INT. MANOR - FOYER/LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
DAN and Piper haven't moved. Piper is still trying to overcome her shock.
PIPER
Dan. What are you doing here?
DAN
Well, I was home visiting my family and my sister wanted to make
a side trip to San Francisco. So I thought that since I was in
town I would drop by.
(off Piper's look)
I should have called first.
PIPER
(trying to look less distressed)
Of course not. I'm just surprised.
(genuinely)
It's good to see you.
They hug a little awkwardly.
DAN
(noticing Piper's expression)
Is this a bad time?
PIPER
Um...
Piper freezes him.
PIPER (cont'd)
Phoebe!
Phoebe and Paige walk through the dining room heading towards Piper.
PHOEBE
What?
(then)
Oh my God! That's Dan.
PIPER
I know.
PHOEBE
He must have like a sensor in his brain or something. As soon as
you and Leo--
PIPER
Phoebe, his uncanny sense of timing is not the issue here, thank
you.
PHOEBE
What's he doing here? I thought he moved to Oregon.
PAIGE
(unconsciously)
Portland!
(off Piper's look)
Sorry.
PIPER
He came down to see his family and thought he would stop by to
visit.
PAIGE
Okay, I'm confused. What's the deal with the cute guy?
Piper and Phoebe look at Paige, realizing that she was not around when Piper knew Dan.
PHOEBE
He's Piper's ex-boyfriend.
PAIGE
Oh.
(then)
Oh, Dan. The Dan you broke up with to marry Leo? That Dan?
PIPER
Yeah. What am I going to do?
PHOEBE
Well, first I would unfreeze him and then I would talk to him.
PIPER
That's it? You write an advice column for a living and that's
the best you can come up with?
PHOEBE
Piper, calm down. I'm sure that after a hug and a hello he'll be
on his way.
PIPER
Phoebe, it's Dan. Nothing could be that simple with him. What if
he's here to try to get back together with me?
PHOEBE
What if he's here just to say hello to an old friend?
(off Piper's hesitation)
Piper, as handy as your power is for allowing you to gather your
thoughts, it does not make your problems disappear.
PIPER
I know. I just-- I just don't want to have to hurt him again.
Phoebe and Paige both look at her sympathetically.
PIPER (cont'd)
Look, you two go back in the other room. I'll unfreeze him and
talk to him.
PHOEBE
Good girl. It'll be fine, I promise.
Phoebe and Paige hurry back to the kitchen while Piper collects herself and resumes her position in front of Dan. She unfreezes him. Dan stares at her, expecting an answer to the question he asked before Piper froze him. Piper looks back at him expecting him to say something.
DAN
(prompting her for an answer)
So is it?
PIPER
(confused)
Is it what?
DAN
A bad time.
PIPER
(remembering his question)
Oh. Uh, no. Not really.
DAN
Look, I didn't mean to disrupt your morning. I just wanted to
see you and say hello. I mean, it's been a while since we've
seen each other.
PIPER
It sure has. How long has it been?
DAN
About three years, I think.
PIPER
Three years? Wow. It feels a lot longer than that.
DAN
Yeah, it does.
PIPER
(trying to make conversation)
You look good.
DAN
And you look beautiful.
Piper looks both uncomfortable and pleased with his comment.
INT. MANOR - KITCHEN - DAY
Phoebe is washing dishes as Paige puts away food from breakfast. Paige looks anxiously at the door.
PAIGE
Dammit. If I don't leave now I'm going to be late for my
interview.
(reaching for her purse)
Will you tell me all of the good stuff later?
PHOEBE
I promise. Good luck at your interview.
Paige says goodbye and leaves through the back door.
EXT. MANOR - BACK DOOR/DRIVEWAY - CONTINUOUS
Paige emerges from the house and starts walking down the driveway to her car, rummaging through her purse. She pauses, suddenly feeling as though she is being watched. She looks around warily. Her attention is drawn to a particular spot on the side of the house. After a few moments, she reluctantly dismisses her search and gets in her car. As she starts down the driveway, ANGLE on the spot on the wall that had captured Paige's attention, where a ghostly face emerges. The face follows Paige's car down the driveway and then recedes back into the wall.
INT. MANOR - KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER
The face emerges from a kitchen cabinet, watching Phoebe as she washes dishes. LEO ORBS in.
PHOEBE
(surprised)
Leo.
The face recedes quickly.
LEO
Hey, Phoebe. Are you busy right now?
PHOEBE
(nervous about Dan being in the next room)
What-- What are you doing here? I thought-- Piper said you
weren't orbing in on her like that at the moment.
