[TEASER]
Melody hesitantly approaches the cage with Angel in it. She wrings her hands nervously. The vampire doesn’t move.
MELODY
Uh, boss? Alexa’s… on the phone for you.
She waits. Angel remains motionless.
MELODY [cont’d]
She sounds really mad… and there’s this really loud laughing in the background… I think it’s Wesley. I keep hearing a British guy try to talk, and then he just kinda… dissolves into laughter again.
She stares at the curled up figure in the corner of the cage. Still, not a muscle moves.
MELODY [cont’d]
She says it’s really serious. She’s got her commanding voice going on… I’ve never really heard her like this before. She must be impersonating someone really important.
No reaction.
MELODY [cont’d]
Look, they went off to, to go find the invisible guys, and then we didn’t hear from them for hours, and now Alexa’s really mad and Wesley’s really insane and I don’t know, but I think they’re in a basement or something. It’s really echoey. I think they’re in trouble.
Angel stands abruptly and runs at the bars of the cage. Melody shrieks and recoils. He’s not looking any better. His eyes are vamped out and so are his teeth, but his face is more or less human. If possible, he looks way more threatening than normal.
ANGEL
They’re in trouble because I brought them here. They’ll do better without me.
MELODY
B-but… you didn’t bring Alexa and Anya here. They were here first, remember? They’re innocents in this, and they deserve saving. So do Wesley, and Gunn. If you leave them there, they’re more likely to die.
ANGEL
Maybe they should. Be better than this.
MELODY
Then you will be responsible for their deaths twice. Think about it for a minute, boss… is that what you want?
ANGEL
What I want got them killed the first time.
MELODY
Well, what about Connor?
Angel launches himself at the bars again.
ANGEL
Don’t you talk about my son.
MELODY
Okay, okay. Sorry.
Angel suddenly stopped looking so angry and reverted to sad. He backed into the corner of the cell and sunk down into the position he’d been in when Melody had walked in.
ANGEL
Just… go tell them I’m not coming. They don’t want me anyway.
Melody turns and walks disjointedly out of the room. She widens her eyes in weirded-out-ness as she walks slowly up the stairs.
MELODY
You’re right, they don’t want you. Even though they called you. Specifically. And, you know, it’s not like people are going insane or anything. No, no. I’m sure they’re just fine without you.
Hard cut to Alexa holding a phone to her ear with her shoulder. Wesley and Gunn are tied to the metal post, just as she is, beside her on either side; Anya’s behind her. Alexa has the look of utmost annoyance on her face, as she’s been on hold for several minutes and the Wolfram and Hart elevator music was getting exceedingly annoying. Even more annoying is the hysterical laughter from Gunn and Wesley that just hasn’t stopped for at least five minutes.
GUNN
Aren’t… hahahahahahahahahaha… aren’t you… hahahahahahaaaa…
WESLEY
I don’t know what made me say it! I just don’t knooooow, Charles!
GUNN
Aren’t you glad… aren’t you…
WESLEY
It just seemed… hahahaha… like the obvious joke! I just couldn’t let it pass!
GUNN
Aren’t you glad I didn’t say BANANA! Haaaaahahahahahahahahahaha….
Alexa looks absolutely fed up. She blinks hard in exasperation as we black out.
[END OF TEASER]
---
[ACT ONE]
Alexa hangs up the phone angrily. The laughter is just starting to subside.
ALEXA
He’s not coming.
ANYA
What? He isn’t? Why not? He has to come.
ALEXA
Nope. Apparently he says we’re better off without him.
ANYA
Oh, but we’re not. Did you explain that? Did you tell them the part about us being dead if he doesn’t come?
ALEXA
Yep. Still nothing.
She sighs and speaks more quietly.
ALEXA [cont’d]
He never used to be like this.
ANYA
What’s that supposed to mean? You’ve known him for less than a day.
ALEXA
…Nevermind.
ANYA
No. No more nevermind. This morning you were acting like someone Wesley knows, and now you’re acting just like Buffy. You made that crazy guy sane again, you can see in the dark, and yet I’ve known you for a month and none of this has come up before.
