Title: Paying The Piper
Author: i_glow_like_cordy
Posted: 04-20-2003
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Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
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FADE IN

WE HEAR THE SOUND OF A TELEPHONE RINGING.

ANGEL
Hello?!?

Next we can hear grunting, moving, the sound of someone in a fight.

ANGEL(VO)
Come on......Piper!

These sounds stop.

MALE VOICE
I'm sorry Kid. He's gone.

ANGEL
Whistler no, It can't.......

WHISTLER
I'm sorry Kid.

ANGEL(VO)
You're suppost to stake the Vampire.

PIPER(VO)
You don't shut up, I'm gonna stake you!

On this last sentement, the screen flashes white.

INT. ANGEL'S ROOM

where ANGEL lies silently in his bedroom. He doesn't move. THE CAMERA moves over to the clock, which reads 3PM.

INT. HOTEL LOBBY

where the LA Times has arrived.

ANGLE ON

TOP STORY which reads "YOUNG MAN FOUND MURDERED. SPECTATOR SPECULATE IT WAS WORK OF VAMPIRES!"

PIPER(VO)
Is he going to do the speech again?

WHISTLER(VO)
It's a good speech.

PIPER(VO)
But I get it
(doing Angel impression)
I'm evil blah blah blah, I murdered babies blah,
but now my gypsy curse resulted in me being
a defanged puppy blah blah blah
(silence)
............................blah!

WHISTLER(VO)
Hey, kid sounds almost like the real thing. Ain't
that right Angel? Angel?

CORDELIA(VO)
Angel.

INT. ANGEL'S BEDROOM

where Cordelia stands over Angel, still wrapped up in the cover's in his bed. Cordelia holds a glass of blood for Angel

CORDELIA
I brought you some, cold, cool plasmic refreshment.

CORDELIA moves away, but hitting the side of the bedside table, caused the PHOTOGRAPH to fall to the ground. It doesn't go unnoticed by Cordy, who is now reaching down to pick it up.

ANGLE ON THE PHOTOGRAPH

It is faded and ragged, obviously has seen hard times. In the photograph, we see ANGEL, trashy dirty clothes, long hair. It is obvious this Angel circa 1996. He looks very uncomfortable, and beside him in the photo, beaming smile, is a BOY, aged 16 or so. She flips over the picture. There is writing on the other side. It reads:

"Manhatten -- 1996 -- Me and Piper"

ANGLE ON CORDELIA'S FACE

putting it together.

CORDELIA
(softly)
Okay Cordy. Handle this sensitively, and with tact.

CUT TO:

INT. LOBBY

Cordelia makes her way down the stairs. She finds Angel standing, staring at the hole in the wall he made

CORDELIA
Admiring your handiwork?

INT. LOBBY - EARLIER

We see QUICK FLASHES OF SCENES.

-------- Angel ripping up a Newspaper. The Gang Oblivious why.

CORDELIA
(re: newspaper)
Okay. What's with the Paper Mache?

Another quick FLASH

--------- Angel punching into the wall over and over.

CORDELIA
(hysterical)
Please just stop Angel! Angel please stop!
STOP IT DAMMIT!!!!

And the screen FLASHES WHITE and we're back to

INT. LOBBY - NORMAL TIME

ANGEL
I intend to chip in on this, by the way.

CORDELIA
Is it chipping in when you pay for it all?

ANGEL
I deserve that.

CORDELIA
You don't deserve any of this.
(holds up photo)
Who is this?

ANGEL reaches for the photograph, Cordy withdraws so he can't get to it.

ANGEL
It's no-one.

CORDELIA
(serious)
Don't you lie to me.
(reading)
"Me and Piper" Sounds like a someone.

ANGEL
That's the past.

CORDELIA
Really? We'll the headline of the April 28th edition of the LA Times
say's differently.

ANGEL
Cordelia, Dammit, just let it go.

CORDELIA
I think that's THE problem. Whatever happened, and I don't know
what it is, you obviously haven't let it go, and considering
I'm reading the kids obituary

ANGEL
(cutting her off)
He's not a kid!

And Cordelia poses the question that she is dying to know.

CORDELIA
Then who is he?

SMASH CUT TO:

INT. GRAVEYARD - 1996

ANGEL
An amatuer.

PULL BACK TO REVEAL ANGEL and PIPER in a Graveyard. Piper, a young boy of 16, who is currently taking on a Vampire, as Angel observes.

PIPER
Amatuer? Amatuer what? Pianiest? cause I always
wanted to learn to play, honest, but i ruined the
piano when i took a chunk of it out to stake this
vamp.
(beat)
And the guy that owned that Piano store was so pissed.

