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-End Tag-

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[SETTING : Fred's room. It is nighttime, and there is significantly less clutter in the room. . . the terrariums are gone, and most of the art supplies-looks like she is in the process of converting it to an almost normal-looking bedroom. A dresser now rests by her bed, the walls have been painted over, etc. There are a few little white candles about the room to light it faintly. Fred is sitting in a solitary chair, gazing out her window. We see Angel quietly approaching her from behind-the candlelight casts a golden glow to the room and the vampire. ]

[Cut to Fred's view. . . the bright moon is bordering on full, with only the slimmest black sliver remaining. She hears Angel approaching and smiles. ]

Fred : Hi. . .

Angel [smiling] : Hi.

[He looks hesitant. ]

Fred [still looking outside] : What is it?

Angel [pauses, then takes something from his coat pocket, with a humorous sound] : I, uh, I got something for you.

[She looks over at him and he gently places a green cactus candle on the windowsill. She grins at it. ]

Fred : That's sweet.

[The vampire takes a nearby white candle and lights the green wick with the flame, and sets it back down. He laughs a little. ]

Angel : I noticed it in that weird little store I always pass by on the street, and. . .

Fred [smiling, watching the candle] : Thank you.

[He looks pleased. There is a comfortable silence between them as they both look out the window. ]

Fred : So how is. . . everybody?I haven't-heard much from them, been sort of busy up here. . .

Angel [nods thoughtfully] : Good. Wesley's- [grins] Well, he's got a new scar to add to his collection, and one Hell of a story to tell later on. And embellish, no doubt. [she grins] But everyone's ok. And, of course, he's been going on and on. . . about how remarkable this species of demon was. . . how much a gift to demonology our experiences are going to be. . . and how incredible you were, of course.

Fred [laughs lightly] : He's just being flattering. I only-set to motion what already was to be.

[Angel studies her as she speaks, as if still in awe of her. ]

Angel : Nevertheless. I would have to agree with him.

[She looks to him. ]

Angel : What you did was. . . [he smiles, starts again] It was the kind of heroic thing people do in fairy-tales.

[She looks away, the blush rising in her face, obviously touched by his words. ]

Angel : You saved the day.

Fred [smiling at the window, joking nervously] : Well. . . I hope, I'm not stepping too much on your job, then. . .

[He gives a soft chuckle. There is another lapse into silence before she speaks again. ]

Fred : I-ah, I finished it, you know.

Angel : You mean. . . the drawing?

[She nods. ]

Fred : You can look at it if you'd like. It's over, in the corner. By my bed.

[His eyes fall upon the easel-although this time, the drawing is sitting on a real easel-next to her bed. Can only see the backside from this angle. He gets up to slowly meander over to it. ]

[Cut to behind the easel as Angel approaches. . . there is a lot of candlelight in this corner, the lights and shadows flickering and playing off the corners of the walls and Angel's face. He looks at it with surprise, then confusion, and then awe. ]

[Change the camera angle so we can see both Angel's face and the portrait, staring at each other. The figure in the drawing now almost looks recognizable. . . ]

Angel [whispering] : Angelus. . . ?

The End. . . . . . . . . for now.