5x21: Don't Stand Under The Family Tree

[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.

5.21 DON'T STAND UNDER THE FAMILY TREE

GUEST-STARRING:
TYLER LAYTON
BILLY WIRTH
ALISON TOWNSEND
ALISEN DOWN
ERIC SCOTT GOULD

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...Richard Denault

[The Virtual Series]

Don’t Stand Under The Family Tree

Teaser

[Scene: Bay General. Prue’s hospital room. PRUE HALLIWELL, PAIGE MATTHEWS, and PHOEBE HALLIWELL awake with sharp gasps. PAIGE pulls her hand away from PRUE’s and places it to her head. She wobbles, then falls back into the chair behind her. PRUE also looks a little dazed as she gingerly presses her index fingers to her temples. PHOEBE is blinking confusedly. PIPER HALLIWELL steps to PHOEBE’s side.]

PIPER: (worriedly) What just happened?

PAIGE: I’m still trying to figure that out.

(PHOEBE notices that LILLITH is no longer in the room.)

PHOEBE: Where is she? (She spins around.) Oh, I’m gonna-

PIPER: She disappeared. As soon as you three, (she lifts her hands and then drops them) she left too. (She tilts her head to the side.) What, exactly, happened, by the way?

(PRUE, PAIGE, and PHOEBE exchange looks.)

PRUE: We astral projected.

PHOEBE: Into my premonition.

PIPER: What?!

PAIGE: (mumbling) You can say that again. (She rubs her head.) My ears are ringing…

PHOEBE: (to PAIGE) It’s only temporary.

PIPER: Is that even possible? (She turns around, looking at LEO WYATT.) How is that possible?

PHOEBE: That’s not even the half of it.

PIPER: What’s that supposed to mean?

PHOEBE: Well, we saw-

PRUE: Before we go there, we have something more important to deal with.

PAIGE: You mean the Spirit Mover?

PRUE: The Spirit Who?

PAIGE: The Spirit Mover. (She starts to stand up, wobbles, and sits back down.) He’s the one who trapped you on the astral plane, right?

PHOEBE: And we think we have a way to vanquish him, but we have to get back there to do it.

PRUE: You mean I have to go back there.

(PIPER wags her finger disapprovingly.)

PIPER: Whoa! Absolutely not! You were just unconscious for three hours! There is no way you’re going back to… (She looks at PHOEBE and PAIGE.)

PAIGE: The astral plane.

PIPER: What kind of demon are we dealing with, exactly?

PHOEBE: Ghost, not demon, and the entry in the Book was pretty short. (to PRUE) But Piper’s right, you’re not going back there.

PAIGE: At least not without backup.

PRUE: And I assume you have a plan?

(PHOEBE grins.)

PHOEBE: And you would not be making an ass out of any of us. (She winks. PRUE rolls her eyes.)

Clickable Credits.

[The Virtual Series]

{SCENE: The song “Secrets,” written by Benji and Joel Madden and sung by Good Charlotte, is heard as stock shots of San Francisco are shown while the Guest Credits are rolled.}

Act One

[Scene: Manor. Kitchen. A bubbling pot is on the stove. PHOEBE is standing behind the pot, stirring the contents with a long handled wooden spoon. PAIGE walks in.]

PAIGE: That’s stinking up the whole house.

PHOEBE: They usually do.

(PAIGE peers over her shoulder.)

PAIGE: Is it almost done?

PHOEBE: Yeah, we just need Prue to get home so we can add her blood.

(PAIGE scrunches her face.)

PAIGE: That’s so nasty. (They hear the sound of the front doors opening.) Looks like they’re home.

(A moment later, PRUE and PIPER walk in, holding the baby carriers of MELINDA HALLIWELL and CHRIS HALLIWELL respectively.)

PHOEBE: Welcome back. (She holds up an athame.) If you would, please?

(As PRUE sets MELINDA’s carrier down on the table and moves to take the athame from PHOEBE, PAIGE walks over to her niece.)

PAIGE: (to PRUE) Did the check out go alright?

PRUE: Fine. (PRUE slices her finger over the pot.) They want Piper to keep an eye on me though, (she rolls her eyes) just in case I start feeling dizzy or…

(PRUE shrugs as a drop of her blood falls into the pot. She sets the athame down and moves to the sink, running her finger under cold water. PIPER sets CHRIS’s carrier down next to MELINDA’s and unbuckles her son.)

PIPER: Where’s Leo?

PHOEBE: We sent him Up There to check up on our astral premonition.

PIPER: What exactly did you see during this so-called premonition? (PRUE, PHOEBE, and PAIGE exchange expressions. PIPER glares.) Would you quit doing that? I’m starting to feel like the odd sister out.

(PHOEBE begins stirring the pot again.)

PHOEBE: You’re never going to believe it…

PIPER: Try me.

(PAIGE motions to PRUE.)

PAIGE: You guys seem to know more than me.

PRUE: Well…we saw Melinda.

(PIPER looks at her daughter, whom PAIGE is bouncing in her arms.)

PIPER: My Melinda?

PRUE: No, Melinda Warren.

PIPER: What? Why would you guys see Melinda Warren?

PHOEBE: We’re not sure yet.

PIPER: Did something happen to her?

PAIGE: (mumbling) You could say that…

PIPER: Okay, if you can knock off the cryptic-

PRUE: She was giving birth.

(PIPER stares blankly.)

PIPER: Why would you have a premonition about that? (She shakes her head.) And why would you-

PHOEBE: To a boy.

PIPER: What?

PHOEBE: That was pretty much our reaction, too.

PIPER: You’re mistaken-

PAIGE: Nope. I distinctly remember her telling that little girl-

PRUE: Prudence.

(PAIGE nods.)

PAIGE: …that she had a brother.

(PIPER sits down. She looks at CHRIS.)

PIPER: But the only boy we’ve ever seen on the family tree is Grams’ brother. If Melinda had a son, why didn’t she put him on it?

(PHOEBE grabs two glasses from the drainer and starts to pour the red potion into them.)

PHOEBE: All very valid questions.

PIPER: The time we summoned her to help us with Matthew Tate, she never mentioned having a son.

PAIGE: Maybe he died as a baby? (She shrugs.) You know, a lot of infants didn’t make it back in colonial times.

PIPER: That still doesn’t explain why he wouldn’t be on the family tree.

PAIGE: Do we even know if Melinda was the one who actually wrote the family tree? If he died as a baby, and one of her decedents wrote it, maybe they didn’t even know he existed?

PHOEBE: I always thought Melinda started it, (she moves the pot to the back burner and turns off the heat) but Paige could be right. (She shrugs.) I never really thought about it before. (She picks up the glasses and comes around the island.)

PIPER: We should summon her.

PRUE: Not until after we take care of this ghost. Melinda having a son isn’t a threat, but someone who can trap me every time I astral project is.

