08x16 - Engaged and Confused

[bunniefuu]

Charmed

"Engaged and Confused"

Season 8, Episode 16

===========================

RECAP

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[Scene from 8x06: k*ll Billie: Vol. 1]

BILLIE: The night my sister was taken... (Flash to a demon taking Billie's

sister and flying out of the window.) It was raining outside. That was the last

time I ever saw her.

PAIGE: (voice-over)

PREVIOUSLY ON CHARMED

[Scenes from 8x15: The Last Temptation of Christy]

(Piper and Billie talk about Christy being with them.)

PIPER: It's only been a couple of days.

BILLIE: Yeah, well, what if I never get through to her?

PIPER: The only thing you can really do is just be there for her.

(Billie comforting Christy.)

BILLIE: Christy, it's okay. You're safe now. You're gonna be okay.

[Scene from 8x10: Vaya Con Leos]

(The Angel of Destiny talking to the sisters.)

ANGEL OF DESTINY: There's one more battle on the horizon for you three. One

unlike you've ever faced before, one you won't see coming, and one you may not

survive.

PIPER: (shakes her head) What does that have to do with Leo?

[Scenes from 8x15: The Last Temptation of Christy]

(Henry proposing to Paige.)

HENRY: I faced demons and-- and fireballs, magical suitors, orbing... I mean, I

think I passed the test, right?

PAIGE: What test?

HENRY: Paige, will you marry me?

PAIGE: Yes.

(Billie helping Christy master her powers.)

BILLIE: Your powers are a blessing, Christy. They're a gift. They're a great

thing to have.

CHRISTY: They scare me.

[Robin says: this part of the scene has not been kept in the final cut of the

episode; somehow, it has been included in the recap.]

(Piper and Phoebe talking about Christy.)

PIPER: She's the Key, and whatever that means, it can't be good.

PHOEBE: Well, maybe it is. I mean, maybe she's here to help us fight whatever

comes next, you know? Maybe they both are.

(The Triad materializing in magic school.)

ASMODEUS (TRIAD): She's in position. We're almost there.

PROLOGUE

------------

[INT. MANOR - KITCHEN - DAY]

(Open on a chocolate heart cake. Camera moves up to Piper. She's kneading bread

while talking to Phoebe on the phone.)

PIPER: Well, we haven't made much progress here, either. The whole Christy-

ultimate-power thing has got me kinda stumped.

INTERCUT WITH:

[INT. PHOEBE'S LOFT - BEDROOM - DAY]

(Phoebe's getting clothes from her closet for Christy to try them on. Christy's

in front of the mirror, tottering in high heels. Billie's next to her, assisting

her.)

PHOEBE: Piper, relax. You sound so stressed, don't worry. We'll figure it out.

You're like hyperventilating.

PIPER: I'm not hyperventilating, I'm kneading dough, dodo!

PHOEBE: You're kneading bread?!

PIPER: Uh, yeah! You are talking to a former chef, you know. Don't act so

surprised.

(Piper picks up a set of plates and heads...)

[INT. MANOR - DINING ROOM - DAY - CONTINUOUS]

(...to the dining room. She puts the stack on the table. The table's decorated

with an enormous "Henry and Paige" floral centerpiece and tons of flowers.)

PHOEBE: Look, sweetie, are you sure you're okay with this? Throwing Paige an

engagement party without...

PIPER: (arranging flowers) Are you kidding? It's exactly what Leo would want us

to do. Besides, Paige deserves what Leo and I had.

PHOEBE: And you will have that again, and soon as we figure out what we're up

against.

PIPER: Well, until then, someone in this family is going to have a normal happy

wedding engagement, party and all. Speaking of which, how's the, uh, Christy

project going?

PHOEBE: Actually, it's going really well. This morning, we mastered the art of

walking in high heels, and now, we're just picking out an outfit. (To Billie)

Try that one. (To Piper) And we're gonna go for a little test run at a café, you

know? See how it goes.

PIPER: Great, because demons attacking at the party, I can handle, but Christy

eating with her hands, I cannot handle.

PHOEBE: Don't worry, she will be totally, totally ready by tomorrow night.

(Billie gives Christy a dress, who examines it apprehensively.)

PIPER: Thank you.

(Christy clumsily tries to put the dress on, but she loses her balance.)

(Christy squeaks and falls.)

PIPER: What? What happened?

(Flash to...)

[INT. UNDERWORLD - XAR'S LAIR]

(A half-vanquished demon appears and screams in pain on the ground, burning. He

finally bursts into flame in front of Xar and his henchdemon, Takar.)

XAR: I suppose letting him escape half alive was meant to send a message.

TAKAR: Yes, that's it's su1c1de to go up against the Triad. We can't afford to

lose any more demons, Xar.

XAR: Well, there might be another way.

TAKAR: What about retreating deeper into the underworld?

XAR: If the Triad gets the ultimate power, nowhere will be safe.

TAKAR: But we can't even get them out of magic school now, let alone destroy

them. We are not strong enough to stop them.

XAR: No. But The Charmed Ones might be. Perhaps we can get them to destroy the

Triad for us.

[OPENING CREDITS]

PART ONE

-----------

[INT. MANOR - ATTIC - DAY]

(Paige is flipping through the Book of Shadows. Piper comes in.)

PIPER: What are you doing here? I thought you were going ring shopping with

Henry.

PAIGE: Oh. Yeah, I was supposed to, but, you know, I figured, what with the key

to the ultimate power over at Phoebe's, I should take this time just to, you

know, kinda check things out, and...

PIPER: This is your wedding ring we're taking about.

PAIGE: (annoyed) I know. I'm not getting married tomorrow. I've got some time.

PIPER: But still, when a girl isn't the least bit giddy about ring shopping,

that usually means something's very wrong.

PAIGE: You know, maybe I'm just not one of those kind of "whoo" wedding girls

that goes crazy about the whole thing. Did you ever think of that?

PIPER: I think you have a classic case of cold feet.

PAIGE: I don't have cold feet, because... because I'm crazy for Henry. I am.

