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Blind Date Part 1 (March 17, 2000) Written by: Jeannine Renshaw |
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Teaser |
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EXT. DOWNTOWN STREET - TOY STALL - NIGHT A GI JOE type army doll stares into camera, gun pointing right at us. As it edges closer WE PULL BACK to see that it's doing a mechanical crawl along the sidewalk through a bunch of other MECHANICAL TOYS. The VENDOR is demonstrating for a couple of KIDS. VENDOR IN THE ALLEY NEXT TO THE BUILDING A WHITE MAN wearing a heavy coat and cap is watching the vendor. Hands in his pockets. Expressionless. He watches as - THE KIDS Pool their money, handing it to the Vendor. The kids pick up the GI Joe and head down the street. But - THE MAN IN THE ALLEY Watches as the Vendor - PULLS FOLDED DOLLAR BILLS -- out of his pocket and adds the dollars to the group. He puts the dollars back in his pocket. But we also see the hilt of a KNIFE. This Vendor does not go unprotected. THE VENDOR Starts winding up his toys again, ready for the next customer when he HEARS A TAPPING. Looks up. A BLIND WOMAN is moving toward him. She wears dark glasses. Uses her red tipped cane to test the sidewalk in front of her. Her name is VANESSA BREWER. VENDOR The Blind Woman stops. THE MAN IN THE ALLEY Watches the Vendor move his toys out of the way. But his attention is on the purse hung on the woman's arm. She is about forty. When the toys are cleared she continues down the street passing the vendor… and the man in the alley. She looks like an easier target than the Vendor. INT. BUILDING BASEMENT - NIGHT Lots of WATER PIPES, HEATING DUCTS, ELECTRICAL CONDUITS overhead, etc. The ground is damp, PUDDLES haphazardly scattered across the cement floor - the industrial guts of a building. A VAMPIRE suddenly FLIES through frame and SLAMS into one of the PIPES. ANGEL steps in, stake in hand, ready to finish the job, but another VAMPIRE DROPS ON HIM from the top of one of the LARGE INDUSTRIAL HEATERS. Angel goes down, losing his stake, which skitters across the floor. Angel throws an elbow into the vamp, knocking him off. Angel gets up, throwing a punch, hitting a vamp attacking from his left. Then kicks, checking the vamp attacking from the right. Both Vamps suddenly lunge at Angel as - Angel leaps high, grabbing a POWER LINE OVERHEAD. The Vamps, missing Angel by a hair, land face first in one of the aforementioned PUDDLES. One of them (less injured than the other) stands, drenched and pissed. They both look up, see Angel dangling, and then - The POWER LINE SNAPS free, swinging Angel directly at the Vamps. But Angel lets go sooner than expected, dropping a few feet in front of the Vamps - and on dry ground. Instead of a fistful of Angel, the Vamps are left with - THE SPARKING POWER LINE, which dips into the pool of water at their feet. SPARKS FLY. The VAMPIRES BUZZ as the electricity jolts through them. As the one standing up (the only one we SEE in frame) BURSTS into FLAMES - ANGEL We see the play of SPARKS over his face. We might even hear the traditional DUSTAGE sounds before the room gets darker. But Angel has no time to enjoy his victory, as he HEARS a SCREAM echo throughout the building: a very human scream. (NOTE TO PRODUCTION: If the vamp-b-que is too expensive or a massive pain in the ass, please have Spiro create a badass Angel vs. The Two Vamps fight.) INT. BUILDING - NIGHT Dimly lit. Angel bursts out of a stairwell door… A BLACK MAN (NOT the man from the alley) is staggering down the stairs, holding his stomach. Shirt soaked with blood. Holding onto the railing. Angel rushes forward as the man slumps to his knees, but by the time Angel catches him, the man is DEAD. Angel holds the man, confused, then suddenly stands and turns to find - Vanessa is right behind him. Before he can wonder if she's responsible… her hand slams into his throat… picking him up and throwing him across the room, where he crashes into a wall. Angel is up quickly. Running at her. But she jukes to the left, blocks his punch - her response