So, How Does This - Work?

Faith: 

You're gonna die!

Wesley is almost done sawing through his ropes. 

Faith keeps hitting and kicking Angel. 

Halfway through this it starts to first rain then pour. 

Faith: 

You hear me? 

You don't know what evil is! 

I'm bad! Fight back!

Wesley has freed his hands and is untying the other ropes. Faith keeps whaling on Angel, sometimes he ducks, sometimes the hits connect. 

Angel grabs a hold of her: 

Angel :

Nice try, Faith.

He tosses her away from him.

 Then walks after her. 

Angel: 

I know what you want.

She hits him and he hits back dropping her. 

She comes back up hitting and screaming, 

but not making much of a dent. 

Wesley leans out of the window and sees Faith beating up on Angel. 

He goes into the kitchen 

and grabs a butcher knife, 

then heads for the door.

Angel as he dodges another hit: 

I'm not gonna make it easy for you.

Faith throws herself against Angel screaming: 

I'm evil! I'm bad! I'm evil! 

Do you hear me? I'm bad! 

Angel, I'm bad! 

She begins to sob, grabbing a hold of Angel's shirt and shaking him

I'm ba-ad. 

Do you hear me? I'm bad! 

I'm bad! I'm bad. 

Please. Angel, please, just do it.

Wesley comes running out of the house. 

Faith sobbing: 

Angel please, just do it. Just do it. 

Just kill me. Just kill me.

Angel wraps his arms around her shoulders and pulls her against him. 

She over balances them and they sink to their knees, Angel still holding her as she cries. 

Angel: 

Shh. It's all right. It's okay. 

I'm here. I'm right here. Shh.

The camera shows the knife dropping from Wesley's hand 

as he stands in the pouring rain, staring at them, 

while Faith cries and thunder rumbles overhead.

FADE TO BLACK

Faith is leaning on the Microwave in Angel's kitchen. 

The box of doughnuts is sitting on top of it still closed. 

Angel comes in.

Faith: 

So, how does this - work?

Angel:

There is no real simple answer to that.

I won't lie to you and tell you that it'll be easy - 

because it won't be. 

Just because you've decided to change 

doesn't mean that The World is ready for you to.

The Truth is - no matter how much you suffer, 

no matter how many good deeds you do to try to make up for The Past - 

you may never balance out the cosmic scale. 

The only thing I can promise you 

is that you'll probably be haunted - 

and may be for the rest of your life.

Faith indicates the Microwave 

FAITH, 

The Vampire Slayer :

So how does this work?

Angel blinks a couple times, then walks over to program it

ANGEL,

Vampire with a Soul :

Uh - power level, time, start. 

Sure that popcorn is gonna be enough for you?

Faith: 

Yeah. I can virtually live off the stuff. 

Tell Cordelia I'll pay her back.

Angel:

Actually I think it belonged to Wesley.

Faith: 

Oh, maybe we - 

just don't mention it then.

Angel: 

Maybe we do.

Faith: 

Are you saying I got to apologise?

Angel:

Think you can?

Faith: 

I don’t' know. How do you say 

'Gee, I'm really sorry I nearly tortured you  to death?'"

Angel: 

Well, first off I think I'd leave off the 'Gee.' 

And secondly I think you have to ask yourself: Are you?

Faith: 

What?

Angel: 

Sorry.

Faith: 

And what if I can't say it? 

There are some things you can't just take back, 

no matter how sorry you are, right?

Angel: 

Yeah, there are. 

I've got some experience in that area.

Faith: 

Right. And you've been doing this for a hundred years! 

I'm not gonna make it through the next ten minutes.

Angel: 

So make it through the next five, the next minute.

Faith: 

I don't think I can.

Angel: 

Yes, you can.

Faith walks away: 

God, it hurts. 

I hate that it hurts like this.

Angel follows her

ANGEL,

Vampire with a Soul : 

Oh well, it's supposed to hurt. 

All that pain, all that suffering you caused 

is coming back on you. 

Feel it! Deal with it! 

Then maybe you've got a shot at being free.

Faith lets out something between a laugh and a sob: 

I've got to be the first Slayer in history 

to be sponsored by a vampire.

Angel: 

Yeah, well, I've got some experience 

in that area, too.

