*spoiler* Scry Hard

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Episode 7.17: Scry Hard
Airdate: April 2005

02/08 - As instructed by Zankou, Craven visits Leo and Piper at the mansion and makes an injury on Leo’s arm. Craven also leaves his athame behind so the Charmed Ones will scry for him, which will, in the end lure them to Zankou’s lair where he as well as some other Tribe Demons will be waiting for them. While Zankou and friends keep the Charmed Ones busy, Craven is to go back to the manor and find the Spiritual Nexus, and with it, the Shadow. Their first attempt doesn’t go as planned, so the next time Zankou and Craven go to the manor when the sisters are away. Leo and Piper somehow get trap in a dollhouse without the others’ knowledge. Leo’s condition worsens as he can’t self-heal anymore… he need a doctor. Elise goes on vacation and leaves Phoebe in charge of the newspaper. Wyatt, Baby Chris, and Paige also appear in the episode. Source: SpoilerFix.com
01/30 - Zankou enlists a fierce demon with tribal scars to infiltrate the Charmed One's manor and find the Nexus. Source: SpoilerFix.com

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TEASER

INT. Manor - Attic - Day

The usual mess is gone. Bikes hang from hooks, toys are in their own area, magical artifacts have been sorted and are on shelves. Leo leads Piper in, hands over her eyes. He pulls his hands away with a big, "Surprise." Piper: "Wow." Leo: "Isn't it great?" Piper: "It's…something." Leo, sinking, "You hate it." Piper: "No, no, I don't hate anything. It's just…first the dining room, then the living room, then the kitchen…" and with no other way to say it, "…I hate it." Leo: "Piper, you're always complaining about what a mess it was up here." Piper; "Yeah, it's supposed to be…it's an attic. Look, honey, I appreciate how hard you've been trying to help around the house, I really do. But this…it's just too much." Leo: "All I did was shuffle a few things around. Piper: "Shuffle? You call this shuffle?" She crosses to Leo's new shelves, pointing as she talks. "You built things, hung things, bagged things…" she picks up a bag, "What's in here?" Leo: "Corks…for potion bottles. What? They get brittle when you leave them out." Piper: "And you don't think that's overkill?" Leo tells her he's just trying to be helpful. Piper tells him it's not working and says she likes how the attic was before, it was messy, but she knew where things were. Her eyes fall to a large dollhouse that's an exact replica of the manor, built to scale. "Where'd you find this?" Leo tells her it was buried under some blankets. Piper says she hasn't seen it in years and goes for a closer look, then asks why it's wet. Leo: "It just…needed a little touch up, that's all." Piper: "Are you insane?" Leo: "Hey, this isn't easy for me, you know." Piper tells him she knows, then ticks off the list, "You've been a Whitelighter, an Elder, an Avatar…" Leo: "Don't remind me." Piper: "Point being, if it's magical, you've done it. But you can't expect to adjust to life without powers overnight. And tackling the house is only making me nuts." Leo: "Well, what am I supposed to do? I can't orb. I can't get information from the Elders. I just want to fit in." Piper; "I know you do…but brittle corks?" Leo, admits, "Guess that is a bit much." Piper; "Look, there's no how-to book for this, but we're gonna figure it out…together. After all, this is the shot at a normal life we've always wanted, right?" Leo: "I guess I just didn't expect 'normal' to be so hard." Piper: "You can't force it. And you don't need to…there's plenty of time." She starts to move towards him when Craven, a fierce demon, shimmers in. Leo: "DEMON!" Craven hurls a crescent at Leo, who pushes Piper to safety before the weapon grazes his arm. Piper gestures to blast Craven, but he dodges, running for his crescent. Piper: "Oh no you don't!" She gestures again, but he shimmers out before getting hit and the wall of shelves Leo put up hit the floor. Frustrated, she hurries over to Leo, who's on the floor, clutching his arm. Leo: "Still think we have plenty of time?"

INT. Underworld - Tribe Lair - Eternal Night

Craven shimmers in and tribal markings matching his scars cover the cave walls. A voice in the shadows asks, "Did you wound him?" Craven nods, "Just as you instructed." Zankou steps into the little light there is, "Good."

FADE OUT

END OF TEASER

ACT I

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INT. Manor - Attic - Day

Leo's at the Book, Craven's crescent in hand, when Piper enters with some first aid supplies. "What are you doing?" Leo says he's looking up the demon. Piper tells him that's not what she mean, "Why aren't you sitting down? You got hit." Leo says it's just a scratch, then adds that he thinks the crescent is tribal. Piper: "You're not listening to me, you're not vanquishing anybody." Leo asks why. Piper: "Well, for one thing, because you can't self-heal anymore…hunting demons is too dangerous." Leo: "You can't self-heal either. It's never stopped you." Piper: "But I can blow things up." Leo, looking at his precious shelves, now in rubble on the floor, "Yeah, I noticed." Piper tries to get his attention back from the Book. Leo: "Why are you making such a big deal out of this?" Piper: "A demon just tried to kill you." Leo: "Demons attack us almost every week. What do you want me to do, hide at Magic School?" Piper: "It's a thought." Leo: "I was kidding." Piper: "Well I wasn't. Look, I'm glad you gave up your powers for us, but that means things are different now. You've only got one life to live, and I don't want anything happening to it." Leo: "I didn't become mortal to spend my life on the run. I'm staying put." Piper tries to start again, but Leo's mind is made up, he's staying there. Piper glares at him, douses a cotton ball in ointment and dabs Leo's cut. "Ouch!" Piper: "Well, I have to clean it, don't I?" Then, Leo sees Wyatt, watching from the doorway, knowing something's wrong. Leo hurries over to him, "Hey little man." Wyatt reaches for Leo's arm. "Don't worry. Daddy got a little scrape, but he's okay…see?" He scoops Wyatt up in his arms and lifts him into the air.

