First Impressions

Part 1

September 2, 2000 (Pink)

Written by: Shawn Ryan

Teaser

INT. KARAOKE BAR - NIGHT

TIGHT on ANGEL and the HOST. They are mid-conversation. The moment feels very private and intimate.

HOST
"Send In The Clowns" and "Tears Of A
Clown" -- both in one night! What a treat.

ANGEL
Well, I was sort of going for a
medley thing.

HOST
More of a "duodley", really, wasn't it?

ANGEL
I couldn't come up with a third.

HOST
Still, I've never seen you open up
like that. Tell the truth... You've
been practicing, haven't you?

ANGEL
A little.

HOST
But probably not in front of the
mirror...

ANGEL
In the shower.

HOST
It so shows.

ANGEL
You think?

HOST
You really put your heart into it.
The question is, what happens to it
now?

ANGEL
It?

HOST
Your heart, ya big softie. It may
not be beating, but it can still break.

ANGEL
What do you mean?

HOST
Just that you've come to a bend in
your own personal uphill road, bro.
Whether or not that slows you down,
well, that's up to you... because...

Suddenly, he brings a microphone to his mouth, steps into a SPOTLIGHT, and breaks into SONG.

HOST
(singing)
"There are hills and mountains
between us, always something to get
over, if I had my way, surely you
would be closer --"

As he continues singing "Get Here" -- CAMERA MOVES, coming AROUND on ANGEL... now in the b.g., the FRAME FILLS with BAR PATRONS. This place is alive... Angel turns, is suddenly enveloped in the crowd. He senses a presence as ... emerging from the crowd like a vision is ...

DARLA

dressed to kill... at least in the figurative sense.

Angel's not surprised to see her. Just smitten. He smiles broadly, more a teenager in love than a 240 year old vamp who's seen it all.

HOST
(singing)
"You can wind surf into my life, take
me up on a carpet ride, You can make
it in a big balloon, but you better
make it soon..."

ANGEL
Darla...

As she approaches him --

ANGEL
I was afraid you weren't coming.

DARLA
Don't be silly, Silly. I've been
here the whole time.

Angel looks at her a beat, this last phrase resonating with him in a way he can't yet define ...

ANGEL
You have?

DARLA
Just waiting for you.
(then)
Aren't you going to ask me to dance?

Angel offers his hand to her. She takes it. He leads her out to --

THE DANCE FLOOR

In fact, this is where the tables of patrons were just a second ago. But now they're all gone. The joint is empty, except for Angel, Darla and the Host, who's mid-song. Angel takes Darla in his arms and they begin to dance. Slowly. Sensuously.

HOST
(singing)
"You can reach me by caravan, cross
the desert like an Arab man, I don't
care how you get here, just get here
if you can..."

ANGEL
I still can't believe you're here.
I mean... I killed you.

DARLA
I'm over that.
(then)
You haven't told anyone else about
these dates of ours, have you?

ANGEL
No. I want you all to myself.

DARLA
I know how you feel.

ANGEL
It's all so strange...

DARLA
But good.

ANGEL
But good.

Angel takes her chin, pulls her close. They kiss. Deep and passionate.

It starts slow, but their hunger for each other is insatiable. The kiss grows more and more frenzied.

HOST
(singing)
"I don't care, I don't care... I need
you right now, I need you, right
here, right now, right by my side, ya
ya... Get here, oh..."
(between lyrics)
Someone get these two love vamps a room.
(singing)
I don't care how you get here, just
get here if you can...

As he continues singing, with Angel and Darla lost in each other's embrace --

INT. ANGEL'S BEDROOM - DAY

CLOSE on Angel's face. He's asleep. A telling smile belies the fact he's enjoying this dream. After a long moment, he opens his eyes, realizes where he is ... The smile disappearing with the dream.

BLACKOUT.

END OF TEASER

Act One

EXT. HOTEL - DAY - STOCK

INT. HOTEL LOBBY - DAY

The hotel's in an intermediate stage -- brighter than the last time we saw it (in Episode #2), but not fully operational. CORDELIA dusts various nooks and crannies while WESLEY goes through the drawers behind the main desk. Cordy hits a spot with her feather duster, gets nailed in the face with a dust cloud.

CORDELIA
(coughs)
This place is never going to get
clean.

WESLEY
Buck up. It's just a little dust.

CORDELIA
This isn't mere dust. This is son of
dust. This is the kind of dust that
spawns countless generations of
little baby dust. I give up.

WESLEY
Very well. We'll just move our
offices back to your living room.

A beat. Cordy goes back to dusting with:

CORDELIA
And I'm dusting...

GUNN enters, hellbent on a mission.

GUNN
Where's Angel?

CORDELIA
I believe the word is "hello".

GUNN
Yeah? 'cause I thought "where's
Angel" summed it up. We got work to do.

CORDELIA
He's still sleeping.

GUNN
Sleeping? It's 3:30 in the
afternoon. I've been up since dawn.

CORDELIA
(aside to Wesley)
Sort of missing the whole "creature
of the night" angle, isn't he?

GUNN
He knew I said four o'clock --

WESLEY
You had an appointment?

GUNN
Didn't he brief you guys?

Their silence is their answer.

GUNN
Angel promised to back me up. We're
meeting a snitch downtown. Guy's got
a line on Deevak.

WESLEY
Deevak?

Gunn's not in the mood to go over all this, impatient.

GUNN
Demon. Set up camp in my
neighborhood. Last.night he killed
two of my men. So could one of you
go in there and knock on his coffin?

CORDELIA
He doesn't use a coffin -- and maybe
you've never heard the expression
"let sleeping vampires lie." He'll
rise on his own. Always does.
(then)
Maybe we can help.

GUNN
You two? I find Deevak, I'm gonna
need something more than C-3PO and
Stick Figure Barbie backing me up.
No offense.

WESLEY
(offended)
Very little taken.

GUNN
Deevak's a badass. I gotta have the
serious muscle.

DAVID NABBIT bursts through the front doors, CAPE flowing, brandishing a LONG SWORD.

NABBIT
Demons of the underworld beware!
Your time on this earth is drawing nigh!

CORDELIA
David, hi.

NABBIT
I got here as quick as I could.

CORDELIA
We paged you two days ago.

NABBIT
I was in Kuala Lumpur.
(aside to Gunn)
Hostile takeover.

Gunn stares at him dryly -- Nabbit reacts as if seeing him for the first time, raises his sword --

NABBIT
Identify yourself, traveler. Are you
also a fellow demon killer?

Gunn simply brushes the sword aside with the back of his hand.

GUNN
(to Wesley)
Who's this guy?

WESLEY
David Nabbit, meet Charles Gunn.
Gunn, David.

NABBIT
Pleasure's all mine.
(to them all)
So where's Angel?

