5x11: The Unborn Identity

[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.

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.

5.11 THE UNBORN IDENTITY

GUEST-STARRING:
KRISTA ALLEN
JAMES READ
ALISEN DOWN
EMMANUELLE VAUGIER
BILLY ZANE
KRISTEN ARIZA
VICTOR WEBSTER
RACHEL DAVID

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...Stuart Gillard

[The Virtual Series]

The Unborn Identity

Teaser

[Scene: Downtown San Francisco. Bus stop. PRUE HALLIWELL and MATT CAPIELLO are seated on a bench, with a few other scattered people nearby. PRUE has a sour look on her face as she keeps looking at her watch.]

MATT: Would you stop that, please?

PRUE: I just want to get this over with.

MATT: Why are you so angry?

(PRUE snorts.)

PRUE: I’m perfectly capable of doing this on my own, thank you. (She looks at her watch again.) I have been doing this for five years; far longer than I’ve known you.

MATT: Piper only thought-

PRUE: Piper was only being Piper. She gets worried, that’s just her. But it doesn’t mean I actually needed someone to babysit me during a demon vanquish. (She looks at her watch again.) What the hell is taking them so long?

[Cut to a café across the street. A young woman, DAKOTA, is sitting under a pink and red umbrella, staring blankly at the table as she drinks her coffee. A few tables away, a young man, STAN, keeps looking up from his morning paper and eyeing DAKOTA. Behind him, a sharply defined, dark haired man in a gray suit turns around and also eyes the young woman at the table. He suddenly holds up his hand, revealing a large ring, which begins to glow red and everything around him begins to move in slow motion.]

CUPID: Stan, you’ve been watching Dakota for weeks. Just go over and talk to her. She needs someone to reach out to right now. (He gets up and walks over to DAKOTA.) And Dakota, you’ve known Stan a long time, so don’t feel embarrassed to open up to him. He just wants to help you.

(The ring stops glowing and everything clicks back to a normal speed. The CUPID smiles as STAN folds up his newspaper and walks over to DAKOTA’s table.)

STAN: Mind if I sit down?

(DAKOTA looks up and then smiles.)

DAKOTA: Stan! (She nods.) Of course.

(STAN sits down.)

STAN: I uh… (He rubs his fingers together nervously.) I saw you sitting over here alone and I just thought…are you doing alright? You haven’t really been yourself around the office lately.

(DAKOTA looks down at her hands.)

DAKOTA: It’s…kind of a long story.

(STAN reaches out and lightly touches her hand.)

STAN: I’ve got time.

DAKOTA: Well…

(The CUPID grins and starts to walk away.)

[Cut back to Prue and Matt. A demon shimmers in near one of the empty tables and begins to follow the CUPID. MATT pats PRUE’s arm.]

MATT: I think we’ve got something.

[Cut to the dumpsters behind the café. A loud crash sounds as the CUPID lands on top of one of the trashcan lids. The demon from the café advances on him. The CUPID holds up his hands.]

CUPID: Please, I haven’t done anything-

DEMON: Just doin’ m’ job. (He conjures an energy ball and hurls it towards the CUPID as PRUE and MATT run around the corner. PRUE waves her arm and the energy ball flies into a pile of wooden crates, blowing them up. The DEMON starts to shimmer out.)

MATT: Not so fast!

(MATT conjures a throwing star and hurls it at the demon, slicing through his arm and catching him by surprise. He yelps and cups his wound as PRUE eyes a broken metal bedpost and waves her hand, impaling the demon with it. He screams as he bursts into flames, leaving only a pile of ashes behind. PRUE hurries over to the CUPID and helps him off the dumpster.)

PRUE: Are you alright?

CUPID: Yeah. (He dusts himself off.) Thanks for that… (He narrows his eyes.) Prue?

PRUE: How did you know? (The CUPID holds up his hand, revealing his ring.) You’re a Cupid?

CUPID: The name’s Coop. (He holds out his hand and PRUE shakes it.) Nice to meet you.

MATT: Why was a demon after you?

(COOP shrugs.)

COOP: I honestly couldn’t tell you. (He shrugs.) I’ve never seen him before. (PRUE and MATT share a look. COOP's ring glows.)

PRUE: (to MATT) We should go. (She turns back to COOP.) Look, if there are anymore attacks-

COOP: I know exactly where to find you. (PRUE and MATT turn to leave.) Just one question, though.

(PRUE and MATT look back.)

MATT: Yeah?

COOP: Why aren’t you two together?

PRUE: What?

COOP: You know, (he waves his ring hand) a couple?

(PRUE and MATT stare at each other.)

PRUE & MATT: It’s complicated!

COOP: I see…

PRUE: (awkwardly) I really have to go. (She starts to leave. MATT shrugs and turns to follow her. As they round the corner, COOP holds up his hand and his ring begins to glow.)

[Time lapse. The alarm clock is blaring in MATT’s bedroom. MATT slowly opens his eyes and sits up. As he looks around, he sees clothes strewn about the room.]

PRUE’s VOICE: What have we done?

(MATT looks back to see PRUE sit up in bed next to him, pulling the crimson sheet up around herself.)

Clickable Credits.

[The Virtual Series]

{SCENE: The song “I’m Still Here,” written by Matthew Scannell and sung by Vertical Horizon, is heard as stock shots of San Francisco are shown while the Guest Credits are rolled.}

Act One

[Scene: Manor. Living room. PAIGE MATTHEWS walks in to find PHOEBE HALLIWELL strewn out of the sofa, with a blanket on top of her and an open book faced down on the floor next to the sofa. PAIGE walks over to PHOEBE and gently shakes her.]

PAIGE: Pheebs, hey, it’s time to wake up!

(PHOEBE groans and opens her eyes.)

PHOEBE: (muttering) What time is it?

PAIGE: About nine. (PHOEBE scoots over and PAIGE takes a seat next to her.) Did Prue ever come home?

PHOEBE: She’s not in her room?

PAIGE: No.

(PHOEBE rubs her eyes.)

PAIGE: When was the last time you heard from her?

PHOEBE: When I called her up from work to tell her about my premonition of that man being attacked. (She blinks her sleepy eyes.) She was at Piper’s and…she just said that she’d take care of it.

PAIGE: Do you think- (There’s a slam of the front doors. PAIGE and PHOEBE exchange looks and then they hop up.)

[Cut to the entry way. PRUE is making her way towards the stairs as PHOEBE and PAIGE walk in.]

PHOEBE: Where have you been?

PRUE: I don’t want to talk about it-

PHOEBE: I was up all night waiting for you!

PRUE: Well you should’ve known-

PHOEBE: Known what? That my sister was out all night and for all I knew, a demon could’ve killed her? Prue, you didn’t even call!

PRUE: It’s complicated!

PHOEBE: What’s so complicated about calling to let us known you’re okay?

PRUE: I slept with Matt! (Silence. PHOEBE and PAIGE exchange shocked looks. PRUE runs up the stairs. PHOEBE starts to go after her, but PAIGE grabs her shoulder and pulls her back.)

PAIGE: Now is probably not a good time. (She turns PHOEBE in the direction of the kitchen.) Why don’t you go grab breakfast and I’ll go see if I can talk with Prue?

PHOEBE: But-

PAIGE: You just had a blowout with her, so it’s probably better if each of you has time to cool down a bit.

(PHOEBE slumps her shoulder.)

PHOEBE: Good luck with that. (She shuffles off towards the kitchen. PAIGE gazes up the stairs.)

PAIGE: I think I’m gonna need it. (She heads up stairs.)

[Scene: Piper and Leo’s house. Master bedroom. PIPER HALLIWELL is sitting cross legged on the bed with a lacy pink book in her hands, some pictures spread out around her, and a bottle of glue on the dresser by the bed. There’s a knock and PIPER looks up.]

PIPER: Come in! (The door opens and VICTOR BENNETT pokes his head in.) Dad! (She starts to get up, but VICTOR holds up his hand.)

VICTOR: I didn’t mean to interrupt. (He walks over and takes a seat on the edge of the bed.) I just wanted to drop in and see how you were doing.

