**Spoiler** "Charmed Noir "

[~*~Kit_The_Kat~*~]

At Magic School, Paige is mediating an argument between the librarian and a teacher gnome. Their argument concerns books the teacher wants to see banned ("Lord of the Rings" is historically innacurate!). Paige makes the teacher read one of the books from the list but something happens while he reads and he is found dead, murdered. It's not the first time bullets kill someone at Magic School! Paige brings Brody to the school to get his help solving the case. As they investigate, Paige and Brody are sucked in the book about gansters the teacher was reading. The duo will be turned in "black and white" as we see them in this "dicks" film noir and Paige will be powerless. The other sisters and Leo must find a way to bring back Paige and Brody. Leo must find a babysitter so Piper will agree to go on a date. Phoebe has a vision.

[~*~Kit_The_Kat~*~]

(partial shooting script compliments of Television Without Pity)


Teaser

INT. Magic School
Piles of books surround a besieged Paige. She's mediating an argument between Miss Donovan, the librarian, 20, self-righteous; and a red-hatted Gnome, Mr. Monkeyshines. He's a Little Person, Scottish, feisty. All wear the school's robes. Miss Donovan lists off books, outraged;

MISS DONOVAN: Lord Of The Rings
MONKEYSHINES: Historically inaccurate.
MISS DONOVAN: Harry Potter
MONKEYSHINES: Filled with juvenile delinquents.
MISS DONOVAN: Even The Wizard of Oz!
MONKEYSHINES: It's disparagin' to little people. Munchkins being persecuted...Filth!
PAIGE: Oh come on...seriously?
MISS DONOVAN: It's the same story with all these books. None of them deserve to be banned. It's absurd.
MONKEYSHINES: And I suppose you want another naked Godiva riding out of a book again?
PAIGE: Godiva? Is that what...
Miss Donovan: That's just an excuse and he knows it. He's using it to push his own agenda, to stifle freedom of speech!

The Gnome, irritated, waves his hand, and, in a flash of light, Miss Donovan is stunned to find she has no mouth!

MONKEYSHINES: Hah, now that's what I call stiflin'.
PAIGE: Mr. Monkeyshines! That is uncalled for. Put her mouth back, now!

He reluctantly gestures, and in a flash of light Miss Donovan's mouth reappears. But she's furious

MISS DONOVAN: Why you little worm! I should
MONKEYSHINES: Little? Did ya hear that? She's a size-ist!
MISS DONOVAN: What!? I didn't mean...God, you're
PAIGE: Enough! Miss Donovan? Give us a minute, okay?

Miss Donovan leaves out a side door. The Gnome shakes his head:

MONKEYSHINES: It's always the ones you least expect.
PAIGE: Professor, try and understand. She's a librarian, books are her life. Besides, I agree with her. None of the books are dangerous...

She sifts through a pile, curiously stopping on one

PAIGE: This one's not even about magic..."Cross, Double Cross"?

She wipes dust off the novella. The cover has two 1930s detectives on it amid the bright lights of the big city.

MONKEYSHINES: Just look at that cover. It's filled with violence, I'm sure.
PAIGE: You mean you didn't even read it?
MONKEYSHINES: Didn't waste my time. It's garbage.
PAIGE: Are you kidding me? The 30s were a fabulous era...Full of adventure, intrigue, romance

She's interrupted by Leo entering, on a mission

LEO: Paige, can I talk to you?
PAIGE: One second; So instead of trying to ban books, why don't you try reading one?

She tosses the book to the Gnome and exits with Leo. The Gnome huffs, displeased, then opens the book and starts flipping. But mid-way, he stops, noticing something odd

MONKEYSHINES: What in the world...?

Right then, a magical whirlwind suddenly emerges from the book and sucks Monkeyshines into it. As the book drops to the ground behind the table and slams shut.

INT. Magic School - Study
As Paige & Leo enter:

PAIGE: Thank you for saving me. I was about to strangle that Gnome.
LEO: Oh...So maybe you can repay the favor by babysitting tonight?
PAIGE: What? Leo, I spend my whole day babysitting. And you saw, sometimes it's not just the students.
LEO: But Piper won't agree to go on a date with me if you don't.
PAIGE: Whoa...You're gonna ask Piper out?
LEO: I know it seems fast, but that Vision Quest, it changed my life. I've got to get her back before it's too late. I talked to Phoebe, and we set up the perfect date. Dinner at the Chez Loelle, followed by dancing, a walk in the park...and then...who knows...
PAIGE: That sounds great...And don't get me wrong, I want you two back together. But can't the Elfin nanny baby sit?
LEO: She cancelled, and Phoebe's swamped at work. You're my last hope...Please.
PAIGE: Alright...I guess I –
LEO: Thanks! Kids are in the nursery.

