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Post by StreakSpeed on Jan 22, 2005 17:58:54 GMT -5
TEASER
EXT. Street - Day
A red light turns green and a long line of cars all start moving simultaneously. A woman on a sidewalk opens the door of a store and a man enters behind her, in quick rhythmic succession, other people enter stores along the sidewalk, followed quickly by people leaving in the opposite order. A group of school kids walk in a perfect line, passing another group of school kids and they all shake hands. A woman carries a bag of groceries that suddenly splits, spilling oranges everywhere and three strangers rush to her aid. People on a bus bench reading different papers, and they all turn the pages at the same time. Then, we see Alpha and Gamma, walking with Leo, observing all they have created. Alpha: "Look at them all. Without knowing why, things just seem better today. Even they don't realize yet that everything has changed." Gamma: "Of course, there will be a transitional period. But soon they will begin to understand that they no longer have to worry about evil, security, conflict. That this world is here to stay." Alpha: "Is it not what we spoke of, Leo? What we promised?" Leo admits it's impressive. Alpha says he feels Leo is hesitant. Leo, bothered by it, asks what happened to Brody. Gamma claims self-defense, then tells Leo he knows that. Alpha says the only threat to Utopia is conflict. Leo: "But the way the sisters reacted, especially Paige…" Gamma says she grieves. Leo: "Yeah, but not in the way she should. It just seems…I don't know…not right." Alpha says that things are different, but tells him to look around, asking if people are not better off. Leo admits he's not so sure. Alpha tells him to go to the sisters, they're the people who meant the most to him, so he can understand it's all good. Gamma: "But when you're satisfied, it is important that you return to us." Leo asks why. Gamma: "After the death of one of our own, the collective has been drained of power - you fell it, too, do you not?" Leo: "Yes." Alpha: "So, the sooner you are assured, satisfied, the sooner you can join us to help maintain all of this. We have much work to do." Leo asks what kind of work. Alpha tells him he'll see, when he's ready, he will find them. Leo nods and walk around a corner to find a safe place to orb. Once he's out of earshot, Gamma tells Alpha that he's worried. Alpha says Leo needs time to understand and to remember that Leo wanted this world more than anyone. They turn a corner together and continue their discussion but Gamma stops him as they've run into a cop who has pulled over a husband and wife. Cop: "Please calm down, sir." The Wife tries to get him back in the car. Harold: "I'm telling you, the light was yellow, just like last time - what, do you guys have it out for me?" Alpha and Gamma step out of the way of the would-be arrest and dematerialize as they do, we see the cop, "I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do." Wife: "Harold, please!" Harold: "This is ridiculous. It's police harassment! I want your name and badge number…" Suddenly, before the scene can go any further, the man simply vanishes. The cop and the man's wife blink, then, as if nothing happened, the cop hands the ticket to the wife, "Try and keep it under the speed limit in the city, okay ma'am? Oh, and I'm sorry for your loss." She nods sadly, trying to look on the bright side, "Thank you, but at least he went to a better place." The cop goes back to his squad car as the woman drives off.
FADE OUT
END OF TEASER
ACT I
INT. Manor - Kitchen - Day
Phoebe and Piper are moving around the kitchen fluidly, much like the people on the street, both cooking multiple things. They're at opposite ends of the kitchen and both are stir two bowls. Piper is scrambling eggs, Phoebe's mixing batter, then them come together and without missing a beat, they trade bowls. Phoebe: "It's ready." Piper: "So's this." They both turn sideways, moving past each other, and Phoebe grabs some chopped onions as Piper grabs chocolate chips. Both sprinkle them in their bowls. Piper: "Butter?" Phoebe reaches for a stick and tosses it to her. Piper catches it without blinking, peels off the wrapper, and starts buttering a cookie sheet. Just as Phoebe turns and heads for the sink, she's forced to stop as Leo orbs in into her path. "Hey!" Leo: "Whoops." Phoebe: "Step aside, you're breaking the flow." Leo, does with "Sorry." Phoebe happily continues to the sink as Leo, feeling out of sync, constantly is in their way. Piper asks where he's been. Leo tells her he was with the Avatars, making sure everything's okay. Piper asks why it wouldn't be. Leo: "I don't know, you tell me…how're you guys doing?" Phoebe; "Are you kidding? I haven't felt this good in…I don't even know how long." Piper: "In six and a half years, but who's counting?" Phoebe: "Of course, we haven't been out in the real world yet, but…" Piper: "…if it's anything like it feels in here…" Phoebe: "…we have no complaints…" Piper: "…none." Piper starts dropping dough on the cookie sheet, continuing, "In fact, we're celebrating…we're throwing a party." Leo: "A party? Wait, today?" Phoebe; "Yeah, why not?" Leo: "Well, don't you think you should make sure this is really working first?" Phoebe: "Leo, relax, it works, okay? Better then we ever could've imagined. Besides, we have a lot of catching up to do, especially with our friends." Piper: "I'm actually a little nervous, I hope I remember how to socialize." Phoebe: "You'll be fine - especially not having to worry about demon attacks ruining everything for once." Leo: "There's still some out there…" Phoebe: "None that are going to attack, they're all on the run. Leo, come on, just enjoy it - afterall, we've got you to thank for it all." Leo then asks how Paige is doing. Piper says she better and Phoebe says it's going to take her some time because Kyle meant a lot to her. Piper: "But it helps knowing he's in a better place." Phoebe: "Definitely." Leo, not so sure, asks if she's upstairs. Phoebe tells him she's at Kyle's house, picking up a few things. She finishes her cooking and says she's going down to the paper to check out the real world. Leo tells them he's going to look in on Paige and Phoebe exits as Leo orbs out. Piper calls to them both, "Okay, you two, but don't be late!" She turns back to her dish and starts sifting flour into a bowl on the counter.
