4x01 – Evil within

Previously on Charmed:

Prue: Look, I know that this all sounds incredible, but it doesn't make it any less true. Alright, you're a healer, you do good, now either you have saved too many lives or you're about to save a life that they don't want you to save.

Doctor: They?

Prue: Yeah, demons. Uh, more specifically, Shax. He was the Source's assassin.

[Cut]

(The tornado flies through the foyer and knocks Prue and Piper to the floor. A clap of thunder is heard, and the tornado calms down and Shax appears. He is a tall demon and is gray all over. Gray long hair, gray skin, gray unbuttoned shirt and gray long pants.)

[Cut]

Phoebe: "Evil wind that blows, that which forms below, (cracks of thunder are heard) no longer may you dwell, (Shax groans) death takes you with this spell." (Shax turns back into the wind and disappears outside).

[Cut]

Prue: he's gotta be around here somewhere, he wouldn't leave without getting what he came for.

Piper: Do you really think he'd attack us in broad day light? Evil is usually more insidious than that.

(There are voices in off while we see when de TV records them using magic and destroying Shax)

[Cut]

Phoebe: I wanna try a new potion on Cole. One that'll reverse the spell that turned him bad in the first place.

[Cut of Phoebe in the Underworld]

[Cut]

Captain: Looks like all those freaky rumours about you and the Halliwells might not have been rumours after all.

Darryl: (Captain looks at the TV and so does Darryl. He sees the footage of Prue and Piper vanquishing Shax.) Oh, no.

[Cut]

Prue: this whole year has just been a series of tests, right? To see what we're made of. Well, maybe this is one more test. Which means we can't give up, alright? So while the Elders are figuring out what we're supposed to do, we still have work to do, okay?

(While we listen Prue say this, we see different shots of the hell breaking loose out of the Manor)

Prue: Alright, this thing has to end now, okay? The media is turning it into a freakin' circus.

Leo: You have to try and contact Tempus. He's the only one on the other side who has the power to manipulate time. To reset everything before this all started.

Leo: Once I'm down there you won't be able to contact me if you get in any kind of trouble.

[Cut]

Cole: Listen to me, this is serious. Something's happening, something big. I, it's too dangerous for you here.

Phoebe: Why? What's happening?

Cole: I don't know, but whatever it is, it's important enough for The Source to have come.

Leo: Prue and Piper have been exposed, Phoebe. The whole world knows you're witches.

[Cut]

Prue; Alright, I'm scared. And you should be too. Okay, our lives, Piper, everything that we've worked for could be completely destroyed with-with one stupid mistake. Our entire future, our entire destiny could be wiped out just like that. (Prue clicks her fingers and a gunshot goes off. Piper gasps.) What was that? (Piper looks down and sees blood on her shirt. Her hands are shaking.) Piper? Piper. (Prue drops the Book of Shadows and grabs Piper before she falls. Prue looks at her hand and it has Piper's blood on it.) Oh!

[Cut. Hospital]

Dr. Griffiths: Paddles! (Two doctors bring over the paddle machine. Dr. Griffiths picks up the paddles.) Gel. (The nurse squirts some gel on a paddle and he rubs the two together. Prue stands back and cries.) Clear! (He uses the paddles on Piper but it doesn't work.) Recharge.

[Cut. Underworld]

Cole: He's offering a deal. He'll get Tempus to reset time if you stay... here. it's the only way to bring one of your sisters back to life.

Phoebe: So, will resetting time affect us down here?

Cole: No.

Phoebe: Good. I only have one condition. You must warn Prue and Piper before the demonic hit man attacks. Otherwise they're dead anyway.

[Cut. The Source]

Once I have reset time, detain him. And then kill his witch. That way I won't have to worry about Belthazor anymore. Or the Charmed Ones.

[Cut. Manor]

Prue: O-o-okay, Dr. Griffiths, listen to me, this is anything but...

(She stops.)

Piper: What?

