) - a secret gift from W/H corporate management, and feeling on top of the world. He has swank sunglasses on and is groovin' to his car stereo, listening to Bruce Springsteen singing "Darkness of the Edge of Town". Gunn comically imitates Bruce's trademark growl as he sings along. GUNN (singing) Everybody's got a secret, Sonny Something that they just can't face. Gunn hears a police siren start up and looks in his rear view mirror, and realizes he's being pulled over. GUNN (angry) Crap. Here we go. (in a low-pitched voice) What's a black man like you doin' drivin' a nice car in Beverly Hills? (in a high-pitched snarky tone) Well, officer, it just looked so nice sittin' at the curb. The officer is at his window and Gunn looks up, obviously ready to be confrontational but instead breaks into a grin just as the officer also does the same. OFFICER Well, if it ain't little Charles Gunn! GUNN And if it ain't Ossfer Joe. (deliberately pron. "Ossfer") OFFICER Hey, your break light's not working, Charlie. Well, damn! (checks out the Jag) Hey, you been movin' on up. They sing together, sharing a private joke. To the East Side! (laugh) OFFICER Hey, I'm still in that house on Pico. We're having barbecue tomorrow. Why don't you come and join us? Been an awfully long time. Hey, bring Alona. GUNN I wish I could, Ossfer. Alona died a few years ago. OFFICER Oh, damn, I'm sorry. The more reason for you to come visit us - a man needs family, Charles Gunn. GUNN Yeah, you was always sayin' that. I'll be there! No ticket? OFFICER Now how many times did I pull your juvenile ass out of goin' to jail? GUNN Enough that I owe you big time, big brother. They give each other an affectionate arm punch and the officer leaves. Gunn drives away, singing `Darkness' again. GUNN Some folks are born into a good life Other folks get it anyway anyhow END OF PART ONE EXT: A well-tended middle-class house on Pico Blvd., in a predominantly black neighborhood. The front yard and porch are full of people, and Ossfer Joe ("Joe" from here on) is in his glory in chef hat and apron, barbecuing ribs while at a long table typical barbecue fare is being scooped up. Gunn looks happy and relaxed - he's even wearing one of his old sports shirts, a bit of the old Gunn from S3/4 - as he gets potato salad and chats with Joe's wife. Joe hands his hat and apron off to his adult son, and motions Charles to join him on the stoop. GUNN Man, this is good! I don't get the chance to eat like this much anymore. JOE I'm glad I ran into you, Charles. Nelly and me, we were sorry to lose track of your mom and you kids. GUNN Yeah, you guys were good to us after Pa had his heart attack. JOE He worked hard. And he did well - just bought a house, got a promotion - no more driving those big MTA busses, got the desk job he always wanted. Shame about that second heart attack, just when it was goin' so well. (pause) Why'd your mama leave that new house like that, Charles? We all reached out to her when Greg died. Didn't make no sense. GUNN Yeah, I know. She was scared by something. JOE She wouldn't talk to no one. I offered her protection, said "Hey, if you or Greg is involved in something." GUNN Wasn't nothin' like that. JOE So what was it? GUNN I don't know. I was young. Just 13 and Alona was only 9. She moved us out two nights after they buried Dad. Wouldn't go to no one she knew - moved us into a shelter. Man, I'll never forget that. How scared Alona and me was. Never seen anything like that - those bad ass toughs eyeballin' us. She'd lock us in the room all night and stay up, like she was expectin' something. Then one night she tooks us home. Went to the corner store alone and never came back. We waited for weeks til the food ran out. And you know, it felt creepy, all alone in that house. (pauses). Finally, Alona and I figured maybe mom had just abandoned us. JOE You shoulda come to us for help, Charles. GUNN Yeah, well. Shoulda, coulda. (tries to lighten the mood) I want some more of those ribs! Gunn begins to get up as a sinister looking black sedan drives past the front yard. Suddenly, everyone is quiet and watches the car as if expecting trouble. The car is driven by a chauffeur - two exotic looking black men sit in the back seat. They have a "hip hop mogul" look to them, displaying a P Diddy wealthy stylishness. Their eyes are hidden by dark glasses, and their expressions are smirky. One gestures toward the inside of the car in a "come here" manner. Joe gives them a dirty look. GUNN Drive by? JOE No. They've never caused any trouble. Wish they would, so I could bust `em. They drive by damn near every day, makin' everyone nervous. GUNN Tell `em to get lost. JOE Oh, I have, and so have others. They just gesture and say "Wanna take a ride uptown? Get in if