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| Episode 22, Season 1 Title: "To Shanshu in L.A." Written by: David Greenwalt Directed by: David Greenwalt Original Air Date: 23 May 2000 Teaser: 
Angel Investigations. Wesley is researching the meaning of a pivotal word while translating the prophesy about the 'vampire with a soul,' as referred to in the Scrolls of Obearsian. It is difficult because the scrolls are over 4,000 years old and have been translated into a dozen different languages. Cordelia is getting frustrated, but Angel seems rather tranquil about the whole thing. Upstairs, just outside the office, a dark cloaked figure passes in the halls. Back downstairs, Cordy reads in the daily paper that Lindsey was promoted to a Jr. Partner of Wolfram and Hart with a six-figure salary and full benefits package. Angel looks up from the book he's been reading and listens cautiously, "Little late for visitors," he observes.
In the office, Angel startles a cape clad David Navid. Seems he just 'popped by to hang' since he blew off his board of directors meeting... it was his turn to be the Dungeon Master. Navid is impressed by Angel's office and by the fact that their lives are so meaningful and exciting while he just makes millions of dollars with his computer company. Within the grounds of a wooded area, two Monk looking beings chant an incantation creating a gateway via a ring-of-fire. A demon with flowing cape, red glowing eyes and a mask to cover his face emerges from thbr> Act I: 
Angel Investigations. Navid is sitting on the couch while the others stand around not quite sure what to say. Navid bids his farewell and awkwardly leaves. Wesley suddenly realizes what 'Shanshu' means. It means 'death.' Angel is going to die, but it may be years off after the coming battles. Angel goes back to reading his book still none too impressed. Suddenly Cordy has a very painful vision of a homeless woman and a Slime Demon in El Segundo.
Wolfram and Hart. The Demon is telling Lindsey, Lilah and Holland that the 'raising can not be preformed without the Scrolls of Obearsian.' He was summoned for the raising to tear Angel from the Powers That Be, but with Angel in possession of the prophesies, he fears that Angel's connections to the Powers That Be are complete. Lilah says that Angel hasn't had time to fully study them and Lindsey offers to get them back-- as it was his error-- but the Demon states that he will retrieve them himself. Kate arrives at a back ally where two policemen wait. She's been listening to the scanners again and she enters the alley to hear a female voice moaning. When a homeless woman and Angel emerge, Kate is not surprised. She gets upset and tells Angel all she cares about is 'ridding the city of his kind.' She hasn't forgotten that 'his kind' killed her father. Angel understands she's having trouble dealing with things. Angel Investigations, the next morning. Wesley is still researching the Scrolls but is more concerned that Angel had no emotional reaction to the Prophecy of his death. Cordy offers that Angel faces death everyday but Wesley explains that 'it's our desires that make us human.' Angel isn't part of their world and while they live, grow and change, Angel cannot. Angel arrives via the elevator and Cordy offers him everything from coffee to donuts in an effort to get him to show an interest in something. Wesley heads off to the rare bookstore for more translation assistance and suggests to Angel that he consult the Oracles. The Oracles are upset an the intrusion. The Powers of Darkness cannot cross their threshold, but the Demon states that a 'new order' is coming. "He who is dead, now shall rise!" A scythe emerges in his hands from behind his back. Act II: 
The next day Cordy is walking through an open-air flea market. She stops at a young woman's paint stand and suggests this might be the perfect hobby for her friend. The Demon is in the crowd and brushes past Cordy, touching her hand. Moments later Cordy suffers a vision, but this one won't stop. Screaming in pain, she collapses through some paintings to the ground as the woman calls for help.
Later, the demon arrives outside Angel's office. Angel is downstairs locking up the Scrolls in his weapons cabinet. The Demon is now inside his apartment as the phone rings. It's the hospital and Angel quickly leaves after hearing about Cordy. The Demon steps up to the cabinet and easily breaks the lock, taking the Scrolls and leaving something in its place in the cabinet. Saint Matthew's Hospital. Angel arrives and, hearing the screams of Cordy, rushes into the room and finds her strapped down to a bed as the doctor explains she's suffering from a psychotic episode. Angel Investigations. Wesley arrives downstairs to find the weapons cabinet broken into. As he opens the doors and looks inside he suddenly steps back in shock. Outside the office, Angel drives up and steps from his car. Just then a huge explosion from inside the building goes off, sending Angel hurling through the air from its force. Act III: 
Inside the burning and collapsing building, Angel searches for Wesley. He finds him unconscious.
