HistoryIsMadeAtNight1

Disclaimer: All characters and situations related to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" are the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, The WB, and Fox. No copyright infringement is intended or implied.

Archive- Please email request.

Feedback- Absolutely.

*******************

[London 1815. Even though midnight has passed, the seedy street bustles with life. Both footpads and streetwalkers engage the young gentlemen and merchants entering and leaving a disreputable gambling establishment. Angelus emerges from the gaming hell and watches a brown-haired, dirty, young man and a pregnant woman, both dressed in rags, argue with two well-dressed noblemen.]

Crescentwood: What do you propose to give us in return?

Billy: What do you mean?

Crescentwood: The money for your sister.

Billy: She�s with child, man.

Bradford: Perhaps, that�s the appeal.

Billy: You�re bloody mad! C�mon, Dru, let�s find another street.

[Billy and Dru attempt to leave, but the two men block their way.]

Billy: Let us pass. We don�t want any trouble.

Crescentwood: What is the problem? It�s not as if no one has ever been there before?

Bradford: I bet she�s not even your sister, just your whore.

[Billy punches Bradford, who falls to the ground, at which point, Billy begins to kick him mercilessly.]

Billy: Hurts, doesn�t it?

[Crescentwood pulls out a small pistol and points it at Dru.]

Crescentwood: Halt or I shoot your sister.

Bradford (getting up): Shoot the sod, Crescentwood. We can take the girl for our trouble.

Billy: You can�t do that.

Crescentwood: Why? I�m sure the magistrate wouldn�t doubt the word of Viscount Crescentwood if he said he was set upon by a pickpocket and defended himself.

Dru: What are we going to do, Billy?

Bradford: Oh, are you scared? We wouldn�t hurt a pretty gel like you.

[Angelus intervenes in the argument.]

Angelus: Maybe you should be afraid, Bradford. I think you should let these two people alone.

Bradford: We were just leaving.

Crescentwood: I�m not afraid of him.

Bradford: You should be. No one knows how he got his fortune. Everywhere he goes, people die.

Crescentwood: You believe too many stories. He�s just a merchant from Dublin. He�s not a pirate, slaver, warlord, or whatever else you�ve heard.

Angelus: I see my reputation has preceded me.

Bradford: They call him the Angel of Death.

Angelus (laughing): I love that name.

Bradford: Please, Crescentwood, let�s go.

[Bradford leaves and Crescentwood reluctantly follows.]

Angelus: May I be of assistance?

Dru: Thank you, sir, we shall never be able to repay your kindness.

Angelus: There may be a way for you to repay me.

Billy (confrontational): And what would that be?

Angelus: I�m a lonely man, not well-liked among the members of the ton, as you can see. I don�t have much family, just my mother. It would please me greatly if you and your sister would dine with me this evening.

Billy (wary): I�m not sure that would be proper, sir.

Angelus: I understand. I would hesitate to go home with an Irish merchant of questionable reputation. I assure you I have no dishonorable intentions toward your sister.

Dru: Billy, I�m tired. Perhaps, it would be fine for just a little while.

Angelus: Is your name Billy?

Dru: My husband used to call him �Bloody Billy.�

Angelus: Your husband? Are you married?

Dru: My husband was killed in the war, sir.

Angelus: I am sorry for your loss.

Dru: Billy has been kind enough to take care of me, but we have no money.

Angelus: I just took a fortune off of Worthing�s younger son. I am in the mood to share some of my winnings.

Billy: Of course, seeing your generosity, it would be unseemly to refuse your invitation. My sister and I would be happy to dine with you.

Angelus: My coach is just down the street.

[The three begin to walk toward an elegant, black coach.]

Angelus: Why are you called �Bloody Billy?�

Billy: I don�t bloody know.

[Cut to the formal dining room of Angelus� mansion. Angelus sits at the head of the table, Billy at his right and Dru at his left. Red velvet drapes cover the walls. The ceiling is ornately decorated. Gold candelabras light the table, set with gold plates and utensils. Billy begins to devour his food ferociously before Dru shoots him a look to remind him of proper etiquette.]

Dru: Aren�t you eating, sir?

Angelus: I never eat much this late at night.

Dru: I�m not sure I caught your name, sir, if you don�t mind my impertinence in asking.

Angelus: Not at all. It�s Angelus.

Dru: Is that your title, sir?

Angelus: In a way.

Dru: Did you hear that, Billy? We�re dining with a right proper titled gentleman.

Billy: Of course, I heard. I�m right here, Dru.

Dru: Billy, mind your manners.

Angelus: Never mind. I�m not offended. As I said earlier, I had the good luck to relieve young Worthing of his inheritance tonight. What would you do to get your hands on it?

Billy: I told you, Dru, he�s no better than those bloody gentlemen on the street.

