aired on: April 4, 2000

written by: Tracey Stern

directed by: Regis Kimble

Cordelia has finally earned an acting role - in a stage play. As they walk home from the play, Cordelia asks Wesley and Angel about her performance when Angel spots a woman walking across the street, and a car headed straight for her. Leaping to action, he saves her life. The woman is an actress, Rebecca Lowell. Angel and Wesley, not big TV watchers, don't know who she is; Cordelia fawns all over her and gives her a card. The next morning, Rebecca comes to see Angel. Someone's stalking her, and she needs help. But Angel says he can't take the case. He gives Rebecca a folder with information on the car that ran her down, and suggests she give it to her people. "You don't need me," he says.

Cordelia can't believe it. Desperate for a Hollywood contact, she doesn't understand why Angel won't take the case. But Wesley can see that Angel didn't take it because he likes Rebecca, and he's afraid of getting close to her.

Later, Rebecca is home alone, party guests having just left. Actually, she's not quite alone. Someone's lurking. But before he can do any harm, another lurker - Angel - smashes through a window and scares him off. As Rebecca thanks him, she looks into a mirror across the room and sees no reflection of Angel. When she turns back to him, he's gone.

After the police have left, she goes looking for Angel. He hasn't left. She's figured out that he's a vampire, and she's not scared. And she doesn't want to be alone for the night. Angel is on the case after all.

The next day, Rebecca meets with her agent, Oliver, for lunch. He's set up an audition for her, for a new show. That night, Rebecca has a premiere to attend, and she wants Angel along as her bodyguard. At the theater, Angel, looking dapper in a suit, walks down the red carpet with Rebecca. But one of the security guards isn't concerned with looks - he's concerned with shooting Rebecca. When she and Angel walk into the alley behind the theater, the guy takes aim. Angel protects her, then goes after the goon and takes him out.

As the police take Angel's statement, Oliver appears. But Rebecca's not happy with him - she's figured out that he's arranged the attacks. Oliver explains that he did it for the publicity, to help her get the series. Then Oliver tells her that she didn't get the part; the network feels she's too mature for the role. "We're going to have to face it," he says, "that nobody stays young forever." But Rebecca knows someone who does. Smiling, she glances over at Angel.

The next day, Rebecca asks Cordelia out to lunch, and shopping. She wants to know Angel's story, and how he became a vampire.

Later, she stops by Angel's place for a visit, bringing a bottle of Dom Perignon to thank him. As they drink, she bumps Angel's glass, spilling champagne on his shirt. As he goes to change, she pours something in his drink. When he returns, she hands him the glass, and they toast. As the drug takes effect, Rebecca tries to seduce him - she wants him to make her a vampire. Angel tells her she really doesn't want that, then gets up to show her just what she's asking for. He pulls a pint of blood from the fridge and sprays it in her mouth, angry. When he sees Rebecca spattered with blood, he realizes she's put something in his drink. She starts to cry, and says she just wanted them both to be happy. Then Angel turns vampire, and takes a bite.

She's freed him, and now she's really scared. Angel chases her around the apartment, then disappears. Wesley and Cordelia then appear, and find Rebecca. She tells them that she gave Angel a tranquilizer that induces happiness. But it's synthetic, so Angel's not really free - the effects will wear off. Still, it's not a good idea to stick around, so they prepare to leave, but Angel cuts the power, and reappears.

Wesley tries to reason with him, and explain that he's feeling simulated bliss, mere chemical suggestion. Angel insults him, and tosses him to the floor. Then he comes after Cordelia, who whips out a bottle of water, claiming it's holy water. Angel thinks she's bluffing. She is, but when she throws it at him, it distracts him enough that Wesley, who's recovered, can toss him down the elevator shaft.

Angel awakes the next morning, himself again, but chained to the bed. Wesley and Cordelia agree to put the incident behind them - and leave Angel chained to the bed for a while.