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[> Subject: 5x04: (RR) Eurydice
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Author:
by Rona
[Edit]
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Date Posted: 04:57:24 01/14/04 Wed
Author Host/IP: 62.252.0.6
END ACT ONE
ACT TWO
INT ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS ("AI") ROOM - DAY:
Many of the old furnishings are still here, but the
rooms are larger and even more opulent than the
Hyperion. The crew (minus Gunn) stand around a large
mahogany conference table looking at pictures.
ON THE CONFERENCE TABLE: Several pictures of a buxom
blonde, who is just money and a hair's breadth away
from trailer trash, are strewn. Some pictures show
her with a balding middle-aged man dripping with
diamonds, jewelry and furs. She looks haughty,
scowling and just not very nice. Even in the wedding
picture she shows signs of contempt for her
middle-aged hubby.
But there are other pictures. Pictures of her with
the man out fishing and camping. She is happy and
smiling. There are pictures of them dancing where she
appears to be having a good time.
FRED
So how much of this stuff is missing?
ANGEL
From the insurance investigator's
report, almost everything that's in these pictures.
WES
(picking up the photos, looking
over them carefully)
Just looking at the pictures, I'd
say they ran off with somewhere in the area of $800,000 worth of
jewelry and furs.
LORNE
(looking at one picture)
Yiiii, and who are these folks? The Beverly Hillbillies?
ON Picture of some obvious refugees from the trailer
park, sitting around the pool at a very opulent home
in southern California.
ANGEL
You're not far from wrong.
INT CONFERENCE ROOM DAY: Angel, Lilah and Wes meet
with the new clients. A middle-aged and balding Joe
Bullock, his young and wife Darcy, Darcy's sisters
Nancy and Beth and their husbands, Byron and Lester.
Darcy, is dressed in "Urban cowboy" chic while Nancy
and Beth have worn basic outerwear trying to be as
Southern California as possible but looking more like
tourists. Byron and Lester, both big "corn-fed" boys,
don't even try and look like they would fit in well
working at a full-service gas station. They all speak
with an East Texas twang.
JOE Thanks for seeing us on such short notice Mr. Angel.
ANGEL
It's just, "Angel."
JOE
Well then… Angel… we were robbed
a few nights ago.
WES
You live in Beverly Hills?
JOE
Yes. We struck oil on some of
our family property in Texas about twelve years ago. Since
then my kids have grown up and
gotten married and moved on with
their lives.
ANGEL
So you decided it was a good
time for you to move on too.
JOE
Yeah, I married my princess here.
(indicating at Darcy)
C'mon Darcy. Tell the man what
you saw and heard that night.
DARCY
Well, we had just come back from
a campin' trip. And I don't know
why I went campin' 'cause I really
hate it. All those bugs and quiet
… it just unnerves me.
JOE
Please honey just go on with the
story.
DARCY
(irritated)
Anyway, we came home and went
to bed. But in the middle of
the night, I thought I heard
glass breaking. So, I went
downstairs and saw Joe laying on
the floor. The safe was open,
the patio door was smashed and
everything was gone. Then I heard a sound like motorcycles driving
away.
ANGEL
Your file says you have a security
system. Did you check the tapes?
JOE
I had the system disabled.
WES
Why?!
JOE
I'm a private man. I don't like the idea of my
personal life being on tape.
ANGEL
So then I gather, the insurance
company denied the claim because they think you had something to do with the
robbery.
BYRON
I don't even know why we're here. You got more'n enough
money t'buy all this crap over
again a hundred times.
JOE
(ignoring him)
I had some heirloom jewelry.
It's very important to me. I've
got to have it back. Just name
your price.
NANCY
(pointing at Wesley)
Is this the one that's the
vampire?
BETH
Yeah, he looks like a vampire,
white and sickly, and all
English talkin' and all.
OFF Wesley, a little miffed.
ANGEL
Actually, I'm the vampire.
Darcy who has been flitting around the conference room
looking at the object d'art is now intrigued, and
walks up close to Angel. Only her very large breasts
maintain the distance between them.
DARCY
Really? Can I see your other
face? Your true face?
JOE
Darcy, quit it!