He orbs out swiftly. Paige sighs, feeling like a sucker. But then she suddenly hears a scream. She hurries out...

INT. Magic School - Great Hall
Miss Donovan, in shock, wide eyed, is looking down at something behind the table, as Paige enters, approaching:

PAIGE: What is it? What's wrong?

Paige follows Donovan's gaze, and is stunned to see the Gnome lying on the floor, shot multiple times in the chest:

PAIGE: Oh my God...
MISS DONOVAN: He's...dead...

Paige is horrified. We pan to the closed detective book, ominously lying near the Gnome's bullet riddled body, then cut to titles.
End of teaser


ACT ONE

INT. MAGIC SCHOOL - STUDY - DAY
ON Miss Donovan, crying, rattled by the death, sitting on the couch. As Paige brings her a box of tissues:

PAIGE: You sure you didn't see anything?
MISS DONOVAN: No, when I cam back, he was just lying there... dead.
PAIGE: But I've had my head cut off here, how could bullets have killed him?
MISS DONOVAN: It's not the first time...
PAIGE: What do you mean?
MISS DONOVAN: Maybe 20 years ago. Two students, brothers...one shot the other. The killer was never caught... Maybe he's come back?
PAIGE: Or maybe someone's trying to make it look that way...

Off that, PHOEBE enters, upbeat, breaking the tension:

PHOEBE: Alright, let's make this quick. I've got a city full of lonely hearts, and I'm playing cupid. So what's the – (stops, seeing her) Oh...Miss Donovan? Why are you crying?
PAIGE: It's one of my teachers. He –
PHOEBE: – broke her heart, didn't he? Well, it's a good thing you called. I know just how to handle this.
PAIGE: Actually, that's not why –
PHOEBE: Paige, shush. Cupid works alone. (then, to Miss Donovan) Honey, I know how you feel. But you can't give up on love. Believe me, that's the worst mistake you can make. Now how 'bout I set you up with one of my readers? I've been running this series where I play matchmaker –
PAIGE: Oh, for God's sake, he didn't break her heart, he was murdered!
PHOEBE: What...? Why didn't you say so?
PAIGE: Listen, I'm sorry, but until we figure out what happened, I can't let you leave.
MISS DONOVAN: But I didn't kill him.
PAIGE: Then you won't mind staying here till we find out who did. (beat...then calls for) Crystals...circle.

A set of crystals ORBS OFF a shelf and ORB BACK into a circle--surrounding the couch and Miss Donovan. The crystals GLOW. Paige taps the air, and a force field flashes up for a brief second. Then, to Phoebe:

PAIGE: All set. Let's go.

As Paige starts to head off, Phoebe stops by Miss Donovan:

PHOEBE: Just so you know, I'll still set you up. As long as you're not the killer.


(Page 15)
PIPER: You know, you're pretty good at this. You should do it for a living.
PHOEBE: Come on, we need to finish looking for suspects, then go meet Paige...(disapproving)You'll never believe who she's bringing to Magic School...

Off Piper, curious about that:

INT. MAGIC SCHOOL - STUDY - DAY
Paige orbs in with Brody, who carries a forensics field kit and wears latex gloves. Miss Donovan is still on the couch, surrounded by the GLOWING crystals. Brody looks around, overwhelmed.

BRODY: This is Magic School? I sorta thought it'd be...bigger.
PAIGE: Oh, it is, but you're going to see as little of it as possible.
MISS DONOVAN: Thank God you're back...Who's he?

Brody reaches out to shake her hand–

BRODY: Kyle Brody, Department of Homeland–

--but the force field flares as he touches it, and Brody gets knocked on his ass by it! Paige hurries over:

BRODY: WHat is she!? Demon? Warlock?
MISS DONOVAN: Actually, I'm a librarian.
PAIGE: And a suspect. I had hold her somehow...
BRODY: I see...

As Brody recovers, Paige pulls back a crystal, lowering the forcefield. Brody opens his field kit and pulls out a swab. As he warily approaches Miss Donovan:

BRODY: Hold out your hands, please.
MISS DONOVAN: What's that? What are you gonna do?

As he swabs both her hands, he explains:

BRODY: It's a gunshot residue test. If you fired a gun recently, it'll tell us.
MISS DONOVAN: I didn't, you'll see...It was the Mullen boy, it must've been.
PAIGE: Who?
MISS DONOVAN: Eddie Mullen, the student I was telling you about. He went missing 20 years ago, right after he shot his brother. He must be back.
BRODY: Maybe, though it's a tad convenient that you happen to know that story...
MISS DONOVAN: It's part of the school's history. It's my job to know it.
PAIGE: (to Brody) What do you think?

