6x22: Reset Reality Check

[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.

6.22 RESET REALITY CHECK

GUEST-STARRING:
T.W. KING
FINOLA HUGHES
JENNIFER RHODES
JULIAN McMAHON
MARISOL NICHOLS
TYLER LAYTON
EMMANUELLE VAUGIER
AUDREY WASILEWSKI
JESSE WOODROW
DAKIN MATTHEWS
SIMON TEMPLEMAN
TIA CARRERE
DELLA REESE
DAVID CHISUM
ERIC DANE
ALISEN DOWN

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...T.W. King

[The Virtual Series]

Reset Reality Check

Teaser

[Scene: The Founders’ Court. BIANCA PERRY rises from her seat as PRUE HALLIWELL grapples with the question of the who she believes the innocent - her daughter or the witch her daughter murdered - to be, which had just been posed by the former whitelighter NATALIE FIELDS.]

BIANCA: It doesn’t have to be this way. Not again. I know how we could change the future and still save…her.

NATALIE: (curtly) Drea? (She angles her head to the side in curiosity.) Please enlighten the Court.

BIANCA: Destiny could be re-written…she could be written in with her own destiny and therefore would no longer pose an outside threat to the Grand Design. (to the ANGEL OF DESTINY) I know you have the power to do that.

(The ANGEL OF DESTINY looks flabbergasted.)

ANGEL OF DESTINY: You’re talking about rewriting the Akashic Records!

(PRUE eagerly begins to nod.)

PRUE: So then it’s true, you can save her? You have the power to save her. Do it. Re-write them!

ANGEL OF DESTINY: It’s unheard of!

PRUE: Hence this entire trial. Nothing like this has ever happened before!

ANGEL OF DESTINY: I don’t think you understand the gravity of the solution you’re proposing. Re-writing the most ancient of plans affects not just your destinies; there’s a chain reaction. It will affect everyone else. Each destiny will have to changed to include Andrea.

(CHRIS HALLIWELL jumps up from the witness chair.)

CHRIS: Haven’t you been paying attention? Every person that Drea has come in contact with thus far has had their destiny changed. Every person Prue came in contact with due to her pregnancy has been altered because of Drea. Each demon Drea, either herself or through Prue, has killed has had their destiny changed because of her. There’s no way around it, the damage has already been wrought. All you can do now is help to fix it.

(PHOEBE HALLIWELL begins to nod.)

PHOEBE: And what better way to do so than by wiping the slate clean and starting from scratch?

(BIANCA lays her hand over her seemingly flat stomach. She motions her hand, taking away her unborn daughter’s glamour, revealing her heavily pregnant belly.)

BIANCA: And it’s not just for them, (she eyes the Charmed Ones) or Chris, (her eyes move to her fiancé) or even to save Andrea herself…it’s also for the future generations. I don’t want my daughter to have to grow up in a world where she’s already dead. Where magic is exposed and no one is safe. I want her to have a chance. I’m imploring you to rewrite our history - this present - to save (she rubs her stomach) her future.

(NATALIE whips her head around, looking dumbfounded at The Founders.)

NATALIE: I can’t believe what I’m hearing. This is ridiculous. You don’t re-write destiny, it’s not how things work. The simple way to fix this is to right the wrong; get rid of the child and punish those guilty of creating it.

PRUE: My daughter is not an “it,” nor is she a “wrong!”

(COLE TURNER places his hand to his red tie, loosely running his fingers down the length of it.)

COLE: I have to agree with them. Not because I defend those on trial here today, but because they (he motions his arm towards the sisters, BIANCA, and LEO WYATT) have a valid point. Everything to date has already been tainted by the actions placed in motion, and getting rid of Andrea will never change that.

(The ANGEL OF CHOICE tilts her head, looking at her counterpart.)

ANGEL OF CHOICE: I propose a choice.

(The ANGEL OF DEATH tilts his head, appearing mildly irritated.)

ANGEL OF DEATH: Of course you do.

PRUE: As far as I’m concerned, there is no choice. I have to save my daughter.

ANGEL OF CHOICE: This isn’t just all about you, Prudence. (She smiles slightly.) And there is (emphasizing) always a choice. (She eyes the ANGEL OF DEATH.) Just as there is always death. There can be no functionality without us.

(The ANGEL OF LIFE looks more intrigued as the ANGEL OF CHOICE speaks.)

ANGEL OF LIFE: (to the ANGEL OF CHOICE) What kind of choice?

ANGEL OF CHOICE: One that will show them each just exactly what they are giving up if they choose to abandon their current destined paths. After all, (she looks between the ANGEL OF LIFE and ANGEL OF DEATH) nothing in life comes without sacrifice.

ANGEL OF LIFE: I agree.

ANGEL OF DESTINY: (to the ANGEL OF DEATH) Are you of the same mind?

ANGEL OF DEATH: In the interests of balance and preservation, I will reluctantly humor this suggestion.

ANGEL OF DESTINY: Then it is agreed.

(PHOEBE looks back and forth, her face pinching up.)

PHOEBE: (excitedly) You’re letting her stay?

(PRUE squints her eyes suspiciously.)

PRUE: I think something else is going on.

(PAIGE MATTHEWS, PIPER HALLIWELL, BABY MELINDA HALLIWELL, and BABY CHRIS HALLIWELL appear alongside their family. PIPER and PAIGE look completely taken aback.)

PAIGE: Whoa. What’s going on here?

PIPER: (cautiously) Have you (pause) reached a decision?

ANGEL OF DESTINY: That will be up to you and your sisters. (He picks up a golden gavel and knocks it once against the desk. The gavel shimmers and begins to glow. PRUE, PIPER, PHOEBE, and PAIGE promptly vanish.)

Clickable Credits.

[The Virtual Series]

{SCENE: }

Act One

[Scene: China. The Great Wall of China. PAIGE is dressed in a tight fitting olive green tank top, camouflage shorts, and heavy duty ankle high black hiking boots. Her hair, which has slightly grown out and is no longer a mango color but instead a vibrant red-orange, like a brand new copper penny, is pulled into a tight ponytail with bangs parted to the sides of her face. She has a giant backpack on her back that looks almost half her size and seems like it should make her topple over. She’s standing on top of a stone formation, looking out into a downhill sea of green trees. With a grin, she turns to her left, where GLENN BELLAND – also dressed in hiker boots, khaki shorts spattered with dirt and grass stains, a red T-shirt with a rainbow colored peace sign with the words “Backpacking by Popular Demand!” in white letters along the circle of the symbol, and a giant backpack mirroring PAIGE’s – is standing. He suddenly throws out his arms.]

GLENN: (yelling) I’m on top of the world!

PAIGE: (laughing) Okay Leonardo DiCaprio, you can cut it out now. I don’t want to have to orb you to a hospital with a broken neck and have to explain how you fell off the Great Wall.

(GLENN turns to PAIGE and wraps his arms around her waist.)

GLENN: Come on, Paige. Have a little fun, will ya? (He leans his lips close to her ear.) Spread out your arms. (PAIGE twists her head around, giving GLENN her best sarcastic expression.) Come on! (With a roll of her dark brown eyes, PAIGE spreads out her arms. GLENN spreads out his arms under hers and laces their hands together.) “Come Josephine in my flying machine-” (PAIGE elbows GLENN in the side. He jumps back and rubs the assaulted place.) Ow! What was that for?

PAIGE: Totally ruining the mood with cheesy movie references. (She squints her eyes and gives him a grave shake of her head.) I’m ashamed!

GLENN: You know you love that movie.

PAIGE: Yeah, but this is real life. (A breeze kicks up, fluttering her copper red bangs around her head.)

GLENN: Do you remember when we were kids and we’d have swinging contests on the playground to see who could go the highest and jump off the furthest? (PAIGE laughs.) I remember you always used to say you wished you could fly so you could go to all the places we imagined traveling together.

PAIGE: I guess I kind of got my wish, huh? Except for the flying part. (They laugh.)

GLENN: I’m so glad you decided to move out of the Manor when you did.

(PAIGE shrugs.)

PAIGE: Prue was married with a kid and another on the way…Phoebe and I just figured she needed the space, and so did we. We did the whole protective auntie thing with Mycah and with the way Prue’s powers have grown…it seemed like she could hold her own with baby number two.

GLENN: Yeah, but what I’m saying is that it gave you that push to spread your wings. I can guarantee we wouldn’t be here right now if you were still living there. I think Prue starting a life with Mitch really jump-started all of you into starting your own lives, separate from The Sisterhood.

PAIGE: And that’s a good thing?

GLENN: For me, it’s the best thing! (He makes a howling noise like a wolf. PAIGE slaps him.)

PAIGE: Quit it with the “Titanic” references! (She grins mischievously.) Just shut up and kiss me! (They share a long kiss and then GLENN leans into her ear.)

GLENN: Have you ever done it on World Wonder? (He winks.) And no, I don’t count. (PAIGE flicks GLENN in the nose.)

PAIGE: No, but I think I’d like to cross it off my bucket list. (They start kissing again.)

[Scene: Hong Kong. High-rise apartment. Bathroom. A stunning view of light up city against the velvet darkness of the night sky can be seen through the window. Also reflecting in the window are flames from all of the candles that have been elegantly stationed around the large circular Jacuzzi that PHOEBE is relaxing in. Her hair is lighter, a caramel color, and pulled into a loose bun on top of her head, held in place with traditional red painted Chinese hair pins. PHOEBE grabs a towel from the edge of the tub and wraps it around herself as she rises from the bubbling water. She’s careful to step around the candles as she gets out of the Jacuzzi and stops in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. There is a ruby red silk robe with hand sewn Chinese appliqué in vibrant blue and gold silk thread. PHOEBE lifts the robe off the hook and slips it over her bare shoulders. Easing open the bathroom door, she peers into the main room, which is only dimly by one lamp. PHOEBE glides out into the room and seats herself at the desk where the lamp is, which is illuminating her closed laptop. She opens her laptop and the screen illuminates her face with a whitish-blue glow, revealing a background image of herself and JASON DEAN, kissing over a candlelit dinner on a cruise liner. She clicks her Internet icon and the page springs up, concealing the background image.]

COMPUTERIZED VOICE: You have mail!

