"I've Got You Under My Skin"
In the kitchen of his apartment, Angel picks up and inspects a knife Wesley has laid on the table. He notices and identifies a mark on the knife.
Wesley says a knife marked in that way is the only means by which to kill a Kek demon.
Angel points out to Wes that Kek demons no longer exist.
Wesley is a bit disheartened by the news, but he'll hold on to hope that perhaps there is one hibernating somewhere that may one day awaken and need killing.
The timer on the stove goes off bringing Cordelia into the kitchen to remove some brownies she's been baking. She's anxious for Wesley to try them.
Wes isn't. He suggests that perhaps Angel should try them first.
Cordelia is trying to cut through the brownies with a large kitchen knife, but isn't having any luck. She reminds Wesley that Angel isn't really into solid foods. Cordy is thinking if Angel actually ate he'd have a sharper knife on hand, as she continues to struggle with her attempt to cut her brownies which are apparently as hard as a rock.
Cordelia picks up the Kek killing knife laying on the table and begins to hack away at her brownies with it.
Wesley is appalled and jumps up and demands she stop.
Cordy doesn't see the big deal and continues to try to cut her brownies with the Kek knife.
Wes asks Angel to make her stop abusing his knife that way. He fears something in Cordelia's cooking may prove damaging to it. He thinks her brownies smell funny.
Cordy takes exception to that as she waves the pointy end of the knife in Wesley's direction.
Angel suggests Cordy put the knife down.
Cordy isn't happy with the aspersions Wesley has cast upon her baking ability. She doesn't think he's exactly an expert on such things and has no right to be making judgments.
Angel is frustrated with their battling like children and tells both Cordy and "Doyle" to stop. He realizes the slip as soon as he says it and corrects himself, repeating Wesley's name a couple of times.
Cordy and Wes look at each other, then at Angel, but say nothing.
Angel asks them to stop fighting, then leaves the kitchen.
Inside a middle class home in a nice neighborhood, somewhere in LA, a little boy (Ryan) and his sister (Stephanie) are fighting over some cards. Ryan is clearly the aggressor and intent on causing trouble.
Their mother (Paige) enters, puts a stop to the arguing and tells the kids it's time to go to bed.
The children both protest but their father (Seth) comes in and backs his wife's directive to turn in for the night.
Paige gets her daughter settled into bed, leaves the bedroom and closes the door.
Out in the hallway, she looks at her husband and wonders if it's really necessary. We see that Ryan's bedroom door is padlocked from the outside already as Seth also padlocks Stephanie's door.
Angel is in his office, seated behind his desk, reading a book.
Cordy cautiously enters. She takes a seat in the chair on the other side of the desk. She brings up Angel's slip in calling Wesley, "Doyle".
Angel feels badly about it, it was just a slip of the tongue, he hopes Wes isn't too offended.
Cordy isn't the least bit concerned about Wesley's feelings, she wants Angel to talk about Doyle and how he feels about his death ("Hero"). She points out that he never speaks of him.
Angel stands and reluctantly acknowledges it's been difficult, he misses his friend and that he feels in some way responsible for not being able to stop Doyle from dying.
Cordelia assures him there was nothing he could have done then grabs her head in pain. She's having a vision. The vision shows the two children seen earlier, their father and the address of their house.
Angel asks her what she's seen.
Angel and Wes pull up in front of Seth and Paige's house. They see Ryan walking toward the street as a car is coming toward him.
Angel jumps out of his car, darts across the street and knocks Ryan out of the way of the oncoming car just in time.
Angel asks the boy if he's okay.
Ryan says he's fine and notices that Angel is bleeding from a wound on his shoulder.
Angel asks the boy his name.
Ryan's father comes out of the house and scolds the kid for his actions then tells him to come back inside.
Paige joins them. She's scared for her son and wants to know what happened.
Seth tells her about the near miss with the car in the street then tells them both they need to get back inside.
Paige thanks Angel for being there and helping her son. She notices the wound on his shoulder and tells him to come inside so she can dress it.
Angel exchanges a glance with Ryan's father, who doesn't seem too happy that his wife issued the invitation.
Paige is cleaning the wound on Angel's shoulder. She thinks she should take him to the emergency room, since the cut looks like it needs stitches.
Angel assures her it looks worse than it is, it will be fine.
Paige offers they're new to the area, noting the boxes stacked around the room. She says it's hard settling into a new town, meeting people, making friends.
Seth comes into the living room and announces that Ryan is safely tucked in his bed, asleep.
Paige thanks Angel again for saving her son and wants to know if there is any way she can repay him for his kindness. She suggests a few things, but Angel assures her it's not necessary.
Seth offers that Angel would probably just like her to finish up so he could go home.
Angel wonders how Ryan got outside and into the street.
Seth reckons he climbed out the window.
Paige mentions the presence of burglar bars on the windows but notes that Ryan apparently was able to squeeze between them.
Angel wonders where Ryan intended to go.
Seth doesn't think he was going anywhere.
Angel suggests that he must have been trying to get away from something then.
Seth seems irritated and wonders what Ryan would want to get away from in his own home.
Outside of the house, Wes is investigating the garbage can. Something inside startles him, causing him to jump and drop his flashlight.
The light illuminates something on the side of the house that gets his attention. He checks it out and notices slime streaks on the outside of the house's foundation. His expression is one of concern.
Angel and Seth are sitting in the living room, Paige has left to get bandages for Angel's wound. Seth lights a cigarette. He seems anxious for Angel to go. The two make a feeble attempt at casual conversation.
Paige returns and notices, as she tends to Angel's wound, that it seems to be healing already.
Angel says it wasn't really more than a scratch and turns the topic of conversation to Paige and Seth. He asks where they lived before moving to LA.
Paige tells him they moved from Akron, she didn't like the winters there.
Seth seems suspicious and notes that Angel never told them who he was.
Angel tell them his name is Angel, then pauses for a moment and adds "Jones".
Paige seems to feel some significance to "Angel" as she pulls out two large ceramic angels and displays them. She tells Angel she collects them, she believes angels are always present and asks Angel if he believes the same. Paige is comforted by believing that angels exist and are always present, serving as guardians and protectors. She sees Angel as their "angel" that night, protecting Ryan.
Seth rolls his eyes and sighs, clearly not sharing his wife's belief. He reminds them of the lateness of the hour.
As Angel gets up to leave, Paige invites him to dinner. Seth is clearly not pleased by his wife's invitation but she ignores his reaction and asks Angel to come back the following night.
Seth doesn't think they should impose on Angel any more than they already have.