you do." I don't know if they're pimps or dealers or what. There's been a few that have gotten in the car. Then we don't see `em for a few months, til they drive by grinnin' in a fancy new car and clothes. GUNN (gets up to approach the drivers) Yeah, well let's see what this bull is all about. CUT TO EXT – LOS ANGELES STREET – DAY FRED IS WALKING WITH GREAT SPEED DOWN THE STREET AS SHE HOLDS HER THICK WINTER JACKET CLOSE TO HER. AS SHE STEPS IN A PUDDLE, A BRIGHT, BRAND NEW PURPLE PORSCHE PULLS UP BESIDE HER. THE TINTED WINDOWS WIND DOWN TO REVEAL… LILAH Get in FRED LOOKS AROUND BRIEFLY BEFORE CLIMBING INTO THE CAR. FRED Thanks – broke my heel LILAH Happens to the best of us FRED What’s that supposed to mean? LILAH (sincere) Generally, it’s the best of us which break our heels FRED Sorry (quiet) little edgy LILAH Care to share FRED (harsh) Are you gonna kill me? Why are you being nice? LILAH Fred! I’m hurt (pause) Also, I respect a woman like you FRED What kind of woman is that? LILAH Heartless, dark, the works – that little scam with sparky Barbie – genius FRED It’s not how I wanted it to be LILAH Yet it took you so long to stop CUT TO GUNN approaches the sedan and the man in the back seat, driver's side, opens the door. MAN WITH RED POCKET HANKIE ( "Red Hankie") Get on in, brother. GUNN I ain't your brother. Move over. (Gunn gets in the car). Don't try any crap. The man on the passenger's side offers his hand. He's noticeable by his huge diamond ring. DIAMOND RING Please allow me to introduce myself. (joking) I'm a man of wealth and taste. Gunn declines the handshake. GUNN Well, what is it? You buyin', sellin' or just enjoy makin' good folks nervous? Diamond Ring reaches into an expensive satchel and hands a CD to the driver. The driver puts it on - it's a CD of old 1920s/30s blues. DIAMOND RING Do you like the blues, Mr? GUNN Gunn DIAMOND RING Well, not as original as ICE T or Doctor Dre. What is it? M.C. Gunn? GrandMaster Gunn? GUNN Charles Gunn. You must be Mr. Idiot. The CD plays Robert Johnson singing "Crossroad Blues" DIAMOND RING Always loved that old story about Robert Johnson selling his soul at the crossroads. `Course, not many crossroads here in the big city. More like crosswalks. GUNN Is that what you're buyin? Souls? DIAMOND RING Why? You sellin? GUNN My soul is otherwise engaged,.(snarky) brother. DIAMOND RING Don't think I got anything to offer you anyways. You look like you're movin' on up. I seen a lot of brothers move on up. And they never look back. Oh, they revisit the hood a couple times to show off their new car and do their braggin' rights. Then they stop comin' back. What about you? Miss the `hood? GUNN Sorry. (mocks a stereotyped "black accent") Mah brutha. Me and my sister was a little more.downtown. DIAMOND RING Oh, I get it. The inner city cliche. All rats and roaches and tenements. Gunn suddenly grabs the mans head and slams it hard repeatedly against the car window. GUNN Don't you EVER tell me that my sister and I are cliches. Let me tell you, you jerk, that stuff is real and people suffer. And it's hard to get out. Red Hankie interferes with the head banging by pulling a knife, which Gunn intercepts by pushing it toward the thug's throat. DIAMOND RING Hey, don't I know it. About how hard it is to get out. That's why we help. We're.entrepreneurs. GUNN (to chauffeur) Stop the car. The car stops and Gunn shoves Red Hankie into the street and gets out of the car. GUNN (to Diamond Ring) I don't want to hear about you drivin' by Joe's place anymore. You do and you're a dead man. I'm no cop. I'm with Wolfram and Hart. I'll send you straight to hell. DIAMOND RING (laughs) Wolfram and Hart! Well, ain't I the pot trying to corrupt the kettle! As for dead, that's just funny. And as for hell, on my way right now to return the car. See you again. Mah brutha. CUT TO. INT – WOLFRAM & HART / LADIES ROOM – DAY LILAH IS STOOD AT THE MIRROR APPLYING HER RUBY RED LIPSTICK AS FRED SLIDES IN GINGERLY BEHIND HER. LILAH Why so shy sister? FRED Why are you talking like that? Like we’re gal pals LILAH Sweetie, don’t pretend like you hate me now. With Cordelia and Willow gone, I’m the only girlfriend you have FRED We’re not girlfriends LILAH Sure we are – we’re so alike. All we do is bitch about our authority figures, scheme against people and screw with Wes’ head – you’re like carbon baby, as in copy. LILAH KISSES FRED HARD ON THE HEAD AND LEAVES A LIP MARK BEFORE STRUTTING OFF OUT OF THE DOOR WITH HER HEAD HELD HIGH. FRED WALKS UPTO THE MIRROR AND STARES AT HERSELF HARD, SHE LIGHTLY GLIDES HER FINGER OVER THE LIPSTICK MARK BEFORE VIOLENTLY SCRUBBING AT IT WITH HER HANDS. SHE BUILDS UP SO MUCH RAGE THAT SHE ENDS UP PUNCHING THE MIRROR WITH THE SIDE OF HER HAND BEFORE SINKING TO