Belonging

Part 1

February 28, 2001 (Yellow)

Written by: Shawn Ryan

Teaser

INT. TRENDY RESTAURANT - NIGHT

A platter of trendy appetizers FILLS FRAME as it moves past CAMERA. We FIND COR, WES and GUNN sitting at a table in an upscale restaurant. There is one empty seat. At all four places, remnants of appetizers. They're eating, talking over one another a little.

WESLEY
The wild mushroom and leak ravioli--

CORDELIA
I know, to die for.
(to Gunn)
Wanna try some of my sashimi?

GUNN
That's the raw fish? Maybe when hell
freezes over.

Cor cranes her neck, looking around.

WESLEY
What are you looking for?

CORDELIA
Celebrities. They won't seat 'em out
here in the "B" section, they'll put
'em back in the dark.

ANGEL (O.S.)
It is a little exposed...

They all look to the empty chair - AS CAMERA PANS from what we now realize is them all reflected in a mirror to them (including Angel in the formerly empty seat) at the table. Angel looks around, a little uncomfortably.

ANGEL
...kind of public.

Angel eyes a MIDDLE AGED WOMAN moving past, draped in a long unusual shawl.

GUNN
Yeah that public thing, it always
happens when you go where the
people are.

ANGEL
Hey no, I like the people, normal
people, I want to get out and be
one of 'em, celebrate Cordy's
good news.

CORDELIA
It's just a commercial.

WESLEY
Just a national commercial--
here's to you.

Wesley hold up a wine glass. Angel and Gunn follow suit.

CORDELIA
I can't drink, I have to be up at
four-thirty for the shoot, but please
continue with the toasting and praising.

GUNN
You're gonna knock 'em dead and
make a ton of money.

ANGEL
What he said plus don't leave us when
you get famous.

Guys drink. Cordy smiles.

CORDELIA
I'm touched... don't worry, I can't
leave you guys... not while I'm the
proud owner of the mind shattering,
ever more debilitating visions.

Beat. She takes a bite of her appetizer.

CORDELIA
I feel a little guilty.

ANGEL
(trying to hide his pain)
Don't. Nineteen dollars for a
sashimi couscous appetizer is
money well spent. This is your
night. How is it anyway, pretty
good? It oughtta be pretty good...

CORDELIA
It's delicious, but that's not what I
feel guilty about.

ANGEL
Oh.
(beat)
I'm not cheap, I'm just old:
I remember when a few bob
got you a meal, a bottle and
a tavern wench.
(off their looks)
You were saying?

CORDELIA
I feel guilty leaving you guys in the
middle of a case to go do this commercial.

WESLEY
We've got it under control. Angel
will get a hold of his informant
first thing in the morning.

GUNN
And he--
(to Angel)
--is it a he or an it?

ANGEL
Actually both.

GUNN
(to Cor)
Okay, then it/he points us to the big
bloated thing you saw in your vision--

WESLEY
The Haklar demon. In fact he points
us to the demon's feeding grounds
where we manly men will gather
round and kill it to death.

CORDELIA
Sounds like fun. If you guys want
more wine don't let me stop you.

ANGEL
Oh no more for me, that imported
stuff goes right to your head.

GUNN
(to Wesley)
Think we need a flame thrower?

WESLEY
For the Haklar? I hadn't thought of that.

ANGEL
I mean if the rest of you want
another bottle...

GUNN
Of course if we wind up in a tight
space we could burn each other.

WESLEY
(hadn't thought of that either)
Right.

GUNN
Hey, you're the boss, you'll decide.

Beat. Angel sees that older woman in the shawl heading past them in the opposite direction now. Something suspicious there...

WESLEY
A flame thrower's big and loud, might
call attention where we don't want--

Angel leaps from the table -- and in that Angel way is suddenly TEN FEET AWAY, grabbing the woman by the shawl.

WOMAN
Whahhh!

WESLEY
What's he doing?

ANGEL
(gripping shawl)
Isn't this interesting.

WOMAN
My... my shawl?

ANGEL
No, your Brahanian Battle Shroud
woven from the skin of dead children.
You think I don't know a Voctar Witch
when I see one?! You think I can't read
the markings...
(re: designs, he deflates)
...huh, they look a little different up close...

CORDELIA
(races up)
It's a beautiful shawl, M'am...
(to Angel)
A beautiful thousand dollar
Laura Mina original.
(to woman)
My friend just loves beautiful
things... so much he can't control
himself because... he's from France.
We're so sorry.

Cor pulls Angel back to the table -- everyone in the place is staring at them.

GUNN
If we had the flame thrower I could
set the table on fire, draw a little
more attention to us.

ANGEL
I'm telling you those markings--
from a distance -- really looked...
(peters out)

WESLEY
Let's just eat and be on our way
without anymore--

Cor suddenly doubles over in pain.

CORDELIA
Oh God!--

All three guys leap up, rush to her side.

GUNN
What is it, what do you see?

She looks up at them, in a great deal of pain.

