(We open at the building next to the Malibu Beach Concert Hall. The camera travels past a sign saying "Starlight House Charity Amatuer Show - Sign Up Here" and to a pair of long lines in front of a table. Two familiar figures stand on the end of the line. Mendrek the Magician wears a simple but rather old-fashioned suit and carried his black case of magic tricks. His daughter Belinda wears a fashionable blouse and gypsy skirt.)

Belinda: Father, are you still sure you want to get back into performing again?

Mendrek: (Pats her on the shoulder) Don't you worry, my little Belinda. I know we still have enough money to live comfortably, but I rather miss performing. I've been doing it since I was a teenager who was apprenticed to a magician in France.

Belinda: (Sighs) I guess you couldn't get your old job back at the Club Carasco. :p

Mendrek: (Shakes his head) It was sold after the owner and manager went to prison for not paying cursed back taxes. (Makes a face) Besides, I was tired of doing tricks for that nasty man. He never understood what REAL magic is! :p

(A tall, elegant red-headed woman in a simple but fashionable suit gets in line behind Mendrek and Belinda.)

Belinda: Father, I know you blame the Monkees for what happened at the Club Carasco, but it wasn't really their fault.

Mendrek: It's not just them, Belinda darling. It's them and all the people LIKE them, long-haired weirdos who play ear-splitting music, wear high-heels, and say things like "right on" and "hippie" and "flower power." It's all so ridiculous, it makes me want to do something nasty right here!

*The tall woman gives a slight smirk.*

Belinda: That's just how young people are nowadays, Father. I don't think they were bad. (Blushes) The little British boy seemed rather nice. :">

Mendrek: Well, because of them, no one wants to watch older entertainment anymore. They'd rather watch movies on television and do weird dances in discotechques! No one wants to see an old man perform card tricks. :p

Belinda: (Shakes her head) Father, I still love to watch you perform. I think you're the best magician that ever lived. :)

Mendrek: (Smiles and pats his daughter's shoulder) You're a good girl, Belinda, just like your mother was. (Sighs) You were just about my only audience in my last days at the Club Carasco.

Belinda: Now, Father, that's not true!

Mendrek: (Sighs) I know I wasn't exactly a big draw (smiles) but I think I can prove myself here. (Nods at the sign) I read in the paper they're going to renovate the Starlight Children's Home. I donated money to it myself. That's how I heard about this charity show. They're accepting all kinds of acts, as long as they're clean. (Smiles) You can't get much cleaner than good, old-fashioned magic! :)

Belinda: I think Mother would have approved of it, too.

Mendrek: (Nods - his eyes briefly become sad) Your mother did love performing, Belinda. Kept doing it right until her death. Sometimes, when I perform the cutting-in-half trick or the Disappearing Box Trick, I'll look into the box and almost see her there, smiling back at me. :) :X

Belinda: I miss her, too.

Mendrek: (Shakes his head) Well, let's not live in the past. Onwards and upwards, my dear. We'll show Los Angelas that a widowed magician and his little girl still have what it takes to entertain an audience of thousands. :D

Belinda: (Nods at the head of the line) We're getting closer.

Mendrek: Good. I want to work on some new tricks after we sign up. (Frowns as he scans the line) Good grief, is that who I think it is?

Belinda: Who?

Mendrek: Those long-haired weirdos again! The ones I sold the Monkey's Paw to! What are they doing here? :p

*The tall woman also looks, scowling.* :P

(Mike and Micky do, indeed, stand in the other line. Micky's talking a mile a minute; Mike isn't really paying attention, his eyes wandering to the head of the line.)

Belinda: (Shrugs) They look like they're signing up for the show, Father.

Mendrek: THEM? But this is a clean, wholesome show!

Belinda: I heard some of their music at the Club Carasco. It seemed clean enough to me. :p

Mendrek: (Shakes his head) They're hippies, Belinda! They don't know what wholesome is!

Belinda: Father, you're being silly over this!

*The tall woman smirks again.*

Mendrek: Am I, Bel?