INT. Underworld - Tribe Lair - Eternal Night

Craven, surrounded by three demons who have the same facial scars he does, approaches Zankou…"I've assembled my fiercest warriors." Zankou tells him they'd better be as capable as he is because the Charmed Ones will be there soon. Crave: "The Charmed Ones…are coming here?" Zankou: "As soon as they scry with your crescent…why else would I have told you to leave it behind?" Craven: "So you're luring them into a trap…to destroy them." Zankou: "You think I could destroy them with the help of one small tribe? No wonder demons always perish at the hands of those witches." Craven asks exactly what his plan is. Zankou says that his troops and he are going to keep the sisters busy while Craven himself returns to the manor to locate the Nexus. Craven worries about it, as no demon has been able to harness the power of it before. Zankou: "Don't get ahead of yourself, Craven…you're only going to find the Nexus. That's all you'll have time for." Craven: "You're sure no one will be home?" Zankou: "That's why you wounded their former Whitelighter. If I know these witches…and do…they'll strike back with the full Power of Three…and they won't do that unless Leo is somewhere safe. Yes, the Manor will be empty." Craven: "I only ask because those who help you…don't always survive." Zankou: "But you attacked in their home and lived…few can boast the same." Then, he turns to the tribe, "Take your positions…we're about to have company." They go to prepare for the battle.

INT. Magic School - Study - Day

Paige, all but buried under paperwork, concentrating, eyes on a wall calendar of magic and astrology, "Okay, come on, Advanced Orbing, Tuesdays or Thursdays?" She's debating this when Piper enters with Craven's weapon. "Busy?" Paige's eyes light up when she sees the crescent, "Quick, throw that at the calendar." Piper: "What? No, listen. A demon…" Paige: "No, I've been working on these schedules all week and it's driving me nuts…throw it!" Seeing this could start a bigger fight than she has time for, Piper tosses the crescent at the calendar. Paige: "Fridays? Works for me." She makes a note and Piper explains what's going on at home. She wants Paige to scry for the demon so she can get home to protect Leo. Paige: "Protect him? Why isn't he here?" Piper; "He's being stubborn. But I set some crystals up to keep him safe." Paige: "He let you do that?" Piper: "He doesn't know." Paige: "There's more to this than you're letting on." Piper; "Well…we're just having some trouble adjusting to Leo being human again." Paige: "It's gotta be tough…guess we're gonna have to get used to the fact that he can't heal us anymore." Piper; "Or himself. And I don't want to traumatize Wyatt by pushing him to tap into his powers before he's ready." Paige: "But he already healed you." Piper: "Yeah, with some help. But we can't keep putting him through that…we're gonna have to find another way. So, you can handle all this?" Paige: "Absolutely." She starts to head out, then turns, "Oh, you might want to get Phoebe on board…that might be from a tribe." Paige: "Thanks for the heads up." Piper: "No, thanks for the help." Paige: "Are you kidding? Anything to get away from…this."

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INT. Bay Mirror - Phoebe's Office - Day

Phoebe's at her desk proofreading her column as Paige orbs in with a large bag, "You know, you should really start calling before you do that." Paige: "No time, a demon attacked Leo…Piper wants us to take him out." Phoebe, looking at the bag, "Think you brought enough potion?" Paige: "Better safe than sorry. So, what do you say, shall we/" Phoebe: "You almost sound excited about this." Paige: "Hey, we've gotta protect our brother-in-law, don't we? Gotta make a statement. And I gotta get out of Magic School, I'm feeling cooped." Phoebe: "Okay, just give me a second to tell Elise…" Paige hangs back as Phoebe walks out to find Elise.

INT. Bay Mirror - Bullpen (continuous)

Phoebe finds her, "Hey boss. Column's done. See you tomorrow." Elise: "Oh, no you don't. This time I'VE got a family emergency, which means I need you to get the Evening Edition out." Phoebe: "What, wait, ME? Why can't Dillard do it? He's your number two." Elise: "RICHARD is out…sick." Phoebe; "But, I'm an advice columnist…aren't you skipping a few rungs on the ladder here?" Elise: "Don't sell yourself short, Phoebe. I have faith in you. Plus, you owe me…just think of all the times I've covered for your family emergencies." Phoebe: "But that's different." Elise asks how. Phoebe can only muster a pathetic, "Because…they were my emergencies." Elise: "So your life's more important than mine?" Phoebe: "No, that's not what I mean…" Elise; "Good…I'm sure you'll do a fantastic job." Before Phoebe can argue, Elise is halfway out the door. She tries to follow, but she's suddenly swamped, the cope editor wants to get Bauer's column down to 1500 words, an ad exec tells her they oversold an ad space, and pretty soon, Phoebe's standing on her tip toes trying to look towards her office. She catches Paige's eye and can only gesture helplessly.

