AUTHOR'S NOTE

This story is the first "episode" of what one might call my alternate season six of Charmed. This script does not take anything that has happened in the actual season six into account. So my characterization of Chris is a bit different from the show's because when I wrote this "episode" the season had yet to air.

I hope you enjoy.

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INT. MANOR - ATTIC - NIGHT

PAIGE is sitting at a low table, covered in witch supplies--honey, herbs, a few lit candles, a pot of boiling water, and the Book of Shadows. The only non-pagan object on the table is Wyatt's baby monitor. Paige glances at the Book of Shadows as she picks up measuring spoons to measure out some herbs.

PAIGE
Phoebe! Will you come on all ready?

PHOEBE enters, speaking on a cordless phone and carrying two coffee mugs.

PHOEBE
...Okay, Elise. I will. Okay. Good night.

She hangs up the phone and sits down at the table across from Paige.

PHOEBE (cont'd)
Okay, okay. You don't have to yell. You'll wake up the baby.

PAIGE
He's going to wake up anyway if the phone keeps ringing every
two seconds. I thought the point of taking a vacation was to not
work.

PHOEBE
I know, but Elise and some of the other editors are making
decisions about content and promotion so she keeps calling to...
(off Paige's look)
Vacation. Right. So, what did I miss?

PAIGE
Pretty much everything. All that's left is adding the valerian
root and we're ready.

Phoebe reaches for the measuring spoons and the valerian root. PIPER enters, dressed as though she had been out.

PIPER
Hey. What are you guys doing up here? Are we demon dueling?

PHOEBE
No. We're about to perform a tea ceremony.

PIPER
Oh. Good.

She collapses, exhausted and exasperated, on a nearby loveseat.

PIPER (cont'd)
I'm feeling a little battle worn tonight.

PAIGE
Things didn't go well with Javier at the club?

PIPER
Nope.

PAIGE
Piper, if the guy keeps screwing up, why don't you fire him?

PIPER
I know. I should. It's just... With everything that's been going
wrong in his life recently I don't want to add being fired to
the list.

Paige gives her an understanding look, but Phoebe doesn't seem to have a clue what they are talking about.

PIPER (cont'd)
So, why are you two doing the tea thing?

PAIGE
It was Phoebe's idea.

Piper and Paige share a surprised look that Phoebe does not notice.

PIPER
(to Phoebe)
I thought you had a date with Evan tonight.

PHOEBE
I did, but he had to cancel. And since I've been feeling
stretched kinda thin with work and everything, I thought this
might help me find a little balance. You know, cast out some
negative energy.

PAIGE
(to Piper)
Do you want to join us? I think we have enough water.

PIPER
Sure. Just let me go change. Did you put Wyatt to bed?

PAIGE
Actually, I decided to take him clubbing instead. We hit a few
places but then I lost track of him. I was tired so I came on
home, but the last I saw him he was partying down with a few
girls at a bar over on 5th.

PIPER
Paige...

PAIGE
You know I'm kidding. I gave him a bottle...
(off Piper's look)
Of milk and put him to bed. He hasn't made a peep since.

PIPER
Well, I'll look in on him anyway to make sure he isn't passed
out holding a shot glass with a diaper on his head.

Piper leaves.

PHOEBE
Hey, who's Javier?

PAIGE
The assistant manager at the club.

PHOEBE
What happened to Denise?

PAIGE
Denise? She had to quit about six months ago when her girlfriend
was transferred.

PHOEBE
(troubled by her unawareness)
Oh.

PAIGE
Hey, the water's getting cold. Do you want to go ahead and
start? Piper can join in when she gets back.

PHOEBE
Okay.

They both pour the valerian root they had measured out into the pot of hot water and join hands across the table as they begin to chant:

PAIGE and PHOEBE
Nervous anxiety, you are dead.
Roots and water, soothe our heads.
Bring to us your calming peace.
As we will, so mote it be.

As they finish the spell, PUSH TO PHOEBE who begins to shake and she is thrown into a...

PREMONITION

This premonition is unlike any premonition Phoebe has had before. Images flash before her, rapid-fire, so fast she can't even register them: episode 17, year 4 - Phoebe giving Piper CPR; episode 20, year 4 - Piper, drunk, telling Leo that she let Cole destroy Phoebe; episode 11, year 5 - Cole killing the woman in the hospital; episode 16, year 4 - Paige being tormented by Cole in the attic; episode 4, year 5 - Cole killing the slum lord; episode 9, year 5 - Paige dying from darklighter poison; episode 18, year 4 - Cole standing over an unconscious Paige with a fireball; episode 21, year 4 - Piper telling Paige that she might not be able to have children; episode 6, year 5 - Lydia being killed; episode 20, year 4 - Paige being hit by Cole's fireball; episode 22, year 3 - Shax menacing in the manor; episode 1, year 4 - Piper crying at Prue's funeral; episode 1, year 4 - Prue's coffin; episode 3, season 4 - Prue's grave marker. The bombardment stops as the last image--Prue's grave marker--lingers in her mind's eye for several moments.

IN THE ATTIC Phoebe opens her eyes, breathing hard and shaken by what she has just experienced.

PAIGE
Phoebe, are you okay?

Phoebe does not respond, but remains staring vacantly past her sister.

PAIGE (cont'd, O.S.)
Phoebe?

END OF TEASER