Post by StoryGirl83 on Oct 7, 2009 17:47:00 GMT -5
ACT THREE
INT. CLOUDY SMEARY PLACE - CONT.
Piper is staring at Natalie stunned.
PIPER:Piper freezes. She glances at Natalie and swings her hands up and down, using her power to FREEZE Natalie in place.
Who are you? My sisters and I already have a whitelighter.
NATALIE:
You broke too many rules. They may decide that he isn’t fit to be your whitelighter any more, or even a whitelighter at all.
PIPER:
(shocked)
What?
LEO:
Calm down, Piper. She’s here to help. I know her. Natalie and I served together during World War II.
PIPER:
I don’t care who she is. I don't call her taking over your job as helping!
LEO:
(softly)
She’s going to heal your sisters.
PIPER:Piper gasps in horror.
That’s not what she said at all. She said she’s taking over, taking your place.
LEO:
For now. Piper, you can’t just freeze her. They aren’t going to like that.
PIPER:
I don't care what They like. I want out of here. I want you as our whitelighter, not her. I want you as Prue and Phoebe's whitelighter.
LEO:
So do I, but at the moment what we want is not important. Piper, listen to me. If They decide that I am not fit to be your whitelighter They may decide to recycle my soul.
LEO (cont):Piper stares at him for several beats and then turns and waves her hands at Natalie, using her power to UNFREEZE her. Natalie frowns and looks at them suspiciously.
So if you truly want me as your whitelighter, as Prue and Phoebe's whitelighter, you're going to have to do things Their way for now, and since They are not going to let me heal your sisters, if you don't want them to die...
NATALIE:Piper ignores her and stares straight ahead at scene on the wall, still showing her unconscious sisters.
What happened?
NATALIE:Piper spins around and glares at Natalie.
Leo?
LEO:
(reluctantly)
She froze you.
NATALIE:
Excuse me.
LEO:
She’s...upset.
NATALIE:
That is no excuse for
(shuddering)
using her powers on a whitelighter.
PIPER:Natalie immediately ORBS OUT and appears in the scene on the wall. Piper closes her eyes and hugs Leo as the CAMERA zooms on the scene on the wall and we
What are you waiting for? Go heal my sisters. Now.
NATALIE:
Not yet. You must first be advised that They have charged me with teaching your sisters the proper way to fight Evil. Rumor Up There has it that you three just...
(shudders)
“wing it”. That is entirely unacceptable.
PIPER:
(angry)
Why are you telling me? I don’t have any choice in this. My sisters are down there dying! Get down there and save them. Now!
NATALIE:
Because I have been charged by Them to teach you, too, in case They actually decide to allow you two to return. With all the rules you have broken... All the same, I shall not be returning here until or unless They order me to, so I shall need you to pay close attention to the lessons I will try to teach your sisters. They
(she looks up)
will be watching you.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. HALLIWELL MANOR – ATTIC - DAYNatalie ORBS in. First she picks up the fire extinguisher that sits in the corner and PUTS OUT the fires. Then she kneels down next to the Halliwells and puts a hand over each of them. Her hands GLOW GOLDEN and then both sisters GLOW GOLDEN. The sisters' wounds FULLY HEAL right down to the blood on their clothes and the clothing themselves. As the groggy sisters blink their eyes open, Natalie stands and dusts herself off.
PHOEBE:Prue slowly stands up, glaring at Natalie as she does.
(bleary)
Who are you?
NATALIE:
I am your new whitelighter. My name is Natalie.
PRUE:
(bleary)
Our new what?!
NATALIE:
Your new whitelighter. It became apparent to Them that you were in need of one.
PRUE:Phoebe also gets up, moving to stand next to Prue.
We don't need one. We already have one. His name is Leo. Leo Wyatt. Where is he?
PHOEBE:Prue raises her hands, getting ready to use her power.
And where is Piper? Where is our sister?
NATALIE:
I am not allowed to answer those questions. It is against the rules.
PRUE:
Damn your rules! I want to know what happened to my sister, and I want to know now!
NATALIE:Prue glares at her and then slowly lowers her hands.
I would not suggest using your power on me, Ms. Halliwell. Your sister already did that and I am certain that They were not pleased. If you wish to see her or Leo Wyatt again I would suggest you do not continue to displease Them.
NATALIE:Prue groans.