(PHOEBE hands the potion to PAIGE.)

PHOEBE: I have a feeling he was sent by Red.

PRUE: Who?

PIPER: Do you remember my Demonic Doctor?

PRUE: The one who tried to steal the Twins?

PIPER: Yeah…well, she was the one we caught in your room today.

PAIGE: (realizing) And she had her hands on Prue’s stomach. Oh my god, since she never got the Twins, she’s probably after Prue’s baby!

PHOEBE: I wouldn’t be surprised if she was working with the Spirit Mover.

PAIGE: If it’s the baby she’s after, it would make sense why she didn’t hurt Prue.

PHOEBE: I think she’s a psychic.

PIPER: What?

PHOEBE: I was practically lambasted with psychic energy when we walked in. I think she was having some intense psychic vision when we caught her.

PAIGE: Probably of the baby’s future!

(PHOEBE nods.)

PHOEBE: It would make sense that she’d want to touch, or at least get as close as possible to her the source of a vision.

PRUE: And if she is working with the astral ghost, it would make sense why she’d want me trapped there…it was her only chance to get close enough to me and… (She presses her hand to her stomach.)

PHOEBE: I can’t believe we didn’t focus more time on her after the Twins were born! We should have-

PRUE: In-between Cusion, the Wiccaning, the magic storybook, and Vegas, we did. (She waves her arm.) We also had Cole and Drake investigating in the Underworld and Leo Up There, (she motions to the ceiling) but nobody knew anything.

PHOEBE: We should’ve tried harder.

PRUE: We don’t have time for should haves and could haves, Phoebe. We’re in the present, and we need to focus on what we know now. (She motions to the glasses in PHOEBE’s and PAIGE’s hands.) Starting with vanquishing our latest ghost.

[Cut to the living room. PRUE, PIPER, PHOEBE, and PAIGE walk in. PRUE, PHOEBE, and PAIGE take seats on the couch. PIPER takes MELINDA from PAIGE. PAIGE stares distastefully into her red potion. She pinches her nose.]

PAIGE: I feel like a vampire…and I’ve always hated the taste of blood.

PHOEBE: Just drink it quickly.

PAIGE: Are you sure I can’t just run back and get a quick spoonful of sugar first? (PRUE gives PAIGE a stern look and she makes a cringing grimace.) Fine. (PHOEBE and PAIGE lift the glasses to their mouths.)

PHOEBE: On three. One.

PAIGE: Two.

PHOEBE: Three. (They down their glasses and sputter as they swallow, then lean forward and set their glasses on the table. PAIGE rubs her stomach.)

PAIGE: That was like taking cough medicine, but worse.

PHOEBE: So, how do we do this? Astral project, I mean.

PRUE: You just focus on someplace and (she motions her hands) you’re there. Just think of the astral plane.

PAIGE: But we don’t know what it looks like.

PRUE: Just think “astral plane.” And think of being with me, since I have been there. (She takes PHOEBE’s hand.) Actually, take Phoebe’s hand. A physical connection might help, too.

PIPER: How long do you think this will take?

PRUE: Not too long. We just need to find out what, if anything, he knows about (she rolls her eyes) “Red,” and then vanquish him with the Spirit To Spirit Spell, right Pheebs?

PHOEBE: Exactly.

PIPER: What if he tries to trap you again?

PRUE: He was barely able to keep me there the first time, which is why all of us are going this time. There’s no way he’ll be able to keep the Power of Three there.

PIPER: Unless Red helps him.

PRUE: One problem at a time. (She looks down the sofa at PHOEBE and PAIGE.) You two ready? (PAIGE and PHOEBE nod. PRUE leans back into the sofa cushions and her two youngest sisters follow her lead.) Alright, (to PIPER) wish us luck.

(The Charmed Ones close their eyes. PRUE’s head drops to her chest. Moments later, so do PHOEBE’s and PAIGE’s. PIPER moves to the overstuffed chair and sits down, holding the Twins close to her.)

PIPER: Good luck…

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Two

[Scene: Astral plane. ASTRAL PRUE, ASTRAL PHOEBE, and ASTRAL PAIGE appear in three identical red flares. ASTRAL PHOEBE staggers a little as a blur flies by her.]

ASTRAL PHOEBE: Whoa!

ASTRAL PAIGE: What are those?

ASTRAL PRUE: I think they’re astral projections moving through the plane…some might be spirits, too.

ASTRAL PAIGE: So, where’s our Spirit Mover? (They start walking. ASTRAL PHOEBE dodges a few more blurs.)

ASTRAL PRUE: He was right here the last time. (She looks around.) I think.

ASTRAL PHOEBE: I feel like I’m in some weird retro dream.

ASTRAL PAIGE: I was thinking more along the lines of a really bad trip.

ASTRAL PHOEBE: Oh, yeah, (she nods) kinda, huh?

(ASTRAL PRUE snaps her fingers.)

ASTRAL PRUE: They’ll be plenty of time for - trips - down memory lane later. (ASTRAL PHOEBE and ASTRAL PAIGE smirk. ASTRAL PRUE stops.)

ASTRAL PAIGE: Why are we stopping?

ASTRAL PRUE: Shh.

SPIRIT MOVER’s VOICE: We had an agreement.

ASTRAL LILLITH’s VOICE: Which you didn’t follow through with!

ASTRAL PAIGE: (whispering) Where is that coming from? It’s like a…like an echo.

(ASTRAL PRUE takes ASTRAL PAIGE’s and ASTRAL PHOEBE’s hands.)

ASTRAL PRUE: Concentrate on their voices. (Moments later, they disappear in three red flares.)

[Cut to Astral Lillith and the Spirit Mover.]

ASTRAL LILLITH: You were supposed to keep the witch here until I was through with her!

SPIRIT MOVER: I can’t help that her sisters pulled her back! I don’t control what happens on the mortal plane.

ASTRAL LILLITH: It doesn’t make a difference, our agreement was still breeched.

SPIRIT MOVER: You can’t- (ASTRAL PRUE, ASTRAL PAIGE, and ASTRAL PHOEBE appear. The SPIRIT MOVER sees them. ASTRAL LILLITH notices the SPIRIT MOVER’s distracted face and turns around.)

ASTRAL PHOEBE: Looks like we were right!

ASTRAL PAIGE: Guess we don’t need to do an interrogation now.

ASTRAL PRUE: “Ashes to ashes,
Spirit to spirits-”

(ASTRAL LILLITH starts to laugh.)

ASTRAL LILLITH: If you think you can vanquish me with that, you’re sorely mistaken. (ASTRAL PRUE, ASTRAL PAIGE, and ASTRAL PHOEBE take hands.)

ASTRAL PHOEBE: “Take their souls,
Banish these evils!”

ASTRAL PAIGE: “Ashes to ashes,
Spirit to spirits,
Take their souls,
Banish these evils!”