THE FLOOR IN TEARS. CUT TO. INT: The W/H Executive Dining Room Angel and Gunn sit at a swank dining table. They both look mildly uncomfortable. ANGEL I knew we should have gone to the cafeteria. GUNN Well, this is more private. I know, `cause I checked it for surveillance before we got here. A waiter comes and offers both of them a menu. ANGEL (waving it away) I don't eat, thanks. WAITER Oh, Mr. Angel. We're well aware of your culinary needs. I think you'll find that menu has been specialized for your tastes. Angel glances over it and cracks an uncharacteristic chuckle. He shows the menu to Gunn. GUNN (mocking a high class accent) Well, Mr. Angel, shall I recommend the Napolese Lamb blood? ANGEL (chuckles, hands the menu to the waiter) Whatever the "du Jour" is. GUNN Steak and lobster. I can't even pronounce this other stuff. WAITER Very good sir. (leaves) The two men sit silently and awkwardly until Angel breaks the silence. ANGEL What's on your mind? GUNN Nuthin'. Well, somethin'. I guess. Don't know. Wanted some company. (another awkward pause) ANGEL How'd you become a vampire hunter, Charles? We flashback to Gunn's memories. He is 13 years old, in the living room of his childhood home, holding a scared 9 year old Alona while his mother frantically boards up the inside front windows. She triple-locks the front door and then checks the hall closet. MOM You checked all the upstairs closets? CHARLES Yes, mom. MOM And those windows are boarded tight? CHARLES Yes, mom. Mom? MOM Yes, honey? CHARLES What you so scared of? MOM Remember how mom told you kids never to take a ride from a stranger? Well, mom didn't follow her own advice. She took a ride home from a stranger. Don't you ever do it, you hear? The scene changes slightly to show a few hours after midnight. Mom and kids are asleep on the living room couch. A mist begins to seep in from under the front door. Mr. Diamond Ring materializes inside the room. Mom wakes and stares, terrified. The children remain sleeping. DIAMOND RING (looks around) Nice. And that pension should keep you and your kids just fine. Greg tried his best, didn't he. But he just didn't think ahead enough. Didn't see that heart attack coming. MOM You get out of here! Don't you come near my kids! (Charles stirs but doesn't awake). DIAMOND RING Madam. You signed the paper. All I did was offer you a ride. (he goes into demon face) And I won't hurt your kids. If you read through the paperwork, you'd remember that. MOM You here to drink my blood? How did you get in here anyway? Don't I have to ask you in? DIAMOND RING Drink your blood?? (looks disgusted). Lady, I'm not a vampire. As for how I got in, I take it you don't remember the Latchkey Clause. But in fact, I'm here to offer you an upgrade on your agreement. The scene changes back to the dining hall. Dinner arrives. Gunn looks at Angel's glass of `haute cuisine' blood, and distaste crosses his face. GUNN (looks at his steak and lobster, stabs the very rare steak with a knife - it bleeds.). Wish I hadn't ordered rare. The scene flashbacks to Gunn's memories again. Mom and kids are in a one-room shelter bedroom. She locks the double-locks and pushes a chair against the doorknob. She looks terrified. ALONA Mom, I'm hungry. CHARLES Mom, what are we running from? I wanna go home. MOM We're not runnin', baby. It's just (she can't think of a good lie). Alona sees the bugs on the wall and floor, and starts crying. ALONA Mommy, bugs! A rat scurries out of the bathroom. Charles jumps up onto the bed. CHARLES Mom, rats! MOM Don't be such a baby, Charles. Mom gingerly opens the bathroom door and a swarm of rats pour out. Charles screams and holds Alona. Diamond Ring walks like a gunslinger out of the bathroom., unconcerned by the rats. At the same moment, the teen vampire hunters that Charles will later join break down the door. Diamond Ring jumps thru the window, pursued by some of them. Mom breathes a little easier. MOM Kids, we're going home. Get your stuff. The scene changes back to the dining room. GUNN Do you ever feel like you're living in two different worlds? ANGEL I'd say I kinda set the standard for it. GUNN I don't mean dead but still eating out in nice dining halls. (pauses) I'm just in a morbid mood, man. I'm missin' my family. The scene flashes back to mom moving the kids back in. She looks more relaxed. MOM No more crazy runnin' around, kids. It's all over. Mom made a mistake, but she's taken care of it. Now you just wait here, mom's gonna go get some food at the corner store. You want anything special? ALONA Cheesy Nachos. CHARLES Chili dog. And a Super Slurpy. MOM (smiling big) You can have anything you want tonight. Mom'll be back in 10 minutes. The scene changes back to the dining hall. GUNN (in reverie, finishing a story we assumed he's now told to Angel). She never came back. Guess she didn't take care of that little problem after all. CUT TO. EXT--L.A.