All right, let's start. Everyone ready for this year's Round Robin Story? :) ;)

Mike: I hope this one's better than last year's. I don't wanna get beaten up again. :p ;)

Peter: I'm just glad to BE in this year's! I'm ready!

Micky: Yeah, I'm ready for some fun this time.

Davy: How about we just cross our fingers and hope we don't get sucker-punched?

(We open in the ballroom of the Montgomery House on New Year's Eve...or more specifically, very early New Year's Day. Mike, Davy, and the girls clear away the last of the food. Emma sweeps up confetti.)

Mike: (As he gathers random hats and noisemakers strewn around the room) Hey, that was a fun party.

Davy: Yeah, it was.

Valerie: Lauren, thanks for letting us switch the New Year's Party to the Montgomery House. I know Micky likes to hold parties, but...we really have more room.

Lauren: Sure! It was no problem, really.

Davy: Speaking of Mick, where did he and Peter disappear to?

Valerie: Peter said he had something to give Micky, some big present he couldn't find at Christmas.

Daphne: I wonder what it is?

Micky: *loud, from somewhere in the house* I LOVE YOU, PETER!!!

Lauren: *raises an eyebrow* I wonder if I should feel threatened.

Davy: Wow. That was loud, even for Mick.

Peter: (As he and Micky come into the ballroom, Micky holding a large box) Man, you deserve it! It's kind of my fault you lost the last one.

Valerie: What was that all about?

Peter: I finally found Micky's big Christmas present.

Micky: *sets the box on the nearest table; still has a huge grin* Peter got me a new chemistry set! :

Davy: Well, I'll be damned.

Mike: Good. You happy now?

Peter: I know he's wanted one, and really, it's partially my fault he lost the last one I gave him.

Valerie: (Sighs) Peter, don't be so hard on yourself about last summer. You're with us now, and that's what matters.

Micky: Happy? I'm out of my mind with elation! *hugs Peter again*

Peter: (Hugs him back) Well, I'm happy that you're happy!

Mike: Ok, you two, now that you're both happy, could you help us finish cleanin' this mess?

Micky: Oh, the mess can wait!

Peter: I'll help. (He starts collecting half-full plastic champagne glasses)

Emma: (As she sweeps) Hey...while we finish cleaning, why don't we do what we did last year and tell a story? I don't really feel like going to bed after all this. I'm just too excited.

Mike: (Shrugs) Sounds fine. We had a good time tellin' stories last year.

Peter: What do you mean?

Valerie: Last year, we didn't feel like going to sleep after the New Year's party at Mick's either, so we sat around the Rainbow Room and told a round robin story, like the fairy tale we told with Micky's sisters and the twins a couple of years ago.

Micky: Yeah, it was fun!

Peter: In that case, I'm game. I liked doing that story with the kids a couple of years ago.

Mike: Yeah, sure. Me too. Ain't gonna be doin' much else on New Year's Eve.

Davy: Especially since it's New Year's DAY now.

Emma: Who wants to start this year?

Peter: (Waves his hand) Oooh, let me start! I didn't even get to join the story last year!

Mike: (Shrugs) Sounds good to me. Got anything in mind, Pete?

Peter: (Nods) Yeah. Maybe we could do one of those old-time adventure stories, like on the old serials when we were really little and on TV.

Emma: Kind of like the Batman show, but with less camp.

Peter: (Nods) Right.

Micky: Aw, does it have to be less camp?

Peter: (Grins) It'll depend on the person telling the story.

Micky: Okay.

Mike: I always wanted to be one of those hunters or pirates with a heart of gold who go flying off in their big old planes, savin' damsels in distress and stoppin' evil gangsters and Nazis and whatever...

Emma: I'd love to go treasure hunting, like my sisters and I did when we were little.

Valerie: And dance in an exotic nightclub in one of those gorgeous vintage gowns...

Peter: I want to discover new civilizations and learn about other cultures.