(PIPER rolls her eyes.)

PIPER: Achy and tired?

VICTOR: You sound like your mother. (PIPER laughs. VICTOR glances down at a picture that PIPER was gluing to one of the pages of her book.) What’s this? (He picks up the book.)

PIPER: Oh, uh, it’s a baby book. I was putting it together for Melinda. (She smiles.) I’ve been going through some of our old photo albums this past month and I thought it might be special to put a few in the baby book.

(VICTOR studies the picture in the book, it’s one of PATTY and LITTLE PIPER. He lightly taps it with his finger.)

VICTOR: I remember when this was taken, you were about four or so, I think.

PIPER: There’s one of you and I on the page before that. (VICTOR turns the page and sees the picture of his younger self and LITTLE PIPER. VICTOR laughs.) What?

VICTOR: This was taken just after your mother convinced me to lose the sideburns.

(PIPER studies the picture, then studies VICTOR.)

PIPER: Just between you and me, I think Mom was right.

(VICTOR hands the baby book back to PIPER.)

VICTOR: She wasn’t right about everything. (PIPER looks down at the baby book.) So, do you know when my grandchild is due?

(PIPER rubs her belly.)

PIPER: Next week! (She rolls her eyes.) Providing she doesn’t take after Phoebe, of course.

VICTOR: Two weeks late, I know. (He laughs wistfully.) I remember your mother thinking that she was going to be pregnant forever. (pause) Phoebe never has been very prompt; I guess she takes after me in that respect.

PIPER: Unlike Prue-

VICTOR: Who arrived a week early. (He smiles.) That’s your sister, always going out of her way to take on the world. (pause) So, are you too busy to spare part of your morning with your dear old dad?

PIPER: What did you have in mind?

VICTOR: Breakfast?

PIPER: Ooh-

VICTOR: (disappointedly) You already ate?

PIPER: No, no…it’s just that, you’d be paying for three and the third (she touches her bulging belly) has inherited Phoebe’s appetite, so it’s really like, you know, four.

(VICTOR nods, pretending to think it over.)

VICTOR: I think I can handle the challenge.

PIPER: Well, in that case… (She pushes aside her baby book project and climbs off the bed.) I’m game.

[Scene: Manor. Prue’s bedroom. PAIGE orbs in. PRUE jumps up from her bed.]

PRUE: Paige!

PAIGE: Well, you wouldn’t open the door.

PRUE: For a reason! (She waves her arm angrily.) You can’t just use your powers to come in uninvited-

(PAIGE folds her arms.)

PAIGE: So, I guess this is one of those “do as I say, not as I do” moments? (PRUE glares. PAIGE saunters over to the bed and sits down.) Look, I’m not leaving until you talk to me.

(PRUE wrinkles her nose.)

PRUE: That’s supposed to be my line.

(PAIGE smirks.)

PAIGE: Quit changing the subject. (pause) What happened with Matt?

(PRUE falls back onto the bed.)

PRUE: I don’t know. (PAIGE quirks a brow.) Really, I don’t. First we’re saving Phoebe’s innocent from this petty little demon and the next thing I know, I’m waking up in his bed! (She pauses, then her eyes widen.)

PAIGE: What?

PRUE: Coop!

PAIGE: Who?

PRUE: The innocent! He was a Cupid-

PAIGE: A Cupid? As in the diaper and arrows?

PRUE: No! (She jumps to her feet.) Oh, he is so not getting away with this! (She hops off the bed, the door flies open, and she stomps towards the attic. PAIGE blinks and then gets up and follows.)

[Cut to the Underworld. Clouds swirl around an image of PRUE marching into the attic, causing it to disappear from THE QUEEN’s view in her crystal ball. THE QUEEN leans back in her throne.]

LILLITH’s VOICE: Did the attack go according to plan?

THE QUEEN: (bored) Yes. (She looks into the shadows to see LILLITH step out.)

LILLITH: Wonderful.

THE QUEEN: I’ve been playing by your rules for the last several months. (She strums her fingers.) When do I get the powers of the Twice Blessed?

LILLITH: You will get what’s coming to you in due time, I promise. (pause) Now, as for the Charmed Ones, you must lure them down to the Underworld to keep them from their sister.

(THE QUEEN snaps her fingers and a buff militaristic looking demon with dark skin, a bald head, sandy clothes, and large black boots appears. The SWARM KING instantly drops to his knees before THE QUEEN.)

THE QUEEN: I have a job for your army…

[Scene: Downtown San Francisco. Parking lot. PIPER and VICTOR are walking together.]

VICTOR: You’re going to love this place, I had a business breakfast here a few weeks ago and it was just amazing.

(PIPER rubs her stomach.)

PIPER: I hope they have good bacon, because someone suddenly has a craving for it.

(As they reach the sidewalk, a SWARM DEMON appears before them. He snarls as a fireball appears in his palm and he throws it PIPER. A bubble-like force field instantly appears around both PIPER and VICTOR, causing the fireball to hit it and bounce back at its attacker, vanquishing him. A moment later, the force field vanishes. VICTOR stares at the scorch mark on the pavement.)

VICTOR: What was that?

(Two more SWARM DEMONS appear. PIPER gulps.)

PIPER: Uh oh!

(As the SWARM DEMONS raise their fireballs, PIPER grabs VICTOR’s hand and they orb out. The fireballs fly through the orbs and hit a parked red convertible, smashing the windows and causing the alarm to go off. The SWARM DEMONS look at each other and then disappear.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Two

[Scene: Manor. Attic. Six lit candles, alternating red and pink, are set in the shape of a heart on the floor. PRUE and PAIGE are standing off to the side as a burst of red glitter deposits COOP in the center of the heart of candles. COOP looks around and notices PRUE. He smiles brightly, seeming to ignore the furious look on her face.]

COOP: Oh Prue! So good to see-

PRUE: How dare you!

(PAIGE bites her lip and shrugs her shoulders sympathetically.)

COOP: Did something go wrong with Matt?

PRUE: Yes, something went wrong! (She throws up her hands.) We weren’t supposed to sleep together!

COOP: I was just-

PRUE: I don’t care what you thought you were doing, you had no right to mess with our inhibitions!

(COOP raises his ring.)

COOP: If you haven’t noticed, I’m a Cupid, that’s what I do. (He steps out of the candles.) Demons coming after Cupids aren’t exactly your every day event, Prue. I figured that it meant you and Matt had been sent to me for a reason.

PRUE: We were just doing our jobs; that’s all.

(COOP nods.)

COOP: Well I apologize… (He stares at PRUE.) If your own will worked against my ring, then I guess it wasn’t meant to be after all. (He stares down at his ring.) That’s never happened before.

PRUE: Is there a way to fix it?

COOP: Fix it?

PRUE: Make him forget-

COOP: My ring doesn’t work that way. (He bows his head.) All I can promise is that I won’t interfere with you and him anymore. (PHOEBE, PIPER, and VICTOR suddenly burst through the door looking completely out of breath. COOP notices PHOEBE, who doesn’t seem to notice him. He looks back at PRUE.) I have to go. (COOP vanishes.)

PHOEBE: We’ve got a prob- (Four SWARM DEMONS appear.) Oh! (She levitates into the air, spin kicking the nearest demon in the chest and sending him sprawling onto his back.) Prue, Paige, a little help here!

(PRUE motions her arm and the SWARM DEMONS fly across the attic, falling into a heap near the wall. PHOEBE drops to her feet and takes a defensive position as the SWARM DEMON she attacked hurls a fireball in PIPER’s direction. PIPER throws up her hands instinctively and everyone but the four sisters freeze.)

PRUE: What the hell is going on?

PIPER: Dad and I were attacked by those things on our way to breakfast.

PHOEBE: Each time you kill one of them, two more seem to take its place.

(The Book of Shadows flips open. PAIGE walks over to The Book.)

PAIGE: “Swarm Demons.”

(PHOEBE nods.)

PHOEBE: Well, they are true to their name.