--Dusk Wes stands just off a row of stores in Chinatown as he watches a chinese festival of fire crackers and paper machet dragons parade by. Spike walks up. WES I was beginning to think you weren't going to show. SPIKE Funny thing, I haven't been paying much attention to the time lately. The whole sunset/sunrise thing doesn't mean as much to me as it used to. WES Time is of the essence, I'm afraid. SPIKE What's this all about, anyway? WES Demon hunt. SPIKE Why me? Where's your corporate pals? Wes side steps that question WES I've been doing a lot of research on you Spike. SPIKE Yeah, so what do your books say about me? WES The books don't tell us everything and I'm interested in learning more. SPIKE Well, I've had more than one of you watcher types interested in me. Wes extends his arm and a metal rod about a foot long with a nasty looking hook on the end extends from his coat sleeve. Spike takes a defensive step back, but Wes squats down to a manhole cover he had been standing over. He grabs the grate with the hook and pulls the cover to the side. WES You in or not? Spike watches as Wes climbs down into the sewers below the street. With a shrug, Spike follows him down into the tunnels. SPIKE You never answered my question. Why me? I would have thought you'd be under orders to eliminate me. I'm sure Angel's thought about it. Wes stops and turns to face Spike square on. WES This isn't a trap if that's what you're thinking. If it came to it, I'd come at you straight away. Spike laughs off Wes' bravado SPIKE What's with the mood swings? I don't remember you watchers being so chivalrous when it came to vampires. WES Former watcher SPIKE If you hadn't noticed, former vampire They break at that exchange and continue on through the tunnel. After a few minutes, Wes checks a gadget from his coat which seems to be a directional signal of some sort. It picks up a tone and they continue through a side tunnel. WES Maybe you'd consider working from the inside for change. SPIKE It's a good thing we're formers, because it would be too ironic for the watcher to try to corrupt the vampire. WES You think I've been corrupted? Before Spike can answer, they come to a spot where the tunnel opens into a large open area. From their vantage point a couple stories up, they have a full view of the goings on down below. There are several tunnels leading into the room on the main floor. In the center of the room is a giant caterpillar nearly eight feet long. It's laying on a honeycomb which fills the room. Each honeycomb is large enough to hold a man and the demon caterpillar deposits an egg and then fills it with a gelatin substance. There are several vampires attending to the creature. There are 2 feeding it leafy greens while 2 others stand on the edges of the honeycombs, shifting it to the next empty honeycomb as the last is filled. SPIKE You ever seen anything like that in your books? WES It's unusual to see vamps like this. All the vampires are Chinese. They are also all dressed alike. Black sweat pants with a red sash and no shirt. Their upper bodies are completely covered with oriental tattoos. SPIKE Not that odd. We are in the sewers under Chinatown. I may have even made one of them from my days in the east. WES That's not what I'm talking about. It's highly unusual for vampires to be taking care of a demon and it's eggs. SPIKE Right. I wouldn't know anything about demon eggs. Another vampire comes into view and goes over to the honeycomb and scoop up a bucket full of the honey before leaving again. SPIKE So what do we do, take it out? WES No. Until we know who or what's behind this, I think we wait, but I would like to get a sample of that honey for Fred to analyze. Just as Wes says this one of the vampire loses his footing and falls into one of the honeycombs. This spooks the worm and it begins flopping about, spraying a stream of goo all over the place. The vamps calm the caterpillar back down, but not before it spayed the spot where Spike and Wes are lurking. Now covered with sweet honey, Spike and Wes don't say a word as they turn to leave. END OF PART TWO [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

