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Date Posted: 05:35:44 08/09/02 Fri
Author: Jeanny
Subject: Act IV
In reply to: Jeanny 's message, "Act III" on 05:34:40 08/09/02 Fri

ACT IV

Scene XXXVIII: Int. Hyperion Lobby, Night.
POV shot with the frame partially obscured of the Hamiltons, FRED and CORDELIA all being herded together into the lobby’s center.

ZEPH
Actually, I was kidding before.

FRED
You’re not gonna kill us?

ZEPH
No, no, we’re definitely gonna kill you. It’s part of our
arrangement with the Tubies here.

TUBEI DEMONS give appropriately hungry growls. CAMERA shifts to a slightly better view.

ZEPH
(to DEMONS)
Sorry, Tubei. Yeesh, chill out, losers.

ARCHIE
(shaking with rage)
You weren’t protecting us all this time...you sent
these things to hurt my boy, to frighten my family, and
then you took my money like...like...

ZEPH
Try evil demons.
(to FRED)
The thing is, you haven’t outlived your usefulness. My
boss needs a little leverage in an upcoming
negotiation, and you’re it.

SWITCH ANGLE to see CONNOR hidden near the exit, watching all of this with concern.

CORDELIA
(o.s.)
If you’re talking about Angel, it won’t work.

ZEPH
(o.s.)
The boss thinks it will...

CONNOR slips into the shadows. SWITCH ANGLE to CLOSEUP of ZEPH.

ZEPH
(cont)
...forgive me for taking his word over yours, doll.
Uh-uh-uh!

ZEPH grabs the arm of HENCHMAN #3.

ZEPH
(cont)
Don’t get to close to that one. She zaps.

HOLLI
(whispering, to CORDELIA)
You’re bluffing, right? Angel will rescue us.

CORDELIA and FRED exchange looks and we CUT TO:


Scene XXXIX: Int. Minders Lair Foyer, Night
Two MINDER HENCHMEN are kind of lackadaisically guarding an ornate door - the BOSS’s office.

HENCHMAN #5
Whatcha doin with your cut?

HENCHMAN #6
I’m making investments, Lenny. You gotta think about
the future.

HENCHMAN #5
Yeah. The future. I wanna do that, but Glin, she likes
shiny things, you know? I gotta keep her happy so she
keeps me happy, know what I’m sayin?

HENCHMAN #6
I warned you about women. She’s gonna suck you dry,
buddy.

HENCHMAN #5
(grinning happily)
Yeah, I hope so. She’s got a rotating-

ANGEL suddenly enters the shot and twists HENCHMAN # 5’s neck, letting the body drop to the floor.

HENCHMAN #6
You killed Lenny, you...

HENCHMAN #6 raises his gun but ANGEL twists it out his hand. He grabs HENCHMAN #6 by the collar, lifting him off the floor.

ANGEL
I need to see your boss. He in?

HENCHMAN #6 nods, terrified, and ANGEL pushes him against the door, forcing it open.


Scene XL: Int. Minders Lair Main Office, Night
The large chair behind the impressive desk is turned away from them.

HENCHMAN #6
(squeak of terror)
I’m sorry boss! He killed Lenny!

The BOSS turns his chair around to face them, smiling smugly. He looks much the same as ZEPH, only shorter and more squatty, and he has little blue horns. He’s wearing a blue smoking jacket and an impressive but gaudy array of jewelry.

BOSS
Angelus! You’ve been expected. Please, come, sit
down. We have so much to talk about.

ANGEL
I won’t be staying.

BOSS
Au contraire! I hope you’ll be with us for quite some
time.
(a beat, then gesturing at HENCHMAN)
You think you might let him go? His trembling’s
distracting.

ANGEL looks at HENCHMAN #6 speculatively then twists his neck. He drops the body and glares at the BOSS.

ANGEL
Better?

BOSS
(smiling coldly)
Much. You see, I was right about you. You’re efficient,
deadly, a man of action. Just the kind of man I need
in my organization.

BOSS gestures toward a plush chair then pushes a button, opening up a wet bar on the desk.

BOSS
(cont)
Can I get you anything? Brandy? Soda?
(holding up a decanter of blood)
Blood from Mary?

ANGEL just stares at him. BOSS sighs.

BOSS
Fine. We’ll skip the pleasantries for now. Let me
explain. I’m familiar with your work, both past and
current, let’s say, and I think you’ve got great
potential.