He checks his watch, then looks at Donovan's hands:
BRODY: It wasn't her...She's clean.
MISS DONOVAN: Finally...Thank you, Mr. Brody.
BRODY: Please, Kyle.
PAIGE: Maybe we should find out more about the Mullen brothers.
MISS DONOVAN: I could dig up their school records.
PAIGE: Just keep this quiet, okay?

Miss Donovan exits, as Brody turns to Paige:

BRODY: Where's the body?

INT. Magic School - Great Hall - DAY
On the gnome's dead body. We pan up to find Brody and Paige entering. He looks around at the room, amazed:

BRODY: Now this is more like it...Wow, a lot of books...You checked them for anything about the Avatars?
PAIGE: Hello, one track mind...Let's just focus on what you're here for.

She leads him behind the table, where they find the Gnome's body undisturbed. The closed detective book is beside him. Brody looks at Mr. Monkeyshines, bewildered:
BRODY: Jeez...what is he?
PAIGE: He's a gnome. One of my teachers.
BRODY: A Gnome? Next you'll tell me leprechauns are fairies are real too...
PAIGE: Well...

[~*~Kit_The_Kat~*~]

(shooting script con't)

(Page 17)
BRODY: Whoa, what just happened?
PAIGE: We must've gotten sucked into the book, just like the Gnome.
Brody: (freaking out) What!?
PAIGE: Don't panic, stuff like this happens to me all the time, although-- (off arms) I've never been in black and white before. Cool.
BRODY: Cool? You think this is cool!?
PAIGE: Beats regular time travel. I was getting kinda bored with that.
BRODY: I'm sorry...? You've time traveled?
PAIGE: You haven't?

Before he can respond, they hear a VOICE behind them.

Voice: Well, well, well... what do we got here? A coupla newcomers.

Paige and Brody turn around to discover three GANGSTERS approaching, armed with Tommy Guns. They're dressed in pinstriped suits, fedoras, the works. The lead Gangster is LIPS, 30's, a hot-headed wise guy who's a little unbalanced.

BRODY: You gotta be kidding me.
LIPS: You pals of Shorty's?
Paige: (off Brody's confusion) Yeah, we knew him... What's it to ya?
Lips: (flares) Don't get wise with me, legs. You're here for the same reason Shorty was. You're lookin' for the Falcon, ain't ya? Well, it belongs to Johnny.
BRODY: Look guys. I think you've got us confused with somebody else.
LIPS: You may be onto something there, pal. You see, boys. I think they're alive. Turns out, they're dead.

Another of gangsters CACKLES at that, then Lips orders:

LIPS: Plug 'em fulla lead, boys!

But suddenly Brody pulls his own gun out and SHOOTS SEVERAL TIMES over their heads, forcing the gangsters to duck. Brody grabs Paige.

BRODY: Quick, orb us outta here!
Paige: (tries, but) Uh-oh... I can't. No powers here.
BRODY: Oh, perfect...

Then, Brody, seeing the gangsters recovering, yells:
BRODY: RUN!

The two take off, as the gangsters OPEN FIRE on them. The bullets EAT UP the pavement behind our heroes, as we:
FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE


(Page 24)
BRODY: Not so much fun anymore, is it?
PAIGE: I don't know...Define fun.

A beat, as they hold each other, closely. But the moment's broken when Cop Cars pull up outside.

BRODY: Uh-oh...

Paige heads to the window, looking out on an alleyway:

PAIGE: Hurry, out the window. At least we can see what we're dropping into.

Brody helps her open the window and climb out it. Then he jumps through the window himself. He disappears, just as police officers, armed, storm the store, led by Inspector Davis, early 30s, good-looking but easily influenced. Davis, spying the open window, instructs a couple of officers:

DAVIS: Go round back, try and pinch 'em.

The officers exit, as Lieutenant Snyder, 40s, gruff, a grizzled veteran, enters, seeing the mess:

SNYDER: Never seen a job like this before...
DAVIS: Probably a couple two-bit mugs hopin' to make a name for themselves.
SNYDER: (off Brody's clothes) Nah...it's bigger than that...(then, to a Uniform) Call it in, Officer. Tell 'em to be on the lookout for a coupla newcomers.

The Officer nods and exits. Davis lowers his voice:

DAVIS: You think they're after the Falcon?
SNYDER: I'm certain of it. But if they think they're gonna get it before we do, they got another thing coming.

