Previously on Angel:

Gunn: "I've been fighting vamps and demons ever since I was a kid, but I never had a Fred before."

Lorne: "Wesley is not taking the baby overnight, he's taking the baby away."

Wesley: "Justine?"

Justine: "I just need to do this..."

Justine slits Wes' throat and runs off with Connor.

Gunn: "Wes thought Angel..."

Fred: "...was going to kill Connor. I told you he had a reason for taking Connor! Now let's find Angel and tell him right away."

Gunn: "And what? He'll forgive him?"

Fred: "Well, maybe begin to forgive."

Angel pulls the pillow out from under Wes' head and pushes it down over his face.

Angel: "You son of a bitch! You think I'll forgive you?"

Gunn and tow orderlies pull Angel out of the hospital room.

Gunn: "Angel!"

Angel: "I'll never forgive you! Never! You're a dead man! You're dead!"

Gunn and Fred are sorting through stacks of files on the reception counter of the Hyperion's lobby.

Gunn: "It's hopeless. Half these files I can't even read the client's names! What's this? Fizzana? Fizz - Fizzacar? What does this say to you?"

Fred: "I think it's Frysylka? - Oh, right. They were that couple that called last week with the squatter in their layer. Wesley was supposed to ... - It was supposed to be taken care of."

Gunn: "Well, I guess he was too busy stealing the baby."

Fred: "Don't. - Okay?"

Lorne walks in: "So, how's it coming? Making any headway on those pending file piles?"

Gunn: "Some. Sorta."

Fred: "There's just so much to keep track of."

Lorne looks at the stairs leading up: "Still. At times like these it's good to keep busy. Throw yourself into work. Stay active."

Fred: "Lorne, he lost the only child he'll ever have."

Lorne sighs: "Ah, sugar, I know. I know. I just wish he'd talk to us."

Gunn: "Might be safer to leave him alone for a while. I'm pretty sure the rage is past, but you really wanna find out first hand?"

Fred: "I'm sure he's not planning to - finish what he started at the hospital."

Gunn: "Only because Wesley is too smart to show his face around here."

They all turn as the hotel doors open - and see Cordy and Groo walking in.

Cordy, grinning: "We're back! And we're bearing gifts!"

They all just look at her.

Cordy: "What happened?"

Angel is in his scorched apartment staring at Connor's empty crib. The door behind him opens and Cordy walks in. Cordy walks up to Angel, sits down beside him and puts a hand on his back.

Cordy: "I'm so sorry."

Cordy puts her head on his shoulder and Angel looks down at the floor.

We get a flash of a big red "Casino" sign. Inside a variety of demons and humans are playing different games of chance.

Owner turns to one of his demonic goons: "Table six, the one in blue? Palmed a king in his left hand. And Benny? Just take the left hand. We can still make money off his right. (Calls over another demon, wearing dark sunglasses) You! Good. (Hands him one of AI's business cards) Bring him in. His marker is up. Time to collect his soul."

Intro

Hyperion, day, Angel is lying on his fire-scorched bed, staring up at the ceiling. The door of his apartment opens and Cordy walks in carrying a book in her hand.

Cordy: "I'm just here - okay?"

Cordy sits down in a chair and opens the book.

Groo: "This house is thick with sadness."

Lorne: "Yeah, tell me about it. Home is where the heart is, but these hearts are broken."

Lorne is wrapping Wes' tea set in newspaper and putting it into a box.

Groo: "It is my deepest wish to aid my princess in her time of need. I've already brought her clothing and food for her Shiv-roth with Angel."

Lorne: "The vigil of the bereaved. Huh, I almost forgot there was a name for it."

Groo: "We can do nothing else for their pain. Is that why you were..."

Lorne: "Me? No. No. These are... They're not mine."

Groo: "They're Wesley's then?"

Lorne: "Groo, you might wanna try and avoid saying the name."

Older demon lady: "Wesley! That was it."

Older demon man: "Don't be ridiculous, Monica, it wasn't Wesley. It was Sherman."

Monica: "You don't even know any Shermans! It was Wesley. Irish fellow, right?"

An older demon couple is sitting in Wes' office across from Gunn and Fred.