Angel looks from Seth to Paige, then back to Seth and accepts the invitation.
Angel returns to his car, Wesley is sitting inside. Angel tells him something is amiss inside the house, it seems Paige wants to talk but her husband doesn't seem to want to let her. He tells Wes he's going back tomorrow night.
Wes warns him to be extra careful as he shows him a small vial of the glowing green slime he took from the house's foundation.
Angel immediately identifies it as "plactecine".
Wesley tells him where he found it and that there was a lot of it.
Angel and Wes conclude from this that there is a demon possessing someone in that house.
They drive away as Stephanie watches from inside.
Angel enters the office, Wes and Cordy are already there. Cordelia tells Angel what she's found out about Seth's family. They've apparently moved around a lot and it seems odd things happen wherever they are. There are records of various disturbances, animal killings and in the last place they lived a family friend disappeared and was never found.
Angel places the glass container of plactecine on the desk. Cordy looks at the vial, picks it up and asks what it is.
Wes explains that it's a substance excreted by the body of an Ethros demon.
Cordy puts the container down, disgusted.
Wes assures her it's harmless, it's the demon that's dangerous. He says Lizzie Borden was possessed by an Ethros.
Angel offers that was a young demon but the one possessing someone in Seth's house is obviously an adult, judging by the amount of plactecine found.
Cordelia wonders how they expect to deal with it.
Angel says it has to be kicked out through an exorcism.
Wes offers to work on finding a priest qualified for the task.
Cordy thinks the plan is all well and good, except they have no idea who is possessed by the demon and wonders how they intend to find out.
Angel thinks Seth is the likely candidate. He noticed the family seemed fearful in his presence.
The mention of a father inspiring fear in his family seems to strike a chord with Wesley. He offers that a father can terrorize his family without being possessed, catches himself before he finishes the thought and assures Angel they'll find out which one in Seth's family is possessed for sure. They just need to get the demon to manifest, to show itself. He says some "psylis eucalipsis powder" will make that happen. They just need the person possessed to eat some of it.
Angel thinks that sounds like a plan, but wonders how they're going to get anybody to eat the stuff.
Paige opens the door to greet Angel, who has arrived for dinner. He brings an offering of his own, a plate of brownies secretly spiked with a bit of the eucalipsis powder.
Everyone is seated at the table, having just finished dinner. Paige clears the table, readying for dessert. Seth offers to get the coffee to accompany the brownies Angel brought. Seth and Paige leave for the kitchen.
Angel seems much more at ease with the adults gone. He has an easy rapport with the children as they compare notes on who hid their Brussels sprouts where. Stephanie reveals that she hid hers in her napkin.
Angel admits he buried his in the potatoes. They share a laugh.
Seth and Paige return to the dining room, Seth wondering what they are laughing at. Stephanie tells him Angel is funny. Seth hadn't noticed.
Paige places the plate of brownies on the table, everyone takes one and begins to eat.
Angel keeps his eyes on Seth, expecting a reaction.
Suddenly, Stephanie screams as Ryan begins growling, his eyes turn white, his face morphs into the visage of a demon.
Paige rushes to Ryan as his head is jerking back and forth. He finally drops to the table. Paige embraces him, not knowing what is going on.
Angel tells her that Ryan is possessed, her son will be okay but he had to get the demon to manifest itself.
Paige is horrified at the realization that Angel was responsible for what she is seeing happening to her son.
Angel assures her the demon was already there, the brownies just forced it to show itself, now they can do something about it.
Paige is nearly hysterical, accusing Angel of poisoning her son. Seth tries to get her to calm down. Paige says Angel is responsible for what's happened.
Her husband tells her they both know otherwise. He asks Angel if he really believes he can help the boy.
Angel doesn't respond, just looks at him.
Seth offers whatever assistance is needed.
Angel says he needs to make a phone call.
Angel is on the phone with Wesley. He tells him they know where the demon is now.
Wes has found the name of a priest who will do the exorcism but so far hasn't been able to track him down.
Angel instructs him to make the preparations necessary to bind the demon, they can contain it until they find the priest. He's bringing Ryan back to his place.
Angel hangs up the phone and tells Seth that what lies ahead will be difficult.
Seth is just relieved to know that there may finally be a real solution to all the problems they've had over the past years.
Angel asks him to get someone to look after their daughter so Seth and Paige can accompany him and Ryan back to his place.
Angel exits the elevator entering his apartment, an unconscious Ryan in his arms. He's accompanied by Seth and Paige. He introduces Wes and Cordy who are already in his apartment waiting for them. Wesley takes the boy from Angel and lays him on the bed.
Cordelia picks up a glass container filled with yellow powder and begins pouring it on the floor in a circle, surrounding the bed.
Wes explains to Ryan's parents that the binding powder will contain the demon until he and Angel can return with a priest.
Paige doesn't believe Ryan needs a priest.
Angel calmly assures her this is something that needs to be done. He tells Paige and Seth the rules; no entering the circle, do not touch the boy, do not come when he calls and he will. He warns them the demon will kill them if given the opportunity.
Angel and Wes head out to find the priest.
Wes and Angel enter a church, Wes is walking ahead, Angel walking behind him appearing obviously uncomfortable as he looks at the large crucifix over the altar.
An elderly nun sits in a pew near the front of the church, beads in hand, saying the rosary.
Wes apologizes for interrupting the nun's prayers. She rises to speak to him, looks at Angel and somehow seems to know what he is. She is appalled that he would come into the church.
Angel tries to tell her it's not what it seems, but she knows better. She attempts to brush the crucifix of her rosary against his hand which is resting on the edge of the pew but he pulls it out of the way before it makes contact.
He acknowledges that he is what she suspects but assures her he is there on a mission to help someone, a young boy who is possessed by an Ethros demon.
Wesley adds that is why they have come to the church, they are looking for Father Fredericks.
The nun tells him that the Fr. is buried in the cemetery behind the church. He exorcised a very potent demon 6 months earlier, saving the girl who was possessed but dying in the process.
Wes asks if the demon that killed the priest was an Ethros.
The nun confirms this is true. She tells them her prayers will be with them both because the Ethros is a very potent and intelligent demon that is extremely dangerous, even more dangerous than the vampire standing before her.
Ryan is sitting up in Angel's bed, calling for his mother. Paige is sitting at the kitchen table with her husband, trying not to go to her son. She wants to at least take him his toys which are scattered on the table, she doesn't think that will cause any harm.
Seth tells her they must do what Angel said.
Paige doesn't think things were going so badly, and maybe this isn't necessary after all.
