A/N: I think I've mentioned that I live in the Pacific Northwest a couple times before. Anyway, in winter we always get these horrible rainstorms that last for weeks on end. And at about midnight last night, a branch fell on the transformer that gives my entire neighborhood power, so I had to post this with a hotspot...

EXT. CHARLIE'S HOUSE - DAY [ESTABLISHING]

The Chevy sits at the curb of the silent house. A red Volkswagen [Julie's] idles at the curb.

INT. FRONT ROOM

BEAU SWAN walks down the stairs and opens the door. JULIE BLACK stands a few feet away from the door, noise wrinkled in disgust. Behind her, on the street, is Julie's Volkswagen. JANIE CAMERON drives, and EMBER CALL is in the passenger seat.

BEAU
You needed something?

JULIE
Maybe.

BEAU
He's not here.

JULIE
He isn't? I need to talk to you for a minute. If that's all right.

BEAU
All right. Come on in, then.

Julie glances back at Ember and Janie. Ember shakes her head.

BEAU (CONT'D)
Unless, of course, Sam won't like that. Maybe you should go back and get some written permission first.

Julie glares at Beau and walks into the house. Beau shuts the door.

JULIE
Sleepover? How nice.

BEAU
What are you doing here, Jules? What do you want?

Julie walks into the kitchen. Beau follows.

INT. KITCHEN

Beau follows Julie into the kitchen.

BEAU
Hey. If you don't have a reason for being here, you can always leave, you know.

Julie turns around.

JULIE
I wouldn't step foot in here if I didn't have to. But someone had to ask a couple of questions on behalf of the pack - and bear the message.

BEAU
Message?

JULIE
One of the Cullens is here with you.

BEAU
So what if there is?

JULIE
How long?

BEAU
Archie can be here as long as he wants to be.

JULIE
Have you informed it of the situation with Victor yet?

BEAU
Yeah...I told him.

JULIE
You should know that, as long as one of them is here, we can't watch you here anymore. You'll only be safe in La Push.

BEAU
Yeah. I get it.

JULIE
Okay. One more thing.

BEAU
Yeah?

JULIE
Are the rest of them coming back, too?

BEAU
(quiet)
No. They aren't.

JULIE
Okay. That's all then.

Julie walks out. Beau slumps against the counter. Julie walks back in and hesitates in the doorway.

JULIE (CONT'D)
Beau?

Beau looks up.

BEAU
What?

Julie walks over to Beau.

JULIE
Sorry.

Beau shakes his head.

JULIE (CONT'D)
I already knew what they were to you. I knew how you'd react if you saw one of them again. I don't know why I was so blindsided like that.

BEAU
Sorry.

JULIE
Well. It's only a visit, right? He'll be gone again soon. And then things will go back to normal.

BEAU
Can't I be friends with you and him at the same time?

JULIE
It just doesn't work that way, Beau.

BEAU
Okay. But you'll be my friend again when he has to go? Even though you know what they are to me...and that won't change...you'll come back?

JULIE
Yeah. I'll always come back, Beau. I'm your friend through it all, even if I'm not always here. Even if you are a vampire-lover.

BEAU
Okay.

JULIE
This is kind of a sucky situation.

BEAU
No kidding.

JULIE
Also, you really need a shower, Beau.

BEAU
I just took one last night. I can't smell that bad.

JULIE
It's because of your bloodsucker buddy. You smell like one of them - kind of sickly sweet, icy. It burns my nose.

BEAU
Yeah, well. Archie was going on about how bad I smelled yesterday, too. Like I said, I just took a shower. I'm not going to drive up Charlie's water bill just to satisfy you two.

JULIE
Huh. So maybe they don't like the way we smell either. You must have smelled like me.

Julie hugs Beau tightly.

JULIE (CONT'D)
He'll probably want you to take another one now.

Beau rolls his eyes.

JULIE (CONT'D)
I'll miss you. Every second. I hope the parasite gets lost soon.

Beau pushes Julie off him.

BEAU
It doesn't have to be that way, Jules. It could be different.

JULIE
You don't understand, Beau. It's better for me to stay away. They're beasts - but I know to you, they're family. And beasts or not, I'd hate to kill any family of yours. (beat) It was easier when we were both human, wasn't it?

EXT. BAR, RIO, BRAZIL - NIGHT [ESTABLISHING]

The rundown bar sits in the middle of a quiet street. Loud BANGING and GLASS SHATTERING sounds come from inside.

