

Season 4, Episode 22
Written by Tim Minear
Directed by Tim Minear
Original Airdate: 7 May 2003
“There’s only one thing that ever changes anything and that’s death. Everything else is a lie. You can’t be saved by a lie. You can’t be saved at all.”
Connor
REGULAR CAST
- David Boreanaz as Angel
- Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase
- J. August Richards as Charles Gunn
- Amy Acker as Winifred ‘Fred’ Burkle
- Vincent Kartheiser as Connor Angel
- Andy Hallett as Lorne
- Alexis Denisof as Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
GUEST CAST
- Stephanie Romanov as Lilah Morgan
- Jim Abele as Mr. Reilly
CO-STARRING
- Jason Winer as Preston
- Michael Halsey as Rutherford Sirk
- Jonathan M. Woodward as Knox
- Merle Dandridge as Lacey
- Jason Padgett as Suicidal Cop
- James Calvert as Surgery Patient
- Anthony Diaz-Perez as Hostage Father
- Adrienne Brett Evans as Mrs. Reilly
- Stacy Solodkin as Connor’s Aunt
- Emma Hunton as Connor’s Kid Sister
- Ariel Baker as Angel Greeter #1
- Michael Ness as Angel Greeter #2
- Alex Craig Mann as Angel Greeter #3
- Nichole Pererine as Angel Greeter #4
- Joshua Grenrock as Angel Greeter #5
SYNOPSIS
While Wesley doubts that the Lilah before them is the real one, Angel, Lilah, and her beheading scar confirm that it’s really her. She’s there on behalf of Wolfram and Hart to offer them something they can’t refuse. The gang all struggle to find the words they want to say after Lilah offers them the LA branch of Wolfram and Hart. She explains that because they ended world peace, they’ve earned the right to do whatever they want with the law firm. The group has a hard time believing that what they did wasn’t for the greater good. Out on the streets, while people raid stores, Connor walks alone until he spots a cop walking on top of a building. Connor catches the cop before he shoots himself with his own gun. The confused cop reveals that he has a family that are his “home.” Enraged by the thought that the man would leave his family, Connor attack the cop.
Wesley and Gunn talk about Lilah’s recent visit and her offer, but Wesley has his doubts and remaining feelings for Lilah clouding his perspective. Lorne returns without news on Connor or Cordy, but with the news that mayhem has been released on the streets in the aftermath. Angel warns the others against going to Wolfram and Hart then leaves on a mission to find Connor. Everyone parts ways to get some sleep, but as dawn approaches, they all find themselves drawn to the unknown offer. Even Angel can’t resist and they all get into the limo, which Lorne is already occupying. At the office, the gang emerges from the elevator together to a busy crowd of Wolfram and Hart employees all greeting Angel as “Mr. Angel.”
Lilah approaches the group with a selection of guides that will take each one of them on individual tours. Angel doesn’t like the idea of separation, but Lilah offers them weapons to hold if they feel threatened. Lorne is introduced to his guide, Preston, who manages the entertainment department and gives Lorne a glimpse of the talent managed by the firm. Wesley’s guide, Rutherford, Gunn gets an attractive woman, Lacy, and Fred gets a smart young man, Knox, to guide her. Angel’s left with Lilah to give him a tour. Although Gunn can’t figure out what he’s going to be doing, Lacy leads him upstairs to his mysterious purpose. Fred’s brainy guide shows her to the Science department which she would be in complete control of and shows off some of the tools and toys at their disposal. Wesley’s guide shows him a collection of mystical references and Wesley’s impressed, but he catches on the the fact that his guide is a former Watcher. Wesley turns and knocks Rutherford out, then escapes through the ceiling of the room.
