Episode 8, "The Ins And Outs"
Written by Greg D’Angelo

Scene 1:

We see two arms locked, for an arm wrestling contest. The camera pulls out and we see it’s Angel & Connor. "Ready when you are," says Connor. "Go!" replies Angel.

The two struggle for a while, both grunting as they try to over power the other. However it is hard to gain an advantage on a fellow super being, and neither gains advantage.

Connor’s face turns into a grimace, and Angel smiles. The contest continues for a moment, then Connor slowly pushes Angel’s arm down, and wins.

"You’re getting much stronger, and yet you still have much to go."

*Opening Credits*

Scene 2:

On a roof top, Connor stairs out into the sky, as day turns to night. "Do you want to talk about it?" asks Angel coming up behind him "What’s to talk about?" Connor says, somewhat angrily, as he turns to walk away. "Connor, don’t do this. You just lost your family, I know that’s gotta` hurt."

Connor shrugs. "They weren’t even my real family." "But they must have felt like it. I mean, you have the memories of a whole lifetime with them." "You’re right, and now they’re gone. Might as well be dead." "But they’re not, and that hurts all the more."

"Ironic, isn’t it? My family that lives - feels dead, while my dead father - can stand right here." "Are you saying you want to be a family?" "I’m . . . willing to give it a shot."

Scene 3:

We see a meeting taking place in a Wolfram And Hart building. "Then there is still the matter of the vampire and his offspring," says a man who looks like the one in charge. "The senior partners have decided he finally proved which side he was on, and it is not ours, therefor he must be disposed of. "I know," says another man, "but we’ve tried, he’s very resourceful. I even hired an outside wizard, he . . ." The man stops and just puts a hand to his throat. "Well, we’re just going to have to be more resourceful. At this time, I am declaring Angel our priority. All divisions must see to taking care of him." "What about his son?" asks another. "Him too! He cannot be allowed to leave behind a legacy of heroics or blood."

Just then another man appears in the room, almost as if he teleported. He looks human, but has an aura that tells otherwise. All notice the grand entrance, and look. The head of the company starts to welcome the entity. "It’s good to see you mister . . ." "Silence!" demands the entity, cutting him off. "I am here to tell you, that you will do nothing about the vampire, and his bastard son. You mortals have failed enough & the senior partners have now instructed me to deal with them." The entity teleports out of the room.

"Who was that" asks one guy. "Oh, that’s right, you’re new here, so you don’t know." "Know what?" "That’s the guy we don’t talk about." The other guy looks confused. "The Conduit! Ring a bell?" The guy just shakes his head. "Idiot! Look, let’s break for lunch. Later on, I’ll find someone to explain Conduit to you."

Scene 4:

The Conduit stands looking at something. "I see you, you cannot hide from me. I have eyes all over." He puts his arms out, and the air begins to gain color & swirl. A portal appears, and 5 lizard men appear. "That is where they are, you know what to do," The Conduit says pointing at an image of Angel & Connor.

Scene 5:

It is just after sunset. Angel walks down the street, Connor just behind him. Angel leads Connor to the bay. "This looks like a good spot," says Angel. "So we will fish here." "Y-yeah," says Angel. "Well actually, we’re more likely to find a boot, or a shirt, but it’s the sport that counts. It’s about meditation & relaxing, not if we get any fish." Connor laughs. "What?" asks Angel. "You sound like some old monk." "I’ve known plenty. So what do you say, I’ll go into that store, get some rods, and we'll try this." "OK, I’ll do this, but if we don’t catch anything, you’re buying me dinner."

There is a white flash on screen, and Angel comes back holding 2 rods, and a bucket of bait. They prepare the rods, and cast off. Slowly they reel them in, and pull them out of the water. Connor has nothing, but Angel has a rotted old shoe. "And I was hoping for a new wardrobe," jokes Connor. "Well you know, it takes years of practice to master the art of catching shoes." They both manage a chuckle.

"Let me ask you something," says Connor. Angel puts down his rod, and turns. "Do you know why my family, or should I say my ex-family, remembers the truth now?" Angel starts to ponder. "It doesn’t make sense, does it? I mean if they were going to kill me, then just kill me. Why bother taking away my family." "I don’t think that they did it. Here’s a thought; remember Cyvus Vail? The demon who wanted you to kill Sahjhan?" Connor nods. "Well, he was the one who altered your memory, along with everyone else. He was working for Wolfram & Hart, so I had a friend eliminate him. Maybe, once he died, such a powerful spell could not be contained, and fell apart." "That . . . kinda` makes sense."

