6x14
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.

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                                       TEASER

                                                               FADE IN:

         1     INT. HYPERION - ILLYRIA'S ROOM. DAY.                     1

               Sunlight filters in through the badly-boarded up windows, and
               a slow pan across the room reveals ILLYRIA, sitting cross
               legged in the middle of the floor, eyes closed, dust motes
               flitting through the air around her.

               She stays like this for a few moments before she's disturbed
               by:

                                   WESLEY (O.S.)
                         She used to like to do that as
                         well, you know.

               Illyria's eyes flick open, and she scowls at WESLEY as he
               steps into frame. Wes paces around her.

                                   ILLYRIA
                         Do not pretend to understand why I
                         do what I do, Wesley. My brain
                         functions are at a stage far
                         evolved beyond your human capacity.

                                   WESLEY
                         Oh, that may indeed be the case,
                         but there's a very simple answer
                         for why you're doing what you're
                         doing.

                                   ILLYRIA
                         If you know so much, would you care
                         to enlighten me? Your continual
                         attempts to fathom out my
                         motivation always provide me with
                         much amusement.

               Wesley, grinning, crouches down next to her. Illyria tries to
               close her eyes and resume her calm pose, but Wes has broken
               her concentration and she knows it. After a beat, she HUFFS
               impatiently and turns to him again.

                                   ILLYRIA (cont'd)
                         Well? Speak!

                                   WESLEY
                         I was just considering the best way
                         to phrase it, I know how... Well,
                         how downright touchy you can be
                         these days.

                                   ILLYRIA
                         Wesley, please. Your diplomacy has
                         no place here.

                                   WESLEY
                         Suit yourself.

               Wes stands, looking down on her. She looks up at him with
               unusually expectant eyes.

                                   WESLEY (cont'd)
                         You're sitting, meditating in a
                         sunbeam because Fred used to love
                         to start every day like that. She
                         said if she could spend just five
                         minutes each morning with a little
                         sun on her skin, and peace and
                         quiet to gather her thoughts, then
                         she knew she'd be focused for the
                         whole day, and then-

                                   ILLYRIA
                             (finishing the sentence)
                         And then nothing could stand in her
                         way.

               Illyria blinks, confused, and looks from the window back to
               Wesley.

                                   ILLYRIA (cont'd)
                         How do I know this?

                                   WESLEY
                         That's what I hope to find out.

               With a warm smile, Wes turns and leaves her again, and an
               unnerved Illyria tries but fails to settle back down.

         2     INT. WOLFRAM & HART - BOARD ROOM. DAY.                   2

               There is a long, jet black table in the centre of the room,
               around which sit various mercenaries, bounty hunters and
               other rogues, their scruffy appearances and casual dress a
               contrast to the plush, luxurious settings around them.

               The board room doors open, and as the mercenaries turn,
               HOLLAND MANNERS walks in, accompanied by KIRSTEN. Manners
               stands at the head of the table, his disarming smile already
               in place.

                                   MANNERS
                         Good morning, gentlemen. Glad you
                         could all make it on such short
                         notice.

                                   MERC #1
                         It wasn't easy.

                                   MERC #2
                         Yeah, some of us took a lot of
                         risks to get here during the day,
                         Manners. What's this all about?

                                   MANNERS
                         I've got a job for you all, plain
                         and simple. We need something
                         building, but we lack the necessary
                         parts.

               Manners nods to Kirsten, who begins to walk round the table,
               handing out manilla folders to each merc. Manners continues
               as the mercs open and examine the blueprints and photographs
               inside.

                                   MANNERS (cont'd)
                         What you're looking at are the
                         various components of the device we
                         plan on building, and I'd like each
                         of you to fetch the relevant piece
                         and bring them back here. You'll
                         all be rewarded for your efforts,
                         of course, but time is of the
                         essence.

                                   MERC #1
                         How come that pretty boy ain't
                         asking us to do this?

                                   MERC #2
                         Yeah, whatsisname, Kitridge or
                         something, right?

                                   MANNERS
                         James isn't the only person with
                         authority around here. Now you all
                         have your assignments, there'll be
                         bonuses for speed in completing
                         them. Good day.

               With another nod to Kirsten, Manners turns and the two leave
               the room.

               As Merc #1 examines his blueprints, we push up closer to take
               a look at the photograph with it - and what's on the photo
               looks suspiciously like a missile warhead!

