5x17: A Bun In The Coven

[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.

5.17 A BUN IN THE COVEN

GUEST-STARRING:
ALICE CHAN WAI
VINCE CORAZZA
LOCHLYN MUNRO

Script written by...CAMILLE (FOUREVER CHARMED)

Script edited by...DRAMA (ASSASSIN WITCH)

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

Executive Producer...DTAYLOR (ASTRAL ECHO)

Produced by...DRAMA, FOUREVER CHARMED, XENITH

Directed by...John T. Kretchmer

[The Virtual Series]

A Bun In The Coven

Teaser

[Scene: Downtown San Francisco. Beach. Flashing police cars are surrounding a rocky area of the beach taped off with bright yellow crime scene tape. Uniformed officers are everywhere; among them, is RAE EVANS. RAE is kneeling on a large rock, next to the discarded body of a young woman. She holds up a wallet, revealing the California driver’s license with the dead woman’s picture on it.]

[Scene: Morgue. Inspector DARRYL MORRIS is standing in the corner of the room, watching as the CORONER examines organs from the chest of a young blonde lying on the metal slab. DARRYL’s cell phone rings and he pulls it from his pocket as it rings a second time and answers it.]

DARRYL: Darryl Morris speaking.

[Cut to Rae. She’s looking at the driver’s license still, but now has a cell phone to her ear.]

RAE: The vic’s license says her name’s Addison Avery, twenty-three-years-old.

[Cut to Darryl.]

DARRYL: Is she cut?

[Cut to Rae. She sets the wallet on the rock beside her and places her hand to ADDISON’s abdomen, lightly pushing her forward to reveal a deep gash.]

RAE: Yeah, though there’s no pool of blood here, so the body was dumped.

[Cut to Darryl.]

DARRYL: Just like the others.

[Cut to Rae.]

RAE: We’ve definitely got a serial on our hands. (She grabs the wallet and stands up.) What did the coroner say about the last one?

[Cut to Darryl. The CORONER looks up from his work and motions a bloody glove.]

CORONER: I’m ready.

DARRYL: He just got done, so I’m going to have to go. Keep me updated. (He hangs up and stuffs his cell phone away, then walks over to the metal table, opposite the CORONER.) What did you find?

(The CORONER points to the slash on the left side of the victim’s body.)

CORONER: This coincides with the earlier victims, all done by someone with the knowledge of anatomy. Though, unlike the first two, this victim’s lungs have been extracted.

DARRYL: Not surprising since she was Gold State’s track star. Anything else?

(The CORONER shakes his head.)

CORONER: Other than the missing lungs, she’s exactly intact. (He starts to take off his gloves.)

DARRYL: I wouldn’t take those off just yet…we’ve got another one heading your way as I speak.

Clickable Credits.

[The Virtual Series]

{SCENE: The song “Just My Imagination,” written by Dolores O’Riordon and Noel Hogan and sung by The Cranberries, is heard as stock shots of San Frnacisco are shown while the Guest Credits are rolled.}

Act One

[Scene: PRUE HALLIWELL is walking alongside PIPER HALLIWELL, who is pushing a double stroller with the shade down.]

PIPER: So…how’ve you been lately?

PRUE: How have I been?

PIPER: Yeah. (She rolls her eyes.) Work, life…

PRUE: (suspiciously) Why?

PIPER: I didn’t know I needed a reason to ask that of my sister.

(PRUE sighs.)

PRUE: It just seems a little random-

PIPER: Random? Come on, with work, and you and Phoebe and Paige all off on demon hunts all the time, and then me with the Twins, we don’t get a lot of time just to sit around and talk. (She turns the stroller around the curve of the sidewalk.) I was hoping that since you have an evening shoot today, maybe we could just…hang out.

PRUE: Alright. (She sweeps a wave of hair over her shoulder.) What do you want to know?

PIPER: Well…how’s work going?

(PRUE laughs bitterly.)

PRUE: Crappy. Ever since that book ordeal, I haven’t been able to get Corso off my back. He lays into me about everything.

(PIPER wrinkles her nose.)

PIPER: Uh, well, how about your love life?

PRUE: Love life? What love life?

PIPER: Have you met anyone? Seen anyone eyeing you? Blind dates?

PRUE: No, no, and no. (She throws her sister a sideways glance.) What’s with that question anyway? Why would you think I’m seeing someone?

PIPER: I don’t know. (She looks away.) I guess I was just...hoping.

PRUE: Hoping?

PIPER: I just…don’t like so see you down, that’s all. (pause) You’d tell me if you did find someone, right? (pause) If something…grew…in your love life?

(PRUE looks at her sister with a raised eyebrow.)

PRUE: You really are starved for sister talk, aren’t you? (PIPER laughs and so does PRUE.) Look, Piper, of course I’d tell you if something was going on with me. (She touches PIPER’s shoulder.) If I meet someone, you’ll be the first to know.

[Scene: South Bay Social Services. Paige’s cubical. LILA WRIGHT pokes her head around the cubicle to find PAIGE MATTHEWS lighting a scented candle. She rolls her chair out.]

LILA: Hey, (she holds up a newspaper) did you see this?

(PAIGE sits down and spins around in her office chair.)

PAIGE: No, what?

(LILA unfolds the paper, revealing the headline, “Murder String Continues: Third Death in Three Days!” PAIGE grabs the paper.)

LILA: This is really starting to freak me out. Apparently this psycho creep keeps abducting women in the area, it looks like between the ages of twenty-two and twenty-five, and then dumping their bodies after cutting out vital organs.

(PAIGE hands the newspaper back to LILA, a little repulsed.)

PAIGE: Thanks for that, now I won’t be able to finish my McMuffin.

LILA: This is serious! (She wags the paper in the air.) Doesn’t it scare you? I mean, hello, we’re right within that age range, Paige!

PAIGE: Well, of course it doesn’t make me feel safe, but on the flip side, I’ve also dealt with worse than your average killer before. (She turns back to her computer and hits “Print.”)

LILA: Well, fine, don’t care, but I swear if this guy finds and murders you, I’m going to kill you. (She sticks her nose in the air as PAIGE laughs and rolls her chair back into her cubical.)