Prue: I don't know, I just felt a chill. Phoebe? (No answer.) Phoebe, are you there? (A tornado of wind twists through the front door.) Phoebe, where are you?

(We see the scenes where Prue and Piper are knocked off by Shax and the killing of Dr. Griffiths. Shax looks around. He looks at Prue and Piper unconscious on the floor. Pleased with what he's done, Shax turns back into the wind and flies out the front door. The glass on the door smashes as it slams shut.)

[Scene: Underworld. Phoebe, Cole and Leo are there expecting to sense something about the time reverse]

Phoebe: So? Is it done?

Cole: I don't know.

Phoebe: You have to go and warn Prue and Piper. Shax will attack them anytime soon and they will be dead if we don't warn them.

Cole: I can't leave you, Phoebe.

Leo: It's too dangerous, you can't be here all alone. You're coming with me.

Phoebe: Leo, I've made a deal. You need to go and save them. Please… I can't lose them. The Charmed Ones can't end this way…

Leo: Phoebe…

(Then three demons appear in front of them with energy balls in their hands.)

Phoebe: Leo, get out of here, now!

(The demons throw the energy balls in their direction. Leo orbs out of the way and Phoebe dodge one of them, rolling in the ground and kicking the demon in the stomach. Cole forms an energy ball and throws it to another demon, incinerating him. More demons appear, attacking them. Phoebe tries to dodge all the attacks and kick demons out of the way, wanting to reach Cole. Finally, he is beaten by a fire ball and falls into the ground.)

Phoebe: Cole!

(The guard of The Source attacks Phoebe with an energy ball. She, confused, is beaten by the force of it, kicks the wall and falls unconscious. The Source flames in and watches the scene.)

The Source: Great. Imprison Belthazor until I'm done. Maybe he will reconsider joining us after what I'm doing to his witch.

[Opening Credits]

[Scene: Halliwell Manor. Everything is in silent. Prue and Piper are hurt on the floor, while Dr. Griffiths is dead already. Leo orbs in and sees the scene.]

Leo: Oh my god…

(He kneels down beside Piper and Prue and puts both arms in front of their chests. A white light starts to shine from his hands and the wounds of the sisters starts to heal. They wake up and groan in pain.)

Piper: Ahh, what happened?

Leo: You guys almost died, that's what happened.

Piper: Yeah, well, what else is new?

Prue: Oh, what happened? Where's Phoebe? And Shax?

Leo: Something happened. Something you don't know yet…

Prue: Where's Dr. Griffiths? (She gets up quickly and runs to the dining room, seeing the body of the doctor across the window.) No… Leo, quickly, heal him…

(Leo, who doesn't know how to act, goes beside Dr. Griffiths body and tries to heal him, but nothing happens).

Leo: I can't heal the dead…

Prue (closes her eyes and covers her face with both hands): I can't believe it… I can't believe we lost another innocent.

(Piper tries to comfort Prue with a hug)

Piper: We were knocked off, we couldn't do anything… Shax is very strong.

Prue: Yeah, but Phoebe didn't answer our call. What the hell is she doing in the attic? Why didn't she came down to help us?

Leo: Phoebe is not in the attic.

Piper: What do you mean? She left to the attic like 10 minutes ago.

Leo: That is what I was trying to tell you guys. Something happened. Time reversed to this precise moment, where you were helpless, to end with the Charmed Ones once and for all.

Prue: I don't understand…

Leo: You were exposed as witches, Prue. Everyone knew about you and your sisters; all hell broke loose and Phoebe sacrificed herself to save the future of magic. While you were protecting Dr. Griffiths, she went to the Underworld to save Cole and all blow up. The Source offered her a deal: she stays in the Underworld and Tempus reverse time. But demons attacked them and I had to come to save you.

(Piper and Prue look shocked and look at each other).

