5x07: The Phantasm Menace

[Drama]

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.

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.

5.07 THE PHANTASM MENACE

GUEST-STARRING:
TYLER LAYTON
IVAN SERGI
JESSE WOODROW
TOM PARKER

Script written by...CAMILLE (FOUREVER CHARMED)

Script edited by...DRAMA (ASSASSIN WITCH)

Script proofread by...CAMILLE (FOUREVER CHARMED), DRAMA (ASSASSIN WITCH), DTAYLOR (ASTRAL ECHO)

Executive Producer...DTAYLOR (ASTRAL ECHO)

Produced by...DRAMA, FOUREVER CHARMED, XENITH

Directed by...Mel Damski

[Drama]

The Phantasm Menace

[/u]

Teaser[/center]

[Scene: P3. A portable television is set up on the edge of the bar and the news station is turned on. PIPER HALLIWELL is moving up and down the bar, wiping it with a damp rag as she periodically glances over her shoulder to look at the screen.][/b]

NEWS REPORTER: …and a new rash of crime has steadily been building up in the city over the last few months, concentrated in the downtown San Francisco.

(PIPER snorts.)

PIPER: And that’s news?

NEWS REPORTER: Authorities felt it was a network of crime, but they’ve been unable to find a connection between any of the ten criminals that have been caught thus far…

(PIPER turns off the portable T.V. As she steps out from behind the bar, she hears a small thud. She stops and looks around.)

PIPER: (cautiously) Monica? (There’s no answer. Her eyes flick around the room again.) Hello? (Finally, she takes another step towards the back room. Another thud is heard. She drops the wet rag and holds up both her hands.) Who’s there? (MATTHEW CAPIELLO suddenly appears. PIPER jumps and MATT holds up his hands defensively. As she realizes who it is, her face hardens.) How the hell did you get in here?

(MATT holds up a small key.)

MATT: Through the back door.

PIPER: (sneering) Conjuring and entering now? (She snatches the key from MATT’s hand.) Leave before I call Darryl. (She turns away.)

MATT: Piper, please! I need your help!

(PIPER spins around, her eyes dark.)

PIPER: My help? I’m sorry, I believe you lost the privilege to ask for that when you set The Source free.

(MATT glares.)

MATT: He would’ve killed Phoebe, you know that!

PIPER: Yet, you still ended up betraying my sister!

(MATT looks away.)

MATT: I…

PIPER: You had no right to do what you did to Prue! She trusted you and you stomped all over that gift! (She slaps the key down on the bar.) You’re disgusting. (She shakes her head.) Get out.

MATT: Piper-

PIPER: You have a lot of nerve, you know. I never trusted you from the beginning, but I put aside my better judgment because Prue trusted you, and frankly, she’s always been a better judge of character than me. (She stabs her finger towards the door.) Now, I’m only going to repeat myself once: Get. Out.

MATT: You’re making a huge mistake. (He takes a step towards her, but a blue shield suddenly erects itself between them. MATT stares warily at it and then backs up, although the shield remains in place.) Fine, but I promise you, you don’t know what you’re doing. (He starts to walk away and, finally, the shield vanishes. PIPER curls her fist.)

PIPER: Is that a threat? (MATT continues walking.) Matt! (He reaches for the back door and PIPER raises her hand.) Hey, I’m talking to you! Stop! (Suddenly, MATT stops mid-movement. PIPER’s eyes shift back and forth quickly and then she starts to walk over to him.) Matt? (She cautiously walks over to him, but he doesn’t move. As she walks around him, she waves her hand over his face, but it stares blankly at it - frozen. PIPER gasps.)

Clickable Credits.

[Drama]

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

Act One

[Scene: P3. Glass shatters and MATT falls to the ground, along with a shower of wine and broken shards of a wine bottle. When he looks up, he sees PIPER standing over him with a knife from the bar pointed at his face.]

PIPER: (seething) Who. Are. You?!

MATT: (nervously) You know who I am!

(PIPER shoves the knife closer to him. From the corner of her eye, she sees his hand twitch. At the same moment, the blue force field flares up.)

PIPER: Don’t even try it! I may not have active powers, but I know a thousand spells that can send you to oblivion faster than you can blink! (She narrows her eyes.) You’re a warlock, aren’t you?

MATT: I’m a witch! I told you that before!

(PIPER laughs humorlessly.)

PIPER: Four words, “Matt.” Good. Witches. Don’t. Freeze. (Her knuckles turn white as she clutches the bar knife.) Now, tell me who you are!

[Scene: South Bay Social Services. Paige’s cubicle. PAIGE MATTHEWS is typing up a report at her desk. HENRY MITCHELL walks up behind her with a bouquet of flowers and leans in, kissing her on the neck. PAIGE jumps, knocking the flowers from HENRY’s hands. HENRY holds up his hands as PAIGE turns around, her face becoming slightly red.]

PAIGE: Henry… (She sees the flowers. HENRY smiles awkwardly.)

HENRY: Hey. (He motions to the bouquet.) I, er, brought you flowers.

PAIGE: I see… (They both lean to pick them up and bump heads. They lean back.) Sorry!

(HENRY waves his hand.)

HENRY: It’s fine. (He picks up the flowers and properly hands them to PAIGE. PAIGE stares at them and then smiled awkwardly.)

PAIGE: Thanks.

(HENRY frowns.)

HENRY: You don’t like daffodils? (He sighs.) I knew I should’ve went with the daisies!

PAIGE: No! No, they’re fine!

HENRY: (discouraged) Fine?

(PAIGE bites her lip and then sniffs the flowers.)

PAIGE: They smell lovely. (HENRY closes his eyes.) Henry-

HENRY: Paige. (He shakes his head.) I’ve been trying, I really have, but something’s wrong. These last few months-

(PAIGE holds up her hand.)

PAIGE: (quietly) Please, let's not talk about this here. (She grabs her white jacket from the back of her chair.) Lila! I’m taking my break! (She grabs HENRY by the arm and leads him towards the door.)

[Scene: Downtown San Francisco. Sandra’s Subs. PRUE HALLIWELL walks out of the front doors carrying a clear plastic bag with wrapped sub sandwiches inside and a drink holder with two sodas. With her other hand, she’s holding her cell phone to her ear.]

PRUE: …well he’s not exactly “Man of the Year” either. (She rolls her eyes as she heads into the parking lot.) Anyway, I just picked up the food and I’m on way back right now. (pause) Okay, bye, Nat. (She flips her phone closed as she reaches her black BMW X5 and sets her drink holder on the roof of the car. She pulls out her keys.)

WOMAN’s VOICE: Help!

(PRUE immediately looks up to see a man running down the sidewalk with a purse tucked under his arm, and a woman on the sidewalk, yelling. Her mouth drops open.)

PRUE: A purse burglar? This has got to be a joke! (She takes off after the purse thief, who makes a quick dart between two buildings. PRUE rolls her eyes.) Oh, I don’t have time for this!

(PRUE runs into the alley as well, to find the purse thief heading for a chain link fence at the back of the alley. She flicks her wrist and the thief trips, falling forward into a puddle of brown water. PRUE advances towards him, but he rolls over, pointing a gun at her.)

