Charmed Season 3 Episode 9

The picture says it all. The braces, the glasses, the acne. All that Piper Halliwell hated about high school is there on her yearbook picture, especially in the eyes. Prue and Leo look at it along with the other then and now photos of Piper's Class of 1990. It's Piper's 10-year reunion and she's not at all enthused about it.



Prue tried to explain why her middle sister has problems dealing with the upcoming reunion. Her references of Jan Brady go over the Whitelighter since his pop culture is more classic radio series and film. Piper is about to show them what she hopes to wear at the reunion and Prue is adamant about boosting her spirits. After all, she had a lot to overcome, her Charmed duties notwithstanding.



Piper comes down the stairs in a form fitting dress with low cleavage, feathery trim, fishnet stockings, plenty of make-up and a choker. Prue and Leo think she is "really really really" stunning. Almost flawless. Unfortunately, Piper doesn't think so. She feels ridiculous. She laughs about being voted "most likely to scare people away at the door" with bitter irony. She marches to the living room and grabs a tissue to remove some of the lipstick. Leo tries to comfort his beloved, wondering why she's taking this so personally.



Piper talks about how unpopular she was, how invisible she appeared to the rest of the crowd and how the others will just remember her for her geeky looks than what she accomplished. Prue dismisses this completely. No one ever cares about how popular you were in high school at reunions. Piper reminds her about her class president status and her high standings with the kids. She wants to show her classmates how she made it and instead she'll come off more like a big haired freak. Leo's gentle pun about the reunion being a costume party doesn't help the mood.



Piper continues with her inferiority rant over how she wants to tell everyone in the Class of 90 how she's a Superwitch engaged to a Whitelighter and saving the world "on a daily freaking basis", but instead will be pigeonholed at a pitiful loser who still lives with her sisters and unemployed boyfriend. Prue jokingly asks if she used too much hair spray, then offers to remake Piper into the hottest chick in the reunion. After all, she helped Phoebe become a blonde. What are sisters for? Leo suggests having the youngest Halliwell along for the party to boost her sagging spirits, but Piper reckons she still needs some alone time. Finding out her oldest sister didn't like her boyfriend, then discovering he was a demon, and having to vanquish him does deliver up a good dose of wounded pride. Prue decides on a double team: Leo helps out Phoebe with her demons while she helps Piper with hers. A simple task indeed.



Things are not as easily tended to at another part of the city, the dark underground part to be specific. The great and powerful Kierkan is having a "lover's spat" with his creation Terra. He gripes about making her with his own blood, finding her a flawless body and infusing it with her spirit, and now she's being ungrateful. Terra doesn't like being his "masterpiece". She has his powers, his lust for life, and she's sick of being stuck in a dark hole with him while there's a world out there to explore and exploit. Course, Kierkan is a little afraid of the Charmed Ones. He knows what happened to Belthazor and he doesn't want to be next on the list. Terra senses his fear and mocks him for it. That final wound tears it for the alchemist. He's putting her back into her mixing bottle and trying again. Perhaps he'll take out some of more obvious flaws. Terra beats him to it by stabbing herself with a dagger and letting her spirit float away to the surface. Kierkan is not pleased with this act of rebellion. He will find her and punish her severely.



The dispirited Terra soon finds a spare body to use. A snotty little corporate computer Suit does his thing playing the mighty boss and tearing his underling a new one on his cell, even bitching about the music for an upcoming game. Terra just floats into his mouth and makes herself at home. She checks out the body and figures it'll do. Even grabs "her" crotch just for the Hell of it. The Suit is surprised by this and tries to scream for help. It's no good. Only Terra can see and hear him from a reflective surface. Now, she wants him to help her find the Halliwells and maybe she'll give him his body back. Perhaps.



Piper's makeover boils down to two choices: either the classy club owner look in a conservative black dress suit with pearls (which she's wearing now) or the Betsy Johnson Look. Course, Prue clowns around about having her go in Hare Krishna garb. Piper doesn't appreciate the humor. She's very uneasy with facing her old schoolmates. Prue's not enthused by this and tells her to 86 the gloom. She's not a shy awkward wallflower anymore and shouldn't care what other people think. She will have a good time even if Prue has to drag her there.