CORDELIA
Moo...

WESLEY
Moo? Some kind of cow-monster?

CORDELIA
Move! I think the sashimi's coming up.

She lurches out of her chair, pulling the table cloth and dishes with her, making a terrible crash, shoving Wes out of the way and not getting terribly far before she falls to her knees in the middle of the restaurant.

ANGLE - THE GUYS

Standing and watching as we hear terrible retching sounds.

The TABLEAU: Cor on her knees, people horrified, our guys big as life in the middle of it all -- chaos as waiters and busboys grab mops, run to Cor.

ANGEL
They'll take that off the bill, right?

Hold for a long, uncomfortable beat, then OUT.

END OF TEASER

Act One

ACT ONE

INT. ANGEL'S HOTEL - COR'S DESK - DAY

Wesley, by himself, on the phone.

WESLEY
(into phone)
Yes, mother... Yes, well put him
on... Okay, you too...
(a beat)
Hello, Father. Happy Birthday. How
are you?... good... No, it's going very
well, actually...
(beat)
Yes, I have news.
(smiles, proud)
I've been put in charge of our
group... yes, as their leader.
(a pause, smile fades)
No, it's a permanent position.
Well as permanent as these things--
(beat)
I certainly won't be fired... well,
yes, I was that one time, yes...
again... no, you're right, I see
how you'd... yes, I'd forgotten,
thank you... well, there are a
number of responsibilities
involved. Scheduling, strategy--
(beat)
I know how the Watcher's Council
operates... This is a different type
of... because even if they wanted me
back, I don't agree with how they--
(beat)
Just recently... It's going quite
well so far...
(beat)
No, I think this time... I hope it
will be different... no, no, you're
probably right... I just thought
you'd be... I thought you'd want
to know is all... What?... Okay,
well, again, Happy Birthday...
(beat)
Oh, okay.

Wesley hangs up the phone, deeply wounded. Gunn enters the room chewing on a snack.

GUNN
You talkin' to someone?

Wesley hides his pain.

WESLEY
My father.

GUNN
English, Sr.? How is he?

WESLEY
Well, it's his birthday.

GUNN
Nice.

WESLEY
(smiling, selling it)
He sends his greetings to everyone
in Tinsel Town.

EXT. HOLLYWOOD STUDIO - DAY

Stock shot. Establishing.

INT. SOUNDSTAGE - DAY

The hustle and bustle of CREW MEMBERS preparing for a shoot. Angel steps into frame, taking it all in.

A couple of CREW MEMBERS, carrying stage lights, try to squeeze past Angel. He realizes he's in their way. As he steps aside--

ANGEL
Sorry.

They move past, and now Angel sees--

A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN in a bikini, standing on a set doubling as a BEACH -- Palm trees, sand, and bright lights creating a SUNNY DAY look.

Fascinated, Angel walks towards the woman. She sees him coming, smiles, is about to say "hello", when--

Angel brushes right past her, and steps on to the fake sand.

Angel, looks up, basks in the glow of the "sunshine", takes in the day at the beach, a smile on his face.

CORDELIA (O.S.)
What are you doing here?

Angel looks down, sees Cordy, in a bathrobe. Angel smiles.

ANGEL
Getting a tan... not bursting into flames.

CORDELIA
So... what are you doing here?

ANGEL
I need to ask you something.
In your vision--

Cordy reacts as she sees someone approaching.

CORDELIA
Shut up. Here comes Seth.
The Director.

SETH, 30's, new Hollywood young Turk, approaches them. At his side a non-speaking MALE ASSISTANT.

CORDELIA
Hi. I just wanted to say "Thanks"
for casting me.

SETH
You're welcome, lose the bathrobe.

CORDELIA
Excuse me?

SETH
What's wrong, you don't speak English?
(to Assistant)
She doesn't speak English?
(to Cordy)
The wardrobe. I need to see it.
Lose the robe, princess.

CORDELIA
Sure.

And Cordy removes her bathrobe to reveal a STRING BIKINI made out of SEASHELLS. We see Angel react. Seth checks her out.

SETH
Turn around.

Cordy turns around. She's facing Angel now, a little embarrassed as Seth (but not CAMERA) checks out her derriere.

SETH
Nothing wrong there. Okay, turn.

She turns back around. He checks her out some more.

SETH
(to Assistant)
When is she going to make-up?

CORDELIA
I've already been to make-up.

SETH
Really? Well, take her back, tell
David to get rid of those circles
under her eyes. She looks like a
refugee from an abused woman's
shelter.

CORDELIA
(weakly)
I had food poisoning--

SETH
(amused)
Yeah, right. You eat. Good one.
(to Assistant)
Tell David I'm supposed to want to
sleep with this woman. I don't. Do
you want to sleep with her?
(before Assistant can answer)
Who am I talking to? Of course you don't.

Angel's heard enough of this. He approaches Seth, pissed off.

ANGEL
You're out of line. Now apologize to her.

