Expecting (November 15, 1999) Written by: Howard Gordon Teaser EXT. ANGEL'S OFFICE - NIGHT - ESTABLISHING - STOCK Flashy cut to: INT. ANGEL'S OFFICE - NIGHT CORDELIA, dressed to the nines, her hair in pretty curls, moves to the large pane of glass near the front door. Using it as a mirror, she fluffs her hair, applies lipstick as: ANGEL (O.S.) You look nice... CORDELIA Bah! She smears a little lipstick up onto her cheek, spins around -- Angel stands behind her, some files in hand. She looks back at the glass, which shows only her reflection, then back at Angel. CORDELIA And now I look like the joker. ANGEL Sorry. Cordelia wipes off the excess lipstick with a tissue, as: CORDELIA I'm hopefully still too young and carefree for a heart attack -- but would it kill you to hum a little tune when you're slipping up on people? ANGEL I don't hum. (re: files) I'm confused here, why is Mrs. Benson filed under "P"? CORDELIA (looks at the files) That's not a "P", that's an "F". Or is it an "R"? ANGEL I don't know. Maybe we could be a little less young and carefree with the filing -- CORDELIA Oh, it's an "F", I remember now. She moves off, case closed. He follows. ANGEL All right... so why is Mrs. Benson filed under "F"? CORDELIA (isn't it obvious?) Because she's from France. (off his look) Remember what a pain she was? ANGEL Yes... made me want to drink, a lot. CORDELIA Well, that's the French for ya'. WESLEY enters, a leather bag slung over his shoulder. WESLEY Hello. I was just in the neighborhood, patrolling with my new Bavarian fighting adz... (pulls adz out of bag) ...when suddenly I thought, perhaps Cordelia's had a vision, perhaps you two need some help in the war against evil. ANGEL We seem to be evil-free at the moment. WESLEY Oh. (beat) I also packed along Word Puzzle Three "D", if either of you have the nerve to take me on. He pulls a Scrabble-like game box out of his satchel. CORDELIA Gee, I'd love to, Wesley, but unlike you, I'm not in my eighties just yet. SERENA and EMILY enter behind Wesley's back. They're L.A. party girls, and Cordy's new best friends. WESLEY Well if shaking your booty at the latest trendy hot spot is your idea of a life then call me... (sees girls) ... sick with envy. SERENA Hi. I'm Serena. Nice ax. WESLEY This old thing? Wesley casually gestures with it -- it hits and sticks in the wall next to him. SERENA (to Cordy) We're late. Wilson practically had to have phone sex with the manager at Lounge LaBrea to get us in. CORDELIA Okay, okay, how do I look? SERENA Like you always do. Wilson won't be able to take his eyes off you. ANGEL Who's Wilson? When Cordelia doesn't answer... EMILY Christopher. ANGEL Christopher Wilson. EMILY Wilson Christopher! WESLEY No, the ethno-archaeologist from Brandeis? SERENA The fashion photographer from L.A. (to Cordy) -- third time's the charm. (to Wesley) And that Hugh Grant thing is really starting to work for me. ANGEL (lightly) You've been seeing someone. How come I haven't met him? CORDELIA 'Cause I'm ashamed of you. Not to mention how you'd embarrass me by giving him the third degree. Cordy, at her desk, bends down to pick up her purse. EMILY Your boss could give me the third degree any time. Cordelia, unseen by Serena and Emily, suddenly clutches her head in agony. Angel and Wesley see she's having a vision. They step in front of her, stalling for time. ANGEL So, Lounge LaBrea. Sounds like that could be... an evening... with all sorts of... evening-type-- I hear the bands there are-- SERENA They don't have bands. ANGEL Which I like, 'cause if it's too loud-- EMILY Wanta come? ANGEL Oh. I think I may be busy... CAMERA ROCKETS IN ON CORDELIA HER INTERNAL POV - FLASHCUTS - A VENICE BUNGALOW. A LARGE COCOONY THING. A CLAW presses outward, stretching the fibrous, slimy membrane. ANGEL, WESLEY AND THE GIRLS ANGEL Besides, I don't lounge all that well. Wesley laughs way too loud. WESLEY Good one. Oh yes, this one's no lounger... no... hmmm. SERENA (to Emily, re: Angel and Wesley) The good ones are always gay. CORDELIA - exhales sharply, seizure subsiding. She sits up. SERENA Cor, tick tock... Cordelia looks to Angel for help. ANGEL This client I'm supposed to see tonight, what's he like again? CORDELIA Like a big baby. Hatching out of a big egg. Really large hands, in need of a manicure. (scribbles on a pad) You're meeting him here. Cordelia hands the pad to Angel, she and the girls leave. Angel studies the address. WESLEY I don't suppose you... need a hand slaying this big baby creature? (Angel looks up) Not that an evening alone with the Word Puzzle isn't plenty exhilarating in its own right... Angel tears off address, hands it to Wesley who is thrilled. WESLEY Right. Wesley moves to the wall, grabs the adz. It's stuck pretty deep. Using first one, then both hands, he pulls and pulls 'til it finally comes free, causing him to fall hard and fast out of frame. EXT. VENICE NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT CLOSE ON PAPER - "23 CABRILLO" The "23" is hastily scribbled, particularly the "3". It's lowered out of frame (by Wesley) to reveal behind it a MAILBOX with "23 Cabrillo" painted on the side. Angel and Wesley stand before the mailbox, confirming the address with a nod. Angel pushes open his overcoat, draws his sword from its scabbard. Wesley has a crossbow in one hand, the adz in the other. TRACKING WITH THEM as they move toward the front door, Wesley to one side, Angel right in front. Angel looks to Wesley - and off Angel's nod, Angel bashes open the door with his boot. INT. BUNGALOW - NIGHT Wesley charges in, startling an ELDERLY COUPLE watching TV. Angel charges behind him, SMACK! right into the "No Uninvited Vampires Allowed" threshold. Wesley keeps his crossbow leveled at the hapless couple. Angel stands behind him, ready for attack. WESLEY Don't move a muscle, demon spawn. As the husband and wife stare blankly back, Angel notices -- HIS POV - BUNGALOW NEXT DOOR Cresting over the adjacent windowsill, is the curved surface of a LARGE SLIMY COCOON. Its coarse membrane stretches, bulges -- then pops. A GIANT GNARLED CLAW emerges, oozing slime, reaching upward -- Angel tries to flag Wesley as: ANGEL Wesley -- WESLEY Cowards! Don't make me thrash it out of