Lauren: I'd like to be a forerunner for women kicking butt.

Micky: Inventing projects to put the world on end...

Daphne: I've always had a love for chorus lines...

Davy: And I'd like to be with a chorus girl.

Peter: Hmm... (Thinks) I'll start at the University of California. The year is 1935. It's the Great Depression, and a young professor in the Archeology Department is worried about his job....

(Fade out on the ballroom. Fade in on a small, cluttered office in the University of California's main building. Peter, wearing a simple suit without the jacket, his hair neatly combed back, his mustache trimmed, paces up and down the floor. Mrs. Marion, wearing an elegant suit, her hair in curls, sits in a chair, shaking her head.)

Mrs. Marion: Peter, I'm sorry. We can't wait forever. You simply haven't given us enough proof.

Peter: Dr. Marion, if you'd just give me a few more months, I could...

Mrs. Marion: (She stands) Dr. Thorkleson, I'm very fond of you. I was fond of your mentor, Dr. John Bennett. He always thought so highly of you. He called you his most brilliant student. (She shakes her head) After being involved in those people, and not producing any evidence of your theories but a couple of statues that may have been purchased illegally...

Peter: Dr. Marion, please. Just give me a chance! I didn't know those people were smugglers! I just wanted the statues and that piece of the map. It may be the clue that'll take us to the lost treasure of the Kalawahu Tribe of Darkest Africa! They say it has magical powers!

Mrs. Marion: Dr. Thorkleson, this university runs on facts, not possible magic!

Peter: Dr. Marion... (He smiles his gentle smile) Barbara...please. I've done so much for the university, and you've done a great deal for my career. (His smile falls) I don't know what I'd do if I lost this job. It's still so hard to find jobs out there, even with the New Deal a few years ago...

Mrs. Marion: (Sighs) Peter, if I agree to this mad scheme of yours, you have to promise me you'll bring back not only hard evidence, but that you gained it legally. Your dealings with that Devil Gang has already damaged not only your reputation, but that of the Archeology Department.

Peter: (Nods) I promise, Dr. Marion. I WILL bring back evidence that the Kalawahus and their City of Gold really existed, and that they were amazing builders and craftspeople way ahead of their time.

Mrs. Marion: I hope so, Peter. I hope so. (She leaves. Peter just grins, grabs a jacket and a good felt Fedora, and heads out.)

(Cut to an old house by the seashore. It's a small house, and a bit blackened on one side by the garage. Peter immediately makes a bee-line for the garage. As he does, we hear an explosion.)

Peter: (Sighs and rolls his eyes) Oh goodness... (He runs for the garage) MICKY!

Micky: *voice over* My turn. Peter runs inside the garage...

*Micky looks up when Peter enters. He's covered with a faint covering of soot. He pushes his goggles to the top of his head and grins.*

Micky: Peter! How's everything going?

Peter: Not so great, Mick. I'm still in big trouble with the head of my department. She wants proof of that the City of Gold really does exist...or else. (Frowns) And after what happened with the Devil Gang, she's ready to have my hide on a silver platter. :p :(

Micky: So, lets go & get her some proof. ;)

Peter: I just barely managed to talk enough money for supplies and to hire a pilot out of her. (He shows him a roll of tattered brown cloth with black markings on it) And this is how we're going to find it.

Micky: Hmm... I think I know a place we could find a good pilot... ;)

Peter: Great! (Makes a face) We have one problem, though. I don't think this is all of the map. (He points to the jagged edge) The top half and this piece here (indicates another jagged edge on the right side) appear to have been ripped off. (Shakes his head) And we're going to need more help than just the two of us and a pilot, too. We're going to need a whole crew.

(Peter starts pacing again. He almost runs into something leaning against the door. He rights it and resumes pacing.)

Micky: That does prove to be a problem...

