Little Monsters/Script

Written by: Julie Hess

Season 6, Episode 09

Episode Number: 120

[Scene: Restaurant. Phoebe and Jason are sitting at a table, kissing. A waiter walks up to the table and clears his throat.]

Waiter: Pardon me.

(Phoebe laughs, embarrassed.)

Phoebe: Hi. Sorry, I didn't see you there.

Waiter: Oh, no, no, please, never apologise for a kiss, signora. Especially for one like that. (He shows them a bottle of wine.) '95 brunello di montalcino.

Jason: Great. Decant it, please.

Waiter: Of course.

(The waiter walks away.)

Phoebe: Oh, wow, is that embarrassing.

Jason: You heard what the man said, never apologise.

Phoebe: I'm so happy for you.

Jason: Yeah, I still can't believe it. Really, I wanted to buy my granddad's winery ever since he lost it. I just hope he knows that somehow.

Phoebe: Believe me, he does.

Jason: You talk as if you have inside information.

Phoebe: Well, maybe I do.

Jason: You are special, Phoebe.

(Phoebe gets a vibe.)

Phoebe: I love you too.

Jason: I'm sorry?

Phoebe: Who said that?

Jason: Did you say too?

Phoebe: No, I just said you twice. I said I love you you. What I said, oh god... (She knocks over a wine glass.) Whoa!

Male Voice: Daniel, table three.

(Daniel walks over and wipes up the spill. Paige orbs in near by.)

Phoebe: Oh, thanks.

(Paige walks over to them.)

Paige: Hi.

Phoebe: Paige.

Paige: I am so sorry to interrupt but Piper's kind of got a bit of a, um, a power problem. She kind of needs some more.

Jason: Why doesn't she just call the power company?

Paige: Tried and the line is busy. So if you could come like, right now, she'd really love it.

Phoebe: Oh, oh, please don't use that word. Please don't use that. (Phoebe stands up.) Okay, alright, so I should go and we will, you know...

(Phoebe starts backing back.)

Jason: Talk.

Phoebe: Talk, yeah. (Phoebe backs into a waiter holding a tray full of food.) Sorry. I'm sorry. Sorry! Okay.

Paige: Okay.

(Phoebe and Paige head for the door.)

Phoebe: (to a man) Oh, the stuffed shells, great choice. Okay. Bye everyone.

[Scene: Alley. Piper is there. She is watching a creature standing over a demon. The demon is screaming in pain. Phoebe and Paige orb in.]

Paige: Okay, let's vanquish this demon.

Piper: Shh. Something beat us to the punch.

Phoebe: Eww, what is it doing?

Piper: Apparently eating the demon.

Paige: Or storing it.

(The demon dies and turns to dust.)

Phoebe: What is it?

Piper: I don't know, and I don't want to find out. Let's get out of here.

(The demon spots them and pokes its lizard-like tongue at them. It whizzes toward Phoebe and Paige and pushes them down the alley. Piper tries to blow it up and screams when she can't. She continues to try and blow it up.)

Phoebe: Paige, do something.

Paige: Power line!

(The power line orbs and falls on the creature, electrocuting and vanquishing it. Phoebe and Paige get up and race over to Piper.)

Phoebe: Are you okay?

Piper: Peachy.

(They hear a baby sound near by. The walk over to a pile of blankets and pull them back. A baby is laying there. He sticks out his lizard-like tongue and the girls gasp.)

Paige: Cute.

(He sticks out his tongue again.)

Opening Credits

[Scene: Manor. Conservatory. Phoebe and Paige are standing there watching the baby in the playpen.]

Phoebe: I still can't believe we vanquished its mummy.

Paige: Yeah, but we didn't know it was a mummy and besides, mummy tried to kill us.

Phoebe: I know, still, look at how cute he is. So adorable. Oh, except when he does that weird little thing with his tongue.

Paige: I wonder why he looks so human?

Phoebe: I don't know, but he won't for long.

(Piper walks in.)

Piper: Okay, Wyatt's upstairs, so at least he's... (Wyatt orbs into the playpen.) Safe.

Phoebe: Don't worry about Wyatt, he's got his protective bubble. He'll use it if he needs it.

Paige: Plus, it looks like he likes his new friend.

Piper: That is not a friend, that's a demon.

Paige: No, he's just a baby.

Piper: Excuse me, were you at the same vanquish as me? Because it took all three of us to stop his mother.

Paige: It doesn't mean he's gonna turn out that way.

Phoebe: Paige, he doesn't have a choice, it's genetic.

