4x16: Strange Days At Baker High

[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]

4.16 STRANGE DAYS AT BAKER HIGH

GUEST-STARRING:
T.W. KING
EMILIE de RAVIN
SPENCE DECKER

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...Les Sheldon

[The Virtual Series]

Strange Days At Baker High

Teaser

[Scene: Psychologist’s office. Front desk. PHOEBE HALLIWELL is facing a large bookcase full of files, which sits behind her desk. She’s bent over, leafing through them with one hand, while holding a cordless phone to her ear with the other. She begins to nod her head.][/b]

PHOEBE: Peterman. Peterman. Peterman…. (She looks up and spots a manila folder above her head which reads, “Peterman, Mercedes K.”) Aha! (into the phone) Mercedes Peterman, right? (She nods to herself and reaches up for the file, but it’s about a foot above the top of her fingers. She makes a little grunt.)

WOMAN's VOICE: (from the phone) Is something wrong?

PHOEBE: (into the phone) Uh, no. I just can’t quite… (Her eyes widen and she looks around cautiously.) Uh, can you please hold a moment? (She sets the phone down and then stretches her arm up as far as she can, then she levitates up to the file and grins as she grabs it.) Why didn’t I think of this earlier?

(A set of bells ring, signaling the office door being opened. PHOEBE lets out a little gasp and then falls to the floor. The papers flutter around her as a teenager and older woman, presumably the teen’s mother, walk into view. PHOEBE scrambles to her feet as LAURA BRENTON’s door opens.)

DR. BRENTON: Phoebe, I heard a thud. Is everything okay out here?

PHOEBE: Uh, yeah! (She flashes a fake smile.) Just peachy.

(DR. BRENTON eyes the woman and her daughter. She glances at her watch as she walks out to greet them.)

DR. BRENTON: (to the teenager) You must be Mercedes. I’m Dr. Brenton. (She holds out her hand, but the teen shies back.) Oh. Okay, I understand. Dr. Lumis told me that you might be a little uncomfortable during out first few sessions.

MRS. PETERMAN: (to DR. BRENTON) She’s just very shy.

DR. BRENTON: I understand. (She smiles warmly at MERCEDES.) I used to be pretty shy when I was your age too. (MERCEDES just stares at her.) Uh, why don’t you go take a seat in my office, and I’ll be there in a moment? (MRS. PERTMAN ushers MERCEDES around DR. BRENTON and into the office. DR. BRENTON turns to PHOEBE.) Have you made those copies yet?

PHOEBE: Uh… (She shoves the papers into the folder.) I was just heading off to do that!

(DR. BRENTON glares.)

DR. BRENTON: I want them done by the end of this session. (She walks back into her office and shuts the door. PHOEBE groans.)

PHOEBE: (muttering) Great. (As she starts to walk away, she sees a paper that’s still on the floor. As she bends down and grabs it, her body tightens and her eyes clamp shut.)

[Premonition: MERCEDES is standing in a school cafeteria with two teenage boys. Her eyes begin to glow and the boys start running. She holds out her hand and an energy ball appears. She throws it at the taller boy, who spins around and waves his arm, telekinetically redirecting the sphere into a table which explodes. MERCEDES snaps her fingers and an energy wave ripples across the room until it catches up with the boys. They scream as it incinerates them, leaving two piles of ashes. MERCEDES' eyes return to normal, and she leaves as if nothing ever happened.]

[Cut to the present. PHOEBE looks down at the paper in her hands. It’s MERCEDES’ medical file. She sees the words, “Dissociative Identity Disorder.” PHOEBE’s hand tightens around the paper until it crunches.]

PHOEBE: Multiple personality disorder my ass.

Clickable Credits.

[The Virtual Series]

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

Act One

[Scene: Manor. PRUE’s room. PRU HALLIWELL is sitting on the floor. A couple of shoeboxes and several pictures are scattered around PRUE. A large, violet photo album is sitting in PRUE's lap, opened to somewhere in the middle. There’s a knock at the door. PRUE looks up.]

PRUE: Come in!

(The door opens and PAIGE MATTHEWS walks in.)

PAIGE: Hey, I have a favor to ask… (PAIGE notices the pictures. She scrunches her face a little as she leans her weight against the door, shutting it.) What’re those? (PRUE clears away some pictures. PAIGE walks over and sits down next to PRUE, and peers over her shoulder. She smiles.) Ooh, a trip down memory lane, huh?

(PRUE chuckles.)

PRUE: They’re just Prom pictures.

(PAIGE’s brow wrinkles.)

PAIGE: I thought you didn’t go to Prom?

(PRUE rolls her eyes.)

PRUE: When did Phoebe tell you that?

PAIGE: A while back. (She frowns.) And how did you know it was Phoebe?

PRUE: Because Piper doesn’t have a big mouth. (She turns the page, revealing another set of Prom pictures.) And it was my Junior Prom that I didn’t go to. This, (she stabs one of the pictures with her index finger) was my Senior Prom.

PAIGE: Who’s the cute boy?

PRUE: Andy Trudeau.

(PAIGE’s face falls a little.)

PAIGE: The same one who has the memorial tonight? (PRUE nods.) Oh. I’m sorry.

(PRUE closes the photo album. She looks at PAIGE and shakes her head.)

PRUE: Don’t be. (She stands up and offers her hand.) It was…a long time ago. I understand why things had to happen the way they did. (She helps PAIGE to her feet and then drops her photo album on the bed.) So, what was it that you wanted to ask me?

(A rosy color creeps into PAIGE’s cheeks.)

PAIGE: Hey, you know that cute little black dress you wore a couple weeks ago on your date with Matt? (PRUE nods.) I was wondering if I could borrow it.

(PRUE raises her eyebrows as she moves to her closet.)

PRUE: Got a hot date?

(PAIGE shrugs.)

PAIGE: Just this guy I met at work.

PRUE: What’s his name?

PAIGE: Henry. (PRUE pulls out the black dress.) He’s a parole officer for one of my more troubled foster cases.

PRUE: A parole officer, huh? (PRUE hands the dress over to PAIGE and raises her brows suggestively.) Sounds interesting…

[Scene: Manor. Kitchen. Bags of groceries cover the island. A cupboard is open and PIPER HALLIWELL is standing on her tip toes as she pushes a bag of flour onto the shelf while attempting to hold the phone between her ear and her shoulder.]

PIPER: (into the phone) You’re kidding. (She frowns.) You’re not kidding. (She finally pushes the flour bag into the cupboard and leans against the counter. PIPER runs a hand through her long, brown hair.) Well, I can already tell this is going to be a nice little trip down memory lane. (She hangs up as PRUE and PAIGE walk into the kitchen.)

PRUE: (to PIPER) What is?

PIPER: Phoebe just called. We’ve got a new innocent.

PAIGE: (surprised) She had another premonition at work? (PIPER nods.) You know, I’m starting to think that Phoebe’s job is more trouble than it’s worth.

PRUE: Well, it makes sense if you think about it. She works in a psychologist’s office, after all. And why do people go to psychologists’ offices? Because they need to work out problems that they can’t on their own. A lot of magical problems are written off as psychological trauma, because the average person can’t or won’t believe in the supernatural.

(PIPER folds her arms.)

PIPER: (to PRUE) Are you done now, or would you like to enlighten us further on why magical messes always seem to find us?

(PRUE motions her hand in PIPER’s direction.)

PRUE: I’m done. (She spots the grocery bags on the counter and moves over to them.) Carry on.

