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TEST
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The Long: The episode opens with images of Los Angeles at night and a
voice-over by Angel saying: ''Los Angeles. You see it at night and it
shines. Like a beacon. People are drawn to it. People and other things. They
come for all sorts of reasons. My reason? No surprise there. It started with
a girl.'' Inside of a bar, a seemingly drunk Angel talks about Buffy to
an uninterested patron as he watches three guys and two gals playing pool
(see Goof #1). As the pool-players leave Angel gets up
and follows them, showing he may not be as drunk as he let on. In an alley
the guys start getting fresh with the gals and then attack them, revealing
that the guys are vampires. A ''drunk'' Angel
shows up looking for his car, seemingly oblivious to them being vampires. He
offers a vampire/ a breath mint and fighting ensues, where he shows he's not
drunk at all, and quite capable of fighting the them. He releases a pair of
retractable stakes from his sleeves to kill the first two vampires, and knocks
the third out. When one of the gals thanks him, Angel scares her with his
game face and eyes a cut on her head that is bleeding. He
tells her to get away from him and stakes the last vampire with a piece of
scrap wood. He walks off into the night in a seriously Batman-like style
(see Goof #2).
The screen goes dark and the credits roll, and so it begins... (Listen to the teaser here.)
Angel walks into an empty office building and makes his way to an elevator
which takes him down to what seems to be his new home. He removes his
retractable stakes and then senses he is not alone. He turns to see the
stranger, who ends up being a man called Doyle, who describes himself as
half human on his mother's side, and quickly changes to demonic form and back (see Goof #3 &
Reference #1)). Doyle says he was sent by the ''Powers
That Be'' and proceeds to tell him the story of Angel's life (see Cool Quotes #1 & Continuity #1).
Doyle then tells him that unless Angel gets involved with people he'll start
to prey on humans again (see Continuity #2). They go to get a drink (see Reference #2). On the street Doyle
explains that he gets painful visions of people and places in trouble, which
guide him and that both of them have sins they have to atone for. Doyle
tells Angel about his last vision, and hands him a note telling him to meet
Tina at the Coffee Spot. Angel drives his Plymouth GTX to the Coffee Spot,
where he notices a waitress named Tina (see Goof #4).
She seems to need money and be having a hard time. He strikes up an awkward
conversation and agrees to meet her after work. After work he meets her and
she mistakenly thinks he's working for a man called Russell who is harassing
her. Angel convinces her he is just being friendly, and offers to take her
to a Hollywood party she is going to. At the party a woman takes videos of
all the guests. Angel asks about Russell. Tina goes off with the woman who
was making the videos. Angel is approached by a man who offers him an acting
position, which he turns down (see Goof #5). Angel then
mingles, and notices Cordelia talking to some people (see Continuity #3). They talk about old times and she says she
is an actress. She is worried he may be evil, but he assures her he's just
giving a friend a ride to the party. Later at the party Angel spots Tina
struggling with a man named Stacy. Tina asks to leave. On the way out of the
elevator Stacy's men jump Angel and grab Tina.
Angel knocks out Stacy's men as Stacy speeds away in a car with Tina. After
some mix-up with cars, Angel finds his and races after Tina in the parking
structure. After a quick game of chicken the car with Tina crashes and Angel
knocks out Stacy and his men, rescuing Tina (see Goof #6). In Cordelia's rather bare
apartment she is putting away her dress as she listens to her messages.
The only message she has implies that no one wants to see her audition. She
snacks on a sandwich from the party and looks depressed. At Angel's place he
makes tea for Tina and talks about Russell and
where she comes from (see Reference #3 & #4). She
asks if this is the part where he comforts her, obviously offering him sex,
but he turns her down saying enough people have taken advantage of her. She
cries. Angel asks more about Russell, and Tina tells her about her friend
Denise, who disappeared after being with Russell. As Tina sleeps Angel goes
off to look up info about Denise at the L.A. Public Library. He finds
information leading him to believe Denise was killed and her body dumped
(see Goof #7). As
Angel returns home he finds Tina having a nightmare. Angel tells her
about his suspicions about Denise, but she spots the note Doyle left with
her name on it and thinks Angel was sent by Russell. She runs off, but Angel
can't follow as he can't go into the sunlight. Trying to grab her his hand
bursts into flame from a ray of sunlight and he vamps out. She sees that and
runs away frightened.
Tina shows up at her apartment panicked and starts to pack her things. She
notices someone behind her and pulls a gun on him. It's Russell, and he says
he was looking everywhere for her. He says he owns the building. She asks
what he did to Denise, but he says she's alive and well (see Reference #5). He says he wants
to help her, and she breaks down and cries. She tells him about the man
who turned into something horrible. Russell vamps
out and drains her. Later Angel finds Tina dead in her apartment, and
is deeply shocked. The police take the body away as Angel looks on from
across the street. Back at his place Angel asks Doyle to help him find
Stacy, to lead him to Russell (see Cool Quotes #2). At
Russell's place a Wolfram & Hart lawyer is briefing
Russell about legal matters and they talk about covering up Tina's
death. Russell is viewing the tape from the party, and spots Cordelia,
saying he wants something to eat. At Stacy's Gym Angel beats on Stacy until
he tells him where Russell is (see Reference #6). At
Cordelia's apartment, she is meditating
and very unhappy about her current situation. Margo from the party calls and
tells her Russell Winters is interested in seeing her, and can help her
career. At Angel's home, Angel gets ready to attack Russell (see Goof #8). Cordelia is
picked up by a limo and seems very happy with herself. Angel gets Doyle to
drive his car (see Reference #7). Cordelia meets Russell
at his mansion.