ASTRAL PRUE, ASTRAL PHOEBE, & ASTRAL PAIGE: “Ashes to ashes,
Spirits to spirits,
Take their souls,
Banish these evils!”

(The SPIRIT MOVER begins to fade and shake.)

SPIRIT MOVER: N-no! (He motions his trembling hands at the Astral Charmed Ones, but it does no good.)

ASTRAL PRUE, ASTRAL PHOEBE, & ASTRAL PAIGE: “Ashes to ashes,
Spirits to spirits,
Take their souls,
Banish these evils!”

(Smoke begins to rise from the SPIRIT MOVER. He’s shaking and his face begins to redden. ASTRAL LILLITH, however, remains unaffected by the spell.)

SPIRIT MOVER: Ah-ah-agh!

ASTRAL PRUE, ASTRAL PHOEBE, & ASTRAL PAIGE: “Ashes to ashes,
Spirits to spirits,
Take their souls,
Banish these evils!”

(The SPIRIT MOVER bursts into flames and disappears. ASTRAL LILLITH folds her arms. ASTRAL PHOEBE looks at ASTRAL PRUE and ASTRAL PAIGE.)

ASTRAL PHOEBE: Uh, guys, do you have a Plan B?

ASTRAL LILLITH: (sneering) You’re going to need more than an astral version of the Power of Three to vanquish me, I’m afraid. (She waves her hand and the Astral Charmed Ones’ feet give out from under them, and they go sliding fall forward and slide across the ground. ASTRAL LILLITH vanishes.)

[Scene: Manor. Living room. LEO orbs in. PIPER looks up. LEO sees the Charmed Ones still sitting unconsciously on the sofa.]

LEO: How long have they been out?

PIPER: About five minutes, give or take. (PRUE, PHOEBE, and PAIGE wake up and the latter two gasp as they come back.) Did it work?

PRUE: Yes and no.

PIPER: What’s that supposed to mean?

PHOEBE: Yes, we vanquished the Spirit Mover.

PAIGE: But we also ran into Red, and no, we didn’t vanquish her.

PIPER: So, they were working together. (She touches her forehead.) I can’t believe this.

(PRUE gets up.)

PHOEBE: Where are you going?

PRUE: To work on a new vanquishing spell.

PAIGE: For?

PRUE: Red. You heard her, we need more power.

(PHOEBE notices LEO.)

PHOEBE: Leo! Were you able to find anything out about the premonition?

LEO: Uh, yeah, actually.

(PHOEBE grabs PRUE’s arm.)

PHOEBE: Wait up, I want to hear this.

LEO: The Elders think that during your premonition, the Power of Three was accidentally activated, and your three powers were enhanced and combined by it. (to PHOEBE) Your premonition created a focus point in the past, (to PAIGE) your chronokinesis created a time link between the present and that point in the past, (to PRUE) and your astral projection moved all three of you through that link into the vision of the past.

PAIGE: But why? I mean, what was so important about it that our powers would do that?

PHOEBE: It was probably perpetuated by the psychic energy from Red’s vision. (pause) I think we need to summon Melinda.

PRUE: Phoebe, (she holds up her hands) we need to deal with the demon first.

(PHOEBE shakes her head.)

PHOEBE: What if that’s the whole point? Maybe Melinda knows how to vanquish her? I mean, my visions are always prompted by something, right? At first I thought maybe it was the connection between you (she motions to PRUE’s stomach) and Melinda, but that’s weak at best. But maybe…what if-what if that’s why nobody knows about Melinda’s son? What if Red attacked him? It would make sense, seeing as how she’s gone after both you and Piper.

PAIGE: Pheebs might be onto something here.

PIPER: I agree. We should summon Melinda first. (She stands up and hands off MELINDA to LEO.) Phoebe’s visions have always been important before, so I don’t know why she’d get one now, and with such importance that you all would actually be inside of it, if it didn’t have significance.

(PRUE sighs.)

PRUE: So, you’re out-voting me?

PAIGE: Majority rules.

PRUE: (relenting) Fine. (to PHOEBE) I hope you’re right about this.

PHOEBE: Ditto. (PHOEBE, PRUE, and PAIGE head for the stairs. LEO and PIPER trail behind.)

LEO: (quietly) Uhm, I think I’m a little out of the loop, but by “Melinda,” they don’t mean our daughter (he looks at MELINDA) having a son, right? (They start to walk up the stairs.)

PIPER: No, thankfully, apparently it’s her namesake.

(LEO blinks.)

LEO: Oh…I didn’t see that coming.

Piper: You can say that again.

[Cut to the attic. The Charmed Ones walk in. PAIGE and PHOEBE head for the trunk, while PRUE walks to the Book of Shadows. She holds her hand over the Book and it flips open, rapidly turning the pages. PHOEBE and PAIGE begin to set up the candles as PIPER and LEO walk in. PRUE stops turning the pages and they land on the spirit summoning spell. PHOEBE lights a match and begins lighting the candles.]

PHOEBE: I almost feel like I should have a big bowl of popcorn on hand for this explanation. (She lights the last candle. PHOEBE and PAIGE step back from the candles.)

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

(A twister of white and gold lights swirl around in the center of the candles, depositing MELINDA WARREN. MELINDA WARREN smiles.)

MELINDA WARREN: My daughters, (she steps out of the candles and becomes corporeal) it’s so good to see you again!

(PRUE steps out from behind the Book of Shadows.)

PRUE: Unfortunately, this isn’t a social call.

MELINDA WARREN: Is something wrong?

PAIGE: You could say that…

MELINDA WARREN: Whatever I can do to help…

(PIPER steps forward, cradling CHRIS in her arms.)

PIPER: We need you to tell us about your son.

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Three

[Scene: Manor. Attic. The CHARMED ONES, PIPER, and LEO are staring at MELINDA WARREN expectantly. MELINDA WARREN swallows hard.]

MELINDA WARREN: My son?

PHOEBE: We know you have one; I saw him - actually, (she motions to PRUE and PAIGE) we saw him - in one of my visions.

(MELINDA WARREN places her hand to her mouth and tilts her head back, seemingly to take in the situation.)

MELINDA WARREN: I never dreamed anyone would find out…

PIPER: So, it’s true, then?

(MELINDA WARREN nods in confirmation.)

PAIGE: (whispering to PHOEBE) This family has waaay to many family secrets.

(PHOEBE nods.)

PIPER: When? How? (She shakes her head.) He isn’t on the family tree.

MELINDA WARREN: No, I erased his name…for his own protection.

PRUE: Protection? From what?

MELINDA WARREN: Not from what…from who. (The sisters look at each other.) I think that in order for you to understand what happened, I should begin with Adam.

PHOEBE: Adam?

