FADE IN.
CUT TO: Int. Angel's office - W&H
Everyone, except Caden, Lorne and Angel, are mewing about. Upset by the nights events... Spike leans against the desk, smoking. Gunn stands about. Fred sits in the corner, tears on her face but not actively crying. Gunn moves to her and places a comforting hand on her shoulder. She looks at him, sad, and then at Wesley - on the other side of the office, seemingly unaffected. Angel enters.
SPIKE
(without looking up)
Where is she?
ANGEL
With Lorne.
(silence fills the room - a long pause)
I know this night was rough, but we need to--
WESLEY
Zenan. We have to get it back.
ANGEL
Yes.
SPIKE
And how we gonna do that?
GUNN
Do we even know where they are?
ANGEL
Caden should. And if not... W&H will be able to track them down.
FRED
(bitter)
So we go all gung-ho again? Great. Cause that worked so well the last time.
ANGEL
Fred.. I know this is hard...
WESLEY
If we don't get that drug back there's going to be a whole lot more dead girls.
Fred looks at Wesley, angry at his lack of tact.
CUT TO: Int. Lorne's Office
Angel, the rest of the group following, come down a hallway and stop at the secretary's desk immediately outside Lorne's own office. They're about to enter when the secretary speaks up.
SECRETARY
Mr. Angel, he's not in there.
ANGEL
What??
Just then Lorne comes around the corner. His requisite drink in one hand and a glass of water in the other.
ANGEL
Lorne? You're supposed to be with her.
LORNE
Just went to get the girl some water Angelcakes. No worries.
They open the door to reveal the office as completely empty. Angel glares at Lorne.
LORNE
Uhh.. on second thought- Worry.
FRED
Where would she have gone?
There's a moment before anyone speaks. It's Spike who realizes.
SPIKE
Oh, bullocks.... Jareb.
WESLEY
She's going after him.
Another second before this sinks in...
ANGEL
Car. Now.
They hurry out.
CUT TO: Int. Caden's hideout
We focus on Caden's bedroom. There's a black bag on the bed and numerous things- clothes, tools, weapons- thrown about on the floor. Two black combat boots appear on screen. Slowly panning up we see a boot-knife strapped on; black cargo pants with most of the pockets holding something or another; a black utility belt that has a caribeaner, two handguns in holsters, a dagger, a compact explosive device, and several contraptions. She completes the black battle/spy gear outfit with a short-sleeve black shirt and a vest that has loops on the back for pulley/harness attachment. Following down the arms of who we by now assume to be Caden, we see numerous harsh bruises and deep, still-bloody cuts from the earlier fight. Partially obscured on her forearm is a tattoo of uknown text. Her hands appear, wearing two black leather gloves, with the fingers uncovered, throwing into the already nearly filled bag a knife, box-like device, laser cuter, and what looks similar to clay. She zips up the bag, puts on her leather jacket lying nearby, throws the bag over her shoulder and turns to the mirror above the dresser. For the first time we view Caden's face. Her hair is pulled tightly back, and her face, although cleaned, still has scratches, bruises and a bit of swelling from the battle. There's no expression in her eyes. Just a cold blank stare of an automaton. After a second she takes a deep breath and purposely leaves the room, and turns out the lights. The camera lowers to the top of the dresser. Illuminated from the moonlight outside, are two small red/silver objects glistening. Pushing further in allows the glare to fade away, revealing two flat, silver stones. The picture of one wing is carved on each surface... One still shimmers in the light abit... the other's design is more noticable now as the outlining grooves are traced with Tryna's blood.
CUT TO: Int. Warehouse
The walls are thick concrete, there's a large steel door which is locked and guarded. Numerous vents and whatnot line the ceiling and walls. There's a large table in the center of the room. Jareb sites opposite from Ubel who's at a computer and looking at the Zenan vial. There's about 5 guard like dudes hanging about, some with holstered guns. Jareb and Ubel are in discussion, obviously about the virus. Suddenly one of the ceiling vents break open. The guards, Jareb and Ubel all look to see Caden fall into the center of the large, open room. She doesn't land on her feet but quickly rises, guns in each hand.
CADEN
Hello, Jareb.