Paige: No, I don't think so. Okay, maybe I'm a little biased because I am in fact adopted, but I really think there's something to that whole nurture versus nature thing and predicting how a kid is gonna turn out. You know, the classic environment versus biology argument.

Piper: But this is not a child, it's a demon.

Paige: Okay, why don't you go over there and see if you can sense anything evil.

Phoebe: Alright. (Phoebe walks closer to the playpen.) Nothing. Good or evil.

Paige: My point exactly. Clay to be moulded.

Piper: Yeah, I don't know about that.

Phoebe: Still, the question remains what are we supposed to do with him?

(Chris orbs in.)

Chris: So you vanquished the demon?

Piper: Yes and no.

Paige: Well, the good news is the demon you sent us after is in fact gone.

Phoebe: And the bad news is whatever ate it, left us that.

(Chris looks in the playpen. The baby wiggles his lizard-like tongue at him.)

Paige: I think he likes you.

Chris: I don't care. Vanquish it.

Phoebe: Chris.

Chris: I mean it. Now.

Paige: No, we are not vanquishing a baby. What's wrong with you?

Chris: I'm just concerned that this could be the future evil that gets to Wyatt.

Paige: Don't be ridiculous.

Chris: What? I'm being ridiculous? There is a demon in the playpen.

(The phone rings.)

Paige: I'll get it.

(She heads for the phone.)

Phoebe: Hey, if it's Jason, tell him I'm in the shower.

Piper: Are you avoiding him?

Phoebe: Uh, kind of. I, um, sort of told him that I loved him last night.

Piper: Oh, and this is bad?

Phoebe: No, except I said 'I love you too' as if he said 'I love you' first, which he didn't.

Piper: So wait, you told him that he loves you before he tells you that he loves you?

Phoebe: Mm-hm, mm-hm.

Piper: Yeah, that's not good.

Phoebe: Yeah, I'll be lucky if he doesn't move to Hong Kong permanently now. I really thought I had my empath power under control.

Chris: Forget that. What are you gonna do?

Phoebe: What am I supposed to do? I mean, you know, you tell a guy that you love them and they bolt, you know, it's just what they do.

Chris: About the baby, I meant the baby. We gotta do something. (The baby scoops up a pacifier with his tongue.) Fast.

[Cut to the kitchen. Paige is there talking on the phone.]

Paige: I can't hear you, Darryl, speak up.

Darryl: I know I've never asked before but I'm asking now. I need help on this one. Magical.

Paige: Alright, what's going on?

Darryl: This stupid kid, and he's got hostages. Only I know him and he wouldn't hurt anybody, but I've ran out of time to talk him down. SWAT's ready to move in. I don't wanna lose him, Paige.

Paige: Alright, alright. I'm coming. Okay. Hold your horses.

(Paige hangs up and grabs her keys.)

[Cut to the conservatory. Piper and Phoebe are leaning over the playpen. Piper is covering her eyes.]

Piper: Where's Wyatt? Where is he? Look, look, wait, listen. Where's Wyatt? (She uncovers her eyes.) There he is! Look, look. Where's Wyatt? Where's Wyatt? There he is! Alright.

Chris: Okay, I don't think distracting him is the answer.

Piper: Wyatt? Bad demon, very bad demon.

(Paige walks in.)

Phoebe: Hey, was that Jason?

Paige: No, that was my raison d'etre.

Phoebe: Pardon?

Paige: That was Darryl. I've been wondering why the temp agency hasn't called and now I know why. I needed to be free to help him.

Piper: To do what?

Paige: Well, to save an innocent. Why else would he have called? And more importantly, why else would I have been the one to answer the phone?

Phoebe: Because you were the closest to it?

Paige: No, because it's my reason for being. Call me if you need help.

(She leaves.)

Chris: What, you're just gonna let her go?

Piper: You're welcome to try and stop her.

Phoebe: You know, I should go talk to Jason.

Piper: And her too.

Chris: Wait, stop, where are you going? Are you slightly concerned that there's a demon in the house?

Phoebe: Chris, this is a baby, okay? Relax. (to Piper) And you call me if you need anything.

Piper: Love you too.

Phoebe: Don't.

Piper: Sorry.

(Phoebe leaves the room.)

Chris: And you're okay with this? Them dumping this on your lap like that?

Piper: Well, they don't seem too worried.

Chris: Well, they should be. I need to figure out what kind of creature we're dealing with here.

[Scene: Alley. A creature wearing a cloak is wandering around looking for something. He spots a blanket on the ground and roars.]

[Scene: The Bay Mirror. Phoebe walks in.]

Phoebe: Hey, is he in?

Man: No! I mean, yes, he is but he asked not be disturbed.

