6x04
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.

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                                       TEASER

                                                               FADE IN:

         1     EXT. THE COSMOS.                                         1

               The tableau of stars. An indistinguishable object, thousands
               of miles away, moves against the dots of light. The blue
               Earth pans into view. The object drops and zips down into:

         2     EXT. UPPER ATOSPHERE – DAY.                              2

               In close, fire raging around the object as it tears into our
               space. The rough the fire, we can make out two massive
               crystal blue EYES.

         3     EXT. HIMALAYAS. DAY.                                     3

               Snowflakes drift down. A young BOY, wrapped in animal skins,
               drags a worn sled on which a dead ram leaves blood drips in
               the deep snow.

               A sound like a ROCKET ENGINE rumbles above. The boy looks up
               and we see the massive object, engulfed in flames, race
               across the sky, trailing black smoke.

               The object SMASHES into the mountainside a way ahead, sending
               torrents of snow into the air. The boy, eyes wide, lets go of
               the sled, turns tail and runs.

         4     INT. DEEP CAVE. DAY.                                     4

               An old SHERPA sits cross-legged next to a cookfire with a
               covered copper pot over it. He lifts the top of the pot and
               smells. He smiles, quite happy with his efforts, and looks up
               as the boy skids to a halt before him.

                                   SHERPA BOY
                             (subtitled Nepalese)
                         Grandfather! It is here! The beast,
                         it is here! I saw-

                                   SHERPA
                             (relaxed)
                         Calm down, Nika, I hear her.

                                   NIKA
                         What should we do?

                                   SHERPA
                         Sit down. Have some stew. Await her
                         arrival. It will be alright.

               Still shaking, the boys manages to sit as his grandfather
               ladles hot stew into a small bowl. He holds the bowl towards
               the boy who sniffs, grimaces and shakes his head. With a
               sigh, the sherpa brings the bowl to his lips.

                                   SHERPA (cont'd)
                         Did you find a ram?

               The boy nods as the sherpa slurps his soup.

         5     EXT. MOUNTAINSIDE. DAY.                                  5

               We pick up the abandoned sled, watching blood from the dead
               animal seep out further and further into the pristine white
               around it.

               There is a heavy THUD, then another, the footfalls of
               something large.

               As we pan up slightly, a massive reptilian TAIL slides
               through the snow, the tails tip a large, serrated barb.

         6     INT. DEEP CAVE. LATER.                                   6

               The boy lays near the cave wall, bored and half asleep.
               Grandfather sets the empty bowl down and wipes his lips with
               the back of his hand.

               A wind like a HEAVY SIGH blows into the cave, and Grandfather
               sits up and turns toward the entrance.

               In the deep shadows outside the light of the fire, the two
               piercing EYES hover into view.

                                   BOOMING VOICE
                         I have arrived.

               The sherpa bows, deeply and respectfully.

                                   SHERPA
                         Were you satisfied with our
                         offering?

               With a wet SMACK, the half-eaten carcass of the ram is thrown
               from off screen, landing on the cave floor.

                                   VOICE
                             (irritated)
                         I did not travel light years
                         through space for a snack! Can you
                         hide me, or should I just eat you
                         and use your home for shelter?

               The sherpa, still remarkably unflustered, stands and walks
               over to the edge of the fire light. He raises one finger and
               tears his teeth into it, before holding his arm out and
               dribbling a line of blood across the cave floor. He steps
               back.

               We watch the sherpa as the shadow of something huge falls
               across him, flickering in the fire's light.

               The boy's eyes flutter as he wakes up, then go wide as he
               sees what's just entered the cave. He sits up, but there is a
               sudden FLASH of brilliant light, and he clamps his hands over
               his eyes.

               He slowly removes his hands as the light fades, and his
               expression passes from confusion and fear to awe.

               Standing just past the line of blood is a naked woman, IZA,
               curvaceous and tanned with long, flowing black hair. The
               sherpa throws an animal skin around her, which she pulls
               tightly round her body.