ANGEL
Not interested.

BOSS
Don’t be hasty. I know you like helping people, Angel.
So do I. That’s what we do here. We keep people safe.
And for that valuable service we accept a modest fee,
just as you do for the help you provide.

ANGEL
There’s a difference. I’m not the one they need
protection from.

BOSS
Neither are we! Our clients know there’s a whole world
of demons that are out to hurt them. Well, actually, just
the Tubei that we brought over and trained from another
dimension, but why quibble? The point is, most of our
customers are beyond grateful. They’d pay two, three
times what we’re asking.

ANGEL
You provide the threat. You remove the threat.

BOSS
Sweet, isn’t it? And no one gets hurt. Well, almost no
one. Our collections department is rather aggressive.

BOSS pushes another button on his desk, and a wall opens up. Behind it ANGEL sees a set of cages, many of which contain human beings. One near the front contains a dejected LEONARD Hill, a small cage near him holding the Hills’ cat.

BOSS
Some of our deadbeat clients. It’s unfortunate but a
necessary part of doing business. We have to set
examples for the others, you see. And the Tubei need
a little something to gnaw on.

ANGEL
I see about twenty more reasons I’m gonna shut
you down.

BOSS
Playing the hero, Angel? Why, because you feel
loyalty to these people? To your so-called friends?
And do they feel the same for you, or do all of them,
even the ones with whom you’re oh-so-close, see you
as a monster just waiting to strike?
(triumphantly, off ANGEL’s pained expression)
From what I’ve seen, you owe them nothing.

ANGEL
Then you haven’t seen anything.

ANGEL reaches across the desk and grabs the BOSS’ lapels. CLOSE-UP on the two of them.

BOSS
(not worried)
Try anything and your friends die. Along with the lovely
family you’ve gone to such lengths to protect.

ANGEL
Nice bluff. But kind of pointless, since I’ve got...

Someone unseen lays a sword against ANGEL’s neck. The BOSS grins.

ANGEL
(cont)
...you.

HENCHMAN #1
(o.s.)
You okay, Boss?

BOSS
I’m just fine.
(to ANGEL)
I suggest you let me go.

The CAMERA pulls out to show HENCHMAN #1 plus two TUBEI DEMONS. ANGEL slowly releases the BOSS, who smoothes out his lapels.

BOSS
(cont)
Now...where were we?

CONNOR suddenly appears and tosses a hatchet that imbeds in the chest of the closest TUBEI. It falls, dissolving into orange goo. ANGEL punches HENCHMAN #1 in the face, stunning him enough to allow ANGEL to wrest the sword from his grasp. He kicks the demon in the kneecap, disabling him as CONNOR fights the remaining TUBEI DEMON. ANGEL leaps over and runs through that demon with the sword. It, too, dissolves. ANGEL looks at CONNOR, then away.

ANGEL
(awkwardly)
Good timing.

CONNOR
Good kill.

ANGEL
You too. Connor, I-

CONNOR
Save it.
(off ANGEL’s look)
No. I mean really. Apologize later. I came to find you
because Fred and Cordelia are in trouble. Demons at
the hotel.

ANGEL
How many?

CONNOR
(pointing at the goo)
Eight of these...
(pointing at the BOSS, trying to sneak out)
and three of those.

ANGEL grabs hold of the BOSS by the shoulders.

BOSS
Angelus, listen. You can’t kill me. I’m the only one who
can call off my men. And if I don’t contact them, they’ve
got a standing order to kill them all. So see, you still
need me alive. We can still negotiate.

ANGEL considers that for a moment.

ANGEL
(to CONNOR)
Think he’s telling the truth?

CONNOR
(shrugging)
They seemed to be waiting for something.

ANGEL
(to BOSS)
How much time?

CLOSE-UP on the BOSS’ relieved but still smug smile.

BOSS
Fifteen minutes, give or take. I knew you’d see reason,
I...I...

ANGEL
See your point.

The BOSS looks down and sees the sword protruding from his chest. ANGEL lets go and he falls.

CONNOR
What now?

ANGEL feels through a couple of desk drawers till he finds a ring of keys. He tosses it to CONNOR.

ANGEL
Free these people. Hurry, we’ve got less than fifteen
minutes.
(a beat, after CONNOR’s moved to the cages, loudly)
And bring the cat.
(another beat, even louder)
And where the hell is Gunn?