INT. Manor - Attic - Day

Baby Chris naps in a playpen and Leo, arm now bandaged, sits on the floor beside Wyatt, showing his eldest son the dollhouse. "And right through this window is the attic, where we are right now." Wyatt reaches up a hand to touch the house, "Good, that's mommy's and daddy's room." Piper enters and asks if everything's okay. Leo asks her why it wouldn't be. Piper: "I don't know…seeing as how a demon tried to kill you…" He cuts her off with a look towards Wyatt, "I'm fine." Piper asks why he's being so defensive. Leo says he doesn't know, then, holding up a crystal, "Maybe I feel like I have something to prove." Piper, busted, admits she was just trying to protect him. Leo says she doesn't need to. Piper: "The hell you don't!" Then, biting her tongue in front of Wyatt, she storms out. Leo jumps up to follow her, then turns to Wyatt, "Mommy and Daddy need to have a grown-up talk, I'll be right back." He grabs the baby monitor and leaves.

INT. Underworld - Tribe Lair - Eternal Night

Phoebe and Paige orb in and Phoebe tells Paige they have ten minutes. Paige tells her she'll be back in however long this takes. Phoebe tells her she's got a deadline and starts going off about Elise. Paige: "Phoebe…focus." Phoebe: "Okay, sorry, focusing. What are we looking for?" Paige says she's not sure. Just then, Zankou flames in, "Greetings…" Phoebe: "Zankou? What are you doing here? Paige, what's he doing here?" Paige: "Good question." Zankou asks where Piper is. Paige asks why he cares. Zankou: "I have my reasons." Phoebe: "Well, we'd love to stay and chat, but we've got business to attend to." Zankou: "I know." He snaps his fingers and a horde of Tribe Demons shimmer in. Paige, sizing up the situation, "This might take longer than ten minutes…" and the battle begins with the sisters taking out three demons with one potion vial.

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INT. Manor - Main Hall/Sitting Room - Day

Leo hurries downstairs and finds Piper watering plants, "Why are you so mad at me?" Piper, eyes on the plant, "Because you're going to get yourself killed, that's why." Leo: "I can take care of myself." Piper: "Yeah? Like you took care of yourself this morning?" Leo says he could have handled it. Piper: "How? You're human now." Leo: "I would have figured something out." Piper: "Oh great, glad to know I don't have to worry." She marches into the conservatory and waters another plant. Leo follows, "Okay, it's good you were there…but that still doesn't give you the right to sneak crystals behind my back." Piper: "I was trying to protect you!" Le: "But I'm supposed to protect you!" Piper: "Is that what this is about??" Leo admits that it's part of it. It's his instinct and the reason he doesn't hide from demons is because up until now, he hasn't had to. Piper says she knows. Leo: "Well, Wyatt doesn't. And now he's seen me get hurt…and I don't want that to hurt him." Piper: "Leo, we're going to figure this out." Leo: "I know we are. But you're the one who said it's going to take time, which means I'm going to make mistakes. And I need you to be supportive when I do…not drown the plants." Piper: "Guess we have our own ways of dealing." Leo: "Guess so." She sets down the watering can as Craven shimmers in with two other Tribe Demons. "What are you doing here?" Piper: "Me? You're supposed to be out getting vanquished by my sisters." With that, Piper gestures to blast him. He dodges, but the other two demons get hit, screaming as they're vanquished. Leo: "Dining room." Piper: "I saw where he went…stay back." Piper chases Craven into the dining room. Leo lingers at a safe distance, but that's when his eyes fall on Wyatt, watching from the stairs. "Wyatt, get upstairs! Now!" Leo looks to him and doesn't see Craven, entering the conservatory through the dining room, Piper right behind. Craven hurls another crescent and Piper calls out a warning. Before Leo can turn, the crescent punctures Leo's back, its handle visible over Leo's shoulder. Wyatt watches his daddy collapse to the floor and screams. Piper gestures to blast Craven, but it only hits his arm, knocking him to the ground. He shimmers out before Piper can blast him again. Piper races to Leo: "Are you okay?" Leo: "Yeah…no….don't let Wyatt see." Wyatt's still watching from the stairs, "Wyatt, go upstairs." Leo: "Mommy and daddy are fine." Wyatt just stands there looking at them. Piper: "What's the matter, honey?" Off his silence, she looks to Leo, "What's he doing?" Leo shakes his head, not knowing, then, suddenly, Wyatt blinks and Piper and Leo vanish.

INT. Dollhouse - Living Room - Day

Piper and a still-wounded Leo are wondering what just happened. Then, through the bay window, they see a seemingly giant Wyatt in the real attic looking in at them. Piper and Leo, who can only look back, "Uh-oh…"

FADE OUT

END OF ACT I

ACT II

INT. Underworld - Cave - Eternal Night

Chased from the Tribe Lair, Phoebe and Paige dive into the cave and scramble for cover behind a large boulder, whispering as they catch their breath, "Why is Zankou doing this? And why now? I've got a paper to put out." Paige: "Somehow I don't think that played a part in his decision." Phoebe: "But how'd we go from one demon attacking Leo at the Manor to Zankou attacking us?" Paige sneaks a look around the boulder, "Maybe with Leo mortal now, he's making his move."