                                                             BLACK OUT:



                                    END OF TEASER
                                       ACT ONE

                                                               FADE IN:

         3     INT. HYPERION - LOBBY. DAY.                              3

               ANGEL and CONNOR walk into frame as TAYLOR heads down the
               steps and into the lobby itself, wearing a large backpack and
               carrying a suitcase.

               Connor goes to take the case off him, but a stern look off
               Taylor makes him step back, hands raised.

                                   CONNOR
                         Hey, no big deal, just trying to
                         help.

                                   TAYLOR
                         Yeah, well, don't. I think I can
                         manage carrying a suitcase, kid.

                                   ANGEL
                         He's just trying to help, Taylor.

                                   TAYLOR
                             (sighs)
                         Alright, here.

               Taylor holds the case out to Connor, who glances at Angel.
               Angel nods, and Connor takes the case and heads upstairs as
               Taylor shuffles off his backpack.

                                   ANGEL
                         You know you can stay here as long
                         as you want, or at lest until
                         things settle down for you.

                                   TAYLOR
                         'Settle down'? Angel, I don't think
                         things will ever settle down for
                         me, life's just never been like
                         that for me.

                                   ANGEL
                             (raises eyebrow)
                         And I guess I'm the model of a
                         normal life, right?

               Taylor looks back at Angel - and a rare smile creeps across
               his face at the irony of it all. Angel grins back, and turns
               as NINA walks into frame.

                                   NINA
                         Hey, Taylor.

                                   TAYLOR
                         Hi.

               Angel wraps an arm around Nina as she watches Taylor root
               through his backpack for a phone.

                                   NINA
                         So what are you gonna do now? I
                         mean, the rest of your crew,
                         they're all gone, right?

                                   TAYLOR
                         I was hoping for a note, or at
                         least a few beers left in the
                         fridge to say 'Hey, Taylor, thanks
                         for giving us purpose in life,' but
                         no, they just jacked in and walked.
                         I figure I can make myself useful
                         round here for the time being, see
                         if I can get a meeting with the
                         guys in charge and figure out
                         what's next.

                                   SPIKE  (O.S.)
                         Oh, no, you have got to be bloody
                         kidding me!

               The trio turn as SPIKE walks into frame, followed by SKYE,
               marching straight up to Taylor who is straight on the
               defensive.

                                   TAYLOR
                         Got a problem with me bein' here,
                         Billy?

                                   SPIKE
                         You're bloody right I do, what with
                         the unspoken thing we have with
                         wanting to kill each other and all.

                                   ANGEL
                         Spike, don't be ridiculous. Taylor
                         needs our help now, and we can
                         always use another pair of hands
                         around here.

               There's a moment as Spike and Taylor face off - then Spike
               chuckles and backs down.

                                   SPIKE
                         Can always save the posturing for
                         another day, I guess. Welcome to
                         the Hotel bleedin' California.

               Spike fishes out a cigarette as Skye hops up onto the
               reception desk, and Connor walks back downstairs.

                                   SKYE
                         So what's the plan today, boss man?

                                   SPIKE/ANGEL (TOGETHER)
                         We're going out.

               A beat. Angel and Spike look at each other - which one gets
               to be 'boss man' these days? Spike shrugs and goes back to
               his cigarette, leaving Angel to finish.

                                   ANGEL
                         We've had word of a group of
                         mercenaries and bounty hunters all
                         arriving in the city at the same
                         time, so I figure we should keep an
                         eye on them 'till we figure out why
                         they're here. 

                                   TAYLOR
                         Sonia already in on this?

                                   ANGEL
                             (nods)
                         She's the one who picked them up,
                         seems she lifted some computer
                         equipment from your base before it
                         got cleaned out, and it flagged
                         them as they were spotted entering
                         city limits.

                                   SPIKE
                             (nods towards sunlight
                              outside)
                         Little bright for us to go
                         adventuring, isn't it?

                                   ANGEL
                         You and I've got the rest of that
                         prophecy to go over with Wes, I
                         want Skye, Illyria and Taylor to
                         meet up with Sonia and observe the
                         mercs till further notice.

                                   SKYE
                         That's it? Just 'observe'?

                                   ANGEL
                         That's it.

                                   SKYE
                         Can't we just kick 'em around a
                         bit, bring one back here, see what
                         we can squeeze out of him?

               Angel frowns at Skye - where's she picked up ideas like that?
               A glance at the proudly grinning face of Spike confirms that
               one, and with a sigh Angel shakes his head.

                                   ANGEL
                         They may lead us to whoever brought
                         them all here, so keep your
                         distance till then.

