Phoebe leaps to her feet to trail after Piper as Piper strides through the ground floor to retrieve her coat from the parlor. Cole's repeated warnings have had the desired effect on Phoebe. She's now worried about possible attacks during Piper's absence. She fills Piper in on the whole demonic coup d'etat brewing down in Hell. According to Piper, "the only good Source is a dead Source," so she's not terribly concerned that dark demonic forces might finish the Ps' job for them. A parallel involving Al-Qaeda, the Northern Alliance, and the United States is just begging to jump into the recap right here, but the political references are becoming too much, even for me, and besides, I think that parallel will fall apart sooner rather than later. In any event, Phoebe continues undeterred, explaining Cole's theory that "the best way for a faction leader to gain the support of the demonic masses" is to off the Glamorous Ladies. And here's where that parallel would have broken down. I think. Phoebe wonders if Piper's day wouldn't be better spent whipping up a "protection potion" in the kitchen. I wonder why it's taken three and a half years for the issue of protection potions to be raised in the first place. Piper begs off, rightly noting that the sisters need the income from the private party more than they need a protection potion that in all likelihood wouldn't work in the first place. And now I'm thinking about missile defense shields. Jesus. Phoebe argues that if Piper can't concoct something to protect the sisters, she could at least find something to protect Cole. Piper rolls her eyes and allows that a protection potion for a regular old Joe like Cole might be possible, then shifts the conversation back to the P3 issue. Piper bitches about Bev's last-minute designs for the corporate function. Seems Bev's got it in her head that a "theme" would be a good idea. Piper, unsurprisingly, hates themes. Phoebe, however, claims to love them. "My prom theme?" Phoebe prompts. "'Almost Paradise'? Totally my idea." I'd snicker, but Phoebe's managed to insert that hideous song in my head. As a result, I'd rather smack her in the teeth. Piper metaphorically does just that by asking, "This is supposed to impress me...how?"

During all of this, Raige has been bouncing up and down the stairs with boxes of her art supplies, depositing them in the hall for disposal. Seems she no longer has time to pursue her hobby, what with her responsibilities in the Manor and THE BLACK HOLE OF SOCIAL SERVICES and all. The dim little bulb lurking in the dark recesses of Phoebe's mind glows. As Raige is "an artistic, creative type," Phoebe reasons that she and Raige can meet with Piper's client while Piper slaves away in the kitchen. Phoebe trundles Raige towards the front door while perking at Piper, "Us: Theme. You: Potion." Piper grits her teeth and slits her eyes as she counters, "Me: Peeved. You: Annoying." Indeed, Piper. Almost as annoying as those frilly white pantaloons Phoebe's employing as outerwear, but I'm sure I'll have more to say about those later.