Peter: And Valerie...I need to tell Valerie what I'm doing. If we leave Thursday, I won't have to break my date with her...

Micky: Or just bring her with us. ;)

Peter: I don't know if that's such a good idea. She just inherited her father's grocery business, and what with the hard times and all, she's been doing everything she can to keep it afloat. (Quieter) Besides, I don't want her to get hurt in some remote African wilderness!

Micky: *shrugs* I think she could take care of herself.

Peter: The "take care of herself" part isn't what I'm worried about. (He flops in a chair...and then jumps up and takes the spare parts that were in the chair and drops them on a table, then flops down again) I'm worried about what we'll be up against. I know she's a strong woman and is fairly good at taking care of herself...but we'll be going up against natives here! Huge jungles! Pirates! Gangsters! And who knows what else?

Micky: But, Peter, we'll be facing all of that, too!

Peter: But it'll just be us and our crew!

Peter: We have experience! Valerie's never... (At this point, Lauren, dressed in sooty mechanic's coveralls, and Emma in a floral dress, pretty hat and clutch purse, and curled hair, enter.)

Emma: Lauren, I swear, it's the opportunity of a lifetime! I... (she grins and waves at Micky) Hi, Mick!

Peter: Hi, Lauren. Been working on the Hydrosail Machine again?

Lauren: *grins* Hi, Peter. Yeah, I was. Matter of fact, I was aiming to drag Mick back out to help with it.

Micky: But we have company.

Lauren: Yes, we do.

Peter: Who's your friend?

Emma: (Smiles and holds out her hand; Peter shakes it) Hi. I'm Emma Redmer. I'm a writer for the "Black Horse Adventure" Magazine.

Lauren: And a darn good writer, to boot.

Peter: That's one of the top-selling pulp fiction magazines in the country! (Frowns) How come I've never heard of you?

Emma: (Makes a face) On the rare occasion I get to publish something besides little romance stories and fetch everyone's coffee and do type, I go under the byline "E. Redmen," which my boss thinks sounds more masculine. (Mutters under her breath) Masculine my ass...

Emma: (Grins at Lauren) And thank you, dear. You're a truly good friend.

Lauren: *grins* You're welcome. *smirks* And your boss is truly an ass.

Emma: Tell me about it.

Peter: So Miss Redmer, what brings you here?

Emma: I wanted to talk to Lauren about borrowing the Hydrosail to do some reasearch for my next story. I want to write a sweeping adventure saga like "King Solomon's Mines," but I've never been further than my father's home in Philadelphia. (Nudges Lauren) But I just made a huge find in a junk shop that could change all of our careers for the better. Right, Laur?

Lauren: Show it to them.

Emma: Yeah! (She pulls out a tattered brown cloth similar to Peter's...but the bottom and right part has been ripped off) I got this for pennies off some mysterious old man who ran a junk shop in downtown LA. I don't think he knew what he had! I went to the University of California and had it translated. It's a map that could lead to a real City of Gold in Africa! A real treasure hunt! :D

Peter: (Eyes widen) Miss Redmer...how...I...

Micky: Hey, Peter, that looks like yours!

Emma: What do you mean, it looks like yours?

Peter: I got a map... (Quickly) Well, it doesn't matter where I got it from. The point is, I have a map that looks like it belongs with yours!

Emma: How...

(Someone else enters at this point - Valerie. Valerie wears a fur stole and a much nicer suit and hat than Emma, along with a string of pearls.)

Emma: Miss Cartwright! (She takes her hand) Thank you so much for funding my exhibition!

Valerie: (Smiles) The pleasure was all mine, Emma. When I inherited the magazines and Daddy's grocery business, everyone told me to shut them down and accept the losses, but I couldn't do that. I just couldn't put people out of a job. People have families and loved ones that need them. (Glares at Peter) And they don't leave them in the lurch when they're called on by dubious associates with dusty artifacts.

Peter: Valerie, I found something big this time! I...