ALEXA
Also I escaped any effect from the loopy anesthetic.
ANYA
Yeah! That’s right! What’s your story, lady?
Alexa sighs and realizes that she also has Wesley and Gunn’s attention, though they aren’t bringing input into the conversation.
ALEXA
Fine. I guess this is as good a time as any. I am… I don’t know what I am, but I do know that I can see in the dark, read minds, and live forever unless there’s an outside influence involved. I do not have strength of any kind.
ANYA
And what does reading minds entail, exactly?
ALEXA
I can’t see memories or anything. In the case of the mental patient, I saw what was clouding up his brain function and cleared it. I don’t know how; I just did. And I can only do anything of the sort if someone’s started to panic a little bit. This morning, when Wesley appeared in the lab, he freaked out when he saw me. I read his mind, completely by accident, and started acting like the person more prominent in his mind. It’s really not my fault; I didn’t intend to act like Fred. It just happened. As he calmed, I started to act less and less like her. Now I don’t think I could do it if I tried.
ANYA
But we’re in a panic situation.
ALEXA
Yeah, and he’s relaxed to the point of hysterical laughter. It’s almost as though Joe Invisible knew I could do this and tried to drug all of us so none of us would freak out, and I wouldn’t be able to take the role of initiative.
ANYA
But it didn’t work on either of us…
ALEXA
So when you started freaking out a little, I read your wish for someone like Buffy to be here. I guess I became her for a while; you calmed for a while during this conversation but your panic is rising again. Really steadily, actually. Why?
ANYA
Listen.
She did. They all did.
ALEXA
I don’t hear anything.
ANYA
I do. Birds.
WESLEY
…That’s GREAT! If we can examine the particular tweetings, we can call Wolfram and Hart back and tell them to look for a basement in an area with that kind of bird!
ANYA
No, Mister Loopato. If the birds are chirping…
ALEXA
…the sun’s rising.
GUNN
Wait, wait… didn’t that invisible lady say we’d be killed if Angel wasn’t here by sunrise?
ANYA
Yep. Didn’t give us much of a time berth, did she?
GUNN
Oh. That’s bad. …Hey, hey Wesley.
WESLEY
Yes? What is it, Gunn?
GUNN
Tell another joke.
WESLEY
Oh. Oh, okay. Ready?
GUNN
Ready.
WESLEY
Okay. So, hey… why did the chicken cross the road?
Cut to Melody sitting at her desk, leaning on one elbow and watching the Inter-dimensional dully. The same demonic newscaster’s voice floats through the lobby.
NEWSCASTER
News now from dimension 5074, where an attempted mutiny took place only hours ago. The Senior Partners have decided to end the search for the only survivor of the large battle wherein the CEO of the L. A. branch and several of his employees were eliminated by a team earlier today. It’s said that the Old One Illyria is still wandering the streets; it apparently left the battle after a second vampire with a soul sacrificed himself for its safety. The Senior Partners have indicated that one warrior will remain on the plain in search for the Old One, but they refused further comment. Restructuring of the Wolfram and Hart branch in question is scheduled to begin in a few days.
Coming up after the break: Steak or stake? We’ll talk to some local vampires and discuss advantages and disadvantages for the new vampire diet of cow’s blood. Also, Bill’s here with highlights of the latest inter-dimensional hockey tournament between dimensions 19976 and 45908. Stay tuned.
SOME GUY
Not a single thing about the hostage situation in this dimension, hey?
Melody looks up in surprise to regard the exceedingly handsome gentleman leaning against her desk. His ears are barely visible under his dark hair. He smiles jovially at her and she has to shake her head a little but to come to her senses.
MELODY
Backdrop dimensions so rarely get on the news. Too many digits in our dimension number, I think. What can I do for you?
SOME GUY
I’m looking for Angel.
MELODY
I’m sorry, he’s crazy right now. Can I take a memo?
SOME GUY
He and I just have some issues we need to address.
MELODY
Yeah, see, Angel’s got enough issues he needs to address as it is. See, there’s this whole thing with his son… it’s complicated. Why don’t you leave your papers with me and I’ll get them to him as soon as he’s done breaking necks, okay?