Snyder, corrupt to the core, pulls out his gun and ominously spins the cylinder in it. Off that threat:

INT. MAGIC SCHOOL - GREAT HALL - DAY
We pull out of the detective book, still on the floor. We Pan up to find Piper and Phoebe questioning Miss Donovan on the other side of the table:

PIPER: You don't know where Paige went?
MISS DONOVAN: Last I saw her, she was right here with Kyle.
PHOEBE: Kyle...? Not you too.
PIPER: You don't think he might've done something to her, do you?
PHOEBE: I might, except the Gnome was killed before he even got here. Take a look.

Phoebe pulls Piper behind the table, where Piper get her first look at the dead Gnome. The closed book lays a few feet away, where Piper and Brody dropped it.

PIPER: Well, this is...interesting.
MISS DONOVAN: (noticing) The book...it's been moved.
PHOEBE: That's weird. Why would they move it?

As Phoebe, curious, picks up the closed book, BAM! We push into:

PHOEBE'S VISION - (INT. MAGIC SCHOOL - GREAT HALL)
Just as it happened at the end of Act One, we see the Magical Whirlwind emerge from the book and suck Paige and Brody into it. As the book slams shut...

INT. MAGIC SCHOOL - GREAT HALL - DAY (continuous)

Piper can tell Phoebe has just had a vision:

[~*~Kit_The_Kat~*~]

(shooting script con't)

(Page 27)
PIPER: The Mullen brothers? Who are they?

INT. DETECTIVE'S OFFICE - OUTER HALLWAY - DAY (B & W)
ON A GLASS DOOR WINDOW, marked "Mullen Bros. Detective Agency," as Paige and Brody look at it, surprised:

PAIGE: They're dicks!
BRODY: Dicks'
PAIGE: You know, detectives, private eyes. Don't you see? They wrote themselves in as the heroes of the book.
BRODY: Kind of cliché, isn't it?
PAIGE: Not cliché, classic. C'mon.

She opens the door and they enter into:

INT. DETECTIVE OFFICE 'OUTER OFFICE - DAY (B & W)
Right out of a Noir movie, sparsely furnished, slotted blinds, not much more than an assistant's desk. Paige and Brody enter, stopping a conversation already in progress. A late teen, EDDIE MULLEN (broken, full of repressed angst) is dressed in a detective's traditional raincoat and the desk, smoking a cigar, is a refined gangster, JOHNNIE THE GENT (40ish, charming but able to turn on a dime).

PAIGE: Oh, sorry, didn't mean to interrupt.
JOHNNY: The newcomers Eddie, I thought you said you didn't know 'em.
EDDIE: I don't, I never seen 'em before in my life.
BRODY: Wait, you're Eddie?
EDDIE: You got a problem with that?
PAIGE: No, it's just, we were expecting someone a little older.
JOHNNY: Older, eh, toots. Then maybe you outta take a gander my way.
BRODY: Gander somewhere else, buddy. Who are you?
JOHNNY: Johnny the Gent. I think you made the acquaintance of some of my boys.
BRODY: Johnny, right. They dropped your name between Tommy Gun blasts.
JOHNNY: A simple misunderstandin'. Everyone's on edge on account of the Falcon.
PAIGE: The Falcon? As in, Maltese?
EDDIE: Maltese was a fake, everyone knows that. The one's the real deal, the Burmese Falcon.
BRODY: Burmese? You can't be serious' That's a total rip-off.
JOHNNY: Rip-off or no, I figure you're looking for it. You wouldn't happen to know where it is, would ya?
PAIGE: We've got business to discuss. Alone.
EDDIE: I've got enough business.
PAIGE: But you're the only one who can help. See, we came from your school, but we can't seem to find our way back.

Johnny exits. Eddie looks at Paige and Brody, displeased:

EDDIE: Of all the books in all the libraries in all the world, you had to get sucked into mine...

He turns and tosses his fedora onto a hook, then enters into the door marked 'Private.' Paige and Brody share a concerned look, then follow him into:

INT. DETECTIVE OFFICE - EDDIE'S OFFICE - DAY (B & W)
Two desks and a view overlooking the city. Eddie takes his raincoat off, as Brody questions him:

BRODY: Funny, kid, you don't seem too happy to see us.
EDDIE: Should I be?

Eddie puts a cigarette into his mouth and is about to light it when Paige yanks the cigarette out of his mouth:

PAIGE: Hey, don't do that. Don't you know you're slowly killing yourself?
EDDIE: So what if I am' If the smokes don't get me, the bullets will.
PAIGE: Just like they got your brother.

A beat, as Eddie takes that in. They can see he's still in pain, raw, defensive.

