aired on: February 20, 2001

written by: Tim Minear

directed by: James Whitmore Jr.

Patrolling the city, Angel finds two guys planning to perform a ritual sacrifice for their bosses at Wolfram & Hart. They don't know what it's for, only that they have to perform it by midnight. Angel chases them off.

The next day at the W&H office, Lilah expresses concern to Lindsey: the 75-year review is coming in two days. When Lindsey gets home that night, Darla is resting on his couch, recovering.

At the police station, Kate is worried about her own review, also coming in two days. Her fellow cops are concerned about her recent behavior.

Angel heads to the karaoke bar, where the Host tells him that something is coming Friday - the 75-year review. He's heard that the reviewer is the Senior Partner, evil, dark and merciless; all the rites and rituals Angel's been crashing all over town are just nervous lawyers trying to score brownie points before he arrives. He's also heard about the Band of Blacknel, but he doesn't know what it means; and he's heard Home Office mentioned, which he thinks could be the source. He's also picked up that they'd really like to see Angel dead.

Angel goes home to do some research, but most of his books left the office with Wesley. He heads to the new office, and finds the book on the bookshelf - and a cold reception from Cordelia and Wesley, now wheelchair bound. Though Wesley stands up to him, literally, Angel takes the book anyway. But Wesley's popped stitches aren't the worst of his pain; the next night, Virginia breaks up with him.

At her review, Kate says she was doing her job, but the review board feels differently: they fire her. Kate packs up her things and heads home, where she pours herself a drink - and starts popping pills.

Needing more research help, Angel visits the bookstore he went to in 1952 to get information on the Thesulac demon at the Hyperion. Denver, the storeowner, is still there. He thinks Angel's dealing with a Klanac demon, which doesn't have to rely on being conjured - it can come and go between dimensions as it pleases with the Band of Blacknel. Angel asks if anyone can use the ring, and if it can get him to the Home Office.

Denver warns Angel that the Home Office is probably Hell; Angel knows. To get the ring, Angel needs to kill the Klanac; to do that, he needs a special glove, which Denver happens to have. But just as he's about to give it to Angel he's stabbed through the back - by Darla. As Angel steps forward to help him, Darla drives the sword through Denver into Angel's gut, and takes the glove.

Later, Lilah arrives at Wolfram & Hart for the arrival of the Senior Partner. But before she makes it into the building, Angel hijacks her - and uses her thumbprint to get him in. Upstairs, the lawyers are gathered and a ritual is underway when Angel arrives with Lilah.

Lindsey calls for security when Angel spots what he's looking for - Darla, hiding among the crowd in a blonde wig. As the Senior Partner appears, Angel yanks off the wig and wrestles the glove from Darla. Then he jumps at the Senior Partner, grabbing it by the throat with his gloved hand. As they crash through the window, the Senior Partner sizzles, then disintegrates. Up above, Lindsey helps Darla escape. Then Angel crashes to the sidewalk below, with the Senior Partner's robe - and the Band of Blacknel. Angel decides he's ready to go to the Home Office. He puts on the ring.

When he does, he hears clapping from an elevator across the way - it's Holland Manners. He's dead, but he explains that his contract with Wolfram & Hart extends beyond that. He pushes the button, and they head down. You're not going to win, Angel tells him. Holland doesn't disagree. He says they don't need to win; they go on. They are in the hearts and minds of every living being. The world doesn't work in spite of evil, he adds, it works with us, because of us.

When the elevator finally stops, the doors open, and Angel finds himself back right where he left. Holland says that there is evil in every single person out there - Hell is here on Earth.

When Angel returns home, he hears Kate's voice on his answering machine, cursing him. He ignores it and goes up to his room - where Darla is waiting for him.

"You want the ring?" he says. He tosses it on the floor, and she lunges for it. Before she can reach it, he grabs her, then kisses her. She's confused. He tells her that nothing matters, then kisses her again. He takes her into his bedroom, where they sleep together. Hours later, Angel wakes up startled, in pain.