Crazy for him. Love him.

PIPER: Okay, yeah, sure. I believe you, and I love Leo too, but that doesn't

mean I didn't get knots in my stomach the moment I said yes.

PAIGE: (comforted) You did, really?

PIPER: (nods) Mm-hmm. It's perfectly normal.

PAIGE: Well... is it normal to fight about every little thing?

PIPER: Actually, yes. Look, you just need to relax and spend a little time

together, and talk it out, and, you know, listen. That's always a good thing.

PAIGE: I could probably do some more listening than I've been doing.

PIPER: You should kind of give it a try.

PAIGE: Okay. I will. I will call him right after I'm done checking on some

things.

PIPER: No, you need to get your butt out of here! Go. The demons will show up

eventually. They always do. (Piper grins. Convinced, Paige heads towards the

stairs.) Good luck!

(Flash to...)

[INT. UNDERWORLD - XAR'S LAIR]

(Xar's munching a huge round loaf of bread while his henchdemon Takar is busy

shoving spoonfuls of gruel into his mouth.)

XAR: I'd rather die than spend eternity hiding out in some dingy cave while the

Triad luxuriates up at magic school. Their resurfacing after so long away opens

old wounds.

TAKAR: They were wrong to have excommunicated you, Xar.

XAR: And it will be their downfall.

TAKAR: I have no doubt. Still...

XAR: I know their weakness, what they so desperately want: to k*ll The Charmed

Ones, and shift the balance of power from good to evil. And the fact they just

took over magic school tells me they're close.

TAKAR: All the more reason to stay away, I think.

XAR: But... if The Charmed Ones knew the Triad was back, they'd want them

vanquished as much as I do. We just have to find a way to get them the message.

Or rather, you'll have to find a way.

TAKAR: Ugh... Still, with all due respect, maybe we should wait, see how things

play out--

XAR: No! We need to take out the Triad now, before they get the ultimate power.

(Flash to...)

[EXT. SIDEWALK CAFÉ - DAY]

(Christy is ripping at her chicken leg with both hands, chewing noisily. She has

barbecue sauce all over her chin.)

(Phoebe and Billie are shamefaced...)

(...while the other diners stare at her.)

CHRISTY: (busy munching noisily) Mmm...

(Phoebe's had enough.)

PHOEBE: Okay! Utensils.

CHRISTY: (sheepishly) Right. Sorry.

BILLIE: No, it's okay. You're doing-- you're doing fine. You know, honey, you

have a little-- something-- everywhere. It's fine. (Christy tries to wipe her

mouth with her sleeve.) You know, um, why don't we just stick to liquids?

CHRISTY: I'm a freak. I'm never gonna get this.

BILLIE: Ohh... No, I-- you were raised by demons for fifteen years. You can't

expect to get all this in one week. Just eat your salad.

PHOEBE: Yeah, just... relax. Relax. Concentrate.

(Christy concentrates on her plate of food, and sets it ablaze.)

(Phoebe gasps.)

BILLIE: Oh, my goodness!

PHOEBE: Goodness. Okay. Okay, that's not--

(Phoebe empties her glass of water on the plate, extinguishing the fire.)

BILLIE: Well...

PHOEBE: Maybe this was a little premature.

BILLIE: (nods vehemently) Yeah, we need to leave. Now.

PHOEBE: Okay. I'm gonna give you money...

BILLIE: Thank you.

PHOEBE: And... I'm gonna go run some errands, and I'll meet you at the house,

okay? You're gonna get this. I promise.

(Phoebe rapidly walks away.)

(Christy pouts sheepishly.)

[EXT. SIDEWALK - DAY]

(Phoebe, walking down the sidewalk, is so busy rifling through her bag she bumps

into a man.)

PHOEBE: Oh!

COOP: Sorry.

PHOEBE: (distracted) It's okay, don't worry about it.

(Phoebe keeps on walking.)

COOP: My fault.

(Billie watched the whole scene with great interest and runs after Phoebe.)

BILLIE: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey! Hey, missy!

PHOEBE: (turns to Billie) What?

BILLIE: Hello?

PHOEBE: What?

BILLIE: That guy was totally hot. He was checking you out. What are you doing?

PHOEBE: He was? I didn't even see him.

BILLIE: I know. That's why I came over here.

PHOEBE: Okay, let's just focus on Christy. Otherwise, we're going to have to

deal with the wrath of Piper.

[INT. MANOR - DINING ROOM - DAY]

(Piper enters the room with a tray filled with champagne glasses while Billie is

teaching Christy how to toast.)

PIPER: Nobody touch these, I don't want smudges!

BILLIE: And then, we clink.

(Billie clinks with Christy.)

PIPER: (to Billie) You need to wash those. I don't know if I ordered enough.

CHRISTY: Why clink?

BILLIE: You know, I don't really know, it's just kind of a thing. Okay, and now,

we sip.

(Christy drinks it all in one gulp and coughs.)

BILLIE: That was-- that was really nice. I should've told you what sip meant.

(Christy wipes her mouth with her sleeve again.) It's okay. No! Don't use--

napkin! Napkin.

(Christy rips the cloth napkin under the champagne glasses, shattering them.)

PIPER: Aah!

BILLIE: Ohh... at least there aren't any smudges.

PIPER: That's all right. I got it. I got it. I got it.

(Christy's already moved on and is now fiddling with salad tongs.)

BILLIE: (sighs) Yes, these, my friend, are salad tongs. You kinda dig in there

and pull the salad out. Don't use your fingers.

(Christy nods. The doorbell rings.)

PIPER: I got it. (Piper protectively grabs a vase to protect it from Christy's

destructive rampage.) Those are the tables. I got it.

(Piper walks out with the vase.)

(Christy grabs a corkscrew and plays with it. It's a lot of fun.)

CHRISTY: What's this do?

[INT. MANOR - FOYER/MAIN HALL - DAY - CONTINUOUS]

(Piper opens the door.)

PIPER: Okay, uh, Rick, you can just put those on the...