SETH
Let me guess. Wannabe rocker or part-
time male model... I could go either way
on this one.

Angel advances, gets in his face.

ANGEL
I said apologize.

SETH
(to Assistant)
Billy? Get security.

Billy heads off.

CORDELIA
Angel...

ANGEL
Who the hell do you think you are?

SETH
(condescending)
I think I'm the director.
(to Cordy)
And I think you're real smart for
bringing your unemployed boyfriend
to my set to tell me how to film my
commercial. That's really helping
your career.

She grabs Angel by the arm and pulls him to the side.

CORDELIA
I'm sorry. He won't bother you
anymore.

SETH
I know he won't. Because security's
going to toss his ass in about two
minutes. Now get to make-up and
hope they can work miracles.

And with that, Seth walks away. Cordy returns to Angel, devastated.

ANGEL
You want me to rip that guy's head
off for you? 'Cause I could, you
know. Really. I mean, actually
rip his head right off his body.
I can do that.

CORDELIA
Are you trying to ruin my career?
Is it, like, a conscious effort on
your part?

ANGEL
No, I just--

CORDELIA
You have to go now.
(barely a beat)
Why are you still here?

ANGEL
I have to ask you a question.

CORDELIA
(pissed)
What?

ANGEL
In your vision, did the Haklar demon
you saw eat his victim whole, or did
he just rip out the liver? 'Cause, funny
story, according to my informant liver-
eating Haklars have different feeding
grounds than the people-eaters, and I
need to know which kind it was so I
can track it down and kill it.

A beat.

CORDELIA
I hate my whole life.

INT. ANGEL'S HOTEL - LOBBY - DAY

Gunn sits comfortably on the ottoman, watches Wesley pace, deep in thought. As Wesley makes yet another turn--

GUNN
So... this Heckler demon we're
supposed to kill...

WESLEY
Haklar. Two A's.

GUNN
This Haklar with two A's we're
supposed to kill... give me the specs.
What do I need to know?

Wesley stops pacing, in his element now.

WESLEY
(fast, memorized)
The Haklar, descended from the
Klenzen Order of demons, can
weigh as much as three tons as
an adult male. It awakes from its
hibernation during alternating full
moons only to mate and feed, often
simultaneously. Incapable of traditional
speech, the Haklar race has learned to
communicate with each other via a
complex pattern of carefully timed
facial tics, not dissimilar from our
own morse code. The Haklar prefers
warm, moist climes where it can--

GUNN
Wesley?

WESLEY
Yes?

GUNN
I mean, how we go about killin' it?

WESLEY
Oh.
(a beat, embarrassed)
Your standard slice and dice.

Gunn nods, satisfied, as the front doors to the hotel open and RONDELL and GEORGE (both from Episode #14) enter. Gunn sees them, approaches.

GUNN
What you all doing up here?

RONDELL
Got a situation.

GUNN
(to Wesley)
Wes, you remember Rondell and George?

WESLEY
Certainly. I never got a chance to
thank you both properly.

Wes shakes their hands.

WESLEY
I think it's fair to say I owe you
men my life.

RONDELL
It's cool. Only reason you got shot
was 'cause you had our backs.

GEORGE
How you feeling?

WESLEY
Better, thank you.

GUNN
This situation. What is it?

GEORGE
What else? Vamps.

RONDELL
A pack of 'em been making MacKenzie
Park their own personal restaurant.

GUNN
Got a lot of homeless sleeping there.

RONDELL
They'd be the meals.

GUNN
Sounds like we need to set a trap.

RONDELL
Trap's already set.

GUNN
It is?

RONDELL
We know the drill. Everything's
in motion.

GUNN
Just need me to...

GEORGE
(cutting him off)
...lend us your truck.

Gunn's a bit thrown off for a beat.

GUNN
You want my ride?

RONDELL
It's still tricked out for dusting,
ain't it?

GUNN
Yeah.

GEORGE
We wanna go in with everything we got.

Gunn looks between them and Wesley, a choice to be made.

GUNN
Count me in then.

WESLEY
What about the Haklar?

GUNN
Angel gets a lock on its crib,
page me.

Angel enters from the back, not in the best of moods. As he strides towards the back office--

ANGEL
The Haklar's living on the north
shore of Lake Hollywood. We better
hurry. They got a 5K race starting
there in half an hour.

WESLEY
(to Gunn)
Consider yourself paged.

Angel enters what is now Wesley's office, Wesley follows him inside. A strained beat, a moment of decision between Gunn and his guys. Finally:

GUNN
I gotta take this. Wait for me,
though. I'm through, I'll meet
you at basecamp and we'll head
out together.

Rondell and George share a private look. George finally nods.

GEORGE
Whatever you say, G.
(nods to Rondell)
Let's go.

Rondell and George exit. Gunn watches them for a beat, then heads for--

INT. ANGEL'S HOTEL - WESLEY'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Where Angel is rifling through the weapons cabinet, pulling out various weapons. Wesley senses Angel's bad mood.

WESLEY
Angel? Is everything alright?

