Cordelia is sitting in front of her computer at Angel Investigations
checking out a new computer program.
Cordy: “Demons, Demons, Demons. Wow! They put a lot
of thought into *that* title.”
Wesley: “It’s a demon database. What would you call it?”
Cordy: “I don’t know. How about – Demon Database?”
Wesley: “Ahh! A name rife with single entendre.”
Cordy: “Why isn’t Wolfram&Hart in here?”
Wesley: “Because they are lawyers, not demons?”
Cordy: “Fine line, if you ask me. Yeesh. They have
a lot of entries! Did you know that there is a dozen species indigenous
to LA County alone?”
Wesley: “Do they have the Vigories of Oden Tal?”
Cordy: “Nope.”
Wesley: “Hmm. (Picks up a book) So - there is still
a place in this world for traditional research.”
Cordy: “There are some ugly critters in here. Someone ought
to create an intra-demon dating base. You know, like archfiend.org,
where the lonely and the slimy connect. (Wesley looks at her)
I was just joking Mr. Grouchy Pants. When was the last time you had
a dating base?”
Wesley: “For your information – I lead a rich and varied social
life.”
Cordy: “Oh, I know. Every night it’s Jeopardy, followed
by Wheel of Fortune and a cup of hot cocoa. Look out girls, this
one can’t be tamed!”
Wesley: “I’ll admit it may not be as intoxicating as a life erected
on high fashion pumps and a push-up bra.”
Cordy gets up: “Hey, if anyone is wearing a push-up bra around
here it’s (Sees Angel coming in) - Angel.”
Angel: “Did you two need to see a counselor?”
Cordy with a smile: “No, I’m way too single entendre - to benefit
from therapy!”
Wesley: “I don’t know why you take everything so personally.”
Cordy: “Me? Oh this is rich coming from Mr. ‘Don’t talk
to me until I’ve had my *flagon* of oat-bran’ in the morning.”
Door opens a guy with a beat-up face in a suit walks in.
Angel: “Children, we have company.”
Darin: “Is one of you Angel?”
Angel: “I’m Angel.”
Darin: “I’m Darin Macnamara, I uh, - checked around. You
have a reputation for handling unusual problems.”
Wesley: “A richly deserved reputation.”
Darin sways and Angel and Wesley run up and catch him before he collapses.
Angel: “Hey, are you all right?”
They help Darin over to the couch.
Darin: “Yeah, I think I’m going to pass out. I’m-I’m sorry
it’s just that – my brother - Jack. He-he was kidnapped last night.
(He offers Angel a small white jewelry box) I found this in my mailbox
today.”
Angel opens the box to reveal a severed finger.
Angel: “Do you know the people who did this?”
Darin: “Well, that’s why I came to you. - They weren’t
people.”
Intro
Angel is looking at some photographs of a blond guy.
Darin: “That’s my brother Jack. - My brother and
I haven’t been exactly – close – since we grew up. I made something
of my life and Jack - didn’t. (Cordy hand him a drink) Thanks.
I don’t know what they want. There was no calls, no note, just...”
Angel: “But you were there when he was taken.”
Darin: “Jack called me last night, asked me to come over. – He’s
got a gambling problem. He said he was in over his head with one
of his bookies.”
Cordy: “Do you know which one?”
Darin: “Ernie Nellins. He works at a Sports Bar in Silverlake
called Shots. I paid this Nellins before. I told Jack this
time to go to hell. I wanted him to suffer the consequences of his
actions. - I didn’t know something like this was gonna happen.”
Wesley: “You couldn’t. It’s not your fault.”
Darin: “I felt guilty. So I went over there and there were
these – I don’t know – creatures. They were dragging him away.
I-I tried to stop them, but...”
Angel: “And you haven’t heard from anyone?”
Darin: “No. I’ll pay anything to get him back. He’s
family. He’s my little brother.”
Angel: “Look, my colleagues will - start looking into whoever
or whatever kidnapped your brother and uhm, (Hands him a pad and paper)
in the meantime write down everything you saw.”
Darin: “Okay. Thank you! What about the bookie?”
Angel: “I thought we could have a little chat.”
Cut to a bunch of guys playing poker. A guy is setting down drinks
in Styrofoam containers.
Bookie: “This is wheat-grass. I ordered the kiwi cooler.”
Guy: “Give me that.”
Bookie: “How do you drink this swill! (Lays down two cards)
Give me two.”
Angel walks in: “Mind if I play, Ernie?”
Bookie: “Game’s invitation only, pal.”