Phoebe: Yeah, but that can't possibly mean me.

Man: Actually, it specifically means you, Phoebe. Sorry. Did you guys have a fight?

Phoebe: No, but we're about to. (Phoebe hands the man her bag and storms into Jason's office.) Listen, Jas... (Three other people are in the room with Jason.) Oh. Oh, I'm sorry.

Jason: Phoebe, what are you doing?

Phoebe: I didn't know you were in the middle of a meeting.

Jason: Yeah, that's why the door was closed.

Phoebe: Really? Because I was told the door was closed specifically for me. (Jason says something in Italian and stands up.) I didn't know you spoke Italian.

Jason: Outside.

(Jason and Phoebe walk out of his office.)

Phoebe: How come I didn't know you spoke Italian?

Jason: Is that what you came here to ask?

Phoebe: No. No, of course not. I just wanted to talk about last night.

Jason: Okay, fine. But, uh, can we do it later? I'm in the middle of a very important meeting right now.

Phoebe: Of course, yeah. I'm sorry about that. So how about tonight?

Jason: Tonight? Tonight's not good. I'm flying to Rome.

(Phoebe laughs.)

Phoebe: Wait, what?

Jason: I've been meaning to tell you, it just came up.

Phoebe: Really? When? Right after I told you I loved you?

Jason: Oh, come on.

Phoebe: I mean, I've heard of guys running when they hear the L word, but running all the way to Italy? That's gotta be some kind of new record.

Jason: Could you keep your voice down, please? It's got nothing to do with that and you know it.

Phoebe: That's a crock. We both know how you really feel about me. The only difference is I'm the only one who's not afraid of it. Ciao!

[Scene: Manor. Conservatory. Piper and Chris are there. Chris is looking at the "Manticore" demons in the Book of Shadows.]

Chris: "Vicious demons with supernatural strength and venomous claws. Manticores communicate with high-pitch cries and tend to travel in packs." Great. Well, I say we get rid of the little brat before the pack comes looking for him.

Piper: Okay, fine. What do you suggest we do with him? Call social services?

Chris: No, I suggest you vanquish it.

Piper: Chris, I'm a mother, I can't go around vanquishing babies, no matter how evil they are.

Chris: It's not how evil he is, it's how evil he's gonna be. You gotta stop looking at him like he's a little baby and start looking at him like he's an unstoppable killing machine, because that's what he is.

Piper: I realise that, but still.

Chris: But still nothing. You're supposed to protect the innocents, right? Well, think of all the future innocents you can save by vanquishing him right now.

Piper: Don't you think I know that? I'm scared to death of what he can possibly do to Wyatt but I can't even separate them.

Chris: Piper, there's one thing you can do and you know it. And you better do it fast before any other Manticore show up. There's no known vanquishing potion.

Piper: I just can't do it.

Chris: Okay. Well, if you won't listen to me, maybe you'll listen to Leo.

(Chris orbs out. Piper looks over at the babies and the Manticore baby shimmers out. He shimmers back in and then shimmers back out. He shimmers back in and laughs.)

Commercial Break

[Scene: Post Office Car Park. Police have surrounded the building. The SWAT team arrives in their van and get in their positions.]

SWAT: We're in position, lieutenant, we've got a clean shot.

(Paige stands behind a barricade along with other people who are watching.)

Paige: Darryl! Darryl! Over here.

Darryl: (in his radio) Stand by. (He heads over to Paige.) It's okay, let her through. (Paige passes the barricades.) What took you so long?

Paige: Darryl, I would have orbed here but it could have been more magic than you had in mind.

Darryl: I'm not sure what you could have done anyway. He's not letting any of the hostages go and SWAT's ready to move in.

Paige: Well, forget that, I'm not giving up, this is my raison d'etre.

Darryl: Excuse me?

Paige: Listen, I came to help, that's exactly what I'm going to do. So, you know, what do you need?

Darryl: I don't know, if I could just talk to the kid without getting shot.

Paige: I think I have the perfect spell for this.

Darryl: Whoa, spell. What spell?

Paige: Just go with me, okay? "Blessed with powers from my destiny, I bless this hero with invincibility." (A blue light hits Darryl.) How does it feel?

Darryl: It's feels good.

Paige: Alright, go get him, tough guy.

Darryl: Yeah.

(Darryl walks across the car park.)

SWAT: Where's he going? (Darryl gets out his gun.) Lieutenant, what are you doing?

Darryl: I got it, don't worry.

(Darryl walks up to the post office door. A teenager and hostages are in the post office. The teenager points a gun at Darryl.)

