4x13: The Ordered Assassins Of The Phoenix

[The Virtual Series]

CHARMED: RESET REALITY (A new Alternate Universe series brought to you by Daniel, 4Ever, Drama, Xenith, and a host of others!)

STARRING:



SHANNEN DOHERTY...Prue Halliwell
HOLLY MARIE COMBS...Piper Halliwell
ALYSSA MILANO...Phoebe Halliwell
ROSE McGOWAN...Paige Matthews

CO-STARRING:



BRIAN KRAUSE...Leo Wyatt
JULIAN McMAHON...Cole Turner
DORIAN GREGORY...Darryl Morris
SHAWN CHRISTIAN...Matt Capiello

CHARMED: RESET REALITY is a concept conceived and copyrighted by Daniel Taylor and cannot be copied without his permission.[/i]

Based on the television show "Charmed" created by Constance Burge and featuring characters created by her and Brad Kern.


DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. If we owned Charmed, the last few seasons would be more like this! All characters and locations are fictitious or are used fictitiously. We only own the characters listed as "Original characters" within the credits. All others are products of the old WB and the new CW and belong to them and Aaron Spelling Productions. This work was not written for sale and is meant only to be read by visitors to websites for the fans of the television show, Charmed. [/size]

4.13 THE ORDERED ASSASSINS OF THE PHOENIX

GUEST-STARRING:
JESSE WOODROW
REBECCA McFARLAND
HEIDI MARNHOUT
ALEC NEWMAN
JANE SEYMOUR
WENDI WENDT
JULIA BERROL

Script written by...DRAMA (ASSASSIN WITCH), CAMILLE (FOUREVER CHARMED)

Script edited by...DRAMA (ASSASSIN WITCH)

Script proofread by...CAMILLE (FOUREVER CHARMED), DRAMA (ASSASSIN WITCH), DTAYLOR (FOREVER YOURS)

Executive Producer...DTAYLOR (FOREVER YOURS)

Produced by...Drama, Fourever Charmed, Xenith

Directed by...Joel Feigenbaum

[The Virtual Series]

The Ordered Assassins Of The Phoenix

Teaser[/b][/center]

[Scene: Manor. Basement. Dark Room. PRUE HALLIWELL is developing her roll of film as footsteps are heard coming closer.]

PIPER's VOICE: You aren’t avoiding Matt, are you, Prue?

(Light enters the dark room as PRUE continues to develop the film.)

PRUE: (irritated) Close the door.

(PIPER HALLIWELL closes the door and stands next to PRUE, watching her carefully.)

PIPER: Prue, you work at a magazine where you can develop film. That means you’re clearly avoiding work. And since you love being a photographer, that means you’re avoiding a certain brown-haired man.

PRUE: Speaking of jobs, shouldn’t you be at P3?

PIPER: I own it; I can be there anytime without having to worry about firing myself. (PIPER watches PRUE hang up a picture and takes her hands into her own before PRUE can begin on another photograph.) Prue, talk to me.

(PRUE turns to her sister and sighs.)

PRUE: You’re the one who dates supernatural beings, Piper, not me.

PIPER: (insulted) Hey! Phoebe is dating a demon; cut me some slack.

PRUE: (sighing impatiently) Piper, that’s beside the point. Last time I was in a fully-committed relationship, we broke up and he died before things could begin.

(PIPER pulls PRUE into a hug.)

PIPER: And Andy wouldn’t want you to sacrifice your love life for his heroism, Prue. It’s been over two years since he died. And think about it this way, at least Matt knows the family secret, and seems to be able to accept you as a witch, something Andy wouldn‘t do. I would call that luck.

PRUE: But we still don’t know who he is. He knew I was a Charmed One and purposely didn’t tell me.

PIPER: Trust.

PRUE: How can I trust him?

PIPER: You took The Book of Shadows out of the attic and let him touch it, Prue. You must have trusted in him then.

PRUE: It was a spur-of-the-moment thing.

PIPER: Since when does Prue Halliwell do anything spur-of-the-moment?

PRUE: Oh! I’ll show you spur-of-the-moment. (She pulls down a handful of dry photographs and starts to head upstairs.)

PIPER: Where do you think you're going?

PRUE: Out.

PIPER: You can't just leave. We're in the middle of a conversation.

PRUE: Hence, spur of the moment. (She winks at PIPER and leaves.)

[Scene: Downtown San Francisco. A murmuring crowd looks over a string of bright yellow police tape as officers try to take down witness statements. Inspector DARRYL MORRIS walks under the tape and over to a standing officer.]

DARRYL: What happened? (They move closer to a black plastic tarp.)

OFFICER: A young woman was stabbed.

(DARRYL bends down, gently takes a corner of the black tarp between his fingers and pulls it back to reveal the body of a young brunette woman. Her hair is splayed around her head like a halo, while a pool of drying blood is under her body. A large stab wound, the size of a human hand, is visible in the center of her chest.)

OFFICER: By the size of the wound, we’re thinking it was probably personal. Her wallet and ID were both on her too, so we’ve ruled out a robbery.

(DARRYL covers the body and stands up. He looks at the onlookers and shakes his head.)

DARRYL: Anyone see anything?

OFFICER: No, sir. Witnesses say she fell to the ground, but we haven’t found anyone who either saw her with someone prior to the stabbing or saw someone fleeing the scene.

DARRYL: Have you photographed the scene yet? (The OFFICER shakes his head.)

DARRYL: Okay, we need to get on that. (The OFFICER nods and leaves. DARRYL crosses his arms as he gives the crime scene one last visual sweep.)

[Cut across the street. MATTHEW CAPIELLO is looking through a camera and spots the scene. He moves closer and uses the lens to zoom in around the body. MATT catches DARRYL bending down again near the body. He lowers the camera and jogs over to the other onlookers.]

[Cut back to DARRYL. He is kneeling between the body and what looks to be a small pile of ashes.]

DARRYL: What the…

[Cut to MATT. He’s looking through his camera again and spots the ashes. Again, he lowers the camera. He glances towards the sky. With a low whistle, a wind picks up and blows across the San Francisco street.]

