4x14: Cruels To Live By

[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]

4.14 CRUELS TO LIVE BY

GUEST-STARRING:
JESSE WOODROW
GINA TORRES
ALEX BRECKENRIDGE
SANDRA PROSPER

Script written by...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...James Conway

[The Virtual Series]

Cruels To Live By

Teaser[/center]

[Scene: Cemetery. PAIGE MATTHEWS’ green VW Bug is parked at the curb by the large, iron front gates. PAIGE and GLENN BELLAND are walking along a dirt path, leading towards a grassy area. PAIGE is holding two bouquets of red roses.][/b]

GLENN: I really think we should talk, Paige.

PAIGE: Talk? About what? There’s nothing to talk about.

GLENN: You know exactly what I’m talking about.

(PAIGE glances over her shoulder.)

PAIGE: No, Glenn, I’m afraid I don’t. Why don’t you enlighten me?

GLENN: I came back to San Francisco for you, Paige. (He motions his arms.) I could’ve gone anywhere, but I chose to come back here because I missed you. And when I saw you that day at P3, I thought I’d made the right decision.

PAIGE: And now you have doubts?

(GLENN grabs her arm and they stop.)

GLENN: I just want to be able to talk to you. I want to be able to work things out…to know where we stand. (His shoulders slump forward.) I miss you, Paige, and although I’m trying, I feel like you’re not. (pause) Is it me?

PAIGE: No! Of course not!

GLENN: Then what? I mean, it has to be something…

PAIGE: It’s complicated.

GLENN: (frustrated) Everything seems to be complicated with you lately, Paige.

(PAIGE sighs.)

PAIGE: Let's just say that a lot has happened recently and I’ve come into a lot of responsibilities that I didn’t have before.

GLENN: You’re not…you’re not in any kind of trouble, are you?

(PAIGE’s eyes widen.)

PAIGE: What?! No! (She shakes her head.) Nothing like that!

GLENN: Well then, why won’t you tell me what’s going on with you? (They start walking again.) It might feel better to get some things off your chest.

PAIGE: It’s not that simple.

GLENN: Paige! There’s you and I. How much more simple could it get? (They turn the corner.)

PAIGE: I know, I know! (pause) But this is different. There are things going on that you…just wouldn’t understand. (They stop at a pair of twin headstones, where two bouquets of dry roses are.)

GLENN: If you would let me in, maybe I could help? Remember when we used to be able to do that? (He shivers and pulls his coat a little tighter.)

PAIGE: Glenn…You know what? Let's just drop it. I don’t want to do this in front of them.

(PAIGE kneels down and gathers the old flowers into her lap, and then gently arranges the new flowers in front of the headstones. “Madeline Matthews” and “Holden Matthews” are carved into the left and right headstones respectively. A few tears drip from PAIGE’s eyes. GLENN's tone changes and he reaches out and rubs her shoulder.)

GLENN: It’s nice that you’re able to come here so often and do this.

PAIGE: Once a week is the least I could do, after all the hell I put them through growing up. (She stands up, still holding the dead flowers. A cold breeze rustles her hair. She shivers, and GLENN wraps his arm around her shoulders.)

GLENN: You okay?

(PAIGE nods.)

PAIGE: Yeah, it just… (She looks around.) It seemed to get colder all of the sudden.

GLENN: It’s just the wind. (He looks at his watch.) Maybe we should get back to the car?

PAIGE: Yeah. (They start to turn around, when a stronger breeze blows against them. A moaning sound accompanies the wind. PAIGE stops. She looks around. GLENN watches her, confused.) Did you hear that?

GLENN: Hear what?

PAIGE: It sounded like a moan.

(GLENN chuckles.)

GLENN: Come on, Paige. That used to work when we were kids, but we’re adults now. You can’t fool me into thinking there are ghosts in the graveyard anymore.

(PAIGE glares.)

PAIGE: I know what I heard!

WOMAN's VOICE: (whispering) Paige, help me.

(PAIGE spins around. Her eyes widen as she sees a teenager standing in the middle of the grass. She’s deathly pale, her hair is stringy, she’s wearing ragged clothing, and the skin around her eyes is dark and baggy. PAIGE gasps.)

PAIGE: M-Michelle?

GLENN: Paige… (GLENN follows Paige line of vision.) Who are you talking to?

PAIGE: Y-you c-can’t see her?

GLENN: See who?

PAIGE: Michelle. (She shakes.) Michelle Miglis.

Clickable Credits.

[The Virtual Series]

{SCENE: The song “My Immortal,” written by Ben Moody and Amy Lee and sung by Evanescence, is heard as stock shots of San Francisco are shown while the Guest Credits are rolled.}

Act One

[Scene: Manor. Kitchen. PRUE HALLIWELL is sitting at the table, sipping quietly at a steaming cup of coffee. PIPER HALLIWELL walks in, shuffling a handful of mail in her hands. Suddenly, she holds an envelope up and squints her eyes, then she sets it down next to PRUE. PRUE looks at it and then up at PIPER.]

PRUE: Mail from the precinct?

PIPER: Maybe it’s from Darryl.

(PRUE starts to open the letter.)

PRUE: Wouldn’t he just call?

(PIPER tosses a handful of junk mail into the trash and then moves to the coffee maker.)

PIPER: Beats me, then. (She shrugs as she places the coffee pot back on the warmer. As she looks over the rim of her coffee mug, she sees PRUE’s facial expression slowly change as she reads the letter.) What is it? (PRUE sets the paper down and stares at it for a long moment.) Prue?

(PRUE looks over at PIPER.)

PRUE: It’s an invitation.

PIPER: An invitation? (She raises her brow.) To what?

PRUE: (quietly) Andy’s memorial.

[Scene: PAIGE’s VW Bug. PAIGE is driving and GLENN is sitting in the passenger’s seat. They’re in the middle of a heated argument.]

GLENN: This is not funny, Paige, and I can’t even believe you, of all people, would joke about her death!