Angel: “Then invite me. It’s been a while since I’ve played
so I might be a little rusty on the rules (Pulls out the photographs of
Jack and drops them on the table) but I think my Jacks – beat your pair.
(Bookie pulls out a gun and Angel grabs his hand and casually gets the
gun away form him) No, I’m not looking for a fight – just for him.”
Bookie gets up and walks out. Angel picks up the pictures and
follows him.
Cut to the alley outside.
Angel: “You should try that wheat-grass. It’s good for
the digestion.”
Bookie: “Who the hell are you?”
Angel: “Friend of Jack’s.”
Bookie: “Jack doesn’t have any friends – just people he doesn’t
owe.”
Angel: “His brother will make good on all his debts.”
Bookie: “Ooh, out of my hands hot-shot. It’s not about
the money anymore. It’s about making Jack an example.”
Angel: “Piece by piece?”
Bookie: “Makes an impression on the newcomers.”
Angel: “Where is he, Ernie?”
Bookie: “He didn’t tell me. I didn’t ask.”
Angel: “Which doesn’t mean you don’t know.”
Bookie: “Yep.”
He puts a cigarette in his mouth. Angel seems to be lighting
a match for him but when the guy bends down he sees the Angel is actually
holding up a folded hundred-dollar bill shielded by his hand instead of
a match. The bookie glances up at Angel, then both ways down the
deserted alley. He touches his cigarette to the bill and palms it
with his other hand.
Bookie: “There is a place – in Beechwood Canyon. -
Well, not exactly in Beechwood Canyon – under it actually.”
Cordy at her computer: “Okay, I’m in. What did Darin write
down about the demon that took his brother?”
Wesley reads: “Bald – ultra white skin – slime.”
Cordy: “There is always slime. This is why I don’t gamble.
You make a small wager one day, a bigger one the next, and before you know
it – Beetlejuicy albino comes a knocking! Claws or hands?”
Wesley: “He wrote claw-like hands.”
Cordy: “Could be a mixed breed. Smell?”
Wesley: “Sulfuric.”
Cordy: “Add a Porsche and hair-plugs and I’ve dated this guy
– a lot. Other distinguishing characteristics?”
Wesley: “An eerie high-pitched howl or wail. I’m assuming
that’s when it’s preparing to fight or mate.”
Cordy: “Okay, first I say ‘yuck’ and then I hit search.”
Wesley: “You know, by the time you get done entering all this
in your fancy-shmancy database (picks up a book) I could have located it
just...”
Cordy: “Got it.”
Wesley looks at the screen: “A Howler demon.”
Cut to Angel climbing down a ladder into a sewer. He shines his
flashlight on some bloody human parts floating in some opaque goo in a
square hole in the floor. Two Howler demons attack him, shrieking
as they go. After a bit of a fight, Angel knows one of them out with
his flashlight, then presses the other one up against the wall.
Angel: “Where is Jack Macnamara?”
Howler: “Not here.”
Angel: “Where is he?!”
Howler: “We sold him.”
Angel: “Okay. Who did we sell him to?”
A sports convertible pulls up in a rundown neighborhood. Angel
sees couples in fancy dress lined up to have their tickets checked to get
into one of the buildings.
Bouncer: “Next please? Tickets? Name?”
Angel sees a barred basement window. He tests the strength of
the bars with his hands looks around, then breaks in.
Cut to the inside of the club. A good-looking, dark-haired lady
picks up her drink from the bar and pushes her ticket laying next to it
over the edge. Angel catches it.
Lady: “You’re quick.”
Angel looks at the ticket. It says Amount $5000 to win Cribb
XXI 255459.
Lady pulls it out of his hand with a smile: “Thank you.”
Angel: “No problem.”
Angel walks into another room. People stand cheering around a
pit in which two demons are fighting against each other. One demon
manages to know the other down so it doesn’t get back up.
Crowd chanting: “Killing blow. Killing blow.”
One of the men standing beside some doors in the pit throws the demon
still standing a knife. He catches it and cuts the downed demon’s
throat to cheers and applause.
Announcer into microphone hanging in the middle of the pit: “Winner,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Tom Cribb, official time 6 minutes 22 seconds. (Fight
pays out 2 5 ?) If you are keeping track that was Cribb’s seventh career
kill. Our next contest features one of the more popular fighter’s
we’ve had the pleasure of presenting, a rare find. Hailing from the
barren wastelands of (Treshok ?) (Doors in the pit open and a new
demon walks in) A true champion that has it all: skill, speed and
strength! Let’s give it up for the menace of (Venice?) the titan
of terror, the (?) of agony, the one, the only – Val Trepkos!”