Syd: "He was English, you old bat!"

Monica: "Anyway, that's who we were talking to. Is he here?"

Gunn: "Ah - he's on sabbatical."

Fred: "We're really sorry for the mix-up. Now, it says in your file you have a squatter in your lair?'

Syd: "Damn, no-good Skench demons! They're all alike."

Monica: "Here we go."

Syd: "Person spends his whole half-life..."

Monica: "...building a lair to relax in."

Syd: "And what happens? A Skench demon squats..."

Monica: "...right down on your coffee table. Ask me how many times I had to listen to this."

Syd: "Oh, like you ever listen."

Monica: "And you have so many interesting things to say."

Gunn: "So, Skenches. I've heard about them. Sort of impish kind of demon - like a leprechaun."

Syd: "Leprechauns don't exist, son."

Monica: "Now, Syd, don't embarrass the lad."

Syd: "Oh. Sorry kid."

Gunn: "Skenches take over a house, right? Drive out the people who live there?"

Monica: "Well, god knows you can't stay. What with the shrieking all night and the projectile phlegm."

Syd: "The only thing worse is putting up with her for three hundred years."

Fred: "You've been married for three centuries?"

Monica: "Ever since the mytosis."

Syd: "Not that I'd mind being a single celled organism again."

Monica: "Oh, shut up, Syd."

Gunn: "I thought getting rid of Skenches was pretty easy though. Don't you just have to lop of its head?"

Syd: "Sure! If you can avoid the phlegm."

Monica: "Syd has a phobia about phlegm."

Syd: "I do not! I have a phobia about sputum."

Gunn: "Okay! I think we got everything we need. I'll get right over there and clean out your Skench problem today."

Fred: "Thank you for coming. We'll call you as soon as it's done."

Syd: "Call me anytime."

Monica: "Oh, for crying out loud, Syd, that girl is not a sixteenth of your age. Put your eyes back in your head!"

Syd, leaving: "A demon can dream, can't he?"

Gunn and Fred, both smiling, watch the couple go.

Gunn: "Man! You hear those two?"

Fred: "It's beautiful. All that time and they're still in love. The way they finish each other's insults."

Gunn, looking at Fred: "Beautiful."

Groo comes in: "Is there evil to vanquish?"

Gunn: "Oh, thanks, bro. I got it. Just a little mucus demon under Alvarado and Clark. I'll be back soon."

Fred: "Don't forget your machete."

Gunn: "Yes, dear."

Groo: "He is very fortunate to have such a woman looking after his weapon."

Lorne chuckles as he walks by carrying the box with Wes' things.

Lonre: "I'm not touching that one. - Probably best to keep this out of sight. Just in case... Yeah. Ah, anyway, I gotta run. I have a reading in Topenga Canyon. Figured it'd be a good time for house calls considering the vibe around here. (To Fred) Hey, if he - if he needs anything..."

Fred: "I'll call."

Lorne nods and leaves. Fred looks down at the box with Wes' things.

Wes is lying in his hospital bed, staring up at the ceiling. Fred, the box with his things under her arm, knocks on the open door and he turns his head to look at her.

Fred, smiling: "Hi, Wesley. - How are you feeling?"

Wes makes a motion towards his throat as Fred sets the box down on a chair.

Fred: "Oh. It's not permanent though. - I brought you some of your stuff from the office. Things there... - Well, things. - Gunn and I found your notes about - the baby, the prophecy. You took him away because you thought Angel was gonna kill him. You were trying to protect 'em - both of them. I just wanted you to know I understand that. - And I also wanted to say, I thought what Angel tried to do to you was wrong - and I'm sorry. - But he was right to blame you, Wesley. You should have come to us. You should have trusted us instead of going to Holtz behind our back. You're supposed to be our friend and you didn't even... - If Angel sees you again, he'll kill you, Wesley. This time for real. Don't come back to the hotel - ever."

Fred turns to go, but stops with her back to Wes.

Fred: "The prophecy was false. Angel was never gonna hurt Connor. - It was all for nothing."

Wes watches as Fred walks out of the room.

The demon from the casino walks into the lobby of the Hyperion and Groo greets him from behind the counter.

