| Subject: 5x17R: Hostile |
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Date Posted: 14:24:18 03/02/04 Tue
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EP 17 - HOSTILE
INT: WOLFRAM AND HART OFFICE - Women's restroom
Lilah leans forward over the sink. She holds herself up as she seems to be
struggling to gain some composure. She takes a few deep breaths, then stands up
confidently, freshens her lipstick and hair, and goes into the hall.
She goes to an elevator and uses a passkey to enter it. She exits the elevator
and enters a swank but empty reception area. She takes a deep breath and then
pushes her way thru a frosted glass door.
INT: A very large, dark and empty room. We only see Lilah dimly lit as she walks
forward a few paces. We never see who she speaks to.
MAN'S VOICE
Lilah Morgan.
LILAH
Yes sir.
MAN'S VOICE ("Wolfram")
You're not afraid.
LILAH
You summoned me to a meeting, sir. Sirs.
ANOTHER MAN'S VOICE ("Hart")
Do you know what it means to be called before us?
LILAH
I understand it's a Completion of Contract meeting.
WOLFRAM
And what do you think that means, Lilah?
LILAH
In my case, I would only say I'm surprised. My service record is good. Are you
relieving me of my contract? Since my contract includes the Perpetuity Clause, I
can only assume you no longer find my services of value.
HART
On the contrary, Lilah. Your service has been exemplary
WOLFRAM
I see a significant promotion in store for you, Lilah Morgan. A chance to move
into Corporate Headquarters. Wolfram and Hart is about to make a significant
change in direction. It may involve a handshake partnership with our most
significant rival.
LILAH (actually a little stunned)
You're planning some kind of handshake deal with the Powers That Be?
HART
Let's call it a Non-Competition Pact. Their position is weakened by the break
off of one of their members. Both of our business concerns are at a stalemate,
with the loss of our middle management teams.
LILAH
The Ra Tet and the Oracles.
HART
We're prepared to negotiate a new contract with you, Lilah. A golden parachute
deal. One that comes at significant cost to us, but the potential return on
investment makes it viable. We are prepared to return your mortality.
Lilah is stunned. The Sr. Partners have just offered to make her alive again.
She's speechless.
WOLFRAM
Your assignment will remain in the Los Angeles branch. We want you to deliver
Wyndom-Price into a perpetuity deal. There is some urgency in this matter, so
your new contract will be delivered upon completion of the assignment. You
understand what the job requires.
LILAH
Of course. Wes is still in love with me. You want me to use that as leverage.
WOLFRAM
One more thing. Tell Aden Foley to do his job or face the consequences.
LILAH
What about Angel and the rest of the team?
WOLFRAM
We'll continue to pursue our interests in those areas. We have plans in
development. You'll have a greatly expanded role to play, Lilah. We have great
expectations for you.
LILAH
Thank you. This is - unexpected. But not unappreciated.
She turns and leaves the room. Only when she stands alone in the hall does she
let the impact of the meeting hit her. She gasps for air, then collects herself
and enters the elevator.
Starring.
David Boreanaz
Vincent Karthieser
Amy Acker
J August Richards
James Marsters
Stephanie Romanov
and Alexis Denisof
Special Guest Star
Charisma Carpenter
Andy Hallet
Alyson Hannigan as Willow
Guest Starring
Jonathan M Woodward, Michael Malsey, Merle Dandridge, Trevor Lissauer
NOTE:Vincent Karthieser/Connor is absent for this episode.
EXT: THE MOJAVE DESERT, Film Set - "The Pharaoh's Curse", Commissary Tent
In the background, we see generic "filming" activity - set pieces are being
struck, gaffer wires being dismantled and rolled up, actors wandering, etc. The
film looks like an Egyptian fantasy movie, like "The Mummy". The commissary tent
dominates the left foreground.
Cordelia exits the tent, wearing white shorts, white blouse, sunglasses and a
pith helmet. She has her old Queen C vibe back. She is diva incarnate and loving
it. She looks around, satisfied and walks about 15 feet forward when Lorne comes
bursting out of the commissary tent after her, carrying a bag of stuff. He's
also dressed for the desert in cotton slacks and shirt, sunglasses and a
"desert" cap, which largely hides his demon appearance. He looks harried but
happy. He carries a closed sunblock parasol under one arm.