Angel sees a blond guy being lead through the crowd by some guys and
matches him up to the pictures of Jack.
He follows them down a corridor.
Jack: “You made it. (A blinding light comes on and Angel
flinches and puts up a hand to shield his eyes) Most don’t.”
Darin: “Careful with this one, Jack. You should have seen
what he did to the Howlers. Ouch!”
Angel: “You set me up.”
Darin: “It was a group effort.
Jack: “Open up. Let’s get a look at those teeth.
Teeth tell a lot about the bones.”
Jack tries to grab Angel’s face. Angel takes a hold of his wrist
and throws him into another guy behind him. Some more guys stick
Angel with a bunch of heavy-duty cattle prods until he falls down unconscious.
Darin: “I told you to be careful, Jack.”
Jack picking himself back up: “So, this one’s got some attitude.
That’s good. He’ll be a crowd pleaser.”
Camera pans down a brick building and sinks down through the street
to show some demons in metal cages. There is a thick red line marking
off an area of the free space in front of the cages. Angel wakes
up and notices that there is a thick silver bracelet around his left wrist
bearing a XXI.
Angel to the demon sharing his cage: “I asked for a room with
a view. (The demon just looks at him) I’m guessing English is not
your native tongue. Hablo Espanol? (Tries again in Russian,
then Italian with no success) Yeah, we’ll have so much to talk about
during those long winter nights.”
Jack walks in: “Listen up, slaves. There is only one rule
here (Hits a button and the cell doors slide open) and it’s real simple,
so you demons can remember it. (Angel walks towards Jack) Tsk,
tsk. (Points down at the thick red line) Stay inside the red.
That wristband will make sure you do. I know what you’re thinking.
You want to tear my throat out. - But you won’t. Because
there is only one way out of here: When that band comes off. And
the only way that band comes off, is after your 21st kill.”
Angel: “I’m not killing anyone.”
Jack: “Then you’ll be killed. Either way, fan’s will get
their money’s worth.”
Wesley to phone: “Well, please let us know if you hear from him.
Thank you.”
Cordy playing nervously with her necklace: “Cop-lady hasn’t talked
to him?”
Wesley: “No, and she seemed like she didn’t much *care* either.”
Cordy: “We should put out a missing persons.”
Wesley gets up: “He’s only been gone one night.”
Cordy: “One *long* night, during which he was supposed to check
in with us and didn’t. And – he’s not someone who tans well.”
Wesley: “He’s probably just holed up in a tunnel somewhere, waiting
for nightfall.”
Cordy: “Maybe. - Still something is *very* wrong.
Our client, who should be waiting by the phone, is nowhere to be found!”
Wesley puts on his jacket: “Right. Keep trying to track
him down.”
Cordy: “What are you going to do?”
Wesley: “Follow in Angel’s footsteps.”
Cordy: “You’re going to the bookie?”
Wesley: “That’s the last place we know Angel went.”
Cordy: “The bookie who may get his jollies cutting off people’s
extremities?”
Wesley opens a drawer: “That’s why I’m taking this. (He
pulls out a tangle of weapons, scattering them across the floor) Along
with a few other things.”
Cut to the demon barracks. A guard is dishing out a brown slop
and sliding the bowls and a piece of bread on trays across the red line
on the floor. The demons are sitting around the table eating.
Angel sits down. He doesn’t have a bowl.
Angel: “Looks like good gruel.”
Lizard demon: “Who the hell are you?”
Angel: “I’m Angel.”
Lizard: “What you are, is a soon to be dead slave. - Shut up!”
The demon across from the Lizard is about to take a bite out of his
piece of bread when the Lizards tongue shoots out and snags it.
Malish: “Cribb, that’s mine.”
Cribb takes the other demon’s bowl of gruel: “And now it’s mine.”
Angel without looking at Cribb: “Give it back to him.”
Cribb: “You open your mouth again, I’ll close it for good.”
Cribb lifts the bowl to his mouth.
Angel: “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
Cribb puts the bowl down and gets up to lean across the table:
“Angel, guess how many vampires I’ve killed.”
Angel looks up at Cribb. A couple guards come closer, charging
up their cattle prods. Angel reaches over and slides the bowl back
in front of Malish.
Cribb to Angel: “Catch you later.”
Later the demon with the bowl walks up to Angel.
Malish: “Why did you do that?”
Angel: “You’re welcome.”