DARCY
No! I want to see it.
(to Angel)
So what would it take?
I know… A little blood.
Darcy steps back, deftly pulls a small knife from her
boot and tries to slash her arm, but Angel is too
quick and grabs her.
God, you're strong! I could
ride you all night like a
mechanical bull.
Before Angel can say a word, Security personnel have
already arrived to escort the family out.
JOE
(pleading as he is being led out)
Angel, I really need your help.
You see how she is. She's out
of control without… her jewelry.
Angel, Wes and Lilah watch the circus of Joe Bullock and his entourage being led out
INT ANGEL'S OFFICE - DAY
He sits at the desk, playing with the little brass set of parallel, swinging, tapping balls. Wes is going through the Bullock file. Lilah enters. Angel speaks without breaking concentration on the balls.
ANGEL
There's monitored security
cameras all over the building?
LILAH
We have to be able to dispatch
security at a moment's notice.
ANGEL
Before noon, I want every
security camera out of the
penthouse and the Angel
Investigation living quarters.
LILAH
Each and every one? Well that's
gonna take some time. They're
all over the place.
ANGEL
Gee, Lilah you sound like I'm
supposed to believe that that's
MY problem.
LILAH
I didn't say it was.
I'm just saying its going to take
a lot of manpower.
(beat)
In your position, I'd think
you'd want all the security
you can get.
ANGEL
Lilah, its enough that we've been
coerced into coming here. But
I am not going to have you and the
partners spying on us 24 hours a day.
LILAH
As well you know, if the
Partners want to see what you
do 24 hours a day, there's really
nothing you can do to stop them--
ANGEL
--And you may be right, But
I'm certainly not going to make
it easy for them.
(beat)
So, you have until noon.
LILAH
That's only two hours from now.
ANGEL
Hmmm. So, I guess you better
get started.
Lilah, exasperated, leaves the room as Angel continues to play… swinging his brass balls.
WES
So, are you going to take the case?
ANGEL
I don't see why not. I don't
have anything else planned.
WES
I keep thinking that some of that jewelry looked familiar, like something I saw in a manuscript a few years ago.
ANGEL
Well see if you can tear Fred
from the lab and see what you two can find. I'll track down
Gunn and we'll check out the
crime scene.
INT LAB - DAY:
There's a whole lot of science going on in here. Test
tubes bubble, weapons are being tested and Fred is the
hub of it all. She stands watching the test of an
engine as Wes approaches. Suddenly there is a small
explosion. Oil splatters everywhere. Fred is doused.
WES
Are you alright?
FRED
(exasperated, trying to wipe off the oil)
Yeah. This is the third test.
We're getting there. But it's obviously
going to take a little more time.
WES
Angel needs us to take a look at
something. Can you get away?
FRED
Sure. Just let me get cleaned up.
LOWER SOUTH DAY:
FRED unlocks the door and she and Wes step inside.
THE LIVING AREA: The theme in Lower South is
designed in a sort of combination of Snow White and
Barbarella.
Fred hurries into the bedroom.
FRED
I'll only be a minute.
WES
This is really some place.
FRED (O.C.)
Yeah, I always wanted a place
like this.
WES
It certainly suits you.
Fred reappears at the door wearing a change of
clothes. And heads for the kitchen.
FRED
I left for the lab early before
breakfast so I'm starved.
Are you hungry?
WES
(following her into the kitchen)
Some tea would be nice.
IN THE KITCHEN: Fred places frozen french toast in
the microwave while they talk. Wes nurses his tea.
FRED
Sooo, how's Lilah?
WES
Fine, I guess.
(lying)
I haven't seen that much of her.
FRED
Really? Well, I thought that you two were… well, you know…
WES
…That was a long time ago.
and things were different.
I was lonely. Everything and
Everyone that ever mattered
to me was gone.
The two lock eyes momentarily. Fred pulls her french
toast from the microwave and sits down beside him.
Holtz had me so turned around.
I didn't know who to trust.
But I knew I could never trust
Lilah. So in that way, she
was safe.
FRED
But you stayed with her long
after Holtz was dead.
WES
Bad habits die hard.