SOME GUY
I’m afraid that’s not possible, miss. I really must discuss these issues with him, and now, please, so if you could just direct me to where he’s locked up…
MELODY
…I’m sorry, sir, but that area is for Wolfram and Hart employees only. I can get those papers to him, but other than that I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do.
Suddenly Melody finds herself pinned against the wall by her neck. She doesn’t even see it happen; apparently there’s more to this guy than meets the eye.
SOME GUY
You’re not like Angel’s last secretary. She was immortal to some extent. Well, not anymore… I sort of stabbed the remains of a doorway through her heart as she walked through it… but you, my dear, are completely, entirely and 100% human, and that makes you ever so vulnerable. So, this can work one of two ways: either you can show me where Angel is and live for another many possible years, or you can die right here and now with nothing more than a flick of my wrist. Are we understood?
Melody nods slightly. Suddenly she’s sitting back at her desk in the same position she’d been in before she’d been pinned against the wall; the guy was in the same position he’d been beforehand, too. Something seriously hinky is going on here. Melody clears her throat and steps around her desk.
MELODY
If you’ll just follow me, I’ll bring you down to where Angel is.
SOME GUY
Thank you, miss. Much appreciated.
An elevator opens of its own accord as Melody steps toward it. She strongly suspects that was again the work of the man following her. They step into the elevator and wait patiently for the doors to close. When they do, Melody crouches down and knocks on the hatch in the floor three times. Slowly, the elevator begins its descent. She straightens. They both stare straight ahead; no sound is heard aside from the ever-so-pleasant Wolfram and Hart special elevator music.
MELODY
You can threaten me all you want, but I know you didn’t kill his other secretary.
SOME GUY
Oh really.
MELODY
If you knew anything at all about backdrop dimensions, you’d know that her being staked would mean my evisceration, and since that didn’t happen, you probably didn’t stake her.
SOME GUY
Is that so.
MELODY
Yes, that’s so. And you know what else? You can’t travel to backdrop dimensions unless you’ve died and signed a contract with Wolfram and Hart at some point, and since you don’t have authorization to go down to see Angel, I can only assume that you were born here, which only backs up my “you didn’t stake Angel’s old secretary, whatever her name is” theory.
SOME GUY
Harmony.
MELODY
Oh my God! I get that so much, you don’t even know. I’m Melody. Meeeelody. Much more important than Harmony. I mean seriously, the melody in a song is way out there, while the harmony is just the background. You can’t even have a harmony without a melody.
SOME GUY
I mean her name was Harmony.
MELODY
…Oh. Oh wow! What a coincidence! Did we look anything alike?
SOME GUY
No. She was blonde.
MELODY
Pff. I doubt it was natural.
A beat.
MELODY [cont’d]
…Oh. I guess… you did stake her, then.
SOME GUY
No, you’re right. She’s still undead and kicking somewhere. But I used to know her.
MELODY
But then… how did you get to this dimension?
SOME GUY
Wolfram and Hart isn’t the only evil and eternal lawfirm and/or establishment that tricks people into signing contracts, thereby signing their deaths over to a backdrop dimension.
Another beat.
SOME GUY [cont’d]
I probably could have shortened that sentence somehow.
MELODY
I wasn’t going to say anything about it.
The elevator stops very suddenly. The doors open. Melody walks through and down the cement stairs toward Angel, the guy not far behind her.
MELODY [cont’d]
Um, Angel… I’m really sorry to bother you again, but this guy threatened to kill me if I didn’t bring him to you, and what with me being human and all, I got too scared to say no anymore. But I really did try!
No reaction from Angel. What else is new?
SOME GUY
She really did try, Liam. Give the girl some props.
Angel slowly raises his head. He regards the man in front of him with anger and—could it be?—a little bit of fear. The expression on his face is sincerely different than it had been when he was moping about Connor.
SOME GUY [cont’d]
What’s the matter? Aren’t you glad to see your old cousin Seamus?
A beat. A cut back to Alexa, Anya, and a now mercifully silent Gunn and Wesley, though they had just gotten over another laughing fit about the chicken who was now on the other side of the road. The basement door opens again. Bright lights. It closes of its own accord.