Lilah shows Angel his new office and private elevator, and special windows that allow him to be in the sun without burning. Angel doesn’t want what she’s offering, but Lilah tries to convince him otherwise. She presents him with a file labeled Sunnydale and an amulet that Buffy needs for a battle. Angel isn’t interested and even refuses the opportunity to make a quick phone call and find out Connor and Cordelia’s whereabouts. Lilah keeps him in the office for a moment longer by showing him a news report on TV about a hostage situation in a department store. Angel’s stunned to see Connor is responsible and turns on Lilah. She doesn’t have the answers he wants, but she assures him if he leaves, their deal is off. Angel turns the tables on her, telling her how the deal is going to be.
Gunn finds himself in a long elevator ride with his guide, but he realizes they’re going to the white room before he can do anything to stop it. Alone in the room, Gunn is greeted by a black panther. Connor shouts at one of his captives who struggles to hold his crying daughter because of a broken arm then notices Angel has arrived. Meanwhile, Wesley sneaks into the records room, but his stealthy searching is caught by Lilah. Although Lilah offers him all the records at his disposal, Wesley goes after her contract with the law firm. He takes the contract out of a drawer and burns it in an effort to free her, but the contract just reappears in the drawer later.
Angel cautiously approaches Connor as the teen warns that all the people are rigged to explosives. Connor rises to reveal that he too is tied to explosives and a still unconscious Cordelia lying on the ground is rigged similarly. Connor rages because he can’t seem to feel anything and he doesn’t feel loved by anyone else. Angel tries to calm his son and promise a better future, but Connor can’t be convinced. Before Connor can push the trigger, Angel punches him and yanks the trigger from the explosives around Connor. They fight and Angel throws a knife into Connor’s leg, stopping him before he reaches Cordy. Angel then grabs Connor and promises to prove his love, then brings the knife down in a deadly blow.
Lorne sings in the lobby as Fred returns from her tour and Wesley from his. Gunn returns from the elevators and proclaims that he’s taking the job whether the others do or not. Wesley reveals that he’s considering taking the job as well and then Angel reveals that he already took the deal for them. Lilah confirms that Cordelia is getting the best of care and if a return is possible from her coma, they’ll find the way. Completing their deal, Angel asks to see Connor and although Lilah admits that wasn’t part of the deal, she agrees to let it happen. Lilah hands over the folder on Sunnydale and the amulet and Angel leaves to see Connor, while Fred wonders aloud, “Who’s Connor?” A limo takes Angel to a cabin in the woods where he spies through the window. Connor sits with his family as they enjoy dinner and laugh about the promising college life before him. Angel walks away, pleased that his son has a new life filled with the love and happiness he lacked before.
TRIVIA
This is the last episode to feature both Vincent Kartheiser and Charisma Carpenter as series regulars, with both returning for guest appearances in season five.
CONTINUITY
Rutherford Sirk, the ex-Watcher who guides Wesley in this episode, will make a brief reappearance in Destiny. He also informs Wesley of the destroyed Watcher’s Council which happened in Never Leave Me.
The nature of Lilah’s contract with Wolfram & Hart binds her even after death. In this episode, she returns, undead, at the behest of the Senior Partners. The very same thing happened to her former boss Holland Manners after his death in Reunion.
Lilah teases about Angel not being the only one that came back from hell, which he did in Faith, Hope & Trick.
Lilah bears the mark of where Wesley hit her with an axe to behead her in Salvage.
Fred mentions the Beast destroyed the L.A. branch of Wolfram & Hart, but Lilah explains it’s been restaffed and free of zombies.
The Angel Investigations team argue with Lilah about Jasmine consuming people, which was first revealed in The Magic Bullet.
The toast that Connor offers to his new family at the end — “To family” — is the same as that offered by Wesley in Angel’s hallucination at the beginning of the season in Deep Down.
CROSSOVER
Lilah mentions the events happening in Sunnydale and gives Angel an amulet that is used by Spike in Chosen. Angel will arrive in Sunnydale in End of Days. The amulet is redelivered to Wolfram and Hart in the season five premiere.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
EPISODE
Peace Out / Conviction
STORY ORDER
Peace Out / Empty Places









