5x14: Reality Unset

[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

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.

5.14 REALITY UNSET

GUEST-STARRING:
FINOLA HUGHES
T.W. KING
SANDRA PROSPER
BILLY ZANE
AUTUMN YURICK

Script written by...CAMILLE (FOUREVER CHARMED), DRAMA (ASSASSIN WITCH)

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...Jon Pare

[The Virtual Series]

Reality Unset

Teaser

[Scene: Night. Piper and Leo’s house. Nursery. PIPER HALLIWELL is seated in a yellow chair with the twins’ bassinets pulled up to either side of her, containing MELINDA HALLIWELL and CHRIS HALLIWELL, respectively. She has an old storybook in her hands.]

PIPER: “Once upon a time there was – ‘A King!’ my little readers will promptly say. No children, you are mistaken. Once upon a time there was a…”

[Scene: 1852. Cottage. Bedroom. A woman is lying still on a bed. Her eyes are shut, her face and lips white, and her blonde hair strewn around her head like a halo. There are several books littering the room, and a pile of three lying on the oak dresser beside the woman’s bed. A man enters through the doorway, his eyes red and watery and his hands shaking as they hold a blue covered book. He kneels down next to the bed and sets the book on a wooden chair next to him. With one hand, he cups the forehead of his dead wife, with his other hand, he clutches her limp hand.]

HUSBAND: (whispering) I’m going to fix this. (He looks at the book on the chair.) I-I’ve written a new book. (He runs his fingers through her wave of blonde tresses and when he pulls his hand back, a single long blonde hair is entwined around his fingers.) We’re going to live Happily Ever After, I promise you.

(The husband pulls his hand away from his wife’s and her hand falls, hanging over the side of the bed. He turns busily to the book and opens it to the first page. He lays the blonde hair on the white page and then extracts a miniature flip knife from his boot. He holds his finger over the page and then slices it. A thick drop of blood splatters onto the page, right atop of the strand of hair. He grabs the sides of the book and begins to chant in Latin. The blood spot begins to grow, gradually bathing the page in red, and then a hot beam of light explodes from the page and fills the room. When the light fades, both the husband and wife are gone, and the book falls back to the chair, opened to the first page, which is blank. A red shimmer runs across the page.)

[Cut into the red shimmer. A scene fades in of the same cottage bedroom just days earlier. Sweat is glimmering off the face of the wife. She’s pale and her eyes are dim. Her husband is sitting next to her on the chair, holding her hand and pressing a cool white cloth to her head; he’s crying.]

WIFE: P-promise m-me you’ll keep wr-iting…

(The husband shakes his head.)

HUSBAND: Don’t say that. You’ll see my next book.

(Weakly, the wife shakes her head.)

WIFE: Re-member th-that I love you…a-a-n-d I just want you to be…ha-p-p-y. (She shivers and then her hand falls limply in his. Suddenly everything freezes and rewinds.)

[Cut back to the book. What appears to be a hand drawn picture of the husband sitting at his wife’s bedside appears on the first page. Then the cover slams shut, revealing the words “Grate Umquam Secundum” written upon it in silver letters.]

Clickable Credits.

[The Virtual Series]

{SCENE: The song “What If” written by Steve Mac and sung by Kate Winslet, is heard as stock shots of San Francisco are shown while the Guest Credits are rolled.}

Act One

[Scene: Manor. Kitchen. Las Vegas brochures are spread out on the table among a gallon of milk, two coffee cups, two different breakfast cereals, and an open box of doughnuts. At the island, across from where a briefcase is sitting, PRUE HALLIWELL is pushing banana slices off of a mini cutting board into her cereal as PHOEBE HALLIWELL and PAIGE MATTHEWS walks in, the first with a half eaten jelly doughnut in hand, and appear to be in the middle of a conversation.]

PAIGE: …which is why the last week of March would be perfect!

(PHOEBE takes a bite of her jelly doughnut, seeming to contemplate the idea.)

PHOEBE: Well, it sounds nice, Paige, but I just don’t know if I can get the time off.

PAIGE: Come on! Phoebe, it’s Vegas! (She grabs one of the pamphlets from the table and wags it in her sister’s face.) And it’s free! (She turns pleadingly to PRUE.) Help me out here. (PRUE spoons a biteful of cereal and banana into her mouth and shakes her head as she chews it. PAIGE frowns and PRUE swallows.)

PRUE: Phoebe’s right. As nice as it sounds, we just don’t have time for a vacation right now. Maybe you should just take Glenn?

PAIGE: And what would I do with the other two tickets?

PHOEBE: Come on, Paige, you know that even if you could get us on board, Piper will never come without Leo.

PAIGE: He can orb! He can just meet us there. (PHOEBE and PRUE share looks.) You know you want to. How often does an all expenses paid vacation hit you in the face?

(PRUE grabs her bag of photography equipment from the floor and slings it over her shoulder.)

PRUE: Not as often as bills, which I won’t have money to pay unless I leave now. (She puts her empty bowl in the drainer and fills it with water. PHOEBE nods.)

PHOEBE: I’ve gotta get going too. (She looks at her wristwatch.) I’ve got another meeting with Daniel today. (She grins.) I think he’s really improving. (PAIGE slumps her shoulders. PHOEBE pats PAIGE on the shoulder as she walks by.) Look, I’ll check the schedule with my boss, but I won’t make any promises. She’s already been so lenient with me about my unexplained absences; I just don’t want to push it.

(PAIGE throws her arms around PHOEBE theatrically.)

PAIGE: Thank you!

(PHOEBE laughs.)

PHOEBE: Gotta go! (She grabs a napkin from the table, dabs her mouth, and tosses it into the trash as she grabs her briefcase on the island and leaves. PAIGE eyes PRUE.)

PRUE: (skeptically) We’ll see. (She also leaves. PAIGE rolls her eyes and sits down at the table. She grabs a maple glazed doughnut and takes a bite.)

[Scene: Piper and Leo’s house. Kitchen. PIPER is tapping her foot anxiously as she stands in front of the running microwave with CHRIS crying in her arm.]

PIPER: It’s alright, Chris. (She switches arms and rocks him slightly.) Your bottle will be done any second… (The microwave beeps, causing CHRIS to scream louder. PIPER growls in frustration as she opens the microwave and pulls out the bottle, before struggling to squirt some of the milk onto her wrist. She yelps.) Great! (Crying sounds from down the hall.) Perfect! (She stomps over to the refrigerator and opens it, revealing a row of fresh bottles and pulls one out.) Leo! Leo!

(LEO WYATT orbs in as PIPER opens up the microwave again; he looks irritated.)

LEO: What is it? I’m trying to deal with a new charge-

(PIPER shoves the bottle into the microwave, without looking back at her husband.)

PIPER: Can you go get Melinda-

LEO: You called me for that?

PIPER: For that? (She spins around, glaring as CHRIS’s cries only seem to grow louder.) Leo, that (she points towards the hallway) is your daughter!

LEO: I didn’t mean it like that!

PIPER: Well, then what did you mean it like?

(PIPER turns around and accidentally knocks the hot bottle off the edge of the counter with her elbow, which falls and hits her foot. She yelps and then smacks the counter in frustration. LEO looks apologetic, and then moves to PIPER and takes CHRIS from her.)

LEO: Go get Melinda, I’ll take care of Chris. (He bends down to pick up the hot bottle and PIPER shakes her hands.)

PIPER: That’s too hot! And-and it was on the floor, you can’t give him-

(LEO lays a hand on PIPER’s shoulder.)

LEO: I wasn’t going to give this to him.

(PIPER takes a deep breath and then points to the microwave.)

PIPER: I think something’s wrong with it, it keeps overheating things.

(LEO nods.)

LEO: I’ll fix it. (He waves his hand.) Go check on our daughter.

(PIPER leaves. LEO glances at the microwave and then takes the cold bottle out. He holds it for a minute, using his thermokinetic abilities, and then squirts some of the milk onto his wrist. Satisfied, he gives the bottle to CHRIS, who greedily begins to guzzle it. LEO smiles warmly down at his son.)

[Cut to the nursery. PIPER walks over to the pink and white bassinet to find MELINDA wailing. PIPER leans down and picks up her daughter, bouncing her slightly. She frowns.]

PIPER: No wonder you’re so upset, (she kisses MELINDA’s forehead) it looks like you need a change, huh? (She walks MELINDA over to the changing table and lays her down, then she opens up the cabinet and reaches for the box of diapers, only to find it empty.) Oh, for the love of all things good… (She looks over her shoulder.) Leo!

[Scene. Psychologist’s office. Dr. Brenton’s office. DR. LAURA BRENTON is in her chair with a folder open, labeled “Archibald, Daniel.” PHOEBE is standing on the opposite side of the desk, looking down at the papers.]

PHOEBE: What’s happened with him now?

LAURA: He’s been suspended for a week for talking back to a teacher and instigating a fight with an older boy. And his mother thinks he’s doing drugs.

PHOEBE: (sighing) Have you seen that show “Higher Ground”? Before Hayden Christensen became Anakin Skywalker?

(LAURA gives her a dull look.)

PHOEBE: Well, it was a show about troubled teens. Anyways, total classic signs of abusive, it’s just – how do you get someone to open up about it?

LAURA: You make them comfortable and make sure they know they’re safe and that whatever happened is not their fault. And make sure they understand that what is said is confidential. Eventually, they’ll open up. Daniel’s having a hard time with that, though.

PHOEBE: Yeah. Are the erratic sessions a good idea?

LAURA: It’s been over six months since I first saw him. But, he’s still uncomfortable, and after the first session with the three of us, I think he was just scared.

PHOEBE: I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to –

LAURA: Don’t be sorry, Phoebe. You read the file and paid attention. You seem to know the signs. He just wasn’t ready, yet. But, he started coming back four months ago, and that’s a good thing. He’s opening up. I think it’s time you talked about your high school friend, Phoebe. I’d like to get into his mind about the possible use of drugs.

[Scene: Townsend Museum. PRUE walks in with her camera bag on one shoulder and a blue lanyard around her neck, containing a laminated card with her 415 Magazine ID containing her photograph and name. She walks by a roped off exhibit and continues towards a door reading “Employees Only,” marked with a security guard who stops her. PRUE holds up her ID and the man steps aside, allowing her entry. As she walks in, she finds a small team of people in white lab coats busying themselves with very old artifacts. She pauses for a minute, before a woman with a tight blonde bun and glasses sees her and walks up. PRUE glances at her name tag which reads, “Marilee Rhett.”]

MARILEE: Can I help you?

(PRUE holds up her camera bag.)

PRUE: I’m here for 415 Magazine-

MARILEE: Oh! (She grins and holds out her hand.) Lovely to meet you, Ms. Halliwell, I’m Marilee.

(PRUE scrunches her brow as she shakes the woman’s hand.)

PRUE: Likewise.

MARILEE: William said you were coming-

PRUE: William?

MARILEE: Oh, (she laughs) sorry, William Marklee, he’s the head of the exhibit. Actually, he’s old friends with the owner of your magazine, which is how I knew you were coming. We’re told you’re their best.

(PRUE smiles.)

PRUE: Oh, thank you.

(MARILEE motions her hand.)

MARILEE: Right this way. (She leads PRUE into another room, where only a few machines and table containing a very aged book with a blue covered book with the title “Grate Umquam Secundum” written in silver letters. PRUE starts to remove her camera from the bag.) We normally don’t give photographers up close and personal shots, but given William’s longtime friendship with 415’s owner, he’s consented to it.