               She examines her arms, turning them over in the light and
               smiling happily.

                                   IZA
                         Perfect.

               The sherpa has fallen to his knees, bowing deeply.

                                   SHERPA
                         How may I serve you, great wyrm?

                                   IZA
                         You must lead me to my destination.

                                   SHERPA
                         Anywhere you desire, my mistress.

               We push in on Iza as she speaks.

                                   IZA
                         Show me the city of Angelus…

               Off her determined look, we:

                                                             BLACK OUT:



                                    END OF TEASER
                                       ACT ONE

                                                               FADE IN:

         7     INT. HYPERION – ANGEL'S ROOM. MORNING.                   7

               The sun is up outside, and although Angel's windows are
               sealed off tight, there's enough light to pick up ANGEL and
               NINA lying in his bed. Nina is asleep but Angel just stares
               up at the ceiling, his mind racing as always.

               Nina stirs and reaches out for Angel uncertainly.

                                   NINA
                         Angel? Where are you?

                                   ANGEL
                         I'm here.

                                   NINA
                         Oh, good…

               She cosies up next to him and he lays an arm around her.

                                   NINA (cont'd)
                         I can tell you're doing it, you
                         know.

                                   ANGEL
                         Doing what?

                                   NINA
                         Thinking. I don't need to be able
                         to see you to know you've got that
                         faraway look on your face. You
                         probably spent the last few hours
                         just staring up at the ceiling or
                         something!

                                   ANGEL
                             (guilty)
                         I didn't- I mean, I-

                                   NINA
                         Relax, tough guy.
                             (kisses him)
                         It's what you do. I'm sure Peter
                         Parker and Mary Jane have lots of
                         conversations like this after a
                         hard night's heroics.

               Nina settles back down as there is a KNOCK at the door.

                                   CONNOR (O.S.)
                         Angel? Are you awake and, uh…
                         decent?

                                   ANGEL
                         I'll be down in a second, Connor.

                                   CONNOR
                         Okay, just that, uh… well, you may
                         want to make it quick.

               Nina shuffles back across the bed, not ready to get up yet,
               as Angel picks his shirt up from the floor.

                                   NINA
                         Sounds like trouble before
                         breakfast!

                                   ANGEL
                         Five bucks says it's Spike…

               Unable to shake his troubled expression, Angel slides out of
               the bed and heads off screen.

         8     INT. HYPERION – LOBBY. MORNING.                          8

               SPIKE and TAYLOR appear in frame, in the middle of a pitched
               argument.

                                   SPIKE
                         Don't you speak to me like that,
                         you arrogant little bugger, I'll
                         have your tongue out so fast, you
                         won't even have time to say 'Aaa!'

                                   TAYLOR
                         And I'm telling you, Spike, get out
                         of my face or it'll be the last
                         time you get to throw that wannabe
                         punk attitude of yours at anybody!

                                   SPIKE
                         Wannabe punk? Now listen here, you
                         jumped up Rambo reject, I was punk
                         before they even knew how to spell
                         the word! I-

                                   ANGEL (O.S.)
                         What the hell's going on down here?

               We cut across to see Angel descending the staircase into the
               lobby. Spike and Taylor are in each other's faces in the
               centre of the lobby, with CONNOR, ILLYRIA and SONIA looking
               on. Connor steps up to Angel.

                                   CONNOR
                         Taylor wants to move us all back to
                         his base, and, uh, Spike wants to-

                                   SPIKE
                             (points at Taylor)
                         I'm not leaving here with that!

                                   TAYLOR
                         You wanna try sticking that finger
                         at me again?

               Spike smirks and gives Taylor the 'V' sign, and as Taylor
               lunges towards him, he's restrained with effort by Sonia.

                                   SONIA
                         Taylor! For God's sake, cool it!