PAIGE: Glenn, I said I want to drop it!

GLENN: No. I’m not going to let you degrade Michelle and then just drop it. (He shakes his head.) You know, you took her death the hardest of anyone, and it just floors me that you’d even think of making light of it now.

PAIGE: (warning) Glenn, stop.

GLENN: (challengingly) Or what? What are you going to do? (GLENN stares at her.) You’ve changed, Paige. You’re not the same person I grew up with.

PAIGE: That’s life, Glenn! People change. People grow up. Unlike you, we can’t all stay teenagers forever!

(GLENN stares at her, shocked and hurt.)

GLENN: It’s those sisters.

PAIGE: Excuse me?

GLENN: Those so-called sisters of yours. Ever since you met them, you haven’t been the same. You stopped talking to me; I’m in town but we barely see each other, and you’re always running off to meet them without explanation.

PAIGE: Leave them out of this.

GLENN: You know I’m right.

PAIGE: They’re my family!

GLENN: (yelling) How do you?! Because they told you they were? I mean, god, how long have you even known them? Five months? Six? How well do you even know them? And what do they have on you that you can’t even tell me?

PAIGE: You have no right to judge them! You don’t even know them. You don’t know what we’ve been through.

GLENN: What about what we (he waves his arm between himself and PAIGE) have been through? Doesn’t that count for anything anymore? (There’s a long pause as GLENN stares at PAIGE, then she turns her head away.)

PAIGE: (quietly) I think we should take a break. (PAIGE stops at a red light. GLENN shakes his head, amazed.)

GLENN: Fine. (He unbuckles his seatbelt.)

PAIGE: What’re you doing?

GLENN: Taking that break. (He starts to open the car door.)

PAIGE: Glenn-

GLENN: I’ll catch a cab. (He gets out and slams the door. The light turns green.)

PAIGE: Glenn!

(PAIGE watches helplessly as he walks across the street without so much as looking back at her. The person behind her honks, causing her to jump. PAIGE sees the green light and then looks back across the street, but GLENN is gone. She drives off.)

[Scene: Manor. Hallway. PIPER is chasing PRUE.]

PIPER: I still don’t understand. Andy died over two years ago, why would they be having a memorial for him now?

PRUE: Read the letter. (She shoves the letter at PIPER.) It says it’s a memorial that takes place every four years and encompasses all of the San Francisco police that died during that four year period. This one covers all the deaths from nineteen-ninety-eight to this year.

PIPER: When’s the memorial?

PRUE: Next month.

PIPER: (cautiously) Are you going?

(As PRUE opens her mouth to answer, the sound of someone banging on the doors downstairs interrupts them.)

PRUE: I’ll get that. (PRUE walks off before PIPER can protest. PIPER looks down at the letter in her hands.)

[Time lapse. PRUE is standing in the attic, rifling through the pages of The Book of Shadows. PAIGE is looking over PRUE’s shoulder. PHOEBE HALLIWELL walks in.]

PHOEBE: Okay, this has to be quick. I’ve only got an hour lunch break.

(PIPER walks in.)

PIPER: Someone’s a stickler for work.

(PHOEBE squints her eyes at PIPER.)

PHOEBE: I take my job very seriously, thank you very much.

PIPER: And for that, I’m proud of you, Pheebs. (She smiles genuinely.) You’ve really grown up.

PHOEBE: Thanks.

(PAIGE waves her arm.)

PAIGE: (to PIPER and PHOEBE) No offense, but do you think you can have the sisterly moment later? Phoebe may’ve grown up, but we’ve still got a problem that hasn’t.

(PHOEBE sets her purse on a little round table as she walks over to PAIGE and PRUE.)

PHOEBE: So what exactly is the problem?

PAIGE: A ghost.

PHOEBE: Oh, well, that shouldn’t be too much of a problem as long as we can find out where his bones are.

PRUE: It’s a her, Phoebe, and she’s not evil.

PHOEBE: Now you’ve lost me.

PAIGE: Glenn and I were at the cemetery so I could put some new flowers out at my parents’ plots…and then I saw Michelle.

PHOEBE: Michelle?

PAIGE: She was a friend of mine and Glenn’s in high school. (pause) She asked me for help.

PHOEBE: She spoke to you? (PAIGE nods.) Did she say anything else? (PAIGE shakes her head.) And we’re sure it’s not some demon who’s playing on Paige’s emotions?

PRUE: We’re not sure of anything yet, which is where your area of expertise comes in.

PIPER: Prue thinks that if Paige takes you to the cemetery, you might be able to get a premonition. Or better yet, see Michelle for yourself.

(PHOEBE looks at PAIGE.)

PHOEBE: What have we got to lose? (She holds out her hand. As PAIGE takes it, PHOEBE’s eyes slam shut and her hand clamps around PAIGE’s.)

[Premonition: A flashlight flickers across a dark playground, revealing a slide, a sandbox, and then a swing set. A teenager is sitting on one of the two swings, swaying slowly. A teenage PAIGE walks over to the swing set and sits down on the vacant swing.]

PAIGE: Michelle, what the hell is going on? It’s after midnight, for Christ’s sake! (MICHELLE turns around, revealing that she’s holding a bottle of liquor and has a black eye. PAIGE gasps.) Oh my god, what happened?! (She reaches for MICHELLE, but MICHELLE pushes PAIGE’s hands away.)

MICHELLE: It’s nothing.

PAIGE: You have a black eye!

MICHELLE: Yeah, so? It’s nothing new.

PAIGE: What happened?

(MICHELLE shrugs as she takes another drink from the bottle of alcohol. Then she holds it out to PAIGE.)

MICHELLE: Want some?

(PAIGE shakes her head quickly.)

PAIGE: I’ve already told you, I stopped drinking.

