Becoming

Cut to Doyle and Cordy 

drinking at a bar. 

Cordy: 

Well, this is working out nicely! 

I'm out of a job.

Doyle: 

Hey! It's not just you, you know?

Cordy: 

Oh, please. Who are you kidding? 

You're glad it happened.

Doyle: 

Hey, I'm glad for Angel, 

but if that means I'm off the hook with the Powers-That-Be as well, all the better. 

I'm finally free to go out in The World 

and make me own mark in The World.

Cordy: 

We had a cat that used to do that. 

(Puts her head down on the bar) 

Oh god, what am I going to do? 

I'm good for exactly two things : 

International Superstardom, or 

Helping a Vampire with a Soul to rid The World of Evil. 

That makes for a short but - colorful resume.

Doyle: 

Well, what ever happens form here on out, 

at least I will be able to say good-bye to them 

bone-crushing, head-wrenching, 

mind-numbing visions.

His head hits the bar as we cut to blurred pictures of the Mohra demon attacking Angel. 

Cordy: 

What do you see?

Doyle: 

We got Trouble.

Angelus: 

Everything That I am, 

Everything that I have done, 

Has led me Here. 

Cut to 

Manhattan, 

1996. 

A bum steps up to a trashcan and begins to go through it. 

A man walks past him and on down the street. 

Having found nothing, the bum makes his way into an alley with slow, labored steps. 

A boy runs past him with a package and disappears further down the alley. 

The bum, tired and weak, staggers into a concrete post at the side of the alley and stops. 

He coughs and rolls around to lean with his back against the post, and it's Angel, tired, filthy and unkempt. 

He just breathes for a moment, and then smells something. 

He searches the alley with his eyes and spots a rat scampering across to the other side. 

He takes a couple of unsteady steps, brushes the hair from his face and begins to stalk the rat. 

It reaches the other side and disappears into a pile of trashcans and bags. 

Angel dives after it, scattering the cans and bags noisily, but loses the rat. 

A man comes into the alley behind him. 

Angel rolls over to sit and flails his arms at the trashcans in anger over missing the rat. 

The man comes up to him. 

Whistler: 

God, are you disgusting. 

Angel calms down a bit and looks around himself. 

Whistler: 

This is really an unforgettable smell. 

This is the Stench of Death you're giving off here!

And the look says, uh... 

Crazy Homeless Guy. 

It's Not Good. 

Angel: (angrily) 

Get away from me. 

Whistler: 

What are you gonna do, bite me? 

(gasps and jumps back) 

Horrors! A vampire! 

Angel looks at him in surprise. 

Whistler: 

Ah, but you wouldn't bite me on account of your poor, tortured soul. 

It's so sad, a vampire with a soul. 

It's so poignant. 

Angel: (confused) 

Who are you? 

Whistler: 

Let's take a walk. 

Cut to a ways down the street. 

The two of them walk along the sidewalk for a few paces and then turn into the street to cross to the hotdog stand on the other side. 

Angel isn't paying any attention to the traffic, so Whistler grabs his arm to stop him. 

Whistler: 

What are you eating? 

(they continue across) 

Like, a rat once a month? 

Angel strays and almost walks into another car. 

Whistler grabs him again and pulls him back in time. 

Whistler: 

Hey! 

(car honks, they continue) 

Look, you're skin and bones here! 

Butcher shops are throwing away more blood in a day than you could stand. 

Good blood. 

(they reach the far side) 

You lived in The World a little bit, you'd know that. 

Angel: 

I wanna know who you are. 

(stops) 

Whistler: 

(stops and faces him) 

And I wanna know Who *You* Are. 

Angel: 

You already do. 

Whistler: 

Not yet. 

But I'm looking to find out. 

'Cause you could go either way here. 

Angel: 

I don't understand you. 

Whistler: 

Nobody understands me. 

That's my curse. 

(chuckles) 

He steps over to the street vendor and pulls out some cash. 

Whistler: 

Dog me. Mustard. 

He watches the vendor get out the hotdog and squirt on some mustard. 

Whistler: (to Angel) 

My name's Whistler. 

Vendor: 

Here you go. 

Whistler: 

(takes the dog) 

Thanks. 

(hands over a bill, turns to Angel) 

Anyway, lately it is. 

(takes a bite) Mm. 

Angel: (looks down) 

You're not a vampire. 

Whistler: 

A demon... technically. 

I mean, I'm not a bad guy. 

Not all demons are dedicated to the destruction of all life. 

Angel: (looks at him) 

Whadaya mean, I can go either way? 

Whistler: 

I mean, that you can become an even more useless rodent than you already are, 

or you can become someone. 

A person. 

Someone to be counted. 

Angel: 

I just wanna be left alone. 