Piper mocks, "You're not the boss of me". Prue answers, "Am too". The eldest sister is determined to make this night special since her last date was not all fun. Dealing with a nice guy's halitosis only scores a 2 on her list. Piper's bugged about her listing her dates again and wonders about her expectations. Perhaps she can hook her up with some of the ex-football players. Nothing like a quarterback for the head cheerleader. Prue tells her she's not into younger men. Phoebe soon arrives looking for her glasses. She looks haggard, not her usual sunny self of late. She's still in a daze over the events with Cole. Piper invites her over to the reunion and tend bar, hoping she'll make some yucky drinks for the ex-cheerleaders. This gets her a friendly shove from Prue. Phoebe would love to, but she has a ton of schoolwork to deal with. She'll be at the library all night. Prue then offers to talk about what happen and get this grief of hers over with. It's not good for her to carry such a burden, especially since she hasn't spent five minutes in the same room with them for the last week. Phoebe apologizes, tells her that she has some "soul" searching to do. She seeks answers... but not of the ones that would please some people. Phoebe compliments Piper on her outfit and tells her to have fun. This helps with her anxiety... a little.



Piper, Leo and Prue load up the SUV with the class photos poster and plenty of food. It's a lot to handle. Suddenly, an old friend drives by. It's Justin Harper, a classmate of Piper's. Piper's pleased to see him and they hug. Leo asks Prue if he was an old boyfriend. She tells him no, they were good friends, but he did have a crush on her once upon a time. Justin's attending the reunion and was driving through the old neighborhood for the nostalgia. Piper asks him to help out with the refreshments since there's more than Prue's SUV can handle. He gladly accepts and takes a few trays. Prue gives her regards and Justin mistakes her for Phoebe. Hey, time flies for the high school crush and suitor. Maybe he has forgotten about her. With everything loaded up for the trip to P3, Leo tells Piper he has to go. The Higher Powers are calling. Piper's not thrilled, but asks him to hurry back for the reunion. He double extra promises, knowing he'll have the prettiest date in the room. They kiss and Leo walks to the Manor for a discreet orb. The Suit is watching from a distance. His spirit is anxious for Terra to leave his body. He feels like he's suffocating. Terra tells him to shut up, the transfer would be a little...messy and she can't do it from that distance. Besides, what he's feeling is his soul dying. Maybe he should just give up while he can. She can't stand suffering. Too much whining involved. The Suit follows the Halliwell SUV and Justin's sports car.



Phoebe's at the crypt where she and Cole fought the demon hunter and faked his vanquishing. Looking over the pile of "his" ashes, the old hurt comes back to her heart. She tells him, his "ghost" that she's tired about lying about his death. She wants to tell her sisters that he has made peace with them and the world, that he wants to repent for his past crimes, that she loves him deeply. But she can't find the words. Phoebe bumps into a tomb and has a serious premonition of a fight long ago, of parents fighting over a child and the mother's glowing red eyes as she throws a bolt against her husband and kills him... and how she cradles her weeping son. Phoebe dusts off the inspiration on the tomb and is stunned by it. It reads BENJAMIN COLERIGE TURNER 1859-1888. Is he... Cole's father?



The reunion planning is progressing nicely at the P3. Missy Campbell, homecoming queen, directs the banner set-up like a general in the SS. Piper takes one look at her and starts to freak. She's really bugged out by her presence, but Prue gives some reassurance. She may not be able to say she's a superwitch, but she can act like one. As Prue and Justin go to set up the hors d'oeuvres, Piper and Missy meet. It's an awkward moment with memory lapses and embarrassing moments like how the homecoming queen recalls how Piper drew pictures on her jeans in class and how her skin cleared up, wondering if it was Accutane. Then, things get spineless as Missy asks Piper to take out the trash like a good dear. Piper goes from the owner of the hottest nightclub in San Francisco to Ms. Awkward Geek 1990 in a flash as she agrees and starts the detail. Prue wants to tear Missy apart, but Justin stays her hand. He tells her Piper must find her legs on her own sometime. He reminds her of the time she had to finish her sister's candidacy speech for freshman secretary because of sudden stage fright. Prue knew Justin was kidding about how he mixed her up with Phoebe. He tells her how she plagued his high school existence and how it's refreshing to turn the tables every 10 years or so.



Terra arrives at the club, still wearing her Suit mode. "He" scopes out for the nearest available target and figures Piper is the best choice. Now, if only she was alone now...