PIPER: Well, apparently our newest demon comes in the form of a teenage girl.

PAIGE: Demonic puberty. Now there’s something that sends shivers down your spine.

PIPER: Oh, that’s not even the best part. Phoebe said she saw the girl, whose name is Mercedes by the way, killing two teenage boys in the cafeteria. One of them had powers.

(PRUE pulls a box of twizzlers out of one of the bags.)

PRUE: And other than this being set in the high school scene, how is this better than any other demon we face on a weekly basis?

PIPER: You’ll never guess where they go to school.

PAIGE: Hogwarts?

PIPER: (to PAIGE) Haha, very funny. (She flicks her gaze to PRUE.) Try Baker High.

[Time lapse. The words “Baker High School” are written on the side of an older school building as PRUE’s black, BMW X5 rolls into the parking lot. She pulls into a parking spot marked, “Visitor Parking.” Three doors swing open as PRUE, PIPER, and PAIGE get out. PRUE and PIPER gaze up at the school as dazed looks fall onto their faces. Glancing at her half sisters, PAIGE notices that PIPER suddenly looks far more nervous, while PRUE appears almost sad.]

PAIGE: So this is the infamous Baker High, huh? (She chuckles.) Man, my school hated yours.

PRUE: What school did you go to?

PAIGE: King.

PRUE: King? (She smirks.) Well, that’s because we kicked your school’s ass in football every year!

PIPER: (bitterly) Prue was captain of the cheerleading squad.

PAIGE: (to PRUE) So, I guess that would’ve made your friend Andy…the star football player?

PRUE: What makes you assume that?

PAIGE: It’s common knowledge that the head football player always dates the head cheerleader. In fact, it’s like an unwritten rule.

(PIPER rolls her eyes.)

PIPER: Yes, Andy was the star football champ. (PAIGE makes playful face at PRUE, boasting the fact that she was right all along. PIPER starts walking towards the school.)

PAIGE: (to PIPER) In a hurry?

PIPER: Yeah…to get out of here.

(PAIGE looks at PRUE.)

PRUE: Piper didn’t have a good time in high school. (PAIGE nods, immediately understanding. Without saying anything else, PRUE and PAIGE hurry their pace to catch up with PIPER.)

[Scene: Psychologist’s office. PHOEBE is nervously strumming her nails on her desk as the door to DR. BRENTON’s office opens. MRS. PETERMAN and MERCEDES come out. PHOEBE looks up with a tight smile. MRS. PETERMAN moves to PHOEBE’s reception desk and pulls her checkbook from her wallet. MERCEDES, on the other hand, moves over towards the waiting room chairs, never once taking her eyes off of PHOEBE.]

MRS. PETERMAN: How much do I need to make it out for?

(PHOEBE slides the printout of the bill towards MRS. PETERMAN.)

PHOEBE: Two-hundred even. (PHOEBE looks over at MERCEDES, who quickly turns her eyes to the floor. She glances up at MRS. PETERMAN as she finishes filling out her check. Purposely, she makes her fingers graze MRS. PETERMAN’s as she accepts the check.) Thank you.

MRS. PETERMAN: Uhm, Dr. Brenton wanted me to set up another appointment for Friday.

PHOEBE: Same time? (MRS. PETERMAN nods and PHOEBE quickly types something into the computer and smiles up at MRS. PETERMAN.)

PHOEBE: All Set.

MRS. PETERMAN: Thank you. (She moves away from the desk and motions her hand.) C’mon, Mercedes, we need to get you back to class.

(MERCEDES darts over to her mother and leaves quickly. Immediately, PHOEBE picks up the company phone and dials a number. She places the phone to her ear.)

PHOEBE: (into the phone) Hey Piper, it’s Phoebe. Mercedes and her mother are en route to the school and I just wanted to give you the heads up. Bye. (She hangs up and looks back at the door with suspicion.)

[Scene: Baker High School. Hallway. A sign at the end of the hallway reads, “Office.” Just several feet from the office door, a large glass trophy case sits. PRUE, PIPER, and PAIGE round the corner. As PAIGE follows PIPER up to the office door, PRUE lags behind and stops at the trophy case. Her blue eyes fall upon the top shelf, where a large first place trophy sits between two picture. The picture to the right is of a young ANDY TRUDEAU, dressed from head to toe in his football uniform, holding the trophy. The picture to the right has the football team and cheerleading squad in the background. The football coach of the time is holding the trophy with one hand while shaking hands with a teenage ANDY, whose other arm is draped around a teenage PRUE. PAIGE looks back, realizing PRUE has stopped.]

PAIGE: (to PRUE) Are you coming or not?

(PRUE looks over at PAIGE and waves her on.)

PRUE: Yeah, I’ll be over there in a minute.

(PAIGE nods. An older woman, a teacher, comes around the corner as PIPER reaches for the handle on the office door. The TEACHER sees PRUE and her eyes light up.)

TEACHER: Oh my goodness! (PRUE looks up.) Prue Halliwell? Is that you?

(PRUE blinks in surprise. She stares at the woman, trying to place her.)

PRUE: Miss Flower?

MISS FLOWER: You do remember me! (She waves her hands excitedly. PRUE laughs nervously.)

PRUE: Uh, yeah, of course…I’m just surprised you remember me, with all the students you’ve taught.

MISS FLOWER: Oh, of course I remember you! You were one of the best Honors English students I’ve ever had. (PRUE blushes as PIPER and PAIGE walk up.)

PRUE: Oh, uh, you remember my sister Piper, right?

(MISS FLOWER pushes her glasses a little further down her nose as she eyes PIPER.)

MISS FLOWER: Oh…yes. (to PIPER) Didn’t I have you in my standard English class two years after Prue?

(PIPER flashes a forced smile as she holds out her hand.)

PIPER: Yes…Miss Flower, right?

(MISS FLOWER nods as she quickly shakes PIPER’s hand.)

PRUE: And this, (she motions to PAIGE) is my other sister-

MISS FLOWER: (interrupting) Phoebe? (She studies PAIGE.)

PAIGE: No. Paige.

(MISS FLOWER looks confusedly at PRUE.)

PRUE: Paige is our half sister. We actually didn’t meet her until just recently.

(MISS FLOWER looks PAIGE up and down.)

MISS FLOWER: Oh…

PRUE: That’s actually why we’re here...I wanted to show Paige around my old school. (She smiles.) We were just on our way to get visitors’ passes.

MISS FLOWER: Oh, that’s wonderful! (She clasps her hands together in delight. Just then, the bell rings and suddenly, doors up and down the hall swing open.) Oh. You know, I should probably get going. I need to run some copies for my class after lunch. (PRUE nods in understanding.) But if you want to drop by my room after lunch, I’m always in the mood to introduce my past students to my current ones.

PRUE: Oh, that’s really sweet of you. (She nods.) I’ll keep that in mind. (MISS FLOWER smiles.) Well, we shouldn’t keep you.

MISS FLOWER: Right. (She waves.) Bye! (MISS FLOWER disappears into the crowd of students as PRUE ushers her sisters into the office.)

PAIGE: (sarcastically) She seems nice.

PIPER: (to PAIGE) You’re just lucky nobody expected you to live up to your big sister’s reputation.

[Cut to the hallway. The two boys from PHOEBE’s premonition are walking together. DAVIS, the oldest, looks at his watch and then turns to his younger brother, ELLIOTT.]

DAVIS: (quietly) I don’t like this, Elliott. I don’t trust that girlfriend of yours.