Faith: 

Oh god. 

B - how am I ever going 

to make things right with her?

Angel: 

Faith, this isn't about Buffy.

Faith: 

All my life there was only one person 

that tried to be my friend, went out of her way 

when I had no right or reason to expect her to - 

and I screwed her. 

Not to mention her boyfriend, 

only - him literally.

Angel: 

Faith, you and I never actually...

Faith: 

No, not you. The new one. 

(Angel stares for a moment then looks down) 

Oh, my god. 

Angel, I'm so sorry I...

Angel: 

No, there -- You can say it.

That's good. (Turns away to leave) Good.

Wesley: 

I have some conditions of my own. - Just one actually. 

No harm must come to the vampire."

Weatherby: 

Oh, don't be a ponce!

Wesley pushes the syringe away: 

That's it. Unless you agree to that 

you won't get any help from me.

Collins looks at Weatherby as he pushes the syringe back: 

We have no quarrel with the vampire.

Weatherby: 

Unless you count the fact that he is a vampire!"

Wesley: 

He's a special case. He is reformed. 

He has a soul. (The three goons look away from Wesley) 

In point of fact I've confronted more evil - slayed more demons 

(notices the waitress coming by and lowers his voice) 

slayed more demons - in short, done more good while working with Angel than I ever did while in the Council's employ.

Collins:

We'll make every effort. 

Wesley: 

No. Not every effort - no harm. 

I must have your word.

Collins holds out his hand after a moment's hesitation: 

Done.

They shake.

Faith is eating popcorn while flicking through the channels on Angel's TV. 

Some thing scampers by behind her unnoticed. 

A wet and steaming Angel sticks his head out of the bathroom.

Angel: 

Is everything okay in there?"

Faith: 

It was touch and go for 

the four minutes you left me alone, 

but somehow I got through it.

Angel goes into his bedroom to finish dressing 

while the thing skitters along the ceiling above Faith. 

She changes the channel to a police report.

Announcer: 

Los Angeles police in conjunction with Federal authorities are looking for this woman tonight, (Picture of Faith on the TV) 

a felony suspect from the California town of Sunnydale. (Faith reaches for her drink and spills it) The young woman..."

Angel hears the glass fall as he is putting on his shirt.

Angel: 

Faith?

Announcer: 

"...has fled to Los Angeles in recent days."

Angel coming into the living room: 

Faith.

Announcer: 

Eyewitnesses identified her...

Angel: 

What is it?

Announcer: "...as being involved in several recent assaults. Police want your help in finding her."

Angel sees Faith's picture on the TV and crouches down beside her chair.

Angel: "Faith, it's ok, alright? We knew about this."

Announcer: "A press conference was held earlier."

Angel: "Nothing's changed, alright? Nothing's..."

Kate on the TV: "Anyone with any information about the whereabouts of this subject should get in touch with law enforcement immediately. (Angel looks over at the TV) Do not approach her. She is violent and unpredictable. I'll take a few questions."

Angel hits the power button on the remote.

Angel: "Listen to me Faith. You're safe here. You hear me? You're safe."

The thing hanging on the ceiling picks that moment to drop down on top of them. It throws Angel off Faith, then tosses Faith onto the sofa, over turning it, when Angel comes right back at it. The thing tosses Angel towards Faith and he pushes her into the kitchen to get her out of harms way then takes a hold of an overhead beam and swings both feet into the things face.

In the kitchen Faith grabs a hold of the big butcher knife and hurries back to the fight. Angel comes sliding past the opening to the kitchen. The thing is charging a slightly dazed Angel as Faith comes up behind it and stabs it with the butcher knife.

A few blows later the thing lies dying in the floor.

Faith is staring at the bloody knife in her hand as Angel picks himself up.

Faith: "No."

She drops the knife and stares at her hands, gasping and shaking her head.

Angel: "Hey. Hey. Hey. Shh. Hey. (Leads her over to the day bed) Sit down. Shh. It's- it's okay. (Faith wraps her arms around Angel's neck, careful not to touch him with her bloody hands) Hey. It's gonna be okay. Okay? (Angel holds her) Shh. Alright."

Angel looks over as he hears someone come down the stairs. It's Buffy.

Angel gets up: 

Buffy. 