(starts away) 

Whistler: 

Well, yeah, you've been left alone for, what, ninety years already. 

(Angel turns back) 

And what a package you are. 

The Stink Guy! 

Angel: 

What do you want from me? 

Whistler: 

I want you to see something. 

He gives Angel an intense look. 

Angel just looks at him. 

Whistler: 

We'd have to leave now. 

You see, and then you tell me what you wanna do. 

Angel: 

Where is it? 

Cut to 

Hemery High School in Los Angeles, 

1996. 

School is over for the day, and the students come streaming out. 

An old, rusted Chevy Impala with its windows spray-painted black pulls up on the far side of the street. 

The driver's window lowers, and Angel squints out into the daylight, careful to remain in shadow. 

He looks over at the building and sees Buffy come down the steps with three of her friends. 

Buffy: 

So I'm like, 'Dad, do you want me to go to the dance in an outfit I've already worn? 

Why do you hate me?' 

Girl#1: 

Is Tyler taking you? 

Buffy: 

Where were you when I got over Tyler? 

He's of the past. 

(Angel watches her) 

Tyler would have to crawl on his hands and knees to get me to go to the dance with him. 

Which, actually, he's supposed to do after practice, so I'm gonna wait. 

Girl#1: 

Okay. See ya later. 

Girl#2: 

Bye! 

Buffy:

(waves to Girl#1) 

Call me! 

Girl#1: Okay! Buffy: (waves to Girl#2) Call me! (waves to Girl#3) Call me! Girl#3: I will! 

Buffy climbs back up a few steps and looks around. 

She takes off her jacket and sits down to wait for Tyler. 

She lays the jacket across her legs and idly looks around again. 

A man in a black suit approaches her. 

He is her first Watcher, who has finally found her. 

Watcher: 

Buffy Summers? 

Buffy: 

(looks at him) 

Yeah? (smiles) 

Hi! (confused) What? 

Watcher: 

I need to speak with you. 

Buffy: (worried) 

You're not from Bullock's, are you? 

'Cause I-I meant to pay for that lipstick. 

Watcher: 

There isn't much time. 

You must come with me. 

Your Destiny awaits. 

Buffy: 

(confused, shakes her head) 

I don't have a Destiny. 

(nods) 

I'm Destiny-free, really. 

Watcher: 

(seriously) 

Yes, you have. 

You are The Chosen One. 

You alone can stop them. 

Buffy: 

Who? 

Watcher: 

The Vampires. 

Buffy: 

(considers for a moment) 

Huh? 

Cut to a cemetery. 

Buffy lands flat on her back. 

Buffy: 

Oof! 

A vampire props himself over her, growling menacingly. 

She is very frightened, and looks around frantically for what to do. 

Angel watches from behind some gravestones. 

Buffy spots her stake, but can't reach it, so she just gets her hands underneath the vampire and pushes him off. 

He flies off of her and lands hard on his back. 

Buffy: 

Oh, God... 

She rolls onto her hands and knees and scrambles on all fours to retrieve her stake. 

Buffy: 

Oh, God... Oh... 

Oh, God... Unh! 

She grabs the stake and quickly gets to her feet. 

She looks at it, unsure of what to do next. 

The vampire gets up and lunges at her. 

Reflexively she grabs him, sidesteps him and sends him flipping over to the ground again, dazed. 

She looks at the vampire, amazed by what she just did. 

She glances back at the Watcher, down at her stake and then makes her move to dispatch the vampire. 

She quickly gets to her knees, raises the stake above her head and plunges it into him, but gets him in the gut instead of the chest. 

Buffy: 

Oh! Not the heart! 

Angel watches, concerned.

 

Buffy plunges the stake into the vampire again, and this time hits her mark. 

An instant later the vampire bursts into ashes. 

Buffy is caught by surprise, and she screams and jumps back, landing on her butt. 

She just stares at the ashes on the grass in wide- eyed shock. 

Behind her the Watcher steps up. 

Watcher: 

You see? 

You see Your Power? 

Buffy isn't at all sure she wants to see. 

Angel continues to watch. 

Cut to Buffy's house in L.A. 

The camera looks into her room from outside. 

Buffy comes in with her mother close behind. 

Joyce: 

Why didn't you call? 

Buffy: 

(faces her mom) 

I'm sorry. I-I didn't know it was so late. 

Tyler and I were talking. 

Joyce: (exhales) 

That boy is irresponsible. 

Buffy: 

No, mom. It's not his fault. 

(takes off her jacket) 

Joyce: 

You know we worry, that's all. 

They look at each other for a moment, and Joyce shrugs. 

Joyce: 

Dinner's in ten minutes. 

(leaves) 

Buffy: (whispers) 

Yeah. 