ELLIOTT: She’s harmless, Dave!

DAVIS: She keeps asking you questions about (whispering) the craft.

ELLIOTT: She’s interested in Wicca, okay? What’s wrong with that? There are a lot of people who are interested in Wicca.

(DAVIS shakes his head.)

DAVIS: I just don’t get a good vibe from her.

ELLIOTT: You’re just paranoid.

DAVIS: When are you meeting her today?

ELLIOTT: She’s supposed to get back from her appointment before lunch is over, so I’m going to meet her in the cafeteria.

DAVIS: I’m coming with you.

ELLIOTT: (whining) Dave!

(DAVIS glares.)

DAVIS: Look, I’ll stay in the background. She won’t even know I’m watching.

(ELLIOTT sighs.)

ELLIOTT: (disappointedly) I guess that’s okay. (He wags his index finger.) But you better make sure she doesn’t see you! I don’t want her to think you’re spying on us.

(DAVIS just shakes his head as they disappear around the corner.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Two

[Scene: Baker High School. Cafeteria. ELLIOTT and DAVIS are sitting at a crowded table, laughing and talking with friends. From the corner of his eye, ELLIOTT sees MERCEDES enter the room. He quickly scrunches up his bagged lunch and throws it out a nearby trashcan.][/b]

ELLIOTT: Excuse me, but I have to get going. (He flashes a smile as he stands up. DAVIS turns his head and also catches a glimpse of MERCEDES. He looks at his brother and ELLIOTT glares a little.) I’ll see you after school.

DAVIS: (to ELLIOTT) Don’t get into too much trouble, little brother.

(ELLIOTT rolls his eyes before turning and making his way through the crowd, over to where MERCEDES is now waving to him. As he reaches her, he gives her a soft peck on the lips.)

[Cut to one of the hallways. PAIGE is frowning as high schoolers swarm around her.]

PAIGE: I feel like I’m trying to swim upstream.

PIPER: I can’t believe how much the school has grown. (to PRUE) It didn’t used to be this crowded, did it? (Up ahead of them, PRUE barely appears to register her sister’s words. Her eyes keep flicking around.) Prue? (She notices PRUE standing at a locker and abruptly stops.)

PAIGE: (to PIPER) What?

(PIPER purses her lips as she watches her sister, who appears to be in a type of daze.)

PIPER: (to PAIGE) That was Andy’s locker.

(PRUE runs her finger over a small plate on the locker that reads, “#510.”)

[Flashback: Dressed in blue jeans, a silvery top, and dark red lipstick, a teenage PRUE slips easily through the crowd of Baker High students. She walks up to locker #510, where a young man who’s face is turned away from her is stuffing books into his backpack. Even from behind, it’s clear that he’s wearing a letterman’s jacket sporting Baker High’s school colors of blue and white.]

PRUE: Ready for the game tonight?

(The young man turns around, revealing himself as a teenage ANDREW TRUDEAU. He quickly leans towards PRUE and gives her a soft kiss on the lips.)

ANDY: Why aren’t you in uniform?

(PRUE rolls her blue eyes.)

PRUE: You know how old fashion Grams is. She doesn’t like me wearing my uniform to school. (She slides her backpack off her shoulder, unzips it, and pulls a handful of blue and white fabric out.) However…she never said anything about me putting it on after I got to school.

(ANDY snickers as he zips up his own backpack and then slips it over one shoulder. He shuts the locker door and they start walking side by side.)

ANDY: So, I’ll see you back at my locker during break, so we can walk to Government together?

(The bell rings. As the kids around them start to head off for class, PRUE and ANDY stop in the middle of the hallway and PRUE leans up to give ANDY a quick kiss.)

PRUE: Uniform and all. (She winks and then they both go their separate ways.)

[Cut back to the present. A blonde girl dressed in a current day, blue and white Baker High cheerleading uniform walks up to locker #510. KRISTEN BOWERS, the head cheerleader, casts a nasty look at PRUE.]

KRISTEN: (rudely) Excuse me, but you’re in my way! (She holds up her hand to push PRUE out of the way, and then is able to get a better look at her face. Her eyes get large.) Oh. My. God.

(Two more cheerleaders, BRIDGET and SIMONE, rush up, each with a look of concern on their faces.)

BRIDGET: Kristen, what’s the matter?!

(KRISTEN motions frantically towards PRUE.)

KRISTEN: (to BRIDGET) Don’t you recognize her?!

(BRIDGET and SIMONE glance over at PRUE, and SIMONE lets out a little gasp.)

SIMONE: From Mrs. Kaden’s Cheerleading Wall of Fame!

KRISTEN: Prue Halliwell! Captain of the eighty-nine cheerleading squad! (She thrusts out her hand in PRUE’s direction and straightens her posture.) Kristen Bowers, Squad Captain for the class of two-thousand-two!

(PIPER and PAIGE walk up. PIPER has a visible look of distaste on her face as she watches the giddy cheerleaders. PRUE forces a smile as she shakes KRISTEN’s hand.)

BRIDGET: (to PRUE) Mrs. Kaden talks about you all the time!

PRUE: Mrs. Kaden still teachers here?

SIMONE: After this year, she’s retiring. But… (She squeals.) I can’t believe I’m really meeting you! She always says how you were the best Cheerleading Captain she ever had!

(A rosy color taints PRUE’s cheeks.)

PRUE: Well I…it was nice meeting you, but I really have to get going.

KRISTEN: Oh, of course! Silly me. (She motions to BRIDGET and SIMONE.) C’mon, we have to go tell Mrs. Kaden about this! (BRIDGET and SIMONE wave excitedly to PRUE and then leave with KRISTEN. PRUE looks at her sisters, a little dumfounded. PIPER leans to PAIGE.)

PIPER: (whispering) Some things never change.

[Scene: Psychologist’s office. DR. BRENTON walks out, holding a red sweat jacket. PHOEBE looks up from her computer screen. DR. BRENTON sets the jacket on the counter.]

DR. BRENTON: Mercedes left this in my office when she left. Put a note on it and then put it somewhere safe so I can give it back to her during her next appointment. (She grabs a tissue from the Kleenex box on the counter.) I’m taking my lunch, so I’ll be back in an hour.

(PHOEBE presses “Save” and then closes her Word program.)

PHOEBE: I’m finished typing up the notes you needed. (She grabs a yellow sticky note and scribbles “Mercedes Peterman” onto it.) Is there anything else you need?

DR. BRENTON: Yes. (She pauses at the door.) If someone by the name of Darlene calls in, tell her I’m already on my way.

(A quizzical look crosses PHOEBE’s face.)

PHOEBE: Darlene? (DR. BRENTON nods her head and leaves before PHOEBE can probe further. Shrugging, PHOEBE grabs the red jacket.)

[Premonition: PRUE throws out her arm and MERCEDES pummels into the wall. MERCEDES’ eyes glow as she stands up and throws out her arms, sending energy ripples through the room. Chairs and tables turn to dust. PAIGE grabs onto the hands of PRUE and PIPER, who dissolve into a flash of orbs. The energy waves ripple through the orbs, knocking PIPER out. She lets out a choked scream as she turns into a pile of dust as well.]

[Cut to the present. The red jacket drops from PHOEBE’s hands and lands on the floor in a heap. She grabs the edge of the desk for support. Her eyes lift to the ceiling.]

PHOEBE: Leo!

[Scene: Baker High School. Cafeteria. A bell rings, signally the end of lunch. A swarm of kids rush out the double doors, just as the three Charmed sisters get to them.]