(Buttoning his shirt) 

I didn't know you...

Buffy: 

What...

Buffy looks from him to Faith still sitting on the day bed staring at her bloody hands, then back to Angel.

Buffy: 

How... What are you doing?

Angel: 

She - we were attacked.

Buffy: 

We? You and...

Angel: 

Faith.

Buffy: 

You and Faith.

Angel: 

Oh, it's not what you think."

Buffy: 

You actually think that I can form a thought right now? 

Giles heard that - that she tried to kill you.

Angel: 

That's True.

Buffy: 

So you decided to punish her 

with a severe cuddling.

Angel: 

Is that why you're here? 

To punish her?

Buffy: 

I was worried about you."

Faith: "Buffy. (Buffy looks at her) Oh, god."

Buffy walks closer to Faith who is cringing away form her.

Buffy: "You didn't think I was going to find you, did you?"

Angel: "Buffy, let's talk."

Buffy: 

Oh, I don't think talk is in order right now."

Angel: 

She needs help.

Buffy whips around to face Angel: 

Help? Do you have any idea what she did to me?"

Angel: 

Yes.

Buffy: 

Do you care?

Angel: 

She wants to change. 

She has a chance to..."

Buffy: 

No. No chance. Jail.

Faith slowly gets up.

Angel:

You think that'll help?

Faith:

Buffy... 

(Buffy whips around to face her) 

I'm sor...

Buffy: 

Apologise to me 

and I will beat you to death."

Faith quietly: 

Go ahead.

Angel steps in front of Faith: 

This is not gonna happen.

Buffy: 

You're gonna stop me? 

Because you're gonna have to.

Faith shakes her head: 

Don't - so this."

Angel: 

Faith, go upstairs - now.

Buffy: 

You think I'm gonna let her out of my sight?

Angel: 

Buffy, just back off.

Buffy: 

There is no way I'm letting her out of my sight."

Angel: 

Faith, go!

Faith goes up the stairs and Buffy moves to stop her.

Buffy: 

Don't you move a...

Angel catches her arm and she turns 

to punch him full in the face. 

She hauls back to hit him again, 

but Angel blocks her fist and hits her across the face in return.

Angel steps back as Buffy stares at him 

with a hand over her mouth.

Angel: 

I'm sorry. - I'm sorry.

Faith opens the upstairs door and steps into Angel's office.

Wesley comes in from the outer office as Faith stares down the stairs.

Wesley: 

Faith? 

(Faith turns to look at him) 

Going somewhere?

Faith turns to stare back down the stairs: 

No. Just wanted to be alone.

Wesley comes closer: 

Angel downstairs?

Faith: 

Yeah.

Wesley: 

Right.

Angel: 

She's not gonna run, Buffy.

Buffy: 

Well, why would she? When she has her brave knight to protect her? - Got you. - Does she cry? - Pouty lips - heaving bosom? - I thought you needed help."

Angel: 

You think I wanted this to happen?

Buffy: "You hit me."

Angel: "Not to go all schoolyard on you, but you hit me first. In case you've forgotten - you're a little bit stronger than I am."

Buffy: "You did it for *her*."

Angel: "You were about three seconds - from making her run - you know that. She's at a crucial stage."

Buffy: "She's playing you. She tried to kill you!"

Angel: "That was just - that was just a cry for help."

Buffy: "A cry for help is when you say 'help' in a loud voice."

Angel: "I know Faith did some bad things to you."

Buffy: "You can't possibly know."

Angel: "And you can't possibly know what she's going through."

Buffy: "And of course, you do? - I'm sorry. I can't be in your club. I never murdered anybody."

Footsteps coming down the stairs.

Angel: "Faith, I told you..."

Wesley pushing Faith down the stairs in front of him: "Slight change of plan. (To Faith) Get your coat."

Angel: "Wesley, what's going on?"

Wesley: "In about twenty minutes the Council's operations team is coming in here. They'll expect to find you gone (holds up the syringe) and her drugged."

Angel: "How many?" 

Wesley: 

Three. Hello Buffy. 

I'm afraid you've come at a bad time.

Buffy: 

I'm feeling that." 

Angel: 

Why did you bring them here?"

Wesley: 

Couldn't shake them. 

Had to pretend I was helping them.