She goes through the other door into her bathroom. 

The camera pans from the bedroom window over to the bathroom window. 

She turns on the water to wash up from the cemetery. 

Her parents talk in the hall, and she can hear as it escalates into an argument. 

Hank: 

Did she say where she was? 

Joyce: 

She was with Tyler. 

Hank: 

I don't want her seeing him anymore, period! 

Angel looks in at her from outside. 

Joyce: 

You're overreacting, dear. 

Buffy looks at herself in the mirror sadly.

 

The tears begin to come. 

Hank: 

Don't do that! 

Don't talk to me like I'm a kid! 

Joyce: 

I don't! Just forget it! 

Angel continues to watch and listen. 

Hank: 

Just because you can't discipline her, 

I have to be the ogre! 

Buffy keeps on staring into the mirror. 

Joyce: 

I am not having this conversation again! Alright? 

Buffy looks down and tries hard not to cry. 

Cut to the sewers. 

Angel arrives where Whistler is waiting for him. 

Whistler: 

She's gonna have it tough, that Slayer. 

She's just a kid. 

The World's full of Big, Bad Things. 

Angel: 

I wanna help her. 

(Whistler looks at him)

 I want... 

I wanna become someone. 

Whistler: 

God, jeez, look at you. 

She must be prettier than the last Slayer. 

(Angel looks away) 

This isn't gonna be easy. 

The more you live in This World, the more you see how apart from it you really are. 

(sternly) 

And this is Dangerous Work. 

Right now, you couldn't go three rounds with a fruit fly! 

Angel: (with resolve) 

I wanna learn from you. 

Whistler: 

Alright. 

Angel: 

But I don't wanna dress like you. 

(starts to leave) 

Whistler: (follows) 

Again, you're annoying me. 

You're lucky we need you on our side.

"Los Angeles. You see it at night and it shines. 

Like a beacon. People are drawn to it. 

People and Other Things. 

They come for all sorts of reasons. 

My reason? No surprise there. 

It started with A Girl..."

Angel sits at a bar, playing with a glass sitting in front of him. 

He appears to be slightly drunk.

[ He isn't. This is Performative Guise, and he is hunting. ]

Angel: 

She was a really, really pretty girl. 

No she, she was a hottie girl. 

She, she had - I mean - her hair was... You know?

You kind of remind me of her. 

He is talking to an unamused big, bald black man at the bar.

Because, because – you know – the hair. I mean – the hair.

He looks over at the guy sitting beside him. It is a burly black guy with a clean-shaven head. Angel turns his head and glances over his shoulder at a group of three guys and two girls playing pool behind him.

One of the guys comes and leans on the bar next to Angel and says to bartender: 

We want to cash out.

Angel looks up at him with a drunken grin: 

Girls are nice.

Laughs.

The guy gives him a disgusted look.

Bartender: 

Here you go.

Guy to the others: 

Okay, guys, let’s go. Let’s go find some real fun.

The five pool players leave and Angel straightens up in his chair. After a beat he gets up no longer laughing and follows them out.

Cut to Alleyway beside the bar:

Blond girl:

You guys really know the doorman? 

I mean you can get us into the Lido?

1.Guy: 

I don’t wanna to go clubbing anymore. 

I want to party, right here. 

Grabs the girl.

1.Girl: 

Hey back off!" 

(pushes him away)

2.vamp grabs 2.girl.

1.vamp grabs 1.girl by the throat: 

Shut up and die!

(vamps out)

Angel walks up apparently drunk: 

Excuse me. ‘scuse me. I’m sorry. 

But has anybody seen my car? 

It’s big , and it’s shiny.

1.vamp: 

Piss off, pal!

Angel walks up to him and leans in to get a closer look at his face. 1.vamp growls at him. 

Angel leans back: 

Uhh, breath mint?

1.vamp throws the girl into some trashcans and swings at Angel. 

Angel blocks, knocks him down, spins around to knock the 2.vamp running up in the face, then kicks out at the first vamp just getting back up. 

3.vamp tackles Angel to the ground, but Angel catapults him over his head and gets back up. 

Sees two vamps charging him from opposite sides. 

Triggers the stakes concealed in spring-loaded wrist sheathes under his sleeves and stakes both at the same time. 

They dust.

1.vamp comes up and hits him over the head with a trashcan. Angel drops to the ground.

Angel (in vamp face): 

You shouldn’t have done that.

Gets up, hits 1.vamp in the stomach then throws him. 1.vamp spins in the air and lands on top of a car’s windshield cracking it.

Cut to the two girls watching, looking scared. 1.girl is bleeding from a cut on her forehead.

1.girl: 

Oh, my god! They were…

Angel with his back turned to them: 

Go Home.

1.girl steps closer: 

Thank you.