you, where did you lay your eggs, in the cellar, in the bedroom? ANGEL Yes, that's right, TERMITES lay their eggs anywhere. Such as next door. Angel nods toward the window - Wesley sees the real demon. WESLEY Oh. ANGEL And we fight termites wherever they may roam. Angel and Wesley run away. After a beat, Wesley sticks his head back in: WESLEY Sorry about the door. And he's gone, leaving the old people staring blankly out at us. BLACK OUT. END OF TEASER Act One EXT. NEXT DOOR BUNGALOW - NIGHT ANGLE ON WINDOW through which we saw the creature hatching. Only now the windowpane is smashed, smeared with blood and slime. Against the far wall, we see the SHADOWS and hear the SOUNDS of the battle raging within. TRACKING alongside the house, camera follows the action, picking up bits and pieces of the fight -- a shadow play of exciting and cheap violence. Then, as CAMERA pans past the edge of the house, an EARSPLITTING ROAR. Followed by Wesley being flung through the front door. He tumbles to the ground, gets back to his feet, and bravely heads back in to the fray. More horrendous FIGHT NOISE, followed at last by a DYING, MONSTER GROAN and silence. After a BEAT, Wesley and Angel step through the mangled door, beat up, breathing hard, FILTHY WITH THE DEMON'S SLIME. Angel sheaths his sword. WESLEY That was bracing. ANGEL Yeah. Baby just hatched, wouldn't want to run into him when he grows up and gets his driver's license. WESLEY And thank you very much, Cordelia, for sending us to the wrong house... another five minutes and that thing would have been loose on the world. ANGEL It all worked out. WESLEY This time... (glances back inside) Maybe we should clean up the - you think a Tarval demon leaves a hefty security deposit? ANGEL I'm sure of it. Relieved, they head off. WESLEY Well, it's not my place, Cordelia works for you, but she doesn't seem to be paying attention to her duties lately. ANGEL She's had a lot to deal with -- Doyle's death, inheriting his visions... she's young, she's still finding her way in the world. WESLEY But we're not in the world; demon hunters like us have a higher calling. ANGEL You've got some... Angel touches his own cheek, Wesley wipes demon slime away. WESLEY No one is more fond of Cordelia than I, but if all she wants to do is go gadabouting with those doxies... ANGEL I think they liked you. WESLEY Really? I didn't mean doxy in the sexually promiscuous sense -- exactly. As they head away from us: WESLEY You don't think sticking the adz in the wall put them off? ANGEL No. That was charming. WESLEY And the fact they thought we were gay? ANGEL Adds mystery... EXT. LOUNGE LABREA - NIGHT - STOCK Establishing the snazzy joint. INT. LOUNGE LABREA - NIGHT Serena grabs drinks from the Bartender. SERENA Thanks. BARTENDER Don't mention it. SERENA I won't, but I'll tip for it. She gives him a dazzling smile, leans back where we now see JASON (her date) and Emily, who's with a couple of other PARTY GUYS (we may see later at gun club, if budget says yes.) SERENA Jase, moolah. Jason hands her some bills without paying attention -- a rich guy -- she slides bills to Bartender. JASON I'm not saying it was worthy of a kiss... She smiles, gives him a kiss. Not a huge one, but not without some heat. It's all friendly here. EMILY I'm bored. SERENA Emily, you know what it takes to get in here? EMILY Still bored. SERENA Well Cordy's not... They look as we MOVE TO: Cordelia and WILSON -- he's a few years older than her. He has a cool-without-trying charm and she's liking him. They're in a world of two. WILSON So you left Sunnydale and came to L.A. What was that like? CORDELIA Like skydiving without a parachute -- except for the smashing your body to bits part -- actually, no, it was like that, too -- oh, and the guy who's supposed to be here when you arrive? WILSON The guy? CORDELIA With the big bag of fame and fortune --? WILSON Oh, that guy. CORDELIA So what happened to him? WILSON He comes and goes, he's kind of fleeting that way. CORDELIA If you see him tell him to fleet my way. Wilson laughs warmly. WILSON Thank you. CORDELIA For what? WILSON For making me not hate dating. Cordelia smiles. Wilson turns, sees Serena laughing at the bar. WILSON Serena's really something. I'm going to send her flowers. (off Cor's look) For introducing you to me, silly. CORDELIA I knew that... (she takes his hand) God, for the first time, I like L.A. In high school I knew my place, okay it was a haughty place and maybe I was a tad shallow, but here, it's so... I don't know, hard to find where you belong. WILSON Hey, no one feels like they belong here. That's sorta the point of L.A., to make you feel as insecure as possible. CORDELIA You don't feel that way. WILSON Sure I do. CORDELIA Right. You're doing what you came here to do, you photograph all these gorgeous, famous people -- where's the insecure? WILSON In the pictures. Which are further proof that everyone's having a real life except me. I'm the guy behind the camera, watching and recording life, not living it each and every moment like you. CORDELIA Wow, I'm living a life. Look at me. She gives her million dollar smile. He watches her fondly. WILSON Look at you. DISSOLVE TO: INT. HALL OUTSIDE CORDELIA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT Cordy and Wilson walk up. She fishes out her keys... CORDELIA Here we are... thanks for the club and driving me home and listening to my entire life story -- I think I left out a couple of weeks in early 1987 but... WILSON I had a great time and you didn't talk too much and I want to know everything about you. CORDELIA Me, too -- I Mean about you, not -- 'cause I already know... you know, about me... Wilson slides her hands into his and kisses her tenderly. It's a nice kiss. They separate, still holding hands. WILSON So. Call you tomorrow? CORDELIA You don't have to-- WILSON Call you? CORDELIA Go home. I mean, not right away, it's still early -- (glances at his watch) In Australia. Wilson looks at her, utterly charmed. INT. CORDELIA'S APARTMENT - MINUTES LATER The door opens. Cordelia switches on the lights as Wilson checks out her place. WILSON Nice. CORDELIA Compared to the apartment I had before, it's Buckingham Palace. She dims the lights... WILSON