(But it's not a delivery. It's the demons Takar and Ciril, dressed up as police

officers.)

TAKAR: Piper Halliwell?

PIPER: (putting down the vase) Yes? Is there a problem?

TAKAR: We just wanted to make sure you're all right. Can we, uh, come in?

PIPER: Uh... why wouldn't I be all right?

(Takar and Ciril both take a timid step in.)

TAKAR: Have you noticed any suspicious activity lately around your home?

PIPER: What is this about, exactly?

CIRIL: We got word there might be an attempt on your life.

PIPER: What?! By who?

TAKAR: You, uh... you've come across them before.

(Billie and Christy enter the foyer to see what is going on.)

PIPER: "Them"? Who are you guys?

(Paige walks down the stairs, holding a phone.)

PAIGE: Ugh! Can someone please tell me if it is normal to argue with somebody

about whether you should eat before or after you buy wedding bands?

BILLIE: (to Christy) Hey, who are they?

(Christy starts concentrating on the two demons.)

(Takar gets increasingly restless.)

TAKAR: Look, this is a friendly visit. We're just here to warn you that there

are... beings who you thought you dealt with but haven't.

PIPER: (raising eyebrows) Beings? Wait a second.

CHRISTY: They're demons!

TAKAR: The Triad's back! Beware!

(Ciril freaks out and throws a fireball at Piper. She gasps and swiftly dodges

it. The fireball crashes in the vase, destroying it.)

(Piper blasts Ciril, but misses.)

(Ciril throws another fireball at Billie and Christy. They duck. It whizzes

above them, crashes in the centerpiece and sets it ablaze.)

(Paige rushes to Christy.)

PAIGE: Gotta get you out of here.

CHRISTY: (concentrating) Wait.

(As Ciril is about to hurl a third fireball, Christy grabs her temples and

blasts him.)

BILLIE: Sweet!

(Terrified, Takar shimmers out.)

PIPER: Did he just say Triad?!

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

PART TWO

------------

[INT. MANOR - KITCHEN - DAY]

CHRISTY: I don't know. I didn't recognize them. I just got a hit they were

demons.

BILLIE: Gotta love that telepathy.

PAIGE: It's too bad your power just won't tell us what they want.

BILLIE: Well, they don't want Christy, thank god.

PAIGE: I think they were coming to tell us about the Triad.

PIPER: Who are supposedly dead. We thought Cole vanquished them years ago.

CHRISTY: Are they dangerous?

PIPER: Very.

PAIGE: I'm not really understanding, though. Why would demons come to warn us

about other demons? Yeah, I probably should just go check the book--

PIPER: No. I can do the research. You need to talk to your fiance. We have

enough firepower down here.

PAIGE: Don't say the F word.

BILLIE: Firepower?

PIPER: Go.

PAIGE: Maybe we should call the whole thing off. I mean, everything's so crazy--

PIPER: (overlapping) Don't even think about it! Listen. The party is on, dude.

PAIGE: Dude... the house is a mess.

PIPER: And what else is new, okay? (to Billie and Christy) You two need to go

hang out at Phoebe's until we know... something.

PAIGE: Come on, I'll take you.

PIPER: And then, you need to go straight to Henry, because I ain't throwing you

an engagement party if you ain't engaged.

PAIGE: Don't thr*aten me.

(Flash to...)

[INT. UNDERWORLD - XAR'S LAIR]

(Xar's holding an athame dangerously near Takar's throat.)

XAR: How could you fail?

TAKAR: We didn't... exactly. We-- we warned them about the Triad, we just didn't

get a chance to elaborate.

XAR: Ciril was incinerated by a Charmed One?

TAKAR: No, by another witch. Same one who knew that we were demons. They seemed

very protective of her.

XAR: (intrigued) Explain.

TAKAR: They risked themselves so she wouldn't get hurt, even though she didn't

look like she needed much protection.

XAR: Interesting. A strange, powerful witch appears in The Charmed Ones' lives,

just as the Triad is close to achieving its goal. I wonder if she's the one.

TAKAR: I don't follow.

XAR: When I was one of them, they spoke of going after the coming power, the

ultimate power.

TAKAR: And you think that might be her?

XAR: If she is, we need to get her away from The Charmed Ones fast.

TAKAR: But then they'd come after us.

XAR: Not if they think the Triad took her. Then they'd go after them.

(Flash to...)

[EXT. SAN FRANCISCO - STREET - DAY]

(Henry is contemplating the window of a jewelry store.)

(Paige gets out of her car and runs to Henry.)

PAIGE: Hey. Oh, my god, I'm so sorry, I'm late. Oh, no! The store's closed.

HENRY: Yeah. Yeah. Hey, don't worry, though, I got to watch another couple pick

up their band, it was-- it was really beautiful.

PAIGE: So sorry. Right after we hung up, these demons att*cked us, and--

HENRY: Wait-- demons? Are you okay?

PAIGE: Yeah, we're fine. They were, in their own special way, coming to warn us

about this group called the Triad we thought were dead, but apparently aren't,

which is kind of freaking us out a little bit. I'll explain more about that

little thing later.

HENRY: Paige, look, if you have too much going on, if you can't deal with this

wedding right now...

PAIGE: No, of course I can deal with the wedding, and picking up bands, and, you

know, dealing with toothpaste caps and snoring and...

HENRY: Uh... snoring?

PAIGE: It's nothing.

HENRY: Didn't sound like nothing.

(Henry and Paige start walking side by side down the sidewalk.)

PAIGE: Well, every couple has their little quirks, their issues.

HENRY: Issues? Are you talking about not nailing down the wedding day, or are

you talking about not having a guest list?

PAIGE: Okay, by guest list, you're saying you're not really interested in just

having a barefoot, on the beach, wedding in Fiji?

HENRY: What? No, because I would like to lift a wedding veil, not a mosquito net

when I'm gonna kiss you.

PAIGE: (forced laugh) Does every couple go through this?

HENRY: Hold on now. I wanna go back to the small issue here of toothpaste.

PAIGE: What? You don't put the cap back on!