That is better. Just because your last whitelighter broke the rules for you does not mean I will. They have made me your whitelighter and I need you to tell me what happened that you were in such dire need of a whitelighter's healing power. Were you not, They would not have sent me to you. Now what happened to necessitate my coming down here?
PRUE:
(snapping)
We were attacked.
PHOEBE:
Attacked by a demon. A red and black and ugly demon.
PRUE:
Phoebe!
PHOEBE:
(whispering to Prue)
Maybe if we cooperate she’ll tell us something about Piper and Leo. Besides we have an ugly demon to take care of. Maybe she can help.
NATALIE:
Whispering is not polite. Nor should you ever keep secrets from your whitelighter. The knowledge they possess can save your life.
PHOEBE:Prue lets out a breath of air and simply points across the room to the podium.
Would you please go tell Leo that we want him back, so--
NATALIE:
(interrupting)
I can not and will not pass on messages for you. Now about the demon, where is your Book of Shadows?
NATALIE:Prue smirks at Phoebe.
(horrified)
Here? In the attic? What is your most sacred of books doing out of your altar room?
PHOEBE:
(mouthing at Prue)
Altar room?
NATALIE (cont.):Prue rolls her eyes.
The rules are very clear. Every coven must keep its Book of Shadows in a sacred and protected spot.
PRUE:Phoebe and Prue exchange looks, both unwilling to be the one who tells Natalie that their attic is their altar room and their kitchen is their potion lab.
(mumbling)
Right.
NATALIE:
What was that?
PRUE:
Altar room. Yeah. And that would be right next to the potions lab, I suppose.
NATALIE:
Well, not always, but that would be useful.
PHOEBE:
(whispering to Prue)
Is she serious?
PRUE:
(whispering to Phoebe)
I think so.
NATALIE:
(getting a bit perturbed)
What have I told you about whispering? Now bring your Book of Shadows back to your altar room where it belongs immediately. Do not remove it from its sacred, protected place unless it is an emergency. That is the rule.
(sighing)
I suppose I should inspect both it and your potion labs first.
As they do, THE CAMERA backs up to show Piper and Leo in their smeary white prison cell watching, Piper in shocked horror.
PIPER:She raises her hands in a way that most Charmed fans will recognize as her getting ready to explode something. At this point, it's not a power she possesses, but, oh, does it look like she wants to!
She wants to inspect our what? But that's my kitchen! She better not step one foot in my kitchen or...
LEO:
Piper, no! Let your sisters handle this!
And THE CAMERA again focuses on what they're watching on the wall.
PRUE:Natalie stares at Prue in shock, her mouth opening and closing, but no sound comes out.
(to Phoebe)
Do you want to tell her or should I?
PHOEBE:
(to Prue)
You're the oldest.
PRUE:
Thanks.
NATALIE:
(getting more perturbed.)
Tell me what? And when I give an order you must follow it immediately. That is also a rule. You two are far worse than I was ever brought to believe. I can not believe that Leo Wyatt was so slack in his duties to his charges.
PRUE:
Look. We're different. We're The Charmed Ones...we're allowed a little leeway. And we were not raised Wiccans. We didn't even know we were witches until a couple of years ago, and that was done to save our powers, something that I would think is important to Them Up There. Look, my sister
(indicates Phoebe)
found the Book of Shadows in that trunk
(indicates the trunk)
in the attic, so that's why it has always stayed here. We made that podium for it. We do respect it.
PRUE (cont.):Natalie starts fuming, getting ready for another lecture, but Phoebe interrupts.
And we don't have a potion lab - we concoct our potions either here in the attic or in the kitchen - and we have done very well for two years without an altar room or a potions lab, thank you.
PHOEBE:Natalie stares at her for several beats, then nods.
Look, there's no time for that. Maybe we can construct this altar room or this potion lab that seems so important to you later, but right now we have an innocent who needs protecting. If you are truly a whitelighter you must know that they must come always first.
PHOEBE:Again Natalie starts fuming, but Prue interrupts her.
(grinning at Prue)
See? She can be reasonable.
PRUE:Before either Prue or Natalie can say a word, Phoebe takes out Cole's card.
Now wait a minute. If the premonition was about him, why did that demon attack us?
PHOEBE:
I don't know. I just know that I saw that demon when I touched Cole's card so it has to mean he's going to be attacked and soon. He might be hurt now!
PHOEBE:Prue looks at Phoebe, then reaches into her pocket and pulls out her cell phone, which she hands to Phoebe. Phoebe looks at the card and then dials Cole's number.