CORDELIA
Actually, he's still kind of sleeping.

NABBIT
At 3:30? I've been up since dawn.

ANGEL (O.S.)
Sorry I'm late.

Angel, grumpier than usual, appears at the top of the stairs. As he makes his way down to join them --

NABBIT
(excited)
I stand ready to fight the good
fight. What do you need?

ANGEL
Financial advice.

A beat, then smiling, unfazed --

NABBT
Okay. Good.

ANGEL
We're making this hotel our
new base of operations. Right
now we're leasing it for six
months with an option to buy.

NABBIT
How much are you willing to put down?

CORDELIA
Nothing would be good.

NABBIT
(in his element)
Easy. You could look into seller
financing, take over the owner's
payments and skip a bank completely.
Or you could make a play for a
preservation grant. Offer to restore
the original decor, get the city and
feds to give you tax breaks and a
loan at a sweetheart rate. Or you
could apply for an F.H.A., get a
P.M.I. in lieu of a down payment.

CORDELIA
(swooning)
Is anyone else warm?
(then, to Nabbit)
Do the tax breaks, F.H.A. and P.M.I.
part again.

Nabbit and Cordy meet eyes, Nabbit sheepish, seeing how his "sex talk" is getting to her.

NABBIT
(flustered)
I'll talk to my money guy, have him
run some numbers for you.

ANGEL
Thanks.

Nabbit heads for the exit. At the door, he turns back.

NABBIT
Is this demon fighting cool, or what?

Nabbit exits. Angel moves to the coffee maker, pours himself a wake-up cup. Gunn dogs him, is chomping at the bit by now.

GUNN
What are you doing? We need to move
on this.

ANGEL
Relax. We'll make it.

GUNN
Relax? Every time you need my help,
I'm right there. First time I ask
for a favor, you're snoozing the
afternoon away. What's up with that?

Angel hands his car keys to --

ANGEL
Cordy, you're driving.

CORDELIA
Me? Drive your car? So cool.

ANGEL
Wesley, we'll need bribe money.
There's some cash in the box.

Wesley nods, moves to retrieve it. Gunn reacts to all this.

GUNN
Hey -- wait a minute.

ANGEL
I thought you wanted to move on
this -- ?

GUNN
Which is why we're not taking these
two. They'll slow us up.

ANGEL
We find Deevak, we're going to need
the entire team.
(to Cordy, as he
moves off)
Pick me up in back, in the shade.

Angel exits. Cordy jangles the keys triumphantly in front of Gunn as she follows. Wesley is right behind her, turns to Gunn.

WESLEY
Shotgun.

Off Gunn, alone and unamused --

EXT. STREET - DAY

ANGEL'S CAR cruises down the street. The top is up, the side windows tinted. The car turns into -

INT. COVERED PARKING GARAGE - DAY

Angel's car glides out of the sunlight and into the shaded garage. Cordy finds a parking spot away from the other cars. She and Wesley get out of the front seats. Angel and Gunn emerge from the back. They don't see anyone.

GUNN
We're too late. He split.

CORDELIA
Maybe he heard what a pleasant person
you are to be around.

But before Gunn can retort, Angel's vamp senses are tuning him into...

ANGEL
There --

They all freeze. Look to where Angel's indicating... A van parked not far off. No sign of life for a beat, until... A young, short, scrawny black man appears from behind the van. His name is JAMEEL. He's scared.

JAMEEL
One of you Gunn?

GUNN
That'd be me. You Jameel?

Jameel nods. Our heroes and Jameel converge on each other, meet in the middle. Angel tosses him an envelope.

ANGEL
Here's the money.

Jameel doesn't catch it, lets it fall to the ground.

JAMEEL
Keep it. I changed my mind.

A beat. Gunn takes that in. Steps forward, bends down, picks up the envelope.

GUNN
You don't want this -- your choice,
but you're going to tell me where to
find Deevak.

JAMEEL
Hey, man, only reason I even showed
was 'cause I know you got a rep and I
ain't lookin' to make no new
enemies... but on this Deevak
situation, I just can't help you.
He'll know it was me. Demon's got
eyes and ears all over town. Not to
mention teeth. Good chance he had
vamps tail me over here.

GUNN
I don't see anything.

JAMEEL
Good. I'm just here to pay my
respects and be off the streets
before sundown like my momma taught
me --

GUNN
If you wanna make it home at all,
you'll start telling me what you
know --

JAMEEL
Sorry, man but Deevak scares me a
lot more that you do.

Gunn SMACKS Jameel in the face with a BACKHAND, sending him to the floor. Gunn kicks him in the gut.

CORDELIA
Gunn!

Angel pulls Gunn away from Jameel, who writhes in pain.

GUNN
(to Jameel)
You scared of me now?

ANGEL
(to Gunn)
What are you doing?

GUNN
What I need to. I got people dying.

JAMEEL
I didn't do anything --

Gunn sidesteps Angel, approaches Jameel menacingly.

GUNN
You think I care? Survival of the
fittest, bro. And right now, you're
not looking too fit.

Gunn cocks back his arm to hit him. Angel grabs Gunn's fist.

GUNN
Let go, man. This is my case.

ANGEL
It was. Now it's mine.

A face-off. Neither one of them is going to back down. Before it can explode, the exit door opens nearby. THREE VAMPS stroll through the doors, see Jameel with our heroes.

JAMEEL
Oh, man -- I told you I was being
watched!

Angel releases Gunn's hand as the vamps ATTACK.

Jameel sees his opportunity for escape. He rises and races out of the garage to safety.

WESLEY takes on VAMP #1. The vamp delivers a hard KICK to Wesley's hip, sending him to the ground.

GUNN takes on VAMP #2 with a vengeance.

CORDY pulls a STAKE out of her purse.

ANGEL punches at VAMP #3, misses. The vamp grabs Angel's outstretched arm, delivers a vicious karate chop to it. Angel reacts in pain.

Before the vamp can pile on Angel, Cordy SWINGS her stake at the vamp. He ducks it, but this allows Angel enough time to regroup. He punches the vamp with his good arm.

As Angel continues the fight, one handed --

WIDE SHOT

Of all three battles being wages simultaneously. And as Cordy comes down on one of the vamps, stake poised --

INT. COVERED PARKING GARAGE - DAY - TRANSITION

Flashy-flash cuts of blows being delivered. STOCK DUSTINGS taking us to...

INT. COVERED PARKING GARAGE - DAY

CHUNKY DUST

What's left of the attacking vamps. Not three neat little piles, nothing too cutesy, but clearly dead dusty chunky vamp dust. CAMERA MOVES off this, finding Angel, Gunn, Wesley and Cordelia sitting on the floor of the garage, backs against Angel's car. They're bruised, battered and utterly exhausted.

