EPISODE 20 : LONG LIVE THE QUEEN
Scene: Payson and Cole's apartment. Bedroom. Night time. It is storming. Payson is sitting on her bed wearing a long black slip and a red robe with a notebook. There are several lines blacked out. She gets up and closes the window. She pauses for a moment and then goes back and sits on the bed. There's a knock on the door.]
Payson: Come in.
(The door opens and Cole walks in carrying a tray. He's dressed in all black. Demons are chanting out in the living room. Cole puts down the tray and sits next to her.)
Cole: Payson, you have to eat. Please. (He puts a dish in front of her.)
Payson: I don't want to eat. I don't want to eat, I can't sleep…Can you do anything about this damn thunder because it is making me nuts!
Cole: I have no sway over the weather. I do have a friend who works with wind but she's out of town. Come here. (He puts his arms around her.)
Phoebe: What about demons? Any sway over them? Because I swear, if they don't shut up… I'm sick of having demons in my living room, Cole.
Cole: Payson. This is important, you know that. We have to be careful. Planning a coup against the Source of all evil…
Payson: I know. I know. I'm sorry. (She picks a grape off the tray and pops it in her mouth.) Mmm.
Cole: See. (He smiles.) Food tastes good. You remember the taste of food? (Payson laughs a little picking up a slice of bread and nibbling on it.) That's my girl. (He kisses her head and gets up.) It'll just be a little bit longer, I promise.
Payson: Okay. (She smiles as Cole leaves the room.) Okay. (She rubs her stomach and picks up some more grapes.) Okay.
[Scene: Underworld. Phoebe's chambers. Phoebe is laying in bed. There's a knock on the door.]
Phoebe: Come in. (The Seer enters carrying a chalice. Phoebe groans.) Leave.
Seer: My queen, I'm sorry to disturb you but it's time for your tonic.
Phoebe: I've already told you, I'm not drinking it. I'd prefer regular old vitamins, if you don't mind.
Seer: There's nothing regular about your pregnancy. The new power you're experiencing is a mere shadow of what's to come. The tonic strengthens you to bear the weight of it.
Phoebe: Okay, well, then do me a favour. Find me something that strengthens me and doesn't taste like crap.
Seer: Are you feeling alright?
Phoebe: Yeah, it's just, (yells) I can't concentrate!
Seer: Cannot concentrate on what?
Phoebe: On anything! Damien gives me all this crap on demons and innocents. It's like just because I'm a former Charmed One I'm suppose to know these things.
Seer: You are queen now. You are the wife of the Source. It is your duty to help him, of course.
Phoebe: Yeah well, I suppose it's a good distraction.
Seer: A distraction from what? Are you struggling with your decision?
Phoebe: No, I mean, I love Damien. It's just since relinquishing the Source's powers I feel empty, weakened.
Seer: Which is why you need your tonic. It helps to sooth that emptiness while it nurtures your son's powers.
Phoebe: I suppose, it's just that there's also…
Seer: Your sisters.
Phoebe: Yeah, I don't understand why they have to be so stubborn. Why they can't just respect my decision.
Seer: Because it's not in their nature of good to compromise. They'll never understand, they'll only want to change you back. The sooner you accept that and let them go, the happier you will be. Here, drink your tonic.
(She hears an explosion.)
Phoebe: What the hell is going on out there? You know, ever since the coronation all he does is work.
Seer: The underworld's been in chaos for some time. He has a great task...
Phoebe: I don't care. I want some attention from my husband. You're excused.
Seer: Make certain you drink that upon waking.
(She disappears. Phoebe goes out into the main chamber.)
Phoebe: It is after midnight, Damien, come to bed.
Damien: Phoebe, please, we're in the middle of a ceremony.
Demon: We're almost done.
Phoebe: Almost doesn't work for me.
(She throws fire at two demons and vanquishes them. The rest shimmer out.)
Damien: I thought we talked about this.
Phoebe: Sorry, it's hormones.
[Scene: Manor. Attic. Piper and Paige are there. Piper is making potions while Paige looks through the Book of Shadows.]
Paige: Damn it, I have read through this fifteen times, there is nothing even remotely helpful about how to save Phoebe.
Piper: I told you, she made a choice. There's no magical cure for that.
Paige: Yeah, well, she's pregnant, Piper, so she's being influenced by the baby inside.
Piper: And we could've helped her overcome that but she chose….what's his name.