               Angel wades in between the two opponents, throwing
               disapproving glances either way.

                                   ANGEL
                         Alright, you two, knock it off,
                         right now. There's enough going
                         wrong out there without everyone in
                         here jumping at each other's
                         throats every time my back's
                         turned!

                                   SPIKE
                         Tell that to him, the daft git
                         wants to make a run for his knacky
                         little underground lair in broad
                         bleedin' daylight!

                                   TAYLOR
                         'S matter, vampire, you afraid of
                         getting a little sunburn?

                                   SPIKE
                         Alright, that's it!

               Spike leaps forward but Angel SHOVES him back, at the same
               time as Illyria places on hand on Taylor's shoulder and yanks
               backwards, sending the burly vigilante skittering to the
               floor.

               Illyria stands defiantly over him.

                                   ILLYRIA
                         Do you wish to continue your
                         fruitless violence with me?

               Taylor eyes her, but slowly shakes his head and stands.
               Illyria backs up as Angel marches over.

                                   ANGEL
                             (annoyed)
                         What the hell is your problem?
                         This is our home – or at least, it
                         used to be our home. Why should we
                         follow you anywhere?

                                   TAYLOR
                         Because, you big dumbass, every
                         beast and nasty or miles knows
                         we're in here, and the second they
                         smell fresh meat they're gonna be
                         bustin' those doors down and making
                         my men into Happy Meals! I keep
                         hearin' how you're some kind of
                         champion, but you and your gang of
                         crazies couldn't hold that army off
                         last time, so forgive me if I ain't
                         filled with confidence in you
                         second time around!

               Angel pauses. He's got a point.

                                   ANGEL
                         So what did you have in mind?

                                   TAYLOR
                         There's plenty of ways to get back
                         to my HQ, overground or under.
                         Reinforcements waiting there too,
                         all we gotta do is hook up and we
                         double our numbers. Then we can
                         start working on a better plan than
                         sittin' in here and wondering when
                         we should book our next dye job
                         for.

               He glares at Spike, who barely surpresses his anger.

                                   SPIKE
                         I'm not taking one step out of this
                         building if I have to go anywhere
                         with that wanker!

                                   ANGEL
                         Spike, simmer down, okay? You're
                         not helping!

                                   SPIKE
                         Oh, and he is? Stormin' bloody
                         Norman? He's got a bigger death
                         wish than you have! Which, I might
                         add, still doesn't get us any
                         closer to solving this mess. We
                         need to go back to Wolfram & Hart
                         and take that place apart before
                         they send another few thousand
                         goons our way, and wipe us out for
                         good!

                                   SONIA
                         He's got a point, we're kind of an
                         obvious target here.

                                   CONNOR
                         Yeah, uh… what she said.

                                   ANGEL
                         Alright, listen. I'm well aware of
                         the fact that we have no plan at
                         the moment, but if I have to hear
                         another hour of you two bickering
                         at each other, I'm gonna throw you
                         both outside and leave you to take
                         your chances! Are we clear?

               Taylor and Spike don't reply, but Taylor manages a huffy nod,
               while Spike just scoffs, shakes his head and digs out his
               first cigarette of the day.

                                   ANGEL (cont'd)
                         Connor?

                                   CONNOR
                         Yeah.

                                   ANGEL
                         I've been thinking about an easy
                         way to get us back into Wolfram &
                         Hart, I still think the answer to
                         all this is in there somewhere. I
                         want you to dig out the plans in
                         Wesley's… in that old office, work
                         out all the best ways in. We found
                         enough of them over the years, so
                         see what you can find.

                                   CONNOR
                         I'm on it.

                                   SONIA
                         Uh, shall I help?

               Connor brightens up and turns to Angel, who nods. Sonia grins
               broadly at Connor and follows him into the office.