CORDELIA
I am so sick of dust --

ANGEL
I can't lift my arm all the way.

GUNN
Vamp did a number on my ribs.

WESLEY
(winces)
I'm afraid I threw out my back again.

He reaches behind himself, removes his pager -- smashed.

WESLEY
(re: smashed pager)
Lovely.

CORDELIA
Grease stains, all over my new outfit.
(off their looks)
Okay. So maybe my pain isn't...
physical, but do you have any idea of
the dry cleaning bill I'm looking at?

GUNN
We're still no closer to finding
Deevak.

WESLEY
Probably for the best.

GUNN
How do you figure?

WESLEY
We're hardly prepared to face a demon
of Deevak's caliber in our current
condition.

GUNN
You're ready to pack it in? The only
reason I called you was because ya'll
are supposed to be the demon experts.

ANGEL
Wesley's right. Three vamps. We
should have been able to take them
a whole lot easier and faster than we
did. We need to regroup.

Gunn rises.

GUNN
Maybe the rest of you need a little
down time, but I'm gonna track down
Jameel, make him talk.

CORDELIA
When you find him, you might want to
be a little more Guy Pearce in "'L.A.
Confidential" and a little less
Michael Madsen in "Reservoir Dogs".

GUNN
I haven't bothered to see a movie
since Denzel got robbed of the Oscar
for "Malcolm X". Later.

Gunn leaves. After a moment

WESLEY
That was quite a performance.

CORDELIA
I know. Talk about wound up a little
too tight.

WESLEY
I meant Denzel.

CORDELIA
Oh.
(beat)
Well, he's always great.

WESLEY
(to Angel)
What about you?

ANGEL
Who doesn't love Denzel?

WESLEY
No. I mean, what you said... it's
true. I've never seen you have so
much trouble with a simple vampire
before.

A beat. Angel doesn't want to talk about it.

ANGEL
Off day. Let's go.

Angel rises to his feet. Cordy gets up on her feet. Wes tries, but his sore back stops him. Cordy offers a hand, Wes takes it. She helps pull him up to his feet. As the three of them get into Angel's car and close the doors --

EXT. BACK OF HOTEL - NIGHT

Angel's car, its top now down, rolls to a stop in front of the hotel. Cordy drives. Angel sits in the passenger seat, nursing his injured arm.

CORDELIA
Home, sweet, hotel.

ANGEL
(distant)
Just bring the car back tomorrow.

CORDELIA
You sure you're going to be okay?

ANGEL
I'll be fine. I just need to get
some sleep.

Angel gets out of the car. As he's about to shut the door --

CORDELIA
That seems like all you've been doing lately.
(beat)
Not that I'm judging.

Angel shuts the door.

ANGEL
Good night.

CORDELIA
Sleep tight. Don't let the bedbugs bite.

But Angel, unamused, has already turned and is walking away. Cordy watches him disappear for a moment, then she drives off.

INT. CORDELIA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Cordy enters the LIVING ROOM with a cup of tea in one hand and a fashion magazine in the other.

CORDELIA
Geez, it's like a meat locker in
here, Dennis. Don't tell me you
turned the thermostat down again?

The needle on the THERMOSTAT moves from 55 to 72.

CORDELIA
Thank you.

Cordy sits down in a chair, takes a sip of tea, puts it down.

CORDELIA
What is it with ghosts and cold rooms?

As she settles in, opens the magazine ... BAMM! She's hit with a big time VISION. She stands, knocking her tea to the floor. As she clutches her head --

The camera ROCKETS in on her. This is no ordinary vision. This is one big time painful vision. Cordy is in agony. But before we privilege it for the audience ... Cordelia has a moment of clarity, reacts not just to the fact of the vision, but the vision itself... registering recognition ...

CORDELIA
What? Oh, no...

And then she's hit with another wave of vision pain -- BAM!

INT. DARK SPACE - NIGHT

Cordy's vision. Gunn SWINGS a sword wildly at some creature just offscreen. He whirls around, FLAILS at something else.

A look of INTENSE FEAR and mid-battle RAGE is on Gunn's face.

Enemies seem to be all around. As Gunn hacks away wildly, fear turns to STARK PANIC. This battle isn't going well. As Gunn fights desperately for his life --

BLACKOUT.

END OF ACT ONE

Act Two

INT. DARK SPACE - NIGHT

A quick flashy-flash cut of Gunn continuing to fight.

INT. CORDELIA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Cordy collapses to the floor in excruciating pain.

CORDELIA
Dennis! Phone!

She holds her hand up as her cordless phone flies through the air and into her grasp. We can hear it DIALING in flight --

INT. ANGEL'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

CLOSE on Angel's face. He's on his side, asleep, facing camera. In the foreground, on the night table, sits his cell phone. It begins RINGING. Angel doesn't stir. The third RING takes us into --

INT. HOTEL GARDEN - NIGHT

-- Where the ringing continues, though it sounds muffled, more distant in this dream. Angel and Darla lie side by side in lounge chairs, sipping drinks. Swimsuits and sunglasses, enjoying the night sky.

ANGEL
What's that ringing?

DARLA
Nothing, darling. It'll stop.

ANGEL
Where's it coming from?

DARLA
Ignore it.

She takes an ice cube from her drink, rubs his chest with it. She moves the ice cube up his neck.

ANGEL
Why are you so good to me? After
everything I did?

DARLA
Because. You and I are one.

The ringing stops. Darla withdraws, smiles.

DARLA
See. I told you it would stop.

INT. CORDELIA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Cordelia's over the pain, but she's still in panic mode. She paces the room, phone against her ear.

SFX: The beep of an answering machine.

CORDELIA
(into phone)
Wesley? Where are you? Are you
there? Wesley? Angel's not
answering, you're not answering your
page or your phone. Where are you guys?
(beat)
I don't know what to do. It's Gunn.
He's in trouble. I had a vision. I
think it's bad -- oh, God, where are
you? I don't know what I should...
(beat)
Okay, I'm going over there. When you
get this message, get Angel and meet
me at Gunn's.

She hangs up, looks frantically around her apartment. She grabs her purse and car keys. About to leave, she turns back.

CORDELIA
(to herself)
Going to need a weapon.

She opens a couple drawers, finally comes up with a SMALL BATTLE AXE. Properly armed, she heads for the door. As she exits --

CORDELIA
Okay... I'm going to die... I'm going
to die...

EXT. MODEST APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

Cordy, driving Angel's car, screeches to a halt in front of Gunn's building. Cordy grabs her battle axe, gets out of the car and rushes inside. (Note: In her haste, Cordy leaves the car keys in the ignition.)

INT. MODEST APARTMENT BUILDING - HALLWAY - NIGHT

No-frills kind of place. Cordy walks down the main hallway.

