6x18
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
[
bottom
]
TEASER
FADE IN:
1 INT. COUNCIL HEADQUARTERS - DAY 1
We begin to quickly sweep through a grotesquely busy office
with well dressed people scurrying through the main arch of
the building and quickly disappearing into narrow hallways.
As we depart from the open space of the main office and into
the more dreary and restricting confines of the enclosed
hallways, we catch up with a tall, slender man, outfitted in
an expensively crafted suit. Short, brown hair and a clean
shaving face is capped off by a small, pair of oval
eyeglasses.
Though everyone else within the building seems to be overly
rushing their day, STANLEY is walking calmly through the
corralling corridors.
After a few moments, he turns ahead of us, into a large,
corner office. After allowing a person to pass in front of us
first, we finally follow him into the office.
2 INT. COUNCIL HEADQUARTERS - OFFICE - CONTINUOUS 2
Inside the lush office, we observe a middle aged man with a
thick, but precisely trimmed beard talking on the telephone.
TOLBERT waves for Stanley to close the door and sit down.
Stanley does just that and waits patiently for the man to get
off the phone.
TOLBERT
(into phone)
Yes, well... I'm afraid that I'm
going to have to call you back. A
matter of some urgency has just
walked into my office. I love you
too. Alright.
(beat)
I won't forget! Blast, woman, I've
got to go!
With that, the man hangs the phone up and relays an irritated
expression to Stanley.
TOLBERT (cont'd)
No matter how much you love a
woman, Stanley, do not marry her.
Date her until she'll date you no
more and then find another one.
STANLEY
I'll take that to heart, Mr.
Tolbert.
TOLBERT
Well, straight to business then!
You're leaving for America today, I
understand?
STANLEY
That's correct. My flight leaves in
just over two hours.
TOLBERT
I shouldn't hold you up any longer
than necessary then. Stanley... I
just wanted you to stop by to make
sure that this case isn't going to
be too...
(looking for the word)
... close to home for you, so to
speak.
STANLEY
(beat)
If I may speak freely, sir, I've
never allowed anything to come
between myself and a task at hand.
My records-
TOLBERT
... are perfect. I'm well aware of
your field scores. I still,
however, reserve a feeling of
uncertainty regarding you and the
target.
STANLEY
Sir, I assure you, on my honor,
that I will not allow personal
implications to conflict with the
mission.
TOLBERT
You're certain?
STANLEY
Utterly.
TOLBERT
(smiling)
That's what I wanted to hear.
Tolbert stands up and walks around his desk as Stanley rises
to his feet as well.
TOLBERT (cont'd)
Well then, your plane is waiting.
You shouldn't be late.
STANLEY
Thank you for your confidence in
me, sir.
TOLBERT
Nonsense. You've been nothing less
than sublimely perfect in your
career. I expect nothing less from
you today.
Tolbert smiles as Stanley walks from his office then quickly
picks up the phone, hitting a single button.
TOLBERT (cont'd)
(beat; into phone)
It's me. Yes, he's quite
optimistic. I have every faith in
the boy. He assures me that
personal relationships will not
interfere with what has to be done.
As Tolbert casts a glance towards the door, we cut to:
3 INT. AIRPLANE - LATER 3
Stanley is sitting next to the window in airplane that is
preparing for departure. People are still rustling around the
plane, getting to their seats as the man sits with a grim
look upon his face.
After a few moments, he reaches into his bag and pulls forth
a manila folder and begins examining it, almost reluctantly.
As the we slowly begin to spin around from our frontal view
of the front of the envelope, we come to rest directly behind
Stanley. Looking over his shoulder, we see many a file being
perused, but nothing useful.
Until he flips the page, revealing a picture of WESLEY!
BLACK OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
4 INT. HYPERION - SKYE'S ROOM - MORNING 4
As we slowly fade in on Skye's bedroom, we find a horridly
bored SKYE, whimsically counting the ceiling tiles and
rolling her eyes as she does so.
SKYE
One... two... three...
A quick and almost reluctant KNOCK at the door interrupts her
mathematical filler as her dull expression quickly changes
from boredom to a sly smile. She knows who is knocking.
SKYE (cont'd)
Come in, Spike.
The door slowly creaks open to reveal SPIKE slowly peaking
his head into the room.
SPIKE
How did you know it was me?
SKYE
I'd recognize that knock anywhere.
SPIKE
Is there more than one way to knock
on a damn door?
(beat)
How are things going with the whole
healing business?
SKYE
(nonchalantly)
I've had worse.
SPIKE
That's not what you said when we
pulled you from your little
rendezvous with that Keeper fellow.
Of course, you weren't saying much,
with that being unconscious thing
you were doing.