[Scene: Manor. Hallway. The sound of the toilet flushes and then PHOEBE HALLIWELL comes out of the bathroom, looking tired and pale. She wipes the corner of her mouth with the sleeve of her pink pajama top and stumbles down to her room, where she collapses on her bed. Moments later, COLE TURNER enters with a tray containing a bowl of chicken soup, saltines, and a single red rose lying to the side. He sets the tray over PHOEBE’s lap and she smiles at him.]

PHOEBE: Thanks, but I’m really not hungry.

COLE: You’ve got to eat something.

(PHOEBE blinks her eyes warily.)

PHOEBE: Really, my stomach just keeps reacting violently to any sort of food. (COLE sighs and picks up the tray, but only sets it down on the ground, then lays down beside PHOEBE and wraps his arm around her shoulders.) But, (she smiles and snuggles close to him) this is nice. And comforting. (pause) I just don’t want you to catch whatever I have.

(COLE smiles.)

COLE: I haven’t been sick a day in twenty years, I highly doubt you’re going to give anything to me now. (He strokes PHOEBE’s hair as she closes her eyes in an attempt to get some sleep.)

[Cut to the entry way. PRUE walks in, followed by PIPER, who is still pushing the stroller. PRUE shuts the door.]

PIPER: I’m surprised Cole’s car is still out front-

PRUE: Oh, yeah, he’s been here since yesterday, taking care of Phoebe.

PIPER: Taking care of her?

(PRUE shrugs as they head to the kitchen.)

PRUE: She was really sick last night.

PIPER: (curiously) Really sick? How?

(PRUE nods as she opens the fridge and pulls out the orange juice.)

PRUE: Vomiting, actually.

(PIPER pulls back the shade on the stroller, revealing MELINDA HALLIWELL and CHRIS HALLIWELL, who are sleeping in the double stroller.)

PIPER: Oh. (pause) Did she show any signs of being sick before then?

PRUE: Not that I know of. (She holds up the orange juice.) Want some?

PIPER: No, thanks. (PRUE puts the orange juice away.) So, did she say what was wrong?

PRUE: Uh, I haven’t really had a chance to talk with her. She’s just been between the bathroom and her room since Cole got here. I did try to see how she was this morning, but she was asleep, and then that’s when you came over and asked about going on a walk.

PIPER: Oh…well, maybe I should go see her? (She starts to turn away when PRUE grabs her hand.)

PRUE: You’ve got good intentions, (she motions to the sleeping twins) but it’s not a very wise idea. What if you happened to catch what she has? You could pass it on to the Twins.

(PIPER frowns, but nods.)

PIPER: Right. (muttering) Although I doubt it.

PRUE: What?

(PIPER shakes her head.)

PIPER: Nothing.

(PIPER sets down the twins’ diaper bag on the table and unzips it. She pulls back a folded baby blanket that’s on top, revealing a plastic bag containing the positive pregnancy test. She glances over her shoulder and releases a snort of irritation.)

[Cut to Phoebe’s room. PHOEBE yawns and sleepily rolls over and her hand falls to the right side of COLE's chest. Her hand suddenly balls up the fabric of his shirt.]

[Premonition: A fresh heart is lying in a pair of hands. The hands set the heart down, which is surrounded by other organs including a pair of lungs, a stomach, and intestines. The hands sprinkle drops of blood over the organs and then the sound of chanting in an ancient language is heard. When the chanting stops, the heart begins to pump.]

[Cut back to the present. PHOEBE jolts out of her sleep, sweaty and breathing in fast paced puffs.]

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Two

[Scene: Manor. Living room. PHOEBE is sitting on the couch, curled up with a blanket, and COLE is sitting beside her. PRUE is sitting in a chair opposite them, with the Book of Shadows in her lap. PIPER walks in with a hot mug of chamomile tea and hands it to PHOEBE, who instead of drinking it, just holds it under her chin and allows the steam to warm her skin.]

PIPER: (to PRUE) Leo just orbed the kids back to the house. (She sits down and turns to her younger sister.) Are you sure it was a premonition, Phoebe?

PHOEBE: I may be sick, but I’m pretty sure I know the difference between bad dreams and premonitions by now.

PRUE: Well, at least we’ve got one clue. (She keeps turning the yellowed pages of their family heirloom.)

PIPER: And that would be?

PRUE: Our demon’s got hands.

PHOEBE: (sarcastically) Oh, yeah, that really narrows it down.

COLE: And a human form. Or…it could be some type of witch or sorcerer.

PHOEBE: Cole’s right, remember Tuatha? (She suddenly squints her eyes.) Speaking of, where’s the spell requiring a human heart to annul a witch’s powers?

(PRUE holds her hand over the Book and the pages start magically turning. After a moment, they stop and land on the spell PHOEBE requested. PRUE looks over the spell.)

PRUE: I don’t think it’s what you saw.

PHOEBE: Why?

PRUE: This spell doesn’t require other body parts.

COLE: I doubt you’re far off, though. What Phoebe described definitely reeks of ancient magick rituals.

(The doorbell rings.)

PIPER: I’ll get it. (She walks out.)

PRUE: And nothing from the chant sounded even vaguely familiar?

(PHOEBE shakes her head.)

PHOEBE: It just sounded like deep throated gibberish.

(PIPER walks back in with DARRYL in toe.)

PRUE: (surprised) Darryl!

(DARRYL eyes the sisters suspiciously.)

DARRYL: Did I come at a bad time?

PHOEBE: Well, actually…

PIPER: We were dealing with a premonition Phoebe just had.

(DARRYL holds up a yellow envelope.)

DARRYL: It didn’t have to do with dead women, did it?

PIPER: Not unless those women were missing vital organs.

(DARRYL pulls a handful of photos out of the envelope and passes them out to the sisters and COLE.)

DARRYL: Like those? (PHOEBE stares down at the autopsy photo in her hand, revealing a woman whose intestines are missing from her body. She suddenly covers her mouth and throws down the picture before running out of the room.) What’s wrong with her?

COLE: Stomach bug. (PIPER makes a noise, causing COLE to look at her. PIPER covers her mouth and coughs, so COLE looks back to DARRYL.) How many victims are there?

