Final Thoughts by Cheri

Chapter Three

Fade in Hyperion

Cordelia and Connor are sitting on the couch as Angel looks on from the other side of the room.

Lorne:

Angel? You wanna come back to us for a scooch?

Angel:

(turning his head away from the sight)

What?

Lorne:

Evil destroying the world? Making a plan? Explaining the power bit you alluded to? Any of this ringing a bell?

Angel:

Sorry.

Wesley:

It’s alright. I know you’re worried about them.

Angel:

Who?

Lorne looks on obviously biting his tongue.

Wesley:

Angel, are you sure there’s not something you’re not telling us?

Angel:

What? No. What else could there be?

He glances again in the direction of the pair talking quietly.

Angle on Cordy and Connor

Connor:

I shouldn’t be wasting time here. We’re going to be too late.

Cordy:

You don’t have a choice. You can’t battle this thing alone Connor. You’re going to have to learn when to ask for help.

Connor:

I don’t need his help. (pause) And neither do you. Things are different now.

Cordy:

(looks down awkwardly)

Yes they are. But different doesn’t necessarily mean better. There’s so much still that could happen, that will happen. Last night…

Connor:

Last night was nice.

Cordy:

(looks at him and smiles)

Yes, yes it was but…

Connor:

But now we must fight. Maybe to our end. I know that’s why Cordy. And if I am to die, so be it. But please don’t explain it away. If we survive…if we find a way to beat whatever this is, then I will listen. Is that okay? Can that be okay?

Cordy thinks for a moment before reaching up to push his hair back away from his eyes.

Cordy:

That sounds perfectly okay.

They smile and don’t notice Angel clinching his teeth across the room.

Angle on Fred standing next to Gunn leaning against the counter.

Fred:

Are you sure you shouldn’t be resting?

Gunn:

I’m sure I wouldn’t get any if I tried.

Fred:

Right. I guess sleep is not exactly an option right now.

Gunn:

I love you. You still know that right?

Fred:

Of course Charles. Of course I know that. (pause) I love you too.

Gunn:

I’ve been waiting to hear that.

Fred:

I’m sorry for the way I’ve been. It’s just…

Gunn:

Sshh. Don’t bother. You love me, that’s all I need to know.

Fred:

What if we can’t stop it this time Charles?

Gunn reaches to pull her close to him.

Gunn:

We’re together. All of us. We stick together and whatever happens will make sense.

Fred:

How can you be so sure?

Gunn:

You wanna be the one to offer the alternative?

She just looks at him.

Lorne:

(walking to middle of room)

Ok kids, I think we’re about ready to hatch the plan. Give that evil the ole one, two punch. Show the dark side what we’re made of. Stand up and…

Cordy:

We get it! Just stop with the cliché-o-rama.

Connor:

Do we go fight now? Are we done with the sitting?

Angel:

You’re not going anywhere. None of you are.

Gunn:

You better have an explanation to follow that.

Wes:

Angel is right. This isn’t something that we can just grab a weapon and run off into battle. This is unlike any simple demon we’ve defeated or spell we’ve reversed. We are in what could be the eye of this world’s darkest storm.

Cordelia:

So we need more power. Is that what you meant Angel?

Angel:

Something like that.

Lorne:

Wesley is going to send out the signal.

Fred:

What signal?

Wesley:

I’m going to contact the council. They will have already learned of the events here in Los Angeles I’m sure. I intend to acquire their knowledge of events and perhaps get an assist in preparing.

Cordy:

The council? As in the guys who fired you the second you lost your last charge? The guys who almost got you killed last time they stopped by for a visit?

Wesley:

The circumstances in that instance were very unusual.

Cordy:

Sure they were. They had a psycho slayer on the loose and expected you to clean up their mess after they kicked you to the curb. You were nearly tortured to death if I remember correctly. I’m kind of fuzzy what with the clearing the hell out of town and all.

Wesley:

The council has slightly authoritarian views on the work they do, but they do have the most comprehensive knowledge of all things related to our current situation. At least I think they do. That’s why I must go to them.

Gunn:

Don’t these council dudes pretty much only get involved when the slayer chick’s affected? Why would they help us?

Angel:

Because she is. Or will be.

Connor:

Who?

Lorne:

The slayer.

Cordy:

Buffy.

Everyone is silent for a moment.

Angel:

Maybe Faith too.

Cordy:

So you’re going to call her.

Fred:

Faith? I thought she was in jail.

