7x01
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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TEASER
FADE IN:
1 INT. UTF MAIN HALL - NIGHT 1
Up close on ANGEL, his blank, expressionless face staring
back at us.
As 'Where Is My Mind' by The Pixies begins to play, we
slowly PULL BACK to reveal Angel standing in the middle of
a chaotic battle royale - everything running at HALF SPEED.
UTF MEMBERS grapple with DEMON WARRIORS, with guns BLASTING
and swords SLICING as the two forces tackle one another.
Bodies hit the deck, demons roar, fists slam into faces -
but there's no sound other than the music.
Keep PULLING BACK as the battle scene fills the entire hall
of the UTF headquarters. Angel stands in the centre of the
mayhem, unmoving, impassive.
ILLYRIA pushes into view on our left, grappling with a
demon much bigger than she is, but with her face twisted
with rage she PUNCHES it in the face - her fist powering
straight through the demon's head!
The demon drops limply to the floor, and Illyria is quick
to pick a new target and race off to the right.
WESLEY is next, running across from the right and passing
Illyria, FIRING twin handguns, dropping one target after
another as he passes through frame.
Still pulling back as SONIA and TAYLOR appear, back to
back, Taylor BLASTING anything that gets too close with a
huge shotgun as Sonia HACKS away with a pair of spiked
wrist blades.
The rest of the gang are here too - SPIKE and SKYE are side
by side, battling whatever comes their way without ever
actually looking at one another, as NINA takes aim and
SHOOTS a stray demon with her pistol.
There's a sudden EXPLOSION, knocking everyone off their
feet. Bodies go sailing through the air, everything still
in SLOW MOTION.
Angel slowly turns his head towards the source of the blast
- and sees THE KEEPER stride into the hall. His eyes scan
the melee until they fall on one person in particular -
CONNOR.
Angel slowly turns to look at Connor, bravely cutting down
an attacking demon. He looks towards Angel and yells
something, but there's still no sound.
Angel looks back round - Sonia and Taylor are double
teaming the Keeper, but one SWIPE from the Keeper knocks
Sonia off her feet.
In one smooth motion, the Keeper wrenches free one of her
wrist blades, turning and SLAMMING it into Taylor's gut!
Sonia SCREAMS in horror as Taylor, eyes bulging, slumps to
the floor.
Connor runs into frame, grabbing Sonia and hauling her to
her feet before turning and yelling something at Angel - it
looks like 'Dad! Come on!'
Angel just blinks, remaining frozen to the spot.
Connor turns to the Keeper, getting his sword up to block
an attack, the two starting to duel.
Sonia gets a BOOT to her face and hits the deck again, and
an UPPERCUT from the Keeper sends Connor tumbling down
after her.
The Keeper reaches down and grabs the stunned Connor's
head, pausing to look over at Angel.
There's a long beat as the two foes stare each other down.
Connor's too dazed to say or do anything.
The Keeper TWISTS.
Connor's neck SNAPS, and he drops to the floor. Eyes
glazed. Dead.
Angel stares into his son's lifeless eyes.
Something BLACK passes before him, and we cut to:
2 INT. UTF MAIN HALL - LATER 2
Music still playing, everything still at half speed.
A blood-stained Sonia has Connor's body in her arms,
WAILING with grief as the shattered remnants of the UTF and
Angel's team pick up the pieces around her.
Dead and dying human and demon bodies litter the main hall,
smoke rising from several small fires.
Angel stands over Sonia, watching her as she SOBS, cradling
Connor's broken form.
3 EXT. UTF BUILDING - DAWN 3
Nina lies on the ground, looking up at Angel with tears in
her eyes and RED FINGER MARKS round her throat.
JAMES KITRIDGE lies dead on the ground between them, blood
bubbling from a slash across his throat.
Wesley hurries into frame, grabbing Nina, who still stares
in shock up at Angel.
Angel turns slowly to look at the sunrise as the first rays
of sun bleed over the horizon towards him.
4 INT. UTF - MAIN HALL - DAWN 4
Nina heads down a set of stairs and into the hall, now
halfway towards being clean. There's a bag slung over her
shoulder. Her cheeks are still wet with tears, but she
knows what she has to do.
She pauses to look around the lobby, her eyes passing over
patches of blood and rubble.
When she turns back, Skye is standing before her - also
with a bag over her shoulder.
The two girls stare at each other for a beat. Skye's also
been crying, her eyes bloodshot.