"So, ready for more fishing?" asks Angel. "I bet you can catch the matching shoe. They turn, and again cast off their rods. However, they are interrupted, as 2 lizard men jump out at them, and push them to the ground.

Scene 6:

Both push the lizard men off of them, but two more attack from behind. They sense the new comers, and turn, but take punches to the face. They stumble back, but keep their balance. They are grabbed by two, and the others come in for the kill. Angel spins around, and flips out old the hold. Connor tosses the lizard into the other, and quickly grabs his pole. One gets up, but he slaps it with his pole, and it gets hooked. Connor sees the other coming back for him, and jabs his pole into it’s gut. It falls down, but the pole breaks. Meanwhile the one who has a hook in it’s check is struggling not the get it’s mouth ripped off.

Angel grabs a lizard from behind and slams his face into the metal railing around the bay, then tosses him back into the water. He hears something, and looks to the side at the 5th lizard man, who points a bow & arrow at him. He grabs a knife, and throws it at the beast, but the knife bounces off it’s hard skin. The arrow flies, and Angel tries to grab it, but it hits his arm. Without a moment to lose or to give a second thought, he pulls it out, and turns around to jab it into another’s eye. Horrified, it falls screaming in pain.

Connor grabs onto one’s neck and lays an elbow into it’s face, it falls hard. The other - who has removed the hook, and now has a bleeding mouth - comes at him. He grabs onto his neck as well, but decides to snap it. It falls, dead.

Angel runs to the archer, and it tries to flee. However, Angel is faster with vampire speed. He tackles the creature, and beats it to unconsciousness.

A lizard man get gets up and attacks Connor. Connor easily defends against it, but another jumps out of the water, and charges him from behind. Angel sees, and runs back to help. Connor hears the lunky movement, and flips out of the way, so both bump into each other. Connor lands behind one, while Angel sneaks up on the other. Both grab one, and simmutaniosly snap their necks.

They turn to the one with the lost eye, but it has gone. They look around, and see it heading for a crowd of people. It grabs a lady, and puts a knife to her throat. "Surrender yourselves, and I’ll let her go."

Scene 7:

"Sorry, not gonna happen," says Angel. Connor looks a bit shocked. He open his mouth to question Angel’s judgment, but Angel keeps speaking to the lizard man. "The moment you can’t hold the knife to her forever, the moment you let go, we kill you. But, I’ll make you a deal, let her go, & you may walk." "What if he kills her?" whispers Connor. "He won’t!" Angel whispers in return." The lizard man stops to think. "What’s it gonna be," yells Angel. "Your choice, a life for a life." "You’ll keep your word, vampire?" Angel nods, and it throws the woman to the ground.

"How did you know?" asks Connor. "Oh, he’s a selfish demon. Obviously his own life means more to him then ours." "Shouldn’t we go break our word, and kill him?" "Not gonna have to, Wolfram And Hart will do that for us." "They’ll see it as a betrayal!?" Angel, who has a slightly wicked grin on his face, nods.

"There is another matter," says Angel. "I think we should go." "Go where?" "As long as we stay in this world, we’re going to be hunted. Wolfram And Heart is to strong to defeat. No matter how many demons or lawyers we kill, more will come." "What are you saying?" "Connor, we can’t say here!" We have go to the source, find the senior partners and kill them."

"But they’re not in this world, right? How do we get to them?" "We’ll need a portal to their world." "And you can open one?" "No." "Do you someone that can? And that is someone on our side." "No, but I know someone who might know where to find one."

Scene 8:

It’s daytime, and Connor is walking down the street with Angel, who is wearing a huge over coat to protect him from sunlight. They come to a building that says "Charles Gunn, Attorney At Law." Angel & Connor enter the building. There is a secretary, & she notices them. "Do you have an appointment?" "Sorry no. We’re friends of Gunn, is he around?" "He’s a bit busy, but I can leave a message." "It’s OK," says Gunn. Everyone turns to see him, sitting in a wheelchair. Connor is a bit shocked at the vision.

"Angel, good to see you man," says Charles, rolling himself forward. "It’s been a while Connor, how are you?" The two shake hands. "I’ve been better," says Connor. "Yeah, things must be bad, or you wouldn’t be hanging around this guy," Gunn says pointing to Angel. Gunn turns to his secretary. "I’m going to catch up with my old friends, why don’t you go to lunch early." Thank you," she says. She grabs her purse, and leaves.

As soon the door shuts, angel gets to business. "How’s everything here? I mean, you haven’t - been visited by anyone from Wolfram And Hart?" "You mean have they tried to kill me, like they did you too? No!" Angel & Connor look a bit disturbed. "What’s with the scowl? Them not killing me is good news, right." "Or maybe they’ve just been to busy with us, adds Connor. "I don’t think they have any interest in killing me."