INT. Underworld - Cave Entrance (continuous)

Zankou: "Don't be shy ladies…you knew this day would come." Paige rifles through her bag, pulling out potion vials, as Phoebe asks what she's doing, telling her they need to get back to Piper and she needs to get back to work. Paige: "Let's at least let him know we're game." At the cave entrance, Craven shimmers in next to Zankou, holding a hand to his scorched arm, |One sister was still at the Manor." Zankou: "I know, I've got the other two pinned down." Elise's pager that she had given Phoebe goes off, telling Zankou exactly where the sisters are. Paige: "Shut that freakin' thing off!" Phoebe: "I'm trying!" then, sheepishly, "Gotta admire its range…" she looks to Paige, who's not impressed, "What? We're in the Underworld." Zankou slowly enters the cave, zeroing in on the beeping. "You're making this too easy." Zankou, Craven and other Tribe Demons go around the boulder, ready to attack, only to find the still beeping pager, but no sisters. Zankou crushes it with his boot. Phoebe: "Looking for us?" Zankou spins in time to see the girls throw their remaining vials at him. Zankou gestures and the bottles stop in mid-air and he diverts them to the side, where they vanquish several of the Tribe Demons. "You missed." Paige: "That's our cue." She grabs Phoebe's hand and orbs out with her before Zankou can return fire.

INT. Dollhouse - Living Room/Foyer - Day

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Piper and Leo see Wyatt, playing with blocks, and Chris, still in the playpen, and they're trying to get Wyatt's attention. "Maybe he can't hear us." Piper tries to open the door, but a glowing force field stops her. "What happened?" Piper: "Wyatt must've put some kind of magical seal on the dollhouse." She calls, "Wyatt, let us out of here!" Leo joins her in trying to get their eldest son's attention, but it doesn't work. Piper, seeing Leo's in pain, walks over to him and gets him comfortable on the couch. "Leo, you're only going to scare him. That's probably why he put us in here to begin with…to keep us safe." Leo: "Great. We should be protecting HIM." Piper tells him to let her handle Wyatt, then goes tot he bay window, "Wyatt Matthew Halliwell, you cut out this nonsense right now!" Leo: "First time you've ever used his full name." Piper: "Sounds better when I'm scolding him." Leo: "I don't think he understands what's going on…all he knows is a demon just tried to kill his dad. Again." Piper: "Yeah, but why attack you? I don't understand. I mean, it's not like you're a threat to anyone anymore…sorry…" Leo: "What I don't understand is why the demon was expecting to find the manor empty." Piper: "Well, we're not going to figure it out from in here." Leo: "At least the couch is comfortable…you know, for toy furniture. Where'd you get this dollhouse anyway?" Piper; "Grams made it." Leo: "She MADE it?" Piper: "Well, I didn't know she was a witch back then, but I guess it's obvious she used magic…this place is perfect…almost perfect." Leo, hearing thunderous footsteps approaching, "What's that?" They look out to see…

INT. Manor - Attic (continuous)

Paige rushes in, alarmed to find the boys alone. "Wyatt, Chris…what are you doing up here? Are you all right?" Piper runs to the window, and yells for Paige, but she can't hear her. Paige, to Wyatt, "Where's your mommy and daddy, huh? I saw what happened downstairs, where'd they go?" In the dollhouse, Piper is waving her arms, jumping up and down, trying desperately to get her youngest sister's attention. It's not working, so she tries yelling for Paige again. When that attempt fails, she tries to blast the window, only to get repelled, landing on her butt. Paige still doesn't notice and scoops Chris up, grabs Wyatt's hand, an in a swirl of orbs, tells them she's taking them to Magic School until she can find out what's going on. Piper: "He's just as stubborn as his daddy."

INT. Underworld - Tribe Lair - Eternal Night

Craven steps out of the darkness, followed by more Tribe Demons, and he finds Zankou, eyes closed, sensing…"Well?" Zankou: "Their house is clear." Craven: "That's what you said the last time…" Zankou: "A slight miscalculation. But the plan was to get them out of the Manor…and they are. Probably circling their broomsticks at Magic School." Craven: "So I'm going back for the Nexus?" Zankou: "Except this time, I'm coming with you. Follow me."

INT. Manor - Sitting Room/Main Hall - Day

Zankou flames in, followed by Craven, who shimmers in with other Tribe Demons. "Ah, the Charmed Ones' ancestral home." Craven: "How do we know it's not a trap?" Zankou: "We don't, that's why I wanted reinforcements. Give the command." Craven speaks to his tribe, "Spread out, find the Nexus!" The demons begin to rampage through the Manor, searching everywhere.

INT. Dollhouse - Living Room - Day

Piper asks how they're going to get out, Leo tells her they can't, it's useless. Piper; "That's all you've got for me? We're just going to sit here and do nothing while you bleed to death?" Leo: "I don't know what you want me to say, Piper? I can't heal myself anymore, and without a doctor…" Piper: "You used to be a doctor, didn't you?" Leo: "Well, yeah, sixty years ago, but…" Piper: "Well, then start acting like one…there must be something we can do. Leo, please…the boys need you, I need you. You've gotta stop focusing on what you can't do, and start thinking about what you CAN do. Come on, improvise.." Leo: "Okay, alright…Grams liked to sew, didn't she?" Piper: "Yeah…" Leo: "Where?" Piper: "Wyatt's bedroom…it used to be her sewing room…why?"