Angel and Cordy are exchanging a very strange and uncomfortable look.

Angel:

Wesley will find out what they know first. There’s no point in involving others yet. I’m not calling anyone.

Cordy seems to relax a bit.

Lorne:

So you make your call then. This is a good thing. We’ll stay here and not panic. Panic is the enemy.

Connor:

Do you hear that?

Lorne:

Um yeah, that was me.

Connor:

No.

Everyone listens for something.

Angel:

What is that?

Connor:

It’s coming from out front.

Gunn:

Did I go deaf?

Fred:

Maybe we both did.

Wes:

No, it’s the hearing. Angel and Connor…

Lorne:

Oh right. Like father like son.

Connor and Angel don’t react to the joke and both head for the door. Connor pushes Cordy away from harm’s way as he and Angel lean against the door.

Slowly a low rumble is heard. The others finally pick up on it and Angel and Connor straighten to look at the still closed door.

The first one hits the glass and they jump back. Within seconds a full blown hail storm is pounding the building.

Wes:

I better get on the phone.

Angel:

Go now.

Wes heads into the office.

A howling sound begins and gets louder and louder until one of the atrium doors blows open slamming against the wall.

Gunn rushes over and pushes it closed and leans against it.

Fred:

Get away from there. You’ll get hurt.

Angel:

I’m going to go check around.

Cordy:

For what?

Angel:

People could be in trouble out there.

Connor:

They think it’s nothing. I heard them talking on the television.

Lorne:

That’s what I love about this dimension. First instinct is denial.

Angel:

You all wait here for Wesley. I’ll be back.

Connor:

I should go.

Angel:

No.

Connor:

I’ll go on my own then.

Angel:

You’ll do as I say.

Lorne:

Have you learned nothing? Now there’s no way he’ll…

Connor:

I will go and help people that need it. It’s what I do. How I was raised.

His last dig hits home and Angel shrugs before turning to head for the sewers.

Gunn:

Sun’s not out Angel.

Angel:

I’m aware. But it’s what I know.

He continues on out of the room and Connor casts a glance at Cordy before following him.

Cordy seems very bothered but remains silent.

Cut to W&H

Gavin enters Lilah’s office and sees her handing a small box to a large man in dark robes.

Lilah:

You wait to hear from me.

Man:

Assumption leads to defeat.

Lilah:

Yeah, well last I checked neither of us had much to lose. So go back to your hole and wait for me.

She sees Gavin and waves her hand. The man inclines his head in Gavin’s direction but before his face is revealed he raises an arm. The lights in the room go out instantaneously and Gavin hears a strange hissing noise while he tries desperately to adjust to the darkness. Seconds later the hissing stops and the lights come back on.

Lilah is smiling at Gavin through an eerie green afterglow that fades before gavin can even speak.

Gavin:

Who was that? Is it part of the order?

Lilah:

That is none of your business. Did you get everything they requested?

Gavin:

Yes. The ritual will be ready to begin within the hour. I take it you noticed the latest events outside?

Lilah:

You know the saying.

Gavin:

Which one is that?

Lilah:

What happens when hell freezes over?

Gavin:

It’s a cliché. Used in contest with any occurrence that will never happen.

Lilah:

Except now they all will.

She walks to look out the window.

Lilah:

Every thing that this world accepts without question as truth. What’s good, decent, frightening, evil…it’s all about to get turned inside out. The side we’ve chosen isn’t a popular one in this world Gavin. At least not yet….

 

Cut to Sewers

Angel walks in silence with Connor several feet behind him. Both are well aware of the other but neither says a word. A scream permeates the tunnel and both stop. Angel reaches the manhole in two strides and is up through the opening before Connor.

A vampire is bent over a young woman in an alley. Angel walks up behind him.

Angel:

Feeling pretty brave aren’t we? Being out in the day and all.

Vamp:

(throwing the girl down and turning)

It’s not exactly an issue if you haven’t noticed.

Angel looks up at the bleak gray sky with no sun even trying to peek through.

Angel:

(vamps out)

I’d noticed.

Connor walks up behind them and stops to watch.

Vamp:

So you want some or what? I didn’t take it all.

Angel:

I’m not one for seconds but thanks for the offer.

Vamp:

I haven’t seen you around much. You new to town?

Angel:

I was about to ask you the same thing.

Vamp:

Oh, yeah well I was in a little town a couple hours from here but there’s this chick who thinks she’s queen of everything and I just couldn’t stomach it anymore. I heard good things about this place. And after last night, I think I made the right choice.

