6x14: Law & Order: Special Innocents Unit

[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
DORIAN GREGORY...Darryl Morris
CHELSEA BRUMMET...Melinda Halliwell
DREW FULLER...Chris Halliwell

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.

6.14 LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL INNOCENTS UNIT

GUEST-STARRING:
ERIC DANE
PAT SKIPPER
CARRIE GENZEL
MARY McCORMACK
EMMANUELLE VAUGIER
IVAN SERGEI
VIRGINIA WILLIAMS

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...Scott Laughlin

[The Virtual Series]

Law & Order: Special Innocents Unit

Teaser

[Scene: Court house. Judge Sharpe’s court. PHOEBE HALLIWELL is seated in the witness box. One of her legs is folded over the other, nervously bouncing on her knee and she has her hands clasped together. To her right is the white haired JUDGE FRANCIS SHARPE, to the left are the twelve jury members, and at the table in front of her, dressed in a black suit, is NATHANIEL PRATT.]

NATHANIEL: Tell me, Ms. Halliwell, how did you come to save the victim, (he motions across the court to where JASON DEAN is sitting) Jason Dean, on July thirty-first, two-thousand-three?

PHOEBE: I tackled him-

NATHANIEL: Tackled?

PHOEBE: Well, yes, after I heard the gunshot. (She lifts her shaky hands.) I was behind the curtain and when I heard the gunshot, I ran across the stage and, well, tackled Mr. Dean. To save his life.

NATHANIEL: I see. (He paces back and forth.) But that’s not what I asked, is it?

PHOEBE: You asked-

NATHANIEL: I asked how you (emphasizing) came to save the victim. (He stalks forward and locks eyes with PHOEBE. PHOEBE starts to shake her head.)

PHOEBE: I’m afraid I don’t understand-

NATHANIEL: Let me rephrase then. How did you get there? Why were you there?

PHOEBE: I was trying to protect Mr. Dean. (She points to the defense table, where CHLOE LUCAS is seated with her defense attorney, DENISE RUSSE.) Protect him from her.

NATHANIEL: How did you know the defendant was there to harm Mr. Dean?

PHOEBE: Well I…I…it’s hard to explain-

NATHANIEL: You saved a man’s life, Ms. Halliwell, what’s so hard to explain about that? (He waves his arm towards the jury.) Just tell the court how you knew Mr. Dean was in danger.

(DENISE rises to her feet.)

DENISE: Your Honor, this is a ridiculous line of questioning!

JUDGE SHARPE: I agree, Ms. Russe. (He turns and narrows his eyes at PHOEBE.) I’m going to need you to answer the question or step down, Ms. Halliwell.

CHLOE: I have an answer! (Everyone in the court room looks at her. PHOEBE’s eyes widen as CHLOE rises to her feet and jabs her finger accusingly in PHOEBE’s direction.) She’s a witch!

PHOEBE: (shocked) What?! (She rises to her feet while simultaneously shaking her head.) No, you’ve got it all wrong, I saved him-

CHLOE: No! You’re trying to frame me! (She stalks out from behind the defense table.) You’ve been using your black magic to orchestrate this trial the entire time!

NATHANIEL: Black magic?

PHOEBE: You’ve got it all wrong! It’s her! (She frantically points to CHLOE.) She’s the one who was using black magic!

NATHANIEL: A witch! (He presses his fingertips to his temples.) It explains so much!

PHOEBE: No!

NATHANIEL: Andy Trudeau, Sam Wilder, Dr. Curtis Williamson, Andrea Fitz, District Attorney Reece Davidson-

PHOEBE: They were all innocents-

NATHANIEL: Exactly! Innocents. (He grabs the railing of the witness box and presses his face to PHOEBE.) Innocent people you killed! (His eyes gleam.) And we can probably add your late lover to that list too, can’t we? Cole Turner?

(PHOEBE starts to cry.)

PHOEBE: Stop it! Please stop it! You don’t understand-

NATHANIEL: I think I understand perfect Ms. Halliwell. You’re a witch. You’re evil. And we all know what should happen to evil. It should be eliminated!

THE JURY: Burn the witch! Burn the witch!

(Flames spring up around the witness box.)

PHOEBE: (screaming) Nooooo!

[Cut to the present. PHOEBE bolts up in bed, still screaming. The room is dark and she’s clutching her sheets to her chest, which are soaked in sweat. Her chest is heaving as she steals rapid gasps of air. She quickly pats her hands over herself and her bed and then looks at her nightstand, where her subpoena is sitting.]

PHOEBE: (whispering) It was just a dream…it was just a dream…it was just a dream… (She reaches for the subpoena and holds it shakily in her hand as she looks at the name at the bottom of the paper. She drops the subpoena on her bed.) Except it’s not…

Clickable Credits.

[The Virtual Series]

{SCENE: The song “Over You,” written by Chris Daughtry and Brian Howes and sung by Daughtry, is heard as stock shots of San Francisco are shown while the Guest Credits are rolled.}

Act One

[Scene: Court house. PHOEBE is dressed in a white dress suit that she looks quite uncomfortable in. She’s pacing back and forth in front of a water fountain as people pass by her every couple of minutes. From the left end of the hallway, PAIGE MATTHEWS walks up carrying two coffee cups.]

PAIGE: Well, I was going to offer you some joe, but it looks like you’ve already been on a caffeine IV.

(PHOEBE snatches one of the coffees away from PAIGE and takes a long gulp.)

PHOEBE: Thank you, that would be great, and where did you come from?

(PAIGE stares blankly at her frazzled sister.)

PAIGE: You lost me after thank you.

PHOEBE: A caffeine IV, that would be great (she takes another swig of coffee) and where did you come from? I thought you went to South Bay at the same time I was leaving to come here?

PAIGE: (nodding) Yeah, but I had a custody hearing down the hall (she motions with her coffee cup) and since we got out ten minutes sooner than expected, I figured I’d check up on you.

PHOEBE: Oh. (She downs more of her coffee. PAIGE swats her arm.)

PAIGE: (scolding) Stop that! (whispering) You look like an AA member who just fell off the wagon. (She waves her hand.) And I’ve seen more than I care to recall, let me tell you.

PHOEBE: Sorry. (PHOEBE moves to wipe her hand with her sleeve, but PAIGE grabs it and hands her a napkin.) Right, (she wipes her mouth with her napkin) thanks.

PAIGE: You know, I still have a hard time believing that this Pratt guy could be as big and bad as you’re saying. (She shrugs.) It’s the twenty-first century, we have laws against persecution and everything…Wicca is a religion protected under the First Amendment-

PHOEBE: Laws go out the window when people are scared, Paige. Believe me, I’ve seen it…I was burned at the stake for it. (She shivers.) And it’s not an experience I’m willing to repeat.

PAIGE: Well, just stick to everything you’ve been told during prep and I’m sure you’ll do fine. (She pats PHOEBE on the shoulder. One of the double doors across from them opens and a little man walks out.)

MAN: Ms. Halliwell? (PHOEBE nods.) Mr. Pratt is just about to call you up, so we need you to step inside now please.

PHOEBE: Oh, right. (She moves towards the door, but the man stays in her way. He motions to her coffee.)

MAN: Sorry…no drinks allowed.

(PHOEBE groans and turns to PAIGE, who already has her arm stretched out and ready to take the cup.)

PAIGE: Good luck.

PHOEBE: I’m going to need a whole lot more than that. (She and the short man disappear into the court room.)

[Scene: Manor. Dining room. The table is scattered with books and printouts on home birthing. PRUE HALLIWELL and PIPER HALLIWELL are sitting on opposite sides of the table, each reading a book.]

PIPER: It’s too bad you’ve got a history with water, otherwise we could rent one of those water birthing tubs. From everything I’ve read, (she holds up her book labeled “The Joys of Home Birthing”) it’s supposed to have a lot of positives for mother and baby.

PRUE: Have you forgotten why I’m being forced to have a home birth in the first place? Even if I didn’t have a lifelong fear of water, (she touches her belly) I’d still have a human lighting bolt in my stomach.

PIPER: (nodding) Good point. (She sets her book down.) Hey, want to go watch the video that goes with this book? (She holds up “The Joys of Home Birthing” video.) At least until Ava gets here anyway? (PRUE winces and lets out a little groan. PIPER’s face falls into a concerned frown.) Are you okay?

PRUE: Yeah, fine. I think she just kicked me in the ribs though. I swear I’m going to have a little tom girl soccer star on my hands.

PIPER: Ha! (She grins.) I’m trying to picture you as the Soccer Mom type.

PRUE: (glaring) I could be a Soccer Mom.

PIPER: Cheerleader turned Soccer Mom…I don’t know. (PRUE glares. The doorbell rings and PRUE practically jumps out of her chair.)

PRUE: Ooh, sorry Piper, guess we don’t have time for that video after all! (She grins and waddles into the entry way.)