(PRUE adjusts the lens on her camera.)

PRUE: So, exactly how old is the book?

MARILEE: Radiocarbon dating places the book in the eighteen-fifties, which is a phenomenal find, because this means that this book is decades ahead of its time.

(PRUE snaps a few shots.)

PRUE: What do you mean?

MARILEE: First of all, (she holds the book up and points to the cover) in the eighteen-fifties, titles were never on the front of the book, but always on the spine. (She rubs a rubber gloved finger along the book’s spine.) Secondly, (she points to the silver lettering) the writing was done in gold leaf, not silver. So far as we know, it’s a one of a kind. (She sets it back on the table as PRUE takes a few more shots.)

PRUE: Who’s the author?

(MARILEE sighs.)

MARILEE: Unfortunately, we don’t know. (She opens the book.) Strangely enough, there’s only one entry on this book, and it’s a drawing.

(PRUE nears the book and looks down at the drawing, then she lifts her camera and takes a photograph of the page.)

PRUE: It’s beautiful.

(MARILEE nods. The door opens and a short man with large rimmed glasses pokes his head in.)

SHORT MAN: Marilee, Truscott Hayes is here to see you.

(MARILEE frowns.)

MARILEE: I’m a little busy-

SHORT MAN: He won’t take no for an answer.

(MARILEE glances at PRUE hesitantly, then sighs.)

MARILEE: (to PRUE) I need to step out for just a moment… (She motions her hand.) I’ll just be right outside.

PRUE: Of course.

(MARILEE and the man with glasses leave, then PRUE looks down at the book and takes a few more photographs. She squints and positions the camera in front of her eye. She moves her hand towards the page with the hand drawing and turns it, revealing a blank page. Suddenly, a bright white light explodes from the blank page, blinding PRUE’s camera lens and quickly filling the room. As it dissipates, PRUE and her camera have vanished, and a red shimmer begins to sparkle on the blank page.)

[Cut into the red shimmer. A scene fades in with PRUE, PIPER, and PHOEBE in the entry way of the Manor, around a small table with the Book of Shadows.]

PHOEBE: The devil’s sorcerer, Tempus. He can manipulate time in any way he chooses.

PIPER: Does it say how to vanquish him?

PHOEBE: Uh, “take him out of the time he’s in.” Whatever that means.

(The front door kicks open and RODRIGUEZ bursts in. PIPER shoves PRUE out of the way just as a bolt of RODRIGUEZ’s electricity flies at them and they fall to the floor. ANDREW TRUDEAU runs in.)

ANDY: No! (He shoots RODRIGUEZ, but it doesn’t phase him. RODRIGUEZ hits ANDY with a bolt of electricity.)

PHOEBE: Andy!

(ANDY sails through the air into the next room and smashes into a glass cabinet, before falling to the floor with the destroyed glass shards all around him. PIPER freezes RODRIGUEZ.)

PIPER: (to PHOEBE) Are you okay?

PHOEBE: Yeah, is Prue okay?

PIPER: Yeah, she’s out cold. (They run over to ANDY and PIPER feels his pulse.) Oh my god, he’s dead! (Everything freezes and rewinds.)

[Cut to Prue’s story. PRUE is standing by the stairs in the Manor as the door opens and ANDY and a little girl with shoulder length black hair and bangs walk in. The little girl sees PRUE and screeches excitedly.]

LITTLE GIRL: Mommy!

PRUE: Phoebe! (The little girl, PHOEBE JR., PJ, runs into PRUE’s arms, the latter of whom picks her and spins her around as ANDY walks up. ANDY kisses PRUE and then she sets PJ down.)

ANDY: How was your day?

(PRUE rubs her head with her right hand, revealing PENNY HALLIWELL’s wedding ring, a gold band with tiny encrusted diamonds and rubies, on her ring finger.)

PRUE: Crazy. The studio was hired to do Baker High’s senior photos, so we were booked all day!

(PJ tugs at the hem of PRUE’s dress.)

PJ: I’m hungwy.

(ANDY motions to the stairs.)

ANDY: Go lie down, I’ll fix PJ something. (He scoops PJ into his arms. PRUE smiles.)

PRUE: You’re amazing.

(ANDY lifts his eyebrows suggestively.)

ANDY: Well, maybe after I get Phoebe squared away, I’ll have to tend to you then?

(PRUE grins.)

PRUE: I’d like that. (They kiss again.)

[Cut back to the book. A hand drawn picture of the scene without ANDY appears on the second page. Then the cover slams shut.]

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Two

[Scene: The Morris house. Living room. PIPER is seated on the couch watching the twins, who are lying on a baby blanket in the middle of the room next to ALICIA MORRIS, who’s playing with her Barbies while DJ MORRIS is making noises as he runs his toy trucks on the carpet. SHELIA MORRIS walks in with two cans of soda and takes a seat next to PIPER.]

SHELIA: You look exhausted.

(PIPER gratefully accepts the soda and pops the top.)

PIPER: I’m this close (she pinches her fingers together) from propping my eyes open with toothpicks. (She takes a sip of her soda.) I don’t know what happened, they were doing so well and now all of the sudden, Chris is just crying all the time. It’s the worst at in the evening.

(SHELIA glances over at the twins.)

SHELIA: He might be colicky. (She nods towards her daughter.) Alicia had colic, and what you’re saying sounds a lot like my experience.

(PIPER frowns.)

PIPER: I guess it’s possible. (She taps her fingers on her leg.) I think Phoebe was colicky when she was a baby. (She rubs her eyes.) That would just figure, wouldn’t it? And what great timing, with Leo’s new charge and-

SHELIA: Charge?

(PIPER swallows hard.)

PIPER: Charge, uh, yeah, his client I mean. (She laughs nervously.) He’s very serious about his clients, so he calls them his charges. (SHELIA nods.) Anyway, this – client – he just got a week ago, about the time Chris started getting really fussy, and then ended up needing far more help than Leo originally thought. I’ve been trying to manage the kids, but Chris keeps waking me up in the middle of the night, and then that wakes Mel up and-

(SHELIA pats PIPER’s shoulder.)

SHELIA: It gets easier. (pause) Just be thankful it’s only crying. (She motions to DJ.) He went through a phase where he was getting chronic ear infections, and we eventually had to get tubes put in his ears. (She shakes her head.) I’d rather deal with ten chronic criers than go through all the worry about a sick little boy and the possible complications of ear surgery again.

(PIPER gazes at the twins and sighs as she leans back into the couch.)

PIPER: You’re right, I should count my blessings…

[Scene: Townsend Museaum. Private room. The door cracks open.]

MARILEE’s VOICE: I apolo- (MARILEE walks in to find the room empty) –gize. Uh… (She looks around, immediately noticing PRUE’s camera bag, but not PRUE. She frowns and steps out, looking at the people in the lab coats. She spies the short man with glasses.) Bert! (She walks over to him and motions anxiously towards the room.) Where’s Prue?

(BERT adjusts his glasses and shrugs.)

BERT: She’s not in there? (He waves his arm.)

MARILEE: No! (She glowers.) You were supposed to be waiting with her-

BERT: But-

MARILEE: You don’t just leave people alone with priceless artifacts like that book-

BERT: The book’s gone?

MARILEE: No, thank goodness, but Prue is.

(BERT looks around.)

BERT: I didn’t see her walk out, (he glances back at an antique gun that he was polishing) but I could’ve missed her…

MARILEE: (irritated) Obviously!

BERT: Maybe she’s in the restroom? (MARILEE eyes BERT, who flinches under her gaze, then she pulls a key out of her pocket.)

MARILEE: If she comes back in here, do not let her leave again, do you understand? (BERT nods. MARILEE shakes her head in annoyance as she strides back to the door and locks it.)

[Scene: South Bay Social Services. Copy room. PAIGE and LILA WRIGHT are there. PAIGE is making copies while LILA is standing at a table, sorting stacks of papers and occasionally stapling them together.]

LILA Well, you know, if your sisters don’t want to go, you could always just take me and Billy…

(PAIGE laughs.)

PAIGE: If I’d never met my sisters, believe me, you and Bill- (Her mouth freezes as she spins around, causing her dark hair to whirl around her head in a halo.) Billy?! You and Billy? No way, tell me you’re joking! (LILA blushes and shakes her head.) Oh my god! When did this happen?

LILA: About a month ago… (She shrugs bashfully.)

PAIGE: A month ago? (She puts her hands on her hips, forgetting about the copy machine.) Why wasn’t I notified?

LILA: Well, you know, interoffice romance-

PAIGE: Has never stopped you from telling me before. (She tilts her head.) Need I remind of you of Marcus Miffkin? Or Ray Cruz? And lest we not forget-

(LILA holds up her hands.)

LILA: Fine, fine! (She leans against the table with a dreamy look in her eyes.) I actually didn’t know if it was gonna go anywhere at first… (She shrugs.) I mean, (she bites her lip) you know Billy… (PAIGE nods.) Anyway, once you get past the acne and the occasional stuttering, he’s actually pretty sweet.

PAIGE: Who knew.

LILA: I know, right? (She grins.) And boy can that boy kiss-

PAIGE: Oh! (She holds up her hand.) Okay, stop right there! Any other time I’d be willing to talk to you about that, but seeing as how I know Billy, and work with him, (she makes a face) probably not a good idea.

(LILA nods and the copy machine makes a beep.)

LILA: Anyway…you won’t say anything, right?

PAIGE: Am I the only one who knows? (LILA nods.) Of course not. (She wags her finger.) But in the future, (she picks up her stack of copies) I demand to know ahead of time.

(LILA winks.)

LILA: Deal. (She staples another stack and then gathers them into her arms as PAIGE opens the door.) But what I said about Vegas-

PAIGE: So noted.

(As they walk out, BILLY TANNON walks by, pushing the office mail cart. He smiles in LILA’s direction and waves. LILA returns the gesture and then she and PAIGE look at each other and laugh, prompting a confused expression from BILLY.)

[Scene. Psychologist’s office. Dr. Brenton’s office. LAURA is sitting behind her desk and PHOEBE is sitting on a chair beside the desk, and across from the couch where DANIEL ARCHIBALD is. The room is dead silent as DANIEL stares at PHOEBE. A few more moments pass in silence as PHOEBE watches the patient.]

PHOEBE: So, Daniel, how’s everything at home?

(DANIEL blinks and turns away from PHOEBE. His gaze rests on the carpet a couple inches from her chair.)

DANIEL: Fine.

PHOEBE: Same as always?

(DANIEL nods.)

PHOEBE: And school, like always, right?

(DANIEL nods again with a shrug, avoiding PHOEBE and LAURA.)

PHOEBE: (cheerfully) Do you have any fun plans while you’re suspended?

(DANIEL looks up at PHOEBE and his face goes red.)

PHOEBE: You know what I used to do?

(DANIEL’s mouth slightly opens as he straightens up and listens.)

PHOEBE: It was hard with my Grams around, but she’d have so much to do that it was easy to sneak out. I had a habit of catching movies with my friends or something…I really just had to get out of the house. (pause) What’s your favorite movie?

DANIEL: “Tomb Raider.”

PHOEBE: Oh, Angelina Jolie, nice choice. (Daniel smiles a little.) My favorite is “Kill It Before It Dies.” (She smiles.) I loved going to horror movies when I your age, even if it meant sneaking in. (pause) Especially, if it meant sneaking in.

