Everyone ready to find out what happened to the bands?

Micky: Yes!

Davy: I am.

Mike: Me too.

(We open in a huge penthouse suite. It's the same set as Blossom Lilyfair's suite in "Ladies' Choice," complete with ultra-70s sunken living room, but the flowery pink frills have been replaced by stylish, sleek red, silver, and black modern furnishings. Instead of gardens, an expansive - and obviously fake - view of the LA skyline is visible through the wrap-around windows. Sheila lounges on a couch in the living room, reading Cosmopolitan magazine.)

*Alex and Zelda appear in a black light. Alex holds his head.*

Sheila: (Looks up) What happened to you?

Zelda: He had a lovely fight with the Savage.

Alex: *groans* I thought he'd go ballistic with the cave being totalled, but he didn't. He just wanted to pound on me and throw me a hundred feet.

Sheila: Oh, is that all?

Zelda: You should've seen the way he crumbled after seeing the destruction, though.

Alex: Sobbing like a baby.

Sheila: Good. I want them in disarray. The more they have to concentrate on getting everything together, the easier they'll be to distract. (She finally turns over on the couch, revealing one long, long leg in tight bell bottom jeans.) The boss wants us to strike again tonight...and take prisoners.

Alex: *nods once so as to not make his headache worse* Sounds good to me.

Sheila: He wants the Aristocrat. (Smirks) He's feeling urges.

Alex: My kinda guy.

Sheila: What about the White Knight and the others? Were any of them suspicious?

Alex: The Knight, as usual. Not too sure about the others.

Sheila: Blast that Knight. The Boss is right. We really need to do something about him.

Alex: Would be nice.

Sheila: (Looks at her watch) We're going to have to get ready for the show soon. Maybe you should stay away from the Guardians. Go backstage, get a table that's not near them.

Alex: Gladly. I don't think I can take much more physical punishment right now.

Sheila: (Sighs) This is working so well. We haven't gotten this many souls in years! (Smirks) Now, if we could only get the Guardians to disband their silly MonkeeLeague and lure them this way...

Alex: That's going to be tough.

Sheila: Maybe not as tough as you think. (She hands him a newspaper that was on the couch next to her) According to Rolling Stone, the soundtrack for their film barely cracked the top #50 albums, and their most recent album hasn't even gotten that far.

Alex: Ain't that a kick in the pants.

Sheila: Their spring special didn't do very well in the ratings, either. What were they thinking, putting it up against the Academy Awards? (Smirks) The group isn't really much of a group anymore. When they work in the studio, they work independently, not together. They aren't seen as often at each other's houses, either.

Zelda: It should be like open season on them, then. That's probably why the Savage broke down the way he did.

Sheila: And why the Knight was so easily captured by those lunkheads I hired in Texas. (Puts down the magazine and looks at her watch) We need to get ready. The Boss said he'd meet us there. He's worried about being seen with us.

Alex: *frowns* He's been doing well so far.

Sheila: He told me the Knight's senses are sharper. That wolf nose of his is getting to close to sniffing out the truth. (Stands and stretches) Let's get ready. (Nasty smile) I'm in the mood for another round of soul capture, aren't you?

Alex: That would definitely help me feel better.

Sheila: Zelda, you can change in my room. Alex, there's a room for the two of you when you're here just off the living room area.

Zelda: *nods* Thank you. *goes to change*

Alex: Nice. *nods approval*

Sheila: I know you two like your fun time.

(Sheila follows Zelda into her room.)

Alex: *smirks* Knows us all too well.

(Fade out on Alex's knowing smirk as he heads for the room Sheila indicated. Fade in on the Club Caprice, that night. Mike wears his good brown suit this time. Emma wears a floaty peach skirt and white blouse.)

Mike: This time, we have to be alert. Someone should go backstage with Mick and Davy, and maybe two of us should hang around the ballroom and talk to people. Maybe someone's seen somethin' weird.

Lauren: *wears black slacks and a lavender sweater* I'll go backstage.

Mike: Ok, good. Take Daph with you, and the guys will be back there. Everyone stay with somebody. Think of it like the Buddy System. Every time we do something solo, someone or the other ends up hurt or in the clutches of the Devils.

Lauren: Right. *nods and goes to their table to get Daphne*

Valerie: (Smiles) Peter and I will keep an eye on the main room. He arrived earlier with some friends. He said he'd be at the same table we were at last night.

(Peter waves to them, his smile warm and genuine.)

Valerie: Peter! (He jumps up and goes to her, taking her hand happily) Hi, honey.

Peter: Hi, Val. I'm glad you made it.