Angel spins around and she looks shocked at his vamp face. He stares at her bleeding cut. 

Stay away from me.

The girls back off. 

Angel stalks down the alley looking disgusted. 

Breaking a slat from a wooden crate he stakes the vamp still lying on the car’s hood without even looking. 

The girls watch him leave.

Intro.

Angel walks down a street. Enters an office Building. Walks down a couple steps and through one of the offices on the ground floor and gets into an elevator. Pulls the metal grating closed, the elevator goes down.

Cut to angel getting out of the elevator, takes off his coat as he walks into the apartment. Undoes the empty wrist sheathes, steps over to a weapons cabinet, takes off his shirt (has a black muscle shirt on under it, sorry ladies) and drops it over the back of a sofa. Then freezes and looks over his shoulder at:

Doyle: 

I like the place. I mean it’s not much with the view, 

but it has a nice bat-cave sort of an air to it.

Angel: 

Who are you?

Doyle playing with a deck of cards in his hands: 

Doyle.

Angel turns around: 

You don’t smell human.

Doyle: 

Now that’s a bit rude. 

So happens that I am very much human.

Sneezes and blue spikes pop out all over his face.

On My Mother’s side.

Shakes his head and the spikes disappear.

Doyle walks past Angel: 

Well, I come in uninvited, 

so you know I’m not a vampire like yourself.

Angel: 

What do you want?

Doyle: 

I’ve been sent – 

By The Powers That Be.

Angel: 

The Powers That Be what? 

Doyle: 

Let me tell you a little bedtime story.

Angel: 

But I’m not sleepy.

Doyle: 

Once upon a time there was a vampire. 

And he was the meanest vampire in all the land. 

(Flashback to Angel in vamp face biting Daniel, biting a girl) 

All the other vampires were afraid of him, he was such a - bastard. 

Then one day he’s cursed – by gypsies. 

(Flashback to old gypsy lady speaking the curse) 

They restore his Human Soul.

 

And all of a sudden he is mad with guilt. 

You know: ‘What have I done?’

You know, he’s freaked.

Angel sits down on the sofa: 

Okay. Now I’m sleepy.

Doyle: 

Yeah, well, it’s a fairly dull tale. 

It needs a little sex, is my feeling. 

So sure enough: Enter The Girl. 

(Flash to scenes of Buffy) 

Pretty little blonde thing, (whistles) Vampire Slayer by trade. 

And our vampire falls madly in love with her. 

(Flash to Angel and Buffy kissing) 

Eventually the two of them - well, they get fleshy with one another. 

Well, I guess the technical term is 'Perfect Happiness'. 

But when our boy gets there, (Flash to dream sequence form Amends) he goes bad again. 

He kills again. It’s ugly. 

So when he gets his soul back for the second time, he figures hey, he can’t be any where near Miss Young Puppy Eyes without endangering them both. 

So what does he do? He takes off. 

(Flash to Angel walking away in G2) 

Goes to LA. 

(Doyle picks up a knife) 

To fight Evil - and atone for his crimes.

 

He’s a Shadow - 

A Faceless Champion of the hapless Human Race – 

Say you wouldn’t have a beer of any kind in here, would you?"

Angel: 

No.

Doyle: 

Come on, you must have something besides pig’s blood!

Angel get up off the sofa: 

Okay. You’ve told me The Story of My Life, 

which, since I was there, I already knew. 

....why aren’t I kicking you out...?

Doyle looks into the refrigerator that holds two bags of blood: 

Because now I’m going to tell you what happens next. 

You see this vampire, he thinks he’s helping. 

Fighting the demons. 

Staying away from the human’s so as not to be tempted. 

Doing penance in his little - cell. 

But he’s cut off. From everything. 

From the people he’s trying to help.

Angel: 

I still save ‘em.

Who cares if I don’t stop to chat.

Doyle: 

When was the last time you drank [human] blood?

Angel whispers: 

Buffy.

Doyle: 

Left you with a bit of a craving, didn’t it? 

Let me tell you something, pal, that craving is going to grow and one day soon, one of those helpless victims that you don’t really care about is going to look way too appetizing to turn down. 

And you’ll figure —

“Hey! what’s one against all I’ve saved? 

Might as well eat them. 

I’m still ahead by The Numbers!"

You know I’m parched from all this yakking, man. 

Let’s go treat me to a Billy Dee.

Cut to Angel and Doyle walking on the street.

Doyle carrying a bottle in a brown paper bag: 

It’s not all about fighting and gadgets and stuff. 

It’s about reaching out to people, showing them that there’s love and hope still left in the world.

Homeless lady comes up and asks him for some change.

Doyle (to lady): 

Get a job, you lazy sow. 

