6x01
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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TEASER
FADE IN:
1 EXT. ALLEY BEHIND HYPERION. NIGHT. 1
We see the same, rain-soaked back alley we left Angel in
previously, but there's no sign of the Fang Gang. In fact,
there's no sign of anybody – not the Wolfram & Hart Failsafe
armies nor any unfortunate victims.
As we pan along, we pick up two small shapes shuffling
through the dumpsters in the alley, and as we push in these
are revealed as MARY and KURT – two young homeless kids,
their faces and clothes grimy as they search the bins for
food. Mary looks up and down the alley nervously as Kurt
dives into the nearest, one hand holding the lid.
MARY
Come on, Kurt, don't be too long.
KURT
Hey, does it look like I want to be
in here? I may be homeless, but I
ain't about to start livin' in a
bin just yet!
MARY
I heard noises. Fighting. I don't
wanna stay here.
KURT
Relax, I'll just be a minute, then
I'll- aha! Jackpot.
Kurt re-emerges from the bin clutching two brown fast food
bags. He dangles them out towards Mary, laughing as he holds
them just out of reach.
KURT (cont'd)
Nobody ever finishes these things!
This ought to keep us going, till
we-
Kurt freezes, his face draining of colour as he spots
something behind Mary. She's too busy trying to get the bags,
and doesn't notice Kurt's face as she finally grabs one and
opens it up.
A shadow falls across her as she starts to munch on a two-day
old burger, but it takes her a few moments to notice. She
slowly looks up…
… and standing over her is a huge and terrifying DEMON, fifty
per cent muscle, fifty per cent teeth, drooling as it gazes
down at the meal in front of it.
Kurt and Mary are frozen to the spot as the demon pads
forward, its breathing the only sound heard over the heavy
rain, until it is just inches from the kids.
It starts to hunch up to pounce, but its eyes suddenly bulge,
and it utters a strange, high-pitched SQUEAL.
Just as suddenly, the monster starts to pitch forward, and
Mary dives out of the way with a YELP as the beast slams face
first onto the wet pavement, a metal pole sticking out of its
back.
This reveals SPIKE, bruised and bloody and short of breath,
but the saviour of the day. Behind him, we can dimly make out
dozens of shapes rushing back and forth, and hear the sounds
of fierce battle.
SPIKE
Well? What the heck are you two
little buggers waiting for? Leg it!
Kurt falls down out of the dumpster, and he and Mary scamper
off, back down the alley.
Spike sighs and steps up to the demon, wrenching the bloody
pole free from its back with a grunt.
He turns back round to face the melee a few feet away. We can
dimly see the lithe form of ILLYRIA as she hurls one demon
bodily into a crowd of several more, knocking them all to the
ground.
Spike grins and takes a step forward, pausing when he hears
the sound of huge wings FLAPPING overhead.
He looks up, and through the rain and clouds overhead, we
can't fail to see the shape of the DRAGON fly overhead,
shrieking its battle cry as it circles the alley.
It arcs sharply down towards us, but something about its
trajectory seems wrong – it's heading straight towards one of
the tall buildings in front of us.
Spike spots this and takes a few steps backwards.
SPIKE (cont'd)
Oh, bloody hell…
He turns and runs as the Dragon reaches terminal velocity,
and with a deafening CRASH it piles face first into the
building, demolishing it in an instant and showering the
alley with bricks and rubble.
Like a downed plane, the dragon's momentum keeps it piling
towards us, turfing up masonry and concrete before it finally
slows to a halt.
Amidst a pile of dust and rubble, Spike picks himself up,
coughing as he staggers back towards the body of the now very
dead dragon.
More rubble heaped around the dragon shifts, and as we watch
a section of it gives way and cascades down into the street,
revealing the dusty, bloodied but unbowed form of ANGEL.
As Spike looks on incredulously, Angel yanks a huge
broadsword free from the side of the dragon's head and hops
down into the alleyway, landing a few feet away from Spike.
Spike looks from Angel, to the dragon, and then back. Angel
opens his mouth to speak, but Spike points a warning finger
at him.