(An icon that looks like an envelope with a red “2” on it springs up on the screen. PHOEBE clicks the icon, bring her to two unopened e-mails. The first e-mail is titled “Leo’s Birthday” from the e-mail address, “[e-mail].” PHOEBE moves her mouse to the e-mail and clicks it, bringing up a new window with a message reading, “Hey, Pheebs. We missed you at the party, but I understand why you couldn’t make it. I hope the gala went well, I’m sure I’ll read about it in the international section of tomorrow’s paper. Anyway, I thought you might like to see the pictures. Love, Piper. P.S. I hope you’re still coming next week!” PHOEBE clicks on the little paper clip shaped link and a box pops up, asking her if she wants to download. She presses “OK” and a few moments later, a third box appears on screen lined with pictures of PIPER, LITTLE MELINDA HALLIWELL, LEO, and LITTLE CHRIS HALLIWELL. As she scrolls down, she also sees two little brunette haired girls – MYCAH HALLIWELL and MERCY HALLIWELL – along with MITCH PERKINS, PRUE, PAIGE, and GLENN. Everyone is wearing cone shaped party hats and enjoying themselves immensely.)

JASON's VOICE: Find something interesting?

(A pair of strong hands glide down over PHOEBE's shoulders and she tilts her head back, getting an upside down view of JASON’s face looking down at her.)

PHOEBE: Hey, baby. (She gives him an upside down kiss.) I didn’t even hear you come in.

JASON: (grinning) I’m getting my sneak on. (He looks at the pictures on the screen.) Leo’s party?

PHOEBE: Yep.

JASON: You should’ve gone.

PHOEBE: I promised I’d go with you. (She smiles.) They understood. They were the ones who told me to go. (JASON begins to massage PHOEBE’s shoulders.) Besides, we’re seeing them at the opening tomorrow night and we’ll catch up there. (She moans.) Ooh, yeah, right there, that’s the spot. (She wriggles her shoulders.) I woke up with a brainstorm this morning and before I knew it, I had four chapters done and it was already nine at night and I’m pretty sure I only got up to use the bathroom twice, so my shoulders are like stuck in an ideal-typing-posture.

JASON: (suggestively) Well we can fix that, can’t we? (He turns her chair around and offers his hand. She takes it and stands up, but JASON surprises her by scooping her into his arms and carrying her towards the bathroom, where he finds it already decorated romantically.) You were waiting up?

PHOEBE: (raising her eyebrows) You could say that. (She unbuttons his shirt and slides it off of him, examining his toned chest.)

JASON: (sniffing) Sandalwood incense, you really know how to turn a man on.

PHOEBE: What can I say? (She unbuckles his belt and slides it through the loops on his pants before tossing it aside.) I’ve had a lot of practice. (Her robe slides from her shoulders and falls into a half circle around her bare feet. She steps daintily into the Jacuzzi, submerging herself in water up to just below her shoulders. PHOEBE lifts her finger out of the water and wiggles it.) Come on in, the water’s fine!

(JASON kicks the door closed with his foot. Moments later, the sound of splashing and girlish giggles can be heard from the other side of the door.)

[Scene: Manor. Prue’s bedroom. The sunshine is streaming through the window and blanketing PRUE as she sleeps. Suddenly a shadow passes over PRUE's face, followed by a dark head of hair. A sound like a kiss can be heard.]

MAN's VOICE: Honey, you need to wake up. We can’t be late for your appointment.

(PRUE’s blue eyes flutter open and she stares tranquilly into MITCH’s face. MITCH reaches over to cup the side of PRUE’s face in his hand while simultaneously using his thumb to stroke and smooth bits of her raven hair. PRUE grins as the rays of morning sun sweep across MITCH’s face.)

PRUE: (lovingly) Morning, Sunshine. (She stretches out her arms and wraps her hands to the sides of MITCH’s face and pulls him down to her so she can kiss him on the lips.)

MITCH: Mmm… (He sits up, though he’s still leaning over PRUE.) You better be careful; that could keep me here all day.

PRUE: (grinning) And what’s wrong with that?

MITCH: Besides missing your appointment? (He winks.) You also miss breakfast in bed.

(PRUE lazily stretches her arm out and strokes MITCH’s bare chest.)

PRUE: Who says I’m missing breakfast in bed? (Her eyes twinkle.) Come on…how about just fifteen more minutes? (She uses her nails to lightly graze the skin along his toned abdomen.) Please?

(PRUE flutters her eyelashes, prompting a groan from MITCH who leans down and kisses her. As she wraps her arms around him, a whimpering noise can be heard in the room which gradually turns into a high pitched cry. MITCH quickly disentangles himself from PRUE and they both look over at the dresser beside PRUE’s side of the bed where a baby monitor is stationed beside two rings, a diamond ring and a simple gold band. PRUE grunts and presses a tired hand to her forehead.)

MITCH: I’ll get her.

PRUE: You got her yesterday morning.

(MITCH just grins and kisses her cheek before climbing out of bed, wearing only a pair of green boxers. He grabs a light blue robe that’s hanging over the back of a chair and slips it on around him and then slides his feet into a pair of slippers before he makes his way out of the bedroom. After an extended stay with her head in her pillow, PRUE finally grabs the edge of her covers and pulls them back, revealing a healthy sized pregnant stomach that had been hidden underneath her sheets. With a labored groan, she rolls her legs off the side of the bed and plants her feet into a pair of fuzzy white slippers. The sound of the crying from the baby monitor stops.)

MITCH's VOICE: Hey there, Miss Mercy. What seems to be the matter this morning?

MERCY's VOICE: Da-ddy!

(PRUE smiles as she looks at the monitor. Her hand moves to the rings on the dresser, which she slides onto her fingers.)

PRUE: (whispering) What would I do without you?

[Scene: Piper and Leo’s house. Kitchen. LEO is dressed in an apron, standing in front of the stove avoiding spitting grease from a hissing pan of bacon. On the burner next to his bacon pan is a pan with two pancakes. The sound of a toaster popping can be heard in the background. From the hallway, the clamor of heavy footsteps can be heard.]

CHRIS' VOICE: (shrieking) You stole my science project!

MELINDA's VOICE: (screaming) I did not, you’re lying!

CHRIS' VOICE: Did too!

MELINDA's VOICE: It’s not my fault if you’re forgetful!

(LEO sets down the tongs he was using to move the bacon with and wonders over to the entry way into the kitchen, where he pokes his head around the corner to see down the hall.)

LEO: Stop your arguing and come get your breakfast or you’re going to be late!

(Eight-year-old CHRIS orbs into the kitchen, standing by the counter where the toaster is located.)

LITTLE CHRIS: I’ll never be late, Dad.

(Eight-year-old MELINDA runs in past her father and stops cold as she sees LITTLE CHRIS take both pieces of toast from the toaster. LEO turns on his heel as his daughter shoots a foul glare at his son.)

LITTLE MELINDA: If he can use powers than so can I! (She raises her hands and LITTLE CHRIS freezes. LITTLE MELINDA stomps over and snatches the two pieces of toast out of her brother’s frozen hands.)

LEO: Melinda! Unfreeze your brother!

(LITTLE MELINDA snorts and waves her hand, unfreezing LITTLE CHRIS.)

LITTLE MELINDA: (snottily) You didn’t yell at him for orbing.

LEO: I didn’t get a chance. (to LITTLE CHRIS) You know your powers aren’t for playing in the house.

(LITTLE CHRIS is too busy realizing his toast is gone to listen to LEO. He spots the toast in his sister’s hands and holds out his hand, forcefully tugging the toast away from LITTLE MELINDA.)

LITTLE MELINDA: (shrieking) Daaad!

(LEO throws up his hands.)

LEO: That’s enough! You each get one piece of toast! No more powers this morning!

(LITTLE MELINDA and LITTLE CHRIS clamp their mouths shut at LEO’s outburst. Obeying, they each surrender to their own piece of toast. LITTLE MELINDA wiggles her nose.)

LITTLE MELINDA: Uhm…Dad… (She nods.) I think something might be burning…

LEO: What? (He looks over at the stove.) No! (He skids over to the stove where he grabs the spatula and flips over the pancakes, only to see that both are charred as coal on the back.) Damnit!

PIPER's VOICE: Rough morning, Mr. Mom?

(LEO turns to see PIPER peering into the kitchen. She steps inside, revealing a professional knee length black dress and heels.)

LITTLE MELINDA: (bluntly) Who died?

LEO: Mel!

(PIPER laughs.)

PIPER: (to LITTLE MELINDA) I’m finalizing the sale of P3 today. (She shrugs.) I kind of felt a little mourning-esq attire was appropriate.

LITTLE MELINDA: (through a mouthful of toast) Why?

PIPER: P3’s been in the family for a long time, Mel.

(LITTLE CHRIS rolls his eyes.)

LITTLE CHRIS: It’s not like it’s a person, it can’t be in a family Mom.

(PIPER shakes her head as she strolls over to her husband, where she finds an entire stack of burned pancakes on a plate. She chuckles.)

LEO: (sheepishly) I wanted to make a little something for you this morning but-

PIPER: Honey, we all have our areas of expertise. (She tugs his apron over his head.) Yours is with a tool belt, not an apron. (She picks off a small piece of pancake that isn’t entirely burnt and pops it into her mouth.) But I do appreciate the thought. (She kisses him.)

LITTLE MELINDA & LITTLE CHRIS: Ewww!

(PIPER and LEO look lovingly at their children and then PIPER claps her hands.)

PIPER: Spit spot, you two! You’ve already missed the bus and you don’t need to make your dad anymore stressed than he already is. (She claps her hands for emphasis. LITTLE MELINDA leaves the kitchen and LITTLE CHRIS starts to follow.) By the way, (LITTLE CHRIS looks back) your project’s by the front door.

LITTLE CHRIS: (grumpily) Oh…thanks, Mom.

(LITTLE CHRIS leaves. PIPER chuckles and gives LEO another kiss.)

PIPER: So I’ll see you and the kids later tonight?

LEO: I can’t wait.

PIPER: Neither can I. (She raises her eyebrows suggestively.) Especially for the dessert I have cooked up especially for you. (She winks as she sashays over to the door leading into the garage and exits. LEO smirks to himself.)

LEO: And that’s why I married a chef…

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Two

[Scene: The Founders’ Court. BIANCA, CHRIS, LEO, and COLE are gathered around the Circle of Truth which is projecting a hologram of PRUE, MITCH, and their two daughters driving in a car. LEO looks to The Founders.]

LEO: How is sending the sisters to an alternate reality supposed to give them a choice?

ANGEL OF DESTINY: They aren’t in an alternate reality, they have been transported to a future in which they should have had if Andy had not come back into their lives and Andrea had not been born.

LEO: But it doesn’t even look like they’re aware of that. They…they’re acting as if they have all this knowledge from the lives they’re inhabiting in that world.

ANGEL OF LIFE: Their present and their futures have molded into one. Each of the sisters can experience the life as they would live it in those bodies, including all the emotions that come with it, yet they are unable to control their bodies.

CHRIS: You mean they’re like robots?