Malish: “I can fight my own battles. I got two wins already.”
Angel: “So all you need is what? Another 19 and you’re
out of here?”
Malish: “Yeah, that’s right. You think I can’t cut it?
You want a piece of me?”
Angel: “No. Not really.”
Malish: “What’s wrong with you? Don’t be rocking the boat.
This is life and death in here.”
Jack: “Alright, girls, listen up. Here is tonight’s card.
Vlasovik, you’re fighting Baker.”
Darin: “Trepkos, you’re the main event. It’ll go against
Malish.”
Malish drops his bowl.
Cribb: “That’s not a match-up, that’s an execution.”
Jack: “Shut your trap, slave. No one’s talking to you.”
Darin whispers to Jack: “After he kills Malish we’ll put him
up against Kafka for Saturday’s fight.”
Malish to Trepkos: “I’m walking out of there tonight. (Trepkos
gets up and looks at him) You better know that.”
Suddenly one of the demons launches himself across the room.
Angel charges to intercept him crying “No! Don’t!” But the
demon flies across the red line and disintegrates. Jack looks down
as the bracelet falls to the ground.
Jack: “Damn it! We paid good money for that one.”
Darin picks up the bracelet: “It’s alright. It’s an object
lesson for the others. We’ll have to find a replacement for his bout.”
Jack looking at Angel: “How about Captain America here?”
Cut to Ernie the bookie beating up a guy being held by to others.
He dips his fist into a bowl of ice held by a third guy.
Bookie: “Ice. Helps keep the swelling down. You got
a hard head there, boy.”
Wesley as Ernie gets ready to punch the guy again: “Stop that.”
Ernie turns around with a laugh: “Who’s this?”
Wesley: “I’m Wesley Wyndham-Pryce. And I’m looking for
my employer. He came here to question you about Jack Macnamara.”
Ernie: “Maybe you didn’t notice. I’m kind of busy here.”
Wesley: “Where is he?”
Ernie: “Your boss – gave me 200 Dollars to answer his questions.
I’m a businessman. Make an offer.”
Wesley: “You should understand, the man I work for means a great
deal to me. And I will not give you a single red cent. What
I will do, Sir, is beat it out of you if I have to.”
The guys in the room break out into laughter.
Ernie: “You’re from another country, right? (Wesley pulls a crossbow
from behind his back) What are you, Robin Hood?”
Ernie pulls out a gun, put Wesley shoots the gun out of his hand, the
metal dart pinning Ernie’s hand to the wall. The gun slides across
the floor and Wesley picks it up and aims it at the rest of the men as
they are going for their guns.
Wesley: “Please drop those.”
The guys drop their guns, and Wesley puts down the crossbow, keeping
the gun trained on the three goons.
Wesley to the guy that was getting beat up: “You can go now.”
They man runs out and Wesley, keeping the three goons covered, goes
and starts to twiddle the dart stuck in Ernie’s hand. Ernie moans
in pain.
Wesley: “And where is my employer?”
Cut to the announcer in the pit: “Ladies and Gentlemen the Macnamara
brothers welcome you to another night of high stakes, high voltage entertainment.”
The dark-haired Lady from the bar is talking to Darin.
Lady: “I heard something interesting.”
Darin: “What’s that?”
Lady: “I heard the vampire has a soul.”
Darin: “Well, I wouldn’t know about that.”
Lady: “When he’s fighting, do you think that would be a plus
– or a minus?”
Darin playing with one of the bracelets: “Probably depends on
what he’s fighting for.”
Lady: “Does that mean you’ll give me odds on him to win?”
Darin: “It means I’ll give you even money.”
Lady: “I’ll take that bet.”
Darin laughs and walks away.
Cut to Angel leaning against a wall, brooding, as the other demons warm
up.
Malish to Angel: “You shouldn’t go out there cold. Look,
you did me one. Baker’s fast, but his left eye got messed up two
fights ago. Stay on his left. Tie him up, you can drive his
head right into the wall. You can get the kill.”
Angel: “I’m not going to kill anyone.”
Malish: “You on drugs? It’s not like you have a choice.”
Jack walks in: “Alright, girls, show time!”
Cut to Angel walking into the ring.
Announcer: “Baker’s challenger makes his ring debut tonight.
He’s a highly skilled fighter with a taste for blood. Let’s welcome
– Angel!”
The bell rings and Baker spin-kicks Angel. Angel is thrown against
the wall. He bounces back and just blocks or ducks Baker’s kicks
and punches without any attempt at fighting back.