LEO
I'm not. I'm orbing in on you. I need your help.
PHOEBE
With what?
LEO
I was wondering if you could try to use your power to see what
happened to me in the alternate plane or who kidnapped me--
something that might give us a clue to who is behind all this.
PHOEBE
Uh, not that I don't want to help, but isn't there an Elder with
powers like mine only, you know, more powerful?
LEO
Actually, no. The ability to see the past is a lot more rare
than the ability to see the future. There were only a few Elders
with that power and they were killed when the Titans attacked.
PHOEBE
Oh. I see.
LEO
Also, your power has always been the most effective at targeting
specific events.
(then)
So will you help me?
PHOEBE
Sure, I have some time. I was going to work at home this morning
anyway.
Leo moves to sit at the kitchen table.
PHOEBE (cont'd)
(thinking of Piper and Dan)
Actually, why don't we go up to my room? We'll be more
comfortable there.
LEO
Okay...
Leo heads toward the kitchen door.
PHOEBE
And why don't we orb? Piper is out there with a friend and I
would hate for her to think that you weren't respecting her
wishes if we walked in and interrupted.
LEO
That's probably a good idea.
PHOEBE
Okay, good.
Leo takes Phoebe's hand and they ORB out.
INT. MANOR - FOYER - MORNING
Piper and Dan are still standing by the door chatting.
DAN
Listen, I wasn't sure whether to bring this up, but I'm going
back to Portland tomorrow and I would love to have more time to
catch up. Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?
PIPER
Uh, I don't know.
DAN
If you don't want to I'd understand.
PIPER
Well, I don't know if I can. I might have plans with...
(she almost says "my husband" but she hesitates)
...with someone.
DAN
How about you check and decide if you want to go and I'll call
you later?
PIPER
(a beat, then)
Okay.
DAN
Okay? I'll give you a call at the club around ten then.
PIPER
Okay.
They stand silently for a few moments.
DAN
I'd, uh, better be going so you can go to work.
PIPER
Work. That's probably a good idea.
Piper opens the front door.
DAN
I'll talk to you later.
PIPER
Right.
Dan awkwardly kisses Piper on the cheek.
DAN
It was good to see you.
Dan leaves and Piper closes the door after him. She leans back against the doorframe, trying to absorb what just happened. After a moment, she walks toward the kitchen.
INT. MANOR - PHOEBE'S BEDROOM - DAY
Phoebe and Leo are sitting on the floor holding hands with their eyes closed. Phoebe cringes as she sees...
INT. ALTERNATE PLANE - CAVERN - ETERNAL NIGHT - PHOEBE'S PREMONITION
Leo lies on a ceremonial table, bound at the wrists and ankles with leather straps. A knife held by an unseen someone carves the Mark of Ahriman into Leo's arm. Ominous chanting begins as energy flows into the cut, draining Leo of his powers. CLOSE UP on Leo's face as it contorts in pain.
IN PHOEBE'S BEDROOM Phoebe opens her eyes as the premonition ends.
PHOEBE
Nothing. I keep hitting the same psychic wall like with Julie. I
can see you, but not your surroundings.
(noticing Leo's expression)
Did you see...?
LEO
Yeah. I saw what you saw.
PHOEBE
You don't remember any of that happening to you?
LEO
No... After saying goodbye to Piper to become an Elder--
PIPER (o.s.)
Pheebs?
Phoebe and Leo look toward the door where Piper soon appears.
PIPER (cont'd)
Phoebe, are you up here?
(then)
Leo. I didn't know you were here.
LEO
I came to see Phoebe. I hope that's all right.
PIPER
Of course it is. I didn't mean to interrupt.
LEO
No, I'm glad you did. I wanted to ask if you and Wyatt and I
could go to the park tomorrow. Maybe we could take a picnic and
feed the ducks?
PIPER
That sounds great, but I have to check with my assistant manager
first.
LEO
Okay. Just let me know.
Sounds of Wyatt fussing come from across the hall.
PIPER
Oh...
LEO
(indicating Wyatt)
Do you mind if I...?
PIPER
No, go ahead.
Leo leaves and Piper closes the door behind him.
PHOEBE
You know, I think it's so sweet how polite you are to each
other.
PIPER
You think this is funny? I have Dan at the front door, Leo in my
bedroom... Did I miss something? Did we time travel back to
1999? Because I have to say, I was liking 2003. Things were
finally beginning to make sense again in 2003.
PHOEBE
What happened?