DARRYL: Four so far.

COLE: Any without a heart?

(DARRYL narrows his eyes.)

DARRYL: No. (pause) Should I be looking for one?

PRUE: Not if we can help it. (She collects the photos.) Mind if we borrow these?

(DARRYL shakes his head.)

DARRYL: They’re copies. (He looks at his watch.) I gotta go, my partner’s waiting on me downtown.

PRUE: Thanks for the heads up. (She nods.) We’ll keep you updated.

DARRYL: Thanks. (He leaves. After the door shuts, PHOEBE comes back in, looking paler than before she left.)

PHOEBE: Where’s Darryl?

PIPER: He just left. (pause) Uh, Pheebs, maybe you should set up a doctor’s appointment?

(PHOEBE and COLE share a look.)

COLE: (to PHOEBE) See? I’m not the only one.

PHOEBE: No, no, (she waves her hand) you’re both overreacting, I’m sure it’s just a twenty-four hour bug. I’ll be fine by tomorrow. (She gets up and wobbles a little, so COLE stands up to steady her.) Thanks. (She touches her forehead and heaves a small sigh.) I’ll go call Paige-

PRUE: No. (She stands up.) There’s no need to interrupt Paige at work unless we know for sure that we need the Power of Three. (She commandingly points to the stairs.) And by the way, you should go get some rest-

PHOEBE: But-

PRUE: No buts, just rest. (She narrows her eyes and PHOEBE makes a pout.) I’ve got Piper to help me, and it’s not as if she and I haven’t done demon research on our own before. Now, (she motions her hand again) spit spot!

(PHOEBE wrinkles her nose in protest, but heads off to bed anyway, with COLE right behind her.)

[Scene: Piper and Leo’s house. Nursery. MELINDA is lying on the changing table as her father, LEO WYATT, adjusts the sticky tabs on her diaper. He then snaps her onsie and picks her up, turning towards the white bassinet, where CHRIS is lying. He frowns as he looks between his children.]

LEO: Looks like you and Chris here are just getting too big to share a bassinet anymore, huh? (He lays MELINDA down in her own pink and white bassinet and inspects them.) Given a few months, both of you will probably be too big for those anyway, won’t you? (He glances at the white crib to his left, where the pink, yellow, and white baby blanket that PIPER knitted for MELINDA is hanging over the side.) And then you’ll have to graduate to a big girl crib, huh? (LEO scoops CHRIS up from the bassinet and cuddles his son.) And you, you’re gonna need a bed (he looks around) and room of your own pretty soon, aren’t you? (pause) Hey! What do you say to the three of us doing a little window shopping while your mommy’s off hunting demons with Aunt Prue? How does that sound, Little Buddy?

[Scene: South Bay Social Services. PAIGE has a pair of headphones in her ears as she’s typing. She jumps as a hand touches her shoulder, then spins around to see LILA and BILLY TANNON standing behind her. She pulls the earphones out.]

PAIGE: God, you scared me.

LILA: I was beginning to think you’d lost your mind to the music.

(PAIGE makes a playful face.)

PAIGE: What’d you need?

(LILA taps her watch.)

LILA: It’s lunch.

PAIGE: It is? Already? (She looks at the time on her computer screen.) Time flies when you’re buried in custody papers.

LILA: We (she motions to BILLY) were wondering if you wanted to go with us.

PAIGE: Take out?

LILA: Actually, we’re hitting the drive through and then we’re gonna go to this auction thingy-

BILLY: It’s a special charity auction that they’re hosting tomorrow, but they’re having a two hour preview which happens to coincide with right now.

(PAIGE appears to mull over the idea, then grabs her jacket.)

PAIGE: I’m game. (She turns off her computer.) So, what all is supposed to be at this auction preview anyway?

(BILLY pulls a paper booklet out of his coat pocket and hands it to PAIGE.)

BILLY: It’s all in there. (pause) What I’m really interested in is the mummy, though.

(LILA giggles.)

LILA: You should see his bedroom; he’s a total geek for anything Egyptian. (BILLY's face turns a little red.) What? I think it’s cute that you’re all, (she makes a fist) King Tut power! (She nudges him and then grabs his arm, causing his face to grow darker. PAIGE chuckles as they leave.)

[Scene: Manor. Attic. PIPER is leaning over the Book of Shadows as PRUE sits at the table, studying the crime scene pictures.]

PIPER: I’ve got a demon who feeds on human organs to sustain himself during his hibernation every thousand years, (PRUE looks up) the problem is, his last annual feeding was nineteen-hundred.

PRUE: Given that Phoebe saw someone bringing these organs back to life as opposed to devouring them, I doubt that’s our demon of the week.

(PIPER shuts the Book.)

PIPER: Well, then I’m at a loss here. (She walks over to the table and sits down.) I’ve checked the Book three times already and let me tell you, there is no charm, page, or clue whatsoever. (pause) Any luck with the pictures?

(PRUE taps one picture with her fingernail.)

PRUE: There’s something bugging me about these wounds. (pause) They look strangely familiar, yet I just can’t place them.

(PIPER squints her eyes.)

PIPER: Maybe you should have a go at the Book? Perhaps that’s where you saw it?

(PRUE shakes her head and gets up.)

PRUE: Actually, that’s not a bad idea. (She leaves in a hurry. PIPER stares in confusion.)

PIPER: Ookay, (she glances at the Book of Shadows) apparently we’re not on the same page.

[Scene: Mommy & Me. LEO is pushing a stroller around the store, stopping at various cribs to inspect them. A SALES WOMAN approaches with a manufactured smile on her face. She peers into the stroller while LEO is busy looking at an Eddie Bauer crib.]

SALES WOMAN: (loudly) Oh! How simply a-dor-a-ble!

(LEO spins around to see the SALES WOMAN leaning her head towards the stroller, wiggling her fingers at the twins.)

LEO: Uh, (awkwardly) thanks. (He grabs the handle of the stroller and lightly pulls it away from the woman. She in turn holds out her hand.)

SALES WOMAN: Stephanie Winsley, (she scrunches her nose as she stretches out her cheeks to amplify her smile) how can I help you?

(LEO shakes his head.)

LEO: We were just looking at cribs.