Valerie: Spare me your explanations, Peter. I've had enough of them.

Peter: But Valerie...

Valerie: Where were you two nights ago?

Peter: In jail. Dr. Marion bailed me out.

Valerie: You were supposed to be out at the Club Caprice with ME!

Peter: Ok, so those people turned out to be smugglers. Valerie, I didn't know! They wouldn't let me call anyone!

Valerie: I've heard enough. It happens every time. We're supposed to go out. We're supposed to get together. Then suddenly I find out that you're running off on another one of your crazy adventures!

Peter: Val, it's legit this time!

Emma: Smugglers? Is that where you got the map from, Peter?

Micky: This one isn't crazy.

Peter: Emma, give me your part of the map. (She does so. He fits the bottom and the top together) See? They go together like a puzzle. We're only missing the last piece.

Valerie: What do those markings say?

Peter: (Leans over and scans them) I'm usually pretty good with African languages. This one seems a little bit like one spoken by some of the tribes in the Congo and interior lands, but not quite. (He turns it around) Wait...wait. These markings here (points at the center) look more like an Atlas. (Frowns) It must be from before the War. Most of the European and African countries are very different. Austria and Hungary are still one country.

Micky: ...Huh?

Valerie: Then this map's been around for a while.

Peter: Someone must have gotten out, but was never able to share what he found. He may have been killed and the map damaged during the Great War.

Emma: This is fascinating! It'll make a great opening for my story!

Valerie: (Looks at her watch) I really have an appointment soon. Perhaps you ladies would like to join me. Someone also wanted to talk to me about a possible business venture. He said he was an old friend of my father's from the Great War.

Emma: (Looks at her watch) And I have to get back to work soon.

Lauren: And I have to clean up.

Peter: (Eyes widen; he's barely heard what the girls have said) Shanghai....

Emma: What was that, Peter?

Peter: Shanghai...the maps say Shanghai...

Valerie: Why would it say to go there if the tribes are in Africa?

Peter: No one knows exactly where the City of Gold IS in Africa. The next piece of the puzzle must be in Shanghai!

Micky: So we'll go there!

Lauren: Mick, I don't know...

Emma: Yeah!

Valerie: I don't like it, either. It's terribly sudden, and all we have to go on is this map. Why don't we discuss it after my appointment?

Peter: Valerie...

Emma: I'm all for it. I have vacation time coming from work.

Micky: Yeah! *puts an arm around Lauren* What do you think, babe?

Lauren: *sighs* Yeah, I'm in.

Valerie: Miss Miller, why don't you and Miss Redmer come with me? We may need your work as well. Miss Redmer tells me you're a great inventor and builder.

Lauren: Well, I'm not one to toot my own horn...

Micky: I do that for her.

Lauren: *groans* Mick...

Valerie: (Chuckles) I'm sure you do. (Turns to Peter) We'll discuss this at dinner tomorrow.

Peter: But Val...

Valerie: Let's go. (She heads off. Emma shrugs)

Emma: Well, I guess the boss lady calls! I'll see you guys later. Peter, nice to meet you.

Peter: You too, Miss Redmer!

Lauren: I'll be along! I'm going to change first!

Valerie: Very well. We'll meet you at my car. (She smiles at Micky) I'll see you later. (Nods at Peter, her face turning stony) I'll see you later as well, dear. (She heads for her car, a fancy blue roadster. Emma shrugs and goes after her)

Peter: (Frowns) I knew Val wasn't happy with me, but I didn't know she was this upset! :p :o

(We briefly see Lauren, now in a good purple blouse and clean slacks, join Emma in the back of Valerie's car.)

Peter: I wish I could get her to listen...and get the other half of that map from Miss Redmer.

Micky: There might still be a chance.

Peter: It's just a matter of convincing Valerie that I'm on the level this time.

