Angel, Season 4

Angel:
Sit down.

Connor:
You're too weak to take me.

Angel:
You really think that?

[Connor looks at Angel for another moment, then turns, picks up the chair, slams it down on the floor, and sits facing Angel. Gunn begins to stir and sit up. Angel lowers himself into a chair across from Connor with a slight sigh.]

Angel:
So, how was your summer? Mine was fun. Saw some fish, went mad with hunger, hallucinated a whole bunch.

Connor:
You deserved worse.

Angel:
Because I killed Holtz, except I didn't. I tried telling you that while you were busy offshore dumping me, but I didn't know the whole score. Holtz killed himself. Actually he had your buddy Justine do it with an ice pick. Just to make you hate me.

Connor:
Even if, you still deserved it.

Angel:
What I deserve is open to debate. But understand there is a difference between wishing vengeance on someone and taking it. So now the questions becomes: what do you deserve?

[Connor suddenly jumps up from his chair and runs for the door, but Angel intercepts him, tossing him against the wall.]

Angel:
Daddy's not finished talking.

[He crouches down next to where Connor sits, scrunched up against the wall.]

Angel:
Wesley told me everything that's been going on. So, as far as I'm concerned what you deserve rests on one answer: [Angel leans in closer.] Did you do something to Cordelia?

Connor:
No.

Fred:
He's lying.

Connor:
No, I'm not!

Gunn:
No way she just happened to disappear the same night.

Connor:
I'm telling the truth, okay?

Angel:
I know. You've done enough lying for me to know the difference. The truth has a better sound to it, less nasal, you know? Get up. [Connor stands up.] I can tell. What you did to me… was unbelievable, Connor. But then, I got stuck in a hell dimension by my girlfriend one time for a hundred years, so three months under the ocean actually gave me perspective. Kind of a M. C. Esher perspective - but I did get time to think. About us, about the world. Nothing in the world is the way it ought to be. It's harsh, and cruel. But that's why there's us. Champions. It doesn't matter where we come from, what we've done or suffered, or even if we make a difference. We live as though the world were as it should be, to show it what it can be. You're not a part of that yet. I hope you will be. I love you, Connor. Now get out of my house.