Imaginary Fiends/Script

Written by: Henry Alonso Myers Transcribed by: Janelle Hackbarth

Season 7, Episode 20 Episode Number: 154

[Scene: Manor, Attic. Paige is making a potion. There’s a small explosion. The phones are also on the table.]

'Paige:' Ah, damn it!

(Piper enters.)

'Piper:' Shh! Keep it down. I just got Chris to sleep.

'Paige:' Well, if you were here to help me, you know, that would maybe help.

Piper: Yes, and I will do that, but first I need to make sure Wyatt’s okay at preschool. Have you seen the phone?

Paige: Preschool? Don’t you mean magic school?

Piper: No, I mean preschool. We enrolled him last week, remember?

Paige: You didn’t tell me that. Did you?

Piper: Yes, and you said you were worried about him using magic in public.

Paige: Oh. And what’d you say?

Piper: I said I was worried about him having a normal life.

Paige: Huh. All right. Cool. I’m all up to speed now. It’s just with these charges and these demons attacking, eh, I’m a little scattered.

(Paige adds something in the potion.)

Piper: And that’s different how exactly?

Paige: I just don’t know why the Elders couldn’t see fit to give me a local witch instead of a New Zealand witch.

Piper: I don’t know, but I need the phone.

(She sees the phones.)

Paige: No! No. No using the phone.

Piper: Why are all the handsets up here?

Paige: Because I am trying to prevent a demon attack.

Piper: What?

Paige: Look, all the attacks have been different, right? And all the demons have had different powers. The one thing I’ve noticed is that every time a phone rings, a demon attacks.

Piper: No, they don’t. Phoebe called earlier and nothing happened.

Paige: Really? (The Elders jingle. She groans.) Stop the jingling, already. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Charges. (The phone rings. Demon shimmers in and throws an energy ball. They duck. Piper tries to blow up the demon, but he falls to the floor. Paige throws a potion at the demon. Nothing. Demon creates another energy ball.) Piper!

(Piper blows him up.)

Piper: You might be right about that phone thing.

Opening Credits

[Scene: Manor, Attic. Piper hangs up the phone.]

Piper: That was Wyatt’s preschool. I wonder what they wanted.

Paige: Well, I am more interested in these demons and what they wanted and try to figure out how to vanquish them.

Piper: It just doesn’t sound right. Why would demons attack when the phone rings?

Paige: And they’re all different demons, remember? The last one even looked kind of human. Better add some mandrake root in case they’re shape shifters.

Piper: Wait, the last attack happened when the preschool called, too, didn’t it?

Paige: Yeah, I think you’re right. Do you think Wyatt is creating these demons?

Piper: That’s ridiculous.

Paige: Well, he created the dragons.

Piper: One! One lousy dragon. You’re gonna hold it against him for his entire life.

(Phoebe enters.)

'Phoebe:' Oh, no. Let me guess, another demon attack?

Paige: Or Wyatt’s acting up again.

Piper: Or Paige is overreacting again.

Paige: Wyatt has been isolating himself at preschool and only talking to himself.

Piper: Who said he’s only talking to himself?

Paige: (sing song) I heard the message.

Phoebe: That’s odd.

Piper: No, it’s not odd. Just because he’s talking to himself does not mean he’s creating demons.

Phoebe: Except he’s kind of quiet around home.

Piper: So?

Phoebe: So Wyatt’s in his second stage of development. I mean, his sense of language should be maturing. Which means he should be talking to other people, not just himself.

Piper: I’m very sorry you went back to college.

Phoebe: I know, but it’s really helping with my column. And that has absolutely nothing to do with why Wyatt is creating demons.

Piper: He’s not creating demons!

Phoebe: Well, let’s see. Maybe it’s a reaction to preschool. Some kind of Freudian transference or something?

Piper: Mumbo-jumbo!

Phoebe: Look, all I’m saying is, if he’s talking to himself, the problems may be normal, not magical.

Piper: Normal problems like what?

(Phoebe shakes her head.)

Phoebe: I have no idea. It could be anything. (She sighs.) I could ask my professor. She’s the expert.

Piper: But I…

Phoebe: Be back soon!

(She leaves. Piper picks up the phone.)

Paige: Hey, what are you doing? Put the phone down.

Piper: I have to call the preschool.

Paige: Well, then use your cell phone.

(She takes the phone from Piper.)

[Scene: Preschool. A teacher steps out of the room. Leo walks over.]

'Leo:' Ms. Henderson, hey. I came as soon as I could.

Ms. Henderson: Leo, what are you doing here?

Leo: Well, you called about Wyatt, right?

Ms. Henderson: Yeah. But I said it was nothing to worry about. I thought I made that clear.

Leo: Well, I was in the area. Is he all right?

Ms. Henderson: He’s just talking to himself. I mean, I wouldn’t have even bothered calling if your wife hadn’t asked me to.

Leo: She’s very protective. He’s-he’s a special kid.

Ms. Henderson: Oh, they’re all special, Leo.

Leo: Right, but he has special needs.

Ms. Henderson: Special needs? You never said Wyatt was a special needs child.