(to Angel) 

It’s about letting them into your heart. 

It’s not about saving lives; it’s about saving souls. 

Hey, possibly your own in the process.

Angel: 

I want to know who sent you.

Doyle: 

I’m honestly not sure. 

They don’t speak to me direct. I get - visions. 

Which is to say great splitting migraines that come with pictures. 

A name – a face. 

I don’t know who sends them. 

I just know Whoever Sends Them is more powerful than me or you, and They're just trying to make things Right.

Angel: 

Why Me?

Doyle: 

Because you’ve got Potential. 

And the balance sheet isn’t exactly in your favor.

Angel: 

Well why you?

Doyle: 

We all got something to atone f'r. 

(reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper) 

Had a vision this morning. 

When the blinding pain stopped I wrote this down.

Angel reads the paper -

TINA

COFFEE SPOT

Angel :

Tina.

Doyle: 

Nice looking girl, needs help.

Angel: 

Help with what?

Doyle: 

That’s Your Business. 

I just take The Names.

Angel: 

I don’t get it. How am I supposed to know…

Doyle: 

You’re supposed to get into Her Life, remember? 

Get involved. 

Look, High School’s over, boy. 

It’s time to make with the grown up talk.

Angel: 

Why would a woman I’ve never met even talk to me?"

Doyle laughs:

Have you looked into a mirror lately? (hesitates)

No, I guess you really haven’t, no."

Angel: 

I’m not good with People.

Doyle: 

Well that’s the whole point of this little exercise, isn’t it?

Are You Game? 

Cut to Angel walking through the sewers, subway noises in the background. 

He hears someone moaning. 

He quickly climbs up through a trap door just in front of the bed Tina is lying on. He grabs her and tries to wake her form her nightmare.

She grabs a hold of him while he tries to calm her down.

Tina: 

He was here.

Angel: 

I’m here.

 

Did your friend Denise have a tattoo on her left shoulder?"

Tina: 

She had a rose.

Angel: 

I think she *was* murdered. 

And there were others. 

He picks girls with no family, no one to care.

Tina pulls away from him.

Angel: 

Look you don’t have to be afraid. Your safe here.

Tina points over his shoulder at Doyle’s note laying on the sofa table: 

Why do you have that? 

You knew who I was when you walked in there last night?

Tina starts to pack her things.

Angel stands up: 

No, I didn’t. I just -

I had your name that’s all, all right? 

Look. It’s complicated.

Tina: 

Yeah, I’m sure. 

Big complicated game that Russell’s playing with my head. 

How much is he paying you?

Angel: 

He’s not.

Tina: 

You’re just like him. 

You stay away from me.

She runs out of the apartment.

She runs through the office to the doors leading out. 

Sun is shining through the windows in the doors.

As she leaves the office Angel grabs her arm.

Angel: 

Please, listen…

She tries to get away and pulls him towards the doors. 

Direct sunlight hits his arm and it goes up in flame. 

As Tina stares in horror Angel vamps out. 

She runs out the doors. Angel moves to follow but stops when he starts smoking again in the sunlight.

Cut to Tina’s apartment building. 

Tina is packing. She picks up a revolver from a drawer and spins around aiming it right at Russell.

Tina: 

Russell."

Russell: 

I’ve been looking everywhere for you. 

And here you are right under my nose. 

Oh, I own the building, most of the block. 

[ Which is probably how he can come in uninvited, and legally - it's his property. ]

[ It's a Full-Service Law Firm. ]

(smiles at her) 

Are you going to point that gun at me all day?

Tina: 

What did you do to Denise?

Russell: 

Nothing.

Tina: 

I want The Truth, Russell.

Russell: 

She wanted to go home, I bought her a ticket to Pensacola.

Tina: 

She’s dead.

Russell: 

What do you mean? She called me yesterday. 

She said she’s going back to school, 

she wanted me to pull some strings.

[ Highly Unlikely. ]

Russell: 

Look, we both know that I live outside of the box, 

but I don’t go around killing my friends!

[ You're not his friend, you're his lunch. ] 

If this is about LA. If you need rent. 

You know I only want to help you. 

Takes the gun from her.

Just tell me what you want.

Tina looks down, crying: 

I want to Go Home.

Russell smiling: 

Done.

Strokes her cheek as she cries.

Russell: 

Poor thing. Who’s been spinning your head like this?

Tina: 

I don’t know. I thought you hired him. 

He turned into something. 

It was the most horrible thing I’ve ever seen.

Russell vamps out: 

Well, you’re young.

Tina gasps in shock and he leans in to bite her.

Cut to Angel running up to her apartment. 

He opens the door and walks in to find her laying dead on the floor. 

He touches the bite marks on her neck then looks at the blood on his fingers.

