Everyone ready for the next story?

Mike: Let's get goin'.

Micky: I'm ready!

Davy: Me, too.

(We open at the newly-remodeled Club Caprice. It looks somewhat like it did in "The Little Hotel That Cried," but the stage is larger, the furniture is new, everything is cleaner, and the walls and windows have been repaired. A disco ball sparkles as we roam past people waiting in line to get in, following what looks like Mike and Emma. Mike wears his blue-and-white cowboy costume. Emma wears a red sequined gown.)

Mike: (As they make their way in) They did ok by this place, didn't they?

Emma: It looks so much better...and happier.

Mike: I wonder where Daph and Lauren are sittin'?

Emma: I'm sure they're up front. After all, they don't want to miss Davy's MC debut or Micky's special effects!

Mike: I'm sure people on neighborin' planets ain't gonna miss Mick's special effects.

Emma: (Waves) There they are!

*Lauren is suddenly seen waving an arm from one of the front tables, off to the side. Daphne then joins in waving as well.*

Emma: (Laughs as she and Mike join the ladies) Hey, guys. How's it going?

Mike: Yeah, we see you.

*Daphne wears a maroon dress. Lauren wears black slacks and a short-sleeve button-up shirt, her hair in a ponytail with a scarf tied around it.*

Daphne: We want to make sure you could see us over all the people.

Emma: It took us a few minutes, but we got here. (Grins) And you guys look great!

Daphne: This old thing?

Lauren: *chuckles* Thanks, Em.

(Valerie joins them next in a simple yellow gown with a high waist. Emma waves her over.)

Valerie: Hi, guys!

Emma: Hey, Val. I didn't think you were going to make it.

Valerie: I've been dying to see this! So's Peter. We're hoping to catch some great new acts tonight! You never know whom we could discover for Headquarters.

Mike: Pete's here?

Valerie: He stopped to talk to a friend. He'll be along in a minute.

(Peter finally saunters up to the group. He wears a black tuxedo. While his beard is gone, he still has a fairly thick mustache and very long hair. Mike frowns and narrows his eyes at Peter, sniffing a little. Peter glares back.)

Emma: Baby, what's wrong?

Mike: (Whispers) I'll tell ya later, darlin'. (Cooly) Hello, Peter.

Peter: Hello, Michael.

Emma: Peter, what a surprise! I didn't think you'd be able to join us.

Mike: Yeah, seein' how you've been in hidin' for the past three or four months.

Peter: (Tight smile quite unlike one of his sunny ones) I've been busy, Michael. I've had...outside obligations.

Lauren: It's good to see you again, Peter.

Peter: Thanks, Lauren. It's good to see all of you again, too.

Daphne: Davy and Micky are around here somewhere, I'm sure they'd like to catch up.

*Suddenly, some smoke billows out from the backstage area, followed my unhappy muffled voices.*

Lauren: Speaking of...

Peter: (His smile is genuine) I'd like to catch up with them too, Daph. Thanks. (Shakes his head) Some things never change.

Mike: I hope Mick didn't just blow somethin' to smithereens. This buildin's taken enough abuse.

Davy: *emerges from backstage, waving the smoke away; turns around and calls back stage, then spins on his heel and heads for the table* Don't be alarmed. Everything's fine. Mick just set off one of the smoke screens by accident. *notices Peter; smiles* Petah! You made it!

Peter: (Grins and takes Davy's hand) Yeah, I made it. I wouldn't miss this for the world!

Davy: *jerks a thumb towards backstage* I need to go back, but I needed some air from all that smoke. I'll be back latah! *kisses Daphne on the cheek as he turns back*

Emma: So, what have you been up to lately, Peter?

*Faintly, we hear Davy call out to Micky as he re-enters the backstage area.*

Peter: Oh, a little of this, a little of that. Mostly spending time with my charming wife. (He gives Valerie a kiss, which she eagerly responds to) Mostly doing work in the area with some friends. (Looks up at Davy as he heads backstage and smirks again)

Mike: Pete, what are you really doin'?

Peter: Michael, this is no time for your paranoia.

Valerie: Mike, he's been working on projects!

Mike: Last I checked, you two were talkin' divorce.

Peter: We aren't anymore.

Emma: (Tugs on Lauren's shirt sleeve and points at the door) Oh man. Check out who managed to get a ticket!

(Sheila and Nyles have arrived. Sheila wears a slinky black gown and very high black heels.)

*Nyles wears jeans and a black t-shirt that reads "Surfing = Life."*

Lauren: *groans* Oh good grief.

Emma: I can't believe they didn't throw them out the moment they got to the door.

(Cut to Sheila and Nyles, who take a table near the stage.)

Sheila: This is going to be quite an exciting night. (Smirks) I can't wait for the show to begin.

(A waiter brings drinks to Sheila and Nyles' table. Sheila's watching the Monkees' table with interest.)

Emma: (As we cut back to the Monkees' table) What ARE they up to?

Lauren: I have no idea.

Daphne: *leans over* What's going on?

