[Angelus paints the town and has his big showdown with Faith and Gwen. Meanwhile, Giles, Spike and Xander try to get over their Lindsey envy.]
Angelus goes to the swanky night club at the top of an office building where the Beast slaughtered dozens he rose. The place has reopened. It is close enough to Lindsey's hotel that Angelus is still in position to intercept Faith. He figures Faith would be out late because, well, that's her style. No point standing around waiting for her. Also, he is in the mood for doing something terribly nasty. Something that will provoke her. Angelus scans the large room. He is looking for other vampires. He finds two and discreetly gets their attention. He gains their confidence and talks in hushed towns about how he wants them to help him ravage the place. The three of them go up to the balcony to case the joint. Angelus keeps talking while he chews on a toothpick. He takes it out of his mouth and pulls another toothpick out of his pocket. He puts his arms around the two vampires and keeps talking while he discreetly dusts both of them with the toothpicks, penetrating the flesh just outside of the sternum. Angelus likes to work a room alone.
When he gets downstairs, Angelus spots an attractive woman in her early twenties with short blonde hair. He approaches her from behind and touches her neck with his right hand. It is cold. She quickly turns around and notices he's also a vampire. She smiles because he's a very attractive vampire. Angelus smiles because he realizes he can use her.
ANGELUS: New to the game?
LILY: Bout a month on the scene.
ANGELUS: Sired during the darkness. Those were good times.
LILY: I'm Lily.
ANGELUS: Angelus.
She appears to be very surprised and a tad star struck.
LILY: Really? Wow!
ANGELUS: I guess you've heard of me.
LILY: It's an honor.
ANGELUS: It will be. How would you like to work with me?
LILY: What did you have in mind?
Angelus explains what he wants her to do. They head in separate directions. Angelus goes to work. His eyes narrow as he searches for victims. He's in more of a predatory than a seductive mood tonight. The kills themselves aren't the art. They're more like the medium. He watches the coat check counter. Two women pick up their coats and head out. Angelus follows. He gets in the elevator with them and pushes the button for the floor two stories below them. They look surprised.
XANDER: He's turned all of you into slack-jawed zombies. Giles, could he be using a love spell?
GILES: The oldest one in the book. Playing an instrument while singing in front of a large crowd. It's entranced women for millennia.
XANDER: And how do were undo it? Wait sec. You were being sarcastic! You've never done that before.
SPIKE: Would you like a napkin to wipe up the puddle of drool collecting at you feet?
BUFFY: I'm not drooling. I'm just enjoying the show. What's wrong with that? Unless you're jealous.
SPIKE: Of this pretty boy? Bollocks! I'm a better singer than him. Only reason you don't see me on stage is that I'm not bloody desperate for attention. And if I was up there, I wouldn't be fossilized as this wanker. White boy singing the blues. Rocker playing country. It was done 35 years ago.
GILES: Pure nostalgia.
ANYA: The whining complaints of jealous, envious men.
GILES: I liked his Merle Haggard cover –
SPIKE: But I liked it better when Graham Parsons did it in 1970.
GILES: You were a Graham Parson's fan?
SPIKE: More of an occasional acquaintance. You know about what happened after he died?
GILES: Of course. It's somewhat legendary. His manager stole his body, drove it to the desert and set it on fire. [Giles pauses] I don't know why that never occurred to me. He didn't die of a heroin overdose. And YOU sired him!?
SPIKE: Wasn't me. I swear. I would never do that to someone with talent. Anyway, by then I hadn't seen him for two years anyway. But your point is valid. About this guy being bloody unoriginal.
XANDER: And you are? Acting all punk like it's 1967.
GILES: I think you mean 1977.
XANDER: And what about you? All the songs you sang were ancient.
GILES: I'll have you know I'm quite hip for someone my age.
SPIKE: As am I.
XANDER: Like that's hard in your case.
GILES: I just think this gentleman is getting by entirely on looks and stage presence.
SPIKE: You really think he's good-looking, Rupert?
XANDER: Well obviously he's a very handsome man. I mean, he's a pretty boy. Probably never risked his life, staked a vampire, fought demons, saved the world. Just runs around singing. How manly is that? Where's the bravery? I know! After the show, Spike can attack him. Not seriously, but just to scare him, make him scream like a woman, show everybody what he's made of.
ANYA: Oh for God's sakes, why don't you just pull out a tape measure and be done with it? That's the problem with your gender. Whenever you try to act like men, you behave like immature little children. And the hypocrisy! I've seen you ogle other women plenty of times – when we were dating! And don't tell me you men have never been entranced by a female singer.