                                   NINA
                         What about me and Connor?

                                   ANGEL
                         You two can help me-

                                   ILLYRIA (O.S.)
                         Angel!

               The group turn as Illyria walks down the stairs and into the
               lobby. She heads straight for Angel.

                                   ANGEL
                         What is it?

                                   ILLYRIA
                         I wish to know what progress you
                         have made in finding a way to
                         restore Wesley's body. 

                                   ANGEL
                         Illyria, we haven't had time to-

                                   TAYLOR
                         I'll take care of that.

               Angel turns to Taylor, who shrugs.

                                   TAYLOR (cont'd)
                         Connor can take my place on patrol.
                         You explained what happened with
                         Wes to me, maybe it's something I
                         can help with?

                                   ANGEL
                         I thought you didn't do magic any
                         more?

                                   TAYLOR
                         Yeah, well, maybe my reasons for
                         keeping it quiet like don't matter
                         much any more.

               Angel nods, and pats Connor on the shoulder.

                                   ANGEL
                         Go grab something sharp. Just in
                         case.

                                   CONNOR
                             (smiles)
                         Got it.

               Connor and Skye head over to the weapons cabinet as Angel
               turns back to Spike.

                                   SPIKE
                         Look at you, Mr. Motivator again.
                         Bet you're loving having a little
                         Addams Family of your own to boss
                         around again, aren't you?

                                   ANGEL
                         Has its moments. Plus, means I can
                         spend less time talking to you
                         every day.

                                   ILLYRIA
                         Then what of me?

                                   ANGEL
                         You go with Skye and Connor, meet
                         up with Sonia. Sonia's in charge
                         for today, so I don't want to hear
                         anything later about you blowing up
                         a building that you didn't like the
                         look of just because you got bored,
                         okay?

               Illyria strides imperiously past Angel, and as Angel looks
               after her, a smirking Nina slides up next to him.

                                   NINA
                         You're kinda good at this
                         'delegating responsibility' thing,
                         you know that?

                                   ANGEL
                             (smirks)
                         It's a gift. Come on, I've got
                         something else you can do.

               The pair walk off screen, leaving Taylor and Spike. Spike
               still wears his trademark smirk, blowing smoke towards
               Taylor, who deadpans right back at him.

                                   SPIKE
                         Well now. This is going to be a
                         barrel of laughs, innit? Working
                         under the same roof as a rejected
                         vigilante with a chip on his
                         shoulder big enough to feed the
                         five thousand!

                                   TAYLOR
                         Doesn't bother me. Way I see it,
                         I'm between jobs. Maybe I'll get
                         lucky and see you get your limey
                         ass killed before I move on. That'd
                         just about make my year.

                                   SPIKE
                         Well, see, that's the thing about
                         me, mate. Bene killed a few times
                         already, and I just keep coming
                         back. 

               Spike leans up close to Taylor.

                                   SPIKE (cont'd)
                         Doubt the same'll apply to you!

               With that, Spike walks away, and Taylor is left alone in the
               middle of the lobby. He huffs, worn out already, and runs a
               hand through his hair.

                                   TAYLOR
                         Oh, yeah, real great idea, comin'
                         to this damn place...

         4     INT. WOLFRAM & HART - KITRIDGE'S OFFICE. DAY.            4

               Behind the long desk is KITRIDGE, smart suit in place as he
               leafs through a stack of file papers. He looks up as Manners
               walks into frame.

                                   KITRIDGE
                         Morning, sir! What can I do for
                         you?

                                   MANNERS
                         The Senior Partners have a special
                         project they'd like you to take on
                         for them, James. 

                                   KITRIDGE
                         They do? Sounds interesting, what's
                         the deal?

               Manners slides a set of blueprints across the desk to
               Kitridge, who leans over and studies them.

                                   MANNERS
                         What you're looking at are plans
                         for a device of extraordinary
                         power, and with a very time
                         specific purpose that we need to
                         get in play quickly.

                                   KITRIDGE
                         How quickly?

                                   MANNERS
                         By tonight. It's an astral
                         conjunction sort of affair, I won't
                         bore you with the details. I need
                         you to co-ordinate a team of agents
                         already gathering the various
                         ingredients we'll need and oversee
                         construction of the device in time
                         for its opening performance.

                                   KITRIDGE
                         Seems simple enough. What's the
                         snag?

                                   MANNERS
                             (grins)
                         What snag do we always have in our
                         plans, James?

                                   KITRIDGE
                         Angel.

