Fade in on Hallway outside Connors room

Buffy:

Angel. Move your arm.

Angel:

Buffy this doesn’t concern you.

Buffy:

Gonna have to disagree. Impending death, usually big

on my concern list.

Angel:

I will take care of it.

Buffy:

I’m not seeing that. Now either move or I’ll move you

myself.

They glare at one another.

Cut to Inside Room

Wesley:

(landing against a chair and breaking it)

Connor! You have to believe me!

Connor:

I don’t! I don’t believe you, I don’t believe him, or

Justine or even Holtz! I can’t believe any of you!

He descends upon Wes preparing to finish him off.

Angel:

No son.

Connor stops and spins around.

Connor:

How can you still call me that?

Angel:

Because its what you are. Nothing will ever change

that.

Buffy moves past Angel to see to Wesley.

Buffy:

(bending to help him up)

Can you stand? Are you okay?

Wesley:

I’d have to say I’ve been better.

Buffy:

Come on. Lets get you downstairs.

Angel:

Wesley…

Wesley looks up at him and the two exchange a look.

Wesley:

Right.

He and Buffy exit the room leaving Connor and Angel

alone.

Connor:

Why are you not angry with him? After what he did.

Angel:

I was. I am. But if I killed everyone I ever got angry

with, there wouldn’t be many left.

Connor:

Like Holtz.

Angel:

I’m not going to keep arguing that one Connor. You

will have to learn to believe me on your own.

Connor:

I can’t be what you want me to be.

Angel:

I don’t want you to be anything. You have a lot to

deal with. I know that. And I can’t help. But when

you’re ready. If you’re ready. I’m here. And I’m not

going anywhere.

Connor:

You love her.

Angel:

Who?

Connor:

The Slayer.

Angel:

It’s not that simple.

Connor:

No. Vampire and Slayer? Not a simple thing. What about

the other?

Angel:

Other?

Connor:

Cordelia.

Angel:

That’s not simple either.

Connor:

Holtz said you only lived to kill. But you are in the

middle of everyday life. Human life. How can you be so

different from what you used to be?

Angel:

It’s the soul. It complicates things.

Connor:

Like for the other one.

Angel:

(remembering Spike)

I have to get back.

Connor:

You don’t trust him.

Angel:

No, no I don’t.

Connor:

But he’s like you now? He has a soul.

Angel:

No. Spike is not like me. He’s still Spike. I know it.

Connor:

Can I come?

Angel smiles.

Angel:

Yeah. Yeah you can come.

They exit the room.

Cut to Alley

Gunn, Lorne and Fred are surrounded.

Lorne:

Don’t suppose you left a trail of bread crumbs for the

others to find us?

Fred:

Afraid not.

Gunn:

So there’s six of them. And three of us. They’re not

vampires, so I’m thinking this could get messy.

Fred:

Weapons?

Lorne:

You mean besides my razor sharp wit?

Gunn:

Lorne man, maybe now is the time to embrace your inner

demon.

The first guy grabs at Fred and she screams out. Gunn

kicks him and pulls Fred close to him. He looks around

frantically.

Gunn:

Lorne! Can you make it up there?

He nods to a fire escape on the second floor.

Lorne:

(takes a blow from one demon and falls back almost

pushing the three to the ground)

Maybe if I wasn’t currently being pummeled.

Fred:

Gunn!

She wriggles out of the hands of another assailant and

calls out.

Gunn:

Alright on the count of three both of you duck low and

wait for my signal!

Lorne:

Liking the ducking part.

Fred:

Gunn what are you going to do?

Gunn:

Down!

Fred and Lorne drop immediately to their knees. Gunn

springs up and grabs one by the throat and tosses him

backwards. The second is kicked down to join the other

already there. The third is punched at almost the same

instant and stumbles back without falling.

Gunn:

Now!

The entire group descends on Gunn leaving Fred and

Lorne open to run towards the ladder. Lorne lets Fred

climb first and he follows right behind. They reach

the escape landing and Fred looks down.

Fred:

Gunn!