XANDER: Yes. But she was evil.
WILLOW: But she was a werewolf, and I'm sure this guy isn't. I mean, I'm not sure, but I hope.
Lorne comes over.
LORNE: Lindsey a werewolf? Indubitably not. Sorry I didn't come back earlier. I was busy signing autographs. The bartender says any thing I want tonight's on the house. Obviously he isn't aware of my species' incredibly high tolerance for alcohol. He'll regret it in an hour or two. I see you all love Lindsey.
BUFFY: Lorne, did Cordelia ever see him perform?
LORNE: Yes. And her reaction was just like yours. Except she was also shocked because, well, that's a very long story.
Amanda is with Preston. They are talking to Lacey and Edgar. Some of the Potentials see this.
RONA: When can I find a boy to save?
MOLLY: Maybe this singer can get attacked and I can save HIS life.
MADARI: Like you'd be the only one trying to help out if that guy was in danger.
FADILA: One of the benefits of being handsome. Lots of girls want to protect you.
Buffy my have to teach her Potentials to view men as more than damsels in need of rescue. Then again, considering her history with men, and considering the fact that Lindsey has Faith looking out for him, the Potentials might be onto something.
Currently, Faith is out looking for other men to save. She and Gwen go clubbing, partying while keeping an eye out for trouble. Gwen notices something. She takes Faith's hand. Faith bids a friendly goodbye to the boys who were dancing with her. Gwen points to a woman in silver lycra pants and a black leather halter top.
FAITH: Good call, G. She's way too hot for that guy she's hitting on. Gotta be a vamp looking for meal.
They follow the man and woman out. She starts kissing him. Gwen and Faith stand to the left and right of her.
FAITH: Why not just get straight to the biting?
The vampire looks to her right, sees Faith holding a stake, goes bumpy and growls. Faith hits her with a right cross. Gwen knocks her down with a right kick. She gets up and tries to charge Gwen. Faith grabs her from behind and throws her through the air. She slams into the wall six feet to the right of the terrified and deeply confused guy. She goes to bite him. Gwen kicks the vampire in the ribs. Faith kicks her in the face and follows this up with left and right punches. When she pulls her stake back out, the vampire pushes her back a few feet. While the vampire is focused on Faith, Gwen stakes her. Faith walks up to the guy and looks him over. He can't understand why that woman he was about to score with just turned to dust.
FAITH: You're not so bad. Kinda cute. [he smiles, thinking maybe he can score with an even hotter chick] Not that cute. Sorry.
A male vampire, presumably one connected to the female vampire they just dusted, leaps out of nowhere and grabs Gwen from behind. She hits him in the face with the back of her head. Faith turns and sees the new threat. She does a cartwheel and kicks the vampire in the chest, knocking him to the ground. He gets up and tries a right roundhouse kick. She ducks under it. He hits her with a right hook. She responds with a right hook and two left crosses. Faith blocks his left hook, lands a left kick to his stomach and a right kick to his chin. Gwen adds a left jab. Faith stakes him. The confused man runs away.
FAITH: That's some good thinking right there. Run. Go home. Don't invite anyone in. Best thing to do in this situation.
GWEN: What about thanking us for saving his life?
FAITH: Good point. But men tend to do that. The chicks are the ones who treat you like a hero.
GWEN: So we hit the road, keep making the world safe for horny fashion victims?
FAITH: Dirty job. Someone's gotta do it.
They zoom down the road on Gwen's motorcycle.
After killing and copulating, Angelus gets off of Lily and zips up his black slacks. She lies on the floor in a pool of their victims' blood, quite elated.
LILY: That was incredible. You were great. The best.
She goes to get up. He puts his right foot down on her stomach, keeping Lily on her back. She smiles.
LILY: I was hoping you weren't finished.
Angelus smiles.
ANGELUS: I'm not. But you . . .
She looks worried as his voice trails off. Angelus slams his right foot down on her throat, crushing her neck and severing her spinal cord. Lily turns to dust, which mixes with the blood on the carpet. Angelus has a problem with women he didn't sire. He calmy puts on his grey v-neck long-sleeve shirt and long black jacket. He walks out of the room and takes the elevator downstairs. He's off to find Faith.
Everyone's enjoying themselves at the Bronze. Even the men, who've gotten over their envy of the man on stage. The Potentials are mingling around the club, glad they can finally interact with non-Chosen One's their age. Willow and Kennedy are on the dance floor. Anya's even dragged Xander out there.
