Summary
With Darla's contractions getting closer together, the Angel Investigations gang is surprised when she flies into a frenzy and runs away from them. Now Angel must track her down in time to safely deliver their baby. However, their old nemesis -- the vampire hunter, Holtz -- is now in present day L.A., and after hundreds of years he is finally closing in on his quarry.
Plot
Angel enters the Hotel to find bodies and equipment strewn everywhere. Angel is surprised to see Holtz in the lobby. He realizes that Holtz must be the Tro-clon, bringer of darkness, outlined in the Nyazian prophecy. Angel is trapped by a Grapplar demon. Holtz reveals that he wants vengeance on both Angel and Darla.
In the backseat of Angel’s convertible, Darla’s contractions are getting closer together. Team Angel realize something must have happened to Angel and it is now their duty to protect Darla. While Wesley explains the Lamaze concept, Darla vamps out and throws Cordy, Fred, Gunn, and Wesley off of the car, then begins sobbing uncontrollably.
Flashback: After a speedy horse-ride through the darkness, Holtz bursts into his house. Holtz’ wife Caroline is dead from a vampire attack. Holtz’ daughter Sarah appears, and Holtz quickly realizes she has been turned into a vampire. Holtz begins singing to his daughter, when his men appear, and Holtz orders them to leave. Holtz watches his daughter play with her doll.
At Wolfram & Hart, Gavin, Lilah, and Linwood decide that Holtz is probably from the past. Linwood explains that he was never involved in Gavin and Lilah’s project, and they’re going to get blamed for the failed mission.
At the Hotel, Angel deduces that Holtz was either brought forward in time through dark magick or a demon. Holtz tries to determine what is the best way to bring Darla out of hiding. Holtz notes that Angel is talking differently than Angelus used to talk. Angel asks why Holtz is now working with demons, instead of men.
In the alleyway, Team Angel recovers from Darla’s attack. Darla is rambling to herself in the backseat. Team Angel piles into the car, and prepares to leave. Holtz’ Grapplar demons surround the car.
At the Hotel, a Grapplar demon brings Lilah before Holtz. Lilah is revealed to be a non-vampiric attorney. Angel realizes that the dead bodies all over the lobby must be from Wolfram & Hart. Lilah reveals Angel was cursed by gypsies and now has a soul, which is news to Holtz. Angel, still trapped by the Grapplar, ignites a grenade which throws him free of his captor, back into the elevator. Holtz warns Lilah not to send more men, or else Holtz will kill them. Lilah suggests that if Holtz finds Darla, Lilah wants Darla. Holtz reveals he wants to kill Darla, and leaves. Lilah orders a clean-up crew to clean-up the Hotel, before Lilah steals the Nyazian scrolls and Wesley’s notes.
In the alleyway, Team Angel fights off the Grapplars, while Darla steals the car. Angel arrives, too late.
Angel reveals Holtz’ arrival, and Fred notes that Holtz is probably involved in the prophecy. Fred suggests that if Holtz ends up killing Angel’s Messianic son, it may trigger the apocalypse. Angel leaves, to find Darla, while Team Angel look for a safe place for Darla to give birth.
In Lilah’s office, Lilah is having a translator look over Wesley’s notes and the Nyazian scrolls. The translator notes that it involves a birth. Lilah threatens the man to work faster and leaves.
In Sahjhan’s lair, Holtz is grilling Sahjhan for not telling him that Angel now has a soul. Sahjhan explains that Angel is still Angelus. Holtz agrees to kill Angel.
Darla is on-top of a building, when Angel approaches her. Darla reveals that she doesn’t want to give birth, because she loves the baby and it is feeding her emotions. Darla begins to cry, and Angel holds her.
At Caritas, Lorne is preparing for a re-opening, and tells Team Angel that Darla can’t have her baby there. Lorne is also having a new security system installed, preventing both demon and human violence. Arnie the contractor is trying to trick Lorne, and Lorne fires Arnie and continues installing himself.
Wesley calls Angel, and tells him to bring Darla to Caritas. Darla notes that something is wrong with the baby.
In Lilah’s office, the translator reveals to Lilah that the prophecy says that there will be no birth, only death.