Seth reminds her that things weren't right, especially after what happened in Akron.
Cordelia has been pouring tea, she asks what happened.
Seth tells her that a family friend was killed in a fire.
Paige is weeping, saying it was an accident, it wasn't Ryan's fault.
The demon continues to call to Paige through Ryan. Paige starts to go to her son, but her husband stops her reminding her that what is calling to her isn't their son.
Cordelia tries to be reassuring, telling them they won't have to wait long and Angel knows what he's doing.
At the church, Wes is filling a container with holy water.
Angel isn't convinced that Wesley is up to the task of doing the exorcism himself. He 's not sure Wes has the mental strength necessary to resist the demon's tactics.
Wesley believes he can do it.
Angel reminds him that Fr. Fredericks was far more experienced and he was killed by an Ethros demon.
Wesley seems slightly wounded that Angel doesn't appear to have faith in him to do the job. He suggests that if he doesn't do it, then that leaves them with only one option as he tosses a cross to Angel.
Angel reflexively catches it and tosses it hand to hand briefly as it sears his skin before dropping it to the floor.
Wes believes his point has been effectively made.
Angel reluctantly agrees that Wesley will have to be the one to do the exorcism but tells him he will be with him during the process.
Back at Angel's apartment, Seth and Paige are standing in the doorway to Angel's bedroom. Paige is talking to Ryan, trying to reassure him that she is close by and things will be okay.
Cordelia tries to get her to come away from the bedroom but Paige wants to go to her son.
Ryan continues trying to draw Paige closer, pleading with her to come to him.
Paige tries to get to Ryan as Cordy and Seth try to restrain her.
Angel and Wes enter the office upstairs. Wesley is reading from a book he's holding. He tells Angel that Latin seems to be the ritual required to exorcise the Ethros. He also discovers the way he believes Fr. Fredericks was killed. He explains that when the demon is expelled from its host, it immediately seeks another and that the force with which the demon is expelled is usually fatal for the secondary host.
Angel acknowledges this poses a new problem.
They hear the ruckus downstairs as Seth and Cordy try to restrain Paige, and rush to the elevator.
Cordelia hears the elevator descending into the apartment. She reassures Paige that Wesley and Angel have arrived.
Ryan continues to call for Paige until she can no longer resist him.
As Cordy and Seth are distracted by the arrival of the elevator, Paige breaks away from them and runs to Ryan. Seth and Cordelia try to go after her but the bedroom doors are slammed shut before they can get in and won't open.
Angel tries to get the elevator door open but it's jammed shut. Cordelia calls frantically to Angel.
Inside the bedroom, Paige leans over her son.
Ryan tells her he's happy to see her as he grabs her by the throat and chokes her.
Paige struggles with Ryan as the demon has its hands clenched tightly around her throat.
Seth and Cordelia finally manage to get the bedroom doors open and rush in. Seth tries to get Paige free, but has no success.
Cordelia runs out of the bedroom, shouting for Angel. The elevator has gone back upstairs, she frantically slams the button a few times.
Angel and Wesley rush into the apartment, via the stairs this time.
Seth is still trying to get Ryan to loosen his grip on Paige's throat.
Wesley shoves a cross in Ryan's face and recites something in Latin as Angel and Seth free Paige from his grip.
Ryan screams and falls back onto the bed, unconscious. The demon has gone deeper inside the boy.
Angel firmly tells Paige that she must do as he says and he expects exactly that from here on out. She nods in agreement, rubbing her throat.
As Wesley finishes re-forming the binding circle with the yellow powder.
Angel enters and hands him a small black book. He then leaves Wes alone with Ryan, closing the bedroom doors behind him.
Angel comes back out into the living area and asks Cordy if she's found anything in the book she's reading.
She shows him the book and points out what she has found. To contain an Ethros demon, they will need an Ethros box. The book says that the demon is disoriented when it is forced out of the host and will go directly into one of these special boxes, if one is available, where it will be confined for 1000 years. In the absence of an Ethros box, the demon will possess the nearest warm body. Cordy figures that means Angel is at least safe and wonders if they could perhaps build an Ethros box.
Angel reads a passage from the book which states some very specific requirements in both material and method of manufacture for an Ethros box, neither of which they can meet.
Angel writes down an address to a magick shop and tells Cordelia to see if she can find one there. He figures if anyone in LA would have an Ethros box, it will be the owner.
Cordy heads out for Rick's Magick Shop.
Paige asks Angel what's going on.
Wesley is performing the exorcism, reciting an incantation in Latin.
The demon in Ryan taunts Wesley about everything; for his poor Latin pronunciation, his failures with the Council, his failures in his relationship with his father.
Wes responds in the midst of the taunting by throwing some holy water on the demon and assuring it he will not be distracted from his task..
The demon remains undeterred as it continues to taunt Wes with things it picks up from reading his mind.
Wesley knows what it's doing and tells it so. He picks up a cross and shoves it in the boy's face as he continues with the Latin incantation.
The demon taunts Wes in his own voice about being a failure to the Council and to his own father.
Wesley begins to fumble for the words, the demon's words obviously stinging and rattling him.
Angel enters the bedroom.
Wes draws a breath, tries to collect himself, picks up the cross and begins again.
The demon in Ryan tells Angel he's a fool for trusting Wesley, that Wes is planning to kill him.
Wesley looks at Angel and tells him that's not true.
The demon continues to taunt, telling Angel that Wesley fears him more than the Ethros.
Wes loses his composure and rushes toward the boy, brandishing the cross.
Ryan raises his hand, throwing Wes forcefully backward, the cross embeds in his neck. He stumbles back against the wall, screaming.
Angel rushes over to him, grabs the cross and in spite of its burning his flesh, manages to pull it from Wesley's neck and toss it aside.
The demon is amused by the scene that has just played out before him.
At the magick shop, Cordy inquires about an Ethros box.
The owner, Rick, tells her that he doesn't have one, but he does have something similar that he thinks will work just as well.
Cordy notes that the box looks the same as the illustration of the Ethros box that was in the book and even though it doesn't quite meet the materials and manufacturing criteria, she decides it will do.
Back at the apartment, everyone is gathered in the kitchen. Paige bandages Wesley's neck wound.
Angel tells him he doesn't want Wes going back in, it's too dangerous.
Wesley wants another chance, assuring Angel he can handle it better this time.
Angel refuses to let him try again, he's afraid the demon might kill him next time.
Seth wonders what they are going to do to help his son.
Suddenly, the kitchen table begins to shake as a bunch of marbles that are laying on top of it roll into formation, spelling "Save Me".