INT. Dollhouse - Grams' Sewing Room - Day

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Piper helps Leo enter, "Okay, now what?" Leo: "Needle and thread." Piper: "Excuse me…??" Leo: "Don't worry, I'll walk you through it." Piper: "Walk me through WHAT? Oh no…no, no, no, no, no…" Leo: "You're the one who said t improvise." Piper: "Since when does anybody listen to me?" Leo: "You can do this, Piper. Come on, let's prove to Wyatt that we can handle whatever's thrown at us." He unbuttons his shirt, uncovering the wound, "Just pull the skin together and stitch the needle through." Piper: "That's easy for you to say." She reluctantly pulls out a needle and some thread. Wincing, she pulls the cut skin together as Leo grimaces. "I'm okay, just do it." Piper: "Are you sure?" Leo tells her to hurry and with no other choice, Piper goes for it.

INT. Bay Mirror - Bullpen - Day

Phoebe, on the phone, "Elise? I've been trying to reach you all day!" Elise: "That's funny, I've been trying to avoid you all day." Phoebe: "Good one. Look, I've really got to get out of here. There's a bit of a crisis at home." Elise: "It's always life and death with you Halliwells, isn't it?" Elise is at a restaurant, polishing off an exotic drink at a dimly lit table as a waiter comes up, "Can I freshen up those drinks for you?" Phoebe: "Drinks? What drinks?" Elise, to the waiter, "Thank you." Phoebe, suspicious, "What exactly did you say your emergency was?" Elise: "I didn't." With that, she snaps her phone closed. Phoebe, confused about the call, is suddenly snapped back to attention by the columnist, Bauer: "This moron here is trying to take a butcher knife to my column." Phoebe: "What seems to be the problem? I mean, besides the butcher knife?" Copy Editor: "Phoebe, like I told you, great story, really…it's just a bit…bloated." Bauer: "Bloated? I'll show you bloated…" The staff lets out a collective gasp as he loosens his tie. Phoebe, getting in between them, "Please, don't…" Bauer: "Look, lady, I've worked the beat in this town for twenty-two years. And no Ivy League trust-funder is gonna tell me how to write the news. "Phoebe: "Well, um…" She gets cut off by Jordan before she can say anything else. He holds up his hand, "Fashion Editor. Sorry to interrupt, but our so-called film critic keeps drinking out of my tea cup." Phoebe, the film critic, chimes in, "I don't know what Jordan's so worked up about…it's a two and a half star coffee mug at best." Paige emerges from Phoebe's office, "Phoebe, we gotta go." Phoebe: "Uh, trying. I want to get Zankou as much as you do…where's Piper?" Paige: "That's the problem, I don't know. She and Leo just…vanished." Phoebe; "What? What about the boys?" Paige tells her they're okay but they have to figure out what happened to Piper and Leo. Phoebe grabs Bauer, "Have we ever pushed the deadline for the evening edition?" Bauer: "No, then it would be a 'sometime in the middle of the night' edition." A few staffers giggle, but Phoebe shuts them up with a glare. "Listen everybody, I've got to take an important call in my office…no interruptions!" Paige follows Phoebe into her office and they shut the door. The staff gets back to work and no one notices the flash of light through the close blinds.

INT. Manor - Main Hall - Day

Paige and Phoebe orb in to find themselves surrounded by demons. Paige: "Oops…" Phoebe: "Hope you guys got a good deal on all that leather." The demons part to reveal Zankou: "Always a clever remark in the face of danger…that's something I admire about you ladies." Paige: "Wish I could say something nice in turn but…nothing really comes to mind." Zankou: "That's all right. I wasn't fishing for compliments. I've got more pressing needs at the moment…though I am insulted you don't think I warranted the Power of Three." Paige: "wait…YOU don't know where Piper is?" Phoebe: "No, silly, how could he know about her weekly nail appointment?" Zankou: "Curious, you'd think she'd be at Magic School nursing her poor hubby." Phoebe: "Yeah, but she didn't want to get charged for the appointment, you know…" Zankou: "You're lying. The Power of Two just doesn't have the same ring to it." With that, he telekinetically opens the front door and blasts the sisters outside.

EXT. Manor - Porch (continuous)

Phoebe and Paige see the demons inside smile as Zankou telekinetically slams the door shut. "Now what?"

INT. Dollhouse - Day

Piper: "You tell me…" Leo: "Not bad. Now just tie it off and cut the thread." Piper: "Knit one, purl two?" Leo, smiling, "Something like that." Piper: "Still glad you became mortal?" Leo: "At least we get to grow old together like every other couple." Piper: "You mean if we survive this. Wyatt was so worried he's practically locked us up and thrown away the key." Leo: "Well, I'll just have to prove to him I can still take care of myself…and my family." Piper: "First, we have to get out of here." They hear footsteps and Piper turns to the window only to se Craven entering, then they see Zankou. "What's he doing here?"

[StreakSpeed]

INT. Manor - Attic (continuous)

Zankou: "Post guards here and throughout the Manor. As soon as the find their sister, they'll be back and we'll need to fend them off as long as possible." Craven: "You mean if we're to find the Nexus?" Leo: "The Nexus…?" Piper: "Where are Phoebe and Paige?" Zankou: "I want more than just to find the Nexus now…I want to release the Shadow, harness its ultimate power." Craven asks if he can. Zankou: "Now that Evil has taken over control of the Manor, I can…and I will."