HENRY: (scoffs) Okay, well you squeeze from the middle!

PAIGE: Uhh! By the way, I'm not wearing a veil.

HENRY: Why? How can you get married without wearing a veil?

PAIGE: Well, if you want one so much, why don't you wear it?

HENRY: I-- I...

[INT. PHOEBE'S LOFT - DAY]

(Billie is doing Christy's makeup.)

CHRISTY: It's funny, I remember doing this to you when we were little.

BILLIE: Oh, really?

CHRISTY: Yeah. Manicure, pedicure, the works. We had fun playing dress-up.

BILLIE: Well, I think I was a little young to remember, but I have to say, I

know you lived in a cave and it was terrible, but it did wonders for your

complexion.

(Phoebe comes in the room with a necklace. She puts it around Christy's neck.)

PHOEBE: There you go. Oh, sweetie, you look so beautiful.

BILLIE: She's a total babe.

PHOEBE: You are a total knockout.

(The door opens and Coop barges in.)

COOP: Oh, whoops. This isn't right. (Recognizing Phoebe) Hey... hey, I saw you

at the café earlier, didn't I?

PHOEBE: (defensive) Yes, you did, which makes me wonder even more what you're

doing in my house!

COOP: Oh, yeah, yeah. Sorry about that. I'm new here. Must have gotten off on

the wrong floor.

BILLIE: (lifts a finger) An understandable mistake.

PHOEBE: Why did your key work?

COOP: (not overly concerned) Hmm. I don't know. That's a weird one.

PHOEBE: (nods pointedly) Mmm.

COOP: I have to talk to the broker about that. Hmm. Anyway, ladies, I apologize.

Have a wonderful evening. Listen, if you ever need anything, I live right below

you, so don't hesitate. Even if it is just for a... cup of sugar or something.

(Coop closes the door.)

PHOEBE: Mm-hmm.

BILLIE: Okay. Blowing that hot guy off once, maybe. But he just landed in your

apartment, and you let him leave?

PHOEBE: You have to admit, that's kind of suspicious! I-- I mean, you must've

got some sort of vibe off him, did you?

CHRISTY: No. I thought he was cute.

BILLIE: Yeah.

PHOEBE: Please, what do you know? You were raised by demons, for god's sakes.

BILLIE: All right, whatever. Come on, let's go try this dress on.

(Christy takes the dress out of Billie's hands.)

CHRISTY: Excuse me, I think I can dress myself by now.

PHOEBE: Oh.

BILLIE: Oh.

(Christy walks to the bedroom.)

BILLIE: Well, that's progress. A little snippy, but progress.

[INT. PHOEBE'S LOFT - BEDROOM - DAY]

(Christy swings the door shut, revealing Xar silently standing in the corner

dressed as a member of the Triad. Christy barely has enough time to gasp before

Xar smacks her violently, sending her flying all the way across the bedroom,

splintering a pole of Phoebe's canopy bed.)

[INT. PHOEBE'S LOFT - DAY]

(The noise alerts Phoebe and Billie.)

BILLIE: Christy?

(They rush to the bedroom.)

[INT. PHOEBE'S LOFT - BEDROOM - DAY]

(As they open the door, Xar melts out, the unconscious Christy in his arms.)

PHOEBE: The Triad.

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

PART THREE

-------------

[INT. MANOR - LIVING ROOM - DAY]

BILLIE: How did this happen? I mean, why couldn't I stop him?

PHOEBE: Because you just couldn't. I couldn't either. He was in there waiting

for her.

PIPER: And you're sure it was the Triad?

PHOEBE: Well, it's not the kind of robe you find at Nordstrom's, you know.

PIPER: So I don't understand. The guys that kidnapped her fifteen years ago were

just front men?

PHOEBE: Well, it kind of makes sense, especially if she's the Key to the power.

PIPER: Which if the Triad gets, we're screwed.

BILLIE: Well, who cares? All I care about is getting her back before they...

PHOEBE: They won't hurt her. They need her.

PIPER: We just need to get her back before they get whatever it is they're after.

BILLIE: I still don't understand why those demons warned us about them.

PIPER: Well, they don't want the Triad taking over any more than we do. They

probably thought we would take them out.

PHOEBE: You know, this might be the fight that the Angel of Destiny was talking

about. And if we win...

PIPER: (nods) We could get Leo back.

PHOEBE: Okay, well, I'm gonna start by checking into that guy that broke into my

apartment.

BILLIE: You really think he's part of this?

PHOEBE: Yes!

(Phoebe walks out of the room.)

PIPER: We're gonna get your sister back, Billie, one way or another.

BILLIE: And Leo too.

(Flash to...)

[INT. UNDERWORLD - XAR'S LAIR]

(Christy is lying on the floor, surrounded with entrapping crystals, unconscious,

bound and blindfolded.)

TAKAR: She's the ultimate power?

XAR: Doubtful. She was too easy to take. More likely an unsuspecting conduit.

Still, as long as we have her, the Triad doesn't.

TAKAR: Do you really think The Charmed Ones will go after them instead of us?

XAR: Shh! (whispers) That's the plan.

TAKAR: (whispers) But what if they don't?

XAR: Then we're dead. But that's still better than having to answer to the Triad.

(Christy is starting to come to.)

XAR: Ahh... finally waking, are we? Care to tell us what you know about the

ultimate power?

(Christy suddenly sits up, but is stopped by the crystal barrier.)

XAR: Spunky. But you'll talk... eventually.

[INT. LOFT APARTMENT - DAY]

(Phoebe kicks in the door. The loft is empty.)

PHOEBE: I knew it.

[INT. PHOEBE'S LOFT - DAY]

(Phoebe heads straight to the phone. As she snatches it, Coop casually creeps

behind her.)

COOP: Well, took you long enough.

(Phoebe turns around and swiftly hits Coop in the chin with the phone. He falls

backwards, demolishing an end table.)

COOP: (grunts and laughs) Well, love is never having to say you're sorry.

(As he gets up, Phoebe tries to kick him...)

PHOEBE: Enh!

