Gunn and Fred are sorting through stacks of files on the reception counter of the Hyperion's lobby. There are a lot of files to go through, and many of them were supposed to be taken care of by Wesley. Gunn remarks, to Fred's disapproval, that if Wesley wasn't too busy kidnapping Connor, some of these case files would have been closed.

Lorne walks in: "So, how's it coming? Making any headway on those pending file piles?"

Then he notices that it is a good time for everyone to stay busy, especially Angel. He lost the only child he'll ever have, but he won't talk about it. Gunn figures that it is better to leave Angel alone - the rage may have passed, but Gunn isn't anxious to test out this theory. He knows Wesley is smart enough not to come anywhere near the hotel

They all turn as the hotel doors open - and see Cordy and Groo walking in.
Cordy, grinning: "We're back! And we're bearing gifts!"
They all just look at her.
Cordy: "What happened?"

Angel is in his scorched apartment staring at Connor's empty crib. The door behind him opens and Cordy walks in. Cordy walks up to Angel, sits down beside him and puts a hand on his back. When she tells him how sorry she is, he continues to stare at the crib.

We get a flash of a big red "Casino" sign demons are gambling at Jenoff's casino. Jenoff, a demon, tells one of his employees to deal with a demon that has just cheated. Another of his employees, the Repo Man is handed an Angel Investigations card, and told that it is time to bring in this client. His marker's up, and it's time for his soul to be collected.


Intro

Hyperion, day, Angel is lying on his fire-scorched bed, staring up at the ceiling. The door of his apartment opens and Cordy walks in carrying a book in her hand. She lets Angel know she is there, then settles down to read. Downstairs, Groo can sense the sadness in the hotel. In order to support Cordy, he brought he food and clothing for her "shiv-roth" with Angel. Lorne is busy packing up the rest of Wesley's belongings. At first Groo thought Lorne was packing things for the "shiv-roth" but then he realises he was packing up Wesley's things. Lorne suggests Groo doesn't use that name in the hotel anymore.


Wes Office

An older demon couple is sitting in Wes' office across from Gunn and Fred.

Fred and Gunn are dealing with them. The woman asks where Wesley is, since she dealt with him last time, but Gunn says he is on "sabbatical." Fred begins to clarify information with the couple. They have a squatter in their lair - a "skench" demon. The male demon is upset that these demons come in and take advantage of hard-working demons. He worked long and hard to get his lair the way he wanted it. His wife complains about his ranting, and the couple begins bickering. Gunn interrupts them, and begins stating what he knows about Skench demons. They go in, and drive out the inhabitants of a lair. The wife agrees with this - it's hard to live with all the screeching and projectile phlegm. Gunn says that killing skenches is no problem - they just need to be decapitated. He tells the couple he will be over later in the day to take care of the demon. Fred and Gunn watch as the couple leaves.

Fred thinks it is romantic that after being together for 300 years, they can finish each other's insults. Gunn stares at Fred adoringly. Groo enters, asking if there is evil to vanquish. Gunn lets him know that he can take care of it himself. Fred reminds him to take his machete with him, and Groo says Gunn is lucky that he has a woman to look after his weapon. Lorne enters, and doesn't even bother making a comment about what Groo just said. Lorne lets Fred know he is going to do a reading and that if Angel needs anything, to call him.

Fred: "I'll call."

Lorne nods and leaves. Fred looks down at the box with Wes' things.


Hospital

Wes is lying in his hospital bed, staring up at the ceiling. Fred, the box with his things under her arm, knocks on the open door and he turns his head to look at her.

Fred, smiling: "Hi, Wesley. - How are you feeling?"

Wes makes a motion towards his throat as Fred sets the box down on a chair.

She tells him that she found his notes, and she understands why he took Connor. Slowly, her warmness turns to anger as she tells Wes they were friends, and he should have told them about this, instead of taking matters into his own hands. Wesley looks more and more dejected. Before leaving, Fred tosses in one final blow; she tells Wesley that the prophecy was a fake. Connor was lost for nothing

Wes watches as Fred walks out of the room.


Hyperion

The demon from the casino walks into the lobby of the Hyperion and Groo greets him from behind the counter.
Groo: "Hail to you, potential client! - How may I be of service?"

Meanwhile we see

Gunn walking along a dark sewer tunnel. Comes across a tile in the floor reading "Gurforg bless our home."
Gunn: "Gotta be it."
Gunn pushes against the wall above the tile and it swings open with a grating sound to reveal a furnished cave.
Gunn: "Smells like old people in here."
Gunn jumps as a glob of mucus hits the wall beside him.
Gunn: "Gross!"
A big, ugly looking demon stands up in the middle of the living room.
Gunn: "Okay. Definitely not a Leprechaun."
A fight ensues, and although Gunn loses the machete, he is able to kill the demon.
Gunn: "Uh! Must be my lucky day!"
"Wanna bet?"