Paige: It says that they come from a Swarm King and the only way to vanquish the entire collective is to vanquish the King. (She taps the page.) It’s a Power of Three spell.

Prue: Alright, so we get Leo to stay with Piper and Dad and we go down there (she points to the floor) to vanquish this guy. (to PIPER) Sound good to you?

PIPER: Uh, sure… (She looks to her left where VICTOR is frozen.)

PRUE: (to PAIGE) Take them to Leo, Phoebe and I will take care of (she points to the frozen Swarm Demons) them.

PAIGE: They’ll only double if you vanquish them.

PHOEBE: Then we won’t vanquish them. (She walks over to a large chest and opens it. On top are five white crystals. She holds them up.) Crystal cage, anyone?

(PRUE smiles as PAIGE nods in approval. The latter walks over to PIPER and VICTOR.)

PAIGE: I’ll be back in a few. (She takes PIPER’s hand and places her free one on VICTOR’s frozen arm. They three orb out. PHOEBE heads over to the frozen SWARM DEMONS and begins to place the crystals around them.)

PHOEBE: Can you move that one (she points to the frozen SWARM DEMON lying in the center of the room) over here please? (PRUE flicks her finger and the SWARM DEMON slides across the floor and into the pile as PHOEBE puts the last crystal in place. At that moment, the SWARM DEMONS unfreeze and begin to lunge at the cage, only to be shocked back.) So, wanna tell me what happened with Matt now?

[Scene: Piper and Leo’s house. Living room. PAIGE, PIPER, and VICTOR orb in. VICTOR stumbles as he unfreezes. PIPER waves her hand.]

PIPER: It’s okay, Dad, we’re just at my place. (She looks around.) Leo!

(LEO WYATT walks in from the hallway.)

LEO: You’re back from breakfast already?

PIPER: Actually, we never really made it. (She shrugs.) Something called Swarm Demons attacked us and-

PAIGE: Now I’m dropping Piper and Victor off with you, so Prue, Phoebe, and I can go kick some royal demon ass.

LEO: Did you say Swarm Demons?

PIPER: Yeah, but it was no biggie, Melinda protected us. (She pats her stomach.)

PAIGE: Okay, I gotta go. (She waves her hand.) Tootles! (She orbs out before LEO can protest. PIPER’s stomach growls.)

PIPER: Uh, honey? (She smiles sweetly.) You wouldn’t happen to want to make your daughter and me some bacon, would you?

(LEO and VICTOR share looks.)

[Scene: Underworld. Catacombs. The Charmed Ones orb in. Instead of pajamas, PAIGE is now wearing a pretty white dress and a golden necklace with a pentacle hanging on the end. PAIGE looks around.]

PAIGE: Ugh, (she slumps her shoulders) I was hoping we wouldn’t have to go hunt this guy down. (She fingers the pentacle around her neck.) This is so getting in the way of my plans for our Imbolc celebration!

PHOEBE: This shouldn’t take too long. (She starts to move around, touching the red brick walls of the catacombs.) I’m sure we’ll be back in plenty of time for the bonfire and the feast. (She moves along the wall.) Here demon, demon, demon! Come out, come out, where ever you are!

[Cut to The Queen’s lair. A misty image of the Charmed Ones moving around in the catacombs fades into her crystal ball. She looks up, nodding at LILLITH.]

THE QUEEN: The witches are here.

LILLITH: Good, now summon away the whitelighter.

(THE QUEEN waves her hand over her crystal ball and an image of a young woman getting struck by a fireball starts to take shape.)

THE QUEEN: It’s already been set in motion.

[Scene: Piper and Leo’s house. Kitchen. PIPER and VICTOR are seated at the table, talking. LEO is standing at the stove, sizzling a frying pan of bacon. Suddenly, LEO’s face contorts and he doubles over. PIPER gasps.]

PIPER: Leo? (She moves to his side.) What’s wrong? (She touches his arm, but LEO shakes her hand away.)

LEO: One of my charges, Meredith…

PIPER: Then go! Dad and I have Melinda to watch our backs.

(LEO orbs out.)

VICTOR: Does he get like that every time one of his charges is hurt?

(PIPER shakes her head as she takes her seat again.)

PIPER: Only when one of his charges is really close to dying.

(VICTOR stands up and walks over to the frying pan.)

VICTOR: I never knew that.

[Scene: Downtown San Francisco. Greenhouse. Several plants are on fire and many of the greenhouse windows are broken. MEREDITH FERN is lying in a mess of broken pots, potting soil, and plants. Her head is tilted to the side and a massive burn on her stomach is gushing blood. LEO orbs in beside her, already on his knees. He places his hands over her stomach and within seconds, a golden light begins to pour forth, slowly knitting up the wound and causing the blood to reverse back into MEREDITH's body. As the wound vanishes, MEREDITH gasps to life.]

MEREDITH: Leo!

LEO: Who did this to you? (LEO helps MEREDITH to her feet. MEREDITH shakes her head.)

MEREDITH: I don’t know. I was just in here tending to my plants… (She leans over some of the plants that are on fire and waves her hands. Soil springs from her fingertips and cause the fire to die out. She waves her hand and the burnt plant leaves begin to repair themselves.) And then the next thing I know, I’m getting impaled by a fireball.

(Suddenly, the plant that she’s repairing stops growing. MEREDITH waves her hand at the plant, but nothing happens.)

LEO: Your powers-

(MEREDITH looks down at her hands.)

MEREDITH: Could it be because of the demon?

LEO: I’ll go check with The Elders. (He closes his eyes and just stands there.)

MEREDITH: Do you need something?

(LEO opens his eyes.)

LEO: I can’t orb.

[Scene: Piper and Leo’s house. Kitchen. PIPER’s mouth is slightly open as she clutches the edge of the table. VICTOR is standing at the counter, putting bacon onto plates with a pair of tongs. He turns around holding a plate in each hand.]

VICTOR: And breakfast is… (He stares at PIPER.) Piper?

PIPER: Oh, oooh… (She looks up at VICTOR with wide eyes.) Dad, my water just broke!

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Three

[Scene: Piper and Leo’s house. Kitchen. PIPER and VICTOR are there.]

VICTOR: Leo! Leo! You had better get your little whitelighter butt down here right now-

PIPER: Dad! (She clutches the edge of the table.) Please, don’t!

(VICTOR moves to PIPER and begins to help her up.)

VICTOR: I don’t understand, I thought you said the baby wasn’t due until next week-

PIPER: (breathing heavily) Well, then apparently she takes after Prue! (She puts her arm around her father’s shoulders as VICTOR helps her stand up.) Leo!

VICTOR: I don’t think he’s coming-

PIPER: Dad, Leo doesn’t bail. Not all whitelighters a-are how you th-think they are.

VICTOR: It’s not what I think, Piper. He’s not here and we’ve been calling him for ten minutes, obviously something is wrong. (They hobble down the hallway.) We need to get you to the hospital. (He looks around.) Where are your keys?

(PIPER clutches her stomach.)

PIPER: I-in my purse.

VICTOR: Where’s that?

(PIPER points.)

PIPER: My bed-room. (They stop in the entry way. PIPER leans against the wall.) I’ll wait here. (VICTOR nods and heads down the hallway to the master bedroom. PIPER glances towards the ceiling.) Leo, please, we need you…

[Scene: Downtown San Francisco. Red light. Inside a bright green electric car with daisy decals on the sides. LEO is squirming in the passenger seat as MEREDITH nervously strums her fingers along the steering wheel.]

MEREDITH: What do you think has happened? How can both our magic be out? Are you sure The Elders hadn’t warned you about this at all?

LEO: If I’d known my powers were going to be down, I would’ve prepared for it. (He looks out the window as the light turns green and MEREDITH begins driving again.) God, I hope Piper’s okay. (He puts his hand to his head.) I shouldn’t have left her…

(MEREDITH looks guiltily out the front window.)

MEREDITH: I’m sorry-

(LEO suddenly shakes his head.)

LEO: I didn’t mean it like that-

(MEREDITH takes one hand from the steering wheel and reaches over to pat LEO’s leg.)