BIANCA: No, not robots, but…in autopilot. (to the ANGEL OF LIFE) They can see everything though the eyes of their future selves, feel everything that happens to them, but they can’t control anything.

LEO: Like Locked-In Syndrome.

BIANCA: Exactly.

NATALIE: Well I see no reason why this trial shouldn’t persist in the Charmed Ones’ absence. (to The Founders) May we continue?

COLE: I object. The outcome of this trial directly effects the Charmed Ones, so they should have the choice to be here.

NATALIE: I concede that Andrea’s fate has bearing on the future of the Charmed Ones, which is the reason for their absence, but the fates of Andrew, Penelope, Patricia, and Melinda have no direct impact on the Power of Three. The defendants are already dead. If the Court chooses to recycle them, I fail to see how it would drastically change the Halliwells’ lives anymore than their original deaths already did.

(BIANCA and CHRIS share worried looks that go unnoticed by NATALIE and LEO, but COLE does notice them.)

COLE: I retain my objection. The defendants are family; they have a right know the outcome.

NATALIE: The ruling can be saved for when the Charmed Ones return, but why must we also recess until then? It seems a waste of precious time.

ANGEL OF LIFE: I agree, I see no reason to not continue.

(The ANGEL OF CHOICE, ANGEL OF DEATH, and ANGEL OF DESTINY all nod their approval. The ANGEL OF LIFE motions her arm towards NATALIE.)

ANGEL OF LIFE: Counselor…

NATALIE: I’d like to call Bianca Perry as my next witness.

[Scene: Future destiny. Bay General Hospital. Room #622. Two brown haired little girls, one about four, MYCAH, and the other about one and a half, MERCY, are sitting in the corner of the room playing with ABC blocks and baby dolls. PRUE is lying on the bed with her shirt pulled up revealing her bare belly, with MITCH standing bedside her, massaging her shoulders.]

MITCH: So, I’ve been thinking…

PRUE: (suspiciously) About what?

MITCH: Names. (PRUE rolls her eyes.) How about-

PRUE: (firmly) No.

MITCH: You don’t even know what I was going to suggest!

PRUE: You’ve only suggested it the last two pregnancies and again, I am saying no to Magic!

MITCH: But it fits!

PRUE: It’s not a name for a child! Besides, it’s too obvious. And cheesy. (She gives a playful look up at her husband, then relaxes her head onto the bed.) Keep thinking, honey. I’m sure you’ll come up with something.

(AVA NICOLAE walks into the room with a smile on her face.)

AVA: (to PRUE) How are you feeling today?

PRUE: Tired. And stretched out.

AVA: All normal.

PRUE: Yeah, yeah, I know the drill. I’m pretty sure after this birth I’ll never have my shape back. And the stretch marks…oh my god, don’t even get me started!

MITCH: (shaking his head) Really, don’t!

PRUE: I remember back when I was their age, (she looks over at MERCY and MYCAH) I used to play house and play dolls and I always wanted to be the mommy. (She sighs.) And then after my mom died and I kind of assumed that role for Phoebe and Piper; I grew up thinking that maybe I didn’t want kids after all.

MITCH: And then you met Max.

PRUE: Yeah…and then I met Max. And Piper had the Twins and ever since then…I just-I guess I just wanted what she and Mom were able to have.

(AVA squirts some clear jelly onto her stomach and then fires up the ultrasound machine. She begins to move the detector around PRUE’s belly, bringing up an image of the baby on the screen. PRUE stares at the ultrasound image.) It’s kind of amazing how these things work out, isn’t it?

(AVA points to the screen.)

AVA: It looks like you have a thumb sucker.

(MITCH chuckles.)

MITCH: Well I’ll be darned; can you print that one out for us? I think my mother will want a copy. Clearly, this one (he pokes PRUE’s belly) takes after her daddy.

[Scene: Airport. Runway. A private jet is in the sky, making its way down to the ground. Its wheels come out and it lands on the tarmac and reduces its speed until it comes to a complete stop. Along the side of the plane the words “Dean International” can be seen in navy blue letters.]

[Cut to inside the jet. PHOEBE is seated in a window seat beside JASON with her head propped up against the window with a pillow. JASON places his hand on her shoulder and gently shakes her.]

JASON: Phoebe, we’re here, it’s time to wake up.

(PHOEBE groans and opens her eyes.)

PHOEBE: (groggily) Whuuut?

JASON: We just touched down.

(PHOEBE sits up and blurrily looks out the window.)

PHOEBE: (groggily) No we di-n’t. (She yawns.) I just closed my eyes…

JASON: I knew we should’ve left sooner so you could re-acclimate yourself to Pacific Standard Time.

(The door to the jet opens and JASON gets up and holds out his hand. Drowsily, PHOEBE takes it and he helps her to her feet. Together they move down the short aisle and down the stairs leading them off the jet. PHOEBE sniffs the air and begins to perk up a little.)

PHOEBE: Mmm, nothing like the San Francisco Bay in the morning. That’s just one thing you never forget. It seems like forever since I’ve been here.

JASON: Just over a year.

PHOEBE: Exactly. (She slides her hand into JASON’s and leans her chin on his shoulder.) But it’s a year I wouldn’t trade for the world. (She bites her lip.) Or maybe I already did, seeing as how I’ve just about been around the whole world this year. I never would’ve done it without you. You’ve just opened up my life to so much. (She laughs absentmindedly.) If I haven’t told you this lately… (She looks him square in the face.) I love you, Jason.

JASON: I love you too, Phoebe. (He kisses her.) The world over.

[Scene: P3. PIPER is standing in front of the bar, taking a last long look around the club. There is a small stack of papers in front of her with a pen sitting atop them. The word “Sale” is splayed across the top sheet. PIPER picks up the pen and hovers it over the line that says “Signature,” but does not actually write her name. The sound of footsteps echo from the stairs and PIPER looks up to see LEO coming down.]

LEO: Hey. (He walks up to the bar.) I’m surprised you’re still here, is something wrong?

PIPER: No. (She smiles sheepishly.) I just…it’s hard to say goodbye after so long, you know? (She shrugs.) But obviously I can’t keep both P3 and the new restaurant open at the same time, I just don’t have enough of me to spread around. And with two-thirds of my sisters across the ocean and the other third busy with soon-to-be three magical munchkins of her own, I really can’t ask them for help. But opening my own restaurant-

LEO: Has always been your dream.

PIPER: Yeah.

LEO: Where’s the-

(A woman, the SALES AGENT, appears underneath the sign pointing to the restrooms.)

SALES AGENT: So, are we good to go?

(PIPER and LEO share a look. The former Charmed One quickly signs her name and holds out the stack of papers to the SALES AGENT.)

PIPER: Yes we are.

SALES AGENT: It’s been a pleasure doing business with you, Mrs. Halliwell. (They shake hands and the three of them walk up the stairs together and out the front doors.) Oh, uh, one more thing. Your keys?

(PIPER looks taken aback.)

PIPER: Oh. Right, of course. (She digs into her purse and pulls out her keys to the club. LEO also pulls his key out of the his pocket and they both hand their keys to the SALES AGENT.)

SALES AGENT: Thank you. (She locks up P3 and walks to her car, leaving PIPER and LEO standing in front of the empty entrance to the club.)

LEO: I guess we better get you ready for the grand opening, huh?

PIPER: (quietly) Yeah…I still have to pick up my dress from the dry cleaners. Do you have time to go with me?

LEO: Always.

[Scene: Egypt. Great Pyramids. PAIGE and GLENN are hiking up the side of an old pyramid. They get as close to the top as possible and then they take awkward seats on corroding blocks on the side of the pyramid. In a serene silence, they gaze out over Egypt.]

GLENN: One day the Great Wall and the next the Great Pyramid. (He angles his head to look at PAIGE.) Of all the women in the world for this backpacking adventurist to fall for, I found the perfect one. (He presses his hand to his forehead, wiping his sweaty brow.) The view from here, it’s indescribable.

PAIGE: It’s definitely better than the last time I was here.

GLENN: (surprised) You’ve been to Egypt before?

PAIGE: Eh, it was more of an accident really. Prue, Drake, and I almost got captured by some seriously angry ancient Egyptians. (She strokes one of the eroding blocks that they’re sitting on.) But I do have to admit, seeing the pyramids back when they were still topped with gold was pretty cool. (Her eyes twinkle.) Did you know that? That they used to be topped in gold. Drake told me.

(GLENN makes a sour face, as though he’d just popped too many warheads into his mouth at once.)

GLENN: You sure talk about Drake a lot.

PAIGE: No I don’t.

GLENN: You do!

PAIGE: Don’t be silly!

GLENN: Every time we see a band or a performer on a street corner no matter where we are - Ireland, India, London, Paris - you bring up Drake.

PAIGE: I like music. He likes music. (She shrugs.) Music reminds me of him. So what? (She snorts.) Don’t tell me you’re jealous.

GLENN: I’m not jealous.

PAIGE: Coulda fooled me.

GLENN: I’m not!

PAIGE: And I don’t talk about him all the time. (She folds her arms.) Whatever. I don’t want to fight here. We’re supposed to be having an adventure, right? (She pitches forward, touching the tip of her nose with GLENN’s.) Ever made out on a world wonder? (She leans her lips close to his and begins to whisper.) And no, I don’t count.

GLENN: (laughing) Nope. But I’d like to. (He shrugs.) And if I were to fall off and die while doing so, at least I can be proud that I died doing two things I love. (He pulls PAIGE into his lap and they kiss.)

[Scene: Present day. The Founders’ Court. BIANCA is seated in the witness chair, beside the Circle of Truth. She has her arms and legs pulled in tight, careful to keep from accidentally activating it. NATALIE is still on the floor with her hands clasped behind her back like a drill sergeant as she questions the Phoenix.]

NATALIE: Ms. Perry, you’ve testified that you want the Akashic Records to be altered to save the future for your unborn daughter and her generation. As a Phoenix, I’m sure you’ve seen your fair share of brutality over the years.

BIANCA: It comes with the territory.

NATALIE: And how often does it keep you up at night?

BIANCA: How often did losing a charge keep you up at night?

(NATALIE pinches her lips together.)

NATALIE: We’re not here to talk about me, Ms. Perry.

BIANCA: I didn’t know we were here to talk about me either, but we are. I don’t think I should hog all the lime light.

NATALIE: (tightly) Ms. Perry, you’ve testified that you that you want the Akashic Records to be altered to save the future for your unborn daughter and her generation-

BIANCA: Yes.