DANIEL: (curiously) And you never got caught?

PHOEBE: Oh, I always got caught. My oldest sister is a stickler for good behavior. She wouldn’t rat on me to our Grams; she just took care of it herself.

DANIEL: What about your parents?

PHOEBE: I never got to know my mom, she passed away when I was a baby.

DANIEL: And your...

PHOEBE: Father? (Daniel nods.) He was never around. It was just me, my Grams, and my two older sisters. (pause) I guess that’s why I rebelled. As the youngest in a strict household, I just couldn’t take it all.

(DANIEL nods and slumps back against the couch.)

PHOEBE: My friend, Carrie, and I were so bad in middle school. Drinking, skipping school, even shoplifting. I realized she used it as a coping mechanism.

DANIEL: What do you mean?

PHOEBE: Carrie was having some problems at home, and instead of talking about them, she rebelled to get it off her mind. But since I had my own problems to deal with, I never thought twice what her reasons were…until she came over to my house one night in hysterics. (pause) I never knew how bad she had it.

(DANIEL gulps and runs a hand through his hair. He opens his mouth, but ends up closing it. The room gets quiet again as DANIEL stares at something invisible and PHOEBE turns her head to look at LAURA, who gives PHOEBE a smile and a nod.)

PHOEBE: (breaking the silence) So, Daniel, what are your plans for the week?

(DANIEL turns back to look at PHOEBE.)

DANIEL: Umm… (sheepishly) I’m thinking that doing what you used to do isn’t a good idea?

[Scene: McKenna Middle School. Hallway. LEO is kneeling on the ground with a large red toolbox at his side, a hat on his head, and a screwdriver in one hand as he uses the other to hold a detached locker door in place, attempting to reconnect it. Suddenly, he turns his head away, hiding his face, though nothing seems to happen.]

[Cut to an open classroom. A filing cabinet drawer seems to open up by itself and the folders begin wiggling, then one lifts out of the drawer and opens up, revealing a stack of math exams. One by one, the papers begin turning over. Most of them are A’s or B’s, but then a paper with a large red “F” is revealed in the middle of the pile; at the top, right hand corner, the name reads “Rina Skint.” The paper slides out and hangs in the air as the folder with the other papers floats back into the cabinet, which shuts.]

LEO’s VOICE: What do you think you’re doing?

(The paper ruffles and then LEO is revealed, standing in the doorway with his arms folded. A girl with short blonde hair appears out of thin air, with the failed exam pinched between her fingers. She scowls.)

RINA: Leo-

(LEO holds up his hand.)

LEO: I don’t want to hear it. (He walks over and snatches the paper from RINA.) You need to realize that this is unacceptable! (He opens the file cabinet and begins looking for the exam folder.) Your powers were never given to you so you could abuse them-

RINA: Then why do I have them, if not to help myself?

LEO: You have them to help others; that is what good witches do. (His hand begins to emit a gold hue and the files begin to flip themselves.)

RINA: Oh, and yet you (she motions to his glowing hand) get to use your powers for personal gain? You’re such a hypocrite!

LEO: First of all, I’m not a witch, and secondly, this is not personal gain, this is me fixing your mistake.

RINA: And what about “harm ye none, do what ye will”? It’s part of the Wiccan Rede. (She looks around.) I don’t see anyone getting harmed here.

LEO: Maybe not physically, but ramifications from your actions can be just as devastating.

RINA: And how would changing my test grade harm someone else?

(The test folder floats into LEO’s hand and it stops glowing. He puts RINA’s exam in the folder and shuts the cabinet.)

LEO: It’s an unfair advantage.

RINA: But it still doesn’t harm anyone! (She huffs and throws up her hands.) You know what? I don’t even care anymore. (She rolls her eyes.) I am so out of here! (She stomps off. LEO shakes his head and proceeds to lightly rub his temples.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Three

[Scene: Inside Piper’s jeep. PIPER is driving as LEO orbs in.]

LEO: (anxiously) Are you busy right now?

(PIPER looks over at her husband with an irritated glare.)

PIPER: Oh, I don’t know, why don’t you ask the little people in the back seat?

(LEO glances back at CHRIS and MELINDA in their car seats, then returns his pale blue eyes to his wife.)

LEO: I need your help.

PIPER: What? (She slows the jeep as they come to a stop sign.)

LEO: With my charge.

PIPER: Leo, I’ve got a million things to do today-

LEO: It’s really important.

(PIPER sighs.)

PIPER: What would I have to do?

LEO: Just talk to her.

PIPER: About?

LEO: The consequences of personal gain.

PIPER: Isn’t that the job of her mother?

LEO: And since when do kids listen to their mothers? (PIPER taps the steering wheel in annoyance.) Phoebe, for example?

PIPER: Point taken. (pause) But what makes you think that she’d listen to me?

(LEO sighs.)

LEO: Honestly? I’m just trying anything. I’m afraid if I don’t get through to her soon, she’s going to end up doing something she really regrets…or worse.

(PIPER sighs.)

PIPER: How long will it take?

(LEO smiles gratefully.)

LEO: Thank you.

[Scene: South Bay Social Services. Paige’s cubicle. PAIGE blows out a candle on her desk and then proceeds to shut down her computer as she holds her head at an odd angle, clutching a phone between her shoulder and her ear.]

PAIGE: Uh, no, I’m just getting ready to go check in on my latest foster placement. (She looks at her watch which reads, “1:33 P.M.”) Jill. (She presses the button to turn off her monitor.) How many Jills are there? (She rolls her eyes.) Jill Nott. (She grabs her white jacket from the back of her chair.) Alright, well, I’m supposed to be there at two, so I’ve got to go. (pause) Uh huh, (she grabs her purse) buh-bye. (She hangs up with an overly exaggerated sigh as LILA peers around to her cubicle.)

LILA: Cowan?

PAIGE: Who else?

LILA: I think he’s worse on vacation than he is when he’s actually here.

PAIGE: Tell me about it. (They laugh.)

LILA: Are you going to be coming back today?

PAIGE: Uh, (she looks at her watch) as long as my appointments don’t run over. However, if I don’t get out of here, that might domino the rest of my plans. (LILA nods.) By the way-

LILA: I will have the Whites’ adoption papers finished by the time you get back, (she makes a sign with her hand) Scout’s Honor!

PAIGE: I owe you! (She starts to walk away.)

LILA: (calling) There’s always Vegas!

PAIGE: Nice try! (She leaves.)

[Scene: Psychologist’s office. Dr. Brenton’s office. PHOEBE catches DANIEL gazing at the clock and she also steals a glance at it.]

PHOEBE: It looks like our time’s just about up. (DANIEL nods.) Will you be seeing us next week?

DANIEL: My mom said I am. (He gets up.) So does that mean I can go now?

PHOEBE: Oh, (she motions her hand) yes.

LAURA: (to DANIEL) Mind if I walk you out? (DANIEL shakes his head.)

PHOEBE: Bye, Daniel. (She waves.) I look forward to seeing you next week. (DANIEL barely nods and leaves promptly, with LAURA behind him, saying something before she shuts the door. PHOEBE groans and leans back in her chair.) Was I this bottled up back then, too? (She grabs her briefcase and unlatches it, placing a folder inside. As she closes it, LAURA walks in.)

LAURA: You were great today.

PHOEBE: Oh? (She looks up.) I don’t know what you were looking at, but what I saw was a closed up little boy wouldn’t talk to me if I bribed him.

LAURA: He is warming up to you, though. (She nods.) You did well when you told him about your past. (PHOEBE smiles.) If you’re comfortable with that, I really think you should continue. It may be slow, but you are connecting with him and that’s key.

PHOEBE: Thanks. (They walk out of LAURA’s office together. PHOEBE sees COLE TURNER standing by the front desk and looks a little alarmed.) Cole!

COLE: Hey. (He nods to LAURA, who return it.) I came for a lunch date- (PHOEBE makes a face) is that a problem?

PHOEBE: Ehh…actually, my lunch is at three today…

COLE: Oh. (disappointedly) I’ve actually got a meeting at between three and four, so-

LAURA: (to PHOEBE) Why don’t you just head off now and be back at ten to four?

PHOEBE: (surprised) Are you sure?

LAURA: We’ve only got Mr. Lester, right? (PHOEBE nods and LAURA waves her hand.) I’ll be fine, (pause) just don’t be late.

(PHOEBE’s face turns a little red.)

PHOEBE: Oh, of course. (She bites her lip as she turns to COLE.) Hopefully you haven’t got anything too extravagant in mind, right?

[Scene: Downtown San Francisco. Mall. Arcade. LEO and PIPER walk up, the latter pushing a double stroller. The arcade is filled with kids, all with their eyes glued to the games. The sounds of guns and game music is filling the air. Suddenly, a loud echoing noise is heard which promptly dies out.]

ANGRY KID: I almost had that! (He hits the screen.) Stupid game. (He stalks off past PIPER. PIPER glances at the twins.)

PIPER: I’m so glad to know my children’s future. (She looks around.) Leo, where’s your charge?

(LEO is staring at a boy who is playing a driving game. The boy’s backpack is sitting on the ground, propped up just under the coin slots, and the zipper is open. He groans and begins walking in the boy’s direction. Suddenly, the arcade freezes. LEO stops and looks back at PIPER, who looks at the stroller. Suddenly, RINA appears, near the boy at the racing game.)

RINA: So, what’ve we got here? (She folds her arms.) Since when did my life become part of your family affair, Leo?

LEO: I wish you could understand that you need help.

RINA: You make it sound like I’m an alcoholic or something.

LEO: Magic can be just as addictive! Especially, (he motions to the backpack) when you’re using it to steal!

RINA: I’m not stealing!

LEO: Then would you mind telling me what you are doing?

(RINA glares, then turns away.)

RINA: Yes, actually, I do. (She starts to walk away, but PIPER blocks her path.)

PIPER: That isn’t the wisest idea.

RINA: Why? Because you might blow me up? (She rolls her eyes.) Oh, wait, I forgot, you’re the ex-Charmed One. (PIPER looks a little surprised.) Just because you used to be some big bad witch doesn’t give me a reason to listen to you. (She folds her arms.) That is why he brought you here, correct? Just to talk to me about personal gain talk and all that crap. (to LEO) Predictable.

(PIPER’s mouth drops open as she looks at LEO. He shakes his head.)

LEO: All week long.

[Scene: Benita’s Bistro. PHOEBE and COLE are seated at an outside table, under the shade of a blue and red striped awning. Each of them have a glass of wine and PHOEBE is picking at a small side salad. She irritably stabs a cherry tomato with her fork and eats it.]

PHOEBE: …and I just can’t figure out how to get through to him. (She looks up in dismay.) Laura keeps telling me to be patient, but…I feel like by being patient, I’m somehow letting him down…

COLE: You’re doing the best you can, Phoebe.

PHOEBE: And it’s not good enough.

COLE: Don’t beat yourself up. You’re trying, and that’s more than most people do.

PHOEBE: Well, I’m not most people.

COLE: No, no you’re not.

PHOEBE: Which is what makes this so much more frustrating. (pause) I wanted this job because I wanted to help people that I wasn’t destined to help, if that makes sense. I wanted a job that could help people outside of magic, and since psychology has always been an interest of mine, I thought this would be perfect. (She stares at COLE.) Tell me, is there something about me that says, “Hey! This is not the kind of woman you want to open up to.”

(COLE leans forward in his seat.)

