[Cordelia strong-arms Doyle into reading for her commercial.]
'If you need help, then look no further. Angel Investigations is the best. Our rats are low...'
It says 'rats'... '...Our rates are low, but our standards are high. When the chips are down, and you're at the end of your rope, you need someone that you can count on. And that's what you'll find here. Someone who'll go all the way, who'll protect you no matter what. So don't lose hope. Come on over to our offices, and you'll see that there's still heroes in this world.' ...Is that it? Am I done?
[Doyle returns from a dangerous task.]
Oh! Well, it's all gonna be okay n... [Cordelia slaps him] ...What was that for?
Why didn't you tell me you were half demon? I thought we agreed that secrets are bad!
I wanted to tell you. I was afraid. I thought if I did, you'd reject me.
I rejected you way before now! So you're half demon! Big whoop!! I can't believe you'd think I'd care about that. I mean, I work for a vampire! Hel-lo?
What do you think I am, superficial? I mean, you're half demon. That's so far down the list. Way under 'short.' And 'poor.' Is there anything else I should know?
The half demon thing? Pretty much my big secret.
Good. That's out. It's done. Would you ask me out for dinner, already?
You were a real, live, flesh and blood human being ...and you and Buffy... ? You had the one thing you wanted in your naturally long life and you gave it back?
Maybe Cordelia was right, about you being the real deal in the hero department. See, I would have chosen the pleasures of the flesh over duty and honor any day of the week. I just don't have that strength.
You never know your strength until you're tested.
Come on. You've lived and loved and lost and fought and vanquished inside a day, and I'm still trying to work up the nerve to ask Cordy out for dinner.
Well, if it's a fight they want... can't someone else give it to them? [encouraged by his friend's first smile] It just seems so unfair. You've gotta save all the helpless types around here, now you've gotta fight the apocalypse as well?
[stands up] It's all the same thing. Fight the good fight, whichever way you can.
Tell you what. You fight, and I'll keep score.
[Angel puts a hand on Doyle's shoulder. Doyle puts his hand on Angel's arm.]
The good fight, yeah? You never know until you've been tested. I get that now.
[He hauls back and hits Angel with a hard right to the chin, knocking him down into the cargo hold. He turns to Cordelia and they kiss. There is a strange blue light between their lips just before they part.]
Too bad we'll never know... [Morphs into his demons face]...if this is a face you could learn to love.
[Angel picks himself up of the floor of the cargo hold, runs over to the ladder and climbs back up.]
Doyle. Doyle. Doyle! Doyle! NO!
[Doyle jumps over to the beacon just before Angel reaches the platform. He grabs a hold of its metal frame, turns his head and smiles at Angel and Cordelia.]
[Doyle morphs back to human and tries to pull the cable connection apart as the light gets brighter and starts to melt the skin off his face. Everybody watches spellbound as Doyle manages to pull the cable apart just before he burns up. The beacon goes dark. All the Lister demons stare at the fading beacon in shock. Cordelia starts crying and Angel pulls her into a hug, teary-eyed himself.]
[Angel interviews Barney in his office.]
BBarney
You know, I just noticed it's 3:45 in the afternoon. If you're a vampire, why aren't you in your coffin?
Coffin. I hate that stereotype. You're a demon and you don't know anything about vampires?
BBarney
Only what I learned from TV.
Vampires don't sleep in coffins. It's a misconception made popular by hack writers and ignorant media. [stands] In fact, you know, we can and do move around during the day, as long as we avoid direct sunlight. Got it?!
BBarney
Gotten. Sorry. Didn't want to push any sore spots.
[Cordelia enters the office after her audition.)
Hi. [she doesn't answer and he looks at her more closely] Everything okay? [in one smooth motion, she puts down her bag, reaches for him and kisses him] Hmm. Hmp. Mmghmm! [he puts his hands on her shoulders, gingerly pushing to get her off, trying not to offend her) Okay, uh... Cordelia, that was, uh... I, I think that you're acting out of grief, and you're confusing our... friendship... for something more...
I didn't feel anything. Did you feel anything?
No! You see, that's what I'm trying...
Urgh! That means I still have it. Damn! I can't believe he did this to me.