SPIKE (cont'd)
Don't say it, don't say a word!
Don't you bloody dare!
Angel turns to the other end of the alley, and we can see
there are still plenty more things down there that need
taking care of.
ANGEL
There's still work to do.
Angel walks towards us and into the camera, forcing a:
BLACK OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
2 EXT. STREET. NIGHT. 2
And we're straight into the thick of the battle as Angel and
Spike race into scene. Illyria, yelling with uncontrolled
fury, slams her fists into demon soldiers left and right,
knocking them to the ground and into each other. She wrenches
the necks of any who fall too close.
One hand clutching the wound on his side and his shirt soaked
with blood, GUNN swings his axe around him, keeping the
hordes at bay until he gets an opening, burying the axe head
into another demon.
Angel barges two demons to the ground and comes up swinging,
his sword blade clashing as he spars with two lean, black
suited assassins who attack him.
Spike trades punches with two feral vampires, cackling as he
fells one of them and knees the second in the groin.
After a few moment's fighting, Angel and Spike find
themselves back to back, a crowd of soldiers either side.
SPIKE
Just like old times, eh, mate?
ANGEL
Wouldn't miss it for the world.
SPIKE
May not be a world for much longer,
the way this is going!
ANGEL
Never liked the place much anyway…
They both push forward, away from each other, scattering
their attackers and charging off screen.
We're with Illyria as she ducks under one demon's sword
swings, finally grabbing her opponent's arm and pulling it
free from its socket.
As the demon howls and drops, Illyria looks at the arm with a
grin – but she hasn't spotted the second swordsman creeping
up behind her…
GUNN (O.S.)
Illyria!
Illyria spins and sees the demon at last, its sword already
halfway to her head. She's got nowhere to go, no time to
dodge.
CLANG! Gunn's axe streaks into frame, blocking the sword.
Gunn tries to push the demon away, managing a small grin.
GUNN (cont'd)
Gotta watch your back, I can't
always be here to save ya!
Illyria nods once and kicks out, catching the demon in the
gut. It doubles over and falls away.
ILLYRIA
Timely.
GUNN
Hey, just doing what I-
Gunn stiffens up, and then with a sigh pitches forwards into
Illyria's arms. An arrow shaft is lodged between his shoulder
blades, and Illyria gasps as the two of them clatter to the
floor.
ILLYRIA
Charles!!
Gunn blinks, his eyes distant. He looks towards Illyria and
grins.
GUNN
You called me Charles…
ILLYRIA
I… I didn't… I don't…
GUNN
It's okay… see ya… Fred…
With a last sigh, Gunn falls still. Illyria doesn't know what
to do, looking around frantically, the feelings raging inside
her still totally alien to her, and just as fresh as when Wes
died in her arms.
She looks up as two demon soldiers stand over her. They
chuckle, twirling their weapons round.
SOLDIER #1
Aww… did we kill your boyfriend?
Illyria slowly gets up, her face cold and emotionless. As the
soldiers start to chuckle and ready their swords, she remains
still, but as the first two blades lash out towards her, her
hands dart out and grab them both, and with one twist she
slices the blades back round into their owners.
As the demons gurgle and crumple, Illyria strides imperiously
onwards, another death to avenge.
As she walks into the camera, we dissolve to:
3 EXT. STREET. LATER. 3
Bodies of demon soldiers litter the street before us, with
rubble heaped where buildings used to stand and fires raging
away despite the tumultuous rain.
We start to pan slowly across the bodies, armour broken and
weapons discarded.
We pan across further and see the side of the huge dragon we
saw previously, one eye scorched out and the second dull and
vacant.
As we stay on it for a moment, a pair of hands reach into
frame, lock round one of its teeth, and with a WRENCH pull
the tooth free.
We pull back to see Illyria, cut, bruised and bloody, turning
her prize over in her hands.
SPIKE (O.S.)
I think it's dead, luv, doing
dental work on it isn't going to
make it any more dead.
ILLYRIA
This beast fought well. I wish to
make a trophy to commemorate its
final battle.
SPIKE (O.S.)