"Why not," asks Angel. "They gave you that brain upgrade, won’t they be pissed at not getting anything in return." "Maybe, but you’re their priority." "I’m suprised they haven’t at least bothered to report your law degrees as fakes though," states Angel. "Would be a waste of time. First off, they were involved in it. They know it would give them alot of heat as well. Second, in a few years I could go to school, and get a real one, so they gain nothing."

Angel nods, "I do see your point." "Now moving on, cause I know you didn’t just come in for a social call." "Gunn, we have a problem." "They’re trying to kill us," blurts Connor. "OK, what’d you need me to do?" "I was hoping you might know where we could find a portal to get to the senior partners." "I might, if I didn’t care about you." "You have to tell us!" demands Connor, a bit agitated. Angel puts a hand on his shoulder. "Gunn, listen. Our lives are in danger right now, as we speak. Hell, they’re trying to kill my son, and I am not going to stand for that. We have no choice but to go to the source, and kill it." "I thought you said wecouldn't kill them? asks Gunn. "Maybe I was wrong, or maybe I'm worng now, & we're just going on a suicide mission, but we have to try, cause they're going to kill us anyway."

Gunn nods, slowly. "Alright, . . . there is one way, but it’s a bit tricky & I'm not even sure it’ll work out." "We have to try." "The Conduit. It’s not only some powerful creature that can choose it’s form. It’s also the link between each branch of Wolfram And Hart to the senior partners. On top of that, it is also a portal to the senior partners. Kill it, and you may be able to find the portal you need. Fail, and it will kill you."

Angel walks over to Gunn, and hugs him. "Thank you." The two heroes turn and head to the door. "Guys, be careful. Not much is known about The Conduit, all I know is it’s got some serious juice. I tangled with it once. It took me down in one punch. But the two of you will fair better." "I hope so." says Angel. "Take care my friend." Connor puts up a hand to wave goodbye, but holds it still. They again turn, and leave. Gunn takes a deep breath, and looks up.

Scene 9:

The two storm into a Wolfram And Hart building, and get into a brawl with some guards. They easily dispatch their human foes, and work their way to the elevator.

"Doyle, Cordy, Fred, Wesley, all dead. And Gunn is paralyzed. All of my friends, are gone because of this war. It’s time we ended this, one way or the other," Angel says, almost to himself. "Now it’s just us. Are you ready?" Angel asks Connor. "As ready as I’ll ever be." Angel looks at the buttons. "I hope this works. He begins to press the combination that took him to the white room years ago. The room gets white.

Scene 10:

We see Gunn sitting on the floor, silently praying before a statue of the Buddha.

Scene 11:

Connor & Angel appear in the white room, and hear clapping. "Congratulations, you made it." "So you know why were here I suppose." "Yes, you’re hear to die." With that, The Conduit steps out of the whiteness taking human form, and charges them. Both lay a punch, and somehow The Conduit blocks both. It grows into the form of a giant, and pushes Angel across the room. It turns it’s attention to Connor, and punches him repeatedly, then drops him, and kicks him across the room.

Angel charges back at it, and trips it from behind. It falls on it face, but somehow magically changes position, so it’s now on it’s back, and kicks Angel in the face. The giant gets up, and it’s head splits into two, and then it roars. Connor comes back, and does a jump kick to one of The Conduit’s faces. Angel jumps up, and latches onto the other head, and goes to bite it, but his mouth cannot grip anything. "Fool! That trick only works on lesser eschalons."

"Well, can’t blame me for trying," Angel says as he punches it in the eyes. The giant slaps Angel off. Connor jumps on it’s back, and climbs it’s head. He pulls out a knife, and tries to cut it. It lets out a shriek, and pulls Connor off. Angel pulls out a sword, and jumps up. He slices off the giant’s hand, and Connor falls down.

"Connor, you know any legends about giants, about weak points." "Yeah, so? It’s not really a giant." The giant stalks forward, and nears his foes. "It may still have the weaknesses," whispers Angel. With his back to The Conduit, Angel puts a finger between his eyes. Connor nods. When The Conduit is near they both turn, and throw a weapon between both it’s sets of eyes.

It falls, and the impact rocks the building. "You cannot kill me," The Conduit says in a faint voice. I am the will of the senior partners. As long as they will me to, I shall exist. "No, but I can have fun beating the crap out of you." "Dad, look." Angel turns to Connor, and sees he is looking at a portal in the air where one of The Conduit’s heads was pierced. "Let’s go," says Angel. Connor looks back, and says "sionara." Connor picks up their weapons, which are at his feet, and together they jump through the portal.

-The End-

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