Ok, we don't have much time, so...everybody ready?

Lauren: You bet!

Micky: Yeah! :)

Peter: I can't wait to tell everyone I'm going to be a father! :D

Davy: I can't wait to see the Abbies rock the house. ;)

Mike: Let's get goin'.

(It's later that day. Van leads the kids into the Atlantica Club, a large building pulsating with blue, green, and turquoise lights. Blue and silver glitter sparkles on the furnature and the blue Formica bar. The dance floor is a soft turquoise that looks like it's at the bottom of the sea, complete with a large glittering emerald-green ball. The Abbies, wearing blue skirts, ruffled blouses, and heels, play a bouncy, instrumental song.)

Van: What do you think of my second pride and joy? ;)

Mike: Really interestin', Van.

Peter: I like it! You really do feel like you're at the bottom of the ocean!

Micky: This is niiice! :D

Lauren: Very groovy! :)

Valerie: (Nods, still a bit dreamy) Yeah, it's pretty. :)

(Davy goes out to the dance floor, but doesn't dance, preferring to watch Daphne and the girls' performance.)

Van: (Looks around) We have a great crowd tonight. I've seen the critics from the New York Times and the Newark Register already. Oh, there's Kenneth Susbaum of the New York Daily Post! That's a surprise. He usually covers the theater district.

Peter: Well, we are pretty close to Times Square.

Micky: Yeah, I could see the ticket line from just outside the door. ;)

Van: (Shakes his head) Yeah, but he usually prefers dignified places, like the Rainbow Room. (Frowns as the door opens and two more people are greeted) Oh, man, that's not who I THINK it is?

Valerie: (Looks; eyes widen) Oh, wow, Eric Kendred! He's the theater and caberet critic for the New York Bulletin!

Peter: (Looks over his shoulder and frowns) He just looks like some guy in a tie to me!

Van: (Makes a face) Kendred can't be happy. He HATES rock. Like most of the theater critics, he blames rock for killing off other forms of music...and the venues that played them. He's always lamenting how music has fallen into bad hands and is just poorly-written, noisy trash now. :p

Micky: *folds his arms* I dislike him already. :P

Emma: (Frowns) I've read about that. It's true that Broadway isn't what it once was, but rock isn't entirely to blame. Ticket prices for stage shows have gone up, many of the neighborhoods where the theaters are in Manhattan are falling apart, and shows cost more and have to run longer.

Mike: (Growls) Noisy trash? X(

Peter: (Puts a hand on Mike's shoulder) Peace, Michael. He probably has a good reason for feeling that way. If the music you've loved and listened to since you were a child had suddenly seemed to be pushed aside by another kind of music you don't understand, wouldn't you feel the same way?

Mike: (Grumbles) Not entirely. :p

(Eric Kendred is a big, tall man with a short, salt-and-pepper hair do and an impeccable dark suit and red tie. With him is an elegant blond woman of medium height. Her fluffy hair is pulled into a bun on the top of her head, and she wears a simple but beautiful royal purple suit and heels.)

Valerie: Who's she?

Van: Kitty Marmalade, Kendred's assistant. Yeah, I know, the name is straight out of a James Bond movie, but she was apparently a semi-popular performer in caberet and burlesque before she switched to working behind the footlights.

*Lauren snorts.* :P

Mike: (Watches Kitty Marmalade's long legs as Kendred holds out the chair for her and she sits) I'll bet that's not all she performed... :p

(Emma elbows Mike, grumbling. :p )

*Micky chuckles.* ;) :P

(The girls end their song and begin another and bow for the enthusiastic audience. Kendred and Marmalade clap politely, but their disgust is quite obvious.)

Maxine: (Grabs her microphone) Hey there, fellow Noow Yawkahs! It sure feels great to be home! I'm a native myself. Born and bred in the Bronx, baby. (The New Yorkers in the crowd go wild. Even Kendred gives a faint smile and claps.)

Kimberly: (Grins from behind the drums) Yeah, now she can drive like she’s in rush hour on 42nd Street and no one will notice! ;)

(Maxine takes Daphne's tambourine and hits Kimberly over the head with it lightly as the crowd roars with laughter. ;) )

Daphne: In honor of Maxine coming home, we're going to let her ape Shirley Bassey and perform our next number. Hit it, Max! ;)

(Maxine launches into "Goldfinger" from the movie of that title as Davy rejoins the others. A waiter takes their orders.)

