Episode 9, Season 3
Title: "Lullaby"
Directed & Written by: Tim Minear
Original Air date: 19 November 2001
Teaser:
Angel stands before his centuries old enemy, Holtz, but heÍs quickly given another surprise when grapplar demons use a long black weapon to hold Angel by the neck. Angel realizes that Holtz is the tro-clon and the hunter reveals that he slept for two hundred years dreaming of this moment and sprinkles holy water on AngelÍs face and sees him momentarily morph into a vampire, assuring Holtz that nothing has changed for Angel. Holtz wants justice, but Angel responds, ñThereÍs no justice for the things I did to you?î Holtz commands the grapplar demons to find Darla.
In the alley, the crew has waited for Angel long enough and they donÍt know what to do. Darla is in active labor and Wes gives her breathing pointers, but vampires donÍt have any breath and in frustration she raises her fists with an unforeseen supernatural force that she sends the crew flying through the air. Our vampire mom breaks into tears.
ACT 1:
1764. Holtz rides at a wild pace to his home, only to find his wife lying on the floor with two fang marks on her neck, but luckily his daughter is still alive or is she? He takes Sarah in his arms and begins to sing to her, but he checks her neck and spots the vampire marks. He sends away his two men and he realizes what his daughter has become as he continues to sing to her as she plays with her doll on the floor.
At Wolfram & Hart, Lilah informs Linwood that the mystery man in AngelÍs hotel is still a mystery, while Gavin is still hopeful. The surveillance equipment is still down and Linwood quickly sees the ship is sinking and he lets them know that at the next staff meeting heÍll expect a full report to which he will feign surprise and shock at their disaster.
At the Hyperion Hotel, Angel is still locked in the weapons. Our vamp with a soul knows that Holtz is still human, and the vampire hunter still wants both of his nemesis. Holtz notices that Angel is unusually talkative and he punches him.
In an alley, Wes gets smacked by Cordy to awaken him. Darla is talking to herself in the backseat as they all climb into the front seat because DarlaÍs water broke. Wes spots the approaching grapplar demons and asks for weapons.
At the lobby, Holtz is intrigued by the obvious differences in AngelÍs attitude and personality, but the grapplar demons mistakenly bring in Lilah for Darla. He tests holy water on our lady lawyer and sheÍs human, but she mentions to Holtz that sheÍs quite aware of AngelÍs history and his curse. Lilah wants to return to her car to take care of this mess but Holtz is reluctant to let her go. Angel spots a grenade in the hand of one of the dead commandos and with his foot flicks to his mouth, takes the pin out with his teeth as he flips his head and lets it drop. The explosion sends him out through the elevator doors. Holtz quickly chases with a warning to Lilah that only he will take him, but Lilah corrects him that they were after Darla, and she wasnÍt cursed with a soul. Holtz leaves and Lilah dials for the cleaner service but spots the scrolls on the desk and takes them.
Back in the alley, the crew is in full battle with the grapplar demons. Darla climbs in the front seat and runs over the remaining demons and takes off in the car, leaving the crew behind. Angel arrives just in time to see her drive off.
Act II
In the alley, Angel explains Holtz and they brainstorm about the prophecy and his role. Angel will find Darla on his own, while the rest find a safe place for her to give birth. Wes asks about the scrolls, but Angel did not get them.
At LilahÍs office, the translator has started on the scrolls and she hands him WesÍs notes. He explains that ancient prophecies are more about the interpretation than the actual translation. She wants it done by morning or his family will die.
In the underground liar, Holtz is upset at SahjhanÍs not mentioning that Angel had a soul. Holtz knows that Angel is a different kind of prey with a soul, meaning the strategy for his revenge will be different. Sahjhan assures him that heÍs kept nothing else from him.
Darla is a top an LA building looking down on the scene before. Angel has found her and Darla admits that she cannot bring a child into this world. Secondly, she loves the child, completely, and for the first time in 400 years, actually loves something. Angel proposes the possibility of raising the child, but what can she offer a human child when she represents death? The child has been giving her life, sharing itÍs soul with her and she fears that if she gives birth, the soul will be gone and she wonÍt remember her love for the baby. Angel comforts her.