[Scene: Underworld. Phoebe is unconscious surrounded with black candles and crystals glowing. The Source is beside her chanting some spells in dark tongue. The Oracle appears behind him and watches]

Oracle: Do you really think this may work, my liege?

The Source: Absolutely. When I finish the ritual, the dark venom will infect her will and she'll start transforming, changing into evil. Then it's question of time she kills an innocent and completes the transformation before the 48 hours window.

[Scene: Halliwell manor. Attic. Piper is searching in the Boof of Shadows and Prue enters the room.]

Prue: Okay, Darryl bought us some time. They have moved the body of Dr. Griffiths already.

Piper: We need to think something to say. He was killed at our house and we were with him. I don't know how are we going to explain why he is dead and we are so alive.

Prue: I don't care, not until Phoebe is save in home with us again. Did you find anything in the book?

Piper: A bunch of spells and rituals to call witches, but I'm not sure this is going to work. I'm scared.

Prue: I know, especially knowing that The Source has Phoebe, but we must stick together and try everything to reach her. If there's a little possibility, we'll take it.

(Leo orbs into the attic)

Prue: Did you find her?

Leo: No, I can't sense her down there.

Piper: Does that mean she's…

Leo: Not necessary. I didn't sense Phoebe, but I sensed a lot of magic. Dark magic. That has to mean something.

Prue: It means Phoebe is still alive and The Source is using dark magic to block ours. That puts us in a dangerous way. Shax is still alive, we don't have The Power of Three to vanquish him, and we don't know how to reach Phoebe.

Piper: The Elders know a way to find her?

Leo: They don't know yet. But they sense the dark magic growing. Something's going on in the Underworld. Something big.

Prue: Maybe I can astral project myself into the Underworld and try to find Phoebe.

Leo: That's too risky.

Prue: But my astral self can't be knocked off. In the worst case, I would return into my body.

Leo: You will leave Piper alone. What if Shax attacks then?

Prue: Then what? She's our baby sister. I will not let The Source torture her until dead.

[Scene: Underworld. Screams are heard. Cole is being tortured by some demons while Phoebe is still unconscious. The Source has almost done the ritual of transformation].

Demon #1: He's resisting, my liege.

The Source: So? Did you expected him to let you torture him until dead?

Demon #1: No, my lord. But we're struggling. He's very powerful.

The Source: That's not real power. That's love. The love for his witch is making him stronger while you damage his body. Kill him already. I don't want to bother about Belthazor anymore.

Demon #1: As you command, my liege.

Oracle: Are you sure you want to destroy a demon like he's? He's one of the most powerful you have.

The Source: He betrayed me once. What does make you think he'll not do it again? I want him dead.

(The demons returns to the torture room and finds all the demons are dead, except for Cole.)

Cole (smiling): Surprise.

[Scene. Attick. Prue is in tears as she flips through the Book of Shadows. She cants the Power of Three spell, hoping that Phoebe would return.]

Prue: Hear now the words of the witches, the secrets we hid in the night. The oldest of Gods are invoked here, the great magic is sought. (A candle flickers. She's surrounded by herb jars, chalices and other ritualistic items.) In this night and in this hour, I call upon the ancient power. (She looks up and closes her eyes.) Bring back my sister. Bring back the Power of Three. (She keeps her eyes closed for a prayerful beat, then she opens them, looks at the candle, but sees nothing. Blindly determined, she starts flipping through pages until she finds another spell, To Call a Lost Witch. She expertly finds and mixes certain ingredients {rosemary, cypress, yarrow root} into a silver bowl as she chants from the book.) Power of the witches' rise. Course unseen across the skies. Come to us, we call you near. Come to us and settle here. (Then, she finds an athame and slices the left finger of her left hand so that blood can symbolically spill directly from her heart and into the bowl.) Blood to blood, I summon thee. Blood to blood, return to me.

Piper: Prue? (Prue looks up, hopeful.)

Prue: Phoebe? (She looks at the candle. Piper enters, wearing her nightclothes and jacket. She has a tear-stained face.)

