GUNN
(Singing along - very dork like)
the mercy of the fallennn--
(as music is turned off Wes, Fred, and Lorne notice he was singing along and give him a look)
(defensively) It's catchy, okay?

FRED
Whatever you say Celine.

GUNN
(muttering)
I was cool before I met y'all.

Wesley enters the office. Angel is spinning the knife in his hands, lost in thought/memories. Wesley walks in, carrying a few papers.

WESLEY
We just got a call, seems--
(re: the knife)
What's that?

ANGEL
A knife.
(cue sarcasm)
Wesley perhaps you've been handling guns a bit to often lately. Forgetting your basics...

WESLEY
(Haha-look)
I meant...

ANGEL
(cutting him off and putting the knife in a drawer)
It's just a knife. There's a job?

WESLEY
Yea. Couple over on Sansbury says they've been hearing screeching at night. Sounds like it's coming from one of the nearby warehouses.

ANGEL
(getting up and exiting the office, Wesley follows)
Sounds like Kotori demons. They're nocturnal. Communicate with high pitched, raspy whistles.

WESLEY
I've heard of them. Feed on textiles. Kind of like demonic termites.

ANGEL
(Angel gives him a look)
...if termites were the size of dogs.

WESLEY
Yes, well. I was going to recruit Gunn, and take the explosives.Should only be an afternoon job.

ANGEL
(still a little distracted)
Good. Let me know how it goes.

Wesley nods but looks on with a bit of concern. After a moment he turns and exits as Angel returns to reminiscing...

CUT TO: Pub - hard to tell if its day or night, but for the record - it's late afternoon.

Spike's sitting at the bar, nursing what is apparent to be the latest of many drinks. We linger on him for a while and then focus on someone, initially unknown, sit down on the stool next to him. Still holding on Spike...

SPIKE
(dryly)
What are you doing here?

ANGEL
Funny. I was gonna ask you the same thing.

Spike glances over with a "Don't start..." on his face. Angel wordlessly orders a drink and pauses for a minute... letting an awkward silence build between the two.

SPIKE
Look, if you're here to offer me some consoling words of advice like you hero-types do, then I'd rather--

ANGEL
Get over it.

SPIKE
(pause)
Wow. They give you psych lessons in--

ANGEL
(sigh)
Spike, if this was a new story, I'd sympathize. But it's not. We've all been there, and it sucks. Every single time.
Frankly, I just don't care. If you're going to stick around in my town, then earn your stay. Stop sulking and pitch in on the work.
Otherwise, get out.

SPIKE
(sarcasm, duh)
Right uplifting there, thanks--

ANGEL
(shifts to look him in the eyes)
Get. Over. It.

SPIKE
(cold)
Go to Hell.

ANGEL
(almost a smirk before downing the last of his drink)
I've been. And you should remember who sent me there.
(pause)
We've got a job to do. It's down on Archer tonight. Either show up in a couple hours, or get out of town.

Angel puts some cash down on the bar and exit. Spike refusing to look at him while he does so. We linger on Spike who is noticely pissed at his predicament... if only because he may have to admit Angel's right.

V.O. GUNN
Now that was just fun.

CUT TO: Gunn and Wesley walking out of a house, slightly battered, in charred clothes, and carrying weapons.

WESLEY
Right. It's always interesting when there's a nesting queen.

They put the weapons away in the back of the car. As Wesley climbs into the driver's seat, Gunn, on the other side of the car, freezes.

WESLEY
(noticing his face he looks around, alarmed)
Something wrong?

GUNN
(staring at an old abandoned warehouse)
What street is this?

WESLEY
I believe its E. Main...

Wesley trails off as Gunn silently walks towards the building. Confused, and slightly alarmed, Wesley follows him into the warehouse.

CUT TO: Int. Warehouse

Gunn is standing motionless in the center of a large baron room. Wesley walks in cautiously.

WESLEY
Gunn?

GUNN
(quietly, without looking up or turning around)
Right here..

WESLEY
(walking closer and still perplexed)
Are you okay?

GUNN
(snaps himself out of it. He's not crying but he's as close as Gunn ever gets. He puts on a smile though and looks at Wesley)
Sorry, I- I forgot.
(off of Wes' quizzical expression)
She died here. Three years ago. I used to avoid this place like tha plague and then... outside I realized.
(almost ashamed)
I let myself forget.

WESLEY
(finally understanding, solemn)
You're sister.

GUNN
(serious and somber... almost a look of painful intensity)
It's just that-

Gunn is cut off and him and Wesley both jump at the sound of a ring. Wesley sighs, more annoyed than anything, and pulls out his cellphone.

WESLEY
(looking at the ID)
It's Angel.

Gunn nods, as if to say its okay to answer it, which Wesley does.

WESLEY
(into the phone)
Right. Okay then. What time? We'll depart as soon as we're through here.

Wesley pauses for a moment, glancing over his shoulder at Gunn.

WESLEY
Just taking care of some loose ends.

Wesley hangs up and puts the phone away while walking back towards Gunn. There's a moment of intense silence, maybe even some awkwardness. Finally -

GUNN
(not looking at him)
Got a gig?

WESLEY
Ah.. yes. Reports of a girl fighting demons. Angel thinks it may be one of the new slayers.

GUNN
(without having looked at Wes, he turns to go)
Fun. Let's go usher in the next generation.

WESLEY
(carefully)
Gunn, if you want to-

GUNN
(cutting him off and looking him in the eye)
Forget it. Really not a big deal, just a walk down the memory 'hood. (pause as Gunn reaches the exit. Wes is not buying his dodge) Let it go, ok?