Teenager: Hey, turn around! Get out of here! I swear to god, man, I'll shoot! I'll shoot you, man! I swear to god I'll do it!

(He grabs a hostage.)

Darryl: Put your gun down, son. I just wanna talk. (The teenager shoots at Darryl three times but the bullets just bounce off his skin.) That's ok, hold your fire. I'm going in.

[Scene: The Golden Gate Bridge. Leo is standing on the very top of the bridge. He has his arms outstretched and has his eyes closed. Chris orbs in beside him.]

Chris: Leo, I have been looking everywhere for you. What are you doing up here?

Leo: Communing with the others.

Chris: Can anyone see us?

Leo: Not me. But you look like a lunatic standing up here talking to yourself. What do you want?

Chris: It's about Piper.

Leo: Is she alright?

Chris: Yeah, she's fine, don't worry. It's Wyatt I'm worried about.

Leo: Why? What happened?

Chris: Well, nothing yet. Just out of curiosity, what's the Elders policy on vanquishing demon babies?

Leo: Why?

Chris: No reason. There's just one playing with Wyatt in his playpen as we speak.

[Scene: Manor. Attic. Piper walks in carrying Wyatt.]

Piper: Okay, listen to me. You will not orb down to your little friend, do you understand me? No orbing. (Piper puts Wyatt in the playpen and the Manticore baby shimmers in beside Wyatt. Piper sighs.) I give up.

(Phoebe walks in.)

Phoebe: Phew, I have had it with men. They are incorrigible.

Piper: Well, let me tell you, little boys aren't much better.

Phoebe: I mean, I can understand running, if he didn't love me back, you know. Fight or flight, it's the nature of the beast.

Piper: Speaking of that.

Phoebe: But he does love me, I know, I felt it. So what's the big deal? You know, why is he running?

Piper: Well, if it makes you feel any better, you probably won't be alive much longer to worry about it.

Phoebe: Thank you, yes, that makes me feel so much better.

Piper: I'm just saying if this doesn't work then we won't be able to vanquish the Manticores when they come to pick up their little one.

Phoebe: Oh, you figured out what they are?

Piper: Yeah, and it's not good, believe me.

Phoebe: So maybe Chris is right.

Piper: Yeah, I know, but I can't.

Phoebe: Piper, you said it yourself, he was born evil.

Piper: I know and I still believe that, I do. But something just doesn't add up about him. I mean, why isn't Wyatt using his protective shield? Why doesn't Wyatt think he's evil?

Phoebe: Well, we gotta keep Wyatt away from him. (Phoebe goes over to the playpen.) That's for sure.

Piper: Phoebe, wait.

(Phoebe picks Wyatt up from the playpen. The baby starts crying.)

Phoebe: You stay away from my nephew, okay, and don't shimmer after him or I'll bind your powers.

(The baby starts screaming.)

Piper: Phoebe, hurry, put him back down.

Phoebe: What? Okay. (Phoebe puts Wyatt back in the playpen.) Why?

(A creature shimmers in behind Phoebe.)

Piper: That's why. (The creature hits Phoebe and she flies across the room, landing on Piper. Wyatt's protective shield covers the playpen. The creature reaches into the playpen and the shield zaps him. He tries again and it zaps him again. Piper gets up and tries to blow him up.) Hey! You get away from my kid!

(She continues to try and blow him up until he shimmers out. He shimmers back in behind Piper, grabs her and shimmers back out.)

Commercial Break

[Scene: Manor. Attic. Phoebe is there, scrying. Paige walks in and looks in the playpen. The baby is asleep. She walks over to Phoebe and hands her an ice pack.]

Paige: I feel really bad that I wasn't there to help you earlier.

Phoebe: Oh, I don't think you could have helped even if you were there. Thanks. That thing was just as powerful as the Manticore.

Paige: Are you sure it wasn't the Manticore?

Phoebe: Yeah, I'm positive, it was more, I don't know, beast-like.

Paige: What do you think it wanted with the baby?

Phoebe: I don't know, but I think it's really weird that it showed up right after the baby started crying. You know, as if it could hear him.

Paige: Maybe we can get the baby to cry again and lure the beast here and torture him into coughing up Piper.

Phoebe: That's a great idea but we don't have a potion yet. I can't believe I can't find Piper.

Paige: Okay, let me get started on the potion. The good news is if he wanted to kill Piper by now he probably would have. And undoubtedly he's holding her hostage somewhere, probably magically cloaked. And I think he's gonna use her as leverage to get that baby. Just you watch.

Phoebe: Since when did you become an expert on hostage situations?

Paige: About an hour ago.

