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Date Posted: 05:33:14 08/09/02 Fri
Author: Jeanny
Subject: Act II
In reply to: Jeanny 's message, "Act I" on 05:31:32 08/09/02 Fri

ACT II

Scene X: Int. Hyperion Lobby, Day.

FRED is huddled behind the computer at the front desk, frowning.

FRED
That seems wrong...

CONNOR
(o.s.)
What seems wrong?

FRED jumps, giving a little squeak, then realizing who it is, gives another squeak, this time of delight. She runs around the desk and approaches the boy, who after tensing momentarily allows her to hug him.

FRED
You came back! I’m so glad.

CONNOR
I waited until he was gone.

FRED
Who? Angel? Oh, Connor, your father-

CONNOR
Don’t call him that. He’s Angelus.

FRED
No, no, that was a trick. Someone drugged your...
Angel...and it brought out some of his more...well it
made him...he was kinda mean.

CONNOR
(sarcastic)
Kinda.

FRED
But he’s all better now. He’s all Angel.

FRED sits on the stairwell, crossing her arms across her knees as she watches the young man pace, agitated.

CONNOR
But that...but Angelus is a part of who he is. He
doesn’t deny that.

CONNOR sits on the stairs next to her, struggling to speak.

CONNOR
And I am his son, so Angelus’ is...is a part of...

FRED
Connor, no! You’re not Angelus’ son, you‘re Angel‘s.
There’s nothing evil about you.

CONNOR
How can you be so sure?

FRED
(gently)
Because we’re friends, right?

CONNOR nods

FRED
(cont)
I’m glad. I could really use a friend right now, too.
Especially one I know isn’t gonna keep running away.

CONNOR ducks his head.

CONNOR
You don’t understand...

FRED
How hard it is to adjust to being here when you’ve
been in a horrible place for so long you can’t
remember anything else? And then, when you finally
let your guard down, begin to trust people again, they
stomp on your heart, and even if they didn’t mean it, it
still reminds you that you can’t count on anyone...

CONNOR
That wasn’t about me, was it?

FRED
(sheepish)
Got my own issues...and that’s my point. I’d love to
just take off, go back home to Texas and lick my
wounds...

CONNOR looks up fearfully.

CONNOR
But-

FRED
Sometimes. I’m not gonna though. This is where I’m
needed. I’m staying put.
(a beat, then)
Are you?


Scene XI: Int. Wesley’s Apartment, Living Room, Day
WESLEY is pacing around his apartment, still in disarray from his last go-round with ANGEL.

CLOSEUP of the case still holding the scrolls lying unopened on the table.

WIDER ANGLE as WESLEY he comes to a stop in front of the table, staring at the case, thinking very hard. WESLEY runs his hands through his hair, then comes to a decision. He opens the case, carefully laying the scrolls and his notes out on the table, then grabbing some books and laying them out on the table as well. One gets the feeling he’s setting a scene, a feeling that’s confirmed a moment later when he begins to throw things around the apartment, breaking china and generally adding to the disarray. He has no anger while he does this, only determination. Finally he leaves the room for a moment, returning with a gas can. He gives one last look around, slightly wistful.

WESLEY
Desperate times, eh?

WESLEY begins splashing gasoline liberally around, particularly over the table with the scrolls and books. He tosses aside the empty can, and takes out a book of matches. He lights one, watching the flame for a moment before tossing it onto the table. As the papers blaze, WESLEY grabs his jacket and takes off running out the door.


Scene XII: Ext. Outside Wesley‘s Apartment, Day
WESLEY begins banging on doors, running around the courtyard as we hear the fire alarm sound.

WESLEY
Fire! Fire in the building! Get out! Fire! Quickly,
everyone, get out!

People begin coming out, alarmed, and WESLEY ushers them out to safety as the courtyard begins filling with smoke. Coughing, WESLEY steps out to the street and looks back at the flames engulfing his apartment, then crosses the street, taking out his cell phone and hitting speed dial. He slows and turns facing the building before his call is answered.

WESLEY
(into phone)
Lilah...listen, something awful has happened. I’m
afraid there’s been a fire...my apartment...actually, no,
I don’t believe it was an accident, it spread far too
quickly...yes, I’m fine, but I’m afraid I only just escaped,
nothing but the clothes on my...