(Payson and Cole enter the attic.)
Cole: Damien. His name is Damien.
Payson: Yeah. (She goes and stands beside Paige.) Any luck? (Paige shakes her head and looks over at Piper.)
Paige: Will you just stop with the potions already? You've already over run the kitchen, I'd say we have enough.
Piper: This one duplicates my freezing power plus it scalds the flesh, so we should only use it in a dire emergency.
Paige: No! I will not Phoebe's flesh, she's still our sister.
Payson: For now.
(Leo orbs in.)
Leo: Payson. Paige. (She walks over to him.) How is she?
Paige: She's like Piper light. All the personality without any of those messy emotions.
Leo: Rumour on the demonic grape vine is the new queen is killing upper level demons. Word is she killed two just last night.
Paige: What does that mean?
Cole: It means it looks like Phoebe's working from the inside for the good guys.
Paige: That's great.
Piper: Right.
Payson: Since when do you guys believe rumours that are spread by demons?
[Scene: Underworld. Damien's throne room. Demons are sitting around a long glass table. A hologram of a woman's head is sitting in the middle of the table.]
Demon #2: Alison Whitt. Among other things, she's spear heading the campaign to clean up Delora's Park.
Demon #3: That's my district.
Demon #4: I've got men there too.
Demon #3: Since when?
Demon #4: Since I put them there.
Demon #3: Then they're working my territory.
Damien: Gentlemen, it's all my territory. Next.
(The hologram turns into a man.)
Demon #2: Gregory Conroy. Probation officer to juvenile offenders. Manages to rehabilitate the worst of the worst. He's cost us several potential demons.
Damien: (to demon #4) He's yours.
(The demon nods.)
Demon #2: He works at the...
(Phoebe walks in. The demons get a little frightened.)
Phoebe: Relax, boys, I'm here to cook not kill. Although I'd keep your voices down if I were you. (She pretends to use her power and they jump.) Ah! (She smiles.) Hi, honey.
(She kisses him on the cheek and she leaves the room.)
Damien: Honey.
(He follows her.)
Phoebe: Will your friends be staying for dinner?
Damien: I'm gonna find it hard enough to convince them to stay till the end of the meeting unless you stop threatening them to kill them.
Phoebe: I was kidding.
Damien: You killed five of my best demons this week, so forgive me if I'm missing the joke.
Phoebe: Oh, baby, I'm sorry.
Damien: I know I've been working a lot. But that should lighten up soon. In the mean time no more killing. Promise?
Phoebe: Promise.
Damien: It's hard enough for them to accept the fact that my queen is a former Charmed One. We don't want them to think you're playing both sides. Especially with the coup your sister and my brother are leading against us.
Phoebe: I said I promise but if it'll make you feel better. (She goes into the other room.) Hi, um, I just wanna say that I'm really sorry for killing your friends last night. Oh, and, um, the night before that. And it's nothing personal, you know, it's just...
(She touches demon #4 and has a premonition of him killing Gregory.)
Damien: Phoebe, was that a...
Phoebe: Cramp. I just need to lie down.
Damien: Should I call the Seer?
Phoebe: No, no, I'm fine.
(She goes into her chamber and listens.)
Damien: Where were we?
Demon #2: Gregory Conroy. Malick's in for the kill. He spends his time at Permission Hill community centre.
(Phoebe picks up the tonic and pours it in a pot plant.)
[Scene: Manor. Dining room. Payson, Piper, Paige, Leo and Cole are there. Piper is showing them the potions.]
Piper: These are meant to slow an attacker down but not do real serious harm, it's kind of like magical mace.
Paige: Sounds reasonable I guess.
Piper: These are a little more lethal - explosives, paralytics, your garden variety of poisons.
Cole: So you're gonna poison Phoebe?
Piper: Cole, she's carrying the spawn of the Source, she's throwing fire from her hands. If she shows up here, we'll do what we have to do to protect ourselves.
Paige: You're not even giving her a chance.
Piper: Paige, we gave her every chance in the world to come back to us and she threw it in our faces.
Payson: She doesn't deserve a chance. She chose evil over her own sisters.
Leo: Payson, Piper…
(Phoebe flames in.)
Phoebe: Surprise! (Piper quickly grabs a potion and throws it towards Phoebe. Phoebe throws fire at the potion, disintegrating it. Payson waves her hand and ice appears, swallowing up Phoebe's fire.) Nice to see you too, Payson, Piper.
