Disclaimer: I do not own anyone or anything.
Sam, I Am
[Scene: P4. Prue, Piper, and Phoebe are watching a band play. Paige is sitting on a couch nearby and a cute guy walks over and kisses her on the cheek.]
Guy: You're mad. I'm late, I know.
Paige: Oh, god, no, not at all, don't worry about it, honey.
Guy: Good, 'cause I'd hate to spend the weekend in Big Sur arguing.
Paige: What?
Guy: You and me, driving down the coast. Radio on, top down. All you have to do is say yes.
Paige: That sounds really great, but….
Guy: But that's not a yes.
Paige: It's just that this isn't really going to work.
Guy: Okay, we could reschedule.
Paige: Not the weekend, us. I'm really sorry.
Guy: Yeah, me too.
(He leaves.)
[Cut to Prue, Piper, and Phoebe watching from across the room.]
Prue: Oh.
Piper: Uh, there he goes. I really thought that one was a keeper.
Phoebe: Why, because he was cute, and funny, and oh, yeah, don't let me forget, deliciously yummy?
Prue: That's the second guy in a row she's dumped.
Phoebe: Uh, third, but who's counting. So you think she has commitment issues? Or you think she's just too picky?
Piper: I don't know. I'd love to speculate, but we've gotta go.
Phoebe: Piper, if you haven't noticed, the Flaming Lips are playing at your club. My-my favourite group.
Piper: I know, and that's why you're not going to scare them when you go backstage, okay.
Phoebe: Okay.
Piper: Come on, Prue. We've gotta go home, because we've gotta interview magical nannies tomorrow, and we gotta prepare.
Phoebe: Wait, magical nannies? You mean like Mary Poppins?
Piper: Oh, one can only hope, but no.
Prue: Leo has arranged for us to meet supernatural creatures that have childcare experience.
Phoebe: Creatures?
Piper: It's not like we can call a service and ask for a nanny to watch over our little Charmed Ones while we go off and slay slimy demons.
Phoebe: Yeah, that's a good point.
Piper: Okay, we'll see you.
(They get up.)
Prue: Bye.
Phoebe: I just…. Can I-?
(Prue and Piper leave. Paige walks over to Phoebe and sits down beside her.)
Paige: Breaking up is such a downer.
Phoebe: Yeah, honey, well, practice makes perfect. Well, you know, I mean, if it's not right, it's not right. Why wasn't it right?
Paige: I don't know. I could just kinda tell it wasn't really going anywhere, so I thought I'm gonna cut this one off at the pass before it gets messy and he likes me too much.
Phoebe: Okay. If you say so.
Opening Credits
[Scene: Manor. Kitchen. Piper and Paige are there. Piper is cleaning. Paige spills crumbs over the counter while eating some cake.]
Piper: Hey! Lady! I'm trying to make a good impression here! Put it down, put it down, put it down!
(Paige drops the cake in its packet and Piper moves it over to the sink.)
Paige: On the nannies?
Piper: Yeah. I want the best and the best don't work for slobs.
Paige: We're not slobs!
Piper: Oh, yeah? How come I spent all night cleaning potions stains off of the ceiling?
Paige: That's gespacio, not potion.
Piper: Well, you know what? Blenders have lids.
Paige: Piper, you need to relax, okay?
Piper: I will relax when Prue, Leo, and Cole get here. We haven't had a chance to prepare.
Paige: What's to prepare? You're a Charmed One. Your reputation precedes you.
Piper: Oh, you mean how evil barges in here all hours of the day and night hell bent on killing us? Not exactly an ideal working environment. (Prue and Cole walk in just as Leo orbs in beside Piper.) Oh, finally. I was afraid that the Elders drummed up one of their last minute it can't wait assignments. (Leo gives her a look.) Can it wait?
Leo: No, it can't wait. But the assignment's not for me, it's for Paige. You're getting your first charge.
Paige: Are you serious?
Leo: Well, the Elders aren't exactly known for their sense of humour.
Paige: That is so great! I am now Paige Matthews, Whitelighter-Witch. I'm a hyphenate.