Cut to the Coroners zipping Tina up in a body bag. 

Camera pulls back to reveal Angel watching the scene from a neighboring roof.

Cut to Angel steeping out of the elevator into his apartment.

Angel: 

The guy’ trying to take her at the party was called Stacy.

Doyle: 

First name or last?

Angel:

I don’t know. Professional muscle, probably done some time.

Doyle: 

I can ask around.

Angel grabs a phone book: 

Great. Start with the car. 

Grey ’87 Black Mercedes 300E, going to need some serious work on the bumper. 

Call the chop shops.

Doyle: 

I know a couple that ain’t in the book, too.

Angel: 

The guy in the car leads me to Stacy. 

Stacy leads me to Russell.

Doyle: 

You couldn’t have known she was going to run out on you like that.

Angel: 

Forget it. Let’s get to work.

Doyle: 

You can’t cut yourself off from…

Angel: 

Doyle, I don’t want to share my feelings, 

I don’t want to open up. 

I want to find Russell 

and I want to look him in the eye.

Doyle: 

Then what?

Angel: 

Then I’m going to share my feelings.

Cut to Russell’s huge white Mansion. 

There are dark suited security guys patrolling the premises and uniformed maids in the halls. 

Russell is watching a video tape of Margo’s party while listening to his lawyer’s report.

LINDSAY McDONALD : 

Mr. Winters, the Eltron merger is a go. 

They caved on everything after you negotiated with their CFO. 

[ I dread to think.... ]

We’ll bring the papers by your office tomorrow.

Russell is looking at pictures of Tina at the party:

She had something, didn’t she?

Tina smiles into the camera and waves.

Russell: 

I was sorry to kill her so soon.

LINDSAY McDONALD : 

Actually, you haven’t seen her in several week.  

(opens briefcase and takes out a paper) 

You were in a conference yesterday with your contract lawyers when the unfortunate incident occurred. 

And we’ve located a witness that is telling police that saw a dark complected man with blood on his hands fleeing the scene.

Russell: "Impressive."

Lawyer: "Wolfram&Hart is a full service law firm, Mr. Winters. It is our job - to see to it that our clients lives run more smoothly."

Russell sees a picture of Cordelia: "Who is this? (gets up) A fresh face. - I think we should meet."

Lawyer: "Should I alert the firm that this young lady may constitute another long-term investment?"

Russell: "I don’t think so. I just want something to eat."

Cut to Stacy’s Gym Supplies. Stacy is talking to a guy when the store window is shattered by a trashcan swung by angel.

Cut to Angel pushing Stacy down on a weight bench.

Angel: "Where does he live, how much security does he have?"

Stacy: "Listen Hot shot. What ever she was to you, you better forget it. You have no idea who you’re dealing with here."

Angel: 

Russell? Let me guess. 

Not big on the daylight and the mirrors? 

Drinks a lot of V-8?

Stacy: 

You get in his way, he’ll kill you. 

He’ll kill everyone you care about.

Angel: 

There is nobody left that I care about.

Cut to Cordelia’s apartment she is sitting in the Lotus position with her eyes closed.

Cordelia: 

I am somebody. I matter. 

People will be drawn to my positive energy 

and help me to achieve my goals. 

I am right where I am supposed to be 

(she falls forward to the bed face down) 

and not dying for something to eat!

The telephone rings. Cordy jumps up and grabs it.

Cordelia: 

Hello, Cordelia Chase.

Margo pouring herself a drink: 

Cor, it’s Margo. You were such a hit at my party last night.

Cordelia: 

Oh, thanks!

Margo: 

Guess who saw my videotape of the party and guess who wants to meet with you.

(pours out some pills)

Cordelia: 

A Director? A Manager? 

An assistant to an assistant who wants to spring for lunch?

Margo washing down the pills with her drink: 

Russell Winters.

Cordelia: 

The investment guy?

Margo: 

Oh, oh, Cordelia. He is a lot more than that. 

He helps people get started in their careers. 

And he wants to meet you – tonight.

Cordelia: 

Tonight?

Margo: 

He’ll send a Limo for you at 8.

Cut to Angel’s apartment. 

Angel is filling up a black bag with weapons.

Doyle: 

Wow, you’re really going to war here. - I guess you – ah - you’ve seen a few in your time, yeah?

Angel: 

14, not including Vietnam. 

They never declared it.

Cut to Cordelia riding in the Limo.

Cordelia: 

"People will be attracted to my positive energy and help me achieve my goals." Oh, yeah!

Limo drives through a big metal gate onto the grounds of Russell’s mansion.

Cut to Angel’s apartment.

Doyle: 

Well, listen, best of luck to you man. (slaps Angel’s shoulder) 

I’ve got some fairly large coin riding on the Vikings tonight, but I’ll be there with you in spirit, yeah?"