PIPER
He asked me to dinner.
PHOEBE
Really? What did you say?
PIPER
I told him I didn't know if I could go, but the truth is I don't
know if I want to.
PHOEBE
Because it's Dan?
PIPER
Because it's Dan, because there's Leo, because there's Leo and
Dan.
(then)
It feels like I've stepped back in time somehow and I'm having
to choose between them all over again.
PHOEBE
Piper, that's all in the past. You made your decision, and you
married Leo.
PIPER
And that turned out well. We're currently separated and sound
like business partners when we talk to each other.
PHOEBE
Are you still attracted to Dan?
Piper shrugs noncommittally.
PHOEBE (cont'd)
(impressed)
He looked good.
PIPER
(betraying her true feelings)
He did, didn't he?
(then)
But that's not the point.
PHOEBE
Isn't it? You feel like you're betraying Leo because you are
attracted to someone who isn't your husband?
PIPER
Okay, maybe it is a point, but right now I'm more concerned
about the possibility of telling Dan about Leo.
PHOEBE
You didn't tell him about Leo?
PIPER
No, I didn't think a twenty-minute conversation was enough time
for me to justify my marrying a man who for all intents and
purposes died in 1942. But I don't think that I can avoid
personal questions for an entire dinner.
PHOEBE
And I guess you didn't tell him about Wyatt either?
PIPER
My half-whitelighter/half-witch son who is the most powerful
magical being ever to be born? Didn't happen to come up.
PHOEBE
You know, you don't have to tell Dan everything.
PIPER
Great. I can just lie to him again.
Leo knocks softly on the door before pushing it open and entering the room carrying WYATT.
LEO
Sorry to interrupt, but I'm being summoned.
Piper takes Wyatt from him.
LEO (cont'd)
Just give me a call and let me know about tomorrow.
Saying goodbye, Leo kisses Wyatt and then hesitantly kisses Piper on the cheek before he ORBS out. Piper and Phoebe share a look.
INT. MANOR - PIPER'S BEDROOM - MORNING
On one of the walls, the mysterious face appears again, but this time it emerges farther from the wall so that a head becomes visible. A torso soon follows it, then an arm, etc. as the demon MELKOR pulls away from the wall and enters the room. Smiling in satisfaction, he crosses over to Piper's dresser and begins touching the things on top: lipsticks, photographs, etc.
CHRIS
What are you doing here?
Melkor turns to find CHRIS standing behind him. He quickly tosses a red ball of energy at Chris, but the usually deadly energy bounces harmlessly off of Chris, who smirks.
CHRIS (cont'd)
There's really no point in that. I'm not going to kill you.
MELKOR
(suspicious)
What do you want?
CHRIS
You know, I really wasn't expecting you to show up for another
couple of months.
MELKOR
Who the--
CHRIS
Shh!
The sound of Phoebe and Piper's voices comes from the hallway, getting louder. Chris grabs Melkor by the collar and they DEMATERIALIZE.
INT. MELKOR'S LAIR - ETERNAL NIGHT
Chris and Melkor MATERIALIZE and Melkor looks around in confusion, backing away from Chris.
MELKOR
Who the hell are you? Do I know you?
CHRIS
Not yet, but I think you know my kind.
Melkor and Chris share a gaze in which a communication passes between them.
MELKOR
Why are you protecting witches then?
CHRIS
Who says I'm protecting them?
MELKOR
(a beat, then)
Look, did Hylan send you? Because I told him I wasn't interested-
-
CHRIS
I'm not here to recruit you. I'm here to help you.
MELKOR
(skeptically)
Help me what?
CHRIS
Kill the Charmed Ones.
INT. MANOR - SUNROOM - MORNING
Phoebe sits at the table typing on her laptop. Wyatt is nearby in his playpen. The front door closes as Paige enters the manor.
PAIGE (o.s.)
Hello?
PHOEBE
In here!
Paige enters the sunroom.
PHOEBE (cont'd)
Hey. How was your interview?
PAIGE
Pretty good.
Paige sits next to Phoebe at the table, ready for gossip.
PAIGE (cont'd)
Where's Piper?
PHOEBE
At the club.
PAIGE
So? What happened with Dan?
PHOEBE
Well--
Chris ORBS in holding the Book of Shadows open to a particular page.
CHRIS
Demon.
PAIGE
Shoe horn!
(off Chris' look)
Well, what kind of greeting was that?
PHOEBE
(to Chris)
What demon?
Chris places the Book of Shadows in front of them.