Piper: Wait a minute, since when are you psyched about Whitelighter duty?
Paige: Well, it is half of who I am. Who's my charge gonna be? Is it a Whitelighter-to-be? A philanthropist? A doctor?
Leo: Not exactly.
Paige: Oh, wait, don't tell me. It's a young girl, a witch. She's just coming into her powers. Oh my god, I can totally relate to that.
Piper: You ramble when you're excited.
Paige: Sorry.
Leo: All I can tell you about your charge is that he is a good man who's lost his way.
Piper: And why is that all you can tell her?
Leo: Because the Elders want Paige to figure the rest out for herself.
Piper: Yeah, see, you're being vague.
Leo: Your charge's name is Samuel.
(Prue and Piper exchange a look.)
Paige: Samuel. Good, strong, biblical name. Okay. Where do I find him?
Leo: The Elders aren't sure, but they think that you should be able to sense his location.
Prue: So wait a minute, if the Elders have lost track of him, why did they suddenly think Paige can find him?
Leo: Well, the Elders have complete faith in Paige's ability, so do I. All we have to do is trust that they know what they're doing.
Cole: How are you supposed to trust people that don't answer your questions?
Paige: Okay, enough. I don't want anybody to rain on my Whitelighter parade.
Commercial Break
[Scene: An alley. Paige and Leo are there. Paige steps over a large puddle.]
Paige: If this is where I'm supposed to find my charge, you might've told me not to wear my Jimmy Choos.
Leo: Jimmy who?
Paige: My shoes. Ugh, men. So I'm guessing my wealthy philanthropist theory was wrong.
Leo: I told you. He's a lost soul in need of saving.
Paige: Yeah, this definitely looks like a place where lost souls would hang out. Probably also some rats, some roaches, and... human waste. Ugh. At least my cover will work.
Leo: Cover?
Paige: Social worker. Well, I have to tell Samuel something.
Leo: Well, in this case, I don't think you're gonna need a cover.
Paige: In this case?
Leo: Well, every case is different.
Paige: Piper's right, you are being evasive. (Paige suddenly senses her charge.) I feel something. I think he's close.
Leo: You're sensing him?
Paige: No, it's more like a… a magnetic pull.
(They walk further down the alley and reach the back of a tavern. The door opens and a drunk Samuel is thrown out, landing at Paige's feet.)
Bartender: And stay out!
Leo: Good luck.
Paige: Where are you going?
Leo: Nanny interviews.
(Leo orbs out. Samuel coughs and vomits on Paige's shoes. She pulls a face.)
Paige: Aww, great. This is just great.
[Time lapse. Samuel's apartment. Paige helps Samuel in, trying her best to keep him on his feet.]
Samuel: You're strong, for a girl.
(He sits on the bed.)
Paige: Thanks, I think. Well, here we are. Home sweet home.
Samuel: It's a dump.
Paige: No! It's... shabby chic.
Samuel: It's a shabby dump!
Paige: Well, how about some coffee?
Samuel: How about you leave me alone?
Paige: Maybe you just wanna talk. You know, I am a really good listener.
Samuel: What part of alone don't you understand?!
Paige: Okay, maybe some other time. But if you need help of any variety, just call this number and I'll be there, okay? (She pulls out a pad and a pen and writes her number down.) I'll be right there to help you.
Samuel: I can't believe the Elders finally tracked me down, with a novice no less.
Paige: Wait a second. You know?
Samuel: A little advice, you need to work up a cover. Didn't you read the Whitelighter manual?
Paige: There's a manual?
Samuel: I can't believe the Elders sent a newbie out after me.
Paige: Well, I can't believe the Elders saddled me with a cranky old drunk as my first charge.
(He stumbles off the bed and laughs.)
Samuel: You've got spunk. I like that. Now... go away.
Paige: No, I will not go away. I may be new at this, but I was sent here to guide and protect you, and that is exactly what I am going to do, like it or not.(A Darklighter black orbs in and points his crossbow at Samuel.) No! (Paige pushes the Darklighter to the floor. The Darklighter gets back up and points the crossbow at Sam. Sam backs up against a cupboard.) Duck!
