ACT FOUR

INT. MEDICAL FLOOR—HALLWAY

Wesley stands, looking broody enough to rival Angel, staring into Alexa's room. She's still plumb unconscious and being tended to by a doctor and a nurse. Connor slides beside Wesley with his hands in his pockets.

CONNOR
No change?

WESLEY
No.

CONNOR
You really care for her, huh?

WESLEY
Yes. No. I…
(sighing)

I don't know.

CONNOR
Is it because she looks like Fred?

WESLEY
No.

CONNOR
Not the best lie ever.

WESLEY
It might be part of it, but it isn't all of it.

CONNOR
Are you sure? Because that look is identical to the one you used to give Fred, and you've only known Alexa for a few days. I mean, I'm no expert, but it seems like maybe you want Alexa to be Fred so much that you've actually started to believe they're one and the same.

WESLEY
Did you want something?

CONNOR
Yeah. The girl's awake.

Wesley's head turns toward Connor, but he seems reluctant to take his gaze off Alexa. Connor waits for Wesley to say something, but he doesn't.

CONNOR (cont'd)
Weren't you like going to see her when all this happened?

WESLEY
I was.

CONNOR
So… are you going to come see her now, or are you just going to stand here looking miserable and staring at the woman who isn't the one you love?
(turning away off Wesley's look)
Okay, okay. I'll go already.

Wesley watches Connor for a moment, turns back to Alexa, and reluctantly follows him down the hallway. Cut to:

INT. MEDICAL FLOOR—LILY'S ROOM

Connor and Wesley walk in and lean against one wall beside Angel. Michael's sitting in a chair in the corner of the room, sporting an ice pack on his face and looking furious with himself. Lily's lying in bed, staring at the ceiling through red and narrowed eyes.

CONNOR
(hushed)
Did we miss anything?

ANGEL
No. Still hasn't said a word.

CONNOR
(to Wesley)
She's been staring at the ceiling for the last few minutes, but she's blinking more often so we figured she was somewhat closer to talking.

LILY
(emptily)
They're gone. I'm waiting.

ANGEL
(standing)
Waiting for what?

LILY
For them to come back. They can't come and go. They're still here. I just can't see them anymore.

ANGEL
And you think this is temporary.

LILY
Everything has changed. It has to be temporary.

ANGEL
What do you mean?

LILY
Even if I never saw any of them again, I'd know they were there. Wondering what they're doing and what they're seeing is going to haunt me for the rest of my life. I don't know if I can live that way.

ANGEL
You can.

Lily doesn't say anything; she simply stares sadly at the ceiling.

WESLEY
What do you remember about what you saw?

LILY
Souls. There were other ones but I couldn't see them, I just knew they were there. So many of them. The ones I could see would always stop walking and whisper to each other. They could see me, they knew I could see them, and they stage-whispered just so I could hear what they were saying.

WESLEY
What did they say?

LILY
That she was coming.

ANGEL
She who?

LILY
All I got was the pronoun. No names. The souls didn't even seem to know her name.

ANGEL
Were they dreading it?

LILY
Some were excited. Others were frightened. Others still were morose.
(shrugging slightly)
They fled whenever that girl was in the room. Even though she couldn't see them, they didn't want to whisper in front of her.

WESLEY
Alexa?

LILY
Huh?

WESLEY
The girl you were called to in the lobby. Is she the girl they fled from?

LILY
Yeah. When that… thing happened, the entire lobby was empty of souls. The excited ones were excited, the frightened ones frightened, but they all ran away.

The room is silent for a moment. Wesley won't look at Lily when he next speaks.

WESLEY
Alexa said all the souls would have something in common. Do you know what that was?

LILY
Only that they all knew she was coming. The ones I couldn't see held no interest or knowledge.

ANGEL
And now you can't see any of them.

Lily shakes her head slowly and closes her eyes.

MICHAEL
Now, come on. I think it's time Miss Lily got to restin'.

ANGEL
One more question. What happened in the lobby?

LILY
Don't know. I started whispering something in a language I didn't understand, and I guess that girl—Alexa?—did too. Next thing I know I'm back down here and I can't see them anymore.

WESLEY
Do you remember any of the words?

LILY
I didn't understand them.

WESLEY
No, but do you think you could repeat the sequence of vowels and consonants?

LILY
Maybe… visum… inscribo… alius… I can't remember.

Wesley's expression is vacant and horrified as he stares at the floor. Angel glances at Connor and sees only confusion. He's the only one who doesn't understand what was said.

ANGEL
I know this was hard for you. Thanks for your cooperation.

LILY
Am I… do I stay here?

ANGEL
For a while, probably, to make sure the visions don't come back. But if they don't, you could probably go home tomorrow.

Lily nods but maintains her vacant expression. Angel leaves the room and Connor tugs lightly on Wesley's arm to indicate that they should do the same. Wesley glances dreamily (or perhaps nightmarily) toward Connor and stumbles after him.