Flashback: Holtz’ men return to Holtz’ house, while Sarah hides in the corner. Holtz grabs his daughter Sarah, drags her out of the house, and throws her into the sunlight. Sarah vamps and burns up. Holtz re-enters his house.
Team Angel sit around Caritas while Lorne continues installing the security system. Angel and Darla arrive. Angel explains to Wesley that the contractions have stopped. Lorne suggests taking the pained Darla into his bedroom, and Fred notices a patch of blood on Darla’s chair.
Arnie the contractor arrives in Sahjhan’s lair, and tells Holtz that Angel and Darla are hiding at the Caritas.
At Caritas, Wesley explains to Angel that Darla’s vampiric body is not a life-giving vessel. There are mystical forces protecting the baby, making a c-section impossible, and the baby may die. Gunn points out that maybe this is good, if Angel’s son is the scourge of mankind. Lorne fixes the security magicks, preventing any demon or human violence inside Caritas.
Darla reveals to Angel that she knows the baby is dying. Darla cries again, realizing that she is an unfit mother who cannot give her son life if she can’t even give him a proper start.
Holtz arrives at Caritas, but Lorne and Team Angel don’t know him and don’t recognize him. While Holtz leaves, Lorne reads Holtz, and warns Team Angel. A barrel explodes just outside Caritas, issuing a huge fireball that consumes everything in its wake.
Inside Lorne’s bedroom, Team Angel explains the situation to Angel and Darla. Apparently the non-violence spell doesn’t apply to people outside, shoving things in. The club is now on fire. Angel reveals to Darla that Holtz is back, and trying to kill them. Team Angel start to break down a wall, while Darla reflects on how they destroyed Holtz’ family.
Once they break into the outside alley, Angel tells Team Angel to bring the car around. Fred stays with Angel and Darla. Darla repents, before stabbing herself through the heart. Darla dies, and then there is a crying, naked, human boy in her absence. Holtz exits Lorne’s bedroom, armed with a crossbow. The Grapplar demons block both exits of the alley, trapping Angel, Fred, and the baby. Holtz is about to kill Angel, before Holtz lets Angel leave, despite Sahjhan’s protests. Angel, Cordy, Fred, Gunn, Wesley, with the baby drive away. Holtz swears to Sahjhan that Holtz won’t have mercy on Angel.
Dialogue
Please! Women have been giving birth without ancient prophecies for years!
What we could really use right about now is some Vaseline and a catcher's mitt.
He's gonna crucify us.
They don't crucify here. It's too Christian.
Doesn't anyone wanna sit back here with me?
We're good.
Yeah, it's comfy.
I promise I won't throw anyone out of the car. Not while it's moving.
Do you know what he is?
Yeah, I know. Vampire, cursed by gypsies who restored his soul, destined to atone for centuries of evil, wacky sidekicks, yada, yada. I'd have him killed myself, except the people I work for have this 'policy.'
What are we looking at?
Maybe he's part of what's supposed to rain down ruination upon mankind. The Nyazian Prophecies did say that the Tro-clan was going to be a confluence of events.
And the sudden appearance of an eighteenth century vampire hunter in the twenty first century does seem pretty confluey.
See? This is why I didn't mention it. So Angel has a soul. Big whoop! So did Attila the Hun! Not to mention a heart as big as all outdoors when it came to gift giving. He is still a vampire! Angel, not Attila.
He's not the same vampire.
Of course he is! His hair is a little shorter, a little spikier. He's using product. But it's the same guy.
You love it.
Completely. I love it completely. I-I-I don't think I've ever loved anything as much as this life that's inside of me.
Well, you've never loved anything, Darla.
You gave us quite a scare. But I guess you're used to that, what with being a scary thing and all.
Attacked? I thought you had double protection sanctorium spells?
I do. It's a thing with the door and the stairs and the world and the thing. Never mind!
Apparently you can be outside and shove stuff in.
I just said that.
That's why this is happening. His family, his children... what that must have been like for him. Doesn't seem so funny now, does it?
No. No, I don't think so. Once he's gone, I won't be okay. I won't be okay at all. I don't know what I'll be. Angel... Our baby is gonna die right here in this alley. You died in an alley, remember?
This child Angel, it's the one good thing we ever did together. The only good thing. You make sure to tell him that.