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[> Subject: 5x13R: Red Diamonds and Silk Author: by VKMax, Toothy and Veggieburger [Edit] Date Posted: 16:28:15 02/13/04 Fri Author Host/IP: 62.252.0.6 SITUATION ROOM W&H-MORNING Wes, Fred, Spike and Faith are in attendance in this high tech, ultra secure planning room deep in the bowels of Wolfram and Hart. Angel comes in and surveys the situation. ANGEL Please tell me there is some evil out there that needs killing and this isn't one of those interventions. FAITH I think we've all had one of those interventions, so my guess would be it's some evil that needs killing. SPIKE Give the slayer a cupie doll. It's a bug hunt. Spike begins laughing at his comment and everyone just looks at him SPIKE What? Doesn't anyone here go to the movies? You know, from that science fiction movie where bugs that think blow up Buenos Aries. FAITH Starship Troopers. I saw that in prison. FRED Actually, that bug hunt line came from Alien II. You know when Sigourney Weaver and those commandos went back to that planet with the demon eggs. ANGEL People please! Can we focus on what's important. (pause) WES Thank you Angel. This is the situation... Angel interrupts Wes and points to Spike ANGEL What's he doing here? SPIKE You know, I asked Wes the same thing. Maybe he doesn't feel comfortable with who's got his back around here. I know I'm not. WES Right, if I can continue. Bug hunt, but it's a bit more involved than that. Fred informed me that censors W&H has placed around LA were showing activity in Chinatown. Everyone was pre-occupied so I took Spike along for back up. This is what we found. Wes points a clicker at a large flat screen on the wall. WES I recorded this with my lapel cam A fifteen second film plays of the scene where the vampires were feeding the caterpillar demon. It ends when Wes and Spike all covered with the demon honey. ANGEL Who you gonna call? (laughs) What?, they got slimed. Now that was a good movie. Show it again Wes, I don't think I'll ever get tired of seeing Spike get covered in goo. FAITH Well, if we're all using movie references, I'm impressed Wes. All those James Bond type gadgets and not a book in sight. WES Actually I spent the entire evening researching this situation in the library and if I could have everyone's attention for a few moments, I'd like to continue with my presentation. SPIKE Sure thing, if we can keep Angel from drooling over all the demon hair gel. WES Fred, help me out here. Have you analyzed that sample we gave you? FRED Just the preliminaries. I'm still waiting on the cellular and DNA results. But so far it seems harmless. Simple enzyme, slightly acidic with natural proteins and sugars. WES That's what I expected. An overlay of a street map shows this location to be directly underneath the China World Import/Export Company. They're recently started promoting a new dessert treat call ChinaChill. FRED Oh, I've had one of those. Lemony ice goodness on a stick! (realizes) Eww, not goodness. You mean I've been eating this stuff? WES I don't believe there's reason to worried just yet. FRED Well I'm glad you're calm, but I'm going to see if I can't get those DNA tests completed. Fred gets up and hurriedly heads to her lab. WES In the mean time, I've traced our caterpillar demon back to the Silkworm trade. As you probably know, the silk trade started in China. You might not know silk actually comes from a caterpillar. The Chinese kept the process secret for nearly three thousand years. There were wild theories on how silk was produced. Eventually the secret got out to Korea and then India. Later a pair of monks smuggled out the worms. The Italians learned a great deal about the truth during their conquests of the crusades. ANGEL Wes is this all very interesting, but do we need a history lesson right now? WES Right, to the point. I found something interesting in the diaries of one of the monks who first brought the silkworm to the west. He spoke of a super worm that could be altered by changing it's diet. He called it, "Ambrosia delle viti senza fine del dio". FAITH For those of us who are me that don't speak Italian, what does that mean? WES Ambrosia of the worm gods. SPIKE It's crimson and clover. ANGEL Spike, that's a vampire fairy tale. FAITH Again, for those of us who are me, what's crimson and clover? ANGEL It's a myth passed down by vampires over the centuries. The crimson blood of the vampire would become the clover for the demon. It was believed one day vampires would join with a demon and destroy all of mankind. WES That's exactly what I believe is happening. I think they plan to feed this silkworm demon vampire DNA. I'm not sure for what purpose. There are several possibilities. None of which are good. ANGEL You keep saying 'they'. Who's behind this? WES The China World Export Company has global reach. Their headquarters are located in Chinatown directly above where this Silkworm demon is being cultivated. W&H has intercepted communication in the past couple of weeks with them and someone known only as "The Doctor". FAITH Well, what are we sitting around for? Let's go take this thing out now. SPIKE I'm with you, but it's daylight out, so I guess