Ok, is everyone ready to figure out what happened last night?

Mike: Good question. What did happen last night?

Peter: Besides a food fight.

Micky: Ready.

Davy: What did happen?

*We open at Lauren and Micky's house. Everyone is gathered and are setting up more food.*

Mike: (He's setting out plates in the lanai) I'm glad we came up with an idea of a luncheon. We really need to talk to Al about what happened last night.

Peter: (He brings out more plates; Jordan carries paper napkins behind him) I agree. That party was a disaster.

Mike: I think Belavarg sabotaged it, but we don't have real proof to link everyone goin' crazy to him.

Jordan: (Hands Mike the napkins) Here, Uncle Mike! Daddy said I could help!

Mike: An' your a good help, cowboy. See if your dad can help you put those on the table.

Jordan: Ok! (He and Peter do so.)

Emma: (She comes out with glasses; Robbie toddles behind her with a basket of muffins) Watch out, everyone! Here comes the glasses and my special Apple Butter Muffins!

Robbie: They yummy!

Mike: I'll take those, before little boys snitch 'em. (He puts the basket on the table)

Robbie: I don’t do dat!

Emma: Valerie and Daphne have the other kids in the living room. I compromised with Al when we talked about getting together last night - he'd make the salad and the main dish, but I'd make the dessert and bread, and the "appetizers" would be Chex Mix munchies for the kids.

Mike: Where's Mick, anyway? Waitin' for Al and the food to show up on baited breath?

Emma: He was in the kitchen. He says he's preparing for Al's arrival, but I think he was mostly trying to snitch slices of pineapple-upside-down cake.

Lauren: *Comes out of the kitchen* Mick's behaving himself...or trying to, at least.

Katie: (She pops her head in) Where's Mr. Al? The twins are starting to have pillow fights, an' Leah just told me she's bored.

Mike: He'll be here any minute. Go tell the twins not to break anythin' important.

Jordan: (He turns to his best friend) I'll help! Maybe we can get them to do something else!

Katie: (Sighs) We can try...

(They head back into the living room. Mike just shakes his head as we hear thumping and giggling.)

Jordan: (Pops his head in the kitchen) Uncle Micky, the twins are throwin' pillows at each other again!

Emma: Has anyone heard from Al and the food? Lauren?

Lauren: Al's on his way. He was grumbling something about traffic problems.

Mike: Welcome to LA. (He leans over and rubs his head) Darn headache... (He looks up...and when he does, his eyes are blackish...but he shakes his head, and they clear)

Emma: Honey, are you feeling ok? You've been complaining about headaches all day. Maybe you should lie down.

Mike: Darlin', I'm fine. Don't worry so much. (He kisses the top of her head)

Emma: (Sighs; she doesn't look convinced) Well, all right.

*Al arrives, frowning.*

Mike: Hi, buddy. Traffic was that bad, huh?

Katie: Hi, Mr. Al! Did ya bring the food?

Jordan: Uh, hi.

Al: Yeah, the food's in the car. And yes, traffic was horrible.

Peter: Al, we think we at least have some idea of what happened last night. Belavarg deliberately tried to sabotage you. Mr. Lensher, the dark-haired man.

Mike: Yeah. He an' Lillith Staffer are partners, at least for now.

Peter: Lillith must have recruited Mr. Lensher to try to lean on you and get you to sell.

Al: *Sighs* Great. That's all I need.

Mike: Has this been happenin' a lot lately? People goin' crazy at your parties?

(Peter shoos Jordan, Robbie, and Katie into the living room with Valerie, Davy, and Daphne.)

Mike: I mean, Davy's still kind of out-of-it out there. That stuff don't mess around.

Peter: Has anything else strange been happening at events you've catered?

Al: Well, I don't know... it's really kinda hard to tell with some of these groups.

Mike: What, you've handled things stranger than what happened last night?

Al: Are you kidding?

Mike: So, this isn't the first time someone's tried somethin' crazy at one of these things.