PIPER: Don’t think you’re getting out of it that easily! (She follows after her sister and makes it to the front door before PRUE. When she opens it, she finds AVA NICOLAE standing on the front porch with a pair of movie star-like black sunglasses on. PIPER giggles.) Nice shades.

(AVA steps inside and shifts awkwardly from foot to foot as PIPER shuts the door.)

AVA: Can I ask you guys for a big favor?

PIPER: What’s that?

AVA: Can you help me fix this please? (She takes off her glasses and reveals that both of her eye sockets are filled with glowing toxic green light. PIPER and PRUE gawk.)

[Scene: Court house. Judge Sharpe’s court. PHOEBE is sitting nervously in the witness box, while NATHANIEL calmly stands in front of her with his hand resting on the railing of the box.]

NATHANIEL: …and when you heard the gunshot, then what did you do Ms. Halliwell?

PHOEBE: I just…ran. I darted across the stage and tackled him.

NATHANIEL: Him?

(PHOEBE points across the room.)

PHOEBE: Mr. Dean.

NATHANIEL: (to JUDGE SHARPE) Let the record show that the witness has identified the victim, Jason Dean, as the one she saved from the bullet.

JUDGE SHARPE: So noted.

(NATHANIEL glances over at the defense table, where CHLOE is seated with DENISE. He pushes his hand off the witness box and turns to the jury.)

NATHANIEL: I have no more questions for this witness at this time.

(NATHANIEL returns to his seat. DENISE stands up and looks PHOEBE up and down as she saunters towards her and the jury.)

DENISE: You sure have quick reflexes, Ms. Halliwell. (She folds her arms across her chest.) There aren’t too many people who can outrun a speeding bullet. Except Superman of course… (She narrows her eyes.) I guess that must make you Superwoman then?

NATHANIEL: Objection! Defense is badgering the witness.

JUDGE SHARPE: (warningly) If you have a question, ask it Ms. Russe, if not, please take your seat.

DENISE: Apologies, Your Honor. (She brushes her fingers over her glossy hair.) Ms. Halliwell, why were you at the Holmes Conference Hall on July thirty-first of this year?

(PHOEBE gulps.)

PHOEBE: As I already told Mr. Pratt, (she shakily folds her hands into her lap) I was there to keep an eye on Mr. Dean. There had been an anonymous tip that his life was in danger.

DENISE: An anonymous tip? (PHOEBE nods.) And how did you receive this privileged information?

PHOEBE: Well I… (She glances across the room, where DARRYL MORRIS is seated. He discretely nods his head. DENISE looks over her shoulder and curiously turns back to PHOEBE and steps in front of her, blocking her view of DARRYL.)

DENISE: Ms. Halliwell? (to JUDGE SHARPE) Please instruct the witness to answer the question.

JUDGE SHARPE: Ms. Halliwell-

PHOEBE: Inspector Morris.

DENISE: Oh. (She looks back at DARRYL again.) Of the San Francisco Police Department? (She glances at the jury and then back to PHOEBE.)

PHOEBE: Yes.

DENISE: And just to be clear, you were assigned to protect Mr. Dean?

PHOEBE: Basically, yes.

DENISE: And what special training do you possess?

PHOEBE: Excuse me?

DENISE: To protect someone. (She shakes her head mockingly.) I mean, surely Inspector Morris wouldn’t assign someone without special training to protect someone whose life is in danger, right? (PHOEBE swallows uneasily.) So, please enlighten the court on your special talents…

[Scene: Manor. Living room. AVA is sitting on the couch next to LEO WYATT, who has his glowing hands hovering over her eyes. PIPER is watching anxiously as PRUE paces. Finally, LEO pulls his hands back, revealing AVA’s still toxic looking eyes.]

PIPER: Why didn’t it work?

LEO: I don’t think I’m meant to heal her. (He motions down the length of AVA’s body.) She doesn’t look hurt, does she?

PIPER: No, but does having kryptonite eyes make her healthy?

(AVA picks up her Hollywood shades from the coffee table and puts them back on. She places her hands to the sides of her head.)

AVA: This is just what I need right now…

LEO: When did your eyes first start glowing?

AVA: I noticed it this morning, but I think whatever’s going on began last night.

PIPER: Was there any magic involved? Did a demon attack you?

AVA: (shaking her head) No, nothing like that. (She releases a pent up sigh.) Last night, it was the year anniversary of my Aunt Lydia’s death. (PIPER places a soothing hand on AVA’s shoulder.)

PIPER: I’m sorry, we didn’t realize-

AVA: I was going through some of her things… (She shakes her head.) I hadn’t had the nerve before then. (She swipes her index finger under one of the lenses of her glasses.) And I finally uncovered her picture. (She looks up.) It’s customary to cover the pictures of the dead, you know. (PIPER nods.) And I… (A noise that sounds like a cross between a hiccup and a gasp escapes her lips.) Oh no!

PRUE: What?

AVA: The locket. (She unconsciously touches her throat.) The locket, I knew it looked familiar!

PIPER: What locket? What was so significant about it?

AVA: It was my mother’s…but more than that- (She suddenly rises from the couch.) I need to look at it again. Do you think…would you mind going to my apartment with me?

PIPER: Yeah, of course.

AVA: (to PRUE) I’m really sorry about this, I know today was supposed to be about you-

PRUE: Don’t worry about it. You need help. (She motions to LEO and PIPER.) We help people. That comes first. Besides, I still have a couple weeks before the baby’s even due, so it’s nothing we can’t sort out after we get you squared away.

AVA: Thank you.

[Scene: Court house. Judge Sharpe’s court. PHOEBE is still in the witness box as DENISE takes her seat. NATHANIEL rises to his feet. His face is cold and he doesn’t look at PHOEBE but addresses the judge.]

NATHANIEL: Redirect, Your Honor?

JUDGE SHARPE: Granted.

(NATHANIEL scoops up a manila folder from his deck and carries it over to the jury. He opens it and passes out copies to the jurors.)

NATHANIEL: Do you recognize these, Ms. Halliwell? (As PHOEBE examines it, he carries over a copy to DENISE.)

PHOEBE: Yes. They’re pictures taken of Mr. Dean and I after the shooting.

NATHANIEL: By whom?

PHOEBE: The press.

(NATHANIEL retrieves another folder from his table and begins passing thick piles to the jurors.)

NATHANIEL: As testimony has already stated, there were twenty-three reporters at the conference that Thursday. The papers I’m passing out now are affidavits from each one of those reporters, detailing their account of Ms. Halliwell saving Jason Dean’s life. (He walks over to DENISE and drops a stapled stack of affidavits in front of her. He moves back to his table and looks up at JUDGE SHARPE.) Your Honor, I’d like to reserve the right to recall this witness. Until then, I have no more questions for her.

JUDGE SHARPE: (to PHOEBE) You may step down now.

(PHOEBE climbs out of the witness box and walks past CHLOE, DENISE and NATHANIEL to get to the gate. As she pushes it open, CHLOE locks eyes with her. PHOEBE turns her head away and quickly walks away.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Two

[Scene: Court house. Judge Sharpe’s court. PHOEBE is sitting in the very last row in the court room. She’s nervously fiddling with the strap on her purse.]

JUDGE SHARPE: We’ll take an hour for lunch and reconvene at one-thirty.

(JUDGE SHARPE bangs his gavel and stands. The rest of the court rises and the judge disappears into his chambers. PHOEBE heaves a long sigh of relief as she worms her way down the row and is first to the doors, which she shoves open and walks out into the hallway. She breaths a relieved sigh.)

PHOEBE: Thank god!

JASON's VOICE: Phoebe? (PHOEBE starts walking down the hallway.) Phoebe!

(PHOEBE stops and turns around. She sees JASON walking towards her and he waves. She blinks.)

PHOEBE: Jason?

JASON: Hey. (He smiles as he catches up with her.) You seem pretty eager to split.

PHOEBE: Uh, yeah. (She brushes a strand of hair out of her face.) That wasn’t exactly the best experience I’ve ever had.

JASON: Not a crowd person, ‘eh?

PHOEBE: Not exactly. (She laughs nervously.)

JASON: Well, for what it’s worth, I think you did fine for someone who isn’t a people person.

PHOEBE: You’re being kind.

JASON: No, I’m being thankful. (He shakes his head.) If it wasn’t for you, I might not even be alive right now. Ever since the attack, I wake up with a new appreciation for things. (He laughs.) Excuse me, that sounded pretty bad didn’t it?

(PHOEBE laughs.)

PHOEBE: A little…but hey, sometimes the truth is a little cliché, right? (They share smiles.)

JASON: Hey, uh, are you busy?

PHOEBE: Busy?

JASON: Doing anything for lunch?

PHOEBE: Uh… (She shrugs.) Just getting as far away from here as possible.