VOICE
Sun’s almost up.
ANYA
We noticed.
VOICE
Angel has to come soon, you know. If he waits any longer, he’ll be ashes in seconds. Just ashes. But that’s no problem for me. It’s just a problem for you.
ANYA
Yeah, yeah. We know. He doesn’t show, we get axed. Hey, what’s your name?
This question apparently catches the voice off guard. There is no answer for a long time.
VOICE
I thought I said no questions.
ANYA
This isn’t a question about your operation. This is a question about you. I’m just wondering what your name is.
A long pause ensues.
VOICE
Marcie.
ANYA
Marcie. Nice name. Where are you from?
MARCIE
No more questions!
ANYA
Because I’m just recalling this government organization called… the Initiative. Have you heard of that at all?
MARCIE
Shut up.
ANYA
Because I lived near it for years. Well, one year, before it was filled in with cement. Or possibly relocated. Anyway, my ex-fiancé’s friend’s old groin buddy Spike once told me aaaaall about this one room made completely of glass with outdoors simulated on one of the walls. He said something about books in this room with words like “assassination” and “infiltration” in them having their pages turned of their own accord. That wouldn’t happened to have been you and your friends, would it?
MARCIE
Shut uuuuuuuup!
ANYA
Now, the same friend that was having sex with Spike was having sex with a guy who worked in the Initiative at that point. He told us plenty about the Initiative, too, but it always struck me as really weird that such an extensive organization would just… dissolve. I was always left to think that maybe it was just moved to another dimension or someth—
Anya feels a blade against her throat. Her words dissolve into a sort of strangled cry. Alexa shifts behind her.
MARCIE
Look, okay? I don’t care about your friends or your friend’s friends or whatever. I don’t care about your theories. I don’t think you should care, either. I think you should care about your imminent death. Doesn’t that seem like a good thing to care about?
Anya decides not to respond. The blade stays at her throat for another few seconds before clanging to the floor. Very quiet claps on the pavement prove that Marcie is indeed wearing shoes, and that she is leaving the room.
MARCIE [cont’d]
You have one hour. You’d better hope your friend Angel shows up.
The door opens and closes again. Anya exhales.
ANYA
Anything?
ALEXA
No. She’s invisible, you know? It’s not just her body, but her soul’s missing too… all that’s left is the mind, and that’s not as easy to read as it sounds. She’s very calm, in any case. Her homicidal tendencies are very controlled. She has no patience, but no panic. I don’t think I could pull the cobwebs out of her mind if I tried.
Wesley snorts heavily. Alexa jumps ever so slightly and notices out of her periphery that he’s asleep. A similar glance at Gunn reveals the same thing from him.
ALEXA [cont’d]
Well, that’s a relief, anyway.
ANYA
What exactly are you? I mean, you’re immortal with no strength, can read minds, blahdeeblahblahblah, but… what are you?
ALEXA
I don’t know. It’s never been explained to me.
ANYA
What do you mean?
ALEXA
I was just created a couple months ago.
ANYA
You’re kidding.
ALEXA
Not really. I was just suddenly… at Wolfram and Hart, being the main lab lady. That’s the first thing I knew. It didn’t take me long to figure out that I wanted to do more, though. Being on this excursion might cause my death more promptly than I might like, but… I’m not stuck in the lab running tests. I’m out in the field. And it’s… great. This is what I want to do.
ANYA
Your first time out of Wolfram and Hart and you’ve been promised death by way of being killed by crazy people if you’re not saved by a mostly insane vampire in the next hour and this is your idea of hi-jinks?
ALEXA
It’s fantastic. You try living your entire life in the lab.
ANYA
I see your point.
A beat.
ANYA [cont’d]
Is this you, now? Are you impersonating anyone?
ALEXA
I think I’m me. I’m told I tend to be a humble person, who stumbles a lot.
ANYA
It’s very endearing.
ALEXA
I’m also told that.
Wesley snorts himself awake. He shakes his head dully and runs his hands over his face before putting them back behind him.
ANYA
…Wait a second… how did you do that?
WESLEY
Do what?
ANYA
You had use of your hands.