Yeah, well, you do that…
We pan back to pick up SPIKE, sitting in a doorway which
doesn't have a building behind it, the glow from his
cigarette lighting up his battered features.
SPIKE (cont'd)
… I'm perfectly happy leaving it
where it is right now, if it's all
the same to you.
(calls to his right)
How about you?
We pan up through the alley and make out Angel standing with
his back to us, hands on hips, looking like Hell but still in
one piece, the frown in place.
ANGEL
It's not over yet.
There is a ROAR from off camera, and Angel looks towards
something we can't see.
We cut to see another horde of demon soldiers approaching us,
weapons glinting in the moonlight as their footsteps rumble
down towards us.
Angel leans down, retrieves his sword from the body of a
warrior demon next to him and patiently cleans the blood from
it. He starts to walk towards us, past Spike and Illyria, who
watch him go.
SPIKE
Now what?
ANGEL
Time for Round Two.
Angel stands and watches the approaching army as Spike flicks
his cigarette away and stands, turning to Illyria.
SPIKE
Still pissed off about Wes and
Gunn?
Illyria doesn't answer - her cold stare says it all.
SPIKE (cont'd)
Good. Time to work on your anger
management then!
We close in on the trio as the sounds of the approaching army
grow in volume, Angel still looking defiant.
SPIKE (cont'd)
Now remember, the object of this
exercise is to not get killed
again. We all clear on that?
ANGEL
Spike?
SPIKE
Yes?
ANGEL
Shut up.
Angel raises his sword and strides towards the camera, and
from that we cut to:
4 EXT. STREET. LATER. 4
Pursued by a hail of rocks, flaming arrows and anything else
sharp and aerodynamic, Angel, Spike and Illyria hustle into
frame, taking refuge against a wall.
SPIKE
Bloody hell! They just don't stop
coming, do they?
ANGEL
You'd think we'd have at least
slowed them down by now…
SPIKE
You were the one yelling 'fall
back!' like we're in a sodding war
film or something!
ILLYRIA
I am not satisfied. I want to carry
on killing! I want to feel the
hearts of my enemies beat as I
crush the life out of them…
SPIKE
Plenty of targets, Blue, but I
don't think a direct offensive is
the best strategy at the moment!
ANGEL
We can't keep fighting them,
they'll tear the whole city apart!
SPIKE
And then us, in that order. Any
bright ideas?
ANGEL
Well, standing and fighting sure
didn't work out how I planned…
He flinches as an arrow THUDS into the dumpster, inches from
his head. An off camera cry of 'There they are!' is followed
by the sound of many pairs of feet running.
ANGEL (cont'd)
We can't stay here…
Angel breaks cover and runs off screen. Spike starts to
follow, but as Illyria stands and faces the approaching
hordes, Spike's arm reaches back in to drag her away.
5 EXT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. NIGHT. 5
Pushing on through the rain, the team run into a small
industrial estate, old warehouses all around them. Angel
heads for the closest one, shoulder barges a door down and
ushers the others inside.
6 INT. OLD WAREHOUSE. NIGHT. 6
As the trio step inside, Spike looks round for something to
brace the door with, settling for a large crate that he
heaves into place.
Stepping back and into the shadows, we can hear the army
outside march past, snarls and grunts in amongst the shouts
and commands.
ILLYRIA
Why are we hiding? We should be-
ANGEL
Quiet!
SPIKE
New objective, pet. We hide,
regroup and then work out a new way
of running away.
ANGEL
Spike!
Spike rolls his eyes and mimes zipping his mouth up. Shadows
pass by outside, their silhouettes falling across Angel as he
watches.
After a few moments, the crowd heads away, and Angel breathes
a sigh of relief.
ANGEL (cont'd)
Okay, good, I think we lost them
for now. Now, let's start thinking
about-
SPIKE
Have you gone stark raving bonkers?
We don't sit and think at a time
like this! We just get our breath
back, then get back out there.
Right?
Angel glares back at Spike, clearly not in the mood to put
any of his orders up for debate tonight.
ANGEL
We lost two good people tonight.
I'm tired, my whole body hurts, I
think I've still got an arrowhead
stuck in my chest, and I just want
to sit down and think for five
seconds before I decide what to do
next!