Leo: Not like that. He’s, um, gifted.

Ms. Henderson: First child?

Leo: Is it that obvious?

Ms. Henderson: Do you want to see him?

Leo: Please.

(They enter the classroom. Wyatt is sitting with a teddy bear by himself.)

Ms. Henderson: Oh, there he is.

Leo: Oh, um, how long has he been doing that…talking to himself?

Ms. Henderson: Oh, I don’t know. On and off since he first started coming here, I guess.

Leo: Oh, and, uh, is that normal?

Ms. Henderson: Normal? No. But I don’t think you should be alarmed. He’s just playing by himself. Lots of kids do that.

Leo: Mm-hmm.

(Vicus is in front of Wyatt. He laughs.)

'Vicus:' I really like our conversations, Wyatt. But you know I’m a secret, right? Nobody else can see me.

Ms. Henderson: You’re just not used to letting him go during the day. Happens to lots of first-time parents.

Leo: It’s more complicated.

Ms. Henderson: I see this every day. Trust me, it’s not.

Leo: You know, he wasn’t feeling very well this morning. Maybe I should just take him home, you know, just-just to be safe.

Ms. Henderson: Uh, well, okay, if you really think that’s best.

Vicus: Now we won’t be able to talk much longer...

Leo: Thanks.

Vicus: But don’t worry, I’ll be back. I promise.

(Leo crouches in front of Wyatt.)

Leo: Okay, buddy, come on. Are you ready? Let’s go home, okay?

(Vicus stands up. Leo picks Wyatt up and walks away.)

Vicus: See you soon, Wyatt. I want to hear more about that special teddy bear.

Leo: (to Ms. Henderson) See you later.

(They leave. Vicus disappears.)

[Scene: Underworld. Vicus’ Lair. Vicus appears. A demon comes to him.]

Demon: Vicus. I was getting worried.

Vicus: You failed me.

Demon: We didn’t fail. We’ve been distracting the witches for you, dying relentlessly.

Vicus: But you haven’t sustained the distractions. The father took the boy from school, just as I was starting to make some progress.

Demon: What? Forget him. We don’t need his powers. Dealing with the Charmed Ones is too dangerous anyway.

Vicus: Do you think you know how to do this better than I do, Hugo?

Hugo: That’s not what I’m saying. You’ve been working at this for, what, three weeks now? We’re risking everything here, and for what?

Vicus: For us. To add his power to yours, to the Collective. Now, didn’t I risk everything nurturing the evil within you, Hugo, just as I did with all the others?

Hugo: Yes, of course you did, but…

Vicus: Then you must trust me. See, this Wyatt will grow to become one of the most powerful witches to ever walk the earth. It’s better he walk with us than against us.

Hugo: I just worry.

Vicus: Don’t. I realize that I only have a small window at this age in which to change him, but I am close. Very close.

[Scene: College. Phoebe runs up to a female professor.]

Phoebe: Um, Professor Slotkin?

'Professor Slotkin:' Sorry, Ms. Halliwell. I don’t have time to discuss your paper topic right now.

Phoebe: No, no, it’s not about the paper, it’s actually personal.

Professor Slotkin: Oh?

Phoebe: Yeah. It’s about my nephew. He’s two and a half, and he’s just going through some stuff, and I was kind of hoping you could help me understand it.

Professor Slotkin: Terrible twos?

Phoebe: Well, I think it started out as that, and now it’s just…well, at preschool he talks to himself, and then at home he doesn’t talk to anybody.

Professor Slotkin: Well, perhaps he has an imaginary friend. Although, he’s a little early for that developmentally.

Phoebe: Well, he’s very advanced for his age. And if it was an imaginary friend, is that necessarily a bad thing?

Professor Slotkin: Freud used to think it was a sign of immature thinking. Of course, nowadays we know that kids create imaginary friends for lots of reasons: Companionship, conflict resolution, sometimes as a coping mechanism.

Phoebe: Let me write this down.

Professor Slotkin: Oh, and that’s Slotkin with an “S”. You were planning on giving me credit.

Phoebe: I’m sorry, what?

Professor Slotkin: Well, last week we discussed Lorenz’s Theory of imprinting in class, and this week I read about him in your column. I imagine we’re discussing next week’s content now.

Phoebe: No, no. This is actually about my nephew.

Professor Slotkin: Please, we both know why you’re taking my class.

Phoebe: I’m taking your class to be a better columnist and to understand human behavior.

Professor Slotkin: I’ve spent years studying and teaching psychology, Ms. Halliwell, dedicated my life to it. But I’ll be damned if I’m just gonna let you poach my class to steal a sound bite or two for your column.

Phoebe: No, but I…

Professor Slotkin: You want to learn about imaginary friends? Do the research. I look forward to reading your paper on it.

(She leaves.)

[Scene: Manor. Conservatory. Leo and Piper are sitting at the table while Wyatt plays with his teddy bear.]

Leo: The truth is we don’t know if it’s a problem or not.

Piper: Well, that’s what has me worried.

Leo: You know, maybe putting him in a normal school wasn’t such a good idea.