JASON: (grinning) What a coincidence, so was I. You wouldn’t want to join me, would you?

(PHOEBE purses her lips in thought.)

PHOEBE: I guess that wouldn’t hurt.

JASON: Great! (They head for the doors.) Do you like Chinese? I know a place... (They walk out the doors.)

[Scene: Ava’s apartment. Bedroom. PRUE, PIPER and LEO are there. AVA is standing in front of her closet on her tip toes, attempting to pull something down from the top shelf. She pulls down a small ornately carved wooden chest.]

PIPER: That’s beautiful.

AVA: Thank you. (She moves to her jewelry box and pulls out a small key which she inserts into the lock on the chest.) It was my mother’s. I was supposed to inherit it after she died…but I didn’t want it. I didn’t want anything that reminded me of her. (The lock clicks and AVA sits down on the edge of the bed.)

PRUE: I understand. I went through something similar after my mother passed away.

(AVA pulls a small locket out of the chest and dangles it from her fingers. PRUE squints and leans in.)

PRUE: Is that an eye?

AVA: Yes, carved into the locket. The Evil Eye.

PIPER: The Evil Eye? Wait, (she shakes her head) I thought you said that referred to Lydia’s eyes? They were what Orin wanted, weren’t they?

AVA: Aunt Lydia was the one who wielded the Evil Eye. Only one Shuvani per gypsy clan has the power. It used to belong to Theresea and then was passed onto my mother. When my mother died, Aunt Lydia inherited it.

LEO: And now it’s yours?

AVA: It would seem that way…but the problem is, I don’t know how. There’s a ritual that goes along with the passing of the Evil Eye and it’s known only to Shuvanis. (She runs her thumb over the eye on the locket.) I think that somehow this may have given me the power… (She lifts her head to look in the mirror, where her eye sockets are still glowing an eerie green.) But I know this isn’t normal and I don’t know what to do.

(PRUE picks up the carved chest.)

PRUE: Sounds like we need to talk to a Shuvani then.

(AVA looks up.)

AVA: I’m the last of my clan-

PIPER: That’s not exactly what she meant. (She grins.) We need to summon them.

AVA: Summon them? As in…ghosts?

PRUE: Spirits. Ghosts haven’t crossed to the afterlife yet.

AVA: You can do that? Just…summon the dead? Just like that? I could…I could see my mother?

(PIPER and PRUE exchange small grins.)

[Scene: Juvenile Detention Center. PAIGE strolls up to the front desk where a woman is typing.]

PAIGE: Excuse me?

(The woman looks up, but doesn’t smile or even give her a polite nod.)

WOMAN: (annoyed) Yes?

PAIGE: I’m Paige Matthews.

WOMAN: (staring blankly) And?

PAIGE: I was sent by South Bay Social Services, I was told you were expecting me.

WOMAN: (annoyed) Oh. (She rolls her chair backwards to a filing cabinet and pulls out a folder.) For the Chessler boy?

PAIGE: Yes.

(The WOMAN skims through the file and then rolls her chair back to the computer.)

WOMAN: He’s being held in twenty-five. (She lazily points her finger down the hall.) All the way down that, make a left by the water fountain, and then you should see it.

PAIGE: (irritated) Thanks. (She heads down the hallway.) A lot of help you are. (She comes up to the water fountain and makes a left. Almost immediately, she sees the number “25” painted above a cell, but nobody seems to be inside. PAIGE walks up to the cell and peers inside.)

SECURITY GUARD: Can I help you, Ma’am?

(PAIGE spins around to see a SECURITY GUARD.)

PAIGE: Where’s Ronnie Chessler? I’m his new social worker-

SECURITY GUARD: Oh, Ronnie. (He motions his hand.) We just pulled him out for a meeting, he’s this way.

(They walk down an aisle lined with other holding cells until they come to a couple of rooms at the end. A note on one says “Meeting in Progress.” The SECURITY GUARD knocks and then opens the door.)

SECURITY GUARD: Hey Ronnie, your social worker just arrived.

(PAIGE steps inside.)

PAIGE: Ronnie, I- (She stops dead in her tracks as she sees HENRY MITCHELL sitting opposite RONNIE CHESSLER.)

HENRY: Paige!

PAIGE: (shocked) Henry.

(RONNIE wrinkles his forehead.)

RONNIE: You two know each other?

PAIGE: Uh-

HENRY: Ronnie, excuse us just a moment. (He gets up from his seat and steps outside the room with the SECURITY GUARD and PAIGE. HENRY glances at the SECURITY GUARD.) I think we can take it from here, thank you. (The SECURITY GUARD leaves. PAIGE stares at HENRY in shock. HENRY shifts awkwardly.) Long time, no see.

PAIGE: You weren’t listed in Ronnie’s file.

HENRY: Yeah, I know. It was a last minute thing. Chet’s mother had a heart attack and he had to get down to the hospital, so I was asked to fill in for him.

PAIGE: I see...

HENRY: I hope that’s alright with you-

PAIGE: Why wouldn’t it be?

HENRY: Well-

PAIGE: We’re both professionals, right? (She motions to the door.) That boy needs our help. Why wouldn’t I be alright with that?

HENRY: Okay then. (They both grab for the door handle at the same time and HENRY’s hand lands on PAIGE’s. They both freeze and then HENRY pulls his hand back.) Sorry.

(PAIGE ignores the comment and pushes the door open. RONNIE looks up from the table. PAIGE smiles brightly and holds out her hand.)

PAIGE: Ronnie, I’m Paige Matthews, you’re new social worker. (HENRY walks up behind her. PAIGE sits down.) First off, I’d like to ask you a few questions.

RONNIE: Like what?

PAIGE: Like what you did to get put into juvenile detention, for one. (She folds her arms as HENRY sits down beside her.)

[Scene: Xing’s. PHOEBE and JASON are in a small booth at the back of the restaurant. JASON is artfully using chopsticks on mini octopus tentacles, while PHOEBE is struggling to use hers on vegetables coated in a spicy red-orange sauce. JASON glances over at her and resists the urge to crack a small. He uses his free hand to dab his mouth with a cloth napkin and then holds up his chopsticks to show PHOEBE.]

JASON: You have to hold them like this.

(PHOEBE rolls her eyes.)

PHOEBE: Yeah…I somehow don’t think that’s going to happen. (She sets them down.) The sad thing is, I actually used to work in a Japanese restaurant once upon a time and I still don’t get these things.

JASON: Really?

PHOEBE: Yeah…it was a long time ago, when I first moved to New York actually. (She waves her hand dismissively.) Ancient history. (She reaches for her fork, but JASON gets up from his seat and moves around the table.)

JASON: Do you mind if I show you something?

(PHOEBE looks him up and down in mock suspicion and then shrugs.)

PHOEBE: You’re going to try to show me how to use (she picks up the chopsticks) these, aren’t you?

JASON: If you’ll allow me.

PHOEBE: (smirking) Well…I guess it wouldn’t hurt. Maybe a little failure in life will do you some good?

(PHOEBE smiles. JASON motions his hand and PHOEBE slides out of her seat. JASON pulls PHOEBE’s dish across the table and then he takes her hand and positions the chopsticks correctly between her fingers. PHOEBE watches silently as he wraps his hand around hers and guides it to the plate.)

JASON: And now you just… (He helps her pinch the vegetable between her chopsticks and lift it into the air.) See?

PHOEBE: It feels so foreign.

JASON: That’s the idea.

(PHOEBE eyes JASON’s hand.)

PHOEBE: I don’t know if I like it.

JASON: Try it.

(PHOEBE turns her head to steal a glance at JASON, then she nods. JASON guides PHOEBE’s hand to her mouth and she eats the vegetable.)

JASON: How is it?

(PHOEBE licks her lips at the spiciness.)

PHOEBE: It’s…different.

JASON: A good different?

PHOEBE: I don’t know. (She studies the chopsticks.) I think I need more time.

(At that moment, a beeping sound startles both of them. PHOEBE loosens her grip on the chopsticks; one falls to the table and the other bounces to the floor.)

JASON: Sorry. (He reveals his wristwatch and presses a small button on the side.) My alarm. We should be getting back to the court house soon.

PHOEBE: Right. (She grabs for her purse.)

JASON: I got it. I invited you after all, right?

PHOEBE: Are you sure?

JASON: Hey, you saved my life. I think it’s the least I could do.

PHOEBE: Well, if you’re sure. (She bends down and picks up the fallen chopstick.) Thank you.

JASON: It’s my pleasure.

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Three

[Scene: Manor. Attic. LEO, PIPER, PRUE and AVA are there. AVA is once again wearing her sunglasses. A circle of white, lit candles has been placed in the center of the floor and PRUE is standing behind the pedestal that contains the Book of Shadows.]

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

(A swathe of angelic spheres spirals in the circle of candles, transforming into the transparent spirit of MARINA NICOLAE. A tear runs down AVA’s cheek.)