(...but he freezes her with his opal ring.)

COOP: That's nice. Very nice. Okay... umm... you lie awake at night. You're

afraid you may never find love again. The best years of your life lost, battling

for the greater good, but at the cost of starting your own family. Well, that

ought to do it.

(Coop flicks his hand, telekinetically moving the couch, and unfreezes Phoebe.)

(Phoebe squeaks and falls on the couch.)

COOP: You don't need to fight me, Phoebe. I'm on your side.

PHOEBE: (stands up) Like hell you are.

COOP: Just... sit down, okay? Listen. (They both sit down.) Now you're just

thinking, how you lay awake at night, right? How you're afraid that you may

never find love again? Now, it's not fair, really. I already know I'm right.

PHOEBE: Who are you?

COOP: I'm Cupid. I'm one of them, anyway. You can call me Coop.

PHOEBE: (laughs) That's just great, "Coop". But you know what? I don't have the

time for this, because I need to go find my sisters...

COOP: You always say that, and that is exactly why I'm here. You always think

that you never have time for love. You know, that's why the Elders sent me. They

feel guilty, you know, about how everything got all messed up after they

enlisted you. So they sent me down to help you get things back on track.

PHOEBE: Oh. Okay. Well, you know what, I don't need help finding true love.

COOP: Apparently you do.

PHOEBE: Excuse me?

COOP: You didn't even notice me at the café.

PHOEBE: Oh, well, you know what? I didn't notice you at the café because you're-

pff! You are just not cute.

COOP: No. I'm cute. You're resistant.

PHOEBE: Oh!

COOP: Now, come on. How you're gonna have that future child that you were

promised unless you find love first, right?

PHOEBE: (hopeful) That's still possible?

COOP: Not only is it possible, it's destined. We are gonna have to hurry.

PHOEBE: But my star charts...

COOP: All wonky. (laughs) I'm sorry. Your math stinks. Anyway, I'll show you

about that later. First, we're gonna heal your heart.

PHOEBE: N-- no. First, I need to go k*ll some demons, because if I don't, none

of this is gonna matter. Okay?

COOP: Wait. You're resisting.

PHOEBE: (opening the door) You know what? You can take that bow and arrow and

shove it up your, uh... And don't even try to freeze me because I will vanquish

you.

(Phoebe leaves, slamming the door shut.)

COOP: Ooh. Well. This is gonna be tougher than I thought.

[INT. MANOR - STAIRS - DAY]

(Paige is walking up the stairs.)

PAIGE: Hey, Henry. Can you please do me a huge favor? I need you to call

everybody on the list for our party and cancel.

INTERCUT WITH:

[INT. POLICE STATION - DAY]

HENRY: Can-- Paige, we can't cancel on them. It's tomorrow night.

PAIGE: Look. There might not be a tomorrow night for us, okay? I have to deal

with the Triad.

HENRY: The Triad? Right, the Triad. You know what? I just thought... I thought

we were working on it.

PAIGE: Well, I thought we were working on it too, but sadly, they've come back.

Can you please just make the call?

HENRY: (sighs) Okay. (Henry hangs up.) Yes, ma'am. (Henry pulls the guest list

sheet out of his pocket.)

[INT. MANOR - ATTIC - DAY]

(Paige comes in.)

PAIGE: Hey, there. How's it going?

PIPER: Not good. There's no known way to vanquish them.

PAIGE: Well, that's, umm... really great news. Do you think it's odd that they

went after Christy and didn't even try to fight us?

PIPER: No. The Triad thinks she's the key to what they want, and once they get

it, we may be obsolete.

BILLIE:

Power of the witches rise

Course unseen across the skies

Come to us who call you near

Come to us and settle here

PAIGE: How long has she been doing that?

PIPER: Since we've been up here, and she's working on an enhancing potion to

make the spell stronger.

PAIGE: Hmm. Umm... Billie, the thing is, if that spell hasn't worked by now,

it's not gonna work.

BILLIE: I don't know what else to do. I have to do something!

PAIGE: We're gonna get her back. Okay? I'm gonna go scry.

(Billie nods.)

BILLIE:

Power of the witches rise

Course unseen across the skies

Come to us who call you near

Come to us and settle here

(Flash to...)

[INT. UNDERWORLD - XAR'S LAIR]

(Christy is still blindfolded, but standing now.)

CHRISTY: (seething) You have no idea who you're dealing with!

XAR: I may not know exactly who you are, but I know you have something the

Triad's been wanting for a very long time, and it brings me untold joy to think

that I'll ruin their plan just as it's about to reach fruition.

CHRISTY: (screams) Let me out of here!

TAKAR: We're not going to get anything out of her.

XAR: No matter. We just need to hold onto her until the battle between The

Charmed Ones and the Triad is over. Then we'll see who's left standing.

(Christy concentrates and incinerates the ropes that have her tied. She rips off

the blindfold from her eyes.)

(Christy puts her hands to her temples and emits a high-pitched shriek.)

(Christy's formidable power blows up the crystal barrier imprisoning her. The

crystal barrier explodes, immolating Takar and hurling Xar across the chamber.)

CHRISTY: Now... it's your turn.

(Christy, enraged, walks towards Xar.)

(Christy disappears in a swirl of magical orbs.)

[INT. MANOR - ATTIC - DAY]

(Christy materializes in a swirl of magical orbs.)

(Christy continues to walk menacingly until she realizes she is back at the

manor.)

BILLIE: Christy?

CHRISTY: What-- what happened?

BILLIE: It worked!

(Billie hugs Christy.)



CHRISTY: (stutters) I-- I was in a cage, umm... I got out, but then they came

after me again... and then I was here.

PIPER: What did they want, did they say?

CHRISTY: I don't know. I was scared.

BILLIE: That's okay. You're safe now.

PIPER: Well, the Triad is gonna figure out where she is sooner or later. We need

to stop them while we have a chance.

PAIGE: Okay, I'm gonna go get Phoebe.

(Paige orbs out.)

PIPER: (to Christy) Are you okay?