The demon begins taunting Angel in Doyle's voice as the bedroom doors swing open. The Ethros tells Angel that Doyle wants to know why he let him die.
Angel has heard enough. He grabs a towel, rips a piece off of it and wraps it around his hand to serve as a protective buffer as he picks up the cross and heads toward the bedroom with Seth following on his heels.
Cordy had just returned to the apartment. Angel sees she has the box. She doesn't have a chance to tell him it's not exactly an Ethros box.
He tells her to bring it.
She and Wesley stand back, each holding one side of the open box.
The demon continues to taunt Angel about Doyle's death. In Ryan's voice, it tells Seth that he knows he's going to let him die too, just like Angel let Doyle die.
Seth looks down at Angel's hand holding the cross and sees the smoke rising from the flesh as it's seared by the cross, the towel providing little protection.
Angel pushes Seth back as he approaches the bed, presses the cross into Ryan's chest, and begins reading the Latin ritual from the small black book. Smoke rises from the cross as it makes contact with the boy's body.
After reciting the Latin, Angel morphs into game face and orders the demon out of the boy.
As Angel steps back, Ryan begins to glow. A bright light leaves him, forcefully hits the open box Wes and Cordy are holding and smashes it to bits. The light then rushes up the stairs.
Paige runs into the bedroom and hugs Ryan whose face has returned to that of a normal human boy. Seth joins them.
Angel, Wes and Cordelia ponder the shattered pieces of the box littering the floor.
In the upstairs office, Wesley has found some of the glowing green plactecine. It's clear the Ethros came up the elevator shaft.
Angel also finds traces of of the plactecine.
Cordy thinks it may still be somewhere in the office.
Angel assures her it's long gone.
Cordelia is relieved by that assurance.
Angel tells her it will possess again, unless they stop it.
Wesley is concerned that they may have sent Seth and his family back home too soon, that the Ethros may try to possess Ryan again.
Angel doesn't think that's likely this soon since the demon had to expend a tremendous amount of its energy to escape, it would need time to regain its strength before possessing again. He thinks the demon has taken on physical form somewhere, since it must be in that form to replenish its energy. As he gathers some weapons he tells Wesley all they have to do is find it, then they can kill it. Angel figures they should start looking in the sea caves since the environment would be favorable for an Ethros needing to regain its strength.
Angel and Wesley head for the caves.
Angel and Wes are searching the sea cave for the Ethros. Angel is carrying his fighting ax. He finds some plactecine on the wall of the cave and knows they're close to finding what they're looking for.
Wesley wants to make sure Angel knows that what the demon said, about Wes planning to kill Angel, wasn't true.
Angel says he knows that, but he also knows Wesley is willing to do it if circumstances dictate and that's okay too.
They continue on their search.
After a bit more searching, they find what they are looking for. Wesley verbally assails the Ethros for its possession of Ryan.
The demon is non-apologetic. It is a demon, after all, that's what it does.
Wesley reminds the Ethros it failed to get the boy's soul.
The Ethros says that's because Ryan doesn't have one.
At the home of Seth's family, Paige is serving hot chocolate to Ryan and Stephanie.
Ryan makes an issue of the fact that there are more marshmallows in Stephanie's cup than in his. He has counted them.
Paige doesn't think it's a big deal and tells them both to finish up with their cocoa so they can get to bed.
Ryan glares at Stephanie.
The Ethros tells Angel and Wesley that the most frightening thing it has known is nothingness and that is exactly what it found in Ryan; no remorse, no conscience, no fear, nothing. It couldn't control him, it was trapped inside and never even made its presence known until Angel drew it out. It could only observe as Ryan wrought havoc on everyone close to him, for no reason whatsoever.
Paige seems relaxed and relieved. She tells her husband that Ryan doesn't seem to remember any of the possession.
Seth thinks that's for the best.
The Ethros continues describing the void of nothingness that is Ryan.
Angel realizes the marbles spelling out "Save Me" wasn't Ryan, it was the Ethros.
The demon confirms that's true, it could only influence Ryan when he slept, so it tried to get him to kill himself, even though it knew it would die as well.
Angel reckons it was the Ethros that sent Ryan out onto the street that night, in front of the oncoming car.
The demon says it had no hope of getting out and it found death preferable to continuing existence trapped in that boy. It knows Angel has come to kill it and has no fear of death knowing now there is something much worse.
Wesley reminds Angel that Ryan is with his family, they need to get over to the house.
Angel swings the ax, the Ethros screams.
Seth and Paige are in their bed, asleep. Ryan enters the room and takes a book of matches laying next to a pack of cigarettes on the nightstand.
Seth starts to wake up as Ryan leaves the room, closing the door behind him. He then stuffs a wedge under the door to jam it shut.
Seth is now fully awake and out of bed, trying to get the bedroom door open, to no avail.
Paige also awakens, sits up in bed and asks her husband what's happening.
Seth continues to try to get the door open, ramming against it with his body in an effort to dislodge it.
Ryan takes the phone off the hook then picks up a can of gasoline. He strolls into Stephanie's room, pours gasoline on the floor, sets the gasoline can down and lights a match. All the while, Seth and Paige are screaming his name. He's not listening.
After a brief pause, Ryan drops the match, igniting the gasoline and engulfing the room in flames. Stephanie awakens and screams as Ryan looks on.
Paige and Seth come up in the hallway behind Ryan and see the flames burning between them and their daughter. Stephanie is still screaming.
Angel suddenly crashes through the window in Stephanie's bedroom and scoops her up as Wesley arrives near Seth and Paige, exhorting everyone to get out of the house immediately. Wesley picks Ryan up and, along with Seth and Paige, heads down the hallway.
Angel jumps back out the way he came in, through the window, with Stephanie in his arms.
Outside of the house, the fire dept. has just finished putting the fire out. The police are on the scene. Kate Lockley closes the door of a squad car, Ryan is in the back seat. She comes over to Seth and Angel and tells them social services will be handling things now. They'll want to question Ryan before speaking to anyone else.
Angel thanks her for coming.
She nods slightly in response and walks away.
Seth watches as Ryan is driven away in the squad car. He realizes that he won't be able to protect him anymore, that everything will have to come out now. He says all he was trying to do was keep his family together.
Angel looks over to Paige and Stephanie standing together, wrapped in blankets, and tells Seth he thinks he was successful in doing that.
Seth nods then joins his wife and daughter.
Angel joins Wesley and Cordelia who are standing next to his car as Seth hugs his wife and daughter.
