4x21: Good Witch Hunting

[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]

4.21 GOOD WITCH HUNTING

GUEST-STARRING:
CHRIS RAMION (PASSION'S DIVA)
DAVID KELSEY
REBEKAH MONTGOMERY
ALICE CHAN WAI

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...Stephan Cragg

[The Virtual Series]

Good Witch Hunting

Teaser

[Scene: The Broom Closet. A black and white circular wall clock, with a pentacle in the background, reads “10:55 P.M.” CHRISTOPHER RAMION, a fourteen-year-old boy with short brown hair and glasses, is standing at the back of the shop holding a handful of bumper stickers. The top one reads, “My other car is a broom!” The shop owner, CECILY ENNISON, walks up behind him and taps him on the shoulder.][/b]

CECILY: Chris, I’m sorry, but you’re gonna have to get going. I have to close in five minutes. (CHRISTOPHER sighs and puts down the bumper stickers. CECILY frowns.) Do you have a ride home?

CHRISTOPHER: Yeah…

(CECILY places her hands on her hips.)

CECILY: Are you sure?

(CHRISTOPHER tilts his head to the side, smiling.)

CHRISTOPHER: Would I ever lie to you?

CECILY: Mmm, I’m not even going to entertain that with an answer. (She places her hand on CHRISTOPHER's shoulder and turns him towards the front of the store.) C’mon. (CHRISTOPHER groans.) You don’t have any purchases to make, do you?

CHRISTOPHER: Sorry, I’m more of a window shopper.

(CECILY rolls her eyes.)

CECILY: I shouldn’t have asked. (They walk up to the door and CECILY cracks it open, looking out.) Where’s your ride, again?

CHRISTOPHER: A friend of my mom’s is picking me up down the street. (He smiles slightly.) I can’t be seen here, you know.

(CECILY nods, looking slightly unconvinced.)

CECILY: Okay. (CHRISTOPHER walks out the door.) I’ll see you…

CHISTOPHER: Tomorrow, right after school, as usual.

(Amused, CECILY waves.)

CECILY: See you then, Chris!

CHRISTOPHER: ‘Night!

(CHRISTOPHER starts to walk down the street and then peers over his shoulder, watching as CECILY turns the “Open” sign over to “Closed.” When the lights turn off, he turns back around and notices a dark colored car drive by. Not thinking much of it, he keeps on walking. Then the sound of shattering glass rips through the air, followed by the screeching of tires. He spins around just in time to see a glowing ball of red and orange flames shoot up from The Broom Closet as the dark colored car that passed him speeds away.)

Clickable Credits.

[The Virtual Series]

{SCENE: The song “Space,” written and sung by Something Corporate, is heard as stock shots of San Francisco are shown while the Guest Credits are rolled.}

Act One

[Scene: Manor. PIPER’s bedroom. The time on the alarm clock reads, “5:23 A.M.” LEO WYATT is lying in bed, asleep. He rolls over, his eyes still closed, in an attempt to find his wife. To his surprise, he rolls into an empty space on the bed where she should be. He opens and rubs his eyes, only to find no sign of her. He sits up and takes a moment to adjust, then he notices a newspaper sitting on the nightstand. He grabs it and a red pen rolls off and hits the floor. Curious, he starts to notice a few boxes circled with red pen. One has a star next to it.]

LEO: “Three bedroom, two bath with a quaint backyard. Five-sixty-nine Duncan Road.” (He rubs his temple.) What?

(LEO starts to turn the page, when he hears a soft thumping, like footsteps. He sets the paper down and climbs out of bed, heading for the open door. He leans out into the hallway and looks towards the attic, where he hears the noise again. Curious, he starts walking towards the attic.)

[Cut to the attic. PIPER HALLIWELL is standing in front of The Book of Shadows wearing a robe and slippers. She has a writing tablet in one hand and a pencil in the other. She scribbles something onto the pad and then, frustrated, erases it and rewrites something else. LEO walks in, but PIPER doesn’t seem to notice him.]

LEO: (drowsily) Piper? (PIPER jumps, dropping her pencil and tablet and raises her hands. An old, tarnished gold coat rack explodes. LEO holds up his hands in a defensive manner.) Whoa, Piper, it’s just me.

(PIPER breathes a sigh of relief as she looks at LEO. She places her hand to her heart and takes a deep breath.)

PIPER: Leo, don’t sneak up on me like that.

(LEO sighs and moves to his wife as she bends down to pick up her dropped objects.)

LEO: I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. (He wraps his arms around her and PIPER closes her eyes, welcoming the embrace.)

PIPER: I know, I’m just…so on edge. (She breaks away from LEO’s embrace.) I had another dream last night.

LEO: About Demitrius? (PIPER nods. LEO places his hand on her arm.) He’s gone, Piper. You vanquished him.

PIPER: It’s not like demons we’ve vanquished before haven’t come back, Leo.

LEO: Is that why you’re up so early? (He frowns.) I saw the newspaper, too. Why were you looking up houses for sale? (As PIPER starts to respond, he notices the page that The Book of Shadows is opened to. His face turns from tired to shocked as he looks to his wife.) Why are you looking at the Binding Spell?

(PIPER places her hand to her stomach.)

PIPER: You don’t understand how hard this last week has been for me, Leo. (pause) I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and-

LEO: (upset) How can you even think of binding our child’s powers?

(PIPER stares at him, surprised by the outburst. Then she glares.)

PIPER: How can you not? (She slaps her writing tablet and pencil face down, over the Binding Spell.) After what happened last time, Leo, I can’t stop thinking about this spell! (She glares.) Besides, Grams did it to me and my sisters.

LEO: That was different, she did it because Nicholas would’ve taken your powers and killed you.

PIPER: And how can you be sure another demon won’t come after our baby again? Being a Charmed One is an even greater threat than it was with just Grams!

LEO: Exactly! If you bind our child’s powers, but she’s still living in a house where demons are a constant threat because you and your sisters still have yours, then how can she protect herself? She’ll be a sitting duck!

(PIPER takes a deep breath and then shoves the tablet that she was writing on at LEO.)

PIPER: I already thought of that…and if you’d let me explain before you jumped in earlier, you would’ve realized that.

(LEO looks up from the tablet.)

LEO: What is this?

PIPER: I’ve been trying to rewrite the Binding Spell, Leo. Alaster’s attack really made me think…What if I didn’t have my powers?

LEO: Piper-

PIPER: No! Hear me out, Leo. (She raises her hand to silence him.) If I bound my own powers, then I’d be off the demonic radar and with Paige, the Power of Three would still exist, so we wouldn’t have to worry about that. That would mean that we could also move out and raise our daughter in a normal home, without demon attacks every five minutes.

LEO: I’d still be your sisters’ whitelighter, Piper. Magic would still be in our lives. Are we supposed to hide all that from her?

PIPER: I’m not saying that we hide magic from her, I’m just saying that we let her live the normal life that she deserves. And, it might even be the perfect solution to The Elders’ worries. I mean, They did say that the Power of Four was too strong anyway, so with my powers out of the way, there would be no more imbalance to the grand design. (She studies LEO.) That’s why I was looking at houses in the paper…I wanted us to look at them today.

(LEO starts to shake his head.)

LEO: I don’t know about this, Piper. This is a huge decision. (pause) Have you even talked to your sisters about this yet?

PIPER: No, I wanted to tell you first, but I hadn’t planned on it this way.

LEO: What about the Power of Three being under one roof? It’s where you’re the strongest and the most available.

PIPER: Paige is just an orb away. (She takes LEO’s hands.) Please, please just think about this? It’s very important to me. For both our future, (she places her hands to her stomach) and that of our child. (She shakes her head.) I can’t bear to lose this baby too, Leo.

(Sighing, LEO nods his head.)

LEO: Okay, I’ll think about it, but I’m not making any promises.

(PIPER nods.)

PIPER: Thank you.

[Cut to the hallway. PRUE HALLIWELL is walking, barefoot, wearing just a pair of blue pajama pants and a form fitting white tank top. Her hair is in a loose ponytail, clearing not having been brushed yet. She stops at PHOEBE HALLIWELL's room and then glances towards the attic, where she hears footsteps. She grabs the handle on her sister’s door and quietly turns it, causing the door to open and reveal PHOEBE, curled up on her bed. She slips inside and shuts the door.]

PRUE: (whispering) Phoebe… (She sneaks up to the bed and leans on the edge where the indentation left from COLE TURNER’s body is still visible.) Phoebe… (She suddenly jumps on the bed, causing PHOEBE to bolt up with an angry groan.)

PHOEBE: Hey!

(PRUE presses her fingers to her lips.)

PRUE: (loudly) Shhhh! (She points to the attic.) I don’t want her to know that we’re up yet.