Payson: What do you want?
Phoebe: Oh, and here I thought you'd be happy to see me.
Paige: I'm happy to see you.
Piper: Paige.
Paige: What?
Payson: Unless you're here to tell us you filed for a divorce…
Piper: We don't really have much to talk about.
Phoebe: Oh that's not true. For instance we could talk about how rigid you two are. It's really not a very attractive quality.
(Piper picks up two more potions and hands one to Payson.)
Leo: Wait. Phoebe, what are you doing here?
Phoebe: I had a premonition. (She gestures to Paige. Paige steps forward. Payson and Piper try to block her but she orbs in front of them and takes Phoebe's hand. She has the same premonition Phoebe did.) We have an innocent to save and not a lot of time, right Paige? (She nods.)
Paige: That is so great. Look, I told you.
Cole: Don't get too excited. It's not what you think, is it, Phoebe?
Phoebe: I could never hide anything from you, Cole. He's right. I haven't changed my mind, I'm not leaving Damien and I'm not renouncing my crown. It's just I've never ignored a premonition in my life and I'm not about to start now.
Piper: Uh, Phoebe, you're evil.
Payson: You're the queen of all evil, literally.
Phoebe: That's beside the point.
Piper: How can that be beside the point?
Paige: I say we do it.
Payson, Piper: What?
Paige: Excuse me. (She pulls Payson, Piper, Leo and Cole aside.) Look, this is what we've been hoping for. A sign that there's still good in her. I had the same premonition she described and I'm telling you it was legit. Why else would she care about saving the innocent?
Payson: Because she could have manipulated the premonition so you would see what she wants you to see.
Piper: Because it's a trap.
Paige: Payson, Piper, come on this could be our only chance.
Leo: I think Paige is right.
Cole: Yes. By helping her do good, it might sway her back to our side.
Payson: Alright.
Piper: Fine.
Paige: (to Phoebe) Okay, you're on, we'll follow you.
Payson: Cole, you stay here. I'll be back soon. (She kisses him and walks over to Piper.)
(Payson and Piper grab some potions. Payson hands Piper a piece of paper.)
Phoebe: What's that for?
Piper: Insurance.
[Cut to an alley. Payson, Piper, Paige and Leo orb in. Phoebe flames in.]
Paige: Argh, why do I always have to land in the mud.
Phoebe: Come on, over here.
(They stand behind some wooden crates.)
Leo: How do you know when he's gonna get attacked?
Phoebe: I know. (Gregory walks around the corner.) There he is.
(Malick shimmers in behind him. Piper freezes Gregory. Malick looks around.)
Payson: Hey. (Payson goes to throw him into the wall, but Phoebe grabs her wrist. Piper moves away and goes to blow him up but Phoebe knocks her. She blows up a bike near by.)
Phoebe: No.
Payson: Phoebe!
Piper: What are you doing?
(An energy ball appears in Malick's hand. Payson raises her hand again.)
Phoebe: Stop. (She walks towards Malick. Malick kneels down.)
Malick: My queen.
Phoebe: Leave that innocent alone. Go. (Malick shimmers out. Payson, Piper, Paige and Leo stare at her.) What? He's one of my subjects.
[Scene: Alley. Continued from before.]
Piper: How-how-how could you do that?
Payson: How could you just let him go?
Phoebe: I don't know you're so upset, we saved the innocent didn't we?
Piper: I can't talk to her, you talk to her.
Leo: Phoebe...
Phoebe: Things are not as black and white as they used to be. Okay, I can't just go around killing demons anymore.
Paige: Why not? We heard you just killed two last night.
Phoebe: Yeah, well, that was different, he was getting on my nerves. I promised Damien I wouldn't kill anymore. And killing Malick would've been a huge betrayal.
Piper: Malick?
Payson: You're on a first name basis with the demons?
Leo: If you were just gonna order him to stop you could've done that on your own. Why did you even come to us?
Phoebe: Because I missed you guys! Okay, is that so wrong? I missed you.
Leo: Phoebe, you can't be the queen of the underworld and a Charmed One. You can't have it both ways.
Phoebe: Former Charmed One. Former, okay? I'm not a Charmed One anymore, you three are. (She gestures to Payson, Piper, and Paige.) But besides that, just because it's different doesn't mean that it can't work. And you all miss me too even though I'm sure Payson and Piper probably don't want to admit it. I mean if it wasn't for the Source I would still be dead.