Gunn strides out of the warehouse as we hold on a lingering and thoughtful Wesley. After a moment he sighs and heads toward the door. The camera pulls back and slowly lowers. We can see a sillouetted Wesley enter into the street amidst the outside lights streaming into the warehouse. Following those rays of illumination the camera reveals a necklace lying on the dusty ground. Still pulling back, the shot ends on a wooden stake not far away.

CUT TO: Ext. Alley. The gang - all present, walking down a damp alley next to what seems to be an old storage facility. There are crates, boxes all in disarray.

SPIKE
So what's the deal with this bird? Mojoed up since last spring and only now making noise?

FRED
Y ea, I thought the new council had found most of them?

WESLEY
Most but not all.

ANGEL
They're not sure she's a Slayer.

GUNN
(huh?)
Wait. I thought there was some major demon beat-downs going on?

ANGEL
There are, but that doesn't necessarily mean "Slayer".
(pause, quietly)
At least not the kind we'd like.

SPIKE
And a girl who's seriously involved in the demon world but has yet to make contact with the white hats? Not loving our odds.

WESLEY
(not resentful, but somewhat resigned)
They're afraid this may be another Faith scenario.

ANGEL
(sympathetically)
Yea.

FRED
Oh, okay. Good. Because we've never had trouble with super-powered evil women before.

WESLEY
(defensively)
Faith's not evil.

SPIKE
(honestly)
Not anymore. But let's not get doomed into repeating the past.

Wesley looks grim as they turn the corner. Angel holds up a hand to stop the gang and faint sounds of a fight can be heard. Cautiously, on Angel's cue, they split up - surrounding the area. We alter shots between the groups - Gunn, Fred and Wesley in one and Spike and Angel in the other. The trio come up at the least vulnerable angle, while the super boys take it head on. About to turn the corner (Angel first) a demon is thrown into the boxes right next to them.

SPIKE
(to Angel, re: fallen demon)
Right then. You first mate.

Angel gives him a look and cuts around the corner in fighting stance. Spike right behind him and Wesley, Fred and Gunn doing the same from the other side. They all run and attack the four demons. As of yet, we cannot see who the demons were fighting. Each boy takes a demon, Fred chiming in with a crossbow when she gets a shot. Angel heads for the demon which is focused on beating something, unseen, into the ground. Angel pulls him off of the subject and freezes at what he sees -

ANGEL
(shock and old bitterness shining through)
You!

Caden stares up at him, bloody but not beaten, just as surprised as he is. She starts to say something but the demon that Angel saved her from is back up and hits him from behind. Angel fights back, but not lethally.

ANGEL
(to the gang)
Don't kill them!

GUNN
(distracted, and he gets a good blow to the face for it)
What??

ANGEL
(still mid-fight)
Don't kill them!

Angel runs his attacker up against the brick wall of the factory. More restraining him than hurting him.

ANGEL
What did she do to you?

DEMON
(confused)
What??

ANGEL
(there's definately some anger here)
Why is she hunting you?!

DEMON
(almost insulted)
Hah! We're hunting her!

ANGEL
(now he's confused)
Look. We're not your enemy. Tell your friends to stand down and we'll figure this out.

The demon scoffs and manages to get away from Angel. Angel fights back, but still not using his sword. Angle on Gunn being knocked down as the demon runs towards Fred while she's struggling to load her crossbow. A look of fear crosses Gunn's eyes as he lunges onto the back of the demon, landing right at Fred's feet, and drives an ax into the demons back.

FRED
(shaken)
Thanks.

GUNN
(looking up, rolling off the demons back)
No problem.

Angle on Wesley getting thrown into some crates. As he tries to get up, Caden, who's on her feet by now, takes on the demon... and she's more than holding her own. She's not using brute strength as much as speed, agility, and cool-maneuvers. She is, however, weaponless. Angel is still in a one-on-one and hasn't noticed that Gunn has killed one demon. Nor does he see Spike break the neck of another. As most of the FG is recovering, Caden and Angel remain the only two left fighting. Angel still trying to get his guy to talk, and not die.

ANGEL
(between exchanged blows)
Will... you... stop... trying...to... kill... me!

Caden is thrown back and Wesley charges with his cool arm-harness sword coming out to play. With barely a glance, the demon dodges Wes' swing and knocks him back. The demon turns and heads towards a group of boxes, seemingly in search for something. Caden, on the ground off to the side, sees this and pulls a reserve knife out of her boot and leaps up after the demon. With a really cool spin-duck-dodge move, she gets around the demon's attempted pummeling and shoves the knife into his neck and proceeds to all but decapitate him. He drops dead. She turns to see Angel still fighting. Angle on Angel, mainly deflecting and dodging than hurting. Angle on legs rushing past while a hand pulls Gunn's ax out of the back of a dead demon. Angle on Angel still fighting, then we get his POV. The demon is pulling back for a big swing as the ax cuts through his neck like butter and his head rolls off. The demon's body falls to the side revealing Caden holding the ax. A moment of surprise before Angel remembers that he hates this girl. He gets up and pushes her against the wall. The gang all look up, shocked.

WESLEY
(not understanding)
Angel!

ANGEL
What do you think you're do--

O.S. TRYNA
Mommy?

Angel is cut off by the sound of the little girl, about 4 yrs old, who appears from behind the boxes we saw the demon go for earlier. She dressed in nice, but worn clothes, and clutches a stuffed horse with wings. She's staring at Caden and it takes a second for Angel to put two and two together. He turns back to Caden, shocked, and softens his grip on her. Caden drops the ax, pulls out of Angel's hold, and rushes toward the girl.

TRYNA
Mom?

CADEN
(kneeling down to embrace her)
It's okay, hun. It's over now.

Caden holds Tryna in a big hug, and looks up over her daughter's shoulder to see Angel's stunned faced.

FADE OUT.

Go on to Act II

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