COLE: Sometimes, no matter how badly you desire something, you just have to wait for someone else to discover the right time. (He reaches across the table and puts his hand on hers.)

[Premonition: PRUE is at the Townsend Museum in the private room, with the antique book. A bright white light explodes from the blank page, blinding PRUE’s camera lens and quickly filling the room. As it dissipates, PRUE and her camera have vanished, and a red shimmer begins to sparkle on the blank page, leaving behind a drawing of PRUE, PIPER, PHOEBE, and RODRIGUEZ in the entry way of the Manor, the day ANDY died. The cover slams shut, revealing the words “Grate Umquam Secundum.”]

[Cut back to the present. PHOEBE pulls her hand away from COLE and anxiously stands up. COLE appears alert.]

PHOEBE: I need to get home, (she looks pointedly at COLE) now!

[Scene: Downtown San Francisco. Mall. Arcade. PIPER has a hold of RINA by the ear. RINA’s in a mix of shock and pain.]

RINA: Ow! (She struggles, but PIPER keeps a firm grip on RINA’s ear.) What the hell do you think you’re doing?!

PIPER: Practicing a little something my Grams taught me; it’s called tough love. (She yanks on RINA’s ear, pulling her towards the near backpack.) Now I’d love to know how you don’t think that theft is personal gain.

RINA: He deserved it!

PIPER: Elaborate. (She narrows her eyes.) And before you ask, no, it’s not an option. (RINA grits her teeth.) Look, this (she pinches RINA's ear a little harder) came from one of the most frightening witches you could meet, and I’ve got a lot more where that came from, so I strongly suggest you just come clean.

RINA: She’s been picking on (she squirms uncomfortably) Jeremy.

PIPER: (confusedly) Jeremy? (She slowly lets go of RINA’s ear.)

RINA: My friend.

(PIPER looks at LEO, and at that moment, his head tilts back. PIPER suddenly raises her hand warningly.)

PIPER: Don’t you dare!

LEO: Piper-

PIPER: Leo!

LEO: It’s your sisters…I’ll be right back. (He orbs out. PIPER emits a furious grunt and then MELINDA’s freeze wears off the room.)

[Scene: Prue’s story. Manor. Prue’s bedroom. PRUE is lying in bed when a knock sounds at her door.]

PRUE: Come in!

(PAIGE walks in carrying a long white zip up bag in her arms.)

PAIGE: Hey. (She grins.) Andy said you were in here, glad I caught you.

PRUE: What’s that supposed to mean?

(PAIGE winks.)

PAIGE: Just that I wish I had a relationship as fresh as yours.

(PRUE rolls her eyes as she notices the long white bag.)

PRUE: Are those the dresses?

PAIGE: Yep! And, they look fabulous! (pause) Oh, and good news, I just got back from the church, and the florist is a go.

PRUE: So, we’re all set, then?

PAIGE: Actually, (she motions towards the door) there’s just one more thing. (PRUE frowns.) It’s not bad, I promise!

PRUE: (jokingly) So, it won’t involve signing another check? (She gets off the bed and walks over to her younger sister.)

PAIGE: Thankfully, no. (They walk into the hallway.)

PRUE: So then-

PAIGE: It’s a surprise. (They reach PAIGE’s room and walk inside. PAIGE drapes the bag over her bed and turns to her nightstand, which she opens up and pulls up a face down picture frame.) I was thinking that maybe we could use this at the wedding. (She turns the frame over, revealing a 1999 photograph of PHOEBE. PRUE puts her hand to her lips as she extracts the photograph from PAIGE’s hands.) I found it the other day and-

PRUE: It’s perfect. (She looks up at PAIGE.) Piper will love this, Paige.

(PAIGE smiles.)

PRUE: You know what? (She lightly dabs her eye.) I think I’ve got a photograph of Mom that we could put up with Phoebe’s.

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Four

[Scene: Real world. Downtown San Francisco. Mall. Arcade. CHRIS starts crying, prompting a groan to escape PIPER’s throat. Just as she moves for the stroller, she glances back at RINA, only to discover that RINA is no where in sight. She swats at the air, but hits nothing solid.]

PIPER: Oh that little- (CHRIS’s crying seems to increase to a wail.) Alright, alright! (She walks over to the stroller and scoops CHRIS up.) Mommy’s got you! (She rocks him, but it doesn’t seem to do any good. Then, she pulls a pacifier out of the diaper bag, which is hanging on the back on the stroller, and CHRIS seems contented to suck on it. PIPER sighs in relief as she looks at her son, then at her daughter, and lightly shakes her head.) Please tell me that you two never grow up to be like (she looks at the arcade full of kids) that.

[Scene: Manor. Attic. PHOEBE, LEO, and COLE are there. PHOEBE is searching the Book of Shadows with one hand, while she holds the cordless phone to her ear with the other.]

PAIGE’s VOICE: This is Paige Matthews, please leave me your name and number and I will get back to you shortly.

PHOEBE: Paige, it’s Phoebe again, call me back at the Manor. (She hangs up and looks at COLE and LEO.) I can’t find the book I saw anywhere in here.

LEO: Can you go over what happened again?

PHOEBE: Like I said, it went by really fast, Leo. (She tosses her hands.) Prue was in a room with this book, suddenly this explosion of light came off the page and swallowed her, and that’s when the drawing of me, Piper, and Prue facing Rodriguez appeared in the book, and then it just shut.

COLE: Did the book have a title?

(PHOEBE squints, then nods.)

PHOEBE: “Grate Um” (she frowns) something…I think it may have been in another language. (curiously) Why?

COLE: Maybe she was photographing it?

(LEO nods.)

LEO: That’s right, wasn’t Prue supposed to be doing a photography session on that exhibit that’s in town?

(PHOEBE slowly nods her head. She holds up her finger.)

PHOEBE: Oh my gosh, (she heads for the door) I’ll be right back!

[Scene: Eddy Street. PAIGE’s lime green VW Bug is parked on the side of the street with a string of other cars. PAIGE suddenly comes walking up the sidewalk, pulling her phone out of her purse and turning on the power button with her left hand as she readies her car key with her right hand. She reaches her car and unlocks the door as her phone turns on with a cheerful jingle. She climbs inside and starts the engine, just as her phone plays “The Munsters” theme song. She looks down, revealing a missed voicemail message and dials her inbox.]

[Scene: Manor. Attic. PHOEBE runs in, waving a yellow flyer.]

PHOEBE: (excitedly) “Grate Umquam Secundum!” That was the name of the book from my vision! (She holds up the flyer to LEO and COLE.) And that is what Prue was supposed to be photographing today.

COLE: “Happily Ever After.”

PHOEBE: What?

COLE: The title. (He motions to the title on the flyer, under the heading, “One week only!”) It’s Latin for, “Happily Ever After.”

PHOEBE: I didn’t know you knew Latin.

(COLE shrugs.)

COLE: I’ve been around over a hundred years, I’ve picked up a few things.

(The phone rings.)

PHOEBE: That better be Paige. (She answers it and nods towards COLE and LEO.) No, but we think the book Prue was photographing today was magically inclined, to say the least. (She looks down at the flyer.) It says the Townsend Museum. (pause) Okay, we’ll meet you there. (She hangs up.) New plan, Paige thinks that if Prue was photographing it today, it’s probably still at the museum, so all we have to do it get to it. (to COLE) So can you get me there and (to LEO) can you see if The Elders know anything more about this fairytale book? (LEO nods.) Great! (LEO orbs out and PHOEBE takes COLE’s hand and they shimmer off.)

[Time lapse. PAIGE walks up the steps to the Townsend Museum, to find PHOEBE and COLE waiting for her.]

PHOEBE: So, this is definitely the place, but the exhibit hasn’t opened yet. (They walk inside to find an intense line of people.) Not that getting in line would help us anyway.

PAIGE: And let me guess, there’s no way they’re letting you in without VIP identification? (PHOEBE shakes her head.) Plan B?

(COLE eyes the front desk.)

COLE: I’ll be right back. (PHOEBE and PAIGE watch him walk up to the desk and talk with the woman behind it. COLE flashes something from his wallet and then waves PHOEBE and PAIGE over. They smile politely at the woman behind the desk as they walk away, until they’re out of earshot.)

PHOEBE: (to COLE) What was that about?

COLE: I threw a little legal jargon her way (he sees the room marked “Employees Only” with the large security guard) and she waved us through.

(PHOEBE grins.)

PHOEBE: What would I do without you? (PAIGE rolls her eyes and PHOEBE notices, before throwing her a mock dirty look. They walk up to the security guard, COLE flashes him ID and explains his story, briefly motioning to the woman at the desk, who waves cheerfully at them. The security guard studies COLE suspiciously, but finally lets them in. As the door shuts behind them, they find themselves faced with a hallway.) Should we split up?

(PAIGE takes out her phone.)

PAIGE: You take right, I take left?

(PHOEBE shrugs. PAIGE turns one way, while PHOEBE and COLE begin walking the opposite direction. From behind them, MARILEE walks by, brushing past PHOEBE. PHOEBE goes rigid as MARILEE disappears around a corner. PHOEBE’s eyes open as she comes out of her premonition. She spins around.)

PHOEBE: Paige!

(At the end of the hallway, PAIGE glances back to see PHOEBE waving to her. She creases her brow and walks over.)

PAIGE: I thought-

PHOEBE: We have to go this way. (She takes off ahead of PAIGE and COLE. PAIGE looks confused.)

COLE: (to PAIGE) Premonition.

(PAIGE nods.)

PAIGE: Right.

[Cut to Marilee. She’s back in the preparation room, surrounded by exhibit pieces and technicians in white lab coats. She has a cell phone to her ear, looking extremely worried.]

MARILEE: William, of course! (She flexes her hand rapidly.) Actually, I’m not with her at the moment but…yes, yes! (She nods to herself.) I’ll see you tonight. (She hangs up and bitterly shoves her cell phone into her lab coat pocket.) Maybe without a job.

[Cut to Phoebe. PHOEBE rounds the corner and stops, just as MARILEE is coming out of a door on the right side of the hallway. PAIGE bumps into PHOEBE as MARILEE hurries off, not having noticed them. PHOEBE motions her hand as she walks over to the door, glances at the sign, and then nods.]

PHOEBE: This is it. (She opens up the door and discovers all the people in white coats.)

PAIGE: Oh, like we’re not going to stand out in there.

(PHOEBE raises a finger.)

PHOEBE: Maybe not. (She opens the door again and pokes her head inside.)
“Let these workers,
Quick as a sneeze,
Stop their work,
And quickly freeze!”

(The room becomes quiet as all of the people freeze. PHOEBE grins and walks inside, with PAIGE and COLE at her heels.)

PAIGE: Where did you get that spell? It sounds so-

PHOEBE: Familiar? (She grins.) Grams. (She looks around, attempting to spot the blue book.) It was one of those personal gain spells we saw her use on that little blast to the past a few months ago. (She shrugs.) I made a mental note of it, since I thought it might come in handy since we don’t have Piper’s freezing power at our disposal anymore.

(PAIGE nods.)

PAIGE: Good thinking.

(PHOEBE grunts.)

PHOEBE: I don’t see the book.

(PAIGE notices the other door.)

PAIGE: What about in there? (She walks over to the door and wiggles the handle.) But it’s locked.

(PHOEBE and COLE walk over. PHOEBE taps her finger on her chin.)

PHOEBE: “Door unlock, no mortal block.” (A light gleams off the handle, then the door clicks open.)