PHOEBE (cont'd)
Melkor.
CHRIS
He has been lurking around a couple of my charges.
PAIGE
Has he attacked them?
CHRIS
No, which worries me. I think he might be funneling information
to an upper-level demon.
PHOEBE
Well, he doesn't look too difficult to vanquish. There's a
potion to make--
Chris produces a vial of potion from his pocket along with a piece of Melkor's clothing.
CHRIS
Got it. And something for you to scry with.
PHOEBE
Okay then. I'll go get the scrying stuff.
Paige eyes Chris suspiciously.
PAIGE
I'll call Sheila and see if she can take care of Wyatt.
Phoebe heads toward the attic, and Paige leaves to find the telephone. With their backs turned, Chris waves his hand and both women hesitate as a strange feeling passes through them. Looking down at the Book, Chris passes his hand over it and the entry about Melkor morphs into its original form-- the entry for the Awakening Spell. Smiling, Chris closes the Book.
INT. MELKOR'S LAIR - ETERNAL NIGHT
Paige and Phoebe ORB in. They are mid-conversation.
PAIGE
I'm just saying--don't you think it's a little weird that he
pulled everything we would need to vanquish this demon out of
his pocket?
PHOEBE
He said that the demon had been spying on his charges. He
probably did some research.
PAIGE
Maybe. But I don't think he is telling us everything.
Phoebe and Paige study their surroundings.
PHOEBE
Okay, where is this demon?
PAIGE
Maybe Chris gave us the wrong piece of clothing.
MELKOR (o.s.)
I doubt it.
The sisters turn around to find Melkor standing behind them.
MELKOR (cont'd)
I gave it to him myself.
Paige throws the vial of potion at Melkor, but he tosses a ball of energy to blow up the potion before it hits him. The potion explodes in a bright flash of white light that grows until--
THE SCREEN GOES WHITE
INT. P3 - PIPER'S OFFICE - DAY
Piper is sitting at her desk doing paperwork. At a knock on the door, Piper looks up to find Dan standing in the doorway.
DAN
Hi.
PIPER
Hey. Come in.
Piper gets up from her desk to close the door behind Dan.
DAN
The club looks great.
PIPER
Thanks. And thanks for coming.
DAN
Sure. I'm a little confused about why you wanted me to come
though.
PIPER
Well, I wanted to tell you something.
(a beat, then)
Maybe it would be easier if we sat down.
Dan sits in a chair and Piper leans back against her desk.
PIPER (cont'd)
Dan, I'm married.
DAN
Oh?
PIPER
To Leo.
DAN
(tersely)
I see.
(a beat, then)
How long?
PIPER
A little more than two years now.
Piper waits for some kind of response from Dan, but he is oddly inexpressive. She picks up a framed photograph of Wyatt, Leo and herself and hands it to him.
PIPER (cont'd)
And we have a little boy. He's a little bigger now.
Dan softens some and finally allows himself to smile at the picture of Wyatt.
DAN
He's beautiful.
PIPER
Thank you.
Piper takes the photo from him and puts it back on her desk.
DAN
Piper, why did you tell me...like this?
PIPER
Because I felt like I lied to you this morning. And I wanted you
to understand why I can't go out to dinner with you.
DAN
Because of Leo?
PIPER
Yes-- No. Because Leo and I are...working through some problems.
So right now my first priority is trying to make our
relationship work. And I don't want Leo to think any
differently.
DAN
(a beat, then)
I understand.
(then)
I think I'd better go.
Dan stands to leave.
PIPER
No, wait. If you want, I would love for you to come eat dinner
with the family. You can visit with Phoebe and meet Paige.
(off his look)
Leo won't be there.
DAN
I'll think about it.
PIPER
Call me?
DAN
Sure.
Piper, with only a little hesitation, gives him a friendly hug. As they pull away from each other, their eyes meet. Their gazes remain locked for a pregnant moment until their lips come together and they kiss. There is a strange familiarity to their kiss and when it ends neither Dan nor Piper seems uncomfortable or surprised that it happened. In fact, they are acting like it is a very common occurrence.
DAN
I'll see you at home later?
PIPER
Okay.
Giving Piper another kiss, Dan happily says goodbye and leaves. Piper, smiling, walks back to her desk where we see that the photograph of Piper, Leo and Wyatt is now a picture of Piper and Dan.
END OF ACT I
=========================================
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Please don't hate me and please keep reading all of you Piper/Leo fans. Trust me. I'm still planning on having "Piper & Leo 4 Eva" tattooed somewhere on my body.
