REGULAR CAST

• David Boreanaz as Angel
• James Marsters as Spike
• J. August Richards as Charles Gunn
• Amy Acker as Winifred ‘Fred’ Burkle
• Andy Hallett as Lorne
• Alexis Denisof as Wesley Wyndam-Pryce

GUEST CAST

• Sarah Thompson as Eve
• Mercedes McNab as Harmony Kendall
• Jonathan M. Woodward as Knox
• Leland Crooke as Archduke Sebassis

CO-STARRING

• Michael Maize as Artode
• Jim Blanchette as Devlin
• T.J. Thyne as Employee #1
• Ryan Alvarez as Demon Slave

SYNOPSIS

Lorne walks through Wolfram & Hart’s halls, juggling multiple phones while his frantic assistant, Van, trails behind. He greets Harmony and asks about Angel, who’s returning from a failed field mission. Angel, bruised and grumpy, blames a defective weapon Wesley supplied. Lorne tries to discuss the upcoming party, but Angel slams the door in his face. Exhausted, Lorne retreats to his office, where his reflection comes to life, berating him. Frustrated, he smashes the mirror and storms out. Moments later, he’s back in the halls, singing as if nothing happened.

Later, Angel steps out of his shower to find Eve, who’s let herself in with her own key. She reminds him of a missed appointment, prompting Angel to rush to Wolfram & Hart. Stressed and unaware of the party, he vents his frustration on an employee holding a giant faux head. Lorne, distressed, tries to get Angel on board with the party. Meanwhile, Wesley confronts Fred and Knox about the malfunctioning grenade that failed Angel. None of them take responsibility. Lorne interrupts to remind them about the party, insisting they attend. Knox takes over the grenade investigation, and Lorne schedules a meeting with Angel.

Lorne also reminds Gunn about the party, gathering everyone in Angel’s office. Harmony points out the low morale in the office, convincing Angel to approve the event. That night, Lorne and Angel visit Archduke Sebassis to secure his attendance. Sebassis agrees, though his right-hand man, Artode, suspects a trap and prepares accordingly.

At Wolfram & Hart, the party begins with Harmony dancing alone under a mirror ball. Lorne mingles, encouraging employees to do the same. He greets a demon named Devlin, humorously disguised as a human. Fred and Wesley linger by the hors d’oeuvres, awkwardly admiring Lorne’s social skills. Lorne finds Angel watching hockey in his office and drags him to the party despite Angel’s complaints.

Lorne gets Angel to enthusiastically greet Sebassis. Meanwhile, Fred and Wesley stumble around drunk, and Gunn praises Lorne’s efforts. Lorne confides in Gunn that he achieved all this by removing his sleep. Downstairs, Angel and Eve exchange barbs until Lorne jokes about their sexual tension. Moments later, Angel and Eve are making out in Angel’s office. Fred and Wesley, fresh off the dance floor, find Gunn, who drunkenly urinates on Wesley’s shoes. Spike, unusually cheerful, enjoys the party. Fred and Wesley realize Lorne’s words are coming true. They drag him to Angel’s office, where Angel, naked behind the sofa with Eve, assigns tasks to fix the chaos. Fred and Wesley search for Lorne’s sleep.

Elsewhere, Artode is found dead, prompting Sebassis to confront Angel. Angel prepares to meet him in the lobby. Fred and Wesley locate Lorne’s sleep and discover the consequences of its removal – Lorne’s subconscious has manifested as a giant, powerful version of himself, wreaking havoc in the lobby. Angel tries to stop it but is overpowered. Fred and Wesley arrive with Lorne’s sleep, and Fred injects it into him. Lorne collapses, and his monstrous form dissipates into fairy dust.

In the aftermath, Lorne sleeps in Angel’s office while the team disperses. Angel reassures the sleeping Lorne that he doesn’t have to shoulder the burden of hosting again.

TRIVIA

CONTINUITY