GILES: He is a very good guitar player.
SPIKE: Never said he wasn't talented. Just didn't think he deserved so much bloody hysteria.
BUFFY: What hysteria? Drop the jealousy and dance with me.
SPIKE: I don't dance. At least not literally.
Buffy stands up and grabs his left arm with her right hand.
BUFFY: Come on. We both know you're lousy at coy.
Spike sighs, rolls his eyes and gets up. Spike's a little weirded-out that, out of all the songs to dance to, Buffy chose Lindsey's version of the soul classic "Dark End of the Street." Buffy didn't know the song and wasn't paying attention to the lyrics:
"At the dark end of the street.
That's where we always meet.
Hiding in shadows where we don't belong.
Living in darkness to hide our wrong."
Lorne sits down between Giles and Andrew.
LORNE: I have in my hand a bottle of this place's finest sIngle-malt Scotch.
Lorne pours a glass for himself and a glass for Giles. Rupert takes a sip.
GILES: Not bad. Isn't the owner going a bit overboard? You only sang two songs.
LORNE: Fabulous as I was on stage tonight, this is for something else. Made a few phone calls to a couple managers I know. Helped the owner book some bands he'd been trying to snag. One of the benefits of living in the big city. Connections in the biz. You have no idea how demoned-up it is. And trust me Ripper, you don't wanna know.
GILES: I must say, I've never met a demon as thoroughly integrated into human society as yourself.
LORNE: Skin color, horns and anatomy aside, I fit in much better here than I ever did in my home dimension.
GILES: Shirking your sacred ancestral duty. I can't help but respect that. However, it appears some of the warrior training you rejected might come in handy. I notice from your stories that you have a nasty habit of getting knocked unconscious.
LORNE: Enormous strength isn't one of my demon powers.
GILES: I'm aware of that. And I must confess, I also used to have a penchant for getting knocked senseless.
Lorne turns to his right and sees Andrew with his camera. He turns to his left, pours some more Scotch for himself and Giles, and asks Rupert a question.
LORNE: Did you hire him to document your epic adventures?
GILES: Andrew is, or rather was, our hostage. He was duped by the First Evil, became our hostage, and now he just hangs around. Like everyone who attaches themselves to us, he has nowhere else to go. He performs odd jobs around the house. Cooking and cleaning and such.
ANDREW: I'm also an expert at demon languages. I can read some Pylean, but can't speak the language, since written and spoken Pylean are so different, as you must already know. All that inflection. As a written language, it's remarkably similar to Klingon.
LORNE: You don't get out much, do you?
Faith and Gwen strut towards the front door of a hot night spot, making heads turn. Dozens of people wait outside. The bouncer lets the two of them in right away. They walk around the club and look at all the other beautiful people, trying the spot suspicious characters. A number of men consider hitting on them, but they are intimidated. Who wouldn't be? Faith notices a possible vampire sitting at the end of the bar.
FAITH: Silver lame jacket. Slicked-back hair. Four o'clock.
GWEN: What am I looking at? Stud, or vampire?
FAITH: Maybe both.
GWEN: I'll take this one. They like bright colors, right?
FAITH: Knock him deader.
Gwen walks over at stands to his right. Then she turns around, leans back against the bar and looks out at the dance floor, pretending not to pay attention.
ASCHER: What are you trying to find?
Gwen looks at Ascher and smiles.
GWEN: A man who's not afraid of me.
After a few minutes of talking, Gwen heads out the front door with tall, dark and handsome Ascher. Faith leaves the dance floor, bids adieu to her male admirers and ducks out the back door. Gwen leans against the wall. Faith comes round behind Ascher. Gwen sees her.
GWEN: Ash, cutie, I have a confession to make. I wasn't picking you up just for myself.
FAITH: Ever gotten screwed by two women at once?
Ascher turns around, sees Faith, and smiles.
GWEN: Cause you're about to.
Gwen hits him in the face with a right cross. He spins around and gets clobbered by Faith's right hook. Gwen sweeps out his legs. He falls to the ground, smiles and goes bumpy.
ASCHER: I just love a tease.
He gets up. Faith and Gwen back away and circle round him.
ASCHER: I mean, I just love killing a tease.
