Camera pans in on manor
(Piper is sitting at the dining room table, balancing the account of P3; notebooks and papers are scattered everywhere, she holds a calculator and slip of pink paper…looks at the sheet and sighs in anxiety.)
Enter Phoebe; front door to find her sister at the table
Phoebe: Hey, whatcha doing?
Piper: What does it look like? (Throws down calculator and paper in frustration) I'm stressing!
Phoebe: About whaaat? (Sits next to Piper and looks over her shoulder at the papers) I thought the club was doing well.
Piper: (sighs and leans back in her chair) Well, yeah. It is. It's doing well…it's doing too well. The kids are healthy, the club is doing better than ever, and Leo and I are finally living normal lives…
Phoebe: Call me crazy, but I don't see anything wrong with that.
Piper: It's just-
Paige orbs in, smiling, obviously proud of herself
Paige: Another charge saved, thanks to yours truly (takes notice of the worried look on Piper's face; happy smile wiped right off of her face, slumps slightly)… now what?
Phoebe: Oh, you know. Piper here was just telling me how worried she is because her life is getting to be too perfect.
Paige: I'm sorry? (Sits across table from her sisters)
Piper: I was just saying, every time things go well for us, something bad is waiting just around the corner…
Phoebe: Oh come on, Piper. We broke up the underworld! They're in chaos, and won't be able to seriously attack us ever, ever, ever again. Besides, nothing's gone wrong yet. Why now?
Piper: I don't know…I can just feel it.
Paige: Well, now I remember why I no longer live here. (Stands up and walks around table, hugs her sisters) I'll see you pessimists later; I have to be there when Henry gets home from work
Phoebe: Oooh, working on a little one? (Smiles coyly)
Paige: Yes. Bye. Orbs out
Piper: (sighs and starts gathering the papers)
Phoebe: Come on honey, don't worry. I hate seeing you so tense.
Piper: I know (stops gathering and looks at her sister), I just cant help but feeling like something awful is bound to happen…and I don't want to be caught unaware when it does.
Phoebe: (sighs as her sister starts gathering papers again; opts to change subject) So, how are my nephews? I feel like I haven't seen them in ages.
Piper: Phoebe. You've been moved out for three months; 'ages' is a bit of an overstatement, don't you think? (Leads phoebe into the living room, where she places the books on an end table)
Phoebe: No! I'm so used to being able to just hold them whenever I feel like it…I miss them. (Looks at the coffee table while Piper picks up a pile of mail and moves to the window, sifting through it. Sitting on the coffee table is a box labeled 'Prue')
Piper: (still reading mail; sounds slightly distracted) Well, when I go get them from magic school, feel free to tag along…
Phoebe: (moves to the box) Hey, what's this?
Piper: (looks up) What?… oh, I was just rummaging around the attic and found that…I brought it up to look through it.
Phoebe: (smiles, picking up an SLR camera) Prue's camera… I haven't seen any of this stuff since…(her voice trails off, and she looks up sadly at Piper)
Piper: I know (walks to Phoebe and the box; picks up a sweater)…God, she loved this sweater.
Phoebe: (Puts camera gently on the coffee table, and reaches for the sweater in Piper's hands) I know. I used to borrow it all the t- Premonition: Piper, Phoebe, and Paige are backing away slowly from four formidable-looking demons, in a dark cave of a lair. They all look terrified. "Prue! Where are you?" screams Piper. One of the demons raises his hand and vanquishes Paige. Piper and Phoebe scream and run to the spot where she had been standing. Suddenly, Prue runs in, and sees them. Her hands rise to her mouth in horror. "You're too late. No longer is there a power of four." Roars a second demon, before turning to face them. The four demons chant together and vanquish Piper, Phoebe, and Prue (Phoebe drops the sweater)
Piper: (looks very worried) What? What did you see?
Phoebe: (breathing deeply, turns slowly to look at her sister) Prue. I saw Prue.
Cue credits/intro
(Phoebe is hyperventilating, barely able to breath. Piper helps her to the couch)
Piper: Phoebe? Honey, I don't understand…what do you mean you saw Prue?