is quick, almost as if she anticipated his movements. Again Angel tries to hit her, but she moves before he can connect, comes up beneath him. She grabs him, sends him flying again. But she LOSES HER DARK GLASSES. Angel slams into the stairway, crashing through the banister. DARK GLASSES falling to the floor. Now, as Vanessa turns, we SEE HER EYES. MILKY WHITE. Angel renews his efforts, throwing a punch she deftly evades. Throughout all this, her eyes remain riveted on him. He throws another - CLOSE-UP OF VANESSA'S EYES VANESSA'S P.O.V. OF ANGEL What we see is like KURLIAN PHOTOGRAPHY. Video like, brilliant fluorescent colored outlines with people more bright and vivid than objects. Angel's movement sends a tail of light, like a comet. But the movement's force is revealed before it actually happens. The punch can be seen before it is thrown. RETURN TO REALITY As Vanessa weaves, Angel's punch missing again. Then she hits Angel hard, sending him crashing through a doorway. ANGEL Is shaken. But gets up quickly. Moves back into the hallway. But Vanessa is gone. Only the dead man remains. BLACK OUT END OF TEASER |
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Act One |
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INT. ANGEL'S OUTER OFFICE - DAY Cordelia at her desk, on the computer. Wesley sits with stacks of TOMES, some of the open. WESLEY Cordy doesn't look at him, clicking away at her computer. CORDELIA Wesley considers that, discards it. Another theory starting to form in his head… WESLEY CORDELIA WESLEY CORDELIA WESLEY CORDELIA WESLEY WESLEY CORDELIA WESLEY Wesley joins her at the computer terminal. WESLEY She points to his demon tome. CORDELIA WESLEY CORDELIA WESLEY CORDELIA WESLEY A beat, as the two exchange a meaningful look.
INT. COURTROOM - DAY LINDSEY MCDONALD is at the prosecution table, standing as he speaks to the JUDGE. He gestures to his client sitting at the defense table next to him. It's Vanessa. Looking as innocent and pacifistic as any blind person can look. LINDSEY ANGEL Comes through the door, walking purposefully up the aisle. He's got something in his hand. And his attention is on Vanessa… LINDSEY Angel suddenly throws something at Vanessa. Vanessa's hand suddenly SHOOTS up (she doesn't turn), catching what Angel threw. LINDSEY The COURT begins to MURMUR loudly. The JUDGE bangs his gavel. General tumult. JUDGE (O.S.) Lindsey looks up in time to see Angel moving to the exit. The COURT GUARDS try to stop him, but he SHOVES one into the other, makes it through the door. And Vanessa calmly puts on the GLASSES she dropped at the crime scene. A barely perceptible smile. INT. ANGEL'S OFFICE - NIGHT Cordelia is at her desk, Wesley opens a book, REVEALING A SCIENTIFIC CHART OF THE LIGHT SPECTRUM. WESLEY CORDELIA WESLEY CORDELIA Angel enters. ANGEL WESLEY ANGEL WESLEY ANGEL WESLEY ANGEL WESLEY CORDELIA ANGEL INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - HALLWAY - DAY MOVING POV - From the hallway we see Vanessa behind the glass walls of the conference room. Talking to some HIGHER LEVEL older lawyers, her back to us. One of the lawyers, middle-aged, avuncular, is HOLLAND MANNERS. On the cut, when we first see Vanessa, we should hear: MERCER (O.S.) Now we see Lindsey (whose POV we've been in) a little startled by Mercer's arrival. Lindsey's mental state is a little distracted - he's beginning to question his role here at Evil and Evil Inc. MERCER Holland notices Lindsey, gives him a warm smile of recognition, goes back to chatting with Vanessa. MERCER Lindsey turns, looks at him dead pan. LINDSEY MERCER Inside the conference room, as if sensing Lindsey behind her, Vanessa turns, looks right at him with her milky eyes, then a small, enigmatic smile. MERCER Mercer, having had his fun, moves off. Lindsey stands there a little caught in the headlights of Vanessa's stare. Then Holland and the others escort her towards the door. Holland waves at Lindsey through the glass to join him. AT THE DOOR TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM Vanessa, Holland and the two other older lawyers exit. HOLLAND