Scene XIII: Int. Lilah‘s Office, Day
LILAH is sitting at her desk, talking to WESLEY while her eyes are focused on her computer screen.

LILAH
The scrolls. Wesley, where...I see...of course I’m upset.
I never should have let you...no, I suggest you get back
to the office, soon as possible. We’re going to need to
strategize how we’re going to break this unhappy news
to our client...yes, that’s a fair assumption. Suffice to
say this will not go down well with the senior partners.

LILAH hangs up the phone and the CAMERA slowly pans around until we’re behind her. On her computer screen is running a film that looks like it was taken by an overhead security camera - in WESLEY’s apartment. LILAH watches until the fire starts, then turns the monitor off, popping the DVD-ROM out of her computer. She holds it by the edges, smiling down at her reflection in its surface.

LILAH
Gotcha.


Scene XIV: Ext. Alley, Dusk
CORDELIA has just been unceremoniously shown the door of a small dry cleaning shop. The African-American owner, ARCHIE HAMILTON, is glowering at her through the bars of the closed security door.

CORDELIA
Look, I just want to know if these Minders have
contacted you, offered you any services.

ARCHIE
I’m only going to say this one more time. I don’t know
what you’re talking about. I don’t know about any
Minders. I don’t pay any tribute-

CORDELIA
I never said anything about tribute, Mr. Hamilton.

ARCHIE glowers at her for a long moment before shaking his head.

ARCHIE
Look, lady, I think you probably mean well, but you
gotta let this drop. We take care of our own here, that’s
all you need to know. Just...move along. Go try to help
someone else, we don’t need it.

CORDELIA
But...

ARCHIE slams the main door, cutting her off.

CORDELIA
(cont, frustrated and loud)
It’s not you I’m trying to save, exactly. There’s a man
who’s gonna be eaten-

HOLLI
He’s afraid.

CORDELIA turns and sees an attractive African-American girl in her late teens standing back in the alley. She is HOLLI HAMILTON, ARCHIE’s daughter.

CORDELIA
I saw you inside...

HOLLI
Yeah, I snuck out the front. I wanted to talk to you.

CORDELIA
(sighing)
Really? You’re the first one today.

HOLLI
I heard you talking to my dad. I knew he wouldn’t talk
to you about what’s happening, but you have to
understand...we’re all afraid. But I’m sick of it. Watching
my parents working themselves half to death to keep us
all safe...it’s no kind of life at all.

CORDELIA
Look...

HOLLI
Holli.

CORDELIA
Holli, I take it your parents are paying the Minders for
protection.

HOLLI
(still in disbelief)
From demons. It doesn’t sound less crazy each time I
say it, but I know it’s true. Demons are real.

CORDELIA
I know. I work for - with - one. A good one. Or a not
bad one. The point is, we have experience helping
people in situations like yours. Well, not exactly like
yours, but, you know, trouble with evil things.

HOLLI
(suspicious)
And how much will your protection cost us?

CORDELIA
A little cooperation. There’s a woman, Martha Hill-

HOLLI
I know the Hills! Their shops about a block from here.
Did something happen to her?

CORDELIA
These weird orange demons took her husband and
her cat.

HOLLI
Murray? Man, she must be freaking! Why didn’t the
Minders-

CORDELIA
Apparently the Hills missed a payment. The very next
day, the demons conveniently show up and take
Murray and his daddy away.

HOLLI
You think the Minders set that up?
(thoughtfully)
When the Minders first showed up, my dad said hell
no, I don’t care if the devil himself comes to the shop,
I’m not paying some freaky blue protection racket...but
then my brother Ty didn’t come home from baseball
practice, and then we got a call from the hospital...

CORDELIA
(horrified)
Oh God. Was he...?

HOLLI
Got bit pretty bad. He almost lost his scholarship to
Arizona State, he had to miss so many games. Mom
says a blessing every night that he’s there and safe.

CORDELIA
Did he know what attacked him?

HOLLI
Those things you were talking about...he called them
shark-monsters. just like the Minders said.

CORDELIA
And your dad started paying.