THIEF: Stay back, or I’ll shoot!

PRUE: Just hand over the purse. It’ll be better for you, trust me.

(PRUE takes a step forward and the thief pulls the trigger. PRUE holds out her hand and the bullet flies to the side, hitting one of the walls of the building and ricocheting off wall, hitting the thief in the side of stomach. He cries out in pain as he drops to his knees. The gun and purse hit the ground as he grabs his bleeding side. PRUE gasps, not having intended to have the bullet to ricochet. She pulls out her phone and begins to dial 911. As she places the phone to her ear, a white misty blur escapes from the thief’s body.)

THIEF: (gasping) Oh god! (He falls to his side as PRUE stares at the white blur, which hovers over the thief a moment longer and then zooms off through the chain link fence.)

OPERATOR: Nine-one-one, please state your emergency.

(PRUE blinks and then shakes her head.)

PRUE: I need to report a robbery…and a shooting.

[Scene: Psychologist’s office. Dr. Brenton’s office. PHOEBE HALLIWELL is seated in a chair, drinking a bottled water. The door opens and DR. LAURA BRENTON walks in. She gazes at PHOEBE and then takes a seat at her desk.]

LAURA: Is there something bothering you, Phoebe?

(PHOEBE looks a little flustered as she caps the bottle.)

PHOEBE: Why? Do I look like something’s bothering me?

(LAURA laughs lightly.)

LAURA: You’ve just seemed rather distracted lately. (She folds her hands on her desk.) I should know, I’m an expert, remember?

(PHOEBE rakes her fingers through her hair.)

PHOEBE: I guess I’ve just been rather…preoccupied.

(LAURA glances at her watch.)

LAURA: The next appointment isn’t for another half an hour. (pause) Do you want to talk about it? (She smiles softly. PHOEBE laughs.)

PHOEBE: It’s…nothing.

LAURA: Oh?

(PHOEBE leans back in her chair, rolling her eyes.)

PHOEBE: My boyfriend proposed last week.

(LAURA smiles, nodding her head.)

LAURA: Oooh…

[Scene: P3. PIPER is still hovering over MATT, threatening him with a bar knife pointed at his face.]

MATT: It’s complicated-

PIPER: Well, you’d better make it uncomplicated, because I’m losing my patience and pretty soon my curiosity is going to run out and I have no problem vanquishing you right here. God knows I’ve done it a million times before!

MATT: I’m not a warlock.

PIPER: A demon?

MATT: No. (He starts breathing heavily, fighting with the idea of submitting to PIPER’s demands.)

PIPER: I’ve got an entire Book of creatures. We could go through this all day with, but I’d rather not.

MATT: I’m not evil!

PIPER: Really? You sure have me and my sisters fooled.

MATT: The Book of Shadows let me touch it, remember?

PIPER: That hardly proves anything! Magic is constantly advancing, so it’s entirely possible that you found a way to trick it. (She stares.) The more and more I think about it, the more you’ve acted like Cole when he first came into our lives.

(MATT grits his teeth.)

MATT: (impulsively) I was sent here to protect you!

(PIPER recoils, but remains with the bar knife pointed at MATT's face.)

PIPER: Protect me? (pause) Why?

(Silence.)

MATT: Something horrible was going to happen in the future.

(PIPER’s eyes widen.)

PIPER: You’re from the future?

MATT: I was… (He pauses and looks at the floor.) I need a pen and paper.

(PIPER’s eyes gleam distrustfully, then she finally nods. MATT holds out his hand and a pad of paper appears. In his other hand, a pen appears. He quickly scribbles the words, “To stop Phoebe from dying.” PIPER blinks in shock.)

PIPER: To stop- (MATT holds up his hand, shaking his head wildly. His eyes flick to the ceiling and then back to PIPER. PIPER closes her mouth a moment, and then swallows carefully.) So then, if what you’re saying is true, why are you still here?

(MATT nods his head, his eyes on her stomach.)

MATT: To protect your unborn child.

PIPER: (shocked) What?

MATT: The Queen wants your child’s powers. With them, she thinks she’ll be unstoppable.

(Silence.)

PIPER: Why should I trust you? (She narrows her brown eyes.) Maybe The Queen sent you to steal Melinda’s powers for her?

(MATT recoils at the accusation, obviously hurt and offended by it.)

MATT: (impulsively) Why would I risk all that I’ve risked if I was working for her?!

PIPER: (suspiciously) Who sent you?

(MATT squirms uncomfortably.)

MATT: I can’t-

PIPER: I beg to differ! If you want any chance of me believing you again, then you better have a really good story to back yourself up…

(MATT stares up at PIPER defiantly. Their eyes lock and for several seconds, an eerie silence hangs in the air. Finally, MATT opens his mouth.)

MATT: Melinda Warren.

BREAK

[Drama]

Act Two

[Scene: P3. PIPER is staring wide eyed at MATT, with the bar knife still pointed at him.][/b]

PIPER: Melinda Warren is dead.

(MATT nods, carefully gauging PIPER’s facial expressions.)

MATT: We communicate through a spirit board.

(PIPER’s hand wavers, ever so slightly. She shakes her head and then tilts it back.)

PIPER: Le-

MATT: No! (He suddenly jumps up in a surge of adrenaline and clamps his hand over her mouth. Immediately, the force field springs up, separating MATT from PIPER, and then expands like a balloon, slamming MATT into the wall. He slinks to the floor, wincing.) You can’t tell Leo!

PIPER: Why?

(MATT reaches for the pen and paper, and the blue shield fluctuates until PIPER finally touches her stomach. A moment later, it disappears and MATT holds up his tablet which says, “The Elders.”)

MATT: It was never supposed to work out like this…

(PIPER backs up and sets the knife on a table, but keeps her hand over it.)

PIPER: Fine, I won’t say anything to Leo…but I’m going to summon Melinda Warren herself. (She tilts her head to the side.) Is that a problem?

(MATT looks uneasily and then shakes his head.)

MATT: She’ll only confirm what I’ve already told you.

PIPER: For your sake, I hope that’s true. (She taps her finger lightly on the blade of the knife.) We need to get the Manor, but if we’re taking my car, I have to be sure I’m safe. (She folds her arms.)

MATT: And what would that involve?

(PIPER squints as she studies him and then slowly begins to nod her head.)

PIPER: “Matt, stand still, I order you,
Body bind until I’m through!”

(A sizzle of magical white light spirals around MATT; suddenly, his legs lock together and his arms slap to his sides like a soldier at attention. MATT’s eyes drop as he looks at himself.)

MATT: What did you do?

PIPER: It’s a Body-Binding Spell. (She lays her hand across her stomach.) You’d be surprised the kind of spells you can find in The Book of Shadows during a bout of insomnia. (She chews her lip.) I knew that studying up would come in handy, I just didn’t know it would be this soon.

MATT: So, how do you expect to get me to your car? (PIPER smiles and disappears into the back room. Moments later, she reemerges, wheeling a large red dolly towards MATT. His smug look instantly vanishes.)