AVA: Mom!

MARINA: Hello, Ava. (Her white gypsy skirt swishes as she steps out of the circle and becomes corporeal. She touches her hand to her daughter’s cheek and AVA shakily presses her hand to MARINA’s.)

AVA: (whispering) I can’t believe it. (She reaches up and wraps her hand around her mother’s wrist. More tears escape from underneath her glasses.)

MARINA: I’ve missed you, my Little Shuvani.

(A little croak escape’s AVA’s lips. MARINA gently removes her hand from AVA’s grasp and uses both hands to remove the sunglasses from Ava’s eyes. AVA instinctively turns her head away as the green light glares from her eye sockets. MARINA places her finger under AVA’s chin and turns her head gently back.)

MARINA: I always knew you’d finally receive the gift. You’ve always been destined for it.

AVA: I don’t understand. How? Why? There was no ritual…Aunt Lydia’s eyes-

MARINA: When you and the Charmed Ones vanquished Orin, the power he stole from Lydia was returned to the locket. It’s been waiting for you. (She takes AVA’s hand and holds it between her own.) “Waffedioyk.”

AVA: The inscription inside the locket.

MARINA: Yes.

AVA: What does it mean?

MARINA: It’s how you activate the Evil Eye, a gypsy spell. When you said it, the power transferred from the locket to you…as it was always meant to.

AVA: But my eyes… (She shakes her head.) Aunt Lydia, Theresea, you…this never happened.

MARINA: The ritual was never completed. Lydia never got the chance to officially bless you as a Shuvani.

(AVA looks down at the floor shamefully.)

AVA: Because I abandon my heritage after you died.

(MARINA squeezes AVA’s hand.)

MARINA: But you haven’t. You still have time. (She grins.) We’ll make a Shuvani out of you yet. (She turns to PRUE, PIPER and LEO.) Will you help us?

PIPER: Just tell us what you need and it’s yours.

[Scene: Juvenile Detention Center. Interview room #2. PAIGE, HENRY and RONNIE are still sitting at the table. RONNIE is staring at his reflection in the table and drawing shapes onto it with his fingertips.]

PAIGE: I can set up appointments with a psychologist if you’d like, Ronnie. When you’re carrying emotional baggage, it’s best to talk to someone about it.

(RONNIE shakes his head fervently.)

RONNIE: No! I don’t want to talk to anyone!

HENRY: You know the courts may make you anyway, right? Perhaps as part of your parole? You might want to rethink taking Paige up on that deal. I know she’ll work to get you someone good, as opposed to someone court appointed.

(RONNIE presses his hands to his ears.)

RONNIE: Please, no… (He shakes his head desperately.) I just want to do my time and go. I don’t like talking to people about myself.

(PAIGE sighs.)

PAIGE: Are you sure?

RONNIE: Yes!

(PAIGE gets out of her chair.)

PAIGE: Then I guess we’re done for today. I’ll be back tomorrow after giving my report to my boss…I’ll know more then.

(The SECURITY GUARD walks in and ushers RONNIE up from the table. He leads RONNIE out of the room and down the hall, with PAIGE and HENRY following a ways behind.)

HENRY: (whispering) I haven’t really had time to get to know the kid, but something just seems off about this.

PAIGE: (whispering) I know, I’ve got the same vibe.

HENRY: (whispering) I think he’s a good kid…no drugs or history of mental illness, far as I know. (He shrugs.) So the theft and the suicide threat…they just don’t make any sense.

PAIGE: (whispering) Which is precisely why I’d like him to see someone.

(PAIGE bites her lip as they reach RONNIE’s holding cell. As the guard is about to lock the door, a woman rounds the corner with a wheeling cart full of little containers of pills and plastic cups of water. PAIGE looks at her.)

MEDICINE WOMAN: Hey, Ronnie! (She smiles prettily.) Time for your medicine. (The guard opens the door for the woman, who grabs one of the pill containers and a water and walks inside the cell. She sits down on the bed next to RONNIE and hands him the medication.) Just down those for me, please. (RONNIE drops one of the pills onto his tongue and takes a swig of the water.) That’s right. Now the other one. (RONNIE shakily drops the other pill onto his tongue. The woman smiles.) You know what you need to do. (RONNIE downs the last of the water and the MEDICINE WOMAN pats his shoulder. She quickly exits the cell and the guard proceeds to lock RONNIE in.)

PAIGE: (to the MEDICINE WOMAN) What are those for?

MEDICINE WOMAN: (quietly) Depression.

PAIGE: (whispering) I didn’t realize he was on any medication.

MEDICINE WOMAN: It wasn’t in his file? (PAIGE shakes her head.) That’s odd. You should ask the front desk about it. I’ve been assigned to fill his prescription since he came in yesterday evening.

(PAIGE vaguely nods. The MEDICINE WOMAN passes by her and moves on down to the next cell. PAIGE shivers. She looks down at her arm and notices that it’s covered with goose bumps. HENRY touches her shoulder and PAIGE jumps.)

HENRY: Come on, I think we should talk.

PAIGE: What?

HENRY: About Ronnie? You know…since I’m working on his case…at least until Chet’s back.

PAIGE: Right, of course. Yeah. (She pauses by RONNIE’s cell. RONNIE is now lying down on the bed, looking tired.) I’ll see you tomorrow. (RONNIE vaguely acknowledges her. PAIGE looks down the hallway again, but the MEDICINE WOMAN is gone. She shakes her head and follows HENRY as he disappears around the corner.)

[Scene: Court house. The court room is full once more, with PHOEBE once again sitting in the back of the court but this time next to DARRYL. On the witness stand is a plump man in a pinstripe suit. NATHANIEL is up, but DENISE is watching him like a hawk hunting prey.]

NATHANIEL: Professor MacAvoy, what are your credentials?

PROFESSOR MACAVOY: I have over twenty years of background study into the occult-

DENISE: Objection!

(NATHANIEL turns, his eyes blazing.)

NATHANIEL: To what?

DENISE: Prejudicial language. “The occult,” Your Honor. My client is a practitioner of the Wiccan religion, protected under the First Amendment of the Constitution. The terminology has a stigma attached to it and thus makes it prejudicial.

NATHANIEL: But it is an occultist religion-

DENISE: The mere definition of occult, as dealing with the supernatural or being beyond human comprehension for example, could be applied to any religion involving a higher power. (She narrows her eyes at NATHANIEL.) Christianity is an occultist religion under those definitions!

(JUDGE SHARPE bangs his gavel.)

JUDGE SHARPE: Ms. Russe’s point is valid. “Occult” and relating prejudicial terms will not be permitted in my court.

DENISE: Thank you, Your Honor.

(DENISE sits back down with a satisfied grin on her pinched lips. NATHANIEL places his hands behind his back and paces in front of PROFESSOR MACAVOY.)

NATHANIEL: Professor, would it be fair to say that Chloe Lucas - a (contemptuously) Wiccan - is a practicing witch?

(At the back of the court, PHOEBE sneers under her breath.)

PROFESSOR MACAVOY: No. Not all Wiccans are witches and not all witches - or those who consider themselves to be witches - are Wiccans.

PHOEBE: (whispering) It’s people like Chloe that continue to give Wicca and witches a bad name. If she was truly Wiccan, she’d be harming ye none.

DARRYL: (whispering) I wish she could’ve just gone through normal guns for hire instead of magical Executioners. It would make this thing a whole lot easier.

PHOEBE: (whispering) Tell me about it. (She glances over at JASON.) How do you think this is going so far?

DARRYL: (whispering) I don’t know. The jury’s hard to read.

(PHOEBE shakes her head.)

PHOEBE: (whispering) This can’t go in her favor. If she’s freed, she’ll not only be after Jason but I’m sure she’ll be after me and my sisters as well.

DARRYL: (whispering) What are you going to do?

(PHOEBE eyes NATHANIEL warily as he pumps out questions for PROFESSOR MACAVOY.)

PHOEBE: (whispering) There’s nothing I can do but watch and wait…and hope.

[Scene: Piper and Leo’s house. Kitchen. LEO is scrounging the cupboards when MELINDA HALLIWELL walks in.]

MELINDA: Dad! Whatcha lookin’ for?

LEO: Rosemary twig and lady’s mantle. You don’t know where your mother-

(MELINDA walks over to the cupboard and yanks it open. She pulls out two jars and holds them out to her father, but just as he’s about to take them, she pulls them back.)

MELINDA: Wait a minute! Rosemary twig and lady’s mantle? (She narrows her eyes.) You aren’t by any chance working on a gypsy ritual, are you?

LEO: How did you-

(MELINDA holds up the rosemary’s twig jar.)

MELINDA: A key ingredient in Valerian Wine, key for Shuvani Blessings and (she holds up the jar of lady’s mantle) lady’s mantle, key in gypsy purification potions.

