So, we're agreed. 20 minutes? Prue, you can't do a party in 20 minutes. Watch me. Prue's party tips-- meet, greet, and bail. Hey, I'm sorry, but some of us have a job. And some of us have fun. And some of us are having a really bad hair day. That is a sign. Let's turn back before it's too late. No. Prue, it's never too late for a party. It's never too late, Prue. Remember my sweet 16? Hey, I have an idea. Why don't we throw a party and charge admission? It's a great way to make extra cash. PRUE: Hey, I have an even better idea. Why don't you just get a job? MARSHALL: Oh! The sisters Halliwell. Now the party can begin. CYNDA: It's about time you chicks showed. Hey, Prue. I'm glad you made it. Wouldn't miss it for the world, Fritz. Marshall, the place looks great. Thank you. We're mostly just restoring it. I didn't want to change it too much. You guys knew the old owners, didn't you? We basically grew up with their kids. We probably know the house better than you guys. I know. Hey, how's the bar? Dry. I'll take care of it. No. My turn. Try to behave, Cynda. We have guests. You know, sisters. Tell me about it. Um, so listen, enjoy the party. OK. OK. I came, I saw, I was perky. Now I just want my head on a pillow because I have to wake up early. No. I mean, not yet. Yeah, Prue. We just got here. It wouldn't look good. All right. What's going on? Going on? What do you mean? Oh! What a coinkidink! Look who's here. Phoebe, you didn't. Well, your fingers weren't doing the walking. Somebody's had to. We've been through this, OK? Cop, witch--it's not a love connection. Boy, girl. Lighten up. BOTH LAUGH We're, uh, working on their subtlety. Then it's on to ending hunger and creating world peace, right? But what will I do with my Saturday? Funny you should ask. I don't mean to push it, but I was wondering, if you're not doing anything, I kind of have these tickets, but they're for a Warriors game, and you probably wouldn't be interested. The team can't do any worse than they did last year. Did you see them get creamed by the Lakers? Impressive. Is that a yes? You know, um, I need to check my book because I might have a thing. A thing? So, Prue, I hear your friend is a cop. Inspector, actually. Oh yeah. I got these parking tickets. My focus is mainly homicide, robbery. Yeah. Yeah. So I have these parking tickets. PRUE: Got to go. ANDY: Prue, wait! Phoebe. DOG BARKS So how big was this dog again? Huge. Did you see the scratches on the attic door? What was it doing in the house? I don't know. Someone obviously left the front door open again. Why do you always assume it was me? What about Piper? Not it. It's not a big deal. We checked the house, and nothing is missing, except my Pat Boone Christmas CD. You know, this is really creepy. If there was a dog in the house, then it had to have an owner. No dog I know can open that front door, let alone reach the top shelf. Maybe we should get a security system. No. They are way too expensive. Besides, after what happened, Andy will be checking on us every five minutes. Ooh. You told him. Convenient. So what should we do? Well, either we could rely on our vicious guard cat to protect us, or we could remember to lock the doors. That is a really good idea, Prue. PHOEBE LAUGHS PRUE: Unlock the door, Phoebe! MAN CLEARS THROAT I was told that you might be able to help me. I'd like to have this appraised. You would be better off going to the house's appraiser. I've been there. He'd need a week, and I just--well, I wouldn't feel right without it. It's a family heirloom. I feel like, um... I think I've seen a ring similar to this before. The setting is quite old, at least 17th century. The stones look like chrysolite. Keep in mind this is just an educated guess. Please... guess away. If I am not mistaken, it's a stone that the Egyptians believed would protect them against spells, curses, evil spirits. This wouldn't be a wedding band, by any chance, would it? You tell me. The stones are set in twos, the symbol of duality... man, woman... again, protection. And what does all that tell you? Where did you get this ring? What did you say your name was? I think you know what my name is... Prudence. Get out and stay away from us. I'm staying at the Beaumark. What do you say you and your sisters join me for dinner? Let's say, tomorrow night. We can talk. After how you abandoned us? How dare you? Fiery temper. I like that. It reminds me of someone I know. I'm nothing like you. I would never leave my responsibilities, my family. I can see we have some issues to work through. Oh, we've got the whole subscription. Now, get out before I have you thrown out. Is that any way to talk to your father? I wonder why he went to you