[Scene: Piper and Leo’s house. Garage. LEO WYATT is hunched over a work bench, sanding down a slab of wood. COLE TURNER shimmers in behind him.]

LEO: Phoebe’s still avoiding you?

(COLE emits a muffled noise as he walks over to the work bench.)

COLE: How’d you guess?

(LEO turns off the sander and turns around on his chair, staring at COLE from behind a pair of goggles.)

LEO: Cole, you’ve got to be patient with Phoebe. She’s not like Piper; she’s always been the baby, the free spirit. (He shrugs as he removes his goggles.) Marriage is a huge commitment, one which I don’t think she’s ever truly considered before.

(COLE leans against the wall.)

COLE: I suppose you must know her better than I do, then.

LEO: Don’t be sarcastic. You know what I’m saying is true.

(COLE snorts.)

COLE: Yeah…I just wish she could see things the way I do. (He rubs his temple.) Perhaps I’ve just been jaded by the fact that I thought she was dead-

LEO: That’s traumatic, and sometimes, it takes those circumstances to make people realize what they have.

(COLE nods.)

COLE: I know, I know…and Phoebe, fortunately, has not had to experience that. I just wish…I wish there was some way to really show her…

LEO: Just give her time, Cole.

(COLE nods again. His eyes then land on the wood that LEO was sanding.)

COLE: How’s the dresser coming along? (LEO groans.) I thought you were already passed the sanding stage.

LEO: So did I, but when I started to put them together, I realized I’d miscalculated and made one side too short.

COLE: Do you still think it’ll be ready in time for Piper’s shower?

LEO: That’s the goal. (He looks at the wood.) Have you seen the room yet? (COLE shakes his head.) I’m thinking of painting it white to match the trim. (He stands up and waves his arm.) C’mon, I’ll show you. (He heads over to the door leading inside the house.) I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but Paige ended up doing a pretty good job.

(COLE follows LEO to the door.)

COLE: And Piper’s happy with it?

LEO: Thrilled, actually. After she saw the paints, she wasn’t so enthusiastic, but when she saw the finished product, she was pretty impressed.

(COLE smirks.)

COLE: And that’s all that matters, right?

Leo: Do you even have to ask?

[Scene: Manor. Attic. PIPER and MATT walk into the attic. MATT keeps flexing his fingers as PIPER moves to The Book of Shadows and starts to turn the pages.]

MATT: I don’t think the blood is ever going to flow through my hands again, thank you.

(PIPER finds the summoning spell.)

PIPER: Well, you could’ve avoided it had you been honest with me from the beginning. (She opens a box sitting near the wall and pulls out the summoning candles and a box of matches, which she begins to arrange on the floor.)

MATT: This wasn’t part of the plan.

PIPER: I’m sure. (She starts to light the candles.) Unfortunately plans change, I should know. (She walks back over to The Book of Shadows and clears her throat. MATT folds his arms.)
“Hear these words,
Hear my cry,
Spirit from the other side,
Come to me;
I summon thee.
Cross now, the Great Divide!”

(A whirlwind of winking white and gold balls of lights dance around within the candles, taking shape into the apparition of MELINDA WARREN. PIPER folds her arms and moves to stand in front of MELINDA.)

PIPER: (to MELINDA) So…it’s true?

(MELINDA’s eyes twinkle, but instead of answering, she walks out of the circle of candles and becomes corporal. She walks over to The Book and holds her hand over it, using her powers to command The Book’s pages. Very near the front of The Book of Shadows, the pages come to a halt. PIPER squints her eyes.)

PIPER: What are you doing?

(MELINDA cranes her neck to look up at PIPER.)

MELINDA: Do you have any salt?

(PIPER blinks.)

PIPER: What for?

MELINDA: Please, before I can answer any of your questions, I need a handful of salt. (PIPER glances uneasily between MATT and MELINDA, then she finally sighs.)

PIPER: Fine. (She leaves. MELINDA looks up at MATT.)

MELINDA: Matthew.

(MATT tilts his head respectfully.)

MATT: Melinda.

(MELINDA smiles.)

MELINDA: It’s good to see you again.

(MATT looks at the floor.)

MATT: I’m sorry.

(MELINDA lifts her eyebrows in curiosity.)

MELINDA: Whatever for?

(MATT meets her eyes again.)

MATT: We both know this wasn’t supposed to happen.

(MELINDA places her hand over the right page that she turned to in The Book.)

MELINDA: Sometimes things don’t always turn out the way you’ve planned, but you just have to make do.

(PIPER returns with a salt shaker. She heads over to MELINDA and hands it to her.)

MELINDA: Thank you. (She removes her hand from the spell, pours the salt into her palm, and then gazes down at the spell.)
“Temporarily protect from prying eyes,
What only we three see,
This magick place for me,
Make a veil of mystic worth,
Protect this magick attic’s hearth,
Let our lines be blurred,
Blended, smudged, and slurred,
Only our eyes can see,
The secrets which entrusted be.”

(MELINDA walks over to the ring of candles and throws up her hand, casting the salt into the air. The salt reigns down over the flickering candles. Some fall into the flames, causing the flames to turn a deep violet, and some fals into the center of the candles. Lavender smoke begins to rise from the flames and then a burst of light emanates from the circle and fills the adding for several blinding moments. When it vanishes, all traces of the fallen salt are gone, the lavender smoke has disappeared, and the flames on the candles have returned to hot orange. PIPER blinks.)

PIPER: What was that?

MELINDA: A precaution. (She motions her hand quickly to MATT and at the same time, The Book of Shadows slams shut behind her.) Piper, you wanted to know about Matthew’s mission?

PIPER: So then…it’s true?

MELINDA: Of course.

MATT: (to PIPER) I told you!

PIPER: But how? I mean…why would you send someone from the future? And (she holds up her hands in frustration) how does he have powers? And why wouldn’t you just contact us directly?

(MELINDA frowns.)

MELINDA: It’s complicated, Piper-

PIPER: Now you sound like him. (She points to MATT accusingly. MELINDA sighs.)

MELINDA: There are powerful magicks here that had to be…circumvented, which is why we chose to send Matt.

PIPER: “We”?

(MELINDA’s eyes flick to MATT and back quickly.)

MELILNDA: We…as in myself and those who helped to bring him here. (PIPER folds her arms.) Obviously, (she motions to herself) I, being in the afterlife, couldn’t do everything myself.

PIPER: How did you even know about…the future?

(MELINDA laughs.)

MELINDA: Are you forgetting where the powers of the Charmed Ones come from? (pause) I had a premonition, of course. And…after careful deliberation, I knew that Matthew would be the perfect candidate to stop it from coming to fruition.

PIPER: But a complete strange from the future? Not even a witch? (She narrows her eyes.) What is he, anyway?

MELINDA: Don’t you have faith in me, Piper? (PIPER looks away.) I sent him because I trust him, and I’m hoping that you’ll be able to as well. He is, after all, here to save your (she smiles a little) special child. (She claps her hands together and looks to MATT.) He has to leave after the birth though, right Matthew?

(MATT nods his head numbly.)

MATT: The longer I’m here, the greater the risk to the…future could be.