PAIGE: (to PIPER) Did Phoebe say what these boys looked like?

PIPER: Just that they had brown hair and were the only ones in the cafeteria, so it should be fairly simple to spot them.

(They enter the cafeteria, where several stragglers are still hanging out. Among them is DAVIS, who is keeping a watchful eye on his little brother as he walks with two other teenagers, who he was eating lunch with earlier. Across the room, ELLIOTT and MERCEDES stand up. One of the lunch ladies pokes her head out of the kitchen.)

LUNCH LADY: Hey! The bell rang. Get to class!

(A few of the stragglers glare and some mock the LUNCH LADY as they leave. She disappears once again into the kitchen and closes the cafeteria window.)

DAVIS: (to his friends) I’ll see you tomorrow! (He waves as they leave. He looks across the room and sees that ELLIOT is still flirting with MERCEDES.) Hey, Elliott! We need to get to class!

MERCEDES: (rudely to DAVIS) Can’t you see he’s busy?

(DAVIS stops and begins to glare daggers at MERCEDES.)

DAVIS: (to MERCEDES) I don’t think I was speaking to you.

MERCEDES: (to DAVIS) Well I’m speaking to you. (She steps forward. An energy ball appears in her hand.) Witch!

(ELLIOTT gasps as PAIGE’s hand shoots across the room in MERCEDES’ direction.)

PAIGE: Looks like we found our demon!

(DAVIS swings out his arm and slams MERCEDES into the wall.)

DAVID: (to ELLIOT) Run!

(MERCEDES’ eyes begin to glow and the boys start running. She holds out her hand and another energy ball appears. She throws it at DAVIS.)

PRUE: Oh, oh!

(PIPER raises her hands and the energy ball freezes as DAVIS turns around. PRUE flicks her wrist, reversing its path and sending it back into MERCEDES. MERCEDES lets out a whale of a cry as she sails across the room and smacks into a garbage can. Her eyes return to normal as a cloud of orbs appears across the room, transforming into LEO WYATT and PHOEBE.)

MERCEDES: (weakly) Please stop him! (Her eyes becoming pulsating yellow holes again as she stands up.)

PHOEBE: (yelling) Freeze her!

(PIPER's hands shoot out again, this time in MERCEDES’ direction. MERCEDES freezes and a glowing apparition is left behind. PAIGE gawks as the apparition lets out a growl and disappears.)

PAIGE: Whoa! That’s new. (to PIPER) How often does that happen? (PIPER and PRUE share a look. As PRUE looks over at the boys, who also appear dumbstruck.) Okay then, I’m going to take that as not very often.

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Three

[Scene: Manor. Attic. PHOEBE is flipping through The Book of Shadows. PRUE, PIPER, and PAIGE are also there.][/b]

PIPER: (to PHOEBE) You know, the last time a demon popped out when I froze someone, wasn’t it because your friend Aviva had summoned some demon?

PHOEBE: Kali.

PIPER: Do you think that could’ve happened again?

PHOEBE: We vanquished Kali, remember? Besides, Kali had heat-like powers, not energy balls.

PRUE: They could be related. It’s not like that hasn’t happened before. (to PIPER) If you’ll remember our lovely Thanksgiving with Andras’ cousin.

PIPER: I’d like to forget that, thank you.

PAIGE: Phoebe, didn’t you say that the reason you got the premonition about Mercedes was because of her record? (PHOEBE nods.) What was in it?

PHOEBE: I didn’t really look. I mean… (She stops suddenly.) Well, it did say that she suffers from multiple personality disorder. But I thought that it’s probably her human cover for her demonic tendencies.

PAIGE: What if you’re not completely wrong? (PHOEBE raises her brows. PAIGE wags her finger as she looks around the room.) What was it that she said after Prue knocked that energy ball into her?

PRUE: “Please stop him,” I think.

PAIGE: So, what if this possessor demon has been using Mercedes for a while now? If she’s trying to fight through him, then to the non-magical community it may seem like a rare case of multiple personality disorder. (to PRUE) Like you were talking about earlier, with people writing things they can’t explain off as psychological problems.

PIPER: So, if Paige is right, then how do we find this guy?

(PHOEBE looks down at her watch.)

PHOEBE: If Paige can take me back to the office, I can try digging through Mercedes' files and see if something from her past surfaces. Perhaps finding out when she started to show signs of having another personality will trigger a premonition?

PIPER: (to PHOEBE) And you’re sure that we won’t have any problems with the school wondering where she is?

(PHOEBE waves her hand.)

PHOEBE: I called via the business line and told them that, per Dr. Brenton’s orders, she was to be excused for the remainder of the day. We still have about two hours before we have to get her back to school so her mother can pick her up.

PRUE: Great. (She stands up. PAIGE and PHOEBE take hands and orb out. She moves to the pedestal and takes The Book of Shadows, before heading for the door.) Let’s go see how Leo’s doing with our demon hostess.

[Cut to the living room. MERCEDES is lying on the sofa, appearing to be asleep. A circle of crystals are surrounding the sofa, which would automatically erect a force field if she were to try and escape. LEO is sitting in an overstuffed chair, watching her. MERCEDES stirs. LEO stands up and walks over to her, careful not to breach the crystal barrier.]

LEO: Mercedes?

(MERCEDES rolls fitfully in her sleep, but doesn’t wake up.)

[Dream: MERCEDES’ eyes slowly open, revealing two cloaked and shadowy figures. The light is dim, but the shadow of a flame dancing across the dark wall is visible.]

CLOAKED FIGURE #1: Mercedes? (She gently shakes MERCEDES.) Mercedes, wake up. It’s time.

(MERCEDES sits up and rubs her eyes. She looks around to see that lit, black candles are placed throughout the room. A spirit board sits in the middle of the floor. The two figures, as well as herself, are wearing dark red velvet cloaks. MERCEDES shakes her head slightly.)

MERCEDES: Miriam, I still don’t know about this-

(The first figure, MIRIAM, pulls her hood back.)

MIRIAM: Come on, Mercy! (She lightly tugs at MERCEDES’ arm.) This is going to be fun! A séance, just like in the movies!

(The other cloaked figure, JADA, rolls her eyes.)

JADA: I bet nothing will happen anyway.

MIRIAM: (to JADA) Don’t be a party pooper.

(JADA snorts. MERCEDES sighs.)

MERCEDES: Fine. (She stands up and pulls the hood over her head. JADA and MIRIAM follow suit. Then, JADA and MIRIAM take seats on the floor, opposite each other. Each girl readies her fingers above the pointer.)

MIRIAM: (to MERCEDES) Okay, finish the pentagram. (She nods her head.) The chalk is over there on the table. (MERCEDES grabs a piece of white chalk from a small table and then moves to the center of the room. On the wooden floor, the five points of a star are now visible. Carefully, MERCEDES begins to connect the points by a circle, locking her friends within it.) Okay, now the lights!

(MERCEDES drops the chalk into her pocket and moves to the wall, flicking off the lightswitch. Using the flickering candlelight, MIRIAM and JADA place their fingertips to the pointer.)

JADA: (mockingly) Spirits of the dead, come to us!

MIRIAM: (annoyed) They’re not going to come if you call them that way, Jada. (She takes a deep breath.) Oh ancient spirits, ancestors, come to us! We summon thee to our humble abode! (JADA snickers and MIRIAM glares.) What?

MERCEDES: (to MIRIAM) It’s just a little cheesy, Mir.

(MIRIAM rolls her eyes.)

