Angel/Rm w/a Vu

Rm w/a Vu
Season 1, Episode 5
Airdate	November 2, 1999
Production Number	1ADH05
Teleplay by	Jane Espenson
Story by	David Greenwalt & Jane Espenson
Directed by	Scott McGinnis
← 1x04 I Fall to Pieces	1x06 → Sense and Sensitivity
Angel — Season One

Rm w/a Vu is the fifth episode of the first season of Angel.

David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Glenn Quinn (Allen Francis Doyle)

Guest Starring: Elisabeth Rohm (Kate Lockley), Beth Grant (Maude Pearson)

Co-Starring: Marcus Redmond (Griff), Denney Pierce (Vic), Greg Collins (Keith), Corey Klemow (Young Man), Lara McGrath (Manager), B.J. Porter (Dennis)

Plot Overview

Cordelia is desperate to get a new place and Doyle is all too eager to help when Angel agrees to deal with his debt problem. When she finally finds a place, it’s too good to be true, as it’s being occupied by the ghost of a prior resident.

Notes

Monster of the Week

• Griff: Griff is a Kailiff demon. The extent of his powers and abilities aren't discussed, but Griff works as a bounty hunter/hired muscle for someone that Doyle borrowed money from. They may nor have any powers at all other than average demon strength, because he's seen with a gun later in the episode.

• Maude Pearson: Maude is the woman who built the apartment that Cordelia moved into thanks to Doyle's connection. She's no different from any other ghost with the exception that she specializes in committing murders that look like suicides. She murdered her son in order to keep him from leaving her and had a heart attack shortly after completing the deed. She left the apartment after Cordelia demolishes the wall concealing Dennis's bones.

Body Count

#	Whom	By Whom	How	Where
1	Kailiff demon	Maude	Stabbed	Cordelia's apartment
2	Griff	Angel	Neck snapped	Cordelia's apartment
3	Dennis	Maude	Suffocated	Cordelia's apartment
4	Maude	—	Heart attack	Cordelia's apartment

Music

Songs are listed in order of appearance in the episode.

• Beethoven - Symphony No. 5

• The Mills Brothers - "You Always Hurt the Ones You Love"

Arc Advancement

Characters

• Cordelia: Cordelia moves out of her roach infested apartment and into one haunted by ghosts. Her new address is #212 Pearson Arms and she shares it with a phantom named Dennis.

Referbacks

• BtVS - 1x01 - Welcome to the Hellmouth: Aura is presumable the same Aura from the first episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, who found an "extreme dead guy" in her locker.

Cordelia: God, Aura. I can't believe I missed your calls!

• BtVS - 3x22 - Graduation Day: Sunnydale High School was destroyed in a massive fireball when students attempted to prevent the mayor from turning into a demon.

Doyle: Your diploma's all burned

Trivia

The Show

• First "Appearance": This episode marks the first appearance of Phantom Dennis, Cordelia's ghostly roommate. However, this is the only episode in which he actually appears in human form. Because of this, Jane Espenson, did not get any more money for his later "appearances."

Behind the Scenes

• Ratings: On its first airing, this episode scored a 5.2/8 in the overnight Nielsen ratings. It was ranked 4th out of the 15 WB shows which aired that week.

Allusions and References

• Poltergeist: Cordelia references Poltergeist, a series of horror movies about a house that is haunted by the Native Americans buried beneath its foundation. The house coming alive is similar to many scenes in the movies.

Cordelia: Tell me, is this the same guy that help me find my poltergeist-delicious apartment?

• Ghost: Patrick Swayze was the main character from the romantic drama Ghost. The movie was about Swayze attempting to make contact with his former fiancée, played by Demi Moore, so that he can warn her about a coming danger.

Cordelia: How come Patrick Swayze is never dead when you need him?

• Steve & David Paymer: Steve Paymer is an actor who has appeared as a guest star on television shows like Will & Grace and Mad About You. His brother, David Paymer, is a much more accomplished actor who has had roles in movies like Amistad and Mr. Saturday Night.

Quotes

• Doyle: Tell me stuff.

Angel: What stuff?

Doyle: About Cordelia.

Angel: Well, I - I know she can't type or file. Until today I had some hope regarding the phone.

• Angel: (to Doyle) People called them the Cordettes. A bunch of girls from wealthy families. They ruled the high school, decided what was in, who was popular. It was like the Soviet Secret Police if they cared a lot about shoes.

• Doyle: It's all about money. What about friendship and family and all those things that are priceless, like they say in that credit card commercial?

• Doyle: Hey, your high school diploma is all burned.

Cordelia: Yeah, it was a rough ceremony.

• Kate:: Now you're talking like a detective.

Angel:: I am a detective.

Kate:: Well, you see the thing about detectives is they have résumés and business licenses and last names. Pop stars and popes, those are the one-name guys.

Angel: You got me. I'm the Pope.

• (the word "DIE" appears in blood on the wall in Cordelia's apartment)

Cordelia: I am not giving up this apartment!

Angel: It's haunted.

Cordelia: It's rent controlled.

Doyle: Cordy, it says "DIE"!

Cordelia: Hey, maybe it's not done yet. Maybe it's "DIET". That's friendly. A little judgemental, sure.

• Cordelia: I'm sorry.

Maude: You better be sorry, you stupid little bitch.

Cordelia: I'm a bitch.

Maude: Take off the bed sheets, make a noose. Go on. It'll all be over soon.

Cordelia: I'm not a snivel, whiny little cry-Buffy. I'm the nastiest girl in Sunnydale history. I take crap from no one.

Maude: You're going to make yourself a noose and put it around--

Cordelia: Back off, polygrip! You think you're bad, all mean and haunty, picking on poor, pathetic Cordy? Well, get ready to haul your wrinkly translucent ass out of this place, because, lady, the bitch is back.