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Written by: David Greenwalt &
 Jeannine Renshaw |
Original Air Date: February 15, 2000 |
In the kitchen of his apartment, Angel picks up and inspects a knife Wesley has laid on the table. He notices and identifies a mark on the knife.
Wesley says a knife marked in that way is the only means by which to kill a Kek demon.
Angel points out to Wes that Kek demons no longer exist.
Wesley is a bit disheartened by the news, but he'll hold on to hope that perhaps there is one hibernating somewhere that may one day awaken and need killing.
The timer on the stove goes off bringing Cordelia into the kitchen to remove some brownies she's been baking. She's anxious for Wesley to try them.
Wes isn't. He suggests that perhaps Angel should try them first.
Cordelia is trying to cut through the brownies with a large kitchen knife, but isn't having any luck. She reminds Wesley that Angel isn't really into solid foods. Cordy is thinking if Angel actually ate he'd have a sharper knife on hand, as she continues to struggle with her attempt to cut her brownies which are apparently as hard as a rock.
Cordelia picks up the Kek killing knife laying on the table and begins to hack away at her brownies with it.
Wesley is appalled and jumps up and demands she stop.
Cordy doesn't see the big deal and continues to try to cut her brownies with the Kek knife.
Wes asks Angel to make her stop abusing his knife that way. He fears something in Cordelia's cooking may prove damaging to it. He thinks her brownies smell funny.
Cordy takes exception to that as she waves the pointy end of the knife in Wesley's direction.
Angel suggests Cordy put the knife down.
Cordy isn't happy with the aspersions Wesley has cast upon her baking ability. She doesn't think he's exactly an expert on such things and has no right to be making judgments.
Angel is frustrated with their battling like children and tells both Cordy and "Doyle" to stop. He realizes the slip as soon as he says it and corrects himself, repeating Wesley's name a couple of times.
Cordy and Wes look at each other, then at Angel, but say nothing.
Angel asks them to stop fighting, then leaves the kitchen.
Inside a middle class home in a nice neighborhood, somewhere in LA, a little boy (Ryan) and his sister (Stephanie) are fighting over some cards. Ryan is clearly the aggressor and intent on causing trouble.
Their mother (Paige) enters, puts a stop to the arguing and tells the kids it's time to go to bed.
The children both protest but their father (Seth) comes in and backs his wife's directive to turn in for the night.
Paige gets her daughter settled into bed, leaves the bedroom and closes the door.
Out in the hallway, she looks at her husband and wonders if it's really necessary. We see that Ryan's bedroom door is padlocked from the outside already as Seth also padlocks Stephanie's door.
Angel is in his office, seated behind his desk, reading a book.
Cordy cautiously enters. She takes a seat in the chair on the other side of the desk. She brings up Angel's slip in calling Wesley, "Doyle".
Angel feels badly about it, it was just a slip of the tongue, he hopes Wes isn't too offended.
Cordy isn't the least bit concerned about Wesley's feelings, she wants Angel to talk about Doyle and how he feels about his death ("Hero"). She points out that he never speaks of him.
Angel stands and reluctantly acknowledges it's been difficult, he misses his friend and that he feels in some way responsible for not being able to stop Doyle from dying.
Cordelia assures him there was nothing he could have done then grabs her head in pain. She's having a vision. The vision shows the two children seen earlier, their father and the address of their house.
Angel asks her what she's seen.
Angel and Wes pull up in front of Seth and Paige's house. They see Ryan walking toward the street as a car is coming toward him.
Angel jumps out of his car, darts across the street and knocks Ryan out of the way of the oncoming car just in time.
Angel asks the boy if he's okay.
Ryan says he's fine and notices that Angel is bleeding from a wound on his shoulder.
Angel asks the boy his name.
Ryan's father comes out of the house and scolds the kid for his actions then tells him to come back inside.
Paige joins them. She's scared for her son and wants to know what happened.
Seth tells her about the near miss with the car in the street then tells them both they need to get back inside.
Paige thanks Angel for being there and helping her son. She notices the wound on his shoulder and tells him to come inside so she can dress it.
Angel exchanges a glance with Ryan's father, who doesn't seem too happy that his wife issued the invitation.
Paige is cleaning the wound on Angel's shoulder. She thinks she should take him to the emergency room, since the cut looks like it needs stitches.
Angel assures her it looks worse than it is, it will be fine.
Paige offers they're new to the area, noting the boxes stacked around the room. She says it's hard settling into a new town, meeting people, making friends.
Seth comes into the living room and announces that Ryan is safely tucked in his bed, asleep.
Paige thanks Angel again for saving her son and wants to know if there is any way she can repay him for his kindness. She suggests a few things, but Angel assures her it's not necessary.
Seth offers that Angel would probably just like her to finish up so he could go home.
Angel wonders how Ryan got outside and into the street.
Seth reckons he climbed out the window.
Paige mentions the presence of burglar bars on the windows but notes that Ryan apparently was able to squeeze between them.
Angel wonders where Ryan intended to go.
Seth doesn't think he was going anywhere.
Angel suggests that he must have been trying to get away from something then.
Seth seems irritated and wonders what Ryan would want to get away from in his own home.
Outside of the house, Wes is investigating the garbage can. Something inside startles him, causing him to jump and drop his flashlight.
The light illuminates something on the side of the house that gets his attention. He checks it out and notices slime streaks on the outside of the house's foundation. His expression is one of concern.
Angel and Seth are sitting in the living room, Paige has left to get bandages for Angel's wound. Seth lights a cigarette. He seems anxious for Angel to go. The two make a feeble attempt at casual conversation.
Paige returns and notices, as she tends to Angel's wound, that it seems to be healing already.
Angel says it wasn't really more than a scratch and turns the topic of conversation to Paige and Seth. He asks where they lived before moving to LA.
Paige tells him they moved from Akron, she didn't like the winters there.
Seth seems suspicious and notes that Angel never told them who he was.
Angel tell them his name is Angel, then pauses for a moment and adds "Jones".
Paige seems to feel some significance to "Angel" as she pulls out two large ceramic angels and displays them. She tells Angel she collects them, she believes angels are always present and asks Angel if he believes the same. Paige is comforted by believing that angels exist and are always present, serving as guardians and protectors. She sees Angel as their "angel" that night, protecting Ryan.
Seth rolls his eyes and sighs, clearly not sharing his wife's belief. He reminds them of the lateness of the hour.
As Angel gets up to leave, Paige invites him to dinner. Seth is clearly not pleased by his wife's invitation but she ignores his reaction and asks Angel to come back the following night.