Mr. Jareb and Ubel stare at her, shocked. And then the guards in the room charge.
CUT TO: Ext. Warehouse - same one from the earlier meeting
Angel and Gunn's cars pull up and everyone quickly gets out. The building is a fortress- concrete walls. Not windows and there's a large steal door, locked. Angel, Gunn, Fred, Spike and Lorne stare at it.
SPIKE
Well that presents a problem.
FRED
How are we going to get in.
O.S. WESLEY
Move back to the cars.
Wesley comes up from behind them. Holding a fuse, a device, and plastique.
GUNN
Oh crap...
They hurry back and Wesley attaches the explosive to the door an hooks up the fuse... leading it back to the cars and waiting gang. He hooks up the detonator and raises it. Everyone covers there faces and Wesley winces as he pressed the trigger....
Nothing happens. He presses it again.. still no explosion.
SPIKE
Forget to check the expiration date?
LORNE
Now what?
Wesly cooly pulls out a handgun and shoots the plastique attached to the door. There's a significant explosion, blowing the door open and sending the group staggering back.
CUT TO: Int. Warehouse
Caden never stopped fighting, even with the explosion. And what we see now is much more similar, fighting style-wise, to the Caden we met in the teaser. Althought - there is absolutely no joy. Just pure determination. A guard comes at her from behind as she uses a nearby chair to knock another down. She doesn't turn as the one behind her lifts a gun to her head. Swiftly she ducks her head down on her right shoulder while spinning with a high kick, knocking the gun out of his hands. Pulling a gun from her side she shoots him in the knee, taking him to the ground. Angle on the gang - just looking at the scene. The thugs are lying on the ground in a bloody mess. Most are groaning and moving slightly to show they're not dead. The vial sits in its open case on the table, next to a smashed computer. Jareb and Ubel are on the far side of the warehouse, noticing the gang enter momentarily, and then staring back at Caden. Caden doesn't even acknowledge Angel and Co. She moves to the table and picks up the vial. Ubel steps forward about to yell but it's too late. Caden smashes the Zenan to the ground - it lands in a puddle of blood from one of the guards. She looks at the broken glass on the ground for a moment before raising her gun.
ANGEL
Caden.... don't...
She shoots Ubel in the head. Instead of red, human blood, we get a green oozey stuff. It streams down his face as he crumples on the ground.
GUNN
Whoa! That dude's a demon??
(looks from everyone)
Sorry... was just surprised...
CADEN
(to Jareb)
Will he stay dead? Ya know, I always get all the species confused....
Jareb gives an almost imperceptible nod. Caden turns the gun on him.
ANGEL
Caden, think...
CADEN
Shut up Angel.
ANGEL
This won't make it go away.
CADEN
Shut up, and get out. This doesn't concern you.
ANGEL
Yes it does. I help people, Caden. You need help.
CADEN
No. I don't. Leave.
ANGEL
Believe me. I know you're hurting.
CADEN
(quietly, to Jareb)
You killed my girl... You killed my baby...
JAREB
(glaring at her from the floor)
You killed my son.
CADEN
(angrily)
That was work! It was just a job! It was business!!
JAREB
(angry)
Well, this was vengeance!
CADEN
(She clenches her jaw and speaks with a coarse intensitiy)
So's. This.
ANGEL
Caden! If you do this then its over! Everything you did for your daughter. Everything
you changed for her! It will all be for nothing.
CADEN
I promised her a safe life! A world away from this Hell!
(quietly)
It's was all for nothing.
JAREB
An eye for an eye, eh Caden? Is that what Tryn--
CADEN
(shooting his leg as she screams-)
Don't you dare say her name!!!!!
As Caden shoots, Wesley and Gunn begin to charge, but Angel holds them back..
ANGEL
No, wait!
(turning back to Caden)
Caden!! Listen to me... I know you don't think I do, but I understand. I know
what you're going through. You have to trust me. I can help you.
CADEN
Get out of here, Angel. I don't want your help.
ANGEL
But you need it.
(she says nothing)
There's still a chance for you to walk away from this.
(There's a pause as Caden lets that absorb)
People can change, Caden. You told me that yesterday... I didn't believe you
then. But I'm ready to now. Put the gun down and prove it to me.
