Darla (episode)

"Darla" is the seventh episode of the second season of Angel as well as the second part of a crossover with Buffy the Vampire Slayer that begins in "Fool for Love".

Angel tries to rescue Darla from the clutches of Wolfram &amp; Hart, as she begins suffering from the guilt of her demonic past and staying around Lindsey, who has feelings for her.

In flashback, several important moments are shown: Darla's vampire origins in 1609; Darla's decision to leave the Master to be with Angelus in 1760; Angelus, Darla, and Drusilla's first meeting with Spike in 1880; Darla, Spike, and Drusilla's destruction of a Gypsy camp in retaliation for them cursing Angel with a human soul in 1898; Darla's attempts to bring Angel back to evil during the 1900 Boxer Rebellion in China.

Synopsis
As Angel compulsively draws dozens of pictures of Darla, Wesley expresses his concern that Angel has become obsessed with her. Meanwhile, Darla is haunted by memories of her past, and many flashbacks are seen. In 1609, in the Virginia Colony, the human prostitute Darla lies in her deathbed, covered in sores from the syphilis that is killing her. She receives a visit from the Master, who takes her life and makes her a vampire. In 1760, Darla brings Angelus before the Master, bragging about her wonderful new creation, but Angelus' lack of respect towards the Master results in him receiving a beating. In the end, Darla chooses Angelus over the Master. In 1880, while strolling the streets of London, Angelus, Darla, and Drusilla bump into a man named William, later known to become the vampire Spike. In need of companionship, Drusilla makes him into a vampire. In 1898, Darla begs a Gypsy to halt the curse on Angelus in exchange for her protection of his family, but unfortunately Spike has already slaughtered the Gypsy's family, and the vampire family goes on to kill all in the Gypsy camp. In 1900, during the Boxer Rebellion in China, Angel tracks down Darla, and -- despite being cursed with a soul, for which she has rejected him -- asks her for a second chance to rule the world at her side. She ridicules him for eating vermin rather than people but then relents, and he accompanies her as they wreck destruction during the chaos of the rebellion. However, when he comes upon a terrified missionary family, he distracts his vampire companions away from where they are hiding, then fails to pretend enough excitement when Spike reveals he's killed a Slayer. Angel returns to Darla, who says she's noticed he only kills the wicked, and she demands he prove that he's evil. She says she went back and killed the missionary family in the alleyway, but kept their baby, which she wants him to kill. Angel struggles, but ultimately is unable to kill the baby and instead he grabs it and flees.

In the present, Darla is becoming unhinged with guilt. She calls Angel, telling him Lindsey kissed her and she needs to escape. Lindsey overhears, and he and a security guard try to restrain her; the security guard is shot. Upon violently persuading Lindsey to reveal Holland ordered Darla terminated, he rescues her and brings her back to the hotel. The next day, Lindsey finds that the security guard he supposedly killed is actually alive, and Holland reveals their intent all along was for Angel to abduct Darla and make her a vampire again. However, when Darla begs Angel to make her a vampire, he refuses.

Behind The Scenes
Darla: On the way back we cut a bloody swath through South Wales and northern England. He was magnificent. Angel: 'Yorkshire men, tough as leather.' Wales is a component country of the United Kingdom. With England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. It occupies a peninsula jutting westward from England into the Irish Sea. Yorkshire is a former county of England, until 1974 the country's largest county. Historically, Yorkshire was divided into three ridings, each of which had the full administrative status of a county.

This is the first time they mention Holland's last name on the show.

Continuity
The Romanian flashbacks take place during October 1898.

The Boxer Rebellion flashbacks take place on June 18th, 1900 in Beijing, China.

Quotes
Priest: You can't save her life - perhaps I can still save her soul.

[The doctor gets up and leaves.]

Darla: My soul is well past saving. Let the devil take me if he'll have me. It doesn't matter. Either way, I die.

Priest: No... [The priest steps closer and pulls his hood back to reveal - The Master] ...you will not die. [Darla looks up at his inhuman face without flinching.] You will be reborn.

Darla: I know you.

[The Master leans down and takes one of Darla's hands in his.]

Master: I came to you last night. I sang to you from that window.

Darla: Hmm, I remember now. You're death?

Master: No.

Darla: What then?

Master: I'm you're savior. God never did anything for you - but I will.

[With that he leans down and sinks his fangs into her neck.]

Drusilla: I'm full and warm, yet all alone.

Angelus: That's not true, precious. You've got us.

Drusilla: Not in the least. You won't even hurt me just a little bit.

Darla: All you have to do is ask.

Drusilla: No. His head's too full of you, Grandmother.

Darla: Stop calling me that.