Groo: "Hail to you, potential client! - How may I be of service?"

Goon: "This Angel Investigations?"

Groo: "Yes. Are you in need of some help?"

Goon: "So - you must be Angel."

Gunn walks along a dark sewer tunnel. Comes across a tile in the floor reading "Gurforg bless our home."

Gunn: "Gotta be it."

Gunn pushes against the wall above the tile and it swings open with a grating sound to reveal a furnished cave.

Gunn: "Smells like old people in here."

Gunn jumps as a glob of mucus hits the wall beside him.

Gunn: "Gross!"

A big, ugly looking demon stands up in the middle of the living room.

Gunn: "Okay. Definitely not a Leprechaun."

Gunn and the demon fight. The demon isn't exactly a great fighter, but neither is it a pushover. In the end Gunn stabs the downed demon in the chest, twisting his machete. A fountain of mucus shoots up just missing Gunn.

Gunn: "Uh! Must be my lucky day!"

"Wanna bet?"

Gunn straightens up to see the goon from the Casino standing just inside the apartment.

Break

We come back to a flashback of Gunn walking between some homeless and streetbums a night seven years ago. He steps through a fence and walks up to the Casino we saw earlier (The song that's playing through this is "Gangster's Paradise").

Gunn makes his way across the casino floor then steps into a restaurant/bar. He sees the owner sitting at a table, but is stopped on his way there by the Casino goon, wearing the same sunglasses he is seven years later.

Goon: "What do you want?"

Gunn: "I wanna talk to the man."

Goon: "You got an apointment?"

Gunn: "Nah. I got business."

The goon glances at his boss then leads Gunn over to a wall.

Goon: "Over here, slick. Little touch 'n go. You packing?"

Gunn: "No."

Goon patting him down: "He could kill you ten ways from Sunday even if you were. But then he'd cook me, too. - You're clean."

Gunn: "I told you."

Goon: "Oh, I guess not everyone's as honest as you, bro."

Gunn: "I ain't your bro."

Goon: "You got a name or just a 'tude?"

Goon to Owner as he leads Gunn up to the table: "Name's Gunn."

Owner: "Charles Gunn if I'm not mistaken. Man of the streets, protector of the young and innocent. What can I do for you Mr. Gunn?"

Gunn: "I want something."

Owner: "Not sure I can help. I don't traffic in wants. I supply needs. The kind of things you gotta have right now or you'll die. They tend to be more valuable."

Gunn steps closer to the table: "I need it."

Owner: "Then maybe I can assist. What is it? Money? Power? - Love?"

Gunn pulls out a folded photograph, glances at it, then hands it to the owner. The owner puts on his glasses and looks at it.

Owner: "Very nice. She's a real beauty. (Hands the picture back) I can make it happen - but there is a cost. I guess you know that. Nothing you gotta pay now, but one day you will. The cost, Mr. Gunn, is your future."

Gunn: "What future?"

Owner: "Well, there is that. Still, I need you to state for the record of your own free will - you're sure you wish to mortgage your future for your present happiness?"

Gunn: "I'm sure."

The owner stands up, twisting the ring on his right hand so that it now points inward and holds that hand out to Gunn.

Owner: "Shake on that?"

As Gunn looks at the offered hand a spike shoots out of the ring.

Gunn takes the offered hand, barely flinching as the spike draws blood.

Owner: "Good."

The owner takes Gunn's right and slams it down on a typed contract lying on the table. Gunn pulls his hand up and looks down at the spot of his blood on the signature line at the bottom.

Back to the present.

Goon: "You made a deal. Signed a blood oath, trading your soul. You think that's an arrangement you can get out of?"

Gunn: "Who said I'm trying to get out of anything?"

Goon: "You're planning on giving your soul to another, aren't you?"

Gunn: "What are you talking about?"

Goon: "Some broad. You're falling for her - hard."

Gunn: "Fred."

Goon: "I don't know. We don't get a name, just an image. We keep an eye on the Akashic records. You think we wouldn't know when one of our souls is about to be transferred? - Isn't Fred a guys name? (Gunn turns and the goon holds up his hands) Hey, none of mine. I'm just here to tell ya: you broke the contract. Your soul ain't yours to give. It's Mr. Jenoff's to take."