MICHELLE: Oh, right. Sorry. (She scuffs her feet in the dirt.) Do you ever wish you could trade lives with someone, Paige? (PAIGE looks at the ground. MICHELLE gets up and starts to wander over to a bench. PAIGE follows.) You know, sometimes I wish… (She sits down on the bench and PAIGE sits down next to her.) I wish I could’ve had parents like yours. (She stares up at the starry sky. PAIGE scoots closer.)

PAIGE: Michelle-

MICHELLE: Maybe I wouldn’t have turned out so bad. (She leans her head on PAIGE’s shoulder.) Maybe I would’ve turned out more like you.

PAIGE: You’re not bad. (PAIGE, too, stares up at the sky.) Michelle…was it your dad again? (pause) Michelle?

(PAIGE looks down at her friend, who’s fallen asleep on her shoulder. PAIGE sighs. Several feet away, behind the slide, the wind blows and a WOMAN with dark skin appears. She opens her mouth revealing corroded death. She blows across her palm, sending a swirling black mist across the park, which flies passed PAIGE and absorbs into MICHELLE’s chest.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Two

[Scene: Manor. Attic. The Book of Shadows is opened to a page revealing the dark skinned WOMAN from PHOEBE’s premonition. On the right page, opposite the picture, it reads “The Demon of Cruelty”, followed by a handwritten passage below it. PHOEBE is standing behind The Book, looking over the passage.][/b]

PHOEBE: “The work of this demon is particularly insidious. This demon hardens the heart and corrodes the soul, leaving the soul vulnerable to all manner of evil. The Demon of Cruelty is a vicious opponent and she must be approached with great caution.”

PIPER: Is there a vanquish?

(PHOEBE turns the stand towards PIPER.)

PIPER: “She can be disarmed only by one pure of heart. That one must place a garland containing three pearls around her neck, then invoke hope, joy, and love to use the pearls to cleanse the demon of her cruelty.”

PAIGE: Well, that should be easy enough, right? I mean, (to PIPER) couldn’t you just freeze her and then one of us can put the pearls around her neck?

PRUE: It’s not as easy as it sounds, Paige. One, we have no idea where to get this garland, and two, it says that the person who disarms her has to be pure of heart.

PAIGE: Well, who would be more pure of heart that a Charmed One? I mean, you guys have saved countless innocents over the years, right?

PHOEBE: Paige’s got a point there, Prue.

PIPER: But that still doesn’t get us any closer to helping Michelle.

PHOEBE: Maybe if we vanquish the demon it will set her spirit free?

PRUE: But, she specifically asked for Paige’s help. I have a feeling that there’s more to the story than simply vanquishing this demon. Think about it, every ghost we’ve ever encountered has had some type of unfinished business, or a story that needed to be revealed. (to PAIGE) I doubt your friend would be any different.

PHOEBE: So, what do we do?

PRUE: (to PHOEBE) You don’t do anything. (She taps her watch.) Your lunch break is almost over, which means you need to get back to work if you want to keep that job.

PHOEBE: (to PRUE) But, what if you need me to get another premonition?

PRUE: (to PHOEBE) Hey, you were the one who said you needed to make this quick, not me.

PIPER: (to PHOEBE) Don’t worry, we’ll call you if we need you. Until then, I think Prue, Paige, and I can take care of it. (She shrugs.) Actually, it’s not even a Power of Three spell, so I think we’ll be more than fine.

PHOEBE: Well, if you’re sure.

PRUE: We’re sure.

PHOEBE: Okay. (She grabs her purse.) Don’t forget to call me if anything comes up! (She leaves.)

PRUE: (to PIPER) You go with Paige to the cemetery and see if you can find Michelle again. I'll call Darryl and see if he can do some digging into Michelle’s past. (She grabs the Book and tucks it under her arm.) And then I’m going to see if I can figure out a way to find those pearls.

[Scene: San Francisco Police Department. DARRYL MORRIS is sitting at his desk with the phone tucked between his head and his shoulder. At the same time, he’s typing rapidly onto the keys of his computer. A picture of MICHELLE MIGLIS comes up along with a short biography and a few arrest records. DARRYL places his hand on the mouse and starts to scroll down the page.]

DARRYL: (into the phone) She was arrested several times for underage drinking and twice for getting caught with cigarettes on campus. (He squints his eyes.) Wait a minute, there’s something else. (He clicks the mouse, bringing up a new screen.) There were also three separate charges of domestic abuse brought against her father, but they were all dropped.

PRUE's VOICE: What was her official cause of death?

(DARRYL closes the second screen and brings up one with the coroner’s report.)

DARRYL: (into the phone) A fatal dosage of unknown drugs were found in her bloodstream.

PRUE's VOICE: Unknown?

DARRYL: (into the phone) They were never able to identify it. (As he reads he slowly begins to shake his head.) And it wasn’t for lack of trying. They ran all the tests they could, but it didn’t match any of the usual suspects.

PRUE's VOICE: They never considered homicide?

DARRYL: (into the phone) No, they just wrote it off as another teen suicide. (An officer walks up to DARRYL’s desk. DARRYL looks up.) Uh, hold on a second.

OFFICER: The Captain wants me to get the Borelli homicide file from you.

DARRYL: (to the OFFICER) It’s with Gerry, he’s writing up the final report.

OFFICER: Thanks. (He walks away. DARRYL uncovers the mouth piece.)

DARRYL: (into the phone) Sorry about that. (He looks at the computer screen.) Is there anything else you need?

PRUE's VOICE: No, I think I’m good. Thanks, Darryl.

DARRYL: (into the phone) No problem. (He hangs up and stares at the screen for a minute, then he closes the windows.)

[Scene: Psychologist’s office. DR. LAURA BRENTON walks up to PHOEBE’s desk and drops a cardboard box in front of PHOEBE. PHOEBE jumps at the bang of the box.]

DR. BRENTON: I need you to take these out to the dumpster. When you get back, I’ve got a new shipment of magazines for you to stock in the waiting room.

(DR. BRENTON heads back into her office without waiting for PHOEBE to reply. PHOEBE wrinkles her nose as she glares at the closed door.)