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Post by StreakSpeed on Jan 22, 2005 17:59:38 GMT -5
INT. Brody's Apartment - Day
Paige is holding a snow globe, lost in thought, a half-filled box sits next to her. Just then, Leo orbs in behind her. "How're you holding up?" Paige: "Alright, I guess, considering…I don't really know what to do with all of his things." Leo tells her it's not her responsibility. Paige says it is because he doesn't have any family, then, saddened, "I can't believe he's really gone. I just…miss him." Leo; "You should. I mean, it's normal. It shouldn't just be - glossed over, you know?" Paige: "Yeah…still I'm happy for him." Leo's shocked to hear her as she continues, "Afterall, he's gone to a better place, right? And that's a good thing. Plus, I know he'd want me to enjoy this new world." Leo: "But he fought it…he died trying to stop it." Paige: "It doesn't mean he wouldn't want me to be happy. I owe him that." Paige finishes packing and asks if Leo's coming to the party. Leo: "I think so…" Paige: "Good." With one last look around, she orbs out with her box, leaving Leo alone. He pauses to look at the snow globe. Reflected in the globe, something materializes behind him. He spins as Zankou flames in. Leo blasts him with lightening bolts and Zankou staggers, but it's vanquished. "You've been weakened, Avatar, by the death of one of your own." Zankou sends Leo flying into the wall as he approaches while continuing, "We've got the same problem, you and me - neither one of us trusts this new world. And we're both going to have to do something about it." Zankou roughly grabs Leo and flames out with him.
INT. Bay Mirror - Bullpen - Day
People are bustling, moving around with the same precision as seen everywhere else so far. Phoebe stops in the doorway to look around before entering. As she heads in, she's stopped by Elise, wondering why she's there since it's her day off. Phoebe tells her she just wanted to see how things were going. Elise: "They're not - and that's good. Have you seen today's paper?" She finds a copy and hands it to her, "Thinnest one we've ever had. No crime to speak of, no corruption, or scandals - it's like everybody took a happy pill, look…" She shows her and half-jokes about it, "…Thank God the Obits were up, otherwise we'd only have had a one sheet." Phoebe: "Well, maybe things are just getting better, ya know?" Elise: "I'm all for that, but I've been working here too long to believe it. Something always happens." Phoebe: "Maybe. Or, maybe it's a shame that we're living in a world where we don't trust it when good things happen." Elise: "That's a nice thought. Hey, why don't you write about that in your next column? Best advice you could give your readers." Phoebe says she'll have to write it from home because she has to get back adding "Tell Oliver I'll email it to him around six or so." Elise: "Oliver? Actually, that's the only bad thing that's happened today. Well, I mean, it's not bad for him, of course, just for us." Phoebe asks what she's talking about. Elise tells her that she got a call from his family, he's gone. "It happened early this morning." Phoebe: "Oh no…" Elise: "He was always such a troubled young man. I'd really hoped he could turn things around." Phoebe: "Me, too." Elise: "Well, at least we can take heart that he's in a better place now." Phoebe: "Yeah, I guess…"
INT. Tomb - Day
Zankou, holding a torch, walks in with Leo. They're in a poorly-lit ancient Egyptian tomb, far underground. Zankou waves the torch, illuminating a long series of hieroglyphs on one wall. "You mind telling me where we are?" Zankou: "An ancient tomb, in an ancient pyramid where no one - especially not the Avatars - would look for us." Leo: "Why bring me here?" Zankou: "To show you the truth, to show you why you never should've turned your back on the Elders. To decide whether or not you're willing to help me stop the Avatars." Leo asks why he'd help a demon. Zankou: "Because it's by far the better of your options. You can either work to change things back, or you can repeat the mistakes of the past…" He points to a series of hieroglyphs focusing on one. "The Avatars have been here before - Thousands of years ago, when people believed in magic, demons. And the Avatars promised to rid them of evil." He moves the torch to the next image, "On that level, same as now, they were more or less successful. They remade the world. But they didn't tell the people the ultimate cost." He shines his torch on another image. Leo asks "Who is that? The dog-headed figure. Is it a demon?" Zankou: "That's actually a jackal's head. And he is Anubis, the Egyptian guide and protector of the dead." Leo: "What's that mean?" Zankou: "It means there's a price that people pay for Utopia. A price you suspect, but don't yet know about…They knew about it, though. They rose up against the Avatars and stopped them the first time, for good reason." Leo: "Maybe so, but that doesn't mean I'd ever…" Zankou cuts him off, "Agent Brody realized the danger the Avatars posed, too. That's why he was willing to help me weaken them, so that I could bring you here - so that you could help. He was willing to sacrifice everything to stop them." Leo: "Brody was crazy…" Zankou: "Brody was right. You know, deep down, that something is very wrong with the world, Leo, something you never foresaw in your own myopic zeal to make it all better. People don't have free will anymore, at least, not completely. The Avatars now dictate their destinies - and you let it happen. Now the question is, are you willing to fix it?" Leo: "To do what, return things to the way they were? To have to fight your kind all over again?" Zankou: "Nobody ever said the system was perfect…but isn't it better than this? Decide for yourself, but decide soon. If we're to work together against them, we'll need to move quickly." Leo considers his words, holding his look, then he orbs out. Zankou, hoping Leo will see the truth, turns back to try to decode the hieroglyphs.