Gunn: "I gotta see him."

Goon: "What you gotta do is pay up."

Gunn: "I'm not the same person I was back then."

Goon: "We all get older, and we all pay ours debts to Mr. Jenoff."

Gunn: "No, there's gotta be something else. Something else he can take!"

Goon: "Gee, I have never heard that one before. Now look. You've got twenty-four hours to get your house in order and get your ass down to that casino. And if you're thinking about running or cheating - don't. Because then we take your soul and the girl's, too."

Gunn: "She's got nothing to do with this."

Goon: "Well, you can keep it that way - or you can get her killed. It's up to you now, slick. - See you tomorrow."

Gunn watches the Goon leave the demon couple's lair.

Hyperion, night, Gunn walks in to see Fred sorting through some files in Wes' office.

Cordy, mouth full: "Are you okay?"

Gunn: "What?"

Cordy, swallows: "I said, are you okay?"

Gunn: "Yeah, I-I'm fine."

Cordy: "Seemed kinda rude to chow down in front of Angel, but I was starving so I took a little break and... You are not okay, pal."

Gunn: "I'm just kinda tired.
Cordy: "Cordelia here. I can see the misery all over your face."

Cordy indicates the stairs and after a last look at Fred, Gunn sits down beside her.

Cordy: "I know what's going on."

Gunn: "You do?"

Cordy: "It's pretty obvious. Angel's lost his son, Wesley's - gone and here you are: happy as a kid in a candy store."

Gunn: "Uhm - happy?"

Cordy: "And wracked with guilt because of it. Well, don't be. You and Fred are meant to be. I get that now. She's a doll. I admit, I was a little slow on the uptake. I thought she and Wes, but... - the way you two look at each other... Well, this place could use a little happiness right now. And you and Fred have your whole, big, bright futures ahead of you, and I'm here to tell you it's alright for you to enjoy it. Life goes on."

Gunn: "I should enjoy my future."

Cordy: "I'm just saying. If there's one thing I learned living on a Hellmouth: every day is precious. You never know when it may be your last."

Gunn looks across the lobby to Fred: "I never figured I'd be around this long - or have this much."

Cordy: "Some people never know one day of joy. You're lucky."

Gunn: "Maybe I am."

Cordy: "So - live a little. We don't have any pressing cases right now and I haven't had a vision in like... Oh, wait. I'm having one right now. It's of you and Fred - taking tomorrow off. And see, my visions? Never wrong. (Pats him on the leg) Have some fun."

Cordy gets up and walks up the stairs.

Hyperion, day, Fred is awakened by the ringing of her cell phone.

Fred to phone: "Alright, ready? - Red T-shirt, your dark blue Blue-Jeans, gray boots. - Was I right about any of it? - Okay. That was just the warm up. Uhm, yellow long-sleeved Tee, gray cords, tan boots. (Laughs) See? Record secure. Never takes me more than twice. - Uhm, me? Maybe you should come over here and find out. Of course if it takes you too long..."

The door opens and Gunn comes in, phone in one hand, a covered platter in the other.

Gunn: "It won't."

Fred, smiling: "Hey! Sorry, I have to cancel somebody just walked in my door."

Gunn: "He better looking than me?"

Fred: "Way. And he brought me breakfast in bed!"

Fred hangs up the phone and sits up.

Gunn: "Voila, Madame, room service."

Fred: "Cool! You didn't cook, did you?"

Gunn: "Nope."

Gunn takes the lid off to reveal a carry out container.

Gunn: "Your favorite food from your favorite diner."

Fred: "Pancakes and Waffles? I'm in starch heaven! Yum. (Takes a bite) Is today special or something?"

Gunn: "Yup, very special."

Fred: "How come?"

Gunn: "Because we have the day off."

Fred: "We do?"

Gunn: "And we're going to spend every minute of it having the best day of our lives."

Fred: "Well, now it's official."

Gunn: "What?"

Fred: "You - are the best boyfriend ever."

Hands him a bite of her breakfast, then leans in to kiss him.