that leaves Angel out. ANGEL Spike my boy, let me tell you something about being head of W&H. I have a fleet of SUV's complete with necro-glass ready to take me anywhere I what to go. WES Yes I agree, we go now. If even one of those eggs were to get loose...... Wes doesn't finnish his thought as everyone gets up to leave. Fred comes back just as everyone's leaving. FRED I've got the DNA results. WES Hang on to them FAITH Yeah, we're going on a bug hunt. Spike to Faith as they walk out the door SPIKE So you got to see movies in prison, huh? FAITH Yeah, but shower scenes in movies have a lot better looking people in them than in the real prison. CUT TO. EXT – URGENT CARE CLINIC CONNOR You sure this is the right place? CODY Been coming here for years CONNOR It’s never fallen down on you? (off look) Sorry snob. CODY Yeah, um, I’m gonna be late so… CONNOR Right, I’ve gotta, I dunno shop or call my Mom or something I dunno, I check you at home okay? CODY Sure CONNOR Don’t be so nervous, probably just the flu Connor slaps him on the back and jogs off down the street as Cody stares up nervously. INT: A RUN DOWN URGENT CARE CLINIC Cody stands at the front of a long line of sick people in a packed waiting room. He's surrounded by some pretty bad cases - pregnant 14 yr olds, old shuddering alcoholics, battered women, etc. We can see this is a place of desperation. The furnishings are bare - steel folding chairs and a rickety wooden magazine rack. RECEPTIONIST Next. (looks up at Cody) Insurance carrier? CODY Um. No ma'am. The receptionist hands Cody a huge load of paperwork. RECEPTIONIST Fill this out. (looks again at Cody) You underage? CODY (lying) No, ma'am. RECEPTIONIST Got ID proving otherwise? CODY (losing heart) No, ma'am. RECEPTIONIST (hands him another form) Have your folks fill out the Parental Consent Form. Sorry, junior, it's the law. Cody takes the form and gives the receptionist a weak smile. He takes the paperwork back to a chair, and looks around for a table to use - there is none. Papers slip out of his hands - a mess on the floor. He begins to gather them up when a sick man next to him vomits onto the floor, soiling some of the papers. Cody, now disheartened, leaves the paperwork on the floor and leaves the clinic, a look of helpless despair on his face CUT TO. EXT – LOS ANGELES STREET Connor is stood attempting to talk whilst in a phone booth, this is effected by the fact that he can’t get a word in edge ways. CONNOR I know Mom (stop) Yes I know that to (shock) You only just got the letter? Then why did you cut me off? (beat) You cut me off a month ago!…I dropped out in November (busted) It didn’t say that in the letter? Oh, that’s because I meant last week… Mom…Mom… He places the phone back on the handset and pulls his hand back through his hair in stress, just when he thought his day had reached it’s fun quota… MADELINE Hey Stranger Connor turns to see her standing with… TRACEY Hey CONNOR Madeline? (pause) and…and Tracey who – how do you know eachother? MADELINE She came by to see you – I told her everything about the drugs and the… CONNOR There was never any drugs – where did you get that? MADELINE Whatever, basically we have a little club with Emma Snow CONNOR Emma Snow?! TRACEY Right we basically meet up for Coffee once a month and bitch about you CONNOR Tracey we broke up last summer and I haven’t seen Emma Snow since I was twelve TRACEY Thank god for the Internet Connor is about to continue as he spots Cody moping along the road, ignoring the car about to crash straight into him. CONNOR Cody! He sprints over and tackles him to the ground, rolling them to the roadside CONNOR Watch where you’re going (pause) Cody what is it what’s wrong? CODY Sorry it was nothing…just cloud nine is all CONNOR Cloud nine? You got the all clear? CODY Something like that Connor throws his arms around his friend in delight before helping him up CONNOR Come on, let’s go celebrate CODY With what? CONNOR You know the routine kid The two of them walk off down the street, Cody still trance like, Connor practically skipping. Madeline and Tracey view from the otherside. MADELINE I knew he was gay TRACEY Hair cut? MADELINE Mmm hmm! CUT TO. W&H LOWER LEVEL PARKING GARAGE The gang steps out of the elevator into an underground parking lot filled with dozens of shiny new cars. A white Suburban with tinted windows pulls up and a garage attendant gets out. ATTENDANT I've personally prepared this UAV for you Mr. Angel ANGEL Don't you mean SUV? ATTENDANT Urban Assault Vehicle. This is no straight from the factory car, sir. We've upgraded this vehicle with armor plating, necro windows which are bullet proof, and many other 'special' features. FAITH I call shotgun WES I don't think we need shotguns. This demon is being protected by vampires. I think we'd be better served with the classics like crossbows and stakes. FAITH I come all the back to America to hang around a bunch of Europeans. Shotgun, it means I call front seat. Haven't you guys ever watched westerns? The garage attendant has opened up the rear hatchback and begins going over a list of weapons on board. ATTENDANT We don't have any shotguns, but I could have some brought down if you want one. We do have crossbows, various swords, percussion grenades preset with a ten minute timer delay, and a flamethrower. FAITH Oh, do have rocket launcher? 