Summary
Angel is still haunted by memories of his 150-year relationship with Darla and asks Gunn to help him track her down. He soon discovers, however, that he is faced with an impossible choice: watch her die from a terminal illness or "save" her by turning her once again into a soulless monster.
Plot
The show begins with Cordelia and Wesley worrying about Angel obsessing over Darla in the cellar. It turns out that Angel was just doing laundry. Angel apologizes to them about causing them so much grief over the Darla thing and says he is just going to let go of the whole thing. Gunn then enters saying that he found Darla. Cordelia and Wesley ask Angel why he lied and he said it was because he figured they would nag him. Gunn and Angel leave to find Darla.
Darla is seen in her hotel room putting on makeup. Lindsey enters and takes her back to Wolfram and Hart. There she is given the results of medical tests that were taken when she was first brought back.
Gunn and Angel check out the Darla’s hotel room. Angel can sense that she has been there.
There is a flashback to France of 1765. Angel and Darla are chased by an angry mob into a barn. Angel mentions being pursued by a man named Holtz, someone he claims is more than a mere mortal. Darla tries to seduce Angel but a flaming spike interrupts them.
Darla is then seen back in the present trying to get a loser vampire at a bar to change her back into a vampire. Angel interrupts by staking the vampire. Darla gets angry and claims that Angel doesn’t really know her. Angel again refuses to change her into a vampire and tells her to give being human a chance. Darla says she can’t because she is dying.
Back in France of 1765, Angel prepares to face the mob together. Darla has other plans and whacks Angel over the head and steals the horse, saying that she hopes that he survives.
In the present day, Angel and Darla come back to the office. Angel tells Cordelia and Wesley that he doesn’t believe Wolfram and Hart tests are real and asks them to watch over Darla while he finds out the truth. Cordelia and Wesley threaten Darla with what will happen if she tries to leave.
Angel goes to Lindsey’s place. Lindsey confirms that Darla is dying with test results of his own. Darla is dying of syphilis that she contracted while she was a human in her first lifetime. Angel asks Lindsey if he loves Darla. Lindsey says he doesn’t want her to die. Angel says he will find another way to cure Darla.
Angel returns and tells Darla they will find a cure. Angel says that Darla knows what she needs; she just needs help to see it. He takes her to the karaoke bar where she sings. The lounge demon reluctantly tells Angel to go to an address and to see if he was ready to “take the plunge.”
Angel goes to the address with Darla, jumps into an empty pool, and is transported to another realm. Some British guy tells Angel he will be assisting Angel during the trial. Angel must complete all three trials to make Darla whole, but if he fails, Darla dies.
Angel’s first test is to get through a gate. There is a demon protecting it, one that Angel manages to kill after a while. From another room, Darla insists on being able to see what is going on, so the British Guy taps her forehead so she can.
Angel then has to run through a room covered in crosses, grab a key out of holy water, and unlock a door. Darla can see and feel his pain as he does this.
The final test is one of death. Angel is restrained and faces a wall of wooden spikes. The British Guy explains that Angel has to be killed in order for Darla to live. The British Guy reminds Angel of all the good he can do while he is alive and how Darla is practically useless. Angel still says he will die for her to live. The spikes fly at him and Darla screams. Angel is suddenly in the room with her. He had passed the final test by sacrificing himself. The British Guy tries to heal Darla but can’t because she has already been brought back from death once. Angel the proceeds to throw a huge fit that involves smashing stuff.
Back to Darla’s hotel room, Angel contemplates turning Darla into a vampire. Darla says no, all that she needed from Angel was to see how much he cared. She accepts that maybe she must die the way she was originally intended to. Angel tries to comfort her.
Suddenly, Lindsey busts in with some goons and restrains Angel. Then none other than DRUSILLA enters, bites Darla, and then has Darla feed off of her.
Dialogue
He's been down in that cellar a long time.
I keep hearing a ... "chucka chucka" sound... what's he doing down there?
How should I know? He barely says good morning and get me a glass of blood anymore.
I was a man -- I said... things.
Like what?
Like did he prefer milk or sugar in his tea. It's how men talk about things in England!
Mmmm, don't you love it when they're still warm from the dryer? Wrinkle-free, right -- after you iron it for fifteen minutes.
Well, this is good to see you... taking a domestic tack...
Yeah, you seem all calm and homey -- are you on drugs?
You lied to us!
I did, I know.
Why?
I figured you'd nag.
This is outrageous! Don't these people know who we are?
I believe they do. Which would explain the lynch mob.
I hate the French. We should go someplace like Romania.
In Italy you said we should go someplace like France.
Place like Romania, they really know how to treat a creature of the night.
I wasn't in danger, Angelus! Believe me. I picked a stupid one. I always pick the stupid ones! Didn't you know that?
You really want to be made by some creep in a filthy alley?
I wanted you to do it.
That'll never happen.
So I do what I have to do. Anyway, you were made in an alley if I recall.
That's... not the point.
I don't trust them. But I know a thing or two about mind games. And so do you. We played them together for over a century.
Yes, but you were just soulless bloodsucking demons. They're lawyers.
Okay, first up: You're our prisoner.
I would have to concur with that, yes.
See, you've got our friend all in knots.
Can't say we like you much.
So, sorry about the dying, but if you try to escape, we will hit you.
On the head.
With very large and heavy objects, 'kay?
Does it really look like you need to throttle me for information?
Need to?
Yeah. Looks like our Darla was a working girl in the New World. The syphilis is what she was dying from when she was human. Now she's human again... kind of picking up where she left off -- Of course, today something like that could be cleared up with a few antibiotics. That is, if you catch it soon enough. In this case, we were about a month and, oh, four hundred years too late.
Do you love her, Lindsey? Is that what this is? Look at you. A few short months with her and you've gone all schoolboy. I was with her for 150 years --
But you never loved her.
I wasn't capable of it. And neither are you.
And then, what, Lindsey? You and her can be together? If I were to do it, if I turned her -- how long do you think before she hunted you down and had you for breakfast? Gotta say -- that thought alone almost makes it worth it.
I sense pain and anger -- are you still testy from last time?
When you sent me to that swami who was dead and his imposter tried to kill me? Why would I be testy about that?
That was painful. I'm still reeling.
I feel your pain -- what with the trying to kill me and all.
Oh people try to kill you every day -- I'm talking about Ramone who overheard us and betrayed me... man was a world class bartender, made a Seabreeze that took you to Tahiti -- he's off the menu now.
Aren't you supposed to be reading her?
I'm a channel surfer. Look, you're a big hunk of hero sandwich, you want to save the girl and I can see why...
Why do you care so much? She had more than most of us, four hundred plus years already.
As a vampire. Before that she was... she never had a chance.
Well you're just a big softy, aren't you.
He said I had to take the plunge.
Into an empty pool?
Sure, 'cause if you had water in there you'd get all wet and miss out on the skull crushing.
I'm either coming back with a cure or you're about to see something kind of funny...
Isn't the world better with you in it? You can save so many people. It seems she can barely save herself.
Angel, I see it now. Everything you're going through, everything you've gone through. I've felt it. I've felt how you care -- in a way no one's ever cared before. Not for me. That's all I need from you.
How could The Powers allow you to be brought back -- dangle a second chance -- then take it away like this?
Maybe this is my second chance.
To die?
Yes. To die. They way I was supposed to die in the first place.