Prue and Justin start to bond and talk about the old days. Seems he makes lists too. Prue was the inspiration for his Number One Rule: Never date women who make him drool. They have too much power. She's flattered by this and wants to see this through, but seeing Piper re-live the Bad Old Days is too much for her to handle. She excuses herself and confronts her middle sister. She talks about why she doesn't get someone to do this grunt work since she's the owner. Piper confesses that being with her old classmates makes her feel 16 again...invisible and inferior. Prue offers to beat up on some of the more obnoxious clowns... starting with Missy, but Piper tells her she can handle this her way. She'll take out the trash as "requested" and then gather up her inner strength and take charge... starting with the cheesy balloons and streamers. This is not the Prom. As Piper goes off to the dumpster, her oldest sister suddenly starts thinking of some mischief that might help out with the sagging ego... or least her call for vengeance.



Terra seizes "his" chance and takes a sharp knife from a cheese board as "he" follows Piper to the back alley. The minute she tosses the garbage bag into the dumpster, "he" stabs "himself" in the chest. Startled by this, Piper rushes to "his" side... and Terra floats over and takes control of her body. Now newly Piper, she thanks the Suit for the ride and throw a tarp over his corpse. She looks into the reflection of a shard of glass and sees Piper's spirit angry by this harsh act. Terra tells her she better be as powerful as her reputation says. She has no time to be picky... since her ex-boyfriend is looking for her. She then quizzes her about her personal life starting with her sister's name, but Piper's not biting. If Terra leaves her body now, she won't have to kick her sorry ass later. Terra just sighs. She has a fighter on her hands. No matter, she'll be gone soon.



Prue and Justin now compare each other via their lists. Prue gets a 5 while Justin scores a paltry 4. Prue jokes about how she might be an F but he's an F. Justin laughs over the bad high school flashback, thrilled that he's finally fulfilling his fantasy of talking to his dream girl. Prue breaks the mood when she sees Piper down a shot of tequila. Still thinking she's the regular Piper with the reunion problem, Prue scolds her for taking the easy way out. "Piper" makes a quick recovery and apologizes. Missy then shows up and asks if Piper could move her hors d'oeuvres to another table. Her friend Heather wants to use it for the then and now photos. At first, "Piper" agrees but then Prue reminds her about how she was gonna take charge with her life and deal with her neurosis. "Remembering" this, the middle Halliwell cries out, "Hey, bitch! Move the trays yourself." Shocked by this display, the homecoming queen decides to do it herself. Prue is pleased with this new gusto, though the "bitch" part was a little extreme. Suddenly, Piper's spirit regains control of her body and asks for help. It's a brief moment before Terra returns. "Piper" then tells her sister that she's not feeling well and she'll be going back home. Prue tells her she's not ditching her own high school reunion over a fake illness. After some arguing, she lets her go, but tells her to be back by 6 or she'll come after her.



Kierkan does a "reading" for Terra's aura trail. He finds the Suit's body and revives it. The Suit is shocked to see a knife sticking out of his chest, but after some rough handling, he tells the alchemist what he needs to know. About how he tailed this chick from Prescott Street to this place before Terra left his body. He's still amazed that he's still alive. Kierkan tells him he's not alive...well, actually he's been resurrected. Bring back the dead is one of his talents. He shows another skill by killing the Suit again with a spell and re-covering the body with the discarded tarp. He's close now.



At the historical society, Phoebe makes an interesting discovery. The man in the crypt was a state assemblyman of some importance who was married and had a boy. The boy's name was... Cole Turner. Sadly, the lad never knew his father. In fact, it seems there's no obituary for Mrs. Turner or her son. The clerk figures it's an error with the records, but Phoebe's not so sure. Is Cole Turner actually 115? Granted, demons live long lives and sometimes take the form of deceased humans, but this was... crazy.



At the Manor, Piper and Terra have a little talk. Seems Terra is fearful of Kierkan and what he'll do to her when he finally finds her. Piper offers to help, but she insists her body be returned to her and refuses to tell about her time freeze. Terra tells her about how she can't survive for long on the outside and how she's beginning to like Piper's body. She wonders if she's stubborn or stupid. Piper then informs her captor that her sisters will know what happened, citing her brief moment of reclamation. Terra lowers the boom with a disturbing fact: a soul doesn't live long outside the body she possesses. She then decides to play a wild card. She calls up P3.



