INT-ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS-UPSTAIRS EARLY DAY
CORDILLIA is perched at her desk, looking at a computer screen when the door opens. In it stands a rather worn out looking BUFFY. She has a bag drapped across her shoulders. Cordillia looks up from her screen and doesn't say anything. Buffy closes the door and stares back at her. In silence.
At last Cordillia says something
Cordillia:
What are you doing here?
Buffy:
I--
(she pauses, wondering how to explain)
I... Well I kinda thought... you know... That you ... you know n-needed my help.
Cordillia:
We're good.
Buffy:
Oh.
Cordillia:
Nice you stopped by though. Bye.
Buffy:
You're lying aren't you?
Cordillia:
Yep.
Buffy:
Where is he? Where's Angel?
Cordillia:
Let's just say. Angel's left the building.
Buffy:
What?
Cordillia:
Why don't you go downstairs and say hello to an old friend?
She looks at Cordillia. Then turns and walks down the stairs.
INT-BASEMENT
BUFFY pads through the rooms and into ANGEL'S BEDROOM. Gladial apparently isn't there.
INT-ANGEL'S BEDROOM
ANGELUS lays asleep on Angel's bed. BUFFY looks at him. Then at his chains. She winces. She moves to him and strokes back some of his hair. He stirs. And opens his eyes. He almost looks like he's back to himself. And to an unknowing Buffy. He is.
Buffy:
Hey.
Angelus smiles
Angelus:
Hey. What are you doing here?
Buffy:
I had a bad feeling. What are you doing all chained up?
Angelus:
We took a precaution against... well you don't need to worry about it. Okay. Just... why don't you help me get out of these things?
She looks at him for a moment, then says:
Buffy:
Okay. Where's the key?
Angelus:
I dunno. Can't you... ya know. Just break...
Buffy:
Why don't I get the key from Cordillia?
Angelus:
Why won't you just break them?
She looks at him, then walks to him, taking the chains in her hands
Buffy:
You sure?
Angelus nodds. He's almost free.
Buffy:
Can I ask you a question first?
Angelus:
Shoot.
Buffy:
Angelus. On a scale of one to ten. Just how dumb do you think I am?
Angelus raises an eyebrow.
Buffy:
Angel wouldn't ask me to break him free without giving me an answer. You gave it away when you didn't want me to get the key from Cordy.
Angelus:
But I had you going for a bit didn't I?
He laughs
Angelus:
So Buff. Long time no see.
Buffy:
Same here. What brings you to town?
Angelus:
A new player. Goes by the name of Isis. The other's 'll fill you in.
He smiles
Buffy:
What?
Angelus:
You look the same. How's... what was his name? Riley? Does he know you screwed me?
Buffy:
You're not...
Angelus:
Answer the question. Does he know about me?
Buffy:
Angel. You're not him. I slept with Angel. Not you.
Angelus:
But we've been through this a million times. I'm Angel. The true owner of this body. 'Till gyspies shoved a soul down my throat.
Buffy:
Really now? You should know by now that you and Angel are two totally different people.
Angelus:
We're not people. We're all just animals to you right?
Buffy:
No. You are. Angel's not.
Angelus:
But I told you. I'm Angel. He's me.
Buffy scoffs.
Angelus:
What? You think he's all good because he's got a soul? Each and every human has a soul. You know that. But look outside. What do you see? I see six billion people killing and hurting. You think he's some how imune to that? Nah uh Peaches. I'm in his head. I know. He's still the same. Like a nutered puppy. All that anger and hate and rage is still living, breathing and flowing deep inside of him. You think he's not like that? That he's ... above it?
Buffy:
Yes.
Angelus:
Boy are you wrong. If only you knew what your boy was thinking. Each and everytime he was alone with you... he wanted to hold you down... and drain each and every drop of your blood.
Buffy:
No...
Angelus:
Yeah. What did you think he was thinking while he screwed you? Do you think he wanted to be so soft and gentle? No. He wanted to pull that pillow out from under you... push it over your face.
Buffy:
No...
Angelus:
Yeah. He's an animal just like I am. All the naughty little things he thinks. You think I'm bad? I'm nothing compared to him. I mean whoa... a hundred years of anger and frustration building up inside of me... just waiting to burst out. God... think about how he's gotta be feeling. Hmmm. I'm evil? An animal? Sure. But at least I'm honest about it.
Buffy laughs,
Buffy:
You can't hurt me anymore. No you can't. Angel is good. Nothing but. You're just some son of a bitch wearing his face.
Angelus smiles at her. Buffy looks at him. They stare for a moment, then for a reason totally oblivious, they burst out laughing.
Angelus:
So Buff. How've you been?
Buffy:
Pretty good. And yourself?
Angelus:
Trapped inside of a persons body for a few years... then chained to a bed. I'd say pretty screwed over.
Buffy laughed.
Angelus:
You know. You never answered my question.
Buffy:
What?
Angelus:
Does Riley know about me? Or Angel?
Buffy sighs and shakes her head
Angelus:
Oh. I'm hurt...
She stands up off the end off the bed and paces a bit
Buffy:
It was just too complicated to tell him...
In the background Angelus works the key into the lock with his fingers, completely oblivious to Buffy, who's back is too him
Angelus:
Really now?
Buffy:
Yeah. I mean what would it sound like? Riley... I know I'm a vampire slayer and all...
Angel frees his arm and un locks the other
Buffy:
And I know how much you hate demons and vampires and that you like to hunt and kill and torture and lock them in rooms and do experiments on them and I know that I've even agreed with you some of the time.
Angel sits up and begins to un lock his feet.
Buffy:
And I help you slay demons and stuff but guess what? Well... I sorta fell madly in love with the most murderous vampire of all time and...
Angel gets his feet un locked and stands up stretching
Buffy:
I loved him completely and even though he tried to end the world and when he came back... I loved him again. Oh and guess what? When he gets happy he turns evil and goes on killing sprees.
Angel walks around the bed and approaches Buffy
Buffy:
Oh, and the kicker is... whenever he has sex is what makes him evil. And I had sex with him. That's right. The most evil vampire of all time. I boinked him.
Angel bawls his fist, smiling
Buffy:
And I just happened to leave that part out when I was telling you the story of my life.
She laughs and turns around to face him
Angelus:
You're right. It does sound dumb.
He punches her. She stumbles and falls but rolls over and gets to her feet. She rushes Angelus who punches her again, this time she manages to get a punch in of her own. He picks her up and slams her into the ground hard.
She recovers and kicks him, it lands but does little damage, Angelus does a roundhouse and sends her flying into the wall. She looks like she doesn't have much fight left in her. But Angelus kicks her just to be sure. He grabbs her arm and pulls her
Buffy:
(weakly)
No. Don't...
Angelus doesn't listen, he simply drages her and slams her onto the bed, chaining her up. He hits her once more, knocking her out and ties a pillowcase around her mouth as a gag.
Angelus:
Sleep tight.
He kisses her on the forehead before walking out of the room.