LEO: Since when did you learn so much about gypsy magic?

MELINDA: I grew up with a gypsy as the family doctor…it happens. So, (excitedly) where is Ava? When’s the ritual? Will there be dancing? (She performs a move like a belly dancer.)

LEO: No, there will not be any dancing. (He frowns as he snatches the jars from MELINDA’s hands.) It’s a ritual for Shuvanis and last I checked, you were still a witch. (MELINDA rolls her eyes.) Don’t pout…honestly, I don’t even know if any of us are supposed to be there. Prue and your mother are just helping with the preparations because as spirits, it makes it a little more difficult for Ava’s family.

MELINDA: Well, I could help-

LEO: I think we’re fine, but thank you anyway. (He pockets the jars.) I’ll see you later. (He orbs out. MELINDA frowns.)

MELINDA: (shouting) Chris! Hey, (she heads for the hallway) Chriiis!

[Scene: Bayview Café. PAIGE and HENRY are sitting at an outdoor table. HENRY is munching away on a salad, but PAIGE has a BLT in front of her that she’s hardly touched. She seems distracted and disinterested. HENRY wipes the corners of his mouth.]

HENRY: Is something wrong?

PAIGE: Huh?

HENRY: With the food. (He nods.) You’ve barely eaten anything.

PAIGE: No. (She shakes her head.) No, it’s fine. (She looks off again.) Hey, was it just me, or was there something odd about that nurse?

HENRY: What nurse?

PAIGE: The one handing out the medicine.

HENRY: No. (He takes another bite of his salad.) She looked normal to me, why?

PAIGE: (sighing) I don’t know…maybe it’s just been a long week and I’m paranoid. (She pokes her finger at her BLT.) I’m not really hungry.

(Silence.)

HENRY: It looks nice.

PAIGE: Excuse me?

HENRY: Your hair. (He shrugs.) The color, it looks nice. It brings out your complexion.

PAIGE: Umm… (awkwardly) What does that really have to do with Ronnie?

HENRY: It doesn’t…I was just trying to be nice. (He shrugs.) You seem like you could use a little nice at the moment.

(PAIGE briefly smiles.)

PAIGE: Thanks. (She pulls a wrinkly green bill from her purse and sets it under her glass of water.) I’ll see you tomorrow, I guess. (HENRY raises his eyebrows.) When I go to see Ronnie?

HENRY: Right! Of course. See you then.

(PAIGE nods before leaving. HENRY groans and drops his fork back into his salad and leans back into his chair.)

[Scene: Juvenile Detention Center. Ronnie’s cell. RONNIE is lying in bed with his pillow over his head. At the edge of the bed, a burst of black and midnight blue orbs appears, depositing the medicine woman.]

DARKLIGHTER: (in RONNIE’s voice) I shouldn’t be here. I’m not worth the effort.

(RONNIE pulls the pillow off his head. His eyes are red, as if he’s been crying.)

RONNIE: I’m not worth it.

DARKLIGHTER: (in RONNIE’s voice) It’s my fault they’re divorced.

RONNIE: If I wasn’t around, they could be happy again.

DARKLIGHTER: I need to do something about it. I need to fix this.

(RONNIE climbs off his bed and begins to pace. He suddenly looks down at his pillow and then at his shoes.)

DARKLIGHTER: That’s it! That’s how I can make them happy again.

(RONNIE kneels down, pulls off his shoes, and begins to unthread his shoelaces.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Four

[Scene: Court house. Judge Sharpe’s court. DARRYL is now on the witness stand and DENISE is pacing in front of him like a bulldog ready to lunge at a bone. She’s holding a thick folder in her hands.]

DENISE: Inspector Morris, how many years have you been with the San Francisco Police Department?

DARRYL: Eleven years.

DENISE: And how many of those have you been an inspector?

DARRYL: Four. I was promoted in nineteen-ninety-eight.

DENISE: Oh. (She nods.) The same year you were assigned to your new partner, Andrew Trudeau?

DARRYL: (tensely) Yes.

NATHANIEL: Objection, is this line of questioning going anywhere?

DENISE: It establishes a precedent, Your Honor.

JUDGE SHARPE: I’ll allow it…for now.

DENISE: Can you tell us what happened to Inspector Trudeau?

DARRYL: He was killed.

DENISE: (curiously) Where?

DARRYL: In the line of duty.

DENISE: I asked where, as in an address Mr. Morris.

DARRYL: Thirteen-twenty-nine Prescott Street.

DENISE: (surprised) Really? And…do you know whose address that is?

DARRYL: Yes.

DENISE: (sternly) Whose, Mr. Morris?

DARRYL: Phoebe’s.

DENISE: Phoebe’s? As in… (She looks to the back of the room.) Phoebe Halliwell? The woman who allegedly saved Jason Dean’s life?

DARRYL: She did save his life!

DENISE: That remains to be proven, Inspector. (She tightens her lips.) Do you know how Inspector Trudeau died?

DARRYL: A robbery.

DENISE: Was the robber caught?

DARRYL: No.

DENISE: So…how do you know this then?

DARRYL: It was in the report.

DENISE: An unsolved report?

DARRYL: Yes.

DENISE: I see. (She begins to shuffle through her folder.) You’ve had quite a few of those, haven’t you Inspector? You…and Inspector Trudeau? Do you know why that is?

DARRYL: Luck of the draw, I guess.

DENISE: Is it also just (emphasizing) luck, that the name “Halliwell” tends to pop up in so many of these unsolved cases?

DARRYL: (angrily) I know what you’re trying to do!

DENISE: Trying to do? Inspector! I’m merely stating the obvious! I’m not trying to do anything… (She smiles and sets the folder on the railing in front of DARRYL.) All your unsolved cases in the last four years. (She opens the folder and pulls out another smaller folder lying on the top and lays it next to the larger folder.) And out of those, there are all the cases that mention either Leo Wyatt, Phoebe Halliwell’s brother-in-law; Paige Matthews, her half sister; Prue or Piper Halliwell, and/or Phoebe Halliwell herself. (She looks at the jury and then gathers up her folders, hovers in front of them for a moment longer, and then returns to her seat.) I have no more questions for this witness.

[Scene: Juvenile Detention Center. Infirmary. RONNIE is strapped down to a bed and he appears to be only partially coherent. He keeps turning his head and moaning. The DARKLIGHTER is at his side, taking his blood pressure, while the SECURITY GUARD stands in the corner of the room. The door bursts open and PAIGE storms in.]

PAIGE: Ronnie? (She spots RONNIE.) Ronnie! Oh my god! (She moves to RONNIE’s side and touches his hand.) Can you hear me, Ronnie?

DARKLIGHTER: He’s heavily medicated right now, Ms. Matthews.

(PAIGE lifts her head to reveal her flashing brown eyes.)

PAIGE: How did this happen?!

DARKLIGHTER: We were doing everything-

PAIGE: (incredulously) Everything? The boy threatened suicide less than a week ago! How in the hell did you not have him on suicide watch?

DARKLIGHTER: As you said, the threat was a week ago. It didn’t seem severe-

PAIGE: Just shut up! (She holds up her hands.) I will deal with you and this facility after I’m done with this boy. (She attempts to unbuckle RONNIE’s restraints, but the DARKLIGHTER grabs PAIGE’s hand. PAIGE freezes up.)

DARKLIGHTER: (venomously) What do you think you’re doing?

PAIGE: Taking him to a real hospital.

DARKLIGHTER: You have no authority.

PAIGE: I’m his social worker!

DARKLIGHTER: Great! Then come back with a court order and we’ll happily release him, until then, he’s in our custody. (She points to the door.) I’m afraid I’m going to need you to leave now.

PAIGE: I will do no such thing! He’s my…he’s my…charge!

DARKLIGHTER: (smirking) Security!

(The SECURITY GUARD moves towards PAIGE, just as HENRY walks in. He notices the tension immediately. As the SECURITY GUARD reaches for PAIGE, she swats his hands away.)

PAIGE: Don’t touch me!

HENRY: What’s going on here?

PAIGE: They won’t give me Ronnie.

DARKLIGHTER: No court order, no child. You should know that, Mr. Mitchell.

HENRY: She’s right, Paige. (He takes her hand.) Come on, we’ll place a few calls.

PAIGE: (sneering) He better be in perfect condition by the time I get back here. (She walks out with HENRY and the SECURITY GUARD shuts the door, but PAIGE refuses to leave it. All along her arm are goose bumps but she doesn’t seem to notice.) He shouldn’t be here, they’re not helping him! Did you see the way he looked in there?

HENRY: I know, (he pulls out his cell phone) but you can’t just bust in there and take him, Paige. You know better than that. (He dials a number and presses the phone to his ear.) I’ll be right back. (He walks a few feet away to make his call. PAIGE keeps pacing.)