INT. ATTIC

Cobwebs and dust cover the ceiling and corners. EDYTHE CULLEN sits on the ground, incredibly disheveled, but still in the same suit as before. Her eyes are pitch black. Edythe's phone RINGS. She makes no move to pick it up.

EDYTHE (V.O.)
Meaningless. All of it was meaningless. My very existence was meaningless. My whole world was meaningless.

Edythe presses her forehead against her knees.

EDYTHE (V.O.; CONT'D)
Of course I could not go back. What was my pain, after all, in comparison to his happiness? He should be able to smile, free from fear and danger. Free from a longing for a soulless future. He deserved better than that. He deserved better than me. When he left this world, he would go to a place that was forever barred to me, no matter how I conducted myself here. The idea of that final separation was so much more intense than the pain I already had. When Beau went on to the place where he belonged and I never could, I would not linger here behind. There must be oblivion. There must be relief. That was my hope, but there were no guarantees. Even when I was ash, would I somehow still feel the torture of his loss? The idea of returning to the cloudy little town that would always be my true home on this planet snaked through my thoughts again. Just to check. Just to see that he's well and safe and happy. Not to interfere. He would never know I was there...

The phone RINGS again.

EDYTHE
Damn it, damn it, damn it.

Edythe picks the phone up and presses it to her ear. It's ROYAL HALE.

EDYTHE (CONT'D)
(into the phone)
What?

ROYAL (O.S.)
(from the phone)
Oh, wow. Edythe answered the phone. I feel so honored.

Edythe hangs up.

EDYTHE
Leave me alone.

The phone RINGS once more. Edythe sighs and picks it up.

EDYTHE (CONT'D)
(into the phone)
Get on with it.

ROYAL (O.S.)
(from the phone)
I thought you would want to know that Archie is in Forks.

EDYTHE
(into the phone)
What?

ROYAL (O.S.)
(from the phone)
You know how Archie is - thinks he knows everything. Like you. (beat) Are you still there, Edythe?

Edythe pinches the bridge of her nose.

ROYAL (O.S.; cont'd)
(from the phone)
Edythe? Don't you even care why Archie is there?

EDYTHE
(into the phone)
Not particularly.

ROYAL (O.S.)
(from the phone)
Well, of course, he's not exactly breaking the rules. I mean, you only warned us to stay away from Beau, right? The rest of Forks doesn't matter.

EDYTHE (V.O.)
Beau had left? He hadn't graduated yet, so he must have returned to his mother. That was good. He should live in sunshine. It was good that he'd been able to put the shadows behind him.

ROYAL (O.S.)
(from the phone)
So you don't need to be angry with Archie.

EDYTHE
(into the phone)
Then why did you call me, Royal, if not to get Archie in trouble? Why are you bothering me? Ugh!

ROYAL (O.S.)
(from the phone)
Wait! That's not why I called.

EDYTHE
(into the phone)
Then why? Tell me quickly, and then leave me alone.

ROYAL (O.S.)
(from the phone)
Well...

EDYTHE
(into the phone)
Spit it out, Royal. You have ten seconds.

ROYAL (O.S.)
(from the phone)
I think you should come home. For good, this time. I'm tired of Earnest grieving and Carine never laughing. You should feel ashamed at what you've done to them. Eleanor misses you all the time and it's getting on my nerves. You have a family. Grow up and think about something besides yourself.

EDYTHE
(into the phone)
Interesting advice, Royal. Let me tell you a little story about -

ROYAL (O.S.)
(from the phone)
I am thinking about them, unlike you. Don't you care how much you've hurt Earnest, if no one else? He loves you more than the rest of us, and you know that. Come home. (beat) I thought once this whole Forks thing was finished, you would get over it.

EDYTHE
(into the phone)
Forks was never the problem, Royal. Just because Beau has moved to Florida, it doesn't mean that I'm able... Look, Royal. I really am sorry, but, trust me, it wouldn't make anyone happier if I were there.

ROYAL (O.S.)
(from the phone)
Um...

EDYTHE
(into the phone)
What is it that you're not telling me, Royal? Is Earnest all right? Is Carine -

ROYAL (O.S.)
(from the phone)
They're fine. It's just...well, I didn't say that Beau moved. They didn't want to tell you, but I think that's stupid. The quicker you get over this, the sooner things can get back to normal. Why let you mope around the dark corners of the world when there's no need for it? You can come home now. We can be a family again. It's over. (beat) Edythe?