CORDELIA
Gunn?!

She turns a corner. At the end of the hall, Cordy sees a door. Through the glass window of the door, she sees Gunn engaged in battle with ANOTHER MAN. They fight with QUARTERSTAVES. Cordy runs to the end of the hall, swings the door open, goes into --

INT. MODEST APARTMENT BUILDING - LAUNDRY ROOM - NIGHT 19

Cordy raises her battle axe, WHACKS the man across the back of the head with the flat edge of the axe. Gunn drops his guard, surprised. The young man puts his hand up to the back of his head, feels blood. He turns around, pissed, faces Cordy. He's early 20's. His name is JOEY.

JOEY
Owwwww!

GUNN
(to Cordy)
Are you crazy?! What are you doing?

CORDELIA
(unsure)
Saving you from a killer demon?

Gunn turns to the other side of the room, where the rest of his CREW sit, bemused. A beat, as Cordy takes in the class, then Joey.

CORDELIA
Not a demon?

JOEY
(reiterating)
Owww.

CORDELIA
(then to Gunn:)
And I didn't just save your life?

Deadpan looks all around...

CORDELIA
Right.

Off Cordelia, increasingly embarrassed --

INT. HOTEL GARDEN - NIGHT

Back in Angel's dream. Darla stands, looking up in the sky. Angel walks up behind her, wraps his arms around her. As they rock back and forth, there is a repetitive POUNDING noise in the background.

ANGEL
What are you thinking about?

DARLA
You. Us.

ANGEL
You seem sad.

DARLA
It's just ... I have to go.

ANGEL
Where?

DARLA
Away.

ANGEL
I'll go with you.

DARLA
You can't. I'm in danger.

ANGEL
I'll protect you.

DARLA
You're too busy protecting everyone else.

She kisses him. She looks over to the other corner of the garden. Angel follows her gaze. Wesley stands next to a WOODEN COFFIN pounding nails into it.

ANGEL
Wesley?

But Wesley doesn't answer. He merely looks straight at Angel, while continuing to hammer nails in the coffin.

ANGEL
Stop it --

Still no response from the ever pounding Wesley.

Angel looks back, sees that Darla has disappeared. She's nowhere to be seen. He reacts with concern. The pounding stops. He turns back toward Wesley -- who's moved very close, right up next to Angel. Angel springs at him, takes him down to the ground in --

INT. ANGEL'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

-- in a matching cut of the still asleep Angel tackling Wesley. He throws Wesley to the floor, jumps on top of him, his hand clutching Wesley's throat.

ANGEL
You made her go away!

WESLEY
(not getting enough oxygen)
Angel, it's me.

Angel wakes, comes out of it a bit.

ANGEL
(confused)
What are you doing here?

WESLEY
Gunn's in trouble. Can't breathe.

ANGEL
Gunn can't breathe?

WESLEY
I can't breathe.

Angel releases his grip.

ANGEL
Sorry.

WESLEY
(big gulp of air)
Quite all right.
(beat)
Now, about the naked thing...

Angel realizes he's hovering over Wesley completely naked. Unfortunately for our female fans, we only see Angel from the waist up.

ANGEL
I'll get dressed.

WESLEY
Much appreciated.

INT. MODEST APARTMENT BUILDING - LAUNDRY ROOM - NIGHT

Cordy and Gunn stand side by side bandaging Joey's head as he sits in a folding chair. She finishes the bandage on Joey's head, smiles at him.

CORDELIA
There you go. Good as new.

JOEY
(annoyed and in pain)
I think you cracked my skull.

CORDELIA
Well... that's new, right?

Gunn starts walking towards the exit. Cordy grabs her battle axe, heads after him.

CORDELIA
Hey, wait a minute. Where are you
going?

GUNN
Walking you to your car. You're
going home.

INT. MODEST APARTMENT BUILDING - HALLWAY - NIGHT

Gunn comes though the doors, Cordy right on his heels.

CORDELIA
You know, you can't just dismiss me
like that. I know what I'm talking
about here.

GUNN
You mean, like how you knew Joey was
a demon?

CORDELIA
That was an honest mistake. I was
just trying to help you.

GUNN
Thanks for the help. Always enhances
a guy's rep when some skinny white
beauty queen comes to his rescue in
front of his crew.

CORDELIA
Whether you want to believe it or
not, you're in big time danger. I'm
vision girl. I saw you. You were at
the end of your world, fighting for
your life. You were so scared.

GUNN
See. Now I know you're tripping,
because I don't get scared.

CORDELIA
Well I do. The things I've seen,
sometimes I get downright terrified.
And right now I'm scared for you.

GUNN
Hey, be scared for me all you want.
Just do it back at your place.

CORDELIA
I'm not leaving your side until I
know you're safe.

GUNN
I'm not in the market for a sidekick.
So high heel it back on home.

CORDELIA
No.

GUNN
Thanks for coming. Buckle up. Drive safe.

They reach the exit, go out to --

EXT. MODEST APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

GUNN
So, where's your car?

Cordelia looks in horror at the empty parking spot, where Angel's car used to be parked.

EXT. BACK OF HOTEL - NIGHT

Angel and Wesley stand in front of an empty parking spot.

WESLEY
(innocently)
So, where's your car?

INT./EXT. GUNN'S TRUCK - NIGHT

Driving through the city. Gunn behind the wheel. Cordy riding shotgun.

CORDELIA
Angel is not going to be happy. You
know what he's going to do to me when
he finds out I let his car get
stolen? I mean, what are the chances
that a vampire has full insurance
with a low deductible?

GUNN
I'll find the car.

CORDELIA
And how exactly are you going to do
that?

GUNN
There's only a few guys in this part
of town who jack vintage cars. We'll
run down the list 'til we find
Angel's ride.

CORDELIA
Then what? You're just going to ask
them to give it back?

GUNN
(stone killer)
I'll say "please."

CORDELIA
Oh, I forgot. You'll use your famous
charm, like you did this afternoon
with that pigeon stool.

GUNN
It's stool pigeon. And you don't
have a clue why I do the things I do.

CORDELIA
Paging Mr. Rationalization.

GUNN
Paging Miss "About to be thrown out
of a moving vehicle".

CORDELIA
Be as rude as you want, I'm not going
anywhere 'til I know you're safe.

GUNN
Me rude? You're the one who showed up
at my place, attacked my boy, then
decided to hijack my life. The way I
figure it, I get your car for you,
you give me my freedom back.

CORDELIA
That's not the way it works. You
need protection.

GUNN
And how exactly do you plan on
protecting me? With some weak-ass
Ladysmith Battle Axe?

CORDELIA
Ask Joey and his cracked skull how
weak-ass it is. Besides, I've also
got this.