(PHOEBE sits up and runs her hands through her messy brown locks. She grumbles something incoherently and then her face softens a little.)

PHOEBE: She’s up there again? (PRUE nods, looking sympathetically.) What could she possibly be doing up there?

PRUE: I haven’t been up there, but I’ve heard her up in the attic every morning since she told us about the pregnancy last week. (She sighs.) I think, given what happened last time, she’s probably up there looking for protection spells and/or potions.

(PHOEBE nods.)

PHOEBE: I wish there was something we could do to help.

PRUE: Well, that’s why we’re both taking today off and taking her out for a special sister bonding day! (She wraps her arm around PHOEBE’s shoulders and pulls her close.) I think some sisterly time will do her good, don’t you?

PHOEBE: Is Paige coming too?

(PRUE sighs.)

PRUE: Afraid not. I called two days ago and asked her to come, but she left a message on my cell last night saying that she couldn’t get out of work today.

(PHOEBE pulls a face.)

PHOEBE: But I guess I understand, at least on the financial front. I mean, with the whole apartment thing and all.

(PRUE nods.)

PRUE: I’m going to go head off to the shower. You stay in here a little while longer, so as to avoid any suspicions on Piper’s part. I’ll bring her in after my shower to surprise her, okay?

PHOEBE: (grumbling) I still don’t understand why we had to wake up so early.

(PRUE rolls her eyes and she gets off the bed.)

PRUE: Because, I said so. (PHOEBE sticks out her tongue as PRUE leaves.)

[Scene: South Bay Social Services. PAIGE’s cubical. PAIGE MATTHEWS covers her mouth to stifle a yawn. She types something into her computer and presses “Save”, just as the sound of a printer alerts her to the fact that something else was just printed. She stands up and wanders over to the printer, where she grabs a five page report and staples the corner. As she starts to head back to her cubical, BOB COWAN walks in. He freezes, shocked to see PAIGE there.]

MR. COWAN: Paige? (He frowns.) Did you stay here all night?

(PAIGE tiredly holds up her report.)

PAIGE: I had to finish the Walton report.

MR. COWAN: That’s not due until Friday.

(PAIGE yawns again.)

PAIGE: I wanted to get it done early.

MR. COWAN: You’re working yourself silly, Paige!

PAIGE: I don’t see you laughing.

MR. COWAN: What?

(PAIGE waves her hand dismissively.)

PAIGE: Never mind.

MR. COWAN: If you keep this up, you’re going to work yourself into an early grave.

(PAIGE snorts.)

PAIGE: (under her breath) That’s not the only thing that’ll send me to an early grave.

MR. COWAN: Go home, Paige.

PAIGE: Excuse me?

MR. COWAN: Go home. Just take the day off, and go home.

PAIGE: What?! No! No, no, no, I can’t afford that. I have to stay here.

MR. COWAN: I’ll pay you overtime for staying here last night! Just… (He motions towards the door.) Go.

PAIGE: But-

MR. COWAN: Double overtime.

PAIGE: O-kay. (She grabs her things and puts the report in a small metal tray.)

MR. COWAN: Do you need me to call you a cab or anything?

PAIGE: No, it’s okay. I’m fine, really. (She starts to leave as MR. COWAN opens the door to his office. Then she looks back over her shoulder with a small smirk on her face.) Do you know what would be better than double overtime?

MR. COWAN: What?

PAIGE: How about a promotion? (MR. COWAN narrows his eyes and PAIGE rolls her as she leaves. MR. COWAN stares at the door and then walks into his office.)

MR. COWAN: (mumbling) What about a promotion…

[Scene: Ashbury Street. CHRISTOPHER is walking down he sidewalk at a sluggish pace. He comes to a stop in front of an old, white Victorian-style home and moves slowly to the front door. CHRISTOPHER dips his hand into his pocket, retrieves the key, and enters the house. As he shuts the door, the sound of footsteps hurries through the home. TERRI CHAMBERS runs in with her long brown hair swaying in her face. She brushes it away, revealing her large, wild eyes.]

TERRI: Thank God! (She grabs her son by the arm and CHRISTOPHER jerks himself away.) Where have you been all night?!

CHRISTOPHER: (quietly) Is…he…home yet?

TERRI: Your father?

(CHRISTOPHER glares.)

CHRISTOPHER: He’s not my father!

TERRI: He takes care of us!

CHRISTOPHER: That doesn’t make him my father! We were just fine before you met him and now…

(TERRI shakes her head and decides to change the subject.)

TERRIi: No, he’s not home yet, lucky for the both of us. (She glares at CHRISTOPHER.) You know if he was, he’d be down here in a minute. Hell, he probably would’ve been waiting at the front door for you, given this kind of stunt! (She narrows her eyes.) Where were you?

CHRISTOPHER: (stubbornly) Walking.

(TERRI grabs CHRISTOPHER by the arm and turns him so that their eyes lock.)

TERRI: (angrily) Where?

CHRISTOPHER: Golden Gate Park, okay! I took a taxi there, fell asleep on the grass, and the next thing I knew it was some odd hour in the morning!

(TERRI studies her son suspiciously and then lets go of his arm.

TERRI: You’re lucky this time, Christopher, but don’t you ever do that again! (She shakes her head fearfully.) If your father were to catch you… (She releases a hollow breath.)

CHRISTOPHER: I know. (He moves around his mother and makes his way to the stairs. Just then, the door swings open and a dark haired man, PETER CHAMBERS, walks in.)

PETER: (excitedly) Have you seen the news? (TERRI and CHRISTOPHER exchange looks as PETER briskly moves across the room and grabs the remote, flicking it onto the news. On the screen, a blazing inferno is visible with the caption, “War on Witches!” PETER turns up the volume.)

REPORTER’s VOICE: (from the T.V.) Last night’s attack on The Broom Closet, a new age just off the corner from Haight and Ashbury, was the third in a string of attacks on pro-witchcraft shops in the bay area.

(PETER grins as he spins around to his wife and stepson.)

PETER: Those blasphemous creatures are finally getting what they deserve. (His eyes return to the blazing wreckage on the television screen.) Isn’t it great?

[Scene: MATT’s apartment. Kitchen. MATTHEW CAPIELLO is standing at the stove scrambling eggs in a red frying pan. He pulls open a wooden cupboard and pulls out a white and blue plate, which he slides his scrambled eggs onto and grabs a fork from the drawer. Then, he turns off the heat and wanders into the living room, where the morning news is on. He flops on the blue couch and stuffs him mouth with a forkful of eggs. Noticing the image of a blazing inferno of the television, he grabs the remote control from the coffee table and turns up the volume.]

REPORTER’s VOICE: (from the T.V.) Sources tell me that an anonymous call was placed by a pay phone down the street from where the attack took place. It’s the third attack in three nights, all of them caused by homemade explosives. Authorities have yet to find a lead the attacks.

(MATT mutes the television and sets his plate of eggs down on the coffee table.)

MATT: A homemade bomb? (He reaches for the phone which is sitting on a small end table next to the blue couch.) That doesn’t sound demonic, but then again, if someone is targeting witches… (He grabs the phone and starts dialing.)

[Scene: Manor. PRUE’s bedroom. The closet it open and PRUE is rifling through her clothes. She grabs a pair of denim jeans, her fuchsia-paisley good luck blouse, and a pair of paisley colored Mudd clogs. She leaves her room. On her nightstand, a red light is blinking on her cell phone and the words “Recharge Now” are on the LCD screen. Suddenly the phone begins to ring and after a moment, “1 New Message” appears on the screen, followed by the words, “Powering Down.”]

[Cut to PHOEBE's bedroom. PHOEBE is sitting on her bed with her remote in hand, flicking through the television channels. As the news comes on, her body tenses.]

[Premonition: Two women, one of which is wearing a silver necklace with the words "Blessed Be", are tied to wooden stakes in the middle of Golden Gate Park. It’s nighttime and four masked men are marching around the gagged woman. Suddenly, one of the men picks up a gasoline can from the ground and begins to pour it on one of the women, then he moves to the other and repeats the process. One of the other men pulls a lighter from his pocket and moves to the first woman.]

MASKED MAN #1: You’re sick. You’re evil! And I’m going to do what they should’ve never stopped doing. (He lights the lighter, crouches down, and ignites her feet. She lets out muffled screams as he moves to the other woman and sets her ablaze too.)

[Cut to the present. PHOEBE drops the remote as she sees repeat footage of the burning new age shop that was shown earlier. She jumps off her bed and runs out the door.]

PHOEBE: Prue!