Cribb watching from the demon barracks: “That vampire is not
even fighting!”
Cut to Cordy in a fake fur coat and Wesley in a white suit walking up
outside of the club.
Cordy sees a couple getting out of a car: “Those two are perfect.”
Wesley: “Did you bring the badge?”
Cordy: “No.”
Wesley: “You said you had...”
Cordy to the couple: “Sir, madam, I’m detective Andrews and this
is detective Yelsew. - Show them your badge. (Wesley takes a wallet
out of his inside pocket and waves it through the air without letting them
get a look at it) and write down their license plate number four three
niner, Peter, Charley, Edward.”
Man: “What are you doing? Why are you writing down...”
Cordy: “Sir, if you could just calm down and give us your name?”
Man: “My name is Mathew Winslow, as in Winslow Multimedia?
And I happen to be a personal friend of your boss – Chief Tyler?”
Cordy: “We’ll give him your best. Could I see your tickets
please?”
Winslow hands her his tickets: “You’ll be hearing from my lawyer
tonight.”
Cordy: “Are you aware that you’ve purchased tickets to an unlicensed
sporting event?”
Wesley: “Answer the detective.”
Winslow: “Well, if it’s illegal, what are all these people doing
here?”
Cordy: “We’re trying to do you a favor, Mr. Winslow.”
Wesley: “Something is going down tonight. Something with
the man.”
Cordy kicks him.
Winslow: “A raid?”
Cordy: “We’re not at liberty to say.”
Winslow: “But we could just - go on home?”
Cordy: “I think that would be a wise thing to do, Sir.”
Winslow mouths ‘thank you’ and he and his lady get back into the car.
Cordy elbows Wesley as they walk off.
Wesley: “What?”
Cordy: “You almost blew it!”
Wesley: “I save it!”
Cordy: “Urgh! Something is going down with the man?
You idiot!”
Cut to Angel being pummeled by Baker.
Cribb watching: “Idiot! He thinks he can get out of this
by pulling a Ghandi!”
The crowd is jeering and yelling for Angel to fight back, but he only
block or ducks the punches.
Cordy and Wesley walk in. Cordy spots Darin, who is still playing
with the bracelet.
Cordy: “I think we found our missing client.”
They make their way closer to the pit.
Cordy: “Oh my God! What is this?”
Wesley: “These Octavian matches date back to the Roman Empire.
I’d heard rumors of a revival.”
Cordy: “Couldn’t they have just done Westside Story? What’s
with the bracelets?”
Wesley: “If they cross the red line while wearing one – they
disintegrate.”
Cordy: “Oh.”
Darin puts the bracelet down on top of the barrier and motions to the
guard standing next to him. The Guard pulls out a short knife and
drops it in the pit.
Baker picks it up and slices Angel across the left upper arm with it.
Angel morphs into vamp face. The Crowd starts to chant: “Killing
blow. Killing blow.”
Angel fends off a couple more swipes by Baker then grabs a hold of
his knife hand and twists it into Baker’s own chest.
Crowd chants: “Angel! Angel!”
Baker drops and Angel looks down at the blood on his hand.
Announcer: “Official time: 7 minutes 33 seconds. This marks
the first of what promises to be many more killed by the vampire!
Angel!”
Wesley and Cordy look on as Angel turns and walks out through the doors.
Cut to Malish looking up as Angel (back in human face) walks back into
the barracks.
Jack: “Trepkos and Malish, show time!”
Angel to Trepkos as they pass each other: “Wait. No one
fights, no one dies.”
Cribb: “Oh, quit moping! You’re alive.”
Angel: “But Baker isn’t.”
Cribb: “One lucky kill don’t make you an expert.”
Angel looks over at Cribb: “That wasn’t the first life I’ve taken
- or the 21st.”
Jack snaps his fingers: “Trepkos, Malish. Lets go!”
Angel to Trepkos: “Look, we can fight them, but only if we stop
fighting each other.”
Jack: “Now!”
Angel: “I’m giving you another way out.”
Trepkos: “I’ll kill him quick.”
A guard hustles Malish up the ramp to the pit. Jack smiles at
Angel.
Announcer: “And now Ladies and Gentlemen, let’s give it up for
one of our favorite fighters: Val Trepkos!”
Trepkos just stands there as Malish hits him in the head, then grabs
Malish’s arm, twists it, grabs his neck with his other hand and breaks
it.
Cut to Cordy and Wesley walking outside of the club.
Cordy: “We’ve got to call the police.”
Wesley: “Ah, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Cordy: “Why?”
