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I Fall to Pieces (Angel episode)
Encyclopedia
"I Fall to Pieces" is episode four of season one of the television show Angel
. Pressed beyond her limit, Melissa comes to Angel Investigations
seeking protection from a stalker, Dr. Ronald Meltzer, a renowned neurosurgeon who once operated successfully on Melissa's optic nerve. Angel soon discovers that Meltzer is also uniquely capable of detaching various parts of his own body and controlling them at some distance. He has pioneered and perfected methods he originally learned from eastern mystics—methods he now uses to watch Melissa without her knowledge. While Melissa stays safe in Angel's apartment where Doyle
and Cordelia
barricade all the entrances, Angel goes back to Meltzer's office to trap him. The doctor, however delusional, is wary enough to ambush and immobilize Angel, giving himself a clear field to go after Melissa. He finds a way, piecemeal, past Cordy and Doyle's defenses, but Angel recovers faster than the mad doctor anticipates and arrives in time to permanently prevent Meltzer from reassembling himself. Now both physically safe and emotionally healed, Melissa returns the gift by teaching Angel to graciously accept payment for his services.
, Cordelia
and Doyle
struggle with the fact that they aren't receiving income for their services, but Angel is unwilling to take money from people in trouble. Doyle is wracked by a vision about a woman named Melissa Burns. A beautiful bouquet of flowers is delivered to Melissa at her office, from "Ronald". She is clearly disturbed, but tries to hide it; she retreats to the bathroom to take tranquilizer pills, then leaves the office. In the parking garage, Angel awkwardly tells Melissa that he knows she is in trouble and offers her his business card.
Melissa gets scared of Meltzer goes to Angel and we see that Meltzer can detatch his body parts.
Angel finds out Meltzer's lawyers are Wolfram & Hart
who have taken out a restraining order against the plaintiff.
Meltzer continues to stalk Melissa and kills a cop, Angel
shows up to ease her mind .
Angel
confronts Meltzer at his office who then shoots Angel
with a paralytic drug which does not kill but does slow down Angel
.
Angel
fights Meltzer and kicks off his head.
The next day, Angel Investigations
is discussing the fate of Ronald Meltzer's parts when Melissa drops by the office to thank everyone. She gives them a houseplant, and Angel
reluctantly brings up the matter of the bill. To his relief, Melissa seems sincerely grateful for the reminder and takes an already-prepared check from her purse, gladly hands it over (to a very quick Cordelia), then earnestly tells Angel
she hopes never to see him again. Bemused, Angel
concurs.
, who played Dr. Meltzer, is one of Joss Whedon's hat trick
s, having appeared as D'Hoffryn
in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and as the captain of an Alliance cruiser in the pilot of Firefly
.
Angel (TV series)
Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
. Pressed beyond her limit, Melissa comes to Angel Investigations
Angel Investigations
Angel Investigations is a fictional detective agency run by the title character Angel previously on the WB television series Angel . It is sometimes abbreviated as AI...
seeking protection from a stalker, Dr. Ronald Meltzer, a renowned neurosurgeon who once operated successfully on Melissa's optic nerve. Angel soon discovers that Meltzer is also uniquely capable of detaching various parts of his own body and controlling them at some distance. He has pioneered and perfected methods he originally learned from eastern mystics—methods he now uses to watch Melissa without her knowledge. While Melissa stays safe in Angel's apartment where Doyle
Allen Francis Doyle
Allen Francis Doyle is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the cult television series, Angel. The character was portrayed by Glenn Quinn.-Character history:Doyle was born to a human mother and a Brachen demon father...
and Cordelia
Cordelia Chase
Cordelia Chase is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer; she also appeared on Buffy's spin-off series Angel...
barricade all the entrances, Angel goes back to Meltzer's office to trap him. The doctor, however delusional, is wary enough to ambush and immobilize Angel, giving himself a clear field to go after Melissa. He finds a way, piecemeal, past Cordy and Doyle's defenses, but Angel recovers faster than the mad doctor anticipates and arrives in time to permanently prevent Meltzer from reassembling himself. Now both physically safe and emotionally healed, Melissa returns the gift by teaching Angel to graciously accept payment for his services.
Plot
At Angel InvestigationsAngel Investigations
Angel Investigations is a fictional detective agency run by the title character Angel previously on the WB television series Angel . It is sometimes abbreviated as AI...
, Cordelia
Cordelia Chase
Cordelia Chase is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer; she also appeared on Buffy's spin-off series Angel...
and Doyle
Allen Francis Doyle
Allen Francis Doyle is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the cult television series, Angel. The character was portrayed by Glenn Quinn.-Character history:Doyle was born to a human mother and a Brachen demon father...
struggle with the fact that they aren't receiving income for their services, but Angel is unwilling to take money from people in trouble. Doyle is wracked by a vision about a woman named Melissa Burns. A beautiful bouquet of flowers is delivered to Melissa at her office, from "Ronald". She is clearly disturbed, but tries to hide it; she retreats to the bathroom to take tranquilizer pills, then leaves the office. In the parking garage, Angel awkwardly tells Melissa that he knows she is in trouble and offers her his business card.
Melissa gets scared of Meltzer goes to Angel and we see that Meltzer can detatch his body parts.
Angel finds out Meltzer's lawyers are Wolfram & Hart
Wolfram & Hart
Wolfram & Hart − Attorneys at Law is a fictional international, and interdimensional law firm featured in the television series Angel, as well as other extended materials in Joss Whedon's Buffyverse.-Fictional history:...
who have taken out a restraining order against the plaintiff.
Meltzer continues to stalk Melissa and kills a cop, Angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
shows up to ease her mind .
Angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
confronts Meltzer at his office who then shoots Angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
with a paralytic drug which does not kill but does slow down Angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
.
Angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
fights Meltzer and kicks off his head.
The next day, Angel Investigations
Angel Investigations
Angel Investigations is a fictional detective agency run by the title character Angel previously on the WB television series Angel . It is sometimes abbreviated as AI...
is discussing the fate of Ronald Meltzer's parts when Melissa drops by the office to thank everyone. She gives them a houseplant, and Angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
reluctantly brings up the matter of the bill. To his relief, Melissa seems sincerely grateful for the reminder and takes an already-prepared check from her purse, gladly hands it over (to a very quick Cordelia), then earnestly tells Angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
she hopes never to see him again. Bemused, Angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
concurs.
Acting
Andy UmbergerAndy Umberger
Andy Umberger is an American actor, mainly appearing in minor roles in television.He has been credited in many television hit series, beginning in the mid-90s, although generally only in one episode of each....
, who played Dr. Meltzer, is one of Joss Whedon's hat trick
Hat Trick
Hat trick, hat-trick or hattrick may refer to:* hat-trick — in various sports, achieving three goals, wickets, etc. in a single match* Hattrick — online football management game** Hattrick Limited — producers of this game...
s, having appeared as D'Hoffryn
D'Hoffryn
D'Hoffryn is a fictional character on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, played by Andy Umberger. He is a powerful entity high in the demonic hierarchy. He's the master of the vengeance demons, a cabal which includes humans who are "elevated" to demonic status and endowed with mystical powers enabling them...
in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and as the captain of an Alliance cruiser in the pilot of Firefly
Firefly (TV series)
Firefly is an American space western television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon, under his Mutant Enemy Productions label. Whedon served as executive producer, along with Tim Minear....
.
Arc significance
- This is KateKate LockleyKate Lockley is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Angel, portrayed by Elisabeth Röhm. Kate first appears in the episode "Lonely Hearts." She is a young, skeptical detective for the Los Angeles Police Department....
's second meeting with Angel, whom she still doesn't know is a vampire. She is also unaware of the mystical component to the LAPD cop's death (literally at Ronald Meltzer's hands) and won't learn about L.A.'s supernatural side for several more weeks ("SomnambulistSomnambulist (Angel episode)"Somnambulist" is episode 11 of season 1 in the television show Angel.-Plot:The episode opens on a girl fleeing down a street from someone. She stumbles, allowing the pursuer to catch up. The figure holds her and runs a finger with a metal claw over it down her cheek, carving a cross into it. Once...
").
Continuity
- This is not the first time that Cordelia finds herself locked in a basement while her companion duct tapes around the door to prevent pieces of the bad guy from crawling underneath. In season two of Buffy ("What's My Line, Part One"), Cordy and XanderXander HarrisAlexander LaVelle "Xander" Harris is a fictional character in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as in numerous items in the series Expanded Universe, such as comic books, tie-in novels and video games...
barricade themselves in the SummersBuffy SummersBuffy Summers is a fictional character from Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise. She first appeared in the 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer before going on to appear in the television series and subsequent comic book of the same name...
' basement to escape an assassin demon able to take human form, but who is actually composed entirely of thousands upon thousands of mealwormMealwormMealworms are the larval form of the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor, a species of darkling beetle. Like all holometabolic insects, they go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult...
s. - Dialogue between Cordelia and Doyle suggest that the teaser of this episode takes place at least a month after the end of "City of" more specifically, Cordelia mentions she has been working for Angel for a month.
- According to dialogue, the vision Doyle has in the teaser of this episode is the first one he's had since "Lonely Hearts"
Cultural references
- "I Fall to PiecesI Fall to Pieces"I Fall to Pieces" is a single released by Patsy Cline in 1961, and was featured on her 1961 studio album, Patsy Cline Showcase. "I Fall to Pieces" was Cline's first #1 hit on the Country charts, and her second hit single to cross over onto the Pop charts...
": The episode shares its name with this Patsy ClinePatsy ClinePatsy Cline , born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Gore, Virginia, was an American country music singer who enjoyed pop music crossover success during the era of the Nashville sound in the early 1960s...
song. - Johnnie CochranJohnnie CochranJohnnie L. Cochran, Jr. was an American lawyer best known for his leadership role in the defense and criminal acquittal of O. J...
: Kate remarks that Wolfram & HartWolfram & HartWolfram & Hart − Attorneys at Law is a fictional international, and interdimensional law firm featured in the television series Angel, as well as other extended materials in Joss Whedon's Buffyverse.-Fictional history:...
is "the firm that Johnnie Cochran is too ethical to join," referring to the famously inventive lawyer who defended O. J. SimpsonO. J. SimpsonOrenthal James "O. J." Simpson , nicknamed "The Juice", is a retired American collegiate and professional football player, football broadcaster, and actor...
at his murder trial. - O. J. SimpsonO. J. SimpsonOrenthal James "O. J." Simpson , nicknamed "The Juice", is a retired American collegiate and professional football player, football broadcaster, and actor...
: Cordelia makes a reference to the famous football star and accused murderer when she asks Angel, "What is it about Melissa that's got him going all O.J. on her?" - "People": While they keep watch over the sleeping Melissa, Cordelia wonders aloud what precisely is the point of dating, and Doyle responds by speaking some of the lyrics from Barbra StreisandBarbra StreisandBarbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
's signature song. - TransformersTransformersA transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another by magnetic coupling.Transformer may also refer to:* ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, an Android 3.2 Honeycomb tablet computer manufacturer by Asus...
: When asked what he is by Melissa, Meltzer replies that he's "more than meets the eye", the popular catch phrase from Transformers.