Without her favorite whipping horse, Missy tries her charms on Prue, asking her to help out with the DJ. Prue gives her answer by secretly pulling the balloon drop control string. Soon the floor is flooded with balloons. Missy throws a fit, having to deal with this for the third time now. She barks out orders to everyone. Justin figures she's due for an embolism anytime now. He can't fathom how the balloons keep dropping since she used three pounds of tape. Prue tells him it's flimsy scotch tape. He then falls back on his other theory. It might be a poltergeist. He has a thing for the supernatural and reckons it'd be cool if Missy had a spiritual imp giving her trouble. Prue likes his belief and thinks of adding that to her list. Then, she gets the call from Piper. Some big bugged-eyed demon came to the house and made trouble. She needs help fast. Prue tells her to have her time freeze ready the next time he calls and to check the Book of Shadows for a vanquish spell while she picks up Phoebe.



Terra hangs up the phone and gives Piper an ultimatum: tell her where the Book is or she'll possess her sisters the hard way. This is a bad scene for her. Either have a dead demon or three dead sisters. Piper tells her to go to the attic. Terra compliments her on her choice.



Prue calls Phoebe and gives details on the assault. Phoebe tells her she's at the historical society and pick her up from there. She lies about doing some research for a paper. Her questions about Cole are nagging her.



As Kierkan finally finds his wayward creation, Terra's having a fit over her inability to cast the spell. Piper tells her it's a Power of 3 trick. All three sisters must cast it. Terra gripes about depending on sisters to cast a spell. Piper bitches about how her captor is having a panic attack over her boyfriend. Terra's ex soon crashes through the door and Terra panics. He knocks her down to the ground. He compliments her on her trick with the dagger and figures on using it right now, pulling out a knife and her bottle. Terra tells him he's just pissed off one of the Charmed Ones and freezes him. Prue and Phoebe arrive in time and 'Piper' leads the chant that kills Kierkan. He dies burning, but not before dropping the mixing bottle and warning them "I could have helped you. But now she'll destroy you all." Two sisters are puzzled by his message. One is more smug.



Prue wants to find out about Kierkan and his little bottle, figuring this she-demon will be trouble for them soon. Phoebe agrees, but "Piper" is less enthused. She wants to smash the bottle and put this behind them. Prue is insistent on checking the Book of Shadows. "Demons may lie, but they also tell the truth sometimes". Phoebe replies. Disappointed, "Piper" decides to change clothes again. The dress suit doesn't agree with her. Piper's true spirit makes another attempt at regaining control, telling Prue she's dying. Terra resumes her hold and tells her she's dying to change her clothes for something more suitable. As "Piper" leaves, Prue and Phoebe talk about the library lie. Phoebe wanted to find out about Cole's family roots and figured her sister would have an issue with it. Prue tells her she wouldn't judge her, but her feelings about Belthazor are... unsound. She reminds about the two months of Hell he put them through. Phoebe's insistent of his good side, citing his ancestor's good deeds as a statesman. Prue tells her to put the past behind her. Both Cole's good and dark sides are dead. Phoebe still believes in his good, then focuses on the problem at hand.



"Piper" changes into something more her liking: biker grrl material. It's a riot of tight black and red leather more suited for Hell's Angels than a high school reunion. "Piper's" curves are more pronounced and "she" looks like she could lapdance a boys choir. Piper's true spirit pleads with Terra to return her body. They can work something out since Kierkan's dead. Terra's not listening. She likes being a Charmed One and having the power to freeze time. She asks Piper to die with some dignity. At least she allows her that. No other demon would give a damn about that. Piper notices Leo orbbing in and warns Terra that if her sisters don't fix her, her boyfriend "Tom" certainly will. Leo notices the outfit 'Piper's' wearing and thinks it's hot. "Piper" thanks him with "Tom" and wonders why she didn't hear him come in. "Tom" wonders what's with the name flub. "Piper" tries to mask the goof with a kiss. Now Leo knows something is wrong. Pissed by this, she throws a bolt and knocks him unconscious. He's too cute to kill... now. She's off to party. The real Piper is not happy with this.



Phoebe and Prue learn about the alchemists' power over life and death and the essence bottle... the very bottle Kierkan had in his hand before he died. Phoebe sees "Piper" walk out of the Manor and wonder why Leo's not with her or why she didn't show them the outfit she'll wearing for the reunion. Prue then has a horrifying thought. "Piper" is not Piper. She's possessed! They'll have to hurry and make an exorcism spell. According to the Book, anyone possessed by a life essence made by an alchemist doesn't have long to live outside their bodies.



