The Demon Who Came in from the Cold/Script

Written by: Sheryl J. Anderson

Season 3, Episode 19

Episode 63

[Scene: P3. Prue, Piper and Leo are standing around the bar. Phoebe walks up to them.]

Phoebe: I don't think we're gonna be able to pull this off.

Leo: We have to.

Prue: We've been in tighter jams than this before.

Phoebe: But we're running out of time, I don't think we're gonna make it.

Prue: Phoebe, we can do this, okay? I mean, if we just get a quick bite to eat at Red's, we can still make the 9:30 Faithless at the Avalon.

Leo: The foreign film? I thought we were gonna go see a thriller.

Phoebe: No, Leo, I wanna stop thinking about Cole and his demon dodging, not be reminded of it.

Leo: Piper?

Phoebe: Leo, it is three votes for Faithless.

Piper: Well, a thriller would be okay.

Prue: Okay, wait a second, the vote's two against two?

Phoebe: That's new.

Piper: Welcome to the power of four.

Phoebe: I demand a recount. Wait, that never works.

(Piper laughs. Cole comes down the stairs.)

Leo: Something tells me you're not gonna wanna see either movie now.

(Phoebe goes over to Cole.)

Phoebe: Hey.

Cole: Hey.

(She hugs him.)

Phoebe: I was so worried.

Cole: I know, I'm sorry. I couldn't come back until it was safe.

Phoebe: Is it safe now?

Cole: I think so. For the moment.

(She kisses him and they walk over to Prue, Piper and Leo.)

Prue: Hey, welcome back.

Cole: Thanks. Glad to be back.

Piper: Love to chat but we're late for a movie.

Leo: Wanna go? We could use the tie breaker.

Cole: Actually, I was hoping Phoebe and I could catch up, alone.

Phoebe: Works for me. Chao!

(They leave.)

Piper: Look at Phoebe and Cole trying to be a normal couple.

Leo: You know what that means.

Prue: Yeah, yeah, yeah, we're gonna go see the thrillers. As if we don't have enough scary bad guys in our real life.

[Cut to outside. Phoebe and Cole are walking down the street.]

Phoebe: I was starting to worry that you weren't gonna make it back in time for my graduation.

Cole: Wouldn't miss that for the world, or the underworld.

Phoebe: It's really not safe for you here, isn't it?

Cole: Uh, no, yeah, it is. I mean, at least I think so.

Phoebe: Then what's wrong?

Cole: The truth is I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this.

Phoebe: Doing what?

Cole: You know, the running, and the hiding. Even if I stop, where do I go? I'm still half human, but I can't go back. On the other hand there's really no place for me in your world either.

(They stop and face each other.)

Phoebe: What are you saying?

Cole: I'm just saying it's complicated. But it doesn't have to be, not with magic on our side. I've been thinking, isn't there some kind of spell or something in the Book of Shadows, you could strip my powers?

Phoebe: Wait, you wanna give up your powers?

Cole: If I don't have them, I can't be tempted to use them, I could just stay good...

(She pulls him closer.)

Phoebe: You would do that for me?

(They kiss. A homeless person near by starts yelling.)

Homeless Man: Prepare for the brotherhood!

(Cole looks at the homeless man.)

Phoebe: Cole, what is it?

Homeless Man: The thorn is coming! Stop the brotherhood!

Phoebe: Do you know him?

Cole: No, but if he doesn't watch what he's saying... (A demon appears behind the homeless man and pulls him into an alley. Phoebe runs towards the alley.) Phoebe, don't.

(Phoebe runs into the alley. The homeless man falls dead on the ground.)

Phoebe: No! (The demon throws an energy ball at Phoebe. She dodges it. He moves closer to her and she kicks him in the stomach. He goes at her with a dagger, she grabs his arm, gets the dagger and stabs him. He is vanquished. Cole comes around the corner.) Where were you? What happened to you?

Cole: You just vanquished my brother.

Opening Credits

[Scene: Manor. Cole and Phoebe walk into the conservatory.]

Phoebe: You know, Cole, there's plenty working against us. I just thought at least I could count on you being honest with me.

Cole: I am.

Phoebe: Okay, so you just forgot you had a brother?

Cole: He's not that kind of brother.

Phoebe: How many kinds of brothers are there?