(Leo and Chris orb in.)

Chris: Hey.

Paige: Shh, shh, keep it down, don't wake the baby. Trust me.

Chris: (whispers) Where's Piper?

Phoebe: That's a really good question.

Leo: Wait, she's missing?

Chris: Did the Manticores take her?

Phoebe: No, some other creature that wanted the baby.

Chris: Damn it, you should have listened to me, you should have vanquished him when you had the chance.

Paige: Well, it's good that we didn't because we're gonna need the baby to get Piper back.

Phoebe: You guys, shh, keep your voices down.

Paige: I am not convinced that that baby is inherently evil. Which means he's probably not even responsible for any of this.

Chris: Oh, come on. Will you please talk to her?

Leo: Not everyone is born morally neutral, especially not demons. They're pre-disposed to evil.

Paige: Pre-disposed, yeah, but it doesn't mean they can't be raised to overcome it. You can't predict whether a kid is gonna be good or evil based on his genetics.

Chris: Paige, we're not talking about kids, we're talking about demons.

Paige: No, we're talking about a demon kid who has so far played nothing but nice with Wyatt.

Phoebe: Okay, you guys, this is all irrelevant. We need the baby to find Piper so let's just focus on that, shall we?

Leo: She's right. Although I think I should take Wyatt just to be on the safe side.

Phoebe: What if the other baby wakes up?

Leo: They won't be able to follow me where I'm going.

(Leo goes over to Wyatt and picks him up.)

Paige: He's gonna scream bloody murder and call half the Manticores in the city to come save it. Maybe the beast too.

Phoebe: We have to be prepared. (to Leo) Okay, go, just quietly. (Leo orbs out with Wyatt. Chris orbs out too.) Let's get started on that potion.

[Scene: A dark house. The rooms are a wreck. There are broken furniture and stuff all over the floors. Piper is tied to a post by her hands. She is rubbing the rope against the post. The creature is sneaking around in another room.]

Piper: Hello? Who's there?

(He peeks around the corner.)

Creature: I want the child.

Piper: Who are you?

Creature: I want the child!

Piper: Yeah, I heard you the first time. (The creature runs behind a bookcase and peeks around it.) Look, if you're trying to scare me, it's not gonna work, because I've seen worse, really.

Creature: I doubt it. I don't want to hurt you but I will if you don't do as I ask.

Piper: Who are you kidding? You need me. Otherwise I'd be dead already.

Creature: Don't mock me!

Piper: Okay, easy, easy. Sorry. You're not a Manticore, are you? So why do you want the kid, anyway?

Creature: That's not your concern.

Piper: Well, it is if you want my help. I'm not just gonna serve him up to you as a snack.

Creature: That's not why I want him. How'd you get him away from his mother anyway?

Piper: We vanquished her.

Creature: You have no idea what you've done.

Piper: We got a baby away from a demon and I'm not gonna give him up to another one.

Creature: Then you'll die.

Piper: The hell I will.

(Piper blows up the rope around her hands and then blows up a bookcase behind the creature. She runs for the door and when she tries to open it, it zaps her. She runs into another room and hides.)

[Scene: Post Office Car Park. The SWAT team are still in their positions.]

SWAT: Any sign of the lieutenant?

SWAT: (on radio) Negative.

SWAT: Alright, we give him five more minutes to talk him out, then we'll... (They hear gunshots and some SWAT members shoot.) Hold your fire! Hold your fire!

(The hostages start running out from the post office.)

Hostage: Don't shoot, we're hostages!

(The police run out and help the hostages to safety. They wait and Darryl comes out of the post office with the cuffed teenager.)

Darryl: No sweat! I got it! This lieutenants on the job, kicking butt, taking names, yeah, that's right. That's me. No sweat. (The police and SWAT come out.) Yeah, give me five.

(Police clap. Darryl takes the teenager over to the car.)

Teenager: How'd you do it, man? How did those bullets bounce right off your chest like that?

Darryl: Because I'm a bad ass, that's what.

(Darryl grab the car door handle and pulls the door right off its hinges.)

Teenager: What the hell was that?

Darryl: Shut up. (Darryl throws him in the car and he flies right out the other side and lands on the ground.) What the hell are you, man?

[Scene: Creature's house. Piper looks around the room. The coast is clear so she sneaks across the room to another hiding place. She knocks some broken glass and gasps. She picks up a photo frame and looks at the photo of a man. She then picks up a baby rattle. She turns around to see the creature standing right behind her. He pushes her against the wall.]

Creature: Last chance. Help me get the child or die.

Piper: What are you doing with this?