Piper: But we agreed it was a good idea. And when we did that we knew there was gonna be some road bumps like this.

Leo: Okay, well, the problem is we don’t know if the road bumps are magical or just a normal part of development.

Piper: I wish we could just ask him.

Leo: Okay, well, I think we’re a few years away from him giving you an answer.

Piper: Well, especially if he just keeps talking to himself. (Paige orbs in with a mask.) Whoa!

(Paige puts the mask down.)

Paige: Exactly. Okay, I like the Maori people, but, uh, I’m pretty okay if I don’t see them again. (She sighs.) I think I found out something about who’s been attacking us.

Piper: Leo, would you take Wyatt upstairs so he doesn’t hear the demon talk?

(Leo picks up Wyatt.)

Leo: Okay, buddy, let’s go upstairs. Take your Wuvey with you.

Paige: Anyway, as I was saying… (Leo and Wyatt leave.) I’ve been searching through the library at magic school, and I think I found something out about these demons.

Piper: And?

Paige: And it seems as if their various offensive powers are traditionally associated with good magic.

Piper: Good magic? I thought these guys were supposed to be demons.

Paige: Yeah, thought so, too. But it goes to kind of support the theory that Wyatt’s creating them.

Piper: Oh, for crying out loud!

Paige: I’m just saying.

(The phone rings.)

Piper: Oh, this is ridiculous. We can’t live like this. It’s crazy.

(She goes to the desk.)

Paige: Where you going?

(Piper takes out a notepad and pen.)

Piper: I’m going to figure out if Wyatt is behind this once and for all.

[Scene: Wyatt’s bedroom. Leo puts Wyatt down in his bed.]

Leo: Ohh, big guy. You okay, buddy?

(Wyatt’s silent. Leo goes over to Chris in his crib. Vicus is by Wyatt.)

Vicus: Hey, Wyatt. I promised I’d be back, didn’t I?

(Wyatt smiles.)

Wyatt: Yeah.

Leo: Wyatt?

(He walks over to him. Vicus puts a finger over his lips.)

Vicus: Shh! Remember... I’m a secret, right? (Wyatt smiles and laughs.) Hey, I really like your teddy bear. Maybe you’ll let me hold him someday, huh? I’ve got a great surprise for both of you.

(Wyatt smiles and laughs.)

[Cut to Conservatory. Piper is writing a spell.]

Piper: Shoot. What rhymes with communicate?

Paige: Are you sure this is a good idea?

Piper: Of course I’m sure.

Paige: But what about the whole personal gain thing?

Piper: Wyatt created a demon who kidnapped him and a dragon that nearly destroyed the city. I’m not really worried about personal gain.

(Paige sighs.)

Paige: I know. I guess just cause I’m Whitelighter now, have to think of these things, right?

Piper: Besides, we’re casting it on ourselves so we can try to understand what he’s not telling us. So if I switch this and I leave that... okay.

“Help this mother and understand The thoughts inside her little man Though his mouth be quiet. Let us hear his inner Wyatt.”

(A young man appears in white orbs.)

Young Man: Mom? It’s me... Wyatt.

(Piper’s jaw drops. Future Wyatt smiles.)

Commercial Break

[Scene: Manor, Conservatory. Future Wyatt hugs Piper.]

Future Wyatt: Wow! Mom, look at you! You look great!

Piper: Right. Okay.

Future Wyatt: Looks like you’re as surprised to see me as I am to be back.

Piper: Yeah.

Paige: Back from where?

Future Wyatt: The future.

(Piper groans.)

Piper: Oh, no! No, no, no! We wanted to communicate with you—I mean the younger you, the two and a half year-old you.

Future Wyatt: Well, if there’s one thing you guys taught me, magic may work in mysterious ways, but it always works.

Paige: Where’d you hear that? That’s nice.

Future Wyatt: I’m surprised to hear you ask. In the future you’re always telling me that.

Paige: Oh! Well, that’s the future me. I’m me now who clearly doesn’t have those kind of brilliant thoughts.

Future Wyatt: Right. Look, all I’m saying is if your spell brought me here, there’s gotta be a good reason.

Piper: Well, I don’t know. Do you remember anything about what you were going through when you were 2 ½?

Future Wyatt: No, not really.

Piper: So then we’re still looking for that reason.

Future Wyatt: But still this is a fantastic opportunity that magic’s brought us. I mean, for me to see the past and for you guys to learn about the future.

(He starts looking around the manor.)

Piper: Oh, no, no. No, no, no. We don’t want to know anything about the future. We don’t want to risk changing it again.

Future Wyatt: Again?

Paige: Don’t ask.

Future Wyatt: Okay. But until we find out why magic brought me back, we could at least try and enjoy the moment, right?

Piper: How did you become such an optimist?

Future Wyatt: From you, mom.

(Future Wyatt walks away. Paige scoffs a laugh and nudges Piper.)

Paige: You must’ve turned over a new leaf in the future.

Piper: Don’t count on it. So that doesn’t help us with our Wyatt.

(Paige nods.)