Valerie: Peter, we need your help. We're going to keep a look out for anyone or anything suspicious in the ballroom. We think the Devils may have somehow caused that blackout last night in order to steal souls.

Peter: What? You're kidding!

Valerie: The others will be backstage.

Mike: Em and I are gonna stay at the table and keep an eye on the guests. (Sniffs) Pete, I still say there's somethin' weird about you.

Peter: Michael, your senses must be confused from the ballroom. (He narrows his eyes, takes Valerie's arm, and struts off)

Mike: (Shakes his head) I still say... (Sighs) Em n' I will stay at the table and check out things from here.

Emma: (Sighs) Right. The moment any of you see or hear ANYTHING suspicious, report to Mike and I on your communicators.

Mike: Got that?

(Everyone nods. The camera follows Lauren and Daphne to the backstage area. People run all over, carrying instruments and amps, tuning guitars and rehearsing.)

Daphne: Do you even know what we're looking for?

Lauren: *shrugs* Not really. We just have to look for something strange.

*The girls walk up to the guys.*

Davy: *grins* "Something strange?" They must've been talking about you, Mick.

Micky: Ha ha, very funny, Dave.

Daphne: Actually, we're supposed to be keeping an eye on the backstage area. (Thinks) There has to be a way they're taking the souls without taking the people!

Davy: What about that machine Alex used durin' our tour? The one that Micky found in his drum kit?

Micky: *snaps his fingers* That's right! I'm sure Sheila's gotta have something similar to that.

Davy: We could start in the dressin' rooms. They should be empty. Everyone is either backstage or on stage.

Micky: Let’s go check them out, then.

(The four dash for the dressing rooms. It's the same dressing room set as the one used for the boys in "Night of the Living Monkees," among other episodes.)

Davy: Check everywhere. Look for loose boards in the floor or wall. Check under sock piles, in instruments. It could be anywhere! This is Sheila's demented mind we're dealin' with!

Micky: Hmm... *goes to check the couch*

(Davy checks the floor, tapping the boards and checking to see if any can be pulled upwards. Daphne searches drawers and behind furniture.)

*Micky kneels down and looks under the couch. He slowly pulls out what looks like a black box.*

Micky: Uhhh...

Davy: I can't find anythin'. How's the rest of you doin'? (Looks at Micky) Found somethin', Mick?

Daphne: Mick, you don't look so good.

(Micky pries open the black box and reveals what looks like another box, this one small and made of metal, with a lens at the other end. It's surrounded by chunks of black crystals.)

Davy: (Puts his head in his hand) Suddenly, I don't feel so good meself.

Micky: Oh man... *drops the box*

Lauren: *groans* What is that...

Davy: (Touches the crystals...and jumps back as if he were stung) Oh god...it's the crystal...

Daphne: The black rocks?

Micky: *nods* Yeah. That's them, all right.

Davy: (Sits in a chair) We have to...get rid...of this...

Micky: How?

Daphne: Someone blast it or something!

Davy: I can barely move at this point...

Lauren: Me, too...

Micky: I'm trying...ain't working...

(That's when the lights go out again.)

Davy: Oh damn...

Daphne: Again?

Lauren: Oh great...

Davy: Forget the damn box. We have to...get out...of here...

Micky: Crawl!

(Cut to the dim ballroom area. Emma leans against Mike, who looks pale.)

Emma: Mike...don't feel well...

Mike: I don't either, darlin'. Whatever keeps killin' the light is hurtin' US, too. (He tries to concentrate, but we see no blue light) Damn it.

Emma: Mike, where's the others?

Mike: (Sniffs) I think everyone but Pete n' Val are still backstage. Those two, I can't sense at all.

(Valerie stumbles around the backstage area, holding her head.)

Valerie: Peter? Mike? Where is everyone? (She blinks when the lights suddenly go back on) Ouch. No wonder I have a headache. (She stops when she hears a noise) Peter?

(A shadow slowly reaches from behind her and reaches for her temples...)

Valerie: Peter? Honey, where... (He hands rub her temples; she stops, dropping her purse and moaning)

Male Voice: (Soft whisper into her ear) Calm yourself, Aristocrat.

Valerie: What...

*Alex and Zelda appear opposite the shadow.*

Male Voice: I think she's ready, you two. (Whispers into Valerie's ear) Go with the Dark Savage and the Dark Mother, my Aristocrat. They'll take care of you.

(Valerie only nods, her blue eyes cloudy.)

*Alex and Zelda each gently take an arm and lead her away.*

(Cut to the ballroom. Mike and Emma make their way to the others, who are now on their feet, but unsteadily.)