At Caritas, Lorne is still neck deep in reconstruction and in the upcoming grand opening. One of the workers hums and he reads him and fires him because he was over charging on the connection of the new security system to cover both demon and human violence. Lorne decides to do it himself.
A top the building, Darla wants to know that Angel will protect the baby from her. Angel gets a call on his cell phone from Wes, who assures him that the Caritas will be safe by the time they get there.
At Caritas, Lorne is working on the system, while Fred slaps Gunn to test the system.
At the building, Angel lets Darla doesnÍt look so good and leans against a wall and asks if itÍs a contraction, but she responds, ñNo, something else.î
Lilah walks into her office to get the interpretation of scrolls. He explains that there will be no birth, but only death.
Act III
1764. Morning. HoltzÍs men enter to take him out. Sarah is hunched in a corner away from the sun. Her father takes her onto the porch as she fights him and pushes her into the sunlight and watches his daughter burst into flames.
At Caritas, Angel brings Darla in, who is in tremendous pain. Angel takes Wes aside and informs him that the contractions are an hour apart, which doesnÍt sound good to Wes, and neither does the pain that Darla is experiencing, which she claims is ñsomething else.î Darla is in pain and Lorne offers his bedroom. Fred notices blood left on the chair.
In the lair, Sahjhan offers the location of Darla when an informant, in the form of the just recently fired demon, plays back the conversation between Cordy and Lorne. Holtz knows what he needs to know for the next step.
After Wes checks on Darla, he walks into the bar to prepare Angel for the worst because the babyÍs heartbeat is very weak. The crew discusses their options, none of which are viable or acceptable to Angel. Angel leaves to the bedroom after Gunn offers his honest opinion, for which Cordy tries to slap his arm, but the mystical security finally works as it stops her hand from meeting with Gunn. Lorne is glad itÍs finally up and running.
Angel visits Darla and reveals that the baby is dying, she can feel him slipping away, ñMy boy, my darling boy.î She knows she canÍt offer life.
In the bar, the crew is sad and Lorne offers drinks to everyone. Holtz walks in and no one recognizes him, but Lorne gives him a flyer for the grand re-opening. He walks up the stairs singing SarahÍs lullaby, which Lorne reads and orders the crew, ñRun! Just run!î They do, just in time before a grenade and a tank of powder go off at the foot of the door.
Act IV:
The crew runs into the bedroom, Angel and Darla are ready to flee. He reveals that Holtz is the one after them and Darla accepts this twist of fate, because it is only fitting that he should track them now. Lorne also explains that violence coming from outside the bar into it is another little loophole in the sanctuary spell. Lorne orders them to break through the wall behind his bed to get to the alley because it used to be an old loading dock before he had it remodeled.
Holtz walks through the destroyed bar armed with a crossbow.
In LorneÍs bedroom, the men quickly break through the bedroom wall and into the alley and the rain. Darla canÍt go any further and lies down on the street drenched in the rain. Angel and Fred stay behind with Darla while the rest bring the car. Darla is in severe pain and she realizes, ñThis child is the one good thing we ever did together. ItÍs the only good thing. You make sure to tell him that.î Angel kisses her hand, as he realizes that his child is dying but Darla makes the ultimate sacrifice as she reaches for a piece of broken wood from the wall and drives it through her heart. Darla dies to give her son life. The hand Angel holds turns to dust and he now stares at his child laying in the alley street where Darla once did. Angel lifts his son into his arms and Fred offers a jacket to protect him from the rain. Holtz looks on and raises the crossbow. Angel turns to find Holtz ready, and for an agonizing moment the vampire hunter points the crossbow at his prey. Angel, with Fred in tow, walks to the awaiting car at the end of the alley as Holtz slowly takes down his cross bow. Sahjhan is angry and reminds Holtz of his promise, but the vampire hunter reiterates, ñI swore that I would show no mercy. And I wonÍt.î Holtz is a very patient man.
Summary by Council member Raciella.
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