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    With Prue's birthday only a week away, Andy drops by the manor, an early gift in hand. Prue is only to happy to get it, but is surprised by the contents of the tiny box he hands over. Inside is a key to a spa in Calistoga, he quickly informs her. They leave Friday night if she wants to go. And just to be safe, he's gotten them adjoining rooms.
    Somewhere near China town, a young man named Mark is leaving his birthday party, balloons in hand. His mother kisses him and says goodbye. But as he walks down an alley on his way to his apartment, he is accosted by an Asian gang. The leader shoots him, and with that Mark is dead. But within seconds his spirit has risen from his body. He watches helplessly as the man who killed him sets him on fire.
    Back at Halliwell manor, Piper is trying to prepare for Prue's surprise party. It seems that she has been left with all the work, since Phoebe has slacked off once again. Phoebe comes in and tries to ease her sister's worries. She even tells Piper that this year she is going to get Prue a real present and not a card three days late. Prue comes in then and Piper hurriedly hides the invitations Phoebe has failed to send. Prue tells her sisters about Andy's visit and Piper frantically tries to think of a way to dissuade her from going and ruining the party. Prue begins to get suspicious and reminds her sisters once again that she hates surprise parties. But both Piper and Phoebe assure her that they're not up to anything.
   At a San Francisco hotel, Phoebe is interviewing for a job as a psychic. She realizes that if she's going to get Prue a present, she'll need the money. And this job seems perfect for her. At first the man interviewing her is skeptical, but then he ends up giving her the job.
    Piper calls Prue at Bucklands, hoping that at the very least she can get Prue to wait until Saturday before going off with Andy. She tells Prue that Phoebe is actually getting her a gift this year and that she even got a job to pay for it. As Piper is explaining all this she picks up the classifieds section of the newspaper, then realizes that an ad calling for psychics is circled.
    At the hotel, Phoebe is dutifully doing her job and getting into trouble with her honesty. Piper comes then and is none to happy watching her sister use her power for personal gain. Their discussion is interrupted by Mark who is in desperate need of their help. Both sisters mistake him for a drunk, but as Piper leaves he follows her. As she turns to tell him to go away  she sees a bicyclist go right through him. Piper is now ready and willing to believe him.
    Prue goes to Quake to find Andy, intent on agreeing to his proposal. Her mind quickly changes though when she finds him having lunch with his ex-wife. As she turns to leave, Andy chases after her. But somehow a dessert cart miraculously runs into him and Andy is sent face first into the jello mold.
    Piper, unable to get rid of the ghostly Mark, finally agrees to go into the alley with him. There she sees his burnt remains. Mark explains that if he doesn't have a funeral soon, a demon named Yama will come and steal his soul. Yama soon arrives and confronts them. A terrified Piper throws her hands into the air and manages to freeze him. Then both she and Mark go racing out of the alley.
    Prue is bitter after finding out about the surprise party. Phoebe is trying to talk to her through the bathroom door, when Piper shows up. Prue emerges in a towel, and is rather embarrassed to see Mark standing there. Piper informs them of the situation. They have to protect Mark until the police find his remains.
    Back at work, later that evening Phoebe has a disturbing premonition. After touching a man's wallet she sees him being hit by (of all things) a pink Cadillac. Now she must find the man and figure out a way to warn him.
    Unsure of whether or not ghosts sleep, Piper brings Mark blankets. Then the two sit down on the couch and start to talk. It turns out that they have some things in common. Both love to cook, and they pass the rest of the evening chatting and laughing, an obvious bond forming between them.
    At the hotel the next morning Phoebe finds the man she's supposed to protect. He realizes that she's the one who locked him in his room the previous night, and when she gives him her warning, he mistakes her for a nut.
    Andy comes to Bucklands to talk to Prue, but she is not exactly ready to forgive and forget. She wants to know why he didn't tell her about his wife sooner. But Andy reminds her that they all have secrets. Prue realizes that this is definitely true.
    Mark leads Piper to his house, hoping that she can talk his mother into giving him a quick funeral. But when she gets there, she discovers that his mother still knows nothing of his death. Piper can't bear to tell the woman that her son is dead, so instead she leaves, ready to come up with a new plan.