DAN and Piper haven't moved. Piper is still trying to overcome her shock.
PIPER
Dan. What are you doing here?
DAN
Well, I was home visiting my family and my sister wanted to make
a side trip to San Francisco. So I thought that since I was in
town I would drop by.
(off Piper's look)
I should have called first.
PIPER
(trying to look less distressed)
Of course not. I'm just surprised.
(genuinely)
It's good to see you.
They hug a little awkwardly.
DAN
(noticing Piper's expression)
Is this a bad time?
PIPER
Um...
Piper freezes him.
PIPER (cont'd)
Phoebe!
Phoebe and Paige walk through the dining room heading towards Piper.
PHOEBE
What?
(then)
Oh my God! That's Dan.
PIPER
I know.
PHOEBE
He must have like a sensor in his brain or something. As soon as
you and Leo--
PIPER
Phoebe, his uncanny sense of timing is not the issue here, thank
you.
PHOEBE
What's he doing here? I thought he moved to Oregon.
PAIGE
(unconsciously)
Portland!
(off Piper's look)
Sorry.
PIPER
He came down to see his family and thought he would stop by to
visit.
PAIGE
Okay, I'm confused. What's the deal with the cute guy?
Piper and Phoebe look at Paige, realizing that she was not around when Piper knew Dan.
PHOEBE
He's Piper's ex-boyfriend.
PAIGE
Oh.
(then)
Oh, Dan. The Dan you broke up with to marry Leo? That Dan?
PIPER
Yeah. What am I going to do?
PHOEBE
Well, first I would unfreeze him and then I would talk to him.
PIPER
That's it? You write an advice column for a living and that's
the best you can come up with?
PHOEBE
Piper, calm down. I'm sure that after a hug and a hello he'll be
on his way.
PIPER
Phoebe, it's Dan. Nothing could be that simple with him. What if
he's here to try to get back together with me?
PHOEBE
What if he's here just to say hello to an old friend?
(off Piper's hesitation)
Piper, as handy as your power is for allowing you to gather your
thoughts, it does not make your problems disappear.
PIPER
I know. I just-- I just don't want to have to hurt him again.
Phoebe and Paige both look at her sympathetically.
PIPER (cont'd)
Look, you two go back in the other room. I'll unfreeze him and
talk to him.
PHOEBE
Good girl. It'll be fine, I promise.
Phoebe and Paige hurry back to the kitchen while Piper collects herself and resumes her position in front of Dan. She unfreezes him. Dan stares at her, expecting an answer to the question he asked before Piper froze him. Piper looks back at him expecting him to say something.
DAN
(prompting her for an answer)
So is it?
PIPER
(confused)
Is it what?
DAN
A bad time.
PIPER
(remembering his question)
Oh. Uh, no. Not really.
DAN
Look, I didn't mean to disrupt your morning. I just wanted to
see you and say hello. I mean, it's been a while since we've
seen each other.
PIPER
It sure has. How long has it been?
DAN
About three years, I think.
PIPER
Three years? Wow. It feels a lot longer than that.
DAN
Yeah, it does.
PIPER
(trying to make conversation)
You look good.
DAN
And you look beautiful.
Piper looks both uncomfortable and pleased with his comment.
INT. MANOR - KITCHEN - DAY
Phoebe is washing dishes as Paige puts away food from breakfast. Paige looks anxiously at the door.
PAIGE
Dammit. If I don't leave now I'm going to be late for my
interview.
(reaching for her purse)
Will you tell me all of the good stuff later?
PHOEBE
I promise. Good luck at your interview.
Paige says goodbye and leaves through the back door.
EXT. MANOR - BACK DOOR/DRIVEWAY - CONTINUOUS
Paige emerges from the house and starts walking down the driveway to her car, rummaging through her purse. She pauses, suddenly feeling as though she is being watched. She looks around warily. Her attention is drawn to a particular spot on the side of the house. After a few moments, she reluctantly dismisses her search and gets in her car. As she starts down the driveway, ANGLE on the spot on the wall that had captured Paige's attention, where a ghostly face emerges. The face follows Paige's car down the driveway and then recedes back into the wall.
INT. MANOR - KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER
The face emerges from a kitchen cabinet, watching Phoebe as she washes dishes. LEO ORBS in.
PHOEBE
(surprised)
Leo.
The face recedes quickly.
LEO
Hey, Phoebe. Are you busy right now?
PHOEBE
(nervous about Dan being in the next room)
What-- What are you doing here? I thought-- Piper said you
weren't orbing in on her like that at the moment.