Scene XLI: Ext. Street Corner, Night
GUNN is standing, looking around edgily. His expression is hard, angry possibly, but more than that resigned. He turns suddenly and a young Hispanic man, very shady looking, is standing behind him.

GUNN
Don’t ever sneak up on me, Lorenzo, man.

LORENZO
Nah, G. I can’t sneak up on you. You got eyes on the
back of your head, bro.

GUNN
Yeah. You got what I need?

LORENZO
You got the money?

GUNN reaches into his pocket and pulls out a large bankroll. LORENZO grins and pulls a small package out of his own pocket.

LORENZO
Then I got the goods. Primo, too. Trust me, this is pure-

GUNN
Save the spiel. Long as it’s what we discussed, we
don‘t need to talk about it.

GUNN places the money LORENZO’S hand; a moment later LORENZO places the package in his. GUNN clutches it almost desperately as LORENZO shakes his head.

LORENZO
Man, I ain’t never thought I’d see this day. You sure you
wanna do this, man? It’s just...you don’t seem the type,
G, dig?

GUNN
(shrugs)
Got no other choice. I need this, man. It’s my-

GUNN’s cell phone rings. He stuffs the package in his pocket and fumbles for the phone as LORENZO shuffles off.

LORENZO
Later, G.

GUNN
Yeah, thanks man.
(into the phone, hopeful)
Fred?
(a few beats later, frightened whisper)
oh no...Fred...

CUT TO:


Scene XLII: Int. Hyperion Lobby, Night.
ARCHIE has one arms around his wife, the other around HOLLI. FRED and CORDELIA are eyeing the demons nervously. ZEPH and his HENCHMEN seem to be getting antsy.

HENCHMAN #3
Shouldn’t the boss have called by now?

ZEPH
(tersely)
He’ll call.

HENCHMAN #3
You think Angelus maybe got the better of him?

ZEPH
I said he’ll call!

HENCHMAN #4
(wistfully, looking at the Hamiltons)
I hope we get to kill them. That’s the only thing I don’t
like about this racket, Zeph. We hardly ever get to kill
anymore. We’re all...high-class or somethin’.

ZEPH
(looking at CORDELIA)
Not to worry. Once the Boss gets what he wants,
we’ll get what we want.

ZEPH makes a shooting gun motion at CORDELIA. FRED tugs at her arm.

FRED
What are we gonna do?

CORDELIA
Great, I’m in charge now?

FRED
Well, you’re the strongest...I mean, if this were a
mathematical calculation or an obscure translation, I’d
be all over it...but saving an innocent family, not to
mention ourselves, from a bunch of demons that
seriously have the munchies, that’s more champion
territory, right? Ergo, you.

CORDELIA
Right. I’m a champion. I can do this.
(a beat, then)
Any ideas?

FRED
Well...you’ve got powers. Any tricks that might help
us?

CORDELIA
You know what? I just might.

The gray tabby cat drops to the first floor near ZEPH seemingly from nowhere. Nonplussed, everyone in the room watches it run away up the stairs. A quick pan across the second floor landing shows no one there.

ZEPH
What the...?

FRED gives CORDELIA an enthusiastic punch on the arm.

FRED
Wow, Cordy! You made a kitty cat...that’s amazing...I
don’t get it. How does that help?

Before she can answer, ANGEL comes bursting in through the front, GUNN through the rear, and CONNOR comes dropping down from the second floor much like the cat. As the three of them each take on a demon, CORDELIA and FRED usher the Hamilton family to the weapons cabinet.

DEIRDRE
What are you doing? Why aren’t we trying to get out
of here?

CORDELIA opens the cabinet. We hear the sounds of battle behind them, unseen.

CORDELIA
Time to fight back, folks. Or defend yourselves at
least. You think you can handle this?

CORDELIA hands ARCHIE a large, deadly looking axe. He grins as he takes it from her.

ARCHIE
Damn right.

HOLLI
Come on, Mom. This will be like family therapy.

She grabs a smaller axe, and Deirdre tentatively grabs a short sword. FRED and CORDELIA both grab swords.


GUNN
(o.s.)
What the hell?

ANGEL
(o.s.)
I said not the head!

FRED
Oh! I forgot, the best way to kill a Tubei is by stabbing
them through the heart. They kind of liquify. But
whatever you do, don’t chop off their heads, cause that’ll
just make two of them.