(to Prue)
May I use your cell, please? I don't want to have to run downstairs.
PHOEBE:Phoebe closes the phone.
Cole?...Cole?...Are you all right?....It's Phoebe, Phoebe Halliwell....No, I haven't thought of anything else that might help you convict Emilio Sanchez...Well, uh, I just had this feeling that maybe something had happened to you, something terrible, so I had to be sure that you were all right...Well, all right, if you're sure....Yes, if I think of anything I'll be sure to call...Okay, bye.
PHOEBE:Phoebe begins to put the phone in her pocket, but Prue reaches out her hand and Phoebe places the phone in Prue's palm. After giving Phoebe a look, Prue puts the phone back in her pocket.
He says that he's fine, but appreciates my concern and that he'll be careful.
NATALIE:Phoebe nods and returns to The Book of Shadows and begins going through it more slowly.
I still believe that you should find this demon in your Book of Shadows so that I may help you decide how best to confront and vanquish him.
PHOEBE:
That's what I was doing, but I couldn't find him.
PRUE:
You were going through that thing awful quickly, Phoebs. Maybe you went past him.
NATALIE:Again Natalie begins to fume but she's interrupted by Phoebe's cry of triumph.
You must always treat your Book of Shadows with dignity and respect.
PRUE:
We do, but if we go through it too slowly, we would've died about twenty times by now.
PRUE:Phoebe nods excitedly, so Prue runs over to the Book while Natalie walks over.
You found him?
PRUE:Natalie reaches out and grabs Phoebe's arm.
Yes, that's him.
NATALIE:
Belthazor!
PRUE:
You know him?
NATALIE:
Of course. Every whitelighter knows about Belthazor.
PRUE:
Who is he?
PHOEBE:
What is he?
NATALIE:
He is a mercenary demon. He murders for hire. Witches, mortals, warlocks, demons, it does not matter--if someone offers him more power, he will murder anyone for them.
PHOEBE:
Cole! We have to go save him now!
NATALIE:Phoebe gives Prue a look.
No, you can not just run off half-cocked. Belthazor is much worse than anything you have ever faced before.
PRUE:
What do you mean? Look at all of the warlocks and demons and other bad guys we've taken out.
NATALIE:
But none of them are as smart as Belthazor. None of them has survived as long as he has. Good has been trying to take him out for over a century and we have not succeeded. Defeating Belthazor will require split-second timing and flawless teamwork. I can not tell you what you will be doing but I can tell you what you will not. You will not be
(shuddering)
"winging it." You will not be
(shuddering)
"hoping for the best."
(firmly)
The will to win is the will to prepare to win. Do you understand me?
PHOEBE:
But, Cole...
PRUE:
(whispering in her ear)
Let's just humor her for now. We know Cole is all right for the moment. And we want Piper and Leo back.
NATALIE:
What did I tell you about whispering?
PRUE:
(mumbling)
For Piper.
(turns to Natalie)
You said not to keep secrets from your whitelighter. We are still getting used to the idea, so why don’t you just let us whisper when we feel the need and teach us what you think we need to know to fight this Belthazor?
NATALIE:
You are obviously upset with me. I would suggest you channel your anger you feel for me me towards the demon you are meant to vanquish. Now, first...
PRUE:
Okay, could we just have a moment to process this, please?
NATALIE:
No. It is time you stopped focusing on yourselves and started focusing on Belthazor. You must prepare yourselves for battle. Mentally, physically, sartorially.
PHOEBE:
I'm sorry, what?
PRUE:
She doesn't like our clothes.
NATALIE:
You need outfits that are loose and move. That means no more braless, strapless, fearless attire.
PRUE:
Okay, but then I have nothing to wear.
CUT TO:
EXT. ALLEY - DAYPrue and Phoebe are stretching. They are wearing loose clothing - including bras. Natalie is also stretching in front of them.
PHOEBE:Natalie turns to face the girls, her face stern.
Okay, tell me again why we’re doing this?
PRUE:
Because one bad word from General Goody-Two-Shoes and we might not get our sister back.
PHOEBE:
That’s a good reason.
NATALIE:Phoebe claps her hands, laughing. Natalie glares then picks up a piece of wood.
All right, let us begin. You are not going to win this battle by winging it, because Belthazor is not going to let you. He will not make stupid mistakes that you can capitalize on, so do not look for them. You are going to do this because you are more ready than he is. Do you understand me?
