Offspring

Plot

The episode begins with a flashback to Rome in 1771. Angelus is being chased through the sewers. He stumbles and crashes into the lair of an excommunicated monsignor working with Holtz. The minions capture Angelus as Holtz arrives. Holtz tortures Angelus for what appears to be quite some time. He tells Angel that he is torturing him in order to see if a thing like him can be made to pay for his sins. Darla finally shows up with some lackeys and rescues Angelus from Holtz. When Angelus asks Darla if they should kill Holtz, she responds that it is too much fun ruining his life and that he is almost like family now.

The scene shifts back to the present day. Darla shows up in L.A. on a bus. Several people on the bus are dead with neck wounds and several others are crying. She walks casually off of the bus while the driver calls for help over his radio.

Over at Angel Investigations, Cordelia is busy putting fake flowers all around in Angel’s basement. She tells him that she didn’t bring real ones because they’d just die. He tells her, in a rather affectionate tone, that he’s never met anyone like her before. She dismisses it with a, “Well, duh!” They spar for bit. Cordelia mentions a prophecy that Wesley and Gunn are trying to get their hands on by breaking and entering and wonders whether Angel really thinks the end is coming. He says it is nothing to be worried about.

Gunn and Wesley enter a museum-like facility looking for a scroll with the prophecy. The owner catches them, but Wesley outsmarts him and keeps him from calling the police. Gunn gets the man to let them take his Nyazian scroll by threatening to destroy some of his valuables.

Fred comes down to the basement while Angel and Cordelia are training. As Cordelia leaves and passes her on the stair, Fred says “kyerumption” to her. She explains to Angel that it is what the Pyleans say when two great warriors meet on the field of battle and recognize their similar fates. She says that Angel and Cordelia are both heroes, so it is natural that they are drawn to one another. Angel denies that there is any attraction between them. Wesley comes down to ask Fred for help with the some of the math needed to interpret the Nyazian prophecies.

Wesley has determined from reading the scrolls that a Tro-clon will arise to bring about the purification or the ruination of all mankind, he can’t determine which. Cordy mentions the mistake they made with “Shanshu” before and Wesley explains what happened then to Fred. Fred says that if her calculations are correct, the bad thing prophesied about should already be in L.A. Pretty much the whole time they’ve been talking, Angel has been staring at Cordelia. She asks him why and then says it’s getting creepy. Angel starts to talk to her, rather awkwardly, about how they relate to each other. She interrupts him and asks if he is trying to say that he loves her. He looks shocked and she says she loves him too. Then she announces loudly that she loves Angel and he loves her and adds, “just like we love you and you love us.” The others say in unison, “We love you, Angel.” Cordelia explains everyone has been saying it just in case the prophecy comes true and everyone dies. Angel continues to talk about how much they’ve been through and Cordelia agrees. Just then, Darla walks into the building and announces her presence.

It is obvious from her condition that she is pregnant. Angel is quickly determined to be the father. Cordelia is upset that he lied to her before about sleeping with Darla, so she sympathizes with Darla and takes her side. Angel tries to make excuses for it and then says that maybe it is just a hysterical pregnancy, but Darla assures them that it kicks. They all agree that this shouldn’t be physically possible and Darla tells Cordelia that this gang of investigators should figure out what is going. When Cordelia prompts Angel to take some responsibility, he orders Wesley to go through his books and figure it out. Wesley pulls a book off the counter, opens it and pretends that he’s found something that says he has no idea what is going on. Wesley then suggests that they go visit The Host.

The Host is finally remodeling Caritas. The whole gang shows up with Darla in tow. She desperately sings “Danny-boy” and then asks what’s inside of her. The Host tells her that she’s way beyond singing and doesn’t know what’s going on. Cordelia takes Darla to The Host’s bedroom and stays with her. The rest of the gang discusses possible interpretations of the prophecy. Fred expresses her opinion that prophecies and destinies shouldn’t have control and that nothing is inevitable. Angel asks The Host how Cordelia is and he tells Angel that she’s hurt and mad that he should probably back off for a bit.

Back on The Host’s room, Cordelia relates to Darla’s situation by recalling her own mystical pregnancy. Darla starts eyeing Cordelia hungrily, which she notices. Cordelia tries to leave but is stopped by Darla. Cordy gives her a couple of good punches, but Darla throws her and then takes a bit out of her neck. Cordelia suddenly has a vision and it breaks her free of Darla’s grasp. Angel comes in at this moment and tosses Darla to the side, immediately concerned for Cordelia’s well being. While he is seeing to Cordy, Darla escaped.

Cordelia is taken home to her own bed. Angel is beside her and promises that Darla won’t every hurt her again. He leaves Gunn to stand guard over Cordelia. Cordelia stops him from leaving and tells them about the vision. She says that Darla is super hungry and she might have an idea of where she’s headed. Wesley tries to get Angel to let other go with him, but he refuses.

The scene shifts to young children’s arcade, where a small boy has lost his mother. Darla comes up to him and offers to help him find his mother.

Cordelia has a dream similar to her vision. She tells the gang that she thinks she knows why Darla is craving younger victims.

Darla takes the small boy to the back of the arcade. She is going to eat him when Angel shows up and stops her. They fight for a while in the arcade. When he finally gets the upper hand and is going to stake her, he can’t go through with it, even though she is begging him to go through with it. He realizes that the baby has a heartbeat and a soul.

Back at the hotel, Angel puts Darla in a bed and gives her some pig’s blood. She is not happy. He leaves Gunn to stand guard and goes downstairs to tell Cordelia and Fred to stay away from Darla. Cordelia tells him that she felt that his baby had a soul in her dream. Wesley reminds Angel that even so, Darla could still give birth to what is spoken of in the prophecy. Angel says that he knows, but it is still his baby. Fred interrupts, telling the gang that her calculations say that whatever is being prophesied about is arriving now.

Somewhere underground a demon monk is chanting and throwing dirt on a statue while telling it to arise. The statue starts to crumble and when it is gone it reveals Holtz hunched over. He immediately wants to know where Angel is.