PAIGE: Well aren’t you just the Miss Spell-of-the-Day? (They walk inside and find the book sitting on the table. PAIGE spots PRUE’s camera bag on the floor.) She’s definitely been here.

(PHOEBE walks over to the book and reaches to pick it up.)

COLE: Phoebe, I wouldn’t- (PHOEBE opens the book) do that.

PAIGE: (to COLE) False alarm? (She walks over to PHOEBE as she turns the page, revealing the drawing of her sisters and RODRIGUEZ. PHOEBE touches it, hoping for a premonition, but shakes her head.) How do you think that got there?

(COLE wanders over to them. PHOEBE turns the page, revealing a blank one. Without warning, a bright flash emenates from the page, swallowing up the room’s inhabitants. The book falls to the floor as a red light begins to once again shimmer on the page.)

[Cut into the red shimmer. A scene fades in revealing PATTY on the Lake Skylark dock, holding the power cables in her hands as the water begins to bubble. SAM comes running towards the dock, waving his arms.]

SAM: (yelling) Patty, look out!

(PATTY turns around and freezes SAM. As she turns back, the WATER DEMON rises out of the water and falls on top of her, soaking into her body. PATTY falls to the dock and the WATER DEMON drowns her from the inside. Then, everything freezes and reverses.)

[Cut to Phoebe’s story. PHOEBE walks around the corner in the mall, carrying three large bags in each hand. Behind her, PATRICIA HALLIWELL emerges, also balancing large shopping bags in both hands.]

PATTY: I feel like we bought the whole mall!

PHOEBE: Nonsense, (she glances back at her mother and makes a face) if we’d done that I still wouldn’t be yearning for that little pair of Jimmy Choos. (She sighs.) And they fit so perfectly, too…

PATTY: I suddenly feel like part of a scene from “Sex and the City.”

Phoebe: Hey, it’s a good show! (PATTY shrugs indifferently. PHOEBE suddenly lifts a bag laden arm and points to Baby Gap.) Oh! We should go buy stuff for Melinda! (PATTY makes a face.) What’s that look for? Aren’t grandmothers supposed to spoil their grandchildren?

PATTY: And I was embracing the cliché until Piper told me that Melinda has enough clothes.

(PHOEBE throws PATTY a mischievous look.)

PHOEBE: So we start on shoes, then. Every girl needs an extravagant collection, and who better to kick it off for her than her favorite aunt and her favorite grandma?

(PATTY struggles to look at her watch, then she laughs.)

PATTY: Alright! (PHOEBE grins as they walk into Baby Gap together.)

[Cut back to the book. A hand drawn picture of PATTY on the dock with the power cables in her hands as the water bubbles appears on the third page. The page turns to a blank page and begins to shimmer.]

[Cut into the red shimmer. A scene fades in as a nun lights a fresh candle near a doorway. Down the isle, near the front of the church, a stream of pulsating blue and white lights spiral down from the ceiling and coalesce into a plump formation of lights, catching the corner of the nun’s eye. She turns around, revealing herself as a much younger SISTER AGNES. Her eyes grow wide in a mixture of amazement laced with fear. She begins to tremble as two human figures appear from the lights, forming into a young, dark brown haired SAMUEL WILDER, with his arms wrapped securely around a weak looking PATTY, with her arms clutched around a very tiny blue bundle. SISTER AGNES' hand flies to her mouth, gasping. PATTY looks up, her face raw with tears and her eyes red.]

PATTY: (to SISTER AGNES) Please, we need your help.

(SAM squeezes PATTY’s shoulders, also with visible tears in his eyes. PATTY hesitantly holds out the sweet bundle in her arms, revealing a bright brown eyed newborn babe with a dark clump of brown hair.)

SAM: (struggling) She’s in grave danger.

(Upon the small whimper from the baby in PATTY’s arms, SISTER AGNES comes forward until she reaches the broken couple. She studies the faces of SAM and PATTY for a long beat and then down at the pink face wrapped in the soft and clearly handmade yellow blanket.)

PATTY: (weakly) We can’t protect her ourselves. (She shakes her head as more tears fall from her eyes.) If there was any other way…

(SAM gently scoops the infant baby from PATTY’s outstretched arms and cradles her close to his chest, staring into her big brown eyes.)

SAM: We want to make sure she gets a good home… (His gaze flicks to SISTER AGNES.) A safe home.

(SISTER AGNES nods, not quite sure how to respond to such a heartfelt request. SAM softly kisses his daughter’s little forehead and then turns to PATTY, who looks into her daughter’s small eyes.)

PATTY: (to BABY PAIGE) We’ll always love you.

(PATTY strokes the side of her youngest daughter’s face with her index finger and then turns tearfully to SISTER AGNES. Hesitantly, SAM holds out his only child to the nun who carefully accepts the child into her arms. SAM wraps his arms around PATTY as she starts to cry again, this time into his chest.)

SAM: She’ll come back one day, asking about us. (His eyes flick to BABY PAIGE.) We want you to keep the blanket that she’s in, and the day that she comes back, give that to her.

(Wordlessly, SISTER AGNES once again nods her head. She runs her hand across the soft material until her fingers feel something else on the side, a hand stitched letter “P”. She looks up, wearing a questioning look on her face.)

PATTY: (weakly) We only have one request… (She swallows hard, never taking her eyes off her daughter.) Please give her a name that starts with a “P.”

(SAM gently shakes PATTY and leans close to her ear.)

SAM: (whispering) We have to go.

(Crying, PATTY nods.)

SISTER AGNES: I promise you, she’s in safe hands.

SAM: Thank you.

(With one last look at BABY PAIGE, a culmination of white and blue lights devours himself and PATTY, carrying them up to the ceiling and disappearing, leaving SISTER AGNES all alone with BABY PAIGE. Then, everything freezes and reverses.)

[Cut to Paige’s story. PAIGE, wearing a long hooded gold robe, is Up There, surrounded by mist, with a rolling blue sky and moving clouds above. Surrounding her is a mass of other people, also dressed in hooded gold robes. A young woman suddenly orbs in next to PAIGE, looking quite nervous. She quickly pulls her hood over her head. PAIGE turns to the whitelighter beside her.]

PAIGE: (whispering) Are you new? (The whitelighter nods and holds out a shaky hand. PAIGE shakes it.) It’s no biggie, you’re not the only one. (pause) What’s your name?

WHITELIGHTER: Nora. (She looks around.) Nora Meme.

PAIGE: Oh, well, it’s very nice to meet you, Nora. (She smiles.) My name’s Paige Wilder.

[Cut back to the book. A hand drawn picture of the SISTER AGNES all alone in the church appears on the fourth page. The page turns again and the fifth page begins to shimmer.]

[Cut into the red shimmer. A scene with PHOEBE and COLE atop the Eiffel Tower fades in. COLE is down on one knee. PHOEBE gasps as he holds up his hand, revealing a small red velvet box that he flips open to reveal a gorgeous diamond ring.]

COLE: I’m saying that I love you, and I want you to be my wife. (pause) Phoebe Halliwell, will you marry me?

(After a long pause of silence, PHOEBE takes a step back, shaking her head.)

PHOEBE: Cole… (COLE stretches his arm to touch her hand, but she pulls away.) Please take me home.

COLE: Phoebe-

PHOEBE: I want to go home! (Everything freezes and reverses.)

[Cut to Cole’s story. COLE, DRAKE DE'MON, DARRYL MORRIS, and LEO are at a club with strobe lights. DRAKE snaps his fingers enthusiastically and a five foot cake appears in the center of the room. Suddenly, the cake begins to shapeshift into a woman in a bell shaped gown. DARRYL glances at LEO.]

DARRYL: (muttering) Given you three, I should’ve guessed this would be a magical bachelor party.

(COLE leans towards DRAKE.)

COLE: So, this is the big finale?

DRAKE: What? (He grins.) A shapeshifter isn’t good enough for you?

(Suddenly, the fluffy gown shortens into a mini dress and she grins seductively at COLE, then she wiggles her finger and telekinetically pulls COLE to her. The shapeshifter plants a kiss on his cheek, leaving a bright red lipstick stain, and then suddenly little horns rise up the top of her head and her nails grow long and scarlet. She starts to dance seductively in front of COLE. LEO glances at DRAKE, who’s smirking quietly.)

LEO: For the record, if Phoebe ever has a premonition about this, I’m sending her straight to you.

[Cut back to the book. A hand drawn picture of COLE down on one knee, holding out his diamond engagement ring to PHOEBEe appears in the page. The cover then slams shut.]

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Five

[Scene: PHOEBE’s story. Mall. PHOEBE and PATTY walk out of Baby Gap, each carrying three more bags than they’d went in with.]

PATTY: I’m dead. (PHOEBE seems to stop and blink as PATTY keeps walking.)

PHOEBE: What?

(PATTY looks back, not noticing the strange look on PHOEBE’s face.)

PATTY: The bill, (she holds out the shopping receipt to PHOEBE) one-hundred and fifty dollars! And not just on baby shoes. (She laughs.) Your sister is going to kill me.

(PHOEBE blinks as she looks at the receipt, then back at PATTY.)

PHOEBE: Oh, right, (she laughs awkwardly) the bill.

(PATTY makes a face.)

PATTY: Are you alright? You look a little…different.

(PHOEBE shakes her head.)

PHOEBE: Uh, no, fine. (She smiles falsely.) I think I just need to get home, I’m feeling a little…tired.

(PATTY nods.)

PATTY: I really don’t need another reason to buy anything else anyway. (She walks off. PHOEBE stares for a minute, then shakes her head and follows.)

[Scene: Real world. Rina’s house. Rina’s room. RINA is lying on her bed with headphones on and her eyes shut, rocking out to her music. PIPER orbs in with CHRIS and MELINDA in a twin baby sling. She walks over to the radio and unplugs it, prompting RINA’s eyes to flash open.]

RINA: What the hell?! (She jerks off her headphones and scrambles off her bed.) Who do you think you are? You can’t just invade my room! You’re not even my mom!

PIPER: I think the question is, who do you think you are? (She points her finger.) Do you really think you can use your powers for personal gain and live a consequence-free life? (She shakes her head.) How dare you! You’re not only being selfish, but you’re endangering everyone around you.

RINA: Oh please, not this speech again.

PIPER: Oh yes, this speech! (She walks over to RINA and grabs her arm, pushing her down onto the bed. PIPER then sits down and slaps the twins’ diaper bag between them. She opens it up and dumps out a bunch of library books.) Do you know what these are? (RINA looks confused, so PIPER shoves one at her. RINA glares, but looks at the book anyway.)

RINA: A book on the Salem Witch Trials. (She shrugs.) So?

PIPER: So, (she stabs the book that RINA’s holding with her finger) do you want this to become your future? Our future? (She looks at the twins.) Their future?

(RINA rolls her eyes.)

RINA: Please, there are laws against this kind of stuff now. It could never-

PIPER: I’ve been there, Rina. (She grabs one of the books and opens it up to a picture of a woman being burned at the stake.) A few years ago my sisters and I were sent to the future, for the same reason I’m talking to you now, for misusing our powers. (She looks down at the picture.) All we’d done was use our powers to punish a guy for letting his dog poop on our front walk, but ten years later, he was the leader in the modern day version of the Witch Trials…and my sister was to be burned at the stake for murder.

RINA: (shocked) What? (She shakes her head, disbelieving.) But she didn’t-

PIPER: She did. And why? Because she’d gone down a long path of using her powers both for personal gain and to punish the guilty, which is not why we have our powers; they are for protecting the innocent, and that’s all.