ANGEL
See, while your talking, that Vampire is......

Before Angel can finish his sentence, Piper has caught the running Vampire, and flipped him over into a Tombstone, getting him right across the back.

PIPER
Starting his long History of back problems?

ANGEL
Stake him!

PIPER
Would that require a stake?

ANGEL
You forgot your stake again?

PIPER
No I remember my stake. I'd describe it as
wood-sy. I was thinking of naming him.
Would you label that under quirky or sad?

ANGEL
(serious)
This stake is the difference between life and death.
You and this Vampire. Only one of you is coming out
alive, and this stake is where you make the choice
wether it's you or him.

PIPER
Wow.
(beat)
That was so deep on so many levels. And if it weren't
for my short attention span, I'm sure I would have learned
a very valuable lesson about life.

ANGEL
(resolved; giving in; handing stake over)
Just Stake him.

Piper grabs the stake. Angel watches as Piper runs at the Vampire and does a fancy flip over him, full roll, lands on his feet and kick him, causing him to fall. Piper doesn't capualise those. He staggers alittle, dizzy from the flip.

PIPER
Wow. Headrush.

ANGEL
Are you doing okay?

PIPER
Dandy.
(yelling; know's Vampire can hear)
I just got a headrush from doing that flip, so I'm really dizzy
and disorientated
(beat)
And the adreniline has gotten my blood pumpin', you know
real thick.
(pointing to side)
And right here, where Whistler thought it would be fun to punch
me for no reason, it still sore and vulnerable, one good hit would
send me down.

ANGEL
See that's your problem. You're too cocky.

PIPER
I am not cocky. I just know my strengths. And the fact that
I just kick ass is a bonus.

ANGEL
You go in Half-cocked and are cocky.

PIPER
(teasing)
Poppycock.

Piper stops. Trying to figure out the last things that we're just sayed.

PIPER
Anyway's that doesn't make sense in my head.

The Vampire takes the opportunity to hit Piper.

PIPER
He hit me. He hit me when i wasn't paying attention.
What kind of shell for evil is this Vampire?

ANGEL
Was it funny? Was that dead girl we found down in the Alley funny.

Piper tenses up, starts to get serious, hitting some major blows.

PIPER
Fine.

Piper gets him in the stomach, punch across the nose. He hit's him across the face, sending him to the ground. Piper tries staking the Vampire, who is squirming.

ANGEL
Factually, this is the part where you would stake him.

PIPER
Are you sure that's actually, factually true?
See, word games are fun.

ANGEL
Stake through the heart. Come on, Piper.

PIPER
I'm trying.
(trying to get the heart)
God, if he'd just stop moving.

BAM! Right through the heart goes the stake, resulting in one staked Vampire and one very pleased Piper.

PIPER
(re; stake)
Now If i was a Vampire, I doubt my favourite Fashion accessory
would be a stake.

ANGEL
Lucky for you I remembered mine.

PIPER
(holding up hands)
Go ahead. Do the guilt thing. This is me. Guilty of Guilt.

Angel smiles.

ANGEL
You did good kid.

PIPER
Good? Really? Thanks.
(beat)
Just good? I was great.

ANGEL
Don't push it.

PIPER
Are you kidding? I'm great. I'm the best. I'm...

SMASH CUT TO:

INT. LOBBY

ANGEL
....not anything anymore. He's dead, okay?

CORDELIA
Yes, He is, Angel. But why is that important to you?
Why?

ANGEL
Cordelia, I know your just doing the Cordelia thing
where you go on and on at me to make me share
for my own good. But back off!

CORDELIA
I'm not going anywhere until you.....

Angel grabs Cordelia's shoulder violently.

ANGEL
(dark;meanacing)
Back Off before I make you back off.

And as Angel walks into his office, slamming the door behind him.

SMASH CUT TO:

PIPER(VO)
That was cold.

EXT. LOS ANGELES RANDOM STREET

where Angel replaces the lid on a Sewer grate, both Whistler and Piper standing behind him.

PIPER
Now, would either of you be disappointed if I
didn't enjoy my trip through the sewer.

WHISTLER
I found it refreshing,
(pointing to Angel)
having to spend all day around this one.

PIPER
Don't you pay attention to him Angel, your smell is
original!

WHISTLER
'cause nobody else wants it.

PIPER
And at least he's got a hundred years of tortured Humanity on
his side, what's your excuse?

WHISTLER
I'm low maintanence

PIPER
More like no maintenance.

WHISTLER
Isn't that the pot calling the kettle stinky.....

PIPER
Actually I was going to go with retched.
(off his look)
No? How about vomit inducing?