Skye shoots an apathetic look in Spike's direction as she
playfully rolls her eyes at him.
SKYE
(beat)
So how did I get so lucky as to
deserve a visit from the esteemed
Mr. Spike?
(curiously)
Do you have a last name?
SPIKE
Yeah. It's just silent.
SKYE
(grins)
Wise ass.
SPIKE
The ongoing case of the soulless
wonder got a little bit macabre for
my tastes, so I figured I'd pay my
favorite vampire slayer a visit.
SKYE
(faux-shock)
Oh, did little Spike get scared
that he might have to see a little
blood?
SPIKE
(scoffs)
Don't be daft, I've seen and done
things that would make an enigma
such as yourself blush!
(beat)
Not a big fan of Angel doing the
macho man thing is all. He comes
off as a great big wanker when
trying to scare sense into someone.
(smirks)
I've still yet to figure out how
the bloke was able to intimidate
anything way back when with that
nancy boy of a haircut, or a lack
thereof, anyhow.
(sighs)
Course, you don't want me to get
started on the good old days.
SKYE
(shrugging)
It could kill ten minutes.
Spike smiles warmly at Skye who is quick to reciprocate,
sharing the smile for a few moments, before Skye finally
breaks the stare with a glance at the bed.
SKYE (cont'd)
(beat)
So why'd you really come up, Spike?
SPIKE
I told you. Things were getting
downright spooky downstairs. It was
like-
(beat)
Oh, bollocks. You're not buying
this rubbish are you?
SKYE
Nope.
SPIKE
(annoyed)
If you must know, I was worried.
(beat)
About you.
(quickly)
Are you happy?
Skye looks genuinely shocked by Spike's declaration, a smile
ever-so-slowly beginning to cross her lips as he speaks.
SPIKE (O.S) (cont'd)
(beat)
When we came across that cloaked
bastard working his mojo on you, I
was scared; not an emotion one
commonly finds in us vampires,
especially this one.
Even though she's caught up in his speech, Skye can't help,
but roll her eyes and smile at the absurdity of Spike's
arrogant comment.
SPIKE (cont'd)
But for that fleeting moment, panic
struck through me.
(beat)
They say us vampires are inhumane,
animals even. I say we're more
humane than the lot of them. I do
feel things. It's the bloody soul
that's doing it! I remember the
time that I could slaughter a field
of-
SKYE
(interrupting)
Spike?
Skye gives an assertive expression - finish the story.
SPIKE
(sighing)
Seeing you battered the way you
were scared me more than all the
stakes, and all the drunken mobs,
and all the sunlight in the world.
And I don't like being scared.
(beat; quickly)
And now that I've lost all pride
and anything resembling a pair of
stones, I'm going to leave you to
your counting.
He starts towards the door, but stops short and turns back to
Skye.
SPIKE (cont'd)
Do get better, luv.
Skye's pseudo smile widens as Spike leaves the room and she
stretches out on the bed to resume her tile counting.
SKYE
(surprised)
Well, how about that...
Off of Skye's broadened smile, we cut to:
5 INT. HYPERION - ANGEL'S OFFICE 5
ANGEL is pacing tumultuously behind his desk as CONNOR and
NINA walk uneasily into the office.
NINA
(to Angel)
Is this a bad time?
CONNOR
Cause if you're brooding, we could
really come back later.
Angel stops, mid-pace, and turns to face them.
ANGEL
I'm not brooding.
(off looks)
Okay, fine. I'm brooding, but I'm a
leader with a newly resurrected,
soulless team member on my hands
who is most likely plotting the
death of not only my son, my
girlfriend, and the rest of my
team, but probably the world. So
excuse me if I seem that I've got a
lot on my mind.
Angel goes back to pacing once more as Nina and Connor
exchange intrigued looks.
ANGEL (cont'd)
I just need to know what he meant.
Connor puts on an apprehensive face.
CONNOR
You're not going to go all Angelus
on Wes, are you?
(beat)
Dad?
That gets a reaction.
CONNOR (cont'd)
I know what happens when you go to
that place, and it would probably
be best if we could avoid your
going there.
Angel stops pacing again and turns to them.
ANGEL
(calmly)
Look, guys, I can't afford the
luxury of playing favorites when
the fate of the world is at stake.
I have to make choices I'd rather
someone else make, but if Wesley is
hiding something from me, I've got
to find it...
(convincingly)
... even if it means using force.
NINA
But Spike and Illyria already tried
the forceful approach, remember?
ANGEL
Maybe they're just not as
persuasive as me.
Angel walks from the office, leaving Connor and Nina staring
uneasily at one another.
6 INT. HYPERION. LOBBY 6
WESLEY is standing arrogantly in the center of the lobby as
ILLYRIA slowly circles him, looking him up and down as she
does so.