MELINDA: But you mustn’t speak of this to anyone, not even your sisters! If Matthew’s mission is jeopardized any further, it could have dire consequences.

PIPER: (bitterly) For the future, right?

(MELINDA and MATT look at each other.)

MELINDA: Yes…

(PIPER closes her eyes and begins to pace. A long beat of silence fills the room.)

MATT: So, does this mean you’ll help me? (He eyes MELINDA.) Us?

(PIPER stops pacing and lifts her eyes to the ceiling, seemingly considering all her options. Finally, she releases a pent up breath.)

PIPER: Yes. (She points at MATT.) But only on one condition.

MATT: What?

PIPER: You said you have to leave when this is all said and done, which means that you can’t try to resume your relationship with Prue. You’ve already hurt her once, and I won’t help you if you plan on hurting her again. She can’t handle that a third time.

(Silence.)

MATT: I know. (He rakes his hand through his dark hair.) I hadn’t planned on hurting her again in the first place, and I know it was wrong to use her to get into your inner circle, and I have no intention of repeating that mistake.

(A swirl of lavender smoke rises into the air, catching the corner of MELINDA’s eye. She hurriedly looks to PIPER.)

MELINDA: I have to go now.

PIPER: But-

MELINDA: I’m sorry. (She steps back into the circle of candles as the flames resume their dark violet color.) Blessed be, my daughter.

(Another white blinding flash erupts from the circle. As the light fades, MELINDA is gone and the candles are extinguished. MATT and PIPER barely have time to look at each other before The Book of Shadows suddenly flies open again with a loud smack. PIPER hurries over to The Book and looks down at the page which reveals a misty white blur.)

PIPER: “Phantasms.”

BREAK

[Drama]

Act Three

[Scene: Manor. Attic. MATT’s eyes get wide as he peers over PIPER’s shoulder at the misty drawing.]

MATT: That’s what I came to the club for! (He stabs his finger to the drawing of the phantasm.)

PIPER: “Destructive ghost-like beings who are made of dark psychic energy. They seek out individuals with that give off dark auras and possess them, enhancing the possessed’s already destructive nature.” (MATT nods his head rapidly. PIPER draws her index finger down the page.) But it says that these creatures were supposed to be banished to their own realm.

MATT: I don’t know how, but one is wrecking havoc downtown. I didn’t realize it at first, but I think it’s been growing stronger for several months, because that’s when the most recent crime spree began and has been picking up speed ever since.

(PIPER turns the page, which the entry is continued on the back. She studies it and then looks up with a frown on her face.)

PIPER: You’ve got to be kidding me…

MATT: What?

(PIPER points to the end of the entry.)

MATT: “A phantasm can only be disposed of through a magick wand.” (He sniggers.)

PIPER: “A white crystal wand, enchanted with jasmine oil and the following spell.” (She looks at MATT with a very un-amused expression.)

MATT: Well, what are you waiting for, Hermione? We’ve got a job to do!

[Scene: Downtown San Francisco. Alley. DARRYL MORRIS and PRUE are talking as the purse thief is wheeled onto an ambulance.]

DARRYL: I always look forward to these moments we, so often, share together, Prue.

(PRIE glares.)

PRUE: Well, it’s not like I plan these things, Darryl. I was trying to head back to work when I saw that guy snatch this woman’s purse and-

DARRYL: Being you, (he nods) you had to do the right thing.

(PRUE folds her arms.)

PRUE: Look, I chased after him, he pulled a gun, fired, and it ricocheted. (DARRYL lifts a questioning eyebrow.) Officially.

DARRYL: And unofficially?

PRUE: And unofficially, I need to call my sisters.

DARRYL: I had a feeling. (He scribbles something onto his notepad.) You wouldn’t happen to know if this is connected to the crime rash we’ve had, would you?

PRUE: Crime rash?

DARRYL: It’s all over the news.

PRUE: Oh, that. (She shakes her head.) To tell you the truth, I hadn’t really given it much thought. I mean, this is San Francisco.

DARRYL: You say that like we’re Los Angeles.

PRUE: You know what I mean. (She looks at her watch.) Are we done? I really need to get home so I can figure out what that thing was.

(DARRYL nods.)

DARRYL: If you find anything-

(PRUE nods.)

PRUE: As always.

DARRYL: Thanks.

(PRUE leaves.)

[Scene: Mystickal. PIPER and MATT walk in. A bell jingles above their heads. SAMANTHA FINN walks out from behind the counter.]

SAMANTHA: Piper!

(PIPER smiles.)

PIPER: Sam, how have you been doing?

(SAMANTHA nods.)

SAMANTHA: I’ve been wondering when you or your sisters would stop by.

PIPER: We’ve been pretty busy. (SAMANTHA nods.) The shop looks good.

SAMANTHA: (quietly) Thanks. (pause) For a while after…after Tabby’s funeral, I really wrestled with selling it, but…I know she wouldn’t have wanted me to.

(PIPER places a comforting hand on SAMANTHA’s shoulder.)

PIPER: I’m glad you didn’t.

(SAMANTHA smiles weakly.)

SAMANTHA: What did you come by for?

(PIPER and MATT exchange looks.)

PIPER: You don’t carry…wands, do you?

(SAMANTHA smiles a little.)

SAMANTHA: You say that like they’re a bad thing. (She waves them on.) Right this way.

PIPER: Well it’s not for me-

MATT: You don’t need to qualify it, Piper.

SAMANTHA: Might I ask what is it for? (PIPER bites her lip.) Well, it would just help me in getting what you’re looking for, but if you can’t, then that’s fine too.

MATT: We just need one made of white crystal.

SAMANTHA: White crystal… (They head to the back of the shop and stop at a small display case, which is filled with all different styles of wands. SAMANTHA pulls a key from her pocket and opens the case, gesturing to a small assortment of white crystal wands.) Like that?

PIPER: I guess. (She reaches to grab one, but SAMANTHA stops her.)

SAMANTHA: Wands are tricky, you should know precisely what you’re looking for.

PIPER: How tricky can they be?

SAMANTHA: You know that wands aren’t found in some of the most famous stories of all time just because they’re fun to wave around, don’t you? (She folds her arms.) A majority of modern witches don’t use them, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t powerful devices.

MATT: What do you mean?

SAMANTHA: Their main purpose is to direct magical energies.

PIPER: (to MATT) Well that would make sense, then.

SAMANTHA: Okay, lets try it this way. What can you tell me about what you need a wand for?

MATT: You might say we have a bit of a problem with bad psychic energy.

(SAMANTHA slowly nods her head. She studies the wands for a moment, and then collects a smooth wand that is noticeably longer than the others.)

SAMANTHA: This wand is made of a mixture of quartz crystal and white amazonite, the latter of which is specifically used for dispelling negative energy. (She places the wand in PIPER’s hand. PIPER runs her fingers over it.)

PIPER: How much is it?

(SAMANTHA shakes her head.)

SAMANTHA: It’s a gift.

PIPER: (surprised) Are you sure?

SAMANTHA: Absolutely. You and your sisters saved my life, it’s the least I can do.

PIPER: Thank you.

[Scene: An outside café. PAIGE and HENRY are sitting at a table. HENRY takes a sip from the coffee cup in his hands.]