Emma: Look what the Devil-ish cat dragged in. (Points to Sheila)

Valerie: (Frowns) I'm afraid she has every right to be here. PPF is one of the firms that overhauled the Club Caprice after the main hotel imploded last year.

Lauren: *sighs* Great.

Daphne: That is not good.

Valerie: Their president may be a bitch, but they do have some of the best building restorationists in the business.

Emma: I still don't like this. I don't care if her firm helped to restore the building. She's up to something.

(Peter and Mike argue about music in the background and ignore the girls.)

Lauren: She's always up to something. It's a given.

Valerie: I wonder if we should check her out.

Daphne: Might not be a bad idea...

Emma: (Frowns as the house lights dim) Looks like the show's going to start. Maybe we ought to do it later.

Lauren: Looks like we don't have much choice.

Emma: We'll see what's going on after the show.

*Davy comes out with a single spotlight on him.*

Davy: *smiles* Welcome everyone to the Club Caprice! We have a lot of acts to get to tonight, so lets begin. First up, 'Artificial Earth!'

(Artificial Earth launches us into a montage of groups to the tune of "I'm A Believer." Mike and Peter continue to argue over the music and the acts. Emma, Lauren, and Daphne keep an eye on Sheila.)

(Sheila keeps HER eye on the stage. She seems to be watching the acts, but her eyes are really trained to somewhere above the stage area...)

*Alex and Zelda appear at the door and pause a moment. They end up grabbing a table near the back.*

(Peter's eye occasionally roves to above the stage as he and Michael argue over music. This doesn't escape Mike, who will occasionally sniff at Peter and frown when he's not looking.)

*The ladies watch the stage. They notice an extra burst of smoke fill the stage.*

(Emma notices Mike sniffing and wonders what's up with him and Peter. Mike knows something's wrong, but Emma can't figure out for the life of her what it is.)

(Micky stumbles onto the stage as smoke floods the area band Shake, Rattle, and Roll. One of the guys squawk that it's too much smoke and literally picks up Micky and tosses him backstage.)

*...Which is followed up by a loud crash and a faint apology.*

(By the time of the end of the song and "The Questions," the groups are beginning to look a little more sluggish. Mike narrows his eyes at the stage.)

Mike: Girls, there's somethin' wrong here. (Sniffs) Pete, tell me. What's wrong with you?

Peter: (Narrows his eyes) Stop that, Michael. You're not a wolf, and I'm not your prey.

Valerie: Mike, there's nothing wrong with him

Mike: There's something wrong with him and you, Val.

Peter: Michael, stop it. There is NOTHING wrong!

Emma: Guys...

(Lauren and Daphne notice Sheila standing and ducking backstage. Cut to Sheila as she stands.)

Sheila: Nyles, I'd like to give you a little gift. Something very special for a very special man.

Nyles: You wanna give ME a gift? *grins broadly*

Sheila: Certainly. (She pulls a black velvet box) I had this made especially for you, dear. (When Nyles opens it, he pulls out a gold chain necklace with a large black crystal pendant on the end, a larger version of Sheila's black crystal pendant necklace.)

Nyles: Groovy!

Sheila: Now we have something that matches, and the whole world will know (her smile gets a little fake here) how close we are. (She gives him a kiss) I have to go to the powder room for a minute. You be a good boy and stay right there.

*Nyles nods, dazed.*

Peter: (Looks up at Sheila as she leaves, then turns to Mike) Michael, I'm not in the mood for this. I have to use the bathroom. I'll be back in a minute. (He gets up and heads towards the bathrooms)

Emma: (Turns to Mike) Honey, what's wrong? Why are you acting so strange?

Mike: Em, there's somethin' goin' on with Pete, and I don't think it's just paranoia. I smelled somethin' on him. Somethin' that ain't him at all.

Valerie: He hasn't felt quite right lately, ever since right before he was arrested...

Mike: He smells like he's afraid, and he's hidin' somethin'.

Valerie: He's been with me since he got back from prison! What could he be hiding?

Mike: Maybe...

(But Mike never gets the chance to continue. Suddenly, the band music stops, and every light in the building shuts off, including the stage lights and spotlights.)

Mike: What the hell...huh? (Groan) What's...happenin'?

Emma: (Groan) I don't feel...right...

Valerie: I feel sick...

(There's pinpricks of flashlights around the room. Alexandra O'Malley, wearing a good dark suit, runs on stage with one of them.)

Lauren: What's...going on... *groans*

Alexandra: Sorry, folks! A fuse blew. You know these old buildings. We're having it checked out. The lights will be back on in a jiffy!

Mike: Fuse my rear end.

Emma: Let's...check out...backstage.

Daphne: Yeah. Something's...really wrong.

(The group slowly makes it's way to the backstage area. People run around helter-skelter with flashlights. Patrick O'Malley argues over whether or not the fuse needs fixing while eating a hamburger that's dripping mustard all over his plum-colored tie.)

Mike: Micky! Davy!

Emma: (Puts her hand in her head) Girls, do you know where they are?