She pulls a small bottle from her purse.

CORDELIA
Mace.

GUNN
(derisive)
Mace?

CORDELIA
(mimes)
Squirt, squirt. Right in the eyes.

GUNN
You expect me to get jumped by a
couple Purse Snatching Demons?

CORDELIA
Well, it'll just have to do. Because
I'm your protector. Whether you like
it or not.

GUNN
Something better attack me soon,
because I know I can't take much more
of this.

EXT. BACK OF HOTEL - NIGHT

Wesley sits atop his motorcycle, a cool black helmet on his head.

WESLEY
Come on. What are you waiting for?

PULL BACK to reveal Angel standing nearby, looking incredulously at the BRIGHT PINK HELMET in his hands.

ANGEL
I don't think it's going to fit.

WESLEY
Of course it will. Put it on.

Angel balks.

ANGEL
You know. I'm a vampire. I don't
really need a helmet for protection.

WESLEY
It's the law in California, Angel.
Do you want us to get pulled over?

ANGEL
(petulant)
No.

WESLEY
Then what's the problem?

ANGEL
It's just ... you know... there are
visibility issues ... not to mention
the whole hat head thing... and
really when you think about it... How
come I have to wear the Ladies'
helmet?

WESLEY
Stop being such a wanker and put it on.

Angel reluctantly dons the pink helmet. Predictably, it looks ridiculous on him. Wesley tries, but can't completely suppress a smile.

WESLEY
Looks good. Hop on board, gorgeous.

ANGEL
(if looks could kill)
You'll pay for this.

Angel hops on the back of the bike. Wesley guns it, and away they go.

EXT. USED CAR LOT - NIGHT

A used car lot surrounded by a chain link fence. Various cars inside. Gunn and Cordy walk inside. They look around, investigate the place.

CORDELIA
It's not here.

GUNN
He wouldn't keep it out here on the
lot. The new acquisitions are in the
garage.

CORDELIA
Getting the full makeover, I'll bet.

HENRY (O.S.)
What are you looking for?

A black man in his 20's appears from the garage. This is HENRY -- street tough -- a man of no apologies.

GUNN
'67 Plymouth convertible.

HENRY
Give me a few days, I'll see what I
can do.

GUNN
Cordelia, meet Henry.

HENRY
New to the neighborhood?

CORDELIA
Someone stole my friend's car tonight.

GUNN
'67 Plymouth.

HENRY
Wasn't me. Convertible, you said?

GUNN
Yeah.

HENRY
Desmond's your man. Can't pass up
old convertibles. You should talk to
him.

GUNN
(to Cordy, as
he starts off)
Come on --

HENRY
You won't find him at his shop --

Gunn turns back.

HENRY
Party at Tito's place. He invited
everyone. Desmond'll be there.

Gunn nods, starts to go again, but pauses, looks at the various cars on the lot.

GUNN
Where'd you jack these cars from?

HENRY
Around.

GUNN
They look like neighborhood cars to me.

HENRY
I help you out, now you want to start
something?

GUNN
I told you before. You want to steal
Beemers in Brentwood, be my guest.
But leave the neighborhood cars
alone.

HENRY
Business is business. You might want
to think about minding your own.

GUNN
Things don't change, I might just put
you out of business.
(to Cordy)
Let's go.

Gunn and Cordy turn and exit. When they're gone, a huge figure emerges from the back shadows. This is DEEVAK. Seven feet tall and gnarly looking. He's flanked by TWO VAMP SOLDIERS.

DEEVAK
I'm surprised you didn't wet yourself.

HENRY
Him? He's nothing, Deevak. Name's
Gunn. He's under the false
impression he runs this town.

DEEVAK
I know who he is.
The trouble he's caused.
(beat)
Tonight it ends.

BLACKOUT.

END OF ACT TWO

Continue on to Part Two

First Impressions

Part 2

September 2, 2000 (Pink)

Written by: Shawn Ryan

Act Three

EXT. CITY STREETS - NIGHT

Angel and Wesley cruise through the city on Wesley's motorcycle. Angel's pink helmet practically glows in the dark.

EXT. PARTY HOUSE - NIGHT

Gunn and Cordelia approach the house. From the sound of it, there's a rocking party going on inside. A few PEOPLE exit the party. Gunn recognizes one of them, a young black man named KEENAN.

KEENAN
(surprised, busted)
Gunn? What are you doing here?

GUNN
I was about to ask you the same
thing.

KEENAN
(to his friends)
I'll catch up with you later.

His friends take off.

GUNN
You're supposed to be cruising the
garment district.

KEENAN
Things were dead down there, man.

GUNN
So you figured you earned yourself a
little party?

KEENAN
C'mon. It's just a little fun.

GUNN
No. It's you not following orders.
I already got two men down, you
trying to make it a third?

Keenan looks chastised, can't argue with that.

GUNN
Get the hell back home. I gotta take
care of a few things, then you and I
are gonna have a little chat.

Keenan takes off.

CORDELIA
Gee. Short enough leash? Or do you
just go all warm and tingly on the
whole power trip thing?

GUNN
(unapologetic)
Some people need discipline to
survive.

As they walk towards the door --

GUNN
When we get inside, just shut up and
stick close to me.

CORDELIA
Hold on there, Generalissimo. I'm
not one of your toy soldiers you can
just boss around.

GUNN
I don't even want you here.

CORDELIA
Too bad. I am here and I don't take
orders... well, except from Angel.
And at least he usually asks nicely.
And besides, I don't need you to tell
me how to behave at a party. Trust
me. I know how to blend.

They reach the door, go inside to --

INT. PARTY HOUSE - NIGHT

The big party. Every person in the room is black.

CORDELIA
Okay. Not exactly blending. Maybe
I'll just shut up and stick close to you.

Gunn leads Cordy through a maze of PARTYGOERS. Many of them acknowledge Gunn. Cordy only gets icy stares.

As Gunn scans the room, a young woman intercepts him. Her name's VERONICA. She's damn cute, if not stunning. Sweet and genuine, with an obvious crush on Gunn.

VERONICA
Hey, stranger.

GUNN
Hey, girl.

Gunn hugs her, glad to see her.

GUNN
You're looking good, Veronica.

VERONICA
I've missed you down at the store
lately. Work's boring when you don't
stop by.

GUNN
I've been kind of busy.

Veronica's been pointedly ignoring Cordy up until now.

VERONICA
Who's your friend?

CORDELIA
Who? Me? I'm no friend. I mean,
I'm just here on business. I'm a
working girl... that came out wrong.
I mean, obviously, I'm not a "working
girl"... Not that I couldn't be if I
wanted to, of course I could. God,
that sounded stuck up, didn't it? I
didn't mean to imply that I could be
a working girl and you couldn't. Far
from it. You'd make a great...
(beat)
Could you just point me to the hors
d'oeuvres?