Angel: 

Why aren't you?

Buffy: 

I know these guys. 

They're killers.

Wesley: 

They've surrounded the building.

Angel: 

I'll check the sewers, if they're clear we all head out. Faith?

They turn to look for her but she is gone.

Wesley: 

She must have slipped out."

Angel: 

She'd head for the roof. 

(Buffy turns to go, Angel moves to go after her) 

They may have it covered.

Wesley stops him: 

We need a plan. Buffy can protect Faith.

Angel turns towards the sewer entrance: 

I'm not sure that's her agenda."

Wesley follows him: 

The sewers are still our best route.

Angel: 

If they don't know about our access.

Wesley: 

Angel, it wasn't for her.

Angel: 

I know.

Wesley: 

It's because I Trust You. 

(Angel drops down into the sewers, Wesley follows) 

Well, more than three gun-toting maniacs at any rate.

Buffy comes out on the roof to see Faith standing there. We can hear a helicopter flying in the background.

Buffy: "You're not gonna run, Faith."

Faith: "What do you wanna do? You're gonna throw me off the roof -again?"

Buffy: "Any reason why I shouldn't?"

Faith turns to look at Buffy: "There is nothing I can do for you, B. I can't ever make it right."

Buffy: "So you're just going to take off again. Leave us to clean up yet another one of your messes."

Faith: "It would make things easier for you."

Buffy: "Till you got bored with the whole guilt thing - decided to come back to shake things up?"

Faith: 

That's not gonna happen.

Buffy: 

You're right. It's not.

Faith, The Vampire Slayer : 

Angel said there was no way you were gonna give me a chance.

Buffy, The Vampire Slayer : 

I gave you every chance…! 

I tried so hard to help you, 

and you spat on me. 

My life was just something for you to play with. 

Angel… Riley…. 

anything that you could take from me - you took. 

I've lost battles before - 

but nobody else 

has ever made me A Victim."

Faith, The Vampire Slayer : 

[ Having a Revelation — ]

And you can't stand that..!

You're all about control. 

You have no idea what it's like on the other side! 

Where nothing's in control, nothing makes sense! 

There is just Pain and Hate 

and nothing you do means anything. 

You can't even..

Buffy, The Vampire Slayer : 

Shut up!

Faith, The Vampire Slayer : 

Just tell me how to make it better.

The door to the roof bursts open and Collins steps through, machinegun in hand. Buffy tackles Faith to safety as Collins opens fire.

Angel and Wesley, standing next to the sewer entrance in his apartment, hear the shots.

Angel: "That's coming from the roof."

Just then Weatherby comes in shooting at them with his machine gun. Angel and Wesley take cover.

Wesley: "I didn't give you the signal."

Weatherby: "Shut it. (Smiles at Angel as he lifts a loaded crossbow) Vampire."

Buffy: "I think we can make it to the other building."

Faith: "Go."

Buffy: "Now."

They run but before they reach the edge a black helicopter comes to hover in front of them. Smith is in the open door, machinegun in hand.

Buffy and Faith run to hide behind a skylight. Collins has to reload and Buffy and Faith change skylights.

Wesley: "Weatherby, listen to reason."

Weatherby: "Reason. A Watcher working for a vampire. It's perversion."

Buffy: "I have to take this guy out. The guy with the gun up there will go for me. You stay here."

Faith: "Okay."

Buffy lunges over the skylight and tackles Collins. They fight with Smith unable to shoot without hitting Collins.

Smith to pilot: "Try and keep her steady."

Wesley: "Weatherby..."

Weatherby: "Do the sacred oaths you swore as a Watcher mean nothing to you now?"

Wesley: "As a matter of fact they do. I swore to protect the innocent. (To Angel) Get to the roof. Help them."

Angel: "What?"

Wesley: "Now!"

Angel runs for the stairs while Weatherby drops the crossbow and shoots at Wesley as he runs for the cover of another pillar.

Wealtherby: "Bastard!"

Buffy is fighting Collins.

Wesley takes the cap from the syringe and throws it like a dart. It hits Weatherby in the side of the neck and he drops his gun.

Wesley with a smile: "180."

Weatherby pulls the needle out. While he stands there swaying Wesley walks up to him and knocks him out with a right cross.