[Cut to DARRYL. As the wind settles down, DARRYL moves his hand towards the ash. It’s moved, and now a clear outline of a bird is left. The wind picks up again and blows it away.]

OFFICER: Inspector? (He walks up to DARRYL with two other officers, both of whom have cameras in their hands.) Have you found anything?

(DARRYL stands up and looks towards the crowd with a slightly-worried look on his face.)

DARRYL: No, no I haven’t.

Clickable Credits.

[The Virtual Series]

{SCENE: The song “Rise from the Ashes,” written by Kevin Truckenmiller and sung by Quietdrive, is heard as stock shots of San Francisco are shown while the Guest Credits are rolled.}

Act One

[Scene: Downtown San Francisco. Business district. Office. LYNN and CRYSTAL PERRY are dressed in business suits and are talking amongst themselves as the door opens. LAWRENCE HENDRIX slams the office door shut and sits down behind his desk. Both ladies stop their conversation and focus their attention on LAWRENCE.]

CRYSTAL: You’re late.

LAWRENCE: Don’t pester me, Phoenix.

LYNN: You asked for our assistance, or have you taken care of the problem yourself?

(LAWRENCE looks between the two and rests his hands on desk. He sighs.)

LAWRENCE: I want them all killed. Expect for Fiona. Bring her to me.

LYNN: What’s your price?

(LAWRENCE writes down on a piece of paper and slides it across the desk. LYNN picks it up, looks at it, and then nods.)

LYNN: We’ll be back with the girl.

(LYNN and CRYSTAL stand up to leave and head towards the office door, ready to report the assignment and begin their mission. They open the door when LAWRENCE sneers.)

LAWRENCE: Make it painful.

[Scene: Psychologist’s office. Waiting room. PHOEBE HALLIWELL is sitting behind the front desk. The door opens and a seven-year-old girl walks towards the desk, closely followed by her mother who sits down in a chair. The little girl, FIONA MICHAELS, signs her name on the sign-in sheet. PHOEBE raises her head from the records she’s working on and gives her a smile. Weakly, FIONA returns the smile as she takes a seat beside her mother, DIANA MICHAELS.]

PHOEBE: Dr. Brenton should be out soon.

(Neither DIANA nor FIONA respond. FIONA just grabs a magazine from the table next to her and DIANA shuts her eyes.)

[Scene: South Bay Social Services. GLENN BELLAND walks through the doors and heads directly to PAIGE MATTHEWS’ cubicle and stands outside of it.]

GLENN: Hey.

(PAIGE is typing on her computer and doesn’t look up.)

PAIGE: Hey, Glenn.

GLENN: Time for a lunch break?

PAIGE: Just gotta finish up this recommendation and hand it in, then I’ll be ready.

(As PAIGE continues to type away, GLENN leans against the cubicle and watches her closely. Across the room, BOB COWAN's office door opens. His eyes scan over to PAIGE's cubicle.)

MR. COWAN: Paige! Where is that...

(PAIGE presses “Print” as her boss starts to yell at her.)

PAIGE: Printing!

(MR. COWAN gives PAIGE a look and walks over to the printer to pick up the papers himself. PAIGE turns around in her chair and she and GLENN share a grin. She stands up and grabs a light jacket from a coat hanger.)

PAIGE: (yelling to MR. COWAN) I’m going on my break!

(MR. COWAN nods and returns to his office. PAIGE walks out of her cubicle and out the door with GLENN. GLENN watches her as they walk towards his car.)

PAIGE: What?

GLENN: You’ve changed…(He stops walking and leans over to kiss her lips lightly.) Don’t change too much, though, okay? (His hand slips into hers.)

[Scene: Cemetery. PRUE’s standing in front of a dark headstone with her arms folded and her blue eyes narrowed. In large, emboldened letters, the headstone reads, “ANDREW DAVID TRUDEAU”. A gentle breeze rustles PRUE’s dark hair as her eyes fall beneath his birth and death dates, to a small message that simply states, “Beloved son.” A fresh red rose sits at the base of the headstone. She sighs.]

PRUE: You only lied to me twice…and the last time it cost you the ultimate price. (She starts to pick at her cuticles.) I know what Piper said is true, but I just don’t know if I can give that part of me again. (pause) And even if I could…I still feel like some part of me is betraying you for-for feeling something for him. (She takes a deep breath.) You died for me…there’s no greater sacrifice than that…and he just lied. (She closes her eyes.) Would you hate me if I told you that some part of me is telling myself to give him a second chance?

(A cool breeze whistles through the empty cemetery. PRUE’s cell phone suddenly starts to ring. She turns away from ANDY’s grave as she pulls her cell phone out and places it to her ear.)

DARRYL's VOICE: Prue?

PRUE: Darryl. (She glances over her shoulder.) What do you need?

DARRYL's VOICE: Uh, I was wondering if you might be able to check something out for me.

PRUE: Witch wise?

DARRYL's VOICE: Yeah. (pause) I was at a crime scene today and I saw this, this symbol near the victim.

PRUE: What kind of symbol?

DARRYL's VOICE: A bird.

PRUE: A bird? What kind of bird? Like a crow? A dove?

DARRYL's VOICE: I’m not sure. It was more of an outline in a pile of ash that was next to the body, but I only got a moment to look at it before it blew away.

(PRUE nods.)

PRUE: Okay. I’ll check The Book and get back to you if I find anything.

DARRYL's VOICE: Thanks.

PRUE: No problem. Bye, Darryl. (She hangs up and stares at the headstone for another moment, before she leaves.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Two

[Scene: A mansion overlooking the San Francisco Bay. LYNN and CRYSTAL shimmer in. The Matriarch, ABIGAIL PERRY, is sitting behind a desk and looks up.]

CRYSTAL: He wants us to bring the girl back and kill the rest of the coven.

ABIGAIL: Then what are you waiting for?

LYNN: Alexis was supposed to find her location.

(The door separating the room from the kitchen opens and a little girl around four years old, BIANCA PERRY, spots LYNN and runs up to her. ALEXIS enters the room behind the girl.)

BIANCA: Mommy!

LYNN: Bianca. (She picks up BIANCA and stares at her cousin, waiting for the location.)