INT. Star Chamber - Day
Avatars are gathered around a circular table with something glowing in the center of it. Leo orbs in and looks around, confused. In the distance, Gamma spots him and gestures to Alpha, who crosses over to him, pleased, "Leo, welcome. How were the sisters - content, I trust?" Leo: "They seemed…okay. What is this place?" Alpha: "This? This is where we maintain Utopia. Come…" He escorts Leo across the great black space to the table. The glow in the middle is a series of holographic images, people flashing by quickly. Alpha: "These are the others. You have felt them, even if you haven't met yet." Leo asks what they're doing. Gamma tells him they're monitoring for conflict. Leo says he doesn't understand. Then, a hologram appears…an older woman, yelling, and one Avatar, Delta, looks to the others, who shake their heads. Alpha: "In bringing this all about, we've…modified the way people think, their belief system. So that they could more easily accept a world without evil, so they wouldn't keep looking for it." Gamma: "And so that the demons who remain couldn't influence them into evil acts." Alpha: "Unfortunately, however, some have already been damaged beyond hope…their inner demons sometimes surface causing…conflict." Gamma: "And when that conflict passes a certain threshold, we must deal with it." Alpha: "To protect Utopia." Alpha, seeing Leo needs more, invites him to watch as Delta brings up another hologram - this is of two Asian men, engaged in a shouting match. Suddenly one of them leaps at the other, and it breaks out into a nasty brawl. Delta looks at the other Avatars, and this time they nod solemnly. Delta turns back to the image - the two men fighting, punching, kicking each other. A group of onlookers stare at the fight, rapt, waiting to see the outcome. Just as it looks like it couldn't get any worse, the two men suddenly just vanish. The onlookers blink for a moment, as if coming out of a trance, then simply disperse as if nothing happened. Leo, still watching, "Wait, you killed them?" Gamma: "We REMOVED them. The one for the many." Alpha: "We have an obligation to maintain the world we've created, Leo. We can't let anything threaten it - and we won't."
FADE OUT
END OF ACT I
ACT II
INT. Manor - Dining Room (continuous)
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Post by StreakSpeed on Jan 22, 2005 18:00:13 GMT -5
Phoebe enters to see flowers everywhere. The dining room table is covered in food. "Wow" She reaches out to sneak a taste of icing on one of the cakes, just as Piper emerges from the kitchen, carrying a plate of cookies, and slaps her hand away, "Hands off." Phoebe, busted, recoils, as Piper sets the tray sown, fusses with the arrangement of the table while Phoebe asks what good is living with a chef if you can't sample the goods. Piper says she just wants to make sure everything is perfect for the party. Phoebe tells her to look around, everything is perfect, adding that she can't believe how much Piper got done while she was gone. Piper: "Well, when I can mix cookie batter instead of vanquishing potions, I tend to get a lot more doe. I almost forgot how much I enjoy doing this again, cooking." Phoebe: "It's all good." Piper: "Not if Leo doesn't show up for the party." Phoebe; "I thought he was just going over to see Paige?" Piper; "So did I, but then Paige came back without him. She's upstairs getting ready." Phoebe: "Maybe he's just dealing with some Avatar…stuff, you know." Piper: "No, I don't know and that's the problem. What if the Avatars end up keeping him as busy as the Elders did?" Phoebe: "He wouldn't let that happen, Piper, and you know that. He may have helped them create a better world for everyone's sake, but he also did it so you guys could be together again, as a family." Piper: "I know, but I still worry." Phoebe: "And next to cooking, that's what you do best." Piper almost tosses a canapé at Phoebe, then thinks better of it as Paige, feeling better about things, descends the stairs to join them. Phoebe asks how she is. Paige: "Better, thanks. Looking forward to the party, that's for sure. I just keep trying to remind myself that he's in a better place." Phoebe: "That's what I keep trying to remind myself, too. I mean about a guy at work who…went away. It was just so unexpected." Piper: "Well, it must all be for the best, right, otherwise it wouldn't have happened." Phoebe; "Right." Piper: "So, then why don't' you get the kids ready. Their clothes are already laid out and you…" she turns to Paige, "…you can help with the rest of the food. Come on…we've got a party to throw!"