PRUE:
Uh-huh.
PHOEBE:
I’m sorry. I didn’t quite get that last platitude.
NATALIE:
You think you have what it takes because you have won all your battles so far? Let me tell you something. You are only as good as your next vanquish and if you want that to be Belthazor you are going to have to pay attention. This alley is a neutral battlefield. Our challenge is to fight Belthazor. Our primary goal is--
PHOEBE:
To win!
NATALIE:
No.
PHOEBE:
(confused)
No?
NATALIE:
No. It is to stay alive and not let any innocents be hurt.
(beat)
So Belthazor has your innocent.
PHOEBE:
Cole.
NATALIE:
Whomever. How do you plan on separating him from your innocent? Let us pretend I am the enemy.
PRUE:
Oh, that is way too easy.
NATALIE:Prue uses her power and the piece of wood FLIES OUT OF Natalie's hands.
This piece of wood is your innocent. Now talk me through how you plan to separate me from your innocent.
PHOEBE:
Well, if Piper were here, she'd freeze them.
NATALIE:
But Piper is not here.
PRUE:
(muttering)
No thanks to you.
NATALIE:
What was that?
PRUE:
Nothing. I would just use my power to do this...
PRUE:Phoebe laughs.
Oh, I'm so sorry.
NATALIE:Natalie looks smug.
Not as sorry as you would be if Belthazor deflected your power so it threw you instead.
PRUE:
Yeah, like he did during the battle.
PHOEBE:
He has deflection?
NATALIE:
Yes. That power, along with his intelligence, is why he has survived for so many years.
PHOEBE:
All right, you know what? This is too hard. Usually in these situations, you know, everything happens so quickly and the adrenaline is pumping. Although I admit I can't do a lot. I can make suggestions to Prue, but that's about it.
NATALIE:
But that is much better. I want you to think using your brains, not your glands. Now try again.
PHOEBE:
Well, I could throw a potion at him.
NATALIE:
Potions will not work on a high-level demon like Belthazor. Not without a piece of his flesh.
PHOEBE:
Ew!
NATALIE:
So already your innocent would be dead. Think about it.
PRUE:
No, we have one more weapon - spells.
PHOEBE:
But we don't have Piper. No Power of Three.
NATALIE:
No, you do not. But the properly-worded spell may still work. Let us try.
DISSOLVE TO:
STOCK FOOTAGE: P3 during the day.INT. P3 - NIGHTCLUB - DAY
Prue and Phoebe are sitting at the bar trying to write spells. Natalie is sitting at a table nearby.
PHOEBE:Prue looks over Phoebe's spell.
Hey, if we don't vanquish Belthazor, can we at least vanquish Natalie?
PRUE:
Don't tempt me. All right, I've got the part where we call on the power of the Warren line. We don't have Piper but we do have that.
PHOEBE:
Mine came out a little country western. "I'm rejectin' your deflection."
PRUE:Prue quickly writes on her sheet of paper.
Well, if I add it to mine, the spell should work, but we have to get it past you-know-who.
PHOEBE:Natalie walks over to Prue and Phoebe.
You know something? Leo never had to approve our spells. He trusted us.
PRUE:
Yeah, but she said that she needs to hear it.
PHOEBE:
You know what? What she needs none of us can give her, all right?
PRUE:
All right, but still personal feelings aside, you kind of have to admire her professionally, you know? She's very dedicated.
PHOEBE:
Yeah, but she's not Leo.
PRUE:
No, she's not. Leo cares about something besides the rules.
NATALIE:Prue hands Natalie the piece of paper and Natalie reads it.
How is that spell coming along?
PHOEBE:
Great. All done.
NATALIE:
Good.
PRUE:
Here you go.
NATALIE:Prue gives her a look.
Very good. I do believe that you are ready.
PRUE:
All right, I'll start scrying for his location.
PHOEBE:
I want to check on Cole. Prue?
PHOEBEPrue sighs and reaches in her pocket for her phone while Phoebe reaches in her pocket for Cole's card. Prue hands Phoebe her phone and Phoebe dials. She waits and waits, listening and getting no answer, getting more upset as she does. She finally disconnects.
Please? I promise I'll get my own as soon as I get a job.
PHOEBE:Prue manages to grab her phone and return it to her pocket. Phoebe hardly notices, she's so frantic. She turns to Natalie.
