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Date Posted: 15:58:34 08/13/02 Tue
Author: Noggins
Subject: Act 2
In reply to: Noggins 's message, "Act 1" on 15:50:49 08/13/02 Tue

ACT II
Scene: Wolfram and Hart, Wesley's Office [Int.], Morning
WESLEY looks at the photo of Anne in the folder. He lifts it up to study more carefully. LILAH still towers over him.

LILAH
You recognise her.

WESLEY
Yes.

LILAH
That wasn't a question. We already know that the
two of you have been introduced... back in your old
workplace.

WESLEY
Her name is Anne, however she has gone through
a number of aliases over the past few years. She runs a
night centre for street kids. If I remember correctly, Wolfram
and Hart held a charity ball with the intention of helping
her cause until Angel intervened.

LILAH
Congratulations. You've successfully proved your
memory isn't completely defunct.

WESLEY
I'd have thought that after that disaster, the firm would
have tried to stay as far away from her as possible...
to avoid any further embarrasment.

LILAH smiles a little. She takes the folder from WESLEY'S desk and begins to flick through it.

LILAH
Well, it appears that she suddenly has another use.
No embarrasment at all if you manage to pull this
off. Now... do you recognise her?

She shows WESLEY another photograph. It's JO, the pregnant mother from the Season Two opener 'Judgement'.


Scene: Hyperion Hotel, Office [Int.], Morning
The gang are all around the desk. ANNE shows them the exact same photo that Wes has just seen. ANGEL stares at it.

He has a brief flash of his previous meeting with her. Killing her protector and taking on the role of her protector. Facing the Demon Knight in front of the Tribunal to save her life and that of her unborn child.

ANGEL
I've met this woman before. I had to face some
demon to ger her security from some kind of
Tribunal over two years ago.

CORDELIA
You mean with the talisman and the singing...

ANNE
Singing?

CORDELIA
Yeah. He did this god awful rendition of Mand...

ANGEL
(interrupting)
How about we get back to the point of this all.
(serious, to Anne)
What's happened? She's in danger again?

ANNE nods.

ANNE
I don't know anything about what happened but
Jo... she appeared at the shelter last week. She
kept saying something about this Tribunal thing
collapsing. She mentioned you and how you helped
her before...

GUNN
And she needs him again?

ANNE
Yes. She hasn't said too much but one thing I know
for sure... she's running from someone...

ANGEL suddenly looks wary but also determined. He's her champion after all.


Scene: Wolfram and Hart, Wesley's Office [Int.], Morning
WESLEY has the photo in his hand. He's still speaking to LILAH.

WESLEY
From who?

LILAH
Lot's of people. We're talking sects and factions from
all over the globe. Here.

LILAH produces another photo, showing Jo with a young child, around two years old, in a pram. WESLEY studies it.

LILAH
(cont.)
The thing is, all these other groups don't matter. We
want her most of all.

WESLEY
She has power...

LILAH
Kids with power. Seems to be in fashion these days.
Almost makes me think of having my own. Almost,
but not quite.

WESLEY hands the photo back to LILAH.

WESLEY
What's the special about her?

LILAH
No one knows exactly. The details aren't too clear
and none of our people have been able to work anything
out. Could be anything from a Seer to the next Slayer...
Maybe even Angel Mark 2.

WESLEY
But either way you want the child?

LILAH
Exactly.

WESLEY looks at her. He's a little suspicious.

WESLEY
And I take it I'm the man for the job.

LILAH
You're quick Wes. And you know, you're future here
is relying on it.

LILAH turns and walks out without saying another word. She disappears through the door. WESLEY looks forward darkly.


Scene: Hyperion Hotel, Office [Int.], Morning
ANNE is sitting down at the desk. GUNN and ANGEL are around her.

GUNN
So where are they now?

ANNE
They... they were at the shelter. But last night... they
came...

ANGEL
"They"?

ANNE
A group of hired thugs. Some of them didn't look too
human. They attacked. A lot of the kids were injured but
I manged to get Jo and the girl out but I've lost so much...

ANGEL
Are they safe now?

ANNE shakes her head.

ANNE
I've managed to find an abandoned warehouse for
them but it's only so long before they're found. I
know I can hardly offer you much but...

ANGEL
You don't even need to ask. I'm her champion. It's
my duty.

GUNN
Damn straight. We're in.

ANGEL goes into leader mode. He stands up straight and starts looking around.

ANGEL
Okay, I'm gonna go to the warehouse and bring
them back here. Cordy, Gunn, Connor... make the
hotel secure. If these factions want her so bad I
really don't think they're going to let this place
stand in their way.

GUNN
No problem. Ain't nothing getting in or out of this
place.

CONNOR
Well, hopefully a few will get in. I could do with a
fight.

ANNE looks at CONNOR, recognising something in him but not entirely sure.

ANNE
You're new... yet oddly familiar...

CORDELIA
(leans towards her)
Like father, like son.

ANNE glances from CONNOR to ANGEL then back again.

ANNE
I'm not gonna ask...