You live alone, right? Cordy reacts as the lights brighten on their own. CORDELIA In the sense that I'm the only one living here who's actually alive. WILSON That was a yes. I think. She dims the lights again. But they snap back on. She gives up, shrugs sheepishly. ' CORDELIA The wiring. Old buildings. WILSON No worries. Besides, I like looking at you. An awkward silence yawns between them. CORDELIA Look, the truth is, my dating game skills are kinda rusty. You're the first person I've had over in a long - well, ever - so I'm open to suggestions ... WILSON Music? CORDELIA Right. Music. Cordelia goes to turn on the stereo. The room fills with a soulful Sarah McLachlan-type ballad. But as soon as she turns back to Wilson, the tuner automatically skips back past stations to a jaunty Polka. WILSON Well, that's a jaunty polka. Cordelia sighs, switches off the stereo, about to explain to Wilson, who smiles -- WILSON I know. The wiring. CORDELIA How 'bout some tea? She moves off, into the-- INT. CORDELIA'S APARTMENT - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS Cordelia fills the kettle at the sink. She whispers harshly through gritted teeth, scolding the air - CORDELIA Alright, Dennis, knock it off. This is the one guy I've actually liked in a long time, and if you keep killing the mood, so help me I'll kill you -- all right, empty threat, you being a ghost, but I'll do something worse -- I'll play Evita around the clock, the one with Madonna. WILSON (O.S.) Who're you talking to? ANGLE TO INCLUDE Wilson, who's appeared behind Cordelia. He's looking about. CORDELIA My ghost. I have a ghost. He's jealous-- kidding. The apartment's great but everything's always breaking, and I don't really have anyone to complain to, so sometimes, just to keep myself company, I talk to myselMNPH -- Wilson kisses her mid-sentence. And Cordelia lets herself be kissed. And this is a more serious kiss than the one in the hall. Until Wilson pulls away, a little breathless. They look at each other, and start kissing again, and this time they don't stop, sinking out of frame as we MATCH MOVEMENT TO: INT. CORDELIA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT Wilson and Cordelia fall onto her bed, kissing with an even greater hunger. A SERIES OF DISSOLVES tracks their lovemaking. Clothes shedding. Limbs entangling. Lips everywhere. SLOW FADE TO BLACK. INT. CORDELIA'S APARTMENT - DAY ON THE WINDOW. Sunlight blasts through the narrow seam of the drawn curtains. DRIFTING through the room... past the night stand where the clock reads 10:47... Continuing to the bed, finding Cordelia as she stirs awake. Her eyes open. She smiles, remembering her pleasant evening. She looks around for: CORDELIA Wilson...? Then her eyes settle on the clock, and she reacts to the time, but still happy. CORDELIA Uh oh, someone's going to be late for work. She starts to get up, but her body doesn't follow. Curious at first, then grunting with effort, she swings her legs over the side of the bed. Breathing a little heavily. She looks down, exhaling sharply when she sees the BASKETBALL-SIZED BULGE in her t-shirt. She pulls up her t-shirt to reveal her swollen belly... (a prosthetic we will build) she's eight and a half months pregnant. On Cordelia, just beginning to really freak -- BLACK OUT. END OF ACT ONE Act Two INT. CORDELIA'S APARTMENT - BEDROOM - DAY CAMERA SLOWLY MOVES IN. Cordelia sits in shock, looking around helplessly... then down at the huge reality of her swollen belly... from the other room comes a KNOCKING at the front door... she just stares, not budging... INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE CORDELIA'S APARTMENT - DAY Angel KNOCKS, Wesley just behind him. ANGEL What time is it? WESLEY Quarter past noon. ANGEL I left two messages. She should've called back. (knocks LOUDLY) CORDELIA! WESLEY Maybe she unplugged her phone or -- slept somewhere else. (stepping back) I guess we'll just have to -- Angel SNAPS the lock Cordelia's doorknob and enters her apartment, stranding Wesley. WESLEY -- break open her door and trespass. INT. CORDELIA'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS TRACKING Angel as he moves deeper into the darkened apartment, Wesley trailing... ANGEL Cordelia?! But there is still no answer. ANGEL I'm getting a bad feeling. WESLEY I thought it was just me. ANGEL This isn't like her. WESLEY Avoiding her responsibilities? Lately, it seems quite like her. They've come to Cordelia's bedroom door. And as Angel pushes it open... WESLEY I'm sure it will all work out when we -- Angel and Wesley stand before the open door, dumbstruck. WESLEY Mother of God... Cordelia sits on the bed, staring at them with an eerie, shell-shocked expression -- her hands resting on her swollen belly. In the tiniest of voices she says: CORDELIA Angel? Angel moves to her, tries to hide his shock. ANGEL It's all right, we're here. CORDELIA I'm ready to wake up now... I don't seem to be waking up... And in an even tinier voice: CORDELIA Help me... ANGEL We're going to. What happened, what do you remember? CORDELIA Well, we went to the club... Wilson and I just sorta hid out on this couch and we talked and talked.. then he drove me home, I asked him in... ANGEL Wilson. CORDELIA (nods) He was really nice and we, you know... (indicates the bed) ...it was all normal and -- he was normal -- it was safe! It was all really... safe... (tries not to cry) ANGEL Shhh, shhh. It's okay. Have you talked to Wilson? CORDELIA No. I haven't talked to anyone -- what would I say to him? I had a great time, I think you left something at my place? (beat) I don't think this is right, this isn't a human occurrence here... ANGEL Whatever's happening to you, he may have some answers. Angel hands her the phone. CORDELIA I can't... ANGEL Just dial his number, I'll talk to him. Cordy slowly dials. CORDELIA Oh God, I'm being punished... WESLEY You're certainly not being punished. This is just... we'll get to the bottom of it. Angel listens to the phone. HE HEARS: FILTERED VOICE The number you have reached has been disconnected. There is no new number at this time. Angel hangs up. ANGEL He's not answering right now. I want you to rest and let us handle it. You're not alone. CORDELIA