INT. Tomb - Day
Zankou continues to examine the hieroglyphs in the tomb, which is now lit by several torches. Laygan shimmers in behind him, he's about to speak when Zankou silences him with his hand, "I'm concentrating." Laygan: "Forgive me but this is important." Zankou: "So's this. Somewhere in these drawings is the key to the potion Brody used against the Avatars." Laygan: "I'm glad to see you using your energy wisely. The others are restless. They don't want to die like dogs while we wait for the help of someone GOOD." Zankou: "Are you questioning my plan?" Laygan; "No - not at all, it's just…we're demons, we should stand and fight them on our own, not just sit around and…wait." Zankou tells him they can't fight on their own, they don't have the power, and like it or not, their fate rests on Leo. Laygan: "Yeah, well, we'd rather die than put our future in the hands of…an Elder." Zankou: "Then we will surely die. Tell the others that they will do as I say when I say it, or the Avatars will be the least of their problems, do you understand me?" Laygan nods and Zankou senses Leo coming and tells Laygan to leave. Laygan shimmers out just as Leo orbs in. "Welcome back, partner." Leo: "We're not partners." Zankou: "No? Then what are you doing here?" Leo: "I'm still not sure." Zankou: "Yes, you are, you may not want to be sure, but that doesn't change the fact that everything I told you about your precious Avatars is true. And now you want to stop them as badly as I do." Leo: "Except the last thing I want to do is help bring demons back into the world." Zankou: "Ah, but there's the rub - which world is worse? Which is the greater evil - mine or theirs?" Leo: "People's destinies shouldn't be taken out of their own hands, no matter what." Zankou: "I couldn't agree more." Leo: "But just so we're clear, if we succeed, we'll be enemies again. And I promise you it'll just be a matter of time before good defeats you." Zankou: "Well, we'll just have to see about that, won't we? Now, if we're done with the macho posturing, let's get to work…the problem is, even if I decipher these, we're still going to need the Charmed Ones to actually make the potion." Leo: "They'll never go against the Avatars, they WANT this world." Zankou: "Not if they discover the catch, not if they realize the Avatars alone decide who lives and dies. Now, of course, you know the sisters better than I do, but I doubt even they want that. Which means it's up to you to get them to see what the Avatars don't want them to see - even if you have to shock them with another terrible loss…"
INT. Manor - Wyatt's Bedroom - Day
Phoebe fluidly moves from Chris to Wyatt, putting on Chris' shoes, then helps Wyatt with his. "This is going to be so much fun - you're going to meet so many new friends!" Then, to Wyatt, "But, no orbing out in the middle of the party, okay? We don't want to scare away any of the guests." Wyatt, seeing something, smiles. Phoebe turns to see Leo orbing in, "Like that, don't do that." Leo: "Phoebe, we need to talk." Phoebe; "No, you need to get ready for the party before you wife kills you. Figuratively speaking, of course." Leo: "ee that, right there? That's what I'm saying." Phoebe; "What?" Leo: "What you just said, the fact that you felt like you had to qualify it." Phoebe: "Qualify what? Leo, what are you talking about?" Leo: "I'm talking about the Avatars and what they've done to you, what they've done to everybody." Phoebe: "What do you mean? They haven't done anything to us, they've just…made everything better. YOU'VE made everything better." Leo: "No, that was a mistake. I see that now, and I need you to see it now, too. Before what happened to Brody happens to somebody else you care about." Phoebe; "Leo, you're scaring me." Leo: "Good. You should be scared because that's the only way you're going to understand the truth, the only way you're going to be able to feel it." Phoebe, "I don't understand…" Leo: "But you can understand, Phoebe, that's the point -and then you can help Piper and Paige understand, too. You can use your powers to feel the pain of loss, so you can see what they're doing is wrong." Phoebe: "Leo, listen to me, this is everything you wanted, remember? It's everything we all wanted - why are you trying to ruin it?" Leo tells her she'll see, then glances at the boys, flicks on the monitor and grabs Phoebe. "What're you doing?" With that, he orbs out with her.
INT. Brody's Apartment - Day
Leo orbs in with Phoebe, who quickly pulls away from him, upset, "What's the matter with you, you can't just…" She stops, realizing where she is, and wonders, "What are we doing here?" Leo: "I need you to try to get a vision. I need you to see what REALLY happened to Agent Brody." Phoebe: "I already know what happened to him. He went to a better place." Leo: "Maybe so, but that doesn't change the fact that he was killed." He picks up the snow globe from earlier, and before Phoebe can react, he shoves it into her hand. Phoebe winces as she drops into a vision of what really happened. It lasts only a moment, then she comes out of it, "Oh my God…she…killed him?" Leo: "Yes, but the Avatars don't want you to know that - they don't want anybody to know why people just suddenly disappear." Phoebe, hears that, feels it, but still doesn't want to admit anything's wrong, "Why are you doing this to me?" Leo: "Because it's the truth. The Avatars changed you Phoebe, so you couldn't feel the true pain of death…" Phoebe: "You can't…this isn't right…" Leo: "They want it to seem like it's a good thing, so you won't ever question it when it happens again." Phoebe: "Stop it, Leo…" Leo: "And it will happen again, whenever they decide somebody's bringing too much conflict into the world…" Phoebe: "I said, stop it! I'm not going back to the old way, we're done with that. We tried it for seven years, we lost a sister…" Leo: "Phoebe, please…" Phoebe: "No, we MADE the world a better place and we're going to live in it just the way it is, do you understand?"