Cole: It's complicated.

Phoebe: You know, I hate that word.

(Prue, Piper and Leo walk in.)

Piper: Alright, we were just about to find out who the real killer is and the pager goes off, so this better be a really good emergency.

Phoebe: Well, I'm the real killer. I just vanquished Cole's brother.

Prue: Whoa, this is so much better than the movie.

Cole: I didn't want him to see me.

Phoebe: And we lost an innocent because of it. Some poor street prophet. He was ranting about the brotherhood.

Leo: Brotherhood? Of the thorn?

Cole: Yeah. I was a member... am a member.

Piper: What does that mean? What does he mean?

Leo: You should have told us.

Cole: I've done a lot in the last hundred years, it's gonna take a while to catch you up.

Prue: Okay, so who are they?

Leo: They're an alead gang, they answer directly to the source. He selects the members himself. Then they take a blood oath, life long pledge of loyalty.

Phoebe: Oh, that kind of brother.

Cole: All that matters now is that they're surfacing. They must have something big in the works.

Piper: So why kill a crazy old street preacher?

Cole: Because not all of them are crazy, or human. Some of them are magical sears who can pre-see actual events. But they're loud, dirty, so people ignore them. If you call Inspector Morris, I bet he'll tell you other prophets have been killed too.

Phoebe: For what? Just by talking about your... this gang?

Cole: The brotherhood can't risk anyone figuring out what they're up to.

Prue: Okay, so what are they up to?

Cole: I have no idea. I'm not exactly a member of good standing anymore.

Phoebe: The Prophet that I was trying to save was talking about Lockserom.

Piper: The Internet provider? What, the demons want their own website now?

Prue: No, there must be more to it than that. Alright, Phoebe, you check the net, Piper, you got the Book of Shadows.

Cole: Save it. You can't stop the brotherhood with a little research and your kick, freeze, magical move. No offence intended.

Piper: Some taken.

Leo: No, he's right. They're way beyond anything you've dealt with before.

Phoebe: So we can't just let them go. There's gotta be a way to find out what they're planning.

Cole: There is one way. For me to go back.

Phoebe: Cole.

Cole: If you want to know what they're up to we have no choice.

Phoebe: Okay, but you'll be exposing yourself to the source. They'll kill you.

Cole: Maybe not. They've probably already surfaced, set up camp in this world. I won't have to go under completely.

Prue: It does kind of make sense.

Phoebe: Well, if course it makes sense to you, Prue, you're always looking for a way to get Cole out of our lives.

Piper: Phoebe.

Cole: This isn't about her, Phoebe, it's about me.

Phoebe: No, it's about us.

(Phoebe leaves the room.)

[Scene: A building. A demon (Tarkin), and a woman (Klea), are walking towards another demon.]

Klea: We might have a problem.

Demon: One of the Prophets?

Klea: No, although the ones we've targeted have been taken out, including Triggs.

Tarkin: Triggs is missing. I haven't been able to find him anywhere, which means someone is onto our plan.

Demon: Impossible. As long as the Prophets are dead. Keep searching for our brother. I have to complete my assimilation, we must move forward.

(Klea disappears.)

[Cut back to the manor. Prue, Piper and Leo walk down the stairs.]

Piper: I'm worried, and not just about Cole but also Phoebe. I mean, sending him back under is like sending an alcoholic to a kegger. It's just setting him up to fall.

Leo: I agree.

(They walk into the conservatory.)

Prue: Alright, this whole voting together thing would be really really cute if it weren't so annoying. I mean, maybe you guys vote should just count as one for now on.

Piper: I bet you wouldn't mind if we were voting with you.

(Prue gives Piper an evil stare.)

Leo: I mean, what if we lose him, Prue, you don't want that responsibility, do you?

Prue: Okay, look, the only votes that count are Phoebe and Cole's, and Cole has already volunteered.

Piper: Well, then maybe Phoebe can talk him out of it.

Prue: Right, which is why we need another plan. So you guys work on the Book of Shadows together and I will call Morris and see what he knows.

[Cut to the attic. Phoebe and Cole are there. Phoebe is getting some ingredients together.]

Cole: Phoebe, I have to go.

Phoebe: Nope, you can't.

Cole: Phoebe.