'Cause I heard 'B' used one once and I've always wanted to have a go at one too. ATTENDANT Again, not on board. I could have one brought down if you like. (looks to Angel) I'm sorry sir, if I had more time I could have better prepared this for you. ANGEL No, it's fine. We don't want this operation to get out of hand. There should be enough fire power here to take out a few vamps and big worm. Angel gets in the driver's seat with Faith in the front passenger seat and Wes and Spike in the back seats. ANGEL Seat belts everybody. Safety first. FAITH Right, wouldn't want to possibly get injured on our way to possibly getting killed. Angel pulls the car out of the garage, but stops just where the shadow of the building meets the brightness of the day. ANGEL I don't.... FAITH It's ok babe, just take it slow. These windows will protect you. ANGEL Yea I get that, but I'm used to using the sewers. I don't know which way to go. FAITH I say we take the expressway...see what this mean machine will do. WES I think we should stick to surface streets. We don't want to get stuck in a traffic jam. SPIKE(laughing) I thought I was playing in the big leagues, but this crack team isn't any better than the one that left me behind in a crater that used to be called Sunnydale. ANGEL Spike if you don't have anything constructive to add just be quite until we figure this out. SPIKE Try that button there mate. I think it's one of those call systems. Angel reluctantly pushes the button OPERATOR Yes Mr. Angel, how can I help you? ANGEL We need driving directions to the China World Import/Export Company. OPERATOR Yes sir, sending the information to your in dash console screen. Estimated time of arrival, 10 minutes. Following the directions, Angel quickly makes his way through the streets of Los Angeles driving the UAV as if he had done it everyday of his life. When he reaches Chinatown, he circles China World and then crashes through a barrier into their underground parking lot. Tires are screeching as he races to the lower levels. Following a blip on the console screen, he smashes through a roll up garage door and into the room where the Silkworm Demon is being tended to. SPIKE So much for the sneak attack. Angel pops the hatchback release as everyone piles out. WES You want the flame thrower Faith? FAITH You take it Wes. I prefer to get up close and impersonal. Oh, I like the look of this though. Faith pulls a two foot long, double pointed stake out of the trunk. Spike grabs two swords out and tosses one to Angel. The two look at each other for a moment. Faith picks up on the vibe from Spike and Angel. FAITH Save it you two, we've got other demons to fight today. Wes has already taken out three vamps with the flame thrower. That leaves only two attending to the Silkworm demon, but a side door opens and several more of the chinese vamps enter. Faith takes out two quickly as Wes moves in to help with the hand to hand. ANGEL Wes, you and Faith hold them off and Spike and I will take care of what we came for. Spike and Angel make their way to the honeycomb where the two vamps are guarding the Silkworm Demon. Although the chinese vamps aren't armed, they are doing a good job of avoiding the sword play of Spike and Angel. Suddenly Spike turns and pushes Angel, causing him to fall into the honeycomb. he then spins around and takes out both vamps. ANGEL Spike, you did that on purpose! SPIKE Well, yeah! He points to an arrow in the wall which narrowly missed Angel and then back to a vampire over by another wall who is now reloading his crossbow. Angel takes his sword and slings it at the vamp and it cuts through his throat cleanly. As the vamp turns to dust, the sword stays stuck in the wall. This frees Spike to turn his attention to the Silkworm. He stands over it's head and plunges the sword in. But this only seems to piss the creature off. Spike begins hacking away as Angel grabs it's tail. Faith and Wes are holding their own as more chinese vamps keep showing up. SEGUE TO CHINA WORLD PENTHOUSE We see only a large leather chair and the back of the corporation president as he watches the scene on a monitor. He presses an intercom