                                   MANNERS
                         Exactly. Chances are he'll be onto
                         this pretty quickly, so it is
                         imperative that you stop him from
                         stopping you. We won't get another
                         shot at what we need this device
                         for, so it's of the utmost
                         importance that Angel does not
                         interfere.

               Kitridge leans back in his chair, fingers interlaced as he
               ponders something. He leans back forward as a smile creeps
               across his face.

                                   KITRIDGE
                         I think I know just what to do,
                         sir. Leave it with me.

               Manners grins, turns and walks off frame, as Kitridge goes
               back to studying the blueprints.

         5     INT. HYPERION - LOBBY. DAY.                              5

               Wes has joined Angel, Spike and Taylor in the lobby, and the
               floor is covered with scrolls, pentagrams and other mystic
               symbols, the four boys busily checking references and drawing
               shapes on the floor.

                                   WESLEY
                             (points to Taylor's
                              pentagram)
                         No, not like that, you need to put
                         the runes on the innermost circle,
                         or it reverses the whole thing and
                         it'll offer as much magical
                         protection as a wet paper bag in a
                         blizzard!

                                   TAYLOR
                         Oh, right, course. Sorry. I shoulda
                         remembered that, guess I'm kinda
                         rusty.

                                   SPIKE
                         'Rusty' isn't a word I'm liking the
                         sound of, mate, you sure you're up
                         for this?

                                   TAYLOR
                         Hey, as the only qualified warlock
                         in this room, I think that kinda
                         speaks for itself, don't you? You
                         need some help here makin' Stiff
                         Upper Lip over there a real boy
                         again, and help is something I got
                         plenty of.

                                   ANGEL
                         Will you two keep it down? We need
                         to concentrate on this!

                                   SPIKE
                         Sorry, Dad!

               As Spike checks something in a book nearby and goes back to
               marking out a magic circle in red chalk, Wesley peers at the
               scroll Spike stole from Wolfram & Hart, squinting as
               something suddenly becomes clear.

                                   WESLEY
                         Angel, take a look at this.

               Angel joins him - Wes can't pick up the scroll, so he just
               points to the relevant section.

                                   WESLEY (cont'd)
                         I think I've just realised what
                         this part says, it makes reference
                         to some kind of 'shell' not long
                         after the 'Keeper' passage up here.
                         Do you think that could mean
                         Illyria?

                                   ANGEL
                         Centuries old prophecy, figures
                         she'd get a name check somewhere.
                         Anything else?

                                   WESLEY
                         I'm afraid it's still largely
                         unclear, this is easily the
                         trickiest translation I've had for
                         some time. It doesn't help that I
                         can't manually turn the pages in
                         these books - asking you to look
                         passages up for me is slowing us
                         down a lot!

                                   ANGEL
                         It's the best we can do for now,
                         that's what matters. Just keep at
                         it, this has to be important
                         somehow and you're the best
                         qualified to work out what.
                         Meanwhile, we're gonna set up a few
                         things to try on you, see if we can
                         do something about that whole
                         Casper angle you're working.

                                   WESLEY
                             (smiles)
                         This means a lot to me, Angel.
                         You've risked a lot to get me back
                         here, and we still don't know for
                         sure what effect making me
                         corporeal again will have, but-

                                   ANGEL
                         You're welcome. Now get back to
                         work! 

               The two share a smile as Angel heads back over to the growing
               collection of magic circles on the lobby floor.

         6     EXT. LA - ROOFTOP. DAY.                                  6

               Standing on the edge of the roof, looking out across the city
               with a pair of high-powered binoculars, is SONIA, her blonde
               hair blowing in the breeze as Skye, Connor and Illyria walk
               out onto the roof through a doorway and join her. She smiles
               as Connor stands next to her.

                                   SONIA
                         Hey, honey!

                                   CONNOR
                         Uh, hi. What's the news? 

                                   SKYE
                         Yeah, I thought we were meant to
                         meet you about fifty feet below
                         where we're standing?

                                   SONIA
                         That was before I spotted this.
                         Take a look.

               She hands the binoculars to Connor, and he holds them up to
               look as she guides where he's looking.

               Through the lenses, we can see two of the mercenaries from
               the W&H board room, loading a large crate onto the back of a
               flatbed truck.

                                   CONNOR
                         What am I looking at?

               He holds the binoculars down as Sonia retrieves a crumpled up
               blueprint from her bag.