Paige: Of course we miss you, honey.
Phoebe: Well, you can have me back. You can have the power of four if you want it. You just have to be willing to meet me half way.
Payson: Phoebe, you can't protect the innocent and save demons, it just doesn't work that way.
Phoebe: Apparently it does. He's alive isn't he?
Paige: Yeah, but your friend Malick is gonna come back.
Phoebe: You don't know that.
Piper: That's what they do, Phoebe, they come back. They snarl and come back.
Payson: Yeah, and now we have to worry about protecting him instead of trying to save you.
Phoebe: You think I need saving? You and your husband are leading the coup against me and mine. You might as well vanquish me right here.
Payson: Can you even hear yourself?
Piper: Are you kidding me? That baby inside you has corrupted you more than you think.
Phoebe: Piper.
Piper: Don't Piper me. This is insane, what you are saying is insane.
Payson: You cannot come back, you cannot work with us as long as you are married to the Source.
Phoebe: So what do you want me to do? Do you want me to leave my husband?
Payson, Piper: Yes.
Phoebe: That is not fair!
Leo: It's not fair, Phoebe, but you have to pick a side, good or evil. That's how it works. Even though it means giving up someone you love, you have to choose.
Phoebe: I'm really sorry you feel that way.
(Phoebe flames out.)
Payson: I can't do this.
(She starts to walk away.)
Piper: I'm right behind you, Payson. (She follows.)
Paige: What about Greg?
(Piper unfreezes him. Greg goes over to where his bike was chained.)
Greg: Oh, no, not again. (He sees Paige and Leo.) Did you guys see anyone take off on a chromium orange bicycle?
Paige: No, sorry.
Greg: Why did I bother locking it?
(He walks away.)
Paige: Uh, what should we do?
Leo: Follow him.
[Scene: The underworld. A cave. Damien and a demon are there.]
Demon #2: They were animal sacrifice cabins. The worst part they've been abandoned.
Damien: Waste of space don't you think? Put a team on it, have it cleaned out.
Malick: My liege.
(He walks in. The guard stands in front of him.)
Guard: State your business.
Malick: I have news for the Source. It concerns his queen.
Damien: What happened? Is she hurt?
Malick: No, the Charmed Ones interfered with my kill.
Damien: I have no control over my in-laws. If you want them out of the way I suggest you take backup. Lots of backup.
Malick: I mean all four of them. Including the queen. She ordered me not to harm the innocent. I thought you should know.
Damien: Have you told anyone else?
Malick: No. I came straight to you.
Damien: Thank you for your loyalty.
(Damien vanquishes Malick and the guard. He turns to Demon #2.)
Demon #2: Am I next?
Damien: No, Dane, you I trust. It's just my damn wife.
Dane: With all do respect, I think you'd better take care of the innocent before others hear of this.
(Damien waves his hand and another demon appears.)
Demon #5: My liege. (He bows.)
Damien: Get up, I have a job for you.
[Cut to a building. An AA meeting is taking place. Paige and Leo are standing at the back of the room.]
Woman: The only requirement for membership is the desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for membership, we are self supporting for our own contribution. We do not wish to engage in any controversy...
Leo: So do you really think Piper's okay? And Payson?
Paige: I don't know but I think it's good that they are feeling something again.
Leo: Right, right. They're probably fine. So you just think I just need to give them some space, right?
Paige: You could try that.
Leo: It's just when Payson and Piper lost Phoebe before, they barely survived and they think they're really gonna lose her again and I think they might just...
Paige: Listen, just go talk to them, okay, remind her that we have a demon to fight. Maybe that'll do them some good and take their minds off Phoebe.
Leo: Right, right. What about you?
Paige: Me, I'm fine. Listen, I don't think Malick's gonna attack in front of all these people, so just go get Payson and Piper and bring them back before the meeting's over, okay?
Leo: Okay, yeah.
(Leo leaves.)
[Scene: 415 Magazine. Payson's office. Payson's there. Gil walks in.]
Gil: So where are the real photos?
Payson: Excuse me?
Payson: I appreciate the evening chuckle, I do, but I need to see the real photos.
Payson: Are you questioning my abilities?
Gil: (He shows Payson the photos. They're all pixilated.) I can't submit these, Payson.
Payson: Well, they're just extra colorful.
Gil: They're extra crap. So unless you're looking to lose your job...
Payson: Are you threatening me?