    Phoebe returns home to find Prue cleaning, obviously upset. Phoebe tells Prue about the premonition she had and the guy she is trying to save. Then Piper and Mark come in and turn on the news. The police have found Mark's body. Unfortunately for Mark, they mistook him for Tony Wong, the man who murdered him. As she watches the report Phoebe has a premonition. She knows where Tony is.
    Even as Mark protests, Piper goes to the warehouse where he is hiding. Once in the door she freezes Wong and his men, then takes a picture of him holding a newspaper with a story on his death. The flash from the camera unfreezes the men though. Piper and Mark make a run for it. They jump into her jeep and speed off, but not before Wong writes down her license plate number.
    Piper drops the picture and a note with Mark's name on it, into Andy's box at the police station. As she is getting back into her car and talking to Mark, Andy spots her. He comes over, thinking she is talking to herself. Piper gives him advice on his problems with Prue, then hugs him and leaves. After watching their conversation, Mark tells Piper that she's a sweet person. Then he decides to take her to his apartment.
    Phoebe is still intent on saving the man from her premonition even if he doesn't believe her. She finds him at the hotel and as he starts out the door she spots the car. She tackles him, shoving him out of the car's path, then demands her twenty dollar fee, tip not included.
    At his apartment, Mark gives Piper his family recipes as a gift for helping him. Piper is reluctant to take them, but he insists. He makes her promise to cook something for Prue's birthday party though. He realizes how important birthdays are now that he will never get another one.
    Phoebe goes up to Prue's room to find her flicking channels, still unsure of what to do about Andy. She realizes that this secret she's keeping may forever doom her relationships. But Phoebe encourages her to get over her worries and call Andy.
    Piper and Mark finally return to the manor. As they stand in the doorway Mark tells her that he never wants the night to end. He and Piper have obviously become very close. Piper tries to touch his face, to make him feel better, but her hand goes right through him. She tells him to close his eyes and pretend that he can feel her hand on his face. Then they nearly kiss. As they pull away, Mark asks her where she's been all his life. Piper starts to laugh. But just then two of Wong's men burst into the house and grab Piper. They carry her out of the house even as Mark watches, unable to do anything. He yells for help but by the time Prue and Phoebe come down, Piper is gone. They run out of the house, intent on finding their kidnapped sister, even if it takes all night.
    As the next day begins Piper is tied to a chair, her hands behind her back. She tries to get them to loosen her ropes so that she can freeze them, but Wong isn't quite willing. Instead he pulls on her hair (a bad guy trend that will continue through many episodes) and demands to be told who else knows he's alive.
    As Andy sits on his desk, talking on the phone, he opens an envelope. There he finds the picture Piper took of Wong. He quickly hangs up the phone.
    At the warehouse, Prue and Phoebe come running to Piper's rescue. Realizing what's happening, Wong starts to untie Piper, in an attempt to escape with her. Prue uses her power to knock down the door and the two sisters along with the ghost, burst into the room. Wong fires at them, but Piper, who's hands are finally untied, manages to freeze the bullet in mid-air. Her sisters finish untying her just as Wong unfreezes. Using her power, Prue knocks him down the stairs and he flees the warehouse. Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Mark run to the balcony and watch as Wong is confronted the police. He turns his weapon on them, and they fire, killing him.
    The sisters and Mark go back to the alley, trying to escape before Andy sees them. But as they go they are met by Wong, who is now a ghost himself. And then they are confronted by Yama. Mark throws Wong to the demon, but the demon still wants him. Piper steps in front of Mark though, protecting him, and soon her sisters join her. Finally Yama gives up and disappears, leaving Mark behind.
    Some time later, Mark's family is finally having a funeral for him. The ghost stands with the sisters and tells Prue not to take her birthdays for granted. Then he turns to Piper. He tries to touch her but of course he cannot, and Piper cries as they say their goodbyes. Then he sees his long dead father standing there, waiting to escort him to wherever it is he'll go next. As Mark disappears Phoebe reminds Piper that at least he wasn't a warlock.
    As the sisters return to the manor Prue tells them that maybe she is ready for a party. Piper is happy to hear that and as they turn towards the living room all of their friends yell "Surprise!" They are having the party after all. Phoebe hands Prue her present and they hug. Then the oldest Halliwell smiles as she sees Andy in the back of the crowd.