Paige: No.

(The front door opens and closes.)

Phoebe: Piper, you home? (She rushes over.) Okay, the professor gave me some information that I think will be useful—who is he?

Future Wyatt: Aunt Phoebe, it’s me! Wyatt!

Phoebe: Wy-what? (He hugs her.) Oh!

Future Wyatt: This is so amazing!

Phoebe: What, did a spell backfire?

Paige: How’d you guess?

Phoebe: Yeah.

Piper: Yeah, well, you know. What did your professor say?

Phoebe: Well, she said that he probably was talking to an imaginary friend. I mean not-not you. You know, the other you when you were…this is gonna be so confusing.

Future Wyatt: You’ll get used to it.

Paige: Okay, imaginary friends. Ring any bells for you?

Future Wyatt: I’m afraid not.

Phoebe: She also said that he’s a little young for an imaginary friend. Again, not you, just…

Future Wyatt: I got it.

Phoebe: Right.

(The Elders’ jingling. Paige groans and speaks another language.)

Paige: Sorry.

Phoebe: What language is that?

Future Wyatt: Maori. Your New Zealand charge, right? I remember hearing about him.

Paige: Yes, well, he can wait, because I think this is a little bit more important.

Future Wyatt: I thought you said there was nothing more important than your charges?

Paige: Look, mister, I’m pulling double duty here, okay? So no guilt from the future for me.

Piper: Okay, you know what? Can we focus on helping him, please?

Future Wyatt: Look, all I’m saying is that ‘someone’ always told me that Whitelighters are the glue that keeps the magic world working.

Phoebe: Oh, Paige told you that?

(Piper smiles.)

Paige: Don’t be so surprised. Do I ever have a life in the future?

Future Wyatt: You should go, really. We’ll figure this out.

(Paige says something in Maroi and orbs out.)

Future Wyatt: Okay. So you guys cast a spell to communicate with me, right? So let’s go talk to me.

(Future Wyatt heads upstairs.)

[Cut to upstairs hallway. Leo is carrying Chris. Future Wyatt turns the corner.]

Future Wyatt: Dad! Hey, look at you! You have haven’t changed a bit! Maybe a little less gray and few pounds lighter.

Leo: What?

Phoebe: Future son.

Future Wyatt: Hey, is this Chris? Oh, my gosh! He’s so small. Hey, little brother. Is this before of after he swallowed the marble?

Piper: Marble? What marble?

Phoebe: Easy on the future information.

Future Wyatt: Of course, you’re right.

Piper: No, but really, what marble?

Leo: You want to explain what’s going on?

Future Wyatt: Apparently they brought me here to figure out what’s wrong with me. Is that still my room?

(He points and leaves.)

Leo: Explain.

[Cut to Wyatt’s bedroom. Vicus is talking to Wyatt.]

Vicus: If you let me see Mr. Bear, I will give him right back, I promise.

(Future Wyatt enters.)

Future Wyatt: Hey, don’t I know you? (Vicus stands up.) You look familiar.

Vicus: Wait. You can see me?

Future Wyatt: What do you mean? Of course I can.

Piper: Wyatt? (Vicus disappears.) Who are you talking to? (Piper, Phoebe, and Leo enter.) What’s going on?

Future Wyatt: That man, you didn’t see him?

Phoebe: See who?

Future Wyatt: He was just there talking to…me.

Leo: Me? What, do you mean you or him?

Future Wyatt: Both.

[Scene: Underworld, Vicus’ lair. Vicus and Hugo are talking.]

Vicus: The boy was just starting to trust me. He was about to give me the bear. Where did this other witch come from?

Hugo: What other witch?

Vicus: The one who saw me. Now how is that possible?

Hugo: It doesn’t matter. They know you now. I told you this was going to be too dangerous.

Vicus: I made it so that only Wyatt could see me.

Hugo: Well, then they must’ve found a way through your powers.

Vicus: No. No, this witch who saw me seemed surprised. But still, he thought he knew me. And his name was Wyatt, too. We may have an opportunity here.

Hugo: I don’t follow.

Vicus: Don’t you see? If I made it so that only Wyatt can see me, then that means this other witch must be Wyatt, too. They conjured him from the future. An older Wyatt, a good Wyatt.

Hugo: But doesn’t that make it worse? If this future Wyatt is good, then that means you never infect the boy.

(Vicus begins to leave.)

Vicus: Gather the collective. We need to attack now. Distract the sisters with everything you’ve got.

Hugo: What do you plan to do?

Vicus: I’m gonna get the boy to give me that bear. With it, I’ll finally turn him, and then I’ll watch the future change before my very eyes.

(Vicus disappears.)

Commercial Break

[Scene: Manor, Attic. Piper enters and goes to the Book of Shadows. Phoebe and Future Wyatt follow.]

Piper: I know a demon when I see one, and that was a demon.

Future Wyatt: But you didn’t actually see him.

Piper: Well, okay. Some creepy, invisible guy standing over my son, I’d say that’s a demon.

Future Wyatt: I know how it sounds, mom. But I’m telling you. It just didn’t seem like a demon. It wasn’t threatening at all.

