“The Trial” · Season 2
In this episode: Darla (13), Puppet Angel (11), Angelus (4), Lindsey McDonald (4), Jeeves (4), Cordelia Chase (3), Wesley Wyndam-Pryce (2), Vampire (2)
What is this?
I think you know, sir.
[Angel, breathing hard, is staring at the stakes. Darla, breathing hard, closes her eyes.]
Stakes? You call this (starts coughing) a test? The only way this can work is you kill me, huh?
Exactly. You do understand, this third test has no catch, as you will find out it. Death is the final challenge. We can't restore one life without taking another. You see? In order for Darla to live, you must die.
I apologize for any discomfort this may be causing. I really - can't imagine the pain.
How about we switch places and we won't have to, huh?
Oh, my death wouldn't balance a thing, sir. Yours on the other hand...
I die, Darla lives?
Yes. I'm unaware of any deities the vampire worships, but if you'd like to pray... [pulls a lever and the stakes pull back, spring-loaded into place] ...now would be the time.
[Angel stares at the stakes.]
What are you waiting for?
For you, sir. I can't proceed without your permission. You've earned a choice. Accept your death so she may live or...
Or what?!
Leave. Refuse the challenge and walk away. No one will stop you. Our doors are all open to you. You've done that yourself.
What about Darla?
Oh, she dies.
No deal.
I expected as much. A pity. I'm beginning to like you.
Spare me.
I'd very much like to. [Steps closer.] Do you mind if I ask you a question? Isn't the world a better place with you in it? You can save so many people. It seems she can barely save herself.
[Angel doesn't answer. Darla has a tear in her eye.]
You know better than anyone the world can be a very bad place. Take yourself out, put her in - how long will it be before she stumbles, before she falls?
I don't know.
No, you don't. Are you still ready to give her life when she can promise you - nothing?
Yes.
[Darla licks her lips and swallows.]
As you wish.
No.
[Angel takes a deep breath.]
Do it.
[Jeeves releases the stakes and they hurtle towards Angel.]
Noooooooooooooooo!
[She squirms, her eyes closed. She opens them to see Angel in front of her, once again fully dressed but panting, hunched over, barely able to stand.]
Angel!
Congratulations. You've passed the third test by accepting death. I'm told no one's ever gone that far before in terms of sacrifice. Kudos.
Pay up.
Of course. [To Darla] You're a lucky woman, and soon you'll have your whole life ahead. Use it wisely.
Hey, Jeeves, unless this fortune cookie crap is some new kind of torture, what you say we get on with it, huh?"
This way, miss.
[He puts his hands on the sides of her head and they both close their eyes as Angel tries to straighten up so he can get a better view. Jeeves opens his eyes and lets his hands drop.]
Oh!
What?
What is it?
This is very embarrassing.
What is?
Not to mention unprecedented. She's...she's been given new life once before by supernatural means, yes?"
They brought me back.
What are you saying?
I can't help you.
We had a bargain. She's earned a second chance.
She's living her second chance. [The wall shivers and a set of stairs leading up appears.] But you played the game magnificently. [Angel gives him a dark look and Jeeves adjusts his cuffs.] Perhaps you should have told us that she was brought to life before this all started. I truly am sorry, sir. The fact of the matter is... [Steps back and dissolves ...there is nothing I can do.
[Angel doesn't move.]
Angel...
[Angel reacts angrily.]
[Angel and Darla are sitting in her dingy motel room, Darla on the bed, Angel on a chair by the door.]
Maybe it would be different. We don't know. Maybe, uh... because, you know, I have a soul if...if I did bite you...
No!
We don't know what it would do to you.
Angel, I've seen it now. Everything you're going through, everything you've gone through. I felt it. I felt how you care. The way no one's ever cared before. Not for me. [Gives him a tiny smile] That's all I need from you.
That's not enough.
It is.
How could the Powers allow you to be brought back, dangle a second chance and take it away like this?
Maybe this is my second chance.
To die?
Yes. To die. The way I was supposed to die in the first place.
[They look at each other for a moment before Darla turns away drawing a shaky breath. Angel gets up and, still limping slightly, goes to sit next to her.]
I'm not gonna leave you.
[Darla looks at him trying not to cry.]
Every moment you have left I'm gonna be by your side. You're never gonna be alone again."
[He drapes his, still burned looking, right hand around her shoulder and pulls her close as she begins to cry.]
[Four black-clad commandos break into Darla's motel room, taser Angel nearly senseless, and hold Darla.]
[brutally yanks back Angel's head] How did you think this would end?
[Drusilla glides gracefully into the room towards Darla, who quickly realizes her intention and tries to resist but to no avail. Drusilla vamps and bites Darla, then completes the siring by drawing her own blood for Darla to drink in turn. Silent and immobile, Angel watches in agony as Darla's precious, newly-saved soul is lost forever.]
These quotes come from Wikiquote's Angel pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