ALEXIS: They’re seeing a psychologist by the name of Laura Brenton.

ABIGAIL: Go ahead, Lynn.

(LYNN nods and puts BIANCA down, giving her a kiss on the head before she shimmers out.)

[Scene: 415 Magazine. Staff room. MATTHEW CAPIELLO is sitting with photos in a portfolio in front of him. RUPERT MANNING is tapping his pencil on the table next to MATT, as is GIL CORSO. The room becomes silent as the meeting begins. MATT slides the pictures over to GIL.]

MATT: They should be what you’re looking for the downtown-landscape article.

(GIL looks through the portfolio as RUPERT looks around the room and smirks.)

RUPERT: Where’s Prue?

(MATT shifts uncomfortably in his seat.)

[Scene: Manor. Attic. PRUE is standing behind the podium and flipping through The Book of Shadows. She reads over a page that mentions a bird, but it doesn’t appear to be what DARRYL described. She sighs, frustrated, and flips through some more pages.]

[Scene: P3. Bar. PIPER is looking over the calendar of events when a loud crash is heard from the kitchen. ROBERT COHEN walks out and heads towards the stairs. He spots PIPER working at the bar and stops.]

ROBERT: I’m sorry to do this at such short notice, Piper, because you’ve been great...but I quit.

(PIPER drops her pen as she stares at ROBERT. Then she twists her right hand, halting ROBERT mid-step. As PIPER slides off her bar stool, a door shuts and LEO WYATT walks down the stairway.)

PIPER: Since when do you use doors?

LEO: Since mortals are around. (LEO eyes ROBERT.) Any particular reason there manager is frozen? (He walks over to PIPER.)

PIPER: He just quit!

LEO: And you thought you’d freeze his assets?

(PIPER lightly elbows LEO.)

PIPER: He’s the third employee to quit within a month’s time! I don’t get it. Am I that bad of an employer?

LEO: Have you asked any of them why they’ve quit?

(PIPER taps her chin.)

PIPER: You know, that’s not a bad idea. (She motions her hand and ROBERT unfreezes.) You’re the third person to quit this month, Rob, and frankly, it’s getting a little old.

(ROBERT turns around and sees LEO.)

ROBERT: (to LEO) Where’d you come from?

(PIPER snaps her fingers.)

PIPER: Not important. What is, is why you quit.

(ROBERT motions towards the kitchen.)

ROBERT: It’s Judy! She’s making everyone uncomfortable. (He shakes his head.) I just can’t work under that kind of pressure. (He heads up the stairs.) I’m really sorry, Piper. (He leaves and PIPER rubs her head.)

PIPER: Judy? The chef? Great!

[Scene: PAIGE and GLENN are sitting across from each other at an outdoor café. They’re talking as ringing sounds from PAIGE’s purse. She takes out her phone and answers it.]

PAIGE: Hello?

PRUE's VOICE: Paige, you need to come to the Manor right now.

PAIGE: I’m busy. (She gives GLENN a smile.)

[Cut to PRUE. She's in the attic, leaning over The Book of Shadows.]

PRUE: And we’ve got a magical problem.

PAIGE's VOICE: What?

(PRUE taps her hand over the page she’s looking at.)

PRUE: Darryl called me earlier about a murder.

PAIGE's VOICE: (interrupting) What does that have to do with me…us?

PRUE: He saw a symbol near the body that looked like something from our line of work so I looked it up in The Book. We’re dealing with a coven of Assassin Witches.

[Cut back to PAIGE and GLENN.]

PAIGE: A cov… (She stops after remembering GLENN is around.) Can’t you get Phoebe or Piper to help you?

[Cut back to PRUE.]

PRUE: Piper’s not answering her phone and Phoebe’s at work.

PAIGE’s VOICE: How do you know I’m not at work?

PRUE: You’ve been there longer so they trust you. Phoebe doesn’t have a lot of good experience with keeping a job. She can’t just leave.

PAIGE’s VOICE: So, I’m the last resort?

PRUE: No. Phoebe is.

[Cut back to Paige. She sighs.]

PAIGE: Wait, why aren’t you at work?

PRUE’s VOICE: I wasn’t needed.

PAIGE: Liar. You’re avoiding Matt, aren’t you?

PRUE’s VOICE: (rushed) No, I’m not.

PAIGE: Mmm hmm.

[Cut to PRUE.]

PRUE: (irritated) Get your ass here now, Paige. (She hangs up the phone and leaves the attic.)

[Cut back to PAIGE and GLENN.]

PAIGE: I’m sorry, Glenn, but I have to go.

GLENN: Why?

PAIGE: My sisters…

GLENN: Right, your new family.

(PAIGE sighs and moves a stray piece of hair out her face.)

PAIGE: Yeah, well, my sister Prue is going through this thing with a guy at work. She needs someone to talk to.

GLENN: Doesn’t she have other sisters?

PAIGE: Yes, but they’ve got lives, too, and she really needs someone to talk to. (She stands up and gives GLENN a quick kiss on the lips.) I’ll talk to you later, promise.

GLENN: Do you need a ride?

PAIGE: Huh? Uh, no, I’m just meeting her somewhere close. I really gotta go, Glenn. Bye.

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Three

[Scene: Psychologist’s office. Waiting room. DIANA is still resting her eyes, but she’s alone; FIONA is with DR. BRENTON. PHOEBE looks through the folder labeled “Michaels, Fiona”. She inhales as she’s hit with a premonition.]

[Premonition: Living room. DIANA and FIONA are watching TV when an athame comes directly towards DIANA. FIONA lifts up her hands and transforms it into a flower.]

DIANA: Get out of here, Fiona! (DIANA doesn’t hesitate and pushes her daughter away from the scene. An energy ball comes flying and DIANA moves away to avoid it, but a fist is shoved into DIANA’s chest. A red bird mark is shown on the attacker’s left arm.)

[Cut back to the present. DIANA opens her eyes as she hears the sharp exhale of PHOEBE’s breath.]

DIANA: Are you okay?

(PHOEBE stares at DIANA and nods.)

PHOEBE: Yeah, I’m fine. (PHOEBE takes a deep breath and looks at DIANA.) How are you doing? You don’t seem like you want to be here.