GUNN
This is Cordelia. We're looking for
Desmond. You seen him around?

VERONICA
He's here somewhere.

GUNN
Thanks. I'll see you around.

He kisses her on the cheek by way of a promise.

VERONICA
You better. I don't want you
forgetting about all of us down here.

GUNN
Never.

She watches Gunn and Cordy move past her, but not without eyefucking Cordy, just a little bit.

Gunn and Cordy move deeper into the house. Gunn exchanges greetings with TWO MEAN-ASS LOOKING GANGBANGERS, in sunglasses. As Gunn and Cordy move past them

CORDELIA
Are you friends with, like, every
criminal in town?

GUNN
There you go. Just assuming those
guys are criminals.

CORDELIA
Aren't they?

A beat.

GUNN
You mean like your friend David
Nabbit? You think he became a
billionaire by being a good citizen?

CORDELIA
Actually, he did. He made his first
millions by developing software that
lets blind people surf the web. Plus
he set up a foundation that donates
twenty million dollars a year to a
wide range of charitable causes.

GUNN
(unimpressed)
Let me know when some of that coin
trickles down to these parts.
(sees someone)
There he is.

CORDELIA
Who? Car thief guy?

GUNN
One and the same.

Gunn and Cordy make a beeline for DESMOND, 20's, tall, black, tough, as he works the keg for TWO BUDDIES.

GUNN
Desmond.

DESMOND
G-man. Can I get you a brew?

GUNN
You can get me the '67 Plymouth you
stole from my place tonight.

Desmond's two buddies sense trouble, make themselves scarce.

DESMOND
What makes you think I'm the guy?

GUNN
Don't play me and I won't play you.

DESMOND
Hey, I had no idea --

He's interrupted by SCREAMS as a GROUP OF VAMPIRES (mixed races) storm the room. They rush past people, head for Gunn.

Chaos reigns as PEOPLE flee for exits.

CLOSE on Gunn, as he is attacked by THREE VAMPS. Two of them manage to subdue him as a third punches him in the stomach. Cordy grabs a nearby METAL BOWL of chips, smacks one of the vamps over the head. Unaffected, he backhands Cordy across the face, sending her sprawling on the floor. He turns his attention back to Gunn, who is on the losing end of this battle, until --

THE TWO GANGBANGERS

Join the fray, pry the vampires off of Gunn.

LIVING ROOM

Veronica tries to make her way to the door. She finds herself face to face with a VAMPIRE. The vamp grabs her, tosses her headfirst into the GLASS WINDOW of a nearby door. The window SHATTERS. Veronica slumps to the floor, a jagged piece of glass stuck in the side of her neck. Veronica pulls the glass from her neck, blood rushes out.

Cordy, shaking off her blow, sees Veronica bleeding. Cordy grabs a towel off the keg, goes to Veronica. She's in shock.

CLOSE on Cordy and Veronica, as noises of a big battle fill the background.

VERONICA
What's happening?

CORDELIA
You're bleeding. I'm going to take
care of it. Try to relax.

Cordy tries to stop the bleeding with the towel, but the wound is bad. Blood squirts onto Cordy's outfit. The sight of the blood is making her nauseous, but she fights through it.

CORDELIA
You need to sit up.

Cordy helps Veronica sit up. Cordy repositions the towel against the wound to slow the bleeding.

VERONICA
Is it bad?

The piece of the towel on Veronica's neck is already blood-soaked. Cordy puts a different piece of the towel on the wound, her hands getting bloody in the process. She looks at her hands, feels nauseous again, then composes herself.

CORDELIA
You're going to be okay.

BACK AT THE MAIN EVENT

One of the vamps jumps through a SCREEN DOOR and flees. The other vamps see the wisdom in this, follow suit. The fight over, Gunn takes in the destruction --

Desmond's hand is bleeding. A few INJURED PEOPLE lie on the floor, moaning. Gunn sees Cordy tending to Veronica, rushes over to them.

CORDELIA
(quietly, in control)
She needs a doctor. Now.

INT. HOSPITAL E.R. - NIGHT

BAM! Gunn crashes through the door, carrying Veronica in his arms. Cordy trails behind, holding the towel against Veronica's neck.

GUNN
She needs a doctor! Where's a
doctor-!

A NURSE steps up from behind the desk.

NURSE
This way. Dr. Thomas!

Gunn follows her towards an EXAM ROOM, as Dr. Thomas, 30's, female, emerges from another exam room. She helps Gunn lower Veronica onto a gurney. A couple RESIDENTS materialize, push Veronica into --

INT. HOSPITAL EXAM ROOM - NIGHT

Gunn and Cordy follow the medical team in, as they start to care for Veronica.

DR. THOMAS
What happened?

CORDELIA
A piece of broken glass went into her
neck. She pulled it out before I
could stop her. It looked like it
may have clipped the artery. I
applied pressure to the wound, slowed
the bleeding. But her pulse has been
weakening. She passed out on the way
over here.

GUNN
Is she going to be okay?

DR. THOMAS
Step outside and let us take care of her.

GUNN
Is she going to be all right?!!

DR. THOMAS
Your friend probably saved her life.
But we've still got some work to do.
So let us do it. Please.

Dr. Thomas escorts them outside the room. She goes back in, closes the curtain behind her. As Gunn looks at Cordy, grateful, but still worried --

INT. PARTY HOUSE - TRANSITION

Flashy-flash cuts of the previous battle. A final shot of Cordy looking at the blood on her hands.

INT. HOSPITAL E.R. - NIGHT

Cordy walks the hallway, looking for Gunn. She passes a doorway, stops. She looks inside --

INT. HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM - NIGHT

Gunn, alone, stands hunched over, his head leaning against the wall, his back to Cordy. He's clearly agonizing over something. It's an intensely personal moment. Cordy looks away at first, then back, unsure of whether to say something.

Gunn stands straight up, cocks his fist back, PUNCHES the wall. Cordy rushes in. Not sure what to do, what to say.

Gunn is like a caged animal, pacing back and forth.

GUNN
She almost died.

CORDELIA
But she didn't.

GUNN
No thanks to me.

CORDELIA
This isn't your fault.

GUNN
I let my guard down and she's the one
who...

He punches a different wall. Cordy flinches, but doesn't say anything, just taking in the sight.

GUNN
Those vamps were coming after me.
Not her.

CORDELIA
Take it easy --

GUNN
(rambling, edgy)
I can't take it easy. I can never
take it easy. Not ever. Not for a
second. The minute I forget that,
someone like Alonna pays the price.

CORDELIA
Alonna?

A beat. Gunn realizes what he just said.

GUNN
Veronica.

Gunn turns away from her.

