Strange Angel

You shall not eat of the fruit!

- Daddy, I wasn't! - I'm going to teach you

about shame.

Could you give this to Marisol for me

next time you see her?

I've enlisted, and I'll be shipping out soon.

I love you. I want to know everything about you.

No. You don't.

What happened? What did you do?

Why do you assume it was something I did?

I've heard the Parsons have

at least ten people living inside of that home.

- How did you get that information? - What does it matter

where I got the information? Is it true?

Do you have all these tenants living under your roof?

I'm fighting a war, Susan.

So are we.

If we can get the IRS to recognize.

Thelema as a religion, officially,

then our house would become a church, like you said.

What do you want me to do?

I want you to cut

the head off the snake.

Tighter.

Tell me

what you want.

To vanquish my enemies.

Susan?

Thank God you're awake.

I-I was waiting for you.

What happened?

Jack stood before me,

and I was ready to sacrifice him.

When I raised the knife in my hand, I saw...

Saw what?

Jack was transformed into the angel Azazel

with wings of holy fire.

I-I'd seen him once before.

And I was worried that I would never see him again.

And then, the angel spoke to me.

Well, that's not quite right. He, uh...

I felt him here.

And he stayed my hand.

See, I thought I wanted to kill Jack.

But as the angel showed me,

I was just carrying out the will of another.

Tell them whose will, exactly.

Virgil Byrne's.

You haven't just betrayed.

Frater J.P.

You have betrayed us all.

That the forces of vice

and corruption have found

- no refuge here in our county. - Mr. and Mrs. Byrne. Hello.

It's very nice to see you.

Thank you so much for your support.

Mrs. Van Buren.

Oh.

Thank you for opening your magnificent home.

Nonsense, Mr. District Attorney.

It is my pleasure and my duty

to see that you get four more years.

All I ask is that you don't forget Pasadena

on the way to the governor's office.

Oh, well, Sacramento can wait.

There's too much to clean up around here.

Warren, allow me to walk you to your car.

You had them eating out of the palm of your hand.

Appreciate the introduction.

Well, the diocese,

like the Orange Grove Preservation Society,

is fully committed to your reelection.

Cut to the chase.

This is the part where you ask me for another favor.

Well, I'd like to think that we are united

in our efforts against a common enemy.

That wretched cult is trying to incorporate.

Now, if they gain religious status, fighting them

will become all the more difficult.

We're in a war against the fascists.

I can't be seen prosecuting religious groups

whose beliefs I don't happen to share.

Especially not an election year.

Well, this isn't about religious persecution.

The First Amendment cannot be used as a cover

for criminal activity.

This is deviancy. Sodomy. Animal sacrifice.

It's all just hearsay.

You haven't given me any proof.

What if I could?

Well, I'm sure that Mrs. Van Buren

and everyone on Orange Grove would give almost anything

to see this situation dealt with.

These brunches are gonna start costing

a lot more than $50 a plate.

We can't put this off any longer.

It's clear he'll stop at nothing.

We need to bolster our defenses.

The appearance of the angel guarantees Ernest's devotion.

He's no longer a threat.

I'm talking about Virgil.

Look, if we can officially make this house a church, then...

You mean if I give the house to the Agape?

You wouldn't be giving it away.

- We would be. - But it was my money

that paid for it,

and I'd be the one signing the deed over.

Look, I shouldn't even be telling you this,

but there's about to be a very important test at work,

and assuming it succeeds... which I know it will...

I will become an even more vital part of the war effort.

Well, how does that help us?

Because men as powerful as Roosevelt

will be standing behind us,

ready to crush Virgil if he keeps it up.

- So we do nothing? - That's not what I'm saying.

But if we have to give up our house to defend ourselves,

then what exactly are we defending?

Our way of life.

I conjured a goddamn angel, Susan.

I think I can handle your stepfather.

What is this?

Sausage coming up in a minute.

Frater E.D. has been up all morning atoning.

Please, join us. We all helped.

Not everyone.

You've done so much for us,

and we rarely show our appreciation.

Thank you. Um...

There's enough to feed a whole village.

Please, help yourselves.

Something the matter?

I think they're all just keen to hear more about the angel.

What was it like

when it took over your body?

Um, well...

Honestly,

I can't really remember. I just sort of blacked out.

Crowley describes

his encounter with Aiwass as a rapture.

Yet you felt nothing at all?

Well, I guess I felt something.

Like...

I don't know, a kind of raw power

that was surging through my body.

Do you feel it now?

Uh, yeah.

Yeah. Um...

it's almost like... I'm still vibrating.

Like a cymbal that's been struck

by the hand of God himself.

Yeah.

I think I can feel it.

Careful, baby.

Don't want you getting all shook up.

I just find it strange that Azazel should choose to speak

through a vessel.

When Frater E.D. saw it for the first time,

the angel appeared on its own.

I don't understand it, either,

but I guess that's the nature of miracles.

That's what it was. A miracle.

- Bacon? - Yeah, please.

Indeed.

Parsons residence.

It's been quite a while since we had a session.

With these revelations,

I'd say now is the time.

I would be happy to.

I have so many questions myself.

That was General Braxton's office.

But I'm afraid it's gonna have to wait.

I've got a war to win.

Excuse me.

Well, at least we know the angels are on our side.

I'm just saying, his arm was warm

when I touched it just now.

Arms are always warm, baby.

Okay, you know what I mean.

Like electricity flowing through it.

Yeah, yeah, I knew a dancer in Sonnenberg,

and she'd seen her angel.

She was a changed person forever after.

Let's get it going!

Yeah, he's good!

I'll take it. Got it?

Careful of the nose.

- Watch the wings. - Yes, sir.

Let's get these hookups ready.

Gentle.

Next.

Good work.

Om...

Om...

What are you doing?

Making sure everything goes the way it's supposed to.

Ready for launch.

Copy that.

Ad astra...

per aspera.