INT. HALLWAY

Connor shuts the door to the room and the three of them stand around, looking at the floor.

ANGEL
Why do I feel like something is happening to each and every member of this team, one at a time?

CONNOR
Why?

WESLEY
I've never heard that spell before. I'll do some research but I don't know if I can reverse it.

CONNOR
Why? What did she say?

ANGEL
Get on it. Connor, go up and wait for Gunn. Tell him what's happened. I'll see if I can wake Alexa up and get her to talk to me.

CONNOR
Will someone please tell me what's going on?

Angel looks to Wesley, wondering who should say it, but Wesley is already vacantly walking toward the elevator. Angel sighs, knowing Wesley's taking the case personally, and turns back to Connor.

ANGEL
The three words she said were "vision", "entity" and "another" in Latin. Either she really wasn't speaking of her own accord, or she's lying about not knowing Latin. We need to find out if Alexa can see the souls, what the spell does and where it came from.

CONNOR
What about Melody?

ANGEL
I don't know yet. Go find Gunn and come back down here, and we'll figure it out.

CONNOR
But—

ANGEL
Gunn was right, Connor. There are too many dimensions. Without a common denominator we're treading water, and judging by the number of crises popping up, we really can't afford to waste time. We've got Lily, Alexa, Melody and Anya to take care of. The best policy is to deal with one at a time right now.

CONNOR
(brushing past Angel toward the elevator)
Fine.

ANGEL
Don't pout, just do the job.

CONNOR
(not turning around)
I don't pout.

Angel smiles fleetingly and watches Connor go before remembering that he has several damsels to save and turns toward Alexa's room. Cut to:

INT. ANGEL'S OFFICE

Gunn's coming in from the lobby with a bag of chinese food in hand. He's looking down at the receipt with contempt as he enters the room.

GUNN
So apparently in this dimension, kung pao chicken costs thirty bucks a pop. I'd say judging by the smell that it's worth it, but between the ostrich incident yesterday and now the expensive chicken, I'm guessing bird is a rare delicacy or something.
(looking up, seeing Connor standing in the middle of the room)
Where's Angel?

CONNOR
I'm wondering the same thing.

GUNN
Did he do the hero thing and take off without saying anything again?

CONNOR
Yeah.

GUNN
Oh well, he probably wouldn't have wanted any anyway. Hope you don't like mushrooms in the chow mein, they freak me out.

CONNOR
(stepping back)
Too slimy.

GUNN
Plus they just don't taste right. Why anyone would want to put something that tastes like stale water in food is beyond—

His sentence is interrupted by the cloth covered in chloroform Connor put over his face. The maniacal look is back. Gunn struggles for not very long before falling extremely unconscious. Connor looks around nervously and grabs Gunn by the neck of his jacket, moving them both through Angel's desk. Cut to:

INT. WOLFRAM AND HART LOBBY

The elevator dings. The doors open and another Connor walks across the lobby. He stops dead in his tracks when he sees Gunn's feet dragging across the floor. He sprints into Angel's office to see the last half of Gunn disappear through the wall. Lunging forward, he grabs the toe of Gunn's shoe and disappears into the wall along with them. Cut to:

INT. DARK ROOM

The wallpaper has peeled in a number of places. In other places, the wall has been punched in or ripped out. From the ceiling comes broken electrical wires. The window is smashed. There is a bit of furniture in the room, but it's tattered all to hell. A broken coffee table sits in the middle of the room.

Connor Number One comes through the wall, taking Gunn to the middle of the room and letting go without looking behind him. He sheds the neck brace and throws it angrily on the floor, which creaks under his weight. Connor Number Two is nowhere to be seen. Suddenly a quiet squeal comes from off camera and Melody scampers into view. She seems to have been here for a while; she's wearing a very oversized shirt in way of clothing. She kneels down beside Gunn and tries desperately and very quietly to wake him up. When he doesn't respond, she stands up and finally takes a stand.

MELODY
What did you do to him?

CONNOR
Knocked him out. He'll wake up.

MELODY
Why did you have to bring someone else into this?

CONNOR
(angrily)
Do you see Angelus anywhere?

MELODY
No.

CONNOR
You're not enough leverage. I know Gunn is a part of his team.
(frowning)
Though I didn't think he'd be human in that dimension. I staked him months ago.

MELODY
(whining)
I'm climbing the walls. Aren't you going stir crazy?

CONNOR
(without emotion)
One time my father made a crude wooden container he called a "coffin" and left me in it with only water for a month. This is nothing.

MELODY
(aghast)
Angel did that?

CONNOR
(angrily)
Angelus is not my father!

MELODY
Oh. Holtz.

CONNOR
You don't get to say his name!

MELODY
(timidly)
Sorry.

Connor raises a hand as though to strike her. Melody winces, but Connor doesn't move. He's glaring at something behind Melody. Slowly she turns to see Gunn standing and rolling up his shirt sleeves very carefully.

GUNN
Just try it, Sparky.