Fred: "Pancake kiss!"

The doctor walks into Wes' room at the hospital.

Doctor: "How are we feeling today? - I know it's been very rough, but I do have some good news. There no longer seems to be any sign of infection of re-bleeding in the wound, and the swelling is going down. We can stop worrying about your airway becoming compromised. I'm gonna release you later today. Is there someone that can pick you up? - A friend or a family member we can call?"

Wes just keeps staring straight ahead.

Angel is sitting, staring at Connor's crib. Cordy is curled up in a chair with her eyes closed.

Angel: "I think he was gonna be left-handed. (Cordy opens her eyes) The way he would hold on to your fingers? His left hand always squeezed just a little bit tighter. - Kid had a grip. He was gonna be a south paw for sure. - When you live as long as I do, you eventually lose everyone. - I'm not saying you get used to it but - you expect it. You deal. - But he was just... - - He was just a little... (Sighs) - You think you know something about living because you have this really long life. - And that's really all we have, I mean, in my case anyway. And one day you wake up - and you have something else."

Cordy: "A future."

Angel after a long beat: "I had a son."

Gunn and Fred are sitting at a table of an outdoor café.

Gunn: "And now for our next item of pleasure we've got movies galore. You pick. Hey, you wanna hit the twelve plex? See every preview? Be like seeing a year's worth of movies all at once."

Fred: "Uhm..."

Gunn: "Something wrong with your shake? It's your favorite: double mocha, double whip."

Fred: "I'm kinda full."

Gunn: "Oh, my god. This is serious."

Fred: "It's just sixth street tacos, fish sticks at the pier, Dodger dogs..."

Gunn: "Don't fold on me now, girl. We still got a lot of fun to go today."

Fred: "Oh, I'm all for fun! It's just, too much more and I might explode."

Gunn: "Right. Sorry. No more food. But movie, club, shopping fun still to be had. Hey, wanna go to the Roller rink?"

Fred: "Charles, I'm kind of wiped."
Gunn: "Oh."

Fred: "It's just we've been having so much fun today. Don't you think we should save some before we use it all and all the other people get sad 'cause we took all the happy?"

Gunn: "God. I blew it. I tried too hard."

Fred: "No! It's been like the most wonderful, beautiful day ever... aside from the knot in my tummy. Being with you is always special. It's just, it's not like we have to cram the rest of our lives into one single day, right? (Fred notices Gunn's smile melting) Oh my god. You did try too hard. You haven't been yourself all day. You're doing all this because - because something's wrong!"

Gunn: "Fred, no."

Fred: "Something's terribly wrong."

Gunn: "No."

Fred: "Charles, do you have leukemia?"

Gunn stares at her for a moment then starts to laugh.

Fred: "Don't laugh at me. I see it on the news all the time. They're young and in love, they're whole lives ahead of them and suddenly - tragedy strikes."

Gunn: "I'm not sick."

Fred: "You're not? You promise?"

Gunn: "I'm not sick."

Fred: "Oh. Thank god. I feel much better - except for the terrible knot inside. - - Which isn't the food at all. - It's us. - What's wrong with us?"

Gunn: "It's nothing."

Fred: "Oh, that helps."

Gunn: "Look, maybe we should just get out of here, go to the hotel..."

Fred: "Maybe we should stay right here and you should stop lying to me. - I know something's wrong. Just be honest and tell me."

Gunn looks around at all the other couples sitting at the tables around them.

Fred: "Charles. Charles, whatever it is, we'll get through it together."

Gunn sits back in his chair, takes a deep breath and folds his arms.

Gunn: "No, we won't."

Fred: "What?"

Gunn: "This isn't something that we're gonna talk through, you share your feelings, I'll share mine and then we'll have a big hug."

Fred: "I don't think I like the way you're talking to me."

Gunn: "Too bad."

Fred: "Why're you being so mean?"

Gunn: "I'm being honest. Isn't that what you wanted?"

Fred: "Yeah. Be honest. - Is it me?"

Gunn: "Wow. You finally figured that one out."

Fred: "What's wrong with me?"

Gunn: "Now I gotta make a list? I don't think I have enough time!"

Fred: "Are you joking? Charles, what's happening?"