button. PRESIDENT Have our people pull back. They've won this fight. And get me the Doctor. This is not over. SEGUE BACK TO THE BASEMENT A claxon has gone off and the remaining vamps have left. Angel who is covered in lime slime and Wes and Faith are standing by the car as Spike is still hacking away at the Silkworm demon and yelling obscenities about demon eggs to the point it's incomprehensible.. ANGEL Spike, it's over. We need to get out off here now. SPIKE Yea, now that was fun. At least I didn't get covered in slime this time. ANGEL Spike, we gotta go, now! SPIKE What's the rush? As he says this, the demon explodes and the entire room and the gang is totally covered with slime and worm guts. ANGEL 10 minute delay percussion grenade. FAITH Hey on the way out, you think we can stop and get some take-out? There's a place around the corner that makes the best egg rolls. CUT TO. EXT – ‘McWOK AWAY’ CHINESE TAKE OUT Connor walks alongside Cody stuffing his face full of egg rolls. CONNOR These are so good – I don’t know anybody that likes them. (chewing) You not hungry? CODY Still a little queasy CONNOR Right – Doctors and all, how about a drink? We have Soda, purple stuff, water or…something alcoholic CODY How’d you pay for this stuff? CONNOR You noticed how the mansion we live in has like nothing left in it? CODY Not really CONNOR Oh, well it doesn’t I sold it all on ebay CODY We had a computer? CONNOR Library CODY We had a library? CONNOR No the computer was at the library CODY Why was our computer at the library? CONNOR It wasn’t it… Cody laughs as Connor catches on and ruffles his hair up CONNOR Come on kid, I fancy the park CODY What are you 3? CONNOR Six and half! CUT TO. EXT – PARK (INT- HOTEL, CONNOR IS DREAMING) The entire place is deserted with the exception of a blonde woman and her two and half year old son. CONNOR Cute kid DIETER (awkward) Thanks CONNOR What’s his name? DIETER Connor CONNOR Really? That’s my name! DIETER It’s a nice name CONNOR Hey, have we met before? DIETER I don’t think so – maybe once upon a dream Connor looks at her mystified until she crumbles infront of him, crying as she dies. The sky turns black, then red, cloud writhing around eachother. From nowhere Wesley appears and snatches the child, handing it to a large, dark, caped demon which disappears with the baby at hands. Angel appears behind Connor and punches him to the floor, hard. ANGEL Time to wake up CODY (O.S) Wake up INT – HYPERION CODY Connor wake-up you’re asleep in the lobby and if anyone passes by during the day – they’re gonna see you. Connor sits up, looking around the room, lost. END OF PART THREE INT – McWOK AWAY The men behind the counter as well as all the customers simply stare at Faith, Spike and Wesley in shock. FAITH Do have something on my face? SPIKE Just give us the bloody food. EXT – McWOK AWAY Angel sniffs in a deep breath of the air from the car’s slightly open window. ANGEL Still living off Egg Rolls He smiles in reference to Connor’s scent which still lingers in the air. WESLEY Who? ANGEL (fumbling) Wes…I thought you were in there with the others? WESLEY Obviously not – I’m trying get some sleep before I take the death sentence tomorrow morning ANGEL Death sentence? WESLEY Gunns going shopping with Lacey tomorrow which means I’ll be kept up with details all of tomorrow night – anyone would think he had an interest in the girl. CUT TO. EXT: The same Wilshire/Rodeo "crossroads" in Beverly Hills. The Jag is parked in front of a high-end clothing store. Lacey loads a couple of bags into the Jag. Charles gets behind the wheel, seems somber. LACEY You're not really into this today. GUNN You ever eat at Church's Chicken and Waffles? (a famous L.A. "downtown" eatery, specializing in, yes, Chicken and Waffles) LACEY Chicken and waffles! (looks horrified). GUNN (suddenly grins) You'll like it. Greasy and gooey. (pounds his tummy) Food for the soul! Let's go downtown, Uptown Girl. (starts the Jag) Gunn drives away but the camera remains on the clothing shop door. After a moment, we see "Mom" come out, holding bags and looking very uptown. She's on the arm of Diamond Ring and laughing. Time has been good to her - she doesn't look any older and she's a vision of expensive beauty. She sees a young mother wheel her toddler twins by in a double tram. The young mother doesn't look wealthy - pretty middle class. Mom gives the twins an adoring look. MOM Aren't they adorable? I wish I had kids. DIAMOND RING (opens the passenger door on an expensive car to her) Well, you never know. MOM Kids, nice husband, little house with a picket fence on Pico. Some people got it all. (to the chauffeur). Uptown, James. END Co – starring Khaliah Adams as Madeline Kate Bosworth as Tracey Merle Dandridge as Lacey