INT. Star Chamber - Day
In the middle of the table is a hologram…Leo, talking with Phoebe…then we see Gamma showing this to Alpha with the other Avatars looking on. Gamma turns to Alpha, who, feeling pressured, insists: "We just need to give him more time to understand…" Gamma: "We're running out of time. If he turns them, everything could be lost. I think it's time we face the facts."
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Post by StreakSpeed on Jan 22, 2005 18:03:26 GMT -5
INT. Manor - Foyer - Day
Happy people all around, chatting, eating, and just being merry. A group of kids run through the conservatory into the living room to play. Paige: "Will you stop fusing and just enjoy yourself already?" Piper: "I can't, I'm worried." Paige: "About what? Everyone's having a blast! I didn't even know we knew this many people." Piper: "I'm not worried about them, I'm worried about Leo. He should've been here by now. And where'd Phoebe run off to? She got the boys ready and then just took off." Paige: "Maybe she went to go find Leo. Or, maybe it's been so long, you don't know how to have a good time anymore." Piper: "What, is that a dare?" Paige: "If it helps." Piper glares are her, then Paige notices, "There, you happy?" She gestures for Piper to see Phoebe and Leo coming down the stairs. Phoebe; "I need a drink." Paige: "Why, what's the matter?" Phoebe: "I don't want to talk about it. I'm here now, I want to enjoy." She grabs a glass of wine from a passing tray and takes a big sip as she tries to leave Leo in her wake as fast as possible. Piper asks Leo what's going on as he approaches. Leo tells her it's nothing. Paige, knowing better, "Okay, I'll just go…mingle…" She slides away past Piper to let them talk. "Leo, come on, what's wrong?" Leo tells her it's complicated. Piper; "It's the Avatars, isn't it? Look, if you're working with them is going to make me a widow to your work just like it did with the Elders…" Leo: "It's not that." Piper; "Then what? Okay, you know what? I don't want to know. You're here, we're celebrating a new life without demons or spells, let's just enjoy it, okay?" Leo's about to respond until he sees the conservatory. Behind some oblivious friends, Zankou suddenly flames in. All business, he holds Leo's look, then Laygan and two other demons shimmer in behind him. Partygoers laugh and chat as they pass by, unaware, not seeing the demonic intrusion. Zankou nods at Leo, then, after a beat, he shimmers out. Piper half-glances in the direction of Leo's look, but she doesn't turn far enough to see the demons. "Leo? Leo, did you hear what I said?" His mind on what must be done, he looks back at Piper with a far off gaze. "What is the matter with you?" He grabs her, and tells her, "Forgive me, Piper. If there was any other way of doing this, I would." Piper: "Doing what? What are you talking about?" Leo: "I have to fix a mistake. I love you." Before she can respond, Leo turns away to face the demons…knowing what he has to do, but not wanting anyone to get hurt. He shouts, "Everyone get down!" All the people at the party look at him, confused. Phoebe: "Oh no…" Leo blasts lightening bolts across the crowd at the demons, who duck behind the sofa, which explodes in a blast of foam padding. Everyone hits the deck or runs as the demons, enjoying this, form fireballs…and throw them at Leo, who dodges. The fireballs crash into the staircase and the grandfather clock, blowing large, flaming holes in both. Piper is horrified: "No - this can't be happening - Paige, quick - the children!" Ducking fire, she and Paige quickly rush through the mess in the sitting room and into the living room where they start to herd the kids out of the line of fire. Phoebe is rushing towards Leo, but has to duck as he unleashes another fierce barrage of lightening bolts, vanquishing the two demons flanking Laygan, who screams, "Die, Elder!" He forms a massive fireball and throws it at Leo, but Leo is too quick and channels the rest of his energy into a thunderbolt, which rips right through the fireball - and pins Laygan to the wall before he explodes in a massive fiery vanquish. A moment of quiet as flashes burn, debris falls, and smoke starts to clear. Everyone's in shock as Leo turns to Phoebe, still on the floor from the last attack. He's desperate, pained, knows he's running out of time, "Don't let them make you forget why I'm doing this, Phoebe…it's supposed to hurt. Go to the Book, remember all the losses, then go to Zankou." Phoebe: "Zankou…but…" Suddenly, Leo vanishes. A beat, then, everyone pauses, as if coming out of a trance. They all get up, start brushing themselves off as if nothing happened. All except Phoebe, who looks around, confused, vaguely remembering something. She looks over at Piper as a sympathetic Paige crosses over, "You okay, Sweetie?" Piper; "I…don't know, I guess." Paige: "I'm so sorry about Leo." Piper; "I know, me, too…but at least I know he's gone on to a better place." Paige, smiling sadly, nods in agreement, then gives her a hug. Phoebe, though, knows this isn't right.