                                   SONIA
                         Those two guys just raided an
                         electronics warehouse. The crate
                         they're sticking on that truck is
                         full of very advanced machine
                         parts, the kinds of things commonly
                         found in guidance systems for
                         missile launchers.

                                   SKYE
                         How the heck do you know that?

                                   SONIA
                         I know stuff! Besides, I hacked
                         into the factory's files to see
                         what they made, and did a search
                         when I got a look at what those
                         mercs were lifting.

                                   CONNOR
                         So what now?

                                   SONIA
                         Simple, us four follow 'em and see
                         where they're taking it all.

                                   ILLYRIA
                         'Us four'? Do you three infants
                         really consider yourselves a match
                         for any foe we may meet?

                                   SKYE
                         Hey, as a matter of fact, 'Ria, we
                         do, alright? So you can either help
                         out, or can it and stay out of the
                         way. Angel's trusted us with this,
                         ad we owe it to him to get the job
                         done. C'mon, Connor.

               Skye slaps Connor on the arm and heads back towards the door,
               and Connor and Sonia follow, leaving Illyria at the edge of
               the roof, a dark look on her face.

                                   ILLYRIA
                             (mutters)
                         Petulant children...

               With that, she turns on her heel and follows them off the
               rooftop.

                                                             BLACK OUT:



                                   END OF ACT ONE
                                       ACT TWO

                                                               FADE IN:

         7     EXT. ELECTRONICS WAREHOUSE. DAY.                         7

               The two mercs we saw earlier are finishing locking up the
               back of their truck, casting glances around to make sure they
               aren't being watched - the rest of the compound around them
               is quiet, so they're n no danger.

               Except, that is, from Sonia's team, watching them from behind
               a parked truck on the other side of the road. Sonia is
               studying the mercs with her binoculars, before she turns to
               Connor and the others, all talking at a whisper.

                                   SONIA
                         Okay, Skye, I want you and Illyria
                         to make a distraction, so Connor
                         and I can sneak over to their truck
                         and see if we can get a closer
                         look.

                                   SKYE
                         What kind of diversion?

                                   ILLYRIA
                             (standing)
                         Leave that to me.

               She strides off screen, and with a bite of her lip, Skye
               follows. Connor shuffles closer to Sonia.

                                   CONNOR
                         So, uh...

                                   SONIA
                         Yeah?

                                   CONNOR
                         How've you been? I haven't seen
                         that much of you last few weeks, so
                         I was hoping we were still-

               To answer, Sonia turns round, plants a hand either side of
               Connor's head and gives him a quick kiss.

                                   SONIA
                         Yeah, we are. That was for luck.

               They hear a strange humming sound coming from across the
               street, and they both crane their necks to see.

               Illyria is marching across the road, straight towards the two
               mercs, who stop their preparations and discreetly start to
               reach for their guns.

                                   MERC #1
                         Hey, beat it, lady! The nightclub's
                         won't open till the night, you
                         know, it's kind of in their name.

                                   MERC #2
                         Hank, quit screwin' around and get
                         in here!

                                   MERC #1
                         In a minute, man, I'm just makin'
                         sure she won't-

                                   ILLYRIA
                         Your posturing bores me now.

               ZAP! Illyria raises her hand, and a blue bolt of energy
               streaks out and hits Merc #1 square in the chest, knocking
               him off his feet.

               Illyria turns and runs, and the second merc grabs his rifle
               and races after her, leaving the truck unguarded.

               Skye steps into frame, looking pretty irritated, and waves
               Connor and Sonia over.

                                   SKYE
                         Hey, sorry, she just decided she
                         was gonna do that and I couldn't
                         talk her out of it...

                                   SONIA
                         It's good, come on!

               Sonia hops up into the cabin and starts rooting through the
               messy interior, grinning when she finds the folder the mercs
               were given by Manners. She holds it up - displaying the
               Wolfram & Hart logo on it to the others.

                                   SONIA
                         Check this out, I'm figuring this
                         must be their shopping list!

               She opens it up, scans over the blueprints and then tucks
               them and the accompanying photograph into her backpack.

                                   SKYE
                         We'd better split, Illyria gets
                         bored quickly so chances are she'll
                         stroll back over here and he'll
                         follow her!

                                   SONIA
                         We're done.

               Sonia steps back out of the cabin, and the three youngsters
               dash off screen.

               After a beat, Sonia jogs back into frame, rifling through her
               bag and fetching a small, black device which she carefully
               fixes onto the side of the crate, out of sight.

               Closing her bag, she jogs off screen again.
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