Phoebe: Maybe it was an imaginary friend.

Piper: No. Imaginary friends are imaginary, hence, the name. Plus, you said he’s too young to have an imaginary friend, remember? He’s two.

Future Wyatt: Actually, I’m 25. But I-I know what you mean.

Piper: Look, you just…you don’t have any idea how much we’ve already been through just to make sure that you turn out okay.

Future Wyatt: Mom, I know exactly what you went through, and it’s all gonna work out. The fact that I’m standing here in front of you right now happy and healthy should tell you that.

Piper: Okay, fine. Then you won’t mind IDing the demon so we can keep you happy and healthy. (Future Wyatt is about to argue.) Don’t make me ground you.

Future Wyatt: All right.

(He walks over to the Book.)

Phoebe: So…just out of curiosity, uh, do you have any cousins in the future?

Piper: (to Wyatt) No. Don’t answer that. Nice try.

Future Wyatt: Wait a sec. I think you’re right. He is a demon.

Piper: “Vicus is a demon who prays on children turning them down the path of evil.”

(Hugo and two demons shimmer in. He has a whip and cracks it at the book. Piper dives to the side and the stand explodes. Female demon throws a glass orb at Phoebe and Future Wyatt. They duck.)

[Cut to kitchen. Leo is feeding Chris. He hears the fight.]

Leo: Okay. (He puts Chris in the playpen.) Okay, buddy. Daddy’s gotta go check on mommy, okay? I’ll be right back. (To Wyatt) All right. You stay here, okay?

(He leaves. Vicus appears.)

Vicus: I’ll never leave you, Wyatt. I’ll always be here. I promise. Now show me that you believe me. Let me see your teddy bear just for a second. Then I’ll give you both a big surprise.

(Wyatt hugs his teddy bear.)

[Cut to dining room. Leo lingers by the stairs.]

[Cut to attic. Piper hides behind a bookshelf. She spots female demon running and tries to blow her up, but she falls on the couch. Hugo cracks the whip around Piper’s ankles and pulls her down. Phoebe hides behind a table and sees an energy ball thrown at her. The table explodes and Future Wyatt steps out.]

Future Wyatt: (powerful) Enough! (The demons stop.) Leave my family alone.

(He raises his hand and a power sweeps the room, turning the demons to ash.)

Leo: Everything all right up there?

Piper: Oh yeah. We’re fine.

[Cut to kitchen. Leo sees Wyatt’s teddy bear floating.]

Leo: Wyatt, what’s going on? Piper!

(Vicus has the teddy bear.)

Vicus: Good.

(He waves his hand over it. It glows red.)

Leo: Don’t touch it.

(Wyatt takes the teddy bear. Future Wyatt orbs in.)

Future Wyatt: Dad, what happened?

(He changes to evil Wyatt. Vicus smiles. Piper and Phoebe enter.)

Piper: Wyatt, what happened to you?

Future Wyatt: (To Vicus) Who are you?

Phoebe: Who’s who?

Piper: Who’s he talking to?

Leo: The demon.

Vicus: Follow me.

(Vicus vanishes. Future Wyatt orbs out.)

[Scene: Underworld, Vicus’ lair. Future Wyatt and Vicus are there.]

Future Wyatt: Ah. I just feel so free. I can’t believe I spent a whole other lifetime weighed down by the repressive morality by all that good.

Vicus: Well, I’d like to give that feeling to more good witches…with your help.

Future Wyatt: One thing I don’t understand, though, is why do you hole yourselves up in this dank lair? It’s so depressing.

Vicus: Perhaps. But it’s safer. Down here, good doesn’t dare attack us.

Future Wyatt: Yeah, well, the future of evil is above ground. Trust me. We shouldn’t be hiding when we have the power to take their world if we wanted.

Vicus: There’ll be plenty of time for conquering later. For now, there’s still the matter of your family. They’ll want to change you back.

Future Wyatt: I know. I also know that soon they’ll find a way to scry for our location.

Vicus: Then we must attack them before they do.

Future Wyatt: No. We want them to find us. I know them all too well. It’s too risky to fight them at the manor. But here, we’ll have the advantage. Because we’ll be waiting for them.

Vicus: You would kill your own family?

Future Wyatt: Watch me.

Commercial Break

[Scene: Manor, Kitchen.]

Piper: Are you telling me that our child is evil again?

Leo: Look, all I’m saying is that however he changed future Wyatt, it started with the bear, okay? He cursed it somehow. He-he made it glow.

Phoebe: Okay, then we need to get that bear away from him. Can I have this? (She takes the bear.) Thank you. Okay.

(Little Wyatt orbs the bear back.)

Piper: Phoebe, don’t make him angry.

Leo: Look, we need to act fast, okay? We need to find a way to reverse the curse before future Wyatt does something evil. I think we should take him to magic school. I think he’d be safer there.

(He removes the high chair table.)

Phoebe: That’s a good idea, and take the book with you. There may be something in there that can help.

Piper: What are you gonna do?