                                   ANGEL
                         Illyria, Spike, you're with me when
                         we get our route sorted. Our
                         target's going to be the CEO's
                         office. They've got a new guy in
                         there now, I'm betting he's got the
                         keys to Pandora's Box, so it's up
                         to us to persuade him to close it
                         again.

               Illyria picks up a hefty sword.

                                   ILLYRIA
                         I enjoy persuading…

                                   TAYLOR
                         And what about us? You expecting me
                         and my boys to sit tight till Daddy
                         gets back?

               Angel turns and looks Taylor up and down.

                                   ANGEL
                             (shrugs)
                         No, to be honest, you can do
                         whatever the heck you like.

               Angel turns back to Spike, who smirks as Taylor scowls and
               walks off screen.

                                   ANGEL (cont'd)
                         Okay, here's the idea.

               As Angel begins to speak, we cut to:

         9     INT. WOLFRAM & HART – MONITORING DIVISION. MORNING.      9

               We're inside a room filled with sophisticated surveillance
               equipment, radars, TV monitors, plasma screens and more
               archaic things like hooded psychic demons, ouija boards and
               glittering portals.

               A harassed looking, lab-coated assistant, HEWSON, already
               loaded up with rolls of parchment, is hustling across the
               busy room when someone calls out to him.

               He joins a female assistant, JENNY, by her station. She's
               wearing a headset and peering at a screen before her. He
               stares at the screen before speaking.

                                   HEWSON
                         What is it?

                                   JENNY
                         Um, I'm really not sure, David.
                         Some kind of crazy energy reading,
                         on a path that'll bring it straight
                         into city limits in the next ten
                         minutes.

                                   HEWSON
                         Crazy how?

                                   JENNY
                         Crazy in that it should be a
                         meteorite for the speed it's
                         travelling, but it keeps changing
                         course.

                                   HEWSON
                         A UFO maybe?

               Jenny throws him a sceptical look, and Hewson coughs once and
               changes the subject.

                                   HEWSON (cont'd)
                         Ahem, so, er, what's the breakdown
                         of the situation?

                                   JENNY
                         Well… hadn't you better tell the
                         boss?

                                   HEWSON
                         Oh, yes. Good thinking. Uh, run the
                         signal through our records, see if
                         you can get a match for what kind
                         of an entity it is, I'll tell the
                         CEO.

               Jenny starts typing as Hewson bustles off screen.

        10     EXT. UPPER ATMOSPHERE. MORNING.                         10

               We're watching a flaming ball streak through the skies as
               before, only this time the object is far smaller, roughly
               human-sized.

        11     INT. WOLFRAM & HART – KITRIDGE'S OFFICE. MORNING.       11

               KITRIDGE is looking over some files when there is a KNOCK at
               his door and KIRSTEN leans in.

                                   KIRSTEN
                         James? There's someone here to see
                         you, he says it's urgent.

                                   KITRIDGE
                         Who is it?

                                   KIRSTEN
                         It's David Hewson from
                         Surveillance, says he's picked up
                         an unusual reading and wanted to
                         let you know about it.

                                   KITRIDGE
                         Alright, send him in.

               Kirsten steps back and Hewson scoots into the office, arms
               still filled with parchments. Kitridge holds out a hand, and
               Hewson looks around before dumping the rolls of paper on a
               coffee table and shaking hands.

                                   HEWSON
                         Ah, morning, sir, sorry to bother
                         you. I mean, I know you must be
                         busy and all, in your…
                             (looks round)
                         … really, really nice office…

                                   KITRIDGE
                         What can I help you with, David?

                                   HEWSON
                         Huh? Oh, right. Ah, we've picked up
                         something kind of screwy down in
                         the Monitoring division, and I
                         thought I should come and, you
                         know, tell you personally.

                                   KITRIDGE
                         I see. What can you tell me?

                                   HEWSON
                         Well, so far, I-

               Kitridge's fax machine WHIRRS into life and starts printing
               something out. Kitridge takes a step towards it but Hewson
               intercepts it.