STEPHANIE: “We”? Oh, is your wife here? (She looks around.)

LEO: Uh, no, I just meant, (he motions to the stroller) my kids and I.

STEPHANIE: Oh. (pause) Well then, (she looks LEO up and down, noting his plaid shirt and khakis and then raises her eyebrow at the Eddie Bauer crib) perhaps I can show you a few other choices we have?

LEO: Well, actually I was just window shop-

STEPHANIE: Right this way! (She walks off. LEO clenches the handle of the stroller as STEPHANIE turns around, waving impatiently. LEO meekly motions his hand back and pushes the stroller in her direction.)

LEO: (mumbling) I suddenly remember why I hate shopping.

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Three

[Scene: Manor. Attic. PRUE runs in, excitedly waving a book in her hand.]

PRUE: I knew I’d seen this before! (She flops down on the sofa next to PIPER.) I knew there was a reason I hadn’t gotten rid of my old auction books. (She points excitedly to a photograph of an unwrapped Egyptian mummy.)

PIPER: Sorry, but your thought train is moving a tad too quickly for me to jump on.

(PRUE jabs the diagram underneath the photo with her thumb.)

PRUE: Look at where the incisions were made during mummification rituals, (PIPER nods) and now look where each of the incisions on the victims are… (She grabs one of the photos from PIPER’s lap and holds it up. PIPER’s mouth drops open.)

PIPER: Okay, so some crazy psycho is going around stealing body parts via ancient Egyptian mummification rituals?

PRUE: Well, it makes sense, doesn’t it? (She turns the page, pointing to pictures of ancient jars, most with animal heads.) The extracted organs were placed into Canopic Jars and then set in the tomb of the deceased, (she draws her finger down to the caption below the picture) “among these organs were the liver, stomach, lungs, intestines…” (She looks at her sister.) The only organ they didn’t remove was the heart, because they felt it was vital, no pun intended, to the spirit in the afterlife.

PIPER: So then, the question now is, why? (She shrugs her shoulders.) Why would someone be performing mummy rituals now? And in San Francisco, of all places? I mean, (she throws up her hands) we’re kind of a fine distance away from Egypt! (PRUE stands up and starts to pace.) And why are they only removing one organ from each victim? (PRUE heads for the door.) Where are you going now?

PRUE: To get my laptop, I have a feeling a little research is in order.

(PIPER snorts.)

PIPER: Great, so now I’ve got two mummy mysteries on my hands.

[Scene: Bucklands Auction House. Auction room. BILLY, LILA, and PAIGE are walking around looking at the charity auction pieces that are being displayed in glass cases. PAIGE’s stomach growls and she rubs it longingly.]

PAIGE: I can’t believe they wouldn’t let me bring one lousy burger in here. (She moans.) I’m so hungry.

(LILA digs into her pocket and pulls out a handful of skittles.)

LILA: World class smuggler, at your service.

(PAIGE grins and takes the skittles.)

PAIGE: I love you.

LILA: I know. (They walk around a wall pinned with aged documents.)

BILLY: (excitedly) There it is! (He points and then runs over to a large sarcophagus, which is surrounded by rope and has a SECURITY GUARD stationed nearby. LILA and PAIGE follow him.) Isn’t it amazing? (He removes his cell phone and holds it up, but the SECURITY GUARD walks over and grabs the phone, shutting it.)

SECURITY GUARD: Sorry, (he points to a sign on the wall) no photography.

(BILLY’s face turns red as the guard hands him back his cell phone.)

BILLY: (to the SECURITY GUARD) Sorry. (The SECURITY GUARD walks back to where he was standing, while BILLY rubs his cheeks, trying to hide his embarrassment. PAIGE pulls out her auction itinerary and flips through it.)

PAIGE: “Donated from the private collection of Moses Upton III, is the ancient mummy of an unidentified Egyptian Queen.” (She twitches her nose.) Ooh, sucks to be her.

LILA: What? (She grabs the itinerary.)

PAIGE: It says that x-rays reveal that her skull was smashed from the back.

LILA: An ancient murder? (She eyes the sarcophagus.) Cool!

[Scene: Manor. Hallway. PIPER sees COLE walk out of PHOEBE’s room and head for the stairs. She looks around and then walks over to PHOEBE’s room. The door is ajar, so she pushes it open a little more and opens her mouth to announce her presence, when she notices PHOEBE sitting on the bed, flipping through a magazine. She squints and then covers her mouth as she sees the name of the magazine, “Baby 101,” and a picture of an infant underneath. She straightens her posture and appears about to speak when she catches PRUE from the corner of her eye and shuts the door.]

PIPER: Hey!

(PRUE raises an eyebrow.)

PRUE: What were you doing?

PIPER: Just checking on Phoebe. (She smiles.) She’s fine. (She grabs PRUE’s arm and they head for the stairs.)

PRUE: Okay, so I called Darryl and he said that he’d drop off some of the files in half an hour, until then, (she holds up her laptop) we’ve only got the Internet at our disposal.

[Cut to the kitchen. COLE is making a sandwich as PRUE and PIPER walk in.]

COLE: Any leads on Phoebe’s premonition?

(PRUE sets her laptop down and opens it up.)

PRUE: We think it has to do with mummification.

COLE: (surprised) So, you’re thinking modern Egyptian cults?

(PRUE looks up.)

PRUE: No… (Her laptop screen comes on.) But now I am. (to PIPER) Can you grab me a pencil?

(PIPER moves to a drawer and opens it, grabbing a pencil which she then hands to her sister. PIPER sits down next to PRUE.)

PIPER: What would Egyptian cults have to do with anything? I mean, wouldn’t you be more likely to find an Egyptian cult in say… (She rolls her eyes.) Egypt?

(PRUE clicks on her Internet icon and a web browser comes up. She brings up Google and types in, “mummies, San Francisco” and presses “Enter.” A moment later, a long list of clickable blue links pops up. PRUE snorts.)

PRUE: Oh, look, seven-hundred-sixty-eight-thousand pages.

COLE: Try quoting it and see what you get?

(PRUE types in quotations around the text and presses “Enter” again. This time, ten results appear.)