LORNE
No, no, sweet pea! Don't you expose those cream-colored limbs to the sun without
sunscreen! (He reaches into the bag and gives her a soda). And hydrate!
He opens the parasol, apparently intending it for his own use. Cordy gives him a
classic "Queen C" look and he offers it to her. She gives him another diva look
and starts to walk - he gets it - he walks alongside her holding it over her.
She gets about 15 feet and breaks into laughter, taking the parasol from Lorne.
CORDY
Had ya goin', didn't I. (offers him the parasol) Here, you're the one with a
sunburn.
LORNE
It's too late, dumplin. I'm already (checks out his skin tone) khaki.
Cordy reaches into the bag and offers Lorne a soda.
LORNE ("touched")
It's - it's the last Diet Vanilla Coke! Cordy, I'm touched. You - you really
have grown as a person!
CORDY
C'mon, big guy, let's go celebrate my last day of filming. I'm all done! I did
it! I did a movie! (they stop and high-five) I want to party with my new
manager.
LORNE (snorts)
Manager. I buy you sunscreen and answer your cellphone.
CORDY
Wanna go back to Wolfram and Hart?
Lorne doesn't answer, just gives her "a look". A few cast and crew members come
up and say goodbye to Cordy - a quick comment, a kiss, a hug, a wave. She's
obviously made friends and been a success.
EXT: W/H Outside dining patio adjoining the cafeteria. Wes and Willow sit at a
table, sharing lunch and talking privately.
WILLOW
It's not just about knowing how to work a spell. It's about keeping forces in
balance while you do it. You have to pay something back when you use magick.
Otherwise, it finds a way to collect. I think maybe magick takes the light from
you to counteract the dark magick - leaving you with darkness inside.
WES
Funny you mention that. When you went - all evil - did you see it coming? Or did
it happen suddenly?
WILLOW
It was sudden for me - I didn't expect it. But it was almost impossible to
control.
WES
I've been feeling something happening. Something overtaking me lately. But like
you said, almost impossible to control. Maybe you're right. I've been a rather
sloppy magick user.
WILLOW
Just be careful. There are those who steal energy from other sources to pay for
their magick. That's dark magick. Those are warlocks.
WES
Like Sirk. Can't throw stones at him. I've done the same thing. I suppose it's
time I learned to do it right. Thanks for coming by and having lunch with me.
EXT: An outdoor patio dining area at a Mexican restaurant. Lorne and Cordy pick
at the last of their dinners (sitting next to two ridiculously large margaritas
in specialty "cactus" glasses). Lorne's demon looks are still well hidden enough
not to attract attention. Their demeanor is quiet and a bit serious.
CORDY
Sounds bad. But I don't know what else I'd expect. Wolfram and Hart! What the
hell got into you guys! I think you need a dose of Vitamin Queen C. (takes his
hand) Let's go back to L.A. You gather the troops. I'll set up a meeting place.
I'll smack some sense into `em.
LORNE
We could use it. We're all changing and I'm not liking what I see.
CORDY
Well, look at what all of us have been through. Still, it sounds really bad. Why
don't you do your song-reading thing and help them find their true paths? Like
you used to.
LORNE
Can't do it anymore, courtesy of Evil Cordy. No offense.
CORDY
You're sure? Have you tried recently?
Lorne shakes his head no.
CORDY
Try it with me.
Lorne looks pained.
CORDY
I promise not to sing "The Greatest Love of All" or "Mandy".
Worse, she launches into a few bars of Christine Aguilera's "I am Beautiful" -
badly, of course.
Lorne watches her intently (occasionally wincing) as she sings for a few moments,
then shrugs and shakes his head. A waiter walks by them wheeling a laden dessert
tray. The tray suddenly shakes violently and pastries explode in all directions,
showering some nearby patrons.
LORNE (alarmed)
That wasn't me, was it?
CORDY
Lorne, are you okay? You look a little minty.
Lorne looks a little dizzy.
LORNE
I hope that's the margaritas talking.
CORDY
OK, no more testing mental powers tonight. Let's go, we're heading back to the
hotel.
Lorne stands up and faces toward the desert view. From his POV, we see a huge
sandstorm blow up out of nowhere and then turn to a kind of black, obliterating
nothingness, obscuring everything it passes as if everything is simply erased
out of existence. Large cacti and desert flora are "swept away" leaving only a
scoured patch of desert floor where they stood. The effect of all this mental
activity is not sitting well on Lorne.