Phoebe: (Looking straight ahead, fanning herself and trying to breathe) I mean I saw Prue…
Piper: You mean like in the past?
Phoebe: No…no, it was the future. I know it.
Piper: (Beginning to look nervous) Uh…you mean, like a ghost..?
Phoebe: (turns to look Piper in the eyes) No…she was alive.
Piper: But, you know that a ghost can-can become solid sometimes…maybe that's what happened…
Phoebe: No, Piper. That's not it.
Piper: How can you know th-?
Phoebe: Piper! I could feel it, okay? She was alive!
Piper: (backs up; her mouth is hanging open and her eyes are wide) but, but, that's not possible. Prue is dead…she's dead (stands up and starts pacing) She's dead, Phoebe. That's not possible…
Phoebe: Don't you think I know that?
Piper: Well… your premonition is wrong. Phoebe, she's dead (Begins to tear up and her voice begins to quiver)
Phoebe: (Begins to regain composure but still tears up. Sits up straight.) Piper! When have my premonitions ever been wrong?
Piper: (stops pacing) But…what does that mean?
Phoebe: I-I don't know…
Piper: (takes a deep breath and wipes her eyes, looking determined. Turns and starts out of the living room and into the hallway)
Phoebe: (stands up and wipes her eyes) Where are you going?
Piper: (as she starts up the stairs) Call Paige and meet me in the attic. We're going to find out what the hell is going on.
NEXT SCENE
(Piper is lighting five candles all placed in a circle on the floor)
Phoebe: (enter attic door) I called Paige. She'll be right-
Paige: (orbs in)
Phoebe: -here.
Paige: Thanks for interrupting me; I'll never be able to get pr- (sees the looks on her sisters' tear-streaked faces) Oh my God, what happened?
Piper: (stands up straight, holding her forehead and closing her eyes)
Paige: (turns to Phoebe) Phoebe?
Phoebe: I had a premonition…
Paige: (looks at Piper, then back at Phoebe) about what?
Phoebe: …Prue.
Paige: (mouth falls open) But-
Piper: Enough chitchat… Hear these words, hear my cry, Spirit from the other side. Come to me, I summon thee cross now the Great Divide.
(Appear: Grams)
Grams: Piper? What-?
Piper: (Holds up her hand to silence Grams) Don't talk, just listen… Phoebe just had a premonition about Prue...she was alive.
Grams: A premonition? But-
Phoebe: Yeah, and then…we all got vanquished… but one of the demons said something about the Power of Four…
Piper: What does it mean?
(Paige and Grams both stare, shocked, for a second before Grams speaks)
Grams: Did you say 'the Power of Four'?
Piper: (Motions to Phoebe, exasperated)
Phoebe: Yeah. I did… what does that mean?
Grams: (looks confused) Well, I-I don't know. I've never heard of the Power of Four.
Piper: (Raises her hands to silence her again; is becoming angry) Don't you lie to us, you old witch. What is the Power of Four?
Grams: (looks shocked)
Phoebe: (softly) Piper…
Piper: No! She lied to us about being witches; she lied to us about having another sister, who's to say she's not lying to us now? I repeat: What is the Power of Four?
Grams: Piper, I told you. I have never heard of the Power of Four. Maybe you should talk to the Elder-
Piper: (blows up one of the candles and Grams disappears)
Paige: Piper! What is wrong with you? What if she was telling the truth?
Piper: I don't care. (Brushes past her sisters and leaves the attic, slamming the door behind her)
(Phoebe and Paige watch the door slam anxiously)
Phoebe: (sighs)
Paige: Why is she so angry?
Phoebe: (moves to the remaining candles and blows them out) Losing Prue was one of the hardest times in her life; you remember. This is just bringing up past miseries.
Paige: Yeah…you know… Maybe we should try talking to the Elders.
Phoebe: (stands up) Maybe… but lets go get Piper back on our side before we do anything else.
