(We open at the Pad late on Christmas night. The four Monkees sit in the kitchen, sipping tea and coffee. The rest of the house is quiet. The only lights are in the kitchen and the lights on the large Christmas tree in the living room.)

Peter: (Leans back in his chair) This is nice.

Micky: Yeah. What a great day!

Mike: Yeah. Kids had a good time on the beach, and dinner... (leans back and pats his stomach)

Peter: No one makes squash casserole like Em.

Davy: *nods* Wonder if I could get Em to make one for me every so often?

Mike: I'm sure she would. She loves being able to cook for people.

Peter: Running around on the beach this afternoon was a lot of fun, too. Worked up an appetite.

Micky: That was fun.

Mike: Yeah. We ought to do that with or without the kids more often.

Peter: It's wonderful exercise.

Davy: Definitely.

Mike: We really do need to pick up trainin'. The devils aren't our only adversaries, after all.

Micky: No kidding.

Peter: Maybe it'll help it if we do more things as a group, too, and not just sparring. (Looks at Micky) I really did like working the wrapping booth at Stainton's with you, Mick, even the big presents.

Micky: *grins* That was fun, Pete.

Peter: Yeah. We work pretty well together.

Mike: Hey Mick, did you ever get all the lights on your house working? I heard you and Davy fussing about that a couple of weeks ago.

Micky: Yeah, it took a couple days, but we did get them all working.

Mike: Any more complaints from those new neighbors of yours?

Micky: Not any new ones, at least.

Peter: I know one thing I'd like to do again. Let's do Hospitality Night again next year. The kids loved it, and I had a good time, too...and got a lot of shopping done. It's nice to support local businesses, too.

Mike: Yeah, sore toes from a lot of walkin' aside, I had fun that night myself.

Davy: That was a lot of fun!

Peter: (Nods) Yeah, it was... (He looks up at the tree at this moment) Hey, what's that behind the tree?

Mike: (Frowns) What do you mean, Pete?

Micky: Behind the tree?

*Micky gets up to take a look. He returns carrying a present and wearing a curious look on his face.*

Mike: Hey, what is it?

Peter: Who's it from? I thought we got all the presents!

Micky: Doesn't say who it's from, only who it's to.

Mike: Well then, who is it for?

Micky: Me.

Davy: *grins* Lauren messing with you again? ;)

Micky: I don't think so. This isn't her handwriting on the tag.

Mike: Do you recognize the handwritin'?

Micky: No, I don't.

Davy: Is it ticking?

Micky: *glares* Dave!

Davy: Well, is it?

*Micky grudgingly holds it to one ear, then shakes his head.*

Micky: No, it isn't ticking. Happy?

Davy: Yeah.

Peter: I'd still be careful, though.

*Micky sits back down, the present balanced in his lap. He slides the ribbon off, then carefully breaks the tape, then slides the paper off revealing a plain brown box. He opens the flaps, reaches into the box, and pulls out a pair of gold handcuffs. His eyes widen.*

Davy: *whistles* Very nice!

Peter: (Raises an eyebrow) Why would someone send gold handcuffs to Micky?

(Mike's eyes widen. He leans back in his chair, thinking.)

Davy: Someone who knows him. *snickers*

*Micky looks at the cuffs, then peeks in the box again, finding the keys, but nothing else. He opens his mouth a few times, but doesn't actually get anything out.*

Peter: Well, well. Someone left Micky speechless.

Mike: (Thoughtful) Yeah...

Davy: I wonder if it's an admirer? *grins* Of course, Lauren would beat the bloody hell out of them...

*It takes a moment before Micky's eyes widen again. He gasps, dropping the cuffs.*

Peter: (Frowns and goes to Micky's side) Mick?

Micky: I know who sent them.

Mike: Yeah, Mick, I think I know, too.

Micky: *rubs the bridge of his nose* Dammit.

Davy: Is this a devil trick?

Mike: (Sits upright in the chair) No. It's a demon trick.

Peter: A what?

Mike: Mick, Em, Lauren, and I have had some interestin' encounters with two really nasty villains over the past few years. One's a demon. The other is his witch lover.

Davy: And the witch has a thing for Mick?

*Micky just groans.*

Davy: I'll take that as a yes.

Mike: The witch has a thing for anything she can get her hands on. She drains the energy of her partners and uses it to keep her young.

Peter: It sounds like something out of a very dark fairy tale or a fantasy novel!

Davy: *nods* But she especially likes Micky because of his endless energy.

Micky: Bingo.

*Micky picks up the cuffs again and looks them over.*

Mike: See anythin' important, Mick?

Micky: No, not really. *shifts slightly in his seat*

Davy: Bet you could have some fun with those, Mick.

*Micky glares at Davy as he shifts again.*

Mike: You got ants in your pants, Mick?

Peter: Micky, what's wrong?

Micky: I don't know, I just...wonder if the kids are asleep yet.

Davy: Yup, he will be having fun with those.

Mike: You're gonna touch somethin' she's touched?

*Micky chucks a pillow at Davy as Davy laughs.*

Peter: I don't know, Mick.

Micky: Well... *Grabs the box and shoves the cuffs and the keys back inside* maybe.

Mike: Micky, she could have put a hex on those things!

Peter: They haven't turned him into anything yet.

Micky: Yeah, I still look like me, feel like me...

(feel like me)

Davy: Can I see those, then?

Micky: *holds the box away from Davy* No way! They're mine!

Mike: Don't fight over them, you two.

Peter: Maybe it's time we all started heading home. It's been a long day. Val took Jordan home hours ago.

Mike: Robbie and Katie had BETTER be asleep up there.

Davy: Daph took Lizzie home. Both might be asleep by now.

Micky: I hope Lauren's still awake.

Mike: Someone's feelin' the urge tonight.

Davy: Not much different from any other night.

Mike: Yeah, but you weren't actin' like this five minutes ago.

Micky: So? I feel fine, okay?

Mike: Still...

Peter: (Yawns) Why don't we go into it the next time we have a meeting, Michael? It's been a long couple of weeks.

Mike: Still...

Micky: Yeah, I wanna get home.

Mike: Just be careful, Mick.

Micky: Worry wart.

Peter: (Sighs) Merry Christmas, guys.

Micky: Merry Christmas! *disappears in a blue light*

Davy: Wow. He really couldn't wait.

Peter: I was going to offer him a ride, too. (Looks at Davy) Would you like a ride, or do you have the jeep here?

Davy: I could use a ride. Daph took the jeep earlier.

Peter: Ok, Dave. (Smiles and puts his hand on Mike's shoulder) Merry Christmas, Michael.

Mike: Yeah, guys. Thanks for comin'.

Davy: Thanks for having us, mate.

Mike: Sure. Em's always glad to have more people to cook for.

Peter: We'll see you later, Michael.

Mike: Later, guys. (Mike leans back thoughtfully again before finally heading upstairs, a small smile playing around his lips.) Hey Em...