MELINDA WARREN: Prudence’s father…

[Scene: 1689. Massachusetts. Salem. Cottage. Bedroom. A plain faced, young brunette man, ADAM JACKSON, is leaning over a wooden cradle where an infant, BABY PRUDENCE, is looking back at him with big brown eyes. ADAM is smiling and waving the hand sewn doll with button eyes and brown yarn hair. BABY PRUDENCE makes a cooing noise and ADAM gently tucks the doll into the cradle next to her.]

[Cut to the main room of the house. MELINDA is busily chopping up potatoes when there’s a knock at the door. She looks over her shoulder and then sets down her knife, wipes her hands on her white apron, and moves to the door as another knock is heard. MELINDA unlatches the door and opens it, revealing MATTHEW TATE smiling back at her.]

MATTHEW: Madame. (He removes his hat and bows his head. MELINDA flushes a little.) You must be Mrs. Jackson, I presume?

(MELINDA nods.)

MELINDA: Are you here for my husband?

(MATTHEW laughs.)

MATTHEW: How impolite of me. My name is Matthew Tate; I have potential business with your husband. (He peers over MELINDA’s shoulder.) Is he possibly home?

MELINDA: Oh, yes. (She steps aside, allowing MATTHEW to enter.) I’ll go fetch him, he was just putting Prudence down to sleep.

MATTHEW: Take your time.

(MELINDA picks up the edges of her skirt and scurries into the bedroom. MATTHEW gazes around the room. ADAM walks out, carrying BABY PRUDENCE, with MELINDA right behind him. ADAM smiles charmingly.)

ADAM: Matthew!

MATTHEW: Adam. (He eyes BABY PRUDENCE.) Your daughter?

(ADAM nods proudly and holds BABY PRUDENCE up.)

ADAM Say hello, Prudence.

(MELINDA smiles.)

MATTHEW: She looks quite like her father.

(ADAM waves his hand dismissively.)

ADAM: I believe she looks more like Melinda than me, which is a good thing, too, is it not, Prudence? (He smiles at his daughter. MATTHEW and MELINDA share a look.)

MATTHEW: Well, I had come by to see about the purchase we discussed yesterday-

ADAM: Ah, right! (He nods and turns to MELINDA.) Do you mind if we step out?

MELINDA: Of course not.

(ADAM hands BABY PRUDENCE to MELINDA)

ADAM: We’ll be back shortly. (He gives her a quick peck on the lips, then he and MATTHEW leave. MELINDA smiles a little as she bounces BABY PRUDENCE on her hip.)

[Scene: Present day. Manor. Attic. The sisters and LEO are standing around, listening to MELINDA WARREN.]

MELINDA WARREN: Adam was such a good man, so trusting…

PRUE: But…you didn’t love him, did you?

(MELINDA WARREN licks her lips and gazes up at the ceiling.)

MELINDA WARREN: I did love him…but it was more of the way you love a close friend instead of a lover.

PHOEBE: So, why did you marry him?

MELINDA WARREN: Oh Phoebe, times were so different back then…it was expected of women to marry and have children. I suppose I settled for Adam because he was such a good man, and unlike a lot of men at the time, he treated me with respect.

PAIGE: And that’s why Matthew chose him as the way into your life.

MELINDA WARREN: That, and so much more…

[Scene: 1689. Massachusetts. Salem. Cottage. MELINDA is scooping potato soup into bowls at the table. In the corner of the room, BABY PRUDENCE is in her cradle, which is rocking by itself. MELINDA looks over at her daughter and smiles. The front door opens and MELINDA jumps and the cradle abruptly stops rocking as ADAM and MATTHEW enter.]

MELINDA: Adam! (She sees MATTHEW.) Mr. Tate. (She bows her head.)

MATTHEW: Mrs. Jackson. (He sniffs the air.) It does smell wonderful.

ADAM: Would you like to stay for dinner, Matthew?

(MATTHEW shakes his head.)

MATTHEW: I cannot dream of imposing on your family.

(ADAM looks at MELINDA.)

MELINDA: Uh, (she shakes her head) no, of course you can stay! (She holds up her pot.) It is only but potato stew though, it is nothing fancy, probably not what you are used to, Mr. Tate.

(MATTHEW laughs.)

MATTHEW: I do believe you must have the wrong impression of me, Mrs. Jackson. (He smiles.) My mother, bless her soul, used to fix potato stew all the time.

(MELINDA blushes a little.)

MELINDA: Then you will be staying?

MATTHEW: If you wish me so.

MELINDA: I shall fix you a bowl then. (As she goes to fix a bowl of soup for MATTHEW, ADAM moves to the wooden cradle and picks up BABY PRUDENCE. He starts rocking BABY PRUDENCE in his arms.)

ADAM: How is my sweet girl this evening?

(MELINDA sets MATTHEW’s bowl down on the table. Suddenly, ADAM starts coughing a loud, hacking cough. MELINDA and MATTHEW look up.)

MELINDA: Adam, are you alright? (She moves to his side and he hands her BABY PRUDENCE to her. BABY PRUDENCE starts to cry. ADAM coughs again.)

ADAM: I am fine, I am fine, Melinda. (He rubs his throat.)

MELINDA: I think you should see the doctor, Adam.

MATTHEW: She is right, it does sound serious. Have you had it long?

(ADAM shakes his head.)

ADAM: Just a few days. (He waves his hands dismissively.) It is not something for you to worry about, Melinda. (He motions to the table.) How about supper? I am sure a little stew will make me feel better, do you not agree, Matthew?

(MATTHEW smiles.)

MATTHEW: I am sure you are right. (MELIDNA sets BABY PRUDENCE back into her cradle and she sits down with ADAM and MATTHEW at the table.)

[Scene: Present day. Manor. Attic. PIPER is now sitting on the old sofa with LEO and the Twins.]

MELINDA WARREN: Adam just continued to get worse, constantly fading in and out. It was unpredictable to know what state he’d be in the next morning, and no one could figure out what was wrong with him…not even the town doctor.

LEO: It was Matthew, wasn’t it?

(MELINDA WARREN nods.)

MELINDA WARREN: Yes, he was poisoning Adam. Though I didn’t know at the time, of course.

PAIGE: Why? Don’t warlocks usually go for the instant kill?

MELINDA WARREN: Matthew had a plan. He was using Adam’s pain to get close to me.

PRUE: To steal your powers.

MELINDA WARREN: Yes.

PHOEBE: But… (She bows her head.) You fell in love with him, with Matthew?

(MELINDA WARREN closes her eyes shamefully.)

MELINDA WARREN: How did you know?

PHOEBE: I can relate. (pause) I could see it in your eyes.

[Scene: 1690. Massachusetts. Salem. Cottage. MELINDA is standing in the doorway of the bedroom, watching as the doctor examines her husband, who is lying in bed with a sweaty fever. MATTHEW’s hand suddenly touches her shoulder. MELINDA jumps and turns around.]

MELINDA: Matthew!

MATTHEW: I did not mean to startle you. (MELINDA shakes her head.) How is he?

