Episode 22, Season 4
Title: "Home"

Written by: Tim Minear
Directed by: Tim Minear
Original Air Date: 7 May 2003


Teaser:

Lilah has apparently returned from the dead, leaving the Angel Investigations crew extremely confused. Angel, however, is able to clear the matter up when he remembers that Lilah's contract with Wolfram & Hart extends beyond her death, in her own words, a standard perpetuity clause. Convinced she is who she appears to be, the confusion becomes curiosity, as the gang wonders why Lilah is in their office. As it turns out, she is there to make them an offer, the offer of a lifetime.


Act I:

Lilah sits on the couch in the Hyperion lobby; the AI crew stands by as they each sigh, speechless and uncomfortable. Gunn asks Lilah to repeat what she just said, Fred adding, "The bit where you offered us Wolfram & Hart". Lilah clarifies just the L.A branch and that Angel Investigations has won and that they get control over all the assets and personnel. Fred points out that the Beast destroyed the L.A office. Lilah confirms that it is back, state of the art and theirs to do with as they wish. It is their reward for ending world peace! Wesley points out that Jasmine was creating a slave state, Angel that she was eating people. Lilah is adamant; Jasmine through her influence she was ending the suffering of millions. Informing them that a limo will be available at dawn to give them a grand tour of Wolfram & Hart, Lilah departs.

A desolate Connor wanders the streets of L.A, seemingly oblivious to the rioting around him. Looking up he notices a man pacing on the roof of a tall office building. As Connor approaches the man we see he is a distressed cop unable to find what he has lost, he asks Connor to help him. Connor tells him it [Jasmine] has gone. As the man points the gun at himself, Connor assures him his feelings won't last and orders him to go home and not do anything stupid. On hearing the word 'home' and seeming to come around, the cop produces photos of his children. Connor, incensed, asks the cop how he could consider leaving his family. Overtaken by anger Connor loses control and punches the cop over and over.

Back in the inner office at The Hyperion, Wesley studies a map pointing out to Gunn the location of Jasmine's last battle with Angel. Thinking that Jasmine was probably heading towards Cordelia, Wesley thinks finding Connor is the key to her location and suggests they work outward in ever expanding perimeter. Gunn thinks the facilities at Wolfram & Hart would be a better option. As Gunn asks him how long he will be satisfied sticking pins in maps and blowing dust off his books, Wesley bows his head and Gunn realising he has insulted him, then apologises knowing it couldn't have been easy for Wesley to see Lilah again. Wesley confirms that upon decapitating a 'loved one' you don't expect them to visit. As Gunn picks up on his use of terms, Wesley, head lowered, quietly adds that it is just a figure of speech.

Angel and Fred are in the Hyperion lobby as Lorne enters, Gunn and Wesley join them and Lorne, unlucky in finding anything on Cordy or Connor, tells them how bad it is out on the streets. Wesley and Gunn have nothing either but Angel is adamant that they will find them both whatever it takes. About to suggest they use Wolfram & Hart, Gunn is angrily interrupted by Angel who already knows what he was about to say. He barks at them that they have to make the decision to get into the limo for themselves but if they do, before the ride is even over, they will be corrupt. Grabbing his jacket he stalks across the lobby: he is going out to find his son. Gunn decides to go to bed and Wesley heads home.

It is dark outside and in the Hyperion Fred is creeping down the stairs glancing nervously around. She heads outside, putting on her shoes; and glances up at the gate to see the limo parked and waiting. Wesley speaks, startling her as Fred admits she thought she would be the only one but Wesley, although sure he wouldn't be, admits his surprise at her presence. She explains that it would be better to know what they are up to; Gunn arrives agreeing with her. As they walk towards the limo, Fred is having second thoughts. Angel is waiting on the other site of the Hyperion gates, "What the hell" he says. Opening the limo door he does a double take as Lorne, drink in hand, music blasting out, is complaining that they have no cherries.

Angel, Fred, Gunn, Wesley and Lorne exit the lift at the new Wolfram & Hart offices. As the employees wander past they all greet Angel with, "Morning Mr. Angel." Angel remarks that this will not go well.


Act II:

Lilah and a small group of W&H employees march towards the lobby to greet Angel. She introduces a separate guide for each member of the team but Angel refuses and says they will tour the building together. Prepared for that reaction, Lilah wheels in and offers them weapons to protect themselves but assures them they are safe. Wesley agrees that if they were in danger they would have been attacked by now. Gunn and Lorne seem to agree with Wes but Fred picks up and cocks a huge gun before she agrees.

Lilah introduces Lorne to his guide, Preston, who works in the entertainment division. Preston shakes Lorne's hand and offers him a list of their prestigious clientele. Immediately hostile, Lorne says he knows they represent pure evil but once he sees the client list - he is impressed and follows Preston with a light chuckle. Angel watches them walk away.

An older distinguished gentleman steps up and Lilah introduces him to Wesley. His name is Rutherford Circe and in a clipped English accent invites Wesley to join him. Wesley exchanges a long look with Lilah before following him without a word.

Gunn is next as Lilah introduces him to a striking, young African-American woman named Lacey Shepard. Lacey calls him 'Chuck" and leads a willing and flirtatious Gunn on his tour.

Lastly, Lilah pairs Fred with Knox, a cute, young man in a scientist's lab coat. Fred has trouble handling her gun so she can shake his hand. He is awkward and enthusiastic like she is and they depart for the labs.

A slightly irritated Angel is left standing alone in the lobby with Lilah. She offers to show him around "the chocolate factory."

Gunn and Lacey walk down a long hallway and he compliments her on their plan to separate the group so they can isolate Angel. She questions why Gunn assumes Angel is the priority when each of them possesses "useful" gifts. Gunn questions what his specialty is until they come to a stop in front of the security department. Disappointed, he assumes this is what they want from him until Lacey smiles and says they have much "grander plans for him." His bruised ego is immediately soothed as she takes his arm and leads him away and upstairs.