[Cut to the infirmary. RONNIE is groaning.]

RONNIE: (murmuring) Paige?

(The DARKLIGHTER leans into his ear.)

DARKLIGHTER: (in RONNIE’s voice) I have no one. Even Paige has abandon me now…my guardian angel. I’m all alone.

RONNIE: (murmuring) Alone…

[Scene: Manor. Hallway. MARINA is waiting outside the bathroom when the door opens. AVA stands in the doorway, wearing a layered, multi-colored silk gypsy skirt. Her arms are lined with glittering bangle bracelets, her earrings consist of large gold hoops, and she’s wearing a very short purple velvet top that reveals her entire toned stomach.]

MARINA: (amazed) You look beautiful, Ava! (They hug.)

AVA: It feels so different now. When I was little, I used to love dressing up like this just because it was fun and I could do it with you, but now…I feel the gravity of tradition.

(PIPER and LEO walk up. PIPER blinks.)

PIPER: Wow! You hardly even resemble clean, clinical Ava. You look like you stepped out of movie. (She holds up her hands.) And that’s a compliment, I mean. You look amazing.

AVA: Thank you.

LEO: We’re just about ready if you are.

(AVA and MARINA exchange looks.)

AVA: We are.

PIPER: Great. Leo and I will just go get the Valerian Wine and meet you in the attic.

(AVA and MARINA head for the attic while PIPER and LEO go the opposite direction.)

[Scene: Court house. Judge Sharpe’s court. JASON is now on the stand and NATHANIEL is questioning him.]

NATHANIEL: And why exactly did you end your relationship with Ms. Lucas?

JASON: (sighing) I found out a few things…that she wasn’t the woman I thought she was.

NATHANIEL: Can you elaborate?

JASON: I found out her business dealings weren’t as clean cut as I originally believed. I didn’t want to hurt her, but I couldn’t bring myself to continue to be in a relationship with her…let alone merge our companies and jeopardize my company’s integrity.

NATHANIEL: So just to clarify, you left Ms. Lucas both publically and privately right before a massive company merger because of a monetary scandal you claim to have uncovered?

JASON: Correct.

NATHANIEL: Thank you, Mr. Dean. (He returns to his seat.) No more questions.

(DENISE rises.)

DENISE: So if this alleged scandal is true, why didn’t you go to the authorities Mr. Dean?

JASON: I still had feelings for Chloe…I didn’t want to hurt her.

DENISE: So you lied to protect her?

JASON: I never lied. (emphasizing) I never went public with the reasons for our breakup or why the merger never happened.

DENISE: A lie of omission is still a lie, Mr. Dean. (JASON opens his mouth, but DENISE cuts him off.) Did you have any contact with Ms. Lucas after your break up?

JaASON: No, not until the shooting.

DENISE: So no e-mails, phone calls, threats, blackmail, anything?

JASON: No.

DENISE: I see. Thank you. (She sits down.)

JUDGE SHARPE: (to JASON) You may step down.

(PHOEBE looks at DARRYL and shakes her head.)

PHOEBE: (whispering) That woman is a sniper, she just keeps shooting everyone down!

DARRYL: (whispering) It doesn’t erase the fact that Chloe was apprehended running from the scene of the crime with the gun still hot in her hand.

PHOEBE: (whispering) I just hope the jury doesn’t forget about that little detail by the time Denise is done warping the witnesses.

[Scene: Manor. Attic. AVA, MARINA, PRUE, PIPER and LEO are there. AVA and MARINA are standing in a circle of candles, one color for each in the rainbow. MARINA takes AVA’s hands in her own and rubs her thumbs over AVA’s knuckles in a soothing way. Then she begins to chant in a foreign gypsy tongue. The flames on the candles arch, hiss, and grow. They begin to turn different colors until each flame is a healthy cerulean. Then faces begin to reflect in the flames as MARINA’s chanting becomes louder and deeper. Little pinpricks of light race out of the flames and circle around MARINA and AVA before each flying into AVA’s chest. The bangles on her arms jingle as AVA jerks her hands away from MARINA’s and clasps them over her heart. The green glow in AVA’s eyes reaches its pinnacle of brightness and then gradually fades away to reveal AVA’s eyes again, with her irises a brilliant burning emerald. At the same moment, each of the candle flames also burn green. Then the flames abruptly burn out and AVA’s irises return to their natural color. The pinpricks of light escape AVA’s chest and swirl around MARINA. Several female spirits, Shuvanis, including THERESEA GERSHWIN and LYDIA NICOLAE, appear in a group behind MARINA. MARINA holds her hand to usher her need for PRUE and PIPER. PIPER carries over two goblets, containing the Valerian Wine. She hands one to AVA and one to MARINA. They clink their goblets and drink the wine and then PRUE moves over and holds out a small bowl containing a clear oily liquid. MARINA dips her thumbs into the oil and AVA closes her eyes. MARINA massages the oil against AVA’s eyelids. Finally, she dips her hand into her pocket and produces the Evil Eye locket which she clasps around AVA’s neck. MARINA smiles proudly.]

MARINA: Open your eyes. (AVA opens her eyes.) You’re finally a Shuvani. (She strokes AVA’s cheek.) I’m so proud.

AVA: Mom. (She returns the gesture.)

MARINA: I love you. (She steps back and becomes transparent with the other Shuvanis. AVA struggles her nod.)

AVA: I love you, too. (She presses her hand to the locket as her gaze drifts to LYDIA and THERESEA.) All of you.

MARINA: We must go. (She lifts her transparent hand.) Never forget where you come from, Ava. (The Shuvanis disappear in starbursts of light, all except MARINA. Then she waves and disappears too.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Five

[Scene: Juvenile Detention Center. Infirmary. RONNIE’s arms and legs are no longer strapped down, instead he’s just lying on the bed, moaning and staring at the ceiling. The SECURITY GUARD looks puzzled as the DARKLIGHTER busies herself with a tray of needles.]

SECURITY GUARD: Are you sure it’s okay to have him loose like that?

DARKLIGHTER: I know what I’m doing. (She narrows her eyes.) I’ve been doing this a long time. (She motions lazily to towards RONNIE.) He’s perfectly fine if you’d like to leave now.

SECURITY GUARD: Thanks, but I’m not really supposed to do that.

DARKLIGHTER: You don’t trust me?

SECURITY GUARD: No, I’m just not supposed to leave. You know…in case something did go wrong.

(The DARKLIGHTER glowers.)

DARKLIGHTER: Right, because I can’t take care of myself.

(The SECURITY GUARD blanches.)

SECURITY GUARD: That’s not what I meant-

DARKLIGHTER: I know perfectly well what you meant. (She fills a syringe and places it on a movable metal tray. As she turns around, she discretely motions her hand.)

[Cut to outside the infirmary door. PAIGE is pacing by the door. She looks at her watch again and then stands up on her tip toes to see into the window on the door. She spots a handful of dark blue and black orbs streak from the DARKLIGHTER’s palm and whisk across the room hitting a light fixture above the SECURITY GUARD. PAIGE yelps and swings open the door, just in time to see the light fixture crash down on the SECURITY GUARD and knock him out cold. The DARKLIGHTER and PAIGE both lock eyes.]

DARKLIGHTER: Finally caught on, did you? (She swipes the syringe from the tray and grabs for RONNIE’s arm. A plume of black and dark blue orbs encircle them.)

PAIGE: Don’t touch him!

(PAIGE throws out her hands and the surging of the dark orbs slows down until they come to a stop in mid air. Slowly, the dark orbs begin to reverse their flow until they’re gone completely. The DARKLIGHTER removes her hand from RONNIE’s arm, takes a few steps backwards, places the syringe on the table, and her mouth moves in reverse. PAIGE and the DARKLIGHTER lock eyes again and then PAIGE returns to her position of looking at the SECURITY GUARD as the light fixture falls onto his head and knocks him out. Time begins again and the DARKLIGHTER immediately snatches up her syringe as she did the first time.)

DARKLIGHTER: Finally caught on-

(The DARKLIGHTER notices that PAIGE is no longer standing by the door. Her long blonde hair whips around her head as she turns to see PAIGE already standing next to RONNIE, with her hand protectively grasping his. Bright white and baby blue orbs begin to engulf PAIGE and RONNIE.)

PAIGE: Looks like the shoe’s on the other foot.

(The DARKLIGHTER raises her hand and a clump of black and dark blue orbs fly out at PAIGE, but they’re too late as they travel through empty air. The DARKLIGHTER clenches her fist around the syringe and it bursts. She grabs the vial of medication and another handful of fresh syringes and dark orbs out. At that moment, HENRY walks through the door as he’s closing his cell phone. He sees the SECURITY GUARD knocked out on the floor with the remnants of the light fixture littered around him.)

HENRY: Oh my god! (He kneels down and dusts away the debris and checks the man’s neck for a pulse, then he pulls out his cell phone and dials “9-1-1.”)