MELINDA: (quietly) He is not well. (She clutches the doorframe.) I am so worried… (MATTHEW reaches for her hand and holds it tightly.)

MATTHEW: I am here for you, Melinda. (MELINDA nods.) And Prudence. (He glances at ADAM.) He is a good man; he does not deserve such a fate.

(The DOCTOR gets up and walks over to them. They step outside the bedroom and MELINDA shuts the door.)

DOCTOR: His condition continues to deteriorate.

MELINDA: But his fever was down just yester evening.

(The DOCTOR shakes his head.)

DOCTOR: Then he must be fading in and out of health.

MELINDA: Can you diagnose his ailment?

DOCTOR: It is unlike anything I have ever seen before.

MELINDA: How much time does he have?

(The DOCTOR shakes his head.)

DOCTOR: I cannot say. I apologize, Madame. (He picks up his black bag.) I shall be back to check on him tomorrow evening.

(MELINDA nods and the DOCTOR sees himself out. MELINDA opens the door and peeks back in on her husband. MATTHEW places his hand on MELINDA’s. MELINDA seems to freeze for a minute, then she pulls her hand back.)

MELINDA: I must go collect Prudence from Elizabeth’s.

MATTHEW: Melinda. (He holds onto her wrist.)

(MELINDA closes her eyes.)

MELINDA: Matthew, please. It is not right. (She motions to the bedroom door.) My husband is just inside, heavy with fever. (She shakes her head.) I cannot…we cannot.

MATTHEW: So you admit that you feel for me as well?

(MELINDA looks at the floor.)

MELINDA: You have been a dear friend to me, to us - Prudence and I - in our time of need, but Adam, he is a good man.

MATTHEW: But you do not love him, Melinda.

MELINDA: But he loves me. (MATTHEW grabs MELINDA and pulls her close to him. He kisses her passionately and soon, she kisses back. When they pull away, her face is flushed.)

MATTHEW: And so do I.

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Four

[Scene: 1690. Massachusetts. Salem. Cottage. Bedroom. MELINDA walks in with a bowl of grits and a cup of milk. She walks over to the side of the bed and sits down next to her sleeping husband.]

MELINDA: Adam?

(ADAM’s eyes flutter open. He smiles warmly up at his wife.)

ADAM: Aw, (MELINDA smiles) you face brightens this room so.

MELINDA: I have brought you something to eat. (She helps ADAM sit up.) I even bought a bit of honey to top it. (She hands him the cup of milk and he takes a drink as she scoops up a spoonful of honey tainted grits.)

ADAM: Mmm, fresh. (He weakly wipes his mouth with his sleeve. MELINDA feeds him the bite of grits. He swallows.) What did this man ever do to deserve you?

MELINDA: I am no angel, Adam.

ADAM: A Saint, then?

(MELINDA looks down at the bowl and holds out another spoonful.)

MELINDA: Eat, preserve your strength.

(ADAM eats the spoonful.)

ADAM: Where is Prudence?

MELINDA: With Elizabeth.

ADAM: (shamefully) Because of me.

MELINDA: The doctor thought it best. He was not sure if your illness could spread.

ADAM: But you have yet to catch it, right? (MELINDA shakes her head and feeds him another bite.) I feel well today. (He reaches out and touches her hand.) Perhaps we should go out?

MELINDA: But you are still weak, too weak.

ADAM: Please? (He locks eyes with her.) I need to see her. If only for today.

(MELINDA heaves a sigh, looking almost defeated.)

MELINDA: Okay.

[Scene: Present day. Manor. Attic. MELINDA WARREN moves to the Book of Shadows. PRUE steps aside, allowing her ancestor access to the tome. MELINDA WARREN begins to turn the pages by hand.]

MELINDA WARREN: I really thought Matthew returned my love. There was so much passion between us, so unlike my relationship with Adam. I thought I’d found my soulmate. (She laughs bitterly.) I was so gullible.

PRUE: He tricked you, you couldn’t have known.

MELINDA WARREN: And what about my power of premonition? Just one vision might have saved Adam! But no, I was so enthralled with Matthew, so blinded by young lust, that I never even suspected his betrayal…

[Scene: 1690. Massachusetts. Salem. Cabin. Bedroom. MATTHEW pushes MELINDA through the bedroom door; they are kissing passionately. MATTHEW runs his fingers through MELINDA’s hair as they scramble towards the bed. MELINDA and MATTHEW drop to the bed. MATTHEW brushes her hair away from her shoulder, pushes the sleeve of her dress, and kisses her bare shoulder.]

MATTHEW: (breathlessly) I love you so much… (MELINDA closes her eyes as MATTHEW continues to kiss her neck.)

MELINDA: (breathlessly) I love you too.

[Scene: Present day. Manor. Attic. MELINDA WARREN is staring down at a spell.]

MELINDA WARREN: Adam died before he ever found out I was pregnant. (She purses her lips.) He always dreamed of having a son. He loved Prudence dearly, but he was a family man, he wanted a big family, and he dreamed of having a son and a daughter.

(PIPER touches LEO’s hand and hugs CHRIS a little tighter to her chest.)

PIPER: I’m sure he would’ve been proud.

MELINDA WARREN: Been proud of what? Matthew Tate’s son?

(The sisters’ jaws drop simultaneously.)

PHOEBE: Matthew’s son? But I thought you just said-

MELINDA WARREN: I said Adam wanted a son, I never said the son I bore was his.

PAIGE: (whispering) Oh, this just keeps getting better and better.

PHOEBE: Is that why he isn’t on the tree? Did Matthew kill him?

MELINDA WARREN: Of course not! Matthew wanted a son! Don’t you see? That’s the whole reason Matthew poisoned Adam as he did! He needed to get close to me, earn my trust and my love to produce an heir. If he’d merely wanted to copy my powers, he could have tricked me as he’d done to you three.

PIPER: But Warren magic doesn’t pass onto boys. If he wanted your magic in a male heir-

MELINDA WARREN: I don’t think he knew that. (She shrugs.) In fact, I didn’t even know at the time that a son wouldn’t inherit my gifts. So all Matthew knew was that I was a very powerful witch, and that he wanted that power in his legacy.

LEO: So, what became of the baby?

MELINDA WARREN: We passed him off as Adam’s. As you know, it wasn’t wise to give birth outside of wedlock at that time. (PIPER nods.) That was, of course, before Matthew had finally obtained all of my powers. I didn’t even know he was a warlock until I had a premonition of him stealing Charlie.

[Scene: 1692. Massachusetts. Salem. Cottage. Three-year-old PRUDENCE is sitting on the ground, playing with her hand sewn doll. PRUDENCE’s dark ponytail, tied with a pink ribbon, is bouncing back and forth as she concentrates on keeping her hand formed in an upside down peace sign, while alternating her index and middle fingers like a pair of scissors. In turn, her doll’s legs are moving and the doll appears to be walking across the floor. The wooden cradle that used to be PRUDENCE’s now contains CHARLES JACKSON. MELINDA is washing dishes when CHARLIE begins to cry. She sets the dish and towel down and moves to the cradle, where she scoops up her son and cradles him to her chest.]