Peter: (As the waiter leaves) I can't wait to tell the Abbies our good news! :D

Valerie: That's right. (Smiles) Peter and I are going to have a baby. :D :X

Van: (Grins) Hey, congradulations, kids! (Pumps both their hands) When is it due?

Valerie and Peter: In June.

(They realize they both said it at once and laugh. :) )

Micky: *grins* NOW who's the twins? ;)

Peter: I guess we're caught with our feet behind our backs. :)

Valerie: (Laughs and takes his hand) Oh, Peter!

Van: We'll have to celebrate in high style! (Grabs a waitress dressed as a "mermaid" in a tight turquoise halter top and short, pleated turquoise and green skirt) Hey, sweet cakes, pina coladas for the whole group! ;) :D

Emma: Non-alchoholic pina coladas, please. These guys don't handle liquor well. :p

Lauren: As they've proven. ;) :P

(Kendred and Marmalade's attention has been diverted from the girls to the kids. Kendred frowns at Peter, squinting. Marmalade shakes her head.)

Peter: Hey, they're staring at us!

Mike: Who?

Peter: Miss Marmalade and Mr. Kendred!

Lauren: *mutters* Maybe they'd like their eyes closed for good. :P

*Micky snickers.* :P ;)

Mike: They probably think we're gonna rape their children and wreck the enviorment or something. :p

Davy: Maybe they saw us this afternoon when we were in Central Park.

Emma: I don't remember seeing THEM.

Micky: Doesn't mean they didn't see us.

Davy: (Looks at the girls) I hope they give the girls a good review. Daphne says Maxine's seriously considering breaking up the band. She wants to pursue other career options. Amber's already gone. She's engaged to Chris of the Four Martians.

Van: I hope they give my CLUB a good review. I could use the publicity.

(The girls finish their song at that moment. There's another round of applause.)

Maxine: Thanks, folks. We hope you had a great time at the Atlantica Club, but don't go anywhere yet. The Jolly Green Giants are up next! See you at Shea Stadium! ;)

(The crowd applauds wildly as the girls put down their instruments and walk offstage and over to the table. Daphne puts her arms around Davy with a big grin.)

Daphne: Well, how did we sound? :D

Davy: You were fantastic, luv! You brought down the 'ouse! :D

Lauren: Absolutely wonderful! :D

Maxine: Thanks there, Dave. We've practiced day and night for weeks to get ready for this gig!

Van: Adding "Goldfinger" was a good idea. Impress the snoots while keeping the kids. The James Bond movies are really big on both sides of the Atlantic.

Jenny: We got the idea when we went to see "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" a while back. Nobody has anything on James Bond, no matter WHO he is! ;)

Maxine: (Makes a face) I still like Sean Connery better, though.

(Eric Kendred and Kitty Marmalade walk over to the table at that moment.)

Eric Kendred: Hello, Mr. Robinson.

Van: (Cooly) Hello, Mr. Kendred. I didn't expect the "Bulletin" to send you. Your feelings on rock in particular and young people in general are well-known.

Kendred: I asked for this assignment. The theme of this establishment sparked my interest. I thought it might be more than the run-of-the-mill discoteque. (Snorts) I was wrong. Fancy lights and waitresses in fancy tights can't disguise a lack of decent acts on display.

Van: I brought most of the opening acts over from California. Caught them in a show there, and I thought they had some real talent.

Kendred: We'll see, Robinson.

Marmalade: Actually, we would like to talk to one of your friends.

Kendred: Which of you is Peter Tork?

Peter: (Nods) I am.

Kendred: I believe you bought a statue this afternoon for the sum of twenty dollars. (Pulls out a sheath of bills) I would like to buy it for you.

Peter: (Mike stares at the bills, but he shakes his head) It's not for sale, Mr. Kendred.

Kendred: I could double my offer, boy. Surely, with clothing and hair like that, you can ill-afford to turn down my offer.

Marmalade: We're being more than generous.

*Micky's eyes narrow.* X-(

Peter: (Shakes his head) I'm sorry, but I'm still not interested in selling. I like my statue.

*Lauren puts a hand on Micky's shoulder.*

(Mike glares at the two angrily. Emma and Valerie let out outraged sputters. X( )

Van: Leave him alone and get back to your job, Kendred. He doesn't want to sell it.

Kendred: (Sighs) What a pity. I was hoping to have it for my late mother.

Peter: You could find other statues I'm sure your mother would like even more! :)

Kendred: May we join you?

Van: Not if you're going to harrass us.