MIRIAM: Whatev- (Suddenly, the pointer shoots forward, landing on “D.” MERCEDES’ eyes widen as MIRIAM and JADA exchange looks.)

JADA: (accusingly to MIRIAM) You moved it!

MIRIAM: I did not!

JADA: Well I-

(The pointer moves again, this time to “E.” MERCEDES backs up to the wall, never once taking her eyes off the spirit board.)

MERCEDES: Okay, guys, you’re freaking me out just a little.

MIRIAM & JADA: I’m not doing it! (They pull their hands away and look at each other. MIRIAM raises her hand to reach fort he pointer and then it moves on its own, to “A.” She screams. Both she and JADA jump up.) The lights! Get the lights!

(MERCEDES reaches for the light switch and turns it, but the lights won’t come on. The pointer shifts to "T.")

MERCEDES: (frantically) They won’t work!

(The pointer moves once again, this time to “H.” In the candlelight, MIRIAM’s face goes pale.)

MIRIAM: “Death.”

(A cold wind blows through the room from seemingly nowhere, blowing out all the candles. The room becomes pitch black and the girls scream in harmony. Suddenly, the outer ring of the pentagram bursts into flames and yellow smoke begins to rise from the spirit board. An APPARITION appears.)

APPARITION: (demonically) Thank you for releasing me.

(The APPARITION suddenly flies across the room and absorbs into MERCEDES’ body. Her eyes begin to glow bright yellow and then she raises her hands. Energy waves ripple from her fingertips and fly at JADA and MIRIAM, who let out ear piercing screams. Their screams of terror fade as their bodies become piles of ash. The light turns on and MERCEDES moves to the mirror, inspecting her reflection.)

MERCEDES: (demonically) It’s good to be back.

[Cut to the present. MERCEDES’ eyes flash open in terror as she bolts from the sofa. She hits the crystal barrier, which glows blue and blasts her back onto the sofa. She screams.]

MERCEDES: No! No! Let me out of here!

LEO: (to MERCEDES) You’re okay! Calm down. We’re not here to hurt you.

PIPER: We’re here to help you.

(MERCEDES cowers back into the sofa.)

MERCEDES: Who are you?

(PRUE and PIPER look at each other and then back at MERCEDES.)

PRUE: We’re good witches…

[Scene: Psychologist’s office. MERCEDES’ file is open on PHOEBE’s desk and papers are scattered all around. PHOEBE is holding a paper between her hands, reading it intently. She looks up at PAIGE.]

PHOEBE: It looks like she was diagnosed with multiple personality disorder just after the disappearance of her two best friends, Miriam Haus and Jada Carson. The last time they were seen was at Miriam’s Sweet Sixteen.

PAIGE: Do you think she-

PHOEBE: She was their prime suspect at first, but no bodies or physical evidence of a murders were ever found. Except…

PAIGE: What?

PHOEBE: Two piles of ash. (PAIGE closes her eyes.) The police report says that the room was full of candles, though. It was never confirmed, but from the spirit board and chalk drawn pentagram found in the room, it was thought that they were trying to do a séance.

PAIGE: And let me guess, Mercedes was useless to talk to because she kept slipping between one personality and the other?

(PHOEBE nods.)

PHOEBE: Spirit boards can be very dangerous in the wrong hands, especially if they are invoked wrong. (She takes a deep breath as she sets down the paper.) I’m thinking…what if they successfully invoked a spirit-

PAIGE: (interrupting) And it possessed her?

PHOEBE: And made her kill her friends.

PAIGE: And if we’re right, how do we vanquish this thing?

PHOEBE: There’s only one way. We have to destroy the portal it came out of.

PAIGE: The spirit board. (The bell rings and the sisters turn to see DR. BRENTON walk in, returning from lunch. She frowns as she sees PAIGE behind the counter.)

DR. BRENTON: (to PHOEBE) Something going on that I should know about?

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Four

[Scene: Manor. Living room. LEO is sitting uncomfortably next to his wife, as MERCEDES screams to be released. PRUE looks at PIPER.][/b]

PRUE: Maybe another dose of that sleeping potion of yours is in order?

PIPER: If we’re going to find out what possessed her, we need her awake.

PRUE: So, what about freezing her?

(LEO shakes his head.)

LEO: (to PRUE) As much I hate to sit back and watch this, we can’t risk breaking the barrier. If whatever you’re up against is close, it could be the only thing separating him from taking her over again.

(PRUE walks over to the crystal cage.)

PRUE: (loudly) Mercedes!

(MERCEDES gets quiet. She cowers a little at PRUE’s sharp tone.)

PRUE: We are not going to hurt you. We are trying to get rid of the thing that’s been possessing you.

(MERCEDES shakes her head.)

MERCEDES: Y-y-you hit me w-with that…that thing.

PRUE: The energy ball? (pause) We thought you were attacking us.

(PIPER walks over, followed by LEO.)

PIPER: Mercedes, you’ve seen what Prue’s powers can do, but she hasn’t used them on you again, has she? (MERCEDES looks from PIPER, to LEO, and then to PRUE. She slowly shakes her head.) I know this is difficult for you, but if you want to rid yourself of this possession, you have to trust us.

(PAIGE orbs in. MERCEDES screams.)

LEO: It’s okay! (He raises his hands in a retreating manner.) That’s just Paige, Mercedes. She’s also here to help you.

(PAIGE motions PRUE and PIPER to her. The three sisters leave the living room and make their way into the sunroom.)

PIPER: (quietly to PAIGE) Do we have anything else to go on?

PAIGE: Her file says she developed her condition soon after what the police think was an attempted séance.

(PRUE tosses her hands into the air.)

PRUE: Which means we’ll have to destroy the portal to vanquish the spirit. But let me guess…we don’t know where to find it?

(PAIGE nods.)

PIPER: What about calling Darryl?

PAIGE: The police report said that the spirit board disappeared somewhere between being shipped from the crime scene to the police lab.

PIPER: Our angry spirit probably took it to keep anything from happening to his portal.

PAIGE: Exactly.

PRUE: So, what’s our Plan B?

(PAIGE looks at her watch.)

PAIGE: Coming up in about five minutes. Phoebe said she had a spell in mind that might work, so she’ll call us with it when she’d done putting on the finishing touches.

[Scene: Psychologist’s office. PHOEBE scribbles something onto a yellow sticky note and with a frustrated sigh, crosses it out. DR. BRENTON’s door opens and she pops her head out.]

DR. BRENTON: Have there been any calls?

(PHOEBE glances at the phone and shakes her head.)

PHOEBE: No, I always let you know when you’ve gotten an important call…as long as you’re not in the middle of a session. (DR. BRENTON frowns.) Is there something you’re waiting for?

(DR. BRENTON quickly shakes her head.)

DR. BRENTON: Just checking. (She ducks back into her office and closes the door. PHOEBE looks back at the chicken scratch on her sticky note.)

PHOEBE: (muttering) Must be nice to have your own office to hide out in. (She freezes and then tilts her head to the side.) Hide. (pause) Hide. (She taps her pen to the yellow paper.) Hide! That’s it. (She rips off the old sticky note, crumples it up, and tosses it into the trash. Hurriedly, she starts to scribble something else down.)

[Scene: Manor. MERCEDES jumps a little as PAIGE’s cell phone rings. PAIGE smiles and holds up her phone.]