Angelus: You misunderstand me. I have no amorous intentions toward your sister. Although, in the future, to avoid such altercations like the one earlier, I would refrain from begging outside a gaming hell.

Billy: We needed money. We had no luck all day. Where else do you find people with money at midnight besides brothels and gaming hells?

Angelus: You never answered my question. What would you do for the money, Billy?

Billy (angrily): You want to bugger me?

Angelus: Would you in your sister�s place?   Twenty-five thousand pounds. The child would want for nothing.

[Billy shifts uncomfortably in seat, unsure of how to answer, unsure if Angelus is sincere in his offer.]

Angelus (cont�d): How much do you love your sister?

[Darla appears in the doorway wearing a blue, silk negligee and black stockings. She sits down in Angelus� lap.]

Angelus (cont�d): We have company for dinner, Darla.

Darla: Ours or theirs?

Angelus: I�m not sure yet. I thought we would play a little game.

Darla: What game?

Angelus: How much does Billy love his sister? This is Billy and his sister, Dru. Her husband was killed fighting the Corsican; Billy has been taking care of her. Billy, Dru, this is Darla, my mother.

Billy: Your mother?

Angelus (running his finger along Darla�s neckline): She looks wonderful for her age, doesn�t she?

Dru: I think Billy and I ought to be taking our leave. We�ve imposed on your hospitality long enough. I cannot express our deep thanks for you generosity.

Billy: It�s twenty-five thousand pounds, Dru.

Dru: It�s not worth it.

Billy: You�re worth it.

Angelus: I think we have an answer. Wouldn�t you agree, Darla?

Darla: Does the fun start now?

Angelus: It looks like Billy loves his sister very much.

Dru: Billy, I�m afraid. I want to leave now.

Billy: The sod doesn�t scare me.

Dru: Stop being such a pig-headed fool. The gentleman has proposed unspeakable acts. His mother looks nineteen at the oldest. I don�t know what�s going on here, but it�s unnatural.

Angelus: You are right, madam, unnatural is the word for what Darla and I are. Don�t, Billy, I�m not a sod as you so eloquently stated. My suggestion was merely a test of your devotion. However, if you had your heart set on a little male companionship, I could make some arrangements. Nevertheless, you have proven your devotion to your sister. That�s all the information I was after.

[Angelus grasps his knife and slices open his own wrist. Dru gasps. Billy clutches his own knife in defense. Angelus, vamped out, reaches over and grabs Billy by the hair. He sinks his fangs into the young man�s neck.]

Dru (crying): Please, God, help us. Billy�no�please�

[Angelus raises his head and presses Billy�s mouth against the wound on his wrist.]

Angelus: Darla, will you quiet the bitch? I can�t enjoy myself with her whimpering like that.

Darla: Oh, I like it. Her fear adds atmosphere.

Angelus: Don�t suck me dry, man.

[He pushes away Billy, who falls on the floor dead.]

Dru (anguished): Billy!

Darla (wistfully): If only we could bottle that scream and save it for dessert.

Angelus: Once we tie her up, we can have dessert. I promise.

[Cut to a bedroom in the mansion two days later. Billy, wearing expensive new clothes, is laid out on the bed. Angelus, in a black lawn shirt and trousers, sits on a chair next to the bed waiting. Billy wakes up, vamped out.]

Angelus: Welcome back, Billy. Darla and I were eagerly awaiting your arrival back among the living, or the non-living, however you may look at it.

[Billy, growling ferociously, attacks Angelus, who holds him off easily.]

Angelus (cont�d): Not so fast. My blood is not what you crave. Do you know what you are?

Billy: I remember, while I was asleep, you said I was a vampire.

Angelus: Do you know what a vampire is?

Billy: I�m not sure.

Angelus: You are no longer human; you are caught between life and death. If you are careful, you can be immortal, but you must feed on the blood of the living.

Billy: Now.

Angelus: First, you must sever all your human ties. Darla!

[Darla enters dragging an exhausted and half-starved Dru behind her.]

Angelus (cont�d): Look at her, Billy. She�s young. Her blood will be fresh.

[Billy walks over to Dru and brushes his hand along her cheek.]

Dru: Billy, what�s wrong with your face?

Angelus: Her neck, Billy. Can you smell it?

[Billy grabs Dru�s hair and exposes her neck.]

Dru: No, Billy, the baby, please.

[Billy hesitates.]

Angelus: Kill her now, Billy, and your craving will be satisfied. That emptiness will be filled. I know you can smell the blood.

[Billy backs off proudly.]

Billy:   I won�t. She lives.

Angelus: Do you wish to dip your quill in the family well, Billy? Normally, such a notion would be a pleasure, but tonight, I have taste for cruelty over perversion. Kill her, or I will and you will starve.

Billy: You may bloody well do what you will, but I will not take her life.

[Billy spits on Angelus� boots. In anger, Angelus shoves Billy across the room and bites Dru himself, killing her.]