PHOEBE: (muttering) Now I remember why it took me so long to get a job in the first place. (She rolls her eyes as she grabs the heavy cardboard box and then blindly hobbles towards to the door.)

[Scene: Manor. Kitchen. PRUE and MATTHEW CAPIELLO are sitting at the table. The Book of Shadows and a box of red Twizzlers are between them. PRUE is munching on a half eaten Twizzler.]

PRUE: Thanks for coming on short notice.

MATT: Hey, no problem. I’m glad to help. (PRUE lightly begins to pick at her cuticles. MATT watches her with interest. Suddenly, he taps the picture of the demon with his index finger.) Hey, I was just thinking, maybe the reason the Demon of Cruelty came after Paige’s friend was because of her preexisting pain?

(PRUE slowly starts to nod.)

PRUE: It would make sense that she’d be drawn to preexisting cruelty.

(MATT scratches his head.)

MATT: But, what I don’t get is why she hardens the hearts of her victims.

PRUE: Well, she’s a demon-

MATT: But if she’s hardening their hearts, it sounds like she’s trying to close off their pain by making them immune to it. (He points towards the bottom of the right page.) And look, it says nothing about actually destroying or vanquishing this demon. It says, “She can be disarmed only by one pure of heart.”

PRUE: What’re you getting at?

MATT: Maybe she’s another innocent.

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Three

[Scene: Alley. PHOEBE is dumping the contents of the box into an opened dumpster. One of the magazines falls to the ground. PHOEBE groans as she sets the box down and then bends over to grab the fallen magazine. As her fingers touch it, she emits a sharp gasp.]

[Premonition: A well built, dark skinned MAN is leaning over a YOUNG GIRL who’s cowering in the corner of the room. She’s sobbing and screaming as the MAN yells at her and pummels his large fists into her small frame. The GIRL tries to squirm away, but he grabs at her neck, locking onto a necklace with three pearls. It rips and pieces go flying across the hardwood floor. The MAN backhands the child across the face. Suddenly, her crying ceases and her head drops forward, but the abusive MAN doesn’t seem to notice. A black mist spews from her chest, forming into a transparent version of the pre-teenager. With each punch the man inflicts onto her limp body, the ghost flashes and begins to age until she finally turns into the Demon of Cruelty. She opens her mouth, now full of rotten teeth, and runs at the MAN as she elicits a horror movie-like scream. She runs through his body and he seems to freeze for a moment, before dropping to the floor dead.]

[Cut back to the present. PHOEBE picks up the magazine. It reveals an old photograph of the GIRL from her premonition. The title of the article reads, “Cruel & Unusual Punishment: The Natasha Akili Story.”][/b]

PHOEBE: “Child abuse is a rising occurrence in today’s society, and the psychological impact on the victims of such abuse is catastrophic. One of the most famous cases being that of twelve-year-old Natasha Akili, who was beaten to death by her father, Yohance Akili, in December of seventeen-seventy-seven.”

(PHOEBE traces her fingers over NATASHA’s picture. A caption under the picture reads, “Grade Six.” She notices the same necklace from her vision around NATASHA’s neck. Her hands tremble a little as she moves her eyes down the page.)

PHOEBE: “Just prior to her death, several people close to the child reported radical behavioral changes. Natasha’s sixth grade English teacher described the situation saying, ‘It was like her heart had simply turned to stone, and she had just locked emotion out of her life.’”

[Scene: Cemetery. PAIGE is standing in front of very small block of granite with two lines of text. The first line simply reads, “Michelle Miglis,” and just under it states, “1977-1994.”]

[Flashback: Sixteen-year-old GLENN has his arms wrapped around PAIGE as they watch MICHELLE’s casket being lowered into the ground. Across from them, MICHELLE’s mother stares at the casket as if almost in a trance. Suddenly, the man next to her, MICHELLE’s father, grabs her by the arm.]

MR. MIGLIS: (to MRS. MIGLIS) Lets go. (He starts to leave.)

MRS. MIGLIS: (frantic) But Frank- (She reaches towards the casket, but FRANK slaps her arm down.)

FRANK: (threateningly) I said we’re going, Greta!

(FRANK grabs GRETA by the arm and pulls her away from the small group of mourners. GLENN stares at MICHELLE’s parents with a hardened gaze, while PAIGE turns her head away from the casket and starts to sob into GLENN’s chest. GLENN runs his hand over PAIGE’s hair.)

GLENN: (whispering to PAIGE) Shhh. She’s at peace now. He can’t hurt her anymore.

[Cut back to the present. PIPER walks up to her sister and lightly touches PAIGE's shoulder. PAIGE jumps.]

PIPER: Hey, it’s just me. (She looks at the headstone.) I’m sorry if I startled you.

PAIGE: (softly) It’s okay. (She wipes her eye.) She was a good person, you know? She didn’t deserve to be treated like that.

PIPER: Nobody does. (The wind rustles their hair. PIPER and PAIGE look up.)

PAIGE: (hopeful) Shelly?

MICHELLE's VOICE: Paige?

PIAGE: Where are you? (She turns around.) I’m here to help, just like you asked. You don’t have to be afraid. (She motions to PIPER.) And this is my sister, she wants to help too.

(MICHELLE fades into view. PAIGE places her hand to her mouth, still shocked by the decayed looking ghost.)

MICHELLE: I didn’t do it, Paige.

PAIGE: Do what?

MICHELLE: (faintly) I didn’t do it.

PAIGE: What? What didn’t you do, Shelly? (MICHELLE flickers and then fades away.) Michelle?

MICHELLE's VOICE: Help me…

PAIGE: Michelle!

[Scene: Psychologist’s office. PHOEBE has the phone to her ear, talking in hushed tones. She’s cupping the mouth piece with her hand.]

PHOEBE: (whispering) The necklace was ripped from her neck in my vision.

PRUE's VOICE: So how do you propose we find it?