(Phoebe heads out the door, and Paige follows)
NEXT SCENE
Piper: (Sits on the edge of her bed; crying into her hands)
(Phoebe knocks softly, then she and Paige enter the room)
Piper: (without looking up) Why is this happening? (Looks up, wiping her eyes) Everything was fine and all of a sudden you have a premonition about Prue…alive. And, as if this isn't hard enough, we have no idea why or how… Damn it! (Blows up a lamp on her nightstand)
Phoebe: Oh honey…I know its hard. But, we have to keep trying to find out what it means…
Piper: So we can lose her again? And ourselves too? I cant! I have sons now, and a husband. I don't need this…
Paige: Piper…
Piper: No! We cant…we cant (breaks down and starts crying into her hands again)
(Paige and Phoebe move to sit on either side of her; hugging her)
Piper: What does it mean? I don't understand…why are they doing this?
Phoebe: I don't know honey… but we have to find out. I get the feeling we're going to need this 'power of four' to vanquish the demons.
Piper: But-
Paige: I know its hard, sweetie…but you can't give up now. We need you.
Piper: (sits up and breaths deeply; wipes eyes) I know, I know… I'm sorry. Its just-
(One of the demons from Phoebe's premonition enters using flame teleportation; appears in doorway. This demon looks very official and daunting; dressed in an expensive suit, looks human)
(All three girls jump up from the bed and stand, preparing themselves for a fight)
Demon: Ahh… if it isn't the famed Charmed Ones.
Phoebe: Oh my god…
Piper: What?
Phoebe: (still staring at the demon) He's one of the demons from my premonition
Demon: Really? I'm flattered. (Waves his hand and sends all three girls flying into a wall)
Piper: (from the ground: tries to use molecular 'speed up' on him, but it only makes him take a step back. She repeats it several times) He's not blowing up!
Demon: (laughs and takes a step towards them) Silly witch. (Throws her into another wall. She is knocked unconscious)
Phoebe/Paige: Piper!
Phoebe: Paige! The sculpture! (Motions to a large, heavy sculpture which is placed on Piper's vanity)
Paige: Sculpture! (Orbs it towards the demon, but he holds up his hand and it is frozen just inches from his face)
Demon: Oh, come on (flicks his wrist, and sends it flying back towards Paige)
Phoebe: no! (She jumps and pushes Paige out of the way; takes the sculpture in the abdomen. Lands back on the floor, also unconscious)
Paige: No! (Looks at the demon and backs away slowly as he steps towards her.)
Demon: And then there was one (lifts his hand, but is interrupted by Leo's voice)
Leo: (from downstairs) Piper? You upstairs?
Paige: (looks, scared, at the demon)
Demon: (drops his hand) This is no fun, anyway. (Teleports out)
Leo: Piper? Piper? Pi- (enters room and sees Piper and Phoebe lying on the ground with Paige frozen in terror near them) Oh my god…Piper. (Runs to Piper and feels for a pulse. Upon feeling one, moves to Phoebe and does the same) They're alive...hurry, orb them to magic school and heal them.
Paige: I-I…
Leo: Paige! Now!
Paige: (unfreezes and orbs her sisters)
NEXT SCENE
(Enter the room of Magic School, which we have come to know so well. Paige stands near a long table, her arms crossed across her chest as she gazes out the window, lost in thought; Phoebe and Piper lie sprawled out on the orange couch, recovering. Phoebe is awake, but Piper is still mostly asleep.)
Piper: (wakes up with a start) Phoebe?! Paige?! Leo?! Where…where are the boys? (All said in one breath)
Phoebe: (smiles, gently patting her sister's leg) Shh… it's okay Piper. Leo is getting Coop and the boys are still in daycare. They're fine.
Paige: Yeah, but we're not.
(Phoebe and Piper look up at her, looking slightly confused)
Piper: Why? Do we know who that demon was?
Paige: (takes a few steps towards her sisters as she speaks) No, and that's the problem.
(Phoebe and Paige just stare at her, apparently more confused)
Paige: After I healed you two, I orbed the book up here and perused it, looking for anything on the demon.
