Season 2, Episode 1
Teleplay by David Greenwalt
Story by Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt
Directed by Michael Lange
Original Airdate: 26 September 2000
“That man would do anything to save a life.”
Cordelia
REGULAR CAST
- David Boreanaz as Angel
- Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase
- Alexis Denisof as Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
- J. August Richards as Charles Gunn
GUEST CAST
- Christian Kane as Lindsey McDonald
- Stephanie Romanov as Lilah Morgan
- Andy Hallett as Lorne
- Justina Machado as Jo
- Julie Benz as Darla
- Eliza Dushku as Faith Lehane
CO-STARRING
- Matthew James as Merl
- Rob Boltin as Johnny Fontaine
- Iris Fields as Acting Teacher
- Keith Campbell as Club Manager
- Jason Frasca as White Guy
SYNOPSIS
A demon sings karaoke and talks to a crowd at a demon karaoke bar. Cordelia is at acting class until she gets a “911” message on her beeper and has to leave. Wesley is throwing darts to impress a young woman when he also gets a message on his beeper. The two meet with Angel at a gym where they put an end to a Carnyess demon performing a Praetorian sacrificial ritual in a room behind one of the gym mirrors.
Cordelia and Wesley discuss demons while the prospect of someday being human has Angel distracted and thinking about joining a gym. Cordelia has an attack of the sneezes and then has a vision about an unknown demon. Lilah visits Lindsey’s office where Darla is enjoying classical music. She talks of how she can feel Angel, and slowly her memory begins to return. Angel tries to draw the demon Cordelia saw in her vision and when they identify it, Wesley informs them of a very odd location that may hold some answers for them.
The three go to Caritas, the demon karaoke bar and ask around for information. A demon source of Wesley’s named, Merl, informs Angel about where they can find the demon. Wesley and Cordelia try to get Angel to sing, but he won’t do it. Angel finds the Prio Motu demon along with a pregnant woman. He kills the demon, but then the woman tearfully informs him that the demon was protecting her and her unborn child. Feeling guilty about killing the demon, Angel tracks down Merl and is informed of the location the Prio demon was living at as well as the importance of the child.
Angel finds Gunn hunting vampires in a bad part of town and asks for help in finding the hideout of the Prio Motu demon. The two patrol an underground building and find where the pregnant woman is staying. They search the place and when Angel finds a talisman that may be of use, he sends Gunn to deliver it to Wesley and Cordelia. The woman returns to her home, revealing that she just wants her daughter to survive. Angel offers his help, but she’s not eager to accept it as he has done her nothing but harm so far. After saving her from a demon attack, Angel leads her to safety.
When Gunn arrives at Cordelia’s there is quite a bit of confusion in regards to his name, but Wesley quickly gets to work to find out what the talisman’s purpose. Angel leads the woman to an old building, which brings up old memories from his past. As demons attack, he sends the woman to Cordelia’s place while he takes a beating from the demons. When he gets to Cordelia’s he finds that the woman isn’t there and she’s out there alone.
The woman needs someone to champion her in front of the Tribunal. In order to get information, Angel is forced to sing karaoke at Caritas. The Anigogic demon running the bar can offer psychic predictions after hearing someone sing. He tells Angel where the woman’s trial will take place. The woman finds herself alone, with no champion and no talisman as the trial begins to take place. Just as the tribunal announces that her life is to be taken, Angel arrives to fight for her.
Angel fights in a jousting match that quickly turns into a sword fight when Angel is knocked off his horse. As Angel is a vampire, being stabbed with a sword does not kill him and Angel is able to destroy his demonic opponent. After a chat with Wesley and Cordelia, Angel goes to visit Faith in jail. They talk about her time in jail and how he had to sing in public. They both have some hope for survival.
TRIVIA
J. August Richards has been added to the opening titles from this episode.
Andy Hallett makes his first appearance as Lorne in this episode, although he’s called the Host until the end of the season. He makes over 40 appearances as a guest star before finally being added to the regular cast in Release. Hallett was only supposed to feature in three episodes, and the part was inspired by him.
Eliza Dushku makes a brief appearance as Faith in this episode, and it is the last time we see her until season four’s Salvage. Her name is left off the opening cast credits in an effort to keep her appearance a surprise.
Matthew James makes his first appearance as Merl in this episode. He makes six appearances before his character is killed off in That Old Gang of Mine.
Instead of the usual black background, the end credits of this episode feature David Boreanaz singing ‘Mandy’ very badly in Caritas. Funnily enough, Manilow based the song on Chopin’s Prelude in C Minor, which Darla listens to at the start of this episode.
CONTINUITY
Angel tells Cordelia that he may not always be eternal, a reference to the fact that he may one day become human, which he discovered was the prophecy from the Scrolls of Aberjian in To Shanshu in L.A.. Wesley also mentions that he has no idea what was in the box that Wolfram and Hart used to raise something from Hell. Angel tells Jo that his office blew up and he also asks Gunn how he is. Gunn himself also tells Cordelia and Wesley that he saw them in bed. All this references the first season finale.
Darla mentions that Angel killed her four years ago in Angel.
When Angel visits Faith, she mentions that she signed on for the prison term, which she did in Sanctuary.
When Angel is fleeing with Jo they enter the Hyperion, which is the setting for the next episode.
GOOFS
The exterior shot of the prison Faith is in is of Fulsom Prison – an all-male correctional institute.
The handkerchief in Lorne’s pocket switches from side to side in consecutive shots.
As Angel, Cordelia and Wesley walk back out through the mirror wall, you can see Angel’s reflection.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
EPISODE
To Shanshu in L.A. / Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been
STORY ORDER
To Shanshu in L.A. / Buffy vs. Dracula
The Watcher's Guide 