PHOEBE: (whispering) The article said she was murdered, which means that DARRYL can probably access the case file. See if he can find out if they still have the evidence collected from the scene. If we’re lucky, they’ll still have the necklace in an evidence storage room.

PRUE's VOICE: I’ll get right on it.

(PHOEBE hangs up. DR. BRENTON walks out of her office.)

DR. BRENTON: Are you finished putting out the new magazines yet?

(PHOEBE smiles sheepishly.)

PHOEBE: I’ll get right on it!

[Scene: San Francisco Police Department. Evidence locker. DARRYL walks up to the counter, which a SECURITY GUARD is standing behind. DARRYL flashes his badge.]

Darryl: Inspector Darryl Morris. (The SECURITY GUARD studies his badge and then nods.) I need the evidence from case B69041.

SECURITY GUARD: Sign here. (He pushes a sign in sheet towards DARRYL.) I’ll be right back.

(The SECURITY GUARD leaves as DARRYL signs the papers. Moments later, the SECURITY GUARD comes back out carrying a small box. He slides it across the counter to DARRYL. DARRYL pulls the red lid off the box and starts to look through it. He pulls out a plastic bag containing a broken silver chain and three pearls. A piece of official red tape has the bag sealed.)

DARRYL: I’ll need this.

(The SECURITY GUARD gives him a strange look.)

SECURITY GUARD: That’s all?

(DARRYLnods. He slips the bag into his coat pocket.)

DARRYL: Thanks. (He leaves.)

[Scene: Manor. PIPER and PAIGE walk in.]

PAIGE: If she had enough strength to appear to us, I just don’t understand why she didn’t tell us how to save her.

PIPER: Paige, she’s already gone. We can’t save her, we can only help her to move on.

PAIGE: That’s…that’s what I meant.

(PIPER nods understandingly.)

PIPER: Chances are, she probably doesn’t even know herself how to move on, which is why she just continues to beg for help.

(MATT walks down the stairs. PAIGE and PIPER stop. PIPER stares untrustingly, but doesn’t say anything.)

MATT: Oh good, you’re back. (He motions up the stairs.) Prue just got a call from Inspector Morris, and he said he’s on his way over with the necklace now.

PAIGE: You found the necklace?

(Prue comes down the stairs.)

PRUE: Phoebe did. She had a premonition. Turns out our demon appears to be another innocent.

PIPER: Come again?

PRUE: Attic. (She waves her arm.) I’ll explain on the way.

(PIPER, PAIGE, and MATT start to follow PRUE up to the attic.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Four

[Scene: Manor. Attic. PRUE taps a yellow writing tablet with her pen and holds it up. MATT, PIPER, and PAIGE are also there.][/b]

PRUE: Done!

(PIPER and PAIGE walk over and look down at the spell.)

PIPER: It took you that long to come up with something that simple?

PRUE: Hey, Phoebe’s the rhyming guru, not me. (PIPER rolls her eyes and PRUE playfully elbows her.)

PAIGE: So now we just need-

(The doorbell rings.)

PIPER: Darryl. (She smiles.) I’ll get that. (She leaves. MATT looks at PRUE.)

MATT: It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it?

PRUE: What is?

MATT: The situation. (He flips a hand to PAIGE.) How your past can come back to haunt you, I mean. (PRUE suddenly shifts her eyes away from MATT.) I’m sorry, did I say something-

PRUE: No. You’re fine. (She brushes a strand of hair behind her ear.) I was just thinking about what you said. (She gives him a forced smile.) I guess it’s true, right? The past doesn’t stay dead for long.

(MATT opens his mouth to speak, but PIPER walks in.)

PIPER: Here it is. (She holds up the plastic bag.) But we’re going to need Leo.

PAIGE: Leo? Why?

PIPER: The necklace is in pieces and we definitely don’t have the time to try and repair all of the tiny links.

PAIGE: And how does Leo fit into all this?

PIPER: You’ll see. (PIPER tilts her head to the ceiling.) Leo!

PAIGE: Are you sure it’s alright to call him right now?

PIPER: Why not?

(PRUE rolls her eyes.)

PRUE: Don’t you remember? (She waves her hands in a mock scared fashion.) He said The Elders were summoning all of the whitelighters for some big meeting of great importance, and to not call unless it was an emergency.

PIPER: (sourly) Oh. That. (She shrugs.) We have two innocents to save and we can’t do it without this necklace, so I think that constitutes an emergency, don’t you? (She taps her foot.) Leo! Leo, we need your help!

(LEO orbs in looking frustrated.)

LEO: Piper, I thought I said-

PIPER: Not to call unless it was an emergency. Yes, yes, we know. (She holds up the plastic bag.) To make a long story short, we’re dealing with the Demon of Cruelty who’s actually an innocent and the only way to save her with this necklace. (She shoves the bag at her husband.) And the only way to save Paige’s friend is by saving the Demon of Cruelty, so we can’t wait a few weeks for the jewelry repair shop to fix it.

(LEO takes the bag.)

LEO: (to PAIGE) What happened to Glenn?

(PAIGE raises her eyebrows.)

PAIGE: Who said anything about Glenn?

LEO: Piper said your friend-

PAIGE: (defensively) Glenn isn’t my only friend, Leo. I do have a social life, thank you very much.

LEO: I didn’t mean-

PAIGE: Just (she waves her hand impatiently) do your thing, okay?

(LEO squeezes the sides of the bag and tilts it, causing the broken silver chain and three pearls to fall into his left palm. He sets the bag down and then places his right hand over his left. A golden glow emanates from his cupped hands. As he removes his top hand, he reveals the necklace, now as perfect as it bad been the day it was made. PIPER lightly kisses her husband’s cheek.)

PIPER: Thank you.

LEO: Now I really need to get back. (He pecks PIPER on the lips.) Please, don’t call again unless it’s an emergency! (He orbs out.)

MATT: It must be some meeting Up There, because Leo looked pretty frazzled.