Sorta the problem, isn't it? Wesley and Angel share an awkward look. CORDELIA Could you... just leave me alone for a...? ANGEL We'll be right outside. They nod, exit. Camera pushes in on Cordelia, who starts crying. Dennis floats in a box of Kleenex. A tissue pops out of the box. She plucks it from the air, blows... Dennis pulls the covers up on her a little. INT. CORDELIA'S APARTMENT - DAY - LATER Angel's on the phone, Wesley hovers nearby. ANGEL Thanks, Kate. WESLEY Any luck with your police contact? ANGEL Wilson's home and business phones have been disconnected. No unlisted numbers, no forwarding addresses, no criminal record. WESLEY Well, that's something, I suppose. ANGEL I'm guessing he's some sort of procreaparasitic demon. WESLEY A demon who can only reproduce by implanting a human woman with its seed -- I've heard of such entities... (then) ...the human mothers... ANGEL ... rarely survive labor. And the ones that do -- wish they hadn't. They share a grave look. WESLEY If she's that pregnant in one night, she could give birth at any moment. ANGEL We have to move fast, you're going to see what's inside her -- WESLEY I beg your pardon! ANGEL A pre-natal exam, Wesley. WESLEY Oh... of course. And you? ANGEL I'm going to find Daddy -- Off Angel's resolve - INT. LOUNGE LABREA - DAY This doesn't have to be creepy dark, but it should be dark, like a good bar is in the day. No sunlight near our vampire hero, please. The BARTENDER is wiping down the bar. He moves past a curve in it, as he moves back, Angel is sitting there. Bartender's a little startled: BARTENDER Oh, I didn't see you. ANGEL I get a lot of that. BARTENDER So what can I get you? ANGEL I need some help. Bartender looks at him skeptically. BARTENDER I'm kinda busy here... ANGEL I know, I won't take much of your time. A friend of mine was here last night. Her name's Cordelia. Big smile, really pretty. BARTENDER Yeah, we get a lot of that in here. Bartender goes back to work, cleaning glasses, or making drinks. Angel pulls out a hundred, slides it on the bar. Bartender going by, sees it. BARTENDER What's this? Angel looks from bill to Bartender, makes a judgement call: ANGEL Probably an insult. I'm guessing you're serving drinks day and night to jerks who think they can buy anything. BARTENDER That would be a good guess. ANGEL (takes back bill) Well one of those jerks hurt my friend and I need to find him, fast. BARTENDER (beat, decides Angel's all right) Who? ANGEL Wilson Christopher. I want to know who his friends are, where they hang. BARTENDER Pretty much wherever Serena tells them to. ANGEL Serena... BARTENDER You know her? (Angel nods) They travel in packs, the guys have the money, the girls have the pretty. The girls decide what club's the flavor of the month -- and Serena rules the girls. ANGEL (nods, gets up) Thanks. BARTENDER So, you the boyfriend? ANGEL No. I'm family. Bartender nods. Angel goes. INT. GYNECOLOGIST'S OFFICE - WAITING ROOM - DAY PAN the WOMEN who wait in various stages of pregnancy. One holds a gurgling (or screaming) baby. Pass an apple-cheeked TODDLER. CAMERA FINDS Cordelia sitting uncomfortably amongst these happy women, some chatting with each other, flush with the excitement of expectant motherhood. A PREGNANT WOMAN sits next to her, trying to break the ice. PREGNANT WOMAN First time? Cordelia nods, clearly in no mood for small talk. PREGNANT WOMAN It's so exciting, isn't it? A whole other life, growing right inside you... Cordy takes that in, with mounting horror. PREGNANT WOMAN Do you know what it is? Cordy looks at her sharply -- PREGNANT WOMAN Boy or girl? Wesley approaches, sits. WESLEY Shouldn't be long. (whispers to Cor) I told them it was rather urgent. The pregnant woman smiles at Wesley who smiles and nods back. PREGNANT WOMAN My husband and I didn't want to know the sex, we want it to be a surprise, but it's still fun to guess.... She bends close, touches Cordy's belly, cooing: PREGNANT WOMAN Oooh, you're carrying low. I'll bet it's a -- CORDELIA SHUT UP! DON'T TOUCH ME! The Pregnant Woman yanks her hand away and the waiting room falls silent. Cordy sits there miserably and Wesley endures the uncomfortable silence for a long beat, until: NURSE Mr. and Mrs. Pangborn. Another beat. WESLEY Oh, that's us. He springs up. CORDELIA Pangborn? INT. GYNECOLOGIST'S OFFICE - EXAM ROOM - DAY Wesley stands. Cordelia sits on the edge of the exam table in hospital gown. Dr. Wasserman sizes up Cordelia's belly, the Nurse stands nearby. DR. WASSERMAN You're what - eight and a half months along? WESLEY Feels like only yesterday, doesn't it? Dr. Wasserman scans the clipboard. DR. WASSERMAN Well, I see you left lots of blanks on the patient information form. It'd help to have the name of your previous doctor... CORDELIA You're the only doctor we've been to -- WESLEY In California. We just moved here from England. DR. WASSERMAN Lovely country. (then, to Cordelia) So how are you feeling? CORDELIA I'm big as a house... everything hurts... DR. WASSERMAN All normal at this stage. And once your little one is out -- which'll probably be in no time, you'll feel a lot better. CORDELIA God, it's a nightmare... WESLEY (sotto) Hormones. Dr. Wasserman nods uncertainly. DR. WASSERMAN Alright, Mrs. Pangborn. Why don't we lie back and see what's baking in the oven. The Nurse and Wesley help Cordelia lie back. The Nurse switches on the ultrasound machine, as Dr. Wasserman pulls up Cordelia's gown. He squirts a blob of jelly onto her belly, spreading it with the ultrasound wand -- DR. WASSERMAN Settle on a name yet? That's the hardest part for a lot of people -- oooo, looks like somebody's having twins. WESLEY Twins?! CORDELIA Twins?! Dr. Wasserman's smile suddenly goes crooked, as he squints at the monitor, addresses the Nurse in hushed tones. DR. WASSERMAN No, there's a third heart beat... The Nurse nods, points - NURSE There's another one. DR. WASSERMAN Five... six...? Did you have fertility treatments? Then he sees something that really gets his attention. DR. WASSERMAN Oh my god... They trade worried glances. Wesley moves behind him. Reacts to what he sees on the monitor... CORDELIA What is it? What's wrong? But Dr. Wasserman tries covering his palpable