ANGEL grabs his jacket from the back of his seat and throws it over his shoulders.

ANGEL
This warehouse... where is it?

ANNE
I'll show you. Come on.

ANGEL makes a move to leave the office. CORDELIA is standing in the way.

CORDELIA
I'm coming too.

ANGEL
I need you to help Connor and Gunn...

CORDELIA
And I'm not letting you out of my sight to get drugged
or attacked by demons again. You're not the only
champion around here, mister!

ANGEL smiles at her. Don't argue with a determined demon woman.

ANGLE ON: GUNN talking to ANNE.

GUNN
You don't have to worry. We'll make sure she's safe...
you too...

ANNE
I can take care of myself... it's Jo and Charlotte I'm worried
about.

GUNN
They'll be alright. We can guarantee that.

ANNE
Thank you.

GUNN rests his hand on ANNE'S shoulder.

GUNN
It's what we do.

ANNE smiles knowingly at GUNN. He looks at her questioningly (is that a word? it is now)

GUNN
What?

ANNE
Is it true?

GUNN
Is what true?

ANNE
That the big, tough Charles Gunn has gone and got
himself engaged. Never thought the day would come.

GUNN grins.

GUNN
How'd you know?

ANNE
Word travels fast on the street. I didn't know whether
to believe it at first... So where's the lucky lady?

GUNN
I'm... really not sure. She left earlier... for a walk.

ANNE
Damn. I was looking forward to seeing the woman
who managed to tie you down.

She smiles at GUNN. He smiles back.

CUT TO:


A view of a video monitor. We see a shot of WESLEY'S office from a security camera in the corner of the room. He is talking to several STREET KIDS and at least one HUMAN-LOOKING DEMON.

We pull back to:

Scene: Wolfram and Hart, Linwood's Office [int.], Day
LILAH and LINWOOD are watching the screen with interest. LILAH smirks a little.

LILAH
So far so good...

LINWOOD
Let's hope he follows up on this. That child is too
important to lose.

LILAH
We'll get her, no matter what, I promise you.

LINWOOD
But I don't want any setbacks for this. The scrolls
were one thing but this...

LILAH
You don't need to worry. We're carefully monitoring
every move Wes makes.

LINWOOD nods. He looks at the screen once more. WESLEY appears to be showing the KIDS some photographs.

LINWOOD
But I take it the translations are going well?

LILAH
Wes was efficient, I'll give him that... but it won't
be long until another translator gets it done. The
summoning spell could be done within a few hours.

LINWOOD
[surprised]
A few hours. Excellent. I'm impressed, Lilah. Has our
benefactor been informed?

LILAH
Jason has even performed the binding spell. The
spirits will know exactly where to go once they're
released.

LINWOOD
Excellent. I take it the room has been prepared?

LILAH
Filled to the brim with candles and Satanic symbols
that would make Alastor Crowley proud. We've got
nothing to worry about - everything's going as planned.

A smile creeps over LINWOOD'S lips. He looks back at the monitor.

LINWOOD
(re: Wesley)
Will he betray the firm again?

LILAH
Wes? Let's face it, he betrays anyone he works for.

LINWOOD
Then he'll pay for his crimes soon enough...


Scene: LA Cityscape, [Ext.] Day
Flash of LA. We watch traffic zoom by at amazing speed until we arrive at...


Scene: Abandoned Warehouse [Int.], Day
We see JO huddled in a corner with her daughter, CHARLOTTE, in her arms. She's clearly nervous and wary of any noise.

A metal grating is pushed open. She tries to back further into the corner but she's already at the furthest end of the massive warehouse.

ANGEL emerges from the hole. He reaches down to help ANNE up. He does the same for CORDELIA but she doesn't take. She pulls herself up.

CORDELIA
(whispering)
I can climb up a ladder you know.

ANGEL smiles back at her. He quickly turns his attention to JO.

ANGEL
Jo... It's me...

JO looks at ANGEL. As he walk towards her she shrinks away.

CORDELIA
I guess she knows that already... Just stay back...

ANNE walks closer to JO. She seems to relax a little.

ANNE
Jo, Angel's here to help you... like he did before.

JO nods a little.

JO
I know. I remember.

ANNE
And this is Cordelia. She works with him.

ANNE nods to CORDELIA. She takes a step forward.

CORDELIA
Hey. It's alright. We're gonna do whatever we can
get you out of this.

JO
No you can't. No one can.

CORDELIA
Sure we can. Trust us...

JO
I trusted the Tribunal and look where that got me!

ANGEL takes a cautious step forward.

ANGEL
What happened to them?

JO
I don't know... One day they were there and I could
feel them. They were protecting me then one day
they were gone.

ANGEL
Killed?

JO
I don't know. I couldn't feel their protection anymore.

CORDELIA
And then the demons starting coming after you?

JO shakes her head. She looks at them nervously.

JO
Not demons. Not at first. Wolfram and Hart...
they want Charlotte...

ANGEL
(grimacing)
They're not getting her.

ANGEL looks around, scoping the place out.