WESLEY
What are you doing?
ILLYRIA
I am staring into the abyss where
your soul should be.
WESLEY
(annoyed)
Why?
ILLYRIA
Because you are a riddle to me; a
cryptic puzzle to assemble. Your
very existence is something that
impels me to question the extent of
metaphysical entities in this world
since I last walked it in my true
form. Things-
WESLEY
(cold)
I do hate to interrupt, but your
existentialist ponderings do not
concern me.
Illyria stops pacing and stares back at him.
ILLYRIA
Your quavering outbursts cease to
amuse me.
(beat; confidently)
I will find the source of your
aberration.
Wesley begins apathetically walking from view as he adds in
the last tidbit.
WESLEY (O.S)
I'll save you the time. I died and
was resurrected by people who don't
give a damn about me.
ILLYRIA
I, too, was resurrected!
On that note, Wesley stops and walks back into view to stand
defiantly in front of her.
WESLEY
Ah, yes... you used the body of the
woman I loved as a transdimensional
shell, if I recall. It isn't
something one tends to forget.
ILLYRIA
Do you expect an apology?
WESLEY
Not at all. You lack the necessary
components to express true human
emotion. You may think you are a
god, but what you truly are is a
skeleton of a deity coalesced into
human form, stuck with our flaws
and none of our positives.
Illyria quickly storms away from him, not allowing Wesley to
see the hurt in her eyes or herself to see the smirk on his
face.
Just as Illyria gets out of sight, Wesley catches a glimpse
of angel storming across the lobby floor, leaving his smile
to quickly fade.
ANGEL
What did you mean, Pryce?
With Wesley failing to answer in a timely manner, Angel lands
a massive RIGHT HOOK to his jaw.
Wes goes sprawling backwards, landing firmly on his back.
Angel stops for a moment waiting for any kind of answer, but
receives nothing.
ANGEL (cont'd)
I don't want to do this.
Wesley spits a bit of blood from his lip as he sits up.
WESLEY
(cheerfully)
What a coincidence. I don't want to
tell you anything!
Angel angrily picks him up and throws him across the room,
straight into the far wall.
ANGEL
I said I didn't want to. I never
said I wouldn't.
(beat)
You only think that Spike and
Illyria did a number on you? Let's
see if we can't show this old dog
some new tricks.
He storms towards Wesley. Just as he is about to attack him
again, however, Illyria steps in the way, forcing Angel to
stop dead in his tracks.
ANGEL (cont'd)
Move.
ILLYRIA
(stern)
He is still broken from the
previous encounter.
ANGEL
Not as broken as he's going to be.
Angel goes to step past her, but she PUSHES him back with a
strong arm, leaving him to stare angrily at her.
From the balcony, Spike sprouts a bold smile as he sees the
happenings.
SPIKE
Hey, Blue, save some for me!
He jumps over the balcony and lands hard on the lobby floor,
quick to hurry on over to the scene of the crime.
ANGEL
Not now, Spike!
(to Illyria)
He's going to tell me one way or
another about the damn scrolls!
SPIKE
(bored)
Is that what this is about?
(beat; to Angel)
Are we going to rough him up again?
ILLYRIA
He has already received ample
punishment.
SPIKE
(smirks)
That's the thing about punishment,
pet. It's a lot like jelly. You can
always manage a little bit more.
ILLYRIA
He-
SPIKE
Don't get all high and mighty with
me! I know damn well that you
enjoyed the throttling that we gave
loverboy some weeks back.
(excitedly)
Now be a good girl, and step aside
so we can give him another going
over.
WESLEY
Yes, step aside so they can give me
another go.
Illyria looks back to Wesley who is smiling diabolically at
her. After a moment, Illyria reluctantly steps aside, leaving
Angel to walk confidently around her. Just before Angel gets
all the way to Wesley, however, Illyria reaches back and
grabs his arm.
ILLYRIA
No. This is not the way to handle
the situation.
Angel looks knowingly at her, but with the anger still boldly
in his eyes. He looks back to Wesley and then back to Illyria
once more, finally allowing a deep breath that works to
concede his point.
Spike watches Angel's reactions and slowly begins to shake
his head.
SPIKE
Oh, come on! She gives you the
puppy dog eyes and you fall for
it?!
Spike stops to think for a moment before quickly smiling with
a flash of genius across his face.
SPIKE (cont'd)
She once tried to kill us all and
destroy mankind! Ha!
ANGEL
Spike, knowing you as I do, I
probably wouldn't be too far off to
venture a guess that you've beaten
up a cop sometime within the last
month.
SPIKE
Hey! I gave that up a long time
ago, you self righteous bastard!