FADE OUT
END OF ACT II
ACT III
INT. Manor - Main Hall - Day
Paige is at the door saying goodbye to the last of their guests. Piper crosses, carrying some dishes, followed closely by Phoebe, who seems puzzled by her emotions. "You mean you don't think there was anything weird about it at all?" Piper: "Well, it was touch-and-go there for a minute with the demon attack, but that all worked itself out okay." Phoebe: "I guess. Still, something seemed…off." Piper: "I know I certainly didn't expect any more attacks, but at least Leo was able to take care of it for us." Phoebe: "Yeah, but…I wish he didn't have to go to a better place in the process." Piper: "I know, but…what he did, he did for his family, and I'll always love him for it." Piper turns and exits. Phoebe, still bothered, pursues her.
INT. Manor - Kitchen (continuous)
Piper brings the dishes to the sink, Phoebe still on her tail, as we hear Wyatt and Chris start to cry in the other room. "Paige, could you check on the boys?" Phoebe: "It's really impressive that you can be so calm after such a shock…" Piper: "I'd be freaking out if I knew there were more demons out there; I'd like to think those days are behind us…" Paige sticks her head in the door, "I don't know what's making them so upset - they won't stop." Piper: "It's understandable. We're ALL upset about demons in the house." Phoebe: "Do you really think that's what they're crying about?" Paige: "What else?" Phoebe: "I don't know. Just - it doesn't seem quite right, somehow." Piper calls out to the boys that she's coming. She brushes past Phoebe and heads into the other room. Paige: "Are you okay?" Phoebe: "I don't know." Paige, thinks she understands, "Hey, it's just like with Kyle - it's a huge loss. We're never going to forget Leo." Phoebe: "Never forget…I've gotta go check something in the Book."
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Post by StreakSpeed on Jan 22, 2005 18:04:01 GMT -5
INT. Manor - Attic - Day
The Book sits in a pool of light, making it look almost otherworldly. Phoebe enters, staring at it from across the room. She takes a step towards it, it doesn't come easy. She finally reaches it, touches it, and gasps. Phoebe's vision is of a quick series of events…people dying, innocents, friends…family. All very real pain, caused by very real death. Phoebe comes out of the vision and stumbles backwards, away from the Book, horrified, breathing hard, on the verge of tears.
INT. Manor - Main Hall/Sitting Room - Day
Paige is in the room with the kids, who continue to cry loudly, despite her best efforts to get them to stop. Phoebe, stern-faced, red-eyed, comes rushing down the stairs. Paige turns to her, "I don't know what's wrong. Even Piper couldn't get them to calm down." Phoebe: "I can. Where is she?" Paige: "In the kitchen, but…" Too late, she's gone.
INT. Manor - Kitchen (continuous)
"Piper, listen to me. This is all wrong - everything's wrong just like Leo said…" Piper: "What?" Phoebe: "The Avatars didn't tell us everything up front. They didn't tell us they were going to take away our pain…" Piper; "You lost me." Phoebe: "Pain, grief, mourning - it's what's supposed to happen after somebody close to us dies, like Leo." Piper; "Leo? Phoebe, he's in a better place - and I'd rather not dwell on painful memories, if you don't mind." Phoebe: "If Leo's in a better place then why are Chris and Wyatt crying? It's not because of demons - these kids have been practically raised about them." Piper: "Well, yeah, but…" Phoebe: "But nothing, Piper. Listen to me; Leo is DEAD. The AVATARS killed him - not demons. And the kids are too young to feel it the way we do - the way the Avatars PROGRAMMED us to…" Piper: "Programmed? Phoebe - what's gotten into you?" Phoebe: "This is what Leo was trying to show us. He let the Avatars kill him so we'd understand what they're really doing." Piper: "I don't want to hear this." Phoebe: "You have to hear it, Piper. Listen to your kids. That's pain, and it's REAL…" Piper: "Phoebe, stop…" Phoebe: "How can you not see this? The only reason you were open to the big change was so you could be with Leo - remember? And now they've taken him!" Piper struggles for composure, but the truth is hitting her hard. She breaks down and Phoebe softens, knowing, "That's what you're supposed to be feeling, it's what we're all supposed to be feeling." Clear-headed now, the Avatar 'spell' broken, Piper angrily wipes away her tears, "I don't understand. Why would the Avatars do this?"" Phoebe: "Because Leo caused conflict. That's how they maintain Utopia - anyone causes conflict, they're REMOVED." Piper's face hardens, she looks increasingly furious, "What do we do?"
INT. Brody's Apartment - Day
An irritated Paige orbs in with Piper and Phoebe, "Okay, this'd better be good because I don't really want to be here." Phoebe; "And that's exactly why we ARE here - Kyle died here, Paige, and you need to feel it." Paige: "What's wrong with you? I FELT it - and it would've felt a lot worse if I didn't know he went on to a better place…" Piper: "That's just it. It should feel a lot worse. Except the Avatars made the pain go away - after they killed Kyle." Phoebe grabs the snow globe and holds it out. Phoebe: "I saw his death, Paige. I had a vision of it, when I touched this. He attacked one of the Avatars with his potion, then she killed him, do you remember that?" Paige: "Why are you doing this to me?" Phoebe: "He died right here, right in your arms - I saw it, I FELT it. And now you need to feel it, too, otherwise we're never going to be able to stop them." Paige says she doesn't want to and Piper tells her she has to. Paige, struggling, stares down at the floor for a moment, then, the spell on her breaks, too. "Ok, Kyle…" Piper moves to comfort her, hugging her, "It's okay, we're going to get through it." Paige: "Why did they do this?" Phoebe: "To give us what we wanted…or, at least, what we thought we wanted." Paige: "What do we do now/" Phoebe: "We do what Leo said to do…we go find ourselves a demon."