BRODY: What happened, Eddie? Who killed him?
EDDIE: A couple of corrupt cops. They were trying to keep him from finding the Falcon before they did.
PAIGE: The Falcon again. Why does everybody want it so badly?
EDDIE: Cause we wrote 'em that way, that's why. It's their whole motivation.
PAIGE: Wow...pretty impressive. You must've been really advanced students.
EDDIE: Tim was the creative one, it was his idea. I just tagged along for the ride. It was supposed to be fun.
BRODY: So then why haven't you left already? You must know a way. You wrote the damn book.
EDDIE: The only way out is to end the story. But you can't do that till you find the Falcon.
PAIGE: You don't know where it is.
EDDIE: No. Tim and I only laid down the fundamentals of the story. It's got a life of its own now.
BRODY: So what've you been doing for the last 20 years? Sitting on your ass!
EDDIE: (news to him) Twenty years? No, Tim just died yesterday.
PAIGE: Not on the outside he didn't. I don't know why, but time must've stopped here for some reason.
EDDIE: I know why. It's my punishment. What I deserve for letting him die.
PAIGE: No, you don't deserve this. It was an accident.
BRODY: Was it?

Fed up, Brody pulls out his badge, hoping to scare Eddie:

BRODY: Look, kid, I'm a federal agent, so you better find a way to get me back to the real world, you understand?
EDDIE: Or what? You gonna arrest me?
PAIGE: no. We're gonna get you home, okay?

The phone rings. Eddie answers it.
EDDIE: This is Eddie. Hold the line. (to Paige and Brody) Do you mind?

Paige heads for the door. Brody, not trusting Eddie one bit, locks eyes with him, then exits too. Once the door closes, Eddie speaks into the phone:

EDDIE: Ok, Johnny. Go ahead. (listens, then) Nah, they don't know nothing about the Falcon. But they're definitely gonna be trouble anyways.

INT. DETECTIVE OFFICE - OUTER OFFICE - DAY (B & W)
We pick up Paige and Brody, mid-argument:

BRODY: I'm telling you, he's up to something.
PAIGE: Didn't you see his pain' That's not a part of the story, that's real.
BRODY: But for all we know, he really did kill his brother. And we could be next!
PAIGE: Look, Kyle, I've been a witch for a long time. I save innocents every week-
BRODY: (surprised) You do'
PAIGE: Yeah, so trust me. I know one when I see one. Besides, he's still our best shot at getting out of here. Unless you have a better idea''

As Brody considers that, Eddie enters in his raincoat, grabbing his hat:

EDDIE: Good news. That was an anonymous source, gave me a lead on the Falcon.
PAIGE: (to Brody) See.
BRODY: You just happen to get this tip now?
EDDIE: You guys coming here must've triggered the story to move forward. If we find the Falcon, we can get out. Isn't that what you want?
PAIGE: Of course. You want that too, right?
EDDIE: Yeah, sure. I'll get my car.

Eddie exits out the front door. Brody stops Paige:
BRODY: After 20 years, shouldn't he be a little more eager to get out?
PAIGE: His brother just died in here. You can't blame him for being a little –

But she stops, looking up, strangely sensing something:

BRODY: What is it?
PAIGE: I don't know. It's weird, it's like someone's calling to me.

INT. MANOR - ATTIC - DAY
ON LEO, holding the closed book, eyes shut. Phoebe and Piper wait, hoping he can sense Paige inside the book:

LEO: She's still alive. But I don't know about Kyle.
PHOEBE: Now you're calling him Kyle?
LEO: It's his name, isn't it?
PHOEBE: Dammit, I told her not to get him involved. Somehow, this is his fault, I know it.
PIPER: Forget whose fault it is. We need to get them out of the book without getting trapped ourselves.
LEO: Maybe I can help...

[~*~Kit_The_Kat~*~]

(shooting script con't)

(Page 37)
EDDIE: I think you just got 'em.
PAIGE: What's going on...?

As uniformed officers surround the car, Lieutenant Snyder, armed, approaches the driver's side window:

SNYDER: A flat tire, eh, Eddie? We were wondering what was taking so long... (then, orders) Step out of the car.

Eddie opens the door and steps out. But then Paige and even Brody are stunned when Eddie tells Snyder:

EDDIE: All yours...
PAIGE: Eddie...!
EDDIE: I'm sorry, but this story can never end.

Eddie, regretfully walks away from the car, as the officers cock their guns at Paige and Brody. Off their shock:

INT. MANOR - ATTIC - DAY
Where Phoebe reads from the book:

PHOEBE: The couple knew they'd been double-crossed, and there was no way out.
PIPER: Great. Any more bright ideas?

And off the sisters' and Leo's worry:
Fade Out
End of Act Two


(Page 41)
He angrily raises his billy club to strike again, as we:

INT. POLICE STATION - PRIVATE OFFICE - NIGHT (B & W)

Where we HEAR BRODY YELL OUT in pain. Paige, sitting in front of Davis's desk, gets up, worriedly:

PAIGE: Kyle...