PRUE: (surprised) Thanks. (COLE shrugs and takes a bite out of his sandwich. As PRUE scrolls down, she notices “…Bucklands to auction off mummy this afternoon…” in one of the summaries.) No way.

(PIPER looks at the screen.)

PIPER: What? (She sees the link.) Coincidence?

PRUE: There are no coincidences, Piper. (She clicks the link.)

[Scene: Bucklands Auction House. PAIGE, LILA, and BILLY are leaving.]

PAIGE: Well, that was fun, but now all I want to do is devour my lunch.

(As they head into the parking lot, a man walks right into LILA with a loud thumping sound. LILA falls to the ground and BILLY immediately moves to help her up, but the man who walked into her does instead.)

MAN: I’m so sorry!

(LILA shakes her head as BILLY stares at him.)

LILA: It okay.

MAN: Are you alright?

LILA: I’m fine. (She smiles at him and he nods. They part ways and continue to BILLY's car.)

BILLY: Wasn’t that the security guard?

PAIGE: Who?

BILLY: The guy that just walked into Lila.

(LILA shrugs and PAIGE makes an inquisitive face.)

PAIGE: You know, now that I think about it, I think you’re right.

BILLY: Why would he be out in the parking lot?

(LILA shrugs.)

LILA: Well he wasn’t in uniform, maybe it’s his lunch hour? (They reach BILLY’s car and PAIGE peers into the window, eyeing her takeout on the seat.)

PAIGE: Speaking of lunch, can you pleeease open the door before I’m forced to eat both of you?

[Scene: Manor. Kitchen. PIPER walks in, wagging a folder between her thumb and index finger. She lays the folder on the table next to PRUE.]

PIPER: Darryl just stopped by.

(PRUE rips off a lined sheet of paper from a notebook, which is covered in handwritten notes. She sticks it inside the folder and stands up.)

PRUE: Grab your coat.

PIPER: And where are we going?

PRUE: To see how my old job is faring without me.

[Time lapse. PRUE and PIPER walk up to the auction room where a sign by the door says, “Charity Auction Preview: 12:00 – 2:00 P.M. Today only!” PRUE pushes on the door, but it’s locked. PIPER looks at her watch and then taps PRUE’s shoulder. PIPER points to her watch face.]

PIPER: Two-twelve.

PRUE: Great! (She folds her arms.)

PIPER: Well, we can always come back for the actual auction tomorrow.

PRUE: There’s no time. There’s been a murder every day this week, and given Phoebe’s premonition, I have no doubt that they’ll be another by tomorrow, unless we see this mummy now.

MAN’s VOICE: (shocked) Prue Halliwell? Is that you?

(PRUE whirls around.)

PRUE: (surprised) Jack?

(JACK SHERIDAN grins back at PRUE.)

JACK: Of all the places to see you, I never once expected it to be here.

(PRUE laughs.)

PRUE: Yeah, well… (She rolls her eyes.) We (she motions to PIPER) just came to check something out, but apparently-

(JACK dangles the keys to the door.)

JACK: Apparently today is your lucky day. (He unlocks the doors.) Private tour? (PIPER and PRUE look at each other. JACK grins.) Just for old time’s sake?

(PRUE playfully rolls her eyes as she nods.)

PRUE: Well, since you’re here…

JACK: That’s what I like to hear! (He walks inside. PIPER nudges PRUE.)

PIPER: And you didn’t even have to use your Charms.

(PRUE nudges PIPER back.)

PRUE: Oh you be quiet! (PIPER laughs as they walk into the auction room.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Four

[Scene: Bucklands Auction House. Auction room. PIPER is looking around while PRUE and JACK are standing near the sarcophagus.]

JACK: So, what prompted you to want to check this out?

PRUE: Just a little research for a friend of mine.

JACK: Oh?

PRUE: Yeah, he’s a little tied up right now, so he couldn’t get down here himself.

JACK: (curiously) He?

PRUE: Yeah, he, and he’s just a friend.

(JACK nods. He glances over his shoulder at PIPER, though she’s not looking, and then returns his attention to PRUE.)

JACK: So, uh, just out of curiosity, are you-

PRUE: No. (She sighs.) Jack, really, I just-

(JACK holds up his hands.)

JACK: Hey, I was just curious, that’s all. (pause) Honest. (He shows her his trademark toothy grin. PRUE nods. JACK puts his hands down.) So, what’ve you been up to these days?

PRUE: I’m a photographer now.

JACK: A photographer? (surprised) Really? (He shakes his head.) I never would’ve guessed, (he shrugs) I mean, you were such a great appraiser…wow, so, where are you working now?

PRUE: 415 Magazine.

JACK: No kidding! (He nods.) Nora reads that all the time.

PRUE: Nora?

JACK: Oh, (he laughs) my uh, girlfriend.

PRUE: (shocked) Girlfriend?

JACK: Yeah, we’ve sorta had a thing going on for a while and finally everything just sorta… (He clasps his hands together.)

PRUE: Now that, I never would’ve guessed.

JACK: I know, right? I mean, me, in a stable relationship? (He looks around.) Do I sense an apocalypse?

(PRUE places her hand on his shoulder.)

PRUE: Don’t jinx us. (They laugh.)

JACK: But in all seriousness, (he shrugs) yeah, I was just as surprised as you are, but as we went along, everything really just fell into place. (He shrugs.) I guess that’s what happens when you find the one you’re truly meant for, right?

(PRUE looks at the sarcophagus.)

PRUE: (quietly) I wouldn’t know…

[Scene: South Bay Social Services. PAIGE walks out of MR. COWAN’s office to find LILA waiting outside for her, with a worried look.]

PAIGE: Lil?

LILA: You haven’t seen my wallet, have you?

(PAIGE shakes her head.)

PAIGE: When was the last time you had it?

LILA: Uh…when I bought lunch, I guess.

PAIGE: Maybe it’s in Billy’s car?

LILA: I already looked.

PAIGE: Everywhere? (LILA nods.) Maybe you should look again? (She shrugs.) I know I’ve lost things between the seats before and it took me several searches before I found them.

(LILA sighs.)

LILA: I guess.

(PAIGE glances down at her watch.)