Angel stops rooting through the cabinet, rises and faces Wes and Gunn, who has just entered.

ANGEL
It's Cordy.

WESLEY
What about her?

GUNN
The headaches getting worse?

WESLEY
What happened?

ANGEL
Nothing happened. It's just...
acting's her dream job? That's
the world she really wants to
live in? With people like that?
I don't get it.

WESLEY
Who are you talking about?

ANGEL
Mr. "Hey, I'm L.A. Director Shooting
a Commercial, So I Must Be The Center
Of The Universe" Guy. Like anyone who
isn't making it in show business is just a step
or ten down the food chain. I mean, hey,
all we do is save the world, right?
(before they can answer)
And the way he talks to Cordy, it's like she's
a commodity, like she's his slave or something.
And you know what the worst part is?
(beat)
She just took it. When was the last time
Cordy took crap from any of us?

GUNN
Never and the day after never.

ANGEL
Exactly, plus, he's got her wearing
this ridiculously flimsy swimsuit
that covers... like nothing.

A LONG PAUSE: as they exchange guilty looks all around. Finally--

WESLEY
Appalling.

GUNN
Disgusting.

ANGEL
Right.

They all nod, chastised and in agreement. Angel having gotten it all out. A beat.

GUNN
Shouldn't we be off killin' something?

WESLEY
Absolutely.

ANGEL
Good.

They each grab a couple of the gnarliest looking weapons and STRIDE OUT together into the--

HOTEL LOBBY

And we're into one of our patented, kick-ass power shots.

ANGEL
Let's get this show on the road.

SMASH CUT:

INT. CARITAS - DAY

Where The Host is in the middle of singing "Superstition" in front of a packed, appreciative crowd.

He's belting his little green heart out, when a GLIMMERING PORTAL begins to form behind him.

Blissfully unaware, the Host keeps singing.

AUDIENCE MEMBERS take note of the growing portal, figure it's part of some elaborate stage show and begin to APPLAUD.

The Host acknowledges his adoring fans and hits the big crescendo of the song.

Mid-note, the portal, fully formed now, emits an UNHOLY NOISE.

The Host is confused by the interruption, turns around as he continues crooning.

The Host sees the portal and unleashes a loud SHRIEK, ruining the big finish to his song.

The Host frantically scrambles backwards off the stage just as--

A CREATURE comes flying through the portal, landing hard on the stage. The creature raises its head, confused. This thing is a snarling, pissed off, scary-ass half-orc, half-ogre kind of thing, with claws and razor sharp teeth.

Oh, yeah... this thing ain't good.

BLACK OUT:

END OF ACT ONE

Act Two

INT. CARITAS - DAY

Pretty much where we left off. The Host is backing off stage as far away from this thing as he can get. It scares the shit out of him.

BACK ON STAGE

This creature, which we will learn is called a DROKKEN (RHYMES with Rockin'), leaps off the stage, BASHES through the crowd, sending a demon flying, uprooting tables and chairs.

Despite its impressive size, this thing moves quite fast.

Patrons scramble out of its way, as it darts around the bar, trying desperately to find an exit.

The Drokken eventually finds its way to the stairway, and it's up the stairs and out the door.

An eerie silence comes over the place. The calm after the storm.

The Host steps forward from his hiding place, to allay everyone's fears.

HOST
It's all right. Everything's fine.
Nothing to worry about.

So why does the Host look so worried? Looking out after the beast, he says quietly...

HOST
All part of the show...

INT. SOUNDSTAGE - DAY

CLOSE ON CORDY

With some drastic make-up on (dark lip-liner and beige lipstick, big sultry glam eye shadow), as she purrs at us seductively.

CORDELIA
Goes on smooooth, like a lover's kiss.

We POP WIDE to reveal Cordy, in her bikini, kneeling on the sand beside the tanned back of an ACTOR-HUNK lying on a towel -- the other beautiful woman in a bikini on his other side. Cordy's rubbing suntan lotion on his skin, talking to the camera.

CORDELIA
It's the only suntan lotion good
enough for our man.

The Actor Hunk lifts his head and grins, gives the camera a big thumbs-up.

SETH
Cut! Cut it!

Seth approaches Cor, impatient.

SETH
You're in his light.

CORDELIA
Still?

SETH
I've told you twice. You have to
bend over more.

CORDELIA
If I bend over any more, I'm going to
fall out of my top.

SETH
And you'll be out of his light.
See, everybody wins.

CORDELIA
But isn't there some way we could--

SETH
(coldly mean)
I didn't hire you to play Ophelia.
Show the cleavage. Say the line.
Got it? Or do you want to waste more
of our time?

It's everything Cordy can do not to burst into tears. All the CREW MEMBERS are staring at her.

CORDELIA
(meekly)
I got it.

INT. ANGEL'S HOTEL - LOBBY - NIGHT

Angel and Wes enter from the back stairwell, carrying their weapons, not in the best of spirits.