Gunn straightens up to see the goon from the Casino standing just inside the apartment. We come back to a flashback of Gunn walking between some homeless and streetbums a night seven years ago. He steps through a fence and walks up to the Casino we saw earlier (you hear in the background the song “Gangster’s Paradise)

Gunn makes his way across the casino floor then steps into a restaurant/bar. He sees the owner sitting at a table, but is stopped on his way there by the Casino goon, wearing the same sunglasses he is seven years later.

He takes the private elevator up to Jenoff. The Repo Man stops him, and frisks him for weapons. Gunn is taken to Jenoff, who recognises him as Charles Gunn, protector of innocents. Gunn tells him that he wants something, but Jenoff isn't receptive. He only deals in needs. So Gunn tells him he needs it. He hands Jenoff a picture, and Jenoff says it's a beauty. He makes Gunn aware of the price he will have to pay. Gunn agrees to pay the price of his own will. Jenoff smiles, then extends his hand. A spike protrudes from his ring, and when Gunn shakes his hand, it splits the skin in Gunn's palm. Jenoff places Gunn's hand on the contract, receiving Gunn's signature in blood.

Present. The Repo Man reminds Gunn of his agreement, and tells him that it is time to pay up. Gunn tells him that things are different now - he's not the same guy he was seven years ago. Jenoff tells him that he was about to give his soul to another, and his soul is no longer his own. It belongs to Jenoff. He has twenty-four hours to give Jenoff what is his, or Fred will die.

Gunn: "She's got nothing to do with this."
Goon: "Well, you can keep it that way - or you can get her killed. It's up to you now, slick. - See you tomorrow."
Gunn watches the Goon leave the demon couple's lair.
Hyperion, night, Gunn walks in to see Fred sorting through some files in Wes' office.

Cordy has taken a break from sitting up with Angel, and is now eating a sandwich. She notices Gunn's mood, and comes over to him. Cordy, mouth full: "Are you okay?"

She knows what is wrong - he feels guilty for being happy when Angel is in so much pain. But he shouldn't feel guilty. Cordy says that you have to taken happiness when you can get it, because you never know what is around the corner. She tells Gunn that he and Fred should take the day off tomorrow. She hasn't had a vision, and they can manage without them. Although reluctant, Gunn agrees.

Hyperion, day, Fred is awakened by the ringing of her cell phone

Fred to phone: "Alright, ready?

The door opens and Gunn comes in, phone in one hand, a covered platter in the other. He brings her breakfast in bed. They are both excited about the day ahead of them. Meanwhile, at yhe hospital a doctor walks into Wes' room at the hospital. Doctor: "How are we feeling today? - I know it's been very rough, but I do have some good news. There no longer seems to be any sign of infection of re-bleeding in the wound, and the swelling is going down. We can stop worrying about your airway becoming compromised. I'm gonna release you later today. Is there someone that can pick you up? - A friend or a family member we can call?"

Wes just keeps staring straight ahead.
Angel is sitting, staring at Connor's crib. Cordy is curled up in a chair with her eyes closed.

Angel: "I think he was gonna be left-handed. (Cordy opens her eyes) The way he would hold on to your fingers? His left hand always squeezed just a little bit tighter. - Kid had a grip. He was gonna be a south paw for sure. - When you live as long as I do, you eventually lose everyone. - I'm not saying you get used to it but - you expect it. You deal. - But he was just... - - He was just a little... (Sighs) - You think you know something about living because you have this really long life. - And that's really all we have, I mean, in my case anyway. And one day you wake up - and you have something else."

Cordy: "A future."
Angel after a long beat: "I had a son."

Gunn and Fred are sitting at a table of an outdoor café. They are eating outside, after having an amazing day together. Fred is loaded down with prizes, but she's really tired. She thinks they've had too much fun. When she asks Gunn if something is wrong, his happy expression changes to one of concern. She knows something is wrong. She begins pressing Gunn for information, when he drops a bombshell. He doesn't want to be with her anymore. Gunn gets up from the table, and Fred follows him. She wants to know if there is another woman, and he says there is - and she isn't a stick either. Fred begins to sob and watches Gunn as he walks away.


Back at the Hyperion

Cordy is sitting beside Angel, who is again staring at the empty crib.

She is comforting Angel about Connor, when she hears sobbing. She goes outside Angel's room, where she sees Fred falling apart. Through her tears, Fred manages to say she thinks Gunn is in trouble.