Angel: 

You’re driving.

Doyle: 

Now wait a minute. Nah-a, I’m not combat ready. 

I’m just The Messenger!

Angel throws him the weapons bag: 

And I’m The Message. 

Cut to Cordelia following a butler through Russell’s huge foyer. They enter one of the rooms.

Russell get up to greet her: 

I’m Russell. Thank you so much for coming. (to butler) that’ll be all Franklin. We’d like to be alone.

Cordelia: 

Wow, what a nice place. I love your curtains. 

Not afraid to emphasize the curtains.

Russell: 

Well, I have old fashioned tastes.

Cordelia: 

I grew up in a nice home. 

It wasn’t like this, but we did have a room or two that we didn’t even know what they were for – 

Until the IRS got all huffy about my folks not paying taxes for, well, ever. 

They took it all.

Russell: 

Margo tells me you’re an actress. 

It’s going well?"

Cordelia sits down: 

Oh… Yeah, it’s great! 

I’ve had a lot of opportunities. 

The hands in the liquid-gel commercial were almost mine, by one or two girls. 

And well… 

It’s not everything – I…

Cut to Angel’s convertible driving up to the gate. 

Angel gets out to talk to the guard throwing the keys to Doyle.

Angel: 

How’re you doing. I think we’re lost. 

We are looking for a Roscomere. 

What are you watching? 

Is that the game? (leans into the guard booth) The Vikings on?

Drops the guard with a hard right, then pulls the cable form the security camera pointing at the gate. 

Takes off his light jacket and shirt and throws them in the car. 

He’s dressed all in black now. 

Gets out his bag of weapons.

Angel: 

Tie him up. 

I’m out in ten minutes or I’m not coming out.

Cut to Cordelia.

Cordelia: 

I’ve tried really hard, you know.
Usually when I set out to achieve something I succeed at it, right away. 

But I… I don’t know anybody,
and I don’t really have any friends here.

Russell: 

Now you know me. You don’t have to worry anymore.

Cordelia looks down then back up at him: 

What do you want me to do?

Russell steps closer: 

Just tell me what you want.

Cordelia: 

Oh, god. I’m sorry! I’m getting all weepy in front of you. I probably look really scary. 

(gets up and looks around the room) 

I finally get invited to a nice place – with no mirrors, 

and lots of curtains… hey, you’re a vampire!

Russell: 

What? No, I’m not.

Cordelia: 

Are too!

Russell: 

I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Cordelia: 

Hey, I’m from Sunnydale. We had our own Hellmouth! 

I think I know a vampire when I’m - alone with him… 

In his fortress-like home. 

And you know, I think I’m just feeling a little light headed from hunger. 

I’m just wacky. And kidding! Ha, ha.

Cut to Angel setting an explosive charge with a 30 second timer on the fuse box.

Russell: 

Truth is, I’m glad you know. 

It means we can skip the formalities.

Russell vamps out and Cordelia turns to run.

Cut to Angel throwing a grappling hook up to the balcony. Cut to him jumping over the balcony railing.

Cut to Doyle sitting in the car, checking his watch.

Cut to Cordelia running up the white marble stairs.

Russell grabs her with a growl. Cut to the fuse box blowing. Cut to Russell looking up as the lights suddenly go out. He lets go of Cordy.

Angel: "Russell Winters."

Cordelia: "Angel?"

Angel slowly steps out of the dark at the end of the open landing: "I have a message for you – from Tina."

Russell: "You made a very big mistake coming here."

Cordelia: "You don’t know who he is, do you? Oh, boy! You are about to get your ass kicked!"

Angel pulls out a stake and attacks Russell. They are pretty evenly matched. After some back and forth Russell manages to throw Angel down.

Cordelia: "Angel?"

Angel looks up and sees to bodyguards with drawn guns charging up the stairs. He waits until they are all on the runner he is laying on the pulls it out form under all three of his opponents as he gets up.

Russell: "Kill them!"

Angel takes a shot in the chest then turns to pick up Cordelia. While more bullets hit him in the back he jumps over the banister to the floor below.

Cordelia: "Angel! Ah!"

They run out the front door.

Cut to Doyle jumping in his seat as he hears the gunshots.

Doyle: "That’s it. I’m gone!"

Backs out of the driveway and speeds down the road.

Doyle hits the steering wheel: "Come on. Damn it!"

Turns the car around and charges the gate, screaming and hitting the steering wheel. The car hits – and stops, the gate still closed.

Doyle: "It’s - a Good Gate.

Cut to Angel and Cordelia coming up to the car. Angel is hunched over; the front of the car is dented and steaming.