Wes, without his glasses, dabs a bloodied cloth above one of his eyes. There's a small cut.

WESLEY
Has it--?

ANGEL
(without looking back)
Stopped bleeding? Yeah.

Angel's spotted something else. Wesley follows his gaze to see -- Cordy sitting on the ottoman, pensive. She's not crying now, but by her looks, she was not too long ago.

WESLEY
Cordelia.

ANGEL
Hi.

She doesn't say anything. Angel can only assume that she's pissed at him. He goes to her.

ANGEL
Look, I just want to say... if I was
out of line today...

CORDELIA
If you were out of line? If?
You're comfortable with your
use of the word "if" here, are you?

ANGEL
(chastised)
I'm sorry I embarrassed you.

CORDELIA
(a beat, down)
Who am I kidding? I embarrassed myself.
(beat)
I just wanted to act, that's all. For them
to like me because I was good.
(beat)
I never wanted to feel like this.
(a pause)
I thought Gunn was with you guys.

WESLEY
He was. After the fight, he went home
to take care of some vampire business.

CORDELIA
(not really interested)
And how was the big fight?
All big and fighty?

WESLEY
We managed to kill the Haklar just
as it was about to devour a group of
power walkers.

ANGEL
It was horrible.

CORDELIA
I know. I saw it up close in my
stupid vision, remember?

ANGEL
Not the Haklar. The Power Walkers.
I mean, walking I get. But power
walking? Why not just run for a
shorter time?
(beat)
Weird.
(re: Wes' cut)
Plus one of them hit him.

CORDELIA
(re: Wesley's eye)
A Power Walker did that?

WESLEY
Apparently she felt I was
disrespecting the Haklar's
culture by killing it.

ANGEL
The "about to swallow her whole"
thing... not really sinking in.

Cordy shakes her head, defeated.

CORDELIA
This town sucks.

The three of them contemplate this for a second, can't disagree. Suddenly, the front door BURSTS open and the Host enters -- not quite his usual confident self.

HOST
Am I happy to see you!
(to Angel)
You're still a knight for hire, yeah?
Well, I'm hiring. I need you to kill
something. I suppose you'll want
the particulars, so here they are.
It's called a Drokken.

WESLEY
Drokken?

As he heads for his books, the Host interrupts him.

HOST
You won't find it in your books.

Wesley stops.

HOST
Not from any world you've ever
heard of.

ANGEL
How'd it get here?

HOST
Portal. Right in the middle of my
Stevie Wonder tune. Totally threw
me off and you know how I hate to
disappoint an audience. But I digress.
What's important is that you kill this
drokken. And this part I can't stress
enough -- kill it, you must.

ANGEL
Where is it?

HOST
No idea. But I imagine it's getting
pretty hungry by now.

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

A darkened entryway in the downtowny part of town. The Camera pushes in closer to reveal the Drokken, cloaked in shadows (Think Orson Welles in "The Third Man" here.)

A DOOR down the street opens--

RAVE MUSIC, BRIGHT LIGHTS emanates from the pace. A few CLUBBERS enters. Now TWO CLUBBERS, 20's, exit the underground club, start walking along the sidewalk, towards the Drokken.

The Drokken slips back into the shadows.

As the clubbers pass by the Drokken's hiding place, the DROKKEN POUNCES!

BAM!!!!

The Drokken is on top of them in a furious display of savagery (most of which takes place below camera). The two men SCREAM, but the noise quickly dies out.

The Drokken rises into frame, violently chewing what we can only imagine is human flesh.

The Drokken goes down for another bite, rises up into frame again, satiating his hunger.

A CAR ALARM is heard. The Drokken slows his chewing, remains still for a second. Then his head turns towards the corner, just as--

AN ATTRACTIVE WOMAN heading for the club, walks around the corner, her head down, as she adjusts her tight dress, unaware she's walking straight towards the Drokken. When she finally looks up, she sees the Drokken. She stops dead, terrified.

The Drokken looks at her, intrigued, its SHARP TEETH glimmering red.

ANGEL (V.O.)
Sharp teeth?

INT. ANGEL'S HOTEL - LOBBY - NIGHT

Angel, Wes and Cordy opposite the host.

ANGEL
That's all you got for us?

WESLEY
What is it doing here? What does it
want? What is it capable of?

HOST
Who cares? It trashed my club,
my clientele.

ANGEL
I thought violence wasn't possible in
Caritas? Isn't it supposed to be a sanctuary?

The Host is thrown by this, gets increasingly nervous.

HOST
I didn't say the Drokken killed anyone.
(beat)
He knocked over a couple of my regulars.

Angel and Wesley stare at him unflinchingly.

HOST
There were angry glances.
(beat)
I sensed bad intentions.
Not a nice fella.
(off them)
Bad, bad beast.
(beat)
Did I mention the teeth?

ANGEL
You mentioned teeth.

HOST
Are you going to help me or do I have
to break out my champion Rolodex?

ANGEL
I guess we could start at Caritas and
do a circular search, say one mile
diameter, keep moving out, hope
we get lucky.

