ACT FOUR
1745—two weeks later
EXT. LIAM'S HOUSE - MORNING
Seamus walks to the carriage, wife in arm. Liam's parents and sister follow, bidding them goodbye. As the camera pans to watch them go, we see Liam watching from the bushes. He hasn't returned home since the incident at dinner two weeks earlier. Now as the family stands outside, their expressions grow sombre.
KATHERINE
Father, will we go looking again tonight?
LIAM'S FATHER
(shaking his head)
It's been two weeks. He'll either come home on his own or he won't come back. There's nothing we can do.
As her parents turned to return inside, four-year-old Katherine stands outside a second longer. Torn between gratitude that they had looked at all and annoyance that they'd given up already, Liam shifts and turns his head towards her. He notices a tear rolling down her cheek.
LIAM
Now, now, dearest Kathy. You mustn't cry for your brother; I hear he's stronger than he looks.
She starts at first, and then grins and runs toward the bushes. He laughs and throws her into the air, catching her as she comes down.
KATHERINE
You came back!
LIAM
Of course I did, sweet thing. I wouldn't think to leave you behind for too long.
KATHERINE
I was worried.
LIAM
I know you were at that. I worried, too. I wonder, did you notice
anything strange about cousin Seamus? Did he make everything stop
moving-like sometimes when he talked to you?
Kathy shakes her head.
LIAM (cont'd)
Did he talk about being different? Any special powers or the like?
Kathy shakes her head again. Liam smiles and puts a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
LIAM (cont'd)
All right, then. I want you to stay away from Seamus as much as you
can, all right? He's not a terribly good man, I fear. Promise to be
careful, yeah?
Kathy nods. Liam smiles down at her. Liam's father walks outside, looking for Katherine and sees Liam with her. He stares for a moment.
LIAM'S FATHER
Katherine, why don't you go help your mother in the kitchen.
Katherine looks from her father up to Liam, who nods. She runs inside.
LIAM'S FATHER (cont'd)
Where've you been, boy?
LIAM
Worried, were you?
LIAM'S FATHER
You were gone for a fortnight without any warning or contact. Explain yourself.
LIAM
You'll likely not believe me, father, but Seamus…
LIAM'S FATHER
Oh, lords, Liam.
LIAM
(face flashing anger)
Listen to me, just for once, without bringing your opinion into it, will you?
Taken aback by the request, Liam's father remains silent. Liam smiles fleetingly and then returns to business.
LIAM (cont'd)
Twice in the day Seamus arrived, a most peculiar phenomenon became me.
The first occurred when he first arrived. You recall me backing into
the stove, father, but that wasn't because of some attack. I had been
threatened by Seamus most ceremoniously, but I took it as hallucination
since no one else seemed to see it. The second time occurred at dinner
that night. I fled because it was no hallucination. He must be a demon
of sorts to do that to a man. It was as though time halted as he
threatened. You've got to believe me, father. It's relevant to this
family's safety that you do.
LIAM'S FATHER
(a beat)
There are no such things as demons, boy.
Liam's face falls into anger, most of which directed at himself for thinking his father would actually listen to him.
LIAM'S FATHER (cont'd)
However, your adversity to your cousin is enough not to invite him back
into this household. No matter how impossible what you're saying might
be, you certainly seem to believe it. If you believe he's a danger to
your sister, then I won't invite him again.
LIAM
So you believe me.
LIAM'S FATHER
Nay, boy. I believe that you believe it. Now come inside and wash up,
you look as though you slept in a ditch for all the days you were out.
Liam, stunned by the lack of yelling that was going on, follows his father back into the house. His mother's shriek carries over as we enter the
Present
INT. DARK CELLAR
Gunn, Wesley and Alexa are all still tied to the pole. Anya backs further into the basement as Angel walks towards her.
ANYA
Where are my invisible people?
ANGEL
They're there. Just unconscious. Or possibly dead, I may have broken a
few necks. It seems I've got a problem with doing that today.
ANYA
But they're invisible!
ANGEL
That doesn't mean the weapons they were holding were invisible. Who are you?
ANYA
I'm Anya, hello? Where have you been?
ANGEL
I don't think so. I met Anya once. She was strange, but she wasn't
evil. Anymore. Even if that is her body, that's not her soul or mind.
ANYA
No! You're wrong! I am Anya.
ANGEL
Oh really? Then I guess I should probably let you know that I read your little journal here.