WHISTLER
.....'cause lets face it kid, you ain't no summer meadow.

PIPER
I smell fresh. Like daisies.

WHISTLER
Only If your pushing them up.

ANGEL is looking over across the street, where a Young Woman is being dragged into an Alley by a Vampire.

ANGEL
Guy's. Look.

He motions over to the Alley, just a few footsteps away from a HOT DOG VENDOR.

WHISTLER
Yeah it's terrible. That Hot dog vendor charge's 7.50 a piece.

ANGEL
So we're in agreement about what we have to do
right?

PIPER
Yeah.
(beat)
If I can distract that Hot dog vendor long enough
we could be eating dog meat that wasn't actually meant
for the dog.

ANGEL
I'm talking about that girl over there being attacked by
that thug. We should go and help her.

Whistler and Piper look at each other; then

WHISTLER/PIPER
(in unison)
Why?

ANGEL
Because it's the right thing to do.

Nothing from Whistler and Piper.

ANGEL
We're doing it anyways.

WHISTLER
See, this is what the Power's where talking about. The Potential
is there for you to be a great champion. To see, there are people
here for you.
(beat; turnabout; to Piper)
So, Hot dog vendor. How we gonna pull this off?

PIPER
We'll I was thinking I would.....

Piper is stopped as Angel starts dragging him and Whistler across the street.

ANGEL
Come on.

They start to cross the street.

PIPER
Do any of you have a stake?

WHISTLER
Nope.

PIPER
Holy Water?

ANGEL
Not so much.

PIPER
So we're going to just taunt him. That's Great Angel, and we could
rename you 'The Taunter' and get you sequene tights and a cape.

ANGEL
Uhh......The Taunter?

PIPER
Yeah, what else are we gonna call you? Something lame like the
'Dark Avenger?

WHISTLER
That one's actually catchy.

PIPER
(proving his point)
See, Whistler likes that name.

ANGEL
I think I'll go with 'The Taunter'

WHISTLER
Hey.
(beat)
Kid's got a point. You ain't exactly Slayer material, my pal.
How are you going to take out this Vampire?

ANGEL
I'll use everything you've taught me.

PIPER
Again, How are you going to take out this Vampire?

Whistler hits Piper on his arm.

PIPER
Oww.

EXT. ALLEY

Angel prepares to go in. .

PIPER
Don't worry Angel. We're going to be your cheering squad
(beat; points at Hotdog stand)
Over there.

Whistler and Piper start heading for the Hotdog stand

ANGEL
You guy's are abandoning me?

WHISTLER
And your what? Shocked?

They start to move away, leaving Angel to face the bad himself.

WHISTLER
How are you going to get the Hotdog.

PIPER
I've got the best plan ever.

WHISTLER
What is it?

PIPER
I'm going to pay.

Their Voice's have grown more faded as Angel has moved further into.

INT. ALLEY

Angel moves quietly through the Alley. He can see the Woman, who has been thrown to the ground by the Vampire.

WOMAN
Anything you want. Please. I have a family.

ANGEL
How about you leave the girl alone.

The Vampire turns around to see Angel standing behind him.

ANGEL
Take me instead.

The Vampire looks at him like he's crazy.

VAMPIRE
You don't honestly think I'm going to eat you?

ANGEL
What's wrong with me.

VAMPIRE
We'll first the smell.

ANGEL
You're decomposing right now.

VAMPIRE
Okay, I've got dinner plan's for two, so if you don't mind........

ANGEL
Crashing? I'd love to.

Angel smashes a discarded pane of glass over the Vampires head.

VAMPIRE
Okay. No Offense dude. But I'm going to have to kill you now.
(beat)
Or maybe, I'll just turn you. Make you into one of us, and experience
the horrors of the Underworld, the like's of which you've never seen.

ANGEL
(downbeat; sircastic)
Oh no. That would be bad.......bordering on Naughty. I couldn't imagine the horrifying pains of being a Vampire. I mean' that face alone. Chilling.

VAMPIRE
Who the Hell are you?

ANGEL
Name's Angelus.

Beat.

VAMPIRE
Holy crap. You're Angelus? Gee wizz. Wow. This is just.....wow.
Your here. In front of me.
(re; girl)
Hey, could you sign my Victim's calf.

Angel produces a stake.

ANGEL
(threatening)
Is this a big enough pen?

VAMPIRE
(friendly; not getting it)
Yeah, sure, just kinda carve your name into the thigh,
or wherever you know....

ANGEL
No, you don't get it. This is suppost to be threatening.

VAMPIRE
Oh, go ahead. I've got her primed man.