VANESSA She finds his hand, holds it for a moment, creeping him a little. LINDSEY VANESSA LINDSEY She moves off with Bill and Chuck. Holland looks after her. HOLLAND They move: INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY Holland shuts the door, they're alone. HOLLAND LINDSEY HOLLAND Holland rocks side to side a little, loosening up his spine. HOLLAND LINDSEY HOLLAND LINDSEY HOLLAND Lindsey is on full alert now, striving not to show it. LINDSEY HOLLAND LINDSEY HOLLAND LINDSEY HOLLAND Lindsey, trying to keep the calm, nods. LINDSEY HOLLAND LINDSEY HOLLAND LINDSEY HOLLAND Holland holds Lindsey's gaze for a penetrating moment, then: HOLLAND LINDSEY HOLLAND LINDSEY HOLLAND LINDSEY HOLLAND LINDSEY HOLLAND LINDSEY HOLLAND LINDSEY HOLLAND Holland goes. PUSH IN ON LINDSEY, the horror of his situation beginning to dawn. PRE-LAP: ANGEL (V.O.) OMITTED INT. ANGEL'S INNER OFFICE - DAY A PHONE SMASHES into the wall next to Angel's door. Angel stands behind his desk, having just thrown said phone. The door opens cautiously, showing Wesley and Cordelia peeking in. Angel glares at them. ANGEL Wesley and Cordelia react to that. He comes around his desk as Wes and Cor edge into the room. WESLEY ANGEL CORDELIA ANGEL CORDELIA ANGEL CORDELIA ANGEL Then - CORDELIA ANGEL WESLEY ANGEL WESLEY ANGEL Wes and Cor share a worried look. CORDELIA ANGEL We HEAR THE DOOR OPEN. Everyone turns as… Lindsey appears in the doorway, tie loosened, he looks like hell. There is a moment of total, awkward silence, then - LINDSEY BLACK OUT END OF ACT ONE |
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Act Two |
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INT. ANGEL'S INNER OFFICE - DAY Angel shuts the door. Lindsey stands in the middle of the room as Angel circles to his desk. LINDSEY ANGEL LINDSEY ANGEL LINDSEY Angel sits behind his desk as he replies: ANGEL LINDSEY ANGEL LINDSEY A beat. Angel stares. ANGEL LINDSEY Angel interrupts with a rather loud SNORE. Jerking up as though wakened by the noise of it, he looks blearily at Lindsey. ANGEL Lindsey takes the hit, tries a different approach. LINDSEY ANGEL LINDSEY ANGEL LINDSEY Beat. LINDSEY ANGEL LINDSEY ANGEL LINDSEY ANGEL LINDSEY ANGEL LINDSEY ANGEL LINDSEY ANGEL INT. ANGEL'S OUTER OFFICE - DAY Gang of four. Lindsey has drawn out a rough map. Cordy takes notes as they continue to talk. LINDSEY ANGEL LINDSEY CORDELIA ANGEL LINDSEY CORDELIA LINDSEY ANGEL LINDSEY WESLEY LINDSEY WESLEY LINDSEY ANGEL CORDELIA Angel and Lindsey share a look. Lindsey smiles ruefully. He clearly thinks he's doomed. LINDSEY EXT GUNN'S PLACE - NIGHT The BLADE OF A LARGE KNIFE peels off a thin strip from a wooden stake. GUNN Gunn holds the blade and the stake. He examines the stake… checking the lines. He standing next to the HYDRAULIC STAKE GUN. He's in mid-conversation - GUNN Gunn turns, looks across at the shadows where Angel is standing. ANGEL GUNN Gunn puts the stake into the hydraulic gun. Aims across the alley. ANGEL Gunn looks at Angel, annoyed. Angel shrugs. ANGEL Gunn sights down the gun again, then suddenly adjusts the stake gun up… slightly… and fires. A WOODEN STAKE launches. Rocketing toward… … a spray painted X on an OLD MATTRESS lying against a wall about fifty feet away. Bullseye. Gunn turns to Angel. GUNN ANGEL That's good enough. GUNN INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - LOBBY - DAY Walls of chrome and glass. Stone floors. It all shines too bright. GUARDS behind the desk. WE PAN WITH A COUPLE LAWYERS, WEARING SECURITY CLEARANCE BADGES, as they cross the lobby in conversation. They wave to someone O.S. We PICK UP THIS SOMEONE, Lindsey, PANNING BACK WITH HIM as he exchanges the wave and forces a smile, covering up his new status as traitor. He clips on his SECURITY CLEARANCE BADGE. He glances at his watch as he… … crosses to the ELEVATORS… a FEW MORE LAWYER TYPES waiting. All wearing the security clearance badges. The elevator doors open. Everyone piles in. Lindsey slows down, pulling out his cell phone. It didn't ring, but he's making a good show of talking to someone. One of the LAWYERS in the elevator