EDYTHE
(into the phone)
I don't understand what you're saying, Royal.

Beat.

ROYAL (O.S.)
(from the phone)
He's dead, Edythe. (beat) I'm...sorry. You have a right to know, though, I think. Beau...threw himself off a cliff two days ago. Archie saw it, but it was too late to do anything. I think he would have helped, though, broken his word, if there had been time. He went back to do what he could for Charlie. You know how he's always cared for him -

Edythe hangs up.

EXT. CHARLIE'S HOUSE - DAY [ESTABLISHING]

The house sits silent, Beau's truck sitting on the curb.

INT. KITCHEN

Beau and Julie stand in the kitchen, a phone between them. The phone RINGS. Julie picks it up.

JULIE
(into the phone)
Swan residence.

Julie stiffens and steps away from Beau.

JULIE (CONT'D)
(into the phone)
He's not here. (beat) He's at the funeral.

Julie hangs up the phone.

JULIE (CONT'D)
(to herself)
Beast. Filthy blood-sucking -

BEAU
Hey. What was that? You answer my phone in my house, then you hang up?

JULIE
Give it a rest. She hung up on me.

BEAU
Who - Who was that?

JULIE
(sneering)
Dr. Carine Cullen, apparently.

BEAU
Why didn't you let me talk to her?

JULIE
She didn't ask for you. She asked for Charlie. I told her where he was. I don't see the problem - If she wanted to talk to you, she would have asked for you.

BEAU
You should have at least told her I was here.

JULIE
Like I said, if she had wanted to talk to you -

Julie glances behind her shoulder.

JULIE (CONT'D)
See you.

Julie turns around and walks out the room.

INT. FRONT ROOM

Julie walks into the room. Beau follows her.

BEAU
Hey - What the. What are you -

ARCHIE CULLEN stands at the foot of the stairs, frozen.

ARCHIE
Beau.

BEAU
Archie? What is it? What's going on?

ARCHIE
Edythe.

EXT. DENALI CLAN'S HOUSE – DAY [ESTABLISHING]

A small house sits in the midst of trees and a blanket of thick snow.

INT. KITCHEN

Royal stands, looking out the windows. He holds a phone in his hand.

ROYAL (V.O.)
Friday, March twenty-seventh. Day number one hundred and ninety three since our family was last together. And I'd done nothing wrong. Were the others planning to never tell Edythe; to let her wallow in angst forever, while Earnest grieved and Carine second-guessed her every decision and Eleanor's joy of existence slowly drained away? Besides, there was no way to keep secrets from Edythe. She would have found us, then discovered the truth. Edythe would have thrown a huge tantrum, and it would only have been exacerbated by the fact that we'd kept Beau's death from her. When she'd calmed down, she'd probably thank me for being honest with her. Fine, so I had my own agenda. Was it such a bad thing to want my family to be together again? Was it so selfish to miss the everyday peace, the underlying happiness that Edythe seemed to have taken with her? It didn't seem so horrible. After all, I hadn't done this for myself, but for everyone. Earnest and Carine and Eleanor. Not for Archie so much, though I would have assumed that Edythe's absence would have been harder on him. But he was secure as always. Yes, I was jealous of the way Archie felt about Beau. Would Archie have raced off so rashly if it had been me he'd seen jumping off a cliff? Did he have to love that boy so much more than me? But, I would have called Edythe anyway. I was sure she preferred my blunt honesty. Their kindness was doomed from the outset. It wasn't just the contentment of my family that I missed. I honestly missed Edythe, too. I missed her cutting little remarks, the black wit that was more in harmony with my own dark sense of humor than Eleanor's sunny nature. I missed the music - her stereo blaring out her latest indie discovery, and the piano, the sound of Edythe weaving her thoughts into transparency through song. I missed her humming in the garage beside me while we tuned the cars, the only time we were perfectly in sync. I missed my little sister. Did I grieve for Beau? This much, at least: he'd made Edythe happy in a way I'd never seen before. Of course, he'd also made her more miserable than anything else. But I would miss the peace he'd given her for those few months. I could truly regret his loss.

INT. FRONT ROOM, CHARLIE'S HOUSE

Julie, Beau, and Archie stand in the front room. Beau hyperventilates slightly.

JULIE
Beau, what's wrong? What did you do to him, you little freak?

BEAU
What... What's going on? What did you see?

Archie steps toward Beau, but Julie sticks her hand out to stop him.