INT. Tomb - Day
Zankou stands in front of the hieroglyphs, looking defeated, as an anxious Minion approaches boldly, "Sorry to interrupt, but.." Zankou: "What is it?" Minion: "The others sent me…to find out what we're going to do?" Zankou: "Do?" Minion: "I just mean…the Elder is dead, the plan failed. Shouldn't we…retreat?" Zankou: "Not yet." Minion: "But you said yourself, if the Elder couldn't turn the witches, then…" Zankou: "I know what I said. And I also know that Leo wasn't stupid. He wouldn't have given his life unless he knew something would come of it." Minion: "Unless it was merely the act of a desperate man…I'm just saying, the Avatars could move on us at any time. If we are to run, we should go soon." Zankou: "Perhaps you're right. We should retreat." Minion: "I'll let the others know." Just as he says it, he explodes in a fiery vanquish. Zankou's shocked as a second later he's blasted across the tomb, hitting the wall with a crash. The Charmed Ones emerge from the darkness - united like we haven't seen in a long time. Phoebe approaches the prone demon, "We need to chat."
FADE OUT
END OF ACT III
ACT IV
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Post by StreakSpeed on Jan 22, 2005 18:05:14 GMT -5
INT. Tomb - Day
Zankou stands before the sisters. "Good thing you got here when you did, I was about to leave." Phoebe: "To go where?" Zankou: "To live to fight another day." Piper; "If you don't tell us what we want to hear, you won't get that chance." Zankou: "Save it, you need me - that's why Leo sent you. Glad to see he didn't die in vain afterall." Piper's furious, but Phoebe and Paige hold her back. "Get to the point." Zankou: "The point is that Leo was working with me, just like Agent Brody did before him - to undo what has been done." Paige: "Wait - KYLE was working with you?" Zankou: "How do you think he was able to get close enough to kill an Avatar? He realized then what you must now - that the combined forces of good and evil is the only chance we have of stopping the Avatars." Piper: "Except you have a greater reason to want that than we do: survival." Zankou: "True, but then again, you obviously want it, too, otherwise we wouldn't even be having this conversation, now would we? Go ahead, talk amongst yourselves - I'm not going anywhere." Paige: "I don't trust him." Phoebe: "Neither do I, but do we have a choice? We're kinda running out of allies here." Piper: "We can't work with a demon." Phoebe: "Leo did." Piper; "And look where it got him." Phoebe: "That wasn't Zankou, that was the Avatars." Piper: "Unless Zankou's trying to pick us off one by one - how do we know this isn't a set up?" Paige: "Because he helped Kyle kill an Avatar, that's why. They're who he's really after, and so are we." Piper: "Okay, fine, but what happens afterwards? What if this works, then we're right back to where we started - fighting demons again. Is that what we really want?" Phoebe: "Is this??" Paige: "Just because we wanted it so badly, Piper, doesn't make it right. Kyle knew it was wrong. He knew the Avatars couldn't be trusted, but I didn't believe him…" Phoebe: "None of us did, Paige." Paige; "Still, we can believe him now. Leo, too. We need to finish what they started - so that they didn't die in vain." Piper nods, but doesn't look happy about it, and Phoebe turns to Zankou: "Okay, what's the plan?" Zankou: "The plan is…you need to make a very special potion."
INT. Star Chamber - Day
The Avatars are all gathered around the table as Gamma, gesturing almost frantically, quickly changes the images within the holograms. Alpha: "What's the matter?" Gamma: "I can't find the sisters." Alpha: "None of them?" Gamma: "I don't' understand - I just had them." Alpha: "That's alright, they'll have to surface sooner or later." Piper; "You got that right!" The Avatars turn to see the sisters and Zankou standing on the other side of the room. Two Avatars rush them, but Piper blows one back while Zankou blasts the other. Before the others can make a move, the sisters brandish their fresh potion vials. Paige: "I wouldn't do that if I were you." Gamma: "What are those?" Zankou: "I think you know." Phoebe: "And I think you know what he is." Alpha: "What is the meaning of this?" Piper: "I don't think we're the ones who have to explain anything. You're the ones going around killing people." Gamma: "We only did what was necessary - to maintain Utopia." Paige: "Forget to mention that little loophole to us, did you?" Alpha: "It was not our intention to deceive, we merely gave you the what you asked for." Piper: "Again, except for the fact that you were killing people." Alpha: "Their fates are…regrettable. But I guarantee you that fewer people will be lost under our rule than under the chaos of good and evil." Phoebe: "Except at least under good and evil, people knew what they were dying for." Piper: "Which means given a choice between what we had and what you're offering…" Paige: "Now that we know what it really is…" Phoebe; "Well take our free will back any day." Zankou: "Hear, hear." Alpha: "You'd seriously be willing to give up piece of mind, the normal like you so covet, and go back to the way things were? To fighting the likes of him again?" Piper: "Warts and all." Alpha turns to the other Avatars. Gamma doesn't look happy, but some of the others seem to understand as he speaks, "They're not ready for us." Alpha: "Perhaps not, but they will be…someday. What we want for the world…is