CORDELIA
Uh, Angel...

ANGEL
Yeah?

Cordy nods towards Wesley, like "isn't he the one calling the shots now?"

ANGEL
Oh, right. Sorry. I didn't mean to
step on your toes, Wesley.

WESLEY
Quite all right.

CORDELIA
(to Host)
Wesley's kind of our new leader now.

HOST
(to Wesley)
Well, all hail el presidente. It's
been a long time coming. Congrats.
(to Angel)
And kudos to you. Nice choice of
conductor to lead your symphony.
(to Wesley)
So, what do we do now?

WESLEY
Well...

Wesley thinks about this for a moment, then--

WESLEY
Angel's right. Barring more
promising leads, a circular
search pattern for the beast
seems best.

HOST
I like it.

Cordy still sitting on the otto, doubles over, moans.

HOST
(to the others)
What's with her?

WESLEY
Food poisoning.

ANGEL
(still bitter)
A very expensive appetizer.

Cordy jerks backwards now, clearly in the throes of a vision. As Wes and Angel go to support her--

ANGEL
Or possibly a vision.

The CAMERA ROCKETS in on Cordy's face and we go into--

INT. PUBLIC LIBRARY - NIGHT

CORDY'S VISION. Our usual jump cutty thing. There's a young woman. Her name, we will learn, is FRED (short for Winifred.) She wears glasses. She pushes a cart loaded with books through the library.

We see a CHAIN around her neck with a locket in the shape of an APPLE.

We see A LARGE BLACK BOOK in the middle of a row of books. A HAND grabs the book and pulls it out.

Now we see Fred reading from the book. We don't hear what she's saying, but her lips are moving.

Suddenly a PORTAL starts developing behind her. She seems oblivious to it, keeps reading.

INT. ANGEL'S HOTEL - LOBBY - NIGHT - CONTINUING

Cordy comes back from her vision, still feeling the pain.

ANGEL
Are you okay?

CORDELIA
(miserable)
Why does everybody always ask me
that?! Do I look okay?!!!

WESLEY
What did you see?

CORDELIA
A woman. She's at the Public
Library. I think she works there.
She was reading a book.

HOST
Okay, as scary as that sounds...
crazed, rabid Drokken on the loose...
kinda in first position here.

CORDELIA
There was this opening behind her.
Something magical. A portal.

WESLEY
A portal?

HOST
(uh-oh)
A portal?

WESLEY
Like the one this Drokken beast
materialized from in Caritas?

HOST
(more and more nervous)
Well, we don't know that for a fact.

WESLEY
That's our connection.
(checks his watch)
We better get to that library.
They'll be closing soon.

As they all prepare to go, grab coats, weapons, etc..,

HOST
How fortunate that The Powers That Be
have taken an interest in my -- I mean,
the problem I've brought to your... it's
really quite a break.

As the other three have started to leave, Angel sees the Host still standing in place.

ANGEL
You coming?

HOST
(faux joy)
Thought you'd never ask.

As soon as Angel turns, the Host's face falls. He's dreading something. As he follows them out--

INT. HOMEBASE - ROOM #1 - NIGHT

Gunn enters, sees a TEENAGE HISPANIC KID standing against the wall.

GUNN
Junior, where is everybody?

The kid simply nods towards a door at the other end of the room. Something's clearly bothering him. Gunn senses it.

GUNN
What's wrong?

Junior doesn't answer, he just looks to the floor. Gunn picks up his pace now, makes his way to--

INT. HOMEBASE - ROOM #2 - NIGHT

A group of Gunn's crew are clogging up the room, their backs to him.

Gunn walks in. Hearing him, people turn around and look at him as he wades into the room, snakes through the crowd.

Gunn exchanges a few looks with people who stare right back, but say nothing.

As he continues making his way through the congestion, the final people peel away, revealing--

GEORGE lying dead on the floor, Rondell kneeling over his body.

Gunn rushes the remaining few yards to George and kneels down next to him, opposite Rondell.

Gunn takes this in for a moment, stunned.

GUNN
What..?

Rondell simply swivels George's head, revealing the TWO VAMPIRE BITE MARKS on George's neck.

GUNN
(quietly)
Did they make him drink?

RONDELL
We don't know.

This hits Gunn like a body blow. Because he knows what they have to do next. Off Gunn, looking at George--

INT. PUBLIC LIBRARY - NIGHT

The place is practically empty, due to the late hour. Angel, Wes, Cordy and the Host walk through the library.

HOST
(to Angel)
How come every time you and me hit
the big city, we end up in a library?
Snoresville. Next time, why don't
we do something fun?

ANGEL
Like what?

HOST
Elton's in town next month. What do
you say? You, me, back row seats?

ANGEL
I don't do big and crowded.

HOST
Mr. Elton John hits the first few
keys of "Yellow Brick Road", I
defy you not to feel like the only
other person in the room.