Daphne: Well, Davy's... *points--Davy's coming toward them* right over there. ;)

Davy: Wot's going on? The lights went out, and I feel strange all of a sudden. *motions behind him* Mick's coming.

Micky: *hobbles over* Damn lights goes out and I drop the box of soundmakers on my foot.

(There's snorts from the vague direction of the other Monkees.)

Mike: (As they recover) Yeah, none of us are feelin' right. There's somethin' weird goin' on. Has anyone seen Pete?

Emma: Or Sheila?

Lauren: I saw Nyles at the table...

(That's when the lights go back on. Patrick O'Malley lets out a wail.)

Patrick: (Cries) I DROPPED MY BURGER!!!

Mike: (Blinks and looks around) Ok. We're all here, right?

Emma: There's still something wrong.

Lauren: Something feels...strange.

Mike: (Sniffs) Very, very wrong. (He continues sniffing) On stage. There's something wrong on stage.

Emma: But Baby, the band's still there!

Mike: Not entirely. (He pulls back the curtain. All of the bandmembers on stage are very sluggish and pale. They look worn-out.)

Valerie: They look like zombies! (Makes a face) And I was considering signing them, too.

Micky: That's weird. They were really good during rehearsal!

Mike: (He doesn't look great either) Guys, I don't think they're zombies. Well, they are, in a way. (Gulps) I think they're missin' their souls.

Emma: What!?

Mike: I wish Pete was here. He'd be able to sense this.

Daphne: So what do we do?

Mike: We've gotta find Sheila.

Emma: Alex and Zelda are here, too. They may be able to shed some light on this. Literally.

Micky: Good idea.

Emma: Let's split up. Micky, you, Mike, and Lauren talk to Alex and Zelda. The rest of us will check on the bands. I'm wondering if the ones on stage aren't the only ones who have been drained.

Micky: *nods* Got it.

Mike: (Looks up as the lights come back on) Well, that gets rid of THAT problem.

Emma: (Watches as the band begins their number again...but they're a bit slower and less energetic than before) Oh man, they've really lost it.

(Mike stomps over to Alex and Zelda's table.)

Mike: Hello, Alex.

Emma: You guys ok?

Alex: *looks confused* What's going on?

Micky: We were hoping maybe you had some idea.

Alex: *shakes his head* I don't know!

Mike: We think Sheila - or someone - took the bands' souls while the lights were off.

Zelda; Well, that's not good.

Alex: I wouldn't put it past her.

Mike: Do you two know anything about this? Alex, you did make that soul-remover machine on our tour. Micky found it in his drum.

Alex: *sighs* Yes, I was working on it, but that was WAY too small for something of this magnitude.

Mike: Do you think Sheila may have somehow expanded it?

Alex: She might have.

(Daphne, Valerie, and Davy join them as the next band comes on.)

Valerie: Alex, would you know anything about what just happened?

Alex: *folds his arms and sighs* No, I don't.

Mike: (Looks at the others) I don't know about you guys, but I still feel like shit. Why don't we all head home to our kids? We'll take Urse out to the cave in the morning and figure out what to do from there.

Micky: *nods* I like that idea.

Davy: Me too.

Emma: (Yawns) Let's get out of here.

(The group heads out. As they leave, Sheila makes her way over to Alex, her eyes narrowed.)

Sheila: (Snarls) Alex, you bastard. What are you doin' here? I thought you turned traitor.

Alex: *smirks* Well, I would've told you if you hadn't left so abruptly before about our little plan.

Zelda: Which is brilliant, by the way.

Sheila: (Crosses her arms) What plan?

Alex: To spy on the Guardians, of course. What better way to infiltrate than befriend them.

Zelda: Alex even thought to alter ourselves enough so that if they'd decided to read our souls to determine the truth, that they'd think we were.

Alex: The Savage and the Mother were nicely fooled.

Sheila: (Raises her eyebrow) Oh, really? What have you found, then?

Alex: They're going to that Cave of theirs tomorrow and we'll be joining them. The White Knight has been feeling especially vulnerable lately, and he’s suspicious of your new boss. *smirks*

Sheila: (Raises an eyebrow) Very interesting. I noted that on the White Knight. Everything that's happened seems to be wearing him down.

Alex: Along with your little attacks on him recently.

Sheila: Good. That was my - and our boss' - intention. We want to wear him down. He's too strong when he's in full wolf combat mode.

Alex: I'd say he's pretty far from that point right now.

Sheila: Excellent. I want you to keep at them and report back to me at my new home whenever I can. We finally finished that luxury condo in Los Angeles, and I'm going to move into the top floor penthouse suite as soon as I can.

Alex: Ahh, very nice.

Alex: *nods* I've got a little plan for visiting the Cave tomorrow. With any luck, I'll have a report you'll be sure to like.

Zelda: I’m positive that Alex's plan will put a smile on your face.

Sheila: (Leans on the table, smirking) Tell me more, Alex dear. Tell me more.

Alex: Well..

(And we fade out as Alex explains his plan to Sheila and Zelda.)