(She holds up the baby rattle. He gets angry and throws her across the room. She lands on the bed.)

Creature: What is the matter with you? Do you have a death wish? I've come to far, I've gone through too much to lose him now. Don't make me kill you!

Piper: Why don't you just do it? What are you waiting for? Get it over with.

Creature: I can do worse than kill you, I can keep you here and you'll never see your child again. Think about it.

(He shimmers out.)

[Scene: Manor. Attic. Phoebe and Paige are there making a potion. Paige puts in an ingredient and the potion smokes.]

Paige: Well, can't think of anything else to add. This is the most powerful potion we've ever made.

Phoebe: I agree. I guess it's time to wake up the baby.

(Paige nods. Phoebe's cell phone rings. She answers it.)

Phoebe: Hello?

Jason: Hey, it's me.

Phoebe: Oh, hey, Jason.

Jason: I, uh, I didn't wanna leave like this.

Phoebe: Uh, I can't really talk right now. Kinda busy.

Jason: Oh, really? Come on, Phoebe, why do you always have to make things so difficult.

Phoebe: Oh, I make things so difficult? And how exactly do I do that? By being honest with my feelings? And by making you be honest with yours?

(The baby wakes up and starts crying.)

Jason: You know it's not that simple.

(The baby starts to scream.)

Phoebe: Okay, I really have to go now.

Jason: Phoebe, wait.

Phoebe: Have a good flight. (Phoebe hangs up.) Toss me a vile. (Paige does so. A Manticore demon shimmers in and hits Paige. She flies across the room. Phoebe throws the potion at it and vanquishes it.) Paige, are you okay?

(Paige groans. Two more Manticores shimmer in behind Phoebe and hit her, sending her across the room. They walk towards the girls. The creature shimmers in and attacks the Manticores. The creature reaches into one of the Manticore's chest and rips his heart out, vanquishing him. He turns to the other Manticore and it shimmers out, leaving a puddle of green blood on the floor. The creature walks over to the playpen.)

Paige: Phoebe, get the vile.

(The creature picks up the baby. Phoebe grabs the vile off of the floor and throws it at the creature, hitting his shoulder. He roars and shimmers out.)

Phoebe: So much for our leverage.

Commercial Break

[Scene: Creature's house. Piper is there trying to blow up the door's shield. She blows it up several times until the door sparks. She opens the door and looks outside. She sees a beautiful, peaceful neighbourhood. She hears the creature breathing heavily and goes back inside. He has tucked the baby in bed and is rubbing his tummy.]

Creature: You're okay. It's alright, you're home now.

(The creature looks over at Piper.)

[Scene: Manor. Attic. Phoebe and Paige are there. Paige sucks some of the Manticore's blood into an eyedropper and hands it to Phoebe.]

Paige: This had better work.

Phoebe: Oh, it will.

(Leo and Chris orb in.)

Leo: We just got back to talking to the Elders and they're at an agreement. If we can't return the baby safely to the Manticores...

Chris: We'll vanquish it.

Paige: Talk about your moot points, people.

Chris: What's that supposed to mean?

Phoebe: Well, do you notice anything missing?

(They look over at the playpen.)

Leo: The baby?

Chris: What happened?

Paige: The beast took him. Right after the Manticores kicked our asses.

Phoebe: This is all Jason's fault.

Leo: How's that?

Phoebe: Oh, you're a guy, you wouldn't get it.

Chris: Wait, how are we supposed to get back Piper if we don't have the baby?

Paige: Well, we're gonna try to have another little get together with the Manticores, see if we can't start some sort of deal.

Phoebe: If we can join forces with them to kill the beast, then they can get their baby back.

Paige: And we can get our sister back.

Leo: And what if they don't want to join forces?

Paige: Well, we hope we have enough of these fancy little things to go around.

(She holds up a vile.)

Chris: No, no way, it's too risky.

Phoebe: Well, blood is thicker than water.

(Phoebe drips some Manticore blood on the crystal and starts scrying.)

[Scene: Creature's house. Piper is dabbing the creature's wound with a cloth. The creature growls in pain.]

Piper: Well, quit moving around so much, you're just making this more difficult.

Creature: Just leave me alone.

Piper: Why? So you can die? Hey, it's your choice. I'm just saying, if we can't stop this bleeding...

Creature: Fine. But just hurry up.

Piper: You're welcome. Who did this to you?

Creature: Your sisters.

Piper: Oh. Sorry. Actually, if they used the potion I think they did, you're lucky to be a live. You should have been blown to pieces.

Creature: How do you know?

Piper: Well, 'cause I made it. (The creature roars.) Come on, show a little spine. What kind of demon are you?