Piper: (sitting up straight) What'd you find?
Paige: Well, nothing.
Phoebe: Nothing?
Paige: (shaking her head) No. Not a name, not a picture; nothing.
(Coop teleports in with Leo)
Leo: Piper. (Rushes to Piper and embraces her, kissing her hair)
Phoebe: Coop. (jumps up and falls into his arms; looking worried and anxious)
Leo: (turning to Paige) Did you find anything?
Paige: No. As I was just telling them, the book doesn't say anything.
Leo: (looking concerned) Well, you can't stop looking. You, Coop, and Piper go to the library and grab some books.
Paige: What books?
Leo: Prophecies, demonology; anything. Just grab anything that might help, and get back here.
(Paige nods and heads out the doorway. Piper and Coop follow)
Phoebe: What about me?
Leo: (moving to sit next to her on the couch) Paige told me about your premonition; I need you to tell me everything you saw.
Phoebe: (nods and takes a deep breath before continuing) Okay, well. The first thing I saw was the three of us, Paige, Piper and I, were standing in this, cave thing-
Leo: Cave? A demon lair?
Phoebe: Yeah, I guess. Anyway, we're standing there, and these four demons are in front of us. Then, um, Paige called out for Prue.
Leo: (to himself) …Four demons?
Phoebe: what?
Leo: (as though noticing she was still there) Oh…uh, nothing. Go on.
Phoebe: As soon as she called for Prue, one of the demons vanquished Paige…Then, Prue ran in. And that's when he said there was no longer a 'Power of Four.' Then, he vanquished us…all of us.
(Leo gapes at her; clearly speechless)
Phoebe: Leo…what is the 'Power of Four?'
Leo: (looks to be lost in thought for an instant; looks directly at Phoebe) I-I have no idea.
Phoebe: (sighs and leans back into the couch, holding her forehead) That seems to be the theme of the day.
Leo: (looks at her, confused)
Phoebe: Piper summoned Grams to ask about it. She said the same thing you did, which pissed off Piper. She blew up a candle and Grams was sent back to… to wherever it is that she goes.
Leo: Huh…
NEXT SCENE
(We enter a huge, very dark room. A fire glows fiercely in the background, and there are potions and chemicals brewing on a long table in the center of the room. Two figures loom near the table; we can barely make out the face of one, and we cannot see the face of the other)
Demon 1: You insolent fool! You let them escape?
Demon 2: (steps closer to the other, and we can see that it is the demon who attacked the girls in the manor) You know as well as I that without the others I couldn't have vanquished them if I wanted to. They're the Charmed Ones for a reason.
Demon 1: (extremely agitated) And that is exactly why I told you to wait, Agares. Your inability to follow simple orders has exposed us. If we are discovered-
Agares: We wont be.
Demon 1: (Takes a deep breath and clenches his fist, turning away) You can't guarantee that. Now it is more important than ever that we free the others…soon.
Agares: I know how we can do just that.
Demon 1: (turns and looks at him) I'm listening.
NEXT SCENE
(Piper, Phoebe, Leo and Coop sit at the long table in the room of Magic School where we last saw them, looking through piles of old books)
Piper: I still don't get what we're looking for…
Leo: (still looking through the book in front of him) Anything.
Piper: (sarcastically) Helpful.
(Paige orbs in)
Phoebe: (closing the book in her hands and looking up at Paige) Did the Elders know anything?
Paige: (exasperated) No. Of course not… that would be too easy.
Phoebe: (slamming her head onto the table in frustration) Ugh… we are never going to figure this out. (Lifts her head) Why couldn't he use defining powers instead of cryptic ones?
Piper: What?
Phoebe: I mean, he used typical powers… ones anyone can have. You know, telekinesis, fire teleportation… No one demon possesses those powers.
Coop: And you guys don't remember any crucial details about him?
Piper: (shakes head) No, it all happened really quickly…
Paige: (whispers) A Hawk…
Piper: Pardon?
Paige: On his right hand… he had a tattoo of a hawk.