FADE OUT

END OF ACT II

ACT III

INT. Manor - Attic - Night

Piper's voice: "I can't believe we're dolls for two hours and demons take over our house."

INT. Dollhouse - Living Room (continuous)

The dollhouse is darker, lit only by shafts of light from the real attic. "If Zankou taps into the Nexus…" Leo: "We're not going to let that happen." Piper; "How? We're three inches tall." Leo: "We'll get to the Book…contact Phoebe and Paige" Piper: "That Book?" She points out the window to the real Book of Shadows. "How? We're trapped…and those demons could squash us with one foot." Leo tells her to stay calm. Piper: "Oh, now you're telling me." Leo tells her Wyatt put them in there to protect them, not to hurt them. "There has to be a way out, something we're overlooking." He starts to think, "Blasting doesn't work…" Piper: "Tell me about it." Leo: "And all the doors are sealed…all the windows…how did you play with the dollhouse when you were little?" Piper: "What do you mean?" Leo: "Well, it's a toy, right?" Piper; "I think you lost too much blood." Leo: "No, listen, if this is a toy, how did you play with it? Did it swing open, did the roof lift off…?" Piper: "Leo, that was years ago. I don't remember." Leo: "Well, it might be our only shot…think." Piper: "Okay, okay, I guess…it swung open." Leo: "Where?" Piper looks around and points to a seam, "Here." Leo smashes a chair then uses the leg to try prying open the seam, but the chair leg snaps. He tells Piper to try blasting it. Piper reminds him blasting doesn't work. Leo: "It could be a weak spot. Maybe the force-field only sealed the doors and windows…just try!" Not convinced, Piper gestures to blast anyway…and it works! Creating an opening just big enough for them to squeeze through. Piper nods, "Now what?" Leo, already on his way out, "Follow me."

INT. Manor - Attic

With a watchful eye on the guards by the door, Piper and Leo run from the dollhouse toward the Book.

INT. Manor - Piper's Bedroom - Night

Dresser drawers are open, some are on the floor, along with clothes and shoes. Zankou reads Piper's diary, "Fascinating…" Craven enters, "Sir, think we've…" Zankou cuts him off, 'Do you have any idea how upset Piper was when her sister died?" He continues on, reading some of the passages aloud to Craven before he finally lets Craven speak, "I think we've located the Nexus."

INT. Bay Mirror - Phoebe's Office - Night

Phoebe, eyes on an article, as Paige orbs in, "Wait, I'm almost done…any luck with Piper?" Paige: "No, and I've scried the whole universe…nothing. I need you to come back to Magic School and help.' Phoebe: "Just give me two minutes." Paige: "Phoebe, we've got a missing sister." Phoebe: "I know…and about fifty jobs on the line if the paper doesn't come out." Paige: "Well you can cancel the subscription to our house if we don't get the demons out." Phoebe: "Okay…ONE minute…"

INT. Bay Mirror - Bullpen (continuous)

Phoebe puts her fingers to her lips and gets everyone's attention with a sharp whistle. She hands the article to Bauer, "Here…take a look." Bauer: "You think I'm gonna let 'Ask Phoebe' rewrite me?" Phoebe: "read first, bitch second." Phoebe: "All right, so you oversold a space? Let's see the ads." Phoebe: "Shrink 'em and print 'em both." Ad Exec: "We can't do that. He advertisers were promised a certain size." Phoebe: "So just make the fonts bigger. If they complain, send them a bottle of Cristal, my tab. Strike that, Elise's tab." Phoebe turns back to Bauer, "Well?" Bauer: "It works." Phoebe: "That's what I like to hear. Who's next?" Jordan, pointing to Phil: "First me tea cup, now he's on my computer." Phoebe: "You two…isn't it obvious?" Jordan: "What?" Phoebe: "He likes you." The staff lets out a surprised gasp. Jordan looks at Phil, busted, he smiles, then Jordan smiles, too. Phoebe: "Any more questions? Good. I'll be in a meeting." She heads back into her office.

[StreakSpeed]

INT. Bay Mirror - Phoebe's Office (continuous)

Phoebe slams the door and breathes a sigh of relief. Phoebe: "Can you believe them?" Paige: "At least they're not pre-pubescent." Phoebe; "Paige…Piper? Demons?" Paige: "Right, sorry…guess I just miss adults." She takes Phoebe's hand and they orb out.

INT. Manor - Basement - Night

The concrete floor is torn up, three Tribe Demons are holding pick axes. Craven is father behind them talking to Zankou: "Are you sure this is a good idea? The Nexus…" Zankou: "The Nexus is neutral, controlled by whoever controls the manor." Craven: "But the Shadow is the ultimate power…it could destroy us all." Zankou: "Well if I'm wrong…it's been a pleasure." He closes his eyes and starts a chant. A vortex appears in the basement floor, emitting such a power that Zankou and Craven must stand back to maintain their footing. The three closer demons aren't so fortunate. The vortex suddenly sucks them in and vanishes. The calm that follows has Zankou reeling, instantly aware of what it means. "Good still must be present in the manor." Craven: "But that's not possible. You expelled the witches yourself." Zankou: "Only two of them…which means the third must be here somewhere. That must be what they came looking for…' Craven: "So, what do we do?" Zankou: "We find her."