Belinda: (Makes a face) Look, Father, I'm going to talk to those boys. You'll see there's nothing wrong with them or their music when I come back unmolested and in my right mind. (She stamps off to Mike and Micky)

Mendrek: Belinda! (Sighs and shakes his head) What's this world coming to these days? A man can't even get his own daughter to obey him anymore! :p

Tall Woman: Excuse me, I couldn't help but overhear what you were talking about with your daughter.

Mendrek: Yes, ma'am?

Tall Woman: My name is Shelia Saunders. I understand your point of view of these "long haired weirdos," as you put it so eloquently. ;)

Mendrek: (Smiles) Ah, a very smart woman. (Takes her hand and kisses it) My name is Clarence Underwood, but you can call me Mendrek the Great. :)

Shelia: *smiles demurely* Ah, yes, Mendrek! I do remember you. I've seen your act. You are a wonderful magician! Such a shame to see such great talent go unused and unappreciated.

Mendrek: You have, miss? But I haven't played anywhere in more than three years! (Smiles) I am glad to see you're a fan of good, wholesome magic, though. Where did you see my act? Did you like my tricks?

Shelia: I saw it three years ago, at the Club Carasco. Your tricks were fabulous! And not only am I a fan, but I like to dabble in magic myself. ;)

Mendrek: You would? Would you like to join our act? My daughter Belinda and I were going to sign up for the show.

Shelia: That would be wonderful! We can show these people what a real magic act is, how much better seasoned performers are over these... young people. :P

Mendrek: Exactly. Those children know nothing about real performing. Why, I've played every theater from here to Hong Kong since I was a boy! They know nothing about life. I've seen China, Tibet, the Virgin Islands, Hawaii. I was in the USO in World War II and the Korean War. I've given performances for crowned heads and for drunken conventioneers. What have THEY done? Played noise in a couple of local clubs! :p

Shelia: *nods* That's about it. I, too, have done much traveling and ...performing. We can put together such an act that it'll...how do those young people put it? "Blow their minds?" ;)

Mendrek: That sounds wonderful! What parts of the world have you seen?

(Belinda rejoins them at this point.)

Shelia: I've been all over the world. ;)

Belinda: Father, the Monkees are going to be in the show, too! They (frowns)...who's she?

Mendrek: Oh, this is Miss Shelia Saunders, Belinda. She's going to join our act. (Indicates Belinda) Miss Saunders, this is my daughter, Belinda Underwood, the apple of my eye and the love of my life. :)

Shelia: Nice to meet you.

Belinda: (Blushes) Oh, Father! :) :">

Mendrek: She appreciates REAL magic, Bel! She's going to help us with the act!

Belinda: (Frowns) Who is she, Father?

Mendrek: Why, daughter, she's...(turns to Shelia) who are you, my dear? What do you do, other than dabble in magic?

Shelia: I'm a business woman, entrepreneur, if you will. I work in the remodeling business. Magic is a hobby of mine. ;)

Mendrek: See, Belinda? There's nothing to worry about! She's a businesswoman! She just wants to help us!

Belinda: (Sighs) If you say so, but I still think there's something wrong here.

Mendrek: You worry too much, Bel! (Turns to Shelia) Now, which of my shows have you seen again, young lady?

Shelia: I saw a handful of your last ones at the Club Carasco. Before that, I've seen many in several venues.

Mendrek: It's so nice to find someone as young as yourself who enjoys good, wholesome entertainment. :)

Belinda: How old ARE you? You don't look much older than me!

Mendrek: Now, Belinda, let's not be rude. You know never to ask a lady's age! :p

Shelia: *smiles* I don't mind at all. Early thirties, lets leave it at that. ;)

Mendrek: (Takes Shelia and Belinda's arms) Now, why don't we sign up for this show, and I treat the two most beautiful women in Malibu Beach to lunch at Cafe Jaques'? ;) :)

Belinda: (Giggles) Oh, Father!

Shelia: Thank you very much. ;)

(Belinda gives Shelia a funny look, and continues to do so over her besotted father's head as we fade out on the line.)