RINA: But the Wiccan Rede-

PIPER: Is referring to karmic backlash. There’s a wide range of “harm,” Rina. By using your powers to, say, change your test grade, you’re playing on an uneven field, and while it may seem small, what if you were to continue that path and one day stop a classmate from getting into college because you affected a grading curve? (RINA looks down at the Witch Trial books.) And while helping your friend may seem honorable, (she lightly traces the picture of the woman on the stake) it’s not your place to do so.

[Scene: Phoebe’s story. Manor. Phoebe’s room. PHOEBE is lying on her bed, trying to sleep. She keeps turning over. On her dresser, a framed picture of PRUE, PIPER, PHOEBE, and PATTY from PIPER’s wedding day is sitting. Next to it, just a picture of PATTY and PHOEBE is placed. PHOEBE rolls restlessly on top of the covers.]

PATTY’s FLASHBACK VOICE: I’m dead.

PHOEBE’s FLASHBACK VOICE: Oh, wait a minute. The lake as in the lake, where Mom was killed?

PIPER’s FLASHBACK VOICE: That doesn’t seem fair to you, Phoebe, not being able to see Mom.

(There’s a knock at the door and PHOEBE awakens with a start. PHOEBE’s face is slightly flushed. Another knock sounds.)

PHOEBE: (hesitantly) Who is it?

(The door cracks open, revealing PATTY.)

PATTY: Sam and I are heading over to Piper’s now for dinner, we were wondering if you wanted a ride or if you were just going to meet us there later? (She notices PHOEBE’s distraught look and walks over to the bed.)

PHOEBE: You and Sam?

(PATTY leans towards PHOEBE, placing her hand to her forehead.)

PATTY: You’re burning up! (She shakes her head.) You know what, I’m just going to stay here with you. (She motions her hand.) Just lie down, I’ll be back with a wet towel.

[Scene: Paige’s story. Golden Gate Bridge. PAIGE is leaning on the rust colored metal, staring out at the vast city in front of her. Her long dark hair is waving behind her in the wind. She holds up a handheld compact and stares at her reflection.]

PAIGE: Paige Wilder. (She squints.) Who are you? (She tilts her head, examining her reflection from that angle.) Tall, lanky, and brunette. (She bites her lip.) An orphan. You could be anybody…but instead, you’re a whitelighter, a one-of-a-kind orphan, with a “special destiny” that nobody will tell you about. (She strums her fingernails on the bridge’s red metal. Suddenly, she closes her eyes and then opens them again, once again staring at her reflection.) Duty calls. (She flips the compact closed and orbs out.)

[Scene: Prue's story. Church. The pews are decorated with flowing ribbons of lavender silk fabric and bunched with small clusters of pink and baby blue flowers, and guests fill every seat. PRUE is dressed in a spaghetti strap lavender gown with a large flower on the hip. As she moves, the fabric on her dress gives off a blue shimmer. Behind her, ANDY is following, wearing a traditional black and white tux. They walk up to the front of the isle where a small table is standing, draped in white lace with two lavender candles and a few rose petals. PRUE sets up the photographs of PATTY and PHOEBE. She stops and seems to stare at them. ANDY wraps his arms around PRUE’s waist, pulling her close to him. She closes her eyes and leans into him.]

ANDY: Do you think this is the right thing?

PRUE: What do you mean?

ANDY: Piper and Dan. (pause) Don’t get me wrong, I know he’s a good man, but…

(PRUE shakes her head.)

PRUE: Don’t say that. (She pulls away.) After everything that she’s been through, first with losing Phoebe, then Paige, and then Them taking Leo away from her for something Mom did... (She shakes her head.) Don’t start planting seeds of doubt now, Andy. Piper’s been through hell and now that she’s finally happy, I want her to stay that way.

(ANDY hugs PRUE.)

ANDY: She’s the sister I never had, Prue, and you know that’s what I want for her too. (pause) I just want to be sure that she’s not settling. (He strokes her raven hair.)

PRUE: Halliwells don’t settle. (She smiles.) I never would’ve settled for anyone but the best, right? (ANDY grins.) And neither would Piper.

[Scene: Phoebe’s story. Manor. Phoebe’s bedroom. PHOEBE is lying on the bed with a cold cloth on her head, while PATTY is sitting on the edge of the bed, reading from a book.]

PATTY: Do you remember how we used to do this when you were little? (PHOEBE shakes her head.) Only back then, I was reading you “Cinderella” and “Snow White.” (She laughs.) It’s been a while, hasn’t it? (She examines PHOEBE, then reaches over to the bedside table and grabs a glass of water.) Here, drink this.

(PHOEBE takes the glass and brings it up to her mouth, but before she takes a drink, she starts staring at the tiny bubbles in the water.)

[Flashback: PHOEBE, PIPER, PRUE, LEO, and SAM are at Camp Skylark. PHOEBE’s coughing.]

PIPER: Did you see her?

PHOEBE: It entered her and drowned her from the inside.

PRUE: Phoebe, in your vision, what was Mom doing?

PHOEBE: She was using something on the dock. Some…a wire?

LEO: Power cable?

PIPER: Makes sense. Electricity is the only thing that separates water molecules.

PHOEBE: So, what do we do differently?

[Cut back to Phoebe’s story. Tears are dribbling down PHOEBE’s face. PATTY embraces PHOEBE.]

PATTY: Honey what’s wrong?

(PHOEBE pulls away.)

PHOEBE: This is different, but it isn’t real…

PATTY: What?

(PHOEBE swallows hard.)

PHOEBE: You’re dead.

[Scene: Prue’s story. Church. In the front isles, to the left, DARRYL and SHEILA are seated. Standing just a few feet ahead of them, PRUE, PAIGE, and JENNY GORDON, the latter two dressed in bridesmaids gowns identical to PRUE’s. Across from them is DAN GORDON, and behind him are two brunette men and ANDY, DAN’s groomsmen. The wedding march starts and seven-year-old ALICIA and two-year-old PJ come down the isle, dressed in frilly lavender dresses and throwing pink rose petals from white baskets. Following them, five-year-old DJ wears a small black and white child’s tux and carries a white satin pillow with two rings on it. Finally, VICTOR BENNETT appears with his arm looped around PIPER’s, who’s wearing a sleeveless ivory gown and carrying a beautiful bouquet of white roses and lavender tulips.]

PAIGE: (whispering) She looks so gorgeous.

PRUE: (whispering) I’m so happy for her, she’s been dreaming of this day all her life. (VICTOR and PIPER reach the front of the church and PIPER takes her place in front of DAN, who has the brightest of smiles. VICTOR takes a step to the side, near PJ.) The only thing that would make this day perfect is if Mom and Phoebe could be here.

(PAIGE pats PRUE’s arm reassuring. Her eyes spy the pictures of PATTY and PHOEBE on a small table in front of the MINISTER.)

PAIGE: I’m sure they are.

MINISTER: Dearly Beloved, we are gathered together…

(PJ tugs at the hem of PRUE’s dress. PRUE looks down.)

PJ: (whispering) Ant Pipew wooks weal pwetty!

(PRUE grins and scoops PJ into her arms, balancing the two-year-old on her hip.)

PRUE: (whispering) Yes, (she kisses PJ’s cheek as the MINISTER begins his speech) yes she does. (She presses a finger to her lips.) But we’ve got to be quiet, alright?

(PJ nods enthusiastically, causing her black hair to swish around her shoulders. Then she places her finger to her lips like PRUE. PRUE points back to the MINISTER and PJ silently follows her line of vision.)

MINISTER: Into this holy estate these two persons present now come to be joined. (pause) If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace. (PIPER and DAN look back at the sea of guests, and when nothing is said, they turn loving gazes back to each other. DAN takes PIPER’s hands in his.) Marriage is the union-

PHOEBE’s VOICE: Stop!

(PIPER’s eyes grow large as she whips her head around to see PHOEBE running down the isle, looking breathless. Her mouth drops open in time with PRUE’s and PAIGE’s, then her hands fly into the air and everyone but the four sisters and PJ freeze.)

PRUE: (gasping) Phoebe!

(PIPER raises her hands.)

PIPER: (furiously) How dare you! (She flicks her wrists at PHOEBE and an explosion rockets PHOEBE off her feet as the air in front of her explodes. She lands with a rough slam on her back. PIPER picks up the hem of her wedding dress and marches over to PHOEBE, readying herself to blast her again.)

PAIGE: Piper, no!

(PAIGE orbs in front of PHOEBE, crouching down in front of her to shield her from PIPER’s blast. PRUE sets PJ down and runs over, grabbing PIPER’s arms. Piper’s face turns red as she breathes heavily. Suddenly, her eyes start tearing, but she blinks them back.)

PIPER: She’s an imposter!

(PAIGE shakes her head.)

PAIGE: (to PIPER) I sense panic from her, but not deceit.

(PIPER shakes her head.)

PIPER: (angrily to PHOEBE) Who are you?!

PJ: (giddily) Ant Phoebe!

(The sisters’ heads whip around to see PJ innocently waving to PHOEBE. PHOEBE squints her eyes at PJ, then from the corner of her eye, she sees frozen ANDY with his head turned towards the isle. PHOEBE places her hand to her mouth.)

PHOEBE: (to PRUE) This is your fantasy…

[Time lapse. PRUE raises her finger, pointing at PHOEBE.]

PRUE: Who are you and what do you want here?

PHOEBE: Prue, please, you have to listen to me. I’m your sister-

PIPER: Don’t you lie to us, my sister died three years ago!

(PHOEBE shakes her head.)

PHOEBE: No. (to PRUE) It wasn’t me who died, (she looks over at ANDY) it was him.

(PRUE shakes her head.)

PRUE: I don’t know what you’re trying to play here-

PHOEBE: He ran in and shot Rodriguez, Prue! And then Rodriguez hit him with an energy ball.

PAIGE: (to PRUE and PIPER) She believes what she’s saying. (to PHOEBE) Where did you come from?

(PHOEBE looks hesitantly between PIPER, PRUE, and PAIGE.)

PHOEBE: I was sucked into a magical book. (to PRUE) And so were you. (pause) The best I can think of is that it sent us into worlds to live our greatest desires. For me, that was a life where Mom never died. And for you, that was where Andy never died. (She looks at PAIGE.) But because Andy didn’t die that day, destiny went as originally planned, and I did.

(PRUE looks back at ANDY. She shakes her head stubbornly.)

PRUE: That’s not possible, I saw you- (She pulls PJ close to her.) Andy was there for me at Phoebe’s funeral. And, (she looks down at her daughter) we named PJ after her-

PHOEBE: (to PRUE) I’m so sorry…

PIPER: (cautiously) If…if what you’re saying is true, then what else is different? (She glances back at DAN, frozen at the altar.)

(PHOEBE lightly bites her lip.)

PHOEBE: (to PIPER) You marry Leo-

(Tears dribble down PIPER’s cheeks.)

PIPER: Leo? My Leo? (PHOEBE nods.) He’s not taken away by The Elders?

PHOEBE: They gave you a second chance, to prove that being together wouldn’t interfere with your destinies. (pause) And just about a month ago, you gave birth to two beautiful twins, Melinda and Christopher.

(PIPER wipes her running mascara with the back of her hand. PRUE’s face falls as she looks at PIPER.)