NATALIE: And yet from your body language - the slight twitch of your upper lip and the pointed pronunciation when you speak of her and Mr. Trudeau - it makes me believe you don’t actually feel as though Drea should be allowed to exist or that Andy should be not be recycled-

COLE: Objection. This trial isn’t about Ms. Fields’ assumptions-

NATALIE: I have years of expertise in body language. I was trained to monitor the faintest behavioral clues of distress in patients in World War Two and I was a whitelighter, top of my class and possibly even on the way to becoming an Elder before I was killed by Eames, for even longer. I believe I have sufficient background to make an educated hypothesis about Ms. Perry’s body language.

ANGEL OF DEATH: I agree. (He stares down his fellow Founders.)

ANGEL OF LIFE: As do I. (They all nod.)

ANGEL OF DEATH: Overruled.

NATALIE: (to BIANCA) What has Drea done to keep you up at night?

COLE: Since when have my clients become Drea? They cannot be held responsible for her actions.

NATALIE: Am I really hearing this? As the catalysts for Drea’s very existence, her actions can be traced back to them! Phoenixes are notorious for their expertise in the area of assassination. Call her a character witness, an expert witness, whatever you’d like, but when it comes right down to it, if Drea – and thus their (she points) – actions are enough to make her sick, then I fail to see how that should add up to anything but the highest punishment available. Their actions resulted in Drea and Drea is the reason we’re all here today, ergo they (she continues to glower at the defense table) are why we are here today. It’s simple math.

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Three

[Scene: The Founders’ Court. BIANCA is in the witness chair, but now COLE is up from his table, questioning her.]

COLE: The prosecution has asserted that you don’t feel Drea should be able to live, along with Andy and those who helped him cross over. (He presses his fingers to his chin and paces a moment.) Yet, didn’t you testify earlier that you were the one who helped Chris and Melinda to create the spell to come here?

BIANCA: I was.

COLE: Why would you do that if you feel as though Drea was never meant to exist?

BIANCA: Several reasons…Chris. Innocent people. (pause) And of course because I feel that if Drea was written into the Akashic Records as I’ve proposed that she would no longer be a threat to the future. She could be saved before she ever has a chance to go down the wrong path.

COLE: But if the Akashic Records are changed and it produces a domino effect on destiny, don’t you risk losing Chris altogether? He may never even meet you in a world with a new destiny.

BIANCA: I’d rather take the risk of losing him to a safe world than losing him to no world at all.

[Scene: Future destiny. Piper and Leo’s house. PIPER opens the front door and is immediately attacked around the legs by MYCAH and MERCY.]

MYCAH & MERCY: Aunt Piper!

(PIPER grabs the door frame to keep from stumbling at the sudden weight of her nieces around her legs.)

PIPER: Hey you Rugrats! (She reaches down to ruffle MYCAH’s hair. She smiles brightly at her big sister as PRUE walks in.) Hey, (she wriggles out of her nieces’ grasp and hugs her sister) how was the appointment?

PRUE: (nodding) Great. Everything’s healthy and in check, as I suspected.

PIPER: Good. (She nods.) Great. (pause) Not to be rude, but where’s Mitch?

PRUE: (chuckling) Apparently buying me a surprise.

(The Halliwell sisters walk into the living room and PRUE drops a diaper bag onto the couch. She unzips it and pulls out a bag of extra puffy marshmallows, a Hershey’s milk chocolate bar, and a box of graham crackers.)

PIPER: Interesting child care supplies.

PRUE: Craving. (She rubs her belly.) I know it isn’t the fireplace in my room, but I thought I’d surprise you. (She nudges PIPER in the arm with her shoulder.) You know, a little sister time before Paige and Phoebe get back? Not that I’m not excited to see them and all, but-

(PIPER snatches up the Hershey’s bar from PRUE’s hand.)

PIPER: But I think this sounds perfect. (She tears open the package and takes a bite out of the corner.) I’ll go fire up the grill!

(PIPER darts towards the sliding glass door in the living room while PRUE ducks into the hallway, headed for the kitchen.)

[Scene: Present day. The Founders’ Court. COLE is standing at the defense table, huddled with MELINDA WARREN, ANDY TRUDEAU, PENNY HALLIWELL, and PATTY HALLIWELL. They are speaking in hushed whispers as CHRIS, BIANCA, and LEO along with BABY MELINDA HALLIWELL and BABY CHRIS HALLIWELL are seated in the back the plateau. NATALIE is staring over at the defense table curiously. COLE finally pops his head up.]

COLE: Permission to approach?

ANGEL OF DEATH: Granted.

(COLE and NATALIE approach the bench.)

COLE: I’d like to request the presence of another key witness.

(NATALIE raises her eyebrows.)

NATALIE: Whom?

COLE: Lillith Thomas, Melinda’s Warren’s great granddaughter. After conferring with my clients, I believe she’s critical in the defense of our case and I’m baffled as to why she hasn’t been here from the beginning.

(The Founders look between one another.)

ANGEL OF LIFE: There were to be separate arrangements made for Lillith.

NATALIE: She doesn’t change what the defendants have done-

COLE: But I believe she does lessen the severity of their actions. They have the right to the best defense possible, which means Lillith needs to be here! I believe the Circle of Truth will shed a little light onto the role she played in the relationship between Andy and Prue. Moreover, I have a sneaking suspicion she’ll play into why Drea is here in the first place.

ANGEL OF CHOICE: I agree with Mr. Turner.

(With a quick look of approval from the ANGEL OF DESTINY to the ANGEL OF LIFE and ANGEL OF DEAHT, he raises his hand and LILLITH THOMAS appears in the witness chair, her hands shackled with magical binds just like a prisoner. COLE returns to his seat, while NATALIE fixates on LILLITH.)

NATALIE: For the record, you are Lillith Thomas?

LILLITH: Just Lillith.

NATALIE: Do you know why you’re here?

LILLITH: Absolutely.

NATALIE: And are you at fault for Andy resurrecting himself?

LILLITH: Clarify the inquiry, (silkily) please?

NATALIE: Did you plant Melinda Warren’s premonitions in order to get the ball rolling for Andy to want to resurrect himself?

LILLITH: (laughing) I may be powerful, but not even my powers transcend the Great Divide.

NATALIE: So then you played no part in the defendants’ choices to send Mr. Trudeau back to work?

LILLITH: I did not.

NATALIE: No more questions. (She returns to her seat, but looks over her seat over she sits down.) But I do reserve the right to recall, if needbe. (She stares warily at COLE as he approaches LILLITH.)

COLE: At what point did you come to discover the truth about Matthew Capiello’s true identity?

LILLITH: As I’m sure you already know, with the Warren power of premonition comes a progressive heightened awareness. One day, (she raises her shackled hands and snaps her fingers) you just begin to know things, even if you don’t know exactly how. Perhaps it’s who’s calling on the phone or who is about to knock on the door-

COLE: (irritably) Your point?

LILLITH: (ignoring his irritation) We also have heightened spiritual senses. We become more in tune with not only other beings with psychic gifts, but also more in tune with spirits that even witches can’t see.

COLE: What are saying?

LILLITH: I think you know.

COLE: I’d like you to elaborate for those in this Court who don’t.

LILLITH: Let me put it this way, All Hallows Eve is a very powerful time for those of us with advanced psychic powers. Spirits are abound when the veil between worlds are thin…it didn’t take me that long to sense a rift on the psychic winds…and once I caught the trail I didn’t let it go cold.

COLE: At any time did you intervene with Andy’s plan to save Phoebe?

LILLITH: Why intervene when he was making his own bed?

COLE: So you’re saying you did not intervene?

LILLITH: I’m saying he should not have been doing what he was doing.

COLE: (angrily) You went after the Twins on the day of their birth!

LILLITH: Ah, yes, I did. (She crosses one leg over the other.) I was also the one to send them on their little personal gain slideshow. (She looks pleased with herself.)

COLE: Why did you go after the Twins?

NATALIE: Objection. What does this line of questioning have to do with the defense?

COLE: If you’ll allow me to continue just a little bit longer, I think you’ll see.

ANGEL OF CHOICE: Overruled. (to COLE) Hurry, Mr. Turner.

COLE: (to LILLITH) Again, why-

LILLITH: Why not? I knew Andy was ready to leave soon, having saved the Charmed One and all.

COLE: So you did that to make him stay?

LILLITH: Call it a win-win situation. I set my mind to what I wanted to do with Piper’s children. You might call them a backup plan. But I had a hunch that if I didn’t get them, events would turn out much the way they are now. Though I have to admit, it’s far better than I ever could’ve dreamed, no pun intended.

(COLE presses his hand to his forehead.)

COLE: I’d like you to activate the Circle of Truth for us, Ms. Thomas.

LILLITH: (curtly) Lillith. (She raises her shackled hands, but doesn’t move them towards the Circle. She stares at COLE.)

COLE: (glaring) Lillith.

(With purse of her lips, she motions her hands across the white circle of light. A hologram beams up.)

[Cut to the hologram. LILLITH is in the Underworld. A ring of burgundy candles are lit before her and she’s holding a spell in her hands. Beside her, a black velvet bag is lying on the ground. Suddenly a demon appears within the ring; he looks confused and then he sees LILLITH and immediately conjures up an energy ball and holds it threateningly at LILLITH.]

DEMON: Who ar’ ye’?

(LILLITH raises her hand, creating a fireball.)

LILLITH: I’m the flame to your moth. (The fireball reflects in the DEMON’s eyes. He looks frightened and slowly lowers his hand, causing his energy ball to dissipate.)

DEMON: Please don’ hurt me! (He shakes his head.) I don’ even know ye’!

LILLITH: I need you for a job.

DEMON: A job? (He starts to shake his head.) I ain’ that kina demon, ma’am! I scavenge, that’s it!

LILLITH: And what would you say if I could promise you the powers of a higher level demon? (She holds out her hand and the black bag on the ground opens up and a canister floats out, with bouncing black lights inside. The DEMON’s eyes grow wide.)

DEMON: It ain’ a trick?

LILLITH: I just need you to do one thing for me. (She sets the canister of powers down and retrieves a photograph from her pocket, which she hands to the DEMON.) I need you to attack him.

DEMON: (worriedly) Attack?

LILLITH: Push him around, throw an energy ball or two…just until the Charmed One sees you-

DEMON: (alarmed) A Charm’d One! She’ll kill me!

LILLITH: Not if you get out of there quickly. There’s no need for you to stay and fight her.

(The DEMON looks skeptical.)

DEMON: Why you nee’ me to do this anyways?

(LILLITH holds up the canister.)

LILLITH: (angrily) Do you want the powers or not?

DEMON: Okay! I’ll do it!

[Cut back to the present. LILLITH seems completely content as she watches the hologram fade away, only to be replaced with another hologram.]

[Cut to the hologram. The DEMON who LILLITH had summoned in the Underworld in now in an alley, where he is advancing on COOP. COOP holds up his hands.]