Gil: I'm telling you to get a shrink if you have to but get it together. (Cole stands at the doorway.) Get me the real photos and do it fast. (He heads for the door. Payson sneers, her hand curling into a fist.) Excuse me.
(He leaves. Payson relaxes her hand.)
Cole: If you want to kill your boss…
Payson: I don't. He's right, these are crap.
Cole: Oh honey. (He closes the door.) Maybe you shouldn't worry about those right now.
Payson: What, and lose my job? No.
Cole: Payson, pretending she doesn't exist isn't going to help her or you.
Payson: She, who, Cole? She who?
Cole: Phoebe.
Payson: Phoebe is not my sister anymore.
Cole: But Piper and Paige are, and if you three don't do something…
Payson: I am doing something. I'll helping you lead the coup against The Source of all Evil and his Queen, so please don't ask me to think of her as my sister, because then I won't be able to do the job that is most important. Protecting innocents and protecting Piper and Paige.
[Cut to Underworld. Phoebe's chambers. Phoebe is reading on her bed. Damien flames in.]
Damien: Phoebe.
Phoebe: What?
Damien: Do you care to explain what happen with Malick and your sisters earlier?
Phoebe: Hmm. I stopped him from killing an innocent and then I let him go.
Damien: That doesn't make it okay!
Phoebe: Keep your voice down.
Damien: You can't save an innocent and free a demon, Phoebe, it doesn't work like that.
Phoebe: You sound like Payson.
Damien: Yeah, well, Payson's right. You made a choice when you stood by me at the coronation. If you're questioning that choice, if you're not sure you want to be with me, you need to let me know.
Phoebe: Of course I wanna be with you, I just don't understand why you have to be so rigid.
Damien: Because I am the Source. Because you are my queen! Because there are expectations!
Phoebe: Do you think I care about anyone's expectations?
Damien: This is not a game, Phoebe. You walked through a one way door. You try to turn around now they will destroy us.
Phoebe: Who, my sisters?
Damien: The underworld. If they think we're working both sides, they will revolt. Cole and Payson already command an army just waiting for Cole to say the word. If they do that, if they unite against us, I promise we will pray for death.
Phoebe: I'm sorry, I didn't...
Damien: I get it, Phoebe, better than anyone, I know what you're going through. It'll rip you apart if you let it.
Phoebe: How do I not let it?
Damien: You make a choice. And you stick to it, even though it's hard, even though it means giving up the people that you love.
(She takes his hand and they flame out.)
[Scene: P3. Leo orbs in. He sees Piper sitting on a chair with her feet on the table, almost passed out. A nearly empty bottle of rum is sitting on the table.]
Piper: We're closed.
Leo: Honey...
Piper: I don't want to talk.
Leo: I know how you're feeling.
Piper: Even more that I don't want to talk. I do not want a pep talk.
Leo: Piper, what are you doing?
Piper: What does it look like I am doing. I'm trying to stop myself from feeling like the failure that I am.
(She fills her glass.)
Leo: You are not a failure; it's not your fault Phoebe...
Piper: I am the older sister, okay, it is my job to keep the family together, and see this, my friend, I am a failure.
Leo: That's enough. (He takes the bottle off her.)
Piper: Payson and Cole are off making deals with demons to stop her. Paige has been on us from the beginning to try and doing something. She tried to tell me over and over and over and over and over. That doesn't even sound like a word anymore.
Leo: I didn't try to do anything at first either, we didn't want to see it. We wanted a normal, happy family, that's just human nature.
Piper: She is my baby sister and I let evil destroy her. That is not human nature, that is the nature of failure.
Leo: Alright, I'm not gonna listen to this anymore, you are a good witch and...
(Piper freezes him.)
Piper: I said no pep talks. (She takes the bottle back off him.) Nobody listens around here anymore. (She takes a sip of her drink and falls off her chair.) Ouch.
[Cut to the AA meeting. Everyone is leaving.]
Greg: Tray, congratulations on your thirty days.
(He heads for the door.)
Paige: (whispers) Leo.
(She follows him outside. Greg stops and sees Paige.)
Greg: You again. Are you following me?
Paige: Yes, strangely I am and I would love to explain it to you but it would be so much better if we could go talk inside by the crowd.
(Demon #5 appears in the alley and throws and electric bolt towards Greg. Paige knocks Greg out of the way.)
Greg: What the hell?