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Two

[Scene: PAIGE’s apartment. PAIGE is sitting at the table with newspapers spread out. Her phone is next to her ear.][/b]

PAIGE: Uh, yes. My name’s Paige Matthews and I’m calling about an ad I saw in the paper for a two bedroom apartment for-

WOMAN's VOICE: (rudely) It’s already been rented.

PAIGE: I see. (She sighs.) Okay, well, thank you anyway. (She hangs up and draws a large “X” through one of the boxes she’s circled.) Okay. (She runs her finger down to the next circled ad and punches the number into her phone. It rings and then PAIGE clears her throat.) Hi, I’m calling about the apartment ad I saw in the paper-

MAN’s VOICE: There are no pets.

(PAIGE glances over her shoulder at OSCAR, who’s sitting on a white dish singing to his reflection in the mirror.)

PAIGE: That’s alright, I only have a little parakeet-

MAN’s VOICE: No pets!

PAIGE: (shocked) Not even a little bird in a cage?

MAN’s VOICE: Birds can get loud. And they’re messy with their seeds.

PAIGE: Okay. (She glares.) Thank you. (She hangs up.) For nothing! (Angrily, she scribbles another “X” onto the ad she just called.)

[Scene: Manor. Kitchen. The little white television is stationed onto the news report about the most recent bombing. PIPER is sitting at the table, nervously watching the report as she stirs her spoon around in her cereal. She keeps glancing up at LEO, who also has a worried look in his face. Meanwhile, PRUE is sitting at the island, focused solely on the television. PHOEBE walks in with the cordless phone in her hand. She sets it back in its charger.]

PHOEBE: Darryl said all three attacks were on witch-friendly new age shops downtown, and thus far, he doesn’t seem to think they’re magical.

PRUE: Burning women at stakes? That sure sounds magical to me, Phoebe.

PHOEBE: It was also mortal paranoia of the sixteen and seventeen-hundreds.

PRUE: And we’ve come a long way since then, Phoebe. Wicca is protected as a religion under the Constitution. Time travel seems-

PHOEBE: Farfetched! You seem to forget that these guys are doing drive by bomb attacks, Prue. These are modern day hate crimes, not Salem Witch Hunters. They’re just going to the extreme, now, which is why I got that premonition.

LEO: Which you need to focus on stopping, instead of debating whether or not this is magical. The bottom line is, that premonition is meant to help you protect those innocent women.

PRUE: But whether this is magical or not does factor into how we deal with the people responsible. (She grabs the cordless phone.)

PHOEBE: What are you doing?

PRUE: I’m leaving a message on Paige’s cell, just so she knows what’s going on. (She starts to leave the kitchen.) If witches, mortal of not, are who they’re after, then we all need to be on guard. (She leaves.)

PHOEBE: I’m going to get online and see if there’s anything more I can find on the attacks. (She leaves. PIPER looks up warily at LEO.)

PIPER: I guess humans as a whole haven’t actually progressed that much since the Salem Witch Trials, have they Leo? (She places her hand to her flat stomach. Her voice becomes a whisper.) I don’t want our child to grow up in the same world that I saw Phoebe die in.

[Scene: PAIGE's apartment. PAIGE is dialing another number when her cell phone starts to go off. She moves across the room to where her cell phone is charging and answers it.]

PAIGE: Hello?

PRUE’s VOICE: (surprised) Paige?

PAIGE: Yes?

PRUE’s Voice: Oh, hi. (pause) I wasn’t expecting you to pick up, I thought you had to work today.

PAIGE: I was supposed to.

PRUE’s VOICE: Did you call in sick?

PAIGE: No. (snapping) What did you need?

PRUE’s VOICE: Sounds like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

PAIGE: I wish. (sighing) I didn’t get any sleep at all last night.

PRUE’s VOICE: Work?

PAIGE: Yes.

PRUE’s VOICE: And you stayed all night?

PAIGE: Mhmm.

PRUE’s VOICE: How noble of you.

PAIGE: I wish I could say that, but truth be told, I was trying to get a few cases done early so I could turn my full attention to my ongoing hunt for an apartment. But my boss caught me this morning and made me take the day off. (She unplugs her cell phone from its charger and walks back to the table to start looking at the newspapers.) So, what did you call for, anyway?

PRUE’s VOICE: Have you turned on the news this morning?

PAIGE: No, why?

PRUE’s VOICE: Their big story is hate crimes targeted on the Wiccan community. It appears to be non-demonic, but I was calling because Phoebe just got a premonition about two victims who were…

PAIGE: Who were what?

PRUE’s VOICE: Being burned at the stake.

PAIGE: (shocked) What?

PRUE’s VOICE: That was my reaction too. (pause) I wanted to warn you, just in case these aren’t just deranged mortal attacks.

PAIGE Thanks, I’ll be on the lookout.

PRUE’s VOICE: Well, actually, since you’ve got the day off…maybe it would be better if you came over here? Safety in numbers, you know.

(PAIGE sighs.)

PAIGE: Yeah, sure. (She hangs up.) Just what I need - a psychopathic Salem Witch Trial Revivalist on my case today.

[Scene: Downtown San Francisco. A busy street. A dark car pulls up alongside the curb, in front of a shop that reads, “Mystickal”. The silhouette of a man moves inside the tinted windows, watching as people enter and leave the shop.]

[Cut to inside Mystickal. A female customer in a pale green Bohemian skirt and loose fitting cream colored top walks up to the counter. She lays down a handful of polished gemstones and a sage stick. A blonde woman who is standing behind the counter, TABITHA FINN, turns around revealing a silver necklace hanging from her neck with a small pentacle and the words “Blessed Be”. She smiles brightly.]

TABITHA: Are you new to the shop? I don’t recall seeing you here before. (She starts to ring up the items on the counter.)

CUSTOMER: Yes. (She smiles sadly.) I am, was, a regular at Enchanted, but…

(TABITHA bows her head respectfully.)

TABITHA: I’m sorry. (She bags the items and hands them to the woman.)

CUSTOMER: How much?

TABITHA: Nothing, it’s fine.

CUSTOMER: Are you sure?

TABITHA: Of course.

CUSTOMER: Thank you.

TABITHA: Blessed be.

CUSTOMER: Blessed be. (She leaves. TABITHA walks into the back room to find another young woman, her sister, SAMANTHA FINN, kneeling down and attempting to open a box.)

TABITHA: Sam?

(SAMANTHA looks up.)

SAMANTHA: I was just looking for that second order of myrrh incense. (She stands up.) Do you know if we ever got it in?

TABITHA: Oh, I restocked them this morning, don’t worry about it. (She looks around.) Hey, I just met a new customer-

SAMANTHA: That’s great!

TABITHA: No, not great. She used to go to Enchanted-

(SAMANTHA’s face falls.)

SAMANTHA: Oh no.

(TABITHA nods.)

TABITHA: I gave her the order on the house, but it got me thinking, maybe we should run a sale this week and donate the proceeds to the victims of the attacks?

(SAMANTHA smiles.)

SAMANTHA: That sounds like a great idea, Tabby. I’ll go make a few signs right now and then type out something for our e-mailing list.

[Scene: MATT’s apartment. Living room. MATT is pacing back and forth in front of the window with the phone to his ear.]

MATT: Come on, Prue, turn on your phone!

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

(MATT sighs loudly.)

MATT: Prue, it’s Matt again. I was just checking to see if you got any of my other messages. It’s important. Call me back. (He hangs up and heads for his bedroom.)

[Scene: CHRISTOPHER’s house. CHRISTOPHER’s room. The lights are off and the blinds are closed, leaving only the glare of the computer screen to light up the darkness. CHRISTOPHER is sitting at his desk. Google is on the screen and he types in, “San Francisco unsolved witch crimes” and clicks “Google Search”. Moments later, a list of links appear on screen. He scrolls down, passing the most recent links about the bombings, and that’s titled, “Unsolved Cases”. CHRISTOPHER moves his pointer to the description below it reading, “…a series of San Francisco crimes involving witch practitioners that was headed by Inspectors Andrew Trudeau and Darryl Morris…‘Prue Halliwell’ appeared in many of the unsolved case reports.” CHRISTOPHER clicks the link.]

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Three

[Scene: Manor. Kitchen. PHOEBE runs in with a couple printouts in her hand. PIPER, LEO, and PRUE are already there.][/b]

PHOEBE: You’ll never guess what I just found. (PRUE raises an eyebrow.) I was running searches to see if I could active anti-Wicca organizations and I found this. (She hands one of her printouts to PRUE.)

PRUE: “The Sons of Samuel Parris, a Salem Witch Trial Revivalist organization, speak out against Wiccan culture.”

PHOEBE: Look at the picture.

(PRUE studies the picture on the right of the page.)

PRUE: Peter Chambers?

(PIPER moves to PRUE and peers over her shoulder.)

