6x01 Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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13 EXT. SHOPPING MALL. NIGHT. 13
Spike and Illyria hobble into frame, Spike wincing as he
yanks a dagger free from his shin.
ILLYRIA
Where is Angel? I did not see where
he went.
SPIKE
Me either, but it'd be asking too
much to hope they got him…
Illyria looks off screen, from where they entered.
ILLYRIA
More are coming.
SPIKE
Let's not give them a fresh target,
then! See if that's open.
Spike points towards the glittering glass façade of the
shopping mall before them, and the two head towards it.
Illyria tries the push bar handle of the main door, but it's
locked. She pushes again, harder, and with a CLUNK the door
gives way, allowing them access.
14 INT. SHOPPING MALL. NIGHT. 14
Spike flops down onto a bench before a silent fountain as
Illyria looks round, her ancient eyes trying to take in the
gaudiness of a modern shopping centre.
ILLYRIA
What is this place?
SPIKE
It'd be quicker if I just gave you
a copy of 'Dawn Of The Dead' to
watch…
ILLYRIA
So many colours and words… but all
clashing, no sense of uniformity or
hierarchy… all squabbling for your
attention…
SPIKE
It's called 'the American way.'
Spike gets painfully to his feet and stands beside her.
SPIKE (cont'd)
We can natter about corporate
culture later, right now, we need
to find some new weapons, and then
we-
VOICE (O.S.)
Don't move, vampire!!
SPIKE
(exasperated)
Oh, great…
Spike turns round, and we pull back to see a group of men and
women have surrounded the duo, with home-made spears, swords
and stakes all trained on them. Illyria starts to step
towards them but Spike holds her back.
SPIKE (cont'd)
Look, whoever you are, now really
isn't a good time for us…
One man steps forward from the group - this is TAYLOR, their
leader. A tall, well-built man with neatly cropped hair and
goatee, he aims a stake at Spike's chest.
TAYLOR
Keep your damn mouth shut!
ILLYRIA
These beings are insignificant!
Spike, destroy them.
SPIKE
You what?
TAYLOR
What did she say? She say 'destroy
them'?
SPIKE
(quickly)
Ignore her, she's foreign. Listen,
I don't know who you guys are, or
what you want, but we have a
serious situation at the moment,
and-
TAYLOR
You have a situation? This just in,
pal – LA's getting torn a new one
by an army of mass murdering
demons, and no matter how many of
them we kill, more keep coming!
A beat. A girl steps forward, petite and pretty with long,
blonde hair - this is SONIA.
SONIA
Hey, are you… are you Spike?
SPIKE
That's me, and this blue-haired
Sisters Of Mercy reject is Illyria.
Your turn.
TAYLOR
I'm Taylor, this here is Sonia, and
the others you see are what's left
of the only thing standing between
that army out there and this city.
SONIA
We're people who know what's living
beneath our streets, and trying to
do something about it.
TAYLOR
We've been noticing a lot of
increased activity just lately, and
then earlier tonight, boom!
The Circle of the Black Thorn goes
down and all hell kicks off.
SPIKE
You know about the Circle?
TAYLOR
Yeah, and I also know that until
recently, your boss Angel was part
of it. Care to explain why that
doesn't make you part of that heap
of scum outside?
Spike chuckles and reaches into his jacket for a cigarette.
When this action makes two of the gang jut their weapons
towards him, he frowns and carefully produces the cigarette
packet and lighter, calmly lighting one up and blowing the
smoke towards them.
SPIKE
Seeing as we're on the subject of
those Black Thorn gits, did you
happen to know that you're looking
at the people who took them down?
(beat; looks at Illyria)
Or what's left of them, anyway.
(beat; frowns)
I'm sorry, why are we discussing
this? We need to work out a way to
get rid of those demons you so
expertly observed marching around
outside! Last time I checked, they
only numbered, oh, a few thousand
or so, so if you don't mind, we
have work to do.