MELINDA: Shh, shhh, you are safe my son…

[Premonition: MATTHEW holds out his hands and CHARLIE is ripped from MELINDA’s arms and pulled directly into his. MELINDA throws up her hands to freeze him, but he doesn’t freeze.]

MATTHEW: You can’t freeze me anymore, Melinda. For every power you use on me, I receive too, but no longer will they work on me. (He waves his hand and MELINDA crashes into the wall.) But I can still wield them against you. (He looks down at their son and smiles.) Thank you, Melinda. You have given me everything I have wanted. (He blinks out with CHARLIE.)

[Cut back to 1692. MELINDA is jolted out of the premonition by CHARLIE’s cries and PRUDENCE pulling on the hem of her dress.]

PRUDENCE: (urgently) Ma-ma! Ma-ma!

MELINDA: (gasping) Oh my God! (She looks down at her son.) Please, please say there’s some mistake...

[Scene: Present day. Manor. Attic. MELINDA WARREN rotates the Book’s podium, revealing the spell to protect from prying eyes. A noise seems to hitch in PIPER’s throat as she recognizes the spell. PIPER and MELINDA WARREN share a wordless look, unnoticed by the other sisters and LEO.]

MELINDA WARREN: Charlie hadn’t shown signs of any powers before, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have any…especially as the son of a warlock, so I also performed a Binding Spell, just in case.

[Scene: 1962. Massachusetts. Salem. Cottage. MELINDA has a hold of PRUDENCE’s hand and is leading her daughter to the bedroom, where she shuts the door. MELINDA then motions her hand, moving the bed with her powers to reveal a rug underneath the hardwood floor. She flicks her wrist again and the rug slides away and then a wooden floor bed levitates up from the ground and is thrown aside. She kneels down and reaches into the hole in the floor, pulling out a very thin and very new Book of Shadows. She sets it on the floor and begins to use her powers to flip through it.]

PRUDENCE: Ma-ma, you is mad at Pwudence?

MELINDA: What? (She strokes PRUDENCE’s face.) No, never!

(PRUDENCE sticks out her lip.)

PRUDENCE: Why Ma-ma upset?

(MELINDA clutches CHARLIE close.)

MELINDA: I had a vision of a bad man, Prudence. You remember when I told you about them? Warlocks? (PRUDENCE nods.) I need you to be good, okay? So I can protect you and Charlie. (Again, PRUDENCE nods. MELINDA’s eyes widen. She gives another sharp motion of her hand and the Book of Shadows flips to a spell labeled, “To Protect from Prying Eyes.”) I knew you would come in use again.

PRUDENCE: What dat? (She touches the page.)

MELINDA: A spell, Prudence. (She runs her finger down the page.) I need salt and a candle. (She motions her hand and a thick, white, and partially melted candle rises out of the hole in the floor. With a squint of her eyes, a blanket from the bed moves through the air and lands on the floor. She lays CHARLIE down and stands up.) Watch your brother for just a moment, Prudence.

(PRUDENCE nods as MELINDA rises to her feet and leaves the room. PRUDENCE stares at her half-brother, then she smiles sweetly and holds up her doll and levitates it above him. CHARLIE makes a noise and reaches for the doll. PRUDENCE giggles.)

PRUDENCE: Can you make Sawah danz too, Chowie? (MELINDA walks back in with a matchstick and a handful of salt. She sits down next to her children and strikes the match, lighting the white candle.) Ma-ma?

MELINDA: Just a moment, Prudence.

(PRUDENCE makes a fat lip.)

PRUDENCE: But Ma-ma! (She tugs at MELINDA’s sleeve.) Can Chowie make fings danz too?

(MELINDA blinks. She gazes at her son, then empties the salt into her hand into a pile on the wooden floor.)

MELINDA: That is a good question.

(MELINDA turns a few pages, comes to a spell labeled, “To Bind.” She looks hesitatingly between CHARLIE and PRUDENCE, then wiggles her finger at the pink bow in PRUDENCE’s hair. The bow wiggles, unties, and floats into MELINDA’s hand.)

PRUDENCE: Why you need my wibbon, Ma-ma?

MELINDA: To help Charlie. (She reaches out and takes his tiny fists between her hands.)
“I take your hands,
in mine,
And with this string,”
(She squints her eyes and the pink ribbon wraps itself loosely around CHARLIE’s wrists.)
“I will entwine,
Your powers,
I’ll forever bind,
From now until,
the end of time.”

(The ribbon glows, then explodes into a fit of tiny white pinpoint lights and vanishes.)

PRUDENCE: (excitedly) Pwetty, Ma-ma, pwetty! (She giggles and claps her hands excitedly. MELINDA turns back to the spell to protect something from prying eyes. MELINDA picks up the handful of salt from the floor again.)

MELINDA: “Protect from prying eyes,
What only we two see,
For this innocent son of mine,
Make a veil of mystic worth,
To protect this infant his father birth,
Let lines be blended, smudged, and slurred,
Only my eyes can see,
The secret which entrusted be.”

(MELINDA sprinkles in a circle around her son, then throws some salt into the candle flame. Gradually, the flame turns violent, then a deep lavender smoke begins to rise from the flame. A sharp white light explodes around CHARLIE rising up from the salt ring. When the flash dissipates, the salt and lavender smoke are both gone, and the flame has returned to a normal orange burn. CHARLIE makes a cooing noise. From the next room, they hear a rough knock at the door. Hurriedly, MELINDA picks up the candle to blow it out. Her body stiffens.)

[Premonition: MELINDA is tied to a wooden pole, surrounded by stacks of burning hay. An angry mob of onlookers are surrounding her.]

MOB: Burn witch, burn! Burn witch, burn!

(The flames lick up the hay and ignite MELINDA’s dress. She stands ramrod straight, staring defiantly at the crowd. The flames crawl up her dress and she suddenly cries.)

[Cut back to 1692. MELINDA lets out a little choke of breath as she returns from her vision. She stares at the flame, then blows out the candle and returns it and the Book of Shadows to the hole in the floor. She wraps her son in the blanket, stands, and her and PRUDENCE step back. With three grand sweeping motions of her hand, the floorboard returns to cover the hole, the rug covers the floorboard, and the bed slides back into place above the rug. The rough knock sounds again.]

PRUDENCE: Doow, Ma-ma. (She points.)

MELINDA: I know. (They hear the knock again.)

MATTHEW’s VOICE: Melinda, it’s Matthew!

[Scene: Present day. Manor. Attic. MELINDA WARREN steps away from the Book of Shadows.]