[Scene: Manor. Conservatory. Prue, Piper, Cole, Leo, and a really short elven woman with pointy ears and green eyes are there.]
Elf: Sorry. I don't cook.
Piper: Cooking. That's a no. Okay, got it.
(Piper marks something off on her clipboard.)
Elf: And only light house cleaning.
Leo: Oh, that's okay, because Piper's a neat freak.
Elf: If you don't mind, I have a few questions of my own.
(A quill and some parchment magically appear in the elf's hand.)
Prue: Oh, of course you do. Well, yeah, please.
Elf: Am I expected to protect the baby from the incessant demon attacks?
Piper: I'd say incessant is a bit of an overstatement.
Elf: You are Charmed Ones, correct?
Prue: Yes.
Piper: Uh, but that won't affect your job here.
Cole: Won't it?
Piper: No, Cole, it won't. He's such a pessimist. Demons, you see, demons rarely attack us in the house, so….
(Suddenly, Paige orbs in with Samuel.)
Paige: Darklighter! Incoming!
(The elf woman gives Piper a look.)
Piper: This is highly unusual.
(The Darklighter black orbs into the room and shoots his crossbow at Samuel. An arrow hits him in the shoulder.)
Paige: Samuel!
(Piper tries to blow the Darklighter up, but only blows up his arm. He screams in pain. Phoebe walks in and panics when she sees what's going on. The Darklighter black orbs away.)
Phoebe: Wh….?
Elf: Consider my application withdrawn.
(The elf grabs her purse and fades away.)
Piper: Damn it.
(They rush over to Samuel.)
Leo: (to Paige) Don't touch it. It's poisonous to you too.
Phoebe: (to Prue and Piper, whispering) Is that who I think it is?
Prue: (whispers) Mom's Whitelighter.
Piper: (whispers) And Paige's father.
Commercial Break
[Scene: Manor. Conservatory. Prue, Piper, Phoebe, Paige, Cole, Leo, and Samuel are there. Phoebe leans Samuel against the chair.]
Phoebe: It's okay, you're gonna be okay.
Paige: This can't be happening. I can't be losing my first charge.
Prue: You're not. Everyone with Whitelighter blood, back up.
(Piper, Paige, and Leo take a step back.)
Paige: Leo, I can't believe you didn't tell me he was a Whitelighter.
Leo: Paige, just try and stay calm.
Paige: Calm? The Elders sent me to protect someone without telling me who he was.
Piper: I'd say that's a bit of an understatement.
Paige: Is there something else I should know?
(Prue telekinetically removes the arrow and Samuel screams.)
Prue: Okay. (Prue uses the twins' powers to burn the arrow to ash. Leo goes over to Samuel and heals his wound.) Paige, go get the Book of Shadows.
Paige: Why? We know it was a Darklighter.
Piper: No, there was something different about that guy. You just go get the book.
Paige: Fine.
(Paige leaves.)
Leo: You alright?
Samuel: I'm still alive, aren't I?
Piper: Long time no see.
(He looks at Prue, Piper, and Phoebe.)
Samuel: Prue, Piper, Phoebe, how you been?
Prue: Last time we saw you, you were riding into the afterlife with our mother. What happened?
Samuel: They made me a Whitelighter again. And I screwed up, again. I guess I never got over, um...
Piper: Losing your daughter? Yeah, that's the one.
Samuel: I've gotta get outta here.
(He gets up.)
Leo: Don't. She's your Whitelighter for a reason. The Elders are trying to help you.
Samuel: By reuniting me with the child they forced me to give up?
Piper: You knew about this supernatural Jenny Jones reunion, didn't you?
Leo: I was sworn to secrecy.
Piper: Ugh.
Samuel: It doesn't matter.
(Samuel walks into the parlor. Prue, Piper, Phoebe, Cole, and Leo follow.)
Phoebe: No, hey, wait a minute. Aren't you forgetting someone? Like that girl upstairs that's trying to save your life?
Samuel: She's better off without me.
Phoebe: This isn't right.
Samuel: I'll tell you what's not right. The Elders setting me up.