COOP: Please, I haven’t done anything-

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

MATT: Not so fast!

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

PRUE: Are you alright?

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

PRUE: How did you know?

(COOP holds up his hand, revealing his ring.)

PRUE: You’re a Cupid?

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

MATT: Why was a demon after you?

(COOP shrugs.)

COOP: I honestly couldn’t tell you. (He shrugs.) I’ve never seen him before.

(PRUE and MATT share a look. COOP's ring glows.)

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

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

(PRUE and MATT look back.)

MATT: Yeah?

COOP: Why aren’t you two together?

PRUE: What?

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

(PRUE and MATT stare at each other.)

PRUE & MATT: It’s complicated!

COOP: I see…

PRUE: (awkwardly) I really have to go.

(PRUE starts to leave. MATT shrugs and turns to follow her. As they round the corner, COOP holds up his hand and his ring begins to glow.)

[Cut back to the present. LILLITH looks thoroughly amused with herself as the hologram fades away.]

LILLITH: What did I tell you? A hunch. (She shrugs her shoulders.) You know what they say, expect the unexpected.

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Four

[Scene: Future destiny. Piper and Leo’s house. Backyard. PRUE and PIPER are seated at the picnic table, each with a paper plate and homemade s’mores. They are laughing and PIPER covers her mouth as a few graham cracker crumbs fall off her lips. This just makes PRUE laugh harder until she has to grab her stomach and calm down. PIPER wipes her eyes and swallows her mouthful.]

PIPER: I can’t believe I’m actually crying…I don’t think it’s been this long since I laughed.

PRUE: Me either. (She rubs her belly.) Oh my gosh…Just the two of us, like old times…

PIPER: (smirking) Remember those nights we used to have back when we were in North Beach?

(PRUE nods.)

PRUE: I miss those.

PIPER: Me too.

PRUE: Remind me again, why don’t we do this more often?

PIPER: Kids, school, work...magical mayhem.

(PRUE frowns and gets up. She grabs her stick and stabs another marshmallow onto the end and holds it over the grill.)

PIPER: We should make a point to take a break more often. I miss us. (She gets up and slides another marshmallow onto her toasting stick too.)

PRUE: Me too. (She leans her head on PIPER’s shoulder.)

PIPER: (sighing) Promise me you aren’t going to go anywhere any time soon, okay? I don’t know what I’d do if you disappeared half way around the world too.

PRUE: I’m good right where I am. (She holds up her toasted marshmallow.) I couldn’t be happier. (She tears a piece of gooey, browned marshmallow off the stick and pops it into her mouth and then holds her stick in front of PIPER’s face. PIPER grins and bites the rest of the marshmallow off and the two sisters share another giggle.)

[Scene: Manor. Entry way. The door swings open and PHOEBE walks in, holding up a small key.]

PHOEBE: (yelling) Prue! You really should find a new place for the hide-a-key!

(PHOEBE stops by the bottom of the stairs, but nobody answers her. She tilts her head, listening for any noise at all, but she hears none. With a frown, she tromps up the stairs until she comes to the attic door, which she finds locked. She twists the handle, but to her surprise the door’s locked. With a frown, she picks at her hair and pulls out a hair pin, which she sticks into the lock and moves around until she hears a click, followed by the door popping open. Sunlight is shining through the stained glass windows, casting rainbows of color on the hardwood. The Book of Shadows is still resting safely on its pedestal. PHOEBE sticks her hair pin back into her hair as she walks over to the pedestal and runs her hand over the aged, leather cover.)

PHOEBE: (whispering) Hello Old Friend, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?

(PHOEBE touches the edge of the Book and pulls open the cover. As she’s about to start leafing through the Book, a noise can be heard from downstairs. Cautiously, PHOEBE looks up and waits, then hears something else. As silently as she can, she sets the Book of Shadows down and tiptoes back out of the attic and down the stairs. The noise is getting louder, coming in her direction.)

PHOEBE: Prue? (She turns the corner and practically walks right into someone.)

MITCH: (surprised) Phoebe!

PHOEBE: Mitch! (She steps back and starts to laugh. MITCH looks confused.) Oh my gosh, I thought you were a demon!

(MITCH shakes his head.)

MITCH: I didn’t know you were dropping by. (pause) I mean, not at the Manor anyway, I knew you were flying in with Jason-

PHOEBE: I thought I’d surprise Prue. (She frowns.) Is she here?

MITCH: Nope. (He holds up what appears to be a dresser drawer.) She’s at Piper’s with the girls. I dropped them off a few hours ago so I could work on moving Mercy out of the room she’s sharing with Mycah and into the spare bedroom. We’re going to move the new one in to room with Mercy when she arrives, so Myc can have her own room.

PHOEBE: Oh. (She scratches her head.) So I take it you haven’t come up with a name yet?

MITCH: The only thing we’ve agreed on thus far is that it’ll begin with an “M,” but beyond that, we can’t seem to settle on anything.

PHOEBE: Is there a reason you haven’t gone for Michelle after Mom? I know why you guys did Mycah and Mercy, ‘cause of your past life and then your great aunt passing away just a couple weeks before Merc was born, but is there a reason that Michelle is out?

MITCH: Because Piper made Melinda your mother’s namesake. Prue doesn’t want either one of them to get a complex about sharing her as a namesake.

(PHOEBE wrinkles her nose.)

PHOEBE: That’s lame.

MITCH: I’m chalking it off to hormones and I think I’ll try bringing up the idea again after the baby’s born, if we haven’t come up with anything by then that is.

(PHOEBE pats MITCH on the back.)

PHOEBE: Good idea. (They walk down the hallway until they come to the spare bedroom, formerly PHOEBE’s old room. They walk inside and PHOEBE shivers a little.) You know, this has always been the coldest room in the house. I don’t know if it’s such a good idea for a newborn and a toddler.

MITCH: Yeah, that’s why we’ve kept it as a spare for so long. But Leo agreed to help me install some extra heating vents in here. We may invest in some space heaters too, it all depends. (He slides the dresser drawer into an empty dresser space.) So, how are things going back in Hong-Kong with you and Jason?

(PHOEBE nods.)

PHOEBE: Pretty good. Business is booming, I’m getting pretty good at my Chinese, and the new apartment has got a view to die for!

MITCH: You know we sure do miss you back here.

(PHOEBE laughs.)

PHOEBE: Yeah, I know. Piper tells me in all of her e-mails. (She sighs.) I dunno…as much as I hate the idea of not being able to be with Jason, he does keep telling me that he thinks I should come back here to stay for a couple months or something. (She shrugs.) My editor’s been on me about my book and I’ve been kinda stressed out and he keeps saying family would help to de-stress.

MITCH: Prue and Piper would love that.

PHOEBE: Yeah, I just… (MITCH raises his brows curiously.) Look, don’t tell them I told you this, but I’m just a little worried about leaving Jason again. I mean, after that whole almost private-jet crash when I came to visit last year…I guess I’m a little paranoid. I don’t think I could go through losing the second man I’ve grown to love.

[Scene: Piper and Leo’s house. Garage. PAIGE and GLENN orb in ducked down behind a periwinkle minivan. When they’re sure nobody is around, they pop their heads up and scoot around the car.]

GLENN: You know, I still miss the jeep. This just doesn’t have the Piper Halliwell feel.

PAIGE: Yeah, well, when you’ve got a kid on a little league and you have to take turns toting the team around to games every couple weeks, you have to change with the times, my man.

GLENN: You sound like a mom.

PAIGE: Nooo, I sound like a boy’s favorite Auntie Paige who gets called by her favorite nephew every game night to tell me the ins and outs of baseball. Suffice to say, I’m officially an expert on the subject, especially if it concerns Joe DiMaggio. (She wiggles the garage door handle and finds it unlocked. She rolls her eyes.) Kids.

(GLENN and PAIGE walk inside, only to find the kitchen empty. They slip through the kitchen into the hallway, where they hear from laughter coming from MELINDA’s room.)

GLENN: I thought they’d be in school this time of day.

PAIGE: Ditto. (They open the door to find MYCAH and MERCY inside, playing with LITTLE MELINDA’s barbies. Both girls look up and then their eyes immediately light up.)

MYCAH: Aunt Paige! Uncle Glenn!

(The girls squeal as they abandon the toys and come to hug on PAIGE and GLENN. GLENN scoops MERCY into his arms and twirls her around, causing her to shriek. He glances down at MYCAH, who is spinning around with PAIGE.)

PAIGE: Where’re your parents?

MYCAH: Mommy’s outside with Aunt Piper.

GLENN: What d’ya say we go surprise ‘em?

MERCY: Supwise! Supwise!

MYCAH: Yeah, Mercy, like Jack-in-the-Box! (She bends down and then jumps up to emphasize her point, prompting her little sister to shriek excitedly.)

[Cut to the backyard. PIPER is standing in front of PRUE, blocking her vision of the sliding glass, as she pours some lemonade into glasses for each of them. Both are oblivious to PAIGE, GLENN, MYCAH, and MERCY - the latter of whom is riding on GLENN’s shoulders - as they come up to the glass door. MYCAH and MERCY suddenly begin banging on the glass, startling PIPER so she spills some of the lemonade as she whirls around to find PAIGE and GLENN staring back at her.]

PIPER: Paige!

(PAIGE pulls open the door and embraces PIPER in a hug as PRUE gets up from the table, slightly spattered with lemonade. She also exchanges hugs with PAIGE while PIPER gives GLENN a hug and then instead of PRUE hugging GLENN, the two of them share mischievous looks.)

PRUE: You ready for a bowling rematch?

GLENN: You know one of these days we’re gonna break the tie, right?

PRUE: And I’ll make sure I have tissues for when you lose.

GLENN: In your dreams, witch! (He sets MERCY down at the picnic table and notices the ingredients for s’mores lying out on the table.) Hey now, why didn’t anybody tell me we were making s’mores! Who wants some?

MERCY & MYCAH: Me! Me! Me!

(PRUE dabs herself off with a napkin and sits down at the picnic table with her two sisters.)

PIPER: (to PAIGE) So….

PRUE: (to PAIGE) Around the world in eighty orbs. How was is it?

(PAIGE looks at her watch.)

PAIGE: It depends. Do you want me to start now and leave you hanging until after the grand opening tonight, or do you want me to leave you in suspense until after the grand opening so you can hear it all at once?

(PRUE and PIPER look at each other and then back at PAIGE.)

PRUE & PIPER: (eagerly) Now!

[Scene: Present day. The Founders’ Court. LILLITH is still in the witness chair and COLE is still up, grilling her with questions regarding her involvement with ANDY and PRUE.]

