[Angel has just fired Cordelia, Gunn and Wesley]
What just happened? Can someone explain to me what just happened here?
I believe we were fired.
Canned.
Let go.
Axed.
Shown the door.
Booted.
All right! I get it. But... what just... happened?
“Redefinition” · Season 2
In this episode: Cordelia Chase (4), Charles Gunn (4), Darla (4), Lilah Morgan (4), Lindsey McDonald (4), Drusilla (4), Wesley Wyndam-Pryce (3)
You're getting the big freeze-out, too?
Lilah.
Oh, what's wrong, Lindsey? You bitter because your girlfriend didn't slit my throat?
That might be overstating it. More like bummed.
Sorry to disappoint. I take it I'm not the only one feeling the lack of empathy around here.
[A vampire, walking next to a lawyer, stares at Lindsey's bruised face.]
What are you looking at?
No phone calls, no flowers. If I were the nervous type, I'd be nervous. But as it is, I'm just pissed."
What do you expect, Lilah? We're the only survivors of the massacre, it's natural that we're under suspicion.
Yeah, you know what I don't like about suspicion? The part where they find us two weeks from now, dead in some freak accident.
We did nothing wrong.
I'm sorry, have we met? Because I work for Wolfram and Hart. Responsibility has nothing to do with it. If they are looking for a scapegoat we might as well grow horns and start eating garbage.
Scapegoat. Scapegoat, Lilah?! They're the one...
[Lilah puts a hand on his chest and Lindsey falls silent and glares at another lawyer, walking past them in the hallway.]
[more quietly] They're the ones who wanted Drusilla brought in. I was following orders.
And you honestly think that matters? Fine. Indulge your denial. Don't doubt for a minute someone's gonna pay, Lindsey, and we're the only ones left.
Lindsey opens the door to his dark office and the two of them stop just inside the door.
Not the only ones.
[Dru is sitting in the chair behind Lindsey's desk, while Darla is sitting on the edge of it.]
Lindsey. I've missed you. Close the door. [Neither Lindsey nor Lilah move.] Sweetpea, if we wanted you dead, you'd have never have made it out of the wine cellar. Now close the door.
[Lindsey closes the door.]
He's got cow eyes. Big and black. Moo...
[moves over to Darla] You spared me. Why'd you spare me, Darla?
Do you really have to ask? [She leans in close to smell him] Hmm. I'm in love with you.
[They look at each other for a few moments, then Darla burst out laughing. Lindsey jerks his head a little. Dru and Lilah join Darla's laughter.]
Shut up, Lilah.
Shh!
Well, look at you two, such pretty scars.
You've put us in a difficult position, Darla.
Hmm, have I? Smart young lawyers, [runs a hand up Lindsey's arm] hungry for their big break and whoops boss gets eaten. Someone has to step in. Someone promising, pretty, with questionable ethics and twelve-hundred dollar suits that look good on the six o'clock news.
You think they'll promote him?
[to Lilah] Or you. In any case, that's why you're here. I've decided to keep the line of communication open between us and Wolfram and Hart.
What for?
I believe we can help each other.
I don't think I understand. What is it exactly that you want, Darla?
Power. See, Lindsey, during my stint as Wolfram and Hart's puppet, something occurred to me. I loathe being used. If I recall I sent you a fifteen-body-memo to that effect. We plan on being big players in this town, Dru and I. And while you can't give me what I want, you have the things I need to get it. Money. Connections.
We're no good to you dead, Darla. The Senior Partners are looking for someone to blame for your massacre.
But surely they wouldn't kill both of you. Seems like such a waste. Well, I guess, whoever's left standing will be our liaison.
Liaison to what?
To the world above of course. In the meantime, we'll focus on the world below.
This power that you want does it have a target? You going after Angel?
Don't say that! Not everything is about Angel, Lindsey. I just want to have some fun.
Well, you see, I'm surprised. Because I thought that you would make him your top priority.
I spent two-hundred and fifty years without Angel. You think just because I went through a little human phase I'd go all gooey?
No. No, I thought you'd kill him.
All in good time, my love. All in good time.
Hey, I got a rep to maintain, all right? I can't have y'all seeing through my brusque and macho exterior.
Oh, heavens forbid!
Well, how is the man supposed to run a business if his employees won't follow directives?