CHRISTY: Yeah, I just need to... lie down.

BILLIE: Yeah. Come on, let's go.

CHRISTY: (hastily) No, it's okay. You stay here and help her. I'll be fine.

(Christy smiles, and then leaves.)

(Piper and Billie exchange a look. They feel something's not quite right.)

[INT. MANOR - CONSERVATORY - DAY]

(Christy slowly walks to the conservatory, making sure no one's around.)

(She concentrates.)

(Suddenly, The Triad appears before her.)

CHRISTY: Somebody's impersonating you.

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

PART FOUR

------------

[INT. MANOR - CONSERVATORY - DAY]

(We continue exactly where we left off.)

ASMODEUS (TRIAD): What do you mean, impersonating us? How do you know?

CHRISTY: Will you keep your voice down? I don't want them to find us together.

CANDOR (TRIAD): I always said this plan was taking too long. We should just

att*ck The Charmed Ones while we're here.

ASMODEUS (TRIAD): No. We don't have the power yet.

BALIEL (TRIAD): And we're not strong enough without it.

CANDOR (TRIAD): We don't know that. Besides, someone's already exposed us.

ASMODEUS (TRIAD): Yes. The real question is, who?

BALIEL (TRIAD): Who else? It has to be Xar.

CHRISTY: Xar? Who's Xar?

ASMODEUS (TRIAD): A demon, who was once one of us.

CANDOR (TRIAD): But one whom we banished.

BALIEL (TRIAD): And one who's been looking to avenge that for decades. He's the

only one that knows our ways and our desires.

CANDOR (TRIAD): So what, he's been sabotaging us?

ASMODEUS (TRIAD): Undoubtedly, so he won't have to answer to us. Xar would do

anything to keep that from happening.

CHRISTY: Well, he may have already succeeded. The Charmed Ones are after you now.

Which means I may never get Billie back.

ASMODEUS (TRIAD): Yes, you will, just as we promised. You're still the Key, and

you're still in perfect position.

BALIEL (TRIAD): You're her sister, Christy. Soon, you will show her the way.

CANDOR (TRIAD): If we can stop Xar from doing any more damage.

[INT. MANOR - ATTIC - DAY]

(Billie's scrying with her computer. Piper closes the Book of Shadows.

Apparently their search hasn't been successful so far.)

(Paige orbs in with Phoebe.)

BILLIE: Hey, how'd it go? Was the hot guy a Triad?

PHOEBE: He's worse. He's a Cupid.

BILLIE: A what?

PHOEBE: A Cupid. The Elders sent him down here to help me find true love. How

insulting is that?

PAIGE: Well, maybe they figure they owe you.

PIPER: Well, I wish they'd help with the Triads first, because I have no idea

how to vanquish them.

PAIGE: Well, what did Cole do?

PHOEBE: Well, I don't know. He was a really powerful demon. Probably just as

powerful as they were. You know what, Cole is my longest relationship. Is that

pathetic or what?

PIPER: Actually, you might be onto something. Maybe we need a demon to vanquish

them.

BILLIE: Are you kidding? Where are we gonna find one of those?

PIPER: Well, I don't think we need to, if we just get the Triads to k*ll each

other.

PAIGE: Uh... how do you propose we do that?

PIPER: I dunno, I'm makin' this up as I go.

PHOEBE: Well, what if we don't get them all?

PIPER: I don't think we need to. If we just k*ll one, then we weaken the

collective.

PAIGE: Kind of like us.

PIPER: Exactly.

PHOEBE: It's still dicey.

PIPER: Dicey's all we got.

BILLIE: Well, we better do something fast, or we're not gonna be able to save

Christy.

PAIGE: Or Leo, for that matter. I mean, if the Triad really is the big thr*at.

PHOEBE: Then we're in for a huge battle.

PIPER: Which means, I need to get the kids out of here.

(Piper gets up.)

PAIGE: Oh, and I need to go see Henry.

(Paige gets up.)

PIPER: No, no, no. Wait, wait, wait. Can't it wait?

PAIGE: No, it can't. Look. If something happens to me, I don't want the last

thing Henry remembers about us is arguing.

PIPER: Well, we don't have a lot of time.

PAIGE: I need to do this. Sorry.

PIPER: Hurry.

(Paige leaves.)

(Everyone exchange glances and sighs.)

(Flash to...)

[INT. UNDERWORLD - XAR'S LAIR]

XAR: How did you find me?

(Xar slowly turns around, facing the Triad.)

ASMODEUS (TRIAD): The witch led us to you, Xar. You should have k*lled her while

you had the chance.

XAR: You know me better than that, Asmodeus. I wanted to find out why you needed

her. You look tired, old friend. The stress of so many years on the run, no

doubt.

CANDOR (TRIAD): Those days are behind us.

XAR: Perhaps. But the days ahead are few, thanks to me. You'll never save

yourselves from The Charmed Ones.

BELIAL (TRIAD): That remains to be seen.

XAR: Does it? If you had the power to take them on, you would've done so by now.

You need more. But now it's too late.

ASMODEUS (TRIAD): Your hubris has always been your undoing, Xar. Even in the end.

(Candor conjures an energy sphere.)

XAR: See you in the wasteland.

(Candor throws the energy sphere at Xar, who remains impassive as he explodes.)

BELIAL (TRIAD): He's right. The Charmed Ones will be coming for us, and without

the power, we'll never be able to defeat them.

CANDOR (TRIAD): We don't know that. Besides, we only have to take one out to

weaken their Power of Three.

BELIAL (TRIAD): But that's our weakness too. That's why we embarked in the plan

all those years ago to use Christy. Without the power, we are too closely

matched to ensure success.

CANDOR (TRIAD): But we don't have a choice, now, do we? It's k*ll or be k*lled

now.

(Flash to...)

[INT. POLICE STATION - NIGHT]

(Paige enters and quickly walks to Henry.)

PAIGE: Ahh... Henry.

HENRY: (smiling) Hey.

PAIGE: Hey.

HENRY: What are you doing here?

PAIGE: Uh... I need to talk to you.