fear. DR. WASSERMAN I'm sure it's nothing... but I would like to remove a little of the amniotic fluid, just to make sure everything's -- (re: monitor, JESUS!) -- ship shape. So Nurse, if you'll prep Mrs. Pangborn right away. Off the look between Wesley and Cordelia. -- INT. SERENA'S APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY CLOSE ON ELEVATOR FLOOR INDICATOR. BING! The eleventh floor is illuminated. Tilt down to find Angel stepping out of the elevator car. (Production note: elevator not a necessity.) Camera leads him down the corridor. He stops before apt 11F. Knocks. No answer. He knocks again. ANGEL Serena? A small voice comes from within. SERENA (O. S.) Just leave it outside. ANGEL Serena, it's Angel... Cordelia's friend. Can I come in? SERENA (O.S.) Okay... Angel opens the door -- INT. SERENA'S APARTMENT - DAY He enters the DARK apartment. The blinds are drawn and candles and incense burn. ANGEL Serena? Angel moves cautiously through, the candles flickering. Schmuckbait as he comes around a corner -- ANGEL'S POV Moving around a corner. WE SEE Serena, her back to us, standing at the mantle, lighting another candle. SERENA Light hurts my eyes lately -- ANGEL I know the feeling... SERENA I thought you were the liquor store. I'm almost dry. She takes a swig from a wine bottle. SERENA I know what you're thinking... I shouldn't, right? It'll hurt the baby... She turns now... and now WE SEE that she's swollen with pregnancy. SERENA I hope. She swigs from the bottle. Off Angel, taking in the sight ... INT. GYNECOLOGIST'S OFFICE - EXAM ROOM - DAY Dr. Wasserman approaches Cordelia with a glass tube attached to a long hollow needle -- DR. WASSERMAN I need to tell you, there's a point- five percent chance of miscarriage from the procedure. It's a very small risk but -- CORDELIA (grimly) I'll take it. Wesley takes Cordelia's hand as Dr. Wasserman brings the needle down toward her navel. She looks away as he uses the ultrasound wand to position the needle. DR. WASSERMAN You'll feel a pinch. Count backwards from five and we'll be done. Cordelia winces as the needle finds its mark. CORDELIA Five-four-three-two-- AMNIOTIC FLUID floods the glass collection tube. DR. WASSERMAN All done. He withdraws the needle, hands the instrument to the Nurse. DR. WASSERMAN Not too bad, was it? Now we'll just run a few tests -- NURSE Dr. Wasserman? Dr. Wasserman's already shaky smile evaporates when he sees the spiderweb cracks appear in the glass tube. The Nurse drops the vial, shattering it -- the pooled liquid DISSOLVING the linoleum like battery acid. The Nurse looks from the melting floor up to Cordelia. She backs away instinctively, then bolts. DR. WASSERMAN This is - excuse me. Dr. Wasserman leaves without looking back. Cordelia sits up, her concern mounting. CORDELIA You saw what's inside me. WESLEY I think we should find Angel and -- CORDELIA Wesley, please, just tell me! WESLEY Cordelia... CORDELIA Do they look healthy? Off Wesley, more than a little surprised at her turn -- BLACK OUT. END OF ACT TWO Act Three INT. SERENA'S APARTMENT - DAY Angel approaches Serena gingerly... her impossibly pregnant belly the object of fascination. SERENA It's like it's not real. But it is. (unsure) Right? It's really happening? She touches her belly, looks up at him, confused. ANGEL It's real. It's happening to Cordelia too. SERENA Oh God. She looks at him hopelessly, in her own world. SERENA I can't reach Jason. He's gone. ANGEL So is Wilson. SERENA I didn't know this would happen. ANGEL No, but you knew something. SERENA Yeah... I knew... I knew the guys. Jason and Nick. And then Wilson wanted to meet Cordelia, and, I don't know... I knew something wasn't right. Their money -- Her concentration drifts away. She takes a drink from the wine bottle. ANGEL What about their money? SERENA Oh. It's stupid. It, kind of... smelled. I mean, it really smelled. And sometimes the guys seemed, like, jumpy. But this town -- you know, everything's fake, things are weird, and you stop asking questions... (then) You're sure it's really happening? Angel nods. She drops the wine bottle and starts crying softly into the arm of the sofa. Angel steps toward her. ANGEL Do you have someone to call? SERENA Like who? ANGEL Family? SERENA No... No one. (wipes her eyes) The guys seemed like they liked that. Wilson asked about Cordelia. I told him she didn't have anyone, either. She looks at him. ANGEL Serena -- where can I find them? Suddenly she winces in pain, caught in the grip of a hideous contraction and we -- CUT TO: CORDELIA Bent over, in similar pain. She straightens back up and WE ARE: INT. ANGEL'S APARTMENT - THE ELEVATOR - DAY Wesley helps steady Cordy as the pain passes. THE ELEVATOR Descends into Angel's apartment area. Wesley helps her out of the elevator. WESLEY It's all going to work out. You'll see. Everything's going to be just fine. CORDELIA I know it will be. He looks at her. So brave. He manages a smile. WESLEY There's a brave girl. (then) I'm sure Angel won't mind if you rest in here. He ushers her into Angel's apartment, toward the bed. As he gently transfers her to the bed -- WESLEY You just... relax. Get comfortable. As comfortable as possible, anyway... and should you need anything, anything at all, I'll just be... She's staring at him... CORDELIA You're afraid -- WESLEY What? CORDELIA You're afraid of what's inside of me... You think it's horrible. You think I won't be able to handle it. That if I find out, I'll do something... bad. He takes a beat, looks at her. Can't lie -- totally, anyway. WESLEY Cordelia, the truth is, I haven't yet formulated a theory. I need time to study the ultrasound results, weigh the data... the moment I have anything concrete to report... She puts her hands on her belly. Communing with whatever's in there... CORDELIA There're seven of them. Seven of his children. Growing inside of me. Her certainty and resigned matter-of- factness sends a chill up Wesley's spine. CORDELIA They're talking to me. They're talking to me all at once. She shuts her eyes, winces. This time it's not a contraction, but some kind of psychic pain and frustration. CORDELIA I can't understand... Wesley, concerned, sits on the edge of the bed, tries to get