Gunn can’t handle all of them and is now on the

ground. One is on top of him with its hands around his

throat. The others watch for a second as Gunn manages

to gouge its eyes and get enough of a release to knock

his hands away and turn sideways to dump him off. Just

as he stands two grab him from either side and hold

him by the arms. The first blow almost knocks him out.

He grunts pitifully under the attack.

Fred:

Charles! No!

She tries to go down the ladder but Lorne stops her.

She struggles in vain to be freed as the tears fall.

Cut to Lobby

Dawn:

I can’t believe that boy did this?

Buffy:

You forget that boy is Angel’s son.

Giles:

Angel’s son. My God could that be any more surreal?

Wesley:

It’s been quite the ouch! (He tenses as Willow

finishes tending the wounds)

Willow:

Sorry. Not much for the Nightingale.

Wesley:

Evidently. Like I was saying, its been quite the

surreal year. Starting with the phone call from you

saying that Buffy was back.

Willow:

(sadly)

So it all comes back to me.

Wesley:

What?

Giles:

Never mind. Buffy, what have you learned about Spike?

Buffy looks at Spike standing outside in the atrium by

himself watching the sunset.

Buffy:

Not a lot. He claims he doesn’t know how it happened,

but thinks that he should get some kind of prize for

having a soul.

Xander:

Let me guess, you’re the first place trophy.

Buffy looks down awkwardly.

Dawn:

How can you all be so hateful? I know he did some

stupid things, some horrible things, but everything’s

different now. He has a soul. Buffy, Angel became

Angelus for months and killed countless people, but as

soon as he had his soul, you forgave him, you loved

him.

Buffy:

I also killed him.

Dawn:

Oh.

Buffy:

I’m not saying Spike should die. But somethings not

right with him. Its like he thinks hes got this big

reward and not responsible for anything that may have

happened when he didn’t have one.

Giles:

He feels no remorse?

Buffy:

Not that I could see. But how is that possible? I mean

how can a person have a soul and not feel responsible

for the acts of the body?

Angel:

That’s a good question.

They turn to see Angel and Connor standing on the

landing from the stairs. Connor sees Wesley and looks

at Angel. Wesley does as well. Angel nods slightly to

Wes.

Dawn:

Is he gonna go ballistic again?

Connor:

Ballistic?

Dawn:

Rambo? Crazy? Like father-like son?

Buffy:

Dawn!

Dawn:

What? Like I don’t have a right to know?

Xander:

Dark.

Willow:

I am not!

Xander:

(frowns) Outside Willow. Its dark outside.

Willow:

Oh! Yeah, it is. So?

Xander:

So, shouldn’t they be back? Shouldn’t Anya be back by

now? They went looking for Connor and we all know

that’s a big wild goose chase.

Connor:

Someones looking for me?

Angel:

Yeah. Gunn, Fred and Anya. I asked them to. It was

daylight.

Connor:

Oh. Should I go?

Angel/Buffy:

No!

They both look at eachother and smile at the

familiarity.

Buffy:

No, no more separating. I think we should concentrate

on getting Cordy home.

Angel:

(looks across the room)

Willow?

Cut to Alley

Gunn is being held up by the two having lost most of

his strength taking the beating. Suddenly, the one in

front is launched over Gunns head and through the air.

He lands in a heap unconscious and the others look to

see what happened.

Standing in front of them is Anya in full demon mode.

She growls in her strange voice.

Anya:

I don’t like to get my hands dirty boys. That’s why I

took this gig. But if you don’t let him go right now,

I might need a shower when we’re done.

Demon:

(sniffs)

Woman. (He shrugs away her threat and steps forward)

Anya:

You got a problem with women?

He rushes her and she swats him away with an

effortless blow. He crumples to the ground at her

feet.

Anya:

Who’s next?

The four remaining look at her and then each other for

a moment before taking off in the opposite direction.

Anya:

Typical men.

She transforms back to human.

Fred:

Charles!

She practically jumps form the fire escape and races

to Gunn’s side. Lorne follows her down.

Lorne:

That was quite a show. I’m impressed.