Wesley: “If by some miracle they’re not already in on this, the
Macnamara would destroy the evidence the moment they showed.”
Cordy: “He’d kill the fighters. We’ve got to get Angel
out of there!”
Wesley: “I know. And to do that we have to get him out
of those wrist-cuffs. No mean feat. They were forged by ancient
sorcerers.”
Cordy: “So get an ancient key!”
Wesley: “I might be able to make one myself – if I could get
my hands on one of those cuffs. Which isn’t going to be easy (Cordy
pulls a cuff out of her pocket and holds it up) unless you happened to
procure one while I wasn’t looking. (They smile at each other)
Well done!”
Cordy: “Thank you.”
Cut to dinner in the barracks.
Jack: “Well, that was the most exciting match I’ve ever seen.
My favorite part was when you stuck Baker with the knife. (Angel
gets up and walks right up to the red line. Jack is just across from
it) Kind of put a damper on the brotherhood spiel. What did you expect?
You’re a demon, just like the rest of them. Difference is they know
their place.”
Angel: “Someone needs to put you in yours. You – and your
brother.”
Jack laughs: “Someone may – some day. But not you – and
not today.”
Angel: “Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today?”
Angel’s left hand shoots out and grabs Jack by the throat. Energy
is crackling all along Angel’s left arm, but he doesn’t disintegrate since
the bracelet is only over but not on the other side of the red line.
He pulls Jack across and holds him in front of him as a shield, one arm
wrapped around his throat.
Angel to the guard: “Any closer and you’re working for a dead
man. (To Jack) I’ll give you enough air to tell me how to get this
off. How does it open? Is there some kind of a key? Where
is the key, Jack? (To the demons) Check his pockets.
Cribb, Trepkos, any of you. A little help would be nice. (None
of them move) Or I can just do it myself.”
Jack: “What did I tell you , huh? Now you’re really alone.”
Angel: “I got you. (To the guards) Get his brother!
(To the demons) Look at him, huh? Is this who you are all so
afraid of going up against? How does it feel, Jack? Tell them
how it feels to be in here. Come on! How does it feel to be
a slave? Tell them!”
Darin flanked by two guys with charged cattle prods: “Let him
go.”
Angel: “As soon as you let us go.”
Darin: “Who do you think you are? Moses?”
Angel: “Someone you’ll listen to if you want your brother back
alive.”
Darin: “Last chance.”
Angel: “Come on Darin! We both know there is only one way
to let this play out. So let’s just get it done. He’s your
brother.”
Darin pulls a gun and shoots Jack three times. One of the bullets
hits Angel in the right shoulder and he let’s go of Jack.
Darin: “Now he’s my dead brother.”
The two guards run up to Angel and stick him with the cattle prods
until he is once again knocked out.
Cut to Angel waking up in a leather chair in a nice office with the
dark-haired lady from the bar watching him.
Lady: “How do you feel?”
Angel: “Like I was hit by lightning after the truck ran me over.
- I remember you.”
Lady brings him a glass of champagne: “We didn’t get a chance
to meet. I’m Lilah Morgan.”
Angel: “You’re a fight fan. (Looks at her bookshelves)
And a lawyer. Let me guess – Wolfram and Hart.”
Lilah: “I’m an associate here. It took some arm-twisting,
but I convinced the Macnamara to sell your contract to the partners. -
I told them that keeping you around would be more trouble than it was worth.
(Lifts her glass) Congratulations. You’re free.”
Angel: “As long as I pretend it never happened – that Macnamara
and his circus don’t exist. - That is the deal, isn’t it?”
Lilah: “It’s a big city, Angel. A lot of people need your
help.”
Angel: “So you’re really a good Samaritan and this whole pact-with-the-devil
business is just an act.”
Lilah: “Sometimes you have to – compromise.”
Angel: “Look the other way you mean – when Wolfram and Hart are
involved?”
Lilah: “I prefer to think of it - as picking the battles you
can win. There is not one reason why we can’t work together.”
Angel gets up with a big sigh.
Angel: “You’re right. (He takes a sip from his glass of champagne
as Lilah smiles at him) There are about a thousand.”
Lilah leans in close to him: “I saw what you did to Baker – so
I know you want to survive. This is your only chance. Take
it.”
Angel: “Thanks for the champagne.”
The two guards stick their charged cattle prods into his face.
Angel: “Relax. Take me back.”
Cut to Wesley working on the bracelet.
Cordy: “You’d think people get enough gratuitous violence watching
Jerry Springer.”