through to her. WESLEY Cordelia, I know how difficult this must be for you -- She looks at him, flaring -- CORDELIA No! You don't know! WESLEY (backing off) Alright... CORDELIA You don't know what it's like to be a partner in creation. WESLEY I just meant... She's past that, on to another point. CORDELIA Wesley...? A beat. He looks at her. WESLEY Yes? CORDELIA They're not human. He doesn't avert his gaze. WESLEY I imagine that's true. CORDELIA But... I mean... that could be okay, right? Wesley just stares, not sure what to make of that. CORDELIA I mean, look at Angel. He's not human. She's turned away from him, her eyes closing, drifting off now, with... CORDELIA And Doyle... he wasn't either... I mean, not totally... and he was good. Wesley gazes at her. Wishes he could do more for her, knows he can't. He gently puts a blanket over her, moves to leave her alone, turns, meets eyes with -- ANGEL Who has arrived sometime during this. They hold the concerned look between them for a beat, then we GO TO -- INT. ANGEL'S APARTMENT - STUDY - MOMENTS LATER Angel pulls a number of phone books from the shelf and opens them, searching even as he talks to Wesley: WESLEY Any luck locating Wilson? ANGEL Not yet. But I did find Cordy's friend, Serena. She's a victim too -- as big as Cordy. Wilson's rich buddies were in on it. Four of them, maybe more. I don't know how many women they've impregnated. WESLEY Then it's worse than you know... Angel looks up. Wesley produces the ultrasound print-out. Indicates. WESLEY The results of the ultrasound... Seven heartbeats. At least. Maybe more. And with the multiple pregnancies... ANGEL Someone's raising an army... WESLEY An army of what? ANGEL Good question. We have to find the demon fathers -- Wesley glances at the open phone books. WESLEY Gun clubs. Guns can kill them? Well, I say, that makes it easier. ANGEL Serena said Wilson and his buddies hang out at some private gun club. Guns and cigars. She didn't know where exactly. WESLEY Oh. ANGEL While I find them... you should be narrowing down the species. Maybe we can figure out a way to terminate this without hurting her. WESLEY And if we can't? That grim question hangs there for a beat. Finally, as Angel starts to go -- ANGEL Then we'll need to know what to do once they're born. Wesley follows -- WESLEY Hopefully it won't come to... that... They have rounded the corner and both stopped dead as they see -- CORDELIA Her back to them, at the fridge. Drinking something. She's gulping from one of Angel's containers of blood. A trickle leaks from the corner of her mouth. Angel and Wesley react, both frozen to the spot as they take in the sight. She doesn't sense their presence yet... ANGEL I don't think I ever realized just how disgusting that was... (then, still staring) Get her back to bed. WESLEY (also still staring) Yes... ANGEL And maybe order her a pizza or something. WESLEY Good idea. Cordy finishes, glances over, sees them there, wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. CORDELIA (matter-of-factly) I was hungry. Off that -- INT. BEVERLY HILLS GUN CLUB - NIGHT BAM! BAM! BAM! A TARGET is riddled with holes... REVERSE ANGLE ON WILSON Firing his pistol... he empties his round. Snaps open the chamber as he turns to reload -- and finds himself face-to-face with a dour-looking Angel. Wilson reacts, startled. WILSON Shouldn't sneak up on people like that in here. That's how accidents happen. ANGEL Speaking of accidents... I'm a friend of Cordelia Chase. Wilson blanches, tries to cover. Turns away as he casually re-loads: WILSON This is a private club. Featured word "private". ANGEL You don't talk to me I'll kick your ass. Featured word "ass". WILSON Angel, right? Her boss... Suddenly Wilson snaps the chamber shut on his gun, spins, has it up and in Angel's face -- WILSON She told me all about you. -- and just as quickly Angel disarms him, spins him around, pulls him into a choke hold. ANGEL Somehow I doubt that. Wilson swallows with fear... Angel, now very close, registers something, spins Wilson out of his grip, stares him down... ANGEL (realizing) You're human... Wilson just looks back, nervous... ANGEL Then you can't be the father (approaching) So you and your friends... you're just the link to something else. How does it work? Tell me. (nothing from Wilson) If those things inside her come to term, she'll die. you do know that? WILSON So? (beat) I'm not telling you anything. ANGEL I was so hoping you'd say that. Angel CLOCKS Wilson so fucking hard, his head might come off. Over and over he pounds him, releasing his fury with fist to flesh. Wilson tries fighting back but Angel's rage is too great. The ass kicking goes on a while, until Angel looks up, sees JASON and two more PARTY GUYS standing nearby. JASON Someone's mommy didn't teach him to play nice. Wilson painfully pushes himself up, manages a cocky smile. WILSON You have no idea what you're dealing with -- OFF Angel, bracing for battle -- INT. ANGEL'S LIBRARY - NIGHT CLOSE - THROUGH MAGNIFYING LOUPE images from the ULTRASOUND... we can MAKE OUT some Haxil-like detail in the unresolved electronic pictures... PANNING them now with the LOUPE... moving to... A SIXTEENTH CENTURY MANUSCRIPT WE'RE still impossibly CLOSE as WE PAN. Just picking up BITS and PIECES of an ENGRAVING... finding an adult version of the Haxil detail we saw in the ULTRASOUND. The LOUPE continues, moving up the beast to the HEAD... grotesque anyway, but jumping out at us in 3-D -- WESLEY loupe to his eye jumps back, shocked. WESLEY Eeesh! Now we get a full non- magnified view of the etching in the ancient tome. The engraving is titled: "Haxil Daemonica". And it's hideous. Wesley leans back in his chair as he muses on it. Nearly bumping into THE BELLY that's hanging next to his head. He nearly rockets out of his chair with surprise to find -- CORDELIA standing over his shoulder, looking down at the image in the book, rapt. CORDELIA That's him, isn't it? She picks up the book. WESLEY I'd just ask that you not over react... He rises, moves to her. WESLEY Keep in mind that oft times these Sixteenth Century engraving artists tended to exaggerate... She stares at the illustration, drawn into it. WESLEY Cordelia --? She doesn't