COLE: So let me clarify these new developments for the Court. According to Lillith and the unequivocal proof of her involvement with Prue and Andy, it was not by Andy’s – nor Penny’s or Melinda’s or Patty’s – fault that Prue ended up pregnant.

NATALIE: It doesn’t change the fact that Andy was never supposed to come in the first place. If he hadn’t broken the rules with their (she points) help, Lillith never would have had the chance to use a cupid to trick them into having sex. (She points an accusatory finger in the direction of the defendants.) This all loops back to your breaking the cosmic law!

LILLITH: (lazily) And if I had never helped bring it to light, you may have never known.

(COLE and NATALIE suddenly look towards LILLITH.)

COLE: (to LILLITH) What are you talking about?

(LILLITH grins and lifts her shackled hands, waving them over the Circle of Truth. A recent hologram of PIPER and MATT springs up.)

[Cut to the hologram. PIPER, MATT, and DREA are in the Perry Crypt and PIPER is reciting her spell to allow MATT to feel PRUE’s true feelings for him.]

PIPER: (whispering) “Open Prue’s heart to Matt,
Reveal the secret that it holds back,
Bring forth the passion of love’s fire,
That he may feel her true desire.”

[Cut back to the present. LILLITH watches, delighted, as the hologram quickly changes, revealing her in the Underworld.]

[Cut back to the hologram. A red candle is burning in front of LILLITH. She has her eyes closed as she’s chanting a spell.]

LILLITH: “As this candle wanes,
Piper’s words shall wax,
As a heartbreak is felt,
Long kept secrets shall melt.”

(The candle continues to rapidly melt to the floor until the flame burns itself out beneath the liquid wax.)

[Cut back to Lillith. She leans back in the witness chair as the hologram changes back to PIPER and MATT.]

[Cut to the hologram. MATT continues to clutch his heart.]

MATT: P-pen. Pen. I need a pen.

(PIPER digs into the diaper bag and pulls a blue gel pen out of the side pouch. MATT pulls back the flap of his coat, revealing an inner breast pocket on his jacket. He pulls out a yellow fast food napkin and begins to write something on it, then he scribbles it out and rewrites. PIPER’s eyebrows furrow as she studies him. MATT flips the napkin over and writes something else, then he taps the edge of the napkin with his pen and seems satisfied.)

PIPER: What is that?

MATT: It’s something I need to do.

PIPER: You’re…writing a To-Do List?

(MATT shakes his head.)

MATT: I’ll leave like you asked, but there are two things I need to do first.

[Cut back to the present. LILLITH places her hands into her lap.]

LILLITH: I think I was helping everyone out, wasn’t I? After all, if I hadn’t boosted Piper’s spell to help him to out himself, he would’ve gotten away with this entirely…

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Five

[Scene: Future destiny. Sunset. Manor. The sun has almost disappeared completely behind the mountains, leaving only small puddles of pink, yellow, orange, and lavender to dot the sky. Shadows from the surrounding houses and trees are beginning to pass over the Manor.]

[Cut to the attic. PHOEBE is wearing a fancy red cocktail dress with a princess neckline and a frilly slit up her right leg, stopping mid-thigh. She has on matching heels and dangling diamond earrings, while her hair is pulled up into a soft bun and pinned with a red rose, while a few stray strands hang down to frame her face. She’s kneeling down in front of the Wicca chest, which she opens with minor difficulty. After pulling out various candles, a scrying crystal, matches, and a few pouches of dried herbs she locates the spirit board. Carefully, reaches inside and picks it up. As her hands wrap around the edges of the spirit board, her shoulders stiffen.]

[Premonition: A ghostly blob floats over to the spirit board. The point moves from “4” to “H” and then to “O.” A red ghostly blob then floats across the board and knocks the pointer to the floor.]

[Cut back to Phoebe’s present. She opens her eyes and looks down at the spirit board, but before she can comprehend her vision, her cell phone begins to ring. She sets the spirit board down and slides her cell phone from her pocket. “Jason” is flashing on the LCD screen as she flips it open.]

PHOEBE: Hello?

JASON's VOICE: (concerned) What’s wrong?

PHOEBE: Why would you assume something’s wrong?

JASON's VOICE: I can hear the frown in your voice.

PHOEBE: You can not.

JASON's VOICE: You sound frazzled.

(PHOEBE sighs.)

PHOEBE: It’s nothing. I just… (She glances down at the spirit board.) I think I’m starting to get a little headache or something, I need to go find some aspirin. Are you on your way?

JASON's VOICE: I’ll be there in ten.

PHOEBE: Perfect. Thanks. Bye. (Distractedly, she hangs up the cell and stares cautiously at the spirit board. Hesitantly, she hovers her hand above the board and then lays it down across the middle, but she’s not struck with a second vision.) So what the hell is that supposed to mean?

[Scene: Inside a limousine. PIPER, LEO, PRUE, MITCH, PAIGE, and GLENN are seated on one side of the limo while LITLLE MELINDA, LITTLE CHRIS, MYCAH, and MERCY are seated on the opposite side. The kids keep jumping up on the seats and staring out the tinted windows at the lights and people as they drive by. GLENN slides over to one of the windows and sticks his nose to the glass.]

GLENN: I can’t believe this is such a huge shindig! You went all out, Piper.

PIPER: I didn’t do it all by myself. Darryl invited the entire police department and Sheila got together the entire PTA and you know how their phone tree works...

LEO: Not to mention just about everyone who’s been a regular at P3 for all these years.

PIPER: And the neighbors.

MITCH: And just about anyone who has had the pleasure of eating a Piper Halliwell cooked dish.

(Everyone in the limo laughs as the limo stops. PIPER sucks in a deep breath and from outside, they can already see camera flashes going off.)

PRUE: Oh, and if I forgot to tell you…I’m getting exclusive shots of the restaurant for 415’s new Wine and Dine section. (She winks.) I get to be the first to take a snapshot of you cutting the ribbon at the unveiling.

PIPER: I wouldn’t have it any other way. (She winks. There’s a knock at the window and PIPER nods.) Sounds like that’s our cue. Are you guys going to get out first or should I?

(PAIGE hops up and grabs GLENN’s hand.)

PAIGE: Let’s make this as dramatic as possible. (to PiIPER and LEO) You guys get out last.

(PAIGE pushes on the door handle and the door opens. She slides out, with GLENN behind her, and a series of bulbs go off in their faces. PRUE and MITCH then gather up their girls and slide out, followed by another chorus of lights. PIPER and LEO look at each other, then at their kids.)

LEO: You guys ready?

LITTLE MELINDA: I could freeze ‘em.

LEO & PIPER: No!

(LITTLE MELINDA frowns.)

LITTLE MELINDA: It was just a thought, jeez. (She rolls her eyes and grabs onto her mother’s hand. LITTLE CHRIS in turn takes LEO’s hand and the family of four climbs out of the limo.)

[Cut to Phoebe and Jason. They are walking up a lit pathway with velvet ropes that the cameramen are supposed to stay behind. Hot camera flashes are going off all around them, causing PHOEBE to cling even tighter to JASON’s arm as she plasters a smile to her face.]

JASON: (whispering) What’s up with you tonight? You usually are the center of attention when we go out.

PHOEBE: (grumbling) Usually not this much attention.

JASON: (whispering) Well this is San Francisco, not Hong-Kong.

PHOEBE: (grumbling) I think the flashes are making my headache worse. (They walk through the doors and PHOEBE releases JASON’s arm once she’s safely away from the flashing lights.)

JASON: Are you sure you’re alright? (He moves his hand towards her forehead, but she squirms away.)

PHOEBE: Don’t Prue me. I’m not that sick. I just, (she looks around) I need to find my sisters. Now I wish I would’ve just met up with them earlier.

(JASON points his arm across the room, to where a lot of commotion is coming from. All of the sudden the entire inside of the restaurant freezes, including JASON.)

LITTLE MELINDA’s VOICE: (yelling) Aunt Phoebe!

PIPER’s VOICE: (angrily) Melinda Patricia Halliwell, you unfreeze this restaurant-

PHOEBE: (calling) Piper, I’m over here! (She waves her arm in the direction that she hears her sister’s and niece’s voices. Moments later PIPER and LITTLE MELINDA come into view. LITTLE MELINDA runs up to PHOEBE and hugs her fiercely.)

LITTLE MELINDA: Aunt Phoebe, you’re back! Now we can play makeup like you promised!

(PHOEBE sees PIPER with her hands on her hips.)

PHOEBE: Yeah, well, you might wanna do as your mom asks, otherwise we might not get the chance. (She motions her hand.) Go back over there a ways, out of view and unfreeze this place. Your mom’s got a restaurant to open! (LITTLE MELINDA starts to walk backwards towards her mother and then raises her hand to her forehead in a mock salute. The inside of the restaurant unfreezes and PHOEBE quickly points.) I think I see Mel!

(PIPER waves as LITTLE MELINDA quickly attaches herself to PHOEBE’s hand.)

PIPER: (to PHOEBE) You’d better get your skinny Wiccan butt out there, Pheebs, because I’m not opening this place until I have all four of my sisters by my side. (She glances at JASON.) Thanks for bringing her down, by the way.

JASON: We wouldn’t have missed it.

(JASON and PIPER share a quick hug and then PIPER impatiently waves her arm, leading the three of them across the restaurant and out to the front entrance, where the rest of the family is already waiting. LEO hands PIPER a pair of large scissors and she takes her position in front of the ribbon that’s guarding the walkway where guests are already in an enormous line. PRUE is poised next to MITCH, with a camera in a prime photo taking spot as PIPER clips the ribbon and the guests in line go wild. At precisely the moment she clips the ribbon, a large velvet drape falls down from above the front doors of the restaurant, revealing a beautiful crystalline sign above the doors that spells out “Timeless.” The “l” has also been fashioned to look like the antique grandfather clock in the Manor, complete with working time.)

PIPER: Welcome! (The crowd gets excited again as PIPER and her family walk through the front doors. PHOEBE huddles close to her sisters with a worried expression on her face.)

PHOEBE: (whispering) We need to talk.

(PIPER blanches.)

PIPER: Oh no. (She shakes her head.) No, no, no! I know that voice and you can’t. (She grits her teeth as they make their way towards the back of the restaurant, where it forks between the very expensive dining rooms and the kitchen.) Phoebe, this is my big night. And I haven’t even had time to hang out with all my sisters for two minutes! You can’t tell me there’s already a demon.

PHOEBE: (whispering) That’s just it, I don’t know.

PRUE: (whispering) What do you mean you don’t know?

PHOEBE: (whispering) When I was at the Manor, I had a premonition. Only, it wasn’t of the future, it was of the past.

PRUE: (whispering) What in the past?

PHOEBE: (whispering to PRUE) You.