Anya:

(shrugs)

Its what I do. Actually, its not what I do, but it

felt pretty good to do it.

Lorne:

Alrighty then.

Gunn:

Fred.

Fred:

It’s okay. I’m here. Can you get up?

Gunn struggles to his feet leaning on Fred.

Gunn:

What happened to them?

Lorne:

Little miss Vengance is what happened. What do you say

we get the particulars later though? I’m thinking we

don’t want to be here when these two wake up.

Anya:

I don’t know how to kill them.

Gunn:

It’s cool. It’s dark, we need to get back. Maybe

Connor showed back up at the hotel.

The four make the quickest exit they can from the

alley headed for home.

Lorne:

Back in town two hours and I already almost died. Yep,

home sweet home.

Cut to Lobby

Xander:

I can’t wait around here any longer.

Buffy:

Wait Xander! I know you’re worried about Anya, but we

have to be smart. Willow, what is it Angel wants to

hear from you?

Willow:

I..I don’t know. I already told him everything.

Angel frowns and Willow shakes her head slightly. He

drops it.

Angel:

Alright, we know Cordelia is at least safe. So we

should get the others and then find a way to get her

back here. Right?

Willow nods weakly and glances at Giles.

Giles:

So we split up then?

Buffy:

Giles, can you stay here with Dawn and Wesley? (raises

a hand without looking) Don’t even say it Dawn.

Wesley’s too weak to go anywhere and you need to stay

where its safe.

Willow:

I’ll stay with them.

Xander:

Well I’m going.

Spike:

(coming in from outside)

Where are we going?

Angel:

You’re going nowhere.

Spike:

I don’t recall asking for your opinion.

Buffy:

We might need him. If something happens out there, he

can watch our back.

Angel:

Or put a stake in mine.

Spike smirks.

Spike:

How could I do that? What with having a soul and all?

I’d be positively racked with guilt if I hurt so much

as a fly. Isn’t that how it works oh great soulful

one?

Angel:

Spike…

Xander:

I’m not going anywhere with the two of you. Who knows

what kind of crossfire I’ll get caught up in?

Buffy:

No one will get caught up in anything. Angel, I want

him to come.

Angel’s jaw drops and Spike swells with pride.

Buffy:

Until we know what all this means, keeping him close

is the best bet. What about Connor?

Connor:

I will go. I can fight.

Angel:

Whoa there. Not this time. I need you here to protect

the others. Will you do that?

Wesley:

You trust him?

Angel glares at Wes.

Angel:

I trust him.

Connor:

I’ll stay. (looks at Wesley) I’ll stay.

Buffy:

Alright then. Who has a cell?

Angel:

Wesley?

Wesley:

I left it in the office.

Buffy:

Angel go get it please. If you guys hear from anyone

or anything, call us got it?

Angel:

(emerging from the office)

Let’s go.

Buffy, Angel, Spike, and Xander stride purposefully

out of the lobby.

Giles, Wesley, Dawn and Connor all stare at one

another unsure of what to say.

Cut to Empty place

Cordy:

No. (sees the four heading out into the street) I

don’t want this. It’s supposed to be me! Everythings

all messed up! They’re not supposed to be together!

V.O.:

Your emotions are still leading you.

Cordy:

I’m part of the team don’t you get that? How can Angel

and the others do their work without me? I’m vision

girl! Who’s going to tell them who needs us? Buffy?

Not likely!

V.O.:

They are in no danger. All sides have combined to work

as one.

Cordy:

But I’m not there! So all the sides can’t combine can

they? Why are you showing me this if I’m helpless? I

don’t want to see anymore!

V.O.:

Very well.

Cordy is back in the white place alone. She starts to

cry.

Cordy:

Fine. I’m fine do you hear me? Give me all the pain

you can dish out, I’ll take it! I’m done worrying! You

think they belong together? Is that it? I was just in

the way right? So the whole Willow thing, that was

just a cover. I’m not stupid! (pauses) Answer me!

Woman:

You’re lashing out.

Cordy:

Arrghh! (She startles and turns to see the woman

standing behind her) Why do you insist on doing that?