INT. Manor - Attic - Night

The Book of Shadows, which seems giant compared to a mini Leo helping a mini Piper up onto a page. "You okay?" Piper; "My arms are a little sore, but I'm not the one with a hole in my back." Leo: "I have a good doctor. Now, let's tweak that scrying spell…let Phoebe and Paige know where we are." Piper: "Don't you think they've scried already?" Leo: "If they did, it wouldn't have worked. Wyatt's shield on the dollhouse was protecting us. Must be the same thing that kept Zankou from knowing we were here." Piper: "But now that we're out…" Leo: "We have to hurry. Help me pull the pages over." Piper: "I've got a better idea." Leo: "What?" Piper: "Stand back." He moves out of the way and Piper gestures to blast, flipping over several pages at once. The demon guards hear the Book and glance around, then toward an open window and they seem to dismiss the noise as the wind flipping the pages. Leo: "Think they noticed?" Piper: "I'm not sure." She slides down the Book to Leo and doesn't see the first guard going downstairs. Piper: "Hope this works." Leo: "It has to." They head for the spell, keeping low to stay unseen.

INT. Magic School - Study - Night

Paige's paperwork has been shoved to the floor. Maps and scrying crystals cover every surface and Phoebe and Paige are adding ingredients to a silver mortar, "Calling a lost witch is a lot harder without the Book." Phoebe; "Did you scry hard enough? Maybe we should try again." Paige: "I told you it didn't work." Phoebe: "I think it's a pinch of rosemary and a sprig of cypress." Paige: "What's the difference?" Phoebe: "I don't want to find out. Nice to know the future of magic is in such good hands." Paige: "People keep telling me that." A scrying crystal hovers off a nearby desk and floats towards a map. Paige: "You seeing what I'm seeing?" Phoebe: "Yeah, but I don't believe it…" They follow the crystal, which spins above a map of the city, then thunks down. "Wait, that's the house…you think it's Piper?" Phoebe: "Or a trap." Paige: "No, scrying is witch to witch stuff…it has to be her." Phoebe: "But the house is crawling with demons. How are we going to find her?" Paige: "Only one way to find out." She grabs Phoebes and they orb out as Phoebe speaks, "You'll do anything to get out of this place."

INT. Manor - Upstairs Hallway - Night

A burly demon paces, keeping guard. He doesn't notice the orb light flash under the bathroom door.

[StreakSpeed]

Through a crack, Phoebe and Paige see the demon walk past. They shut the door and whisper. "We gotta get by the guard." Paige: "Right, but we can't use magic or Zankou will sense us." Phoebe: "Can't use magic, what do you call orbing?" Paige: "Fine…we can't use any more magic." Phoebe: "I've got an idea."

INT. Manor - Kitchen - Night

Demons are tearing the place apart in their attempt to find Piper. Zankou paces among the mess, "She's here…she's here…" he stops dead in his tracks, "And now, she's not alone. Speed the search…we've got company." Craven: "Yes, sir, but…we may have found Piper." Craven moves, revealing the first guard from the attic.

INT. Manor - Upstairs Hallway - Night

As the demon walks by again, Phoebe pulls open the bathroom door and whispers to Paige, "Follow my lead." She pushes Paige into the Hallway, in plain sight of the demon, who turns and spots her. Paige, frozen in place, offers a sheepish wave…then he charges her and Phoebe springs out of the bathroom, taking him out at the knees with a kick. She finishes him off with a chop to the neck. "That was your great plan?" Phoebe: "Didn't use magic, did I? Okay, so, where do we start?" Paige: "Piper cast a spell to help us find her…sounds like the Book to me." The go running for the stairs.

INT. Manor - Attic - Night

The second guard falls and Paige and Phoebe step over him, heading for the Book. Phoebe whispers, "Piper! Where are you?" A creaking door answers her. The sisters spin to see Zankou: "Looking for these?" He opens the lid of a box he's holding in his hands to reveal tiny Piper and tiny Leo.

FADE OUT

END OF ACT III


ACT IV

INT. Manor - Attic - Night

Craven and the remaining demons surround Phoebe and Paige. "The mighty Charmed Ones…most famous witches of all time. So many demons have tried to kill you…" In the box, we see Leo's shaky point of view and hear Piper asking him what he sees. Leo: "Demons…" In the attic, Zankou enjoys his efforts, "but now that the moment is here, it's almost…anti-climatic." Paige: "Sorry, but I can't relate." Zankou: "Perhaps you'd like to go first." He raises a hand to blast Paige, but Phoebe stops him, "Hold on…you can't open the Nexus without us." Zankou: "Nice try…shall I start with you instead?" He cocks his hand back to fire at her. Paige's turn to stop him…with: "But you need us to get the Shadow!" He extinguishes the energy ball in his hand, "I'm listening…" From the box, Piper asks Leo what they're doing. Craven: "They're stalling…Kill them and evil will control the Nexus this time." Paige: "This time? So you've tried?" Phoebe: "Bet they lost a few demons, too…look Zankou, we've got experience with the Nexus." Craven: "They're lying." Zankou: "No…I read it in Piper's diary." He looks to the box, "I suppose you're going to need to make Piper big again to do this…" Craven: "Zankou, they just want you to restore the Power of Three." Phoebe: "What's that compared to the power of the Shadow?" Zankou: "So what's in it for you?" Phoebe: "We might live to fight another day." Paige: "And if we die…at least we go out swinging." Piper turns to Leo, "I'm not leaving you." Leo tells her she has to. Piper: "Leo, if Zankou has the Shadow, we'll never be able to stop him." Leo: "The Shadow won't know where to go. Look Piper, I may have lost my powers, but not what I know about magic…trust me, just do what he wants." He opens the box and looks straight down on them, "Try anything…and you'll lost the love of your life." He plucks Piper from the box and closes it on Leo.