(PRUE waves her hand dismissively.)

PRUE: The Elders just like to get people worried. Trust me, it’s probably nothing.

(PIPER walks over to PRUE and PAIGE.)

PIPER: Okay, lets get this done. (They take hands.)

[Scene: Psychologist’s office. A woman, MRS. RESTON, walks out of DR. BRENTON’s office and up to the counter. PHOEBE slides a paper towards MRS. RESTON, along with a pen.]

PHOEBE: The amount is here, (she points to the “$183.00”) and then you just sign down here. (She places her index finger on the last line at the bottom of the page. MRS. RESTON takes the pen and reaches out to sign her name. PHOEBE notices her pearl bracelet.) Oh! That’s a lovely bracelet.

(MRS. RESTON smiles.)

MRS. RESTON: Why, thank you. (She strokes it and then holds her wrist out to PHOEBE.) My husband gave it to on our first anniversary, thirty years ago.

PHOEBE: Aw, how romantic! (She touches the bracelet and her shoulders stiffen.)

[Premonition: PIPER raises her hands to freeze NATASHA. She wiggles her fingers several times and then looks frantically at PAIGE and PRUE.]

PIPER: It’s not working!

PRUE: Paige, orb it!

PAIGE: But-

PRUE: Just like at Lake Skylark!

(PAIGE holds out her arm.)

PAIGE: Necklace! (The necklace orbs from PRUE’s hand. PAIGE shoves her arm towards NATASHA.) Demon!

(Blue lights start to form around NATASHA’s neck, then they fizzle away. The necklace falls to the ground at her feet. NATASHA opens her mouth and a black mist flies at PAIGE. PAIGE orbs out and the mist flies into PRUE, causing her to crumple to the ground.)

[Cut to the present. MRS. RESTON gasps.]

MRS. RESTON: Are you alright?

PHOEBE: Uh, y-yeah…Just…cramps. (She touches her stomach to emphasize her point. MRS. RESTON nods, unsure of PHOEBE’s explanation. PHOEBE takes the signed sheet and places it on a pile.) Have a nice day.

MRS. RESTON: I hope you feel better. (MRS. RESTON leaves. PHOEBE grabs her cell phone from her purse and walks into the bathroom. She scrolls through her contacts and then calls COLE.)

PHOEBE: (whispering) I just had a premonition, and I need you to come get me.

[Scene: Manor. Attic. A tornado of black smoke rises in the center of the room. Small red bolts of electricity crackle from its center and a strong wind blows the sisters’ hair in their faces. Then, NATASHA, the Demon of Cruelty, appears.]

PRUE: Now!

(PIPER raises her hands to freeze NATASHA. She wiggles her fingers several times and then looks frantically at PAIGE and PRUE.)

PIPER: It’s not working!

PRUE: Paige, orb it!

PAIGE: But-

PRUE: Just like at Lake Skylark!

(PAIGE holds out her arm.)

PAIGE: Necklace! (The necklace orbs from PRUE’s hand. PAIGE shoves her arm towards NATASHA.) Demon!

(Blue lights start to form around NATASHA’s neck, then they fizzle away. The necklace falls to the ground at her feet. COLE and PHOEBE shimmer in. NATASHA opens her mouth and a black mist flies at PAIGE. PAIGE orbs out and the mist flies at PRUE. PHOEBE charges into PRUE, forcing them both to the ground. The mist flies into the wall. COLE charges an energy ball and hurls it at NATASHA. She stumbles and then sets her sights on PAIGE before disappearing.)

PRUE: (to PHOEBE) Where did you come from?

PHOEBE: I had a premonition.

PAIGE: I don’t understand. Why didn’t it work?

(MATT walks over to help PRUE off the floor. COLE moves across the room and picks up the fallen necklace.)

MATT: (to PAIGE) Maybe you’re not as pure of heart as you thought you were?

COLE: I think he’s right. (He walks over to PHOEBE.)

PRUE: (to MATT) But we’ve done countless good. How can we not be pure of heart?

COLE: (to PRUE) Because you’re a good witch. It’s your job to do good.

MATT: Where as a mortal isn’t tainted by the idea of destiny and magic.

(COLE nods as he looks at PHOEBE.)

COLE: They just have to trust their instincts. (pause) Follow their hearts. (He hands the necklace to PHOEBE. Her eyes close.)

PIPER: So, if that’s true, then how do we know which mortal is pure of heart?

PHOEBE: It’s Darryl.

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Five

[Scene: San Francisco Police Department. ALICIA MORRIS runs up to DARRYL’s desk.][/b]

ALICIA: Daddy!

(DARRYL picks her up and sets her on the edge of the desk.)

DARRYL: Hey, pumpkin! (ALICIA giggles.) How are you?

ALICIA: Good. (She beams.) Guess what!

(DARRYL raises his eyebrows.)

DARRYL: What?

ALICIA: Mommy and DJ and I have a big surprise for you.

DARRYL: Really? (He looks over at the entry way, where SHELIA AND DJ MORRIS are standing. He winks and SHELIA smiles.) Well I can’t wait to find out what it is!

(ALICIA wiggles her fingers, beckoning DARRYL to lean close to her ear. DARRYL complies.)

ALICIA: (whispering excitedly) We got a fish tank! (She looks over at SHELIA.) But don’t tell Mommy I told you.

(DARRYL laughs.)

DARRYL: It’s our secret. (He helps her off the table and looks over his shoulder.) Gerry, I’m taking off! (He takes ALICIA’s hand and they start walking over to SHELIA and DJ. PHOEBE and COLE walk in. ALICIA tugs on DARRYL’s sleeve.)

ALICIA: Daddy, look! Aunt Phoebe! (She runs over to PHOEBE, who grins and bends down to her eye level.)

PHOEBE: Hey there, cutie pie. (PHOEBE and ALICIA hug as DARRYL walks over. SHELIA immediately looks concerned.)

DARRYL: (whispering) What’s going on?