DIANA: (sighs) No, I don’t, but my daughter won’t talk to me.

PHOEBE: It’s hard for children to talk to their parents, sometimes. When my Grams was raising me and my sisters, she was the last person I wanted to talk to.

(DIANA nods like she understands.)

DIANA: I understand that. My husband died a couple weeks ago, and I think Fiona blames me.

[Cut to outside the psychologist's office. A red firebird, a Phoenix, is perched on the railing leading up to the office building. The bird’s eyes focus on the window, where we can see DIANA and PHOEBE talking.]

[Scene: 415 Magazine. Staff room. MR. CORSO and RUPERT walk out. MATT waits and when they don't come back, he pulls his cell phone from his back pocket and dials PRUE's number. The phone rings several times.]

PRUE's VOICE: You've reach Prue Halliwell. I'm unavaliable right now, but please leave your name and number and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.

(MATT sighs.)

MATT: It's me...again. Look, this is getting ridiculous. You haven't been to work in a week and I know it's because of me. We need to talk about this. (pause) Please call me back. (He hangs up and leaves.)

[Scene: Golden Gate Park. LEO and CASEY JOHNSON are walking through the park.]

CASEY: Stephanie’s dead. I received a call earlier from the police. They’re after all of us now, Leo.

LEO: Who’s after you?

CASEY: Lawrence. He killed his brother, and now he’s after the rest of us.

LEO: You need to gather the coven and make sure they understand the danger.

CASEY: I have, but Diana hasn’t picked up. She’s the one who I’m most worried about. After Jake died, she’s become distant and more careless. (She sighs.) Talk to her, please, Leo. She’ll listen to you.

[Scene: Quake. PIPER is sitting at the counter, drinking a cup of coffee.]

WAITRESS: Can I get you anything else?

(PIPER sighs and shakes her head. As the WAITRESS begins to walk away, PIPER stops her.)

PIPER: Actually, I was wondering if Monica Sinclair was still working here.

WAITRESS: Yes, she is.

PIPER: Can you tell her that Piper Halliwell would like a word with her?

WAITRESS: Of course. (She walks away. After a moment, MONICA SINCLAIR walks behind the counter and stands in front of PIPER.)

MONICA: Hey, Piper. It’s been awhile. How’s P3?

(PIPER sighs and looks up.)

PIPER: It’s been going great until lately.

MONICA: Slow business?

PIPER: No. Employees are dropping like flies.

MONICA: Oh no! (She smiles sympathetically.) Here, let me get you a slice of our cheesecake. (She moves down the counter to the dessert tray and cuts a large slice of cheesecake and brings it back to PIPER with a fork.) On the house.

(PIPER takes a bit and looks at MONICA.)

PIPER: How has it been for you, working here?

MONICA: Slow. It’s not the same without you around.

PIPER: I’d expect you to be a better manager than I was.

MONICA: (laughs) Well, I’d need to be promoted first to get the opportunity to be better than you.

PIPER: You still haven’t been promoted?

MONICA: Nope. I’m still where I was when you left.

(PIPER takes a few more bits as she seems to be deep in thought.)

PIPER: Working for Martin, you can handle difficult employees, right?

MONICA: (nods) Yeah…

PIPER: What would you say if I offered you a job?

MONICA: Excuse me?

PIPER: You deserve more than being a waitress. How about being a manager of my club?

MONICA: Are you serious, Piper?

PIPER: Yes. I trust you and I know you’re hard-working. Actually, the only reason I came back here was to see if you were still around.

(MONICA grins.)

MONICA: When can I start?

[Scene: Psychologist’s office. The door opens as FIONA and DR. BRENTON walk into the waiting room. PHOEBE’s and DIANA’s conversation ceases and DIANA stands up.]

FIONA: Let’s go.

DIANA: Thank you for the talk, Phoebe.

PHOEBE: Anytime.

FIONA: (impatiently) Mom. Please. Let’s go. (She grabs DIANA by the arm and pulls her out the door.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Four

[Scene: Manor. Sun room. PRUE and PAIGE are sitting at a table while LEO is standing.]

PRUE: How is this all connected again, Leo?

LEO: Casey is a charge of mine. She’s in the Sylph Coven. Jake Michaels and his wife were also members.

(Suddenly, the front door opens and closes.)

PHOEBE’s VOICE: Prue? Paige?

PAIGE: In here!

(PHOEBE runs in and sees everyone.)

PHOEBE: I had a premonition. (She spots The Book of Shadows and goes to it. She gasps.) That symbol… (She points to the Phoenix mark and reads the entry.) “The Phoenix are a family of assassin witches who are very elite, very powerful, and who are born with a distinctive birthmark symbolizing their rise from Salem’s ashes. Whatever bounty they are after, they won’t stop until they succeed.” What’s going on?

PRUE: Darryl called about a murder investigation and he said he saw that symbol outlined in ashes. I checked it out for him. Now Leo just came in and apparently everything’s connected.

PAIGE: (to LEO) Go on with your story.

LEO: Jake Michaels was killed by his half-brother.

PHOEBE: Michaels?

PRUE: Phoebe, let him finish.

LEO: Jake was killed a couple weeks ago and then some of the other members of the coven started to get attacked. Then his morning, Casey’s sister, Stephanie, was murdered. Casey asked me to watch Jake’s widow.

PHOEBE: Diana. That’s why she was at the office. Her daughter was seeing Laura because of Jake’s death. So, I’m guessing whoever killed Stephanie, (she taps the Phoenix page) is going to kill Diana, too.

PRUE: Phoebe, if you had a premonition, why would you let them go?

PHOEBE: Well…her daughter was in a rush and I couldn’t just go after them.

(PRUE sighs.)

PRUE: You guys figure out where Diana is and I’m going to fill Piper in.

[Scene: PIPER’s jeep. PIPER is on the phone.]

PIPER: Who’s after our innocent?

PRUE’s VOICE: Assassins.

PIPER: Haven’t we already dealt with assassins?

PRUE’s VOICE: Not like these, we haven't. They're hired guns, Piper. Think Miss Hellfire with powers.

PIPER: Great, just what we need.