respond... WESLEY I know it seems dire. But now that we've identified the species, there's every chance that we'll be able to stop what's happening to you... She heard that, looks at him. Closes the book. Wesley sees he's reaching her, takes a cautious step toward her... WESLEY That's right. You mustn't lose hope... THWACK! -- she swings the heavy book against his head, sends his glasses flying, sends him stumbling back over the desk. Her eyes flash rage. CORDELIA You're not going to hurt my babies! WHACK! Book to the head again. This time he collapses to the floor, unconscious. CORDELIA No one's going to hurt my babies. BLACK OUT. END OF ACT THREE Act Four INT. BEVERLY HILLS GUN CLUB - NIGHT Angel stands his ground as Wilson, Jason and the others surround him. ANGEL I think I'm starting to get the picture here... you guys proxy for Big Daddy Demon... he imbues you with his lifeforce or whatever it is you're implanting in these women -- JASON He has trouble getting his own dates. We just help him out a little, that's all. WILSON Shut up, Jason -- ANGEL And you get what in return? Fame? Money? Success? The guys glance guiltily to one another. Bull's-eye. ANGEL That's it, isn't it? How else would losers like you get ahead? You'd have to become procreative surrogates for a vile demonic entity -- JASON Well, mostly I do it for the sex. WILSON Welcome to Los Angeles. There are worse things to be in business with. ANGEL Where is he? Where is this demon you worship? WILSON Even if we told you where to find him it wouldn't matter -- since you're about to have an accident... Wilson looks to his guys, nods. A couple move to cover the door, another tosses Wilson a loaded gun. BLAM! BLAM! Wilson fires. Angel doubles over, rocked back on his heels, gutshot. He teeters there for a moment... the party guys just look on, wondering why this dude's not falling like a nine pin... They exchange looks in that beat of echoing silence -- before Angel raises his... VAMP FACE. His eyes full of fire. ANGEL I really don't like it when people shoot me. Angel knocks the gun out of Wilson's hand and unleashes his full on wrath - as one by one they fall or flee. Until the only one left is... WILSON Who is only now regaining consciousness. As he pushes himself painfully up on all fours, and realizes with sudden terror that he's all alone with... ANGEL who KICKS him hard, the force of which rolls him onto his back. Then Angel pins Wilson's neck with the bottom of his boot. As Wilson gasps, unable to budge Angel's boot, staring up at him with wide terrified eyes. ANGEL Now you're going to tell me what I want to know -- INT. INDUSTRIAL PLANT - NIGHT CAMERA DRIFTS across the abandoned plant floor, amidst the hulking industrial machinery... picking up... CORDELIA as she emerges from the shadows. Her gait is measured, her expression fixed, determined. SERENA now appears around a piece of machinery, falling in step beside Cordelia. They acknowledge one another with a look of silent recognition, then continue together around a corner, where -- EMILY and MORE PREGNANT GIRLS appear, joining the procession... which moves into BLACKNESS... EXT. STREET/PHONE BOOTH - NIGHT CLOSE ON ANGEL in a public phone booth, punching in his number. As the phone rings, we see Angel working his hand beneath his BLOOD-STAINED SHIRT. He grimaces in pain, then comes out with a bullet between his fingers. He sets it down on the steel shelf, beside another bullet. INTERCUT: INT. ANGEL'S LIBRARY - NIGHT The RINGING PHONE. RINGING and RINGING. CAMERA FINDS a semi-conscious Wesley where Cordelia left him. Finally the RINGING PHONE brings him around. He finds his glasses and the phone at the same time. WESLEY Hello? ANGEL Wesley. It's Angel. WESLEY (coming around more fully) Angel, thank god. ANGEL I found Wilson. Whatever Cordelia's carrying around inside her, he's not the father -- Wesley reaches for his fallen book, the illustration of the Haxil Beast. WESLEY I know. It's a Haxil beast, an inner- earth demon. This is all my fault. ANGEL How is that your fault? WESLEY Cordelia ran off. I tried to stop her. She became insanely protective after I identified the Haxil as the, uh, father of her... I fear she's gone off to rendezvous with it -- ANGEL She has. Millikan Industrial Park in Reseda. WESLEY What? ANGEL That's where Wilson and his friends built their shrine. WESLEY But how does Cordelia know that? ANGEL It's telepathically linked to its unborn. That's how it's controlling Cordelia. WESLEY (realizing) Of course... psychic umbilical cord. Wesley is now poring through the book (maybe pulling down others as well). WESLEY The Haxil's telepathic connection is what's sustaining its unborn spawn. ANGEL All we have to do is cut the cord -- WESLEY We slay the demon and poof - no more evil pregnancy! (relieved) This is good news. We can end this without harming the women. (gazing at book) Just one tiny problem... ANGEL What's that? WESLEY I don't want to use the words "impossible to kill"... Fire won't kill it, decapitation won't -- and it's really huge. Angel processes this for a moment. ANGEL Wesley, can you shoot straight? WESLEY Beg pardon? Off Wesley's curiosity... INT. INDUSTRIAL PLANT - NIGHT A CEREMONIAL BIRTHING ROBE Flowing material, draping down over Cordelia. WE PULL WIDER and see that she is surrounded by the other women, now also dressed in similar garments. They commune silently with one another before a -- A TUNNEL blasted into the wall. Its interior falls off into darkness, as if it reaches into the very bowels of the earth. Cordelia and the other girls, dwarfed by the tunnel entrance, move to... THE PIT at the mouth of the tunnel, filled with a dark, ugly water. Cordelia and the rest gather around the murky pond. One by one, climb down into the waist-deep liquid. And as they wait for the appearance of the father of their demon brood... A SCARY SHADOW stretches forth on the ground from behind some heavy equipment. Something's coming... The shadow grows -- then... WESLEY appears around the corner. He pauses, scared shitless, then... We travel with him. He tries to contain his own fear as he scans all around him, then reacts to seeing -- THE EXPECTANT MOTHERS wading in the dark liquid of