Phoebe: I’m gonna get Paige and see if we can find Vicus. Maybe if we vanquish him, all of this will go away.

(Leo picks Wyatt up.)

Piper: And if neither one of those works?

Phoebe: Then we’re screwed. (She leaves.) Paige!

[Scene: Manor, Attic. Phoebe scoops up some demon ash and puts it in a small bowl table. Paige is making a potion.]

Phoebe: Luckily, we have enough demon ash that we should be able to scry for Vicus’ lair.

(She dips the crystal in the ash.)

Paige: Yeah. I wish I was a little bit more confident in this potion.

Phoebe: What do you mean?

Paige: It’s fine for the demon. But what about Wyatt?

Phoebe: Well, we’re not gonna fight Wyatt.

(She starts scrying.)

Paige: But we might not have a choice. Because he’s on the demon’s side.

Phoebe: I don’t think he’d try to kill us.

Paige: And how can you be so sure?

(Phoebe sighs.)

Phoebe: I can’t. But you know what? If Piper can’t change Wyatt back, then we’re gonna have to vanquish the demon and hope that that does it.

Paige: And of course, we have the added problem of not even being able to see the demon. Only Wyatt can see Vicus.

Phoebe: We’re just gonna have to bring a lot of vials.

Paige: And what, just throw them everywhere and hope we hit something?

Phoebe: Yeah. You have a better idea?

Paige: Normally, yes. But sadly, this time, no.

(The crystal hits.)

Phoebe: Oh. I got him. Okay, better start filling those vials.

(Paige nods.)

[Scene: Magic School. Leo enters with a cart full of books. Piper sits at a table with Wyatt, who’s playing with his toys. Piper reaches for the bear.]

Piper: Oh, thank you. (Wyatt pulls the bear away.) Sweetie, why don’t you let mommy see the bear? Come on, why do you want that silly bear anyway? Look it. Come on.

Leo: I don’t think you’re gonna convince him like that.

Piper: I just don’t get it. I mean…he seems as sweet as ever.

(Piper smiles at Wyatt.)

Leo: Of course, he does.

(Piper gets up.)

Piper: So can you tell me how this boy turns into the future of all evil?

Leo: It’s not us as parents.

Piper: Yeah, you can say that as much as you want. But it’s gotta be.

(Leo picks up a book.)

Leo: No, I-I found a reference on cursed objects changing children in incremental degrees over time.

Piper: He’s two. How much could he really have changed?

Leo: Not much. But if he keeps in this direction, the next 25 years, he can be pretty far off path. He will become the young man we saw.

Piper: This is ridiculous. (She and Leo sit.) I mean, if it’s all use of that stupid bear, then there’s gotta be a magical way around it. A way to change it. A way to change him.

Leo: Right. Of course.

Piper: Right. Of course. But what?

(Leo sighs.)

Leo: It’s…just that curses are difficult. Often times, it’s how it came about that’s more important than the magic itself.

Piper: Okay, well, we’ll figure out the why later. But right now, we need to fix this.

[Scene: Underworld, Vicus’ lair. Future Wyatt has his eyes closed.]

Vicus: How much longer are we going to wait?

Future Wyatt: Patience. Scrying takes time. And there’s the vanquishing potion that’ll keep my aunts busy for at least an hour.

Vicus: Vanquishing potion? You never said anything about that.

Future Wyatt: What? Do you expect they’re just gonna show up empty handed? Come on. It’s not gonna be that easy.

Vicus: I don’t like this.

Future Wyatt: Stop worrying. The rest of the collective is just a shimmer away. And besides, my aunts won’t be able to see you when you’re cloaked. (He smiles.) Wait. They’re coming. (Paige and Phoebe orb in.) Have any trouble finding the place?

Phoebe: Where’s Vicus?

Future Wyatt: Around. But you should be worried about me.

Paige: Look, we just wanna help you.

Future Wyatt: What makes you think I want your help?

Phoebe: Because we know you, and we know you’re good.

Future Wyatt: That’s a lot of potions you got there. I thought you thought I was good.

Phoebe: These are for Vicus. As soon as we get rid of him, all of this will be over.

Future Wyatt: Good luck finding him. (Paige nods. They start throwing potions. Vicus smiles.) Man, you girls are way off.

Phoebe: We have lots more potions.

Future Wyatt: Maybe I can help you out.

(He makes Vicus visible.)

Vicus: What are you doing?

Future Wyatt: Making a point. (To his aunts) Go ahead, vanquish him.

Vicus: What?

(Paige vanquishes him.)

Future Wyatt: So you thought you'd change me back, did you?

Phoebe: Why didn’t that work?

Future Wyatt: Because I’m not under any spell. And you can’t just change me back by simply vanquishing Vicus. He still got to me. And this is how evil grows over the years. But first, this should keep you busy for a while. (He summons demons. They surround the girls.) These are the ones that killed Vicus. Have fun. (He’s about to go.) Oh, and… (He telekinetically throws Phoebe away.) No orbing, Aunt Paige..

(He orbs out.)

[Scene: Magic School. Wyatt still plays with his toys.]

Leo: Try it.