PHOEBE: (to DARRYL) We need your help. (DARRY and SHELIA share a look.) It won’t take long, I promise.

(SHELIA nods.)

SHELIA: (to DARRYL) We’ll meet you at home. (She motions for the children to take her hands. ALICIA looks at DARRYL.)

ALICIA: Is something wrong, Daddy?

DARRYL: (to ALICIA) No, I just have to help Aunt Phoebe with something first, okay? (ALICIA nods.) You be good for your mom, okay?

ALICIA: I will. (She stands a little straighter.) Will you be home soon?

DARRYLl: (to ALICIA) As soon as I can. (He ruffles ALICIA’s hair and then leaves with PHOEBE and COLE.)

[Scene: Manor. Kitchen. PRUE and MATT are sitting at the table. An opened box of cheese pizza is sitting on the island. MATT reaches across the table for the salt and accidentally knocks a piece of paper off the table. He groans.]

MATT: I’m sorry, I can be a klutz sometimes. (He reaches down and picks up the paper, revealing the invitation to the four year memorial service. He looks up at PRUE as he grabs the paper.) You knew someone who died in the line of duty?

(PRUE reaches out and takes the invitation from MATT.)

PRUE: Yeah…we uh, we’d been friends since before grade school.

MATT: Oh. (His eyes shift downwards.) I’m sorry.

PRUE: It’s okay. (She folds up the letter.) It was over two years ago.

MATT: Are you going to the memorial?

(PRUE pushes her plate of pizza away and begins to absently pick at her cuticles.)

PRUE: I…don’t know. (She looks away.) His death was really hard on me.

(MATT bites his lower lip as he studies PRUE.)

MATT: You weren’t just best friends, were you? (PRUE doesn’t answer. MATT stands up.) For what it’s worth, I think you should go. (He grabs his and PRUE’s plates. Suddenly, there’s a huge crash.)

PIPER's VOICE: Prue!

(PRUE and MATT run out of the kitchen.)

[Cut to the front doors. PHOEBE, COLE and DARRYL walk in.]

PHOEBE: (to DARRYL) You just have to get the necklace around her neck and then invoke joy, love, and peace.

DARRYL: And how do I do that?

PHOEBE: Just say, “Rest in peace.”

DARRYL: And you’re sure this’ll work?

PHOEBE: Darryl, I saw it! That’s how I knew that you were the one who’s pure of heart. (PRUE and MATT run in. PHOEBE looks up, alarmed.) What’s going on?

PRUE: We just heard a crash!

[Cut to the attic. PAIGE is lying unconscious on the floor. NATASHA is moving towards her. PIPER sits up from a pile of boxes.]

PIPER: Get away from her!

(PIPER flicks her wrists and small explosions burst on NATASHA’s skin, but nothing else happens. PIPER climbs to her feet and starts to run at NATASHA. Natasha turns around and backhands PIPER, sending her sailing into the pedestal where The Book of Shadows is, all of which topples to the ground. PRUE, PHOEBE, MATT, COLE, and DARRYL run in.)

DARRYL: (to NATASHA) No, don’t! (He darts by the sisters and runs between NATASHA and PAIGE. DARRYL locks eyes with NATASHA.) Don’t hurt her. (NATASHA tilts her head, studying DARRYL.) She hasn’t done anything to you.

(PHOEBE digs into her pocket and pulls out the necklace.)

PHOEBE: Darryl! (She throws the necklace to him. DARRYL takes a cautious step towards NATASHA. He holds out the necklace.)

DARRYL: I have something that you lost. (NATASHA sees the necklace and reaches out for it. DARRYL pulls his hand back.) But you can’t hurt Paige.

(NATASHA looks at PAIGE and then back at DARRYL. She remains standing there. DARRYL looks back at PHOEBE, who nods. DARRYL moves to NATASHA and drapes the necklace over NATASHA’s head. A blinding light emanates from the three pearls and causes NATASHA to glow. Everyone but DARRYL shields their eyes. As the light fades, NATASHA no longer appears decayed. She looks like a beautiful young woman. PAIGE starts to wake up.)

PHOEBE: Paige. (She and PRUE go to PAIGE. DARRYL reaches out and takes NATASHA’s hands.)

DARRYL: (to NATASHA) It’s okay now, you can rest in peace.

(NATASHA transforms into a young girl, the same age she was when she was killed. She smiles up at DARRYL.)

LITTLE NATASHA: Thank you for saving me.

(A light shines down on her and her body becomes transparent. She waves to DARRYL as she disappears. The pages on the fallen Book of Shadows begin to turn.)

PHOEBE: (to PAIGE) Are you okay?

(PAIGE rubs her head.)

PAIGE: I think that’s gonna leave a bruise. (PRUE helps PAIGE to her feet.) Thanks. (She looks around.) Where’s Natasha?

PHOEBE: Darryl set released her soul.

PAIGE: Do you think that means Michelle was released too?

(The pages come to a stop. PIPER picks up The Book and carries it over to her sisters.)

PIPER: Look at this.

PRUE: “Bloodsoes are a special breed of Scavenger Demon who absorb nutrients from the blood of the recently deceased. Their index fingers act as needles which extract what they need from the victim’s blood, while replacing it with toxins from the scavenger’s own body.”

(The sisters exchange looks.)

PAIGE: Why do we need to know this?

(PHOEBE grabs the page to turn it and it sucked into a premonition.)

[Premonition: MICHELLE cringes as FRANK backhands her across the face, leaving a red handprint on her cheek. He grabs a bottle of tequila from the dresser and takes a swig.]

FRANK: (yelling) And you’re not leaving the house tonight either, you hear me?!

(MICHELLE nods feverishly. FRANK takes another drink of his tequila and leaves, slamming the bedroom door behind him. MICHELLE slinks to the floor and buries her face into her knees. Next to her, NATASHA appears. She lays a hand on MICHELLE’s shoulder and a black glow washes over her. Suddenly, MICHELLE’s body goes limp and falls as her spirit rises from her body. MICHELLE looks around, scared and confused.)