Cordelia talks with Russell about her financial problems and aspirations as
an actress (see Reference #8 & Continuity #4). Angel and
Doyle show up at Russell's front gate and knock out the guard. Angel leaps over the wall and sneaks
in. Cordelia is breaking down about her failure to break into acting. Russell offers to help her.
Cordelia then notices some oddities about Russell and his home, and realizes he's a vampire (see Cool Quotes #3). Angel sets an explosive in a power box
(see Goof #9). Russell admits she's right about him and
vamps out. Angel climbs on to the balcony as Doyle waits outside. Inside the house Cordelia is
running away from Russell, but he catches her. Then the power goes out and Angel walks in on them.
Cordelia is happy to see him (see Cool Quotes #4). Russell and Angel fight, but then Russell's guards show up, Angel
grabs Cordelia and they make a break for it. Angel gets shot in the process
(see Goof #10). Outside Doyle hears shots
and drives away panicked, but then feels guilty and comes back. Angel and Cordelia show up and get
in the car and they drive off. Back at Angel's place they remove the bullets from Angel. Cordelia
worries Russell will come looking for her. At Russell Winters Enterprises Russell is
talking with his lawyer and staff about the break-in. Angel walks in on them and the lawyer
intercepts Angel, letting him know he knows Angel is a vampire. Russell offers to make peace with
Angel, but Angel kicks him out the window before anyone can stop him
(see Goof #11 & 12). Russell bursts into flame and
combusts before he hits the ground. The lawyer calls his people to warn them of Angel. At Angel's
place he calls somebody, obviously Buffy, to talk to her, but hangs up before he says anything
(see Goof #13 & Continuity #5). Doyle walks in and tells him
how he saved Cordelia as they hear Cordelia screaming. She's upstairs and found a roach, they find
her setting up shop (see Reference #9). She thinks they need a business that helps people and volunteers to
organize that business for a fee. Angel agrees and Doyle concurs. Doyle admits he likes her. Doyle
says there are a lot of people who need help, and Angel says he's game. Switch to Angel looking over
the city at night with more Batman-like posturing and music.
In this episode we see Angel and number of other vampires, which follow
the rules set up in the first three seasons of Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
We also have mention of "The Slayer" herself. One new item is Doyle, who
seems to be half-demon/half-human. He seems to be mostly normal, but can
change into a demonic form with green skin and spikes on his face,
which is somewhat reminiscent of the face of Pinhead from the Hellraiser films. We also get the
first mention of the Powers That Be, mystical forces that give Doyle his
visions.
We get a glimpse at the law firm of Wolfram & Hart. Although seemingly
human, they service powerful supernatural creatures like Russell with both
legal advice and in covering up their activities. Later episodes would show
that this lawyer's name is Lindsey McDonald.
The basic plot of this episode is very similar to the animated 1985 film Vampire Hunter D. In it a
brooding vampire hunting half-vampire named D helps out a young woman named
Doris when ancient vampire count Magnus Lee decides he wants her for
himself.
David Boreanaz as Angel
Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase
Glenn Quinn as Allen Francis Doyle
Tracy Middendorf as Tina
Vyto Ruginis as Russell Winters
Christian Kane as Lindsey McDonald
Jon Ingrassia as Stacy
Renee Ridgeley as Margo
Sam Pancake as Manager of the Coffee Spot
Josh Wolloway as the Good Looking Guy
Gina McClain as Janice
Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Anne Summers (Uncredited, voice heard on phone, seen in flashbacks.)
Michael Mantell as Oliver Simon (Uncredited)
David Boreanaz, who played Angel, has played the character of Angel for a part in a 1-800-COLLECT television commercial. You might recognize him as Adam Carr in the 2001 horror film Valentine. He has an official web site at http://www.celebrityblvd.com/davidboreanaz.
Glenn Quinn, who played Doyle, is probably most well known for his roll as Mark Healy, Becky's boyfriend and later husband, on the 1988 comedy television series Roseanne. There is an excellent fan web site devoted to Glenn at http://www.glennquinn.com/.
Vyto Ruginis, who played Russell Winters, played Chief Engineer Lt. Logan in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode The Arsenal of Freedom 1.21. He also played in the X-Files episode in Medusa 8.12.
Tracy Middendorf, who played Tina, played Tora Ziyal (Gul Dukot's daughter) in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode For The Cause 4.22. She also played Gracie O'Conner in the X-Files episode Signs and Wonders 7.09.
Christian Kane, who played Lindsey McDonald, has a career as a singer and has an official web site at http://www.kanemusic.com/.
Michael Mantell, who played Oliver Simon, is probably most famous for his role as Mr. Sewell on the 1995 sci-fi television series Space: Above And Beyond. He also appeared in the Charmed episode Is There A Woogie In The House 1.14 and as Dr. James Riley in the X-Files episode Alpha 6.16.