PIPER: (shocked) Peter Chambers? (She sees the picture.) He’s part of that group?

PRUE: Who’s Peter Chambers?

PIPER: He’s a guy that Phoebe dated her junior year of high school.

PHOEBE: And let me just say, he wasn’t very nice. (She taps the paper that PRUE’s holding.) I guess we now know why. (She shakes her head.) He had a bad temper, too.

(The sound of the front doors opening is heard, followed by footsteps down the entry way, and then PAIGE walks in.)

PAIGE: So, what’ve I missed?

PHOEBE: My ex-boyfriend could be part of the group who’s responsible for the hate crimes.

PAIGE: Apparently I missed a lot.

(The phone rings.)

PHOEBE: I got it. (to PIPER) You fill her in. (She grabs the phone and freezes.)

[Premonition: CHRISTOPHER is cowering in the corner of his room as fire rages around him.]

[Cut to the present. PRUE takes the phone from PHOEBE and LEO moves to his sister-in-law’s side.]

LEO: (quietly) What did you see?

(PRUE answers the phone.)

PRUE: (into the phone) Hello?

CHRISTOPHER’s VOICE: Hello?

PHOEBE: (to LEO) I saw a boy about to die in a fire.

CHRISTOPHER’s VOICE: Is Prue Halliwell available?

PRUE: (into the phone) Who is this?

CHRISTOPHER’s VOICE: Please, I need to speak with Prue Halliwell.

PRUE: (into the phone) This is she. (She covers the mouthpiece.) It sounds like a kid.

PHOEBE: (whispering) Keep him on the phone, he’s probably the one from my premonition then!

(PRUE removes her hand from the mouthpiece.)

PRUE: (into the phone) Are you still there?

CHRISTOPHER’s VOICE: I need your help.

PRUE:: (into the phone) What kind of help?

CHRISTOPHER’s VOICE: I think someone else might be in trouble.

PRUE: (into the phone) Why do you think I can help you?

CHRISTOPHER’s VOICE: I saw your name on the other cases.

PRUE: (into the phone) What other cases?

CHRISTOPHER’s VOICE: (whispering) The ones with the witches.

(PRUE’s face pales a little.)

PRUE: (into the phone) Who is this?

CHRISTOPHER’s VOICE: Please, they’re in danger, you have to help them.

(Silence.)

PRUE: (into the phone) I can’t help them if you don’t give me more to go on. (Silence.) Hello?

CHRISTOPHER’s VOICE: (shakily) Meet me at the site of the last attack in an hour. (The line goes dead. PRUE hangs up and looks to her sisters.)

PAIGE: What was that about?

PRUE: He wants me to meet him at The Broom Closet at (she looks at her watch) ten.

[Time lapse. PRUE’s black BMW X5 is parked across the street from The Broom Closet. She gets out of the car and surveys the burnt wreckage, which is surrounded by a yellow string of police tape. She heads across the street and looks around, but doesn’t see anyone. She looks down at her watch which reads, “10:06 A.M.” She frowns and begins to pick at her cuticles.]

[Cut to inside PRUE’s BMW X5. PIPER is sitting in the passenger seat, while PHOEBE and PAIGE are in the back. All three sisters are staring eagerly out the window.]

PAIGE: Do you think it’s a set up?

PHOEBE: No, I saw that kid in trouble in my premonition.

PAIGE: What if the kid didn’t spark the premonition?

PHOEBE: Then what could’ve sparked it?

PAIGE: The person who started the fire.

(PHOEBE’s hand tightens around the arm of the car door.)

PHOEBE: (tightly) Prue said he sounded like a kid.

(PAIGE holds up her hands.)

PAIGE: I’m just going over all possibilities, and in this line of business, why shouldn’t we? (She chances another look out the window to see PRUE still waiting.) I just don’t like the idea of her going alone.

[Cut back to PRUE. She looks down at her watch again. Suddenly, she sees something out of the corner of her eye. She turns quickly to see a flash of something, or someone, disappear behind the burnt down store. She quickly runs behind the shop to see someone in a tan trench coat running the other way.]

PRUE: Wait! (She squints her eyes and the person falls. She runs up to the person, who rolls over revealing that he’s CHRISTOPHER.)

CHRISTOPHER: This was a bad idea. (He starts to shake his head.)

PRUE: Are you the one who called me? (CHRISTOPHER stares at her for a moment and then slowly nods. She holds out her hand and helps him up.) I need to know what you know. And for starters, I need to know you’re name.

CHRISTOPHER: But-

PRUE: (interrupting) You know mine.

(CHRISTOPHER looks down.)

CHRISTOPHER: Nobody can know you spoke to me today.

PRUE: You have my word.

(CHRISTOPHER studies PRUE a moment and then nods.)

CHRISTOPHER: You can call me Chris.

Prue: Okay, Chris…who needs my help? (CHRISTOPHER pulls a folded up piece of paper from his pocket and hands it to PRUE. PRUE opens it up to find an address and two names on it.) “Tabitha and Samantha Finn.” (She looks up.) How do you know these people?

CHRISTOPHER: I found that paper in my st… (He bites his lip.) I think the person responsible for the attacks on the Wiccan shops wrote that.

PRUE: How do you know?

CHRISTOPHER: I…I can’t tell you that.

(PRUE sighs.)

PRUE: Chris, I think you might be in danger too.

CHRISTOPHER: What? (He steps back.) Why do you think that? How would you know that?

PRUE: I have a friend who…she can see things.

CHRISTOPHER: See things?

PRUE: She has visions.

CHRISTOPHER: Is she a witch?

(PRUE slowly nods.)

PRUE: When you called me, she saw you getting hurt.

CHRISTOPHER: Hurt, how?

PRUE: In a fire. (pause) She also saw two women being killed. (She holds up the paper.) And I think these women may be the ones she saw. (She shakes her head.) I’m not sure how you know them, but because you do, you’re in danger too.

CHRISTOPHER: (fearfully) I-I don’t know them.

PRUE: Chris-

CHRISTOPHER: (forcefully) I don’t know them!

PAIGE's VOICE: Prue!

(CHRISTOPHER’s eyes widen and he suddenly pushes PRUE, causing her to lose her balance. He takes off in the opposite direction, just as PAIGE comes around the corner.)

PRUE: Damnit! (She gets up as CHRISTOPHER disappears from her sight.) Paige! What are you doing?

PAIGE: We were worried! You just ran around here and disappeared.

PRUE: I can take care of myself! (She notices PAIGE is alone.) Where are Piper and Phoebe?

PAIGE: Back in the car. Phoebe would’ve come with me…but Piper didn’t want to be left alone. (PRUE nods.) So what did you find out?

(PRUE hands PAIGE the paper that CHRISTOPHER gave her.)

PRUE: His name’s Chris, or at least that’s what he says. (PAIGE looks over the paper.) He said he thinks that the person who’s responsible for the bombings is going to target these two women.

PAIGE: Could they be the ones from Phoebe’s premonition?

PRUE: So far, it’s our only lead. (pause) I’m banking on this. (She shakes the piece of paper.)

[Scene: CHRISTOPHER’s house. PETER’s room. PETER is rifling through papers on his desk. His face is red with anger.]

PETER: Where is it?! (He grabs for a stack of papers and accidentally knocks off a picture of CHRISTOPHER and TERRI. He reaches to pick it up and then studies CHRISTOPHER’s face. Suddenly, he stands back up and stomps out of his room.)

[Cut to CHRISTOPHER’s room. The door flings open and hits the wall as PETER marches in.]

PETER: (yelling) Where is it?!

(PETER notices that CHRISTOPHER isn’t there. He swipes his arm out, purposefully knocking a lamp off the dresser and causing it to shatter. Then he grabs an Orlando Bloom poster and rips it from the wall. Suddenly, he notices that CHRISTOPHER’s computer’s screensaver is on and he moves to it, shaking the mouse. The Internet is signed off, but he brings up the history and sees the searches that CHRISTOPHER ran. He roars in anger and charges out of the room.)

[Scene: Outside Mystickal. Inside the dark car. A cup of clear liquid is sitting on the dashboard. Five bullets are sitting in the liquid. The man takes a pair of tweezers from the passenger seat and dips them into the liquid. He pulls one bullet out and then picks up the gun in his lap and loads the bullet inside. He repeats this with the other four bullets.]

[Cut to inside Mystickal. SAMANTHA walks into the back room and TABITHA moves behind the counter, where she grabs a magazine and takes a seat. The dark hooded man walks in, causing the bell above the door to ring. TABITHA looks up from her magazine and smiles. The man doesn’t return the smile, instead he looks around and sees a sign above the back door that returns, “Employees Only”. TABITHA quickly jumps up from her seat and hurries after him.]