ARCHIE
I don't know, man. All of sudden, out of nowhere, she just - I don't get it! How could she possibly -?

Archie pulls a phone from his pocket and dials a number. He holds it to his ear.

INT. KITCHEN, DENALI CLAN'S HOUSE

Royal stands staring out the windows. The rotary phone RINGS. Royal picks it up. It's Archie.

ROYAL
(into the phone)
Yes?

ARCHIE (O.S.)
(from the phone)
Royal, get me Carine now, and I mean fucking now.

ROYAL
(into the phone)
Oh, Archie! Carine's hunting. What -?

ARCHIE (O.S.)
(from the phone)
Fine, the second she gets back then.

ROYAL
(into the phone)
What is it? I'll track her down right away and have her call you -

ARCHIE (O.S.)
(from the phone)
No, I'm getting on a plane just as soon as I can - have you heard from Edy at all?

ROYAL
(into the phone)
Well, yeah, Archie. Actually, I did talk to Edythe. Just a few minutes ago. You and Carine were wrong. Edythe wouldn't appreciate being lied to. She'd want the truth. She did want it. So I gave it to her. I called her... I called her a lot. Until she picked up. A message would have been...wrong.

ARCHIE (O.S.)
(from the phone)
You - You what?

ROYAL
(into the phone)
The sooner she gets over this, the sooner things go back to normal. It wouldn't have gotten easier with time, so why put it off? Time isn't going to change anything. Beau is dead. Edythe will grieve and then she'll get over it. Better she begins now than later.

ARCHIE (O.S.)
(from the phone)
But it turns out you're wrong. He's totally fine, he's right here - my vision was wrong. That's a story in and of itself.

ROYAL
(into the phone)
Beau's still alive?

ARCHIE (O.S.)
(from the phone)
Yes, that's right. He's absolutely fine -

ROYAL
(into the phone)
Fine? You saw him jump off a cliff!

ARCHIE (O.S.)
(from the phone)
I know.

ROYAL
(into the phone)
How?

ARCHIE (O.S.)
(from the phone)
It's a long story.

ROYAL
(into the phone)
Well, you've made quite a mess. Edythe is going to be furious when she comes home.

ARCHIE (O.S.)
(from the phone)
Oh yeah? Well, you were wrong about that, too.

ROYAL
(into the phone)
Wrong about what? Edythe coming home? Of course she will. What? You think she's going to pull a Romeo? Ha! Like some stupid, romantic -

ARCHIE (O.S.)
(from the phone)
Yeah, that is what I saw.

ROYAL
(into the phone)
No. She's not that stupid. She - she must realize that - I - I didn't mean it like that, Archie! I just wanted her to come home!

ARCHIE (O.S.)
(from the phone)
Yeah, go ahead, apologize all you want, I really don't care. As far as I'm concerned, you can go to hell.

Archie hangs up [TONE].

ROYAL
No. Edythe has to come home.

Royal sets the phone down. He looks out the windows again, to see a nearby tree move. Royal runs outside.

EXT. DENALI CLAN'S HOUSE – DAY

Royal runs out of the house, through the snow, and toward the forest.

ROYAL
(frantic; screaming)
Eleanor! Eleanor, help!

INT. FRONT ROOM, CHARLIE'S HOUSE

Beau, Archie, and Julie stand around the door.

BEAU
Carine should already be back. I mean, she called us just a second ago. Jules spoke to her.

ARCHIE
How long ago?

BEAU
Maybe thirty seconds before you showed up.

ARCHIE
What did she say?

Beat.

JULIE
What?

ARCHIE
What did she say?

BEAU
Jules.

JULIE
Nothing. She just said, "This is Dr. Carine Cullen, may I speak to Charlie Swan?" I told her he wasn't here.

ARCHIE
What else?

JULIE
That's all, shorty. Then she hung up on me.

BEAU
No. You told her Charlie was at the funeral.

JULIE
Same difference.

Archie's face slackens, and he groans.

BEAU
What is it? What's going on, Archie? Tell me.

ARCHIE
That wasn't Carine on the phone.

JULIE
You think I'm lying? She said -

ARCHIE
It was Edy.

BEAU
She thinks I killed myself. Royal told her I did.

ARCHIE
Yeah, that's exactly what that - what he did. The next time I get my hands on him...