WESLEY
No I didn’t. They’re tied to a pillar. Don’t be silly.
ALEXA
No, Wes, I saw it too.
WESLEY
Well, clearly you were both dreaming.
Alexa cranes her neck to regard the pole she’s leaning against. She then glances at the ropes holding Wesley’s hands together and to the post.
ALEXA
The pillar, the ropes… they’re not there. They’re all figments of our imaginations.
[END OF ACT ONE]
---
[ACT TWO]
1745—Ireland
Liam is at the tender age of eighteen, still eight years away from his eventual death. His eyes are clear; he clearly hasn’t yet gotten into the habit of drinking every night. His hair hangs loosely around his face, not tied back. He’s humming as he walks into his home.
LIAM’S FATHER
Been out all night again, I see.
LIAM
Ah, father. Fair Loinnir needed some assistance with a wee issue she was having.
LIAM’S FATHER
And what sort of issue was that?
LIAM
I wouldn’t be much of a gentleman if I told you that, now, would I?
A pause. Liam’s father’s face suggests an epic internal battle. After a few moments he decides to keep his peace.
LIAM’S FATHER
Best wash up. Your cousin Seamus should be arriving by carriage at any moment.
Liam groans.
LIAM
Cousin Seamus. A smarmy weasel if I’ve ever met one.
LIAM’S FATHER
No wonder you got along with each other so marvelously as children.
Liam, in turn, suppresses a remark. It would seem that the father-son conflict is on a sincerely less epic scale than it will be in a few years.
LIAM
Surely you didn’t invite him to stay.
LIAM’S FATHER
For a fortnight.
LIAM
You’re mad.
LIAM’S FATHER
Hardly. I feel his presence will keep you in line for a spell. Perhaps I won’t receive quite as many comments as to your promiscuous behavior.
LIAM
True. You’ll likely get double the comments regarding Seamus on the subject.
LIAM’S FATHER
I find that doubtful.
SEAMUS
As do I.
Father and son turn to the doorway to find Seamus standing just outside, smiling smugly. He looks similar to his modern-day appearance, the main difference being that his hair is longer and tied back neatly. In fact, everything about him is neat; he appears to be a very proper gent.
LIAM’S FATHER
Welcome, Seamus. Come in.
SEAMUS
Thank you.
LIAM’S FATHER
You had no trouble, I trust.
SEAMUS
The voyage was most enjoyable.
LIAM
It’s no wonder, by the look of the wench you brought.
SEAMUS
That’s no wench; she and I are wed.
They glare at each other, Liam angrily, Seamus still painfully pleasantly. Suddenly Liam’s eyes widen; he backs up into the hearth and yelps as he burns himself. His father turns to him angrily.
LIAM’S FATHER
Idiot boy! You could have set the house ablaze.
Liam doesn’t hear. He glances back at Seamus with clear fright in his eyes. Whatever he saw is gone; Seamus simply stands, looking pleasant. He and Liam’s father continue to converse about the girl for a few seconds more until Seamus smiles at Liam cheerily and goes to fetch his wife. Liam watches him suspiciously. He decides he was hallucinating; in the middle of standing tall, we cut to the
Present
and see Angel standing tall in his cell instead. His face is human. He frowns.
ANGEL
Get out.
Seamus smiles identically to the way he always has; annoyingly pleasant, like everything is extremely amusing. He leans toward Melody.
SEAMUS
He’s always done that. Never wants to discuss anything. I haven’t seen this man for two and a half centuries, and what does he first say to me? “Get out.” Hardly a warm welcome. Though, what would you expect from a caged vampire? Not much more, I sup—
ANGEL
I was talking to Melody. She doesn’t need to be involved in this.
SEAMUS
Oh. Well, now. That’s unlike a vampire! Protecting humans.
ANGEL
I think you missed out on a couple of details when you tracked me down, Seamus. Melody. Go.
MELODY
Okay, okay. Geez.
SEAMUS
Now why would you say something to her when you were looking at me? Clearly you were talking to me.
ANGEL
Your cockiness won’t get you anywhere here. I’m the boss. Hell, I’m way higher up on the corporate ladder than I want to be.