Peter: (Looks at Micky) Do you know anyone else who could help us? Most of my friends...well, I don't know if I could convince any of my usual colleagues to join me after what happened with the Devil Gang.

Micky: *nods* I know someone else.

Peter: Well then, (takes the map and carefully rolls it up and puts it in a pocket in his jacket) Lead on, my dear Mr. Dolenz!

Micky: Right this way, then.

(As Peter follows Micky out of the garage, we see the blue roadster take off in the other direction...and cut back to the ballroom of the Montgomery House.)

Emma: Hey Mick, that wasn't bad!

Peter: Did you have to make Valerie mad at me?

Micky: Sorry, Pete, no offense.

Valerie: Don't take it so seriously, dear. (Smiles) Why don't I take the next one? I have an idea for a good villain.

Emma: (As she sweeps the confetti into bags) Ooh, good! Every story needs a good villain.

Valerie: (She slowly lowers herself into a chair) God, that takes forever. (Continues) Valerie drove the two women into downtown Los Angeles, where her office was...

(Fade out on the ballroom. Fade in on a plush office done in sleek Art Deco 30s "modern" furniture. Valerie leads the other two women into the room, where a small, dapper man with a small mustache and sleek, brushed-back hair awaits them.)

Valerie: Bonjour, Monsieur LeMarque. (She kisses him lightly on each cheek. He kisses her hand.)

LeMarque: Bonjour, Mademoiselle Cartwright. Allow me to say, you look even more tres belle than you did when I saw you at the Palm Lounge the other night.

Valerie: In this old thing? (She looks at her suit, which is now missing the jacket that hangs on a coat tree by her desk)

LeMarque: And who are these lovely ladies? (He kisses Emma and Lauren's hands)

Emma: (Blushes) I'm, um, Emma Redmer.

Lauren: *frowns a bit* Lauren Miller.

LeMarque: (Taken aback by Lauren's negative reaction, he turns back to Valerie) Mademoiselle Cartwright, first allow me to say I am truly sorry about your father's death. He was good amie in Great War. Great help to me, and to others.

Valerie: Thank you.

LeMarque: I would like to honor his memory by helping his only child. He always say you were light of his life, his only real joy.

Valerie: (Now she's blushing) Dad and I were close...

LeMarque: And I wish to become close to you as well, cherie. (Takes her hand) I want to help fund a little trip.

Valerie: What kind of a trip?

LeMarque: A trip to immortality, ma cherie. A chance to be young and beautiful forever.

Valerie: What do you mean?

LeMarque: I mean, a chance to find the fabled City of Gold, where the natives are said to know the secret of eternal life! Wouldn't that be a secret worth knowing...and selling?

Valerie: I don't think I'd like dealing in that. I'd probably give it to the scientists at UCLA...

*Lauren folds her arms, curious.*

LeMarque: (Takes Valerie's hands and rubs them gently) Of course, my dear. You'll be able to give them to whomever you like.

Valerie: Do you know exactly where in Africa this City of Gold is?

LeMarque: Some of my (coughs a bit) colleagues were able to translate our fragment of the map, and what they have indicates that we'll first go to Asia, probably Shanghai. (Beams dreamily) Won't it be wonderful? Nightclubs, dancing, then in the morning, we find what we're looking for! (He squeezes her hand)

Valerie: Well... (She sighs) Dancing in a nightclub WOULD be lovely. Peter and I haven't gone dancing in...well, in a while.

LeMarque: Let me set up this exhibition for you. Let's you and I and your colleagues find this City of Gold. The gold alone would keep your father's dream of Cartwright Groceries extending from coast to coast alive!

Valerie: Well, we do need money...

Emma: I don't know...

LeMarque: (Sweeps his arms to include Lauren and Emma) You'd be able to bring these lovely ladies with you, and anyone else you'll need on our journey.

*Lauren raises an eyebrow.*

Valerie: Well (he rubs her hand again, and she sighs) how can I refuse? You say your organization will foot whatever my business can't?