[Scene: Manor. Attic. PAIGE orbs in next to the old sofa, where RONNIE materializes lying down.]

PIPER: (shocked) Paige?

(PAIGE looks behind her to see four curious pairs of eyes watching her.)

PAIGE: Oh thank goodness! (She releases her hold on RONNIE’s arm.) It’s good you’re here, there’s some kind of demon after Ronnie. (A strange look passes over LEO’s face.) The thing is-

LEO: Get down! (He charges at PAIGE and tackles her to the ground as the DARKLIGHTER dark orbs in. Another streak of black and dark blue orbs moves over their heads.)

PRUE: (seething) A darklighter! (She motions her arm and the DARKLIGHTER is picked up off her feet and thrown into the wall.)

PAIGE: (confusedly) A darklighter? (She scrambles to get up from underneath LEO. PAIGE grabs RONNIE’s limp hand.)

LEO: No, (he grabs PAIGE’s hand) she’ll track you! That’s how she followed you here.

PAIGE: I need to protect Ronnie!

AVA: “Waffedioyk!”

(Two rays of what look like green lasers escape AVA’s eyes and jet across the room, penetrating the DARKLIGHTER’s chest. The DARKLIGHTER yelps and grabs her chest as PIPER darts for the Wicca chest. The DARKLIGHTER looks down at her chest to see two severe black burn marks as PIPER produces an armful of crystals from the chest. The DARKLIGHTER dark orbs away. PIPER slumps her shoulders.)

PIPER: Great. (She carries the crystals over to RONNIE and places them around the sofa.)

PAIGE: That won’t do much if she wants to get him, all she has to do it move one.

PRUE: (to LEO) Can you sense her?

(LEO closes his eyes and then opens them again, shaking his head.)

LEO: She was injured, she probably went to the Underworld to avoid being tracked by me. (He looks back at RONNIE.) Maybe we should take him back to our house for now? The alarm system will alert us if she tries to come after him again.

PAIGE: Okay, I’m on board with that…but I want to know what’s going on with this whole darklighter thing. I thought darklighters smoked and used crossbows…not orbed and used…orbs?

LEO: There are different levels of darklighters, Paige.

PRUE: We’ve dealt with the kind you’re dealing with before.

LEO: This particular kind of darklighter isn’t out to kill whitelighters, which is why they don’t use crossbows. Instead, their purpose is to kill future whitelighters. Or, more accurately, get them to kill themselves.

PIPER: A person can’t become a whitelighter if they take their own life.

PAIGE: You mean… (She looks over at RONNIE.) He’s destined to become a whitelighter?

LEO: Probably not for a while, but if she’s after him, then yes.
(PAIGE’s cell phone begins to ring. She pulls it out of her purse and looks at the number. Her face pales.)

PAIGE: Oh… (PRUE and PIPER look curiously at her.) It’s Henry.

PRUE & PIPER: (surprised) Henry?

PAIGE: It’s not what you think. (She hesitates to answer and then finally holds up her finger.) I’ll be right back. (She leaves the attic. AVA moves across the room to the crystal cage. She moves one of the crystals out of place so she can get access to RONNIE. PRUE studies AVA curiously.)

AVA: It looks like he’s been drugged. (She checks his pulse and then pulls back his eyelids to reveal dilated pupils.) I think I might be able to make an elixir for him if you’d like…it should bring him out of the stupor he’s in.

PIPER: (nodding) That would be great. (to LEO) But first, can you take him to our house, please?

LEO: Yeah, I’ll meet you there I guess. (He lays his hand over RONNIE’s and holds his other hand out to AVA. AVA places her hand in LEO’s and they orb out. PAIGE walks back in just as the last of LEO’s orbs vanish.)

PRUE: Well?

PAIGE: I think I bought us a little time, but he didn’t sound totally convinced.

PRUE: So he’s going to cover for you out of…

PAIGE: Friendship.

(PRUE raises her eyebrows unconvinced. PAIGE notices that RONNIE is gone.)

PIPER: Leo took him.

PAIGE: Right. (She grabs her sisters’ hands and they orb off.)

[Scene: Piper and Leo’s house. Living room. RONNIE is now lying on the couch opposite the television. LEO is sitting on the edge of the couch next to him as PAIGE walks in.]

PAIGE: So you said that whitelighters can sense that particular kind of darklighter?

LEO: Yes.

(PAIGE smacks herself against her forehead.)

PAIGE: I thought it was odd that I kept getting chills when I was around her, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was.

LEO: Well you’re only half whitelighter, so you were probably only picking up on half the signal.

(PAIGEe kneels down next to RONNIE and smoothes his hair away from his face.)

PAIGE: So do these types of darklighters have normal vanquishes or are those different too?

LEO: Well, actually, The Elders prefer that Doubtlighters-

PAIGE: Doubtlighters?

LEO: It’s kind of a nickname Up There. They inflict their victims with self doubt.

PAIGE: (sarcastically) Cute.

LEO: Anyway, The Elders like to have them taken Up There-

PAIGE: That seems ridiculous though-

LEO: They don’t have crossbows, remember? They’re not a direct threat to whitelighters, just to future whitelighters. But like I was trying to say, They have methods of interrogation Up There…They like to probe Doubtlighters’ minds, discover if they have any other potential future whitelighter victims on their hit lists so They can assign extra protection to them and eliminate the threat.

PAIGE: That makes sense I guess.

(AVA, PIPER and PRUE walk in. AVA’s carrying steaming cup with a spoon in it. PAIGE gently shakes RONNIE, but he merely murmurs in response.)

AVA: Let me try. (She sets the mug on the table and kneels down next to PAIGE. She slowly rubs circles onto RONNIE’s temples with her fingers. RONNIE murmurs again.) Get a spoonful of broth and blow on it. (She continues to massage RONNIE’s temples as PAIGE gets the instructed spoonful. Slowly, AVA props RONNIE into a half sitting position and then she takes the spoon from PAIGE and rubs it over RONNIE’s lips, gently parting them and then tilts the liquid into his mouth. RONNIE’s eyes flutter.) There you go. (She pats his back and feeds him another spoonful. RONNIE eventually begins to come to. The first person he sees is PAIGE.)

PAIGE: Hey. (She squeezes his hand.) How’re you doing?

(RONNIE notices AVA and then LEO.)

RONNIE: Wh-wh-where am I?

PAIGE: You’re safe. (She pats the back of his hand.) Don’t you worry about a thing, okay? I’m taking care of everything…especially getting you out of that detention center.

RONNIE: You…didn’t leave me.

PAIGE: (shaking her head) No, never. I don’t abandon my kids. (She smiles warmly.) You just rest, okay? (She nods as AVA holds out the cup to RONNIE.) Drink that, it’ll make you feel loads better, I promise.

[Scene: Court house. Judge Sharpe’s court. PHOEBE is on the witness stand once again. DENISE is staring PHOEBE down as NATHANIEL sits posed at his table.]

DENISE: Ms. Halliwell, can you tell us about your relationship with the late Cole Turner?

NATHANIEL: (barking) Objection! What does former A.D.A. Turner’s relationship with the witness have to do with Chloe Lucas?

DENISE: It establishes motive, Your Honor.

NATHANIEL: The witness is not on trial here. (He eyes PHOEBE, who turns her head away.)

DENISE: Frankly, Your Honor, the witness is highly uncredible. If you’ll give me leeway here, I can show you why. As Your Honor may recall, I’ve already hinted at this when questioning Inspector Morris.

JUDGE SHARPE: (nodding) Overruled, Mr. Pratt…for the moment.

DENISE: Thank you.

PHOEBE: (uneasily) We dated…we would’ve been married.

DENISE: He was your fiancé?

PHOEBE: Almost.

DENISE: And how did the relationship end?

PHOEBE: He died.

DENISE: How?

PHOEBE: An explosion in the basement of his penthouse…so I was told by the police.

DENISE: And yet the body was never discovered?

PHOEBE: No…just ashes which tested positive for his remains.

DENISE: And Inspector Trudeau, how did you know him? How did he come to his untimely demise at your home?

PHOEBE: I grew up with Andy, he was like a brother to me.

DENISE: Any romantic relations with him?

PHOEBE: No!

DENISE: What about your relationship with District Attorney Reece Davidson?

PHOEBE: There was no relationship. He was looking into Cole’s disappearance.

DENISE: Investigating you?

PHOEBE: Yes.

DENISE: And yet he turned up dead. Along with his partner, Andrea Fitz.

PHOEBE: (angrily) What’s your point?

DENISE: My point, Ms. Halliwell, is that in addition to your laundry list of unsolved cases, you’re also connected to a string of prominent deaths. (She looks at the jury.) There comes a time when the word “coincidence” just doesn’t cover it anymore.