GUNN
Can't stop. Can't ever stop...

She looks at him, taking him in, starting to understand something about him.

In the background, Desmond passes by the door, looks in, sees Gunn and Cordy. He tries to sneak on past. Cordy must have eyes in the back of her head, because she doesn't even turn as --

CORDELIA
Don't you move a muscle!!!

Desmond freezes. Cordy spins around, marches right over to the tall, tough guy, points a finger in his face.

CORDELIA
(kicking ass, taking names)
Where's my car?!!

EXT. PARTY HOUSE - NIGHT

Angel and Wesley pull up on Wesley's bike. They remove their helmets, take in the aftermathy of it. UNI COPS and PARAMEDICS mixing with dazed PARTYGOERS. A YOUNG BLACK WOMAN emerges from the crowd, looking dazed. A small cut on her forehead. She walks dazedly away from the scene. Wesley intercepts her.

WESLEY
Excuse me ?? You wouldn't by any
chance know Charles Gunn? One of his
associates suggested we might find him
here --

YOUNG BLACK WOMAN
Huh? No. I don't know. Maybe he
was one of the ones that got hurt --

The woman starts to walk away. Angel stops her behind A PARAMEDIC'S TRUCK (or somewhere else conveniently out of sight of the various partygoers). He looks at her, concerned.

ANGEL
Looks like you're hurt --

YOUNG BLACK WOMAN
Huh? No, I'm fine.

ANGEL
What happened here?

YOUNG BLACK WOMAN
I'm not sure. It happened so fast.
We were partying... I don't know who
they were looking for, but they were
strong. Like they were on
something ?? I just, I want to lie down.

She tries to move off again. She really wants to put this place behind her.

WESLEY
Miss, if you've suffered any kind of
head injury...

YOUNG BLACK WOMAN
I'm okay. Really. I was lucky
compared to some of the others.

Angel puts his hands on the woman's shoulders. He's sympathetic guy.

ANGEL
Are you sure you're alright?

YOUNG BLACK WOMAN
Yeah. Thanks.

ANGEL
Good.

Angel yanks her towards him, HEADBUTTS HER VICIOUSLY. She doubles over in pain, comes back up in full --

VAMP FACE

Angel grips her tightly, brings her face close.

ANGEL
Now start talking.

INT. CHOP SHOP - NIGHT

The GARAGE DOOR rolls up. Gunn and Cordy enter, she with her battle axe. Six or seven cars are parked inside, including Angel's. She's the first to spot it. She runs to it, excited.

CORDELIA
There is a God. Thank you, thank
you, thank you.

GUNN
Great. You drive it out of here,
I'll follow you home.

Cordy looks inside the car.

CORDELIA
Just as soon as I find the keys.

GUNN
You don't have the keys?

A beat.

CORDELIA
I kind of left them in the car
when I went in to save you.
(off him)
I thought you were in danger. Every
second counted.

GUNN
I gotta tell you. You are one high
maintenance chick.

CORDELIA
The keys are here.
(beat)
Somewhere.

As she searches the car --

GUNN
You're killing me.

CORDELIA
Can't you, you know, just hot-wire it?

GUNN
Just because I know some car thieves,
doesn't mean I am one.

CORDELIA
Hey, instead of being High Moral
Ground Boy, why don't you help me
find them?

As Cordy and Gunn search the car --

DEEVAK (O.S.)
Looking for these?

Cordy and Gunn turn to see Deevak and THREE VAMP SOLDIERS standing at the garage door opening. Deevak dangles a set of car keys. Deevak slowly advances on them.

GUNN
(to Cordy)
Go.

CORDELIA
Not a chance.

GUNN
Go!

CORDELIA
I'm not leaving you.

Deevak stands in front of them.

DEEVAK
How touching. A woman willing to die
with her man.

CORDELIA
Oh, no. He's not my "man." We're
just friends. Also, about the
"willing to die" part...

GUNN
You must be Deevak. They said you
were ugly, but... damn!

DEEVAK
And you're the big, bad Gunn. Heard
you were looking for me --

Deevak's right arm JETS out in astonishing speed, grabbing Gunn by the neck, raising him off the ground, squeezing the very breath out of him. As Gunn's feet kick away --

CORDELIA
Hey!

Deevak keeps his attention on Gunn. Who's choking now...

DEEVAK
Found me.

Cordy swings the battle axe at Deevak's head. With his left hand, Deevak calmly snatches Cordy's arm, mid-swing, stopping the axe well clear of his head. Never takes his eyes off Gunn.

DEEVAK
How's it feel to finally meet up with
someone even nastier than you?

Gunn can't even choke out a word now, just gurgles.

DEEVAK
Not good, by the sound of it.

Gunn can only gurgle, his vocal chords being strangled.

CORDELIA
Stop it! You're killing him!

DEEVAK
You think I care?

He begins to MORPH -- shrinking in size. When the transition is complete, he has become JAMEEL, the nervous stool pigeon from earlier that day.

JAMEEL
Survival of the fittest, bro. And
right now, you're not looking too fit.

BLACKOUT.

END OF ACT THREE

Act Four

INT. CHOP SHOP - NIGHT

Where we left off -- Jameel choking Gunn with one hand, holding Cordy off with the other.

Cordy reaches into her purse with her free hand, pulls out her mace and SQUIRTS, SQUIRTS Jameel in the face.

CORDELIA
Let go of him!!!

Jameel, in pain, releases Gunn, who falls to the floor. Jameel claws at his eyes in agony, MORPHS back into Deevak. His face starts SMOKING MID-MORPH, continues as he becomes Deevak.

Vamp #1 starts to close the garage door as Vamp #2 and Vamp #3 head for Cordy.

AN APPROACHING ROAR is heard and suddenly from under the closing garage door --

A MOTORCYCLE

Slides underneath, knocking Vamp #1 off his feet, clear across the room. Angel and Wesley are aboard. They slide to a stop, get to their feet.

Angel stares daggers at Vamp #2, who LAUGHS aloud at the sight of Angel in the pink helmet.

ANGEL whips off the helmet, SMASHES Vamp #2 across the face with it. He delivers a vicious UPPERCUT with the helmet, sending the vamp staggering. Angel tosses the helmet aside, nails the vamp in the face with a simple PUNCH.

GUNN AND DEEVAK

Gunn rises from the floor, throws a punch at Deevak. Deevak DEFLECTS it with little effort. Gunn throws more punches, but Deevak is far too fast and strong for him. Deevak deflects every blow, finally DELIVERS one of his own. A BACKHAND that sends Gunn flying backwards into a wall.

WESLEY AND CORDY

Fight Vamp #3. The vamp exchanges blows with Wesley, knocking him down. Cordy swings her BATTLE AXE at the vamp, who ducks out of harm's way, grabs the axe, struggles with Cordy for it.