Seth doesn't think they should impose on Angel any more than they already have.
Angel looks from Seth to Paige, then back to Seth and accepts the invitation.
Angel returns to his car, Wesley is sitting inside. Angel tells him something is amiss inside the house, it seems Paige wants to talk but her husband doesn't seem to want to let her. He tells Wes he's going back tomorrow night.
Wes warns him to be extra careful as he shows him a small vial of the glowing green slime he took from the house's foundation.
Angel immediately identifies it as "plactecine".
Wesley tells him where he found it and that there was a lot of it.
Angel and Wes conclude from this that there is a demon possessing someone in that house.
They drive away as Stephanie watches from inside.
Angel enters the office, Wes and Cordy are already there. Cordelia tells Angel what she's found out about Seth's family. They've apparently moved around a lot and it seems odd things happen wherever they are. There are records of various disturbances, animal killings and in the last place they lived a family friend disappeared and was never found.
Angel places the glass container of plactecine on the desk. Cordy looks at the vial, picks it up and asks what it is.
Wes explains that it's a substance excreted by the body of an Ethros demon.
Cordy puts the container down, disgusted.
Wes assures her it's harmless, it's the demon that's dangerous. He says Lizzie Borden was possessed by an Ethros.
Angel offers that was a young demon but the one possessing someone in Seth's house is obviously an adult, judging by the amount of plactecine found.
Cordelia wonders how they expect to deal with it.
Angel says it has to be kicked out through an exorcism.
Wes offers to work on finding a priest qualified for the task.
Cordy thinks the plan is all well and good, except they have no idea who is possessed by the demon and wonders how they intend to find out.
Angel thinks Seth is the likely candidate. He noticed the family seemed fearful in his presence.
The mention of a father inspiring fear in his family seems to strike a chord with Wesley. He offers that a father can terrorize his family without being possessed, catches himself before he finishes the thought and assures Angel they'll find out which one in Seth's family is possessed for sure. They just need to get the demon to manifest, to show itself. He says some "psylis eucalipsis powder" will make that happen. They just need the person possessed to eat some of it.
Angel thinks that sounds like a plan, but wonders how they're going to get anybody to eat the stuff.
Paige opens the door to greet Angel, who has arrived for dinner. He brings an offering of his own, a plate of brownies secretly spiked with a bit of the eucalipsis powder.
Everyone is seated at the table, having just finished dinner. Paige clears the table, readying for dessert. Seth offers to get the coffee to accompany the brownies Angel brought. Seth and Paige leave for the kitchen.
Angel seems much more at ease with the adults gone. He has an easy rapport with the children as they compare notes on who hid their Brussels sprouts where. Stephanie reveals that she hid hers in her napkin.
Angel admits he buried his in the potatoes. They share a laugh.
Seth and Paige return to the dining room, Seth wondering what they are laughing at. Stephanie tells him Angel is funny. Seth hadn't noticed.
Paige places the plate of brownies on the table, everyone takes one and begins to eat.
Angel keeps his eyes on Seth, expecting a reaction.
Suddenly, Stephanie screams as Ryan begins growling, his eyes turn white, his face morphs into the visage of a demon.
Paige rushes to Ryan as his head is jerking back and forth. He finally drops to the table. Paige embraces him, not knowing what is going on.
Angel tells her that Ryan is possessed, her son will be okay but he had to get the demon to manifest itself.
Paige is horrified at the realization that Angel was responsible for what she is seeing happening to her son.
Angel assures her the demon was already there, the brownies just forced it to show itself, now they can do something about it.
Paige is nearly hysterical, accusing Angel of poisoning her son. Seth tries to get her to calm down. Paige says Angel is responsible for what's happened.
Her husband tells her they both know otherwise. He asks Angel if he really believes he can help the boy.
Angel doesn't respond, just looks at him.
Seth offers whatever assistance is needed.
Angel says he needs to make a phone call.
Angel is on the phone with Wesley. He tells him they know where the demon is now.
Wes has found the name of a priest who will do the exorcism but so far hasn't been able to track him down.
Angel instructs him to make the preparations necessary to bind the demon, they can contain it until they find the priest. He's bringing Ryan back to his place.
Angel hangs up the phone and tells Seth that what lies ahead will be difficult.
Seth is just relieved to know that there may finally be a real solution to all the problems they've had over the past years.
Angel asks him to get someone to look after their daughter so Seth and Paige can accompany him and Ryan back to his place.
Angel exits the elevator entering his apartment, an unconscious Ryan in his arms. He's accompanied by Seth and Paige. He introduces Wes and Cordy who are already in his apartment waiting for them. Wesley takes the boy from Angel and lays him on the bed.
Cordelia picks up a glass container filled with yellow powder and begins pouring it on the floor in a circle, surrounding the bed.
Wes explains to Ryan's parents that the binding powder will contain the demon until he and Angel can return with a priest.
Paige doesn't believe Ryan needs a priest.
Angel calmly assures her this is something that needs to be done. He tells Paige and Seth the rules; no entering the circle, do not touch the boy, do not come when he calls and he will. He warns them the demon will kill them if given the opportunity.
Angel and Wes head out to find the priest.
Wes and Angel enter a church, Wes is walking ahead, Angel walking behind him appearing obviously uncomfortable as he looks at the large crucifix over the altar.
An elderly nun sits in a pew near the front of the church, beads in hand, saying the rosary.
Wes apologizes for interrupting the nun's prayers. She rises to speak to him, looks at Angel and somehow seems to know what he is. She is appalled that he would come into the church.
Angel tries to tell her it's not what it seems, but she knows better. She attempts to brush the crucifix of her rosary against his hand which is resting on the edge of the pew but he pulls it out of the way before it makes contact.
He acknowledges that he is what she suspects but assures her he is there on a mission to help someone, a young boy who is possessed by an Ethros demon.
Wesley adds that is why they have come to the church, they are looking for Father Fredericks.
The nun tells him that the Fr. is buried in the cemetery behind the church. He exorcised a very potent demon 6 months earlier, saving the girl who was possessed but dying in the process.
Wes asks if the demon that killed the priest was an Ethros.
The nun confirms this is true. She tells them her prayers will be with them both because the Ethros is a very potent and intelligent demon that is extremely dangerous, even more dangerous than the vampire standing before her.
Ryan is sitting up in Angel's bed, calling for his mother. Paige is sitting at the kitchen table with her husband, trying not to go to her son. She wants to at least take him his toys which are scattered on the table, she doesn't think that will cause any harm.
Seth tells her they must do what Angel said.