the pit. Waiting patiently. WESLEY moves to the pit, addresses them in an urgent whisper: WESLEY Cordelia -- Cordelia turns to see Wesley approaching. WESLEY Come out of there this instant! But she makes no move, simply smiles. As do the other women, who now turn toward him... WESLEY All of you, please -- He sniffs the air, makes a face. CORDELIA We don't expect you to understand. WESLEY I understand you'll die unless you come with me, and that is the most vile-smelling filth I have ever had the displeasure of inhaling. Now don't make me come in there after you... (getting another whiff) For god's sake. CORDELIA We serve our master -- The women only stare back at him with something like pity. WESLEY Please, come with me before -- HAXIL BEAST (O.S.) Who is the interloper? ANGLE ON TUNNEL Emerging from the darkness, filling the full height of the tunnel mouth... is the HAXIL BEAST. HAXIL BEAST To think you can disturb the birth of my children... who are you? WESLEY (bravado) Wesley Wyndam-Pryce. Rogue Demon Hunter. And I'm here to fight you to the death. (puts fists up) Preferably yours. If a Haxil beast can smile... HAXIL BEAST You? WESLEY As a heathen, you wouldn't be familiar with the biblical story of David and Goliath. But I assure you, it has some relevance to this particular situation -- HAXIL BEAST You said you're here to do battle. Then let's fight and be done. WESLEY (stalling) Yes well - as a point of courtesy, I like to get to know my opponents before I engage them in mortal combat. Do you have any hobbies? HAXIL BEAST Enough talk. I'll come to you. Wesley prepares for the fight he cannot win - when all turn at a HEAVY THUNK! A RAMP which leads down into the area... down which THUNK, THUNK, THUNK... a large STAINLESS STEEL TANK rolls. It rolls off the end of the ramp, coming to a stop on the floor. Now -- ANGEL appears coming down that same ramp. He steps up to the stainless steel tank. Picks it up, hefts it - ANGEL Sorry I'm late to the baby shower. I brought a little gift. It's quite heavy - and Angel struggles with its weight. ANGEL Hope you like it. Like a discus thrower, Angel hurls the heavy tank over the muck-filled ditch, over the heads of the expectant mothers -- The tank lands at the feet of the Haxil Beast (NOTE: This should be another, smaller-scaled version of the steel tank). Curious, the Haxil picks it up in his giant hands - rotating it to reveal the stencil painted on the side: "LIQUID NITROGEN". He drops it at his feet, looks up to see -- WESLEY Coolly pulls a gun from under his jacket and FIRES! A dead shot. THE NITROGEN TANK pressurized nitrogen BLASTS from the bullet hole, swallowing the Beast in a swirling cloud of white. His ROAR echoes until it falls silent. THE NITROGEN CLOUD dissipates as the tank empties... revealing the Haxil Beast frozen solid. CORDELIA seems to be pulling totally free of her spell now, the other girls, too, as... HER BELLY SHRINKS... As it does, Cordelia and the rest of the women let out a primal howl. The women are pregnant no longer. Cordy and the others look in horror to the shit they're sitting in... She pulls herself out of the black water, dripping. Takes in the sight of the frozen Haxil Beast. She looks around, sees a huge heavy PULLEY BLOCK hanging on industrial chains. She climbs up to it, pulls it back, and heaves it forward with all her might -- THE PULLEY BLOCK (SCALED DOWN VERSION) Swings at the frozen Haxil Beast, connects -- THE HAXIL BEAST SHATTERS in a thousand pieces. CORDELIA I really hate dating. Off the brilliant crystallized pieces dropping in a dance on the warehouse floor... EXT. ANGEL'S OFFICE - NIGHT/DAY/NIGHT (STOCK) A time lapse, jump cutty transition; sun goes up, sun goes down. INT. ANGEL'S OUTER OFFICE - DAY Two days later. Cordelia's desk is a study in neatness. Wesley's hand arranges some paper clips or pencils just so. ANGLE - Wesley wipes nonexistent dust from her desk with his handkerchief as Angel enters from his office with a really large stack of Glamour-type magazines. ANGEL She likes magazines. I got a few... (puts them on Cor's desk) ...you know, for when she comes back -- WESLEY Excuse me... (straightens them) ...I did just neaten this up for her. Angel shoots him a look as CORDELIA HERSELF walks in the front door. Dressed great, looking happy, healthy and fit. Wes and Angel are immediately over-solicitous: ANGEL Cordelia, hi. You look great. WESLEY Marvelous... ANGEL It's only been two days, you didn't have to come in so soon. WESLEY Yes, if you need more time, Angel can manage. I've been filling in a little and... He spots and closes the filter cover (a little neatly- lettered sign has been taped to it: "please close") on the coffee maker. WESLEY Somebody forgot to close the filter cover again... ANGEL (fast, to Cor) 'Course if you're ready to come back... CORDELIA I'm fine. She moves through the room, a study in confident light- heartedness. CORDELIA I just had a great audition for Max- Cracks -- you know, the little crackers? ANGEL That's terrific. WESLEY Yes. ANGEL 'Cause a cracker's something, you know, everyone can... WESLEY Eat! CORDELIA This producer was so nice, he says I'm his first choice -- we're going out tonight. They exchange a look as she drops her purse at her desk. ANGEL Tonight? WESLEY Well, best to get back on the horse I suppose if this producer seems... CORDELIA He's really sweet. He says all I have to do is let him impregnate me with his demon master's seed and I've got the part! (beat) Guys, I appreciate all the concern but I'm okay. It was an ordeal, I got through it. I'm a lot stronger than any of those loser demon surrogates thought. ANGEL (impressed) I'm starting to learn that. CORDELIA And I learned something, too. I, uh, I learned that... men are evil -- oh wait. I knew that. I learned that L.A.'s full of self serving phonies - nope, had that one down, too. Sex is bad? ANGEL We all knew that. Now she moves to the two of them and, sincerely: CORDELIA Okay. I learned I have two people who I would trust absolutely with my life -- that part's new. Beat, they're touched. Wesley surreptitiously rubs his eye. WESLEY Some... allergies... CORDELIA So who's up for a little Word Puzzle Three "D"? BLACK OUT. THE END