first. I mean, why not Phoebe or me? Piper, it's not like I won the Lotto. What was he like? Did he ask about us? Actually, no. Phoebe, think about it. He abandoned us. He was a no-show for 20 years, and then, what, suddenly here he is? Why now? Maybe he just wants to be part of our lives. After all this time? Don't get your hopes up. There's only one way to find out. Why wait till dinner? Let's go see him now. Will you be rational? Don't you find it just a little suspicious that just when we find out-- Just when we find out we're witches, he shows up, but when Mom died, he was nowhere to be found? He sent us birthday cards. Selective memory. Grams always told us that he was a threat to us. There's no reason to think that that's changed. Prue, it's not that I don't see your point, but you knew him. We didn't. Why can't we have a chance to know him now? Because we really don't know why he's here, and until we do, we can't trust him. FATHER: Entrez. Daddy? Well, well. What a nice surprise. I'm sorry to just show up like this. I know I was supposed to wait for dinner, but I-- No. Nonsense. Welcome. Let me get a good look at you. This is my baby girl, little... Piper? Phoebe. Yeah. That's OK. People confuse us all the time. Are you kidding? I should be slapped and persecuted. Let me make it up to you. How about some room service? I just ate, actually. A drink? You are legal, right? Barely, but no, thanks. A massage. I can call Lucy back. No, really. I don't want anything. I just wanted to look at you. It's like looking in a mirror, isn't it? You've got your daddy's eyes, you know that? I noticed that. How about a hug? Aww! Ha ha! TELEPHONE RINGS Oh, they always manage to find me. You know, it's OK. I'll just see you at dinner. I got to go. Phoebe. Phoebe, wait! (WHISTLES) (GRUNTS) Andy, what are you doing here? Oh! Uh, door was open. Again? Yeah. I came by to check up, and it was open. I looked around. Everything seems to be in order. Do you want me to check upstairs? Um, no, no. That's OK, really. Oh, and about tomorrow night, I've changed my mind. We're on. Excuse me? Well, yeah. You'll never believe who popped back into my life after 20 years-- Victor, my dad. Your dad? Yeah. He wants to have dinner, and I would really rather avoid that. Too bad the game's not tonight. PRUE: Hi, Cynda. Hey. Oh. Everything OK? Yeah. Thanks. Bye. Guess I'll get going, too. DOOR CLOSES PRUE: What the hell...? Prue, you don't know for sure. I know plenty. First someone rips off the attic door. Then The Book of Shadows is found downstairs. Isn't that enough? Why would somebody want the book? Here. For one reason--they know what it can do. They want its power, our power. That would mean it's someone who knows us and knows that we're witches. Yeah. Someone like Victor. What? Dad? Look, just think about it. The moment he shows up, someone makes two attempts to grab the book? Coincidence? I think not. The craft is a chick thing, Prue. It's passed on down through the female line. There's a good chance Dad doesn't even know we're charmed. And there's just as good of a chance he does. What would he want with the book? And why would he take it from us? Phoebe, help me out here. Phoebe. OK. Let's just say for the sake of argument that he is after it. Wouldn't he have taken it with him? He wouldn't have left it behind. OK. We have to call the cops and report it as a break-in. And tell them what? That someone broke into our house to try and steal our broomsticks? Please. Besides, Andy has already been here. Oh. So Andy was here... again. Talk about convenient. Did you ever think of pointing the finger at him? He's probably the one who scared Victor away. Until we find out what's going on and whether Victor is involved or not, we've got to hide the book. Either that, or we can't leave the house. Fine. Then we hide the book, because I'm going to dinner tonight. I want to see Dad. So do I. I've already seen him. VICTOR: Girls, it's so nice to see you. It's not like we don't have a lot to talk about. We do. I--I mean, yeah. We have a few questions. You know, the last time we ate together, you would only eat food that was white. I'm glad to see you've outgrown it. That's right. I was four. And, Phoebe, that would have made you, what, one? You know, you couldn't walk yet, but you could swim. You were a fish. This feels right, doesn't it? It feels natural, almost like normal. Almost. It's just, um... well, why? I mean, after all this time, why here? Why now? Well, I heard the food is pretty good here, and it is dinnertime. PHOEBE LAUGHS Oh, thank you. Bon appetit. DOORBELL RINGS My plans for tonight fell through. Figured I'd stop by. And then, all of a sudden, there he was. He