                                   HEWSON (cont'd)
                         Ah, that'll be Jenny, she's one of
                         my radar girls downstairs, I asked
                         her to, you know, fax up whatever
                         she found, when she'd got a match
                         on the signal, and she…

               He takes the finished fax and scans over it. Hewson's eyes go
               wide, and as Kitridge steps over, he quickly clutches the fax
               to his chest.

                                   KITRIDGE
                         So what is it?

                                   HEWSON
                             (nervous)
                         What? This? Oh, nothing, sir, it
                         must be a, a, mistake or something,
                         yes, that's right, because
                         otherwise, we, uh… we may have a
                         serious problem on our hands.

               Kitridge holds out a hand, and Hewson reluctantly passes him
               the fax. He looks it over, pausing for a brief moment before
               folding it up and tucking it into his suit.

                                   KITRIDGE
                         Thank you, David. You can get back
                         to your department now.

                                   HEWSON
                         Are you sure? I mean, you don't
                         want me to check it's not an
                         equipment malfunction, or-

                                   KITRIDGE
                             (smiles warmly)
                         I'm sure everything's working fine.
                         You head back to your office, I'll
                         take things from here.

               Kitridge ushers Hewson back over to the open door.

                                   HEWSON
                         Well, if you're positive, I mean, I
                         could-

                                   KITRIDGE
                         That won't be necessary. Goodbye.

               Kitridge closes the door in Hewson's face and marches back
               over to his desk, dialing a number on his phone.

                                   KITRIDGE
                         It's James. Get me Dr. Serrano, we
                         have a big problem.

               Off James' concerned look, we cut back to:

        12     INT. HYPERION – LOBBY. MORNING.                         12

               As Angel and Spike go over his plan, we're up close with
               Illyria as her head suddenly snaps round. She squints, as if
               straining to hear something distant, before her eyes go wide
               and she turns urgently to the others.

                                   ILLYRIA
                         Angel. Spike. We must leave this
                         place. Now.

                                   ANGEL
                         Yeah, in good time, Illyria, first
                         we've got to finish-

                                   ILLYRIA
                         No, we must go, now!

               She grabs Angel's arm and starts to drag him towards the
               doors, but he shrugs her hand away.

                                   ANGEL
                         What's gotten into you?

                                   ILLYRIA
                         I… I cannot explain, but we must
                         leave this place now, before-

                                   SPIKE
                         Before what?

               A low RUMBLING sound starts to build up, and as an iridescent
               light starts to flare outside the lobby, the trio slowly turn
               towards the door.

                                   ILLYRIA
                         Before it arrives…

               BOOM! Before anyone can react, the front doors of the hotel
               EXPLODE inwards, flying towards the trio and knocking Spike
               off his feet.

               Smoke and plaster dust falls across the lobby as Connor and
               Sonia dash out of the office, Connor hefting the heavy door
               off a coughing Spike and Sonia helping a dazed Angel to his
               feet.

                                   CONNOR
                         Angel! What happened?

                                   ANGEL
                         I don't know, something just-

                                   BOOMING VOICE
                         Angelus!

               Everyone looks up. Stepping through the large hole where the
               doors used to be, surrounded by a halo of intense yellow
               light, comes IZA, now dressed in a long, flowing black dress
               that ripples in the wind, along with her hair, which billows
               out behind her majestically.

               She steps into the hotel proper and scans the team.

                                   IZA
                         I seek the one known as Angelus.

               We push in on Angel before we:

                                                             BLACK OUT:



                                   END OF ACT ONE
                                       ACT TWO

                                                               FADE IN:

        13     INT. HYPERION – LOBBY. DAY.                             13

               Iza strides boldly down the steps, the yellow glow fading as
               she steers around chunks of bricks and door frame. Spike gets
               to his feet and snatches up a sword.

               Illyria steps before Iza, hand raised.