Caden is obviously thinking about what Angel is saying... her face shows confusion, pain, and sadness. Angel sees this and seizes the opportunity..
ANGEL Look at me. Just.. look at me.
Caden swallows... slowly, without ever lowering the gun or relaxing her grip on the trigger she shakily turns her head to face Angel...
ANGEL
(He looks right into her eyes, practically trying to will her to trust him,
to believe his concern is sincere. Softly he pleads...)
Let me help you.
JAREB
(desperately holding his leg, which is bleeding profusely- but he's more concerned
for his life)
Listen to him, girl. Our score is settled... This can end now.
Angel takes a small and cautious step towards Caden who slowly and very slightly begins to lower the gun.
JAREB
(cont.)
Just.. think... W-what would she do, if she could see you now, huh? What would
Tryna say?
This causes Caden to, almost calmly, turn her head back to Mr. Jareb. There's a moment... Angel still slowly advancing, Caden's gun paused, but almost fully lowered... The room seems to relax. Caden stares intently at Mr. Jareb... her chest rises and lowers in deep, shaking breaths. Finally she opens her mouth.. as if to say something but no sound comes out. She takes another deep breath, as Angel comes closer, and she swallows. Calmly, but through gritted teeth, a clenched jaw, and ragged breaths she says....
CADEN
She's. Dead.
Faster than anyone could have anticipated, Caden raises the gun, quickly steps towards Mr. Jareb, and fires... and keeps on firing. The clip runs out and she calmly, methodically, takes a new clip from her belt, and replaces it. The shots continue for what seems like minutes.. As Angel and the gang stare in shock - nothing to be done. Mr. Jareb's fate was decided went the first round went off. Finally, she stops. Lowering the gun, her face betrays no real emotion. Then, just as quickly as she decided to shoot Jareb, she raises the gun to her head. As Angel realizes what's happening he dives for her. In slo-mo he tackles her to the ground, allowing the gun to fire wildly and shatter the office skylight. The glass falls down on Caden, Angel and the floor that's already coated in blood. Rolling out of the way of the sunlight now streaming down, Angel never releases a limp, defeated, and emotionless Caden, who still firmly grips the now empty gun. Wesley pries her fingers off of it while Gunn, Spike, and Fred simply stare, trying to comprehend what just happened. Angel, kneeling in the shade, stares at Caden- lit by the streaming sunrays and still lying on the floor. She's not looking at him. She's not looking at anything... she's alive, but you wouldn't necessarily know it. Her face is blank, in total shock, and she makes no effort to fight or resist any further.
Pull back - Reveal whole scene and -
CUT TO: Int. Angel's Suite - still night
The gang is just walking in, save Spike, all somber faces, Caden looking blank, dazed, and exhausted. Angel and Gunn flank Caden. Angel looks at Gunn, silently telling him to take Caden up to a room, Gunn obliges as he and Caden exit. Silence for the following movements: Angel moves over to the bar counter, setting the weapons down. Wesley and Fred exchange looks-- Wesley moves towards the counter and Fred goes to sit on the couch. Angel moves to his study/office and closes the door behind him.
FRED
(uncomfortably)
She's a killer... right?
WESLEY
Caden? She was.
(pause)
And today... yes.
FRED
Angel was going to turn her in... kill her if he needed to, until… until he
saw she had a kid.
WESLEY
That was certainly the impression I got.
FRED
And Tryna... she was all she had. But, because of what Caden... she died.
WESLEY
(looking at Fred soulfully)
Yes.
FRED
And that's why she tried to paint the office brain-matter grey...
WESLEY
(nods but slightly perplexed and annoyed)
Fred, what's your point?
FRED
Well, it's just... If she's killed people, if she was… is evil, if Angel was
ready to kill her and now Tryna is dead, and she wants to die...
(pause)
Why aren't we letting her?
WESLEY (somewhat surprised) Let her kill herself?
FRED
(swallows)
Yea.
WESLEY
(Looks at her, not really having an answer. Pauses and then gathers up the weapons,
turning towards the cabinet)
Help me put these away.
Fred hesitates for a moment, and then abides.