CORDELIA
Hear that, people? Stab the orange guys and they turn
to duck sauce. No head chopping.

HOLLI
Can I just say eww?

CORDELIA
No time. Everyone ready?

DEIRDRE nods tentatively. ARCHIE and HOLLI both grin affectionately at each other.

ARCHIE
Been ready. Just didn’t know it.

CORDELIA
Okay! Let’s do this!

As one, brandishing their weapons and looking fierce they turn...only to find a lot of orange goo in puddles throughout the lobby, GUNN dragging out the last of the three MINDERS (either unconscious or dead) and CONNOR and ANGEL grinning in satisfaction. ARCHIE’s face falls.

ARCHIE
Aww damn.


Scene XLIII: Int. Hyperion Lobby, A Short Time Later
ARCHIE, DEIRDRE and HOLLI are standing near the exit.

DEIRDRE
I’m so ashamed of what we did.

CORDELIA
Don’t sweat it. You think you’re the first clients that
tried to kill us? Err...

ARCHIE
I’m sorry seems so...well, not enough.

HOLLI
How about we just say thank you.

She hugs CORDELIA as we PAN TO CONNOR and ANGEL standing awkwardly together, looking at and then quickly away from each other.

CONNOR
So...

ANGEL
So. You...have a place to stay? Need money?
Anything. Not trying to hone in, just want to make sure
you’re alright.

CONNOR
Well...I thought...I might stick around here for awhile.
If that’s okay.

ANGEL
(thrilled)
Of course it’s okay! This is your home, son. Always.

CONNOR
Okay.
(a beat, then)
Is that it? We’re done?

ANGEL
(puzzled)
Yeah. Why?

CONNOR
(grinning)
Cause I bet Fred five bucks you wouldn’t apologize.
Thanks, Dad.

CONNOR walks happily away from a chagrined ANGEL. PAN to FRED watching the Hamiltons talk to CORDELIA. GUNN comes up beside her.

GUNN
Whatcha looking at?

FRED
(sighing)
A happy family. I’m glad we were able to help them.
Especially Holli, she’s so nice...and so pretty...

GUNN
(looking admiringly at FRED)
I didn’t notice.

FRED blushes at his attention.

GUNN
Fred...

FRED
Charles...

GUNN
I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said before,
and you were right. We’ve got nothing holding us
together right now. Not really.

FRED looks stricken. GUNN reaches into his pocket as he continues, pulling out the package and fumbling with it as he speaks.

GUNN
(cont)
I’m glad you said that, it made me think about what I
want. I mean, what we’ve had has been great, but it
hasn’t been enough. For either of us. I get that now.

FRED
But...

GUNN
Please, I gotta finish this. I want you to have what you
deserve. I want you to be sure...

FRED
I am...I do...

EXTREME CLOSEUP of GUNN’s hand, holding up a simple diamond engagement ring.

GUNN
I hope so, baby. Cause I’m asking. Will you-

FRED
Yes!

GUNN
...marry me?

FRED
Ooops. Jumped the gun.

GUNN
Nah, that’s later.

They kiss, then we DISSOLVE TO:


Scene XLIV: Int. Wolfram & Hart, Linwood’s Office, Morning
LINWOOD looks up in surprise as LILAH enters, holding a DVD-ROM.

LILAH
Linwood, I’m sorry. I need a moment. Progress report
on the scrolls.

LINWOOD
Ah. How’s that going?

LILAH
Nearly finished, according to the new translator.

LINWOOD
(carefully neutral)
It’s good you only gave Wesley copies of the scrolls to
work from, you saved the project, Lilah, no doubt. But I
don‘t understand why you took the work away from
him. If one didn’t know better, one might think you were
engaged in some sort of vendetta. You know, woman
scorned, all that.

LILAH
(burying her anger)
My only concern has been for the firm, as always. You
don’t think what happened was the least bit suspicious?

LINWOOD
(shrugging)
Accidents do happen. I’ve read Wesley’s account of the
incident at his apartment. The man lost everything. You
really think-
(she hands him the DVD)
And what is this?

LILAH
A little movie I thought you might enjoy. I know I can
just watch it over and over. So fascinating when things
go up in flames.

LILAH smiles as LINWOOD eyes the disc speculatively.

FADE OUT

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