HOLLI
My parents got no hope left, but I wanna believe
there’s some way...I know I’m in trouble for even
talking-

A sudden rattling of garbage cans down the alley startles both women. CORDELIA instinctively puts herself in between the source of the sound and HOLLI, holding up her hand for her to be quiet and turning to face the source of the noise.

SWITCH ANGLE to CORDELIA’s POV - Nothing but ominous shadows. Night has almost fallen.

SWITCH ANGLE back to CORDELIA, protectively shielding HOLLI from the unknown threat.

CORDELIA
We know you’re there. And we’re fully prepared to
defend-

ANGEL
(o.s.)
Cordy?

The sound of ANGEL’s voice coming from the shadows relaxes CORDELIA. She turns back to HOLLI.

CORDELIA
It’s okay. He’s with me, that’s-

Three TUBEI DEMONS suddenly burst from the shadows. HOLLI screams.

CORDELIA
(screaming)
Angel!!

TUBEI DEMON #1 tries to grab CORDELIA, but she ducks under his arms, only to get grabbed by the arm by TUBE- HEAD DEMON #2. As CORDELIA struggles with that demon as it tries to bite her, TUBEI DEMON #3 lumbers towards HOLLI. We look over his shoulder at her terrified face…and then his shoulder is gone, kicked to the ground by ANGEL, who quickly grabs the strange head and twists till there is a wet sounding crunch, the demon falling lifeless. HOLLI looks at ANGEL in vamp face and screams again.

ANGEL
(to HOLLI)
Quick, get inside!

HOLLI stares blankly for a moment then runs. CORDELIA has twisted out of TUBEI DEMON #2’s grip and is now facing off with #1 again. ANGEL takes on TUBEI DEMON #2, knocking him down and out, just as CORDELIA kicks #1 viciously away into a pile of garbage cans. It also appears to be out.

HOLLI
(o.s.)
Help!

SWITCH ANGLE to HOLLI about to be bit by TUBEI DEMON #3.

SWITCH ANGLE back to CORDELIA and ANGEL , looking confused.

CORDELIA
(panting)
Thought you killed that one.

ANGEL
I thought so too.

CORDELIA
I hate the ones that do that. No offense

The two run to HOLLI‘s defense. ANGEL punches the demon several times in the head and neck and he drops HOLLI, engaging ANGEL in a fight. CORDELIA grabs HOLLI’s hand.

CORDELIA
(to HOLLI)
Come on!

The two women run for the back door of the HAMILTON’s dry cleaning shop. The door is locked and CORDELIA bangs on it while HOLLI fumbles for her keys.

HOLLI
Daddy! Daddy, open the door!

ANGEL manages to choke the demon into submission, but the other two are starting to stir. He runs for the door.

HOLLI
(cont)
Daddy! Hurry!

ARCHIE
(o.s.)
Holli? Baby, what are you-

The door opens and HOLLI and CORDELIA dash inside.


Scene XV: Int. Hamilton‘s Kitchen, Night
ANGEL tries to follow but can’t, much to his surprise.

ANGEL
I don’t get it, this is a business...

HOLLI
We live in the back.

ANGEL
Swell, you wanna-

ARCHIE notes ANGEL’s game face for the first time and does a double take.

ARCHIE
What the-

ANGEL realizes and returns to his human visage. He looks back over his shoulder and all three demons have almost fully recovered.

CORDELIA
Invite him in! Quick, before they get here!

ARCHIE sees the approaching demons and pulls HOLLI to him. He goes to slam the door but CORDELIA gets in the way. ARCHIE glowers at her.

ARCHIE
I’m not gonna do any such-

HOLLI
(to ANGEL)
Come in!

ANGEL enters and immediately slams the door. We hear the demons pounding on it from the other side.

ARCHIE
(to HOLLI)
Go to your mother! Now!

HOLLI runs obediently from the room.

ANGEL
Have you got anything to bar this door?

ANGEL grabs the small kitchen table and flips it, shoving it against the door. He follows ARCHIE and CORDELIA from the kitchen...


Scene XVI: Int. Hamilton‘s Living Room, Night
...into the tiny living room, shabby but clean and very homey. DEIRDRE HAMILTON, HOLLI’s mother, is standing with her arms wrapped around her daughter and looks confused and frightened. HOLLI looks frightened, guilty and defiant all at once.