MEREDITH: I know. (She smiles slightly.) We all know how much she means to you, Leo.

[Scene: 1332 Prescott Street. A car pulls out of the driveway and drives away. Across the street, a man dressed all in black including a heavy coat, jeans, large boots, a hat, big sunglasses, and a thick scarf pulled around his neck and mouth is standing next to a street lamp. He looks down the street where the car left and then runs across the street, heading up the walkway to the house that the car left. He rings the doorbell and nothing happens. He rings the doorbell again. A minute later, the door opens to reveal a young girl about the age of ten. Her eyes get wide as she stares up at the man and she moves to slam the door, but he sticks his foot in the way and reaches in, grabbing her arm and forcing himself inside. The door abruptly slams shut behind them.]

[Scene: Underworld. PAIGE leans against the wall as PHOEBE peeks around a corner.]

PAIGE: This is taking forever!

PHOEBE: Usually our lives are crawling with demons, so where are they?

(PRUE bites her lip.)

PRUE: I hope we haven’t fallen for some type of trap-

PHOEBE: Oh! (She pinches her fingers together.) You be quiet, we don’t need you jinxing us!

(A group of SWARM DEMONS round the corner.)

PAIGE: Oh, nice going you two!

(PHOEBE gets into a fighting stance.)

PAIGE: No! They’ll only multiply!

PRUE: Oh, okay! (She waves her arm, but nothing happens. The closest SWARM DEMON smirks.)

PHOEBE: (to PRUE) Please tell me I’m hallucinating. (She jumps into the air, but falls right back to her feet.) Oh, oh! I can’t levitate! Paige!

(One of the SWARM DEMONS grabs PHOEBE and slams her into the wall.)

PRUE: Phoebe!

(PRUE curls her fists and runs up the side of the wall, using the momentum to jump off and smash her feet into the chest of the SWARM DEMON that attacked PHOEBE, causing him to fall into his brethren like a bowling ball into pins. PAIGE hurriedly bends down to PHOEBE’s side and reaches out for PRUE’s hand. PAIGE closes her eyes, but when nothing happens, all three Charmed Ones open their eyes to find the SWARM DEMONS laughing at them.)

PAIGE: Guys, I got nada! (She pulls PHOEBE to her feet.) What now?

(PHOEBE positions herself in a boxing stance.)

PHOEBE: We open up a can of old fashion ass whoopin’!

[Scene: 1332 Prescott Street. Entry way. The MASKED MAN has his hand over the girl’s mouth.]

MASKED MAN: (muffled) You’re Kate, right? (The girl just stares at him.) Right?! (The girl nods.) Okay, good. I need your help. Now, if I let you go, are you going to help me? (KATE nods. The MASKED MAN lets her go and KATE starts to scream. The man slaps his hand over her mouth again.) Look, I’m a friend of the Halliwells- (KATE’s eyes widen. The MASKED MAN nods. He pulls his hand away from KATE’s mouth.)

KATE: Are they in trouble?

MASKED MAN: (muffled) Piper is.

KATE: How can I help?

MASKED MAN: (muffled) I need you to summon the fairies for me. (KATE’s face falls into a frown.) What?

KATE: I-I can’t.

MASKED MAN: (muffled) Why not?

(KATE looks at the floor.)

KATE: I…haven’t been able to see them since November…when I turned ten.

[Scene: Underworld. The Queen’s lair. THE QUEEN is seated on her throne, with her crystal ball tucked protectively under her arm while she strums the fingers on her opposite hand along her armrest.]

THE QUEEN: How do you plan to take the Twice Blessed? With magic down, you can’t even get out of the Underworld!

(LILLITH steps out of the shadows, refusing to make eye contact with THE QUEEN.)

LILLITH: I have my little secrets. (She looks up, eyeing THE QUEEN with a peticular gleam in her dark eyes.) As I’m sure you do yours.

(THE QUEEN tilts her head to the side.)

THE QUEEN: Then you know of magic that’s gone unaffected by the outage?

(LILLITH shrugs her shoulders.)

LILLITH: (silkily) Perhaps.

(THE QUEEN rises to her feet.)

THE QUEEN: Tell me.

LILLITH: Now, now-

THE QUEEN: I’ve played along with your games far longer than I should have. I deserve to know whatever it is you know!

(LILLITH dips her hand into the pocket of her long, black satin dress. As she pulls her hand back, she uses her other hand to push a wave of her dark red-brown hair behind her shoulder.)

LILLITH: My secret, (mockingly) Your Majesty.

(THE QUEEN starts to come closer.)

THE QUEEN: What is it?

(LILLITH pulls the cord on the black leather satchel and it opens up. She dips her hand inside and retracts it, revealing a handful of a dark ashy substance.)

LILLITH: You really want to know?

THE QUEEN: Tell me!

(LILLITH grins wickedly and leans forward, holding out her hand enticingly.)

LILLITH: It’s…

(LILLITH blows on her hand and the dust flies into THE QUEEN’s face. Suddenly THE QUEEN is thrown back by the power of the ash, crashing into the rocky wall with a resounding clunk.)

THE QUEEN: You-

LILLITH: A secret! Learn to mind your own business next time, Your Majesty!

(LILLITH sprinkles some of the ash onto herself and in a whirlwind of black ash, she vanishes. THE QUEEN scrambles to her feet, shrieking profanities and waving her arms.)

THE QUEEN: (shrieking) You won’t get away! I’ll find you, I promise, and you will pay!

[Scene: Inside Piper’s jeep. PIPER is trying Lamas Breathing as VICTOR drives.]

PIPER: A-and you remembered to p-ut (she takes another deep breath) a note on the fridge f-for Leo?

VICTOR: Don’t worry about Leo right now, Piper, just focus on you and the baby.

(PIPER clutches her stomach.)

PIPER: Oh! (She scrunches her eyes.) I c-can’t believe th-this! (She practices a few more Lamas Breathing exercises.) Of all the times to n-not – Oh! (She rubs her belly.) Not to answer my calls, why today?! (VICTOR swerves into the parking lot at Bay General Hospital.) Oh, I swear I’m gonna k-kill h-him!

VICTOR: He couldn’t have known.

(PIPER gawks.)

PIPER: N-now you’re ta-king his side? (She hugs her stomach and breaths deeply.) Just f-fifteen minutes a-gooo! (She slaps her head against the head rest.) You were on my side!

(VICTOR parks the car and jumps out, rounding to the passenger side and opening the door to help his daughter out.)

VICTOR: I’m not taking his side, all I’m saying is, how could he have known?

(VICTOR helps PIPER down and she puts her arm around his shoulders as he helps her across the parking lot, towards the hospital. PIPER starts to whimper.)

PIPER: Daddy?

VICTOR: It’s gonna be alright, baby. (He rubs her back as they shuffle through the electric doors.)

PIPER: (whispering) I’m scared…

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Four

[Scene: 1332 Prescott Street. Entry way. KATE is shaking her head.]

KATE: Why do you need the fairies anyway?

MASKED MAN: (muffled) It’s a long story-

KATE: I have to know if you want me to try and help.

(The MASKED MAN begins to pace.)

MASKED MAN: (muffled) Magic’s down on this plane and in order to help protect Piper and her baby, I need fairy dust-

KATE: (excitedly) Fairy dust? Like, just the pure fairy dust?

MASKED MAN: (muffled) Yes.

KATE: I have that! (She motions her hands towards the stairs.) I can’t see Thistle, but I do have her leftover fairy dust! (They start to run up the stairs.) But if magic’s down, how will it help you?

MASKED MAN: (muffled) Well, you know that fairies live on a plane parallel to ours, right? (KATE nods.) Well, it’s just the magic on our plane that’s down; magic on other planes, like the fairies’, isn’t affected.

(KATE and the MASKED MAN head down the hallway and into KATE’s room. KATE heads over to her closet and begins to dig in the back before pulling out the small floral box that she had once kept Thistle in. She pulls out a tiny golden key from under her shirt and slips it off from around her neck, before using it to unlock the box. Finally, she pulls out a small green satchel and holds it up for the MASKED MAN to see.)