Phoebe: Remember that power stripping potion you asked me for, like an hour ago, and everything was still wonderful? Well, I have an idea, I just need some time.

(Phoebe stirs some ingredients together using a mortar and pestel.)

Cole: Phoebe, I have to go. And I'll need my powers while I'm gone.

Phoebe: Why? What are you gonna do?

Cole: Just blend in. That's it. I won't do anything evil.

Phoebe: Well, let me make sure you can't.

(She continues to stir the ingredients quickly. Cole stops her and puts the mortar and pestel down.)

Cole: I'll be smart, and careful. I'll check in with you every two hours.

Phoebe: How? They'll track your shimmer.

Cole: Not if we meet in the mausoleum. That's the second safest place I know.

Phoebe: What's the safest?

Cole: With you. (Phoebe sighs.) I thought you'd be proud of me.

Phoebe: Of what? Being suicidal?

Cole: I am coming back. I always have.

Phoebe: Yeah, how can you be so sure that you're gonna come back this time? Cole, you've been hiding from them for months. And I don't understand, there's a price on your head and now all of a sudden you're willing to expose yourself? For what?

Cole: For good. You taught me not to walk away and let evil win, to fight the good fight. That's all I wanna do.

Phoebe: They'll kill you.

Cole: I have a plan, don't worry. This is the right thing to do, Phoebe. You know that, we both do. Mausoleum, two hours, okay?

(He kisses her hand and shimmers out.)

[Cut to the building. Cole walks down a hall towards Vornac's office. Klea sees Cole.]

Klea: Vornac.

(Vornac and Tarkin turn around.)

Vornac: Well, look who's back.

Tarkin: Kill him?

Vornac: In a minute. (Cole walks in the office.) Belthazor, come in, come in. (A guard shuts the door.) Nice of you to come home to die.

Cole: Actually, I came to help. I overheard the Prophets talking. Afraid they'll spoil your plan.

Tarkin: What makes you think we have one?

Cole: Tarkin, you always have a plan.

Vornac: And after everything you've done, you think you can just walk back in, pick up where you left off?

Cole: I'm here to do what's right, Vornac. For the brotherhood.

Vornac: Really? And what can you possibly offer that will save your traitoress head?

(Cole gets a human head out of a bag and drops it on the floor.)

Cole: The Prophets.

Commercial Break

[Scene: Building. Continued from before. Vornac is holding Cole face down on the table.]

Vornac: You actually expect me to believe you killed the Prophet?

Cole: He was a threat to you.

Vornac: Ahh, a bounty on your head and yet you still think of us.

Cole: The brotherhood comes first.

Vornac: Words to live or die by.

Tarkin: Triggs was assigned to kill that Prophet. Did you see him?

Cole: No. How is my old friend?

(He lets Cole up.)

Vornac: Your old friend is missing. Suspiciously.

Cole: Brothers missing, Prophets talking, and I had no trouble tracking you down. Pretty careless. What does Raynor think of this?

Vornac: Raynor thinks you're a disgrace.

Cole: Why? Because I killed the Triad.

Tarkin: Isn't that enough?

Cole: They were plotting to kill the Source so they could take over, which means they would have killed every other demon in his inner circle. Including Raynor.

Tarkin: We never did trust the Triad.

Vornac: Then why didn't he come back and explain himself, hmm? Why run?

Cole: Because I had no proof, that's why. I knew nobody would believe me.

Vornac: Brothers for a hundred years and you disappeared without a word, left us with the rumours, the accusations. Were you thinking about the brotherhood then? Check his story.

(Klea disappears.)

Tarkin: Back to work. So, who we after?

Vornac: Not your concern. Until Klea returns he goes nowhere.

(Vornac disappears.)

Cole: He always was a tight-ass, wasn't he?

Tarkin: Do you blame him?

Cole: No.

Tarkin: It's nice to have you back, Belthazor. I just hope it's for good.

Cole: Yeah, me too.

[Scene: Manor. Conservatory. Prue, Leo and Piper are there. Piper looks at her watch.]

Piper: Poor Phoebe, she must be going out of her mind.

Prue: It's only been three hours.

Piper: Three and a half. Way past the time he said he would check in with her. Leo, maybe you should orb into the mausoleum and see if she's heard from him.