He launches a right kick. Gwen backs up out of the way. Faith comes at Ascher from his left and lands a right jab. He grabs Faith and tosses her to the ground. Ascher kicks Gwen in the stomach. Faith grabs his arms from behind. Gwen lands left and right punches. Ascher is strapping and strong. He frees his left arm, uses it to block Gwen's right kick, spins Faith around with his right arm and tosses her into Gwen. They both go down. Ascher charges at them. Faith trips him up and quickly gets to her feet, as does Gwen. Ascher rises and turns to face the two women, Gwen to his left and Faith to his right. He kicks Faith in the face with a right kick. Gwen blocks his right roundhouse kick. He blocks her left cross and right spin kick. Ascher knocks Gwen down with a left roundhouse. Faith lands a flying right kick to his chin. Ascher staggers backwards. Faith lands a right cross. Ascher blocks her left hook and tosses her to his right. Faith slams into a wall. Gwen comes at Ascher from his right. He tosses her over his shoulder and she lands on her back.
Ascher focuses on Faith. He blocks her left kick and lands a right jab. Faith responds with a right hook and ducks under Ascher's left cross. Ascher kicks Faith in the stomach and lands a right uppercut. Gwen tries to stake him from behind. Ascher reaches back with his right hand, knocks the stake out of Gwen's right hand and puts his hand around her neck. Faith kicks him in the chest. He kicks her in the face. Gwen shoots her legs up, wraps them around Ascher's neck and pulls him to the ground. Faith kicks him in the face. Ascher gets up. Gwen lands a flying right kick, Faith a flying spin kick. Ascher gets Faith with a left jab. She responds with a right uppercut, a right kick, a left hook and then stakes Ascher. Faith's beeper goes off.
FAITH: Think that's Wesley. Better head home.
GWEN: It is getting late.
FAITH: And I think we've kicked enough ass for one night.
Gwen takes them back to the hotel. When they get within a mile of the place, Gwen sees Angelus standing in the road directly in front of them. She guns it. He doesn't move a muscle as Gwen approaches at 60 miles per hour. Angelus just stands there like a statue, head tilted slightly downward, eyebrows slightly raised, eyes looking calmy at Gwen and Faith. At the last instant, Gwen swerves around Angelus, missing him by a foot. She spins her bike around. The back tire screeches as she stops. Gwen and Faith get off the bike. Angelus slowly turns round to face them.
ANGELUS: Ever have one of those nights when you know you can do no wrong? This is one sweet little fantasy I'm sorry to say I've never had. The two of you, together. All tarted-up and color-coordinated. But I think you both knew the bad girls fighting evil schtick couldn't last. At least you'll leave behind two very beautiful corpses. Okay, maybe they won't be quite so beautiful after I'm done with them.
FAITH: I can't decide. You getting braver, or dumber?
ANGELUS: Just better. See you yourselves.
Angelus motions both of them forward. Faith and Gwen get within two yards, but then stop and force him to make the first move. He leaps over them and lands on Gwen's bike, knocking it on its side. Gwen and Faith turn around and attack. Angelus lands a straight left kick to Gwen's head. He blocks Faith's right kick and punches her in the stomach with his right fist. She lands a right hook. Angelus responds with a right jab and a left cross. He knocks her on her back with a right kick. Gwen leaps at Angelus and hits the left side of his face with a flying right kick. This knocks him back a few feet. Gwen tries a left spin kick. Angelus grabs her left ankle. She does a backflip to get free. Faith hits Angelus in the chin with her right foot. He blocks her left cross and lands two left crosses of his own. Faith answers with a right uppercut. Angelus kicks her in the ribs with his left foot and knocks her back with a right hook. He looks at Gwen and Faith standing before him.
ANGELUS: Something about this isn't quite right.
He leaps at Gwen and knocks her down with a flying left kick. Faith attacks Angelus and he throws her to the ground.
ANGELUS: This is a little better.
Gwen gets up. Angelus approaches her. She throws a right cross. He grabs her right arm, spins her around and tosses her to the ground. She slides on her belly for a good ten feet before coming to a stop. Faith comes at him from his left. She lands a right kick. He pivots to face her and lands one of his own. He follows this with a left roundhouse. Faith staggers back towards the sidewalk. Angelus moves in. He brushes aside her left jab and lands a left hook and a right cross. Faith throws a right upper cut. Angelus grabs her right arm and tosses her over his shoulder and out into the middle of the street.
ANGELUS: Now it's just about perfect.
He walks towards Faith, who slowly gets up. To his left, Gwen approaches. He knocks Faith down with a quick right kick to her face just when she gets to her feet and turns to face Gwen. Her shirt and pants have several tears from sliding across the asphalt. She's taken her gloves off.
ANGELUS: Loving the new look. I find desperation very sexy on a woman.