Marmalade: We're merely taking a drink.

Mike: (Mutters) I'd rather take your asses and shove them where the sun don't shine. X(

*Micky nods slowly.* X-(

Emma: (Warningly) Miiiikkkeeee.... :p

Van: Not tonight, Mr. Kendred. Maybe another time.

Kendred: (Shrugs) If that's what you want. Kitty and I will watch the rest of the show, then. I sincerely hope it'll improve. (Sighs) It's a shame things aren't what they used to be like! All of the elaborate lighting effects in the world can't turn a piece of common quartz into a diamond.

(Mr. Kendred and Miss Marmalade return to their seats. Mike angrily slams his fist on the table.)

Mike: DAMN that jerk!

Emma: Baby, he'll hear you!

Micky: *snorts* So?

Mike: I don't CARE if he hears me! He's a freakin' asshole! Pete, he treated you like shit, just 'cause you don't wear a fancy suit like he does! X(

Van: Mike, a lot of people share his opinion of the music and this place and, well, what WE are. There are still some places in New York where, if we tried to walk in like this with long hair and tight clothes and love beads, we'd all be thrown out on our backsides faster than a speeding bullet. :p

Peter: I've never thought that was right. Why can't someone have their hair long and wear love beads and believe in peace if they WANT to?

Emma: Because a lot of people just aren't used to it.

Davy: (Makes a face) As I discovahed when I first arrived here, this is a very conservative country, Petah. You wouldn't believe how much people in New York made fun of my accent and the long 'air I 'ad to grow out for "Olivah." :p

Micky: You think YOU'VE gotten weird looks? *runs a hand through his ‘fro* Don't bother me, though.

Mike: Try havin' my accent in California and see how far YOU get. :p

Emma: (Looks at her plump body) Or being my size when magazines are telling women they have to be a size six or smaller...or else. :p

Lauren: Or having a complexion that isn't perfect. *quirks an eyebrow* :P

Valerie: Or being rich. Yeah, I know, I shouldn't complain, but people automatically think I'm a snob or some dainty bitch, just because Dad has money. :p

Maxine: Tell me about the accent, Mike. Sounding like Jackie Gleason doesn't go over well in the finer circles. :p

Van: Some people just don't like things they don't understand. It doesn't help that so many things have changed in the last ten years or so, and are still changing. Ten years ago, you women probably wouldn't have been allowed in here without male escorts, even the Abbies, and we all would be in formal suits and ties. :p

Peter: (Nods) You're right about that. When I was a kid, my mom used to wear poodle skirts even when doing housework, and Dad liked to watch all the westerns that used to be on TV.

Van: No one quite knows to do with the baby boomers now that we're all growing up. They expect us to be just like them, but we're from a different world, baby.

Valerie: I see your point. It was easier when they could sell us Barbie dolls and Etch-a-Sketches, but now a lot of the younger and even some members of the older generations are looking for something more exciting than dressing dolls.

(Eric Kendred and Kitty Marmalade applaud politely again as the Jolly Green Giants come onstage and the waiter brings the kids' food.)

Kimberly: (After the plates and pina coladas are distributed) There was something else about the thing with Eric Kendred that bothered me, too.

Mike: What's with the interest in Peter's statue?

Peter: Mike, he wanted him for his mother!

Daphne: Not with the look on his face.

Valerie: And Kitty Marmalade could have frozen the pina coladas into solid icicles. :p

Micky: *looks in his glass* I think she did. :P ;)

Mike: Why didn't you sell him, Pete?

Peter: I don't think the statue would have liked that. He likes me, and I like him. He could find another statue. (Shrugs and eats his salad)

Valerie: I hope that's all it is.

Mike: I'm sure it is.

*Micky makes a face.*

Emma: How did they know about the statue, anyway?

Peter: They must have seen me buy it on the street.

Davy: I don't remembah seein' THEM. :p

Peter: Maybe they had a meeting at the Plaza Hotel and saw us as they went inside. :)

Mike: That's kinda far...

Emma: (Mutters) Far-FETCHED. :p

*Lauren nods.* :P

Valerie: I just hope nothing goes wrong.

Peter: We're together and playing music in one of the most populated cities in the entire world! What could POSSIBLY go wrong? :)

Micky: Everything? :P

Mike: I hope not, Mick. (Sighs) I hope not.

(As the kids dig into their meals, we see Eric Kendred in the background. He whispers into something on his collar, then to Kitty Marmalade, before returning to the show.)