MICHELLE: Wh-what’s going on?

(NATASHA points towards MICHELLE’s heart, revealing a black glow. Then it fades away.)

NATASHA: No more pain. (She disappears. Moments later, a scraggly BLOODSOE SCAVENGER DEMON shimmers in. He looks around and then takes the arm on MICHELLE’s limp body. His index finger transforms into a needle and he injects it into her vein.)

[Cut to the present. PHOEBE looks at PAIGE with a sorrowful look in her eyes.]

PHOEBE: I think this (she taps the page) explains why they thought Michelle overdosed.

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Six

[Scene: DARRYL’s house. DARRYL is sitting on the couch, staring at a fish tank full of brightly colored tropical fish. ALICIA and DJ run in with SHELIA following.][/b]

SHELIA: Hey, guys! No running in the house.

(DJ sticks out his lower lip.)

DJ: Sorry, Mommy.

(SHELIA smiles as she sits down by DARRYL.)

SHELIA: (to DARRYL) Hey. (She wraps an arm around him.) You okay?

(DARRYL nods.)

DARRYL: Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just…thinking.

SHELIA: About what?

(DARRYL looks over at the kids.)

DARRYL: Hey, you guys, come here. (ALICIA and DJ come over and climb onto the sofa next to their parents.) You two know I love you, right? (DJ and ALICIA nod. DARRYL smiles and hugs each of them.) Good. Don’t you ever forget it!

[Scene: Cemetery. MICHELLE’s grave. PAIGE is standing there with a single yellow rose. Tears are running down her cheeks. Suddenly, the wind whistles and MICHELLE appears. In contrast to before, she looks young and beautiful now.]

PAIGE: Shelly…

MICHELLE: Thank you, Paige. Thank you for releasing me.

PAIGE: I’m sorry-

MICHELLE: You don’t have to be sorry. (She smiles sadly.) It wasn’t your fault. (She holds out a transparent hand.) And I just wanted you to know, that I didn’t take my own life.

(PAIGE shakes her head as she wipes the tears from her cheeks.)

PAIGE: I never thought you did.

(MICHELLE smiles.)

MICHELLE: You were the only one to ever have faith in me, Paige. (She shakes her head.) I don’t know what you saw in me, but thank you. (She looks up to the sky.) I have to go, now.

PAIGE: Shelly-

MICHELL: Goodbye, Paige. (The wind blows softly and MICHELLE fades away. PAIGE places the yellow rose on top of MICHELLE’s headstone.)

PAIGE: (whispering) Goodbye.

[Scene: Manor. PRUE’s room. The invitation to ANDY’s memorial is sitting next to PRUE, who is sitting crossed legged on her bed. An old yearbook with a black and white picture of Baker High School and emboldened white numbers read “1988-1989” across the top, is resting in her hands. PRUE glances down at the invitation and then opens the cover. The first page is covered with several different colors of ink and a multitude of different notes and signatures, while to the left side, on the white space opposite to the front cover of the yearbook, only one note is revealed in blue ink on the center of the page. It reads, “I’ll always be there for you, Prue. Love, Andy.” PRUE wipes a tear from her eye.]

[Scene: P3. PHOEBE, COLE, and PIPER are sitting at a booth. PHOEBE is leaning on COLE’s shoulder and PIPER has her head propped up in her hands, with her elbows on the table.]

PHOEBE: (to PIPER) So, you still haven’t heard from Leo?

PIPER: Not since I called him yesterday.

PHOEBE: You have to admit, that is a little surprising. I mean, I don’t think he’s ever been gone this long before for a meeting with The Elders, has he?

(PIPER shakes her head.)

PIPER: Can we please change the subject, Pheebs? I’m already feeling like the odd man out, here.

PHOEBE: Sorry.

COLE: (to PHOEBE) Did you tell her about your premonitions?

PIPER: (to PHOEBE) What about your premonitions?

PHOEBE: Oh, right! (She looks excitedly at PIPER.) They’re in technicolor now! (She grins.) Isn’t that great? I finally got a power advancement!

PIPER: Great. So now we get a heads up on evil in color.

(PHOEBE glares.)

PHOEBE: Thanks for the enthusiasm.

PIPER: Sorry, honey. I’m just not in the most enthusiastic of moods right now.

(Across the room, LEO comes down the stairs. COLE sees him.)

COLE: It looks like that’s about to change.

(PIPER looks up.)

PIPER: Finally! (LEO walks up to them. PIPER gets up.) Hey, you. What took so long?

(PHOEBE wags her finger.)

PHOEBE: (to LEO) Uh oh, I don’t like that look.

PIPER: (worried) Did something happen? (PIPER and LEO slide into the booth.)

LEO: The Elders sense a new power growing.

PHOEBE: Something evil?

LEO: They don’t know yet. But it’s big. And they don’t think that anything that powerful can be good news. Everyone Up There is referring to it as “The Gathering Storm.”

PIPER: They always seem to bring the best of news, don’t they?

LEO: Piper, this is serious.

PIPER: I know, I know. I just… (She sighs.) I’d just like to know when we’ll get the chance to live our lives. Normal lives.

COLE: (to Piper) You’re a Charmed One. This is your equivalent of normal.

(PHOEBE lightly slaps COLE.)

PHOEBE: On the bright side, at least my power advancement came at a good time. We’ll definitely have a leg up on evil.

[The Virtual Series]

End Credits

Co-Starring
Poppy Montgumery --- Dr. Laura Brenton
MaDonna Conners --- Alicia Morris
Taquiyy Ludd --- DJ Morris
Derek Anthony --- Yohance Akili
Haley Holt --- Little Natasha Akili
Kevin Fry --- Frank Miglis
Andrea Thompson --- Greta Miglis

Featuring
Cass Asher --- Officer
Greg Monk --- Security Guard
Rachelle Roderick --- Mrs. Reston

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