is holding the door for him, but Lindsey holds up his phone, motions for them to go on without him. The elevator doors close. ELEVATOR starts UP. Now Lindsey continues toward the elevators. He PUSHES THE DOWN BUTTON. Glances around. He's alone… so far so good. But he's feeling the pressure. We HEAR THE DING announcing the arrival of another Elevator. Lindsey boards quickly. Pushes the DOOR CLOSE button. We SEE a few MEN approaching the elevator. Play it for the tension. Lindsey pushes the button a couple more times. The Men grow nearer. Lindsey JAMS the DOOR CLOSE button, and the elevator doors slide shut, just in time. INT. SEWER TUNNEL - DAY Black. We HEAR SOMETHING STRIKE… A FLAME bursts from a welding torch… Illuminating Angel… wearing goggles, gloves. Standing in the long black sewer pipe. He adjusts to the flame of the cutting torch, aims it at the ceiling above him, and starts melting metal. SPARKS begin to fly. INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - LOWER LEVEL - DAY Elevator doors open. Lindsey steps out… glancing down the hall. Clear. He starts down the opposite direction. Cautious. Knows he doesn't belong down here. It's quiet. Only the sound of air conditioning. Just as he's passing a door… it suddenly SWINGS OPEN, startling him. And LILAH MORGAN is coming out. She, too, is taken by surprise. LINDSEY LILAH LINDSEY LILAH LINDSEY An awkward moment, then Lindsey backs out of her way. Lilah exits the room. LINDSEY LILAH LINDSEY LILAH Lindsey forces a smile, vamping like hell. LINDSEY Lilah smiles. Lindsey moves past her, entering the room. Door shuts. Lilah stares at the door a moment longer… something about Lindsey being down here is just… foreign. But after a beat, she leaves. Another beat, and the door cracks open again - Lindsey scopes the hallway, both directions: all clear. He exits the room, and continues on his original path down the hall… passing a fire extinguisher… takes off his SECURITY CLEARANCE BADGE and clips it to the bottom of the fire extinguisher without stopping… moves past. OMITTED INT. SEWER TUNNEL - DAY The hot blue flame cuts through the last of the ceiling, and Angel attaches one of those SUCTION-CUP HANDLES to the center of the circle. He pushes it up and inside, careful not to cross the threshold with his hands. Angel checks his watch - 12:14. Starts pulling off goggles and gear. INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - UPPER LEVEL - DAY Elevator doors open. Lindsey steps out. Straightening his tie. At some point we might go slightly SLOW MOTION: Lindsey's tweaked, paranoid perception of the world. A greeting, a smile, people passing… all amplified, weighted with meaning. Suffocating. And on Lindsey… just a bead or two of sweat… the only giveaway that things aren't quite normal with him. INT. SEWER TUNNEL - DAY Angel strips off his coveralls to reveal a nice lawyery suit underneath. He picks up a briefcase, checks his watch again - 12:15. INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - SECURITY ROOM - DAY WE ARE TIGHT ON A SECURITY MONITOR, watching LINDSEY move down a hallway, stopping at a door. WE PAN AROUND TO A SECURITY GUARD watching the BANK OF MONITORS as the DOOR OPENS next to him and Lindsey is entering. GUARD LINDSEY The guard, HOWARD, turns to Lindsey. GUARD Lindsey glances at something in the corner… A HOODED FIGURE… sitting silently, motionlessly in a chair, back to us, facing the wall. Something mysterious and a little unnerving about this… thing. Lindsey turns back to the guard. LINDSEY GUARD Lindsey checks his watch - 12:16 - then glances at the SECURITY MONITORS… WE PUSH IN ON THE MONITOR that covers the Wolfram and Hart LOBBY AS WE SEE A MAN entering, and we are suddenly - INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - LOBBY - CONTINUOUS WE PUSH IN FAST ON GUNN as he's crossing the lobby. He stops right in the middle. Clears his throat. GUNN Gunn is attracting everyone's attention, including the guards. They move in on him. GUNN When they get about ten feet away - GUNN The Security Guards stop, exchange bewildered looks - what the hell's