Spike starts to step forward but Taylor gets in his face.
SPIKE (cont'd)
No offence, but we've encountered
groups like yours before, and
they've tended not to last very
long. What makes you guys any
different?
SONIA
Funding.
SPIKE
Funding?
TAYLOR
Yeah. We have plenty of influential
people who appreciate our services,
and we get a healthy bank balance
to keep us in bullets and holy
water.
SPIKE
Oh God, please don't tell me you're
on Wolfram & Hart's payroll…
There is a ripple of laughter from the vigilantes.
SONIA
Are you kidding? We'd have to sell
our souls before we'd go work for
that place!
A beat, before Illyria steps up into Sonia'a face, examining
her curiously. Taylor's team tense up as Illyria studies her.
ILLYRIA
This one has seen much pain… and
much combat.
(turns to Spike)
She will fight well alongside us.
SONIA
Excuse me?
SPIKE
Illyria, we don't-
VOICE (O.S.)
Taylor!
Taylor takes a few steps backwards as one of his female
soldiers bounds in, a scout from outside the mall.
SCOUT
They're into the city now. There's
too many of them for us to stop,
they're getting into the buildings
and killing everyone in their way!
TAYLOR
You sure we can't contain them?
SCOUT
It's Hell on Earth out there, boss!
We're getting torn to pieces and I
don't know how much longer we can
hold out!
Taylor nods, then turns to Spike.
TAYLOR
Looks like our luck just ran out.
If you have anywhere to go, I
suggest you head there now. The sun
should be up in a few hours.
Taylor and his crew start to walk away. Illyria steps up to
Spike, looking puzzled.
ILLYRIA
What are you doing? I question your
logic in not following these
humans. They seem to be able to
handle themselves in combat.
SPIKE
Not now, Blue.
ILLYRIA
You dare to contradict me? After
the suffering I have dealt our
enemies this night, you would
dismiss me as-
SPIKE
I said, not now! Robin Hood and his
band of Merry bleedin' Men over
there can go get themselves killed
all by themselves, I'm not getting
suckered into trying to save them
as well!
Illyria opens her mouth to reply but takes in Spike's dark
look as he thinks, deciding to drop it.
ILLYRIA
Then what would you have us do?
Spike looks thoughtfully at his cigarette, then grins.
15 INT. EMPTY BAR. NIGHT. 15
Spike reaches across the counter of the deserted bar and
grabs a bottle of Jack Daniel's, snapping the cap off against
the bar and taking a swig from it.
ILLYRIA
Wesley drank much of that poison.
Is there some benefit to it that I
do not understand?
In answer, Spike holds the bottle out towards her. Illyria
lifts it, studies it for a moment, then knocks it back. She
doesn't react for a moment, then coughs violently, almost
doubling over as Spike laughs.
SPIKE
That's Jack for you. Bit of a kick
for the first timers!
Illyria wipes her mouth and studies the bottle for a moment
before slamming it back down.
ILLYRIA
I want another.
Spike chuckles and rubs his sore joints.
ILLYRIA (cont'd)
What are we to do now?
SPIKE
Search me, I was hoping you had a
plan or something.
ILLYRIA
Beyond resting and healing my
wounds, I have no plans. Except…
drinking more of this poison is
strangely appealing to me.
SPIKE
Getting a taste for it, are we?
Illyria knocks her second shot back. No cough this time.
ILLYRIA
It is not unpleasant to me. Like
you.
SPIKE
(sarcastic)
I'm honoured, your Highness.
(sighs)
Short answer is, we go back out
there and do what we can against
the hordes of nasties trucking
round, but I get the feeling this
could be a long one. After that, I
guess we should try to track Angel
down. Wouldn't hurt to see if we
can still get into Wolfram & Hart,
either.
ILLYRIA
Is it wise to return there?
SPIKE
Probably not. Which is why it's
most likely the best thing we
should do.