PAIGE: It’s just my phone. (She flips it open.) Excuse me a moment. (She leaves the room.) Phoebe? (pause) Yeah, (she walks into the kitchen) I just need to find myself a (she sees a pen sitting on the table and holds out her hand) pen. (The pen orbs into her hand and she pulls off the cap.) Okay, what’ve you got? (She holds the phone with her shoulder and begins to write PHOEBE’s spell onto the palm of her hand in blue ink.)

[Time lapse. Five lit, white candles are placed in a circle in the center of the attic. PAIGE is standing before PRUE and PIPER, with her palm raised as her sisters review the spell. PIPER and PRUE share amused looks.]

PRUE: (to PIPER) Creative, isn’t she?

PIPER: Well, I definitely wouldn’t have thought to tweak the spell to summon a spirit, to make it summon a spirit board.

PRUE: Lets just hope it works now.

PAIGE: (to PIPER) Just be ready to blast it once it does appear.

(PIPER aims her hands at the circle.)

PRUE, PIPER, & PAIGE: “Hear these words,
Hear my cry,
Board that connects us with those who’ve died.
Come to me,
I summon thee.
Appear now, from the place you hide!”

(The flames on the candles shoot up and become a blinding orange. The sisters shield their eyes as a swarm of black lights deposits a very old, finely crafted spirit board in the center of the candles. As the flames return to their normal height, a dark yellow smoke fills the circle, forming into the APPARITION.)

PRUE: Piper!

(In a flash, the APPARITION flies across the room and absorbs into PIPER. Her eyes begin to glow as she turns to her sisters.)

PIPER: (demonically) Kiss this, bitch! (She raises her hands and an explosion blasts PRUE off her feet, sending her crashing into the wall. Swiftly, she turns to PAIGE and grabs her by the throat, lifting PAIGE into the air. PAIGE’s face begins to turn red. Out of the corner of her eye, she spies the candles.)

PAIGE: (choking) C-c-candle! (Her fingers twitch as one of the heavy white candles orb out.) P-iper! (A swirl of orbs reappears in mid air, coursing for PIPER’s head. The candle smacks into PIPER’s temple, loosening her grip on PAIGE long enough for her to fall to the floor. PAIGE gasps as PRUE stirs. She looks at her sister with a mocking expression.) Y-you’re not powerful enough.

PIPER: (demonically) I was powerful enough to break through after witches like you vanquished me! (She raises her hands.) And I’m powerful enough to kill you now! (As PIPER flicks her wrists, PAIGE thrusts out her arms.)

PAIGE: Spirit board!

PIPER: (demonically) No!

(As orbs fill PAIGE’s hands, the explosion from PIPER’s power hits, causing the orbs to shatter in all different directions as they materialize into shards of mahogany wood, before finally dissipating into nothingness. Yellow smoke seems from PIPER’s eyes, nose, and mouth as the APPARITION is sucked from her body and screams as he explodes, sent back to the realm he came from. PAIGE gets up and rubs her wrist, where a small cut is from the explosion. PRUE also gets up, looking slightly dizzy.)

PRUE: (to PAIGE) Smart idea. (PAIGE waves her hand dismissively. PRUE notices the cut. PIPER looks around, confused.)

PIPER: What just happened?

(PRUE wraps her arm around PIPER’s shoulders.)

PRUE: (to PIPER) You were possessed, honey. But don’t worry, Paige took care of things.

PAIGE: All in a good day’s work.

PIPER: (groaning) Not again. Why is it that whenever something with high school shows up, I get possessed?

[Scene: Baker High School. Empty classroom. LEO orbs in with MERCEDES. The clock on the wall reads 2:04 P.M.]

MERCEDES: Thank you for everything.

LEO: No need to thank me. I didn’t really do anything. It was the sisters who vanquished your demon.

MERCEDES: But it was you who helped to quell my fears. (She smiles. The bell rings.)

LEO: You’d better get going. (MERCEDES nods.) Oh, and by the way… (MERCEDES spins around.) I asked Elliott’s whitelighter to fill him in on the situation. He doesn’t hold it again you.

MERCEDES: Thank you.

(MERCEDES leaves. After a moment, LEO pokes his head out of the doorway. He sees ELLIOTT run up to MERCEDES, who appears a little surprised. Then, after what appears to be an awkward beat, they both smile at each other and disappear into the crowd. LEO grins to himself and orbs out.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Five

[Scene: Manor. PAIGE comes down the stairs with PRUE’s black dress draped over her arm. PIPER is heading up the stairs.][/b]

PAIGE: Have you seen Prue?

PIPER: I think she left about ten minutes ago, why?

(PAIGE holds up the dress.)

PAIGE: I just wanted to thank her again for the dress.

PIPER: Hot date?

PAIGE: Why does everyone keep asking me that?

PIPER: Why else do you wear a sexy black dress?

PAIGE: To feel good about yourself?

PIPER: Right. (She grins.) So...

PAIGE: He’s nice, okay. (She looks down at PRUE’s dress.) I just wanted to have a little fun tonight. You know, forget about the whole Glenn mess.

(PIPER comfortingly pats PAIGE’s shoulder.)

PIPER: I’m sure things will work themselves out.

(PAIGE smiles.)

PAIGE: Thanks, Piper.

PIPER: Hey, that’s what big sisters are for, right?

PAIGE: Well, I should probably get going. (PIPER nods. PAIGE hurries down the stairs.)

PIPER: Have fun!

[Scene: Park. PRUE is sitting on the swing that she and ANDY used to meet at. Her legs are swaying slightly as she slowly pushes it back and forth. A tear rolls down her cheek and she closes her eyes.]

[Flashback: PRUE and ANDY are standing next to their swing, which is surrounded by rolling white fog. PRUE looks confused.]

PRUE: Andy? What’s going on? Where are we?

ANDY: I’m not quite sure really. I hoped I’d end up here, but not so soon. One thing I do know is that I’m staying. You’re not.

PRUE: I don’t understand.

ANDY: I broke my promise, Prue. I came to your house tonight. Turns out Phoebe’s premonition was one you couldn't stop after all. Weren’t suppose to stop.

PRUE: Wait a minute, Andy, no.

ANDY: It’s okay, Prue, really, trust me. This is my destiny. I know that now. Yours is to continue on. Everything happens for a reason, remember? You taught me that.

PRUE: This isn’t fair.

ANDY: You need to go back. You need to keep the time loop from being reset again or you and your sisters will be killed. And I will have died in vain.

PRUE: I’ll kill Rodriguez for this.

ANDY: No you won’t. You’re not a murderer, Prue, you’re a good person who does good things.

PRUE: I don’t wanna lose you.

ANDY: Don’t worry. You won’t. (They kiss.) I’ll always be there for you, Prue. (He fades away.)

[Cut to the present. PRUE puts her feet to the ground, stopping the swing. She lightly brushes her fingers over her cheek, wiping away the tear. She digs into her pocket and pulls out her cell phone. She dials a number and then places the phone to her ear.]

MATT's VOICE: Hello?

PRUE: Matt?

MATT's VOICE: Prue, are you okay? You sound upset.

PRUE: I’m fine. I just…I wanted to ask you something.

MATT's VOICE: Sure. Of course.

PRUE: Do you remember that invitation I got last month?

MATT's VOICE: The one for your friend?

PRUE: Yes.

MATT's VOICE: Have you decided whether or not you’re going?

PRUE: That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about.

MATT's VOICE: I really think you should go, Prue. I think-

PRUE: (interrupting) Will you go with me?

MATT's VOICE: (surprised) What?

PRUE: I understand if you feel uncomfortable. (pause) I just…
don’t want to go alone.