Prue: Well, she said that she would call if she had.

Leo: Besides, I think I should stay here till we figure out what the brotherhoods plan is.

Piper: Oh, and now you're voting with her.

Prue: Um, Lockserom, that's what the Prophet said, right?

(Prue shows them an article in the newspaper.)

Leo: "Merger talks between Lockserom and meta satellite faltered over the weekend."

Piper: Wait a minute, so Cole is risking his life to preserve stock portfolios?

Prue: No, it's much bigger than that. According to this, if the merger goes through, the world's affirmation flow will wind up in the hands of one company.

Piper: Well, that sounds evil by itself.

Leo: Except for one of the CEO's, Frank Pirelli, is apparently getting cold feet about it.

Prue: Yeah, what do you wanna bet the brotherhood wants this merger to go through so they can take over the company?

Leo: Which means they're gonna have to somehow force Pirelli to vote for it.

Prue: Yeah, or kill him. It sure would be nice to be able to compare notes with Cole.

Piper: Well, we could if someone would orb to the mausoleum.

[Cut to the mausoleum. Phoebe's there. Leo orbs in.]

Leo: Phoebe, anything?

Phoebe: I'm sure it's not as easy to break away from there as he thought. He'll show.

Leo: It's okay to be scared.

Phoebe: No, I'm not scared. Concerned maybe, a little. We shouldn't have let him go.

Leo: We didn't. He choose to.

Phoebe: I know, and for what? To prove to me that he's good? He doesn't have to prove anything to me. (Cole shimmers in.) Cole. (She runs over and hugs him.) Are you okay? Did they buy your story?

Cole: For now, but I gotta get back. They're suspicious enough as it is.

Phoebe: Well, then maybe you shouldn't go back.

Cole: I want to, to stop them. Look, I don't have much time. All I know is they're after someone who's gonna be at Pier and Pescadero at 8am. But I don't know who.

Leo: We might. Frank Pirelli runs Lexserom but he doesn't want a big merger to happen.

Cole: The brotherhood does. Makes sense, explains why they've taken over investment banking firm.

Phoebe: How does it explain that?

Cole: The best way for evil to get a foot hole in the human world is to take over their businesses. Work from the inside out.

Phoebe: You just learn that, did you?

Cole: No.

Leo: So we need to safe guard Pirelli, till the merger vote at 11:00, and the brotherhood loses.

Cole: Yes, but if you intevene, they might think I had something to do with it. You could blow my cover.

Leo: We can't let them kill Pirelli.

Cole: But you can let them kill me?

Phoebe: No, no, Cole, look at me. We're gonna find a way to protect you. You'd better get back.

(He touches her face.)

Cole: Alright. I'm looking forward to seeing you in your cap and gown. (He takes the bottle of water Phoebe is holding.) Mind if I borrow this?

(Cole shimmers out.)

[Cut to the building. Cole walks in the office holding the bottle of water.]

Vornac: Where'd you go?

Cole: I got thirsty. Wanna urine sample to prove it?

(He has a drink from the bottle.)

Vornac: Your flippant attitude almost got you killed once before. Remember that.

Cole: I remember. You saved me.

Vornac: Alright, let's review.

(Tarkin turns on a screen. A 3D map of Pier and Pescadero, and the buildings surrounding them shows up.)

Tarkin: We patrol the perimeter. We reflect traffic. I'll monitor security. Once the limo's been cut off, Jassa will throw the energy bolt. At that...

Vornac: No, wait. Let's give Belthazor the honour. What better way to make sure he's truly back then to have him kill.

Cole: Fine. What's the target?

Vornac: Why? Does it matter? It's time.

Commercial Break

[Scene: Corner of Pier and Pescadero. Tarkin walks up to Cole.]

Tarkin: Nervous?

Cole: Hmm? Me? No, I was just thinking.

Tarkin: Been a while since you've seen this kind of action hasn't it? It'll come back to you. It's in our blood.

Cole: Yeah. I know.

Tarkin: Just execute the plan, Belthazor. No confusion, no consequences. It's no more complicated than that, okay?

[Cut to Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Leo walking down the street near by.]

Piper: Wouldn't it be nice to save the world at a descent hour?

Phoebe: Okay, well, we have to focus here because if we don't pull this off just right, Cole is screwed.