Spike takes another swig from the bottle and passes it to
Illyria. He turns to go, but turns back when he realises
Illyria is draining the rest of the bottle in one long gulp.
Finishing, she shudders and throws the bottle over her
shoulder, where it SMASHES off screen.
16 EXT. STREET OUTSIDE BAR. NIGHT. 16
Spike heads outside followed by Illyria, who is not looking
at all steady. Distant noises of fighting and shouts of
terror can be heard.
ILLYRIA
My head spins… my stomach feels
ready to flip over and my vision is
blurry… what is happening?
SPIKE
It's called 'being pissed.' It's a
wonderful feeling for now, make the
most of it! No doubt you'll be
pounding me in time to your
headache when you wake up tomorrow.
The bright side is that when we get
into our next fight, your body
won't notice being hit so much…
They walk on, passing an alley entrance - not noticing a pair
of yellow eyes glittering in the darkness.
ILLYRIA
Do humans always do this to
themselves? Consume this poison to
make themselves sick?
Spike fumbles for another cigarette, lighting it with some
difficulty against the rain.
SPIKE
It has its benefits. Look at it
this way - are any of the parts
that were hurting you earlier still
hurting?
Illyria experimentally prods a few parts of herself.
ILLYRIA
They feel… numb.
SPIKE
Sorted. It's only temporary, but it
does the trick. Should set us up
nicely for Round Three!
Illyria presses a hand against her heart.
ILLYRIA
There is still much pain here… the
grief is like a dagger, twisting
through my heart, all the way down
to my gut.
The poison has not taken any of
that away. Should I drink more?
SPIKE
I think we've had quiet enough for-
Spike freezes as a low, guttural GROWL sounds off screen. Mid
way through lighting another cigarette, he slowly looks
towards the source of the noise.
Standing seven feet tall, a bulky DEMON faces the two of
them, hunched forwards, its head covered with tentacles that
spill down like dreadlocks, huge talons on its hands. Its
breath mists in the cold air as it watches.
SPIKE (cont'd)
Ah…
Spike closes his eyes and curses, as we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
17 EXT. STREET. NIGHT. 17
SMACK! Spike flies into frame and hits a wall before us,
sliding dazed to the floor.
We see Illyria doing her best to fight off the demon facing
her, throwing punches and kicks that seem to have little
effect. She grunts as a punch knocks the wind out of her,
then another hit sends her to the ground.
Spike picks himself up, still groggy from the booze he's
taken in, trying to focus.
SPIKE
Alright, alright… I can see we're
going to have a problem here, so
why don't we all just-
POW! Another slap from the demon's mighty fist throws Spike
to the floor. He lands in a heap beside Illyria.
ILLYRIA
Spike… I cannot fight! My head is
muddled… my limbs do not respond…
SPIKE
Trust me, you'll feel a whole lot
worse if you don't get back up
again!
Spike tries to stand but the demon grabs him, lifting him off
the ground. The demon holds Spike close to its tentacled
head, studying the vampire, sizing him up.
With a sudden SCREECH, the creature rears up and drops Spike.
Whirling round, we see that Taylor and two of his men have
come to the rescue, a spear already protruding from the
demon's back.
TAYLOR
Go for the legs! Knock it to the
ground!
One of the men fires a set of bolas from a launcher that
rapidly wrap round the demon's thick legs, and with a ROAR it
crashes to the floor.
Taylor is there in an instant, plunging a sword down into the
demon's head, and with a last gasp it falls silent.
Spike looks up, still dazed, as Taylor offers him a hand and
helps him to his feet. The other two pick up Illyria.
TAYLOR (cont'd)
Good job we were in the area, huh?
SPIKE
Yeah… thanks, mate.
TAYLOR
I'm not your 'mate,' freak. I'm
doing my job.
SPIKE
Well, on behalf of you doing your
job… thanks, mate.
TAYLOR
Don't get cocky, vampire. I see you
round here again, I won't be
helping you out.