worth waiting for. Very well, we will use what remains of our power to rewind time, to when Utopia began." Phoebe: "Does that mean Leo will be alive again?" Alpha: "Of course." Paige: "And Kyle?" Alpha: "Unfortunately, that is beyond our control." Paige: "You're kidding, right? So what, you can remake the world - you can restore everyone you've killed to life, but bringing back Kyle is beyond your powers?" Gamma: "The further something recedes into the past, the more power it takes to reverse it." Alpha: "We can either bring back Agent Brody, or return the world to the way it was, but I'm afraid we can't do both." Alpha waits for their reaction. Paige is furious, holding back tears. Her lip quivers and she grips the potion tightly, but then lets her arm drop to her side. Piper puts her arm around her and leads her away. Phoebe approaches Alpha quietly, "Put the world back." Alpha: "I'm sorry this didn't work out - for your sakes as well as ours." Zankou: "Touching. Don't let the door hit you on your way out." Alpha turns away as the other Avatars gather around the table and concentrate. A beam of light shoots out of the middle again, this time in reverse order, scenes from San Francisco, Tokyo, Moscow, London, New York, then, back to San Francisco fly by. The camera glides down a street as people gently fall asleep again. Soon, everyone starts stirring. The two patrons at the coffee stand waken to notice the coffee that's been dumped on them, each look furious and get into a fight. The minor fender bender from earlier turns ugly, both drivers blaming the other. Phoebe and Piper happily watch as arguments break out all over, some small, some big, all full of conflict. Piper: "I've never been so glad to hear the sound of people arguing." Phoebe: "Tell me about it." Just then, Phoebe notices a nearby bus bench with an ad for her column, "It's good to be back." Just then, she notices something else across the street. Zankou, smiling, waves at them then disappears into the crowd. Phoebe and Piper look worried, then, Phoebe: "Warts and all…"
INT. Manor - Conservatory - Day
Piper races through the front door, tosses her keys and purse on the counter and calls, "Leo?" Leo: "In here…" Piper, finding him, "Thank God." Leo: "It's okay, I'm alright." Piper: "You really scared me this time, you know." Leo: "That was the plan…I was baking on you saving me." Piper: "Yeah, well, next time come up with a different plan, okay?" Leo: "Next time…" Piper: "Wait, you remember what happened, too? Even though you, technically, died - but then didn't because of the whole time thing deal…am I making any sense here?" Leo: "I remember because I was unaffected by the spell. You remember because you broke it, and even though time rewound, we still experienced it…" Piper: "Headache forming…" Leo: "All that matters is we fixed it, regardless of the consequences." Piper; "Consequences…you mean Kyle?" Leo: "No, actually, I mean the Elders. I went against them, sided with the Avatars. That won't go unpunished, it can't." Piper: "But everything you did, you did to get rid of demons, to make everything safer for everyone, for us…" Leo: "Yeah, well, I'm not sure They're going to see it that way. And I don't think it's going to matter whether what I did…" Piper: "What WE did…" Leo, ignoring her, "…was well intentioned, or not. It's going to cost me." Piper: "Okay, but at least it's not going to cost you your life…and right now? That's all I care about. I don't ever want to lose you again."
INT. Brody's Apartment - Day
Paige looks down, spots the snow globe from before and picks it up, pained. This is the last of many goodbyes she's made. She looks around one final time, whispering, "Goodbye…" After another moment, she turns to leave and stops in shock as she sees Brody, who's standing in the middle of the room. "Hello, Paige." "KYLE?" The snow globe falls out of her hand but doesn't break as it hits the rug. "Careful, that meant a lot to me." Paige: "But…I don't understand…is that really you?" Brody: "In the flesh…more or less." Paige: "How can this be? I saw you…die." Brody: "You're right, you did. But, as you know, sometimes it doesn't end there." Paige takes a long beat to think, then, happily realizes…"You're a….Whitelighter?" Brody, nodding, "Feels kinda weird, too - but at least I can still feel." Paige: "But, how…" Brody: "I guess the Elders decided I must've done some good in my life afterall. Which is a relief to me, considering what a mess I made of it." Paige: "You didn't make a mess of it…" Brody: "You gotta admit, I got a little crazy there at the end, didn't I?" Paige: "Well, maybe a little…but it was for a good reason - you only helped save the world." Brody: "Hence the reward." Paige: "I only wish I could've…" Brody cuts her off, "It wasn't your fault, Paige. I understand now that my life was supposed to end the way it did, how it did. It was my destiny. Just like it was our destiny to meet, to fall for each other." Paige: "And to lose each other?" Brody: "Who says we won't meet again?" Paige holds his look, smiling through her pain, wanting that day to come. Kyle leans close and gives her a kiss, then, glancing at the snow globe, he looks to her, "Take care of that thing for me, okay?" Paige agrees and they hold each other's look for an emotional beat before Kyle orbs out, leaving Paige alone. She picks up the globe and gives it a shake.
FADE OUT
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