He pulls the book out from his inside pocket and holds it up in a sheepish manner. Anya's face contorts into anger and makes various noises of proclamation before finally forming words.
ANYA
That's… not mine.
ANGEL
Well, it depends on who you really are. Let's read a little excerpt from the…
(reading aloud from the first page)
…Journal of Evildoings.
Anya lunges at Angel, which he easily dodges.
ANGEL (cont'd)
(reading aloud)
Dear Journal, today I was finally given corporeal form! The Senior
Partners were really nice about it and everything… I was able to retain
my identity as a separate being from the person I was possessing if I
did a little favour for them. I just have to wait for Angel to come to
the dimension I'm in and kill him, and then I'll be given my very own
body and life and everything!
While Angel reads, a half-assed fight is going on wherein Anya tries to beat Angel up, but he fights her off with one hand and turns the page.
ANGEL (cont'd)
(still reading aloud)
Dear Journal, the Senior Partners gave me an invisible army to command!
I made them destroy a bridge and some other really neat stuff. People
are dead now. It's a good gig. I've got them set up in that old
abandoned house on Cabrillo… I'll have to get it fumigated, but that
shouldn't be a problem.
(closing the book)
You're just not a very competent bad guy. First rule: never, ever document where you're hiding your secret weapon.
Angel throws the journal into a corner as Anya comes at him with a nice piece of metal piping. He ducks easily, grabs the pipe on the backswing to prevent another attack, and kicks her against a wall. The force of the blow knocks the pipe from Anya's hands. Angel throws it behind him and delivers a series of punches to Anya before she slides down the wall, unconscious. He turns to those that are tied around a pole.
ANGEL (cont'd)
I'm coming to untie you in a second, but before I do, I just want to let you know that I'm not evil.
ALEXA
I was starting to wonder with the whole almost not showing up thing, but it's good to know.
Angel takes a pocketknife out of his… well, pocket, and cuts through the ropes slowly and methodically.
WESLEY
Hey, hey Gunn. Did you know Angel was here?
GUNN
Yeah.
WESLEY
I wonder if he's going to eat us.
GUNN
Hey Angel, are you going to, like, eat us or something?
ANGEL
What's with them?
ALEXA
They're drugged.
ANGEL
Oh. Why aren't you affected?
ALEXA
Long story short, I'm an immortal being with no strength. I'll explain later.
GUNN
He's not answering.
WESLEY
Okay, I'll try. Hey Angel. Angel. Hey. Angel.
ANGEL
What is it, Wesley?
WESLEY
I was just wondering if you were going to eat us.
ANGEL
No, Wesley, I'm not going to eat you.
WESLEY
Well, that's a relief. Angel, have you ever met a fellow called Yankee Doodle?
ANGEL
Once. Nice guy. Hated macaroni, though.
WESLEY
Was his last name truly Doodle?
ANGEL
No. You're free. Don't go wandering off anywhere.
WESLEY
Oh dear Lord. What happened to Anya?
ANGEL
She's evil.
GUNN
Is she going to eat us?
ANGEL
N… yes. Don't go anywhere near her. Wesley, what did I just say?
(sighing)
Look, Alexa, the helicopter's waiting a block from here. See what you
can do about getting these two into it. Get them in the hospital wing
at the firm and then wait for me in my office. I want to hear
everything about what happened. I'll get Anya and take the tunnels.
Alexa nods and rounds up the pair of seven-year-old men. Angel picks
Anya up, throws her over his shoulder, takes out the grate in the
centre of the room and climbs down into it. Cut to
INT. WOLFRAM AND HART CELLAR
Angel stares into the cage rather than out of it. Anya stirs and finally sits up lazily inside the cage.
ANYA
(a beat)
Oh God.
ANGEL
I thought the Senior Partners didn't believe.
ANYA
It's that they believe they're more powerful, actually. What do you want?
ANGEL
I want you out of this body.
ANYA
No thanks. I like it here.
ANGEL
What'll it take?
ANYA
I'm afraid you don't understand the deal I cut. I was sent to this
plain to kill you. Once I succeed, I'll get my own body and immortal
life and become the true liason to the Senior Partners at this branch.
ANGEL
So Anya isn't it.
ANYA
No. I am. I am the embodiment of liason. I am put into people. The only
difference between this situation and Eve's situation was that I was
given a mind of my own in Anya. Eve was acting of her own accord the
whole time; Anya has no idea what's going on.