PAIGE: What if I go check for you? Maybe a fresh pair of eyes will make a difference?

LILA: Alright. (She waves her hand.) I’ll go ask Billy for the keys again. (She walks away.)

[Scene: Bucklands Auction House. Auction room. PIPER walks over to PRUE and JACK.]

PIPER: Hey, uh, Prue, sorry to interrupt, but were you able to find out anything? (She taps her watch.)

JACK: Sorry, I guess we got caught up catching up. (He laughs.) Uhm, what exactly were you wondering about the mummy?

PRUE: Who is it? Where’d it come from?

JACK: Well, there’s not a lot more to say about it other than what’s already in the guide. (PRUE snaps her fingers in frustration.) Oh! Wait, (he wags his finger) there is one thing. (PIPER and PRUE look curiously at him. He waves his hand.) Follow me, you’re going to need to see this.

[Cut to a room filled with shelved artifacts, all labeled. JACK, PRUE, and PIPER walk in.]

JACK: I’m really not supposed to do this, but hey, (he winks) I’ve never really been fond of rules. (He leads them down several isles until they come to the back of the room, where he bends down and pulls out a metal box. He opens it and pulls out plastic covered copies of photographs and hands them to PRUE.)

PRUE: What’re these?

JACK: Photographs of the tomb that the mummy was recovered in. They were given to us by Mr. Upton and authenticated just last week, which was when we set a date to auction off the mummy, which has several museums in a frenzy.

PRUE: I would bet. (She holds the pictures close to examine them.)

JACK: A lot of the hieroglyphics on the walls were faded or destroyed because the tomb had been ransacked, but (he points to one of the pictures that PRUE’s holding) this one was still in near perfect condition, and according to the translators, it prophesizes that the Queen will rise from her tomb and one day walk the earth again.

(PRUE and PIPER share serious looks.)

PRUE: Does it say how?

JACK: “By replenishing her body,” whatever that means. (He shrugs.) I wasn’t really exactly interested with the deciphering the prophecy, it’s just a bunch of meaningless stuff to scare off intruders, you know?

(PRUE hands the pictures back to JACK.)

PRUE: Thanks, you’ve been a huge help! (She grabs PIPER’s arm.) But uh, we’ve really gotta go now. (They start to walk off.)

JACK: What, I don’t even get a goodbye?

PRUE: Bye! (She and PIPER leave. JACK shakes his head and looks down at the pictures.)

JACK: (muttering) Some things never change.

[Time lapse. PHOEBE is leaning over the side of her bed, vomiting loudly into the trash bin. COLE grabs a tissue and hands it to her. PHOEBE wipes her mouth and throws the tissue into the trash can. COLE looks away as he ties the bag and lifts it out of the bin. PHOEBE smiles weakly at him.]

PHOEBE: You’re too good to me.

COLE: Do you want me to get you some more Pepto-Bismol?

(PHOEBE shakes her head.)

PHOEBE: No, I obviously can’t even keep that down either, so I’d rather not try to force myself to overdose on it.

(COLE heads to the door.)

COLE: I’m going to get rid of this and then I’ll be right back. (He walks out. PHOEBE looks at the digital clock to the side of her bed which reads, “8:57 P.M.” She reaches for the phone when someone knocks at her door.)

PIPER’s VOICE: Phoebe, you awake?

PHOEBE: Come in. (PIPER and PRUE walk in.) Well, it’s about time, I was wondering where you guys were.

PRUE: We were at Bucklands-

PHOEBE: Bucklands? Now there’s a flashback.

PRUE: Tell me about it!

PHOEBE: So what happened?

PRUE: We think that your premonition and Darryl’s cases may be tied to this mummy that they’re auctioning off tomorrow.

PIPER: So then we stopped at the precinct afterwards to talk to Darryl, but he was out for an hour on a call and when he did come back, we ended up waiting another hour while he had a meeting with his boss.

PRUE: To make a long story short, we filled him in, but since we’ve got no proof, his hands are pretty much tied.

(PIPER holds up the case folder.)

PIPER: Which was why we were wondering if you might be up to helping us?

(PHOEBE frowns as COLE walks in.)

PHOEBE: A premonition?

COLE: You had another one?

PHOEBE: No…not yet.

(COLE replaces the trash bin bag.)

PRUE: Only if you’re up to it, Pheebs.

(PHOEBE sighs and reaches for the folder.)

PHOEBE: Hey, innocents come first, right?

(PIPER leans in and hands PHOEBE the folder.)

[Scene: South Bay Social Services. Lila’s cubical. LILA is putting on her jacket as PAIGE pokes her head inside.]

PAIGE: Any luck finding your wallet?

LILA: No.

(PAIGE frowns.)

PAIGE: I’m sorry. (pause) Do you need a ride home or anything?

LILA: No, Billy’s gonna give me a lift. (She shrugs.) Hopefully it’ll turn up by tomorrow, maybe one of the janitors will find it? (She laughs grumpily.) Though it may not have any cash left when I get it back.

PAIGE: (encouragingly) I’m sure it’ll turn up.

(BILLY walks up.)

BILLY: Ready to go?

LILA: Yeah. (She slings her purse over her shoulder.) ‘Night, Paige.

PAIGE: See you guys tomorrow. (They walk their separate ways.)

[Scene: Manor. Phoebe’s bedroom. PHOEBE shakes her head as she shuts the folder and hands it back to PIPER.]

PHOEBE: Sorry, but I’ve got nothing.

PRUE: (frustrated) How are we supposed to stop this with nothing more to go on except some bloody organs? (She looks up at the ceiling.) If you guys are listening, it would be great if you could send us a little psychic arrow! (Nothing happens. PRUE throws up her hands and leaves. PIPER and PHOEBE look at each other.)

PHOEBE: She’s been kind of uptight lately.

PIPER: Well, it is Prue we’re talking about.

PHOEBE: Well yeah, but still, it’s unusually so.

PIPER: (sarcastically) Right.

[Scene: Lila’s apartment. It’s dark as LILA walks inside. She shuts the door and flicks on the light switch and begins to remove her coat when she notices something on the table. She squints and then grabs the object, opening it up to reveal it as her wallet, complete with her driver’s license inside. She looks shocked. Then an arm suddenly reaches around from behind her and covers her mouth with a rag. She tries to struggle and scream, but her voice is muffled, and soon her eyes roll back in her head and she falls limp in the stranger’s arms.]