[Scene: Underworld. PHOEBE grabs one of the SWARM DEMONS by the head and bashes their heads together, causing the SWARM DEMON’s eyes to roll back in his head and fall to the ground as he passes out. PHOEBE shakes herself off as she steps back, surveying the mess of unconscious or dead SWARM DEMONS in her path. Behind her, PRUE holds out her hand to PAIGE, who takes it and groans as PRUE helps her to her feet.]

PRUE: (to PAIGE) As soon as we get out of this mess, we are so teaching you some basic martial arts.

(PAIGE rubs a large red bump on the side of her head.)

PAIGE: I don’t get it, what happened to our powers? It’s not like we could’ve surged again, because Piper doesn’t have her Charmed powers anymore. (She leans against the brick wall.) And even when you guys lose your powers, I can usually still orb. I don’t get it.

PHOEBE: This all seems too fishy. I mean, now that I think about it, why would the Swarm Demons attack Dad and Piper anyway?

(PRUE snorts.)

PRUE: To trick us so they could get us down here and then use a little black magic to neutralize our powers?

(PHOEBE shakes her head.)

PHOEBE: So, then why did they just send minor demons after us?

(PAIGE brushes passed PHOEBE and bends down next to one of the SWARM DEMONS.)

PHOEBE: Why haven’t they just killed us if this was their plan? It doesn’t add up.

PAIGE: Because it’s not. (PHOEBE and PRUE look over at PAIGE.) Think about this whole series of events. We just had this knock down, drag out with demons that multiply when we vanquish them. We were magically powerless and yet there were no fireballs in sight.

(PHOEBE’s mouth drops open.)

PHOEBE: Demons have lost magic too?

(PAIGE stands up.)

PAIGE: But why?

(PRUE curls her fist and angrily hits the wall.)

PRUE: The prophecy!

PHOEBE: What?

PRUE: The one that Cole told us about! The one about the birth of the Twice Blessed on a Wiccan Sabbat!

PHOEBE & PAIGE: Piper’s baby!

PRUE: They didn’t intend to kill us, at least not yet anyway. They just wanted us out of the way so they could get to Melinda.

PAIGE: (softly) Bastards!

[Scene: 1332 Prescott Street. Kate’s room. KATE dips her hand into the green satchel and throws some of the fairy dust onto the MASKED MAN. The dust glitters and he sneezes loudly, jerking forward and causing his dark sunglasses to fall off, revealing the eyes of MATTHEW CAPIELLO. KATE good naturedly bends down and picks up MATT’s glasses, holding them out to him. MATT takes them.]

MATT: Do you have a mirror? (KATE motions behind him and MATT turns around. He walks over to the mirror, stares into it, and then slowly begins to unravel his scarf.)

KATE: Is something wrong?

MATT: No. No, everything’s perfect! (He grins and holds out his hand, conjuring a package of Twizzlers.) Thank god. (He looks back at KATE.) Thank you.

(KATE nods.)

KATE: They helped me a long time ago; I think it’s only right to help them too. (She puts the fairy dust satchel back in the box and proceeds to lock it up.) What’s your name, by the way?

(MATT holds out his hand.)

MATT: Matt.

(KATE smiles.)

KATE: You should probably go. (She motions to her Garfield clock on the wall.) I don’t know what you have to do, but hanging around here is probably wasting time. (MATT nods. KATE motions her hand.)

KATE: I’ll walk you to the door. (They leave.)

[Scene: Bay General. Delivery room. VICTOR is standing at PIPER’s side, holding one of her hands as the other grasps the silver railing of the bed. There are three nurses in the room and NURSE #1 stands up from the edge of the bed.]

NURSE #1: (to NURSE #2) She’s four and a half centimeters dilated and eighty percent effaced.

(PIPER squeezes VICTOR’s hand.)

PIPER: (demandingly) What does that mean?

NURSE #2: It means that it’ll be a while longer before you’re ready to deliver.

PIPER: Where’s Dr. Nicolae?

NURSE #3: Ava Nicolae?

PIPER: Isn’t that the only Nicolae at this hospital?

(The NURSES share amused looks.)

NURSE #2: She’s your regular doctor, then?

PIPER: Yes! (She scrunches her eyes.) Oh!

NURSE #1: I’ll go have her paged for you. (She leaves. NURSE #2 also leaves.)

NURSE #3: Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable, Mrs. Halliwell?

(PIPER glares.)

PIPER: Leave?

(VICTOR looks at NURSE #3 and shrugs.)

NURSE #3: I’ll be back to check on you shortly, then. (She also leaves. PIPER looks at the ceiling.)

PIPER: Leo!

(VICTOR brushes PIPER’s head with his fingers, wiping away droplets of sweat.)

PIPER: Why doesn’t he just take the damn cell phone with him? Then this wouldn’t happen!

VICTOR: Piper, you’re just upset-

PIPER: Of course I’m upseeet! (She clutches the bed railing and breathes.) I’m having a baby and my husband isn’t here! My sisters aren’t even here-

VICTOR: I called them, but I didn’t get an answer at the Manor or their cell phones.

(PIPER starts to cry.)

PIPER: This w-wasn’t how it was sup-posed to be.

(VICTOR brushes PIPER’s hair with his hand.)

VICTOR: They’ll be here. (He smiles slightly at PIPER.) A good father wouldn’t let anything get in the way of him witnessing the birth of his child.

[Scene: Inside Meredith’s car. MEREDITH pokes her head out the window to see a long line of stopped cars in the roadway. She leans back into the car.]

LEO: What’s taking so long?

(MEREDITH shrugs as she leans forward, turning on the radio.)

RADIO NEWSCASTER: …and the accident appears to have traffic backed up for at least a mile! I’m getting all kinds of calls, but from what I’m hearing, it’s taking anywhere between thirty minutes and an hour to get through!

(LEO angrily hits the dashboard.)

MEREDITH: Leo! (She turns off the radio as LEO places his hand to his forehead and starts to whimper.)

LEO: This can’t be happening! (He shakes his head.) I knew she was attacked once already. How could I have been so stupid to leave her alone? I at least should’ve called someone… (He looks up.) What if this was some kind of trap and I’ve fallen right into it?

[Scene: Underworld. PHOEBE slides down the wall to a sitting position on the ground. PRUE and PAIGE stop to stare at her.]

PHOEBE: I can’t believe we were so naive. (She flicks her wrists angrily.) The prophecy, Piper’s due date…we should’ve seen the connection right then! I mean, how many other former Charmed Ones have their babies right around a Wiccan Sabbat complete with an attached prophecy? Haven’t we learned by now that nothing is coincidence?

PAIGE: We can’t just sit around and punish ourselves, we should be looking for a way to get back to Piper.

PRUE: There’s no other way out of the Underworld except via magic, Paige. If our magic’s out and demons’ magic is out, (she motions to PAIGE) and you can’t even orb, then it’s probably safe to say that all whitelighters are down too.

PAIGE: So, when does magic come back?

(PHOEBE stares up at her sisters.)

PHOEBE: Probably when it’s too late to use it. (She stands up.) It probably won’t be back until Melinda’s born.

[Scene: Bay General. Delivery room. VICTOR’s hand is turning white as PIPER squeezes it. NURSE #1 and NURSE #3 are there.]

NURSE #1: (to NURSE #3) Six centimeters dilated and ninety percent effaced.

VICTOR: When can she start pushing?

NURSE #3: Soon, but not now.

PIPER: (frustrated) Where’s Dr. Nicolae?!

NURSE #1: She isn’t working today and we haven’t been able to get a hold of her either at her home or on her pager.

(The door swings open and LILLITH, dressed in green scrubs, walks in. She smiles a business-like smile at PIPER and VICTOR, then nods to the NURSES.)

PIPER: (to LILLITH) Who are you?

LILLITH: I’m sorry, but Dr. Nicolae is unavailable, so I’ll be filling in-

(PIPER starts to vigorously shake her head.)

PIPER: Huh uh! No. (She moves to raise her hand, but cringes and grabs the bed railing again.) No! I won’t have anyone except Dr. Nicolae.