HENRY: I don’t understand, Paige. Things were going so well and then you just…it was like the life was just sucked out of you or something. (PAIGE absently drags her index finger across the surface of the table. HENRY places his hand on hers.) Have I done something to upset you? Offend you?

(PAIGE shakes her head.)

PAIGE: It’s nothing like that. You’ve been wonderful.

HENRY: So, what’s the matter? (He frowns.) Where’s the fun, sexy little black dressing wearing Paige Matthews that I used to know?

PAIGE: I don’t know how to-

(A woman’s scream cuts through the air, causing everyone at the café and everywhere else nearby to turn in the direction of the noise. In the middle of the street, a little girl is staring bug eyed as a tan colored car tries to break, leaving skid marks behind, but there just isn’t time. The LITTLE GIRL falls to the ground as the car comes to a screeching stop and the GIRL’s MOTHER runs into the street. PAIGE also jumps to her feet, running towards the growing crowd, with HENRY at her heels. HENRY starts to pull out his cell phone as they reach the accident, only for a MAN who’s kneeling next to the child, checking her pulse, to look up at the GIRL’s MOTHER and shake his head. The GIRL’s MOTHER screams and drops to her knees.)

GIRL’s MOTHER: No! No! (She pulls the little girl’s limp body into her lap, sobbing. PAIGE places her hand to her mouth and then feels HENRY’s hand on her shoulder. She starts to shake her head.)

PAIGE: No… (PAIGE closes her eyes.) Work…work…

HENRY: (concerned) Paige? (PAIGE slightly begins to rock back and forth, shaking her head.) Pa-

(Suddenly, HENRY’s mouth slows to a stop, as does the entire scene around PAIGE. Then, all at once, everything begins to move rapidly in reverse. The GIRL’s MOTHER stands up, HENRY’s hand moves away from PAIGE’s shoulder, the crowd disperses, the car backs up, PAIGE and HENRY move back to their seats at the café table and then everything slows and begins to happen at a normal pace again.)

HENRY: So, what’s the matter? (He frowns.) Where’s the fun, sexy little black dressing wearing-

(PAIGE jumps up from her seat, turning her head towards the street. She sees the LITTLE GIRL and the GIRL’s MOTHER at the crosswalk. Suddenly, the LITTLE GIRL breaks free of her mother’s hand and begins running across the street. PAIGE starts to run towards the street, just as the tan car barrels around the corner. The GIRL’s MOTHER screams as the LITTLE GIRL freezes in the dead center of the street, staring bug eyed as the car heads towards her. PAIGE dives at the LITTLE GIRL, knocking her out of the way, causing the car to collide with PAIGE. PAIGE falls to the ground, unmoving. HENRY runs into the street as a crowd starts to assemble around the accident. The LITTLE GIRL is crying as her mother helps her up, hugging her. A MAN kneels next to PAIGE and checks her pulse.)

GIRL’s MOTHER: I-is she alright? (She hugs her daughter.)

MAN: We need to call an ambulance!

(HENRY drops to his knees beside PAIGE, lightly touching her face.)

HENRY: They’re already on their way! (He takes PAIGE’s hand.) Don’t worry, you’re going to be just fine!

BREAK

[Drama]

Act Four

[Scene: Psychologist’s office. Bathroom. PHOEBE is rubbing her soapy hands under hot water, but her eyes are focused on her reflection in the mirror. She has a faraway look in her eyes, almost appearing ignorant of her surroundings until a tall figure materializes behind her. PHOEBE emits a short scream, surprising even herself at being caught so off guard. COLE holds up his hands.]

COLE: It’s just me!

(PHOEBE spins around.)

PHOEBE: Cole! (She narrows her eyes.) What’re you doing here? (She suddenly glares.) I thought we already discussed this, when I’m ready-

(COLE shakes his head.)

COLE: That’s not why I’m here! (He strides over to the sink.) You need to leave.

PHOEBE: What? Why? I can’t just leave, I’m at work!

(A loud knock is heard at the bathroom door.)

LAURA’s VOICE: Phoebe?

(PHOEBE holds up a silencing finger.)

PHOEBE: Yeah?

LAURA’s VOICE: Are you alright in there? (pause) I thought I heard you scream.

PHOEBE: Uh…yeah, fine! I just…accidentally burnt myself, that’s all.

(Pause.)

LAURA’s VOICE: Well, okay…

(PHOEBE and COLE wait a moment, then they hear the sound of footsteps walk away from the door.)

COLE: (quietly) We, Leo and I, haven’t been able to get a hold of your sisters; Prue’s work said she was out, and Monica said Piper hadn’t been there since she arrived-

PHOEBE: (hushed) Is there a demon?

COLE: No, the Bay General called Leo and Piper’s place because it was second on Paige’s contact list-

PHOEBE: Paige?

COLE: Yes, she’s in the hospital. Leo’s there now, trying to find out more. From what they said on the phone, she was hit dead on by a car.

(PHOEBE gasps.)

PHOEBE: How bad is it?

(COLE shakes his head.)

COLE: I don’t know. Leo just sent me to find you, because you were the only one who he sense wasn’t in a place that was unsafe to shimmer into.

(PHOEBE nods nervously.)

PHOEBE: Okay, okay, I’ll…think of something. Wait for me by my car.

(COLE nods. They share a heated look for a moment, then COLE shimmers out. PHOEBE quickly dries her hands and walks out of the bathroom, taking deep breaths. She walks over to the front desk, digs her purse out from under it, and pulls out her cell phone. After a deep breath, she hurries over to LAURA’s office and knocks.)

LAURA’s VOICE: Come in. (PHOEBE pokes her head in to find LAURA looking a little surprised that she knocked.) Phoebe?

(PHOEBE holds up her cell phone, her face looking a little pale.)

PHOEBE: Uhm…I just got a message that my sister’s in the hospital-

(LAURA’s face transforms into surprise.)

LAURA: The one who is having the baby?

(PHOEBE shakes her head.)

PHOEBE: No, my younger sister, Paige. She was hit by a car from what I was told, and they want me down there as fast as possible… (She bites her lip nervously. LAURA nods.)

LAURA: Of course! (She motions her hand.) Go! I hope she’s alright.

(PHOEBE smiles gratefully.)

PHOEBE: Thank you so much! (She dashes out of the doorway, leaving LAURA to stare a little shocked.)

[Scene: Manor. Kitchen. PRUE walks in to find PIPER standing at the sink.]

PRUE: (surprised) Piper? (PIPER turns around.) What are you doing here? (She sniffs the air.) And is that…jasmine?

PIPER: Actually-

(MATT walks in. PRUE turns around and freezes. Her face grows dark.)

PRUE: How did you get in here?

PIPER: Prue-

PRUE: (to MATT) Get out. You’re not welcome here.

PIPER: Prue! (PRUE looks at PIPER.) He’s here to help me.

PRUE: Excuse me?

PIPER: Look, I know that he deserves no sympathy, (she sends MATT a dirty look) but he came to P3 today because of a magic related problem.

PRUE: Oh really? And just what kind of problem is it? This sounds more like another ploy to try and get back into our lives.