ANGEL
(cont.)
This place is too open and you've been your too
long. Come with us... we'll take care of you.

JO
(scoffs)
Somehow I doubt that.

ANGEL
We'll do a better job of it than you will alone.
Please...

JO looks up at him. He offers her his hand. She takes it.


Scene: Hyperion Hotel, Lobby [Int.], Day
We hear all kinds of loud noises. We PULL BACK to see a full view of the lobby. GUNN is drilling some sheet metal over the back door that leads out into the garden. He has safety goggles on.

CONNOR arrives carrying some more metal. He lets it drop on the floor. GUNN spins around, turning off the drill.

GUNN
You got more? Excellent.

CONNOR
Don't you think this is a little... extreme.

GUNN
Extreme? You mean why are we sealing ourselves
in when there's a ton of demons probably heading
this way? Don't seem like extreme to me.

CONNOR
I guess... but we've all killed hundreds of demons
before. What makes this time so special?

GUNN
(shrugs)
The kid I suppose. Angel don't want anyone come
anywhere near her.

CONNOR
Then we kill them before they do...

GUNN grabs another piece of metal and holds it up against the door.

GUNN
That sounds more like my kinda plan... but Angel's
the boss.

CONNOR
I guess....

GUNN prepares to start drilling again. He stops himself and pulls the safety goggles off.

GUNN
Look... Connor...

CONNOR looks up at him curiously.

GUNN
(cont.)
I'm real sorry about the other day. Y'know, with the
snapping at you. I didn't know it was you with Fred.
You get that, right?

CONNOR
I was just looking after her. I like her.

GUNN smiles at CONNOR.

GUNN
You're a good kid. As long as I got you watching my
back I reckon Fred's in for a good life.

CONNOR smiles slightly. GUNN looks at him. There's silence. It's awkward.

CONNOR
Can... Can I ask you about something...

GUNN
Sure.

CONNOR
It's something... Well, I get the impression it's sensitive.

GUNN
Shoot.

CONNOR
Wesley...

GUNN flinches a little. CONNOR notices. He tries to make what he's about to say a little more tactful.

CONNOR
(cont.)
Why doesn't anyone talk about him.

GUNN
I guess... it's not exactly a hot topic around the office.
You get that, right?

CONNOR
(nods)
Yeah... but why?

GUNN stares at him, a little dumbstruck.

GUNN
You know what he did to you, right? How it affected
your father?

CONNOR
But why's everyone still so pissed? I mean, I'm back
aren't I? I'm safe and alive...

GUNN
Because Wes took away the most special thing Angel
ever had - you. There was a time there when he thought
he'd never get you back... Then that son of a bitch went
and swapped sides. He's in with the enemy, kid...

CONNOR
The way I've heard, you didn't give him much of a choice.

GUNN
You saw what he did last month! He drugged Angel
and tried to split us all up. If he gave a crap do you
think he would've even considered that. I don't even
know who he is anymore!

CONNOR
Oh...

GUNN smiles at him, an attempt to ease the tension. His face changes to one of worry. He looks at his watch.

CONNOR
Is it Fred?

GUNN
(nods)
Did she even say where she went?

CONNOR
(a little guiltily)
No.

GUNN
Damn. I know she'll be okay but... ah, I'm just
going soft, I guess.

He goes back to drilling, now unable to hear anything going on.

CONNOR takes a few steps back, his eyes still on GUNN. He looks towards the newspaper still lying on the chair. His eyes drift back to GUNN.

We hear a sewer grate open. CONNOR jumps.

GUNN is still drilling away. He looks to the side to see ANGEL walk in with ANNE, CORDELIA and JO. He puts the drill down again.

ANGEL
How's it going?

GUNN
Got all entrances tightened up. We just need to get
Fred back and I can lock us up.

ANGEL
Good.

GUNN
You sure about doing this?

ANGEL
Dead sure. This kid is too important.

He glances back. JO is standing standing alone, trying to come to terms with where she is. CHARLOTTE is clinging tightly onto her leg.

ANGEL
(cont.)
Maybe we can fix this without needing any kind of
violence but I don't want to take the risk.

GUNN
Where's Cordy?

ANGEL
Anne insisted on going back to the shelter. She offered
to take her there.

GUNN
If any demon tries to piss her off I guess she'll zap 'em
away.

ANGEL
I'd like to think so. She's... incredible.

GUNN looks carefully at ANGEL.

GUNN
So I take it things are going well, huh?

ANGEL
(aprehensively)
I guess...

GUNN
Just keep that nervous thing going on. I don't want
to deal with you getting all happy on us.

ANGEL
I think things are a little too complicated for that to
go and happen quite yet.

GUNN
(grins)
You know that if I do I'll have to go and dust your
ass?

ANGEL
Damn right you will.

ANGEL looks around the hotel.

ANGEL
(cont.)
Where's Connor?

GUNN takes in the whole of the lobby in. He frowns.

GUNN
He was here just a minute ago...

ANGEL looks nervous. He wants everyone back as soon as possible and this has just set him back a mile!

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