LILLITH: I’m sorry, Mrs. Halliwell, but (she motions to PIPER’s current position) you don’t have much of a choice.

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Five

[Scene: Bay General. Delivery room. PIPER screams and her knuckles turn white as she clutches the bed railings. NURSE #2, NURSE #3, and LILLITH are also there, but VICTOR is absent.]

NURSE #3: (to LILLITH) She’s fully effaced and nine centimeters dilated, Doctor.

(VICTOR walks back in and immediately moves to his daughter’s side. He takes her hand, shaking his head.)

VICTOR: I tried your sisters again, but they still aren’t picking up.

PIPER: (weakly) Leo?

(VICTOR shakes his head.)

LILLITH: (to PIPER) Get ready, Mrs. Halliwell, labor is right around the corner. (She smiles a sickly sweet smile and motions to NURSE #2.) Prepare the patient’s epidural!

[Scene: Inside Matt’s silver Toyota Corolla. MATT jerks the wheel, serving around a tight turn and slams on the breaks as he comes to a halted line of cars. He curses under his breath as he grabs a white sheet of notebook paper from the passenger seat and studies the chicken scratch notes on it. He looks over his shoulder and then begins to back up.]

MATT: (muttering) I need to get to the hospital…

[Scene: Drake’s penthouse. Balcony. DRAKE DE'MON is seated on a lawn chair with a pair of sunglasses over his heads and a glass of champagne in hand. The glass doors open and COLE TURNER walks out.]

DRAKE: Come to enjoy the sunset with me? (He pulls his sunglasses down to his nose and looks out at the bay, where the sun is starting to set.)

COLE: No. Actually, (he pulls out his cell phone) you haven’t heard from Phoebe yet, have you? She said she wanted me to drop by around dinner. I guess they were choosing to celebrate Imbolc, but I haven’t heard from her.

DRAKE: Well, I haven’t heard from her, but there is a message that I saved for you on the answering machine.

COLE: Who from?

DRAKE: Uh…some guy named Victor. (He raises an eyebrow.) He seems to know-

COLE: Victor Bennett?

DRAKE: I don’t know, (DRAKE sits up) I didn’t listen to the whole thing; who is he?

COLE: Phoebe’s father. (COLE heads back inside. DRAKE gets up and follows him.)

DRAKE: Yeah? (He makes an accusing face as he follows COLE to the telephone.) Did she finally say yes?

COLE: No. (He presses a blue button on the phone.)

ANSWERING MACHINE: One saved message.

VICTOR's VOICE: Cole, it's Victor. I haven’t been able to get a hold of Prue, Phoebe, or Paige and we’re starting to get worried. Piper’s gone into labor and Leo’s not answering her calls, and I didn’t know who else to contact. Please, if you can find them, send them down to Bay General, Piper needs them right now. (The answering machine beeps as the message ends. COLE looks worriedly at DRAKE.)

DRAKE: How much are you willing to bet that they’re caught in the Underworld right now?

COLE: If it’s just Victor and Piper, that probably means that Leo and her sisters were purposely diverted to keep her away. (He starts heading for the door.) We’ve got to get down to the hospital!

DRAKE: We?

(COLE grabs his keys from the key rack and DRAKE’s coat from the coat rack, and throws the coat at him.)

COLE: If nobody’s around to protect Piper, you know as well as I do what they (he points to the floor) are after. I need your help.

(DRAKE groans as he begins to slip on his coat.)

DRAKE: There goes my peaceful sunset!

[Scene: Piper and Leo’s house. MEREDITH’s car pulls up in the driveway and both MEREDITH and LEO climb out. LEO runs up to the front door and jiggles the handle, but finds it locked. He digs into his pockets and all he pulls out his a receipt. As MEREDITH comes up the walkway, LEO suddenly braces himself and then rams into the door several times before it finally bursts open, causing LEO to fall to the ground. MEREDITH gasps and kneels down as LEO winces at his shoulder.]

MEREDITH: Are you okay? (She gently touches it and LEO cringes.)

LEO: It’ll be fine-

MEREDITH: Are you sure you didn’t dislocate it?

LEO: It’s nothing! (He takes a deep breath.) I’m sorry…I just… (He gets up and looks around.) Piper! Victor! (He heads down the hallway, opening doors and looking into different rooms.) Piper! (He walks into the kitchen, with MEREDITH right behind him.) No, no, (he shakes his head) Piper!

MEREDITH: What’s that?

(LEO looks to where MEREDITH is pointing.)

MEREDITH: That, on the refrigerator!

(LEO squints, then walks over to the refrigerator and pulls a piece of paper out from under a magnet shaped like a bottle.)

LEO: “Leo, Piper’s gone into labor and I’ve taken her to the hospital. Victor.” (He turns around.) We need to get to Bay General!

[Scene: Bay General. Delivery room. PIPER’s cry of pain echoes through the room. NURSE #3 nods to LILLITH.]

NURSE #3: She’s fully dilated!

LILLITH: It’s time to start pushing, Mrs. Halliwell.

(VICTOR dabs PIPER’s red, sweaty forehead with a cold cloth as PIPER scrunches up her face in pain.)

PIPER: It’s not time-

LILLITH: Your baby is saying that it is.

PIPER: My husband isn’t here yet!

LILLITH: And you’re willing to put your child in jeopardy on the off chance that your husband will make it here in time?

(PIPER looks from LILLITH to her father. VICTOR nods.)

VICTOR: She’s right, Piper.

(LILLITH waves her hand.)

LILLITH: Push, Mrs. Halliwell!

PIPER: (crying) I thought epidurals were supposed to help with the pain!

(PIPER screams and clutches VICTOR’s hand. Suddenly, the doors burst open. PIPER's and VICTOR’s heads turn hopefully, but instead of LEO, they see COLE and DRAKE standing in the doorway, both dressed in regular clothing. LILLITH’s eyes widen and she snaps her finger towards the doors.)

LILLITH: Get out! You can’t be in here!

PIPER: Cole! (Another scream escapes her mouth as another contraction, even stronger than the last, hits.)

LILLITH: (to the NURSES) Get them out of here! They’re contaminating the delivery room!

DRAKE: Well, that’s a bit harsh-

VICTOR: (to LILLITH) Please, they’re friends-

LILLITH: (to VICTOR) Only one person besides doctors and nurses is allowed in the delivery room at a time! (to the NURSES) Get security!

(Two of the NURSES head for the doors while NURSE #3 grabs a phone on the wall, but DRAKE grabs COLE’s arm, pulling him back.)

DRAKE: No, no! (He waves his hand dismissively.) No need to do that, we’ll go. (He grins and grits his teeth together.) Won’t we, Cole?

(The NURSE #3’s finger hovers over the button to call security.)

COLE: Fine! (He holds up his hand. NURSE #3 puts the phone back into the cradle. COLE looks to PIPER.) There might be a demon-stration some where close by. (whispering to DRAKE) I hope you know what you’re doing.

(DRAKE looks at LILLITH and smiles.)

DRAKE: (whispering to COLE) Just go… (He waves and then they leave. Another contraction hits and PIPER yelps.)

PIPER: (whispering) Dad?

(VICTOR leans his head close to PIPER.)

VICTOR: (whispering) Hmm?

(PIPER swallows hard.)

PIPER: (whispering) Which one looks most like a demon to you?

(VICTOR looks up, eyeing the three nurses and LILLITH.)

[Cut to Cole and Drake.]

COLE: (angrily) Why did you do that? One of them is a demon-

DRAKE: They’re all evil! Couldn’t you see it in their eyes? (He shakes his head and they stop walking.) And unless you wanted to risk all the innocent lives in that room, you needed to get out.

COLE: Well, we need to do something! We can’t let evil get their hands on that baby!

DRAKE: We need a plan first. (He looks around the hallway and sees a nurse walking by, pushing a tray with cleaned scalpels and packaged needles. He looks at COLE and raises his eyebrows suggestively.)

[Scene: Underworld. The Charmed Ones are standing in one of the catacombs, next to two burning torches that are hung on the wall.]