Peter: You said Lillith Staffer wanted to buy your business. Was it a good deal?

Mike: Yeah. Why's she after you, anyway? No offense, you make the best food in town. Does she want you to cook for her?

Al: Not necessarily cook for her but she does want me to work for her. I won't work for her.

Peter: I wouldn't, either. Her lines of frozen food taste awful. Valerie bought a few last year when I started teaching, but I had one and wouldn't touch them again.

Mike: Em don't like frozen meals, period.

Emma: (She comes out of the kitchen) I heard my name. Hi, Al. Everyone's just about ready to eat.

Katie: (Pops her head in) Can we eat now?

Mike: We just need to get everythin' heated up, then we'll start.

Peter: I'll help Al get everything out of the car.

Katie: Yay! (She grins.)

(Cut to the luncheon. Everyone but Billy sits up at the table. Austin sits in a high chair. His mother feeds him what looks like mashed peas. Lauren sits between the twins to prevent fights. Jordan and Katie sit together; although their mothers have told them not to bring action figures to the table, they play with them anyway. Leah and Lizzie sit next to Daphne and Davy. The latter still looks a bit dazed. Al, Emma, and Micky deliver the first course, a salad.)

Robbie: Ooh, just like in a westwant!

Emma: (She sits down next to Mike after she gives him his salad) Enjoy, everyone.

Mike: Hey Al, why don't you join us?

Peter: That's right, Al. You should be able to enjoy your own food, for once.

Emma: And I made the muffins!

Al: Thanks.

Katie: Mr. Al, you make great food! Our mamas and papas brought us food last night, an' we had it this morning!

Jordan: I liked the salad! Daddy put it in eggs!

Peter: This salad makes great omelet filling.

Mike: Al, I propose we make a deal. We'd like to help you however we can. We're also involved with Miss Staffer and Mr. Lensher, and not in a good way.

Al: Fine with me.

Mike: (Grins) If we help you, you can help us...by becoming Magnetic South Media's first non-music production. We could do cooking blurbs for you, send them to local TV outlets. Maybe it could lead to a show.

Al: That would be really groovy!

Mike: Of course, we're just getting started, but we could film you doing a recipe or two on your off-day. We can't do music videos right now until we figure out how to get our music back from Lensher.

Al: I would love that.

Mike: That's the other reason we asked to help you. We want to get Lensher and Lillith Staffer back as much as you do. Lensher not only owns our music, he won't let us go through with more videos until he has total approval over how the music is played and presented.

Peter: We'll help you get Lillith off your back..if you can help us find ways around the restrictions Lensher's put on us until we get our music back.

Mike: Yeah. We'll help you with any events we can.

Al: It's a deal.

Peter: Davy, how are you feeling? Your aura is still a little out of whack.

Davy: Ehh, not too good, mate.

Emma: Maybe you guys should stay with the kids tomorrow.

Peter: I have class tomorrow, then baseball. I'm afraid I'm pretty busy.

Valerie: I don't have anything in the afternoon.

Emma: All I was going to do was work on an article.

Mike: Micky, do you think you'd be up to help me look after the babies and the older kids when they get home from school?

Micky: Sure, I'd love to!

Al: Why don't you bring along the little ladies?

Emma: Oh, that would be fun! A mother-daughter tea party!

Katie: Can I come?

Emma: Sorry, sweetie, but you have school. I'll bring you some cake later.

Katie: Awww!

Mike: (Grins at Lizzie and Leah) Sounds like you're gonna be real tea-party ladies.

*The girls clap and cheer.*

Mike: Now, Al n' I will bring you the roast for our lunch, an' we'll celebrate friends helpin' friends. ;

Peter: I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Micky: As long as it means we get to eat now.

Mike: (sniffs) I do believe I smell the roast finishin'. Let's go, Al. You carry. I'll carve.

(We fade out as Al emerges from the kitchen with the huge roast...and Mike emerges behind him with a large knife, which he uses to slice the roast as everyone "oohs" and "ahhs.")