INT. Manor - Basement - Night

[StreakSpeed]

Phoebe, Paige and a normal-sized Piper descend the steps, Zankou behind them. Phoebe, to Piper, "Any idea how we're getting out of this?" Piper; "No." Piper glances back to the box, still containing her tiny husband, "But I'm hoping Leo does." Zankou: "Proceed." The sisters start the incantation and the vortex opens. Zankou watches as a dark shadow rises and approaches, almost studying him, then…the shadow moves to the sisters, unsure where to go. Zankou: "What's happening?" The shadow then rushes back towards Zankou, but enters the box instead of the demon. The box explodes and Piper's terrified, "Leo?!" Then, the black smoke from the explosion reforms, into Leo, who is now restored to his normal size. Zankou: "What have you done?" Leo grits his teeth, faces Zankou, and shoots a black shadow bolt from his fingers, plastering Zankou against a wall. Three demons throw their crescents at Leo to no effect. Leo releases Zankou and annihilates the demons with shadow bolts. Zankou stagers to his feet and launches a blast of his own, but Leo easily detonates it, then returns fire, blasting Zankou straight up the basement stairs.

INT. Manor - Kitchen (continuous)

Zankou hits the kitchen floor hard, wounded and in pain. "So close…" He looks up to find Craven standing over him, "I told you we should have killed them." Zankou: "NEVER tell me I told you so!" Zankou sees Leo charging up the stairs wanting to finish the job. But Zankou flames out before Leo reaches him. Piper: "Leo!" He doesn't answer. Piper continues, "Easy, you don't want this, Leo." Leo, fighting to get the words out, "Say…the…spell!" Piper starts it, and Phoebe and Paige join in to finish it, sending the shadow back into the Nexus. "Honey, tell me you're all right." Leo: "I'm…I'm okay." Paige asks what happened. Leo explains that the Shadow couldn't choose between Zankou's evil and the Power of Three, so it went into him…the only neutral one in the room. Piper: "See, I told you it was a good thing you gave up your powers, didn't I?" Piper kisses him but the mood of relief is broken by a thump at the front door, "Can't those demons leave well enough alone?" Phoebe; "Don't worry…that's just the evening edition of the Bay Mirror…" she checks her watch, "…right on time."

INT. P3 - VIP Couch - Night

Enjoying the night, Phoebe, Paige, Piper, and Leo are mid-conversation. "And all that power surging through your veins…it didn't make you miss the old days?" Leo: "I chose the girl, remember?" Phoebe: "Still, it'd be a shame not to put all that magical knowledge to good use." Paige: "Hey, Pheebs, isn't that your boss?" On the dance floor, Elise is dancing with Richard. "So much for her family emergency." Phoebe: "She's with…RICHARD DILLARD?!" Paige: "Who's that?" Phoebe; "The guy who should've been running the paper instead of me." Paige: "Well, if she's here, she must have wanted you to find out." Phoebe: "Yeah…ah, what the hell, she deserves it." Piper: "What? You're not going to call Elise out for leaving you in the lurch?" Phoebe: "Well, I'm not buying her a new pager, but after all the times I've bailed…I don't blame her." Piper: "Wow…enlightened." Phoebe: "Come on, everybody deserves a break…especially for love. You can learn a lot walking in someone else's shoes." Paige: "That's what scares me…who knows what Zankou picked up about us?" Piper: "Yeah, I don't think we've seen the last of him." Leo: "On that unhappy note, I've got to get home. Those demons made a mess…it's gonna take a while to sort out." Piper: "Here we go again." Paige: "Yeah, and though I'd like to have a spin on the dance floor…I've got schedules to finish at Magic School. Goodbye grown-ups…I'll miss you." Piper and Phoebe exchange looks, an idea clearly forming.

INT. Magic School - Great Hall - Day

Students hustle to classes as Piper leads Leo in…hands over his eyes. Then, pulling her hands away…"Surprise!" Leo: "What, you want me to clean magic School?" Phoebe: "No, we want you to run it." He turns to see Phoebe leading Paige in. Paige: "What's going on?" Phoebe: "Well, you've been dying to try something new…" Piper: "And Leo, you're the perfect man for the job. All that magical knowledge…you're a walking Book of Shadows." Paige: "I have been feeling the need to spread my wings a bit lately." Piper: "And with Leo the school will still be in good hands." Leo: "I don't know what to day…Paige?" Paige, already orbing out, "I'm good." Phoebe: "That was easy….Leo?" Leo has already spotted Wyatt in the doorway, "I'd be honored." Piper kisses him, "Good choice." As Piper and Phoebe slip out, Leo picks up his son, "You don't have to worry about your dad anymore…I'm gonna be all right."

FADE OUT

END OF EPISODE