Illyria shrugs the two men away and stands by Spike.
ILLYRIA
Their insolence will be their
damnation! Let us shred-
SPIKE
Easy, pet. They're only human.
Spike gives Taylor his best insolent smirk, and with a grunt,
Taylor and his men walk away.
ILLYRIA
You would let them walk away after
they disdain us? Their arrogant,
insolent stares make me want to
tear their eyes from their sockets
and force them down into their
throats!
Spike chuckles as Illyria suddenly doesn't look too good.
ILLYRIA (cont'd)
It turns my stomach… to see…
She suddenly pales and retches, bracing herself against the
building wall nearby as she vomits. Spike laughs.
SPIKE
Oh, how the mighty are fallen!
From Spike's laughter and Illyria's heaves, we:
18 INT. WOLFRAM & HART - CEO'S OFFICE. NIGHT. 18
We're inside Angel's old office, the whole building showing
no signs of damage from the Failsafe activation.
The high-backed leather chair faces away from us, but as we
push in closer it starts to turn round - and reveals JAMES
KITRIDGE, a handsome young man with brown hair, out cold and
slumped in the chair, dressed in a snappy suit.
His eyes flicker as he comes round, blinking as he tries to
work out where he is. He looks confused as all heck.
KITRIDGE
What the-
MANNERS (O.S.)
Hello, Mr. Kitridge.
Kitridge looks up - and we see Holland Manners' ghost
standing before us, warm smile in place.
KITRIDGE
What's going on? One second, I was
sitting in my office, next thing…
(beat)
Isn't this the LA branch?
MANNERS
Absolutely correct. My apologies
for the unorthodox manner of your
arrival, I'm assured that the
teleportation spell that brought
you here will have no lasting
effects.
Manners walks over to Kitridge's desk.
KITRIDGE
So why have I been brought over
here? Was my work in Memphis not
meeting the Senior Partners'
expectations?
MANNERS
Far from it, which is precisely why
they asked me to draft you in over
here. We have… a situation in Los
Angeles at the moment, James, and
the Partners wanted you personally
to oversee the branch in these
difficult times.
KITRIDGE
Difficult how? It's not like…
Kitridge turns in his chair and looks out across the LA
skyline at last…
… and we see that the rampaging demon army is quickly taking
the fight to the entire city.
Columns of smoke rise from the streets, large chunks of the
city are blacked out, another flickering as the power grid
fails, and the sky is filled with police and news
helicopters, searchlights piercing the tempest below.
Kitridge rises and walks up to the glass, in shock at what
he's seeing. Manners walks to his side.
KITRIDGE (cont'd)
What… what happened?
MANNERS
Angel.
Kitridge looks round – every Wolfram & Hart employee knows
that name by now.
KITRIDGE
I thought we'd given him this
branch?
MANNERS
Our plans for Angel have followed
the predictions almost to the
letter, although tonight's
escapades have lasted a little
longer than we expected. We still
have much work to do with Angel,
past his attempt to destroy the
Circle of the Black Thorn, and much
further than our current
conversation.
KITRIDGE
Attempt? You mean-
MANNERS
(grins)
You thought he could remove an
organisation as powerful as the
Black Thorn in one night, with a
handful of fights? You've still got
a lot to learn, my dear boy.
KITRIDGE
So why am I here?
MANNERS
We're offering you the position of
CEO of the Wolfram & Hart Los
Angeles division. All of its
resources and facilities will be at
your disposal. We want you to take
the Angel case.
A beat as Kitridge looks back out towards the flaming city,
then back at Manners. He nods once.
KITRIDGE
It would be an honour, sir. What do
I have to do to accept your offer?
Manners holds out one hand, and with a small FLASH of red
light, a contract appears, which Manners lays on the table,
taking a pen from inside his jacket.
He knows the score by now, and pricks the end of his thumb
with the pen.