TABITHA: Excuse me, sir, but this is for employees on- (She freezes as she sees the dark hooded man with his mouth around SAMANTHA’s mouth and the barrel of his gun pointed to her temple.)

HOODED MAN: Do as I say, or she dies.

(Horrified, TABITHA only nods.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Four

[Scene: Golden Gate Park. Overhead, the sun is setting, casting soft oranges and pinks across the clouds and horizon. MATT’s silver Toyota Corolla pulls up and parks. MATT, with a park map in hand, gets out of the car and takes in his surroundings. Then he heads off into the park.]

[Cut to TABITHA, SAMANTHA, and the HOODED MAN with the gun, who is now wearing a black ski mask. The two sisters are sitting tied up next to a tree, with gags in their mouths. Tears are streaming down SAMANTHA’s face as they watch the HOODED MAN dig out a hole. Just a few feet away, another hole is already dug, and next to a black backpack, two large wooden stakes are lying on the ground.]

[Scene: Mystickal. The shop has been ransacked and the sign on the door reads, “Closed.” PHOEBE is stepping over broken bottles of herbs and piles of debris as she heads for the front counter with her cell phone to her ear.][/b]

PHOEBE: (into the phone) The only thing we’ve been able to find is a picture in the backroom, but I can’t seem to get a premonition from it.

PAIGE’s VOICE: I think we’re going to have to come up with a Plan B, because this is taking too long. (pause) Have you looked outside?

PHOEBE: (into the phone) Yeah, I know. The sun’s almost down. (She moves behind the counter and looks around.) I keep telling Prue that we’ve got to get going, but she’s insistent that we’re going to find something.

PAIGE’s VOICE: She’s probably still upset that Chris got away.

PHOEBE: (into the phone) That’s how Prue is, Paige. (She picks up the magazine that TABITHA had been looking at earlier that day.) If anything happens to that kid because she let him get away, she won’t forgive herself for it. (She starts to bend down, when something catches the corner of her eye.) Bingo.

PAIGE’s VOICE: You found something?

PHOEBE: (into the phone) It’s not quite as good as a premonition, but if we’re lucky, then yes, I just found something.

PAIGE’s VOICE: What is it?

PHOEBE: (into the phone) Let me call you back.

PAIGE’s VOICE: Phoebe-

PHOEBE: (into the phone) I want to make sure it can help us before I get your hopes up. I’ll call you back. (She hangs up.) Prue, I think I found something! (She looks up to the corner of the room behind the counter, revealing a security camera.)

[Scene: Manor. Kitchen. PAIGE places the cordless phone in its charger as PIPER walks in.]

PIPER: What did they say?

PAIGE: Phoebe thinks she may of found something that’ll help us out. (She folds her arms and leans against the island.) Unfortunately, she declined to tell me what. (Her brow furrows as PIPER takes a seat at the table.) Piper, are you okay?

(PIPER looks up, surprised.)

PIPER: Yeah. Of course. Why?

PAIGE: You just seem…not yourself. (She walks over and takes a seat next to her sister.) Are you sure there’s nothing bothering you?

(Without meaning to, PIPER’s hand moves to her stomach. PAIGE catches the innocent act, but doesn’t say anything.)

PIPER: (quietly) I’m just...tired.

PAIGE: You can’t sleep?

PIPER: I meant, just tired of everything. (She sighs.) Although, I have been having dreams lately.

PAIGE: What kind of dreams?

PIPER: Nightmares, really. (She closes her eyes.) Of Demitrius.

(PAIGE lays a comforting hand on Piper’s leg.)

PAIGE: Honey, Demitirius is dead. He’s not coming back.

PIPER: You don’t know that-

PAIGE: He was a low level demon, Piper.

PIPER: So was Jeremy.

PAIGE: Jeremy?

(PIPER shakes her head.)

PIPER: The first warlock we ever vanquished. (She shakes her head.) My point is, with magic, you never know.

PAIGE: With life, you never know. (She motions to PIPER’s flat stomach.) Point proven.

PIPER: I just don’t know if I can continue on like this anymore.

(PAIGE cocks her head to the side.)

PAIGE: What do you mean?

PIPER: I’m- (The phone rings and PIPER stands up.) You should get that.

(PAIGE frowns.)

PAIGE: We’re not done with this conversation. (PIPER just nods as PAIGE turns around to pick up the phone.) Hello?

PHOEBE’s VOICE: I just got a premonition off of the store’s security tape.

PAIGE: And?

PHOEBE’s VOICE: Is Piper there?

PAIGE: Yes…

PHOEBE’s VOICE: Tell her that we need you guys to meet us the picnic area in Golden Gate, where David was taken by the Grimlocks four years ago. She should know exactly where you’re going.

PAIGE: Okay.

PHOEBE’s VOICE: See ya there.

(The line goes dead and PAIGE hangs up the phone and looks at PIPER.)

PAIGE: Apparently you’re supposed to know how to get to the Grimlock place at Golden Gate Park?

PIPER: Just let me grab my keys… (She walks out of the room and PAIGE follows.)

[Scene: CHRISTOPHER’s house. CHRISTOPHER walks through the front door and no sooner does he enter, does he find himself against the wall. His eyes find PETER’s dark and angry ones.]

PETER: So you’re helping them, huh?! Well, I’m onto your little plan, you brat! And if you want to be like them, then I’m going to do to you what should be done to all of them! (He suddenly sniffs the air and leans close to CHRISTOPHER, sniffing him as well.) I can smell them on you!

CHRISTOPHER: (breathlessly) L-let me g-g-o!

PETER: (screaming) Let you go? (louder) Let you go? What in hell for? So you can go warn your little witches?!

(As PETER screams, CHRISTOPHER knees him in the crotch, causing PETER to double over and release CHRISTOPHER from his grip. CHRISTOPHER shoots out the door, running as fast as he can as PETER screams from the house.)

[Scene: Inside PRUE’s BMW X5. PRUE’s driving. Her purse is sitting in between herself and PHOEBE.]

PRUE: Can you get my cell phone out of my purse? (PHOEBE grabs PRUE’s purse and starts to look through it. She pulls out her phone.) Do I have any missed calls?

PHOEBE: I’m not sure.

PRUE: What’s that supposed to mean?

(PHOEBE flips open PRUE’s cell.)

PHOEBE: It’s dead.

PRUE: Oh god! Hurry, plug it in! The charger’s in the glove box. (PHOEBE opens the glove box and starts to hook up PRUE’s cell phone.) God, I hope I haven’t missed a call from Chris…

[Cut to a payphone on a street corner. CHRISTOPHER is breathing heavily as he dials PRUE’s cell number from the palm of his hand. He places the receiver to his ear.]

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

(CHRISTOPHER looks around cautiously and seems to hold the phone for dear life.)

CHRISTOPHER: (whispering) He found out that I helped you…please…I need your help!

[Cut to PRUE’s car. The cell phone makes a noise as it turns on and after a moment a message pops onto the LCD screen. “8 Missed Calls”. PHOEBE holds up the phone, also revealing a small image of an envelope with little sound waves popping off the front.]

PHOEBE: You have eight missed calls and voicemail. (She presses “1” and the words “Dialing Voicemail” pop onto the screen. PHOEBE presses the phone to her ear.)

[Scene: Golden Gate Park. SAMANTHA is staring up at the sky, which is turning shades of blue and purple, as the sun is nearly gone from the sky now. Footsteps can be heard in the distance, along with the crunching of grass and breaking of twigs. Suddenly, three masked men walk in, all wearing black clothing. The first masked man begins to speak, revealing his voice as PETER CHAMBERS’.]

PETER: We’re got to hurry this up. (He motions to the other men, who walk over and help him pick up one of the stakes.) The kid’s found out and I know he’s been around witches. (He glances over at SAMANTHA and TABITHA.) Real ones. (They drop the stake into the hole and the fourth masked man, the one who originally dug the holes, grabs a shovel and begins to pile dirt in around it to stabilize it.)

[Cut to MATT. The Golden Gate Park map is tucked under his arm and he’s moving slowly down a grassy path, with a gun situated tightly between his hands. Upon hearing voices in the distance, he slows his pace and starts to dodge behind trees as he continues towards the sound of the voices.]

[Scene: Inside PRUE’s BMW X5. PHOEBE closes PRUE’s phone.]

PHOEBE: All of the voicemails were from Matt…except one. (PRUE chances a worried glance at her sister. PHOEBE lowers her voice.) Chris sounds like he’s in trouble. He says that someone found out he was helping us. (PRUE pulls over.) What are you doing?

PRUE: Saving my innocent. (She takes a deep breath and then her head drops to her chest.)