Piper: Okay… how could you have seen that?
Paige: I don't know… but I know it was there.
Phoebe: Wait… I think I just read something like that in the Goetia… (Opens the book she was reading and flips through several pages) Here (reads) 'The Second Spirit is a Duke called Agares. He is under the Power of the East, and cometh up riding upon a Crocodile, carrying a hawk upon his fist, and yet mild in appearance. He maketh them to run that stand still, and bringeth back runaways. He teaches all Languages or Tongues presently. He hath power also to destroy Dignities both Spiritual and Temporal, and causeth Earthquakes.'
Piper: Huh?
Leo: Agares… I've heard the name… but only in folklore.
Phoebe: Who is he?
Leo: According to the stories, an extremely powerful demon with dominion over the earth and human courage.
Paige: Human courage?
Leo: Essentially, he turns fear into courage and courage into fear.
Phoebe: 'He maketh them to run that stand still, and bringeth back runaways.'
Leo: Right. He freezes people with their fear.
Piper: Like Barbas?
Leo: Similar, yeah. That's probably why you couldn't move, earlier, Paige. He used your courage against you.
Phoebe: well, he certainly seems to fit the bill… but why doesn't anyone else seem to be able to make the connection?
Leo: (shrugs) I don't know… like I said, I've only ever heard him mentioned in legends. The only other thing I know is that had a habit of overlooking major details, which eventually led to his downfall.
Phoebe: Details?
Leo: Yeah, I don't know which ones, but…
Paige: Anyway, he's back.
Leo: And he's had a lot of time to increase his powers.
Piper: Well, that's probably a bad thing isn't it?
Leo: Probably.
Piper: (sarcastically) Right. Perfect.
Phoebe: (looking at Leo) Well, what can we do?
Leo: I don't know. I've told you everything I know.
Paige: (walking over to sit besides Coop) Great. We're dead.
Coop/Leo: Don't say that.
Piper: He wasn't even affected by my powers. Not at all…
Leo: (touching her hand) It'll be okay, honey. We'll figure it out.
Piper: (smiling) Yeah… I just can't stop thinking about Prue…
Coop: what about Prue?
Phoebe: She was in my premonition…alive.
Paige: Until we were all vanquished.
Coop: (looks distraught and pales a little)
Phoebe: (leans into him) Don't worry, Love. That's why I get these premonitions, so we can change the outcome; you know that.
Coop: I know (kisses her hair) but I can't help being worried about you.
Paige: Hey…(looks at his ring) your ring.
Coop: What?
Paige: Your ring… maybe we're supposed to use it to get Prue from the past… like Piper got Mom and Grams when Billie and Christie killed Phoebe and me.
Piper: Nice.
Coop: Uh… I don't think that's a good idea.
Piper: What? Why?
Leo: Because, it could throw off the timeline.
Piper: We did it before.
Coop: Yeah, but those were different circumstances. Who knows what we could change by bringing Prue to this time and place… it might leave Paige with no memory of you and you with no memory of her.
Phoebe: But Mom and Grams-
Coop: They didn't directly affect the relationship between the three of you. Bringing back Prue does.
Paige: Huh?
Coop: If Prue comes back-
Leo: Look, all you need to know is we cant use his ring. It could leave things worse than they are now or change reality as we know it altogether.
Piper: So, we're back to where we were; without any idea of where to begin.
Paige: (hopefully) We did find out who the demon is.
Piper: Well yeah, but we don't know how to vanquish him. Anyway, there were four demons in Phoebe's premonition; that means there are three other demons out there lurking and waiting to kill us.
Paige: …Well, don't be so positive.
NEXT SCENE
(We enter Purgatory; red sand covers the ground; fire shoots up from the earth, creating walls of flames; demons scream in the background. We see Barbas, the Demon of Fear, tip-toeing around, attempting to avoid the walls of flames and being sucked into oblivion. This scene is reminiscent of the scene where Phoebe astral projected to Cole in the Wasteland)
Barbas: I cannot believe that I have, once again, ended up in this damned (a screaming demon's soul plummets down from the sky and shoots into the ground just beside him) place. (shakes his robe and dusts himself off)
(The two demons from before, Agares and the so-far-unnamed demon, appear beside him)
Barbas: Well, well, well, (folds hands in front of him, leaning his head to the side) if it isn't the demons of cowardice and failure, Agares and Tephros. It's been too long.