Paige: Leo! (The demon throws another electric bolt and this time hits Greg on the shoulder. He pulls out an athame.) Oh no. Oh no. This is when I wish I had an active power. (The demon throws the athame at her and she orbs out. The athame drops to the ground and Paige picks it up. She throws it at the demon, vanquishing him. She races over to Greg, who is bleeding.) Damn it, where are my sisters!
[Scene: P3. Leo is still frozen and Piper is unconscious on the floor. Paige orbs in with Greg.]
Paige: Oh my god, Piper. (She races over to her and sees the empty glass beside her. She touches Leo and he unfreezes.)
Leo: And a good sister... (He looks around.) Paige, wh-?
Paige: You were frozen, Leo, and I'm guessing demons didn't get her.
Leo: No, more like inner-demons. I can't believe she froze me. Are you okay?
Paige: Barely. It was a different demon this time; they really want that guy dead. You're gonna have to heal him and orb him somewhere safe.
Leo: Then what?
Paige: Then I'm gonna put this family back together. Can you heal Piper?
Leo: No, I can't heal self inflicted wounds.
Paige: Great, now I'm down two sisters. Go get Payson and Cole.
(Paige slaps Piper gently and she wakes up.)
Piper: Aaahh.
[Scene: Underworld. Phoebe's chambers. Phoebe's there. The Seer walks in with a glass of tonic.]
Seer: My queen, it is time for your tonic.
Phoebe: What if I promise never to save any innocents with them ever again? Then can I see my sisters?
Seer: You'll feel better after this.
(Phoebe notices the plant she poured the last lot of tonic into is dying.)
Phoebe: Oh my god, it's poison.
Seer: No.
Phoebe: You told me it was good for me.
Seer: It is.
Phoebe: You're lying!
Seer: Think about it. Last night you were strong, angry perhaps, but now look at you. Whining, it's a weakness unbefitting of a queen.
Phoebe: What's in it?
Seer: Pure evil. The baby feeds on it. And as he grows stronger...
Phoebe: I get weaker.
Seer: Only the good in you.
Phoebe: You're trying to destroy me.
Seer: I'm trying to help you. I gave you life while you were dead. I gave you clarity when now you have confusion. I gave you conviction where now you have pain.
Phoebe: You took away my will. My life.
Seer: No, you made the choice to stand by your husband all on your own. For you, for Damien, and for your baby. Don't risk all of your lives by questioning that now. Drink the tonic, Phoebe.
(The Seer disappears.)
[Cut to the underworld. A room. A meeting is being held. Damien flames in. He spots Dane.]
Damien: What gives you the authority to call a meeting and summon me?
Dane: I summoned you, my liege, but I didn't call this meeting. We all did.
Damien: Oh. Then someone had better speak.
Dane: We're concerned...
Damien: Someone else.
(A demon walks forward.)
Demon #6: Malick is missing and the Charmed Ones are guarding his mark. Word on the street is that the queen works alongside her sisters who interfere with the kill.
(Damien looks at Dane.)
Damien: I wonder how that news spread.
Dane: Forgive our confusion, but we were under the impression that the power of three was weakened, now with the queen, there is an even stronger power.
Damien: The queen is pregnant, she's prone to hormonal fits. But I can assure you all that the power of three will soon be no more.
Dane: Then who killed Malick?
Damien: I did. I was convinced he was about to betray me.
Dane: Nevertheless, his mark still lives.
Damien: Then assign someone to finish the task, Dane.
Dane: I believe you already tried that, my liege.
Damien: Are you questioning me?
Dane: The innocent is still in the hands of the witches. Until we've seen evidence that the queen's hormones are indeed under control, it might be best if you took out the mark personally. For morale.
(Damien flames out.)
[Scene: Manor. Kitchen. Piper and Paige are there. Piper is sitting at the table with her head down, while Paige mixes together some ingredients in a blender.]
Piper: How many hangover cures do you have?
Paige: A lot. There was a time in my life when I needed these often.
(Payson and Cole come in.)
Payson: Did we miss anything?
Paige: No, but where have you been.
Payson: Assembling the demons. They're going to attack Damien's allies tonight.
Cole: Once his demons are dead or scattered, we'll be able to vanquish Damien.
Payson: Piper, are you okay?
(Piper looks up. Paige starts the blender.)
Piper: Ugh. (The blender makes an awful racket and Piper groans.) I'm sorry, Payson, Paige, I don't know what got into me. I mean, it's one thing when your sister has a husband that you can't stand, it's another when he is the Source of all evil.