just showed up at work. I can't believe it. How are you dealing? Honestly? I'm not. I don't blame you. What do you think he wants? Dinner. Piper and Phoebe are there with him now. You know, they just don't understand. They don't know him like I do. I can't believe I let them go. I can't believe they went. He's acting like no time has passed, like I'm still his little girl, and I'm not. There are things that I want to tell him. I want him to know what he missed, you know, like the time I broke my arm or the day that I finally passed my driver's test, our prom. Didn't we miss that, too? I want him to know. I want him to want to know. And I'm sorry, but I also want some answers, like where the hell has he been my whole life? Why didn't he come back until now? He needs to know that that's not OK. So tell him. I'll drop you off. Prudence. Did I miss much? Uh...just catch up. Dad was filling us in. Memory lane. Has he mentioned where's he's been all of our lives? Prue. I don't understand. If you can afford a spread like this, why didn't you help out when Grams died? We actually could've used it then. Give him a chance, Prue. Dad's explained. The money, all this-- it's new. That's OK, Piper. I'm a big boy. I didn't come back earlier because I was afraid I might disappoint you. Too late. Wonder what's keeping that dessert. Please sit down. Have something to eat. I'm not hungry. Always in a hurry, Prue. You skipped crawling and went straight to walking. Oh, we're sharing memories. I've got one of my own--your back walking out the door. Oh. (GASPS) Who wants flambe? Nice reflexes. Now, let me get this straight. Piper, you freeze time. Prue, don't you move objects? And what's your special trick, Phoebe? Premonitions? Maybe we should talk about this elsewhere, hmm? What are you doing here? What do you think? Get out...now. No. You've got to get out. We've got it under control. No, you don't. They're on their way back. I thought you were in charge. Shapeshift into yourselves, and we'll get the book later. Nice plan, Marshall. MARSHALL: Don't piss me off, Fritz. How was I supposed to know Prue would come back with her sisters? The little witch was supposed to be out on a date with that cop. You really think you would have been able to trick Prue into getting the book out of the house? Well, we sure as hell can't now, can we? So what now, genius? CYNDA LAUGHS We kill them! Cynda...heel. Plenty of time for that later. Heel. CROWS CAW Friends of yours? LAUGHTER Someone left the window open, which is probably how the birds got in. What is so funny? Do you remember the day this was taken? Yeah. Family picnic. It rained. VICTOR: And your mother packed us all up, and she brought us home, and we had the picnic right here in the living room. Do you remember that, Prue? Barely. Prue. This one...mmm. This one was at one of your piano recitals. Not a very good shot. My fault. I had to take the pictures that day. Your mother was too busy holding her breath. If you look closely... you see there? That's her. I never noticed that before. Uh-oh. (SIGHS) And this one used to be a five-by-seven... when I was still in it. I think Grams cut you out. There's a bunch of other stuff in the attic. Grams left us so many things. That's not all she left us. Phoebe, let's not go there. What? It's not like he doesn't already know, and I'm sorry, but it's kind of a relief to talk to someone about it. Um, does anybody want coffee? I mean, one day I'm a member of the 'Y' generation, with average hair and a thing for caffeinated beverages, and the next, I am a witch. Dad, do you take cream or, um, sugar with that? I just read from the book, and wham! I am Tabitha. The only thing is, is I got stuck with the power to see the future. How uncool is that? From what your mother always said, it was actually considered one of the more desirable powers. Unless you see things you don't desire. So how long have you known... about us, our powers? I didn't. I knew there was a possibility. That's why I came back-- to find out. It must have happened when your grandmother died, right? Yep. I just read an incantation from the book, and-- Phoebe. VICTOR: Ah... The Book of Shadows. Not exactly summer reading. Is it still up in the attic? You know, I haven't seen it in years. Mind if I have a look? Disappointed. Patience, my sweet. Patience is highly overrated. We could have destroyed them right there. Then we'd have three dead witches and no way to get the book out of the house. Where would that put us? Satisfied. FRITZ: I still like my idea. We just kill two of them, and we force the third to get the book out. Let me explain this once again for the cerebrally impaired. These are not schoolgirls