[Scene: Manor. Sun room. LEO is sensing for Diana. He opens his eyes and looks at PHOEBE and PAIGE.]

LEO: Casey’s in trouble.

PHOEBE: Get her and bring her here.

(LEO orbs out.)

[Scene: CASEY’s apartment. Most of the furniture is overturned; a lamp is smashed; a large hole is smoking from an overturned television, and a small fire is burning on an overstuffed chair. CASEY pokes her head out from the corner of her couch, which has been thrown on its side. An energy ball comes flying at her head. She ducks back behind the couch as the energy ball crashes into the wall, leaving a black mark the size of a basketball.]

CRYSTAL: Your force field can’t protect you forever. (Another energy ball materializes in her palm.) If you continue to keep it up, it’ll only drain you magically. It would be ideal for you to just get this over with quickly.

(CRYSTAL throws the energy ball at the sofa. A sizzling sound is heard as a blue force field appears, causing the energy ball to fizzle out. Behind the sofa, CASEY unclenches a fist. Beads of sweat are slowly forming across her forehead. She looks up at the ceiling.)

CASEY: (whispering) Leo. Leo! Please, I need you!

(The wall begins to illuminate behind the sofa, catching CRYSTAL’s attention. Her eyes watch with interest.)

CRYSTAL: I knew you were getting tired. (She smirks.) A witch’s last resort is always her whitelighter. (She steps over the wreckage as she readies another energy ball. She catches LEO’s eyes just as he takes CASEY’s hand. CRYSTAL throws her energy ball, but it flies through LEO’s orbs as they disappear, leaving only a smoking hole in the couch cushion. She curls her fist in frustration.) Damn it! (She shimmers out.)

[Scene: Manor. Entry way. COLE walks in the front doors. He sees PHOEBE walking up the stairs.]

COLE: Phoebe!

(PHOEBE turns around, surprised.)

PHOEBE: Where have you been? (She walks over to him.)

COLE: I was delivering one of those legal briefs I've been working on the last few weeks. (PHOEBE nods.) What are you doing home? I thought you had to work today.

PHOEBE: I had a premonition about one of the patients, so I wormed my way into taking an early lunch.

[Cut to the living room. LEO orbs in with CASEY, who‘s breathing heavily.]

LEO: (yelling) Piper! (He helps CASEY to the sofa, where she sits down. COLE and PHOEBE come in. LEO looks up.) Hurry, go get your sisters. Casey needs our help.

(PHOEBE leaves. COLE walks further into the room.)

COLE: Is she one of your charges?

LEO: Yes, and The Phoenix have a bounty on her head.

(COLE looks surprised.)

COLE: The Phoenix?

CASEY: (weakly) I’ve been fending off one of their assassins for the last hour. (She coughs.) But it’s not gonna take long for her to track me here, too.

(CRYSTAL shimmers in across the room.)

COLE: Not long at all. Leo, get her out of here!

(LEO looks over his shoulder to see CRYSTAL coming towards them. COLE forms an energy ball and hurls it at CRYSTAL as LEO orbs out with CASEY. CRYSTAL dodges, but it grazes her shoulder leaving a bloody gash.)

CRYSTAL: My, my…Belthazor. (She smiles sinisterly.) You’re an even bigger bounty than the witch. The Source has a high price on your head…especially if you’re dead.

(COLE sneers.)

COLE: Tell Abigail that if she wants me, she can come get me herself.

(CRYSTAL purses her lips.)

CRYSTAL: Just like old times? (She tilts her head to the side.) I’m sure she’d like to take you up on that offer. (She shimmers out.)

PHOEBE's VOICE: What offer?

(COLE turns around as PHOEBE walks in.)

COLE: It's nothing.

PHOEBE: Don't you think-

(LEO, CASEY, PRUE, PIPER, and PAIGE walk in.)

PRUE: Okay, we've got a temporary cloaking spell on Casey, and now we've got to find Diana.

(PHOEBE glances uneasily at COLE.)

PIPER: Are we interrupting something?

PHOEBE: No, we're fine. (She motions to LEO.) Can you sense Diana?

LEO: She's at home. I'll go bring her and Fiona back here. (He starts to orb out, but CASEY grabs his arm.)

CASEY: I'm coming with you.

LEO: It's too dangerous-

CASEY: She's my best friend, Leo. I need to go! (She looks him in the eyes.) Please.

(LEO sighs.)

LEO: Fine. (He takes her hand and orbs out. As her sisters leave, PHOEBE grabs COLE by the arm.)

PHOEBE: Don't think our little talk is over. (She walks away and after a beat, COLE follows.)

[Scene: DIANA’s house. Porch. LEO and CASEY are standing at the front door. CASEY knocks. There’s no answer. As CASEY raises her hand to knock again, they hear a loud crash. CASEY gasps.]

CASEY: Diana!

(LEO takes her hand and they orb out.)

[Cut to inside the house. DIANA hits the wall with a thump and then slides to the ground. LYNN walks over to her and bends down. She plunges her fist into DIANA’s chest. A white glow illuminates DIANA’s chest and begins to send white pulses up LYNN’s arm as she takes away DIANA’s powers. LEO and CASEY orb in.]

CASEY: No!

(CASEY thrusts out her arm and a blue force field emanates from DIANA’s slumped body and flies outward, casting LYNN away from her. CASEY runs to DIANA’s side as LYNN gets up.)

LYNN: You can have her. She’s no use to me now anyway. (LYNN moves to the closet and flings it open, revealing FIONA cowering under the hanging clothes. CASEY gasps.)

CASEY: Fiona! (As she raises her hand, LYNN beats her to it.)

LYNN: Not this time! (She hits Casey in the arm with an energy ball and shimmers out with FIONA. LEO moves to CASEY, but she shakes her head.)

CASEY: Diana. Heal Diana!

(LEO kneels next to DIANA and places his hand over her chest wound. A golden glow bursts from his hands as CASEY kneels next to LEO with one hand over her wounded arm. The glow fades but DIANA’s wound doesn’t heal. LEO looks at CASEY mournfully.)

LEO: I’m sorry.