MATT's VOICE: When do you need me to be ready?

PRUE: (surprised) You’ll go?

MATT's VOICE: Of course I will.

(PRUE heaves a small sigh.)

PRUE: Thank you.

[Scene: PAIGE’s apartment. Bathroom. She’s standing in front of the mirror, applying red lipstick. She puts the cap on the tube and then twirls around, admiring herself in PRUE’s little black dress. She hears the doorbell ring and smiles at her reflection as she grabs her purse.]

PAIGE: Guess that’s my cue. (She drops her lipstick into her tiny handbag and then snaps it shut as she walks out of the bathroom and makes her way over to the front door. She opens it to reveal a handsome man dressed in a nice shirt and jeans. PAIGE grins.) Henry, you look nice.

(HENRY MITCHELL smiles as he admires his date.)

HENRY: Wow. If I’d known this was going to be formal-

PAIGE: (interrupting) Oh please. (She playfully swats him.) This is nothing.

HENRY: Well, if this, (he motions to her clothing) is nothing, then I hope we actually get to the date when I see something.

PAIGE: Hmm. I think you’re jumping ahead of yourself now, aren’t you? In order to get to that date, we have to start this one first.

HENRY: Good point.

(HENRY winks. PAIGE grins and shuts the door, leaving the apartment empty except for OSCAR, who’s sitting quietly on the perch in his cage. Suddenly, the phone rings. Three more rings pierce the air.)

PAIGE's VOICE: I’m sorry I can’t get to the phone right now, but please leave a message and I’ll get back to you soon.

(There’s a beep, followed by the sound of breathing.)

GLENN's VOICE: Paige, it’s Glenn. I know we haven’t spoken in a few weeks, but I thought I should let you know that I’m going to be leaving the city for about a month or so. Maybe by the time I get back, we’ll both have cooled off some. Bye.

[Scene: Manor. Kitchen. The phone is ringing. PIPER walks in and picks it up.]

PIPER: (into the phone) Halliwell residence. (She smiles.) Oh, hey, Darryl. (pause) No, Prue’s not here right now. But apparently she’s very popular today. (She hears the front doors open.) Oh, wait a minute, you might be in luck. (She walks into the dining room and spots PRUE. She covers the mouthpiece.) Oh good, you’re home. (She walks over to PRUE and holds out the phone.) It’s Darryl.

PRUE: Darryl? (She frowns.) What for? (PIPER shrugs. PRUE puts the phone to her ear.) Darryl?

DARRYL's VOICE: Hey Prue, you’re still going to the memorial tonight, right?

PRUE: Yeah, why?

DARRYL's VOICE: Karen was-

PRUE: (surprised) Karen? As in, Andy’s mother?

DARRYL's VOICE: Yeah. We were going to share a table. She called me earlier and asked if you were coming too.

PRUE: What did you tell her?

DARRYL's VOICE: That I hadn’t heard from you yet. (pause) I think it would mean a lot to her if you’d sit with us tonight, Prue.

(PRUE closes her eyes.)

PRUE: (quietly) Okay.

DARRYL's VOICE: I know she’ll be happy to you.

PRUE: Yeah…I’ll see you when I get there, I guess. (pause) Bye, Darryl. (She hangs up. PIPER looks at PRUE quizzically.)

PIPER: What was that all about?

PRUE: Andy’s mother wants me to share a table with her and Darryl.

PIPER: That sounds nice. Andy’s mom always liked you-

PRUE: (interrupting) That’s not the problem. (She closes her eyes.) I didn’t even stop to think that she might be there…and I asked Matt to come with me.

PIPER: (surprised) Matt?

PRUE: Just for emotional support. I didn’t even think- (The doorbell rings. PRUE and PIPER share a look.)

[Scene: Psychologist’s office. PHOEBE slips on her coat and as she leans down to grab her purse from the floor, she sees a flashing red light on the answering machine. She presses “Play."]

MAN's VOICE: This is Dr. Fosters. I just wanted to let you know that I’m rescheduling the York brothers for two weeks from now and sending in Gertrude Olsen for this Tuesday. I hope this isn’t too much of an inconvenience on you.

(PHOEBE presses “Save” and walks over to DR. BRENTON’s door. She knocks and then opens the door hastily.)

PHOEBE: Dr. Fosters called and- (She stops mid sentence when she sees DR. BRENTON hunched over on her chair, wiping her eyes with a tissue.) I-I… (She turns away.) I’m sorry, I should’ve waited. (She closes her eyes and cringes at having caught her boss in a fragile moment.)

DR. BRENTON: Phoebe. (She swallows hard as she stands up.) Wait!

(PHOEBE slowly turns around and shakes her head.)

PHOEBE: I didn’t mean-

DR. BRENTON: (interrupting) It’s okay. (pause) I’m just…it’s been a hard day.

(A long, awkward pause lapses between them and then PHOEBE shifts uneasily.)

PHOEBE: Do you wanna…go get a drink or something?

(DR. BRENTON smiles.)

DR. BRENTON: You know what, I think I’d like that. (PHOEBE smiles. DR. BRENTON grabs her coat and purse and they leave together.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Six

[Scene: The Regency Center. Grand Ballroom. PRUE and MATT walk in. Her eyes widen as she examines the vast room. It’s filled with an uncountable number of tables, each with a picture, some with more than one, of a fallen San Francisco Police Officer since 1998. A single lit, white candle is placed in front of each framed picture. The room is full of people, young and old, each of whom who were close to one of the men or women who lost their life in the line of duty. At the front of the room is a massive stage and centered podium. On the wall is a huge screen where a slideshow is playing, featuring pictures of the lost officers.][/b]

WOMAN: Prue?

(PRUE looks up and sees an older woman coming towards her. She smiles mournfully.)

PRUE: Mrs. Trudeau. (She walks over to her and they share a heartfelt hug.)

MRS. TRUDEAU: I’m so glad you decided to come. (PRUE nods slightly.) How have you been?

PRUE: I uh…I’ve been okay. (MRS. TRUDEAU notices MATT. She seems to stare at him for a moment.) Oh, uhm, Matt, this is Andy’s mother, Karen Trudeau. Mrs. Trudeau, this is my-

MATT: Friend. (He holds out his hand.) Matthew Capiello. (MRS. TRUDEAU shakes his hand.) I’m sorry for your loss, Mrs. Trudeau. I know how hard it is to lose someone you love in the line of duty.

MRS. TRUDEAU: Oh, I’m sorry. Who did you come to pay your respects to, if you don’t mind my asking.

MATT: Actually, my father died while serving on the police force. (His head drops slightly.) But that was a long time ago. (He looks at PRUE.) Ever since then, I’ve had enormous respect for the men and women in that profession, so when Prue said she was coming tonight, I asked if I might be able to come with her.

(MRS. TRUDEAU pats MATT’s arm comfortingly.)

MRS. TRUDEAU: Andy would’ve liked you. (PRUE smiles. MRS. TRUDEAU motions her arm.) Come, his table is over this way.

(MATT and PRUE follow MRS. TRUDEAU through a winding mass of tables, over to one with a framed nine by twelve inch photograph of ANDY in his police uniform. A white candle is burning brightly in front of the picture. The three of them each take a seat. PRUE gazes at the picture.)

MATT: (to MRS. TRUDEAU) I noticed that there’s another chair…Is that your husband’s?

(MRS. TRUDEAU smiles sadly.)