(Paige pours the stuff from the blender into a cup and takes it over to Piper.)
Paige: Drink up, we've got some work to do.
Piper: We can't lose her. I can't lose her again; I don't think I'll survive it. (Payson sighs, going over and putting her hand on Piper's shoulder.)
Paige: I've been thinking about it. Phoebe was different today.
Piper: Yeah, she was nuts.
Paige: Yeah, but she cared, about us, about Greg. Something has changed and I think now is our chance to get her back.
Payson: How?
Paige: Well, I think we storm the underworld, bring the crystals, we still know the spell, we vanquish the Source the same way we did the last time.
Piper: Yeah, but now this time the Source is Damien.
Payson: Do you really think she's gonna say a little spell with us to vanquish him?
Paige: If she doesn't we die.
Piper: Is that supposed to be comforting?
Paige: Actually, yeah. The good in Phoebe is fighting to the surface, we saw that today. I don't think she's just gonna stand by and watch Damien kill us.
Payson: Are you willing to bet your life on that?
Paige: Aren't you?
Piper: You know, you're pretty amazing, Paige. I mean, a year ago you were an only child.
Paige: And I don't want to be again. Let's go. (Piper grabs her drink and stands up with Payson's help.) There we go. I'll get the crystals. (They walk to the bottom of the stairs and see Phoebe walking through the foyer.) Phoebe.
Phoebe: Damien is gonna kill Greg Conroy, and I can't let that happen.
Cole: So what do you wanna do?
Phoebe: I think that we have to vanquish Damien.
Paige: I knew it, I knew she was ready.
Phoebe: We have to use Greg as bait.
Paige: Bait?
Payson: He's an innocent.
Phoebe: I know, but Damien's looking for him, he'll find him wherever he is so he's safest here.
Piper: So we have Leo bring Greg here but then when Damien arrives Leo's gotta orb Greg outta here.
Payson: And then we vanquish Damien.
Paige: I'll get the crystals.
(Paige goes upstairs.)
Piper: Phoebe, um, I know how much you love Cole, I'm really...
Phoebe: I can't get emotional about this now, Piper, if I do I won't be able to go through with it.
(Paige comes back down with the crystals.)
Paige: Ready.
Piper: Leo, bring Greg.
(Leo orbs in with Greg.)
Paige: So how long do you think till Damien gets here?
(Suddenly, Phoebe changes into Damien.)
Damien: Sooner than you think.
(Damien throws a fireball at Greg and he is incinerated. Damien flames out. Payson and Cole look at each other. )
[Scene: Underworld. Phoebe's chambers. Phoebe is sitting at the table writing a letter. Damien flames in.]
Damien: Phoebe, we have to... What's the matter?
Phoebe: Did you know about the Seer's tonic? What it really does?
(He sees the letter.)
Damien: What's this? You planning to leave me?
Phoebe: I wrote two letters. One saying goodbye to you and one saying goodbye to my sisters. I haven't decided which one I'm gonna send.
Damien: Well, you'd better decide. Right now.
Phoebe: Did you know about the tonic?
Damien: Yes.
Phoebe: So you knew she was poisoning me with evil.
Damien: You took my hand and walked me through that coronation long before anybody gave you anything to drink. So if you want to pretend you're being poisoned.
Phoebe: So why even bother with the tonic? Why not just let me think for myself?
Damien: Because I know what it feels like to have good and evil fighting inside you, ripping your insides out. I wanted to save you that pain.
Phoebe: You should've trusted me to stand by you all on my own. I am a former Source myself
Damien: So show me I can. You know what's in the tonic now, you know how it works. Drink it. All on your own.
Phoebe: Damien.
(She stands up.)
Damien: I don't have time for games, Phoebe. Just drink the tonic, or leave now.
Damien: What is going on with you? What happened?
Damien: What happened is you had to go and play demon catcher with your sisters.
Phoebe: Damien, it's who I am!
Damien: It's who you were! And now we're in danger, serious danger. If you don't care about your life, or mine, or the baby's, what about Paige or Piper or Payson.
Phoebe: Don't you threaten them.
Damien: I'm not. But there's a coup underway right now, do you think whoever takes over from me will let them live? Even with the power of three they're sitting ducks. That fool, my brother, has the underworld uniting against us. They're killing my allies as we speak.
Phoebe: I don't know what to do.
