Show Ghouls
Mike, a security guard, is screaming about a non-existent fire. After being arrested by the police, Darryl seeks help for Mike from the Charmed Ones. Darryl and Paige visit Mike in hospital where he tells them his name is George and that there's a fire happening at the Cabaret Fantome. The pair conclude that Mike is possessed.
Paige, Phoebe and Drake research at the Magic School. Paige finds a newspaper article regarding the Cabaret Fantome and Drake finds more information about lost souls. He tells the sisters that lost souls are ones who have died violently together and that that evil souls can hold the good ones back. They travel to the site of the Fantome. Drake casts a spell and he finds himself inside the Cabaret along with Phoebe.
The owner of the cabaret, Count Roget notices Drake and Phoebe. He's aware of the situation regarding the lost souls however, he appears to be the only one who does know. He believes Phoebe and Drake may be the way of escaping. After meeting with the pair, a set of explosions rock the building and all the exits slam shut. Roget sits calmly whilst everyone panics to escape and notices that Phoebe and Drake are fading. They return to their bodies in present day.
Phoebe and Drake go to visit Mike in the hospital to ask him about the Count. Mike, who is apparently possessed by George, tells them that the Count signs paper each night when the fire repeats. Phoebe and Drake suspect its a pact with a demon that's causing the time loop.
In the manor, Leo is writing a page in the Book of Shadows about how to be a Whitelighter. Piper comes in and notices his worry. She reassures him that the Elders will punish him but that he will be fine and he can teach his sons the Whitelighter duties himself. She then asks if he found anything in the book for the fire situation. He flips back pages and shows her a demon named Sargon - he could be a possible cause since he makes pacts and causes fires in bars. Piper is slightly confused as she vanquished the demon alongside Phoebe and Prue 5 years previously.
Meanwhile, Paige has glamoured to look like Phoebe and is doing the interview at the Bay Mirror for her.
In the manor, Phoebe and Drake have joined Leo and Piper with Piper informing them that they had vanquished the demon responsible already. Phoebe and Drake decide to go back to the club to see if they can catch the demon before the pact is made but find the Count is already waiting for them. He reveals the demon was long gone and shoots Drake, escaping from the club and possessing Drake's body as the explosions begin. Phoebe finds a fortune teller's incantation to return to her body which is how the Count and George possessed Mike.
Phoebe wakes up suddenly, shocking Piper. To check she's the real Phoebe, Piper asks her what her (Piper's) middle name is to which Phoebe sarcastically replies, "Surly". Phoebe, Leo and Piper rush to the site of the club where they find the Count. Phoebe is able to throw a potion to evict him from Drake's body and he's dragged down to Hell. The lost souls, including Drake's, escape from the club and Mike is brought back to normality in the hospital.
At P3 that evening, Piper and Leo decide to stop worrying about what may happen in the future and to live in the moment. Phoebe thanks Paige for doing her interview for her whilst Drake sings on stage.
Tropes
- Abominable Auditorium: Cabaret Fantome is a club and cabaret parlour known for being the most corrupt in the city of San Francisco. Its owner, the evil Count Roget, ended up making a deal with the demon Sargon to kill the occupants and trap their souls in an endless loop where they're forced to have to endure the same night - which ends with their deaths - again and again. This is repeated every day for over 100 years.
- Dragged Off to Hell: Count Roget after being expelled from Drake's body, in the same way as bad souls in the film Ghost (1990).
- Fish out of Temporal Water: The Count is appalled by the vehicular traffic in the modern era.
- "Groundhog Day" Loop: The ghosts who died in the fire are trapped in one.
- Out-of-Character Alert: Piper and Leo quickly realize that Drake is possessed after the Count doesn't show any concern when he says Phoebe must not have made it and is more interested in seeing what's out the window and going for a smoke break.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Piper sort of attempts this, convincing Leo they should go on a vacation with Wyatt and Chris instead of sitting around waiting for the Elders' verdict. Of course they're called back before the episode is halfway through.
- Something Only They Would Say: To make sure the returned Phoebe is really herself, Piper asks what her (Piper's) middle name is. Phoebe says, "Surly."
- Villain Ball: After impersonating George in Mike's body so successfully, Count Roget really should have been smart enough to realize he should immediately make a show of dismay over Phoebe being left behind in order to keep up the ruse of being Drake.