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Five

[Scene: Manor. Sun room. Blue lights form into LEO as THE CHARMED ONES and COLE look towards him. PIPER stands up from the seat she was in and walks over to her husband.]

PIPER: Where’s Casey?

LEO: I left her there.

PAIGE: I thought you were going to bring them all to the Manor.

(LEO sighs.)

PHOEBE: (worried) What happened? Is Diana okay?

LEO: When we arrived, The Phoenix had already gotten her.

PHOEBE: (shakily) And Fiona?

LEO: She took her.

PAIGE: Took her where?

PRUE: Whoever put the bounty on them.

PIPER: Why did Casey stay, Leo?

LEO: She wanted to say goodbye and said she’d call the police. I gave her Darryl’s number.

PHOEBE: How do we find Fiona now?

(LEO lifts his hand and opens it to reveal a gold locket. PRUE exits the room.)

LEO: Casey gave it to me. After Jake died, Fiona stopped wearing it. You can use it to scry with.

(PIPER takes the locket from LEO as PRUE returns with a map and a crystal. She hands the crystal to PIPER, and PIPER begins to scry.)

PHOEBE: Maybe I could just get a premonition from it.

PRUE: If you could, it would only tell us what would happened. We need a location, Pheebs.

(PHOEBE nods and goes over to COLE and leans against him. Suddenly, the crystal drops.)

PIPER: Got it.

PRUE: Let’s go.

PAIGE: Unprepared?

PRUE: We’ve got a lot of firepower between us. We’ll be fine.

[Scene: Downtown San Francisco. Business district. LAWRENCE's office. TWO MEN are in the room with him. LAWRENCE is talking fast as he emphatically points to a graph next to him. Behind the TWO MEN, LYNN shimmers in with FIONA. LAWRENCE stops speaking, and the TWO MEN turn around.]

LAWRENCE: (to the TWO MEN) Leave us. I have a (he looks at FIONA) family matter, to take care of. (The TWO MEN blink out. LAWRENCE walks over to FIONA, but LYNN steps between them.)

LYNN: My bounty?

LAWRENCE: (sourly) Yes. (He walks over to his desk and pulls a sheet of paper from the drawer. He grabs a pen and signs his name at the bottom, then he hands it to LYNN.) Happy?

(LYNN’s eyes scan the document; it’s a legal transfer of thirty percent of LAWRENCE’s business to ABIGAIL PERRY.)

[Cut to outside the office. PIPER and PRUE are walking down the hall. PIPER stops.]

PIPER: I think this is it.

(PRUE looks down at a sheet of paper in her hands.)

PRUE: Room one-ten. Yep. (She waves her hand and the door flies open. At the same time that LYNN shoves FIONA towards LAWRENCE, PAIGE and PHOEBE orb in across the room. LYNN spies PAIGE and PHOEBE first and hurls an energy ball towards them.)

PAIGE: Energy ball! (The energy ball orbs into her palm and she redirects it at LYNN. LYNN ducks and the energy ball hits the wall, knocking a diploma off and causing it to shatter on the floor.)

PRUE: Oh, Piper!

(PIPER waves her hands at LYNN, who explodes. FIONA emits a little scream as LAWRENCE picks her up and wraps his arm around her throat.)

LAWRENCE: Move and I’ll break her neck!

(Black ashes swarm together, reforming into LYNN.)

PIPER: Oh, that’s not good!

LYNN: (to LAWRENCE) This was not part of the deal. You’re on your own! (She shimmers out. LAWRENCE backs into the wall, still holding FIONA captive.)

LAWRENCE: (to PIPER) Keep your hands down.

PHOEBE: What do you want?

LAWRENCE: (to PHOEBE) What do you think I want? (He tightens his grip around FIONA’s neck.) I want her powers. (He looks at PIPER.) However, I’m willing to make a deal.

(PRUE looks across the room, locking her eyes with PAIGE.)

PRUE: (to LAWRENCE) Our powers for (loudly) Fiona?

(LAWRENCE looks quickly over at PAIGE and PHOEBE, then back at PRUE and PIPER.)

LAWRENCE: What’re you up to?

PRUE: Us? Up to something? (She looks at PAIGE. LAWRENCE follows her line of vision.)

PAIGE: We just want Fiona back!

(PAIGE holds out her arms and in a burst of orbs, FIONA disappears from LAWRENCE's arms and reappears in PAIGE’s. PAIGE lurches forward a little, bogged down by the extra weight.)

PRUE: (to PIPER) Now!

(PIPER throws out her hands and LAWRENCE explodes.)

PHOEBE: That was almost too easy.

PIPER: (to PHOEBE) Shh! (She puts her index finger to her lips.) Don’t jinx us!

PAIGE: (to FIONA) Are you okay, sweetie? (FIONA nods. PAIGE sets her down and takes her hand.) You’re safe now.

PHOEBE: Let’s get out of here. (She takes PAIGE’s hand and they orb out. PRUE looks to PIPER.)

PRUE: I still think we should’ve gone with them.

(PIPER scoffs.)

PIPER: Then where would our double-element-of-surprise have gone? (She walks off. PRUE rolls her eyes and follows.)

[Scene: The Perry Mansion. ABIGAIL’s office. ABIGAIL is seated at her desk, writing on some type of legal document. COLE shimmers in behind her. ABIGAIL stops what she’s doing and smiles without looking up.]

ABIGAIL: I knew you’d come.

COLE: Still in the same place after all these years. (He takes a step towards her chair.) You never were one for change.

ABIGAIL: What can I say? If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.

COLE: I want you to stay away from them, Abigail.

(ABIGAIL smirks.)

ABIGAIL: We were never after them in the first place. But now that you mention it, I bet a Charmed One would bring in a pretty heavy bounty… (COLE places his hands onto ABIGAIL’s shoulders and squeezes them. ABIGAIL stiffens a little, but continues to smile.) And here I thought you’d come all this way just to see me again.

COLE: (angrily) Abigail!

ABIGAIL: Relax, Coleridge. I don’t have any desire for your precious witch or her sisters. (She slips out from under COLE’s grasp and turns to face him.) But know this; I won’t hesitate to use force if they interfere in one of my bounties again. (She leans close to his face.) I trust you’ll see to it that they don’t?