LORNE (wobbly)
Oh. Gifts are back. That's good. Different, though. (he faints)
CORDY (alarmed)
Lorne? (the other patrons look alarmed. Cordy tries to dismiss their attention.)
Can't hold his margaritas.
Lorne comes to and stands, wobbly but OK. Cordy hustles him out of the restaurant.
CORDY (can't resist a little self-serving parting shot to the patrons, shouts,)
Catch "The Curse of the Pharaoh", coming this September!
INT: Gunn's office
Angel is looking over Gunn's shoulder at a large flatscreen monitor. Lacey is
also there.
GUNN
So there's two levels of personal security, both on your office floors and your
residence suites. You can see from the blueprints how the "safe levels" and
"safe rooms" are separately controlled, so if the floor is breached, the "safe
rooms" are still defended. And each safe room joins a shared hidden tunnel that leads to the heliport.
ANGEL
Kinda like that Jody Foster movie "Panic Room".
LACEY
That movie was scary, but we try to keep the "panic" out of the idea of "panic
room". The worst thing you can do if you're attacked is panic. Keeping your head
and heading to the safe room is the key to your protection.
GUNN
It's Lacey's job to be your coordinator in an attack. Find all of you and lead
you to the heliport, and have a chopper waiting to evacuate you. I can control
all aspects of the building remotely thru my wireless laptop, which is linked to
a remote security LAN totally separated from the building's standard security.
Totally mobile, so I can even be in another state and still get you to safety.
ANGEL
So why didn't we see this the first day we were onboard here?
GUNN
Cause I just found out about it myself. Guess our Corporate HQ wanted to keep a
few secrets up its sleeve.
ANGEL
Let's hope we don't have to put it to the test.
GUNN
I hate to be the camp paranoid, but I think something's getting' ready to go
down. Can't get a bead on it, but I feel it.
INT: Cordy's hotel room. She can't sleep. She gets up, throws a dress over her
baby doll pajamas, grabs her keys and exits the room.
EXT: Hotel parking lot
Cordy walks down to the parking lot to admire the desert view. She stands close
to an electrical truck. A Native American man of about 50-ish is putting cables
into the back. Cordy recognizes him.
CORDY
Hey, hi. Didn't you work on the film set?
MAN ("Ted")
Yeah. (extends hand to shake) I'm Ted.
CORDY
Ted?
TED
Yeah. It's not Running Bear or Dancing Elk or Walks Like An Egyptian. Just Ted.
CORDY
It's beautiful out here. It must be a very spiritual place for you.
TED
Are you kidding? I hate the desert. No air conditioning. And in case you're
wondering, I don't even eat Buffalo Burgers.
CORDY
Oh, god, am I that transparent?
TED
Hey, just cause I'm an old Indian man, doesn't mean I'm a wise old Indian man.
And hey, not old either. What were you expecting, Coyote Spirit, Indian
trickster?
Cordy laughs.
TED
OK, I'm lying about the trickster part. (takes a deck of cards out of his
pocket) Pick a card. Any card.
Cordy hears a sound of wind behind her and turns back toward the hotel. Behind
the hotel, she sees the same sandstorm that Lorne saw. It whirls up quickly and
turns into a huge mass of darkness. It swirls toward a port-a-potty trailer some
distance away from the hotel. Cordy watches in horror as the trailer is
seemingly "erased" out of existence by the mass of darkness. Then where the
trailer stood, a very large demon beast stands - it looks kinda like a Bigfoot,
and it lumbers when it walks. It walks a few paces and disappears.
Cordy is deeply upset and fighting off tears.
CORDY
No, no, no. Don't want the visions. Please, god, no more visions.
Lorne runs out of his room in his pajamas and runs up to her. He looks equally
shaken.
LORNE
Did you see it?
CORDY
You saw it? Thank god, it's not my visions coming back!
TED
What the hell was (he spots Lorne, sans disguise, and stares.)
(to Cordy and Lorne)
You're them. The ones I'm supposed to give the message to. (He gets all mystical
on `em). You have to return to your friends. They're in danger. Darkness may
consume them, consume everything.
CORDY (nervous)
I thought you said you weren't a wise old Indian man.