LEO
I'm not. I'm orbing in on you. I need your help.
PHOEBE
With what?
LEO
I was wondering if you could try to use your power to see what
happened to me in the alternate plane or who kidnapped me--
something that might give us a clue to who is behind all this.
PHOEBE
Uh, not that I don't want to help, but isn't there an Elder with
powers like mine only, you know, more powerful?
LEO
Actually, no. The ability to see the past is a lot more rare
than the ability to see the future. There were only a few Elders
with that power and they were killed when the Titans attacked.
PHOEBE
Oh. I see.
LEO
Also, your power has always been the most effective at targeting
specific events.
(then)
So will you help me?
PHOEBE
Sure, I have some time. I was going to work at home this morning
anyway.
Leo moves to sit at the kitchen table.
PHOEBE (cont'd)
(thinking of Piper and Dan)
Actually, why don't we go up to my room? We'll be more
comfortable there.
LEO
Okay...
Leo heads toward the kitchen door.
PHOEBE
And why don't we orb? Piper is out there with a friend and I
would hate for her to think that you weren't respecting her
wishes if we walked in and interrupted.
LEO
That's probably a good idea.
PHOEBE
Okay, good.
Leo takes Phoebe's hand and they ORB out.
INT. MANOR - FOYER - MORNING
Piper and Dan are still standing by the door chatting.
DAN
Listen, I wasn't sure whether to bring this up, but I'm going
back to Portland tomorrow and I would love to have more time to
catch up. Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?
PIPER
Uh, I don't know.
DAN
If you don't want to I'd understand.
PIPER
Well, I don't know if I can. I might have plans with...
(she almost says "my husband" but she hesitates)
...with someone.
DAN
How about you check and decide if you want to go and I'll call
you later?
PIPER
(a beat, then)
Okay.
DAN
Okay? I'll give you a call at the club around ten then.
PIPER
Okay.
They stand silently for a few moments.
DAN
I'd, uh, better be going so you can go to work.
PIPER
Work. That's probably a good idea.
Piper opens the front door.
DAN
I'll talk to you later.
PIPER
Right.
Dan awkwardly kisses Piper on the cheek.
DAN
It was good to see you.
Dan leaves and Piper closes the door after him. She leans back against the doorframe, trying to absorb what just happened. After a moment, she walks toward the kitchen.
INT. MANOR - PHOEBE'S BEDROOM - DAY
Phoebe and Leo are sitting on the floor holding hands with their eyes closed. Phoebe cringes as she sees...
INT. ALTERNATE PLANE - CAVERN - ETERNAL NIGHT - PHOEBE'S PREMONITION
Leo lies on a ceremonial table, bound at the wrists and ankles with leather straps. A knife held by an unseen someone carves the Mark of Ahriman into Leo's arm. Ominous chanting begins as energy flows into the cut, draining Leo of his powers. CLOSE UP on Leo's face as it contorts in pain.
IN PHOEBE'S BEDROOM Phoebe opens her eyes as the premonition ends.
PHOEBE
Nothing. I keep hitting the same psychic wall like with Julie. I
can see you, but not your surroundings.
(noticing Leo's expression)
Did you see...?
LEO
Yeah. I saw what you saw.
PHOEBE
You don't remember any of that happening to you?
LEO
No... After saying goodbye to Piper to become an Elder--
PIPER (o.s.)
Pheebs?
Phoebe and Leo look toward the door where Piper soon appears.
PIPER (cont'd)
Phoebe, are you up here?
(then)
Leo. I didn't know you were here.
LEO
I came to see Phoebe. I hope that's all right.
PIPER
Of course it is. I didn't mean to interrupt.
LEO
No, I'm glad you did. I wanted to ask if you and Wyatt and I
could go to the park tomorrow. Maybe we could take a picnic and
feed the ducks?
PIPER
That sounds great, but I have to check with my assistant manager
first.
LEO
Okay. Just let me know.
Sounds of Wyatt fussing come from across the hall.
PIPER
Oh...
LEO
(indicating Wyatt)
Do you mind if I...?
PIPER
No, go ahead.
Leo leaves and Piper closes the door behind him.
PHOEBE
You know, I think it's so sweet how polite you are to each
other.
PIPER
You think this is funny? I have Dan at the front door, Leo in my
bedroom... Did I miss something? Did we time travel back to
1999? Because I have to say, I was liking 2003. Things were
finally beginning to make sense again in 2003.
PHOEBE
What happened?