PHOEBE: That doesn’t change what Chloe-

DENISE: I’ll stop you right there, Ms. Halliwell. You’ve already dug yourself a splendid grave. Who’s to say you didn’t set my client up?

PHOEBE: She was caught with the-

DENISE: Your Honor, please instruct the witness to restrain her comments to my questions.

JUDGE SHARPE: You will respond only to the questions asked, Ms. Halliwell. In my court everyone is innocent until proven guilty, so you will keep your opinions to yourself.

DENISE: (smugly) No more questions. (She sits down. PHOEBE notices NATHANIEL staring at her. She avoids eye contact as she exits the witness box.)

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Six

[Scene: Juvenile Detention Center. Infirmary. HENRY is following PAIGE as she leads him out of the room. PAIGE points down the corridor.]

PAIGE: I followed them out the back way.

HENRY: Why didn’t you call me? Or the police?

PAIGE: She had him drugged, Henry. Who knows what her other syringes were filled with! I couldn’t risk it-

HENRY: You know that not calling the police is always a mistake. Normal people can never handle kidnappings by themselves.

PAIGE: Since when have I ever been normal?

Henry: You’re not really joking about this, are you?

PAIGE: No, I’m not. (She grabs his hand and pulls him towards the wall and lowers her voice.) Look, she wants to meet with me. She wants me to pay a ransom-

HENRY: Paige!

PAIGE: (whispering) I have it under control, Henry. Look, I just want you and the police there on my cue, okay? I’ll call you when I’m ready to make my move.

HENRY: (urgently) His life is in your hands, Paige. I don’t-

PAIGE: Please! (She squeezes his arm.) When was there a time I let you down concerning something this important? (HENRY exhales.) Thank you. (She looks down the corridor.) I’ve gotta go! (She hurries off.)

[Time lapse. AVA, PRUE and PIPER are in what would be the living room of a home if the house, situated in an unfinished housing development, were completed. PRUE and PIPER are knelt down on the hardwood floor. A white candle is in front of them. PIPER strikes a match and lights the candle. PRUE extracts a small bag from her pocket, containing a bloody q-tip. She opens the bag and pulls out the q-tip.]

PIPER: I really hope this works.

PRUE: It has to. (She places the q-tip into the flame and it catches on fire. Smoke begins to swirl from the bloody cotton end.)

PIPER: “Magic forces far and wide,
Using the lure of the innocent,
This darklighter cannot hide!”

(The q-tip burns up in PRUE’s hand and she pulls her hand back in shock as it burns the tips of her fingers. For several moments, nothing seems to happen. Then the flame on the candle surges and burns out. A surge of dark blue and black orbs fills the room, depositing the DARKLIGHTER.)

PRUE: Leo!

AVA: “Waffedioyk!”

(AVA’s eyes light up and two beams fly from them and hit the DARKLIGHTER in the back. The DARKLIGHTER falls to her knees as LEO orbs in with RONNIE. PRUE flings out her arm, pinning the DARKLIGHTER to the wall. LEO grabs hold of her and orbs her out. At that moment, the sound of the front door is heard.)

PAIGE’s VOICE: Prue? Piper!

PIPER: In here!

(PAIGE runs in. She spots RONNIE on the ground, looking as if he’s sleeping.)

PAIGE: Leo already dusted him?

PIPER: Yep.

(PAIGE looks at her watch.)

PAIGE: We don’t have much time, you guys have got to get out of here. Henry and the police should be here any minute.

(CHRIS orbs in.)

PAIGE: Perfect timing! (She waves her arm impatiently.) Go, go!

(CHRIS, AVA, PRUE and PIPER gather together and CHRIS starts to orb them out.)

PAIGE: Wait!

PIPER: What?

(PAIGE snatches up the burnt out candle and shoves it at PIPER.)

PAIGE: Now go! (CHRIS orbs the group out. PAIGE turns and kneels down at RONNIE’s side. Outside she hears sirens and strokes RONNIE’s hair. She smiles to herself as she hears the sound of the front door bursting open.)

HENRY’s VOICE: Paige!

PAIGE: We’re in here!

(HENRY runs in with his gun drawn, followed by several other police officers who begin looking through the house. PAIGE smiles as HENRY bends down.)

PAIGE: He’s fine…just like I promised.

(RONNIE groans and starts to awaken.)

[Scene: Court house. Judge Sharpe’s court. PHOEBE and DARRYL are sitting next to each other at the back of the courtroom. CHLOE and DENISE are standing as the bailiff waits in front of JUDGE SHARPE, who is reading a piece of paper. JUDGE SHARPE looks over at the jury’s MADAME FOREPERSON.]

JUDGE SHARPE: Was this decision reached in agreement among all jurors?

MADAME FOREPERSON: Yes, Your Honor.

(JUDGE SHARPE looks to the remaining eleven jurors, who nod their heads in confirmation. He nods and hands the decision back to the bailiff, who returns it to MADAME FOREPERSON. In the back of the room, PHOEBE anxiously clenches her fists. DARRYL places his hand over PHOEBE’s in a comforting gesture.)

MADAME FOREPERSON: We, the jury, find the defendant, Chloe Lucas, guilty on one count of attempted murder.

(CHLOE gasps and dramatically grabs DENISE’s shoulders and begins to cry. A relieved sigh moves across the court room in a wave. A thick smile spreads over PHOEBE’s lips as she releases a heavy breath.)

PHOEBE: Thank goodness! (She looks over at JASON, who is rising from his seat. PHOEBE quickly gets up and scoots passed DARRYL and over to JASON.) Congratulations.

JASON: Thanks, but I wouldn’t really say it’s a congratulatory matter. (He looks over his shoulder at his crying ex and sighs.) It makes me sick that things ended like this…I’m just thankful that I can sleep a little easier at night knowing that she won’t be free and still seeking vengeance on me.

[Time lapse. The crowd is pumping as music siphons through P3. MELINDA is behind the bar, serving drinks. PIPER, LEO and CHRIS are seated together as PAIGE walks up.]

PAIGE: Hey! (She takes a seat next to CHRIS and wraps her arm around CHRIS’s shoulder.) How’s my favorite nephew?

(CHRIS wriggles out of PAIGE’s grasp.)

Chris: (grumily) Fine.

PAIGE: (to MELINDA) What’s his problem?

(MELINDA shrugs.)

MELINDA: Just that time of the month?

(PIPER and PAIGE stifle smirks as CHRIS glowers at his sister.)

LEO: Where’re Phoebe and Prue?

PAIGE: Dates.

PIPER: Mitch?

PAIGE: Mhmm…and you’ll never guess who called Phoebe right before we were supposed to leave. (PIPER raises a curious eyebrow. MELINDA and CHRIS exchange looks.) A certain hot multi-millionaire whose life she saved a few months back.

LEO: (surprised) Jason?

PAIGE: (grinning) Who else?

PIPER: And she actually agreed?

PAIGE: Well…I had to get a little pushy, but yes…you should’ve seen the look on her face when she answered her phone. I think she just might have a little crush.

PIPER: Well I’m glad for her…I was wondering when she’d finally venture back into the dating game.

PAIGE: Me too. She deserves a little fun after all she’s been through.

MELINDA: (whispering suggestively) Speaking of fun… (She sets a drink down in front of PAIGE.) This just came from the guy down the bar. (She winks.)

(PAIGE holds up the drink.)

PAIGE: It’s alcoholic.

(MELINDA nods.)

MELINDA: Yeah, I know. (She folds her arms.) But it gives you an excuse to go talk to him and set the record straight, don’t you think?

PAIGE: (smirking) Thanks, Mel.

(PAIGE slides off the barstool and heads over to the guy who sent her the drink. PIPER wraps her arms around LEO.)

PIPER: I’m so glad I don’t have to deal with that anymore. (She kisses LEO’s cheek.) By the way, any news from The Elders?

LEO: Actually, yes. I was hoping to tell you when all four of you were here, but (he shrugs) I guess I can tell your sisters later. (CHRIS and MELINDA turn their attention to him.) You’ll be happy to know that with the information The Elders got from the darklighter, we were able to stop attacks on three more future whitelighters.

PIPER: (hugging LEO) That’s great!

[Scene: San Francisco District Attorney’s office. NATHANIEL is sitting at his desk with the lamp on and several thick files spread out in front of him. The one of top is labeled, “Halliwell, Phoebe E.” He opens up the file.]

[The Virtual Series]

End Credits

Co-Starring
Brody Jo Hamilton --- Baby Melinda Halliwell
Jackson Phillip Deveraux Kaufman --- Baby Chris Halliwell
James Lorenzo --- Security Guard

Featuring
Shareen Mitchell --- Lydia Nicolae
Lorna Raver --- Theresea Gershwin
Donna Mitchell --- Madame Foreperson
Ed Moran --- Man at the Bar
Greg Naughton --- Bailiff

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