with this guy? GUNN No one moves. They just stare. GUNN Gunn looks at his watch - 12:17. It's time. GUNN He gestures to his CREW, who we now SEE are standing outside the lobby, carrying a writhing, struggling lump of canvas. As Gunn gives the signal, the Crew enters, throwing the lump of thrashing canvas to the floor. INT. SEWER TUNNEL - CONTINUOUS Angel looks once more at his watch - 12:17 - then climbs up into the bowels of Wolfram and Hart… INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - SECURITY ROOM - CONTINUOUS THE HOODED FIGURE in the corner suddenly lifts his head. The Guard's eyes flick away from Lindsey, and he looks at the Hooded Figure's movements. Whips over to an emergency phone, picks it up. GUARD INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - LOBBY - CONTINUOUS Gunn bends down, flicks open a knife and cuts the ropes that bind the tarp. GUNN Gunn and team move quickly for the exits as… THE TARP Is suddenly torn open and A VAMPIRE, dirty, disheveled, claws his way out. Angry, scared, wild-eyed, on his shirt has been scrawled: "I WOLFRAM AND HART" He looks around quickly LIKE AN ANIMAL SUDDENLY FREED FROM A CAGE. INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - LOWER LEVEL HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS Door cracks open. Angel looks out. Clear. Steps out. Moves down the hall, doing the lawyer thing. (Note: His hair is normal Angel hair, please.) INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - LOBBY - CONTINUOUS The Vampire stands there, snarling. He makes a few feints toward escape - but where can he go? It's broad daylight outside. A few people scream, scamper back, but three SECURITY GUARDS begin to herd the Vampire, closing in on him. INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - SECURITY ROOM - CONTINUOUS ON A MONITOR - We see the Lobby Guards clustered around the Vamp. The Guard is staring at this monitor with some intensity, but Lindsey's attention is on an entirely DIFFERENT MONITOR We can now see ANGEL MOVING DOWN A HALLWAY. Looks just like any lawyer. But he stops, picks up Lindsey's security clearance from the fire extinguisher. LINDSEY Glances at the guard, who is still watching the scene in the lobby… Lindsey quickly leans over and changes the monitor… Angel disappears as A DIFFERENT HALLWAY takes its place. INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - LOBBY - CONTINUOUS The three Guards around the Vampire. One of the Guards lifts his billy-club and SHWICK! A STAKE suddenly juts out of the tip of the club. INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - SECURITY ROOM - CONTINUOUS Guard and Lindsey still watching the monitors. LINDSEY The Guard only half-nods, his eyes still fixated on the Lobby monitor. Lindsey exits. INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - LOBBY - CONTINUOUS As the other Guards close in on the Vamp, distracting him, the Guard with the stake darts forward and JAMS it into the Vamp's chest. DUSTS him. INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - LOWER LEVEL HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS Angel's at the Vault door. He slides Lindsey's pass through the security monitor, punches in a code. Door slides open. He's got it made. But he hesitates… making a fist instead of entering the vault. And suddenly Angel spins around… … and throws a jaw-busting punch which catches a DEMON right in the head as he's coming up behind him. Demon crashes hard. Comes back fast. But Angel opens his hand, revealing a RED POWDER. He blows on the powder. It billows… And the Demon's eyes widen in terror, but he's too late… the small RED CLOUD is in his face… and he sort of just… stops in place, unable to move anything except… … His EYES. As if he's a prisoner within his own body. He looks at Angel. Angel pushes him over. And he topples to the floor like a statue. ANGEL Angel quickly enters the room. INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - VAULT - CONTINUOUS Like a combination bank vault/museum. Glass boxes with strange artifacts… metal cabinets, wooden trunks… a mix of