We close on the contract as he signs his name, 'James
Kitridge,' on the dotted line.
Kitridge hands the contract back to Manners, who smiles as he
folds it up and tucks it away.
KITRIDGE (cont'd)
And after we close the Angel case?
MANNERS
That's all in the small print,
James. We have plenty of things for
you to do for us. You're this
company's most promising talent,
and I intend to see you fulfil that
potential.
KITRIDGE
I won't let you down, sir.
MANNERS
I know.
Manners grins and strides towards the open office doors,
pausing as he starts to close them to take one last look.
The newly-appointed CEO is still staring out through the
office windows, turning and calling out to Manners.
KITRIDGE
Uh, sir?
MANNERS
Yes?
KITRIDGE
Is LA going to be like this for
good now, or are we…
MANNERS
It's in hand, Kitridge. We're sure
Angel will accept the proposal we
made him to turn the meter back to
zero, so to speak.
Manners closes the doors and leaves Kitridge to his thoughts.
He sits back down, and after a moment's thought picks up the
phone and dials a number.
KITRIDGE
Susan? Guess where I'm sitting.
He smiles broadly.
19 EXT. DRAINED CANAL. NIGHT. 19
Spike is busy fighting two VAMPIRES, as Illyria throws a
third one around in the background. They're just outside a
water inlet in a drained canal pipe, the three vamps seeming
to have been dragged out of their home inside the inlet by
the two warriors.
SPIKE
That's right, boys, come on! These
sorts of fights I can handle!
ILLYRIA
Spike?
Spike turns - Illyria holds up the battered body of her vamp,
its arms and legs twisted at awkward angles.
ILLYRIA (cont'd)
My opponent is broken…
SPIKE
Good for you.
(ducks a punch)
Why not try giving me a hand now?
Illyria drops the vamp and strides over to the two fighting
Spike, punching her hand clean through the chest of one of
them and watching as he dusts around her.
Spike kicks his vamp's legs out from under him and is ready
with a stake, dusting him with a cackle.
SPIKE (cont'd)
That's better! I needed that, after
the night we've had. Nothing like a
good fight after a few beers!
ILLYRIA
I am weary now. I need to rest.
SPIKE
You and me both, luv.
Spike looks upwards – the sky is starting to lighten as the
morning rolls in.
SPIKE (cont'd)
Sun's up soon. I'll find us
somewhere to hide out for the day,
then tomorrow night we can go
looking for-
TAYLOR (O.S.)
A vampire killing vampires? Why, I
guess I been and seen 'bout
everything…
Spike turns - Taylor and five of his men and women stand at
the lip of the canal pipe, looking down at Spike and Illyria
below. Spike straightens up.
SPIKE
Well, look who it isn't. Captain
Pugwash and his fearless pirate
crew.
TAYLOR
We can trade insults later. You
need a place to stay during the
day, right?
SPIKE
(suspicious)
Yeah…
TAYLOR
So, we've got a place. You may be
the enemy in all but name, but
you're both good in a fight, and
I'm gonna need all the hands I can
if I'm gonna be able to save this
city.
SPIKE
Why the sudden change of heart?
Last time we met, you made it
pretty clear you'd try and kill us
if we bumped into each other again.
(beat)
And you'll notice how I said 'try.'
TAYLOR
(rolls eyes)
You gonna sit down there and bitch
at me, or you gonna come with us?
Spike considers his options for a beat.
SPIKE
I'd rather not, to be honest.
Chances are, it's a trap.
(sighs)
But let's face it, tonight couldn't
get much worse, could it?
ILLYRIA
I do not trust this man, Spike. In
my day, we used to say-
Spike holds up a hand to interrupt her.
SPIKE
Can we save the flashbacks for
later? In the words of the song,
I'm tired and I want to go to bed,
so let's see what kind of a fine
mess we've gone and gotten us into
this time…
Spike starts to climb up out of the pipe, and as Illyria
watches him, we cut to:
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.