Wesley: "That's for calling me a ponce."

Angel is running up the stairs to the roof.

Buffy and Collins are still fighting.

Angel sees the helicopters spotlight through the milky Skylight above the top landing.

Buffy knocks Collins down and turns to face the helicopter just as Angel comes shooting through the skylight, catching it's left rung with his arms.

He reaches up and pulls Smith out of the door. Smith lands at Buffy's feet, while Angel climbs up to stand on the rung.

Angel, in vamp face to the pilot: "Down! Take it down."

Buffy watches the helicopter leave then turns around.

Buffy: "Faith.'"

But Faith is nowhere to be seen.

A bunch of police cars drive up with lights and sirens as the helicopter sets down.

Kate: 

Where is she?

You got one shot here Angel, where is she?

Angel just looks at her.

Kate: 

Arrest him. 

Start with aiding and abetting a wanted felon.

The cops cuff Angel and lead him away.

Wesley and Buffy arrive at the police station in Angel's car.

Kate: 

I think you're gonna like the cell we have for you, Angel. 

It faces East. 

It'll give you a great view of the sunrise in about four hours."

Buffy walking behind them: 

What?

Angel: 

It's okay."

Buffy: 

You know what he is."

Kate: 

Who are you?"

Angel: 

She's nobody."

Buffy steps between Angel and Kate 

as the reach they reach her desk.

Buffy: 

Wait. This is murder."

Angel: "Buffy, it's alright."

Buffy: "It is not alright."

Kate: "Get her out of here!"

Buffy pushes the cop off her: 

You are not taking the fall for her, Angel."

Kate: "OUT!"

Angel looks over and sees Faith sitting at another desk with her back to them.

Angel: "Buffy."

Everyone in their group turns to look. 

A cop tries to pull Angel away and Buffy pushes his arm away. 

Faith looks over her shoulder at them 

and slowly stands up as Kate walks over to her.

Faith: 

I'd like to make A Confession.

Buffy and Angel are standing alone 

in the hallway of the police station.

Buffy: 

You should have told me what was going on.

Angel: 

I didn't - 

I didn't think it was Your Business.

Buffy: 

Not my business?

Angel: 

I needed more time with Faith. I'm not sure.."

Buffy: 

You needed - 

Do you have any - idea what it was like for me 

to see you with her? 

That you went behind my back..."

Angel: 

Buffy, this wasn't about you! 

This was about saving somebody's soul. 

That's what I do here, 

and you're not a part of it. 

That was your idea, remember? 

We stay away from each other."

Buffy: 

I came here because you were in danger.

Angel: 

I'm in danger every day. 

You came because of Faith. 

You were looking for vengeance.

Buffy: 

I have a right to it.

Angel: 

Not in My City.

Buffy turns away for a moment then turns back.

Buffy: "I have someone in my life now. (Angel looks away from her but otherwise doesn't move) That I love. (Angel swallows hard) It's not what you and I had. - It's very new. (She steps closer) You know what makes it new? - I trust him. - I know him."

Angel lets out a sharp breath: "That's great. - It's nice - you moved on. - I can't. You found someone new. - I'm not allowed to, remember? I see you again it cuts me up inside and the person I share that with is me! You don't know me anymore. So don't come down here with your great new life and *expect* me to do things your way. - Go home!"

Buffy looks at him for a moment then goes to pick up her jacket, while Angel walks over to the wall and braces his hands against it.

Buffy: "See? - Faith wins again."

Angel without looking at her: "Go."

Buffy goes. After a moment Angel slams his hands against the wall and sighs.

Wesley: "You all right?'

Angel: "For a taciturn, shadowy guy - I've got a big mouth."

Wesley: "Did you want to go after her?"

Angel: "Yes."

Wesley: "I don't know how much my opinion counts for, but - I think you did the right thing."

Angel: "Yelling at Buffy?"

Wesley: "No. - The other thing."

Angel shakes his head: "I didn't do it. - Faith did."

We see Faith sitting alone in a jail cell, leaning back against the wall.

Wesley voice over: "I hope she is strong enough to make it. - Peace is not an easy thing to find."

Blend into a close-up of Faith's face.

Angel v.o.: "She has a chance."

Faith closes her eyes.

Fade to black.