FRED
I guess sometimes you just
Need somebody… no matter who
it is.
Wes and Fred sit at the table eating and drinking, quietly, in their own worlds.
CUT TO:
INT. SECURITY ROOM: ON THE MONITOR: The scene in
Fred's kitchen is played out.
Lilah stands arms folded, watching. One of the
security team looks over her shoulder and asks:
SECURITY
Do you want to keep this one up?
LILAH
The boss said take it down.
So take it all down.
Lilah leaves the room as the security worker unhooks
the display.
INT LARGE OFFICE: Designed in early "Dr. Evil," all
stainless steel and leather. Gunn is wearing a black
Hugo Boss suit, white pima cotton shirt and a steel
blue silk tie. He and Lacey are laughing and playing
tag around the steel desk. Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get
it On" is playing loudly on the very state of the art
sound system. Papers and packages are strewn on the
floor.
Angel enters quietly and views the scene with a smile.
ANGEL
Hmmm? So, this is what you do
all day?
Lacey and Gunn stop the horseplay. She hurriedly turns
down the music as he straightens his clothes trying to
appear very business-like.
If you aren't too busy, there's
a thing I'd like for us to do, you know work, the kind that
pays the bills.
GUNN
(sheepishly)
Yeah, sure.
ANGEL
And, Lacey… I'd like to see you
in my office this afternoon
around 4:00.
Lacey nods and begins clearing away the mess made in
Gunn's office.
Gunn makes eye contact with her and starts to speak,
but she shakes her head vigorously and puts her finger
to her lips. He pantomimes a kiss. She winks.
The two guys head down the hall.
INT AI Room at W&H.: Fred is on the computer as
Wesley pores through the photographs.
WES
It's a gold ring with a red
cabochon stone.
FRED
Any other identifying marks?
I'm coming up with over
100,000 hits.
WES
It has some engraving… a picture
of a woman and a netted fish.
FRED
Wait! Wait! I think I've
got something. (she reads off the monitor)
The Petrucchio stone. This
mystical ring it is believed, was made during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The stone is attributed with having the power to …Oh My God!… It's
supposed to have the power to control women.
WES
Really?! Well, no wonder he
wants it back so badly. For me
it really would have come in handy a few months ago.
FRED
It's not funny Wesley. I saw the pictures and I've heard about
Darcy Bullock. Sure, she's spoiled
and hard to get along with. But this ring is the equivalent of
a medieval date rape drug.
WES
Fred, I think her husband does
truly love her. He is just trying to make the way smoother
in their relationship.
FRED
That's no justification. Using
anything, be it chemical, mystical
or physical to overpower a woman's
will - Why would anyone want to trick or force another person into
being with them? Would you want a
woman that way?
ON WES' who drifts into his
DREAMWORLD: Fred dances around in a Swan Lake
ballet-like costume dusting and puttering around a
surrealistic house. The kitchen is outfitted with a
chemistry set, which she tinkers with before running
to take a roast from the oven. She places the meal on
a table which is set with wine glasses and candles.
Wesley enters the picture and is escorted to the table
by her. She fawns over him, pouring him wine and
offering him food.
Lilah enters wearing a business suit with a briefcase
in one hand and his pipe in the other. She slips the
pipe between his lips and lights it. He doesn't take
two good puffs before…
Lacey enters wearing a silk spaghetti strap nightie
with a martini in one hand and his slippers in the
other. Suddenly, Lilah and Fred both shed their
outfits revealing slinky spaghetti-strapped
nightgowns. They all fawn over him. He drops the
pipe, pushes the food off the table and begins kissing
all three women passionately, in turn while they
disrobe him.
As his hand strokes one of the women's hair,
OH HIS HAND we see he is wearing the Petrucchio stone.
IN THE REAL WORLD: Wes is snapped back to reality by
Fred asking…
FRED
Well, would you?! Would you even think of controlling
a woman that way?!
WES
Absolutely not.
INT. ANGEL’S OFFICE – AFTERNOON: Light streams in through
the open curtains. He stands looking out the window,
bathed in light.
Lilah steps into the office and hangs near the door.
He does not turn around.