ANGEL
But you acted just like her until your secret was uncovered.
THE LIASON
I've been channeling her personality. She's still in here. That's why I
was able to imitate panic; she's panicking. When I leave, she'll be
fine. She'll have something akin to Alexa's state of immortality; no
strength or anything, but she'll never die of natural causes. Except
Alexa was made for a purpose. She's only a couple of months old, and
she won't be around for all that much longer.
ANGEL
What do you mean?
THE LIASON
Like I'd tell you. You'll just have to wait and find out.
ANGEL
(angrily)
Fine. You want to kill me, you can go ahead and try, but until you
leave that body, you're not leaving that cage either, so good luck. I
just have to ask one last question: why are the partners trying to kill
me?
THE LIASON
Because you tried to fight them. You don't get away with that, Angel. Not without repercussions.
ANGEL
We met the repercussions, head on. We fought them, and we lost. That's why we're here.
THE LIASON
Then I'm just something else you have to fight. I'm here to make sure
there's just one more thing you failed at: saving another innocent.
Angel turns and walks from the room. The Liason stares after him, smirking, eyes flashing. We cut to
INT. ANGEL'S OFFICE
Angel seems to have calmed somewhat; it's morning and he's watching the sun rise from his office window. The cleaning crews have finally come and gone. Melody knocks hesitantly. Angel turns.
MELODY
Hi.
ANGEL
Hi. Sit down.
(a beat)
First off, I want to apologize for threatening you.
MELODY
You didn't.
ANGEL
Not directly, but you were scared. You felt threatened because of me. I'm sorry.
MELODY
It's okay.
ANGEL
(a beat)
How long have you been keeping tabs on my home dimension?
MELODY
Since I had access to the Inter-dimensional.
ANGEL
Why did you start?
MELODY
Because I knew you'd come here at some point, and I wanted to see how you liked everything so you… wouldn't… axe me.
ANGEL
Oh please. I gave up killing employees months ago.
MELODY
And instead you upgraded to killing people whose employ you were under.
ANGEL
Yeah, but… everyone I killed was evil. You're human.
MELODY
You killed humans.
ANGEL
Evil humans.
MELODY
I'm not talking about Angel anymore.
ANGEL
(a beat)
Angelus wouldn't kill you because you weren't good enough. He'd kill
you because you were there, because it would be fun. It wouldn't matter
what you did. In fact, sucking up to me would just make him want to
kill you more.
MELODY
Well, this talk is reassuring.
ANGEL
Look, you don't need to hide under anything. You have already proven
yourself to be a much more effective secretary in two days than Harmony
ever was in almost a year. I don't want anyone who works for me to be
airheaded. I need intelligent employees who can think on their feet and
give input when I ask for their opinion. If it wasn't for you, Wesley,
Gunn and Alexa would be dead right now. You worked on saving lives,
even when I wasn't willing to.
Melody nods but won't look at Angel. He realizes she's crying again and searches for a hanky in his pockets, much as Seamus had, but not finding one. He looks awkwardly around the room, searching for anything that could be used as such, and being fortunately saved when she pulls one out of her bag.
ANGEL (cont'd)
Why don't you take a couple more days off? Like… what did Lorne call
them… mental health days? Just… calm down and give yourself time to… be
yourself. Call up old friends or something. Just relax and come back
when you feel you're ready to.
MELODY
(nodding)
You should take the Inter-dimensional. I'll only use it to watch your dimension anyway, and I think it's time I stopped that.
(a beat)
Anyway, thanks. Tell Alexa I'll try to come back soon; I know directing you guys around is going to be fairly hectic for her.
She turns and walks quickly out of the office. Angel can't particularly find anything to say, so he lets her go and returns to the window. Moments later, there's another knock at the door. He turns to see Alexa peering sheepishly inside.
ALEXA
Um… Connor's awake and alert now. I just thought you might want to, you know, see him. Or something.
ANGEL
(turning back to the window)
I was just getting to some papers. I'll be down in a while.
ALEXA
But… what papers would you have? The ones left behind were vetoed when he was eviscerated…
ANGEL
I'll be down in a while.
Angel doesn't move. He's brooding as he looks out the window. We cut down to the hospital wing, where Connor is sitting upright in bed, his amazingly similar brooding look defined by his neck brace. He looks angry, but he also looks like he's formulating a plan. This is the last image we see before we cut to the
END OF EPISODE