PAIGE: (quietly) So if (to PHOEBE) you’re alive…does that mean I never meet (she nods her head to PRUE and PIPER) them?

(PHOEBE shakes her head.)

PHOEBE: (to PAIGE) No, we did find you, and Piper gave up her powers so you could take her place in the Power of Three.

(PJ frowns.)

PJ: (to PRUE) Mommy, why you so sad?

(PRUE wipes her eye with her finger.)

PRUE: Mommy’s just thinking, sweetheart. (She hugs PJ.)

[Flashback: PRUE and ANDY are sitting on their swing, surrounded by fog.]

PRUE: I don’t understand.

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

PRUE: Wait a minute, Andy, no-

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

PRUE: This isn’t fair!

ANDY: You need to go back.

[Cut back to Prue’s story. PRUE’s trying not to cry.]

PRUE: (quietly) Baby, (she rubs PJ’s back) Mommy has to go somewhere, okay?

PJ: Whewe?

PRUE: To fix something. (PJ nods.) I want you to stay with Daddy, okay? He’ll take care of you.

PJ: Okay.

PRUE: (to PIPER) Please… (PIPER turns towards ANDY and waves her hands. ANDY unfreezes and sees the sisters and PJ standing in the isle. PRUE looks at her sisters.) Can you wait for me outside?

PHOEBE: Sure.

(PHOEBE, PIPER, and PAIGE begin to leave as PRUE walks PJ over to ANDY. PHOEBE glances over her shoulder, barely catching ANDY looking back at her as PRUE begins to explain their situation to him. Then she follows PIPER and PAIGE out the heavy doors of the church.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Six

[Scene: Paige’s story. Alley. A twinkle of light deposits PRUE and PHOEBE in a black puddle of water.]

PHOEBE: Oh, nasty! (A fireball whizzes by their heads.)

PRUE: Duck! (She pushes PHOEBE to the side, and the two of them stumble into two big black bags of trash. PHOEBE reaches over to PRUE and pinches her fingers together, pulling a rotting banana peel off her head. PRUE wrinkles her nose.) Thanks.

PAIGE’s VOICE: Fireball!

(PRUE and PHOEBE look towards the direction of their sister’s voice and see PAIGE standing at the end of the alley as a fireball orbs into her hand. She makes a rapid motion of her hand and sends the fireball flying back across the alley, smacking into the shoulder of a burly looking demon with jagged yellow teeth.)

PHOEBE: (whispering) Paige’s biggest desire is to have her telekinetic powers back?

PAIGE: We need to get you out of here. (She bends down, out of view of PHOEBE and PRUE.)

PRUE: Who is she talking to?

PHOEBE: All I know is that we need to get to her so we can get back home. (She hops up as the demon prepares another energy ball.) Hey buddy!

(PHOEBE runs at him and levitates into a spin, whacking the demon with her feet and knocking him to the ground. PRUE also gets up and waves her arm, sending the demon crashing into a dumpster. As PRUE and PHOEBE turn around, they see PAIGE hauling up a young man, whose arm is draped around PAIGE’s shoulders for support. PAIGE and the battered young man start to orb out.)

PRUE: Paige, wait!

(PAIGE looks up and suddenly waves her arm.)

PAIGE: Fireball! (PRUE spins around just in time to see a fireball near her face and then dissolve in orbs which curve to the side and smash into the wall, leaving a scorch mark.) C’mon, we’ve got to get out of here! (PHOEBE and PRUE exchange looks, then they run over to PAIGE who orbs all four of them away.)

[Time lapse. Loft. The Charmed Ones and young man orb in. PAIGE motions her hand and the young man orbs onto a couch.]

PAIGE: (to the young man) I’ll be right back with some bandages. (She starts to walk away so PRUE and PHOEBE quickly follow.)

PHOEBE: Paige, wait!

PAIGE: (dismissively) I don’t know who you are, but if you haven’t noticed, I’ve got a charge to take care of. (She walks into a small bathroom and swings open the medicine cabinet, where she begins to grab gauze rolls, peroxide, and cotton balls.)

(PRUE and PHOEBE share looks.)

PHOEBE (whispering) A charge? (PRUE shrugs, and they follow her in.)

PRUE: You’re trapped in an alternate reality, Paige.

(PAIGE stops and stares.)

PAIGE: I’m sorry, but I don’t have time for this.

(PRUE and PAIGE block the exit to the bathroom.)

PHOEBE: We can’t let you leave.

(PAIGE stares, then she tilts her head to the side.)

PAIGE: Fine. (She orbs behind them and heads back towards her charge. PRUE and PHOEBE exchange looks.)

PRUE: Shoulda seen that coming. (They take off after PAIGE, and find her kneeling at the side of her innocent, dabbing a painful looking bloody burn with a peroxide soaked cotton ball.)

PAIGE: How did you even find me? (She starts to dress the young man’s wound with gauze.) It’s not every day that witches just randomly appear during a demon battle.

PHOEBE: We’re your sisters!

(PAIGE laughs, then looks back at PRUE and PHOEBE.)

PAIGE: What kind of spell are you under? (The young man moans as PAIGE grabs a blanket from the back of the couch and lays it over him.) Shh, just rest, Jim. (She picks up the remainder of gauze, peroxide bottle, and bloody cotton balls and begins walking back towards her sisters.)

PHOEBE: Uh, Paige…who do you think you are? (They follow her back to the bathroom, where she throws away the cotton balls and puts away the first aid supplies.)

PAIGE: What kind of a question is that? (She turns towards them.) You should be telling me who you are.

PRUE: Prue and-

PHOEBE: Phoebe.

(PAIGE shakes her head.)

PAIGE: I’m sorry, but I have no idea who you… (Her eyes widen a little.)

PHOEBE: (excitedly) You remember?!

PAIGE: Oh my gosh! (She points her finger.) I thought you looked familiar!

PRUE: Thank goodness-

PAIGE: You’re the Charmed Ones! (Her face lights up and she thrusts her hands towards them.) This is amazing, not everyone gets to meet someone with your reputations. (She frowns.) But…why?

(PRUE and PHOEBE look at each other.)

PHOEBE: Be-cause…we need your help.

PAIGE: My help? (She blinks confusedly.) What about Leo?

PRUE: You know Leo?

PAIGE: Yeah! (She motions her hand towards the ceiling.) Leo’s a legend Up There; how could the whitelighter to the Charmed Ones not be? So, that still begs the question, what do you need my help for?

PRUE: Uh… (She holds up her finger.) One moment. (She grabs PHOEBE’s arm and pulls her into the hallway.) She knows Leo and she’s been Up There (she points) but she doesn’t know we’re her sisters.

PHOEBE: (whispering) But she’s clearly magically adapt. (pause) Do you think she thinks she’s a whitelighter?

(PRUE nods.)

PRUE: (whispering) It makes sense, given that she said the guy out in the living room is her charge.

PHOEBE: (whispering) But why would Paige desire to be a whitelighter? She loves being a witch!

PRUE: (whispering) I don’t know, but we need some way to get her to remember. (pause) Hugging PJ invoked my memory of Andy, so maybe if we can link Paige to something from our world, we can get her to remember?

PHOEBE: (whispering) So…take her to the Manor?

PRUE: (whispering) You read my mind. (They walk back into the bathroom.)

PHOEBE: Hey, we were wondering if you could do us a big favor…

PAIGE: And what would that be?

PHOEBE: Could you orb us back to our house? (She lays her hand on PAIGE’s arm.) It would be- (She cringes.)

[Premonition: PATTY is clutching a pink bundle to her chest. She’s crying as she backs up against a crib, shaking her head.]

PATTY: Please, no! She’s just a baby!

(Two figures in gold, hooded robes, ELDERS, are advancing on her.)

ELDER #1: You broke the rules!

PATTY: You already took Sam! (She hugs the pink bundle to her chest.) Isn’t that punishment enough?

ELDER #2: You were warned! (He holds out his hand and suddenly the pink bundle vanishes in a yellow flash of light.) I suggest that you don’t search for the child, or reprisals will be made.

ELDER #1: And I’m sure you wouldn’t want her to end up like her father, would you?

(PATTY shakes her head.)

PATTY: You wouldn’t!

ELDER #2: Rules have consequences, and it’s time you realize that.

[Cut back to Paige’s story. PHOEBE pulls her hand away in shock.]

PAIGE: Are you okay?

PHOEBE: (to PRUE) I think we have to summon Mom.

[Scene: Paige’s story. Manor. Attic. The Charmed Ones orb in. PHOEBE walks over to a large wooden chest and bends down.]

PHOEBE: I hope they still keep everything in here.

PAIGE: I still don’t understand why you need me here.

(PHOEBE opens the chest and finds candles next to a lighter.)

PRUE: (to PAIGE) Just bare with us, please.

(PHOEBE begins to organize the candles in a circle as PRUE walks over to the Book of Shadows and starts searching for the spell to summon the dead. PAIGE gazes around the attic, almost in awe.)

PHOEBE: Done.

PRUE: Found it.

(PHOEBE walks over to PRUE and looks at the spell.)

PHOEBE: Paige? (PAIGE looks back at PHOEBE.) Can you come here? (PAIGE squints in confusion, but walks over to her sisters anyway.) We need you to read this.

PAIGE: (shocked) What?

PRUE: Read the spell.

(PAIGE shakes her head.)

PAIGE: Whitelighters can’t say spells.

PRUE: But witches can.

PAIGE: I don’t know who you think I am-

PHOEBE: You’re half witch.

PAIGE: No, (she shakes her head) you’re-

PRUE: Haven’t you ever wondered where you got the ability to orb objects?

PAIGE: I…I was born a whitelighter, so my powers were mutated.

(PHOEBE folds her arms.)

PHOEBE: Is that what They (she lifts her eyes to the ceiling) told you?

PAIGE: Yes!

PRUE: How much do you know about your parents?

(PAIGE looks away.)

PAIGE: My mother died when I was an infant and my father was a whitelighter…but he died too, and his soul was recycled. (She motions at the ceiling.) The Elders raised me; cared for me. They said I have a special destiny-

PHOEBE: Your mother was a witch.

PRUE: Our mother.

PAIGE: No! That’s impossible, witches and whitelighters are forbidden-

PHOEBE: They broke the rules, and as punishment, They took you from her.

PAIGE: Even if that was true, you’re the Charmed Ones! There are already three of you, there couldn’t have been a fourth-

PRUE: If you want to prove us wrong, then read the spell. (She motions to the Book.) Show us that you aren’t a witch.

(PAIGE hesitates, then finally goes to the Book and places her shaky hands to the sides of the pages.)

PAIGE: “Hear these words,
Hear my cry,
Spirit from the other side;
Come to me,
I summon thee,
Cross now,
The Great Divide.”

(A spiral of white lights form in the center of the candles and coalesce into PATTY’s transparent spirit. She faces the sisters and her eyes dance on PRUE and PHOEBE, then land on PAIGE. Suddenly, a transparent tear falls down her cheek and she places her hand to her mouth in shock.)

PATTY: (gasping) Paige! (She steps out of the circle and becomes solid.) But how (to PRUE and PHOEBE) how did you find her?

PRUE: That’s not important right now.

PHOEBE: Mom, please…we need you to tell Paige what happened when she was born.

(PATTY tilts her head to the side, her face awash with shame and regret.)

PATTY: I’m so, so sorry… (PAIGE starts to quietly cry.) Sam and I were so in love…and when we found out, (she unconsciously touches her stomach) we knew we should give you away. (She shakes her head.) But I couldn’t, just the thought of handing over my daughter to a stranger…

PHOEBE: You tried to keep her?