PRUE: (shocked) Me?

PHOEBE: (whispering) Yeah, when you got trapped in the pentagram vortex with the War Horseman.

PAIGE: (confusedly) The War Horseman?

PIPER: (whispering) As in the Four Horsemen of the Apocolypse.

PRUE: (whispering) But that doesn’t make any sense, why would you have a vision of me in the vortex?

PHOEBE: (whispering) Not in the vortex, it was of when you left us the message on the spirit board. I was touching the spirit board when I had it. But that was so long ago…it doesn’t make a lick of sense.

(JASON speeds up to walk beside PHOEBE.)

JASON: Uhm, not to be rude, but are we just going to keep walking in circles or are we going to sit down?

(PIPER whirls around.)

PIPER: Uh, right! (She smiles sheepishly.) Leo, why don’t you take the kids, Jason, Glenn, and Mitch to get a table. Order whatever, it’s going to be on the house anyway, and the four of us are going to have a bathroom break.

PAIGE: You know us girls and our bathroom pacts.

(LEO leans in to kiss PIPER on the cheek.)

LEO: (whispering into PIPER’s ear) Fill me in as soon as you can. (He pulls back and motions to the kids.) Come on, let’s go try some of the new desserts on tonight’s opening menu!

(The kids get excited while MITCH and GLENN look a little wary and JASON just appears a bit confused. GLENN nudges JASON away from PHOEBE.)

GLENN: Aren’t you starved? I’m starved!

(The men and the kids disappear into the crowd and once they’re safely gone, PIPER motions her sisters down a corridor, past the restrooms and the kitchen, and up the stairs to her new office which even has a nameplate with her name on the door. They walk inside and she locks the door behind them.)

PAIGE: So this premonition, what’s so significant about it? What do you guys think it means?

(Suddenly PHOEBE drops to her knees. PRUE, PIPER, and PAIGE instantly crowd around her as she places her hands to her head in agony.)

[Premonition: There is a flash and multiple atomic bombs go off as the apocalypse occurs.

In the next flash, PIPER and PHOEBE are standing on a pentagram with STRIFE, DEATH, and FAMINE, the remaining three Horsemen of the Apocalypse.]

PIPER: “Sower of discord, your help we implore...” Phoebe.

PHOEBE: Leo’s right. I saw what's gonna happen, Piper. We can’t do this, we can’t be selfish.

DEATH: Why aren’t you two chanting? (to STRIFE) You keep going. (to PHOEBE and PIPER) Why did you stop?

FAMINE: We’re running out of time.

DEATH: Do you know what you’re doing? You're killing your own sister.

PHOEBE: There’s more at stake here then sisterhood.

[Premonition: There’s another flash and this time it is of PRUE, PIPER, and PHOEBE in the quarantine in the hospital as the sisters debate reversing the Awakening Spell.]

PRUE: Phoebe, give it a rest. Um, look, Piper, we don’t know the reversal spell anyway.

PHOEBE: Yeah, and they won’t let us outta here to get it.

PIPER: Prue can get it.

PRUE: No, I can’t. Okay, I cannot just astral project on command. I can’t control it like that.

PIPER: You can learn to control it just like you learned to control your other power. Just concentrate.

PRUE: Piper, I can’t and I won’t.

PIPER: Prue, you have to try. We can’t let anybody else die.

[Premonition: There is a final flash and now a vision of PHOEBE, PIPER, and PRUE in the alternative future of February 2009 comes into view. The sisters are standing in the execution chamber and PHOEBE is crying.]

PHOEBE: The wrong thing done for the right reason is still the wrong thing. Our job is to protect the innocent, not punish the guilty. And I crossed that line, I know that. And now you guys have to know that too. (They all start crying.)

PRUE: We are not leaving here without you.

PHOEBE: Prue, we were sent here for a reason. Maybe not to stop this like we thought. But maybe to understand why this has to happen. Why you have to let this happen.

[Cut back to PHOEBE’s present. She opens her eyes, which are red as tears stream down her face. Her sisters are surrounding her, looking pale and shaken.]

PRUE: Phoebe. (She gently pats her sister’s face.)

PAIGE: Pheebs?

(PIPER takes PHOEBE’s hand and squeezes it.)

PIPER: Honey, are you okay? What happened? What did you see?

PHOEBE: I saw us. (She sniffles and wipes her teary face with the back of her hand.) And I think I finally know what’s going on.

BREAK

[The Virtual Series]

Act Six

[Scene: Present day. The Founders’ Court. PHOEBE, PIPER, PAIGE, and PRUE appear before the Court in exactly the same position they were surrounding PHOEBE in on the ground in their projected destiny, only now their clothing and hairstyles are back to the way they were before they left. PHOEBE is still crying as she realizes where she is. PAIGE, PIPER, and PRUE take a while longer to grasp the situation. PHOEBE slowly disentangles herself from her sisters and stands up, facing THE FOUNDERS.]

PHOEBE: You! (She points to the ANGEL OF DESTINY.) You were the one who showed me those visions of my past, weren’t you?

ANGEL OF DESTINY: Were these visions valuable to you?

PHOEBE: Don’t play dumb. I know you did it on purpose. Everything we saw, felt, experienced… (Her eyes begin to water again.) Those emotions I felt for Jason-

(As the words leave her lips, she stops cold. From the corner of her eye, she can see COLE looking at her. She resists the urge to look at him. PRUE stands up defiantly; her eyes are glassy, but she blinks them back, hoping no one will notice.)

PRUE: (decisively) I don’t care. I don’t want any of it. I just want my daughter.

(PHOEBE looks at PRUE disbelievingly.)

PHOEBE: Are you sure about that, Prue? Are you sure you’re not just holding onto this future out of pride or a misguided sense of morality?

(PRUE looks like she’s just been slapped in the face.)

PRUE: (lowly) How. Dare. You. You’re not even a mother, Phoebe. How can you even begin to talk to me that way? How do you expect a mother to give up her child?

PHOEBE: You can’t tell me you didn’t love those two little girls you had with Mitch.

PRUE: It’s not the same. Drea…she grew inside me. I felt her living for nine months-

PHOEBE: And the child you and Mitch were - will be - expecting? You didn’t have a connection with her, you didn’t feel her growing inside you?

(PRUE looks taken aback.)

PRUE: It’s not the same.

PHOEBE: Why? Because it hasn’t happened yet?

PRUE: Why are you even challenging this? Phoebe, you were on my side! Our side; the right side. Now you want to hand over an innocent life to these-these (she waves her hands) beings?

(PHOEBE starts to shake her head. Tears are bubbling in her eyes.)

PHOEBE: I wish you could remember, Prue…

PAIGE: Remember what?

PHOEBE: That sometimes saving the one you love isn’t always the right choice. Prue, Piper, and I have learned that the hard way. (She motions to PIPER.) When Piper got Arroyo Fever we used personal gain to save her, which ended up causing a magical epidemic that almost killed Innocents. Piper had to convince Prue and me to reverse it; she had to remind us that they were the true Innocents, not her. (She motions to PRUE.) And the day we met the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Piper and I had to sacrifice Prue to save the world. In the end, we just got lucky to get her back.

(PIPER’s eyes start to get glassy too.)

PIPER: (quietly) I remember.

PHOEBE: (softly) Piper, you saw what Drea did; what she was capable of doing to that innocent. As much as we all hate it from time to time, the Grand Design exists for a reason. We can’t let it self destruct because our niece was never meant to be. Nor can we, as protectors of the innocent, allow her to potentially find a way to become that furious, hate-filled young woman. Saving her at the sacrifice of countless others would be the same as if Prue and I had refused to reverse your Arroyo Fever or if you and I had saved Prue at the expense of an apocalypse or if I had let you and Prue save me for crimes I was guilty of which would have only fueled Nathaniel Pratt’s hatred and need to go after other witches who were truly were innocent.

PAIGE: But I don’t understand…The Angel of Destiny is willing to write Drea her own destiny. She won’t be a loose cannon if she’s written into the Grand Design.

PHOEBE: I know that. And believe me, Paige, I would love to save my niece just as much as you would - just as much as Andy wanted to save me and the twins and his daughter - but we have to think of everyone else. If we make this choice, as easy (she looks at PRUE) or as hard (she looks at PAIGE) as it may be for any of us, we still get to say we had a choice in the matter. But think about everyone else? Like the Angel said, it would have an enormous tidal wave reaction on everyone’s destinies and they don’t get to choose because we’ve chosen for them. You know in your heart that you’d be saving her because she’s your niece, Paige, not because it’s the right thing to do.

PAIGE: Maybe it’s both?

PHOEBE: (shaking her head) The right thing done for the wrong reason is still the wrong thing.

(PIPER slowly begins to nod.)

PIPER: (to PRUE and PAIGE) She’s right. You know Phoebe’s right.

PRUE: (to PIPER) And what if they wanted to take away Melinda and Chris? Would you be so quick to accept that Phoebe’s right if it was your child?

(Tears are running down PIPER’s cheeks.)

PIPER: (pleadingly) Prue…

PRUE: (angrily) Never mind. I shouldn’t have asked you in the first place. You’re a liar.

PHOEBE: Prue!

PRUE: What? You’re taking her side now, Phoebe? She dusted you too, remember? She stole Leo’s whitelighter dust and made us all forget.

PIPER: I thought I was protecting you!

PRUE: No! You thought you were covering up your tracks and you thought you would never get caught, that’s what you damn well thought!

PHOEBE: Prue, stop it! You’re angry and you’re scared and you’re hurt and you’re lashing out at the closest thing you can think of and that’s Piper, but you’re no less wrong for doing it. And about this, about you, you know I’m no less right.

PRUE: Screw being right! She’s my daughter, Phoebe! She’s my daughter! She’s my- (She turns her head away so her sisters can’t see her beginning to cry, but her voice cracks) she’s my- (her voice shivers and her knees begin to wobble prompting PHOEBE to move to PRUE’s side and envelope her in a supporting hug as she completely breaks down and her voice reaches a squeaking whisper) she’s my daughter…

(PHOEBE brushes PRUE’s hair with her hand.)

PHOEBE: I know, shh…I know… (She closes her eyes as PAIGE and PIPER come up behind her and each wrap their arms around PRUE.) I know.

PRUE: (barely a whisper) She’s all I have left.

(At the defense table, ANDY places his hand over his heart as he watches PHOEBE, PAIGE, and PIPER surround PRUE. With a swish of his fingers, he wipes his eyes and leans in towards COLE, his face a pleading mess.)

ANDY: (whispering) There has to be something you can do for her.