                                   ILLYRIA
                         You shall not pass through-

               Iza grabs Illyria's outstretched wrist and flicks Illyria
               effortlessly to the side, sending her sailing across the
               lobby to SLAM into the far wall.

               Sonia fumbles for a gun but Connor drags her back out of
               Iza's path as she reaches Angel and Spike, both shielding
               their eyes from the light radiating out from her.

                                   IZA
                         I repeat, I seek the one named
                         Angelus.

               A beat as Spike and Angel exchange looks, then Spike steps to
               the side with a grin.

                                   SPIKE
                         That's him.

                                   ANGEL
                         Spike--!

                                   SPIKE
                         What? None of my bees wax, mate!

               Angel starts to answer back but GASPS as Iza grabs him by the
               throat, lifting him into the air. Flames lick up and down her
               arm, and Angel struggles as his skin starts to blister from
               her touch.

                                   CONNOR
                             (angry; to speak)
                         Do something!

                                   SPIKE
                         Do what? I'm not daft enough to
                         take whatever she is on!

                                   CONNOR
                         You're just gonna stand there?

                                   SPIKE
                         Till I figure out a better plan,
                         yes.

               With a grunt of frustration, Connor snatches the sword out of
               Spike's hand and charges towards Iza.

                                   SPIKE (cont'd)
                         Hey!

               Connor swings the sword, but it bounces back off Iza's
               unprotected skin with a CLANG and a shower of sparks. Connor
               looks dumbfounded at Iza and then at the sword, which has
               bent under the pressure.

               Iza slowly turns to regard him, one hand still holding Angel
               in the air.

                                   IZA
                         You… you have his blood within you.
                         Do you wish to share his fate?

                                   CONNOR
                         I… I-

               SMACK! A fist sails into frame and clocks Iza across the jaw
               as a pissed Illyria gets back into the fight. The blow
               doesn't faze Iza for a second, but she does drop Angel. His
               neck smoking from her burning touch, he coughs as Connor goes
               to his side.

               Iza circles Illyria, the two staring each other out.

                                   IZA
                         An Old One? Inside a mortal's body?
                         How can this be possible? Your
                         energy should have disintegrated
                         this shell many moons ago.

                                   ILLYRIA
                         My power was… decreased, so I could
                         survive.

               Iza looks almost sympathetic for a moment, before a lightning
               fast backhand knocks Illyria to the floor.

                                   IZA
                         A shame, I would have liked to have
                         tested my skills against an Old
                         One… but you are less than that
                         now. You are like the weak
                         offspring of two lesser creatures,
                         below the sum of your parts.

               Spike steps up as Illyria clutches her bloody nose.

                                   SPIKE
                         Alright, sunshine, you've gone
                         through the warm up act, now it's
                         time for the main attraction.

               He raises his sword, but Iza blinks once and bursts out
               laughing. Spike deflates, lowering his sword.

                                   SPIKE (cont'd)
                         What? I'm not a pushover like those
                         two were! I'm the real deal!

                                   IZA
                         Please.

               With one SHOVE, Spike hurtles back through the air, slamming
               off the desk and onto the floor.

                                   IZA (cont'd)
                         A vampire with a soul? What good is
                         a killing machine with a
                         conscience?

               Angel springs into frame, vamped out.

                                   ANGEL
                         We have our moments.

               He LUNGES at Iza and sinks his fangs into her neck – and is
               blasted through the air with a blaze of fire.

               Iza clutches her wounded neck, shaking with fury.

                                   IZA
                         You would dare to feed off me? You,
                         the vermin of the underworld,
                         tasting the blood of one of the
                         ancient guardians of this universe?

               Angel skids across the floor to a halt next to Spike.

                                   SPIKE
                         Guardians? Angel? What is she?

               Angel touches his lips, trying to work out what Iza is from
               his brief taste of her.

                                   ANGEL
                         She's… she's a…

               Iza stands over them, arms crossed, as we cut to:
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