The vamp has the decided edge, pushes the axe against Cordy's throat. Cordy's back is against an SUV, she's got no room to move.

Cordy KNEES Vamp #3 square in the BALLS. A PAINED look comes across his face. He doubles over out of frame. We hear an off screen DUSTING SOUND.

WESLEY

Lays on the floor, a stake raised, a pile of dust next to him.

CORDELIA
See. I told you those dirty fight
classes would come in --

Wesley tackles Cordy off her feet, as a CROWBAR smashes into a WINDOW, where a split second before Cordy's head had been. It's Vamp #1, on top of the SUV. As he leaps off the roof to take on Wesley --

BACK ON GUNN AND DEEVAK

Gunn sits up, comes to his senses. He sees Deevak advancing. Deevak pulls a LARGE CEREMONIAL BLADE out, strikes out at Gunn with it. Gunn ROLLS out of the way. As Deevak continues stalking him --

BACK ON ANGEL

Who's absolutely kicking some Vamp #2 ass. Vamp #2 makes one final rush at Angel, who grabs him and tosses him across the garage into Angel's car, breaking the SIDE MIRROR off. Cordy, nearby as Wesley fights Vamp #1, sees the broken mirror, points to it.

CORDELIA
(to Angel)
Okay. I am not responsible for that.

ANGEL AND WESLEY

Back to back, fighting their respective vamps. All four of them are in frame together. Angel and Wesley dust the two vamps SIMULTANEOUSLY.

Cordy looks around, sees --

GUNN

Scrambling for his life from Deevak, who continues swiping at Gunn with his blade. Gunn keeps barely just avoiding getting cut.

CORDELIA
Angel!

CORDY points to Gunn, who is on his back now, looking up at Deevak, who finally has him cornered. As Deevak goes in for the kill --

ANGEL

Breaks into a full sprint --

ANGEL
Cordy! Axe!

Cordy TOSSES the axe up in the air as Angel JUMPS onto the hood of a nearby car, LAUNCHES himself into a SOMERSAULT --

BACK ON DEEVAK

Who draws the knife back as a TERRIFIED Gunn looks on. As Deevak starts to strike --

ANGEL

Catches the battle axe mid-somersault, lands on his feet, BURIES the axe vertically in Deevak's head, between the eyes. Deevak freezes, stunned, then topples over dead. He falls next to Gunn who looks at him, amazed to still be alive.

INT. CHOP SHOP - TRANSITION

Flashy-flash cuts of the previous battle sequence.

EXT. CHOP SHOP - NIGHT

Aftermath. Angel pushes his car into an open parking spot along the street. Wesley runs up behind Angel.

WESLEY
Angel, look. I found your keys.
Unfortunately, this substance doesn't
appear to be coming off.

Wesley holds Angel's car keys on a pen. Angel sees something green and slimy caked all over the keys and the key ring.

ANGEL
What is that?

WESLEY
Demon blood. Or demon pus. Possibly both.

Wesley hands Angel the pen with the keys on the end of it.

WESLEY
Cheers.

Angel looks squeamishly at the goop caking his keys for a moment.

ANGEL
Anyone know how to hot-wire a car?

BY GUNN'S TRUCK

Gunn, ready to leave, talks with Cordy.

GUNN
You finally saved my life. I guess I
should say thanks --

CORDELIA
Yes, you should. And no, I didn't.

GUNN
What?

CORDELIA
Deevak wasn't the danger my vision
was warning me about --

GUNN
He wasn't?

CORDELIA
Nope.

GUNN
Then what was?

CORDELIA
I'm looking at it.
(off his confusion)
It's you, Charles. You're the danger.

GUNN
Excuse me?

CORDELIA
It's how you live your life. You
don't just face danger. You create
it. You're on a self-destruct
mission unless you get some help.

A beat. He laughs hollowly. She's so calm, so sure, so... wise. He tries to shrug it off.

GUNN
I'm not buying any of this Dionne
Warwick crap.

Cordy talks with the peace and confidence of truly knowing Gunn now.

CORDELIA
You know it's true. You need some
serious saving. Looks like I got my
work cut out for me.

GUNN
Oh, is that right?

CORDELIA
Well, yeah. Better just plan on
having me in your life for a while.
At least until you find some peace.

GUNN
Could be a while.

CORDELIA
Oh, that's okay. Helping people -
that's what me and my friends do.

Gunn shakes his head, knows her well enough now to know she won't be giving up on this.

GUNN
Lucky me.

Gunn gets into his truck.

CORDELIA
Hey, what about that "thank you?"

Gunn closes the door behind him. He looks at Cordy. But he can't say thank you. At least not here. Not right now. He drives off.

As Cordy watches him go, Angel and Wesley step up on either side of her. Off the three of them together...

INT. HOTEL LOBBY - NIGHT

Angel walks in the front door. He heads for the stairs. As he reaches them --

DARLA (O.S.)
Honey, you're home.

Angel turns, sees Darla approaching from Angel's office.

ANGEL
Hi.

DARLA
You look beat.
(kisses him)
What's wrong?

ANGEL
Nothing.

DARLA
Did you save some lives today?

ANGEL
A few, yeah.

DARLA
And did those friends of yours say
"thank you"?

ANGEL
Not exactly.

DARLA
Typical. You know, next time I see
them, I'm really going to say
something.

ANGEL
It's okay.

DARLA
No, it isn't. You give and you give
and you give.

ANGEL
I'm used to it.

DARLA
Always the protector, never the
protected.

ANGEL
I have so many things to make up for...

DARLA
And you have. You take care of so
many people, but... who takes care of you?

ANGEL
You do.

DARLA
That's right. I do.
(beat)
Come here.

She leads him to a couch, sits him down.

DARLA
Lean back.

Angel lies down on the couch.

DARLA
Now, just relax and let Darla take
care of you.

INT. ANGEL'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Angel lies in bed ASLEEP, enjoying this dream. We see him from the waist up. He's shirtless. A sheet covers him from the navel on down.

INT. HOTEL LOBBY - NIGHT

DARLA
How's that?

ANGEL
Good

Darla rubs his chest.

DARLA
I'm just getting started, baby. I
know how to please you.

INT. ANGEL'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

CLOSE-UP of Angel sleeping.

DARLA (O.S.)
All you have to do is let me.

A HAND comes into frame, runs its fingers through Angel's hair. He doesn't stir.

The CAMERA PULLS BACK to REVEAL --

DARLA, naked, lying on top of Angel. This is no dream.

She kisses his chest. She kisses his neck. She kisses his lips.

She pulls back, looks at her sleeping giant, her lips wet with excitement.

DARLA
Mmmmm. I could just eat you up.

BLACKOUT.

THE END