Wesley: “Cordelia, do you mind? - I’m trying to concentrate.”
Cordy: “You’ve been concentrating all night.”
Wesley: “Yes! It’s taken this long to translate the text.
I need something that conducts electricity, but not too much of it.
This cuff is half magic, half – medieval technology. If I read the
alchemist correctly - all I need is..”
He touches a wire to the cuff. There is an explosion of sparks
and Wesley is thrown backwards onto the floor. Cordy runs over to
him.
Cordy: “Ouch! Are you okay?”
Wesley sitting back up: “Perhaps – something that conducts a
little less electricity.”
Cut to Angel walking back into the demon barracks.
Trepkos to Cribb: “He was free.”
Cribb: “Bloodsucker is crazier than I thought.”
Darin to Angel: “You think you’re proving something special by
coming back here? (Angel crosses the red line and holds out his left wrist.
Darin locks a bracelet around it) They didn’t help you before, they’re
not going to help you now. Every one of them knows the only way out
of here is by himself. But you find that out soon enough yourself
because tonight – you’re going to fight Trepkos. Smart money says
he’s walking out the front door. You’re his 21st kill.”
Darin walks out and Angel and Trepkos look at each other.
Cut to the bracelet in the vise on Angel’s table. A hand holding
a pair of pliers slowly touches the stick held with them down on the bracelet.
Nothing happens. Wesley’s head peeks up above the edge of the table.
Wesley: “Too thick.”
Cordy’s head peeks out from behind a pillar.
Cordy: “Oh. Tick-tick, Wesley!”
Wesley: “I don’t know what else to try. We need something
supple enough to thread the locking mechanism, but strong enough to spring
the release.”
Cordy: “Horsehair.”
Wesley: “Horsehair?”
Cordy fiddles with her bracelet: “From Keanu, my palomino, before
the IRS took him away.”
Wesley takes a strand of hair and puts it between the pliers:
“Horsehair.”
Cordy: “Well, we tried just about everything else.”
Wesley ducks back down below the table and Cordy runs back behind her
pillar. Wesley touches the horsehair to the XXI on the cuff.
There is a short zap and it springs open.
Cut to the arena. The sign says ‘Grador vs Siru’ and ‘Angel vs
Trepkos’.
Man at betting counter: “Next please.”
Lilah: “10 000 on Trepkos.”
Cut to the pit.
Announcer: “Tonight’s match features a new favorite in the ring
– a vampire. Ladies and Gentlemen please welcome for the second night
in a row, and still fresh from his first kill – Angel!”
Doors open and Angel walks into the ring.
Announcer: “His opponent is a fan favorite who needs no introduction
(Angel looks up at Lilah in the stands) This marks his 21st and final fight.
Let’s give a special welcome to a true champion: Val Trepkos!”
Trepkos enters the ring and he and Angel confront each other.
Angel: “Is this how you want to pay for your freedom? With
21 bodies? You’ll always be their slave - even if they take that
off your wrist.”
Trepkos: “I’ll kill you quick.”
Angel: “I won’t let you.”
Trepkos steps back and they begin to fight. Angel is again just
fighting defensively.
Cribb watching from the barracks: “Vampire is going to get his
head ripped off – maybe his heart torn out. – What a loser.”
Angel, bleeding from the corner of his mouth, falls facedown to the
floor, but gets back up.
Cut to Cordy walking down a dirty hallway and up to a guard.
Cordy: “Can you help me? I’m a little lost. (She
draws the guard away from the corridor opening he was standing in front
off) I’m looking for the Ladies room. (Wesley dart out around
the corner and past the guard) They said it was this way – or is
- is that back up one level?”
Cut to Trepkos beating up on Angel.
Cut to Cribb walking away from the window to the pit. Wesley
walks up to a barred window in the fencing around the prisoner’s area.
Wesley to Cribb: “Excuse me. Psst. Come here.
Yes, you. (Cribb walks a little closer) I need to see Angel.
Tall fellow – prominent brow.”
Cribb: “Yeah, he’s dead.”
Wesley: “Dead.”
Cribb: “In about 20 seconds he will be. He’s fighting Trepkos.
And who the hell are you?”
Wesley: “Uh, I’m a friend. Perhaps we can help each other.
I have a key.”
Cribb: “A key?”
Wesley holds up a stick with a piece of horsehair mounted to the end.
Wesley: “This unlocks the cuffs. Help me save Angel and
I’ll get you out. All of you. If we band together..”
Cribb’s tongue shoots out and rips the stick out of Wesley’s hand.