Nina cocks her head to one side, frowning, and Skye closes
her eyes and shakes her head, fighting to hold back a fresh
wave of tears,
She looks back across at Nina and nods once, and Nina nods
back - a silent moment of communication.
Together, the girls push open what's left of the main doors
and leave the UTF behind.
FADE TO BLACK:
TITLE OVER - Six Months Later...
5 INT. UTF MAIN HALL - DAY 5
Back in the hall now, still with the song playing and still
at half speed. It's back to its former glory - fully
rebuilt and cleaned up, no traces remaining of the
climactic battle we just witnessed.
Wes walks into frame, a unfurled set of BLUEPRINTS in his
hands. Two more UTF MEMBERS walk alongside him, Wes
conversing animatedly with them.
He heads over to a nearby desk and lays the plans down, and
as we move past him, we get a glance down at the blueprints
- they're for the Hyperion! We pass Wes and cut to:
6 INT. UTF - SONIA'S ROOM - NEXT 6
Sonia is over by a small sink and mirror in one corner,
staring at her own reflection. Her eyes are red and teary,
and she wipes them dry before splashing water over her
face.
She looks down - there's a small bottle of PILLS on the end
of the sink. She scoops up the bottle, drops two pills into
her hand and knocks them back.
As she swallows, Spike appears in the doorway, still
pulling on his jacket, a cigarette hanging from his lips.
He says something to her, and she turns and nods.
Spike steps out of frame, and as Sonia turns back to stare
into the mirror, we cut to:
7 INT. UTF - ILLYRIA'S ROOM - NEXT 7
Illyria stands at the window, sunlight filtering over her
as she stares across the city. She turns and looks towards
a mirror hanging on one wall.
Illyria steps before the mirror - but now she's changed her
form to that of WINIFRED BURKLE.
Fred looks at her reflection, tilting her head to the side,
before reaching for a hairbrush and starting to comb
through her long hair, slowly and methodically.
8 INT. UTF - MAIN HALL - NEXT 8
As Sonia and Spike push through a pair of double doors and
out into the lobby, chatting about something, they pass
Wes.
Wes looks up at Sonia, who shakes her head sadly. Wes nods,
turning back to the discussion over the blueprints.
Spike holds the front door open for Sonia as they reach it,
and she pauses in the doorway, looking back towards the
staircase leading off to the left.
9 INT. UTF - ROOM - NEXT 9
Up close again with Angel, his face still blank,
featureless.
Slowly PULL BACK to find Angel is sitting in a chair, alone
in a darkened room.
Continue pulling back to see that the room is bare - no
wallpaper or carpet, not even a window.
Our view suddenly DISTORTS - we've passed through a thick
pane of GLASS.
Keep pulling back to see a thick DOOR sealing the room
Angel sits inside, a keypad over the lock indicating that
this doesn't get opened very often.
Hold on this for a beat, Angel still visible inside the
room as the song draws to a close, and we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
10 INT. UTF HQ - HALLWAY - NIGHT 10
Footsteps are quickly approaching the large, metal door -
the entrance into the UTF Headquarters - before it is
THROWN open to reveal Spike, his face, hair, and hands
tarred BLACK.
SPIKE
... but as it turns out, Percy, I
don't give a damn about your
politics!
Moments later, he's followed in by Wesley, relatively clean
and unscathed by whatever disaster Spike has gotten himself
into. Behind him, Sonia also enters the room, looking just
as rough as Spike as she COUGHS, trying to scrape some of
the tar from her clothes.
WESLEY
It's not politics. It's common
sense. The futility of your
attack strategy would have been
blatantly obvious to anyone with
the equivalent of a fourth grade
education.
Spike rolls his eyes and continues on down the hallway,
disappearing through a doorway.
WESLEY (cont'd)
You took a two man team to take
down a passel of more than two
dozen ravenous demons that, need
I remind you, were in the midst
of a very volatile and licentious
mating season, when you've got a
fully functional squad of
military equipped young men at
your very beck and call.
SONIA
(beat)
Well, when you say it out loud...
WESLEY
All I mean to say is that you've
made better decisions, and I do
hope you'll return to form in
that respect.
SONIA
I had a 'form'?
The duo continue down the hallway, towards the doorway
Spike stepped through.
WESLEY
I know you've been deferring to
Spike's experience on a lot of
your recent missions, but
Spike... doesn't theorize. And
with his thinking that he is in
charge, comes his thinking that
he is qualified to make decisions
regarding our personnel - or more
precisely, you.