PRUE: Paige, what time is it?

(PAIGE looks down at her watch.)

PAIGE: Ten to six.

(PHOEBE looks longingly at the ceiling of the red brick catacomb.)

PHOEBE: I wish I knew what was going on up there. (She puts her hand to her mouth.) If Piper or the baby’s hurt, I’ll never forgive-

(PRUE puts her arm around PHOEBE’s shoulders and pulls her close.)

PRUE: I’m sure Leo and Dad are keeping both of them safe.

[Scene: Bay General. Waiting room. MATT runs through the electric doors and right up to the reception desk. He slaps his hands down, startling the RECEPTIONIST.]

MATT: What room is Piper Halliwell in?

RECEPTIONIST: Excuse me?

MATT: Piper. Halliwell. What room is she in?

(The RECEPTIONIST types something into her computer and then looks up.)

RECEPTIONIST: I’m sorry, but she’s in the delivery room right now and-

MATT: What room?!

RECEPTIONIST: I can’t-

MATT: I’m the father!

(The RECEPTIONIST blinks.)

RECEPTIONIST: Uh, oh! Of course, I apologize. She’s in delivery room two. (She points towards one of the halls.) Go down that hall and take a left and just follow the signs-

(MATT turns on his heel and takes off down the hall. A SECOND RECEPTIONIST who’s filing papers turns to the first.)

RECEPTIONIST #2: He was here for Piper Halliwell too? (RECEPTIONIST #1 nods.) She’s a popular patient today!

RECEPTIONIST #1: I know. I can understand her husband, and even her father, but two lawyers too?

(RECEPTIONIST #2 shrugs.)

RECEPTIONIST #2: Some people…

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Six

[Scene: Bay General. Delivery room. PIPER clutches her stomach as the team of NURSES advance towards her.]

PIPER: Get away! Y-ou can’t have my baby!

LILLITH: Piper-

(VICTOR stands protectively in front of PIPER.)

VICTOR: Get away from my daughter!

(LILLITH sighs.)

LILLITH: I was so hoping that I wouldn’t have to go about this the hard way, (she turns slightly and unbeknownst to VICTOR, her fingers wrap around a scalpel on a tray next to her) but you just had to be difficult!

(LILLITH turns swiftly, throwing the scalpel at VICTOR and it lodges directly into his stomach. VICTOR gasps and his hands clutch the scalpel. As he looks down, he sees blood covering his hands, and then he chokes and falls backwards onto the floor. PIPER screams, but this time not from a contraction.)

PIPER: Dad! (Another contraction hits and she howls.)

LILLITH: Not much longer now. (She walks to the edge of PIPER’s hospital bed.) Keep pushing.

PIPER: (defiantly) N-o-o-o!

(LILLITH taps her foot.)

LILLITH: I was afraid you might act like that. (She grabs a second blade, also from the tray nearby.) If you won’t push, then I’ll be forced to do an emergency c-section. (She smiles wickedly.) Your choice.

[Cut to the waiting room. LEO runs in with MEREDITH in toe. They hurry up to the reception desk.]

LEO: I need to know where Piper-

RECEPTIONIST #1: Halliwell is? (LEO gives her a strange look, then nods.) And who, may I ask, are you?

LEO: I’m her husband!

(RECEPTIONIST #2 turns around curiously. RECEPTIONIST #1 coughs in surprise.)

RECEPTIONIST #1: Her husband?

LEO: Yes!

RECEPTIONIST #1: I’m sorry, but the baby’s father is already with her-

LEO: (shocked) What?

RECEPTIONIST #1: The baby’s father-

LEO: I’m the baby’s father! (RECEPTIONIST #1 looks back at RECEPTIONIST #2, who shrugs.) Check your records! My name’s Leo Wyatt! I’ve been to every appointment!

WOMAN’s VOICE: Leo? (LEO turns around to see DR. AVA NICOLAE standing a few feet away with her clipboard in hand.) What are you doing here?

LEO: Me? (He motions his hand.) Piper’s in labor! Aren’t you supposed to be with her?

AVA: What? (She looks down at her clipboard and then removes her stethoscope as she walks to the reception desk.) Why wasn’t I informed of this?

RECEPTIONIST #1: (startled) We-we thought you were in the delivery room!

AVA: Obviously not! (She motions her hand.) What room is my patient in?

RECEPTIONIST #1: Delivery room two, but-

AVA: Come on, Leo! (She strides off towards the hallway with LEO right on her heels.)

[Cut to the delivery room. PIPER is screaming as yet another contraction takes her over. The doors swing open and MATT comes running in.]

PIPER: Matt!

(LILLITH's face flushes angrily.)

LILLITH: (commandingly) Take care of him!

(The NURSES rush at MATT all at once and MATT opens his hands, conjuring twin athames and impaling them into NURSE #2 and NURSE #1 as they near him. The two NURSES gasp and wither to the ground as NURSE #3 grabs a rolling IV and hits MATT with it, sending him smacking into the wall. NURSE #3 then raises the IV pole above her head and proceeds to bring it down on MATT, who puts his arms above his head and a metal shield appears over him, blocking the IV pole as it strikes. MATT then kicks out his foot, swiping NURSE #3’s legs out from under her. The doors fly open again and two men dressed in scrubs burst in pushing a tray filled with medical instruments and needles.)

DRAKE’s VOICE: Surprise!

LILLITH: No! You aren’t ruining this now!

(LILLITH digs into the pocket of her white doctor’s coat and pulls out a small satchel. COLE suddenly dives at LILLITH, knocking her to the ground and sending the small black satchel sliding across the floor. PIPER emits a painful cry as AVA and LEO run in.)

AVA: Oh my god!

PIPER: Leo!

(COLE and LILLITH roll around on the floor and LILLITH knees COLE, pushing him off of her. NURSE #3 rears back on her knees and MATT conjures a butcher knife as she flings herself at him. MATT thrusts the butcher knife into NURSE #3’s abdomen and she cries out as she falls limply onto him. MATT pushes NURSE #3 off of him, revealing his now bloodied black clothing. LILLITH eyes her satchel and COLE sees it and points from his place on the floor.)

COLE: Don’t let her get that!

(MATT scrambles on his knees, conjuring a gun as LILLITH grabs her black satchel from the ground. He aims the gun as she reaches into the satchel and shoots. The satchel explodes and black ash falls everywhere, including on LILLITH. In a swirl of ash, she vanishes and the remainder of the ashes and the satchel bag fall to the ground. PIPER cries out again and LEO jumps over NURSE #3’s body, making it to PIPER’s bedside. PIPER’s eyes are tearing.)

LEO: It’s alright, I’m here now!

PIPER: (crying) Th-they h-hurt D-D-Dad!

(DRAKE steps over NURSE #3’s body and moves to VICTOR, scooping him up off the ground.)

DRAKE: This is a pretty bad wound. (to AVA) I think I can handle it though, if you can take care of our girl. (As if on cue, PIPER emits another contraction induced scream.)

AVA: (to DRAKE) Get him down to the E.R. and tell them I sent you.

(DRAKE nods and leaves with an unconscious VICTOR in his arms. PIPER squeezes LEO’s hand and AVA takes her position at the end of the bed. MATT moves around the bed over to COLE and holds out a helping hand. COLE and MATT seem to stare at each other, then COLE takes MATT’s hand.)

COLE: Thanks.

(MATT nods.)

AVA: (to PIPER) Come on, Piper, push!

(PIPER shakes her head, sobbing.)

PIPER: I-I can’t!

(LEO squeezes PIPER’s hand encouragingly.)

LEO: Yes, yes you can! We’ve waited for this for so long, Piper. (He delicately strokes her sweat streaked face. PIPER scrunches her face and pushes. AVA grins.)

AVA: I can see a dark head! (PIPER grits her teeth as she continues pushing. AVA reaches for a pair of silver scissors on the tray.) I need a blanket!

(MATT holds out his hands and a white blanket appears. He hands it to AVA. COLE looks at MATT.)

COLE: (whispering) How do you have powers right now?