Angel starts to walk away, Spike and Illyria stay for a beat
before Spike sighs and taps Illyria on the shoulder.
SPIKE
Come on. Follow the leader.
ILLYRIA
(insulted)
I acknowledge no-one as my leader!
Spike throws her a tired look.
ILLYRIA (cont'd)
(hesitant)
But… on this occasion, I will make
an exception.
SPIKE
Oh, be still my unbeating heart.
Spike follows Angel, and after a moment so does Illyria.
7 EXT. STREET. NIGHT. 7
Angel and company are back outside, heading towards the city
centre. We can hear some kind of commotion up ahead, and
Angel tenses as he hears what sound like screams.
SPIKE
Doesn't sound like much has
changed…
ILLYRIA
The creatures have reached the
city.
With a worried look, Angel starts running.
8 EXT. CITY CENTRE. NIGHT. 8
Angel runs into frame, out from an alley and into a central
part of the city, but screeches to a halt. His jaw drops as
we push in close.
ANGEL
No…
We get our first view of the city - and Los Angeles is in
flames. The demon army are rampaging through the streets,
hacking down any terrified civilian in their path, tearing
down shop fronts, overturning cars, smashing windows and
generally taking the city apart.
SPIKE
Bloody hell…
ILLYRIA
This city is lost. We must leave.
ANGEL
What? No! We can't leave, we have
to fight them, maybe we can-
SPIKE
Maybe we can what? Angel, open your
eyes, LA is officially buggered!
We've got even less chance of
holding these things back now,
they're going to loot this Hammer
Horror of a city in the time it
takes us to kill a dozen of them!
Angel looks lost, his eyes flicking between targets as he
tries to decide what to do next. He grits his teeth and takes
a step forward.
SPIKE (cont'd)
Now hang on a minute… Angel, we
can't help! Even I can see this is
too big for just the three of us.
ANGEL
What are we gonna do, Spike? Huh?
Sit back and watch? Or die trying?
A beat. Spike lowers his head - he knows Angel's right. Spike
nods, slowly, and looks to Illyria.
SPIKE
How about it, Blue, fancy one last
tango?
ILLYRIA
If I am to fall, then let it be in
the heat of battle. That is the
only fitting way for an Old One to
truly meet their end.
SPIKE
(sarcastic)
Oh good, I'm so glad you feel the
same way.
Angel charges to the attack, crashing into three demons
assaulting a young woman, and Spike and Illyria join him, the
trio soon at the centre of a horde of monsters, eager to get
a piece of the heroes.
Lost in the fight, Angel cuts down a dozen soldiers but a
dozen more take their place, and he starts taking hits. Bad
ones, as various blades slice into him, leaving his outfit
torn and his skin bloody.
A warlock several feet away readies a huge fireball, and
hurls it towards the champions. It hits with a huge
EXPLOSION, throwing Angel, Spike and Illyria three separate
ways, along with several unfortunate demons.
Angel blasts through the brick wall of a building.
9 INT. RUINED BUILDING. NIGHT. 9
Angel rolls to a stop amidst the rubble, dazed. He tries to
stand but is too weak, collapsing back to the floor.
We pull back to see a figure watching him.
10 EXT. CITY CENTRE. NIGHT. 10
Spike skids to a halt across the rain-soaked road, shaking
his head to clear it and standing again.
We pan in a circle around him, taking in the monsters
plucking screaming people from apartment blocks, the fires
raging out of control and the demons destroying everything
and everyone in sight.
SPIKE
I think we can safely say we're
doomed.
He turns as a pack of demon warriors gather in front of him,
chuckling and twirling their swords. Spike grins.
SPIKE (cont'd)
Hello, come to have a go, have we?
Spike fights back with everything he's got.
11 INT. RUINED BUILDING. NIGHT. 11
Angel pushes himself upright again, the battle outside
filtering into the empty room he's in. He blinks and shakes
the dust free, still seeing stars.
VOICE (O.S.)
I tried to tell you this would
happen, didn't I?