A librarian, CLAIRE, emerges from around a corner, carrying a few books. She's early 30's, pleasant. She comes fact to face with the Host. The shock of seeing a demon up close causes her to freeze. Busted, the Host initially freezes as well, then turns on the charm.

HOST
Hi. How are you?

CLAIRE
You... You're...
(realizing)
...here for the children's reading program?

HOST
Yes. Yes I am.

CLAIRE
It's not until tomorrow morning.

HOST
I know. I never perform without
checking out the space first, get
a feel for the room.

CLAIRE
Oh.
(looks him over)
Well, the kids will flip over your
costume. It looks so authentic.

HOST
Thank you.

CLAIRE
Except for the horns. But those are
probably hard to fake.

HOST
If you only knew.

CLAIRE
The reading area's down that way.
Just take a left.

HOST
Toodles. See you and the munchkins
in the morning.

The Host heads off in that direction. Claire turns to the other three.

CLAIRE
If you plan on checking anything out,
you've got about five minutes.

CORDELIA
Actually, we're looking for somebody.
I think she works here.

CLAIRE
Who's that?

CORDELIA
She's tall... brown hair down to
about here... glasses... pretty.

CLAIRE
Sorry...

CORDELIA
She has a locket... it's shaped like
a ball... or an apple, I think.

CLAIRE
An apple?
(cautious)
Fred wore one of those.

ANGEL
Fred?

CLAIRE
Winifred. Everyone called her "Fred".

ANGEL
Fred, right. Do you know where we
can find her?

Claire pauses, unsure of what to say. She merely moves off to the--

CHECKOUT DESK

She goes behind the desk as Angel, Wes and Cordy approach the front, curious.

Clair opens a drawer, digs through some papers, pulls out an OLD FLYER.

CLAIRE
Fred disappeared five years ago.
They never found her. Police said
if she didn't show up in the first
week... well, we all stopped hoping
a while ago.

INSERT: The flyer. It's of the "Have you seen me?" variety with all the particulars, including a PHOTO of Fred.

CORDELIA
(to Angel and Wes)
That's her.

CLAIRE
(suspicious)
Why are you asking about her?

Angel pulls out one of their business cards, hands it to her.

ANGEL
We're private investigators. One
of Fred's old high school boyfriends
hired us to track her down.

WESLEY
Can you tell us anything about her?

CLAIRE
She worked here in the library with
me. She was studying to be a physicist.
That's why she had the apple. You
know... Newton... the apple... gravity.

WESLEY
The day she disappeared..?

CLAIRE
It was creepy. One minute she's
cataloguing in the foreign language
section. The next minute she's gone.

Off their looks--

INT. PUBLIC LIBRARY - FOREGIN LANGUAGE SECTION - NIGHT

We see a SIGN that reads "Foreign Language Books" as Angel, Wesley and Cordelia enter the section.

WESLEY
(in charge)
Angel, why don't you look over there.
I'll look over here and...
(unravels)
What exactly are we looking for?

CORDELIA
I don't know. But this is where
I saw the portal in my vision.

The Host approaches them.

HOST
This reading room -- to die for.
Raked stage, rocking chair, fabulous
colors. I'm tempted to show up
tomorrow morning with Harry Potter.

ANGEL
You don't mind, we're working here.
You know, on that thing you wanted
us working on.

HOST
I really liked that circular search
pattern thing you pitched. Has
there been any talk of going back
to that?

CORDELIA
There it is!

Cordy points towards a LARGE BLACK BOOK in the stacks. She pulls it out, looks at the cover.

CORDELIA
This is the book Fred was holding
in my vision.

Wesley looks over her shoulder as she opens the book to the first page. In big letters it reads "Shrsqwrn".

WESLEY
"Shrsqwrn". What language is that?

Cordy pulls out the checkout card from the inside cover.

CORDELIA
Last checked out May 6th, 1996.
Returned May 7th, 1996.

ANGEL
(re: the flyer)
The day she disappeared.

Cordy opens up the book to a random page, reads aloud.

CORDELIA
(reading)
"Krv Drpglr pwlz chkwrt strplmt
dwghzn prqlrzn lffrmtplzt."
(a beat)
Yeah, Pat, I think I'd like to buy
a vowel.

We see--

A PORTAL is opening up right behind her. As it makes that same UNHOLY NOISE--

HOST
(scared to death)
Ahhhh!

BLACK OUT

END OF ACT TWO

Continue on to Part Two

 


 

Belonging

Part 2

February 28, 2001 (Yellow)

Written by: Shawn Ryan

Act Three

INT. PUBLIC LIBRARY - FOREGIN LANGUAGE SECTION - NIGHT

Angel pulls Cordy out of the way of the portal, just as a CREATURE is thrown out of it, onto the library floor, where she was just standing. (Note: The portal goes away now.)

We will learn the creature's name is LANDOK. We don't get a good look at him at first. What we do see is wild, long hair and a SCIMITAR in its hand.

Angel advances on Landok.