Paige doesn't think things were going so badly, and maybe this isn't necessary after all.
Seth reminds her that things weren't right, especially after what happened in Akron.
Cordelia has been pouring tea, she asks what happened.
Seth tells her that a family friend was killed in a fire.
Paige is weeping, saying it was an accident, it wasn't Ryan's fault.
The demon continues to call to Paige through Ryan. Paige starts to go to her son, but her husband stops her reminding her that what is calling to her isn't their son.
Cordelia tries to be reassuring, telling them they won't have to wait long and Angel knows what he's doing.
At the church, Wes is filling a container with holy water.
Angel isn't convinced that Wesley is up to the task of doing the exorcism himself. He 's not sure Wes has the mental strength necessary to resist the demon's tactics.
Wesley believes he can do it.
Angel reminds him that Fr. Fredericks was far more experienced and he was killed by an Ethros demon.
Wesley seems slightly wounded that Angel doesn't appear to have faith in him to do the job. He suggests that if he doesn't do it, then that leaves them with only one option as he tosses a cross to Angel.
Angel reflexively catches it and tosses it hand to hand briefly as it sears his skin before dropping it to the floor.
Wes believes his point has been effectively made.
Angel reluctantly agrees that Wesley will have to be the one to do the exorcism but tells him he will be with him during the process.
Back at Angel's apartment, Seth and Paige are standing in the doorway to Angel's bedroom. Paige is talking to Ryan, trying to reassure him that she is close by and things will be okay.
Cordelia tries to get her to come away from the bedroom but Paige wants to go to her son.
Ryan continues trying to draw Paige closer, pleading with her to come to him.
Paige tries to get to Ryan as Cordy and Seth try to restrain her.
Angel and Wes enter the office upstairs. Wesley is reading from a book he's holding. He tells Angel that Latin seems to be the ritual required to exorcise the Ethros. He also discovers the way he believes Fr. Fredericks was killed. He explains that when the demon is expelled from its host, it immediately seeks another and that the force with which the demon is expelled is usually fatal for the secondary host.
Angel acknowledges this poses a new problem.
They hear the ruckus downstairs as Seth and Cordy try to restrain Paige, and rush to the elevator.
Cordelia hears the elevator descending into the apartment. She reassures Paige that Wesley and Angel have arrived.
Ryan continues to call for Paige until she can no longer resist him.
As Cordy and Seth are distracted by the arrival of the elevator, Paige breaks away from them and runs to Ryan. Seth and Cordelia try to go after her but the bedroom doors are slammed shut before they can get in and won't open.
Angel tries to get the elevator door open but it's jammed shut. Cordelia calls frantically to Angel.
Inside the bedroom, Paige leans over her son.
Ryan tells her he's happy to see her as he grabs her by the throat and chokes her.
Paige struggles with Ryan as the demon has its hands clenched tightly around her throat.
Seth and Cordelia finally manage to get the bedroom doors open and rush in. Seth tries to get Paige free, but has no success.
Cordelia runs out of the bedroom, shouting for Angel. The elevator has gone back upstairs, she frantically slams the button a few times.
Angel and Wesley rush into the apartment, via the stairs this time.
Seth is still trying to get Ryan to loosen his grip on Paige's throat.
Wesley shoves a cross in Ryan's face and recites something in Latin as Angel and Seth free Paige from his grip.
Ryan screams and falls back onto the bed, unconscious. The demon has gone deeper inside the boy.
Angel firmly tells Paige that she must do as he says and he expects exactly that from here on out. She nods in agreement, rubbing her throat.
As Wesley finishes re-forming the binding circle with the yellow powder.
Angel enters and hands him a small black book. He then leaves Wes alone with Ryan, closing the bedroom doors behind him.
Angel comes back out into the living area and asks Cordy if she's found anything in the book she's reading.
She shows him the book and points out what she has found. To contain an Ethros demon, they will need an Ethros box. The book says that the demon is disoriented when it is forced out of the host and will go directly into one of these special boxes, if one is available, where it will be confined for 1000 years. In the absence of an Ethros box, the demon will possess the nearest warm body. Cordy figures that means Angel is at least safe and wonders if they could perhaps build an Ethros box.
Angel reads a passage from the book which states some very specific requirements in both material and method of manufacture for an Ethros box, neither of which they can meet.
Angel writes down an address to a magick shop and tells Cordelia to see if she can find one there. He figures if anyone in LA would have an Ethros box, it will be the owner.
Cordy heads out for Rick's Magick Shop.
Paige asks Angel what's going on.
Wesley is performing the exorcism, reciting an incantation in Latin.
The demon in Ryan taunts Wesley about everything; for his poor Latin pronunciation, his failures with the Council, his failures in his relationship with his father.
Wes responds in the midst of the taunting by throwing some holy water on the demon and assuring it he will not be distracted from his task..
The demon remains undeterred as it continues to taunt Wes with things it picks up from reading his mind.
Wesley knows what it's doing and tells it so. He picks up a cross and shoves it in the boy's face as he continues with the Latin incantation.
The demon taunts Wes in his own voice about being a failure to the Council and to his own father.
Wesley begins to fumble for the words, the demon's words obviously stinging and rattling him.
Angel enters the bedroom.
Wes draws a breath, tries to collect himself, picks up the cross and begins again.
The demon in Ryan tells Angel he's a fool for trusting Wesley, that Wes is planning to kill him.
Wesley looks at Angel and tells him that's not true.
The demon continues to taunt, telling Angel that Wesley fears him more than the Ethros.
Wes loses his composure and rushes toward the boy, brandishing the cross.
Ryan raises his hand, throwing Wes forcefully backward, the cross embeds in his neck. He stumbles back against the wall, screaming.
Angel rushes over to him, grabs the cross and in spite of its burning his flesh, manages to pull it from Wesley's neck and toss it aside.
The demon is amused by the scene that has just played out before him.
At the magick shop, Cordy inquires about an Ethros box.
The owner, Rick, tells her that he doesn't have one, but he does have something similar that he thinks will work just as well.
Cordy notes that the box looks the same as the illustration of the Ethros box that was in the book and even though it doesn't quite meet the materials and manufacturing criteria, she decides it will do.
Back at the apartment, everyone is gathered in the kitchen. Paige bandages Wesley's neck wound.
Angel tells him he doesn't want Wes going back in, it's too dangerous.
Wesley wants another chance, assuring Angel he can handle it better this time.
Angel refuses to let him try again, he's afraid the demon might kill him next time.
Seth wonders what they are going to do to help his son.