LeMarque: All expenses. And of course, we'll share whatever profits we make from the journey.

Valerie: (Her face dreamy) Of course. We'll get together tomorrow and discuss all the details of the trip.

LeMarque: I'll be awaiting your every move, ma cherie. (He kisses her hand again) Au revoir, ma belle.

Valerie: (Blushing furiously) Au revoir. (He leaves; she sighs) What a gentleman!

Emma: Yeah, he was.

Lauren: Oh please.

Valerie: You're just jealous. He only kissed your hand once.

Emma: I'm not sure I liked the way he kissed my hand...

Lauren: And I didn't even want him to do that. *shakes her head* I'm not jealous. I just have a seriously bad feeling from him.

Valerie: What do you mean? Didn't you hear what he was offering?

Lauren: Oh, I heard. It was the unspoken part I don't like. He's too...slick.

Emma: On one hand, he IS very charming. (Still blushing) But how did he get that map? And what was with the obsession with eternal youth?

Valerie: I don't care. I want to go with him. I trust him. He's a gentleman, and he knew Daddy.

Emma: Maybe we should get his credentials first...

Valerie: If he was a friend of Dad's, that's good enough for me.

Lauren: But he seems so phony.

Emma: I don't know. I'd really like to make this trip, but if this guy isn't for real...

Valerie: I say he's real, and it's MY money that's partially funding this trip. I say he comes with us. (Frowns) Besides, we'll need his map. It looked like the one you found and Peter had.

Emma: Maybe we should go with the boys...

*Lauren nods agreement.*

Valerie: (Narrows her eyes) I'm not going with Peter. I've had more than enough of him. He'll just ignore us when he gets another hare-brained scheme and go running off to his mus...artifacts again.

Emma: (Mutters to Valerie) Val, calm down. It's only a story. (Out loud) I want to find out what this guy is up to. If he's a criminal...

Valerie: But I'm sure he wasn't!

Emma: (Continues) If he's a criminal, maybe we could figure out what he's really doing and get the police on him.

Lauren: Something just seems wrong in all of this.

Emma: I don't know what to think. (Grins) Other than I really smell a great story.

Valerie: So, you'll go with me? I don't think I could convince the girls in the Tea Room to go to Shanghai on an expedition like this!

Emma: (Sighs) I'll go to keep an eye on you and on that man. I think he's charming, but I'm with Lauren. I don't quite trust him, either.

Lauren: Well, I don't trust him at all.

Valerie: What about you, Lauren? We need your mechanical expertise and your inventions.

Emma: And you're the best!

Lauren: *nods* I probably won't like the trip there, but I'll go if just to keep an eye on everyone.

Emma: If nothing else, we'll need you to drive and beat up lots of big bad gangsters.

Valerie: It's always nice to have a bodyguard.

Lauren: Aw...

Valerie: We're going to need a crew of our own, supplies...

Lauren: How about Daphne?

Emma: She's between musical movies again?

Valerie: Daphne?

Emma: A good friend of ours.

Valerie: Is she a dancer in musical films?

Lauren: *nods* Yes, she's a chorus girl.

Valerie: And a chorus girl knows about treasure hunting?

Emma: (Makes a face) She went to college with us before she decided she wanted to go into movies.

Valerie: Why don't we give her a call and maybe meet her near the studios for lunch?

Emma: I think she'd be willing to do that. (Turns to Lauren) Why don't you call her? You know her best.

Lauren: I will.

Valerie: Very well, ladies. Lauren, you may use the phone in my office. I need to call Peter, too.

Lauren: Thank you, Valerie.

(And we fade out as Lauren reaches for the phone...and the camera cuts to LeMarque climbing into a dark, non-descript sedan. One man leans out of the side, watching the girls through binoculars. LeMarque smacks his shoulder when he almost falls out of the car! The other man rolls up his dark window, and the car drives off.)