Piper: “Evil taints what was once held dear, Remove this curse away from here.”

Leo: Well, I guess we’ll just try another one.

Piper: It’s not gonna work, just like the last fifteen spells didn’t work. Nothing’s gonna change that damn bear.

Leo: Well, we can’t just give up.

Piper: What if it’s not just the bear? What if the problem is Wyatt?

Leo: You can’t think like that, Piper.

Piper: Why not? I mean, we try and make the right decisions, and we try and keep him away from bad influences. But ultimately, he’s his own person. We can’t control him forever.

Leo: And we shouldn’t try. (She sighs.) Look, all you can do is try to be a good influence on him.

Piper: And then a demon comes in right under our noses and changes him completely.

Leo: Okay, well, we knew something was wrong with Wyatt earlier. We sensed it. We tried to do something about it. That’s the best you can hope for as a parent.

Piper: Or we can try another spell.

Leo: You know, maybe that’s the problem. We’re just trying another spell.

Piper: So?

Leo: So why didn’t the demon do that? He didn’t just appear today. I mean, what kept him from taking the bear and cursing it if it was that simple?

Piper: I don’t know.

Leo: You know, maybe because he needed something else from Wyatt…and not just the bear. But his trust.

(Future Wyatt appears.)

Future Wyatt: Mom. Dad.

Piper: How’d he get in here?

Future Wyatt: I’m still a Halliwell, aren’t I? I always hated this place.

Leo: What do you want?

Future Wyatt: What do you think I want? Young me, to make sure you don’t screw me up again trying to turn me good.

Piper: Well, I hate to break it to you. But you don’t really have a choice in that matter.

Future Wyatt: What are you gonna do, mom? Kill me in order to protect me?

Piper: It’s a thought.

Future Wyatt: You always said spanking was barbaric. (Piper throws out her hands and sends him flying across the room.) Ouch. That hurt. (He stands up.) Seriously never had you pegged as the type of parent who’d hit your kids.

(He orbs across the room.)

Piper: You stay away from him.

Future Wyatt: Should I stay away from this, too?

Leo: You can’t touch it.

Future Wyatt: Why not? It’s my magical inheritance, isn’t it?

(He tries to touch it, but it resists him.)

Leo: You’re evil now.

(Future Wyatt orbs Wyatt to him.)

Piper: Let go of him.

(Future Wyatt kneels down.)

Future Wyatt: Don’t wait up for me.

(They orb out.)

Commercial Break

[Scene: Manor, Conservatory. Leo helps bandage Phoebe. Paige paces the floor.]

Phoebe: We were lucky to get out of there alive. Ow!

Leo: Sorry.

Paige: We weren’t lucky. Wyatt wanted us distracted for long enough to grab Wyatt.

(Piper is scrying.)

Piper: So now that he has him, what is he gonna do with him?

Leo: He wants to take him back to the future so we can’t change them both back to good. That’s why he wanted the Book of Shadows.

Phoebe: He’s gonna figure out a way to get that Book. My nephew is very resourceful.

(The crystal drops.)

Piper: Found him. Let’s go.

Leo: Whoa. You can’t just go right to him. He’s gonna be expecting that.

Piper: So? I can’t just sit here and let my son corrupt himself.

Phoebe: Yeah, but that was way too easy. It’s gotta be a trap.

Paige: Well, whatever we do, we have to be smart about it. Cause Wyatt is very powerful, and we’re gonna get one shot at this.

Phoebe: Well, we know what his next move is gonna be. He’s gonna go after the book. So maybe we should set a trap for him.

Leo: Well, he’s not gonna attack you guys here. He doesn’t want to have to fight you.

Piper: But you said if we go to him, he’ll be expecting it.

Leo: He will, which is why I agree with Phoebe. We should set a trap. Only I’ll be the one waiting for him, not you.

Piper: Leo, you don’t have any powers to fight him with.

Leo: Which is why he won’t sense me as a threat. Any one of you guys are here, he’s not gonna show up.

Paige: Fine. So you get him here. What exactly are you gonna do?

Leo: Well, the demon needed Wyatt to trust him, right, to hand over the bear willingly? I just need him to give it back.

Piper: Leo, I...

Leo: Look, I may not have any powers, but I’m not powerless. I’m his father. He’s not gonna hurt me.

Phoebe: No? Ever read Hamlet?

Leo: Hamlet killed his stepfather.

Phoebe: Close enough. Freud says that according…

Piper: Woman, can it!

Leo: Look, it’s the only way it can happen, Piper. You know it.

(Piper sighs.)

Paige: All right. Well, any sign of trouble, you call, all right? Cause we’re just an orb away.

(Leo nods. Piper stands up.)

Piper: Be careful.

Leo: I will be.

(They orb out. Leo picks up the book.)

[Scene: Manor, Attic. Future Wyatt orbs in with Wyatt.]

Future Wyatt: You see that book over there? I want you to bring it to me. Understand? (Wyatt goes. Leo steps over.) Come on, dad. You don’t even have any powers.

Leo: That’s right. I don’t.