Gunn: "What's happening is: you and me are over. Done."

Fred: "No."

Gunn: "Am I asking? I'm telling. I've had enough."

Fred: "I don't believe it!"

Gunn: "Better start."

Gunn gets up and starts to walk away.

Fred: "But - but wait! Wait! Is there someone else? (Gunn stops and looks at her) What's her name?"

Gunn: "Her name is 'I'm a real woman, not a stick figure' - get the picture?"

Fred, whispering: "Yeah."

Gunn: "Good."

Fred watches as Gunn turns and walks away.

Break

Cordy is sitting beside Angel, who is again staring at the empty crib.

Cordy: "I'm not going to sit here and pretend that I know what you're going through or that I could begin to understand what it is you're feeling. The last thing you need right now is someone saying that given time things will get better or the hurt's gonna go away. Because - things won't get better. The hurt's never gonna go away. - The truth is, if you lived another two hundred years, you'd never forget how Connor was taken from you. And you shouldn't. - You loved your son, Angel - and you'll go on loving him, and missing him. - You'll go on living, too. You'll do that."

Angel: "I don't know how."

Cordy: "You don't need to. The 'how' works itself out. Life will just keep happening. There'll be people who need us and so - we'll help them. - 'cause that's what we do."

They can hear someone crying and Cordy gets up. She opens the door to the suite to reveal Fred standing in the hall, crying.

Cordy: "Fred."

Fred: "I'm sorry. I was gonna knock, but it wasn't a good time, so I didn't. And I don't know what else to do!"

Angel: "Fred, what is it? What's wrong?"

Fred: "It's Charles. I think he's in terrible danger.

Jenoff is sticking his fingers into the eyes of the man standing in front of him. A white light begins to move down his arm and the man lets out a scream as Jenoff starts to smile.

Gunn, walking into the Casino, sees Jenoff sucking the soul from the man up on a balcony. He walks up to the demon goon.

Gunn: "I'm here to pay my bill."

Cordy: "Wow."

Fred: "I know, huh?"

Groo: "I'm sorry this has come to pass."

Angel: "I'm a little confused."

Fred: "About what? What was unclear?"

Cordy: "Well, upstairs you said you thought Gunn was in danger."

Fred: "He is!"

Cordy: "And you think that because...?"

Fred: "He broke up with me!"

Cordy: "Oh."

Fred: "But not really."

Cordy: "Oh. No?"

Fred: "No!"

Groo: "That is good. I am relieved."

Fred: "No this is worse. Much worse. I wish he had broken up with me."

Cordy: "Fred, are you sure he didn't? I mean, those things you said he said to you..."

Fred: "I know I said he said those things to me, but he would never say those things to me."

Cordy: "Those things he said?"

Fred: "Exactly! That's why I know he's in trouble."

Angel: "Let me get this straight. You and Gunn are dating."

Fred throws up her hands: "Not any more, I guess!"

Cordy gets up to give Fred a hug: "Fred, honey."

Fred: "Don't you see? He hurt me. And the only reason he'd do something like that is to protect me from something. And whatever it is, it's gotta be bad, because this hurts like hell."

Angel: "Then I guess we better help him. (Cordy turns to stare at Angel) We are *not* losing another member of this family."

Wes enters his dark apartment carrying the box with his things that Fred brought to the hospital.

Cordy turns off the speaker phone as when she hears Gunn's answering machine.

Cordy: "Still no answer at his place or on his cell phone."

Groo: "That does not bode well."

Angel: "We're gonna have to split up."

Groo: "To cover more ground. That's a good plan. I agree."

Cordy smiles at Groo.

Angel: "Fred and I can go check out Gunn's old gang haunts, see if they've heard from him."

Cordy: "Or if they know of any old enemies he might have."

Angel: "Exactly."

Groo: "Hmm."

Angel: "You two go by Gunn's place, just to make sure."

Cordy: "Maybe we should report his truck as stolen."

Angel: "That's not a terrible idea. Get the police involved in case none of this pans out."

Fred: "We should leave Lorne a note, let him know what's going on."

Angel: "If none of us come up with anything, we regroup back here at midnight."