[Cut to the payphone. CHRISTOPHER is digging into his pocket and he pulls out two pennies and some lint. His face falls, knowing he doesn’t have enough money left to try PRUE again. Unbeknownst to him, a red flare appears just outside of the phone booth. ASTRAL PRUE notices him immediately and moves to open the door. CHRISTOPHER jumps and his mouth drops open as he sees ASTRAL PRUE. He backs up a little as the door opens.]

CHRISTOPHER: H-h-how did you-

ASTRAL PRUE: (cutting in) That’s not important. (She takes CHRISTOPHER by the arm and pulls him out of the phone booth.) I got your message. Look, I have to go help those women. (She looks around and sees the Ghirardelli Square sign.) I need you to go to Ghirardelli Square, go to the fountain, and wait there. I’m going to have someone pick you up and take you someplace safe, okay?


CHRISTOPHER: But-

ASTRAL PRUE: (interrupting) Just trust me!

(CHRISTOPHER gives her a hesitating look and then nods. ASTRAL PRUE gives him a little push and he takes off up the sidewalk. She vanishes and when CHRISTOPHER looks back, there’s no trace of her. He continues to head up the street.)

[Cut to PRUE’s car. PRUE wakes up with a little gasp.]

PHOEBE: What happened?

(PRUE pulls back onto the road.)

PRUE: Call Paige and tell her she needs to orb to Ghirardelli Square. (PHOEBE grabs PRUE’s cell phone again and then stops.) What about Leo, instead? (pause) I don’t think it’s a good it’s a good idea to leave Piper alone.

(PRUE nods.)

PRUE: You’re right, call Leo.

(PHOEBE sets the phone down and clears her throat.)

PHOEBE: Leo!

[Scene: Golden Gate Park. Behind a large tree. MATT pokes his head around the tree. The voices are much louder now, all male. Unnoticed, he can see two sets of men tying up TABITHA and SAMANTHA to their respective stakes. He holds out his gun as he steps out from behind the tree and then takes two steps forward. As he’s about to take another step forward, his hands begin to morph and change, becoming slightly thinner and less tan. Also, the gun vanishes. Shocked, he pulls his hands back and they return to normal and the gun reforms in his hands.]

MATT: What the hell…

[Cut to PRUE’s car. She brings the car to a stop and shuts off the ignition. Quickly, she makes a grab for her cell phone as both she and PHOEBE get out of the car.]

[Scene: Ghirardelli Square. Fountain. CHRISTOPHER is nervously sitting on the edge of the fountain, running his hands through the water as the spray from the outpour of water hits him. LEO walks up behind CHRISTOPHER.]

LEO: Are you Chris?

(CHRISTOPHER jumps up and examines LEO uneasily.)

CHRISTOPHER: Wh-who are you?

(LEO holds out a hand.)

LEO: My name’s Leo, I’m a friend of Prue’s. (CHRISTOPHER slowly nods. LEO gives him a friendly smile.) I need you to come with me.

[Scene: Golden Gate Park. The sky’s dark. TABITHA and SAMANTHA are tied and gagged to the wooden stakes. PETER and the other three masked men are marching around the women. Suddenly, PETER picks up a gasoline can from the ground and begins to pour it on one of the women, then he moves to the other and repeats the process. One of the other men pulls a lighter from his pocket and moves to TABITHA.]

MASKED MAN #2: You’re sick. (From behind the tree, MATT takes a few uneasy steps forward.) You’re evil. (MATT moves his hand forward and his hand begins to morph again.) And I’m going to do what they should’ve never stopped doing.

(MASKED MAN #2 lights the lighter and MATT takes another step forward, this time taking a stride so that now both of his arms morph. The masked man crouches down and just as MATT is about to take another step, the sound of thudding feet stops him. MATT turns around, as well as PETER and the other three men. PRUE and PHOEBE run into view and MATT ducks behind the tree again. PHOEBE gasps as she sees the lighter.)

PHOEBE: Prue!

(PRUE raises her hand and flicks her wrist, but nothing happens. Shocked, she looks down at her hands and then squints her eyes and again, nothing happens. PETER starts to laugh as he saunters forward, his face still covered by his black mask.)

PETER: Come to save your sister witches, have you? (He motions his hand.) Well, your powers are useless here. (He smiles wickedly.) Amulets are buried all over the ground, effectively eliminating any kind of your evil magic.

(PHOEBE cocks her head to the side, recognizing the voice.)

PHOEBE: Peter?

(PETER narrows his eyes, once again nearing the sisters. PRUE places her hand in front of PHOEBE, pushing her back. PETER suddenly laughs.)

PETER: (surprised) Phoebe…Halliwell? (He chuckles.) Is that really you? (He tilts his head to the left, looking around PRUE.) Well I’ll be damned, I always knew you were a little off, but I never would’ve guessed you’re a (venomously) witch. (He licks his lips.) Well, the good news is, you’ve arrived just in time. (He motions to MASKED MAN #2.) Torch her!

(As MASKED MAN #2 ignites TABITHA’s feet and the flame erupts, PHOEBE lets out a scream and leaps out from behind PRUE, running at their innocent. In a lightning fast motion, PETER reaches into his pocket and draws forth a gun, which he aims at PHOEBE and shoots. PHOEBE lets out a gasp and jerks backwards, falling to the ground just as PIPER and PAIGE run into view.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Five

[Scene: Golden Gate Park. PIPER’s hands fly to her mouth as PHOEBE’s body flops to the ground and dark red blood seeps from the bullet hole in her abdomen.]

PIPER: (shrieking) Phoebe!

(PETER raises his gun again, this time aiming it directly at PRUE. This time, MATT darts out from behind the tree and tackles PRUE to the ground in a flash. The bullet flies above them and impales itself into a tree.)

PRUE: (yelling to PAIGE) Get Piper out of here! (Still aghast, staring at PHOEBE on the ground, PIPER stands frozen in place. PAIGE grabs for PIPER’s arm.) Our powers don’t- (PIPER and PAIGE orb out.)

MATT: (whispering) They’re outside of the perimeter. (He sees PETER cocking his gun again and they scramble to their feet.) Run!

PRUE: Phoebe. The innocents. (She shakes her head. MATT grabs PRUE and pulls them behind a tree, just as another shot goes off and whizzes by them.)

MATT: The amulets are creating a magic proof perimeter. Your magic will disappear once it passes that line.

PRUE: How do you know?

MATT: I’ve been trying to get through, but each time I conjure a weapon, it disappears because it was made from pure magic. And I’m nothing against all four of them. But maybe- (He glances around the tree and pulls back as another gun shot rings out.)

PRUE: Maybe what? (She grabs MATT’s arm.) Phoebe! I have to save her!

MATT: I know. (He takes a deep breath.) What if you use your powers on something outside the perimeter and throw it at them? It’ll still fly at them because of the gravitational pull.

(PRUE raises her hands.)

PRUE: Yes!

(PRUE steps out from behind the tree, directly in PETER’s line of vision. He aims and shoots. As the bullet comes at PRUE, she raises her hand and brings it to a telekinetic halt, then with a wave of her arm, she sends it right back. PETER’s eyes go wide as the bullet impales him, sending him sprawling backwards onto the ground next to PHOEBE. PAIGE and LEO orb in.)

PAIGE: (to LEO) Over there!

PRUE: (to LEO) No, wait! (She grabs LEO’s arm.) They have amulets, magic won’t work.

MATT: You have to stay outside of those trees, otherwise your magic won’t work.

PAIGE: But Phoebe-

PRUE: On my mark. (Her eyes settle on a large tree branch just outside the perimeter MATT was talking about. She makes a fist and slices her hand through the air. With a loud crack, the tree branch breaks and flies at the three remaining men. They run the other direction as the branch enters the perimeter and takes on its own course, no longer under the control of PRUE’s telekinetic force.) Now!

(MATT hangs back as PRUE, LEO, and PAIGE fun forward and LEO scoops an unconscious and heavily bleeding PHOEBE into his arms. PAIGE gasps at their burning innocents, each of whom have passed out.)

PAIGE: Oh my god, Prue!

(PRUE sees the shovel.)

PRUE: Hurry, get the shovel and start to smother the fire! (PAIGE grabs the shovel and begins to throw dirt at the fire that’s ablaze around their innocents and as PRUE pulls her near dead cell phone from her pocket and dials 911. Looking back, PRUE suddenly realizes that MATT is no where to be seen.)

[Scene: Manor. Living room. PHOEBE is lying on the couch as a warm glow from LEO’s hands washes over her. The bullet wound closes up and she awakens with a gasp. PIPER, who’s been standing just a few feet away, runs to PHOEBE and throws her arms around her. It’s obvious that PIPER’s been crying, as her eyes are red.]

PIPER: Thank God you’re okay!