COLE: They won’t be a problem. (He starts to shimmer out, but ABIGAIL grabs his arm.)

ABIGAIL: What? No goodbye kiss? (COLE rips his arm away from her.) Not even for old times’ sake? (COLE shimmers out. She smirks.) Same old demon.

[Scene: Manor. Phoebe’s room. COLE shimmers in. PHOEBE’s in bed with her lamp on, reading a psychology book. She looks up and adjusts her glasses.]

PHOEBE: Where were you?

COLE: Out. (He starts to unbutton his shirt.)

PHOEBE: Where?

COLE: Nowhere important.

(PHOEBE closes her book.)

PHOEBE: Who’s Abigail? (COLE freezes.) Cole. Who is Abigail?

COLE: She’s nobody you need to worry about.

PHOEBE: If you’re making deals with the enemy, then she is someone I need to worry about!

(COLE turns around with an almost-menacing look in his eyes. PHOEBE instinctively flinches back, not used to being on the receiving end of COLE’s more vengeful side. COLE stops, suddenly aware of PHOEBE’s unease.)

COLE: Look, Phoebe. (He walks over to the bed.) She’s just someone I used to know, okay?

PHOEBE: A demon?

COLE: No.

PHOEBE: An old lover?

(COLE hesitates.)

COLE: She means nothing to me.

PHOEBE: Then what did that Phoenix mean when she said that Abigail would take you up on an offer?

COLE: It was an empty threat, Phoebe. An expression. Haven’t you made them before?

(PHOEBE sighs.)

PHOEBE: So you’re sure it was nothing?

COLE: I’m sure. (He climbs into bed.) Is there anything else? (PHOEBE shakes her head.) Okay. (He starts to lay down, but PHOEBE places her hand on his bare chest. She leans over and gives him a kiss.)

PHOEBE: I love you.

COLE: I love you, too.

(PHOEBE turns off the light.)

PHOEBE: Good night. (She rolls over and snuggles into her pillow. COLE turns the opposite direction and stares at the wall, still fully awake.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Six

[Scene: South Bay Social Services. FIONA is wearing a black dress as she sits on a chair outside of MR. COWAN's office. Her hands are folded in her lap and she’s swinging her legs back and forth in a rhythmic motion.]

[Cut to inside MR. COWAN's office. PAIGE is talking with her boss.]

MR. COWAN: Now we’re just waiting for the attorney to get here with Diana’s will. (He checks his watch.) He’s already five minutes late.

(PAIGE peeks out the blinds and watches as FIONA silently sways her legs. She shakes her head as she turned back to MR. COWAN.)

PAIGE: I can’t even imagine what she must be feeling right now. At least when my parents were killed, I still had my aunt and uncle.

(MR. COWAN sits down at his desk.)

MR. COWAN: It’s people like that who are truly evil. (He picks the San Francisco Chronicle up from his desk and stabs the front page article with his index finger. The headline reads, “Businessman Hendrix: Triple Murder for Hire!”) What makes a person kill his mother, brother, sister-in-law, and attempt to kill his niece? (He throws the paper down.) And what’s worse, is the son of a bitch got away, too! How is that justice?

PAIGE: You know, I recently came across something called the Threefold Law and it states that the karma someone sends out into the world, good or bad, they’ll get it back three times as powerful. (She folds her arms.)

MR. COWAN: I just hope he burns in hell.

Paige: Something tells me that he already is.

(There’s a knock at the door. MR. COWAN looks up as a MAN enters.)

MR. COWAN: Bruce Westbrook? (MR. WESTBROOK nods. MR. COWAN stands up.) You’re late.

MR. WESTBROOK: I know, and I apologize-

(MR. COWAN moves to the blinds and tweaks them, revealing FIONA.)

MR. COWAN: You should be apologizing to that little girl. She just lost her entire family. (He glowers.) And all you can do is tell me that you’re sorry?

(MR. WESTRBROOK looks uneasily between MR. COWAN and PAIGE. He clears his throat as he places his briefcase on MR. COWAN's desk and opens it to reveal Diana Michaels’ will. He picks it up and hands it to MR. COWAN.)

MR. WESTBROOK: Just after her husband’s death, Mrs. Michaels adjusted the will to say that in the event of her death, custody of her daughter, Fiona Michaels, would be transferred to a Miss Casey Johnson, the child’s godmother.

PAIGE: (surprised) Casey?

MR. COWAN: (to PAIGE) You know her?

PAIGE: Uh, yeah…She’s a friend of my brother-in-law’s.

MR. COWAN: (to PAIGE) Then do you think you can get her down here?

PAIGE: Sure. I’ll get right on that. (As she skirts around MR. WESTBROOK, she gives him a dissatisfied glare and then steps out of the office.)

[Scene: Manor. Kitchen. LEO is standing at the island, slathering strawberry jam onto a slice of toast. COLE walks in wearing a nice business suit. LEO looks up.]

LEO: What’s the occasion?

COLE: What?

LEO: The suit.

COLE: Oh. (He pulls a bag of bagels from the cupboard.) I’m going in for a job interview today.

LEO: Where to?

COLE: A law firm. Harper and Lee. (He cuts a bagel in half and then places the halves into the toaster.) I’ve been writing legal briefs for the past few weeks for some attorneys I knew as an ADA, just to try and earn my keep around here. But it made me realize just how much I miss being an ADA, so one of the guys I wrote a brief for pulled some strings and got me an interview this morning.

(LEO smiles. The bagels pop up from the toaster.)

LEO: Good for you, Cole.

[Scene: South Bay Social Services. PAIGE sits down on a chair next to FIONA. She pulls something out of her pocket.]

PAIGE: I think I’ve got something that belongs to you. (FIONA looks up. PAIGE opens her hand, revealing the golden locket. FIONA shakes her head.) Don’t you want it? (Again, FIONA shakes her head. PAIGE tilts her head to the side.) Why not?

FIONA: You wouldn’t get it.

PAIGE: Try me. (FIONA looks around and then she lowers her head. PAIGE places a hand on her shoulder.) Please?

FIONA: It reminds me that he’s never coming back.

