9.08 – Rocking Around The Christmas Three
'Tis the season in San Francisco and the festive mood is evident among everyone in the city. Malls are constantly crowded, homes and streets are decorated nicely, Christmas tunes are played all day long, and a very slight downfall of snow covers the town which is extraordinarily rare here that last happened 30 years ago. It seems nothing could go wrong in the happy city, that is until you visit the Halliwell Manor where everything is as normal as a daily demon vanquish and the frequent supernatural mishap. Nothing in or around this house would assure you that it's Christmas Eve. Although her sons are silently enjoying the Christmas spirit, Piper (Holly Marie Combs) is against celebrating because she just thinks that if they try to live a normal life, even for a day, something magical will interrupt and ruin everything- and it wouldn't be the first time. Her husband, Leo (Brian Krause), is desperate to show her the best Christmas yet so he takes matters into his own hands and starts to adorn the Manor with Christmas decorations with the help of their boys. Piper tries to stop Leo, saying it's already Christmas Eve, but Leo retorts stating that it's better late than never. Piper is too obvious and there's more to why she's against celebrating Christmas, something she isn't telling.
Meanwhile across town, Paige (Rose McGowan) and Henry (Ivan Sergei) enter an orphanage to give the children gifts and presents as part of a charity organization arranged by Henry's parole office. Surrounded by other police officials and news media, Henry has been told he can give out the first present to a young boy who has been at the orphanage since the moment he was born. Both Henry and Paige do the good deed together and everybody applauds. Instantly, Paige feels a connection between the boy and her, especially since she was in the same situation once. Later, as everyone is off talking and the children are all playing with their new toys, Paige takes the time to speak with the young boy named Freddie (guest star Charlie Stewart) and she learns that he is an intelligent kid who hates being alone at the orphanage. Freddie doesn't get along with the other children, but he bonds with Paige straight away.
Soon, Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) visits the Halliwell Manor exclaiming she's sick of everybody with happy feelings, mainly because her Empathy is channelling it all, while she isn't exactly in a festive mood and hasn't been since her boyfriend disappeared. Piper simply replies with a grin, she now has someone to help protest against Leo's Christmas phase. Leo explains to the girls that they should celebrate a great happy time, if not for them but for Wyatt and Chris. He also reminds them that the boys haven't really had a proper Christmas ever in their lives and by rejoicing Christmas will bring some kind of normality to their lives- something Piper's always wanted. Phoebe disregards her brother-in-law and sets up her laptop to work on her column because she couldn't concentrate at home with the Christmas Carollers singing outside. Suddenly, Paige bursts into the house rambling about how unfair it is that everyone is so chipper while homeless children are out there who can't celebrate Christmas at all. It seems the three sisters are all unhappy with the holiday this year.
Upstairs in the attic, the girls have left Leo downstairs to dress the Halliwell Manor with decorations as they discuss their distaste for Christmas this year. Paige mentions that she doesn't know how she should please Henry; she doesn't even know what to buy him. Phoebe says at least Paige has somebody to please and buy for. Piper laughs then jokes that she should've got Leo a free pass to decorate every home in San Francisco instead of the new golf clubs she initially bought. After a moment of silence, Paige thinks of a way that they could relieve themselves of their depressed states. Upon reading from the Book Of Shadows, her spell totally backfires and the girls vanish completely.
Piper reappears in a bedroom of an older Halliwell Manor, beside a ghostly Grams (guest star Jennifer Rhodes), where she realizes it's the year 1979 as she watches her six-year-old self sobbing in her bed while her parents are yelling loudly at each other in the other room. Grams explains to Piper that she is here to re-witness some of the happiest and saddest moments in her life, all of which shaped Piper to who she is today. Grams is acting as a Ghost Of Christmas Past. Then Piper is taken to the night her father left and was never to be seen again until many years later. After seeing other events such as her wedding day, the birth of Wyatt, random incidents during her charmed life, and the death her sister, Piper is unable to stand the memories and finally returns to the present where she remains in thought waiting for her siblings. Paige appears in the orphanage where it's quiet and dark. An orphan girl instructs her, this is apparently Paige's Ghost Of Christmas Present. Paige is shown the life of a stray child on a special day like Christmas. She sees that some children are happy, some are quite sad, and others are fast asleep in bed. Paige watches Freddie as he sits at the end of his bed, looking through the book that he was given earlier today. When Freddie puts the novel away, he takes out a photograph of himself as an infant. He starts to cry because it is the only photo he has of his mother- actually, only his mother's hand can be seen resting on baby Freddie's stomach. He misses his parents so much. Paige sobs as well before joining Piper in the attic. In the year 2028, Phoebe appears alongside her Ghost Of Christmas Yet To Come; her nephew Chris (guest star Drew Fuller). Phoebe sees her three daughters mourning at a wake in the Halliwell Manor; it seems to be following her very own demise. Chris describes to his aunt about the future, and what it may become if she doesn't get her act together soon and fight for what's coming. Then many various events are revealed to Phoebe such as the birth of her eldest daughter, attending somebody's grave, a future Christmas with her own family, and followed by a disturbing vision of a major battle between the Charmed Ones and five elemental beings which looks as if it takes place in just a few months. Afterwards at the Halliwell Manor, the sisters discuss everything with one another before going downstairs to see such a spectacular sight; the entire first level has been decorated beautifully by Leo, much to the happiness of the boys. Even the outside of the house has a set of lights up. The girls realize that Christmas has more meaning than they ever thought and they've really learned that now.
The next morning, Piper and Leo are woken up by Wyatt who is extremely excited about the pile of presents underneath the great Christmas tree downstairs. The family help unwrap gifts until Phoebe visits with Paige and Henry. The five adults exchange Christmas wishes and Wyatt is jumping up and down as he receives more presents. Baby Chris is equally happy, using Telekinesis to literally throw off the wrapping paper. At lunchtime everybody gathers around to eat a massive feast made by Piper. As Leo cuts the turkey, and everyone begins to eat, each person raises their glass and wishes a special Christmas. Phoebe quietly wishes her boyfriend a Merry Christmas too. At the end of the day, Paige visits the orphanage again and speaks with Freddie once more. When she leaves she tells the nuns that she's granting them all of her money from the recent lottery win. She wishes for the money to be used to make the lives of the orphans as great as they can be, she also tells the nuns to give the kids the best Christmas ever. Paige soon comes back to her car where Henry awaits, and she tells him it's done. Henry is happy that their money has gone to a better cause. Paige giggles and raises mistletoe over their heads as they kiss.