Groo: "And perhaps as we search we can leave these small rectangles behind (Holds up a business card) as did that creature that came by yesterday inquiring about Gunn."

Angel: "Right. Good. What? Let me see that."

Groo: "Small rectangles with telephonic digits on it. So people can get in touch with us should they learn anything."

Fred: "Someone came by here looking for Charles?"

Groo: "Yesterday. (To Angel) Please remind me to give that rectangle to Gunn once we find him. (To Fred) I am confident we shall."

Angel: "That guy worked for Jenoff."

Cordy: "Jenoff?"

Angel: "The soul sucker."

Gunn watches as the body of Jenoff's latest victim is dragged past him.

Jenoff: "Charles Gunn - I'm impressed. Not a lot of guys walk through that door of their own free will. Not the second time anyway. She must be pretty special, this girl you're getting ready to give my merchandise to."

Gunn: "I'm here to make good on my debt. You don't even talk about her. Once we're squared, you don't even think about her."

Jenoff: "She was never part of the deal. (to the goon) Hold him."

Gunn to goon: "I'm not gonna run. But touch me and you better. (To Jenoff with a sigh) Let's just get this over with."

Jenoff lifts his hand, preparing to stick his fingers into Gunn's eyes the way he did with the other guy, when the door to the casino floor bursts open.

Angel: "Gunn!"

Gunn spins around and Jenoff lowers his hand. Jenoff's guards go to intercept the group, but Angel, Groo and Cordy fight them off while making their way across the casino to where Gunn and Jenoff are standing.

Fred: "Charles!"

Gunn: "Fred!"

Gunn makes to go to her, but the Goon takes a hold of him and Gunn stops.

The crowd in the casino mills around and begins to close in around the four intruders even as the last guard goes down.

Cordy: "Angel."

Angel: "I know."

Groo: "We are surrounded."

Angel: "I know."

Fred: "We have to help Charles."

Angel: "I *know*."

Angel grabs a hold of yet another demon guard and puts his ax against its throat.

Angel: "Who does a guy gotta kill to get to talk to the boss around here, huh?"

Jenoff: "I'm the boss. (Walks towards them) Mind telling me why you're disrupting my business?"

Angel: "Actually it's you who's disrupting my business. You're about to deprive me of a very valuable employee. Charles Gunn there, he works for me."

Jenoff: "A good business man always looks into the background of potential employees. Had you done that you might have learned that he is strictly short term material."

Angel: "I'll make a deal with you. You release him, forget what he owes you - I'll let you live."

Jenoff: "Thank you. (Turning away) Kill him."

The crowd turns ugly.

Angel: "Double or nothing."

Jenoff turns back as the crowd falls quiet.

Jenoff: "You're offering me your soul?"

Angel: "Chance to win it, anyway."

Jenoff: "How stupid do I look to you? You're a vampire. I can smell it from here."

Angel: "Take a bigger whiff. I'm a vampire with a soul."

Jenoff: "Oh. You're *that* vampire."

Angel: "I chose the game. I win, we walk out of here, Gunn's debt disappears. You win, you get us both."

Jenoff nods, beginning to chuckle.

Break

Angel is sitting at a card table at the casino.

Cordy: "Brilliant stall tactic. You bought us some time. Now, what's the plan?"

Angel holds up a deck of cards: "This is the plan."

Cordy: "Really?"

Angel: "Really. We're gonna win Gunn's soul back."

Fred: "This is so wrong in so many ways. I mean, it's not money or a stuffed bunny Angel's playing for. It's my boyfriend."

Angel: "Fred, I understand you're nervous, but don't be. I've been around a long time, played a lot of cards, won a lot of bets."

Fred: "See, that's where we're different. I tend to get lost and lose things. And I can't lose Charles."

Angel, never taking his eyes off Jenoff: "I'm not gonna lose."

Goon to Jennoff: "You worried about this?"

Jenoff: "Like taking candy from a baby."

Groo: "Angel, if we must rely on luck, I prefer the odds of my sword. We should fight our way out."

Angel: "I got to disagree, Groo. Fighting puts all of us at risk. My way's safer."