Prue: Well, as long as we wait until the last second, Cole should be fine.

Leo: Well, let's just hope that killing Pirelli isn't all they want.

Piper: Well, if it wasn't he would've told you, right? I mean, unless you think he's holding something back.

Phoebe: You know, this is amazing. First Prue can't sacrifice Cole fast enough, and now you can't wait to sell him out as a traitor.

Leo: She was just asking a question, Phoebe.

Phoebe: That she should know the answer to. We all should. Cole is risking his life for this. The least we can do is trust him.

[Cut to Vornac and another demon. Vornac looks at his watch.]

Vornac: Go. (The demon gets in his car. Klea appears beside Vornac.) Well?

Klea: I haven't been able to prove Belthazor's story one way of another.

Vornac: That's alright. We're about to find out if he's telling the truth or not.

(Vornac and Klea walk over to Cole and Tarkin. A black limo drives out of a building car park. The demon drives in front of the limo. The limo driver stops the car, honks his horn and angrily gets out of the car.)

Limo Driver: I've got it, Mr. Pirelli. (He storms over to the demon's car.) What the hell's the matter with you? Move your car now!

Vornac: (to Cole) What are you waiting for? Kill. Or be killed.

(Cole moves onto the road. The demon gets out of the car and moves out of the way.)

Limo Driver: Hey, where are you going? Where you going, damn it!

(Cole throws an energy ball at the limo. Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Leo come running around the corner and Piper freezes the energy ball in mid-air. They run over to the limo.)

Prue: Alright, Leo, go, go, go!

(Leo gets in the limo and orbs out with Pirelli. They head back past Cole.)

Phoebe: Maybe we should take Cole with us.

Prue: No, he has to look innocent after the fact. He's gotta figure out a way to get out on his own. Come on.

(Prue and Piper walk away. Phoebe slips a note in Cole's pocket. She touches his face and then runs off. Piper peeks around the corner of a wall and unfreezes everything. The energy ball hits the limo and it blows up. The driver dives to the ground.)

Vornac: Go get the body.

(Klea disappears. Cole walks back over to Vornac.)

Cole: What do you want the body for? There won't be much left.

Vornac: But even a trace could alert the humans to the switch.

Cole: What switch?

(Vornac changes into Pirelli. He disappears and reappears down the street. A car drives out of the car park. Men get out of the car and help Vornac/Pirelli into it. The car drives off.)

Tarkin: Feels great doesn't it, Belthazor? Welcome home, brother. You've been missed. (Tarkin shakes his hand. Klea appears.) Where's Pirelli's body?

Klea: It wasn't there.

Tarkin: What do you mean it wasn't there?

[Cut to the manor. Leo walks in the living room.]

Leo: Pirelli's in the basement. He's fine. Phoebe's sleeping potion worked perfectly.

Phoebe: Name my potions, they solve everything.

(Prue turns on the TV.)

Leo: Didn't have any problems?

Piper: No, Phoebe wanted to bring home a souvenir, but otherwise no.

Prue: I wonder is the kidnapping made the morning news?

Phoebe: What do we do now?

Prue: Well, I don't know, that's up to Cole. He's gotta let us know what the demon's next move... (Frank Pirelli shows up on the TV.) is.

Vornac/Pirelli: (on TV) It's no coincidence that just last night I changed my mind and decided to support this merger. Now someone's trying to kill me. That convinces me I've made the right choice. This merger will happen. Thank you.

Piper: What was that about Cole telling us everything?

Commercial Break

[Scene: Manor. Living room. Prue and Piper are sitting on the couch. Phoebe walks in and sits down.]

Phoebe: If Cole had knew about the switch he would have told us.

Piper: Are you sure? He's back with his brothers now, maybe he's switched too.

Phoebe: Come on, why all of a sudden are you off his band wagon? What's changed?

Piper: The plan blew up in our faces, that's what's changed.

Phoebe: And Cole is responsible for that?

Piper: Phoebe, not knowing the switch is a pretty big detail to miss, don't you think? Aside from the whole he originally tried to kill us thing that's coming to mind right about now.

Prue: Okay, but Piper, Cole's done a lot of good since then. We have to give him credit for that.

Phoebe: Thank you.

(Prue smiles.)