(panicking, waving the phone around)
There's no answer. We've got to go save him! Now!
PHOEBE:Prue takes the card from Phoebe.
You can orb us there, right?
NATALIE:
You can not be serious. It is strictly against the rules for a whitelighter to use his or her orbing power to transport someone else, especially a charge. I know, of course, that Leo broke this rule when he attempted to orb your sister Up There. Was this not the first time he broke this rule?
PHOEBE:
It’s to protect an innocent. Please.
PRUE:
Phoebe, we don’t even know where to go. And with him not answering his phone, we don’t have any way of finding out.
PHOEBE:
Cole’s probably hurt and needs our help.
PRUE:Prue sighs and turns over the card to get Cole's home number again. She raises an eyebrow.
Look. We can try calling his office.
PHOEBE:
That won’t do any good. They won’t tell us anything.
PRUE:Prue nods and hands Phoebe the card. Phoebe grins.
Why didn’t you mention he left his address for you, too?
PHOEBE:
He did?
PHOEBE:Phoebe waves the card at Natalie.
He did!
PHOEBE:Prue puts her hand on Phoebe’s shoulder.
Now we know where to go. Please help us, Natalie.
NATALIE:
It is completely against the rules.
PRUE:Phoebe gives Natalie a look and nods at Prue.
Quit arguing with her. It won’t work and we’re just wasting time.
PHOEBE:
Let’s go.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. UNDERWORLD CAVE – COUNCIL CHAMBER - ETERNAL NIGHTCole warily eyes the six hooded members of The Demonic Council.
COLE:Cole turns and walks toward the entrance. Behind him the council member nods to a DEMON standing nearby. The demon raises his hand and LIGHTNING BOLTS FLY FROM HIS HAND, HITTING Cole in the back.
Is that all?
COUNCIL MEMBER #1:
You may leave.
COLE:Cole doubles over, narrowly avoiding BEING HIT AGAIN BY A LIGHTNING BOLT.
(swearing)
What the hell!
The CAMERA cuts over to the Council, who simply watches, then cuts back to Cole, who jumps to his feet, roaring. He RIPPLES and TURNS INTO BELTHAZOR.
BELTHAZOR:Belthazor forms a HUGE FIRE BALL and throws it at the demon, who SHIMMERS OUT of the way. When he SHIMMERS back in, his hand is again raised. Belthazor raises his own hand. The demon smirks.
(roaring)
Since when do you attack me?
DEMON:Again the demon holds up his hand and a LIGHTING BOLT FLARES from the demon to Belthazor, HITTING HIM IN THE CHEST, forcing him to FLY ACROSS THE ROOM where he HITS THE WALL OF THE CAVE with a loud CRACK. After a few beats, his body FLICKERS and TURNS BACK into Cole. The demon walks over to him, a sickeningly sweet smile on his face.
(sarcastically)
Sorry, Belthazor, but your reflective powers do not work against my lightning bolts.
COUNCIL MEMBER #1:
It is why we chose him for this duty.
DEMON:
And my pleasure.
Cole is barely conscious, but he turns to look at the Council.
COLE:
(whispering, in great pain)
Why?
COUNCIL MEMBER #1:
You gave a Charmed One a card and it gave her a premonition of you attacking them. She thinks that it was Belthazor attacking you. Thanks to that card, they are almost to your penthouse. They must find what they expect to see or you are useless to us and our Master.
COUNCIL MEMBER #2:
(to the demon)
Take him back to his penthouse. Be certain that it appears that he has has been attacked in his own home. You will receive the bounty that was once promised him.
The demon turns to face the Council and bows.
DEMON:
It shall be done.
The demon leans down and picks up Cole before he SHIMMERS OUT.
QUICK CUT TO:
INT. COLE’S PENTHOUSE - LIVING ROOM - EVENINGThe demon SHIMMERS IN, Cole still in his arms. The demon drops Cole unceremoniously to the floor then holds up his hand. LIGHTNING BOLTS FLY from his hand, DESTROYING almost every piece of furniture in the room. He turns towards Cole, his hand still raised, and a LIGHTNING BOLT FLIES from his hand and HITS Cole. Cole sceams from the agony.
DEMON:OFF Cole, moaning and groaning in agony, we
Our Master also sends his regards, Belthazor. Personally, I hope The Charmed Ones do not arrive in time.
BLACKOUT.
END OF ACT THREE