MRS. TRUDEAU: No, my husband passed on several years ago. (She motions to the chair.) That’s Darryl’s. He was Andy’s first partner when he moved back to San Francisco. (She looks at her watch.) Darryl called me earlier and said he’d be running a few minutes late, though.

(MATT nods in understanding. PRUE attempts to nonchalantly wipe the corner of her eye, but MATT and MRS. TRUDEAU notice. Suddenly, the lights begin to dim as a WOMAN walks across the stage to the podium. The crowd gets quiet. The WOMAN reaches the podium and a spotlight shines down on her. The slideshow fades away and a giant video feed of her appears on the screen behind her, so that the people at the back of the room can see who’s speaking at the podium.)

WOMAN: I’d like to start off by thanking each and every one of you for coming tonight. I’m fully aware of how difficult it is to do, even only four years later. (She looks around the room.) For some of you, many of you, even less. (She takes a deep breath, which can be heard on the microphone.) I know first hand that even after thirty-two years, it still feels like just yesterday.

(DARRYL MORRIS walks up to ANDY’s table in a rush. He sits down.)

DARRYL: [(i]whispering) [/i]I’m sorry I’m late, Alicia came down with the flu and-

MRS. TRUDEAU: (whispering) It’s fine, Darryl. You’re here now and that’s what counts. (She pats his hand.)

(DARRYL looks at PRUE.)

DARRYL: (whispering) Hey, I’m glad you could make it.

PRUE: (whispering) How could I not?

WOMAN: For those of you who don’t know who I am, my name is Lana Humphery. On this date, thirty-two years ago, my husband Todd was killed in the line of duty; he was shot while trading himself in for a little girl in a hostage situation. He died instantly.

(PRUE starts to dab her eyes with the corner of her sleeve.)

DARRYL: (whispering to PRUE) Are you okay?

(PRUE nods.)

PRUE: I’m fine.

(DARRYL leans forward and lays his hand over PRUE’s.)

LANA: It took me four years to raise the money for the first memorial, which was very small and just for him and the members that had died in his precinct since his death. Every four years since then, the memorial has grown until it became what it is today; a citywide memorial. In fact, for the last two memorials, the owners of The Regency Center have donated this room specifically for this occasion, and I’d like to thank them dearly for that.

(MATT shakes his head in astonishment.)

MATT: (whispering) I can’t believe she’s done this for so long. It’s amazing.

(MRS. TRUDEAU nods.)

MRS. TRUDEAU: (whispering to MATT) It is. You know, my husband was a firm believer in the idea that anything is possible. He always used to say that it just takes one person to change the future for the better. (She motions to LANA.) Clearly, he was right.

LANA: In just a moment, I’ll be stepping down so that we can all view a video made in honor of these special men and women, going in order from those who gave their lives in nineteen-ninety-eight to present day. Some families have chosen to submit a special video clip or picture from their personal life, which will be shown in addition their official photograph. I’ve done a voiceover so that each name will be called as their picture is shown.

(The screen behind LANA fades to black as she steps down from the podium and starts walking towards the end of the stage. As she reaches the stairs, the screen flickers to life with a picture of a young man with blonde hair and dark green eyes.)

LANA's VOICE: Charles Alexander Radcliffe.

(Sarah McLaughlin’s, “Will You Remember Me,” begins to play again. As CHARLES’ picture fades away, it is replaced with a photo of him being awarded his badge, followed by one of him and the members of his precinct, and is concluded with one of him in front of his police car with his daughter on his shoulders. A new picture appears, this time of a red haired woman with blue eyes.)

LANA's VOICE: Gwendolyn Noel Kerry.

(As the pictures of GWENDOLYN with her family are shown, a few sobs break out among the crowd and then two women get up and head for the doors at the back of the room, both of whom are crying. PRUE shakes her head sorrowfully.)

MRS. TRUDEAU: Sometimes I can’t believe it’s only been three years. It feels like he’s been gone so much longer.

PRUE: (to MRS. TRUDEAU) You know, there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think-

MRS. TRUDEAU: (interrupting) Please, Prue, don’t. (She purses her lips as she stares at PRUE.) Andy did what he did because he loved you. You couldn’t have stopped him if you wanted to. And to be honest, I’m glad it was for you. If it had been for anyone else, I don’t know if I could look at them today, let alone be sitting with them now. But you…his world revolved around you, and if something had happened to you that day, he would’ve died anyway.

LANA's VOICE: Andrew David Trudeau.

(PRUE's head whips around to catch ANDY’s smiling face, followed by a picture of a three-year-old ANDY and his father, who’s dressed in blue police uniform, and ANDY is proudly holding up his father’s police badge. Suddenly, the background music begins to fade as the picture fades to black, and then the picture fades into a video of a high school gym filled with balloons, streamers, and teenagers dressed in tuxes and prom dresses. PRUE’s eyes widen as MRS. TRUDEAU leans over to her.)

MRS. TRUDEAU: (whispering) I hope you don’t mind, Prue, but when they asked me if I wanted to submit a few pictures or videos clips of Andy, I chose your Senior Prom dance because Andy was always so fond of it. He used to tell me that it was the best night of his life.

(A tear runs down PRUE’s cheek as she shakes her head.)

PRUE: (whispering) N-no, I d-don’t mind at all.

[Video: The Baker High Principal places a tiara on PRUE’s head as she and a teenage ANDY stand on the stage.]

PRINCIPAL: I’d like to present Baker High’s class of eighty-nine’s Prom King and Queen, Andy Trudeau and Prue Halliwell! (The PRINCIPAL, along with the rest of the attendees at the Prom, clap loudly as PRUE and ANDY walk off the stage.) Will everyone please clear the floor so that the Prom King and Queen can share their celebratory dance.

(The teenagers move to the sides of the room as ANDY and PRUE stop in the center of the room. PRUE looks radiant in her floor length, dark blue satin gown which brings out her blue eyes. ANDY, handsome in a blue tux, wraps his arms around PRUE as the sound of America’s “You Can Do Magic” begins to play. PRUE and ANDY start to sway to the song. ANDY leans close to PRUE's ear.)

ANDY: I love you.

[Cut to present PRUE. She has her hand to her mouth, as if she were about to cry. MRS. TRUDEAU lightly bites her lower lip as she rises to her feet. She pulls a tissue from her purse and dabs her wet eyes.]

MRS. TRUDEAU: (softly) Please excuse me. (She leaves.)

DARRYL: (whispering to PRUE) I’m going to go see if she’s okay.

(DARRYL gets up and follows MRS. TRUDEAU. Prue elicits a soft whimper as she watches teenage ANDY sneak her teenage self a sweet kiss on the video. MATT places his hand comfortingly on PRUE’s arm, and then after a moment, PRUE reaches her hand over to MATT’s and takes his hand in hers. Without taking her eyes away from the screen, she gently squeezes MATT’s hand and he squeezes back.)

[The Virtual Series]

End Credits

Co-Starring
Poppy Montgumery --- Dr. Laura Brenton
Cameron Zeidler --- Davis
Hunter Parrish --- Elliott
Ashley Johnson --- Miriam Haus
Indigo --- Jada Carson
Dee Wallace-Stone --- Karen Trudeau
Wendle Josepher --- Lana Humphery
Gretchen Egolf --- Mrs. Peterman
Ivan Sergei --- Henry Mitchell

Featuring
Ashley Tisdale --- Kristen Bowers
Kassie Hight --- Bridget
Vanessa Anne Hudgens --- Simone
Sharon Johnston --- Miss Flower
Kevin Cooney --- Principal

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