LILAH
It’s all done. Every camera,
Every monitor. All disabled.
ANGEL
Have you ever noticed how many
different shades of blue are in
the sky?
LILAH
It hasn’t come up as an issue
lately.
ANGEL
Did you ever really look?
LILAH
Can’t say that I have.
ANGEL
It’s really inspiring, if you
ever decide to make time to
look at it.
LILAH
I’m just about finished up here
and I needed to ask you about my evaluation.
Angel turns to face her.
ANGEL
You’re kidding, right. I’m
supposed to evaluate you? On
what? Evil hair and wardrobe?
LILAH
On efficiency and effectiveness.
ANGEL
What good is an evaluation where
you’re going?
LILAH
It’s protocol.
ANGEL
I don’t know if I can help you
Lilah. We both know that its
because of you that all this happened.
LILAH
ME?! What did I have to do
With it? I didn’t impregnate
Darla. I didn’t kidnap your son.
You are not going to hang me
with these screw-ups. That's
for you and Wes to deal with.
ON THE DOOR: Wes approaches then quickly moves out of
sight, listening to the exchange between Lilah and
Angel.
ANGEL
Between you, Holtz and
Justine, Wes didn’t know what
the truth was or who to trust.
LILAH
Well why didn’t you tell him?
Oh, that’s right. You were too
busy blaming him to acknowledge
how much pain he was in.
ANGEL
You could have told him. But
that wouldn’t have helped to
further your partnership dreams,
would it? You helped keep us apart. You used him.
LILAH
And what if I did? Wes is
no fool. He knew what he was
getting into. He’s a big boy.
He can take of himself.
ANGEL warily crosses the room and walks to the door. He looks out around the corner. But Wes is gone.
EXT ANGEL'S CAR - NIGHT:
Angel and Gunn cruise down Rodeo Drive on their way to
Joe Bullock's home in Beverly Hills.
GUNN
Look Angel, what happened today
it wasn't Lacey's fault.
We just started talking, then
we turned on the music and things got out of hand. She really is great and I don't
think you should fire her.
ANGEL
I’m not firing her. I just need a good assistant and I figure
she's been around here long enough
to point me in the right direction.
We need someone savvy who knows the
system, their technology and who'll
fit in with Angel Investigations.
GUNN
(relieved)
Whew, man. You really had me
worried there for a second.
ANGEL
You know I'd never do anything like that without consulting you,
first.
GUNN
(realizing that Angel sees them as equals)
I appreciate that, man.
ANGEL
(seriously)
Gunn, is it just me, or is
everything just going too easily?
I mean we're the Good guys, right?
And as long as we've been the good guys, things have never gone this easily. Something always screws up, and we go scrambling to get it under control again. But now, its all
so neat and clean. I just
don't trust it.
GUNN
I know you think it's like some big elaborate trap. But maybe
when we were the good guys, if we
had all the stuff we have, now, we
wouldn't have had so much stuff
go wrong.
ANGEL
You said, "when we WERE the good
guys." That's what worries me.
What are we now? The "not so bad"
guys? "Champions of all that's
gray and murky?"
GUNN
We all know you're worried. But
you have to give it time, check
it out. I'm not saying "Don't
be too cautious." Because even
if I did, you'd ignore me. So be careful. Trust your instincts
and whatever happens, we're
with you.
ANGEL
I guess we're here.
They pull up to a beautiful Italianate Mansion with a
large beat-up trailer parked in the driveway.
IN THE BEVERLY HILLS MANSION: Gunn and Angel are
guided around the house by Darcy, Nancy and Byron. They all enter the study which has not been cleaned up
since the robbery. Gunn and Byron check each other
out, visually. They don't like each other.
DARCY
Well, this is where it happened.
BYRON
(looking at Gunn, grinning)
So who are you supposed to be…
Blackula?
Before Gunn can respond…
NANCY
(pointing at Gunn)
So, HE's a vampire, too?
GUNN
(emphatically)
Hell No! I'm No bloodsucker!
Angel winces at the forcefulness of the declaration.
Gunn realizes his faux pas.
… Not that there's anything WRONG
with it if I was, though.