Suddenly, the kitchen table begins to shake as a bunch of marbles that are laying on top of it roll into formation, spelling "Save Me".
The demon begins taunting Angel in Doyle's voice as the bedroom doors swing open. The Ethros tells Angel that Doyle wants to know why he let him die.
Angel has heard enough. He grabs a towel, rips a piece off of it and wraps it around his hand to serve as a protective buffer as he picks up the cross and heads toward the bedroom with Seth following on his heels.
Cordy had just returned to the apartment. Angel sees she has the box. She doesn't have a chance to tell him it's not exactly an Ethros box.
He tells her to bring it.
She and Wesley stand back, each holding one side of the open box.
The demon continues to taunt Angel about Doyle's death. In Ryan's voice, it tells Seth that he knows he's going to let him die too, just like Angel let Doyle die.
Seth looks down at Angel's hand holding the cross and sees the smoke rising from the flesh as it's seared by the cross, the towel providing little protection.
Angel pushes Seth back as he approaches the bed, presses the cross into Ryan's chest, and begins reading the Latin ritual from the small black book. Smoke rises from the cross as it makes contact with the boy's body.
After reciting the Latin, Angel morphs into game face and orders the demon out of the boy.
As Angel steps back, Ryan begins to glow. A bright light leaves him, forcefully hits the open box Wes and Cordy are holding and smashes it to bits. The light then rushes up the stairs.
Paige runs into the bedroom and hugs Ryan whose face has returned to that of a normal human boy. Seth joins them.
Angel, Wes and Cordelia ponder the shattered pieces of the box littering the floor.
In the upstairs office, Wesley has found some of the glowing green plactecine. It's clear the Ethros came up the elevator shaft.
Angel also finds traces of of the plactecine.
Cordy thinks it may still be somewhere in the office.
Angel assures her it's long gone.
Cordelia is relieved by that assurance.
Angel tells her it will possess again, unless they stop it.
Wesley is concerned that they may have sent Seth and his family back home too soon, that the Ethros may try to possess Ryan again.
Angel doesn't think that's likely this soon since the demon had to expend a tremendous amount of its energy to escape, it would need time to regain its strength before possessing again. He thinks the demon has taken on physical form somewhere, since it must be in that form to replenish its energy. As he gathers some weapons he tells Wesley all they have to do is find it, then they can kill it. Angel figures they should start looking in the sea caves since the environment would be favorable for an Ethros needing to regain its strength.
Angel and Wesley head for the caves.
Angel and Wes are searching the sea cave for the Ethros. Angel is carrying his fighting ax. He finds some plactecine on the wall of the cave and knows they're close to finding what they're looking for.
Wesley wants to make sure Angel knows that what the demon said, about Wes planning to kill Angel, wasn't true.
Angel says he knows that, but he also knows Wesley is willing to do it if circumstances dictate and that's okay too.
They continue on their search.
After a bit more searching, they find what they are looking for. Wesley verbally assails the Ethros for its possession of Ryan.
The demon is non-apologetic. It is a demon, after all, that's what it does.
Wesley reminds the Ethros it failed to get the boy's soul.
The Ethros says that's because Ryan doesn't have one.
At the home of Seth's family, Paige is serving hot chocolate to Ryan and Stephanie.
Ryan makes an issue of the fact that there are more marshmallows in Stephanie's cup than in his. He has counted them.
Paige doesn't think it's a big deal and tells them both to finish up with their cocoa so they can get to bed.
Ryan glares at Stephanie.
The Ethros tells Angel and Wesley that the most frightening thing it has known is nothingness and that is exactly what it found in Ryan; no remorse, no conscience, no fear, nothing. It couldn't control him, it was trapped inside and never even made its presence known until Angel drew it out. It could only observe as Ryan wrought havoc on everyone close to him, for no reason whatsoever.
Paige seems relaxed and relieved. She tells her husband that Ryan doesn't seem to remember any of the possession.
Seth thinks that's for the best.
The Ethros continues describing the void of nothingness that is Ryan.
Angel realizes the marbles spelling out "Save Me" wasn't Ryan, it was the Ethros.
The demon confirms that's true, it could only influence Ryan when he slept, so it tried to get him to kill himself, even though it knew it would die as well.
Angel reckons it was the Ethros that sent Ryan out onto the street that night, in front of the oncoming car.
The demon says it had no hope of getting out and it found death preferable to continuing existence trapped in that boy. It knows Angel has come to kill it and has no fear of death knowing now there is something much worse.
Wesley reminds Angel that Ryan is with his family, they need to get over to the house.
Angel swings the ax, the Ethros screams.
Seth and Paige are in their bed, asleep. Ryan enters the room and takes a book of matches laying next to a pack of cigarettes on the nightstand.
Seth starts to wake up as Ryan leaves the room, closing the door behind him. He then stuffs a wedge under the door to jam it shut.
Seth is now fully awake and out of bed, trying to get the bedroom door open, to no avail.
Paige also awakens, sits up in bed and asks her husband what's happening.
Seth continues to try to get the door open, ramming against it with his body in an effort to dislodge it.
Ryan takes the phone off the hook then picks up a can of gasoline. He strolls into Stephanie's room, pours gasoline on the floor, sets the gasoline can down and lights a match. All the while, Seth and Paige are screaming his name. He's not listening.
After a brief pause, Ryan drops the match, igniting the gasoline and engulfing the room in flames. Stephanie awakens and screams as Ryan looks on.
Paige and Seth come up in the hallway behind Ryan and see the flames burning between them and their daughter. Stephanie is still screaming.
Angel suddenly crashes through the window in Stephanie's bedroom and scoops her up as Wesley arrives near Seth and Paige, exhorting everyone to get out of the house immediately. Wesley picks Ryan up and, along with Seth and Paige, heads down the hallway.
Angel jumps back out the way he came in, through the window, with Stephanie in his arms.
Outside of the house, the fire dept. has just finished putting the fire out. The police are on the scene. Kate Lockley closes the door of a squad car, Ryan is in the back seat. She comes over to Seth and Angel and tells them social services will be handling things now. They'll want to question Ryan before speaking to anyone else.
Angel thanks her for coming.
She nods slightly in response and walks away.
Seth watches as Ryan is driven away in the squad car. He realizes that he won't be able to protect him anymore, that everything will have to come out now. He says all he was trying to do was keep his family together.
Angel looks over to Paige and Stephanie standing together, wrapped in blankets, and tells Seth he thinks he was successful in doing that.
Seth nods then joins his wife and daughter.
Angel joins Wesley and Cordelia who are standing next to his car as Seth hugs his wife and daughter.
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