Leo: You forced them to. When you stopped using your powers, you fell off the radar. The only way to find you was through a blood relative.
Samuel: I never wanted to be found. Least of all by her.
Prue: Don't you think she at least deserves to know the truth?
Samuel: The truth? That her birth father, the Whitelighter, is a two-timing loser and a drunk? She doesn't need to know that.
(Samuel orbs out. Paige comes down the stairs with the book.)
Paige: Where's Samuel?
Prue: He, uh, he orbed out.
Paige: What? You just let him?
Cole: We couldn't stop him.
Prue: Did you find anything in the book?
Paige: No.
(She slams down the book.)
Leo: Well, we're pretty sure that he's a tracker.
Cole: They're stronger and more powerful than the Darklighters you've dealt with, and they go after fallen Darklighters, especially those who are a step away from losing their wings.
Paige: Okay, if you knew all that, why did I have to go get the book?
Leo: Because your sisters didn't know that.
Phoebe: Yeah, sorry.
Prue: So we're gonna need a vanquishing potion.
Piper: Well, why don't you three get started on that, and Leo and I will go find Sam.
Paige: Wait a second. He's my charge. I'm gonna go look for him.
Leo: Well, he's been orbing a lot longer than you have. You might lose him. I have a better chance of finding him than you do.
Piper: Mm-hm, so, here, we're gonna go. We're going.
(Leo orbs out with Piper.)
[Scene: Samuel's apartment. Piper and Leo are waiting there. Samuel orbs in.]
Piper: Thought you'd lost us, did you?
Leo: We knew you'd be back sooner or later.
Samuel: What is with you people? Can't you take a hint?
Leo: We need to talk.
Samuel: I don't wanna talk. I wanna be left alone. Why else do you think I've been orbing all over creation?
Piper: Well, chickening out comes to mind.
Leo: Sam, I know it hurts.
Samuel: Oh, you know? How? How can you?
Leo: I-I know loss.
Samuel: Hubris of a Whitelighter. Thinking we know everything just because of who we are. Well, that is crap.
Piper: Now you got a point there. So why don't you help us understand?
Samuel: You want to understand, do you? Well, you hold that precious little baby of yours in your arms, and you love her more than you ever loved anything in the world, and then you give her to someone else to raise and grow up with.
Piper: You and Mom did that to protect Paige.
Samuel: It didn't work, did it? As soon as she found out who she was, a witch, a Charmed…. (He starts to cry.) It was just a matter of time until I lost her again. And I couldn't handle that. Look, uh, it doesn't matter. Just leave, please. Pretend you never found me.
Leo: It does matter, Sam. That Darklighter is not gonna stop until he kills you.
Samuel: Maybe that's my destiny. You ever think of that?
Leo: Look, come on, that is a cop out, and you know it.
Piper: You really think the Elders brought you and Paige together so she could watch you die?
Samuel: Look at you, of all people, defending the Elders.
Piper: Hey, they may not be on my Christmas list, but that doesn't mean they don't usually have a good reason for doing the things that they do.
Samuel: Like telling you you couldn't marry Leo?
Piper: I said usually. Look, if you don't want our help, that's fine. But maybe this isn't about you, maybe this is about helping Paige.
Samuel: Helping Paige with what?
Piper: Knowing where she comes from, for starters.
[Scene: Manor. Kitchen. Prue, Phoebe, Paige, and Cole are there. Phoebe is making a potion.]
Paige: So you don't know him at all?
Phoebe: You know, we run into a lot of people in our line or work.
Paige: Hey, once again, not an answer.
Phoebe: Can you pass me the cardamom please?
(Paige does so. Phoebe sprinkles some in the potion and starts humming.)
Paige: Okay, I'm just gonna take a guess now. Let's see, maybe the Elders gave him to me because he's a lost cause they couldn't pawn off on anyone else.
Phoebe: Toadflax.
(Paige hands her the toadflax.)
Paige: Just tell me if I'm hot or cold.
Prue: Okay, maybe the Elders thought you would actually learn something from working with him.
Paige: Like what? How to give up?
Cole: No, I think you pretty much got that down.
Prue: Cole.