Doyle! I thought our kiss meant something. Instead, he used that moment to pass it on to me. Why couldn't it be mono or herpes?
[rubs his mouth] Cordelia...
I didn't ask for this responsibility, unlike some people, who shall remain lifeless. I don't have anything to atone for. If they know what's good for them, the PTB better just stay out of my head.
...Powers That Be... you had a vision?!
Boy, howdy! And you know how they look painful? Well, they feel a whole lot worse.
[sits as understanding washes though him] "Another door opens." You're my link to the Powers now.
I am nobody's link to anybody. I lost control of my entire central nervous system getting that stupid vision. And I'm not certain, but I might have... drooled... a little in my audition, the first one I've had in weeks.
Oh, uh, StainBeGone. It was a national, no less. They'll probably never call me again...
[snapping fingers] The vision. What was the vision?
Oh, who cares? It was a thing.
An ugly, grey, blobby, thing. What difference does it make?
The difference is, if you saw it in a vision, this could be an ugly, grey, blobby, dangerous thing.
I don't care! I want it out of me. And if kissing is the only way to get rid of it, I will smooch every damn frog in this kingdom. [enter their current client, demon Barney, from the rest room, drying his hands]
BBarney
Sorry, I thought I heard voices...
Uh, Barney, you remember my associate, Cor... [Cordelia kisses Barney] ...delia?
[rubs her mouth] Well, maybe not every frog.
BBarney
Boy, I gotta say, I like the way you people treat your clients!
[Angel encounters Wesley, who tried to replace Giles as Buffy's Watcher.]
I'll wager you never thought you'd see me again.
To tell you the truth, I hadn't given it much thought one way or the other. What are you...
Hup-up-up! [Wesley points his crossbow at Angel's throat] I'm the one asking the questions here. And I think it only fair to warn you, any sudden movement and I'll be forced to... [Angel casually knocks the crossbow from Wesley's hands] Right. You had a question?
[In the kitchen, Cordelia and Angel have just shared a moment of silence for Doyle. Angel goes back to scrambling eggs.]
Well, I'll be off then. Farewell, Angel. Who knows when our paths will cross again.
Do you even know where you're headed?
Rogue demon hunters rarely do. Wherever evil lurks, wherever the forces of darkness threaten humanity, that's where I'll be. [Angel pours a glass of orange juice for Cordelia.]
Oh, okay. Well, keep in touch.
Yes. Yes, I will. But now, the evil lurking everywhere bids me onwards! So... I go.
Yes. [sets foot on first stair, then leans back into hallway] No rest for the wicked fighters. Through storm and rain. Heat. Famine. Deep, painful, gnawing hunger... I go.
Ooh! [takes off coat] I suppose so!
[Angel encounters Wesley, who tried to replace Giles as Buffy's Watcher.]
I'll wager you never thought, you’d see me again.
To tell you the truth, I hadn’t given it much thought one way or the other. What are you--
Hup-up-up! [Wesley points his crossbow at Angel's throat] I’m the one asking questions here. And I think it only fair to warn you. Any sudden movement and I’ll be forced to-- [Angel casually knocks the crossbow from Wesley’s hands] Right. You had a question?
Interesting look for you. Motorcycle. The Watcher's Council trying out a new image?
In point of fact, I no longer work for the Council. I came to the conclusion that I was, of greater value to the 'cause working autonomously.
Hardly. With Buffy unwilling to follow Council orders there was simply no opportunity to function as Watcher. And that's why I became a rogue demon hunter.
Rogue demon hunter, yes. And I'm on the trail of a particularly nasty bugger right now. So I suggest you stay out of my way.
Easy, tiger. I think you might be making a mistake. If we're talking about the same demon, hearly seem pretty harmless to me.
He's left a trail of corpses, human and demon, all mutilated.
Each of the victims possessed some unique power. Telepathy, poisoned tongues, healing hands. Whatever the physical source of their power, it was ripped, gouged and torn from their corpses.
To what purpose, I can only guess. The fiend's cut a swath across half the continent. Almost count it in Phoenix. Got a pretty fair look too.
Kind of short? Ruddy complexion?
Short? No, on the contrary. Quite enormous and powerful. More of a yellow green. And it seems lately to be secreting some sort of viscous fluid.