But Davis grabs her, stopping her, imposing:

DAVIS: You're not going anywhere, sweetheart. You want to end his pain, you'll tell us where the Falcon is. Understand?
PAIGE: Get your paws off me.

She pulls herself away, as the SQUAWKBOX on Davis's desk comes to life in the background in a burst of static: (sqawkbox voice crossed out)

DAVIS: Tell me, what's a cute little package like you doing mixed up with that no-good Fed in there?
PAIGE: (outraged) Excuse me? I am not a cute, little package. Now let me out of here!

INT. MANOR - ATTIC - NIGHT
Where Phoebe reads from the book, disapproving:

PHOEBE: Paige, no...For God's sake, flirt with the man. It's your way out.

As Phoebe sighs and starts to write in the book:

INT. POLICE STATION - PRIVATE OFFICE - NIGHT (B & w)

On the Squawkbox on the desk, which again sputters to life, interrupting the conflict between Paige and DAVIS:

SQUAWKBOX VOICE: Calling all cars, calling all cars...Be on the lookout for Paige Matthews, a femme fatale who uses her wiles to get what she wants. We've been tipped off by her sister.
PAIGE: Phoebe...
DAVIS: (off squawkbox, curious) What'd you say your name was again?

But, hearing Phoebe's message, Paige changes tactics, becoming seductive, desperate, a femme fatale:

PAIGE: Uh, Lana. Lana Turner...
DAVIS: You got quite a temper for a dame.
PAIGE: I can't help it. I'm crazy...Crazy for cops. Tough cops. The kind that arrest your heart and make you long for a life sentence with 'em. (then touches his chest) You know any cops like that?
DAVIS: Yeah...as a matter of fact, I do.

He's definitely onto her. Off Paige, smiling seductively:

INT. POLICE STATION - INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT (B&W)
Snyder knocks Brody down to the ground with his billy club. Brody is wounded from the sustained beating. He can't take much more of this. Snyder puts down his billy club and pulls his revolver out of its holster, aiming it at Brody:

SNYDER: We can keep this up all night, if you like. Or you can tell me where the Falcon is and I'll end it but quick.
BRODY: Is that supposed to be a choice?


(Page 40)
Piper picks up the school records, riffling through them.

LEO: In their school records...?
PIPER: No, with their family. They might know something that'll help...(finding the address) Hope this address is still current.
LEO: (holding out his hand) Guess we're going out tonight after all.
PIPER: (nervously taking it) Yeah, guess so... (then, to Phoebe) Keep writing. Help Paige out however you can. We'll be back.

She hands Leo the address and they orb out. Phoebe flips forward in the book and sees a drawing has appeared across from a half-finished page in Chapter 12. It's a drawing of Lieutenant Snyder interrogating Brody, about to hit him with a billy club. Phoebe winces at the image:

PHOEBE: Ouch, Brody. Now even you don't deserve that...

We push in on the drawing, it comes to life:

INT. POLICE STATION - INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT (B&W)
Snyder's billy club makes an impact, dropping Brody to his knees, under a hot white light.

SNYDER: You're gonna tell me what you know about the Falcon, you hear me!

Brody, the wind knocked out of him, coughs into his hand, then notices he's coughed up blood.

BRODY: You've got the wrong idea. I don't know anything.
SNYDER: I'll teach you to lie to me!


(Page 43)
SNYDER: Yeah, you die fast or you beg for death. But either way, I'm getting the Falcon out of you first.

As Brody considers that, Paige suddenly busts into the room, armed with a gun:

PAIGE: Kyle!

Snyder, surprised, turns and is about to fire his gun at Paige, when -

Angle - Brody
From the floor, he kicks Snyder's legs out from under him, who falls to the ground, his gun falling out of his hand. Brody snatches the gun and uses the handle of it to hit Snyder in the back, knocking him out.

PAIGE: Are you okay?
BRODY: I'll live...how'd you get in here?
PAIGE: Seduced a cop, grabbed his gun, and locked him in the other room. Turns out, I'm a pretty good femme fatale.
BRODY: I'll bet.
PAIGE: Looks like now you owe me one. And you owe one to Phoebe too.
BRODY: Phoebe...?
PAIGE: Yeah, I think my sisters can alter the story. Remember the flat tire? They were trying to warn us about Eddie. (then feeling guilty) Guess you were right about him...

[~*~Kit_The_Kat~*~]

(shooting script con't)

(Page 44)
BRODY: No, you were right. Eddie's an innocent. Let's go, we've got to find him...

As Brody takes off with a confused Paige following......!