I'm a champion now. Ring any
bells?!
(beat; coyly)
I do, however, still have a pair of
handcuffs from the last time said
incident occurred if that's what
you're after...
Angel smiles back at him, leaving Spike seemingly ecstatic.
SPIKE (cont'd)
(excitedly)
Are you saying what I think you're
saying?
Angel walks from view as Illyria stares confusingly at him,
before Spike steps in.
SPIKE (cont'd)
(to Illyria)
Even us soulful vampires have to
get our kicks somehow, blue. The
man can't get laid!
(cheerfully)
He's just finally come to his
senses and realized that torture
will cure all that ails you!
Spike giggles as he, too, walks off screen, leaving Illyria
looking back to an apathetic Wes.
WESLEY
(sighs)
Well, I can't run, can I?
Off Wesley's stoic expression, we dissolve to:
7 INT. HYPERION - ANGEL'S OFFICE - LATER 7
We find Wesley with the same look of apathy planted firmly
upon his brow, sitting behind the desk with the pair of
handcuffs keeping him securely in place.
WESLEY
I've seen enough 'NYPD Blue' to
know that 'good cop, bad cop'
doesn't work with three people.
SPIKE
Sorry to let you down, mate, but it
looks like we're all out of good
cops.
ANGEL
There aren't going to be any cops,
bad or otherwise.
Spike smiles and nods happily to Angel as he starts to take
off his jacket.
SPIKE
That's what I'm talking about. Back
to the old days when it wasn't
about the information you got, but
the pain you inflicted!
ANGEL
We're not going to torture him,
Spike.
SPIKE
(beat)
What's the point in chaining him
up, then?
ANGEL
(duh)
So he can't go anywhere.
SPIKE
Well this is just fan-bloody
tastic! You get a bloke's hopes all
up... and for what? Only to dash
them!
ANGEL
Spike-
SPIKE
Sod off!
Spike walks impassively from the room, ignoring Illyria as he
passes.
WESLEY
No torture? I'm starting to like
this plan more and more by the
moment.
ANGEL
You're going to translate the text.
WESLEY
Am I?
Angel nods. Wesley raises an eyebrow back at him.
WESLEY (cont'd)
Or what?
ANGEL
Or-
STANLEY (O.S.)
Or I'll tell your father.
Everyone turns to the door to see Stanley standing arrogantly
in the doorway.
STANLEY (cont'd)
He never was one for bad news, was
he?
Off Stanley's seemingly delightful smile, we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
8 INT. HYPERION - ANGEL'S OFFICE 8
As we slowly push back into the interrupted scene, we've got
bemused looks on everyone's faces - except for Wesley's.
STANLEY
How have you been, Wesley?
WESLEY
Dead... but then again, you knew
that.
STANLEY
(admitting)
The council is well aware of
your... situation.
(forcing a smile to Angel)
We advised against your rescue
efforts, as I do recall, but some
pleas tend to inevitably fall upon
deaf ears.
ANGEL
I don't believe that we've had the
pleasure of being formally
introduced.
WESLEY
Do pardon my lack of manners.
(beat; smiling)
It's not that I forgot, it's just
that I don't give a damn.
Stanley curiously eyes Wesley as Angel continues his ruthless
stare.
STANLEY
Charles Stanley, Watchers Council.
ANGEL
I'll remember that when they come
to examine the body if you don't
leave my hotel... now.
Stanley smirks at Angel's threat before peering around his
shoulder at Wesley.
STANLEY
How would you feel about getting
out of those handcuffs?
Stanley begins to step toward Wesley, but is promptly blocked
off by Angel.
ANGEL
Just in case you're not familiar
with my case file, I'm going to
start off with telling you how much
I detest your organization. With
the exceptions of Giles and Wes -
or at least, old Wes - your
aspirations of being on the good
side of the fight are vague
misconceptions at best and you
always have ulterior motives.
(beat)
I don't trust you...
(motioning to Wes)
... and I don't trust him. Now get
the hell out of my hotel.
STANLEY
The irony of the situation then,
vampire, is that I don't trust you
either.
(beat)
But my business here is short. When
I am confident that Wesley is safe
and learn everything that he knows,
I will return to England, leaving
you to whatever current crusade
that you believe you're on.
(beat; courteously)
Now, if you will remove the-
ANGEL
The cuffs stay... and so does
Wesley. You want to stick your nose
somewhere that doesn't concern you,
you're going to play by my rules or
don't play at all.
Angel begins walking briskly from the room.
ANGEL (O.S) (cont'd)
You've got fifteen minutes.
Illyria adds a stare of disgust in the watcher's direction
before she follows Angel out of the office.
[
top
| next
]
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.