MATT: (whispering) Fairy dust.

(COLE glances behind MATT, eyeing the black ash on the ground from whatever was in LILLITH’s satchel. AVA makes a snip and holds up a small bundle. She reaches for a blue suction tool and uses it to clear the baby’s air way and then a wholesome cry fills the air. PIPER and LEO look at each other with pride as LEO walks to the edge of the bed and AVA places the bundle in LEO’s arms.)

AVA: Congratulations, it’s a girl!

(LEO gazes down at his infant daughter as she whimpers in his arms. He moves to PIPER and places the baby in his wife’s awaiting arms.)

LEO: (tearfully) Look what we did.

(PIPER blinks back tears of happiness as she cuddles her newborn daughter close to her face. MATT and COLE smile as they watch the couple with their newborn, and neither LEO nor PIPER notices as MATT moves around COLE and AVA, and slips out the doors.)

PIPER: (proudly) My baby girl! (She reaches out her finger to stroke the infant’s face when she suddenly gasps. LEO’s face falls.)

LEO: Piper?!

(PIPER’s body stiffens.)

PIPER: T-t-take her!

(LEO scoops his daughter from PIPER’s arms and the baby starts to cry as PIPER grasps the bed railings.)

AVA: It looks like we aren’t quite finished here!

COLE: What?

LEO: What?

(AVA grins as she looks up from the end of the bed.)

PIPER: (gasping) Twins?!

[Cut to outside the delivery room. MATT leans against the wall. He wipes his forehead and then retrieves a vial of red liquid from his pocket. He looks up and down the hallway, sees no one, and then uncorks the vial. After a moment of hesitation, he quickly downs the vial in one gulp and his head falls back as his eyes roll back in his head. He falls to the ground and the vial shatters as it hits the floor. Then MATT begins to glow and his body slowly begins to morph as a white light engulfs him. A blinding light fills the hallway for only a moment and when it vanishes, all that’s left where MATT was lying is broken glass.]

[Scene: Underworld. PAIGE is scuffing the toe of her shoe along the dirt pathway. PRUE is leaning against the brick catacomb and PHOEBE is just standing in the middle of the pathway, strumming her fingers along her bare arm. Suddenly, a fireball zooms passed PHOEBE’s head and PHOEBE jumps.]

PHOEBE: Looks like magic’s back!

PRUE: And we’ve got a welcoming party!

(The Charmed Ones stare down the pathway to see an army of SWARM DEMONS, with the SWARM KING at the front.)

PAIGE: (mockingly) Your Royal Highness. (She curls her fist and disappears in a swathe of orbs. PRUE and PHOEBE turn their heads to see the orbs reappear right before the Swarm King and before they’re even fully formed, PAIGE's fist shoots out of the orbs and decks the SWARM KING.) I’ve got a bone to pick with you about your loyal subjects!

(The SWARM DEMONS suddenly throw themselves at PAIGE, who orbs out, causing them to fall into a heap at the SWARM KING’s feet.)

PRUE: Paige!

(PAIGE orbs in between PHOEBE and PRUE. PHOEBE nods in approval.)

PHOEBE: Nice punch! (PHOEBE and PAIGE high five.) Right in the kisser!

PAIGE: Thank you.

(PRUE glares.)

PRUE: That was a reckless move!

PAIGE: He deserved it. (She rubs the swollen bump on her head.)

PHOEBE: Let’s just say the spell. (to PRUE) You can scold later.

(PHOEBE, PAIGE, and PRUE take hands.)

PRUE, PAIGE, & PHOEBE: “Swarm Demon,
That Serves as one,
Vanquish him from which they come!”

(The SWARM KING howls as fire engulfs him and immediately following, each of his SWARM WARRIORS catches on fire as well and a fierce explosion occurs.)

[Cut to the delivery room. Three small explosions spring up around the room as the NURSES blow up, leaving not even scorch marks on the waxed floors. In the corner of the room, a glow of orbs appears, depositing the Charmed Ones. AVA holds up the second baby, wrapped in a white hospital blanket, and PHOEBE’s mouth drops open.]

PHOEBE: Is that what I think it is?!

LEO: (beaming) It’s a boy!

(AVA walks over to PIPER and lays her dark haired son in her arms.)

AVA: Congratulations!

(PAIGE points to LEO, who’s holding her niece.)

PAIGE: Whoa, wait a minute, am I seeing double or-

PRUE: Twins!

(LEO looks down at PIPER and his son, beaming as proudly as a father could be. PIPER lightly touches her son’s tiny face. COLE slips over to PHOEBE and wraps his arms around her.)

COLE: (whispering) Well, this certainly gives new meaning to the term, “Twice Blessed,” doesn’t it?

LEO: (to PIPER) I can’t believe we have twins!

PIPER: (softly) They’re a miracle…

[Time lapse. DRAKE waltzes through the doorway of PIPER’s hospital room, pushing a wheelchair in front of him, containing VICTOR with bandages wrapped around his abdomen. PRUE is seated in a chair next to PIPER, who’s in bed. PIPER sees VICTOR and smiles.]

DRAKE: Look who’s come to visit!

PIPER: Dad! You’re okay! I was so worried-

VICTOR: You shouldn’t have been, I’ve been through worse. (He smiles.) All that matters is that you and the baby are okay. (PIPER and PRUE share a look.) Where is my granddaughter? (worriedly) She is okay, isn’t she?

(LEO walks in with a tray in his hands.)

LEO: Piper, I- (surprised) Victor!

VICTOR: Leo.

(LEO maneuvers around VICTOR and sets the tray on the stand by PIPER’s bed.)

LEO: (to PIPER) I thought you might be hungry. (He kisses PIPER.)

PIPER: Thank you, honey. (She grabs a chocolate pudding off the tray.)

LEO: (to VICTOR) How are you feeling?

VICTOR: Fine. I’m fine. But where’s the baby?

(LEO looks at his watch.)

LEO: They should be back any minute.

PHOEBE’s VOICE: Who’s your favorite Auntie? It’s Auntie Phoebe, isn’t it?

COLE’s VOICE: Phoebe! You’re going to give the kid nightmares!

PAIGE’s VOICE: Yeah, and besides, we all know who the favorite Auntie is anyway.

(PAIGE, COLE, and PHOEBE enter the room. PAIGE and PHOEBE each have a bundle in their arms. PHOEBE sees VICTOR.)

PHOEBE: Daddy! How’re you feeling?

(VICTOR eyes the two bundles.)

VICTOR: What’s going on?

(PHOEBE and PAIGE exchange looks.)

PAIGE: (to PIPER and LEO) You haven’t told him?

VICTOR: Told me what?

PRUE: About your grandchildren.

(VICTOR blinks.)

VICTOR: Grand…children?

(PHOEBE and PAIGE each hold out their bundles and lay them in VICTOR’s arms.)

VICTOR: Twins?

COLE: That seems to be the word of the day.

LEO: (proudly) A girl and a boy.

(VICTOR gazes down at the two pairs of dark brown eyes staring back at him.)

VICTOR: A girl and a boy… (to PIPER and LEO) What’re their names?

PIPER: Melinda Patricia (she motions to the baby in VICTOR’s left arm) and…

LEO: Christopher Victor (he nods to the child in VICTOR’s right arm) Halliwell.

[The Virtual Series]

End Credits

Co-Starring
Brody Jo Hamilton --- Melinda Patricia Halliwell
Jackson Phillip Deveraux Kaufman --- Christopher Victor Halliwell
Jason Brooks --- Stan
Christie Lynn Smith ---Dakota
Ted Lyde --- Swarm Demon #1
James Black --- Swarm King

Featuring
Michael Ray Reed --- Demon
David Starzyk --- Swarm Demon #2
Mark Derwin --- Swarm Demon #3
Derek Anthony --- Swarm Demon #4
Tom Schanley --- Swarm Demon #5
Lauri Johnson --- Nurse #1
Mare Winningham --- Nurse #2
Anita Finlay --- Nurse #3
Heather McPhaul --- Receptionist #1
Lisa Canning --- Receptionist #2

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