Landok raises his head, sees Angel coming at him. He swings his scimitar at Angel. Angel avoids the blow, gets in a couple powerful kicks.

Landok comes back with the scimitar, Angel knocks it out of his hand, delivers two punches to Landok's face, driving him back into a stack of books.

And now we get our first real look at Landok. He looks remarkably like the Host, with a few crucial differences. He has wild, long hair and a fu Manchu over his oversized chin. He wears the armor of a fierce warrior.

HOST
Landok? Is that you?

Landok looks at the Host, stunned. Angel stops his assault on Landok, looks back at the Host.

ANGEL
You know him?

HOST
Just because I know his name doesn't
mean you can't knock him unconscious.
Please, continue.

LANDOK
(to Host)
Can it really be you? Krevlornswath
of the Deathwok Clan?

HOST
(sweating)
It's clearly rabid. Do your thing, Angel.

But Angel doesn't attack him. Instead, he looks at the Host, who sheepishly averts his gaze.

ANGEL
Krevlornswath?

CORDELIA
Of the Deathwok Clan?

The Host is more than a little embarrassed by these revelations.

HOST
I prefer just "Lorne".

ANGEL
Lorne? As in... just... Lorne?

HOST
Yes, Lorne. If you must. Though I
generally don't go by that, because
well--
(gestures to face)
Green.

CORDELIA
(not getting it)
Hunh?

ANGEL
(laughs)
Right. Lorne Greene.
(off Cordy's look)
Come on. "Bonanza?" 15 years on
the air not meaning anything here?
(beat)
Okay, now I feel old.

Landok takes in his surroundings.

LANDOK
What is this place?

HOST
It's called Los Angeles. This isn't
really one of the hot spots.

LANDOK
Is it a prison?
(re: the others)
Are these your captors?

He raises his scimitar to smite them.

HOST
Whoa, big fella. Put the sharp piece
of metal down. These are my friends.
Angel, Cordelia, and Wesley. Everyone,
this is Landok.

LANDOK
(correcting him)
Landokmar of the Deathwok Clan

CORDELIA
There's that Deathwok Clan thing again.
Does that mean you two are...

HOST
(hating this)
Cousins.

ANGEL
(surprised)
Your cousin?

LANDOK
Your vanishing was a great mystery
to our Clan.

HOST
(to Angel)
Long story, boring ending, you really
wouldn't be interested.

LANDOK
It was hoped that you had sought
atonement by forfeiting your life
in the Sacrificial Canyons of Trelinsk.

HOST
Well, it's been fun, Landok, but we
gotta skeedaddle. You'll be just
fine. New people come to L.A.
every day, manage to find their
way around.

LANDOK
Were you abducted into this world
as I was?

The Host realizes he's not going to be able to weasel out of this conversation so easily.

HOST
I came through a portal, yes.

LANDOK
We will find a path back to our home,
Krevlornswath of the Deathwok Clan.
We will return together.

HOST
Don't know about you, but my ticket
was strictly one-way.

LANDOK
You will not return home to remove
the shame that you have visited upon
your Life-Giver?

HOST
(deflecting)
Is anyone else getting a little
peckish? How does Italian sound?

LANDOK
Your mother's burden is terrible.

HOST
(softens)
Misses her little green boo, does she?

LANDOK
She rips your images into tiny
pieces, feeds them to the swine,
butchers the pigs and has their
remains scattered to the dogs.

HOST
(back to normal)
Sounds like ma.
(to Angel)
Tell you what, you pick the place,
I'm game for anything.

LANDOK
Does your cowardice know no limits?

HOST
The nice people don't want to hear
about our little family issues.

CORDELIA
Sure we do!

WESLEY
(excited)
Yes! Let's hear about the cowardice
and shame!

HOST
Okay, for your information, not a
coward. In fact, my friends and I
were just partaking in a Drokken
Hunt, which, regrettably, we must
return to. Now, if you'll excuse us...

LANDOK
There is a Drokken nearby? I will
assist in the kill.

HOST
Find your own Drokken.

WESLEY
(to Landok)
You know how we can kill it?

LANDOK
All that is required is to pierce it
with a weapon dipped in thromite.

HOST
Sorry, cuz. Thromite... not exactly
existing in this world. But thanks
anyway.

LANDOK
Then killing the Drokken will be most
difficult. It is impervious to most wounds.

ANGEL
What if we chopped its head off?

WESLEY
Or ran it through with a sword?

ANGEL
Or electrocuted him with, like a
50,000 volt charge?

CORDELIA
Yeah, we've had a lot of luck with
those things in the past.

LANDOK
Without thromite, it will take a
mighty blow to destroy the Drokken.
It is quite strong and fast, very
difficult to hit.

ANGEL
To hit it, we have to find it first.

LANDOK
I can track the Drokken for you.

WESLEY
You can?

LANDOK
Wherever it roams, it leaves behind
waves of hostility.

WESLEY
And you can read these waves?
Amazing. All your people do this?

LANDOK
(pointed, at Host)
Those who are willing to submit
to training.