Later as the medics load Wesley into an ambulance, Kate arrives. "Never a dull moment when you're around, is there?" Angel doesn't have time for this. Kate states that he's a witness to a major crime and is not leaving. But Angel argues she's not going to blame him for everything she can't handle. If she's looking to be enemies, "Try me," he responds and hurries past her. Saint Matthew's Hospital. Wesley is patched up but still unconscious. Angel heads upstairs to look in on Cordy. He finds her heavily sedated, and tells her, "I'll get you back, I need you back." Taking her hand Angel notices a symbol marked on the back of it. Outside the entrance to the Oracles, Angel has a sketch of the mark. He enters only to find the two Oracles have been slain. The spirit of the female speaks to Angel, telling him that 'things are unraveling.' The Mark belongs to the one who killed them. A Warrior of the Underworld named Voca. He wants Angel weak and only the Scroll will help his friends. The Words of Anatol will save Cordy. Angel asked where he can find Voca and the Oracle tells him he 'hides behind man's law.' Angel takes the bloodied scythe and leaves. In a back alley behind 'Milanos Italian Kitchen,' Gunn and several of his friends are loading up a truck of food. Angel arrives and asks for Gunn's help. Cordy and Wesley need protection at the hospital while he goes after Voca. Gunn understands and agrees. Inside a Mausoleum, five vampires are chained to a large crate of wood with iron bars. The two Monks are chanting as Voca reads from the Scrolls. " . . . from below, shall raise . . . the Beast shall know the World." Act IV: 
Outside W&H. Lindsey, Lilah and Holland are getting into limousines as Lilah wonders if they're late. Angel watches from the bushes, and as they drive off he follows.
The Mausoleum. Inside, Voca is still reading as the W&H group arrive. Holland comments, "They haven't even gotten to the Latin yet." Suddenly Voca stops and places the Scroll on top of the crate. He steps forward and listens as a scythe emerges into his hands. Suddenly Angel crashes through the stained-glass wall and they begin to fight. Lindsey grabs the Scroll and continues the chant. He starts reading the Latin as the fight escalates between Voca and Angel. The ground begins to tremble and the vampires chained to the cage suddenly disintegrate and turn to dust as a strong wind whirls around the box. Lindsey is slammed into the wall of the tomb. Holland orders the crate removed and he, Lilah and the others quickly exit, leaving Lindsey behind. Angel and Voca continue their battle and Angel finally gets the upper hand. As he pulls off Voca's mask, revealing a maggot infested face, Angel delivers the final killing blow. Angel turns to take the Scroll only to find that Lindsey is holding it in one hand with a cross mounted on a long pole in the other hand. Angel tells Lindsey that he had a choice. Lindsey, keeping Angel at bay, confides that what has happened was foretold along with all of Angel's connections that would be severed. Lindsey goes to set the Scroll on fire but Angel throws the scythe at him, cutting off his hand. Angel takes the Scroll and leaves Lindsey screaming on the ground. "Don't believe everything you're foretold," he tells him. 
St. Matthew's Hospital. Wesley is reading from the Words of Anatol as Angel watches Cordy. At the nurses station, a flash of light is seen and all come running. Inside the room, Cordy has come out of her daze. The nurse goes to get Dr. Evens. Cordy confides to Angel that she 'saw them all -- so much pain,' and that they have to help them. "We will," Angel replies.
Cordy's apartment, two days later. Wesley is again researching his books for a clue to which monster Voca may have summoned. Cordy has fixed them lunch and Wesley is a bit taken back by the 'new' compassionate Cordy, until "Oops!" Wesley discovers that Shanshu can also be translated to mean 'life' and that the Prophesy says that Angel will become human once he fulfills his destiny! "It's his reward." "That'd be nice," Angel muses with a smile. But first he must 'survive the coming darkness, apocalyptic battles, a few plagues and several fiends unleashed upon the world.' 
Wolfram and Hart. In the sub-levels of the W&H building, Lindsey, Lilah and Holland enter a vaulted room where the crate is being kept. Holland tells Lindsey that the senior partners were very impressed by his sacrifice. They'll even the score, starting with what's in the box. Lilah slowly approaches it and we hear the shivering moans of a female voice. Lilah tries to sooth her. We see a frightened, disheveled, naked young girl and as she raises her head we see beneath her blond hair that it's . . . Darla!
Summary by CoA Council member, Swoop
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