Angel looks up - and we see the figure at last as he steps
into the light. It's HOLLAND MANNERS.
MANNERS
All those years ago, when I told
you about Hell on Earth…
(chuckles)
I never thought you of all people
would finally make it happen!
ANGEL
Manners?
MANNERS
Technically. Your vampire ex
girlfriend may have taken care of
my mortal body, but as I'm sure you
know by now, Wolfram & Hart
contracts stretch far beyond this
plane of existence.
ANGEL
What- what do-
MANNERS
What do I want? I'm here to offer
you a choice, Angel. A get out of
jail free card that'll end all this
admittedly inspiring suffering
outside.
ANGEL
I don't understand…
MANNERS
It's simple, my boy. To reverse
this, to take away the Failsafe
armies and restore your beloved Los
Angeles to its former glory, you
only need to do one thing.
(smiles)
Admit that you've lost.
From Angel's confused look, we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
12 INT. RUINED BUILDING. NIGHT. 12
Back on Angel, looking up at Holland Manners in disbelief.
ANGEL
I have to what?
MANNERS
That's the deal. You admit that you
lost, that for all your bravado and
attempt to fight back, you couldn't
defeat us, and we make it all go
away. You can go back to doing
whatever it is you do, and nobody
is any the wiser.
ANGEL
And then what?
MANNERS
Then? After that, it's up to you
what you do next. I'm sure you're
quite used to feeling guilty for
everything you've ever done, so I'm
sure one more little thing won't
matter all that much.
Angel stands and looks out through the hole in the wall he
created. The city is still in disarray, police helicopters
circling overhead as we hear monsters HOWL.
ANGEL
And if I say no?
MANNERS
We raze this city to the ground.
ANGEL
(beat)
You're bluffing.
Angel throws Manners a defiant look, but he just laughs.
MANNERS
We have plenty more men to throw at
you, Angel. Legions and legions of
them. You've already lost two of
your warriors tonight, betrayed a
third and let the fourth go his
separate way. Are you really going
to let us take your last two as
well?
We are treated to brief cutaways to Spike, nearly buried
beneath a horde of soldiers, and Illyria, beaten to and fro
between two packs of jeering demons.
MANNERS (cont'd)
If you admit that you lost,
everything returns to normal. The
monsters go back into the closet,
everyone they killed will be
unharmed and unable to remember a
thing. Except for you and your
team. Oh, I'm sorry, I should have
mentioned that earlier. You see,
they'll know exactly what you've
done. It's up to you how you deal
with that. And that's our offer.
Angel looks to Manners and then back to the street, torn
between two impossible choices. Finally, he marches boldly up
to Manners.
ANGEL
If I say yes, if I say I lost, if I
accept that this time, you beat me…
will I get Wes and Gunn back?
MANNERS
(smiles; shakes head)
No. Time resets to the present
moment. Your friends will still be
dead. Those are the conditions. Do
you accept?
A long beat as Angel glances outside again.
We're given brief shots of Illyria screaming in pain as two
huge demons take an arm each and start to pull, and Spike as
several swords are driven into him.
Back to Angel. Manners steps alongside him.
MANNERS (cont'd)
Oh, and there is one more
condition, while I remember…
Angel shoots a dark look at the ghost.
MANNERS (cont'd)
You have to sacrifice one final
member of your team.
ANGEL
No deal.
MANNERS
Angel, think for a moment! You've
lost everybody but the one vampire
you hate more than yourself, and an
unspeakably ancient force of evil
that hollowed out and devoured the
soul of one of your closest
friends. Are you trying to tell me
you wouldn't give up one of their
lives to save millions more?
Angel steps right up to Manners' face, but the deceased
executive just smiles benignly back at him.
ANGEL
No deal, Manners. You've taken
enough from me. I'd rather die
defending this world from you than
give you the satisfaction of taking
one more damn thing away from me!
MANNERS
As you wish. Any time you change
your mind… well, you know where we
are.
A SCREAM off camera makes Angel turn round, and when he looks
back, Manners is gone. Angel is alone in the building. With a
last glance around, he picks up his sword and climbs back out
through his entrance hole in the wall.
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.