Angel:

(laughs)

I hear ya man. What is it with women and their holier than thou, morally superior, yet secretly wishing for a taste of something only guys like us can give em right?

Vamp:

(laughing)

You know it! They all want it. Take this one, I mean, she was all over me in the club last night. Didn’t know me from adam but I flashed a little money and she couldn’t get enough of me.

Angel:

Don’t even get me started on the LA scene. You’re still new, they’re all like that here.

Vamp:

Did you hear about what happened at the Sky last night? I don’t know who it was, but one of ours gave a bunch of em more than they were looking for.

Angel:

What’d you hear?

Vamp:

Dude, we are in the beginning stages of our destiny. We immortals are about to stop getting the shaft. No more walking in the dark and feeding off the losers of the earth. We’re going to reign.

Angel:

Reign? Over what? If this keeps up, there won’t be anything left.

The vamp raises his arms and walks towards Angel.

Vamp:

You’re not seeing the big picture man!

Angel:

Actually, I don’t think you are.

The vamp looks confused and Angel nods. The vamp turns to look behind himself and only sees Connor for a second before the stake finds it’s mark and he’s gone.

Angel starts to revert to human face.

Connor:

Don’t.

Angel:

(stops)

What?

Connor:

You can just turn whenever you want? It’s not about feeding?

Angel:

You already knew that.

Connor:

The things I can do. It’s not human.

Angel:

You’re human Connor.

Connor:

I know I’m human, but the things I do, what I’m made of, it’s not. How is that?

Angel:

I don’t have that answer.

Connor:

But you and Cordelia are so sure I couldn’t have anything to do with what’s happening. I wasn’t supposed to happen Dad. I’m not meant to be.

Angel:

That’s the second time you’ve called me that. Why?

Connor:

It just came out. It just happened without thinking.

Angel:

That’s all you need to remember.

Connor:

What?

Angel:

(back to human face)

Things just happen Connor. We’re not supposed to have all the answers. If we did, we’d avoid the bad things. And if we did that, we’d never be able to recognize the good. When you were…when I was with your mother, I wasn’t right. Neither of us were. But then came you. And you were so right. And good and human. You were meant to be Connor. The reasons might not be clear but that…that is what I know for sure.

Connor:

The hail stopped. Shouldn’t we get back?

Angel:

You go. I have to check on something else.

Connor:

Not alone.

Angel:

Don’t you think you should check on her?

Connor stares at him for a moment and then turns to go without answering. Angel takes off in the opposite direction.

Cut to W&H

Lilah enters the room and the chanting begins. Candles are the only light in the room and Gavin is in the corner looking terrified. Several women surround an alter of some sort chanting in a foreign tongue. Lilah looks at her watch already bored.

A serpent rises from the alter and proceeds to bite the hand of each of the women. They all fall down and form a human circle that instantly turns to ash. A wind fills the room sweeping the ashes into one large pile on the ground. The serpent slithers down from the alter and Lilah takes a small step back. It winds itself throught the ashes until it is covered. A yellow haze begins to radiate from the snake. Lilah begins to look nervous.

Angel:

(from her side)

So predictable.

Lilah startles and sucks in a breath at his presence.

Lilah:

You are insane.

Angel:

At this point, you’ll get no argument. So…whatcha doin?

Lilah:

Shut up.

The snake lets out a strange sound and splits open down the middle. Blood appears and then is gone. Something is coming from inside.

Angel:

It’s like Christmas morning.

Lilah:

You really don’t want to be here.

Angel:

Sshh, we’re gonna miss the big finish.

After a moment the beast unfolds itself completely and stands before Lilah and Angel in all it’s glory.

Angel:

That’s it? You went to all this trouble for this? Did Wolfram and Hart join forces with Sigfried and Roy?

Lilah:

It’s a jaguar you ass.

Angel:

Oh.

 

Cut to Hyperion

Wesley walks into the lobby from the office.

Fred:

What did you find out? Are they going to help?

Wesley:

They have their hands full at the moment.

Cordy:

If they’re not getting fire rained down on them, then I hope you told them they’re trumped.

Wesley:

Not fire. But our greatest source of power is in jeapordy it would seem.

Lorne:

And what’s that?

Wesley:

The slayer line. It seems that someone or something is systematically eliminating chosen ones before they can ever achieve their destiny. Evil is starting at the bottom of the food chain and working it’s way up.

Gunn:

Up to what?

Cordelia:

To us. To all of us.