Wesley: “What are you – give that back! – Hey!”
Cut to Angel and Trepkos fighting.
Darin to a guard: “Alright. Let’s make it more interesting.”
The guard drops two pointed wooden staffs into the pit. Trepkos
catches one out of the air, the other drops to the ground. As he
charges Angel with it Angel vaults out of the way, picking up the other
stick as he rolls back to his feet and the fight continues. (Nice moves
here.) The crowd is getting excited and we see Wesley walk into the
area above the pit, looking for Cordy.
Cordy: “Wesley, what happened?”
Wesley: “One of them took my key.”
Cordy: “Angel can’t last much longer. We have to do something
now.”
Wesley spots Darin: “We will.”
Angel has lost his staff and Trepkos has him in a bind. Angel
manages to throw Trepkos against the wall, but Trepkos bounces back, stabbing
Angel through the gut with his staff. Angel hits the staff breaking
it in two (one half still stuck through his side) catches Trepkos wrist
as he tries to hit Angel with the remaining piece and kicks his feet out
from under Trepkos. Trepkos lands hard on his back. Angel pulls
out the piece stuck in his side and presses the pointy end against Trepkos’
throat.
Cut to Cribb unlocking his cuff. He hears the crowd chanting Angel’s
name and goes to look. Sees Angel getting off Trepkos, throw the
stick away and walks off as the crowd boos. Trepkos gets back up
and kicks Angel in the back. The crowd chants “Killing blow.
Killing blow.” As Trepkos beats up on Angel, who’s not even trying
to block any of the blows any more.
Wesley pulls Cordy over towards Darin.
Trepkos pulls back his fist to hit Angel again (who’s in pretty bad
shape by now) and they stare at each other. The crowd keeps chanting
“Killing blow. Killing blow.” Trepkos lowers his fist and stares
up into the stands. The crowd falls quiet. Trepkos looks back
at Angel then turns away and Angel collapses to the ground. Trepkos
scans the crowd.
Darin to the guard in the pit: “Both of them.”
The guards raise their cattle prods.
Wesley holding a gun on Darin: “Call them off.”
Some of the spectators start to leave as Wesley cocks his gun.
Darin: “Screw you.”
The doors to the pit burst open and Cribb and the other demons storm
the arena. Darin grabs Wesley’s gun hand as he is distracted and
the tow of them start to struggle. The demons are beating up the
guards as the crowd runs for the exits.
Cribb bends over Angel with the key: “Give me your wrist. (Unlocks
the cuff) Loser.”
Lilah is one of the last to leave. The demons have killed all
the guards and most of them run back out through the doors in the
pit.
Darin manages to get the gun away from Wesley and push him down.
As he aims to shoot him Cordy pushes him over the railing into the pit
with a metal stand.
Cribb is supporting Angel. Darin points the gun at Trepkos.
Darin: “You stupid slave. You had your 21! But you
had to go and ruin it for everybody else.”
Trepkos pivots so Darin’s back is to Angel and Cribb. Angel pulls
Darin’s hand down as he shoots, and Cribb locks a cuff around Darin’s left
wrist.
Cribb throws Darin at Trepkos: “Trepkos, - catch.”
Trepkos throws Darin up into the stands and he disintegrates as he
passes the red line around the pit. The bracelet lands on the floor
between Cordy and Wesley, who are the only one’s left up there.
Cribb unlocks Trepkos cuff. Angel’s knees give as he tries to
walk out and Trepkos catches him.
Trepkos: “Easy.”
Angel: “Thanks. Thanks.”
Trepkos: “It was a good fight.”
Angel: “Yeah.”
The three of them walk out. Angel sways, and Trepkos catches
him again before he falls.
Angel: “I could have taken you.”
Cut to Wesley and Cordy supporting Angel between them as they walk out
of the club.
Cordy: “Angel you don’t look so – well, it’s a good thing that
you heal fast.”
Angel: “Yeah. It’s also a good thing you found me in time.”
Cordy: “We weren’t going to let anything happen to you.”
Wesley: “No.”
Cordy: “Well, I mean, beyond the slavery and the severe beatings
and stuff. Wesley came up with the key!”
Wesley: “But Cordelia came up with the key to the key!
In a clinch moment.”
Angel: “You both did great. And - I think we did a - good
thing here tonight.”
Wesley looking after the departing demons: “Yes. We set
the captives free.”
Cordy: “Well, actually, didn’t we set – a bunch of - demons free?”
Wesley: “Oh. Well. Technically – yes.”
The end.