Tephros: I'd watch my tounge, Barbas.
Barbas: Really? And just why (sidesteps, narrowly missing being hit by another plummeting soul) would you say that?
Tephros: We're here to make you a deal-
Barbas: What could you incompetent fools possibly have to offer me?
Agares: Incompetent? (steps forward threateningly; Barbas just smiles as Tephros holds up his hand to stop him)
Barbas: Ahh, still with the temper? Haven't you learned manners, my old friend?
Tephros: Never mind him, we've come to ask for your… assistance.
Barbas: My assistance? Too proud to say you need my help, are we?
Tephros: Barbas!
Barbas: What? I was only stating the obvious… Now, assuming I decided to lend you my… assistance… what would I get out of it?
(All three demons take a step back as a soul plummets to the ground between them; Tephros watches the soul as it falls, then looks up at Barbas)
Tephros: Freedom.
Next Scene
(We enter the daycare of the Magic School, little witches play in the background. Piper is kneeling hugging Chris and Wyatt, and she kisses their foreheads. The Daycare teacher stands behind the boys, smiling down at all of them. Leo stands behind Piper)
Piper: (Still holding the boys) Ugh, this is all too familiar.
Leo: This is just a safety precaution. We can't take them back to the manor until we know its safe-
Piper: (kisses the boys again before standing up and turning to face Leo) Yeah, honey… I think you should probably stay here, too.
Leo: But-
Piper: Please, Leo. You can't protect yourself anymore, and I don't want to be constantly worrying about you, we don't know what we're up against… Anyway, I think it'll be easier on the boys if you're here.
Leo: (sighs, looking disappointed)
Piper: (steps to him and kisses him) We'll be fine. Anyway, if we need you, Paige can orb us right here. No worries.
Leo: (touching Piper's hair) What have you guys decided to do?
Piper: Ugh, we don't really know… but we'll figure it out. We have to.
Leo: (smiles, clearly still worried)
Piper: (kisses him, then turns back to the boys) I love you (turns back to Leo) all of you… I'll be back.
(Leo watches her leave, then turns to the boys)
Leo: Don't worry… Mommy will be back… She'll be back.
NEXT SCENE
(Phoebe stands at the Book of Shadows, flipping the pages hopelessly; Paige sits looking through some of the books from the library at Magic School, and Piper sits at the potions-making table, holding several herbs in her hands, but staring absently into space.)
Paige: Okay, its official (throws the book in her hands to the floor) we're screwed.
Phoebe: Oh, Paige, please. Just this morning you were calling us pessimists, you cant be all hypocritical now.
Paige: Uh, yeah. That was before you had a certain little premonition and we were attacked by a certain enigmatic demon. I think, at this point, I am allowed a little pessimism.
Piper: Okay, you guys. Stop. This isn't helping.
Paige: Piper! We've been at this for hours, and we've gotten nowhere. What's left to do but welcome oblivion?
Phoebe: Paige? What is wrong with you?
Paige: Nothing… I'm just…scared.
Phoebe: (walks to Paige and hugs her) Oh, honey… I know. We all are. But this is not the time to give up. Capiche?
Paige: yeah, yeah…capiche.
Piper: (smiling down at the herbs in her hands) So, (looks up) what do we do?
Phoebe: (shrugs) I have no idea.
Paige: I might…(pauses)
Piper: Okay…andddd?
Paige: It just… might sound a little, you know… crazy.
Piper: Crazy?
Phoebe: Well, what is it?
Paige: Why don't we just… you know… resurrect Prue?
(Phoebe and Piper gape at her for a second before Piper gets up to leave the room)
Piper: You're right, it does sound crazy.
