Slouching Toward Bethlehem

Back in human form but lacking any memory of her past life or her recent stint as a higher being, Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) turns up at the hotel, much to the delight of the love-struck Angel (David Boreanaz). Worried that the truth of Cordelia's demon-fighting past will upset her, Angel and the gang try to hide the truth of their situation. But with Angel slurping pig's blood from a jar, Lorne (Andy Hallett) walking around with green skin and horns, and Gunn (J. August Richards) and Fred (Amy Acker) rushing off to fight some particularly messy demons, it isn't long before the terrified Cordy demands the truth. When she does hear it, she can't believe it, but a close encounter with a demon convinces her. Connor (Vincent Kartheiser), who's been lurking outside the hotel, rescues Cordy from the beastie and agrees to give her sanctuary. His typically blunt honesty about the demon world and his abiding sense of melancholy get to Cordy, who decides to ally herself with Connor. Meanwhile, Wesley (Alexis Denisof) continues his sexual alliance with Lilah (Stephanie Romanov) but heads out to save Cordy when he overhears Lilah discussing details of a Wolfram & Hart plot against her. Wes and Angel join Connor and Cordy in battle, but the attack turns out to be a diversion. The real target of Wolfram & Hart's sting is Lorne, whose psychic abilities have allowed him to glimpse intimate knowledge of a coming apocalypse from inside Cordy's addled brain -- a vision involving the phrase "slouching toward Bethlehem." By the time Angel & Co. reach Lorne, a burrowing demon has literally stolen the visions from inside his head. Originally broadcast October 27, 2002, on the WB network, "Slouching Toward Bethlehem" marked season four, episode four of the supernatural comedy drama.