INT. MULLEN HOME - EDDIE'S ROOM - NIGHT
On a framed photo of Eddie and Tim, smiling, in happier times. Pan off the photo as Piper and Leo enter the room with Eddie's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mullen, (mid 60s)

MRS. MULLEN: Here it is...just like Eddie left it.

The room hasn't changed one bit in 20 years. Piper sees black and white movie posters hanging on the walls:

PIPER: He really loved old movies, didn't he?
MRS. MULLEN: I used to try to get him to watch films about withces. You know, because of our heritage... But he only liked gangsters and detectives. Go figure.
LEO: We've got a murder at the school that's similar to his brother's death. We're looking into it...
MR. MULLEN: You're not going to try to pin it on Eddie, are you?
MRS. MULLEN: Oh, Joe, stop. Can't you see they're nice people?
MR. MULLEN: Whatever happened was an accident, it must've been.

Mrs. Mullen can see her husband's emotions running high:
MRS. MULLEN: Honey, why don't you go back downstairs? It's okay, I can help them with whatever they need.

Mr. Mullen nods and exits. Mrs. Mullen apologizes:
MRS. MULLEN: I'm so sorry. Even after all these years...it's still hard.
PIPER: Of course. I can't imagine what you must've gone through...
MRS. MULLEN: There were days it got so tough I thought I couldn't go on...But Joe was strong, he got me through it. And now, at our age, sometimes I need to be strong for him...
PIPER: Must be hard on you...
MRS. MULLEN: It can be, but no matter how bad things get, I just remember that they'd be even worse without him...

Piper exchanges a look with Leo, knowing she doesn't want to be without him either. Then:
LEO: DId your sons ever mention a book they were writing? About detectives?
MRS. MULLEN: Oh, sure,that was a big deal. It was their first magical project together. It must've been Tim's idea. I think he wanted to help Eddie with it.
PIPER: What do you mean?
MRS. MULLEN: My boys, they were close, only a year apart. But they were very different. Tim was confident, always a smile...But Eddie...well, he wasn't as much. That's why I think Eddie ran away after Tim passed...I'm sure he blames himself for what happened.
LEO: So you think this book might've been Tim's way of making Eddie feel better about himself? More confident?
MRS. MULLEN: Well, I know Tim was worried about his little brother. He wanted Eddie to learn to stand up for himself. Against bullies or whoever.
PIPER: (realizing) So Tim wanted Eddie to be a hero...(then, to Leo, sotto) Which means, he's the key to ending the story...We've got to tell Paige.

EXT. STREET - NIGHT (B & W)
On Paige, exasperated, as she and Brody furtively duck in out of the shadows, on the run:

PAIGE: Are you crazy? Now you want to save Eddie?
BRODY: I thought you'd be happy. I'm seeing things your way.
PAIGE: But I'm seeing them yours. Or at least the way you saw them before that cop hit you over the head too much.
BRODY: Didn't you hear Eddie apologize when he turned us in? Criminals don't say they're sorry.


(Page 50)
INT. DETECTIVE OFFICE - EDDIE'S OFFICE - NIGHT (B & W)
On a man in a fedora, sitting in the turned around desk chair, smoking, and looking out the window of the darkened office. Paige and Brody enter the office, noticing the figure in the shadows:

PAIGE: Eddie...?

But as the chair spins around to face them, we reveal it's actually Johnny, holding a pistol aimed at them:

JOHNNY: Sorry to disappooint you. Drop 'em.

Paige and Brody drop their guns to the floor.
BRODY: Where's Eddie?
JOHNNY: I sent himout to look for you two. I heard you got away from the coppers. Too bad you won't get away from me.

BAM! Johnny suddenly, shockingly shoots Brody, dropping him to the floor. Paige, panicked, hurries to his side:
PAIGE: Kyle!
Johnny approaches Paige, with the gun trained on her:
JOHNNY: Forget about him, baby. His number's up. It's just you and me now...

Off Paige's horror:
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT 3

ACT 4

INT. DETECTIVE OFFICE - EDDIE'S OFFICE - NIGHT (B & W)
On Paige, very worried about Brody, who's weak and starting to fall in and out of consioussness, losing blood fast. Johnny is on the phone with one of his boys.

JOHNNY: That's right, Lips. I need you to get down here on the double. We got a bit of a mess to clean up.

He hangs up the phone. Paige pleads:
PAIGE: Please, we just want to get out of here, that's all, I swear.
JOHNNY: Sorry...If I'm gonna get the Falcon out of Eddie, I can't have any loose ends hangin' about. In a coupla minutes, it'll be over for your friend there. But you...why, you're a real knockout. It'd be a shame to waste a bullet on you...
PAIGE: Who're you kidding? You wouldn't kill a dame, it's not in your character.
JOHNNY: I wouldn't be so sure, if I was you...First time for everything...

