php error -> not sending variable

[windows]

hoping some night owl will be able to see something i can't.<br /><br />basically you load a page i.e. page.php, it brings in the code from pmform.php (below) via a require call. when you submit it goes to page.php?step=1<br /><br />here is the relevant part of page.php. this is where step=1, i.e. they have just submitted the form.<br /><!--c1--><div class='codetop'>CODE</div><div class='codemain'><!--ec1-->$bad = "true";<br />if($message == '' || $sendto == '')<br />{<br />echo 'No fields may be left blank.';<br />}<br />else<br />{<br />    if(!checkexist($sendto))<br />    {<br />    echo 'That user does not exist. Check the name and try again.';<br />    }<br />    else<br />    {<br /> 鐖刦 (sendpm($sendto, $message, $username))<br /> 鐖