Piper: Sweetie, it 4 o'clock in the morning. What are you doing? (Prue doesn't answer, just stares blankly at the book. Piper notices Prue's bleeding and gets a towel.) You're bleeding.

(Prue doesn't notice, doesn't care. Piper finds a clean cloth, takes Prue's hand and wraps the wound.)

Prue: I don't understand why magic can't fix this. And why we can't bring Phoebe back. It's not like we haven't cheated The Source before. I don't understand why this time isn't any different.

Piper: Because The Source is using a lot of dark magic, Prue. You know that.

Prue: There's other magic, white magic that we've used before. (She flips through the pages and fights the tears.) Scrying, calling a lost witch, reversing time. (She closes the Book of Shadows. She stands up.) It's like the book just deserted us and deserted Phoebe, and I don't understand why. (Piper takes Prue's other hand, holds them both, shares her pain.)

Piper: We'll find our sister. (Pause) We've tried every magical way to bring her back… but we can't yet. We will. (Their eyes well up as they face the harsh reality, then they fall into each other's arms. It's a nightmare neither one of them can ever wake up from.) I just - I thank God that I didn't lose you too. (Piper gives her a little kiss. She breaks the hug. She sighs.) We have to get some rest. Tomorrow we will continue with the plan.

(Arm-in-arm, they exit, shutting the door behind them.)

[Scene: Underworld. Cole is hiding, watching what The Source is doing with Phoebe. They did not notice yet he has escaped.]

The Source: I'm almost done. Oracle, bring me the goblet.

(The Oracle goes to the ritual table and picks up a golden goblet. Brings it to The Source and he picks it up. He starts chanting in dark language and a glow starts bumping out of the goblet. A little quake is sensed throw the underworld. When it ends, The Source puts a finger into the goblet and extracts a black substance.)

The Source: This will do. (He opens Phoebe's mouth and puts the substance inside her, making her drink it). Now, the great end.

Cole (still hiding): You bet (He shows up from his hiding place and throws an energy ball at The Source, which hits him directly in the chest, making him fall to the ground.)

Oracle: You! You were trapped.

Cole: Not anymore (he throws her another energy ball but she disappears before it can hit her. Cole aims for Phoebe, trying to wake her.) Phoebe, Phoebe, come on. Wake up. We need to go (she starts to respond. Coles watches The Source in the ground yet). Come on, we have to get out of here.

Phoebe: Wh-what happened? Cole?

Cole: We have no time. (The Source lifts himself of the ground).

The Source: Belthazor. I should have known you will escape my demons, shouldn't I?

Cole: Next time.

The Source: There'll no be next time (he forms a fire ball in his hand). Say goodbye to your witch.

Cole: Not yet (he grabs Phoebe's arm and fluctuates out of the shot of The Source).

The Source (alone): Don't worry. You haven't seen yet.

[Scene: Halliwell Manor. Kitchen. Prue and Piper are talking with Leo].

Leo: I think it's a risky option.

Prue: What else can we do?

Piper: I think it's a good plan. We're still being witches, right?

Leo: Yes, but you're not the Charmed Ones anymore.

Prue: What are you saying? Phoebe's not dead, we still have our powers. I don't see what can be wrong if we are together and take this carefully.

Leo: Because we don't know what could have happened to Phoebe. What kind of tortures has she been putted in by The Source and his dark arts. This may have changed her, her powers and The Power of Three.

Piper: But we have to try. We can't let her there. We will bring her back to us.

Prue: I'm sorry, Leo. But we are going to do it with or without you.

Piper: Are you with us?

Leo (pause): always. But we'll be extremely careful.

Prue: We'll summon demons who are in direct contact with The Source or that have some kind of blood pact with him. We will use Belthazor's vanquishing potion to do it, so we will. We don't have to forget we can summon somebody of the Brotherhood of the Thorn, too.

Leo: They're too powerful demons.