Down another hallway, Knox explains he is strictly R&D and manages the science division which he manages for the Department Head, which would be Fred. Stunned, Fred follows him into a very high tech research room where gizmos and lasers are being tested. Fred nicely mocks an "invention" of his explaining they are pretty common but Knox turns it on and is able to recite her friends' personal address in Texas. Surprised, Fred asks how he got that information and he explains the device can hack into any electronic device - which he did with her cell phone.

Rutherford welcomes Wesley into the Ancient Properties wing, which only features a small row of books in the center of the room, which is the most comprehensive collection found anywhere. Wesley requests The Devinderi Sibling Codex. Rutherford speaks the name of the requested book and hands it to Wes. When he opens the book, the pages are initially empty but then they fill with the words from the requested book. Rutherford explains the book acts as a template for any book locked in the W&H archives. Coolly, Wes then asks if the Watchers Council knows that Rutherford stole the only known copy of the Codex. Stuffily, Rutherford answers that there is no more Council. Wes turns and knocks Rutherford out cold on the floor then searches the ceiling and engages a metallic grappling hook from his sleeve and rappels into the air.

Lilah takes Angel into his huge executive office. Excitedly, she offers to show him "the best part" of the room and with a remote control opens the curtains allowing full daylight into the room. Angel cowers but he doesn't burst into flames. She taps the window and explains the whole building is fitted in Necro-glass, which keeps the sun's rays from dusting the boss. Angel basks for a moment in the sunlight with eyes closed. He then demands she close the curtains, which she does. She offers him a file. Angel takes it and reads "Sunnydale." Inside, there is an amulet and paperwork, which Lilah explains will be needed for some final battle there. Angel asks what she knows about Cordelia and Connor and she hits a remote and a big screen TV is revealed with a breaking news report about a hostage situation in the city. Connor is featured front and center on the security camera video as the unidentified person holding a group of people while a stunned Angel watches.


Act III:

In the Wolfram and Hart office Angel slams Lilah against the wall and accuses her of setting it all up. Lilah denies any responsibility and says that it is Angel's fault for not raising Connor. Angel gets defensive and begins to walk off. Lilah says that it is a one-time offer, if he walks out, it is off. Angel stops and looks at Connor on the TV. He says he'll never be a part of it, not the way Lilah is hoping. He walks back to her and begins to tell her what the deal will be.

In the elevator Gunn and the woman stand in silence. Gunn begins to wonder where they are going and the infamous white button appears. He tries to hit buttons to stop the elevator, but there is a flash. He is in the white room. Gunn begins to yell until a large panther appears. It stalks towards him. They stare at each other. The panther looks up and growls.

In a sporting goods store all the shoppers are bound with bombs attached to them. A man tries to comfort his daughter. Connor comes over and says he is not holding her right. The man says Connor broke his arm. Connor orders him to hold her the right way. He walks away and begins fiddling with some electrical cords. Without turning around he notices Angel on the balcony. Angel jumps down.

Back in the Wolfram and Hart basement, Wesley knocks out a security guard. He is in a room with countless file cabinets. He begins to search through them. Lilah appears, wondering how long it would take him to get here. It took Wesley longer than she thought. She says the files have information on every scheme, big and small. Wesley realizes she wanted him to see this. Lilah tells him to think what he could accomplish with all the information. However, Wesley suggests that perhaps she doesn't know him as well as she thinks. He reaches into a file and removes Lilah's contract. Telling her she has suffered enough, he sets it on fire. The contract burns up but nothing happens. Lilah tells him to look back in the cabinet. The contract is there again. Moved, she says it means something that he tried.

Back in the sporting goods store, Angel slowly approaches Connor. Suddenly there is an explosion. Connor tells him not to move because the people are rigged too. Angel can't save them all. He doesn't know who will be first; it could be any of them. Connor turns around and says it could be him, or her. Angel looks down to see Cordelia, strapped with bombs, unconscious on the floor.


Act IV:

Back in the sporting goods store, Angel tells Connor they all felt the loss of perfect love with Jasmine's death. Connor feels dead inside; he believes his dead mother couldn't even have loved him and blames Angel for allowing Holtz to take him as a baby. Angel wants to take back the mistakes and help Connor start over but Connor believes death is the only way and starts to push the trigger on the bombs around his chest. Angel stops him in time and they begin to fight. Angel releases the hostages. As they flee Angel and Connor continue to fight. Connor moves towards Cordelia but Angel grabs him saying, "I really do love you Connor," and proves it by slicing him with a knife.

In the main lobby of the W&H building, Lorne is singing "Something's Coming" from West Side Story as Fred appears. He explains secrets of the universe and balance are very important. Wesley straggles back as Gunn steps off the elevator and Fred asks if they made him taller. Gunn admits he wants in as Wes and Lorne agreed as well. Fred questions him, but Angel appears admitting to his executive decision to 'take the deal'. Liliah enters to let him know Cordy is well taken care of but still in a coma. Angel wants to see Connor and as he walks away Lilah hands him the Sunnydale file and amulet. The gang watches him walk away as Fred questions, "Who's Connor?"

On a high, winding mountain road a limo cruses through the California valley. At night, in a wooded area, it pulls to a stop and Angel steps out. He walks to the dining room window of a house set deep in the woods. A family sits at the dinner table, eating and talking. Connor is going off to collage; his girlfriend Tracy may join him. His two sisters tease him for being in the top 10% percentile as his dad offers a toast, but Connor wants to make it. "To family," he says; Angel watches from the window, turns and slowly walks away.

Summary by CoA Council members

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