PIPER: Phantasms. They possess people and cause chaos.

PRUE: Possess people? (Her face hardens.) Do they look like ghosts?

PIPER: Yes, but they’re more of a haze. (PRUE taps her foot.) Look, we found out how to send a phantasm back to its own dimension, we just have to find it.

PRUE: What’s the spell?

(PIPER holds up the wand.)

PIPER: Actually, (she wrinkles her nose) we have to use this. I guess it acts as a portal to direct the dark energy back to the dimension it’s supposed to be trapped in.

(PRUE blinks.)

PRUE: And I thought our lives couldn’t get anymore cliché.

[Scene: Bay General. Waiting room. PHOEBE and COLE enter. PHOEBE spots LEO sitting on one of the waiting chairs. She runs over to him.]

PHOEBE: (exasperated) Leo! (LEO jumps up, looking mildly relieved that she’s there.) What is going on?

LEO: All they’ve told me is that they’re still running tests. (He glances at COLE.) I don’t think it’s life threatening, otherwise I would’ve felt it, but I also not sure-

HENRY’s VOICE: Phoebe!

(PHOEBE spins around, surprised.)

PHOEBE: Henry?

HENRY: When did you get here? (He’s holding two hospital coffees, one of which he hands to LEO.)

LEO: (to HENRY) Thanks.

PHOEBE: Just now, I got a message from Cole…when did you get here?

HENRY: I was with her when it happened. (The four of them start to sit down.) She saved this little girl- (His arm brushes PHOEBE’s and PHOEBE freezes up.)

[Premonition: The front of a building with the sign “Electronics, Inc.” flashes into view. Inside the store, a small television is broadcasting the news as customers are lying low on the floor with their arms over their heads as a man dressed in black points his gun at a young cashier who is also cowering on the floor. A loud bang sounds as the gun goes off and the bullet whizzes towards its victim.]

[Cut back to the present. PHOEBE opens her eyes to find COLE with his hands on her shoulders.]

COLE: Phoebe?

PHOEBE: I’m going to try and go get a hold of Prue and Piper.

(LEO nods.)

LEO: I’ll stay here with Henry and wait for the doctor’s news.

(PHOEBE and COLE quickly leave the hospital, and as soon as they’re outside, they stop in the parking lot.)

COLE: What was it?

(PHOEBE places a finger to her temple.)

PHOEBE: I don’t get it, it was a-a…robbery. (She stares at COLE.) But it was triggered by Henry.

COLE: A robbery where?

(PHOEBE squints her eyes.)

PHOEBE: An electronics shop…uhm…Electronics, Inc. I think. (She rubs her fingers together.) Take me to the Manor, I’ll see if I can find directions online. (COLE takes PHOEBE's arm; they duck behind a silver car, and shimmer out.)

[Scene: Manor. Kitchen. The ending of a chant can be heard as MAT walks in.]

PRUE & PIPER: “…blessing be.”

(MATT sees the crystal wand, the base of which is being held in PIPER’s hand and the tip of which is being held in PRUE’s hand, glow a pulsing white color. He squints a little before the bright line fades back into the wand.)

MATT: Did you both bless it?

PIPER: The stronger the better, right?

PRUE: Now we just have to figure out where this thing is.

PIPER: Too bad Phoebe’s not here. (Footsteps sound from upstairs. PIPER and PRUE exchange looks.) Hey, maybe that’s our little possessor now?

PRUE: Somehow, I doubt we’re that lucky. (She takes the wand.) But I bet it’s a demon, nonetheless. (She starts to head out and PIPER follows. PRUE spins around.) Stay here with Matt. (PIPER opens her mouth, but PRUE holds up her finger in a motherly fashion.) I’ll be right back. (She walks out. MATT and PIPER exchange skeptical looks, then they both follow after PRUE.)

[Cut to Phoebe’s bedroom. COLE is watching PHOEBE as she hovers over her desk, typing rapidly on the keys of her laptop. She taps her finger impatiently.]

[Cut to the hallway. PRUE peers into PAIGE’s room, holding the white wand out in front of her as she does so. She sees nothing and then proceeds down the hallway. Her icy blue eyes land on PHOEBE’s door, which is closed. She eyes it suspiciously and then begins to move towards it with an outstretched hand.]

[Cut to Phoebe. Her eyes light up as she jabs at the screen.]

COLE: You found it?

(PHOEBE eagerly nods as she moves her mouse to the little icon of a printer and clicks it. As she does, the door suddenly bursts in and COLE is sent flying off his feet.)

BREAK

[Drama]

Act Five

[Scene: Manor. Phoebe’s bedroom. PRUE is standing in the doorway with her arm out, while COLE is collecting himself from the floor. PHOEBE’s jaw is wide open.]

PHOEBE: What the hell was that for?

(PRUE raises her hands.)

PRUE: I thought you were a demon! (She eyes COLE, who eyes her back. PHOEBE gives PRUE a nasty look.)

PHOEBE: What are you even doing here? I thought you were at work?

PRUE: The phantasm.

PHOEBE: What’s a phantasm?

MATT’s VOICE: We should really just get everyone into the room at the same time so we don’t have to keep explaining this.

(PRUE and PHOEBE whip their heads around to see MATT and PIPER peeking inside.)

PHOEBE: (to PRUE) What’s going on?

PRUE: I’ve been asking myself the same thing.

(COLE comes up behind PHOEBE.)

PIPER: (to PHOEBE) What are you doing here?

PHOEBE: I got a premonition off Henry and-

PRUE & PIPER: Henry?

PHOEBE: Yeah, at the hospital- (She blinks.) Wait a minute, you don’t know!

PIPER: Apparently not, and now I’m getting a little worried.

PRUE: What don’t we know about?

COLE: That your sister’s in the hospital.

PRUE & PIPER: What?!

PHOEBE: (to COLE) I thought you said Leo couldn’t get a hold of them?

COLE: At the time, he couldn’t!

MATT: Whoa! (He raises his arms and the room goes silent.) I think you’ve all got too much information flying back and forth right now and nobody’s keeping up.

PHOEBE: (nastily) Ya think?

(PIPER snaps her fingers.)

PIPER: Phoebe! (She takes a cleansing breath.) Is Paige okay?

PHOEBE: We think so. Leo and Henry are waiting there for news.

(PIPER nods.)

PIPER: We need to divide and conquer then, and to do that, we need to fill you in on the phantasm.

[Time lapse. The three sisters, MATT, and COLE are gathered in the attic.]

PHOEBE: A wand, that’s all? (PRUE nods.) That seems like a joke. (She holds out her hand.) Can I see it? (As PRUE places the wand into PHOEBE’s palm, the latter goes rigid again.)

[Premonition: As COLE leads PHOEBE through a closing purple triquetra portal leading out of an endless black dimension, a small white wisp snakes through as well.

A series of possessions and crimes flashes in rapid succession before the images slow to reveal the white wisp possessing the Robber from PHOEBE’s vision at Electronics, Inc.]

