Angel/Double or Nothing

Double or Nothing
Season 3, Episode 18
Airdate	April 22, 2002
Production Number	3ADH18
Written by	David H. Goodman
Directed by	David Grossman
← 3x17 Forgiving	3x19 → The Price
Angel — Season Three

Double or Nothing is the eighteenth episode of the third season of Angel, and the sixty-second episode overall. Gunn's past comes back to haunt him when the owner of a casino attempts to collect on his debts.

David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce), J. August Richards (Charles Gunn), Amy Acker (Winifred "Fred" Burkle)

Guest Starring: Andy Hallett (Lorne), Mark Lutz (Groosalugg), Jason Carter (Repo-Man), Patrick St. Esprit (Jenoff), John David Conti (Male Elderly Demon), P.B. Hutton (Female Elderly Demon)

Co-Starring: Nigel D. Gibbs (Doctor)

Plot Overview

Having sold his soul when he was younger, Gunn finds he now has to pay his debt just as his relationship with Fred has begun to flourish. Meanwhile, Cordelia returns to find out the bad news about Connor and tries to console Angel, as Wesley finds he has been left shunned from the others.

Notes

Monster of the Week

• Jenoff: Jenoff is the owner of a casino primarily patronized by demons. He offers a service in which someone can trade their soul for something the need right at that instant. Later, he collects on that soul by gouging out the patron's eyes and absorbing it into his body. Jenoff also has regenerative properties which allow him to regrow limbs, including his head.

Body Count

#	Whom	By Whom	How	Where
1	Skench	Gunn	Stabbed	Lair

Music

Music is listed in order of appearance in the episode

• Coolio - "Gangsta's Paradise"

Arc Advancement

Characters

• Gunn: Approximately 7 years prior to this episode, Gunn sold his soul in order to get a truck. His debt is wiped clean after Angel cuts off Jenoff's head and lets everyone in the casino beat on him. Gunn mentions that he was 17 when this happened, which would put him somewhere around 24 by the time the events of this episode occurred.

• Angel: Angel is seen deconstructing Connor's crib in this episode. This can be taken as him finally accepting that his son is gone.

Trivia

The Show

• M.I.A.: Although Wesley appears in this episode, he does not have any dialogue because of the damage to his vocal cords.

Behind the Scenes

• Ratings: On its first airing, this episode scored a 3.4/5 in the overnight Nielsen ratings. It was ranked 5th out of the 15 WB shows which aired that week.

• Shooting Location: The scenes at the casino were shot at Larry Flynt's Hustler Casino while it was still open for business.

Quotes

• Gunn: So, Skenches. I've heard about them. Sort of impish kind of demon - like a leprechaun.

Syd: Leprechauns don't exist, son.

• Gunn: I thought getting rid of Skenches was pretty easy, though. Don't you just lop off its head?

Sid: Sure, if you can avoid the phlegm.

Monica: Sid has a phobia about phlegm.

Syd: I do not. I have a phobia about sputum.

Gunn: Okay! Think we got everything we need.

• Gunn: Man! You hear those two?

Fred: It's beautiful. All that time and they're still in love. The way they finish each other's insults.

• Fred: Don't forget your machete!

Gunn: Yes, dear.

Groosalugg: He is very fortunate to have such a woman looking after his weapon.

Lorne: I'm not touching that one.

• Fred: Gunn and I found your notes about... the baby. The prophecy. You took him away 'case you thought Angel was gonna kill him. You were trying to protect him. Both of them. I just wanted you to know I understand that. And I also wanted to say, I thought what Angel tried to do to you was wrong. I'm sorry. But he was right to blame you, Wesley. You should've come to us. You should've trusted us instead of going to Holtz behind our back. You were supposed to be our friend and you didn't even -- If Angel sees you again, he'll kill you, Wesley. This time for real. Don't come back to the hotel... ever. The prophecy was false. Angel was never gonna hurt Connor. It was all for nothing.

• Groosalugg: Hail to you, potential client! How may I be of service?

• Angel: I think he was going to be left-handed. The way he would hold on to your fingers? His left hand always squeezed just a little bit tighter. Kid had a grip. He was going to be a southpaw for sure. When you live as long as I do, you eventually lose everyone. I'm not saying you get used to it, but you expect it. You deal. But he was just... He was just a little... You think you know something about living because you have this really long life. And that's really all you have, I mean, in my case anyway. And then one day you wake up and you have something else.

Cordelia: A future.

Angel: I had a son.

• Cordelia: I'm not gonna sit here and pretend that I know what you're going through or that I can begin to understand what it is you're feeling. The last thing you need right now is someone saying, that given time, things will get better or the hurt's gonna go away. Because things won't get better. The hurt's never gonna go away. The truth is, if you lived another 200 years you'd never forget how Connor was taken from you. And you shouldn't. You loved your son, Angel. And you'll go on loving him. And missing him. You'll go on living, too. You'll do that.

Angel: I don't know how.

Cordelia: You don't need to. The how works itself out. Life will just keep on happening. There’ll be people who need us, and so... we'll help them. ‘Cause that's what we do.

• Cordelia: Wow.

Fred: I know, huh?

Groosalugg: I am sorry this has come to pass.

Angel: I'm a little confused.

Fred: About what? What was unclear?

Cordelia: Well, upstairs, you said you thought Gunn was in danger.

Fred: He is!

Cordelia: And you think that because...?

Fred: He broke up with me!

Cordelia: Oh.

Fred: But not really.

Cordelia: Oh! No?

Fred: No!

Groosalugg: That is good. I am relieved.

Fred: No, this is worse! Much worse! I wish he had broken up with me.

Cordelia: Fred, are you sure he didn't? I mean, those things you said he said to you...

Fred: I know I said he said those things to me, but he would never say those things to me!

Cordelia: Those... things he said?

Fred: Exactly! That's why I know he's in trouble.

Angel: Let me get this straight: you and Gunn are dating.

Fred: Not anymore, I guess!

• Cordelia: Angel.

Angel: I know.

Groosalugg: We are surrounded.

Angel: I know.

Fred: We have to save Charles!

Angel: I know!

• Fred: This is so wrong in so many ways. I mean, it’s not money or a stuffed bunny Angel's playing for. It's my boyfriend.

Angel: Fred, I understand you're nervous, but don't be. I've been around a long time. Played a lot of cards and won a lot of bets.

Fred: See, that's where we're different. I tend to get lost and lose things.

• Gunn: I was seventeen years old and I sold my soul for a truck.

Fred: Not this truck.

Gunn: Don't go dissin' my girl.

Fred: Oh, Charles. Your soul wasn't worth air conditioning?