Creature: I'm not a demon.

Piper: Then what are you? I saw a picture of a man in the bedroom. Oh, come on, I've been around a lot of demons and they don't usually live in neighbourhoods right out of Home and Garden.

Creature: You don't want to be helping me. You think this is some sort of hideous curse or something.

Piper: Yeah, basically.

(The creature gets up.)

Creature: Well, then go. I don't need your pity. It's not what happened and that's not who I am. Not anymore, anyway. Just leave us. Go.

Piper: Us? You mean you and your son? (Piper gets up and walks over to him.) What happened?

Creature: Manticores mate with humans to create hybrids, so they can blend in, hide in plain sight. They kill their mates after conception but I got away. Ever since all I could think about was saving my son. So he wouldn't have to be raised like them. The only chance I had to do that was to turn myself into this, to become powerful.

Piper: But then, um, how?

Creature: I just started mixing potions using whatever I could steal from them. I didn't know what I was doing but I didn't care. All I cared about was finding a way to fight them, to find him. I didn't care what happened to me, I just wanted my son.

Piper: You know they're gonna try and take him back.

Creature: I know.

Piper: So let's get you fixed up so we can fight them together.

[Scene: Manticore Cave. Several Manticores are eating a demon corpse. Phoebe and Paige orb in. They pull a face.]

Paige: Hey! (The Manticores look up.) Sorry to interrupt.

(The Manticores jump up ready to fight.)

Phoebe: Ah-ah! I wouldn't do that if I were you.

(Phoebe and Paige hold up two potions each.)

Paige: Do you think we have enough potion?

Phoebe: So, who wants to go hunting with us?

(The Manticores look at each other.)

[Scene: Creature house. Piper walks into a room holding a wet towel.]

Piper: This is gonna be a little cold. (She places the towel on his wound.) The bleeding's not stopping. You should come home with me and we can do more there.

Creature: No, I can't.

Piper: If you're worried about my sisters, I'll...

Creature: It's not your sisters I'm worried about. It's the Manticores, they'll be looking for me there. They'll be looking for him there.

Piper: But you don't understand, we have somebody who can heal you once we turn you back into...

Creature: You can't turn me back. No one can. Not unless I die.

Piper: So how were you planning on raising your son?

Creature: I wasn't. I figured I'd find someone after. All I cared about was saving him. That's exactly what I'm gonna keep on doing.

(He gets up and heads for the door. Piper grabs his arm.)

Piper: You can't run forever, you know. Not for long, not with that. And who's gonna save him when you're dead?

Creature: You have a way with words, you know that?

Piper: I ad-lib a lot.

(Phoebe and Paige orb in.)

Phoebe: Piper, duck!

(They throw a potion each at the creature. Piper blows the potions up.)

Paige: What are you doing?

(Two Manticores shimmer in and hits the creature. They push him out of the room. Another one shimmers in and whizzes Piper to Phoebe and Paige.)

Phoebe: Let's get her out of here.

Piper: No, wait.

(They orb out. The Manticores maul the creature. The baby cries.)

[Cut to the manor. Foyer. Paige orbs in with Piper and Phoebe.]

Piper: What the hell are you doing?

Paige: Saving your life.

Piper: No, no, no, you don't understand. We have to go back, hurry!

(They orb out.)

[Cut to the creature's house. The creature is laying on the floor. The girls orb in.]

Piper: Oh, no.

(She kneels beside the creature. Piper looks over at the bed. The baby is gone. The creature turns into the man in the photo.)

Commercial Break

[Scene: Manor. Living room. Paige orbs in with Piper, Phoebe and the man. The man orbs onto the couch.]

Piper: Leo, we need you! (Leo and Chris orb in.) Hurry, he's dying.

Leo: Who is he?

(Leo goes to his side.)

Phoebe: The beast. Heal, heal, hurry.

Chris: Where's the baby?

Paige: Manticores have him.

(Leo starts to heal the man.)

Chris: Oh, so the plan worked?

Phoebe: Yeah, a little too well.

Paige: Yeah, now we just have to get the baby back.

Chris: What?

Piper: Paige, will you go fill up some potion viles, please?

Paige: Yeah.

Piper: Lots of them.

(Paige leaves the room.)

Chris: What, hold up. Are you serious? You finally get rid of the demon child and now you wanna risk your lives trying to get it back?

(Leo heals the man completely. He sits up.)

Man: He's not a demon child. That's my son.

Piper: How are you feeling? Are you alright?

Man: I can't believe I'm human again.

Piper: Aren't you glad you didn't kill me now?