CONNOR
(approaching Gunn)
I could take you down in seconds.

GUNN
I'll bet, what with being borne of two vampires. Something must've carried over.
(likewise stepping forward)
But if you hit her, you won't be conscious long enough to take me down.

Connor and Gunn are staring each other down. Gunn has the slight advantage because he's taller, but Connor has another advantage because Gunn doesn't seem to know that knocking him unconscious is a feat indeed. Connor realizes his and smiles coldly, stepping away.

CONNOR
The only reason either of you are still alive is that I know he can beat me when there's nothing at stake. He's got twelve hours before things change.

The camera stays on Connor as he saunters from the room. We hear a hushed conversation off camera:

MELODY (O.C.)
(groaning)
We're screwed.

GUNN (O.C.)
What? Why?

MELODY (O.C.)
A day here means an hour at home. If we have half a day…

GUNN (O.C.)
Then Angel's only got half an hour.

Connor smiles grimly again as he turns the corner into the hallway.

INT. HALLWAY

The hallway is at least as tattered as the room was. The only lights are at either end of the large corridor. As Connor turns the corner, the other Connor, the one with the neck brace, slides out from within the shadows, creeps behind the first Connor, and puts a hand over his mouth.

CONNOR #2
My turn.

Cut to:

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM

Angel's sitting in a chair, apparently reading a magazine of some kind, when Alexa begins to stir. He throws the magazine down and goes to her side immediately.

ANGEL
Can you hear me?
(Alexa groans)
Can you talk?

ALEXA
(slightly slurred)
I'm just waking up from a mystically induced sleep. Give me a minute.

ANGEL
Right. Sure. Sorry.

She slowly opens her eyes and sighs.

ALEXA
Yes, I can see them. No, they're not driving me insane like they did that girl. Why? Because I'm not entirely human and can probably take it better. What do I remember about what happened in the lobby? Nothing, because I wasn't acting of my own accord. Something mystical was happening. Last thing I remember is walking to the elevator with Wesley. Why do I know all this if I don't remember it? Because someone on this floor was panicking when I was out. I read them unconsciously. That cover everything?

ANGEL
Almost. Are they talking?

ALEXA
They fled. They don't want me to see them.

ANGEL
Why not?

ALEXA
I don't know. I catch a glimpse of them peering around walls every once in a while, but as soon as I spot them they say "eep" and run away again.

ANGEL
Can you get anything from them?

ALEXA
Nope.

ANGEL
Why not? Is it because they're dead that you can't read them?

ALEXA
I could read you, remember?

ANGEL
What do you mean, could?

ALEXA
(sighing)
Since I woke up, I can't read anything. This is the medical wing; I was picking up doctors and nurses that were freaking out before. Patients. Whomever. But now I can't even remember who I was reading to pick up all that information when I was out. That's the last reading I got, and probably the last one I'm going to get.

ANGEL
Why?

ALEXA
Don't know.

ANGEL
(after a silence)
Are you…

ALEXA
Relieved? A little. I can just be me now. But it was handy. I could get you, for one thing.

ANGEL
I was… going to ask if you were okay.

ALEXA
Oh.
(she smiles)
Yeah. Kinda weak, pretty nauseous, but no lasting harm done. I should be up and at 'em in no time.

ANGEL
(nodding)
Good to hear.

ALEXA
Aw. You're scared for your team.

ANGEL
I thought you said you couldn't read people anymore.

ALEXA
Not psychically, but I'm still a pretty good judge of body language and demeanor.
(a beat)
I think I owe Connor an apology. I… didn't really get any reading from Melody. He just… freaked me out. What I got psychically, I mean. And I think I misinterpreted. Where is he?

But Angel's frowning. He sent Connor up to get Gunn over an hour ago. Cut to:

INT. WOLFRAM AND HART LOBBY

Angel storms out of the elevator and toward his office. He peers in and sees the Chinese food still sitting untouched on his desk.

INT. ANGEL'S OFFICE

He steps forward and opens the lid of one of the containers. It's stone cold.

ANGEL
Damnit.

He rubs his forehead pensively and paces the office, trying to figure out what to do. Suddenly he stops and looks slowly over to the area behind his desk. A ripple seemed to pass over the wall, but he only caught it in his periphery. He looks curiously at it for a moment longer until he clearly sees another ripple. He walks toward it and puts his hand to the wall to figure out what it's doing, but his hand goes right through. He starts and tries to pull it out, but something seems to be hanging on to it. He tugs again, and gets his arm out, but a hand is clinging relentlessly to it and pulls him back. Angel grits his teeth and pulls once more, hard, and backs up suddenly as the weight comes with him. He stumbles backwards—

—And through his desk, pulling the arm and the person attached to it with him. Or, people. He looks up, prepared to fight, to see Connor, Gunn and Melody looking down at him, breathing heavily and looking quite significantly worse for the wear. Slowly, Connor's battered face breaks into a wide grin.

CONNOR
Hi, dad.

END OF EPISODE