new and ancient… locks and spells. Angel moves quickly into the room, giving it a once over before zeroing in. OMITTED INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - UPPER LEVEL - CONTINUOUS Elevator doors open. Lindsey exits. It's almost over. Just has to stay calm. It's like a mantra running through his mind… keeping him focused. Until a HAND LANDS ON HIS SHOULDER. Lindsey spins. It's Mercer. MERCER LINDSEY Mercer smiles back. They move their separate ways down the hall. INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - VAULT - CONTINUOUS Angel passes a wide metal cabinet with shallow drawers. Slides a few open before he finds… The DRAWER filled with rows of alphabetized computer disks. Angel flips through them. Then decides his time is better spent elsewhere. He grabs all the disks and dumps them into his briefcase. But as he starts to exit, something catches his attention… He stops, mid-stride, looking at - AN ENGRAVED BOX Angel crosses to it, somehow compelled… He slowly lifts the lid… a metal and jewel-encrusted TUBE rests inside. He stares at it - for some reason he can't look away. But time is ticking now, and… What the hell. As he picks it up… ALARMS GO OFF BIG TIME. Angel does an "oh shit." INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - SECURITY ROOM - CONTINUOUS The guard looks at the monitors… Alarm lights are starting to go off on his switchboard… INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - VAULT - CONTINUOUS Angel stuffs the TUBE into his briefcase and turns quickly - AND NOW A GATE STARTS TO FALL OVER THE DOORWAY. Angel dives at the gate, with just enough room to slide under and through. (Note to production: Depending on the surface of the floor, i.e., carpet, upon which it is silly to slide, he could dive and roll under the gate, instead.) INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - UPPER LEVEL - CONTINUOUS Lindsey is just exiting a door with his name on it. He carries a briefcase. His cell phone rings - INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - LOWER LEVEL HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS Angel quicksteps down the corridor, speaks into his cell phone - ANGEL INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - UPPER LEVEL - DAY Lindsey listens to his cell phone - ANGEL (OVER PHONE) INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - LOWER LEVEL HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS Angel kicks aside the covering of the hole he torched and drops back into the sewer tunnel - INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - UPPER LEVEL - DAY Lindsey clicks shut his phone. Doesn't wait another second. Just bails. He turns toward the elevators, but reacts now as he sees - LINDSEY'S POV UNIFORMED SECURITY GUARDS appear in the hallway, flanking the elevators. LINDSEY Turns the other way - sees more GUARDS appearing on the other end of the hallway. Knocking on office doors, pulling lawyers out into the corridor. Others are starting to step out of their offices. Lilah joins Lindsey. LILAH Lindsey starts to pull his phone out when he notices - HOLLAND Ushering a MAN AND WOMAN, both shaved heads, dark Nehru style jackets. They disappear into the glass walled CONFERENCE ROOM. Just before Holland follows them in, he nods to a guard who ushers a group of lawyers in as well. Electric blinds descend over the windows, blocking them out. Lindsey tries to hold his shit together as now Mercer appears, steps up to Lindsey and Lilah. MERCER LINDSEY BLACK OUT END OF ACT TWO Continue on to Part
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Blind Date Part 2 (March 17, 2000) Written by: Jeannine Renshaw |
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Act Three |