At the P3, there's some serious partying... and "Piper" is taking the lead. Doing a table dance on the bar that'd arouse a statue, she has every male drooling and horny for her bod. Some she rewards with a quick pour of tequila down their throats and a quick shake of her ass. The ladies, well those not into lesbianism, are aghast. Is this the same shy Piper who couldn't attract a boy if she paid them? They hope the rumors aren't true about her treating some husband's "lucky" wife with a private lapdance. That could cause a riot.



Prue and Phoebe come in to see the show. Phoebe hoped she was wrong about Piper being possessed. Apparently, it's been dashed. A former classmate's offer to have Piper attend AA doesn't help matters either. Missy confronts her husband Dennis when he tries to cop a feel on "Piper." "She" laughs it off as Missy is frozen in her tracks. Phoebe and Prue run into her and her drink is spilled on her new dress. They escorted the wayward sister into the alley while things calm down. They recite the chant to expel Terra from Piper's body and nothing happens. She's too strong for them, the powers of Kierkan and Piper making her essence dominant. Leo can't do much and the only other way is death. Terra figures they won't kill their own sister. Prue gives a cruel objection by 'throwing' her into the dumpster. She wants Terra out NOW! So, "Piper" takes the knife from the Suit's corpse and is about to stab herself. Prue tells her to stop and she stays her hand. She's over her head on this one. Piper returns to the dance. Quickly, Prue rallies Phoebe into a plan. It'll be the most heartrending operation in her life, but it has to be done. They need Leo and the safety of the Manor. They jump "Piper" and a catfight ensues. There's some loose talk about them not being close and the men love the violence. Prue gives a good right cross and knocks out "Piper." She then asks Justin to help her carry her sister to the car. She'll explain all this later. For some, this is a kicking reunion. Course, they're just a little drunk...



Prue has Piper on a couch. Her plan figures on Terra's power of resurrection. She won't tell Phoebe what she has planned. She only tells her to get Leo fast. As Phoebe rushes to awake the unconscious Whitelighter, Prue agonizes over her decision with the equally sedate Piper. She asks for her forgiveness for what she's about to do. She gives herself some distance from the body... and uses her telekinesis to thrown Cole's dagger into Piper's heart! Leo witnesses this act and is horrified. He rushes to Piper's side as Prue restrains Phoebe. He tells them he can't raise the dead. Prue tells him that Terra can... by possessing his body. Leo removes the dagger from Piper's chest and Terra makes a beeline for him. Prue cuts a deal with the she-demon bitch: she can have Leo's body if she resurrects Piper. If she refuses, and she'll kill him and stick her essence into the bottle forever. Terra can't believe she would kill both her sister and her lover, but she sees the iron will in Prue's eyes. She has nothing to lose. Terra tries to counteroffer for the bottle, but fails. She'll get it when the deed is done. "Leo" speaks the chant and resurrects Piper from the dead. As Prue and Phoebe rush to her side, "Leo" gets the bottle and smashes it. It's a fatal mistake. All three sisters, even a weakened Piper, once more casts the exorcism spell. "Leo" tries to stop it by burning the paper in Prue's hands, but it's too late. They have it committed to memory. Terra's spirit form is pulled from Leo's body and she screams a dying curse. Her vapor form collapses onto itself. She's gone in a puff of smoke. Leo recovers and finishes the healing. Piper's now well. It was a risky move by Prue, but it worked.



The reunion draws to a close, and Piper's glad she missed it. She doesn't care what people think about her... though she did get some strange looks and crude offers from some of the stragglers. She thanks Leo for noticing the difference between her and Terra. A kiss does say a lot. She also thanks Prue for her daring plan of killing her. What sister hasn't thought of "killing" her sibling and yet somehow make it look right? Phoebe goes off to call Morris about the body in the alley. Justin shows up and asks for that explanation. Prue tells him she will... after he calls her tomorrow for a dinner date. The boy blushes and takes her up on her offer. At last, a fantasy's fulfilled. Piper wonders why she's dating young men now. Is that against her List? Prue replies, "What list?" They laugh and have a toast with some cold beer.



Leo meets up with Phoebe as she finishes her call. They talk about the circumstances between her involvement with Cole and Piper's possession. Piper fought off her enemy. Phoebe slept with hers. Leo tries to reason with her, saying that seduction is different from possession. She didn't know Cole was evil. She had the courage to defeat him when his demon side was unleashed. She should feel no shame in what happened. Phoebe almost tells him that Cole's alive. She then tells him he's alive for her and walks back into the bar.



Leo suddenly feels... uneasy. When will this Belthazor affair finally end?