HENRY: Okay.

PAIGE: (grabbing Henry) Will you come with me?

HENRY: Yeah, yeah. Wait. Is there something wrong? Are you all right?

(Paige drags Henry out in the hallway.)

PAIGE: Eeh... I'm okay. Well, uh, no, not really. Umm... I just really wanted to

see you just in case.

HENRY: Wait, wait, wait. Paige. What's wrong?

PAIGE: We're going up against the Triad.

HENRY: What does that mean?

PAIGE: Well, it means, if we win this battle, it will be a very, very good thing,

and we can get Leo back, and everything will be super happy and perfect and I

won't even care if you leave the cap off the toothpaste.

HENRY: What if you don't win? (Paige shrugs silently.) All right, I'm going with

you. We'll do it together. I can't sit here and do nothing.

PAIGE: You can't. It has to be just the three of us.

HENRY: (nods) All right. When you get back, I'm gonna marry you as soon as I can.

At the engagement party.

PAIGE: You were supposed to cancel it.

HENRY: I guess I didn't.

(Paige takes a step forward and kisses Henry.)

[INT. MANOR - WYATT'S BEDROOM - NIGHT]

(Phoebe walks in pensively. She picks up Wyatt's teddy bear.)

COOP: (loudly) Hey!

PHOEBE: (gasps) You scared me.

COOP: Uh, I'm sorry. (rubbing hands) So, when are we gonna get started?

PHOEBE: (holding teddy bear) Don't you have someone else's love life to meddle

in?

COOP: No. I'm all yours. I mean, yeah, sure, normally we've got forty, fifty

jobs, but the Elders thought that you deserved to have me all to yourself.

PHOEBE: (sarcastic) Lucky me. Uh... you know what? I'm just really busy right

now and I have big issues to deal with, so...

COOP: Yeah. I know. I know. And, uh, you're gonna get through this. And then

we're gonna get to work.

PHOEBE: Has anyone ever told you that you are a big pain in the butt?

COOP: Mmm, no. I'm a Cupid. Hey. Good luck.

(Coop's heart emits a pink glow that eventually absorbs his body. He disappears.)

[INT. MANOR - ATTIC - NIGHT]

(Piper, Paige, Billie and Christie are working on their plan. Phoebe comes in.)

PHOEBE: Anything?

BILLIE: Well, we think they're at magic school. We found a very high

concentration of energy there.

PHOEBE: So that means we have to fight them there?

PAIGE: Does it really matter where we fight them?

PIPER: Okay, let's go over the plan again.

PAIGE: Divide and conquer, right, that's the plan?

PHOEBE: So I can draw out their power...

PIPER: And I will freeze one of them.

PHOEBE: They are upper-level demons, so they won't freeze for long.

PAIGE: They only have to stay frozen long enough for me to orb the last one into

position.

BILLIE: You know, do you guys think I should go with you? I mean, my projection

power could really help.

PHOEBE: No. You have to stay here and protect your sister. And you also have to

call the Elders if we don't come back.

PIPER: Ready?

PAIGE: Nope, but let's do it anyway.

(Paige stands up. Phoebe and Piper join her. They link hands and orb out.)

BILLIE: Whatever happens, we're gonna stick together.

CHRISTY: (smiling) Yeah, right, of course. That's what sisters are for, right?

(As Billie looks away, Christy's smile fades.)

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

PART FIVE

-----------

[INT. MAGIC SCHOOL - GREAT HALL - NIGHT]

(The Triad form a triangle. Energy suspended above their heads spark and glow.)

(The three sisters orb beneath a table, out of the Triad's sight.)

PHOEBE: (whispering) Okay. How are we supposed to divide and conquer that?

PAIGE: (whispering) Maybe we should try to blast 'em while they're distracted.

PIPER: I don't think it'll even faze them.

(Phoebe walks to the left.)

PHOEBE: I'll distract 'em.

(But the Triad notices the sisters' presence.)

PIPER: Too late.

(Candor throws an energy sphere at Piper. Piper blasts it, but the force of the

expl*si*n pushes Piper and Paige against the wall, and flings Phoebe down the

hallway.)

PIPER: Phoebe?

PHOEBE: Yeah. Go.

(Phoebe runs down the hallway. Asmodeus throws an energy sphere at her, but

misses as she throws herself to the floor.)

(Candor chases her.)

CANDOR (TRIAD): I've got her.

ASMODEUS (TRIAD): No! We're stronger together!

PAIGE: (shouts) Hey!

(Asmodeus throws an energy sphere at Paige. She orbs away just before the energy

sphere hits her.)

PIPER: (raising) Yoo-hoo.

(Baliel throws an energy sphere at her. Piper freezes them.)

(Asmodeus and Baliel's movements slow to a blurry crawl.)

PIPER: Paige, now.

(Paige orbs behind Asmodeus and Baliel.)

PAIGE: Triad guy!

(Waving her hand, Paige orbs Asmodeus right in front of Baliel's frozen energy

sphere.)

(Piper unfreezes them.)

(Baliel's energy sphere vanquishes Asmodeus.)

BELIAL: (screams) Nooo!

(Piper triple blasts Belial.)

BELIAL: No!

(The third blast vanquishes Belial.)

(Candor walks up in the hallway just in time to see Belial being vanquished. He

immobilizes.)

(Phoebe steps out of the study, behind Candor.)

PHOEBE: Looking for me?

(Candor turns around.)

(Candor turns the other way, only to see Paige and Piper in front of him.)

(He's cornered.)

(Candor silently dissolves into the floor.)

PAIGE: (to Phoebe) You okay?

PHOEBE: Yeah. I can't believe we did it.

PIPER: Well, two out of three.

PAIGE: (uncertain) Well, that's all we needed, right? That means we won.

PIPER: Well, if we won, where's Leo? I mean, he should be here. I don't

understand what went wrong.

PHOEBE: Maybe nothing. Maybe there's a bigger thr*at out there.

[INT. MANOR - MAIN HALL - NIGHT]

(The sisters orb in.)