TED
OK, I lied. I'm a shaman. You let people know, next thing you know people are
hounding you day and night, asking dumb questions about kachinas and white
buffaloes, and wanting to hang out in your sweat lodge. I don't have a sweat
lodge, I tell `em. I have a dry sauna. But do they listen?
LORNE (to Cordy)
Looks like we're headed back to L.A.
Cordy sighs a sigh of relief and then gives Ted a big "thank you" hug.
TED
Please don't squeeze the shaman.
INT: W/H Science Lab
Fred is puttering around the lab and sees a spider on the countertop. She takes
a fat-looking paper report and starts to swat the spider. Knox stops her.
KNOX
Hey, it's just a spider.
FRED
Yes, exactly. Nasty creepy spider. Probably poisonous.
KNOX (rescues the spider into a glass jar.)
Yes, actually. A black widow if I'm not mistaken. What a beauty - look at those
markings.
FRED
Ugh. You sound like the Crocodile Hunter. (mimics an Aussie accent)
What a little beauty! Crikey!
KNOX (laughs)
Well, I'm not going to wrestle any crocodiles. But I don't believe in killing
things. Anything. It's call "ahimsa" - it's an Eastern philosophy. Now you think
I'm a big weenie, don't you.
FRED (laughing)
I just don't see how you can be so spiritual and work for such an evil empire
like Wolfram and Hart.
KNOX (very seriously)
It beats my last job.
FRED
You had a worse job?
KNOX
I was recruited right out of college. Government job, very hush hush. I was very
naive. (Knox looks deeply troubled). Did brilliant work for a psychopath whose
specialty was performing atrocities on the innocent. . I still don't sleep very
well. I had to fight to walk away from that job and it destroyed my professional
credibility. W/H was the only job I could get after that, and they've been very
good to me. The experience changed me. I promised myself I'd never participate
in killing anything ever again.
FRED
Sorry. Didn't mean to pry.
KNOX (takes the glass jar and starts walking out of the lab)
Let me throw LaVerne out into the garden.
FRED
You named it?
ACT II Next Evening
EXT: A Bel Air Mansion, backyard patio near a swimming pool and jacuzzi. There's
a long table with light snacks and champagne. Gunn and Fred are the first to
arrive, and they look around puzzled.
GUNN
I hope this isn't a waste of time.
FRED
This is where Cordy said to come. You checked everybody before they left the
office?
GUNN
Yeah. No wires, no chips, no GPS. 'Course, that don't mean nothin'. If W/H wants
to know what you're up to, they'll find out. Hopefully, this just looks like a
party.
Wes and (still dead) Lilah arrive.
FRED (sharply, to Lilah)
What are you doing here?
LILAH
Angel asked me to be here.
The two women stare each other down for a moment. Lilah is unusually low-key and low-profile.
She wanders away from Gunn and Fred, not provoking a confrontation.
Angel arrives alone.
ANGEL
Any sign of Cordy yet?
Gunn shakes his head "no" and shrugs.
Lorne and Aden arrive. They notice the champagne right away.
LORNE
Beats the conference room. (gets a champagne)
Knox and Lacey arrive. Fred really bristles now! Lacey looks perfectly at ease
and goes over to greet Aden and Lorne. Knox looks at Fred, starts to approach,
sees it's not a good idea, backs away and gets a champagne.
GUNN
I asked 'em to come. Don't get your knickers in a twist.
FRED
I thought this was just for Team Angel.
Cordy arrives with a platter - she has a surprise friend with her, and he's
followed by a little old lady - an elderly matron in the best Beverly Hills
matron style.
CORDY
This is a little more than a meeting, Fred. It's a war council. Canapés?
GROO
Hello, Fred. It is good to see you!
FRED
Groo! (everyone gathers around Groo, happy to see him! Hugs all around)
CORDY
Groo and Mrs. Wilton are why we're able to meet here. (a smile at Gunn) Thanks
for tracking him down for me, Gunn.
FRED (to Groo)
You live here?
GROO
I work here. I am Mrs. Wilton's personal assistant. Mrs. Wilton is allowing us
the use of her backyard for the meeting.
Mrs. Wilton deliberately drops something on the ground, so that Groo has to bend
over and pick it up. She happily checks out his butt as he does - now we know
why she hired him. She pats him on the head maternally.