we're dealing with. These are good witches. We cannot alert them to our presence. At their full strength, battling them... would be unpleasant. However, once we possess the book, we get its powers, we weaken theirs, and they're easy prey. (GROANS) You know, that sounds good in theory, but, uh...we've already tried everything! We still have Victor. What exactly are you accusing me of, Prue? Figure it out. Come on, Prue. Take it easy. Are you kidding me? Am I the only one who sees what's going on here? Couldn't we all just take a deep breath-- Think about it, Piper. PRUE: He wines and dines us. Now he's back in a house he hasn't set foot in in 20 years, and the first thing he wants to know is where's The Book of Shadows? PHOEBE: You're just looking for something to blame him for. Admit it. PRUE: Tell them why you're here. Prue, stop. For the first time in your life, Victor, tell them the truth. All right. Fine. (SIGHS) You're right. I am after the book. That's exactly the reason why I came back. Dad-- But not for the reasons you would like to believe. VICTOR: It would make it easy for you Prue, wouldn't it, if I were evil? I'm sorry to disappoint you. I'm not. I'm here to protect you. Yeah, right. To protect us from what? From yourselves. That's why I want that damn book. It's where the power of three started, and it's where it must end. But it's part of us. It's part of who we are. That's what your mother believed, too... before they killed her. What are you saying? You have no idea what evil is out there. I think we've got a pretty good idea. Listen to me, Prue. That book is a magnet for evil. As long as you have it, as long as you use it, you're in danger... all of you. You are unbelievable. After all these years of being an absentee dad, then you waltz back into our lives and try and tell us how to live?! I never wanted you to have those powers in the first place. I battled with your grandmother after your mom died. She wanted you to find out you were witches when you grew up. I didn't. I fought for you... hard. Your grandmother was too strong. PIPER: Wait. You're blaming Grams for why you disappeared? She loved us! She raised us! What did she do-- put a spell on you? Believe me, nothing short of that would've kept me away. You have to believe me. All I want is what's best for you. (SIGHS) Phoebe, you believe me, don't you? We've done fine without you. Prue, you can't fight this. I couldn't. I'm not you. Are you sure? Are you sure you can protect your sisters for ever? We'll protect each other. Then you'll die together! No one can hurt us as bad as you! If you wanted me to leave, all you had to do... was ask. Why did you have to do that? Did you have to throw him so hard? Piper. We could have just talked about it like normal people. We're not normal. MARSHALL: Hello, Victor. Where have you been? How did you get in here? I think you should be a little more concerned with what we're doing in here. VICTOR: I was wondering when evil would rear its ugly head. Consider it reared. I don't know the kind of people you're used to dealing with, but I'd lay serious coin that they aren't willing to rip you into a thousand pieces and dance on your entrails. VICTOR: Oh, so you're lawyers, and here I was assuming you were shapeshifters. Those are clever words for a man about to be an appetizer. Cocky words for a man who can't get a simple book out of a house. Close your mouth. It's obvious. You're going to shapeshift into me. You're going to try to get to the girls that way. Am I right? It won't work. Why not? Do you mind if I poke holes? Poke away. After tonight, the girls won't let me or anything that looks like me back into their lives, let alone the house. I've officially been kicked out. There is, however, one sister I can reach-- Phoebe. So why don't I just become you, and I'll reach her? Because only her real father would know what buttons to push, the ones that would get me back in. If you kill me, you'll never know what they are, you'll never get back into the house, and you'll never get The Book of Shadows. Good morning, Phoebe! Uh, guys... can we call a truce just for five minutes, please? I have a confession. Remember when we agreed to not see Dad? Yeah, well, um... I did. Hello. I was with you. PHOEBE: No. By myself before dinner... and I had a premonition about Dad. When he hugged me, he was stealing The Book of Shadows. Yeah, you were right about him, Prue. I didn't want the premonition to be true. I was hoping, praying that there was a perfectly good explanation for it, hoping that... that he was really here to be with us. I just wanted him back in our lives. He's our dad. I know, Phoebe. I know. Hey. Look. It's Dad's ring. What's