SONIA
I see what you're getting at.
WESLEY
Good.
Wes starts to step through the doorway.
SONIA
But for the record, I would like
to point out that I read well
above a fourth grade level.
WESLEY
(grins)
Duly noted.
Wes turns and disappears through into his office:
11 INT. UTF HQ - WESLEY'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS 11
Taylor's old office is now home to Wes' barrage of books
and eclectic stylings. Wes walks into the comfortable
surroundings as he drops his coat onto a nearby chair.
WESLEY
(without looking up)
Get out of my chair.
SPIKE (O.S.)
Right on top my list of things to
do, chief.
Wes looks over to his desk, where Spike is stretching out
in the spinning chair.
WESLEY
If you insist on being
insubordinate, at least do so
without getting charred demon
remains on my desk.
SPIKE
That's number two on the list.
Sonia pokes her head into the doorway.
SONIA
I'm going to go check on him and
take a shower - though maybe not
in that order.
Wes nods as she continues on down the hall. He waits for
her to be perfectly out of earshot and then turns back to
Spike.
WESLEY
Honestly, Spike, I know you've
never been considered a man of
great mind, but you really need
to start exercising better
judgment in the future.
SPIKE
And your point is what, for those
of us who don't speak Git?
WESLEY
This personal vendetta that
you've been carrying on your
shoulder all summer has nearly
gotten either one of us or
yourself killed on more than one
occasion and with Angel still...
indisposed, we're in dire need of
all the superhuman strength that
we can get our hands on. Your
dying would only complicate
things.
SPIKE
You just keep on worrying about
yourself and your little smurf
dyed sweetie, Watcher M.D, and
I'll worry about yours truly. You
may have fallen ill the day that
they discussed undead physics
during your run for head boy, but
we vampires are a little
something that I like to call
immortal.
WESLEY
Yes - but Sonia isn't.
Spike actually seems to be taken aback by the comment and
finally shuts up.
WESLEY (cont'd)
She's been through a lot the last
few months. She lost a boyfriend
and a mentor in the very same
day. That's a lot for anyone to
take in, and she's barely older
than a child.
SPIKE
She can take care of herself,
Wesley. And for the record, she's
not a child, she's...
(thinks; stuck)
... older.
WESLEY
The last thing that she needs is
a daily reason to put herself in
harm's way, but having said that,
you seem to be her reason. And in
case you haven't noticed, despite
my sincerest efforts to derail
her affections, the girl has
taken quite a shine to you. She
holds you almost as a role model
and, as ridiculous as it may
sound, a father figure.
SPIKE
I think you're stepping out on a
pretty short limb if you're-
WESLEY
How many ill advised missions has
she followed you on during the
past few months?
SPIKE
Just because the girl is loyal
hardly means that she fancies me!
You're off your rocker if you
think that I'm going to sit here
and take advice from the one
who's shagging the wholly life
force from the body of his dead
girlfriend's assassin!
(off look)
That's right. Vampire hearing,
remember? And that would have
worked even if I hadn't been
standing outside the door!
WESLEY
Spike, you don't-
SPIKE
So the next time you want to
discuss morality in the twenty
first century, I'd suggest
clamping something tightly over
that yammering trap of yours
before you go off make yourself
out to be a great big hypocrite.
WESLEY
(beat)
All I'm saying is-
SPIKE
(stands)
Heard enough blaspheming for one
night. There's a tall glass
calling my name, so if you'll
excuse me...
Spike scoops up his pack of smokes from the desk and heads
for the door. Wes watches him, before:
WESLEY
There was one other thing, Spike.
Those demon remains...
SPIKE
I think I can work out how to use
the washer, ta.
Spike disappears around the corner as a broadening smile
spreads across Wes' face.
A huge blast of FLAME suddenly bursts past the doorway!
SPIKE (O.S.) (cont'd)
Son of a bitch!
WESLEY
...are flammable.
Wes allows himself a chuckle as he sits back at his desk,
and we cut upstairs to:
12 INT. UTF HQ - BATHROOM - NEXT 12
An assortment of medicines are hidden from view as the
misted door to a bathroom cabinet closes. Sonia wipes her
hand over the cabinet to reveal her reflection.
The shower is on behind her, and the still-filthy Sonia is
now wearing a towel. She grimaces as she tries to pick a
few hardened bits of gunk from her hair.