Paige: (follows her out of the attic and Phoebe trails behind) Come on Piper… it makes sense.
Piper: (laughs cynically) No, no it doesn't.
Paige: But why?
Piper: (stops walking and turns to face Paige, Phoebe nearly runs into Paige's back) Because, Paige, it has never been done. Ever. And its not supposed to be done…ever. (turns and continues walking)
(Paige and Phoebe follow)
Paige: So? We are the Charmed Ones, after all. Lots of the things we've done had never been done before. And about it not being allowed, who are you to defend the rules Ms. I-married-and-bore-the-children-of-a-whitelighter?
Piper: (stops and faces her sisters again) Whoa; too far. That was different, missy, and you know it.
Paige: (turning to Phoebe) Hello? Help me here.
Phoebe: uh… I don't know Paige-
Paige: Come on, you guys; think! If anyone can do this, it's us, right?
Piper: Paige-
Paige: Please, you guys, trust me. Lets just try it. What's the worst that could happen?
Piper: Um, zombies, personal gain consequences, death… need I continue?
Paige: (Sardonically) Zombies? Please, Piper.
Phoebe: Maybe she's right, Piper. I mean, my premonition proves that, somehow, we brought Prue back. Maybe this is the way.
Piper: (closes her eyes and sighs) I can't believe I'm about to say this (opens her eyes) okay. If you two can come up with a good spell or something, we'll try it.
Paige: yay! Thanks. (she and Phoebe take off back towards the attic)
Piper: (yelling after them) Don't you dare screw this up! (follows them)
NEXT SCENE
Phoebe: Okay, (plops a book on the potion-making table in front of Paige and Piper) so this book says that a 'physical resurrection' could lead to… negative aftereffects.
Piper: (gives Paige the 'I told you so' look)
Paige: (rolls her eyes) Your point?
Phoebe: Well, it says that if one were to bring someone back, one would have to find a way to reunite the spirit being to its physical being.
Piper: Okay, no. That wouldn't include… digging anything up, would it?
Phoebe: Do you think I'd be reading to you if it did? It says that, if there is enough concentrated magic available, it would only take a single strand of DNA to bring the spirit and physical beings back together… it would, essentially, re-grow her; memories and all.
Piper: Re-grow her? Excuse me?
Phoebe: Re-birth...whatever.
Paige: It could work-
Piper: I don't know you guys… it just doesn't feel right. I mean, there has to be a reason this hasn't been done before…
Paige: Yeah! There was never enough magic before us. Again, we're the Charmed Ones. I know we can do this.
Phoebe: I agree. Piper, we can do this; we have to.
Piper: (sighs) Um, one problem…we don't have a strand of her DNA.
Phoebe: (smiles) I've already dealt with that. In her box, there are clothes and a brush, I'm pretty sure there's a strand of hair there somewhere.
Paige: I'm on it (orbs out)
Piper: (looks at Phoebe) You really think this can work?
Phoebe: (pauses) Yeah, I do.
Piper: (sighs) God, I hope you're right…
(Paige orbs back in, holding the sweater Phoebe and Piper had been looking at earlier)
Paige: (picking a strand of hair off the sweater) Here. (hands it to Phoebe who puts it into a potions vial)
Phoebe: Okay, ladies, lets get started on that spell.
Piper: Yeah, you two go ahead.
Phoebe: Where are you going?
Piper: (standing up) I'm just gonna go lie down… its been a long day. Just, uh, wake me up when you're finished.
Paige: You okay?
Piper: Yeah, no worries. (starts out towards the door)
Phoebe/Paige: 'Night, sweetie.
Piper: Mhm. (exits)
Paige: (grabbing a pen and paper and joining Phoebe at the table) God, I'm so excited… I get to meet Prue.
Phoebe: don't get too excited, sweetie; remember it may not work.
Paige: Yes, it will.
Phoebe: (smiling and standing up) Okay. You go ahead and start. I'm just going to go check on Piper then grab some sustenance, I haven't eaten all day. (heading for the door) You want anything?