At the Casino

Jenoff is collecting man's soul through his eyes (I guess the eyes really are the window to the soul). When he is finished, the man collapses to the ground, and is dragged off by employees. Gunn, walking into the Casino, sees Jenoff sucking the soul from the man up on a balcony. He walks up to the demon goon.

Gunn: "I'm here to pay my bill."


Back at the Hyperion

Groo offers Fred his condolences about her break up. Fred tells everyone that Gunn didn't really break up with her - he only said those mean things because he didn't want her getting hurt.

Angel: "I'm a little confused."
Fred: "About what? What was unclear?"

He didn't even know Fred and Gunn were going out. Cordy thinks Fred is just hurt. They decide to look for Gunn, and Groo suggests they hand out business cards, like the demon that was looking for Gunn. Angel recognises Jenoff's name.

Angel: "Then I guess we better help him. (Cordy turns to stare at Angel) We are *not* losing another member of this family." and they head off to the casino in a hurry Wes enters his dark apartment carrying the box with his things that Fred brought to the hospital.


Back at the Casino

Gunn watches as the body of Jenoff's latest victim is dragged past him. Jenoff is impressed that Gunn came of his own will to pay his debt. Most men wouldn't. Jenoff lifts his hand, preparing to stick his fingers into Gunn's eyes the way he did with the other guy, when the door to the casino floor bursts open.

Angel: "Gunn!"

Gunn spins around and Jenoff lowers his hand. Jenoff's guards go to intercept the group, but Angel, Groo and Cordy fight them off while making their way across the casino to where Gunn and Jenoff are standing.

Fred: "Charles!"
Gunn: "Fred!"

Gunn makes to go to her, but the Goon takes a hold of him and Gunn stops. The crowd in the casino mills around and begins to close in around the four intruders even as the last guard goes down.

Cordy: "Angel."
Angel: "I know."

Fred says they have to help Charles

Angel : I KNOW !

Angel grabs a hold of yet another demon guard and puts his ax against its throat.

Angel: "Who does a guy gotta kill to get to talk to the boss around here, huh?"
Jenoff: "I'm the boss. (Walks towards them) Mind telling me why you're disrupting my business?"

Groo suggests fighting their way out, but Angel has another plan. One that will take care of Gunn's debt. Angel will play Jenoff for Gunn's soul. Angel wins - Gunn leaves untouched. But if he loses - Jenoff gets Gunn's soul, as well as Angel's. Jenoff agrees, especially since Angel is a soul-ed vampire. One cut of the deck - high card wins. Although the rest of the gang isn't very sure about this plan, it's the best bet they have.

Angel gets up: "I'm gonna win. And if I lose... (hands Cordy a stake) You know what to do. Make it quick."
Cordy: "You know I will."

All around the room people are placing bets. The good leans in to Gunn. Gunn watches as Angel and the others walk towards them and Angel sits down next to Jenoff. The dealer at the table sets down a deck of cards and shuffles it. Jenoff looks at Angel for a moment then cuts the deck and turns the top card over. A nine of clubs. Angel cuts the deck, blows on his fingers and looks up at Gunn, who gives him a slight nod. Angel flips the top card over.

Angel: "A three?"

With fast reflexes, Cordy pins Jenoff's hand to the gaming table, Angel swings his ax around and beheads Jenoff. The Casino owner's head bounce across the crap table as the crowd gasps in shock. Gunn rams his elbow in the goon's face the knock him back into the slot machines. Fred runs to him and he catches her in a hug Gunn says if it was that easy, he would have killed Jenoff a long time ago. Angel looks down as Jenoff's headless body sits up and a new head starts to emerge from the remains of his neck, while letting out some high shrieks. Angel looks around the casino and the demons and people staring at the screaming head on top of Jenoff's body. Angel asks if anyone else in the casino owes Jenoff money, and the demons jump Jenoff. Angel and Co use the confusion to hurry out of the Casino.

Gunn's truck is parked on a night dark street.

Gunn and Fred are talking in Gunn's truck. Apologies have been given, and they are both happy to be back together. Fred is curious to know whom Gunn sold his soul over. Slightly embarrassed he tells her - his truck. He saved a lot of lives with it, and seven years ago, he didn't think he'd be around that long.
Gunn leans over and they kiss

Fred: "What is it about you that makes me melt?"
Gunn: "Maybe it is that I love you."
Fred smiling at him: "That's gotta be it."


Back at the Hyperion

Angel is standing in front of the empty crib. The door to his apartment opens unnoticed behind him. Cordy stand in the open door watching. Angel slowly starts to take the crib apart and Cordy leaves, quietly closing the door.