Paige: Okay. What is that supposed to mean?
Cole: You do tend to be pretty quick to judge people.
Paige: Like you, you mean? You deserve it.
Prue: And Trevor.
Paige: Okay. Trevor is an orange, my charge would be an apple, I fail to see the connection.
Phoebe: Okay, take my word for it. You need to give Samuel another chance. It's important, for you both.
Paige: Okay, enough with the cryptic. Tell me what you know and please don't change the subject.
Prue: Okay, you really wanna know?
Paige: Yeah.
Prue: Sam was mom's Whitelighter.
Paige: That would make him...
Prue: Your biological father.
Phoebe: Honey, are you okay?
Paige: Great. I'm just great. I just don't quite see why the big secret. Why couldn't anybody tell me?
(Samuel walks in.)
Samuel: I should've told you. I'm sorry. I was hoping we could talk.
Phoebe: Go ahead, honey.
Prue: We'll finish the potion.
Paige: Yeah, we can talk.
Phoebe: We're here for you if you need us.
(Prue nods. Paige leaves the kitchen.)
[Cut to the conservatory. Paige and Samuel walk in.]
Samuel: You hate me, don't you?
Paige: Why should I? You're a stranger to me.
Samuel: That's a perfectly fair statement.
Paige: Spoken like a true Whitelighter.
Samuel: But not a father.
Paige: I had a father. One who made me proud to be his daughter. And it's not you.
Samuel: I haven't made you very proud, have I?
Paige: No offence, but I don't know you. And I actually haven't spent a lot of time over the years thinking about you.
Samuel: Well, maybe you should. After all, I'm the one who gave you up at birth. That has to have caused you some pain.
[Cut to the kitchen. Piper and Leo orb in.]
Phoebe: Hey, nice job, you guys.
Leo: What do you mean?
Phoebe: Sam's in there talking to Paige.
Leo: What?
Piper: That's impossible. Sam refused to come back.
[Cut to the conservatory.]
Samuel: You can pretend all you want that it hasn't affected you, but we both know better than that.
Paige: How would you know? Who the hell do you think you are anyway?
(Prue, Piper, Phoebe, Cole, and Leo run in.)
Paige: Paige.
Leo: That's not Sam.
Paige: What are you talking about?
Samuel: She's talking about this.
(Samuel morphs into the Darklighter.)
Paige: You son of a bitch.
Darklighter: Wait. It gets better, alright.
(The Darklighter summons his crossbow and points it at them.)
Paige: Uh-oh.
(He shoots his crossbow and the arrow splits into three. An arrow hits Paige in the stomach, another hitting Leo's arm, and when the third hits Piper's stomach, a blue force field appears and the arrow crumples to the ground. Paige and Leo fall to the floor.)
Darklighter: Ooh.
(The Darklighter dark orbs out.)
Commercial Break
[Scene: Manor. Conservatory. Prue, Piper, Phoebe, Paige, Cole, and Leo are there. The arrows have been removed from Paige and Leo. Leo is lying on the floor with his head propped up on a pillow. Piper is kneeling beside him tying a cloth around his arm. Paige is lying on a chair while Phoebe dabs her wound with a towel. Paige groans.]
Paige: You can't stop the bleeding, can you?
Phoebe: Shh. Just try and rest. (Prue and Piper walk over to Phoebe and Paige.) How's Leo doing?
Piper: He's been better.
Prue: We've gotta find Sam. He's our only chance.
Paige: Then I'm screwed.
Prue: Don't think like that.
Paige: Why? Sam bails, that's what he does. This time won't be any different.
Piper: It's different because now you're the one that's hurt. So you gotta find him, and we will go get him and bring him back here, and Cole will stay with you and Leo.
(Paige closes her eyes.)
[Scene: Alley behind the tavern. Samuel is asleep on some rubbish with an empty alcohol bottle in his hand. The Darklighter dark orbs in and points his crossbow at Samuel. Prue, Piper, and Phoebe appear behind the Darklighter.]
Prue: I wouldn't do that if I were you.
(The Darklighter spins around to face them.)
Darklighter: What are you doing here?