Paige: (picking up the pen and paper and beginning to write) No thanks.
Phoebe: 'Kay. Be right back. (exits)
(Paige writes for a few seconds. Enter: Barbas' projected self)
Barbas: (spots Paige and smiles to himself, moving to her) Hello again, Paige.
Paige: (looks up as though she heard something, but immediately continues writing)
Barbas: Oh, I see you're writing a spell to bring back Big Sister, Prue. How sweet.
(Paige continues writing)
Barbas: But, are you sure this is what you want? I mean think about it… Prue grew up with them. You didn't. Remember?
(Paige stops writing, and looks thoughtful)
Barbas: They were extremely close, and their relationship was cemented in the fact that they had all that time together. My, how Piper and Phoebe loved Prue. You remember?
(Paige starts to breath heavier, still staring off into space looking thoughtful)
Barbas: Piper went off the deep-end after losing her sister, you recall. They always talked, and still talk, about how perfect Prue was. She was beautiful, smart, successful, and a great witch… what do you think will happen to you upon her return?
Paige: (whispers) No…
Barbas: Did you really think they would keep you in the mix with their real sister back? No, you know the truth, don't you Paige?
(Barbas projects image)
Projection: Prue, Phoebe, and Piper are sitting in the living room with Leo and the boys, laughing and talking. "Where's Paige?" asks Prue. Piper and Phoebe laugh. "Come on Prue, who cares? We don't need her anymore, we have you back." Smiles Phoebe. Prue nods. "Yeah, she pretty much served her purpose in getting us to bring you back. I missed you." Says Piper. "I missed you guys, too." Prue finishes, hugging both her sisters
Paige: (now in tears)
Barbas: Ohh, don't cry. You can change it; you know what to do. Change the spell; you can do it. They won't suspect, and you'll get to keep your sisters.
Paige: (looks at what she has written so far and scratches it out; begins writing furiously)
Barbas: (smiles to himself and backs up) Good girl (exits)
(Paige continues writing; Phoebe re-enters just as she finishes, holding a bowl of chips and sparkling waters)
Phoebe: Spell-writing snacks anyone?
Paige: (stands up, re-reading the spell to herself) Go get Piper.
Phoebe: What? You're done already? (puts the snacks down on the table and tries to look at the spell)
Paige: (pulls away) Just go get her.
Phoebe: Uh, okay. (exits to get Piper)
Paige: (re-reads the spell to herself, then turns to the vial containing the strand of hair and picks it up) I won't let you take them away from me. I'm sorry.
NEXT SCENE
(Piper lights 5 candles and places them in a circle on the floor. Phoebe picks up the sweater and vial and places them in the center. Paige stands to the side and holds the spell.)
Piper: (Stands up straight and walks over to Paige) Now, you're sure it's completely perfect?
Paige: (smiles) Yeah. Completely perfect, I promise.
(Piper takes the spell and reads over it)
Piper: (after a moment) Alright; looks good.
(Paige, looking almost surprised takes back the page and Phoebe stands on her other side)
Phoebe: Ready?
Paige: Yeah
Piper: (sighs and closes her eyes, looking very unsure) Yeah. Let's just do it.
All: Hear now the words of the witches, the secrets we hid in the night. The oldest of gods are invoked here, the great work of magic is sought. In this night and in this hour, we call upon the ancient power, reach now to where spirits dwell, return life here, now with this spell.
(The girls each take several steps back as the flames of the candles rise high into the air, shielding the vial from their view. Great beams of blue and white light swirl from the ceiling to the center of the candle circle and the energy creates gusts of winds from which the girls must cover their eyes. Suddenly the lights disappear and the winds cease. Slowly, almost reluctantly, the girls lower their hands and look at the spot where the vial had been.)
Piper: (barely breathing) Oh my God (her hands rush to her mouth)
(Lying in the center of the circle, seemingly unconscious, is the body of Prudence Halliwell. On either side of her, standing and fully conscious, stands a full grown, well-dressed, surprised-looking man)
Phoebe: What have we done?
END EPISODE