(PHOEBE takes a moment to realize what’s going on and then she hugs PIPER back and softly strokes her hair.)

PHOEBE: Shh. I’m fine. Everything’s f- (to LEO) The innocent! (She pulls away from PIPER and jumps to her feet.) Leo, the innocents! They were… (She shakes a little.) My premonition! You have to take me back there!

PIPER: (fiercely) No! They almost killed you!

PHOEBE: (forcefully) Innocents come first, Piper! (to Leo) You have to take me!

LEO: (to PHOEBE) But your sisters-

(PHOEBE takes LEO’s hand.)

PHOEBE: Please, I have to make sure we save them with my own eyes.

(LEO looks regretfully at PIPER and then orbs out with PHOEBE. PIPER hears a gasp and looks up to see CHRISTOPHER standing there. He’s looking wide eyed at the place where PHOEBE and LEO just stood.)

CHRISTOPHER: (whispering) I always thought that it was real, but it’s one thing to believe and another to actually witness it with my own eyes. (His eyes meet PIPER’s and register her horrified expression. He smiles sincerely.) Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me.

[Scene: Golden Gate Park. The sky is completely dark now. Blue and red flashing lights and the sound of ambulances can be heard and seen respectively. A body bag is on the ground where PETER had fallen. One ambulance is driving off as SAMANTHA is being placed in another one. PRUE, PAIGE, and MATT are each talking to police officers as INSPECTOR DARRYL MORRIS and his partner, RAE EVANS, walk in. DARRYL walks over to PRUE and excuses the officer questioning her.]

DARRYL: (whispering) I came as soon as I heard. (He looks around.) What happened?

PRUE: (whispering) I’m still not quite sure myself, but- (She sees PHOEBE and LEO orb in and grabs DARRYL’s arm, pulling him towards her sister and brother-in-law. She walks right up to LEO and ushers them out of sight from everyone else.) What are you doing here?

LEO: Phoebe-

PRUE: (whispering) Quietly!

LEO: (whispering) Phoebe wanted me to bring her back.

PHOEBE: (whispering) What happened to the innocents?

(PRUE sighs.)

PRUE: (whispering) I don’t know, yet. They just took off to the hospital. (She glances over her shoulder.) You two need to get out of here. The fewer of our names on the reports, the better.

DARRYL: (whispering) She’s right. It’s already suspicious that your names are on so many cases.

PRUE: (whispering) And apparently it’s not that hard to find out about it, either. (to PHOEBE and LEO) It’s time to go, I’ll see you later. (PHOEBE starts to take LEO’s hand and then pulls away.) What now?

PHOEBE: (whispering) The blood.

PRUE: (whispering) What?

(PHOEBE motions her arm to the crime scene.)

PHOEBE: (whispering) My blood. They’re going to find my blood when they process the crime scene.

DARRYL: (to PHOEBE) What? Where? (He looks back.)

PHOEBE: (whispering) That first pool of blood, right there. (She points.) I got shot and fell. (pause) What do we do?

(DARRYL closes his eyes.)

DARRYL: I’ll deal with it. I think I can pull a few strings and have it cleared before any is sent out to forensics. (He shakes his finger.) But don’t expect this to become a habit.

(PHOEBE nods.)

PHOEBE: (whispering) Thank you.

DARRYL: (whispering) If anyone ever found out I was covering up evidence, it would cost me my job.

PRUE: (whispering) You’re helping to protect magic, Darryl.

PHOEBE: (whispering) And I can promise you, (she looks at LEO) that the side effects of magic being discovered is far more catastrophic.

(LEO spots RAE looking around.)

LEO: (to PHOEBE) We should go. (He and PHOEBE orb out. RAE spots DARRYL and walks over.)

RAE: (to DARRYL) What’s going on over here?

PRUE: I was just showing Darryl where the three other men went. (She motions her hand down the path, where the broken tree branch is lying. RAE narrows her eyes suspiciously.)

RAE: Why would they go down a path that’s blocked?

PRUE: You’d have to ask them.

(DARRYL shakes PRUE’s hand.)

DARRYL: Well, thank you for your help, Ms. Halliwell. (He looks at his watch.) Rae, go tell the CSIs that we’re almost ready for them.

RAE: Almost-

DARRYL: (interrupting) Now, please. (RAE frowns.) There are just a few more things I need to clear up before they can get started.

(RAE nods, unconvinced.)

RAE: Sure. (She walks away. PRUE raises her eyebrows.)

PRUE: Clear up?

(DARRYL looks over at the pool of blood.)

DARRYL: I’d say that’s what you’d call it, don’t you?

[Time lapse. PHOEBE and COLE TURNER walk up to the front desk at Bay General. The RECEPTIONIST looks up.]

RECEPTIONIST: How can I help?

PHOEBE: I wanted to know what room numbers the Finn sisters, Tabitha and Samantha, are in.

(The RECEPTIONIST types something onto her computer.)

RECEPTIONIST: And your name is?

PHOEBE: Phoebe Halliwell.

(The RECEPTIONIST shakes her head.)

RECEPTIONIST: I’m sorry, but it you’re not down as an authorized-

(COLE slaps a folded form onto the desk in front of the RECEPTIONIST.)

COLE: Cole Turner with Harper and Lee. I’m representing both Tabitha and Samantha Finn. (He places a hand on PHOEBE’s shoulder.) And this is my assistant.

(The RECEPTIONIST looks over the papers and then nods.)

RECEPTIONIST: Room one-eighteen.

PHOEBE: They’re in the same room?

RECEPTIONIST: That’s for the intensive care wing. Tabitha Finn is still in the ER.

(PHOEBE swallows hard and then wipes some sweat from her brow.)

COLE: Thank you. (COLE wraps his arms around her shoulders and they walk away from the front desk.)

PHOEBE: (quietly) I still can’t believe your firm took on the case pro bono.

COLE: I took it for you, the firm, well, they’re a business. They took it on because it’s a controversial case and it looks good on paper. (PHOEBE nods. She wipes her sweaty brow again as they turn a corner and start walking down a hallway towards the intensive care unit.) Are you feeling okay?

PHOEBE: Y-yeah. I’m just… (She heaves a sigh.) I’m worried about Tabitha. I mean, what if dies? (They come to a stop at Room #118. PHOEBE pushes the door open ajar and spies TABITHA lying unconscious in the bed, with serious burns covering her body. PHOEBE gasps and turns away, holding her stomach.) Oh god…

COLE: Phoebe?

PHOEBE: I’m gonna be sick! (PHOEBE takes off down the hallway, leaving COLE to look in on their traumatized innocent by himself.)

[Scene: Outside MATT’s apartment. PRUE is staring at the golden “6” on his door. She raises her hand and knocks. A moment later, the sound of the someone unlocking the door is heard and then it opens, revealing MATT.]

MATT: Oh, hey. (He steps aside.) Come in.

(PRUE glances down at her watch which reads, “11:00 P.M.”)

PRUE: I know it’s getting late but-

MATT: (interrupting) Hey, it’s only eleven. We’re not kids anymore, you know. (He flashes a smile.) No curfew.

(PRUE smiles lightly.)

PRUE: Right. (She shifts her weight from one foot to the other.) I, uh, wanted to ask you something.

MATT: Oh?

PRUE: What happened today?

MATT: Excuse me?

PRUE: After Leo orbed Phoebe back to the Manor, I turned around as I was calling the police and you were no where to be seen.

MATT: I…I saw you get on your phone and assumed that’s who you were calling. I just thought that…if I went out to the parking lot that I could lead the paramedics to where we were. (PRUE lightly picks at her cuticles.) I’m sorry. (He shakes his head.) I shouldn’t have left you, I don’t know what I was thinking.

PRUE: No, it’s okay. You were…just thinking of the innocents. (She smiles.)

MATT: How are they? The innocents, I mean.

PRUE: I’m not sure. Phoebe went over there with Cole to find out. (She shrugs.) I guess Cole somehow talked his firm into taking their case against Peter Chambers and the other men involved.

MATT: Did they catch them? (PRUE nods.) And?

PRUE: And they told their story about witches. (She shrugs.) Our other innocent, Chris, came forward. He’s agreed to testify against them and Peter Chambers.

MATT: So he made it?

PRUE: Peter?

(PRUE shakes her head.)

PRUE: (quietly) No.

(MATT moves to PRUE’s side and wraps his arms around her.)

MATT: I’m sorry.

PRUE: It was in self defense, but still…he was mortal.

MATT: I don't know if that's necessarily true, Prue.

PRUE: What? (MATT lets out a heavy breath as he starts to head for his bedroom.) What are you doing?