PAIGE: Your dad? (FIONA nods.) Maybe you’re looking at it all the wrong way.

FIONA: What do you mean?

(PAIGE stands up and holds out her hand.)

PAIGE: I wanna show you something.

(FIONA takes her hand and THEY walk over to Paige’s cubicle. PAIGE places the locket on her desk. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a key ring, where she finds a tiny key that she uses to open the bottom drawer on her desk. PAIGE reaches behind the files and then pulls out a soft blue baby blanket.)

FIONA: What’s that?

(PAIGE unfolds the blanket, revealing the stitched-on “P” in the corner.)

PAIGE: It’s the last thing my parents gave to me before they left. (She sits down on her chair as she admires the blanket.)

FIONA: Doesn’t it remind you that they’re gone?

(PAIGE shakes her head.)

PAIGE: No, it reminds me that they’ll always love me and be with me where ever I go, even if I can’t see them.

(FIONA’s lip trembles a little. PAIGE reaches for the locket and places it in FIONA’s hand. FIONA opens the locket to reveal a tiny picture of her parents and herself as a newborn. FIONA looks up at PAIGE.)

FIONA: (hesitantly) C-can you help me put it on?

(PAIGE smiles.)

PAIGE: Sure. (FIONA turns around as PAIGE drapes it around her neck and then clasps it. PAIGE smoothes her hair as FIONA gently closes the locket. FIONA smiles sadly.)

FIONA: Thank you.

PAIGE: No problem. (She tucks her baby blanket back into her drawer and closes it. They hear MR. COWAN's door open and they step out from Paige’s cubicle, to see CASEY and MR. COWAN standing there.)

CASEY: (to MR. COWAN) Thank you so much for all your help.

MR. COWAN: (to CASEY) I'm glad we could help.

(CASEY walks over to PAIGE and FIONIA and bends down to FIONA's eye level.)

CASEY: Hey kiddo, ready to go? (FIONA nods. CASEY notices the locket. She stands up and takes FIONA’s hand as she looks at PAIGE.) Thank you. (PAIGE smiles as CASEY and FiIONA leave.)

[Scene: MATT’s apartment. PRUE’s standing outside the door. She takes a deep breath and then knocks. After a moment, the door opens, revealing MATT. He looks surprised.]

MATT: Prue. (He shifts his weight from one foot to the other.) I wasn’t expecting you.

PRUE: Can I come in?

MATT: Uh, sure. (He opens the door and PRUE walks in. MATT closes the door and heads into the kitchen.) I was just heating up some leftover spaghetti. (He pulls a plate out of the microwave.) Do you want any?

PRUE: I’m fine. (She takes a seat on the blue sofa. MATT grabs a fork from the drawer and sits down next to her.)

MATT: Are you sure? I could get you something to drink.

PRUE: No, really, I’m fine. (She shifts uncomfortably. MATT spins noodles onto his fork.)

MATT: I thought you were avoiding me.

(PRUE looks down.)

PRUE: I was.

MATT: And now?

PRUE: Look, Matt, I know you were trying to protect your secret. I know that better than anyone else, believe me. But what makes me angry is that you knew I was a witch all along and you never said a word.

MATT: I figured that you would tell me in your own time.

(PRUE absently begins to pick at her cuticles.)

PRUE: So if you knew I was a witch, why didn’t you just tell me up front?

MATT: It seemed too obvious. (He shrugs.) Do you really think you would’ve just accepted that fact had I told you right off the bat? (PRUE bites her lip.) See, you would’ve been leery of me anyway. It was a lose-lose situation, so I just figured I’d tell you when you were ready to tell me.

PRUE: I guess that makes sense.

MATT: So do you think you can forgive me? (PRUE hesitates.) Okay, how about this. Why don’t we just start over fresh? (He holds out his hand.) Hi, my name’s Matt Capiello, and I’m a witch.

(PRUE laughs and then rolls her eyes as she takes his hand.)

PRUE: Prue Halliwell, and I’m Charmed.

MATT: So are we good now?

(PRUE sighs.)

PRUE: Do you think you could just give me a little time to think things over?

(MATT elicits a little sigh as he nods.)

MATT: Of course. Take as much time as you need.

(PRUE smiles.)

PRUE: Thank you. (A long beat passes between them and then she smirks.) So really, spaghetti for breakfast?

(MATT chuckles.)

MATT: It’s really not that bad. (He scoots closer to her.) You should try some. (PRUE shakes her head.) Oh, come on. (PRUE wrinkles her nose as MATT pushes a forkful of leftover spaghetti at her.) Try it.

(PRUE rolls her eyes, finally relenting.)

PRUE: Okay. (MATT feeds her the spaghetti and then raises his brows. PRUE smiles.) I guess it isn’t that bad after all.

[The Virtual Series]

End Credits

Co-Starring
David Reivers --- Bob Cowan
Kent Faulcon --- Gil Corso
Poppy Montgumery --- Dr. Laura Brenton
Patrick Bristow --- Rupert Manning
Jennifer Badger --- Monica Sinclair
Alexa Davalos --- Alexis Perry
Luisa Sanchez --- Bianca Perry

Featuring
Brooke Bennett --- Stephanie Johnson
Ramiro Abad --- Officer
David Denman --- Robert Cohen
Catherine Kwong --- Quake Waitress
Zachary Memos --- Warlock #1
George Kardulias --- Warlock #2

Production & Design
Daniel (Forever Yours) - Co-Casting Director
Camille (Fourever Charmed) - Co-Casting Director
Adam - Video Editor (Credits)
White Oleander - Set Designer

[charmedandliving]

Is the title of this episode, is a play on words from the film of "Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix"?

[Fourever Charmed]

charmedandliving said:

Is the title of this episode, is a play on words from the film of "Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix"?

You're right, the title is taken from the Harry Potter book.

But for future reference, please post all your comments, questions, reactions, etc... in the Reactions and Comments thread, located here. This isn't to be rude, it actually applies to everyone, as that way we're able to keep the episodes in chronological order (newest to oldest) and we don't have to fight with sticking all of the threads. However, this only works if no posts are made in the actual episode threads, hence the Reactions and Comments thread.