[Cut back to the present. PHOEBE's hand reflexively lets go of the wand and in a lightning quick motion, COLE snags it as it falls towards the floor. As PHOEBE revels from her vision, she turns to the pedestal beside her and taps the picture of the phantasm with her finger.]

PHOEBE: There really are no coincidences, are there? (She turns towards four expectant pairs of eyes.) You’ll never guess where our little phantasm came from.

(PIPER lifts her brows.)

PHOEBE: Remember our encounter with Tall Man? (PRUE and PIPER nod.) And remember the dimension I told you that I was sent too?

(PIPER nods.)

PIPER: It was some kind of psychic-

(PRUE’s jaw drops.)

PRUE: Psychic dimension! (She slaps her hand on pedestal.) Don’t tell me, that was the Phantasm’s dimension and one escaped through the portal we used to free you?

PHOEBE: And has been merrily possessing San Francisco criminals ever since. (She wags her finger.) But that’s not even the best part. See, my electronics robber is also possessed by our wispy little friend.

PRUE: (dryly) Fantastic.

PHOEBE: And you what the best part is? (She folds her arms.) The shop was chalk full of innocents!

PIPER: Well I could just-

(PRUE shakes her head.)

PRUE: I know that you want to help, Piper, but you can’t control the baby’s powers.

(PIPER taps her shoe.)

PHOEBE: Boy, I miss having that power handy, I never realized how much we really relied on it.

PIPER: (muttering) Tell me about it.

MATT: What if you used a sleep potion? (The sisters and COLE give him their attention.) It would put the entire shop to sleep, so no exposure.

PIPER: That could work.

PRUE: (bitterly) If we have time to make it.

(PIPER looks at her watch.)

PIPER: Pheebs, you said your premonition took place about dusk, right?

PHOEBE: Well, I think so. I saw a glimpse of the outside of the shop, the sky looked like it was just beginning to turn dark, so I think around dusk. (pause) Wait… (She starts to nod her head.) Wait, wait, wait! A television was also on inside the store in my premonition!

PIPER: And…

PHOEBE: And the news was on!

COLE: The five o’ clock news?

(PHOEBE nods.)

PIPER: Are you sure?

PHOEBE: Absolutely! It was with that new newswoman, Lisa Lister.

PIPER: If we start the sleep potion now, we just might be able to make it!

PHOEBE: Then lets hurry, shall we? (They all leave, except PHOEBE and COLE who are behind.)

COLE: Phoebe.

(PHOEBE turns around. They look at each other and then PHOEBE looks away.)

PHOEBE: Do you think you can go fill Leo in on what’s going on, please?

(COLE sighs.)

COLE: (dejectedly) Sure. (He shimmers out. PHOEBE briefly closes her eyes and then leaves.)

[Scene: Bay General. Waiting room. A doctor approaches LEO and HENRY. LEO stands up.]

DOCTOR: Mr. Leo Wyatt? (LEO nods. He holds out his hand and LEO shakes it.) I’m Dr. Norton Denver, and I’ve been running the tests on your sister-in-law.

LEO: How is she doing? (DR. DENVER glances at HENRY, who is also listening attentively. LEO nods in approval.)

DR. DENVER: It looks as though she’ll be fine, but she has a concussion. Not serious, mind you, but I think that she will be out for quite a while.

HENRY: Can we see her?

(DR. DENVER gently nods.)

DR. DENVER: Right this way... (They follow DR. DENVER and disappear down one of the hallways as COLE walks through the electric doors.)

[Scene: Electronics, Inc. A dark haired man with dark sunglasses and a red handkerchief tied around his mouth is pointing a gun at the two cashiers. All of the customers are on the ground, cowering in fear.]

ROBBER: Hurry up!

(The ROBBER fires a warning shot into the ceiling and a cloud of plaster rains down. The FEMALE CASHIER screams and hurriedly begins stuffing more money into a brown bag as her male counterpart begins stuffing another bag with valuable handheld electronics.)

[Cut to outside. PRUE’s BMW X5 screeches to a halt at the curb. PRUE, PHOEBE, PIPER, and MATT clamber out.]

PRUE: (to PIPER) You stay here, we’ll be right back.

PIPER: Prue!

PHOEBE: Prue’s right, you’ve helped a lot, but the baby’s powers are still unpredictable, and we can’t risk you getting hurt.

(MATT and PIPER share a look, then PIPER nods.)

PIPER: Be careful. (She gets back into the car. PRUE looks up and down the street.)

PRUE: Which way?

(A gun shot goes off. PHOEBE points.)

PHOEBE: That way! (They take off down the sidewalk.)

[Cut back to the inside of Electronics, Inc. The cashiers hastily push their bags towards the robber. The ROBBER cackles as he collects them, then waves his gun.]

ROBBER: Get on the floor!

(The cashiers huddle on the floor, cowering with their hands over their heads. The ROBBER lazily twirls his gun around his finger, then he points and shoots a hole in the floor, right next to the MALE CASHIER’s head. The FEMALE CASHIER screams again. He aims the gun at the back of the FEMALE CASHIER’s head and squints his eye. Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass pieces the air. The ROBBER spins around to find a plum of smoke dissipating, revealing MATT, PRUE, and PHOEBE in the doorway. As the smoke clears, the customers and cashiers begin to fall asleep. The ROBBER points his gun at PRUE, but she squints her eyes and it flies out of his hand.)

PHOEBE: Matt, now!

(A throwing star materializes in MATT’s hand and he hurls it at the ROBBER. The ROBBER swerves, dropping his bags in the processes, but the throwing star grazes his arm, producing a bloody slice. PRUE jerks the wand out of her sleeve and points it at the ROBBER. The ROBBER begins to scream and shake.)

ROBBER: (garbled) Noo!

(The ROBBER withers to the ground as the phantasm escapes his body. The wand in PRUE’s hand begins to glow a hot white as the phantasm is sucked towards it, struggling fiercely, and finally is pulled inside with a loud pop!)

PHOEBE: Well, that was easier than I expected.

(PRUE holds up the wand with a smirk on her face.)

PRUE: As easy as “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!”

BREAK

[Drama]

Act Six

[Scene: P3. A thin layer of water is covering the dance floor. A bright yellow mop bucket is near the bar and MONICA SINCLAIR is sliding a mop back and forth over the water. PIPER is standing next to her. MONICA looks up with an amused expression.]

MONICA: Look, I’ve got it from here! (She wiggles her fingers in the direction of the door.) Go check on your sister!

(PIPER smiles.)

PIPER: You’re the best, Monica!

(MONICA beams.)

MONICA: I like to think so. (She drops the mop into the bucket and begins to wring out the water.) Now go, before I have to use force!

(PIPER gives her a grateful wave and then hurries up the stairs, leaving a small trail of wet shoe prints behind, and leaves through the front doors. As she heads for her green jeep, she notices a silver Toyota Corolla parked beside hers. On cue, MATT pops out of the car as she walks up. PIPER taps her foot.)

PIPER: What are you doing here?

MATT: I just wanted to thank for your help yesterday.

PIPER: In other words, you’re just kissing up to me for keeping your secret?

(MATT smiles sheepishly.)

MATT: That too.

PIPER: Well, you shouldn’t be thanking me, you should be thanking Melinda.