(PATTY nods.)

PATTY: Victor had just left, so we decided to tell everyone that the baby was his. (She looks away.) The Elders were still suspicious, though, so when (to PAIGE) you were born, I used a Binding Spell, just like your sisters. The problem was, we never thought that you might inherit Sam’s powers, and the very first time you orbed, They knew. (Her voice hitches in her throat as PHOEBE rubs PAIGE’s back comfortingly.) And They came and took Sam, and recycled him, and then They took you from me as punishment and told me-

PHOEBE: To not look for her, otherwise all of us would be punished.

(PATTY tearfully nods.)

PATTY: I know it’s terrible to say, but I regret every day that I didn’t give you away… (She nears PAIGE.) I’m so sorry, if only I hadn’t been so selfish. (Tears are crawling down her face.) Can you ever forgive me?

[Flashback: PAIGE, PHOEBE, PIPER, PRUE, LEO, JULIE, and DAVE are gathered at P3.]

PAIGE: (to PRUE, PIPER, and PHOEBE) This is my Aunt Julie and Uncle Dave.

JULIE: So how did you manage to meet my niece?

PAIGE: Actually…there’s something I haven’t told you yet. (JULIE raises her brows.) They’re not just friends of mine, they’re…family.

JULIE: Family?

PAIGE: Birth family. They’re my biological mother’s daughters.

(JULIE’s eyes widen.)

JULIE: (surprised) Sisters? (PAIGE nods. JULIE hugs PAIGE.) Oh, Paige, I’m so happy for you! As long as I can remember, you’ve always been so curious about your birth family.

[Cut back to Paige's story. PAIGE is choking with tears.]

PAIGE: (whispering) I always wondered why… (She moves to PATTY and hugs her.) You did the right thing.

(PRUE and PHOEBE look at each other, then PHOEBE lays a hand on PAIGE’s shoulder.)

PHOEBE: We’ve got to get back, Paige.

(PAIGE nods as she pulls away from PATTY, who looks very confused.)

PATTY: Where do you have to go?

(PAIGE bites her lip tearfully.)

PAIGE: Home.

PATTY: I don’t understand…

(PAIGE walks over to the circle of candles.)

PAIGE: But I do. (She smiles sadly and then bends down.) Thank you, Mom. (She blows out the candle and PATTY disappears. PRUE and PHOEBE go to PAIGE and hug her, allowing her to softly whimper into PHOEBE’s shoulder.)

[Scene: Cole's story. The Charmed Ones appear in a swathe of twinkling lights near a picnic table.]

PHOEBE: Oh no!

PAIGE: What?

(PAIGE follows PHOEBE’s eyes and sees a large group of people gathered under a large terrace. Fold up chairs have been set out and everything is decorated in red and yellow roses. Look-a-likes of PRUE and PAIGE are standing with PIPER in floor length candy apple colored dresses holding mini bouquets of red and yellow roses while a look-a-like of PHOEBE is standing next to COLE in front of a WICCAN PRIESTESS, wearing a floor length veil, white gloves, and a laced backing white wedding gown. Next to COLE, DRAKE is standing in a tux as COLE’s best man, with LEO and DARRYL behind him, acting as COLE’s groomsmen.)

WICCAN PRIESTESS: “Here before witnesses, Phoebe and Cole have sworn their vows towards each other. With this cord, I bind them to those vows.” (She picks up a red cord and begins to wind it around the wrists of COLE and the PHOEBE in the wedding dress.)

PRUE: It looks like Cole’s greatest desire was for you to accept his proposal.

(PHOEBE stares at her boyfriend and her look-a-like kissing.)

PHOEBE: Yeah…

PAIGE: So what should we do? Just crash the wedding?

PRUE: Well, that didn’t work out quite as well last time-

PAIGE: Last time?

(PRUE waves her hand.)

PRUE: Never mind. (pause) If this is the same timeline as ours, with the exception that (to PHOEBE) you accepted Cole’s proposal, then the Piper in this – reality – doesn’t have the power to freeze, which means it’s probably not a good idea to just burst in there.

PAIGE: But it’s not like we’re going to permanently affect anything.

PHOEBE: But it’ll still cause chaos, and since I’d like to avoid that this time, a different approach is probably wise.

PAIGE: So, I take it you have a Plan A?

(PHOEBE chews her lip in contemplation, then sits down on the bench of the picnic table.)

PHOEBE: “In this world and in this place,
Take the soul that wears the lace,
Bring me forth and mold us as one,
For only a single witch can this job get done.”

(PHOEBE’s body dissolves into an orange glow which flies towards the PHOEBE wearing the wedding dress, who is now throwing her bouquet. The PHOEBE look-a-like gasps a little, but nobody seems to notice as the attention is focused on the PRUE look-a-like, who catches the bouquet. From the picnic table, PAIGE eyes the bride.)

PAIGE: Do you think it worked?

(PHOEBE looks down at her wedding dress.)

PHOEBE: Oh boy. (She turns around and nods towards PRUE and PAIGE.)

PRUE: Guess so.

(COLE walks up to PHOEBE and wraps his arms around her waist as DRAKE grabs a microphone.)

DRAKE: (enthusiastically) I think we need to help this party along! (The guests collaboratively agree.) How about I sing one of my favorites for this lovely couple? (He starts singing as PHOEBE and COLE swirl into a dance.)

PHOEBE: Cole, we have to go.

COLE: It’d be rude to leave the guests this early-

PHOEBE: This isn’t real.

COLE: What are you talking about?

PHOEBE: Please try to remember. (She holds up her hand, revealing the diamond engagement ring and the wedding ring on her finger. Suddenly they stop dancing.) I’m so sorry, but… (She pulls off the wedding ring and then takes off the engagement ring and holds them out to COLE. The guests gasp and a dead silence fills the air. PHOEBE places the rings into COLE’s hand.)

[Flashback: COLE is chasing PHOEBE up the stairs at the Manor.]

COLE: Phoebe, wait! We need to talk about this!

(PHOEBE stops abruptly and turns around.)

PHOEBE: Cole, please! (She shakes her head, looking frazzled.) Please, I just need time to think right now. (COLE looks hurt, but he finally nods his head anyway.)

COLE: How much time?

PHOEBE: I don’t know.

[Cut back to Cole's story. COLE looks from the rings to PHOEBE.]

COLE: None of this…

PHOEBE: I’m sorry. (COLE curls his hand around the rings. PHOEBE looks back at her sisters and nods. A moment later, they come running up to PHOEBE and COLE.) I think I know how to get us out of here. (She motions for PRUE and PAIGE to take positions behind COLE, putting him in the middle of a triangle, then the three of them join hands.) The Power of Three.

PRUE, PHOEBE, & PAIGE: “The Power of Three will set us free! The Power of Three will set us free! The Power of Three will set us free!”

[Scene: Townsend Museum. Private room. The blue covered book opens up and a fine gold light sprays from its flipping pages, expelling the Charmed Ones and COLE from its story. They land in a heap on the ground, back in the clothing they were wearing before they entered the book. As they scramble to their feet and dust themselves off, LEO and PIPER orb in, each with one of the twins.]

PHOEBE: (dryly) You guys couldn’t have come a little sooner?

PIPER: (annoyed to LEO) I would have, if someone hadn’t left me to babysit his charge.

LEO: I’m sorry that your sisters needed my help.

PIPER: You couldn’t have at least given me a little heads up?

(LEO ignores the question, and instead turns to address the CHARMED ONES and COLE.)

LEO: Apparently that book was the creation of a sorcerer in the eighteen-hundreds. He made books for a living, but when his wife fell ill and died, he enchanted his final book so that he could live out the story of his heart’s desire, which was of course to live happily ever after, hence the title, with her. Unfortunately the side effect was that if another magically inclined being also found the next blank page, he or she would be transported into the story of his or her desire as well.

PHOEBE: I guess I should be extra thankful for my power of premonition, then, since somehow I doubt we would’ve gotten out without it. (She frowns.) Was there another way to get out?

LEO: Not without outside help-

PIPER: And of course we had no idea where you were until Leo sensed you resurface again.

PAIGE: (sarcastically) Well, isn’t that comforting?

(The door begins to unlock.)

PRUE: Oh! (She holds up her hand, holding the door closed with her powers.) I think we, or I, have bigger problems right now. (She waves her free hand as someone from outside begins to pound on the door.) Go, go! (Orbs and shimmers take away her sisters, LEO, and COLE and then she pulls back her hand and the door flies open, revealing MARILEE and BERT. MARILEE gawks and then her face grows furious.)

MARILEE: (shocked) Ms. Halliwell!

(PRUE smiles sheepishly as she holds up her camera.)

PRUE: I’m done with the photographs…

[Time lapse. The sisters, except PRUE, are gathered at the bar at P3. PAIGE is sipping on a icy cola as PIPER is talking on the barstool next to her.]

PIPER: ...so he finally fixed the microwave and as an apology, offered to watch the kids so I could spend some time with you.

(PRUE walks down the stairs and over to the bar.)

PHOEBE: Look what the cat dragged in. (PRUE sits down.) So, care to enlighten us on what happened after we left?

PRUE: Not really.

PIPER: What did you tell them?

(PRUE winces.)

PRUE: Something that had to do with losing my ID and…

PAIGE: They actually bought that?

PRUE: No, but Corso backed me up.

PHOEBE: (shocked) Really?

PRUE: Yeah…until we were alone, after which he chewed me up one side and down the other. (She laughs humorlessly.) And gave me two weeks unpaid vacation.

PAIGE: Ouch!

PRUE: “And this is the last time I’m taking the heat for you, Halliwell!”

PIPER: (to PHOEBE) What about you?

PHOEBE: I actually had great luck today.

PAIGE: Oh?

PHOEBE: Yeah, turns out there was some big rig rollover that held up traffic this afternoon, so Laura was actually amazed that I got back as quickly as I did.

PRUE: (bitterly) Lucky.

PAIGE: So, just out of curiosity-

PHOEBE: Yes.

PAIGE: Yes? As in, “Viva yes Vegas, Paige”? (PHOEBE nods. PAIGE hugs PHOEBE excitedly.) This is awesome! And Prue’s got the time off-

PRUE: But not the money. Unpaid vacation, remember? So we’ve got no spending cash to rent the extra rooms to make it a family vacation like you wanted.

(PAIGE waves her hand dismissively.)

PAIGE: Details. (She wrinkles her nose.) Details are for tomorrow. Right now, let’s just be happy we’re not living a fairytale.

(At PAIGE’s declaration, PRUE looks away.)

[The Virtual Series]

End Credits

Co-Starring
Tailer Spin --- Rina Skint
Katie Brown --- Marilee Rhett
Ken Feinborg --- Bert
Poppy Montgumery --- Dr. Laura Brenton
Becky Wahlstrom --- Lila Wright
Ben Toplin --- Billy Tannon
MaDonna Conners --- Alicia Morris
Taquiyy Ludd--- DJ Morris
Jake Thomas --- Daniel Archibald
James Read --- Victor Bennett
Brody Jo Hamilton --- Melinda Halliwell
Jackson Philip Kaufman --- Chris Halliwell

Featuring
Ray De Deis --- Elder #1
Alex Cranmer --- Elder #2
Greg Vaughan --- Dan Gordon
Karis Paige Bryant --- Jenny Gordon

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