Leo: Not funny, I don't think that's funny.

Chris: Agreed.

Phoebe: Oh, what, are you two on like the same team now? We're gonna get your baby back, I promise.

Chris: Do we not have a say in this?

Leo: No, we don't. One thing you gotta learn about being their Whitelighter is once they make up their mind, that's it. Besides, I'm a father first.

Phoebe: So we're gonna have to separate the baby before we attack. You know that, right?

Man: Why?

Piper: Well, because the potion vanquishes Manticores, and your son is half Manticore.

[Scene: Manticore cave. All the Manticores are asleep. The baby is sitting in the middle of them all. Paige orbs in with Piper and Phoebe.]

Piper: I see him.

Phoebe: Let's just hope he sees you before they see us.

Paige: Should I just orb the baby to us?

Piper: No, he'll probably just shimmer back and then we'll be in really big trouble. This is gonna work.

Phoebe: Hurry, hurry.

(They get out a lot of potions from a pouch. The Manticores get restless.)

Piper: Peekaboo. You can do it. Come on, come on, come on. (The Manticores sit up.) Peekaboo. (The Manticores smell their scent and stand up, looking around.) Come on, you can do it. (The baby shimmers out. The Manticores look around for him and spot the girls. Two whiz towards them and Piper and Phoebe throw a potion each at them, vanquishing them. The rest whiz towards them and they throw the rest of the potions, vanquishing them all. The baby shimmers back in, giggling. The girls go over to him.) You're okay. Hi. Hi. (Piper picks him up.) Good job.

Paige: So much for nature being more important than nurture.

[Scene: Manor. Conservatory. The man is looking at his son in the playpen. Piper walks in with a stroller and a brown paper bag.]

Piper: Here's some clothes and a stroller.

Man: You sure you don't mind?

Piper: No, not at all. Wyatt hasn't grown at all and I don't see myself having more kids anytime soon, so enjoy.

Man: Thanks. For everything. I just, I wish there was something I can do for you.

(Paige walks in.)

Paige: Well, you could tell us your name.

Man: Sorry?

Paige: I mean, unless you prefer being called 'the beast'?

Man: Derek, my name's Derek.

Piper: It's nice to meet you, Derek.

Paige: What's his name?

Derek: I never gave him one, actually, I never had the chance.

Piper: Well, now you do.

Derek: Well, I guess I should be going, that is if I can pry him away from Wyatt.

Piper: Yeah, good luck.

(The baby shimmers out and shimmers back in in the stroller.)

Paige: That is cute. (The phone rings.) I'll get it.

(Paige leaves the room.)

Piper: You know, if you ever need us to bind his powers...

Derek: No, thanks, that's really sweet but it's not necessary. He's a good boy so it's just up to me to make sure he stays that way.

Piper: In that case he's in good hands. Well, take care.

Derek: You too.

(Derek pushes the stroller out of the room. Paige walks back in and groans.)

Piper: What? What'd you do?

Paige: I kind of forgot to reverse the spell I put on Darryl.

[Scene: Police Station. Darryl's Office. The whole office is a mess. There's broken door handles, broken filing cabinet drawers, coat stand broken in half. Darryl is sitting in his chair and he breaks the phone in half. He careful puts the phone down on the desk and the whole desk breaks and crashes to the floor.]

Darryl: Paige!

Commercial Break

[Scene: The Bay Mirror. Night. Phoebe walks in and looks in Jason's office. She turns around and sees him standing at the main door.]

Phoebe: Hi.

Jason: Hi.

Phoebe: What are you doing here? I thought you were on a plane.

Jason: I cancelled the flight. I mean, it is my plane.

Phoebe: What about the winery?

Jason: It'll be there in the morning. I, uh, just wasn't sure whether you would be. I didn't want to take the risk.

Phoebe: Really?

(They walks towards each other.)

Jason: Really. You were right. I was running but not for the reason that you think. I am not afraid of how I feel about you. It doesn't scare me one bit.

Phoebe: Then why?

Jason: It's a little unnerving to have somebody tell you how you feel all the time before you know it yourself.

Phoebe: I know, I'm sorry.

Jason: You do that a lot too. You're very intuitive. It's, uh, it's pretty amazing actually, it's a real gift.

Phoebe: Yeah, well, sometimes it can be a curse too.

Jason: Tell me about it. Look, all I'm saying is that I'd like to be able to express my own feelings in my own time from now on. If that's alright with you.

Phoebe: Perfectly okay.

Jason: Good.

(They hug.)

Phoebe: So while we're on the subject, how do you feel about me?

Jason: I love you too.

(They kiss.)

End