Angel, unimpressed with the late attempt at a save
begins the questioning.
ANGEL
(To Byron and Nancy)
Well, we heard where Darcy was
during the robbery. Where were
you?
BYRON
What? Are you trying to say WE
had something to do with the
robbery?
GUNN
(stepping toward Byron)
Well, Did you… farm boy?
The two stand off preparing to "throw down," but
Angel steps between them.
ANGEL
We're not implying anything. We
just want to know where you were and what you heard.
BYRON
We didn't hear anything.
GUNN
What? So, you hearing with
her ears, too?
NANCY
(intimidated)
I didn't hear anything.
ANGEL walks around the room, sniffing intermittently,
near the desk, near the safe.
ANGEL
(still examining the room)
So, do you all use this room a lot?
DARCY
No. No one comes in here. This
is where Joe does all his
boring business. Who would
want to be in here for that?
GUNN
(picks up a picture)
So, who's this?
Nancy, Byron and even Darcy are all mortified.
DARCY
(frightened)
Don't touch that! That's Emily.
If he catches you with that, you're gonna be real sorry!
Gunn seeing their anxiety puts the photo back.
ANGEL
Who's Emily.
DARCY
Emily was Joe's first wife. No
one says anything bad about Emily.
Don't touch anything that belonged
to Emily, and for God's sake
don't move any pictures of Emily.
GUNN
(looking to the picture, then to Darcy)
You two do look a lot alike,
though.
DARCY
So I've been told.
NANCY
When Darcy moved in, this place
like was a shrine to Emily.
Gunn's mobile rings. But Angel is only
half-listening. He has caught a scent and follows it
out the broken patio door.
INT LOWER WEST - NIGHT:
Lilah stands outside the door, waiting. Wesley comes
to the door in the process of changing his clothes. He
steps aside and she walks in.
LILAH
Are you busy?
WES
Well, I was getting ready to meet Fred… to do some research.
LILAH
Oh?
(beat)
So, are you going to be around,
later?
WES
(he pulls on his clothes)
I'm not sure. There's no telling
how long it will take.
She smoothes the back of his shirt, and he visibly
shrinks away. She continues speaking, to hide her hurt
feelings.
LILAH
So, this must be some hot date…
I mean research assignment.
WES
You have something to say,
Lilah? Because your little games are getting old.
LILAH
You never seemed to mind my
"little games," before.
WES
Oh yes, I remember those games.
Let's see which one was my favorite?… The one where you'd pretend to be the naughty nun?
Oh no… how about when you pretend to be Fred? Now that one really got me going…
Lilah is dumbstruck... unprepared for and taken aback
by the assault.
Yes. Now I remember my favorite. (he steps close to her, face to face)
It's the one where you even
bothered to pretend you cared
about me.
He grabs her by the wrist and drags her into the
bedroom.
But, you know… I've got an even better game to play.
Let's play, "Dead."
LILAH
(pulling against him in vain)
I don't want to play.
He pushes her down on the bed.
WES
Shhhh. Quiet. You're dead.
Wesley begins undressing. Lilah tries to get up off
the bed, but he pins her down, kissing her hard on the
mouth. He pulls back looking at her with an
expression of wonder and madness.
WES
(softly, stroking her face)
So beautiful, so cold… just like a porcelain doll.
LILAH
(pulling away)
Let go of me.
WES
And just as fragile, too.
(grabbing her by the back of her neck)
LILAH
(stops struggling)
Why are you so angry? What did
I do?
WES
(sing-song)
I can't hear you… you're de-ad.
LILAH
Why are you doing this to me?
WES
Why am I doing this to YOU?
(beat)
Lilah, you're dead. You're
supposed to be in a grave,
somewhere. But her I am sitting
here with you, touching you
wanting you… all the time wanting you…
(he looks her in the eyes, tenderly)
God, I think really loved you.
(he kisses her hard, again)
and you're a damned corpse.
He pushes her back onto the bed and walks out of the room.
WES (O.C.)
All the women in the world,
and I'm shagging a dead one.
Lilah, lays in the bed, motionless. Like she’s been
kicked in the stomach.
FADE OUT:
END ACT TWO
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