PAIGE: I don’t understand. If you knew you were going to die, why didn’t you try to stop it? Try to stop Matthew?

(MELINDA WARREN opens her mouth to speak, but PIPER cuts in.)

PIPER: When you have kids, Paige, your priorities are different.

(MELINDA WARREN nods.)

MELINDA WARREN: I knew I couldn’t go after Matthew until both Prudence and Charlie were safe, especially if the vision of my death wasn’t one I was supposed to stop.

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Five

[Scene: 1692. Night. Massachusetts. Salem. MELINDA, dressed in a black cloak, walks PRUDENCE up the stone steps to a small cabin. She gives the door a light knock once, pauses, then follows up with two knocks in quick succession. A moment later, the door opens to reveal shoulder length brown hair and bangs that cover her eyebrows, ELIZABETH HASTING. She looks merely a few years older than MELINDA. ELIZABETH holds a lantern up to MELINDA’s face.]

ELIZABETH: Oh, Melinda, what are you doing here at such an hour? (She ushers MELINDA and PRUDENCE inside and quickly shuts and bolts the door.)

MELINDA: Something has happened, Elizabeth. (She produces the Book of Shadows from under her cloak. ELIZABETH’s face pales. She holds the thin leather bound Book out to her friend.) I need you to keep this. (She nods to PRUDENCE.) For her.

ELIZABETH: What is going on?

MELINDA: I cannot explain it in full, but know that I am only asking this to protect Prudence.

ELIZABETH: What has happened?

MELINDA: Matthew…he is a warlock. He wants Charlie.

(ELIZABETH places her hand to her mouth in shock.)

MELINDA: Please, no matter what happens, you have to keep Prudence safe.

ELIZABETH: And what of Charlie?

MELINDA: I trust you wholly Elizabeth, but I cannot leave him in this town. If I want to protect him, even I cannot know where he is. (She looks down at the babe in her arms.) He will be protected, though.

ELIZABETH: You make it sound as though this is the end.

(MELINDA looks away.)

MELINDA: I have seen the future, Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH: But-but you can change it!

MELINDA: Not this time. Not when they (she looks between her daughter and son) are at stake.

ELIZABETH: What did you see?

(MELINDA shakes her head and instead of answering, produces a small and heavy red velvet sack from the pocket of her cloak. She sets it in ELIZABETH’s hand.)

MELINDA: This is all I have. Take it and use it to leave here with Prudence. It should get you to Boston at least.

(Tears start to run down ELIZABETH’s face.)

ELIZABETH: Melinda, please-

(MELINDA leans forward, hugging ELIZABETH.)

MELINDA: You are good friend. My daughter is in the best of hands. (The sound of thunder booms outside.) I must go. (She kneels down quickly to PRUDENCE’s eye level.) I love you, Prudence. (She touches PRUDENCE’s chest.) And never forget that I will always be with you, right here. (PRUDENCE nods. MELINDA kisses PRUDENCE’s head.) Be good for Aunt Elizabeth. (She moves to the door.)

PRUDENCE: Ma-ma? (MELINDA looks back.) Wen you come back?

(MELINDA swallows hard.)

MELINDA: (weakly) In time. (She pulls her hood over her head and steps outside. Outside, lightning cracks and rain starts to fall. CHARLIE begins to cry.)

[Scene: Present day. Manor. Attic. MELINDA WARREN laces her fingers together nervously. PIPER crosses her legs while LEO adjusts his sleeping daughter in his arms.]

MELINDA WARREN: At that point in time, I knew Matthew already had my power to freeze, because I’d frozen him on occasions before. Thinking back, he must have only pretended to be frozen most of the time. (pause) Anyway, I knew I needed to protect Charlie, so I decided to sacrifice my power of premonition to trick him.

PRUE: How was giving up one of your powers supposed to protect Charlie?

MELINDA WARREN: It was simple, really…I decided that the best way to protect Charlie, was for him to die.

[Scene: 1692. Night. Massachusetts. Salem. Cottage. MELINDA is standing outside of her cottage as the rain pours down on her. She has CHARLIE pressed close to her breast, shielding him from the rain. The thunder bangs and the lightning continues to flashes in the sky. MELINDA gazes up at the dark, crying sky. As another flash of white hot lightning forks in across the blackness, MELINDA raises her hand and amazingly, the fork of lightning stays in the sky. Then with a magnificent wave of her hand, she pulls the lightning from the sky and brings it down on her cottage. Immediately the thatch roof explodes in flames, which begin to rapidly consume the home. The flames reflect off of MELINDA’s face as she watches it burn. Her eyes shift to the babe in her arms.]

MELINDA: “Powers of the witches rise,
Take this boy across the skies,
Keep him away from magick so black,
Protect him from his father’s attack.”

(A glow washes over CHARLIE and he vanishes from MELINDA’s arms in a swathe of gold flurry spheres of light.)

[Cut to Matthew’s cabin. He’s seated in a plush chair in front of a wood burning stove, watching the fire burn. Tucked between the index and middle finger of his left hand is a cigar which he’s taking puffs from. Every few moments he raises his hand towards the stove, flexes his fingers, and the flames inside become stationary. He flexes his fingers again and the flames unfreeze.]

MATTHEW: It’s just a matter of time before I have all three powers…

(A frantic knock bangs at his door. He jumps.)

MELINDA’s VOICE: (crying) Matthew! Matthew!

(MATTHEW drops his cigar into a tray and gets up, moving quickly to the door. He opens it to find MELINDA, drenched and sobbing on his doorstep.)

MATTHEW: My God, Melinda! (MELINDA falls into his arms as he shuts the door.) What is it?

MELINDA: (sobbing) Th-th-there h-h-has been an-an acc-i-dent. (Tears and cold rain water stream down her cheeks.) I-i-it’s Charlie!

(MATTHEW suddenly pushes her away.)

MATTHEW: What?! (MELINDA puts her hands to her mouth, crying.) What happened? Tell me what happened!

MELINDA: Th-the storm. It was the storm!

MATTHEW: Where is he? (MELINDA shakes her head.) Where is he?! (Instead of answering, MELINDA drops her head to her chest and continues to sob. MATTHEW suddenly grabs her arms roughly and shakes her.) Where. Is. He?!

[Premonition: Lightning strikes down on MELINDA’s cottage. Immediately the thatch roof explodes in flames, which begin to rapidly consume the home.]

[Cut back to 1692. MATTHEW and MELINDA come out of the premonition. MATTHEW pulls his hands away from MELINDA. He looks shocked and honestly confused.]

MATTHEW: No! No! (His face becomes red.) I did not work so hard to lose it all!

MELINDA: What are you talking about?

MATTHEW: You! (He raises his hand.) Why did you not use your powers?!

(MELINDA’s mouth slips into an exaggerated “O” shape.)

MELINDA: I-I-I tried…

MATTHEW: You can freeze!