CUT TO: Int. Angel's bedroom
Caden is sitting on the bed, staring of into space. Gunn is sitting in the corner.
CADEN
(blankly)
I want to go home.
GUNN
(mildly startled - she spoke)
What was that?
CADEN
(without turning, but more resolute)
I want to go home.
Caden gets up and leaves the room. Gunn follows somewhat unsure.
CUT TO: Int. Angel's Suite
Caden is walking through, Gunn following; Wesley, and Fred notice, looking up.
GUNN
(to Caden)
Just... just hold up one sec, okay?
Caden simply stops and leans against the wall. Still expressionless.
WESLEY
What's--
ANGEL
(Coming out of the office)
What's going on?
GUNN
(moving closer to Angel, quietly)
She wants to leave. Go back to her place.
ANGEL
(looks at Caden)
Um... yea. Okay. Gunn, would you mind...
GUNN
Not a problem I'll check in.
ANGEL
Thanks.
Gunn and Caden exit. Wesley starts towards Angel, to talk, but Angel motions "Don't".
CUT TO: Angel's study room
Fred is visibly upset, sitting, while Angel is leaning against the desk.
FRED
What happens to her now? I mean... the police... ?
ANGEL
I don't know.
FRED
I just don't understand.
ANGEL
Why she wants to go home?
FRED
No. I mean, how... How do you live through something like that? I mean how do
you love something, *sooo* much, and then.. just...
ANGEL
Lose it?
FRED
Yea.
ANGEL
(thinks.. obviously about Conner... and Cordelia)
It's not about surviving something like that. It's about living it. Caden doesn't
want to die. She doesn't. She just wants to stop the pain. We all do. But sooner
or later... you realize, you can't stop it. So you learn to live with it. You
go on, and you deal. It never lessens and it never goes away, but you adapt.
Because... you have to. Then, after a while... there’ll come a morning when
you wake up and... you realize that, if for only a second... you forgot how
hard it was... to just.. be.
FADE IN: "So Are You to Me" by Eastmountainsouth
As the music at the banquet...
Linger on previous shot - pull back.
As the wine before the meal...
CUT TO: Gunn and Caden entering her place, Gunn takes out a cell phone, Caden goes to the bathroom, shutting the door.
As the firelight in the night...
CUT TO: Ext. Angel's balcony
FADE IN: on full moon - Reveal Wesley gazing at it and Fred watching tentatively from the balcony door.
So are you to me...
CUT TO: Angel hanging up the phone. In deep thought... reminiscing...
As the ruby in the setting...
CUT TO: Caden splashes water over her head and looks in the cracked mirror at her face which holds a mixure of emotions: pain, loss, anger, shock.... just distraught.
As the fruit upon the tree...
CUT TO: Gunn sitting on Caden's couch, looking at the picture of his sister in his wallet.
As the wind blows over the plains...
CUT TO: Int. Spike's apartment bedroom - Spike, leaning against the wall next to a window... looking out and thinking....
So are you to me…
CUT TO: Int. Angel's apartment bedroom - Angel, leaning against the wall next to a window... looking out and thinking.... not unlike Spike.
~Musical interlude~
CUT TO: Angel breaks his stare into the night to hold back his emotions. The camera pans down to reveal Angel clutching Connor's old baby blanket, as we pull back.
CUT TO: Caden clutching Tryna's good luck stone in one hand. The other hand pushes aside a curtain and she walks into Tryna's room. Looks at the pictures, drawings, toys, and notices her pile of winged dolls and stuffed animals.
As the wind blows over the plains...
CUT TO: Wesley still staring at the moon. Fred reaches his side. Their share a sweet, caring look of forgiveness... and stand side by side in the moonlight..
So are you to me...
CUT TO: Gunn appearing in Tryna's doorway, notices the clock which we close in on to reveal the time - 11:59pm Then turning, he reacts to an unknown painful scene...
So are you to me...
CUT TO: Overhead shot - Caden, bloody and bruised, curled up in a ball on Tryna's bed, clinging to the pink covers admist her dolls and stuffed animals... Uncontrollably, painfully, and desperately- she cries for the first time.
PULL BACK
Black out.
END OF EPISODE