(MATT nods.)

MATT: I’ll make a point to do that too.

(PIPER looks at her watch.)

PIPER: There isn’t anything else, is there? I’m heading off to check on Paige right now.

(MATT shakes his head.)

MATT: I guess I’ll see you later, then?

(PIPER nods as she opens the door to her car. Her eyes linger on him as he climbs into his own car until the sound of him shutting his door snaps her back to reality. She starts her car and pulls out, only to see MATT wave from her rearview mirror.)

[Scene: Piper and Leo’s house. Garage. LEO is once again sitting at his work bench with plastic goggles on. This time, however, he has a hammer in hand and he’s smacking it down on a nail. After several moments, he sets the hammer to the right and removes his goggles. He wipes a few beads of sweat from his hairline and then steps back, admiring the framework of the wooden dresser that he’s finally put together.]

[Scene: 415 Magazine. Prue’s office. NATALIA JAX walks in, carrying a box of pizza. PRUE looks up from her desk.]

PRUE: Oooh, I can already smell that from here.

NATALIA: Straight from the parlor. (She sets it on the corner of PRUE’s desk, places two paper plates down, and puts a piece of hot pepperoni pizza on each one.)

PRUE: You are too wonderful.

(NATALIA waves her hand.)

NATALIA: Well, you did pick up those incredible subs yesterday, I had to return the favor.

PRUE: I think you already did when you covered for me with Rupert. (She takes a bite of pizza. NATALIA shrugs.)

NATALIA: It was nothing. (She rips open a packet of parmesan cheese.) How is your sister doing, by the way?

PRUE: She still wasn’t awake when I had to leave last night, but that’s where I’m headed straight after I get off..

(NATALIA smiles.)

NATALIA: I’m sure she’ll be fine. If she’s anything like you, she’s a trooper – takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’.

PRUE: Yeah, that’s Paige…it’s a bit of a Halliwell trait, you might say.

[Scene: Mausoleum. PHOEBE is pacing back and forth across the dirt covered stone floor, creating awful scuffling sounds with her shoes. She suddenly turns towards BENJAMIN TURNER’s coffin and stares at it for several seconds.]

COLE’s VOICE: Phoebe?

(PHOEBE spins around to see COLE standing on the steps.)

PHOEBE: (quietly) Hi.

COLE: You wanted to see me?

(PHOEBE nods. She drifts over to him.)

PHOEBE: I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, Cole. (She closes her eyes.) I think you already know that your – question – came as quite a shock to me. And I do know where it came from, I really do. (She cups one of his hands between hers.) And I love you too, more than you could know.

COLE: But?

(PHOEBE looks at her feet.)

PHOEBE: But…I just…it’s not right yet. As much as I love you, I’m just not ready for that kind of commitment yet. (She lifts her eyes, now wet, to meet his.) Do you understand?

(COLE merely nods.)

COLE: And I’m willing to wait, Phoebe. Until you do feel ready.

(PHOEBE's lip quivers. She nods, folds his hand and pushes it back to him, and then quickly brushes past him and up the stairs. COLE opens his hand to see his diamond engagement ring in his palm. The sound of PHOEBE’s footsteps grow quieter and quieter until they finally disappear, leaving him completely alone in the mausoleum.)

[Scene: Bay General. Paige’s room. HENRY is hunched over in the chair next to her head. PAIGE wakes up and blearily blinks her eyes.]

PAIGE: Henry?

(HENRY tiredly lifts his head.)

HENRY: Hey! (He smiles.) How are you feeling?

PAIGE: (grumpily) Sore.

(HENRY reaches out and takes her hand.)

HENRY: I’m glad you’re okay.

(PAIGE vaguely nods.)

PAIGE: Is that little girl okay?

HENRY: Other than a nasty scrape on her knee, she’s fine. (PAIGE smiles.) What you did back there, it was amazing. Almost like you knew the car was coming.

(PAIGE bites her lip.)

PAIGE: I saw her and I just…got this terrible gut feeling, you know?

(HENRY nods.)

HENRY: The important thing is that everyone’s okay.

PAIGE: How long have I been out?

(HENRY looks at his watch.)

HENRY: About twelve hours.

(PAIGE blinks.)

PAIGE: It’s already Thursday?!

(HENRY nods.)

HENRY: Your sisters came to see you last night, but Phoebe and Prue had to leave though.

PAIGE: And Piper?

HENRY: She spent the night, but got some urgent call from her manager at P3. A major pipe burst or something and there was minor flooding. She had wanted to stay, but I told her that she should probably go, and I’d call her when you woke up. (He shrugs.) The doctor said you’d probably be out for a while, but there was no serious damage. (He reaches for his cell phone on the bedside table.) Speaking of, I should probably let her know. (He flips his cell phone open and begins to dial when the sound of a knock is heard on the door. PAIGE and HENRY look to the doorway.)

PAIGE: Glenn! (HENRY notices PAIGE’s eyes light up.)

GLENN: Hey, how are you? (A smile blooms on PAIGE’s face as GLENN BELLAND walks in, with one hand behind his back)

PAIGE: I’m-I’m fine! (She sits up.) How did you know I was here?

GLENN: I called your house this morning when you didn’t answer your cell and Phoebe told me what’d happened. (He walks over to the bed and pulls his hand out from behind his back, revealing a bouquet of purple tulips.) I brought you your favorite. (He hands them to PAIGE and she eagerly takes them, grinning.)

PAIGE: They’re gorgeous! (HENRY stares at the pair and then clears his throat. PAIGE jumps.) Oh, uhm… (Her cheeks turn red.) Henry, this is my best friend, Glenn. Glenn, this is my-

HENRY: Boyfriend. (He forcefully holds out his hand.) Henry Mitchell.

(GLENN shakes HENRY’s hand, nodding.)

GLENN: Henry. (pause) Paige’s mentioned you a couple times.

HENRY: Really? (He glances at PAIGE.) She hasn’t mentioned you before.

(GLENN takes his hand back.)

GLENN: Oh…Well, (he turns to PAIGE) I just dropped by to see how you were doing. I’ve actually got a lunch date that I can’t miss, so I guess I’ll see you (he eyes HENRY briefly) later.

(PAIGE nods.)

PAIGE: Thanks for coming by.

GLENN: Sure. (He grabs her hand quickly and squeezes.) Make sure to get out of here soon, alright? I’ll take you out for some real food because I’m sure you’ll be starved. (He winks. PAIGE grins and he makes his way to the door. He glances back at HENRY.) It was nice to meet you.

HENRY: Likewise. (GLENN leaves. An awkward silence hangs in the air. HENRY sits back down. His eyes linger on the purple tulips in PAIGE’s hands.)

[Drama]

End Credits

Co-Starring
Poppy Montgumery --- Dr. Laura Brenton
Jennifer Badger --- Monica Sinclair
Rebekah Montgomery --- Samantha Finn
Kristi Evans --- Natalia Jax
Ewan Chung --- Dr. Norton Denver

Featuring
Henry Thomas --- Thief
Susan Sullivan --- Girl's Mother
Sammi Hanratty --- Little Girl
Will Collyer --- Man

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