Piper: Come on, Phoebe, you have to admit you're a little worried about him.

Phoebe: About his getting killed, yes, but not about his betraying us.

(Leo walks in.)

Leo: Pirelli's still out cold in the basement. How are things up here?

Phoebe: Getting colder by the minute.

Prue: Okay, uh, we need to work on a plan, alright? And we need to be smart because Cole is counting on it. So the merger voting is at 11:00, that gives us two hours to figure out a way to get the demon imposter out of there.

Phoebe: Anything we do could point Cole out as their leak. So we have to let him know what we're up to.

Piper: Do we?

Phoebe: Yeah, he deserved to know that. Let me tell him to get out of there.

Leo: How are you gonna get him to meet you?

Phoebe: I slipped him a note at the attack asking him to meet me at the mausoleum. Let me try.

Prue: Okay, be careful and be fast. And if for whatever reason Cole doesn't meet you there, get back here right away, okay, so we can start working on plan B.

Phoebe: Okay.

(She stands up.)

Prue: Okay, be safe.

(Phoebe leaves.)

Piper: Well, since plan A's going so well, I'd love to hear about plan B. Assuming that you have one.

Prue: I've part of it. In the freezer.

(Prue heads for the kitchen.)

Piper: Freezer? (Piper and Leo follow Prue to the kitchen.) Wait, we're gonna fight the brotherhood with -.

Prue: No, with a vanquishing potion made from Belthazor flesh.

(She takes the flesh out of the freezer.)

Piper: Eww, you kept that this long? That's disgusting!

Leo: What makes you think that'll work?

Prue: Well, you said that they were connected by a blood oath, their blood. (She picks up the flesh with a fork.) So the potion that vanquishes one, should work on the others.

Piper: Hmm, how lucky that we had the key ingredient in our freezer.

Prue: Yeah. I guess in the back of my head, I sort of thought that we might need it again someday.

[Scene: Vornac's office. Cole finds Phoebe's note in his pocket. He quickly reads it. Vornac/Pirelli and Klea appears.]

Vornac/Pirelli: That's impossible.

(Pirelli changes back into Vornac.)

Klea: Not if it was done magically.

Vornac: Belthazor, what do you think?

Cole: Me? I think, uh, well, I think Klea's right. Somebody intervened.

Vornac: Like who?

Cole: How would I know?

Vornac: Guess.

Cole: Witches?

Tarkin: Witches? How can witches be onto us?

Vornac: Any thoughts?

Cole: We might have a leak.

Vornac: Yes, I think we do. A traitor amongst us. Now, (he moves closer to Cole) who do you suppose that could be?

Tarkin: Come on, Vornac, you can't think that Belthazor...

Vornac: Don't tell me what to think.

Cole: Give me a break. I'm not stupid enough to come back home and betray you all in one day.

Klea: That's not stupid, that's smart.

Vornac: She's right. After all, it's so ludicrous. Who would suspect you? You see, the thing that bothers me most about this, Belthazor, are the rumours. The ones that say that while you were a fugitive, you fell in love with a witch. And now here we are, confronted by the very real possibilities, our entire operation has been compromised by coincidence of coincidences, witches.

Cole: The rumours are true.

Tarkin: What?

Cole: I loved a witch. Still do, actually. At least my human half does. But that was a mistake, I realise that now. I'd forgotten who I really was.

Klea: Raynor will demand he die for his treason.

Cole: Or he will forgive me for being able to salvage the operation. I think I can get Pirelli back.

Vornac: How?

Cole: The witch I was involved with, her sister has the power to freeze, in which with that kind of power could have taken Pirelli from the limo without us even knowing it.

Vornac: Another coincidence. The witch you bedded just happens to be the one who's onto us.

Cole: Let me prove my loyalties. Let me go to the witches, get Pirelli, bring him back. Then you can pass judgement.

Vornac: Are you saving us, brother? Or leading us into a trap? Go. (Cole shimmers out.) If he's telling the truth, help him. If he's not, kill him.

(Klea disappears.)

[Cut to the mausoleum. Phoebe is waiting there. Cole shimmers in.]

Phoebe: Cole. Oh my god, I've been so...

Cole: No, don't. It's too dangerous.

Phoebe: What do you mean? What's the matter?