Doyle: 

You know, I’ve had a bit of an accident, but we’ll talk later…

Cordelia gets into the passenger seat while Angel falls into the back seat.

Cut to Angel’s apartment. 

Doyle is digging the bullet out of Angel’s chest.

Doyle: 

Got it!

Cordelia: 

Finally! I thought I was going to faint while barfing! Okay. (she dabs at the wound with a piece of gauze and Angel flinches) Sorry. So, it’s over, right? We’re going to be okay. You put the fear of god into that Russell guy. (tapes a piece of gauze over the bullets hole) He’s not going to come looking for me, right?"

They all just look at each other.

Cut to Russell Winters big corporate building. 

Cut to his office. He is sitting at the head of the table with about ten other guys in suits sitting around it.

LINDSAY McDONALD : 

The Eltron mutual trust binder is ready for your signature. 

As to the intruder that broke into your home last night, local authorities have no information on him. 

However we have several top private investigators…

(the doors burst open and Angel walks in) 

that are looking into his where-abouts.

Russell: 

I believe we’ve located him.

The Lawyer stand up and bars Angel’s way: 

I’m with Wolfram & Hart. 

(hands him a business card) 

Mr. Winters has never been accused and shall never be convicted of any crime – ever. 

Should you continue to harass our client, we will be forced to bring you into the light of day. 

(Angel walks past him looking at Winters) 

I place, I’m told, that isn’t all that healthy for you.

Russell: 

Angel - We do things a certain way here in LA.

Angel: 

Well, I’m new here.

Russell: 

But you’re A Civilised Man. 

We don’t have to go around attacking each other. 

Look at me: I pay my taxes. 

I keep my name out of the paper, 

and I don’t make waves. 

And in return -- I can do anything I want!

Angel puts one foot on the chair between Russell’s legs and leans forward: 

Really. 

Hmm. Can you fly....?

Pushes the chair backwards into the wall of windows behind Russell. 

Russell crashes through the window. 

He falls down screaming, catches fire and turns to dust.

Angel hears the scream cut off: 

Hmm. I guess not.

Walks out sticking the lawyer’s business card into the front pocket of his jacket.

Cut to the empty chair and glass hitting the side walk.

Lawyer pulls out his cell phone: 

Set up an interoffice meeting for 4:00. 

Seems we have a new player in town. 

No, no, there is any need to disturb The Senior Partners with this. Not yet.

Cut to Angel sitting in his apartment staring at the phone. He picks it up and dials a number.

Buffy’s voice on the phone: "Hello? Hello?"

Angel hangs up the phone.

Doyle walks in: 

What happened to Russell?

Angel: 

He went into the light.

Doyle: 

And yet you don’t seem to be in a celebrating mood."

Angel: 

Killed a vampire. 

Didn’t help anybody.

Doyle: 

Are you sure about that? 

Because there is a girl upstairs that’s as happy as can be.

There is a scream. Both men jump up and rush upstairs.

They burst into the office upstairs, Angel carefully avoiding the sun streaming in through the windows.

Cordelia with a duster in her hand: 

Ah! Look over there! A cockroach! 

In the corner. I think it’s a bantam weight!

Cordelia to Angel: 

Okay, first thing. 

We need to call an exterminator – and a sign painter. 

We should have a name on the door!"

Angel: 

Okay. I’m confused.

Cordelia:

Doyle filled me in on your little Mission. 

So I was just saying, if we’re going to Help People, 

maybe, a small charge. 

You know, something to help pay the rent, and my salary. 

You need somebody to organise things, 

and you’re not exactly rolling in it, 

Mr. "I-was-alive-for-200-years-and-never-developed-an-investment-portfolio."

Angel: 

You want to charge people?

Cordelia: 

Well, not everybody. 

But sooner or later we are going to have to help some rich people, right? Right?

Doyle: 

Possibly, yeah.

Cordelia (to Angel): 

Hand me that box. 

So I think that we should charge based on a case-by-case analysis, but with me working for a flat fee.

I mean, um…that is - 

if you think that you can use me?

After a moment Angel hands her the box with a smile.

Cordelia: 

Of course this is just temporary - until my inevitable stardom takes effect.

She takes the box from him and walks away with a smile.

Doyle: 

You’ve made a good choice. 

She’ll provide a connection to The World. 

She’s got a very – humanising influence.

Angel with a half smile: 

You think she’s a Hottie."

Doyle: "Yeah, she’s a stiffener alright, I can’t lie about that. But, you know, she could use a hand."

Angel: "True."

Doyle: "You know there’s a lot of people in this city that need helping."

Angel: "Hmm. So I noticed."

Doyle: "You game?"

Cut to nighttime LA superimposed over their faces. Cut to Angel looking out over the city.

Angel: "I’m game."

BLACK OUT.