Piper: Better think in all the options, just in case.

Prue: So, when we summon them, you freeze and I put the crystals around.

Piper: Well… If the demon freezes. You know my powers are a little jumpy lately.

Prue. We'll take the risk. Okay, are we ready? For Phoebe?

Piper: For Phoebe.

(They walk out of the kitchen towards the attic. When they're at the bottom of the stairs, Cole and Phoebe fluctuates in).

Prue: Oh my God.

Piper: Phoebe!

Phoebe: Prue, Piper! (she runs to them and they hug. Then a bright blue shines over the girls). Okay. What was that?

Leo: I think that means you're supposed to be here. (The door slams open and a strong wind knocks Prue, Piper and Phoebe backwards. Leo and Cole are knocked down on the stairs. Shax materializes and walks closer. He is about to strike when Leo jumps on his back.) Run! Get upstairs!

Piper: Leo?! (Prue, Piper and Phoebe run upstairs. Shax throws him off his back and Leo is knocked out. Cole throws him an energy ball, but it does not damage. Shax blast him with an aerokinesis ball and knocks him out. Shax then looks upstairs.)

[Cut to attic. Prue, Piper and Phoebe enter and go to the Book.]

Phoebe: What are we going to do? I don't feel very well…

Piper: Phoebe, calm. You can do this. We're together. (Prue flips through the pages of the Book.)

Prue: Okay, we need to say the spell.

Phoebe (visually confused): The spell…

Piper: We hope this works.

Prue: Well, we're about to find out. (The strong wind breaks through the attic door and Shax materializes. The girls recite the vanquishing spell.)

Prue, Piper and Phoebe: Evil wind that blows, that which forms below. No longer may you dwell. Death takes you with this spell.

(Shax moans in pain as he explodes, vanquished.)

Prue: It's not enough. Shax was just the messenger. We gotta get The Source.

Phoebe (shaking): I'm… I can't… (she fades out and falls to the ground).

Piper: Phoebe!

[Scene: Underworld. The Source appears before the Oracle.]

The Source: My assassin failed. The witches are alive.

Oracle: Yes, I know.

The Source: The Power of Three is strong. She'll be almost untouchable now that she's reunited with her sisters.

Oracle: But she's infected already, which means she's vulnerable, easily swayed. (She goes over to the Source.) 48 - little hours. The window of opportunity.

The Source: She can change sides yet.

Oracle: Well, she's young, confused, infected by the venom. You must seduce her into using her powers for evil, then the venom will do its work and she will become evil. And that's even better than killing her, which, of course you could still do. You need to get close to her, read her soul, corrupt it, and she's yours. (The Source caresses the Oracle's chin.)

The Source: And you... You ran away when Belthazor attacked.

Oracle: I was scared. He could have destroyed me. How would you see the future then?

The Source: You know I have other ways to see it, Oracle. Betray me again and will be the last one.

Oracle: Yes, my liege. I'm sorry.

The Source: By the way, you need to see the future more clearly, Oracle... for your own future. (He then vanishes.)

[Scene. Phoebe's bedroom. Cole and Phoebe are sleeping. Cole wakes up shaking and sweating. He gets up and goes to the bathroom. He looks his reflection and sees the Source behind him.]

Cole: No…

The Source: Did you thought you could run away like this?

Cole: You can't hurt me here.

The Source: I won't. You may come in handy, regardless.

(The Source walks to Cole and enters in his body, possessing him.)

Cole/The Source (looking at the mirror with black eyes): For now, I'm you. (He smiles and walks out of the bathroom).

(When he returns to Phoebe's room, he finds her woken up.)

Cole/Source: Are you okay?

Phoebe: I don't know. I'm feeling terrible since we left the Underworld… And I'm having all kind of horrible nightmares…

Cole/Source: Shh. It's okay, honey. I'm here now. It's okay. (The possessed Cole has his eyes turn glowing red and then all black as he embraces Phoebe.)

To be continued…