(MELINDA shakes her head, her eyes tearing up again.)

MELINDA: I was too late… (She drops to her knees and covers her mouth with her hands dramatically.)

MATTHEW: No. (He shakes his head.) This is a lie. A trick. (He grabs MELINDA by the hair and slams her up against the wall.) Tell me where he is!

MELINDA: Dead!

(MATTHEW backhands MELINDA across the face, leaving a red handprint. She looks shocked, but recovers quickly. MATTHEW grabs her jaw and turns her head forcefully so they lock eyes.)

MATTHEW: I want my son. (MELINDA closes her eyes, refusing to look at him. MATTHEW hits her again, but she remains in passive resistance.) If you refuse to give him to me…then I will take your daughter.

MELINDA: (viciously) Go to hell!

MaATTHEW: So, you do know. I should have known better. Why not destroy me then, Melinda? Use your powers on me?

MELINDA: You already have my powers.

(MATTHEW smiles.)

MATTHEW: Not the power to move things with my mind.

MELINDA: Then you will never have it.

(MATTHEW blinks. MELIDNA whirls around. MATTHEW appears behind her, pressing a dagger to her throat.)

MATTHEW: Use your powers on me or I will kill you, Melinda.

MELINDA: (defiantly) Then kill me.

(MATTHEW grits his teeth and drags the athame across her neck, without breaking the skin.)

MATTHEW: Do I need to kill Prudence before you submit to me?

MELIDNA: You will never get to her.

MATTHEW: How can you be so sure, Melinda? I have your power of premonition now…are you willing to wager her life? Maybe (he presses the blade harder to her skin) I (he draws her hair back with his hand) already (he smells her neck) know (he kisses her neck) where (he spins her around) she (he pulls her close) is!

(MATTHEW presses his lips to hers. Suddenly, MATTHEW flies across the room and smacks harshly into the wood burning stove. The flames ignite his clothing as he falls to the floor. MELINDA waves her hand and the heavy iron door on the stove breaks off and smacks MATTHEW in the side of the head, knocking him out. MELINDA waits a moment to see if he’s truly out, then turns and runs out of the cabin.)

[Scene: Present day. Manor. Attic. MELINDA WARREN looks down at the floor.]

MELINDA WARREN: I cast another spell to protect Elizabeth and Prudence from prying eyes and then I sent them off to Boston that night, and then created the spell to trap Matthew in the locket. The next morning I was arrested for practicing witchcraft, and of course, (she motions to PRUE, PIPER, and PHOEBE) you already know how that turned out.

PIPER: So, you never found out what happened to Charlie?

(MELINDA WARREN shakes her head.)

MELINDA WARREN: It was safer for him if I never found him.

PHOEBE: Can I ask you something?

MELINDA WARREN: Of course.

PHOEBE: Did you ever meet a woman with dark red hair? Perhaps she was a friend of Matthew’s?

MELINDA WARREN: Dark red hair? (She shakes her head.) No…I don’t believe so. (PHOEBE sighs.) Why?

PAIGE: She was a demon that was after the Twins, and today, we caught her going after Prue.

PHOEBE: And that’s when I had a vision of you and Charlie, and we thought that somehow she might be connected to him.

(MELINDA WARREN shakes her head again.)

MELINDA WARREN: I’m sorry.

LILLITH's VOICE: You’re sorry? (The sisters, MELINDA WARREN, and LEO look up to see LILLITH standing in the attic with her arms folded.) I somehow find that hard to believe.

(PRUE throws out her arm but LILLITH raises her hand, absorbing the telekinetic energy into her palm.)

PHOEBE: (to MELINDA WARREN) Are you sure you’ve never seen her before? (When MELINDA WARREN doesn’t say anything, PhHOEBE makes a run at her, but MELINDA WARREN grabs her by the arm, holding her back.)

MELINDA WARREN: No, don’t.

PAIGE: Are you kidding me?! We’ve got a demon standing in our attic and you’re protecting her?

LILLITH: A demon? Is that what I am? (She smiles wickedly.)

MELINDA WARREN: (softly) She’s no demon.

PHOEBE: So, you do know her?

(PIPER discretely hands MELINDA to LEO. LEO orbs out with the Twins. LILLITH smirks.)

LILLITH: Know me? Of course she knows me. (She tilts her head to the side.) Who wouldn’t know their own flesh and blood…right (sweetly) Great-Grams?

PHOEBE & PAIGE: Great-Grams?!

PIPER: You’ve got to be kidding me!

PRUE: Just how the hell many other long lost family members do we have!

MELINDA WARREN: What do you want from me?

(LILLITH tilts her head, staring sardonically at MELINDA WARREN.)

LILLITH: You, I want nothing from, you’re already dead, aren’t you? From them, (she motions her hands towards the sisters) however, I want to even the scales.

PHOEBE: What scales?

LILLITH: These scales!

(LILLITH holds out her hand and PHOEBE flies across the room into LILLITH’s grasp. LILLITH grabs onto the sides of PHOEBE’s head with her hands and holds her in a vice grip. PHOEBE’s eyes roll back in her head and her entire body goes limp. Furiously, PRUE throws out her arm, discharging a powerful explosion of telekinetic energy that rips LILLITH and PHOEBE apart, causing LILLITH to crash into the opposite end of the attic. PIPER, PAIGE, and PRUE run to PHOEBE’s aid. PIPER cradles PHOEBE’s head in her hands as her, the latter of whom is breathing shallowly and unconscious.)

PIPER: Phoebe. (She gently pats PHOEBE’s face, but PHOEBE barely responds to it. PRUE rises threateningly to her feet in time with LILLITH.)

PRUE: (demandingly) What did you do to my sister?!

LILLITH: I only showed her what (bitterly) our family is really like. (She touches the corner of her mouth, revealing a bit of blood. She almost smiles as she looks at the blood on her finger.)

PRUE: Family or not, you’re evil, and we will vanquish you.

LILLITH: You may very well do that, but not before I make you learn that good and evil aren’t as clear cut as your self righteous clan thinks. (A gasp escapes PHOEBE’s lips as she wakes up. PRUE turns her head at the sound and LILLITH blinks out.)

PAIGE: Pheebs, are you alright?

(PIPER smoothes PHOEBE’s hair.)

PIPER: Phoebe? Can you hear me?

(PHOEBE vaguely nods. MELINDA WARREN walks over to them.)

PRUE: Pheebs, what was it?

(PHOEBE sits up, blinking her eyes.)

PHOEBE: She was just a kid…and our family killed hers.

[The Virtual Series]

End Credits

Co-Starring
Brody Jo Hamilton --- Melinda Halliwell
Jackson Phillip Deveraux Kaufman --- Chris Halliwell
Suzanne Cryer --- Elizabeth Hasting

Featuring
Colin Patrick Valentine --- Charles Jackson
Michael Muhney --- Doctor

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