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INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY As one group of lawyers is released, another group is ushered in. Among them Lindsey, Lilah and Mercer. Some look nervous, but most of them just look annoyed at the inconvenience. Lindsey sees Holland standing with the Mind Readers. Tries not to look at him. He feels like everything's all over his face, anyway. MERCER Lilah, annoyed, punches a number into her cell phone - LILAH Holland trails the Mind Readers as they slowly move down the line of lawyers, scrutinizing each lawyer in turn. Lindsey tries to keep it together as The Mind Readers and Holland approach. The Mind Readers meet Lindsey's eye. Their expressions not giving away a thing. They linger for an unendurable beat… then move to Mercer. Holland trailing behind, pauses at Lindsey. They meet eyes, then he moves off. Their task complete, the Mind Readers step back with Holland, confer in whispers. CLOSE - LINDSEY Every second an eternity. Made all the worse because he can't hear what they're saying. Holland glances past them, in Lindsey's direction. Is he looking at Lindsey? Lindsey can't be sure, but fears the worst as Holland continues to exchange whispers with the Mind Readers. Lindsey glances from the private conference to the ARMED GUARDS who are placed strategically around the room. Finally Holland turns to the assembled. HOLLAND Holland glances subtly to one of the ARMED GUARDS. As Holland zeros in on the Lindsey/Mercer/Lilah side of the room, the Guard begins to move behind the lawyers, moving to meet up with Holland… HOLLAND Now Holland is face-to-face with… HOLLAND …Mercer. HOLLAND MERCER HOLLAND Mercer considers lying for a beat, sees the stoic Mind Readers behind Holland, knows there's no point… MERCER HOLLAND MERCER Holland glances up at the Armed Guard who is now right behind Mercer. Holland gives a little nod. MERCER -- the Guard has raised his SILENCED GUN. A PFFF. A painless one to the back of the head. Lindsey starts, shocked, maybe some blood on his Armani. Holland turns away. HOLLAND A beat. Lindsey moves to go. Everyone's a little stunned, but mostly grateful self interest in the glances to the dead body on the floor as they start moving to the exit. As Lindsey pushes out with the crowd - HOLLAND Lindsey turns, looks back toward Holland who is still turned away. Off Lindsey as the others, relieved to still be alive, jostle him as they exit… INT. ANGEL'S OUTER OFFICE - DAY The elevator rises into the shaft. Angel's back. Cordy and Wesley, alerted by the sound, appear at the threshold which separates Angel's inner office from the outer office. As Angel pushes open the elevator door, steps into his office - ANGEL WESLEY ANGEL CORDELIA WESLEY Angel has moved past them, into the outer office to Cordy's desk, sets his briefcase there. CORDELIA ANGEL Angel's manner isn't heartless, simply matter-of-fact. He's in business mode. Cordy and Wesley share a look, know he's right. As Angel pops open his briefcase: WESLEY ANGEL Angel dumps the disks onto the desk. CORDELIA ANGEL Cordy fires up the computer. Inserts a disk. Angel hovering over her shoulder. Wesley notes the metal case in Angel's briefcase. Takes it. WESLEY ANGEL Wesley opens it, discovers an ancient scroll. He opens it partially, revealing foreign markings. WESLEY ANGEL Wesley regards him, curious. WESLEY ANGEL WESLEY Angel looks at Wesley. Dead in the eye. Considers the question for a beat, not ready with an answer, finally: ANGEL Angel and Wesley hold the look for a moment. The silent moment between the men tells us Wesley understands that something compelled Angel. Wesley finally nods. WESLEY CORDELIA They look to see what she's looking at - INSERT - COMPUTER SCREEN Where computerese symbols scroll. Gobbledy gook. RESUME WESLEY CORDELIA ANGEL Off Angel - INT. WOLFRAM AND HART - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY Lindsey, struggling to suppress his fear and horror, watches two Security Guards (including the one who shot Mercer) drag Mercer's body out a back entrance. His eyes dart to: MANNERS - whose emotions are hard to read, studying Lindsey. HOLLAND Nothing from Lindsey. Manners walks to him, looks down. HOLLAND Lindsey follows his gaze. Big blood stain on the nice clean carpet. HOLLAND Lindsey nods. HOLLAND LINDSEY The guard who shot Mercer returns by back entrance, stands there awaiting further orders. HOLLAND LINDSEY HOLLAND LINDSE |