Cole: Just trust me. Where's Pirelli?

(Klea appears near by, but only her eyes are visible.)

Phoebe: At the manor, in the basement.

Cole: So you do have him?

Phoebe: Yeah, of course.

Cole: What's your plan?

Phoebe: Our plan is to vanquish the demon that took his place, before the merger vote.

Cole: No, you can't. That will be a huge mistake.

Phoebe: Why? Cole, you're scaring me.

Cole: You should be scared. You have no idea who you're up against.

Phoebe: Oh, don't I? Cole, what's happening to you? What aren't you telling me?

Cole: I'm telling you to stay out of this, alright? Don't do anything. Just go back home, wait to hear from me. I mean it.

(He shimmers out. Klea disappears.)

[Scene: Manor. Phoebe walks into the living room.]

Prue: Hey, how did it go?

Phoebe: I'm not sure, actually.

Piper: What does that mean?

Phoebe: I don't know, it was strange. He was strange. Almost mean. But he doesn't want us to go after the demon, he wants us to wait here.

Prue: What? Why?

Phoebe: He didn't say. It doesn't make sense, the whole thing doesn't make sense. I think he's in trouble. Either that or...

Piper: Or he's turned.

Phoebe: No, I don't believe that. There's gotta be a good reason why Cole's doing what he's doing.

(Three men appear and one throws an energy ball at the girls. Prue deflects it back with her power and one of the men go up in flames. He disappears. The two remaining men go for the girls. Phoebe kicks one, and Prue uses her power on the other and crashes into the piano. They get up and Piper freezes them.)

Piper: Whoa, whoa.

Phoebe: How do they know where we live?

Piper: How do you think?

Prue: Leo!

(Leo runs in with two bottles of potion. He gives them to Prue and Piper.)

Phoebe: What is that?

Piper: Demon be-gone.

(Prue and Piper throw the potion at the demons and vanquishes them.)

Leo: You're right, the potion worked.

Phoebe: What potion?

Prue: Okay, that was way too easy. Oh my god, Pirelli, Pirelli.

(They run down into the basement. Cole and Tarkin have a hold of Pirelli.)

Phoebe: Cole!

(Cole and Tarkin shimmer out with Pirelli.)

Piper: What do you think now?

Commercial Break

[Scene: Manor. Conservatory. Phoebe is there staring out the window. Prue, Piper and Leo walk in.]

Prue: Alright, Phoebe, we need to get going. The merger vote is in less than three minutes.

Phoebe: Why didn't you tell me you kept some of the potion to kill Cole with?

Piper: Well, it's a good thing she did, it came in pretty handy.

Prue: Look, Phoebe, I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but the truth is until recently I didn't really trust Cole. I mean, I sort of felt like I had to protect us just in case.

Phoebe: Just in case what? He tried to kill us?

Piper: It wouldn't be the first time. (Phoebe looks away.) Well, it wouldn't. Look, I know you love him, and we all know that he loves you, but sending demons to kidnap our innocent kind of speaks for itself.

Leo: You're right, we never should had let him go under.

Phoebe: I still think this is all part of some plan of his, it has to be.

Prue: Okay, but right now we need to stick to our plan, which is to vanquish the demon imposter.

Phoebe: Cole said not to, he said it was a huge mistake and I believe him.

Piper: Okay, but we don't.

Leo: Come on, you guys, we really have to get going.

Prue: That's three to one, Pheebs. You coming?

[Cut to the brotherhood building.]

Vornac: You cost me three of my best demons. What the hell went wrong?

Tarkin: The witches were more prepared then we thought.

Vornac: Another coincidence.

Cole: I didn't tip them.

Vornac: Did he?

Klea: He told the witch to go home. Unless it was some sort of code.

Cole: It wasn't. Look, the plan was to get Pirelli, I did that.

Vornac: Then where is he?

Cole: Some where you can't get him. Not until I'm sure you won't kill me.

Vornac: And how do I know you really have him?

Tarkin: I was there. He has him.

Vornac: And do I trust you anymore? It's time, I have to get back. But after the vote you'd better deliver Pirelli, or I will kill you.

(Vornac starts to shimmer out but Cole stops him.)

Cole: No, don't.

Vornac: Don't what?