MRS. WILTON
Later, honey. I'm gonna need your help finding that lost contact lens . (she
leaves, grinning)
Willow arrives. Fred greets her warmly, but it's evident that Fred had other
ideas of what this meeting was to be.
WILLOW
Hey. (squeezes Fred)
CORDY
Well, looks like the League of Super Friends is all assembled.
FRED
What is this? These people (indicates Lilah and Aden) aren't part of us.
CORDY
Fred, it's my party and I'll ask who I want to. To make it short, something's
coming, something not good. We may need backup. I didn't just call everyone on
the Rolodex. I had Gunn do some pretty thorough checking and ran the list past
Angel. He's in agreement with me. (looks at Lilah) Except for her. (she looks at
Angel)
ANGEL (to Lilah and Wes)
Let's have a little talk.
The three of them disappear around a corner.
CORDY
Now, my plan is to get everyone to strip and get into the jacuzzi.
FRED (eyebrows raised)
And just why?
GUNN
Even though I checked as many of you as I could, one of you could be wired.
Could be in your clothes, hidden in your hair, you'd never know it. I'm hoping
getting wet will at least ruin the electronics on any hidden bugs.
KNOX (helpful)
Oh, don't worry. I've got a device on me that would jam any signal.
Cordy smacks him upside the head.
CORDY
I like my plan better, spoilsport. Now everybody get some champagne so you're
good and mellow when I read you the riot act. (Indicates Groo) Not yours. You
haven't been in the loop.
Angel comes from around the corner.
ANGEL
Wes and Lilah will join us in a while. I'm vouching for her.
CORDY
OK, then. Everybody take your clothes off.
Scene changes to: Wes and Lilah around the corner.
WES
This is a dangerous game, you're playing, Lilah.
LILAH
I've told you and Angel everything the Senior Partners told me. They have the
power to do this.
WES
Why are you doing this, Lilah? You're still dead - they haven't changed you yet.
You can't say it's because you have any feelings for me.
LILAH
Maybe that's not true.
WES
You never tried to broker that deal for my soul, did you. (she shakes her head
no)
LILAH
Maybe you're right about something still inside me.
Wes smoothes her hair.
WES
If you fail - if they send you to the worst possible hell - I'm going with you.
Scene goes back to the pool area. Cordy's plan is only partially successful.
There's a few swimsuits, some underwear and only the bravest ones are naked
in the jacuzzi. Lorne sits fully clothed at the edge of the jacuzzi and pointedly keeps his distance from the water, sitting next to Aden. Cordy sits in an elevated "lifeguard" chair, enjoying her position as Queen C and head of the meeting.
CORDY (starting the meeting)
As much as I'd like to spend time raking each and every one of Angel
Investigations over the coals for joining the enemy - (she indicates Lilah), -
we don't have time for that. I plan to get to that later, when I can really
take the time to make them all squirm with shame and guilt.
ANGEL
Lookin' forward to it.
CORDY
I've been hearing a lot of things. About the team. And what's going on. Some big
things have come up. I received a message from a mystical messenger.
A few people groan like "not again!".
CORDY
At least it wasn't a vision. But it was serious. And then I made a few discreet
phone calls when I got back to town. That's why there's a few people here you
wouldn't expect. The core of Team Angel isn't changing. But we may need help.
So we're consolidating our allies. Gunn?
GUNN
Let me start by saying I don't like this. I work for Wolfram and Hart. I'm OK
with that now. I ain't doing anything to betray my employers. But, (looks at
Angel) I also know who watches my back. Let's say my security team has found a
few holes in the corporate structure. Like a rogue group of disgruntled
employees. I don't know what they're planning, but it can't be good.
ANGEL
Lilah's given me a piece of information that changes the whole ballgame. That's
why she's here and that's why I've vouched for her. She's putting her li - uh,
death on the line. It looks like the Powers That Be and Wolfram and Hart may be
reaching toward a mutual non-aggression pact of some kind. A "look the other
way" deal. Jasmine going rogue put a lot of things off balance.
FRED
You mean Wolfram and Hart are joining forces with the Powers That Be?
ANGEL
Not at all. I think W/H has the PTB against the wall. The Powers That Be may be
trying to buy time. They've lost their connection to us for the time being. And
now we're in the den of the enemy. It's a chess game. And I plan to move us
pawns into being queens. (pauses, awkward) In a chess game sense, of course.