Just then, Eddie enters, surprised to see Johnny holding her at gunpoint:
EDDIE: What's going on?
JOHNNY: Eddie...I wasn't expecting you back so soon. I was just protecting you. They came here seeking revenge. For the set-up.
PAIGE: That's a lie. He shot Kyle in cold blood. Just like he shot Tim.

Johnny turns on Paige, shocked she knew that.
EDDIE: WHat are you talking about?
JOHNNY: Don't listen to her. Your brother was killed by the cops, you know that.
PAIGE: But you weren't there, were you, Eddie? Johnny told you that story. He's been playing you, trying to get you to tell him where the Falcon is!
JOHNNY: Why I oughta...

He pulls the trigger on his gun. But it jams! Johnny tries again, but nothing. He looks at the gun, mystified:
JOHNNY: What...?

INT. MANOR - ATTIC - NIGHT
Phoebe looks at book, curiously wondering what she should do about that request. Piper panics:

PIPER: What is it? What's happening?
PHOEBE: Well, I got his gun to jam. But now Paige wants a flashback. To prove that Johnny killed the brother.
LEO: How're we supposed to pull that off?
PIPER: We can't just make it up...can we?
PHOEBE: I don't think we need to. The book knows what happened. We just have to cue it up right...(then writing) "Then Eddie found out how Tim really died. It was like it was happening all over again..."

A beat, as they all wait with bated breath:

PHOEBE: Come on, book. Do your thing...

Text suddenly materializes beneath her writing, as the book continues the story. Phoebe reads it, ecstatic:

PHOEBE: Yes! I'm really starting to get the hang of this...

As we zoom back into the book:

INT. DETECTIVE OFFICE - EDDIE'S OFFICE - NIGHT (B&W)
Paige, Eddie and Johnny turn to see two figures appear in the office. Johnny doesn't know what to make of that:

JOHNNY: What the...?

He sees Flashback Johnny standing above Flashback Tim (19), holding him down with his foot on terrified Tim's nick. Johnny points his pistol down at Tim:

FLASHBACK JOHNNY: I know you found the Falcon. Now you better give it to me, Timmy, if you know what's good for you.
FLASHBACK TIM: No...you can't kill me, I make you.
FLASHBACK JOHNNY: Think again.

Angle - Eddie
He looks on in horror as WE HEAR GUNSHOTS FIRED.

ANGLE - FLASHBACK JOHNNY
As he coldly looks down at Tim's dead body.
Off his ominous cackle, the flashback figures vanish, leaving Eddie rocked. Johnny tries to explain it away.
JOHNNY: You're not gonna believe that, are you, kid? It's some kind of smoke and mirrors trick. A picture show.

Paige looks to a weak Brody, who locks eyes with her, whispers. Paige nods, then turns to Eddie, trying to get through:
PAIGE: You don't have to punish yourself, Eddie. It wasn't your fault. Your brohter wouldn't have wanted you to stay in here, like it's some kind of prison. He would've wanted you to go on with your life, to live in the real world. To grow up, finally.

As Eddie considers that, they suddenly hear sirens approaching outside. Johnny reacts anxiously:
JOHNNY: Coppers...
Johnny suddenly pulls Piage to him, forcefully grabbing her by the throat. Then, to Eddie:
JOHNNY: I'm sorry it had to come to this, kid. Now give me the Falcon or I'll break her neck.
PAIGE: No, Eddie, don't. It's the way out.
Honny squeezes tighter, like he's about to kill her:
EDDIE: Wait, stop. I'll give it to you.

Eddie quickly turns to the wall, pulling back a painting to reveal a safe there. As Eddie unlocks the safe:
JOHNNY: This better not be a trick.
EDDIE: It's not. I should've done this a long time ago.

And that's when Eddie crefully removes an object from the safe and we reveal the dazzling, jewel encrusted Burmese falcon. Johnny's eyes widen with greed:

JOHNNY: I knew it, you had it all along...it was only a matter of time before you cracked...Where'd you find it?
EDDIE: Doesn't matter. All that matters is that no one else dies because of it. (then, off Paige) Let her go.

Johnny releases her, then:
JOHNNY: Alright, hand it over. Quick, before the coppers get here.

As Johnny holds out the Falcon, Paige worries:
PAIGE: No, Eddie, this isn't right. This can't be how it's supposed to end.
EDDIE: Turst me, it is...

But instead of handing the Falcon to Johnny, Eddie suddenly smashes it on the floor, shattering it.
JOHNNY: NO...!