The Trial (Angel)
"The Trial" is episode 9 of season 2 in the television show "Angel". The episode was written by Doug Petrie and Tim Minear with a story from David Greenwalt and directed by Bruce Seth Green, this episode was originally broadcast on November 28, 2000 on the WB network. In "The Trial", Darla discovers that she is again terminally ill with syphilis, which was killing her before she was made a vampire in 1609. She begs Angel to turn her back into a vampire to halt the disease's progress, but instead he engages in a series of  mysterious trials to attempt to win Darla a second chance at life. Plot. Cordelia and Wesley talk about Angel while Angel is down in the basement, doing his laundry. Gunn has located Darla at the Royal Viking Motel, but Lindsey has gotten to her first. Lindsey and Holland confront Darla with information about her health. Angel and Gunn check out the motel room, but find little information. In France, in 1765, Angelus and Darla run from a vampire hunter and hide in a barn. As the mob closes in, Darla knocks Angelus down and leaves on the only horse. In  present time, Darla tries to talk a young male vampire into making her a vampire. Outside, in an alley, Angel stakes the vampire before he can bite Darla. They talk and Darla reveals that she is terminally ill and only has a few months left to live. Angel brings Darla to the hotel and expresses that he doubts the truth of the records Wolfram and Hart showed her. Angel visits Lindsey, who reveals that Darla is dying from syphilis, the same disease that was killing her when she was first sired by the Master. Angel takes Darla to the demon  karaoke bar where she sings beautifully while the Host, Lorne, talks to Angel. He tells Angel that the only way to save Darla is for Angel to undergo a quest that may result in his death. Angel dives into an empty pool and into an underground location where he must survive three trials to save Darla's life. Angel is advised by a valet, Jeeves, before being left in a room to fight unarmed against a large demon that has weapons. Angel eventually slices the demon in two, and chains the pieces to opposite sides of the room. From the  safety of another room, Darla watches. Angel moves onto another room that consists of crosses covering the walls and floors. After crossing the burning ground, Angel must fish a key out of a bowl filled with holy water. Chained spread-eagle before a wall of wooden stakes, Angel finds that the third trial requires him to die in order for Darla to live. Jeeves presents Angel with his options, but Angel is willing to give his life, and that enough to pass the test. Though Angel survives intact, Jeeves discovers that he is unable to cure Darla's syphilis as  she had already been given her second chance at life through supernatural means. Furious, Angel violently attacks the room that surrounds them, truly distraught that after everything he went through, he could not save Darla. Upon returning to the surface, Darla accepts her fate and Angel is there to support her. Lindsey and several large men break into the room and restrain Angel and Darla. Drusilla makes a shocking return and while Angel watches, she makes Darla a vampire, again. Production details. Production designer Stuart Blatt says, "The long hallway we built with the crosses emblazoned on the floor and  embedded on the walls was one of my favorite sets we'd ever done." Acting. Actress Julie Benz says she suffers "horrible stage fright" when trying to sing. Executive Producer David Greenwalt convinced her she could do it; she claims it "took a lot of courage for me to go in and do it, 'cause I am not a singer."