Angelus leaps at Gwen and lands right in front of her. She throws a right cross. Before it can connect, he knocks her down with a right kick. Angelus spins around and gets kicked in the face by Faith. He blocks her next kick, lands left and right punches, then puts Faith on her back with a right roundhouse kick. He goes back to work on Gwen. She connects with a right jab, blocks his left cross and lands a left uppercut. She jumps in the air and tries a flying right kick. Angelus ducks underneath it and sweeps her left leg when it lands. While Gwen is on the ground, Angelus grabs her right leg and pulls her up so that she dangles upside down. He quickly tosses her in the air. She flips around and lands on her feet right in front of Angelus. He kicks her in the ribs with his right foot, lands a left punch to her stomach, a right jab to her throat, then grabs her by the shoulders. He tosses her behind him. She lands on her back, slides a few feet and ends up near her motorcycle. Gwen gets to her feet, picks up her bike, starts the engine and races away. Angelus looks to his left at Faith.
ANGELUS: Not good when the girl who's got your back turns tail and runs when the going gets tough. Still, I can't blame her for saving her own skin. Like anyone would risk their life to save YOU.
FAITH: Never needed it. Really can't say the same for you. All those times you were helpless and needed Buffy or [laughs] Wesley to rescue you.
ANGELUS: No point living in the past.
Angelus blocks Faith's right roundhouse. She lands a left hook. Angelus responds with left and right hooks. He lands a right roundhouse, causing Faith to spin and fall to the ground. Angelus goes bumpy and leaps over towards her. He kicks her twice in the ribs before stepping back.
ANGELUS: I'd be more concerned about trying to have a future if I were you. You know, finding a way to still be alive five minutes from now.
Faith gets up. She's not looking so good. Faith throws a right jab. Angelus moves his head to the left. He connects with a right cross before her left cross can reach his face, and he follows this up with a left uppercut, knocking Faith back a few steps. He swipes her with the back of his right hand. She spins around and falls to her knees. Angelus grabs Faith from behind and leans down to bite the left side of her neck, his left hand holding the front of her neck. Faith rips the crucifix she's wearing off its chain with her right hand. She puts it against Angelus's left hand just before his sinks his teeth into her. Angelus backs away. Faith stands up.
ANGELUS: Then I guess we'll have to do this the slow and painful way. Your choice.
Faith lands a right cross. Angelus responds with a right hook, then a left hook. When Faith throws a left jab, Angelus grabs Faith's left arm, spins her round and tosses her into a storefront window. Her back slams into the plate glass, which cracks and bends but does not break. Angelus kicks her in the stomach with his right foot and punches her in the ribs with his left fist. He lands a right uppercut to her chin, lifting her feet six inches off the ground for a fraction of a second. Faith kicks Angelus in the chest with her right foot, causing him to back up ten feet. She is badly battered, bruised and bloodied by now. Angelus stares into her eyes.
ANGELUS: Bet you're wishing you ran when I gave you the chance.
Faith tries a right roundhouse kick. Angelus steps back out of the way. She throws a left jab. He grabs her left arm and hurls her head-first into a utility pole, leave a small dent in the metal. She tumbles to the pavement. When she gets to her feet, Angelus is standing right in front of her. He knocks her back with a left cross. She jumps in the air and comes at him with a flying right kick. Angelus grabs her right foot with both hands and tosses her behind him. She flies 30 feet through the air before she is caught by Wes and Gunn. Standing with them is Fred. Angelus chuckles.
ANGELUS: The Slayer is bailed out by her Watcher, the brainy girl and the brainy girl's big-hearted guy pal. Why does this seem so familiar?
Gwen leaps down from a rooftop and lands behind Angelus. He turns around and grabs Gwen by her shoulders.
ANGELUS: You must be playing the part of Cordelia.
Gwen puts her hands up Angelus's shirt and shocks his chest for a few seconds. His heart starts beating. He pushes her to the ground and turns around. Faith runs at him and tries another flying right kick. Angelus puts up his arms to block it, but he is temporarily weakened while his heart is beating. The kicks knocks him on his back. Gwen and Faith run to the truck and hop in the flatbed, where Gwen's bike is. Gunn, Wes and Fred get in the cab and Gunn speeds off for the hotel. Angelus stands up and watches them flee. He's glad he's proved his point, made them scared of him once more.
ANGELUS: Five to one. And they still run.
NEXT: Lorne sees Connor, Alanna tries to seduce Spike, the Potentials pick up a few boys, and Lindsey tells the Scoobies about his past.