Fred: "If you win! But if you lose your soul, won't you go evil and start killing everybody, including us? - Am I wrong?"

Cordy: "Uh, not wrong in theory, but I gotta go with Ace on this one, sorry."

Angel gets up: "I'm gonna win. And if I lose... (hands Cordy a stake) You know what to do. Make it quick."

Cordy: "You know I will."

All around the room people are placing bets. The good leans in to Gunn.

Goon: "Jenoff let's me have the bodies when he's done with them."

Gunn watches as Angel and the others walk towards them and Angel sits down next to Jenoff.

Jenoff: "One hand of cards. You win - this man walks free. I win, I keep his soul, and I get yours. Name your game. Omaha? Texas hold 'em? Seven card stud?"

Angel: "How about a simple cut of the deck? High card wins."

Jenoff: "Vampire not only got soul - he got guts."

The dealer at the table sets down a deck of cards and shuffles it.

Jenoff: "Feeling lucky?"

Angel: "After you."

Jenoff looks at Angel for a moment then cuts the deck and turns the top card over. A nine of clubs.

Angel cuts the deck, blows on his fingers and looks up at Gunn, who gives him a slight nod.

Angel flips the top card over.

Angel: "A three?"

Gunn: "A three?!"

Jenoff smacks his palm down on the table: "A three. You lose."

Angel glances at Cordy and she lifts the stake and slams it down on Jenoff's hand, pinning it to the table. Jenoff lets out a scream of pain.

Cordy: "That quick enough?"

Angel: "Works for me."
Angel swings his ax around and beheads Jenoff. The Casino owner's head bounce across the crap table as the crowd gasps in shock.

Gunn rams his elbow in the goon's face the knock him back into the slot machines. Fred runs to him and he catches her in a hug.

Gunn: "Angel..."

Angel: "It's over. No need to say thanks."

Gunn: "You're right. If killing him was that easy, I would have done it myself."

Angel looks down as Jenoff's headless body sits up and a new head starts to emerge from the remains of his neck, while letting out some high shrieks.

Angel looks around the casino and the demons and people staring at the screaming head on top of Jenoff's body.

Groo: "Now we fight."

Angel: "Anybody else in here owe this guy?"

One of the guards hurries over and begins to pound on Jenoff. He is quickly joined by others in the crowd and Angel and Co use the confusion to hurry out of the Casino.

Gunn's truck is parked on a night dark street.

Fred: "Say it again. A little slower this time."

Gunn: "I was terribly, terribly wrong to break up with you and say those mean and untrue things."

Fred: "Good. Now - say it into the tape recorder."

Gunn takes a hold of Fred's hand as she holds the microphone out to him.

Gunn: "I'm really sorry and I'll never do it again."

Gunn kisses Fred's hand.

Fred: "I'm just glad you're alright."

Gunn: "I'm only alright if you and me are good. We are, aren't we?"

Fred nods and they lean close and kiss.

Fred: "Just one last thing."

Gunn: "Name it."

Fred: "Who did you trade your soul for?"

Gunn: "That - that was a long time ago."

Fred: "I know, but just tell me, and we'll never talk about it again. Who was she? - Charles?"

Gunn: "That was way before I met you."

Fred: "You must have wanted her pretty bad to trade your soul."

Gunn: "I guess I did."

Fred: "Just tell me."

Gunn: "It - it was a truck. (Fred stares at him) I was seventeen years old and I sold my soul for a truck."

Fred: "Not this truck."

Gunn: "Don't go dissing my girl."

Fred: "Oh, Charles, your soul wasn't worth air conditioning?"

Gunn: "Look. Back in the day this truck kept me alive. Helped me save a lot of other lives, too. I know it's dumb, but - I didn't think a soul was that big a deal. Didn't think I had a future then. - Now I do."

Gunn leans over and they kiss again.

Fred: "What is it about you that makes me melt?"

Gunn: "Maybe it is that I love you."

Fred smiling at him: "That's gotta be it."

They kiss.

Angel is standing in front of the empty crib. The door to his apartment opens unnoticed behind him. Cordy stand in the open door watching. Angel slowly starts to take the crib apart and Cordy leaves, quietly closing the door.