ANGEL
You're an idiot.

He attacks the Vampire, who fight's back. A few kicks, a punch, and Angel's got him down. He runs over to the Woman, still in Vamp-face.

ANGEL
Are you okay?

WOMAN
Stay away please. What are you......you things.

VAMPIRE(OS)
Pretty stupid, actually.

Angel turns around to see the Vampire bring the Trashcan down.

EXT. ALLEY

The sound of The Vampire smashing the trashcan over Angel's skull can be heard. Whistler and Piper are not invested enough to realise this is a bad thing.

PIPER
That's our Angel. Give 'em Hell.
(To Vendor)
Give me Onions.

INT. ALLEY

The Woman run's past the scuttling Vampires.

VAMPIRE
What happened to you Angelus?

ANGEL
It's Angel now.

VAMPIRE
What are you trying to prove. You're not human. You're not a Vampire.
What the hell are you?

ANGEL
When you get to Hell. Tell 'em Angel sent ya.

Angel stakes him. THE DUST fly's everywhere, causing Angel to cough.

ANGEL
And the dust.....urgh.....that's....very unsettling.

Angel walks out of Alley

EXT. ALLEY

Angel stands, breathing deep. Piper and Whistler move towards him, Piper scoffing a Hotdog.

PIPER
What'd we miss?

Angel just looks at him.

ANGEL
The sun's close to coming up, guy's.

PIPER
Dude chill.
(beat)
Don't worry about the sun, your face won't freckle.

ANGEL
Ha ha. Very funny. Show of hands. Who here will burn in an
instant the moment Dawn hits? Huh? Show of hands.

Angel's is the only hand up for a few secs. Piper starts to raise his up slowly, before having it hit away by Whistler.

They start to walk away.

WHISTLER(OS)
If you have a skin condition, can you put your hand up?

PIPER(OS)
Where we going?

CUT TO:

INT. CAR/SUNNYDALE

Angel and Whistler sit in the front. Piper pops up from the backseat.

PIPER
You brought him to a town called Sunnydale? Is this meant
to be ironic?

WHISTLER
Piper! sit back now.

PIPER
(to Angel)
Don't you love it when he's so manly and butch?
(beat)
I'm even alittle turned on

Piper moves towards Angel.

PIPER
Okay Angel. Chill okay. You just go out there, and do
your thing. You got the Hair working for you, and it's all
about the hair. You gotta be dark and mysterious and
give her the cross.
(beat)
Wouldn't it be funny if you handed her the cross and then
you we're all 'arghh, it burns, I'm a Vampire' and she's all
'I'm scared and blonde, I'm screwed' like in the movies and
then you Two fight it out all mano to womano.

WHISTLER
He won't be fighting with the slayer.

PIPER
Oh, I was talking about him fighting you.

WHISTLER
I swear, there must be a fountain of wit coming out of
your.....

PIPER
(spotting Buffy)
There she is!

Angel steps out of the car and starts to follow Buffy

WHISTLER
(re;him and Piper)
Just blend in.

Piper looks down at Whistler's shirt, then around at the area.

PIPER
There's a pimp around.....?

He's cut off as Whistler drags him down into the car so they remain unseen as Angel starts to follow Buffy.

As soon as they are out of view, Whistler and Piper pop up.

PIPER
(getting teary-eyed)
Our little Vampire all grown up....and stalking the slayer.
(Whistler holds out a tissue)
No, No, I'm good.

CUT TO:

INT. ANGELS ROOM

where he sits on the bed, crying, not lightly but full blown crying. Cordelia walks into the room. She doesn't say anything.
She just know's. She sit's at the end of the bed, not sure wether to move closer when Angel lies down, placing his head
on her lap, still crying as Cordelia gently runs her fingers through his hair.

PIPER(VO)
Crybaby

CUT TO:

INT. GRAVEYARD - DAY

ANGEL stares down at PIPER'S GRAVE. PIPER appears behind him.

ANGEL
You're dead.

PIPER
(insulted)
So are you.
(beat)
Death is natural. Hey, we all gotta
pay the Piper sometime. I guess,
this was my time.

THE CAMERA PULLS AWAY from this scene as a new one fades in.

INT. ANGEL'S ROOM

ANGLE ON A LARGE PIN BOARD

where Angel has an arrangement of pictures of the Gang up. He looks at the board, looking down at

THE PICTURE OF HIM AND PIPER IN HIS HANDS.

He smile's sadly at this image, pulls one of the tacks out of another picture, and puts the photo of him and Piper on the board.

He walks away as the CAMERA MOVES IN on the IMAGE of the Self-concious Angel, with his Best Friend!

End.