COLE: (whispering) My hands are tied-

ANDY: (whispering) Unacceptable. Look. Look at Prue! I did that to her. And all I wanted to do was to save her that kind of agony and now I’m the source of it. Look, if there’s a way to save Drea, I’ll do it. I’ll agree to whatever they want me to agree to if they’ll just let our daughter stay with Prue.

COLE: (whispering) That’s not how it works, Andy.

ANDY: (whispering) Then how does it work? They keep calling this a Court, don’t they? Can’t you…plea bargain it out? I don’t want to put Prue through anymore of this. And I don’t want her to lose Drea. It’s not fair, she’s lost too much already. All destiny does it take, take, and take some more from Prue. When are they going to finally give something back? (He tilts his head back, staring at the ANGEL OF DESTINY. PATTY starts to shake her head.)

PATTY: Andy, don’t! (She tries to reach out and touch him, but her hand goes right through his shoulder.)

ANDY: (to the ANGEL OF DESTINY) You can have me! If that’s what you want, you can have me! Just leave Prue and Drea alone. Prue deserves something for once in her life. Her entire life, (he looks towards the ANGEL OF DEATH) all you’ve done is steal from her and it’s not right. (He holds up his shackled arms.) Do whatever you have to do to me. Just don’t take my daughter… (pleading) please.

[Scene: P3. DRAKE is seated at a table in the front row. A WOMAN finishes up the last of her song, slides the microphone back into place, and steps off the stage. Nobody walks up. As the crowd starts to become a little restless, the ANNOUNCER walks up and looks at the roster. He leans into the microphone.]

ANNOUNCER: Paige Matthews, you’re up. (DRAKE strums his fingers together, but PAIGE does not appear. He looks over his each of his shoulders, but she does not show up. His face falls.) Last call for Ms. Matthews! (When nobody comes up, the ANNOUNCER flips the page of the roster.) Drake De’mon!

(An excited murmur slips across the crowd in a wave. DRAKE rises from his seat, but instead of heading towards the stage, he heads for the back room. He pushes open the door and walks in to find MELINDA seated at the desk that PIPER uses to take inventory at. She’s hunched over, holding something in her hands.)

DRAKE: Melinda?

(MELINDA jumps, startled right out of her stupor. She almost falls off her chair, but catches herself by grabbing the edge of the desk.)

MELINDA: Dr- (yawning) -ake!

DRAKE: Were you sleeping?

MELINDA: (quickly) No. (pause) Maybe. (She looks down at her hands, which reveal her to be holding a cell phone.) I was watching the time, actually. And maybe I dozed off.

DRAKE: In the upright position?

MELINDA: It happens. (She stands up and winces, promptly sitting back down.) Great, my foot’s asleep. (She reaches down her leg, trying to massage the life back into it.)

DRAKE: You uh, haven’t heard back from Paige or anyone by chance, have you?

MELINDA: No.

DRAKE: Oh.

MELINDA: (frowning) I’m sorry. (She hobbles up and taps her foot lightly on the floor, attempting to reticulate the blood.) I know you were really looking forward to this Open Mic Night with her.

DRAKE: Well I’m sure she’s fine. (He shifts his eyes.)

MELINDA: You don’t sound too convincing.

(DRAKE wags his index finger at the young witch.)

DRAKE: Neither do you.

MELINDA: I’m just worried because I haven’t heard anything yet. Chris has a plan tonight and I just don’t know if it it’s gonna work or not.

DRAKE: You mean your Twin Telepathy is down right now?

MELINDA: Yeah, I guess it must be blocked because of the Court. (She shrugs.) Like a supernatural cell phone signal blocker, you know? (She shrugs.) I just keep staring at the time, hoping that someone will pop up and give me some good news.

(DRAKE looks down at his shoes. MELINDA suddenly steps forward and embraces him in a hug.)

MELINDA: Thanks for everything tonight. I’ve had a pretty craptastic day, though definitely not the worst by far.

DRAKE: Yeah, no problem. (He wraps his arms around the petite witch to hug her back when she suddenly vanishes from his grasp, causing him to stumble forward. It takes a minute for him to adjust, then he grunts.) That’s the second whitelighter-witch who’s done that to me today.

[Scene: The Founders’ Court. Everyone on the plateau has risen, though THE FOUNDERS are no where in sight. PRUE, PIPER, PHOEBE, PAIGE, LEO, CHRIS, and BIANCA have resumed their seats at the back of the plateau. PRUE is seated at the edge of the aisle, with PHOEBE seated beside her, followed by PAIGE, and then PIPER with her husband. PIPER is holding BABY CHRIS and LEO is holding BABY MELINDA. CHRIS and BIANCA are holding onto each other’s hands. Beside BIANCA, MELINDA appears. She’s still in the position as if she was hugging DRAKE. She stumbles, catching the attention of her brother and his fiance.]

MELINDA: (grumbling) Well it’s about time.

(CHRIS presses his finger to his lips.)

MELINDA: (whispering) What did I miss?

BIANCA: (whispering) They brought you here for the ruling.

(MELINDA swallows the lump in her throat.)

MELINDA: (whispering) Well if they’re supposed to be ruling, where the heck are they?

(Upon her question each of their individual methods of magical transportation begin to fill the spaces at the bench, depositing the ANGEL OF DEATH, the ANGEL OF CHOICE, the ANGEL OF DESTINY, and the ANGEL OF LIFE. In her arms, the ANGEL OF LIFE holds DREA HALLIWELL. An audible intake of breath can be heard from PRUE.)

ANGEL OF DESTINY: We’ve reached a decision. (He nods, indicating PRUE, PIPER, PHOEBE, and PAIGE at the back of the room.) Please approach the bench.

(The SISTERS make their way down the aisle, through the gate, and past the defense table where they stop before THE FOUNDERS.)

ANGEL OF CHOICE: You have been granted a choice. You have seen the lives you are meant to live following your current paths in life. We also hope that you understand all of the risks that are involved if you actively choose to abandon this path. (Her eyes move down the bench, where she spies DREA.)

PHOEBE: We do.

ANGEL OF CHOICE: And what have you decided?

(PHOEBE steps forward.)

PHOEBE: I’m afraid I’m in a difficult position, so please forgive. It’s true that I desperately enjoyed much of what I experienced in the world you sent me to. I felt things that I can’t explain, I guess because they have yet to happen. I was also reminded of my past, the difficult choices my sisters and I have had to make over the years not because we wanted to, but because they were just the right choices to make. (She wipes her eyes with her sleeve.) And I know that while my heart says to save my niece, to do so would to not be thinking about what is at stake for everyone else. But I also can’t say that the future you’ve shown me is something I want to choose over Drea; it’s something I have to choose and there’s a difference. I’ll take it because I have to, not because I want to.

ANGEL OF DESTINY: Piper?

(PIPER steps up alongside PHOEBE.)

PIPER: I agree with my sister…as much as I love Drea with all my heart, I know Phoebe’s right and it kills me. Please make no mistake, I’d give up the future I saw in a heartbeat to save my niece, if only I could do it without hurting anyone else.

ANGEL OF LIFE: Paige.

(PAIGE looks between PRUE and her other two sisters, who are standing side by side. She’s caught in the middle.)

PAIGE: I…I guess I’m at a disadvantage here, because unlike Phoebe and Piper and Prue, I didn’t live through these choices that they had to make and I’m not sure if that makes my choice here today harder or easier. (She shifts her weight between the balls of her feet as she talks.) I’ve only known my sisters for a little over two years now, but in that time, I’ve come to find something that I never had before in my life and sometimes it even feels like I have known them forever. Even though we don’t always necessarily agree, I do know that there are things I’d do for family - for them - that I wouldn’t do for anyone else. And in this particular case, as a Social Worker who spends much of her lifetime with abandoned, orphaned, and homeless children, I’m especially torn because this is my niece. It doesn’t matter the circumstances of how she came to be here, I just know that she’s my niece and I love her just as much as I love Melinda and Chris, and the idea of abandoning her makes me…it makes me sick. As much as I loved being with Glenn, touring the world together in the future I saw, I’d trade it in a split second to save Drea. But on the flip side of that coin, I also understand what Phoebe said about choices and making them for others while only thinking about the well being of a select few. (With that, she takes a stance beside PIPER and PHOEBE. With shimmering eyes she looks guiltily at PRUE.) I’m sorry…

(The ANGEL OF DEATH sets his sights on PRUE.)

ANGEL OF DEATH: Last but certainly not least.

(PRUE remains silent as she tilts her head back, surveying each one of the ANGELS individually. Once she’s done, her eyes return to the ANGEL OF LIFE who holds DREA.)

PRUE: I’d like to hold my daughter. (The ANGEL OF LIFE looks to her fellow FOUNDERS. Silently, she motions her hand over the infant and DREA appears in PRUE’s arms. The tears begin to fall again as PRUE lifts DREA to her face and breaths in her baby scent. She whispers into DREA’s her, her voice nothing more than a faint hum.) I love you. (She rubs DREA’s cheek with her finger and kisses the top of her daughter’s forehead.) In the world you sent me to, I had two beautiful girls and another one on the way. But the truth is, that’s not my world, and as much as I might like to have more children one day, none of them could ever replace my true daughter. My here and now. I’d give the world over for her.

(Without permission, she turns to the defense table and walks around to meet ANDY, who is standing beside COLE, still in restraints. PRUE takes ANDY’s hands, guiding them into a cradling position, and places DREA in his arms. DREA wraps her tiny hand around PRUE’s finger and PRUE pauses, her breath shaky, then she softly pries DREA’s hand away from her finger. She hesitates, looking ANDY in the eyes once, and then briskly moves to join her sisters.)

PRUE: I wish I could tell you why I’m standing here, but I can’t. Everything inside me says this is wrong. The only other times I’ve ever felt even half as close to what I’m feeling now was the day I let Phoebe burn at the stake and the day I let Piper die of Arroyo Fever. And I guess that alone means this is right, although I can never possibly understand how that can be.

ANGEL OF DESTINY: And your positive of your decisions?

(PIPER, PHOEBE, and PAIGE nod. PRUE stands alone, with one hand pressed to her stomach.)

PRUE: I just have one question.

ANGEL OF LIFE: And what is that?

PRUE: What are you going to do with my baby?

[The Virtual Series]

End Credits

Co-Starring
Brody Jo Hamilton --- Baby Melinda Halliwell
Jackson Phillip Deveraux Kaufman --- Baby Chris Halliwell
Megan Hope Sanov --- Drea Halliwell
Kathleen Teresa Scott --- Little Melinda Halliwell
Maximillian Kesmodel --- Little Chris Halliwell
Kelsey Healey --- Mycah Halliwell
Morgan Eastwood --- Mercy Halliwell

Featuring
Christina Bibby --- Sales Agent
Michael Ray Reed --- Demon

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