Damien: You can't go back. (He picks up the glass of tonic.) There is only one choice. Drink the tonic. You have to know that I would never do anything to hurt you. Please. For us. For our son. (She hesitates and then drinks the tonic in one quick mouthful. He hugs her.) I love you, Phoebe. Just remember what ever happens next, we can handle it as long as we stay together.
Phoebe: What do you mean, what ever happens next?
Damien: The Conroy thing got serious, I had to take care of it.
(She pulls away from him.)
Phoebe: You killed him?
Damien: It was your mess, I was just cleaning it up.
Phoebe: Damien, they're gonna come after you, they're gonna come here!
Damien: Well, if they do...
Phoebe: No.
(She starts to leave the room.)
Damien: Phoebe, if it comes down to them or us...
Phoebe: Oh, god.
(She runs into the bathroom.)
Damien: Phoebe, wait.
[Cut to the bathroom. Phoebe throws up in the toilet. She then washes her face.]
Damien: Phoebe. (He knocks on the door.) Phoebe?
[Cut to the living room. Payson, Piper, Paige, Leo, and Cole orb in. Damien walks into the living room.]
Damien: Hello brother.
Payson: You evil son of a bitch.
(Payson waves her hand and sends Damien flying. Piper then blows him up and he disintegrates into fragments which fly around in a circle. Paige places the crystals on the floor around him.)
Payson: Phoebe, get out here and help us damn it. (The fragments of Damien is pulled back together.) Paige.
(Damien hits Paige and is knocked across the room. One of the crystals she was holding bounces along the floor. Damien turns to Cole and throws him across the room.)
Payson: Cole!
Damien: Don't make me kill you.
(Piper blows up Damien again and Leo heals Paige before rushing to Cole. Payson follows him.)
Piper: Phoebe, you heard what he said, he's gonna kill us, help us!
[Cut to the bathroom. Phoebe is leaning against the door, sobbing.]
Phoebe: Forgive me.
(She goes into the living room. The fragments of Damien is pulled back together and a fireball appears in his hand. Phoebe picks up the crystal that bounced across the floor.)
Damien: (to Phoebe) I'm sorry, it's, it's for the best.
Phoebe: I know it is.
(She walks over to Damien and the fireball disappears. Phoebe kisses him. Payson returns to her sisters' side with Cole in tow. She raises her hand toward her sister. Paige gives Payson a pleading look.)
Payson: Phoebe?
(Phoebe moves away from Damien.)
Phoebe: I'm sorry too.
(She places the crystal in its place and the trap is activated.)
Damien: Phoebe, no. No!
Phoebe: I'm sorry, baby, I'm so sorry.
Payson: "Penelope, Patricia, Melinda..."
(Fire appears near Damien's feet.)
Piper: "Astrid, Helena, Laura and Grace..."
Damien: I will always love you.
Paige: "Halliwell witches stand strong beside us."
Phoebe: "Vanquish this evil..."
Payson, Piper, Phoebe, Paige: "From time and space."
(They vanquish Damien and it makes a huge explosion, making the windows smash. Phoebe walks to the middle of the room and cries.)
[Scene: Manor. Payson and Cole are sitting on the stairs holding each other. Piper is leaning against the wall at the bottom of the stairs.]
Piper: Cole, maybe you should go.
Cole: No. I'm sure I'm one of the last people she wants to see.
Piper: I'm so afraid, Payson. The Source is what's keeping her alive. That baby.
Payson: I know. We're going to lose her again eventually. But for right now. (Leo walks in.)
Leo: Hey.
Piper: Hey.
Leo: Why don't you go up and see her.
Piper: I don't know what to say. I can't imagine... I mean, if it had been you...
(Leo hugs her. Paige walks in through the front door.)
Paige: Hey.
Payson: Hey.
Piper: Hey.
Paige: How's she doing?
Piper: I don't know.
Payson: She hasn't come down yet.
Paige: How long have you guys been hovering here?
Piper: A while.
Payson: Yeah.
Paige: Maybe we should go see her.
Piper. Okay. (They start to go upstairs and Piper stops.) What if she wants to be alone?
Paige: She's gonna be alone a lot. Maybe right now she needs us.
Payson: Right.
(They go upstairs and walk into Paige's bedroom. Phoebe is lying on the bed crying. Payson goes over and lies beside her. Paige then goes and lies in front of her. Piper goes and crawls in beside Paige and they comfort Phoebe.)