MATT: I was doing some research after I came home today. (He walks into his bedroom, followed by PRUE. He moves to his nightstand and opens it, pulling out a book on witchcraft and lore. MATT opens it up to a page with a bookmark and PRUE walks over.)

PRUE: What is this?

MATT: It's a book about lore in ancient witchcraft. (pause) Kind of like a condensed and published version of a Book of Shadows. (He points to the top of the page which reads, “Witch Hunters”.) I was trying to research amulets that can protect against magic and I found this. (He moves his finger down the page to a black and white picture of an amulet with a gem in the middle.) Apparently they're used by Witch Hunters because they protect against nearly all kinds of magic used by good or evil.

PRUE: Nearly all kinds?

MATT: “Neutral magic, that is magic beyond the bounds of good and evil, goes unaffected by this amulet.” It doesn't say so, but I'm guessing that would be like, the Angel of Death, for example.

(PRUE looks down at the floor.)

PRUE: But still-

MATT: And he’d already killed two other people.

PRUE: We don’t know if they’re-

MATT: In the bombings, two people died in the bombings on those shops.

PRUE: What?

MATT: I saw it in the paper. Cecily Ennison and Cleo Talcon. (Silence.) You did what you had to do, Prue.

[Scene: CHRISTOPHER’s house. PIPER’s jeep is parked on the slanted curb in front of the house. PIPER and CHRISTOPHER walk up to the door and CHRISTOPHER opens it and immediately TERRI emerges. She throws her arms around her son, not even noticing PIPER there. PIPER turns and walks back to her car, just as a police car drives up behind her jeep. As she gets into her jeep, she watches as two police officers make their way over to TERRI and CHRISTOPHER and say something that she can’t make out. Suddenly, TERRI starts to sob and both she and CHRISTOPHER share another tearful hug as PIPER locks her door. Then her eyes move from the tearful scene on CHRISTOPHER’s doorstep, to the circled ad on her dashboard from this morning’s newspaper. Her hand moves to her stomach and then she looks at the number on the paper and then grabs her cell phone and dials it.]

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Six

[Scene: South Bay Social Services. PAIGE walks in with the Want Ads section of the newspaper in one hand and a cup of Starbucks in the other. She moves to her desk and sets her coffee down, before leaning over and turning on her computer. Across the room, MR. COWAN’s door opens and he walks out.]

MR. COWAN: (gruffly) Paige, I want to see you in my office! (He walks back into his office and shuts the door.)

(LILA WRIGHT pops her head over her cubicle, looking down at PAIGE.)

LILA: Ooh, that doesn’t sound good.

(PAIGE frowns as she stands up.)

PAIGE: No, it doesn’t.

LILA: Good luck. (She smiles meekly.)

PAIGE: (muttering) Yeah. (She smoothes her skirt and walks over to MR. COWAN’s office. Taking a cleansing breath, she turns the door handle and walks in to find her boss looking down at a stack of papers on his desk. PAIGE shuts the door.) You wanted to see me?

MR. COWAN: Sit down.

(Nervously, PAIGE sits down.)

PAIGE: Look, I know I’ve taken a lot of time off lately-

MR. COWAN: (interrupting) This isn’t about that. (He finally looks up and stares at PAIGE, making her squirm in her seat. Then he grabs a paper from the top of the stack he was looking at and shoves it at her.)

PAIGE: Wh-what’s this?

MR. COWAN: Your new schedule.

PAIGE: My…my new schedule? (pause) For what?

MR. COWAN: For your new position. (He stands up and holds out his hand. Shocked, PAIGE takes a moment and then stands.) Congratulations, Paige, you’re officially a Social Worker.

[Scene: Manor. PHOEBE’s bedroom. PHOEBE opens her eyes to the sound of COLE’s voice. She rubs her eyes and rolls over in bed, eyeing COLE as he stands in front of the mirror adjusting his tie, with his cell phone between his ear and his shoulder. PHOEBE tries to sit up, but then squints her eyes and lays her head back down into the pillow.]

COLE: (into the phone) Thank you for letting me know. (He hangs up.)

PHOEBE: (weakly) Cole? (COLE turns around and walks over to PHOEBE’s bedside.) Who was that?

(COLE sighs and sits down on the edge of the bed.)

COLE: You don’t look so good, are you sure you’re alright?

(PHOEBE glances across the room at the mirror that COLE was just using. She notices that her complexion is a little pale. She looks back to her boyfriend and shakes her head.)

PHOEBE: Just a headache. (She sits up, holding her head a little as she does so.) Who was on the phone?

(COLE studies PHOEBE and then bows his head.)

COLE: That was the hospital-

(PHOEBE starts to shake her head.)

PHOEBE: No…

COLE: I’m sorry, but Tabitha…she didn’t make it, Phoebe.

[Scene: MATT’s apartment. Living room. PRUE is sleeping on the blue couch. She opens her eyes and then rubs them, before realizing that she’s not in her own room. She looks down to find herself still in the clothes she wore the night before, but this time with a blue blanket draped over her. She sits up and sniffs the air.]

MATT’s VOICE: Hey, sleepyhead.

(PRUE turns around to find MATT in the kitchen, cooking sausage.)

PRUE: When did I fall asleep?

MATT: Around midnight.

(PRUE shakes her head.)

PRUE: I can’t believe I did that! (She stands up.) How irresponsible!

MATT: It’s fine. (He turns off the heat and slides the sausage onto a plate, which already has eggs and hash browns on it. He grabs another plate with the same meal and walks into the living room, where he holds the hottest one out to PRUE.) I made breakfast.

PRUE: Matt-

MATT: Come on. (He smiles.) I spent all that time making this for you, the least you could do is try it. (Reluctantly, PRUE takes the plate and picks up a hash brown.) Go on. (PRUE takes a bite and smiles a little.) I know it doesn’t even compare to your sister’s, but how is it?

PRUE: Good.

MATT: Just good?

(PRUE smiles.)

PRUE: Great. (MATT sits down and motions for PRUE to do so as well. PRUE rolls her eyes and sits down.)

MATT: So, I know that waking up here is a bit awkward…but I’d like to think that’s because of the situation that happened yesterday.

PRUE: I hear a “but” coming…

(MATT laughs.)

MATT: But, I wanted to know if it’s really that terrible.

PRUE: Waking up here? (MATT nods. PRUE glances down at her eggs.) I guess that depends on how good your eggs are.

(MATT takes his fork and leans over, stabbing a piece of the egg on PRUE’s plate and then moves it to her mouth. PRUE takes the bite and then MATT leans in and gives her a kiss.)

MATT: So…how are the eggs?

(PRUE tilts her head to the side.)

PRUE: Amazing.

MATT: So…does that mean you might be willing to stay over officially soon?

(PRUE leans to MATT and gives him another kiss.)

PRUE: I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.

[Scene: 569 Duncan Road. The white house sits behind a green lawn, where the “For Sale” sign by SWA Properties is sitting at the edge of the yard. PIPER’s green jeep is parked next to the curb in front of the house, directly behind a dark blue, 2002 Corvette Convertible.]

[Cut to inside the house. PIPER, LEO, and the sales agent, SUSAN WARNER, walk into a little bedroom with white walls and two windows in the corner of the room. PIPER clasps her hands over her mouth and her eyes light up in excitement. LEO can’t help but smile at PIPER’s enthusiasm. PIPER lightly hits LEO on the arm.]

PIPER: (excitedly) Look! It’s the perfect extra room to put my treadmill! I can finally get it out of that storage unit downtown! (She turns around, her eyes seemingly getting brighter as she mentally plans out the room.) And we could put a computer in that corner and…and a little television over there, so I can watch it while I’m exercising.

(SUSAN places her hands together in an excited fashion.)

SUSAN: Well, this certainly sounds like the perfect house for you both! (She flashes a cheeky smile.) And of course, the one on the way… (She winks at PIPER.) So, what do you say?

(PIPER looks to LEO, who shifts uncomfortably from one foot to the other.)

LEO: Your sisters aren’t going to be happy about this…

(PIPER laces her hands together, looking at him pleadingly.)

PIPER: I really want this, Leo. (With a heavy sigh, LEO nods. PIPER lets out a little squeal of excitement as she grabs his hand and turns to SUSAN.) We’ll take it!

[The Virtual Series]

End Credits

Co-Starring
David Reivers --- Bob Cowan
Becky Wahlstrom --- Lila Wright
Tamera Martin --- Cecily Ennison
Jamie McWilliams --- Terri Chambers
Dailyn Matthews --- Susan Warner

Featuring
Ramiro Abad --- Officer
Angie Weidner --- Customer
Tom Biondi --- Masked Man #2
Eric Weinstock --- Masked Man #3
Vertic Brown --- Masked Man #4
Marisa Lauren --- Receptionist

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