PIPER
He asked me to dinner.
PHOEBE
Really? What did you say?
PIPER
I told him I didn't know if I could go, but the truth is I don't
know if I want to.
PHOEBE
Because it's Dan?
PIPER
Because it's Dan, because there's Leo, because there's Leo and
Dan.
(then)
It feels like I've stepped back in time somehow and I'm having
to choose between them all over again.
PHOEBE
Piper, that's all in the past. You made your decision, and you
married Leo.
PIPER
And that turned out well. We're currently separated and sound
like business partners when we talk to each other.
PHOEBE
Are you still attracted to Dan?
Piper shrugs noncommittally.
PHOEBE (cont'd)
(impressed)
He looked good.
PIPER
(betraying her true feelings)
He did, didn't he?
(then)
But that's not the point.
PHOEBE
Isn't it? You feel like you're betraying Leo because you are
attracted to someone who isn't your husband?
PIPER
Okay, maybe it is a point, but right now I'm more concerned
about the possibility of telling Dan about Leo.
PHOEBE
You didn't tell him about Leo?
PIPER
No, I didn't think a twenty-minute conversation was enough time
for me to justify my marrying a man who for all intents and
purposes died in 1942. But I don't think that I can avoid
personal questions for an entire dinner.
PHOEBE
And I guess you didn't tell him about Wyatt either?
PIPER
My half-whitelighter/half-witch son who is the most powerful
magical being ever to be born? Didn't happen to come up.
PHOEBE
You know, you don't have to tell Dan everything.
PIPER
Great. I can just lie to him again.
Leo knocks softly on the door before pushing it open and entering the room carrying WYATT.
LEO
Sorry to interrupt, but I'm being summoned.
Piper takes Wyatt from him.
LEO (cont'd)
Just give me a call and let me know about tomorrow.
Saying goodbye, Leo kisses Wyatt and then hesitantly kisses Piper on the cheek before he ORBS out. Piper and Phoebe share a look.
INT. MANOR - PIPER'S BEDROOM - MORNING
On one of the walls, the mysterious face appears again, but this time it emerges farther from the wall so that a head becomes visible. A torso soon follows it, then an arm, etc. as the demon MELKOR pulls away from the wall and enters the room. Smiling in satisfaction, he crosses over to Piper's dresser and begins touching the things on top: lipsticks, photographs, etc.
CHRIS
What are you doing here?
Melkor turns to find CHRIS standing behind him. He quickly tosses a red ball of energy at Chris, but the usually deadly energy bounces harmlessly off of Chris, who smirks.
CHRIS (cont'd)
There's really no point in that. I'm not going to kill you.
MELKOR
(suspicious)
What do you want?
CHRIS
You know, I really wasn't expecting you to show up for another
couple of months.
MELKOR
Who the--
CHRIS
Shh!
The sound of Phoebe and Piper's voices comes from the hallway, getting louder. Chris grabs Melkor by the collar and they DEMATERIALIZE.
INT. MELKOR'S LAIR - ETERNAL NIGHT
Chris and Melkor MATERIALIZE and Melkor looks around in confusion, backing away from Chris.
MELKOR
Who the hell are you? Do I know you?
CHRIS
Not yet, but I think you know my kind.
Melkor and Chris share a gaze in which a communication passes between them.
MELKOR
Why are you protecting witches then?
CHRIS
Who says I'm protecting them?
MELKOR
(a beat, then)
Look, did Hylan send you? Because I told him I wasn't interested-
-
CHRIS
I'm not here to recruit you. I'm here to help you.
MELKOR
(skeptically)
Help me what?
CHRIS
Kill the Charmed Ones.
INT. MANOR - SUNROOM - MORNING
Phoebe sits at the table typing on her laptop. Wyatt is nearby in his playpen. The front door closes as Paige enters the manor.
PAIGE (o.s.)
Hello?
PHOEBE
In here!
Paige enters the sunroom.
PHOEBE (cont'd)
Hey. How was your interview?
PAIGE
Pretty good.
Paige sits next to Phoebe at the table, ready for gossip.
PAIGE (cont'd)
Where's Piper?
PHOEBE
At the club.
PAIGE
So? What happened with Dan?
PHOEBE
Well--
Chris ORBS in holding the Book of Shadows open to a particular page.
CHRIS
Demon.
PAIGE
Shoe horn!
(off Chris' look)
Well, what kind of greeting was that?
PHOEBE
(to Chris)
What demon?
Chris places the Book of Shadows in front of them.
PHOEBE (cont'd)
Melkor.