She steps over to the shower, checking the water
temperature, as her eyes drift over towards a door visible
across the hallway - the door to Angel's room.
13 INT. UTF HQ - ANGEL'S ROOM - NEXT 13
Sonia appears at the small glass window, staring into the
darkness beyond.
The room is bare. White walls are undecorated and the
wooden floors are bare. In the far corner of the room,
sitting in complete darkness, is Angel.
Though his eyes are open, his body is lifeless, staring
pointlessly into the dark abyss that is his room.
Sonia watches mournfully for another moment before slowly
turning back around and heading back to the bathroom, and
we turn back to Angel, PUSHING IN on him before we cut to:
14 INT. DARKENED ROOM - NIGHT 14
Angel sits in another cold silent room, but this one has
cracks running up the walls, DRIPS of murky water falling
from the ceiling and distant, echoing GROANS and HOWLS
sounding from somewhere off in the gloom.
Fading rays of SUNLIGHT fall on Angel from a small porthole
high on one wall, but it doesn't seem to affect him.
Just out of reach of any lurking rays of day light, a
hideous DEMON is dangling from the ceiling, looking almost
like a giant bat. Greasy scales cover the whole of its
body, its narrow eyes glowing RED as its lips move slowly,
whispering softly into Angel's ear.
Though we're unable to make out any of the words, the
strange BUZZING and occasional CLICKS of its forked tongue
insinuate something sinister.
We watch for several seconds as the demon continues its
task, before:
VOICE (O.S)
This doesn't mean I have to play
good cop, does it?
Angel slowly turns around and stares across the room to
reveal WHISTLER standing before us, decked out in his
typical and laid back New York decor.
WHISTLER
Because, seriously, I don't know
if I've got the juice to play
debate team captain with that
thing after the trip I just had.
With one last ragged HISS, an evident sign of defeat, the
demon hurriedly swoops back up toward the ceiling,
disappearing into the shadows, its red eyes staring back
for a moment before fading from view.
Angel stares oddly at Whistler for a moment, almost
weighing if he is actually real or not.
ANGEL
(beat)
What the hell are you doing here?
WHISTLER
Oh, sorry, did I interrupt the
chat you and your new friend up
there were having? 'Cause, you
know, it didn't exactly look like
you were swapping muffin recipes.
ANGEL
(turns away)
Leave me alone.
WHISTLER
What? No 'hello, thanks for
setting me on the path to
spiritual enlightenment' before
you start in with the twenty
questions? Astral projection
isn't an easy thing for a guy
like me to do, you know. It's
typically reserved for high
standing witches and the
occasional monk, and while my
mother still thinks I'm one holy
son of a bitch, let's go ahead
and face the truth-
Before he can finish, he's PINNED against the wall, Angel
holding his elbow against his throat and staring grimly
into his eyes.
WHISTLER (cont'd)
Hey! What the-
Whistler struggles for breath, but Angel seems determined
until a CRASH rings out from somewhere in the building.
Angel snaps around, confused, before realisation downs:
ANGEL
This place...
With Angel's attention elsewhere, Whistler is able to push
him away. Angel glares back at him, but doesn't seem
confrontational this time.
Whistler rubs his throat and croaks a bit as he finishes
Angel's sentence.
WHISTLER
... ain't 5th Avenue, I can tell
you that much.
Angel steps back, looking around at the room again.
WHISTLER (cont'd)
My neck's fine, by the way.
Thanks for asking.
ANGEL
This place... it isn't-
WHISTLER
(rolls eyes)
Los Angeles? Correct again,
sweetheart.
Whistler rubs his neck again as he runs his fingers along
the dingy walls, looks at them with disgust, and wipes the
grime upon his jacket.
WHISTLER (cont'd)
What this place is, in all
actuality, is the deranged
Freudian wonderland that you've
been figmenting up for-
ANGEL
Then you're not...
WHISTLER
No, I'm real. One-hundred
percent, in the flesh human.
Well, a slightly lower percentage
than that, but it comes with the
gig, doesn't it?
ANGEL
Why am I here?
WHISTLER
Why are you here? First thing you
should be more worried about, is
why am I here. That, however, is
a long story - and one that would
go great with a nice bottle of
something or another. Hey, I
don't suppose you could poof me a
little something in here so I
could...
(off look)
Never mind. I'm sure you've got
questions. I've got answers.
He stops and waits for Angel, but gets nothing.
WHISTLER (cont'd)
Well... I've got answers, anyway.