Woman:

They have done all They can. Your ties are too strong.

Cordy:

What does that mean? (eyes widen) Are They firing me?

Skip:

Not yet.

Cordy:

Aarrghh! (Startles again and spins to find him

standing on the other side of her-slaps him) What did

I tell you last time?

Skip:

Hey! Sorry okay? I figured you should be used to it by

now.

Cordy:

Well don’t figure! Wait, why are you here?

Woman:

You must prepare for the choice.

Cordy:

Choice?

Woman:

I told you that when it came time to choose you would

have to make your decision form a place you had not

yet tapped.

Cordy:

And I’ve tapped it?

Woman:

No. And you never will as long as you are here. You

must go to unbind.

Cordy:

Huh?

Skip:

You know, you’ve got to be the hardest case I’ve ever

come across. That’s what They get for going to the

human side for this one. Oh well. You ready?

Cordy:

For what? Where are we going? No! You know what? I

don’t care. Just get me out of this place.

Cordy and Skip begin to walk away.

Woman:

(calling after them)

Remember, you’ll never succeed unless you accept it.

Cut to Lobby

The doors open and Fred comes limping in with Gunn.

Giles:

(Coming forward)

what happened?

Anya:

Gunn was attacked. But don’t worry. I took care of

them. (looks around and speaks loudly) I saved him!

(frowns) Where’s Xander?

Dawn:

Out looking for you.

Anya:

Why would he do that? I’m right here.

Willow:

You all had been gone so long. We didn’t know what had

happened. And since…

Gunn:

Connor.

Fred:

(looking up)

Connor! You’re here!

Connor:

Yes. I’m here. I’m helping.

Lorne:

And whom are you helping this time?

Connor seems confused.

Fred:

Wesley! What happened? (Gunn sits down next to Wes)

Wesley:

Nothing really.

Gunn:

That’s nothing? Man, sure hate to see something.

Dawn:

Connor did it.

Lorne:

And why am I not surprised?

Connor:

(looks at Lorne)

You don’t like me.

Lorne:

Just giving what I was getting. You got issues kid.

And not of the small variety.

Willow:

Ok guys, lets think here. We keep getting separated

and I don’t like it. Nothing is getting accomplished

and that’s never good.

Giles:

Willow’s right. Perhaps someone could call.

Wesley:

Hand me the phone.

Dawn picks up a cordless off the counter and tosses it

to him.

Wesley:

(holding the phone to his ear) It’s dead.

Anya:

What’s dead?

Wesley:

The phone. The phone is dead.

Giles takes it and listens for himself. Suddenly the

lights go out.

Lorne:

Well that kids, is never good.

Cut to Street

The group of four walks quietly and quickly.

Xander:

Angel do you know where you’re going?

Angel:

No Xander, I just thought you might like to see the

seedy side of LA.

Buffy:

Boy you two are never gonna change are you?

Angel:

Maybe if he would grow a pair.

Xander:

I’ll have you know I have quite the…pair!

Spike:

Yep, I’m really lacking in the menacing undertones

department. Angel, you think you could teach me? It’s

be like my Yoda all over again, but this time without

the blood and mayhem.

Angel:

Shut up Spike.

Buffy:

And they say women are catty?

Out of nowhere, a force appears in front of them and

all three are blown back by a strong wind. Angel is

the first to recover. He looks up and blinks twice.

Angel:

Skip?

Skip:

Angel! Hey, how you doin? Long time no…oh now I get

it.

Angel helps Buffy to her feet as Spike and Xander

stand.

Spike:

Another friend of yours Angel?

Angel:

Now you get what?

Buffy:

Who is this guy?

Skip:

(holds out hand to Buffy) Skip’s the name. Guiding’s

my game. (pauses) Not even a chuckle?

Angel:

He’s a demon guide.

Skip:

Cordelia’s demon guide to be exact.

Angel:

You’ve seen her?

Skip:

Well duh. She’s standing right here.

Buffy, Angel, Xander and Spike all start looking

around for some sign of Cordy.