PIPER: I don't understand. What could possibly be a bigger thr*at than the Triad?

(Billie and Christy walk down the stairs.)

CHRISTY: Is everything okay?

PHOEBE: Well, yeah. We got the Triad, but we do think that there's a bigger

thr*at out there.

CHRISTY: (uneasy) Did they say that?

PIPER: No, they didn't have to. Leo would be here.

BILLIE: I'm so sorry, Piper.

PAIGE: You know, you're gonna get Leo back.

(Piper nods.)

PIPER: Well, in the meantime, we have an engagement to celebrate.

PAIGE: Oh, well, I've been thinking about that, actually, and I will do it on

one condition. If we can just turn it into a wedding instead.

(The light dims slightly...

and the room freezes.)

(Except Christy.)

(Candor materializes. Christy walks to him.)

CHRISTY: What are we supposed to do now?

CANDOR (TRIAD): We stay the course.

CHRISTY: But how, without the others?

CANDOR (TRIAD): It was never about us. It was always about you. (Candor sighs.)

We've taught you all we know, shown you the way. Now you must go forward alone,

to fulfill your destiny. To unite with the ultimate power.

CHRISTY: Billie.

CANDOR (TRIAD): This isn't the course either one of us wanted to take, but we

don't have a choice now. The end result is all that matters. You must save your

sister.

(Candor disappears into the floor.)

(Christy gets back into position.)

(The room unfreezes.)

PIPER: Well, absolutely. Although it is kind of short notice. I might need some

magical assistance.

PHOEBE: (thrilled) Let's do it.

(The sisters and Billie leave the room, but Christy stays still.)

(Billie stops mid-way and turns to Christy.)

BILLIE: Christy, what's wrong?

CHRISTY: Oh. Nothing. I'm fine.

(Christy follows Billie.)

(Fade to...)

[INT. MANOR - PIPER'S BEDROOM - DAY]

(Paige is sitting at the vanity with her hair in curlers, finishing her makeup.)

(Piper and Phoebe walk to Paige in their bridesmaids' dresses.)

PHOEBE: Are you nervous?

PAIGE: Surprisingly, no.

PIPER: You're not ready.

PAIGE: (takes a deep sigh) I am just kind of stunned this is happening.

PHOEBE: Well, believe it.

PIPER: Sure you don't want to wear my dress?

PAIGE: Yeah. Yeah, I am.

PIPER: All right. Let's go conjure you a very special dress.

(Phoebe and Piper leave the room, leaving Paige in front of the vanity. She

looks peaceful.)

(Fade to...)

[INT. MANOR - DINING ROOM - DAY]

(Downstairs, the house is decorated for a wedding.)

(Wyatt's busy swiping a little icing off the wedding cake.)

(Henry walks to him and crouches.)

HENRY: Hey, Wyatt, how are you? Are you-- hey, what are you doing? You want cake,

don't you?

WYATT: Yeah.

HENRY: I want cake too. Go ahead. You can have that. Let me get my own. Is it

good?

WYATT: (eats and nods) Yeah.

HENRY: (swipes a little icing too) All right. Here, take another one real quick.

Quick, before anyone sees. (And so Wyatt does.) Yeah! All right. Let's go before

anyone sees.

(Henry stands up, and enters...)

[INT. MANOR - CONSERVATORY - DAY - CONTINUOUS]

(...the conservatory with Wyatt.)

(The conservatory is full with guests that eagerly await the start of the

ceremony.)

HENRY: Hi, everybody. (To Wyatt) There you go. Stand right over there.

MAN: (To Wyatt) Here you go, buddy.

(Billie and Christy come in, both smiling.)

BILLIE: So, how do you feel?

CHRISTY: Like I'm ready to take on the world.

(Billie and Christy sit on empty chairs on the first row.)

(Piper and Phoebe come in. Piper's holding Chris.)

PHOEBE: I wish Leo was here.

PIPER: He is.

(As Phoebe walks down the aisle, she bumps into a strategically placed elbow.)

(Phoebe turns and sees a delighted Coop.)

COOP: Oh. Sorry. How's it going?

PHOEBE: Did someone invite you here?

COOP: What, are you kidding me? I love weddings.

(Piper gives Chris to Billie.)

[INT. MANOR - STAIRS - DAY - CONTINUOUS]

(The stairs' bannister is covered with flowers.)

(Paige walks down the stairs, wearing a lovely white dress...

and no veil.)

(We hear murmurs and subdued laughs.)

[INT. MANOR - CONSERVATORY - DAY - CONTINUOUS]

(Paige enters the room. The crowd stands up.)

[SLOW MOTION]

(Paige walks to Henry, smiling.)

(Paige gives Piper her bouquet.)

[RESUME MOTION]

(The crowd sits back.)

(sh*t of Coop sitting down with the rest of the crowd.)

(Paige stops right in front of Henry.)

HENRY: (smiling) You look beautiful.

PAIGE: (smiling) And you look very handsome.

MINISTER: Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join Henry and Paige in

holy matrimony, in the presence of family and friends. The union of two lives as

one is a sacred bond, both solemn and joyful, embracing all that you are, and

all that you will be.

(We slowly fade to Henry smiling...

to Paige smiling widely...

to Piper and Phoebe beaming with joy...

to Billie and Christy...

to Wyatt...

and to Coop.)

MINISTER: On this day of your marriage, know that everything we love deeply

becomes part of us. The trick is learning to receive this love with as much

understanding as you give it, and knowing this, you can begin a life together

with an open mind and heart.

(Fade to Paige.)

PAIGE: ...and I vow to honor, to love, and to cherish you each and every day...

(Fade to Henry.)

HENRY: ...through all the seasons of life, the good times, the bad times, I vow

to cherish you each and every day...

(Piper smiles widely.)

(Paige and Henry exchange wedding rings.)

PAIGE: I do.

HENRY: I do.

MINISTER: You may now kiss the bride.

(Henry and Paige kiss.)

(The crowd stands up and applauds.)

(The camera goes backwards as we slowly...)

FADE TO BLACK