Future Wyatt: So what are you gonna do? Take away my car keys?

Leo: I don’t need to do anything. You’re gonna stop yourself.

Future Wyatt: That’s what I always loved about you, dad. Such a boundless optimist.

Leo: I know you. I’m your father. And I know you still have good in your heart.

Future Wyatt: Now your optimism just sounds pathetic.

(Leo chuckles.)

Leo: You know how I know that? Because this child right here still has good in his soul. Isn’t that right, Wyatt?

Future Wyatt: Get the book, Wyatt. Now.

(Leo kneels down.)

Leo: Okay, you don’t have to Wyatt. You can come over here to me if you want.

Future Wyatt: Dad, seriously, I don’t want to have to hurt you, but if you get in my way…

Leo: I don’t believe that. You mind if I come over there for a second, Wyatt?

(He moves closer.)

Future Wyatt: Stay away from him.

Leo: Is this your Wuvey? Could I see him, please?

Future Wyatt: Get away from him now, or I’ll kill you.

(Leo stands up.)

Leo: I don’t think you will.

Future Wyatt: I told you to stop.

Leo: Look, I was there when you were born, Wyatt. I gave up my powers for you. I tried to change the world for you…and I would do it again in a heartbeat. You know why? Because I’m your father.

Future Wyatt: Stop it.

Leo: You want to kill me? Go ahead. I gave up my life for you before.

Future Wyatt: Dad, please…

Leo: Look, I love you. Do you understand what that means? (Future Wyatt closes his eyes. Leo bends down.) Wyatt, can I see Wuvey just for one second? I promise I’ll give him back to you. You can trust me. (Future Wyatt opens his eyes. Wyatt gives Leo his teddy bear. It glows gold.) Thank you.

(He gives Wyatt the teddy bear. Future Wyatt turns to good. Leo stands up.)

Future Wyatt: Dad? What did you…what happened?

(Leo hugs Future Wyatt.)

[Scene: Berkley. Professor Slotkin comes to Phoebe.]

Professor Slotkin: Ms. Halliwell. Got a moment?

Phoebe: Yeah.

Professor Slotkin: I had a chance to look over your paper on childhood imaginary friends.

Phoebe: Yeah. And let me guess. You found it to be a shallow, pop psych examination on the subject?

Professor Slotkin: Hardly.

(She gives Phoebe her paper.)

Phoebe: An a-minus? Wow. Really?

Professor Slotkin: Well, your use of Kolberg’s moral stages was a bit of a stretch, but overall, quite insightful.

Phoebe: Thanks.

Professor Slotkin: I especially liked your supposition that the impact of an imaginary friend can actually last well into adulthood. I found that fascinating.

Phoebe: So do I. Uh, I have to go. I have to go home and see my nephew off.

Professor Slotkin: Off? I thought you said he was two.

Phoebe: No. This is a different nephew. Actually, he’s older, and he lives really far away. But I’m late.

Professor Slotkin: Um, before you go, I-I just wanted to apologize. I prejudged you as a fraud, and you are clearly anything but. I look forward to reading your next paper. And to your next column.

Phoebe: Thanks.

(They shake hands.)

Professor Slotkin: You’re welcome.

(Phoebe leaves.)

[Scene: Manor, Conservatory. Phoebe plays with Wyatt while Piper paces. Leo stands next to Future Wyatt.]

Piper: Please tell me Paige is more punctual in the future.

Future Wyatt: I thought you didn’t want any knowledge of the future.

Piper: Well, a little wouldn’t hurt.

Leo: Piper.

Piper: What? It’s not gonna change anything, aside from my being constantly irritated.

(Paige orbs in and speaks Maori.)

Paige: (in English) That’s sorry in Maori. Do I ever get the hang of this in the future? (He laughs.) What? What’s so funny?

Future Wyatt: Nothing. It’s just…who do you think teaches me to be a Whitelighter?

Paige: Me?

Future Wyatt: Well, I guess I better get going. Not that it matters with time travel and all, but…just to be safe. Aunt Paige? Thanks for everything you’re about to do for me.

(He hugs Paige.)

Paige: Oh, well, you’re welcome, I think.

Future Wyatt: Dad… (They shake hands.) Thanks for not giving up on me.

(They hug.)

Leo: You can count on it.

Future Wyatt: Aunt Phoebe, I think you should hold onto that imaginary friend’s paper of yours.

Phoebe: Why?

Future Wyatt: For my little cousin.

(He hugs Phoebe.)

Phoebe: Mm... bye.

Future Wyatt: Bye. (To Piper) Don’t worry about me so much, okay, mom?

Piper: Sorry. That’s the one thing that won’t change.

(He kisses her cheek and hugs her.)

Future Wyatt: I’ll see you.

Piper: See you. (Future Wyatt steps away.)

“A son in the future, a son in the past Seeing anew what once has passed Return him now to whence he came Right when he left, all now the same.”

(Future Wyatt disappears in a swirl of lights.)

Wyatt:  Bye. Wyatt. Look. (He picks up the red plastic fire truck.) Fire truck. (Leo smiles. They go to him.)