Piper: Protecting him from you.
(Ronan points his crossbow at them, but before he can shoot, Phoebe throws a potion at him, vanquishing him.)
Piper: Sam! (They run over to him.) Sam, Sam, wake up.
(She shakes him. He wakes up.)
Samuel: No. Leave me alone.
Piper: Listen to me. Paige and Leo need you. The Darklighter shot them. You need to heal them.
(Piper helps him to his feet.)
Samuel: I don't know. It's been so long.
Prue: Well, there's no one else. You have to do it.
Phoebe: Look, if you think you've screwed up in the past, now would be a good time to start making amends.
[Cut to the manor. Conservatory. Paige is shaking. Cole covers her with a blanket.]
Paige: (surprised) Thank you.
Cole: Just hang on.
(Sam orbs in with Prue, Piper, and Phoebe. He sees Paige and rushes to her side. He holds his hands above Paige, but nothing happens.)
Sam: Oh, god, no.
Prue: What's the problem?
Samuel: I can't.
Phoebe: What? Try again.
Samuel: It's no use. This is my punishment.
Piper: No, you will not sit there and drown in self-pity while Paige and my husband die.
Samuel: Don't you think I wanna save them? For god's sake, this is my daughter.
Phoebe: You can't heal her because you gave up.
Samuel: Everything I touch, I hurt. All I wanted was a life for her free from magic and demons.
Phoebe: All the pain and anger that you've been hanging on to for so many years, you've got to let it go. It's time to let it go.
Samuel: Paige, I am so sorry.
Paige: It's okay.
(Paige touches Sam and a blue orbing light surrounds him. The light vanishes to reveal a clean-shaven Sam.)
Samuel: What happened?
Phoebe: I think you just healed yourself.
Prue: Now Paige.
(He holds his hands above Paige and heals her.)
Paige: Thank you.
Piper: Okay. Thanks later. Leo now.
(Sam walks over to Leo and heals him. Leo sits up.)
Leo: Piper, are you okay? The baby?
Piper: Oh, she's fine. I don't think we have to worry about her at all. I'll explain later.
Commercial Break
[Scene: Manor. Living room. Paige and Sam are sitting on the couches.]
Samuel: Paige, I want you to know... that giving you up... was the hardest decision I ever had to make. Your mother too. If we could've done it over, we… we wouldn't have done it. But we weren't supposed to be together. A baby…. We were afraid the Elders would find out.
Paige: It's okay. I understand. I really…. I do.
Samuel: It still has to have hurt you.
Paige: I used to think that you did not matter to me at all, and if I never met you, my life would be perfectly fine. I guess, uh, the Elders knew better after all. When you gave me up, you made a choice that gave me the most amazing gift. See, I got to have these tremendous parents and we… we loved each other fiercely. And now I have this whole new life with my sisters.
Samuel: What about everything that goes with it?
Paige: I choose to be a witch. I could've walked away, but I didn't. And now I'm a Whitelighter to boot.
Samuel: That's my girl.
[Cut to the kitchen. Prue, Piper, Phoebe, and Cole are there. Leo orbs in.]
Piper: Any luck?
Leo: That little elf? Got a big mouth. All the nannies cancelled their interviews.
Piper: Oh, great. Well, if magical nannies won't work for us, and regular ones are out of the question, then what are we gonna do?
Leo: Well, it's a good thing we have a few months.
Piper: Ugh.
Leo: We'll figure it out.
Prue: I'm not worried, personally.
(Piper gives her a look as Cole chuckles. Paige walks in.)
Phoebe: Hey. How'd it go?
Paige: Good. Difficult, but good.
Leo: He's a good man. It'll be good for you guys to get to know each other.
Paige: Yeah, I think I'm a little burnt out on the whole emotional roller coaster thing right now. Maybe I deserve a nice drive down the coast. I think I'll call Trevor.
Piper: Oh, that guy, yeah, that guy you just dumped.
Paige: Well, maybe I'll rethink that whole dumping perfectly nice guys before I give them a chance thing. I guess meeting Sam made me realize I kinda still have some abandonment issues I might wanna work through.