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Five

[Scene: Morning. Piper and Leo’s house. The alarm clock goes off and PIPER reaches over and slaps it. She sits up and stretches, only to realize that LEO isn’t beside her. She yawns and gets out of bed, sliding on her slippers and robe. PIPER shuffles out of the bedroom and down the hallway to the nursery, where she finds LEO walking back and forth with CHRIS in his arms, feeding him a bottle.]

PIPER: Hey.

LEO: Morning.

(PIPER walks over to LEO and pecks him on the lips.)

PIPER: I didn’t even hear you get up.

LEO: Chris woke up a couple hours ago, but you were so tired that you didn’t hear, so I just thought I’d let you sleep.

PIPER: Thanks. (She peers at MELINDA, who is sleeping in her bassinet.) Oh my gosh, look how much she’s grown.

(LEO nods.)

LEO: (to CHRIS) We were just talking about that yesterday, weren’t we? (CHRIS continues to suck on his bottle.) Actually, I didn’t get a chance to tell you, but I also did a little crib shopping.

PIPER: You did?

LEO: Yeah, and I can tell you, we are not going back to Mommy & Me.

PIPER: Bad experience?

LEO: Awful customer service. (pause) But the good news is, we think we may have found something for Chris.

PIPER: Oh? (MELINDA stirs and PIPER moves to the bassinet. She carefully covers her daughter with a pink blanket.)

LEO: Yeah, if you’ve got time today, we should go down and check it out, the salesman said he’d put it on a twenty-four hour hold. (PIPER frowns.) What?

PIPER: I have to get back over to the Manor. We still haven’t solved the mummy issue…issues.

LEO: There’s more than one?

PIPER: It’s complicated. (LEO nods.) I’m sorry.

LEO: It’s alright, I understand. (pause) That’s one of the perks to being married to a whitelighter. (He winks. PIPER merely nods.)

PIPER: Speaking of, (she gives CHRIS a quick kiss on his head and moves to the door) I should probably get ready and head over there now. (She walks out. CHRIS finishes his bottle and LEO puts his son to his shoulder and begins to burp him.) I guess it’s just the three of us again today, huh?

[Scene: Manor. Hallway. PAIGE is standing impatiently at the bathroom door, wincing each time she hears her sister retching from inside. She taps her foot and then hears the toilet flush.]

PAIGE: Phoebe, are you alright in there?

PHOEBE’s VOICE: I’m fi-

(PAIGE makes a face as she hears her sister vomit again. COLE walks up.)

COLE: Prue’s out of the downstairs bathroom if you’d rather use that.

PAIGE: Thanks! (She walks away. COLE knocks on the door.)

COLE: Phoebe?

PHOEBE’s VOICE: Busy!

COLE: I’m coming in!

[Cut to inside the bathroom. PHOEBE is clutching the toilet as COLE shimmers in. He waves his hand under his noise at the smell and then moves to his girlfriend, pulling back stray strands of hair from her haphazard ponytail.]

COLE: This has gone far enough, (he flushes the toilet and helps her stand) I just set up a doctor’s appointment for you. (PHOEBE makes a face.) You said a day and it’s been more than a day. (he grabs her a mug that’s sitting on the sink, PHOEBE’s “Best Baby Sister” mug, and fills it with cold tap water.) Here, rinse out your mouth.

(PHOEBE takes a swig of water and swishes out her mouth, then spits it into the sink. COLE puts down the lid on the toilet seat and wraps his arm around PHOEBE, rubbing her shoulder. There’s another knock at the door.)

PHOEBE: Yeah?

PAIGE’s VOICE: Can I at least get my toothbrush?

(PHOEBE opens the door.)

PHOEBE: Sorry Paige, I didn’t mean-

(PAIGE raises her hand.)

PAIGE: It’s not your fault, so don’t feel bad, just get better. (As she walks in, she comfortingly pats PHOEBE on the shoulder.)

[Premonition: LILA is strapped down on a table and blindfolded. She’s struggling against her bonds, but she can’t break free.]

LILA: Help! Please, someone, anyone! Help! (She starts crying.) Billy! Paige! Help! Please! (Suddenly, a man in black clothing approaches her and slashes a knife across the lower left of her abdomen. She screams out as blood begins to pool from the wound.)

[Cut back to the present. PHOEBE grabs the doorframe and lurches forward, puking all over the middle of the hallway. COLE grabs her supportively. PHOEBE grabs her stomach and then swipes at her mouth before turning towards PAIGE.]

PHOEBE: (gasping) Your friend….she’s in trouble…

[Time lapse. PAIGE is in the attic, leaning over the scrying map frantically swirling the crystal around. PRUE is also there, looking through the Book of Shadows, and PHOEBE is sitting on the torn up sofa with a trash bin next to her.]

PAIGE: (yelling) I cannot believe you didn’t let me know that something was going on! If you’d just told me… (She shakes her head.) My god, we went to Bucklands yesterday! That’s probably why. (She suddenly throws down the crystal.) This damn crystal isn’t working!

PRUE: Paige, calm down-

PAIGE: Calm down? My friend is missing and about to become the next newspaper headline and you’re really telling me to calm down?

PRUE: We’re going to find her!

(PAIGE grabs the map and crystal.)

PAIGE: I’m going to her apartment, I need something of hers to focus… (Her eyes widen.) Oh my god!

PHOEBE: What?

PAIGE: Her wallet! (She turns towards her sisters as LEO orbs in with PIPER and the twins.) It went missing yesterday and then…and then…

PRUE: (to PAIGE) No, don’t think that, you couldn’t have seen any of this coming. (PRUE motions her hand.) Take Piper with you.

PIPER: What? Where?

PAIGE: Lila. (She grabs PIPER’s hand and orbs them out. LEO looks around a little dumbfounded.)

LEO: What’s going on?

[Scene: Lila’s apartment. PAIGE and PIPER are looking around when PAIGE spots LILA’s wallet on the floor. She bends down and opens it up, trembling.]