Angelus: I am your sire, and you will not disobey me again. You have a lot to learn, and without me, you won�t survive long.

Darla: Angel, he didn�t kill her. I�m disappointed.

Angelus: So am I, dear. He doesn�t seem to have the talent for cruelty that I thought. Maybe we should just throw him out in the daylight and be done with him.

Darla: Of course, he could be a challenge. Cleaned up, he�s not hard to look at. Perhaps, I could train him.

Angelus (jealous): On second thought, maybe I will have a go. I�ve been looking for a new project. I guess you live, Billy, for now. Remember I can kill you anytime I choose.

Billy: I�d like to see you try.

Angelus: Indignance, I like that. I can work with that. Now, we need to find you dinner. And a new name. Billy lacks panache. Although, the bloody part works enormously well. Is Billy short for William?

Billy: Yes.

Angelus: Bloody William. No, that makes you sound like a tiresome Medieval king. Hmm�Bloody William. How about William the Bloody. I like that. Darla, how does it sound to you?

Darla: I�m not sure suits him.

Angelus: Well, I cannot think of anything else at the moment. For now, it will have to do.

[Cut to a crowded ballroom a few weeks later. Darla, Angelus, and William observe the crowd.]

Darla: My this is a crush. It will be the social event of the Season.

Angelus: What do you think of how our prot�g� has turned out?

Darla: I�m concerned. He does not seem to fit in with the ton.

Angelus: He kills several of them every night. His thirst is greater than I could have hoped.

Darla: But the way he carries himself. He will get us thrown out of polite society.

Angelus: Nonsense, they think he�s quaint. William, there�s a nice innocent over there. She�s the crown jewel of the Season. Why don�t you fetch her some lemonade?

William: That�s a right smart idea. Those fluttering peacocks who hang over her could use some competition.

[He leaves to flirt with a beautiful young girl in a pastel pink gown.]

Darla: I�m surprised you shared her, Angelus. She�s lovely. I thought you would want her for yourself.

Angelus: Darla, you should know me better than that. I despise these society gels. They never have an interesting thought in their heads.

Darla: Is that why you carry on with queen of the demimonde? Do you know how many men have had her?

Angelus: If purity were a prime consideration with me, darling, you would have been out of my bed long ago.

[Two gentlemen, both dressed in the flamboyant fashion of the time, approach the couple.]

Lord Byron: Angelus, I was hoping to find you here. I trust you are well. Madam, you look more beautiful every time I see you. I don�t think I�ve ever seen your loveliness during the day, but your fair face and golden hair bring the daylight with you. All that�s best of dark and bright meets in your aspect and your eyes. I rather like that line, don�t you, Polidori?

Dr. Polidori: Byron, you are a genius.

Byron: Angelus, Darla, this is Dr. John Polidori. John, this is the man I mentioned earlier, Angelus and his cousin, Darla.

Polidori: A pleasure to meet you.

[He kisses Darla�s hand.]

Angelus: Lord Byron, it�s always a pleasure, and I am glad to meet you, Dr. Polidori.

Polidori: Pity about young Worthing, isn�t it? The entire ball is buzzing with the news.

Angelus: Hanged himself, didn�t he? Terrible tragedy.

Byron: Angelus was the man who was telling me that fascinating tale of half-dead monsters who feed on the blood of innocents.

Polidori: What were they called again?

Angelus: Vampires.

Byron: I�ve been trying to turn the idea into a novel or perhaps a piece of verse with no luck. I was discussing my troubles with Polidori, and he just had to meet you.

Polidori: Yes, Angelus, I am intrigued. Would you tell me the story of these vampires?

Darla: Angelus, I hadn�t realized you shared that tale with anyone.

Polidori: You know of it, madam?

Darla: Yes, it�s popular in our family.

[Cut to the gardens outside. William strolls with the lady in pink.]

Prudence: I�ve never met anyone like you, William.

William: No, I don�t think you have. Would favor me with a kiss?

Prudence (shocked): Sir, the impertinence! We�ve just been introduced. Proper ladies don�t kiss a man until they are betrothed.

William: Are you a proper lady, out here in the dark with the likes of me?

Prudence: Are you insulting me?

William: I was admiring you.

[He grabs her and kisses her deeply. She struggles, but he is too strong. When he finally breaks off, she slaps him.]

Prudence: How dare you!

William: Too bad.

[He grabs her quickly and bites her, drinking thoroughly.]

Darla (entering with Angelus): William! How could you?

Angelus: William, I realize you are a novice at this, but there are three hundred people in that ballroom. There is such a thing as prudence.

William: Yes, she was a beautiful girl; her blood was a little on the bland side.

[He lets Prudence�s body drop to the ground. Angelus drags him over the garden wall as Darla follows, somewhat hindered by her full gown.]

Part 2 of "History Is Made at Night"
Main Menu ~   Return to "Other Worlds" Menu