it doing here? It must have slipped off when he, uh...fell. I'll have it sent back to the hotel. (GASPS) Don't be afraid. What are you--? you have to leave. Phoebe, please. This is very important. I can't. I don't want to talk to you any more. Phoebe, you got to get the book out of the house. You have to leave. Phoebe, trust me. Look! Excuse me. Hey. Is this guy bothering you? Uh, no. This is my, uh... this is Victor. We were just saying goodbye. Yeah. I got to run. VICTOR: What's the matter? Don't you trust me? Dad's not after the book. It's Marshall. The premonition-- it wasn't Dad. Got to find a spell and banish them. Banish who? The neighbours. They're shapeshifters. Fritz and Marshall and the-- Cookies? Just baked. FRITZ: Hey. The door was unlocked. Where you going, Phoebs? PHOEBE: Uh, just to get something. Will you save me a cookie? Daddy's home! Come on. Come on. I have no idea what I'm looking for. OK. I can take a hint. 'When in the circle that is home 'safety's gone and evils roam, 'rid all beings from these walls, 'save sisters three. Now heed our call.' Rid all beings from these walls. Save sisters three. Now heed our call. OK! Dad...you can't be here. You have to leave now. PIPER: Whoa! Time out. What's going on here? Don't worry about it, sweetie. Everything's going to be fine. Don't trust him. Wait a sec. Last week we had no dad, and now we have two? Phoebe, remember... remember when you were little and you were afraid of the dark and I would leave the hall light on and the door open just a crack? That's original. What kid isn't afraid of the dark? Prue--she's never been afraid of anything. He's right, Prue. You were never afraid of the dark. Lucky guess. I said I came back to protect you. Now, there's only one way to do it. Kill us both. You're bluffing. Am I? Just do it, because I want to go out with a bang. Do it, Phoebe. The spell will kill everyone, including Dad. It's the only way. Prudence? PIPER: Prue! The protection ring. Phoebe, now. When in the circle that is home safety's gone and evils roam, rid all beings from these walls, save sisters three. Now heed our call. When in the circle that is home safety's gone and evils roam-- Daddy! It's OK! Keep it going! ALL: Rid all beings from these walls, save sisters three. Now heed our call. For a moment there, I wasn't sure what you would do. For a moment there, neither was I. I thought you didn't want us to use our magic. I didn't, not as long as I still thought of you as my little girls, but you're obviously not any more. We're still your little girls. We're just... Witches. Yeah. Witches, who obviously don't need your old man to protect you from anything. No, Andy, I'm fine, really. Dad's going to be here any minute, so can I take a rain check on dinner? OK. Thanks for the good advice. Bye. So he's Dad now? Yes, Phoebe, he is, and by the way, my dress looks good on you, but-- I don't have any nice clothes, Prue. Dad said it was casual. I don't care. I want to look nice for him. Who knows how long it will be before we see him again? You don't think he's going to stay around? PHOEBE: Let's just say I no longer have a romanticised image of him, and I'm glad about that, actually. At least Dad is real now. And at least he's not a monster, which is very reassuring, considering we share his genes. I'm just glad he came back, no matter how long he stays. Kind of nice feeling like a normal family again, whatever that means. DOORBELL RINGS Speak of the devil. Um, hi. You must be Mr Wyatt. PHOEBE: The handyman? Call me Leo. Gladly. This was on the steps. Oh, thanks. This place is, uh... You don't find many like this one any more. Yeah. It's kind of falling apart. LEO: The problem isn't the manor. It's the manner in which it was treated. I'd love to see more. And I would love to show it to you. The attic is right this way. PRUE: Guys. I'll be right up. He's not coming. Who's not coming? Dad. But he sent this. Um...'Girls, something's come up. 'I had to leave town. Can't make dinner. 'Probably best if we let the dust settle, anyway. 'I know there's a lot you would like to forget, 'but here's what I remember. Love, Dad.' What did you get? What's in there? You can open it. Come on. Oh! It's like magic! LAUGHTER PRUE: Oh, Daddy. MOTHER: Oh, what is it? VICTOR: Come here, come here. Let me see those shoes. MOTHER: What is it? Ballet slippers, huh? LAUGHTER PRUE: Oh, Daddy. KISSING SOUND Again. Again? Oh, gosh. KISSING SOUND MOTHER: What is it? VICTOR: Ah, Prudence. Look at that face. Look at that face. MOTHER: Who is it? VICTOR: Hey! Piper! Hey! Ha ha ha! VICTOR: What have you got, Phoebe? Barbie! VICTOR: Yes! Yes! LAUGHTER Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air.