Cole: Don't go. I know these witches, Vornac. Now that I've kidnapped Pirelli, they'll do anything they can to stop us. They'll try to vanquish you, and they have the potion to do it too.

Vornac: But will they vanquish you?

[Cut to an empty office. The door flies open and Prue, Piper and Phoebe walk in.]

Piper: Vote's in, demon guy, you lose.

(A chair swings around and Cole's sitting in it.)

Phoebe: Piper, wait. Cole.

Cole: Surprised.

Prue: What are you doing here? Where's the demon?

Cole: He sent me instead. It might be a test. I think he's onto us.

Prue: On to us? You make it sound like we're working together.

Cole: Aren't we?

Piper: Hmm, who you kidding? We should vanquish you on the spot. Where's Pirelli?

Cole: He's safe.

(He stands up.)

Prue: Cole, where is he?

Cole: Where else would he be?

Phoebe: The safest place you know. The mausoleum.

Cole: Isn't that what we agreed to?

Phoebe: No, unfortunately, it isn't.

(Phoebe throws the potion at Cole.)

Prue: Phoebe!

(Cole starts yelling. He changes into Vornac. Vornac is vanquished.)

Piper: But how did you know? Did you know?

Phoebe: The safest place that Cole knows is with me. He said so.

(Cole shimmers in. They spin around ready to throw the potion.)

Cole: Easy, easy. I know I'm not very popular right now but let the condemned man have his last words. I had no choice but to play it this way. They were so suspicious of me I had to make everyone especially you believe I was evil. Or I was dead.

Piper: Some of us still think you're evil.

Prue: Alright, so why did that demon impersonate you?

Cole: He didn't trust me. Wanted to find out whose side I was really on. I knew you wouldn't fall for it.

Piper: What about Pirelli?

Cole: I had to make you think I'd actually betrayed you, to give you motivation to kill Vornac and me. (to Phoebe) Forgive me.

Phoebe: I never doubted you. (She goes over to him.) Well, maybe just a little.

(They kiss. Klea's eyes are watching near by. They then disappear.)

Cole: You'd better get Leo to the mausoleum, get Pirelli back here before the mercher.

Piper: Can't you get Pirelli?

Cole: No, I have to get back.

Phoebe: You can't go back now.

Cole: Just to cover my tracks. I don't want those guys hunting me down. (He kisses Phoebe.) I'll be out before your graduation party tonight, I promise.

(He shimmers out.)

[Cut to Cole and Tarkin.]

Tarkin: You saw the witches kill Vornac?

Cole: No, I saw what was left. So I went to kill Pirelli but he was gone. I can only assume the witches found him.

Tarkin: This is a disaster. What are we gonna tell Raynor? He wants a full accounting, you know.

Cole: Tell him I warned Vornac not to go but he didn't listen. And now I have to go.

Tarkin: Go? Where?

Cole: I still have to find proof for the Source to clear my name. I can't very well do that here, can I? See you soon, my brother.

Tarkin: You can't go. Raynor wants a full accounting from you.

Cole: You can fill him in. You know just as much as I do.

(Cole walks away. Klea and Raynor appear. Raynor throws an energy ball at Cole is knocked unconscious.)

Tarkin: You were right, Raynor.

Raynor: Belthazor has much to explain. And much to answer for.

Commercial Break

[Scene: P3. Phoebe's graduation party. Phoebe hugs someone and then walks off looking worried. Prue, Piper and Leo are watching her near by.]

Piper: Why can't we ever throw a party or have a wedding or just live our lives without evil screwing it up?

Prue: She'll start celebrating as soon as Cole shows up.

Piper: What if he doesn't?

Leo: What if he can't?

(They walk over to Phoebe.)

Prue: Hey. Look, whatever happens, he did the right thing. He helped get Pirelli back in time to cancel the merger, he helped us stop the brotherhood.

Piper: He proved he was good.

Phoebe: Yeah, but at what cost?

Prue: You can't really think of it like that.

Phoebe: Why not? Shouldn't I get to protect one part of my life and say this magic doesn't screw with, this I get to keep.

Prue: Yes, you should.

Phoebe: Last night Cole was back and he wanted to strip his powers, and I was graduating. Yesterday everything was perfect, and today it's all fallen apart. Where is he? What happened to him?

End