CHRIS
He has been lurking around a couple of my charges.
PAIGE
Has he attacked them?
CHRIS
No, which worries me. I think he might be funneling information
to an upper-level demon.
PHOEBE
Well, he doesn't look too difficult to vanquish. There's a
potion to make--
Chris produces a vial of potion from his pocket along with a piece of Melkor's clothing.
CHRIS
Got it. And something for you to scry with.
PHOEBE
Okay then. I'll go get the scrying stuff.
Paige eyes Chris suspiciously.
PAIGE
I'll call Sheila and see if she can take care of Wyatt.
Phoebe heads toward the attic, and Paige leaves to find the telephone. With their backs turned, Chris waves his hand and both women hesitate as a strange feeling passes through them. Looking down at the Book, Chris passes his hand over it and the entry about Melkor morphs into its original form-- the entry for the Awakening Spell. Smiling, Chris closes the Book.
INT. MELKOR'S LAIR - ETERNAL NIGHT
Paige and Phoebe ORB in. They are mid-conversation.
PAIGE
I'm just saying--don't you think it's a little weird that he
pulled everything we would need to vanquish this demon out of
his pocket?
PHOEBE
He said that the demon had been spying on his charges. He
probably did some research.
PAIGE
Maybe. But I don't think he is telling us everything.
Phoebe and Paige study their surroundings.
PHOEBE
Okay, where is this demon?
PAIGE
Maybe Chris gave us the wrong piece of clothing.
MELKOR (o.s.)
I doubt it.
The sisters turn around to find Melkor standing behind them.
MELKOR (cont'd)
I gave it to him myself.
Paige throws the vial of potion at Melkor, but he tosses a ball of energy to blow up the potion before it hits him. The potion explodes in a bright flash of white light that grows until--
THE SCREEN GOES WHITE
INT. P3 - PIPER'S OFFICE - DAY
Piper is sitting at her desk doing paperwork. At a knock on the door, Piper looks up to find Dan standing in the doorway.
DAN
Hi.
PIPER
Hey. Come in.
Piper gets up from her desk to close the door behind Dan.
DAN
The club looks great.
PIPER
Thanks. And thanks for coming.
DAN
Sure. I'm a little confused about why you wanted me to come
though.
PIPER
Well, I wanted to tell you something.
(a beat, then)
Maybe it would be easier if we sat down.
Dan sits in a chair and Piper leans back against her desk.
PIPER (cont'd)
Dan, I'm married.
DAN
Oh?
PIPER
To Leo.
DAN
(tersely)
I see.
(a beat, then)
How long?
PIPER
A little more than two years now.
Piper waits for some kind of response from Dan, but he is oddly inexpressive. She picks up a framed photograph of Wyatt, Leo and herself and hands it to him.
PIPER (cont'd)
And we have a little boy. He's a little bigger now.
Dan softens some and finally allows himself to smile at the picture of Wyatt.
DAN
He's beautiful.
PIPER
Thank you.
Piper takes the photo from him and puts it back on her desk.
DAN
Piper, why did you tell me...like this?
PIPER
Because I felt like I lied to you this morning. And I wanted you
to understand why I can't go out to dinner with you.
DAN
Because of Leo?
PIPER
Yes-- No. Because Leo and I are...working through some problems.
So right now my first priority is trying to make our
relationship work. And I don't want Leo to think any
differently.
DAN
(a beat, then)
I understand.
(then)
I think I'd better go.
Dan stands to leave.
PIPER
No, wait. If you want, I would love for you to come eat dinner
with the family. You can visit with Phoebe and meet Paige.
(off his look)
Leo won't be there.
DAN
I'll think about it.
PIPER
Call me?
DAN
Sure.
Piper, with only a little hesitation, gives him a friendly hug. As they pull away from each other, their eyes meet. Their gazes remain locked for a pregnant moment until their lips come together and they kiss. There is a strange familiarity to their kiss and when it ends neither Dan nor Piper seems uncomfortable or surprised that it happened. In fact, they are acting like it is a very common occurrence.
DAN
I'll see you at home later?
PIPER
Okay.
Giving Piper another kiss, Dan happily says goodbye and leaves. Piper, smiling, walks back to her desk where we see that the photograph of Piper, Leo and Wyatt is now a picture of Piper and Dan.
END OF ACT I
=========================================
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Please don't hate me and please keep reading all of you Piper/Leo fans. Trust me. I'm still planning on having "Piper & Leo 4 Eva" tattooed somewhere on my body.