ANGEL
I've been in this room for...
days. I think. Why?
WHISTLER
Months, to be exact, but who's
counting? As for your question,
why is the champion of the people
living in seclusion with the
ugliest demon that a man could
possibly conjure for a Scrabble
opponent? Some less open minded
might think that he'd given up
fighting the good fight.
(beat)
How many times would that make
now?
ANGEL
(sternly)
I didn't choose this.
WHISTLER
Of course you didn't. I wouldn't
be here if you had, but that
still doesn't answer the
question, does it?
ANGEL
Did you come to help or riddle me
to death?
WHISTLER
Depends, really. You willing to
listen to what I have to say?
ANGEL
Are you willing to speak in plain
English?
WHISTLER
(laughing)
Chin up, kiddo. I know the
story's been playing repeat on
this chapter, but trust me, this
fairy tale is about to hit the
next level.
Angel blinks, bewildered, as we hear:
MANNERS (O.S.)
The final phase is nearly upon
us. Such an exciting time to be
alive, wouldn't you say?
15 INT. W&H - LINDSEY'S OFFICE - NIGHT 15
Establishing. HOLLAND MANNERS is standing before the
windows, staring out across downtown Los Angeles. LINDSEY
MCDONALD is sitting behind Angel's old desk, looking less
than thrilled to be there.
LINDSEY
You're not exactly alive any
more, Holland.
MANNERS
Come now, Lindsey. Where's your
sense of adventure?
LINDSEY
(apathetically)
I can barely contain my
excitement.
Manners turns and looks at Lindsey for a beat, then smirks
as he heads over.
MANNERS
We've got a new client coming
into town soon, Lindsey. I need
you to see that he's well taken
care of.
LINDSEY
(snarky)
Leave a note with my secretary.
I'll get right on it.
MANNERS
(beat)
I realize that you're upset,
Lindsey, but-
LINDSEY
'Upset'?!? You bring me back from
hell to take care of Angel once
and for all, and I'm sitting
behind a desk while he's a god
damn vegetable! 'Upset' is a
stage that passed with the
hangover of being back in this
dimension. Are you sure you want
to hear the word that describes
my mood?
MANNERS
Well, at least you're all healed
up and not wearing that dreadful
mask anymore. That's something.
Lindsey stands violently up from his chair, knocking stacks
of papers to the floor as he glares at Manners.
LINDSEY
'Something' would be killing our
mortal enemy! The son of a bitch
took my hand and my life - twice!
He's been the bane of our
existence ever since he arrived
in LA, and the senior partners-
MANNERS
(over him)
Are less reluctant to abstain
from a swift reprisal should you
not act accordingly to plan,
especially where Angel is
concerned.
Lindsey takes a deep and exasperated breath as he watches
Manners finish.
MANNERS (cont'd)
You've always known that the
senior partners have had grander
plans for Angel, and yet you
still attempt these clandestine
operations of yours to undermine
their authority on the issue.
LINDSEY
(dry)
What can I say? Sometimes, I just
can't control myself.
MANNERS
Nonetheless, they are very
impressed by your conduct thus
far. The way that you dealt with
Angel and his team last year was
a remarkable showing of both
patience and virtue on your part,
but this time around, they have
made clear to me that things are
going to operate differently.
LINDSEY
Are they going to let me do
things my way for a change?
MANNERS
Not just yet.
LINDSEY
What a shock.
MANNERS
The fact is that they have not
turned a deaf ear to your past...
indiscretions. Current
satisfactory progress
notwithstanding, the partners are
wary of you, Lindsey, and they're
going to be keeping a very close
eye on your activities.
LINDSEY
I'm thrilled, Holland, really.
Now, if that's all...
MANNERS
(smiling)
Keep up the good work.
Lindsey shakes his head angrily as Manners starts to exit
the room. Before he can leave, however, Manners stops.
MANNERS (cont'd)
Where is my mind these days? I
almost forgot that I had one more
bit of information to pass onto
you. Allow me to introduce you to
your new liaison.
Manners steps aside as LILAH MORGAN enters the office.
Lindsey's jaw drops. Lilah looks as good as ever - long
legs, perfect hair, snappy skirt and blouse.
LILAH
Hello, Lindsey. Miss me?
Lindsey throws a stunned look to Manners, who can't hide
his smirk as he steps out of the office, closing the doors.
Lindsey looks back to Lilah, who's now wearing a smug grin
of her own as we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.