Drusilla: Don't be cross. I could be your mummy...

Angelus: Well, if you're lonely, Dru, why don't you make yourself a playmate?

Drusilla: I could! I could pick the wisest and bravest knight in all the land and make him mine forever with a kiss.

William: [walking past] Bloody... watch where you're going!

Darla: Or you could just take the first drooling idiot that comes along.

Angelus: You think she'll find a good one?

[They walk on but Dru keeps looking after William.]

Darla: I found you.

[Darla is standing in front of an elder of the gypsies.]

Darla: You took him from me! You stole him away! You gave him a soul!

Gypsy Man: He must suffer, as all his victims have suffered.

Darla: That is no justice! Whatever pain he caused to your daughter was momentary, over in an instant... or an hour. But what you've done to him will force him to suffer for the rest of eternity! Remove that filthy soul so my boy might return to me!

Dru: Angelus is gone on away. Where is he?

Darla: [grabs a hold of the Gypsy's neck] Drusilla, the camp - go on - kill things!

Dru: He shall be very cross if he finds we had a lovely mass slaughter without him.

Darla: [closes her eyes for a moment] He'll join us soon. Now do as you're told.

Dru: [licks one of her fingers and nods] Okay.

[Walks off.]

Darla: In that wagon is your family. Your wife and daughters will die tonight without my protection. [Strokes the man's cheek] But if you'll do as I say, your family can live.

''[Spike, in vamp face, blood on his chin, steps out of the wagon and burps. Darla looks at him.]''

Spike: What?

[Darla closes her eyes, turns back to the gypsy and snaps his neck.]

Dru: [swaying by the fire] Pretty music, pretty, pretty music. [Spike comes up to her and she pulls him into her dance] They cry out for mercy. They cry out for mercy.

Darla: Show none.

(The phone rings and Cordelia repeatedly tries to get Angel's attention as he discusses how to find Darla, before Cordelia gives up)

Cordelia (into phone): "Hi Darla, he can't talk right now, he'll call you back once he's found you."

(Angel rushes over to take the call before Cordelia can hang up)

Darla: So, where have you two been?

Drusilla: Can I tell?

Spike: No need to be humble.

Drusilla: My little Spike just killed himself a Slayer.

Darla: [to Angel] Did you hear that?

Angel: [to Spike] Congratulations. I guess that makes you one of us.

Spike: Don't be so glum, eh? The way you tell it, one Slayer snuffs another one rises. I figure, there is a new chosen one getting all chosen even as we speak. I tell you what, when and if this new bird shows up, I'll give you first crack at it!

[Drusilla steps past Angel in the direction of the alley.]

Drusilla: Hmm, I smell fear.

Angel: This whole place reeks of it.

[Spike wraps his arms around Drusilla from behind.]

Drusilla: It's intoxicating.

Angel: Let's get out of here. This rebellion is starting to bore me.

''[Darla watches as Angel walks past Drusilla, giggling in Spike's arms, then follows him. Nice, slow motion shot of the four of them walking down the street with the burning buildings and riot all around. Spike steps on a bundle in his path and leaps high into the air. Angel is walking down the street, grim-faced leading the way, with Darla just a step behind him. Spike is carrying Dru in his arms, kissing her. Darla is watching Angel.]''

Darla: Do it! Now!

Angel: What?

Darla: Make me what I was again!

Angel: Darla...

Darla: You said you'd help me!

[Angel backs away but she won't let go of him.]

Angel: I will! I want to but not like this.

Darla: Then turn me back! My God! I can't bear this pounding in my chest for another instant!

Angel: It's a gift... to feel that heartbeat. To know, really and for once, that you're alive. You're human again, Darla. Do you know what that means?

Darla: Of course I do. It means pain, and suffering and disease and death! Look, I released you from this world once. I gave you eternal life. Now it's time for you to return the favor.

[Angel backs away and looks at her incredulously.]

Angel: Favor? Is that what you think? You think you did me a favor? You damned me!

Darla: [beat] Fine. Fine then, if it's such a punishment, take out your revenge, pay me back! [Angel just looks at her] Please.

[Angel swallows and shakes his head ever so slightly]

Angel: I can't.

Main cast

 * David Boreanaz as Angel/Angelus
 * Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase
 * Alexis Denisof as Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
 * J. August Richards as Charles Gunn

Guest starring

 * Sam Anderson as Holland Manners
 * Julie Benz as Darla
 * Christian Kane as Lindsey McDonald
 * Zitto Kazann as Gypsy Man
 * Juliet Landau as Drusilla
 * James Marsters as Spike/William
 * Mark Metcalf as The Master
 * Lin Oeding as Chinese Boxer
 * Bart Petty as Security Guard