Well, was one of his directives, "Hire pansy-ass British guys"?
My arse is not pansy.
...
[Later, with the group more inebriated.]
Hypocrite!
Ass-pansy!
[A fight is taking place between a green demon and a vampire, ringed by a crowd of demons watching and cheering. The demon dances around the vampire, hitting him. Finally grabs the vampire in a choke-hold. The vampire slaps the floor with his hand and the demon releases him. Rhythmic clapping interrupts the cheers for the winner. The crowd parts to reveal Darla, followed by Dru walking into the middle of the circle.]
Wow. That was something. But violence without victims, see, that's where you lose me.
DDemon
Who the hell are you?
My name's Darla and this is Drusilla. We're new in town though some of you know us by reputation.
DDemon
I never heard of you before.
[Drusilla reaches up from behind him and casually rips off his ears. The demon drops to the floor with a scream, hands pressed to the sides of his head.]
Now you never will. I trust we have everyone's attention? Good. We've come with a little proposition.
[From under the shadow of the hood of his gray sweatshirt a vamp-faced Angel glances over the shoulders of the demons in front of him at Darla.]'
Me and my girl, we're not just the new thing in town, we're the only thing in town. And we're in the market for some... Well, one doesn't really want to use the term 'muscular slaves...' Actually, one does. Unfortunately for most, we're only looking for the best. Those creatures who not only excel at devastation, but revel in it. Our crusade is one of malevolent joy.
[Angel moves through the demon crowd, head down. Dru gasps as he slips past the demons standing behind her.]
Eyes like needles.
Dru, I'm working here?
He sees you. Sees what you were. [Gasps and takes a step closer to Darla.] You'll never be alone again.
Stop! J-just don't.
He's watching you, my sweet, right now.
[Darla spins around and looks at the crowd of demons.]
Angel.
[Darla pushes into the crowd.]
He wants to punish us. He thinks we've been naughty. He remembers when you were warm.
Shut up, Drusilla!
[Drusilla turns away and Darla gives herself a little shake.]
Now, as I was saying, if you think you have what it takes to join us, auditions are tonight, here... [pulls a business card out of her cleavage] at this address. Winners will have the opportunity to foment mass-destruction, losers will be gutted and left for dead. Have a nice night. [Grabs a hold of Drusilla's arm and hustles her towards the door.] Come on.
Lilah. Something happened?
I can't do it anymore, Lindsey.
[Lilah slowly walks in. Lindsey drops his stuff and closes the door.]
Do what?
The waiting. I'm sitting in my office and every time there is a noise or the phone rings... One of us is gonna die, Lindsey.
Everybody dies, Lilah.
But not everybody ends up in a dog-food processing plant in San Pedro.
May not happen to you, Lilah. You got a fifty-fifty chance of surviving this thing, just like me.
That's not good enough. There is a way out of this.
How?
We don't wait for them to choose one of us, we choose each other instead. If we stick together we can beat them. We could leave, you and me, tonight. They'd have no choice...
No choice but to hunt us down, which they would.
No. Not if we took files, as insurance.
Take files?
Yes. Look. I've heard the rumors. We both know that it worked for you once before. You knew just what to take. And this time you won't have to assume any of the risk. You just tell me which files to steal and I'll get them. And then we can get out of here. End this mess together. Are you in?
[Lindsey strokes the side of Lilah's face and leans in as if to kiss her, while his hand slips down into her blouse and pulls out a wire.]
[speaking into the tiny microphone] But Lilah, I would never steal files from my employer. I'm shocked at the suggestion. [With a snort of laughter he retrieves his jacket, portfolio and keys.] Forget about the frame job, sweetheart. They're gonna kill who they're gonna kill. [Opens the door.] Just take it like a man.
[Lindsey blows her a kiss and leaves.]
[Darla and Drusilla are coming out of a demon bar.]
I didn't like that barkeeper. Hmm, can't get his eyes off my fingers. [She licks her fingers.]
That was the last one. It's nearly midnight now. We should get to the factory.
My little bird is anxious.
Yeah, well, recruiting a legion of demons is stressful, Dru.
He won't leave, you know.
I don't wanna hear this.
We could have a thousand soldiers and still he'll come, galloping, galloping, still he'll come.
Why is everybody trying to make this about Angel?! I mean, for God's sake, can't a woman wreak a little havoc without there being a man involved?