BEAU
She called here trying to find out if what Royal said was true. So when Jules said, "He's at the funeral," of course she thought Jules meant my funeral. I don't get what you're freaking out about. It's just a misunderstanding. We can just call her back and get it all straightened out, or maybe she'll even call us back. What's the worst that will happen? She'll sit around feeling horribly guilty for a few minutes. She'll forget about it as soon as we get it all worked out.

Beau smiles. Archie's face does not change. Beau's smile fades.

BEAU (CONT'D)
What is it?

ARCHIE
Beau, man, she's not going to call again. She has her answer already.

BEAU
So? So call her back. Or if she won't answer, someone go and find her. You aren't just going to leave her to sit and feel bad.

ARCHIE
She isn't sitting. She's already left. She's headed to Italy.

BEAU
Executed. It can't be. It doesn't...make sense. Maybe back then, when we were - But now? It doesn't...doesn't make sense.

ARCHIE
You know what I'm talking about? About Italy?

BEAU
She told me once. About them - but why? It doesn't make sense, not now. What can we do?

ARCHIE
We're probably already too late. I saw her going to the Volturi...asking to die... But I can't see the Volturi's decision yet, not until she asks them.

BEAU
So they might decide not to kill her?

ARCHIE
They might. Sulpicia and the others know Carine, so that could be a factor - Sulpicia has a lot of respect for Carine, and she might be reluctant to do anything to upset her. But that doesn't matter, because if they don't, Edythe plans to force their hand anyway. She's going to break the single most important law of our kind - right there in their own city.

BEAU
So - So -

ARCHIE
So if they grant her request at the outset, we won't make it. If they say no and she comes up with a plan to force them to act quickly enough, then it's over, too. But - if she waits...gives in to her more theatrical side... We might have a chance.

BEAU
If she sees me. That's our only chance. (beat) What are we waiting for? Let's go!

ARCHIE
I don't know, man. I don't know if I can ask you. You'll be surrounded by vampires. And these aren't vampires like us - they hunt and eat humans. Sulpicia, for the most part, has her guard prey on what she considers the bad, destructive elements of human society, but accidents happen. All the time.

BEAU
Are we going now, or am I going without you?

ARCHIE
Right. Then I'll go order us some airplane tickets. You go grab your wallet and leave a note for Charlie.

BEAU
Charlie.

JULIE
I won't let anything happen to Charlie. I'll break the treaty if I have to.

Beau nods and runs to the kitchen.

INT. KITCHEN

Beau goes into the kitchen and pulls open a drawer. Julie follows him. Beau throws the contents of the drawer out, looking for a pen. Julie hands him one.

BEAU
Thanks.

Julie slides a pad of paper over to Beau. Beau writes, "Dad, I've gone with Archie. Edythe's in trouble. Feel free to ground me when I get back. Know this is a crappy time. Really sorry. Love, Beau."

JULIE
Beau, you can't go there. You'll die.

BEAU
Take care of Charlie.

Beau walks out of the room.

INT. FRONT ROOM

Archie stands by the door, a bag over his shoulder. Beau walks over to him.

ARCHIE
Wallet. Please tell me you have a passport, because there's no time to get one forged.

Beau nods and races up the stairs. Julie enters the room.

JULIE
Do you have any idea what you're doing? You might as well take him out in a boat and throw him to the sharks! It's dangerous enough for him just being around you. You might be a beast, but you put in a little effort. These monsters - you can't take him there!

ARCHIE
I know what they are - better than you do, dog. Beau knows the risks, and you heard his choice. You going to try to stop him?

JULIE
I don't know.

ARCHIE
You think he'd be better off if I left him here alone, with Victor stalking him?

JULIE
We can handle the redhead.

ARCHIE
Then why is he still hunting?

Julie growls. Beau runs down the stairs, a backpack slung over his shoulder.

BEAU
Cut it out. You can fight when we get back, let's go!

Archie walks out the door. Beau and Julie follow him.

EXT. CHARLIE'S HOUSE – DAY

Archie gets in driver's side of the Mercedes. Beau goes to follow him, but Julie puts a hand on his arm.

JULIE
Please, Beau. Don't go.

BEAU
I have to.

JULIE
No you don't. If you go there, Beau, you'll die. Please - stay. For Charlie. For me.

Archie revves the engine of the Mercedes. Beau turns to get in the car.

JULIE (CONT'D)
Don't go. Please, Beau.

Beau hugs Julie quickly.

BEAU
Take care of Charlie.

Beau runs to the car and gets in. As Archie speeds away, Julie runs across the sidewalk and explodes into a wolf.