SEAMUS
Finally better at me than something, cousin. No wonder you’re defending yourself so profusely.
ANGEL
Why are you here, Seamus.
Seamus smiles at the non-question and grabs a chair from an open adjacent stall. Angel looks around. He doesn’t have a chair. Then he remembers it was made of wood, so it had to be removed. The guilt that had been put out of his mind by the unwelcome visitor twinges in his mind. He forces it back.
SEAMUS
Believe it or not, cousin, I’m here to help you.
ANGEL
You can start by stopping to call me cousin. It’s annoying.
SEAMUS
You are grouchy, aren’t you? No wonder I was sent.
ANGEL
Why were you sent?
SEAMUS
To get you out of this cage. Your friends are in danger, and so is most of L. A., if you don’t get out of this cage and save your friends sometime in the next hour. You owe it to them. I was sent to make sure you deliver.
ANGEL
Sent by whom?
SEAMUS
The Powers that Be.
Angel suddenly laughs. It isn’t terribly sincere.
ANGEL
The Powers that Be were the ones who sent me here. They caused the death of people I care about, for absolutely no reason. I think I’m finished talking vicariously to the Powers that Be.
Seamus grins, annoyingly/amusedly. Angel blinks. Seamus suddenly walks down the stairs, at least fifteen feet from where he was standing only moments ago. Angel rolls his eyes. Apparently this is something he’s familiar with.
SEAMUS
I would tell you that it wasn’t all for nothing, but you wouldn’t believe me. I’ll tell you again in a few minutes. Now. How is that dear son of yours?
ANGEL
You don’t get to talk about him.
SEAMUS
But the man who tried to kill him, in effect, three times, does?
ANGEL
I’m his father.
SEAMUS
Did you bring him up?
ANGEL
No, but…
SEAMUS
And were two of those attempts to kill him directly at your own hand?
ANGEL
Yes, but…
SEAMUS
But what, Liam?
ANGEL
It’s Angel now.
SEAMUS
Yes, you and your pseudonyms. Liam, Angelus, and now Angel. Perhaps it’s genetic… the Destroyer, Stephen, Connor…
ANGEL
Shut up.
SEAMUS
That wasn’t very heartfelt!
ANGEL
I know what you’re trying to do. You’re trying to be just annoying enough that I’ll talk incessantly to defend myself, just as I did when I was human. It doesn’t work on me anymore, Seamus. Time has passed. Centuries have passed. I’ve been evil. I’ve been good. Now I honestly don’t know which one I am.
SEAMUS
Ah, the mid-unlife crisis. How well I remember it.
ANGEL
I’m not having a… a crisis.
SEAMUS
That explains the being locked in a cage after trying to kill your son and reliving it at every possible interval, making yourself semi-demonic, not to mention slightly suicidal, and not talking to any of your friends or coworkers or even bothering to try and save them, even though this dimension is extremely similar and possibly even a little better from the one you guys were in to begin with.
A beat.
ANGEL
Still having those issues with run-on sentences?
SEAMUS
They just don’t go away.
The door opens and Melody emerges, holding a scroll. She presents it to Seamus with a dreamy sort of proud smile on her face.
SEAMUS [cont’d]
Thank you, miss.
MELODY
You’re so welcome.
A beat as Seamus unrolls the scroll and flips it over.
MELODY [cont’d]
Do I get to stay this time?
SEAMUS
Yes, please; I can’t for the life of me figure this thing out.
MELODY
Oh, sorry. I forgot. I have to do this. Wolfram and Hart employees only.
SEAMUS
First the elevator, now the scroll… you Wolfram and Hart guys are all about your privacy, aren’t you?
MELODY
Dimension 5074, please.
The scroll lit up. The same demon newscaster with the same top hat appeared upon it. Apparently the Inter-dimensional only had one employee.
SEAMUS
“Please?”
MELODY
You have to ask nicely, otherwise it gets grumpy and starts mouthing off.
SEAMUS
…Uh huh. Okay. If I roll this up, will the image remain?
MELODY
No. Sorry. Why?