You miss him, like a heartbeat.
I don't miss my heartbeat, Dru. It was a symptom of a disease I've since been cured off. You know, in a perfect world, Angel would be here right now, helping me burn this city to the ground. This is his job I'm doing. But where is he? Probably flogging himself in a church somewhere.
Ooh, flogging! Eew, churches.
In a perfect world we'd be slaughtering the innocent. Laughing as we rain destruction on this whole miserable town.
I see such pretty fire.
Fire. Conflagration. In a perfect world there'd be nothing left here but ashes.
[laughing] And pain. So much suffering. [Begins to sway] The flames are lovely. They dance, and the fire licks like a cat. And the screams, oh, it's like star music.
That's nice, Dru. Now hurry up. We can't be late.
Ten little soldiers, all in a line. A shot rings out... [slaps her hands together to make the sound of a shot] ...down to nine.
Ten? I'd be happy if we could find three who can hack it.
[Darla slides the door open and they walk in to see the floor littered with demon corpses and severed limbs and a pile of dust between them.]
Dead already? Bad soldiers!
[Darla looks around and sees Angel leaning against the hood of a dusty car, smoking a cigarette.]
[with a slight smile] I should have known.
[shakes her head] A shadow.
[Drusilla lifts her hand as if she is trying to wipe away a cobweb in front of her face, never taking her eyes off Angel.]
Why so far away, my love? Why don't you come over here and... stake me? [No reaction from Angel] Angel? [Angel, looking pretty beat up, continues to smoke his cigarette.] Angelus?
[Angel throws down his cigarette butt. It ignites a trail of gasoline. Darla and Drusilla look down at the flames, see them racing towards them in slow motion, and ignite the puddle of gasoline they're standing in. They scream as they begin to burn. Angel turns around to pick up his bag of weapons, revealing a can of gasoline sitting on the hood behind him, and walks out without looking back. Darla picks up a sledgehammer, leaning next to the door, runs outside and knocks the top of a fire hydrant off. She and Dru stand under the spray of water, letting it extinguish the flames, then sink down to sit on the edge of the sidewalk under it, with Darla holding Dru.]
I'm burning. Make it stop, please.
Shh. Shh. That wasn't Angel.
He's gone. He's all gone. Oh, it hurts! It hurts!
Wasn't Angelus either.
Darla, help me. Help me, please! Please. Please.
Who was that?
Heard about the fire?
They're still alive.
Undead.
Whatever.
Heard it was Angel.
So?
Killed a dozen demons, lit up Darla and Drusilla like a Christmas tree.
What is your point Lilah?
Little grimmer than usual, don't you think?
Holland's vision lives on.
Screw his vision. Anybody's going down in here, it's gonna be you.
If that's what it takes.
HHunt
[To Lilah and Lindsey] Sit down. I suppose you know why you're here. The Senior Partners have decided that this should be a time of grief and reflection. We will never be able to replace Holland Manners. He was a man of extraordinary talents. The bottom line is this leaves us with an opening in our roster. We need an executive vice-president of Special Projects. Mr. McDonald, your conduct with this firm had proved spotty at best. You've stolen files, co-operated with our enemy, disobeyed orders time and again. Mrs. Morgan...when you drove away the telekinetic Bethany Chaulk, you lost for us a powerful potential assassin. Not to mention the fact that both of you have been extremely negligent about informing us of visits form certain ladies who, lest we forget, ate the majority of our contracts department. The truth is that neither one of you are particularly qualified to run the special projects division. As for your relationship to one another: your competition has been vicious, destructive and...healthy. We think you keep each other on your toes. Which is why we have decided to appoint you both as joint acting co-vice-presidents until such time as we see fit to...narrow it down. Congratulations. This is a big step. The Senior Partners will be watching you.
One thing you can say about Angel: at least he's consistent! It's always some little blonde driving him over the edge! [sighs] What are we supposed to do now?
I think I'll grab a burrito before I head home. [Wesley and Cordelia stare at him.] What?
No, no, by all means, if you're hungry.
Hey, this was just a side gig for me, all right? The extra cash was nice while it lasted but - [shrugs] Angel wants to go all commando? No skin off my nose.
Well my nose skin is angry. And hurt. And ...
... disappointed?
[Cordelia nods.]
These quotes come from Wikiquote's Angel pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.