PAIGE: Piper! (PIPER walks up as PAIGE throws the map and crystal onto the floor. She holds the crystal and wallet together and they begin swinging over the map. Almost immediately, the crystal lands. PAIGE looks up.) Bucklands!

[Cut to a room in Bucklands Auction House. LILA is strapped down on a table and blindfolded. Across the room, the sarcophagus is also there, opened to reveal a mummy with its chest cavity revealed. Fresh organs have been placed within the chest, all except for a heart. The man in black turns, revealing his face to be that of the SECURITY GUARD, and he picks up a ceremonial knife from the edge of the sarcophagus. LILA is struggling against her bonds, but she can’t break free.]

LILA: Help! Please, someone, anyone! Help! (She starts crying.) Billy! Paige! Help! Please!

(The SECURITY GUARD approaches her and slashes a knife across the lower left of her abdomen. She screams out as blood begins to pool from the wound. PAIGE and PIPER orb in and without thinking, PAIGE tackles the SECURITY GUARD to the ground. PIPER runs to LILA’s side and tries to apply pressure to the wound as she uses her free hand to dial for help on her cell phone.)

PIPER: Please, I need an ambulance at Bucklands Auction House…

[Time lapse. Paramedics are wheeling LILA into an ambulance in front of Bucklands, with PAIGE right there with her, holding her hand.]

PAIGE: You’re gonna be alright, okay? (The paramedics shut the doors while several feet away, a pair of officers push the SECURITY GUARD into the back of a cop car.)

SECURITY GUARD: You can’t do this! The Queen must rise again!

(One of the officers slams the car door. The ambulance drives away with its sirens blaring. At the same time, DARRYL is taking a statement from PIPER. PAIGE keeps looking worriedly at the ambulance as it drives off, then she walks over to PIPER and DARRYL.)

PIPER: (to PAIGE) Will she be alright?

PAIGE: She’s going to need stitches and a lot of time off, but we got there just in time.

PIPER: (to DARRYL) So, what happens now?

(DARRYL puts his notepad into his breast pocket.)

DARRYL: We collect evidence of the other murders and this guy goes to trial for them. (He shakes his head.) No jury in their right mind is going to get this guy off.

(RAE walks up and eyes PIPER and PAIGE suspiciously.)

RAE: What a coincidence.

(PRUE's black car pulls up. PIPER sees it.)

PIPER: (to DARRYL) Can we go now?

(DARRYL nods. RAE purses her lips, but says nothing. PIPER grabs PAIGE’s wrist and they take a roundabout way over to PRUE's car. PRUE gets out.)

PRUE: Did you-

PAIGE: Yeah, she’s gonna be fine. (She breathes a heavy sigh of relief. PRUE hugs her.) Do you, uh, think you could drop me off at Bay General on your way back to the Manor?

(PRUE nods.)

PRUE: Sure.

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Six

[Scene: Piper and Leo’s house. Garage. LEO is standing in the doorway, holding the twins. At the front of the garage, a brand new wooden crib is standing. He glances down at CHRIS.]

LEO: You like it, don’tcha? (CHRIS just makes a noise. LEO nods.) Well, hopefully your mom will too. (pause) She didn’t exactly get to see it, so I hope she isn’t too unhappy about our lone decision.

[Scene: Bay General. Lila’s hospital room. PAIGE is seated on the chair next to LILA’s bed. LILA opens her eyes and sees PAIGE. She smiles weakly.]

PAIGE: Hey, glad to see you’re awake.

(LILA nods.)

LILA: My side feels like it’s on fire.

PAIGE: I’m sorry.

LILA: Sorry? (She laughs and then winces.) You saved my life, what have you got to be sorry about?

(PAIGE shrugs her shoulders.)

PAIGE: I just feel like…I don’t know, like I should’ve been able to prevent you from getting hurt at all.

(LILA rolls her eyes.)

LILA: Well it’s not like your psychic, Paige. (pause) Though, out of curiosity, how did you know where to find me?

(PAIGE opens her mouth, closes it, and then squeezes her friend’s hand.)

PAIGE: I, uh…honestly? (She smiles.) I was just pulled to you…I can’t really explain it.

[Scene: Manor. Hallway. PIPER is standing in front of PHOEBE’s bedroom door, nervously looking down at the pregnancy test inside the plastic bag in her hand. She chews her lip and then finally stuffs the bag into her pocket and knocks on the door.]

PHOEBE’s VOICE: Come in!

(PIPER grabs the handle and then tentatively turns it, hearing a telltale click. The door opens and she walks inside to find her sister propped up with pillows, covered in blankets, and aiming the remote control at her television screen. PHOEBE looks up and smiles.)

PIPER: Hey.

(PHOEBE pats the side of the bed.)

PHOEBE: Hey, I didn’t know you were still here. (pause) Is Paige’s friend okay?

PIPER: She will be.

(PHOEBE nods as PIPER sits down beside her.)

PHOEBE: So, what’s the special occasion?

PIPER: I was wondering how your doctor’s appointment went.

PHOEBE: Oh, (she rolls her eyes) that…it went fine. I just got a prescription and I should be feeling better in no time. (She continues to channel surf. PIPER bites her lip and PHOEBE notices.) You’ve got something on your mind.

PIPER: Uh, yeah.

(Pause.)

PHOEBE: And are you going to tell me?

PIPER: Actually, that’s what I came to talk to you about.

PHOEBE: Huh?

PIPER: You know you can tell me things, right?

(PHOEBE laughs and shuts off the television.)

PHOEBE: Yeah. Of course. (pause) Where’s this going?

(PIPER touches her sister’s hand.)

PIPER: I need to ask you something, and I want you to be honest with me, alright?

PHOEBE: Yes?

PIPER: Phoebe…are you pregnant?

[The Virtual Series]

End Credits

Co-Starring
Becky Wahlstrom --- Lila Wright
Ben Toplin --- Billy Tannon
Brody Jo Hamilton --- Melinda Halliwell
Jackson Phillip Deveraux Kaufman --- Chris Halliwell

Featuring
Bernie Kopell --- Coroner
Kimerly Elise --- Stephanie Winsley
Emma Shaw --- Addison Avery

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