WES
We can't lose sight of the fact that Wolfram and Hart has plans for an
apocalypse of some sort. Just because we control a branch office, doesn't put us
in control of Wolfram and Hart. Angel is right, we're just glorified
pawns at the moment. But we can change that.
FRED (really angry, strides to the center of the group)
Can I just say something here? I am sick of fighting one apocalypse after
another. You know what? Those with power play power games. It's the way of the
world. Governments do it. Big corporations do it. Does that make them all evil?
And yeah, people get hurt, but good things come out of it too. Cultural
progress. Advances in technology. It's not even about shades of grey. It's a -
it's like a big oil painting. The good guys are bright colors, the bad guys are
the dark tones, and you know what? It takes all kinds to have a big picture. And
that's what I've been seeing since I joined W/H - the big picture. OK, yeah -
I'll save little Joey and Granny from the demon. Be glad to. But these big
world-saving battles. Been there. Done that. Didn't matter. Here's another one.
Next! (she grabs her clothes). C'mon, Gunn, let's leave.
GUNN
Excuse me, lady? I'm workin' here. You can go if you want.
FRED
C'mon, Knox.
KNOX
Hey, Fred, you know this whole apocalypse thing is a little over my head. But I
don't want to see innocent people hurt. I've been working inside W/H for a long
time now and I think I can do my job without creating pain and suffering for
others. I want to hear this out. (to Angel) But I'm not promising anything.
LACEY
Knox took the words right out of my mouth. Like Gunn, I have an interest in
protecting my position in Wolfram and Hart, but there's a way to do it and still
keep your nose clean.
Fred storms out of the meeting.
CORDY
You know what? Good for her. She knows where she stands. I'm not asking any of
you to commit to something you can't put your back into. Anyone else want to go?
Lilah?
LILAH
I'm on your side now. Double agent. Mata Hari.
CORDY
Aden?
Aden just takes Lorne's hand.
CORDY
Groo, you don't have to be any part of this.
GROO
If my princess requires my service, I will still be her champion. (he smiles
sweetly). We are friends now, but you are still my princess.
It's an "Awwwwww" moment. Groo and Cordy's renewed friendship shows in their
smiles.
WILLOW
Cordy - I have to ask because there's a few people kinda conspicuous in their
absence.
ANGEL
I know who you're talking about, but it's not the right time. We can't risk any
wild cards throwing a wrench into the works.
WES (raises his glass)
To us.
Glasses clink all around. Cordy looks around for her champagne glass - it's out
of reach. She gesture toward it and it floats up to her.
CORDY
Thanks, Dennis.
The scene changes to a little later - everyone is relaxed and mingling.
The camera pans the room and stops on Cordy and Angel.
CORDY
I think it went well.
ANGEL
There's a couple of wild cards in the room. Wes can watch Lilah. Gunn can keep tabs on Lacey.
And I don't know about Aden.
CORDY
He seems to really care about Lorne.
ANGEL
It's easy to pretend you really care about someone.
CORDY
Don't you go there.
The camera swings around to where Lorne and Aden are talking in another corner.
LORNE
Cordy's asked me to go back into W/H. She needs an insider to be her spy eyes.
ADEN
Well, I've been missing you coming around to say goodbye. (tenderly) I don't
want us to be apart, Lorne. I'm in with you guys. I know you don't trust me. I'm
not stupid, you know. But I want to earn your trust.
LORNE
Sing something.
ADEN
What?
LORNE
Sing something.
The camera pans some more then returns to Angel and Cordy. Gunn interrupts them.
GUNN
Cordy, I gotta talk to Angel. (Cordy leaves)
Gunn gives Angel the look-over with the air of an equal.
GUNN
Man, what a long strange trip it's been. Do you remember when I first joined
Team Angel? I told you I could work with you, even watch your back. But I said I
couldn't be your friend.
ANGEL
I remember that. I also remember all the times you've been a friend.
GUNN
I'm just tellin' you. If it comes down to friendship or doin' my job, I'm gonna
do my job. I have my place in the world now. There was a time I held back around
you, let you boss me around and pull your weight. That time is over. I'm in with
Wolfram and Hart. If that means not in with you, then I gotta do my job. And
I'll put all my (emphasizes) muscle behind my talk. I hope you get that.
The camera pulls back and continues to pull up and away from the scene into an
aerial shot.