ARCHIE
Vampires in my house! Deirdre, you wanna tell me
how it is that your daughter is inviting vampires into my
house?

DEIRDRE
Archie, what’s happening?

ARCHIE
Demons are trying to break into my house, that’s
what’s happening!

DEIRDRE
But we paid! We paid every penny of the tribute.

ARCHIE
Guess that the Minders don’t like your daughters new
friends Miss Busy-Body and Mr. Vampire!

CORDELIA
Busy what?


Scene XVII: Int. Hamilton‘s Kitchen, Night
We see the back door start to splinter and nearly give way.

CUT TO:

Scene XVIII: Int. Hamilton‘s Living Room, Night
The sound of the splintering door has thrown everything more into chaos. HOLLI reaches out to her father.

HOLLI
Daddy I-

ARCHIE
Don’t wanna hear a word!

ANGEL
Folks let’s just calm down-

ANGEL backs away as DEIRDRE suddenly holds up her necklace - a gold cross.

DEIRDRE
(fiercely)
You stay away from my baby girl! This is a Christian
house, we don’t abide vampires.

HOLLI
Mom, stop! He saved my life!

ARCHIE
He’s gonna get us all killed. Any second now those...
things...will be in here Holli. And who’s gonna save us
girl? Him?

CORDELIA
He will! And I will! You can’t just...

CORDELIA trails off as they realize that the pounding on the doors has stopped. Everyone stands frozen in the sudden silence. They jump when a booming voice is heard still outside. It’s ZEPH, one of the Minders’ mouthpieces.

ZEPH
(o.s.)
We’re very disappointed Mr. Hamilton.

DEIRDRE
Oh my dear Lord.

HOLLI
(to CORDELIA)
It’s the Minders. That’s Mr. Zeph.

Scene XIX: Ext. Alley, Night.
Standing next to the back door, its metal bent but still intact, ZEPH is a very human-looking demon, only his oversized ears and bright blue fur/hair marking him as a demon. He’s dressed in a sharp and expensive suit. His two HENCHMEN are the same kind of demon, their suits a little shabbier and their expressions more slack. The three TUBEI DEMONS are standing by, shuffling nervously and making low mewling growls.

ZEPH
(to the TUBEI DEMONS)
You three, very mediocre work.
(at their protesting growls)
I don’t wanna hear it. Now scram.

ARCHIE
(o.s.)
Disappointed? M-Mr. Zeph, I-I don’t...

ZEPH
Please don’t make this worse by pretending you don’t
know what I mean, Mr. Hamilton. You know that part
of our arrangement is your silence. And yet your own
daughter is talking openly about us on the streets to
detectives. We really can’t let that go, I’m sure you
can see that. Now come let us in so we can discuss
what needs to be done.

Scene XX: Int. Hamilton‘s Living Room, Night
ARCHIE goes to obey, but is stopped by ANGEL’s hand on his arm.

ANGEL
Don’t.

ARCHIE
You stay out of this, mister.

ANGEL
I’m already in it. Let me help.

He glances at CORDELIA and she looks away; ANGEL looks pained.

HOLLI
Daddy, please.

ARCHIE locks eyes with his daughter then nods, defeated.

ANGEL
(loudly)
I’ve got a better idea. Why don’t I explain to you why
it’s a really good idea to move this little operation out
of my town.

As ANGEL speaks, ARCHIE moves back to his wife and the two begin whispering in each others ears worriedly in the background. HOLLI and CORDELIA move closer to ANGEL, listening in concern.

Scene XXI: Ext. Alley, Night.

ZEPH
Wait...is this the ‘this town ain’t big enough for the
two of us’ speech? That would be cool, if it was any of
your business. Stay out of what doesn’t concern you,
Angelus.

Scene XXII: Int. Hamilton‘s Living Room, Night
ANGEL and CORDELIA exchange startled glances.

CORDELIA
(worried)
Angel...

ANGEL
You know who I am?

ZEPH
(o.s.)
What can I tell you? My boss is a fan. Especially of
your early work.

ANGEL
Well, I hope he told you that I’m...

ARCHIE comes up behind ANGEL and shatters a chair over the back of this head. ANGEL falls, unconscious.

ARCHIE
(triumphant)
Got him!

FADE OUT

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