SEAMUS
Dramatic effect. I have a short speech to deliver, and it would be dandy if at the end I could just flick my wrist and the image would appear to him.
ANGEL
Why don’t you just give me the scroll and save the speech.
SEAMUS
No! I’ve been contemplating this speech since I came down those stairs. The second time.
Angel sighs.
ANGEL
Fine. Let’s just get this over with.
MELODY
You could hide the scroll behind your back.
SEAMUS
I guess that’ll have to do. Okay, ready?
MELODY
Ready!
Angel just rolls his eyes.
SEAMUS
Liam—Angel, sorry—it wasn’t all for nothing. Your efforts to show the Senior Partners what you’re made of paid off. Not for you, oh no… but wasn’t it always about the helpless? You and your crew pretty much owned a law firm, and you still do. You’re not helpless. You, Wesley, Gunn, Illyria, Lorne… even Spike. You all did something monumentally important a few days ago. It wasn’t all for nothing.
ANGEL
Are you done?
SEAMUS
You’re not getting it. This lawfirm made you selfish, all of you. It was no longer about the helpless. It changed your mission statement. But ultimately, even though your final actions on that plain were for your reasons alone, you achieved something. Not for you, but for them. The helpless. You helped them one last time. Wasn’t that what Cordelia was always about?
Angel only looks at Seamus. The sarcasm has left his expression. He’s listening.
SEAMUS [cont’d]
The Black Thorn had so many people worldwide under their command, because guess what? There’s only one Black Thorn group per plain. It takes centuries to rebuild it properly. You set a great many people free from their captivity, Liam, all throughout that plain. Just as many people in L. A. celebrated as did in cities in China or Australia or Mongolia. You helped the helpless.
ANGEL
Prove it.
Seamus smiles amusedly/sarcastically, as usual.
SEAMUS
I knew you’d say that.
From behind his back, he pulls the open scroll and hands it to Angel.
NEWSCASTER
…enior Partners worldwide in dimension 5074 are beginning to feel the effects of the mutiny that took place there. Every member of the Black Thorn has been killed on that plain of existence, and that is a huge blow to the Wolfram and Hart clientele. It would seem that over 20% of the clients were not evil and were in fact bound to use Wolfram and Hart as their lawfirm in accordance with one or all of the members of the Black Thorn. The Senior Partners aren’t yet sure of this underground organization that was being run under their noses and are looking into it, but are currently focused in rounding up some voluntary clients. In a brief statement made earlier, one among the Partners anonymously revealed that though almost all of their biddings are done in the name of utmost evil, they prefer to keep their clientele evil of their own accord; that is, they must be clearly evil before signing any contract with Wolfram and Hart. This would tend to eliminate actions such as those that occurred earlier this week, where one of Wolfram and Hart’s own killed off every member of the Black Thorn. We’ll have updates on this story regularly at intervals relative to your perception of time.
Angel slowly and deliberately rolls up the scroll and hands it back to a silent Melody.
SEAMUS
You did good, cousin. You and your friends. Who, might I remind you, are in peril at the moment, so if we could just swing into action now…
Angel looks up in shock. He’d forgotten about the invisible people situation. He takes a minute to consider things.
ANGEL
Melody, let me out of the cage.
MELODY
Sure, boss, but only if you promise not to break any more necks.
ANGEL
I promise. Open up.
Melody hesitantly pulls keys from her hair clip and unlocks Angel. He strides forward with initiative, leaving Seamus and Melody to scurry behind him. Angel steps into the elevator and presses the button for the sixth floor.
MELODY
Uh, boss… aren’t our offices on the eleventh floor?
ANGEL
I’m not going to the eleventh floor.
Melody and Seamus exchange nervous glances.
SEAMUS
But don’t you think we should? There’s research to be done. We have to find your friends before sunrise! That’s in maaaaaybe forty five minutes, if we’re lucky.
ANGEL
Thirty eight, but I have something I need to take care of.
The elevator doors open up. It’s apparent why Melody and Seamus are nervous; the sixth floor houses the medical facility, where Connor is currently recuperating. Angel steps out of the elevator. As the doors close over his retreating figure, we find ourselves at the
[END OF ACT TWO]
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