ACT III - Much later, same night.
The gang has returned to W/H and their respective abodes after the war council.
CLOSE UP of a digital alarm clock showing 3:53 a.m.
INT: Gunn's Bedroom. Gunn is sitting at his computer in the darkened room. He is
frowning, looking intense. Lacey is in his bed, watching him.
LACEY
Will you turn that thing off and come to bed?
GUNN
I'm sorry, baby. I can't sleep. My spidey-sense is tingling.
LACEY
More like that six pack of caffeine loaded soda you drank tonight. (She gets up
and rubs his back) Maybe I can get some other senses tingling.
GUNN
You sure do that, pretty girlfriend. But something tells me you should get
dressed.
INT: Angel's residence quarters, living room. Cordy and Angel are sharing a game
of chess.
CORDY
So just because you don't sleep, I don't get to sleep? But, hey, I've adjusted
to Vampire Savings Time by now. What are you so worried about?
ANGEL
I keep thinking about what Sirk said. "Hostile Takeover". He's got something up
his sleeve.
CORDY
Yeah, well it's almost 4:00 a.m. Cordy is feeling the need for a warm bed.
ANGEL (guilelessly)
I got one of those. (realizes the blunder) I mean, I didn't mean like, oh,
man.
CORDY (laughs a little)
Will you relax? You offered to put me up for the night. I figured "couch" was
somewhere in that offer.
ANGEL
Yeah, for me. Not you.
CORDY
Still my knight in tarnished armor.
ANGEL (awkward)
Well, Groo said it. Still your champion.
INT: W/H Science lab
Fred enters. Knox is tinkering away at something, mixing a couple of vials into
a glass beaker.
FRED
You really meant it when you said you don't sleep at nights. What are you mixing
up, high explosives?
KNOX
Rum and coke. Want one? (he hands her the beaker)
FRED
Nice glasses.
INT: Lorne's bedroom
Again, we see a close up of a digital alarm clock. It is now 3:57 a.m. Aden sits
looking out a window, while Lorne sleeps. He starts to tap a cigarette out for
himself and then palms it.
ADEN (high pitched snarky voice)
No smoking in the bedroom, Aden.
He gets up and goes over to the bed, looks at Lorne sleeping. He touches Lorne's
forehead and we see a close up of the hand touching near a small round circular
scar - a remnant of Lorne's brain-sucking attack.
ADEN
The good news is, boyfriend, your gifts are back. The bad news is - it's my job
to take them from you.
We see Aden's fingers elongate and change shape grotesquely - they are sharply
pointed and dangerous looking. The creepy fingers continue to caress Lorne's
forehead for a moment. The camera goes up to Aden's face. He licks his lips with
a normal looking tongue, then a sharpened protrusion comes out of his mouth and
then retracts. We see Aden lean forward toward Lorne's forehead and hesitate. He
then kisses Lorne on the forehead and walks away.
ADEN
He loves me. He loves me not.
INT: W/H The "Senior Partner's Room" from Act I. We see the room more brightly
lit, almost as if by flames -- red flickering on the wall. Lilah stands
suspended off the floor by a few inches, her body shuddering from whatever she
is going thru. Wes enters the room, sees her, runs to her. She is dropped to the
floor, dazed but conscious.
WOLFRAM (voice only)
Glad you could make it, Mr. Wyndom-Price.
LILAH
Wes, what are you doing here?
WES (ignores her, talks to the Sr. Partners)
OK, you've had your amusement. Do you have something for me to sign?
WOLFRAM
Had our amusement? We're just beginning. You see, suffering is our currency. We enjoy it,
but it's so much more. Our bread and butter, so to speak. And you suffer so grandly, Wesley
- it's your true talent.
WES (to Lilah, helping her and holding her)
I told you, Lilah, no matter what was in store, I'd stand by you.
LILAH (horrified, gets what's going on)
Wes. Oh, god. You brokered your own deal.
WES (to the Sr. Partners)
I don't sign until she breathes.
An alarm goes off.
WOLFRAM
The offices are under attack.
Wes takes advantage of the distraction to grab Lilah's wrist. They make a break
for it and reach the door as more alarms go off.
We see them flee through the halls.
CLOSE UP of Gunn's digital alarm clock. 4:00 a.m. exactly. A security alarm goes off.
All hell breaks loose. (Continued in Part 2)
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