Mike: What happened there?

Emma: I feel like I've been hit by five garbage trucks in a row.

Micky: After driving through a nitroglycerin plant.

Emma: Has anyone seen Valerie and Peter?

Mike: (Sniffs) No. I think they're gone. They must have left during the blackout.

Emma: Maybe they found something.

Mike: They would have called us. (Shakes his head) I sense danger. Real bad. (He frowns) Did you guys find anything?

Davy: (Looks at the others) Did we ever!

Micky: We definitely found something Sheila left behind. It had black crystals in it.

Mike: (Makes a face) Like what Kristoff used on us.

Emma: I guess you didn't get it.

Davy: (Shakes his head) We couldn't get to it with all the crystal around.

Mike: It's gettin' late. We'll have to come back for Val and Peter later.

Emma: I say we should meet at Micky and Lauren's house tomorrow as early as those of you who aren't morning people can stand it.

Micky: At least we won't have to go far.

Mike: We need to make a plan. This is the second time Sheila's raided this place...and I wouldn't be surprised if Alex was involved, too.

Davy: I have to stay here. I still have to MC the rest of the show. I'll tell you if anything else strange happens.

Micky: And I'm still working on the effects. We'll keep an eye on each other.

Mike: Call us on the communicators if somethin' happens. And look around for Pete and Val while you're at it, too. I can't shake the feeling there's something wrong with Peter.

Micky: We will.

Emma: The rest of us will retrieve our children and get some well-deserved rest.

Mike: Yeah, before we all collapse anyway.

(The group leaves and Micky and Davy head for the backstage area.)

Davy: Micky, what are we going to do about that box? There has to be a way to dismantle it or somethin'.

Micky: I don't know. Now that it's open, it's tough to get to.

Davy: Maybe we could cover it so no one finds it, or it at least causes a little less damage.

Micky: We might as well try.

Davy: Let's go. (Fade out on the ballroom as the boys head backstage. Fade in on a bedroom in Sheila's suite. It's smaller than the living room area, but has the same red, black, and silver furniture and same fake, now night view of the LA skyline. Alex carries a half-conscious Valerie into the room, followed by Zelda.)

Valerie: Wh...where...(She struggles lightly.)

Alex: Wakey, wakey.

Valerie: Where am I?

Zelda: You're at our new home away from home.

Alex: Comfy?

Valerie: Where's Peter?

Zelda: Oh, he's just fine.

Valerie: Where is he?

Alex: He's around.

Valerie: I have to find him! (She tries to wriggle in Alex's grasp)

Zelda: I knew that muddling wouldn't hold for long.

Alex: We'll have to do something else.

Valerie: No! Don't hurt me!

Zelda: The Boss doesn't want us to hurt you (smirks) but what he doesn't know won't hurt him. (Looks at Alex) Right? (She looks around) Perhaps we could put her on the bed, or a chair, or the couch...

Alex: so many choices...

Zelda: Why not the couch? We'll need the bed later.

Valerie: No...

Alex: Good point.

*Alex sets Valerie on the couch.*

Valerie: Please...let me go back to my husband and son...

Zelda: Not tonight.

(Zelda begins to stroke Valerie's head and her long auburn hair, calming her.)

Alex: *pulls out a length of goo rope* Why don't we give this a try?

Valerie: What is that?

Zelda: (Strokes Valerie) Keep yourself calm, Aristocrat. It's nothing to worry about.

*Alex wraps the rope around Valerie's wrists.*

Valerie: I...feel so strange...light...

Zelda: As you should.

*Alex pulls out another piece and ties it around Valerie's ankles.*

Valerie: Ooh...no energy...

Zelda: (Smirks) Good. I think she's ready now, Alex. (Zelda continues to stroke her temples and cheeks)

(Valerie giggles a little.)

Valerie: So light...fluffy...

Alex: I'd say so.

Valerie: Light! (She giggles again)

Zelda: I think she's having fun, don't you?

Valerie: Fun...so fun... (Her voice is oddly high-pitched and squeaky.)

Alex: I'd say so.

(Alex and Zelda remove Valerie's yellow gown, revealing a short slip and her yellow heels. Zelda makes several black scarves appear and begins to wrap them tightly around her mouth and eyes.)

(Alex runs his fingers around Valerie's legs and rear. She lets out a gasp, then giggles again.)

Alex: I think she likes that, too.

Alex: Want a turn, Zel?

(Zelda runs her hand over Valerie's back. She giggles. Zelda then pulls a brush-like object over Valerie's stomach and legs; she lets out a gasp and wiggles.)

*Alex uses a feather, pulling it up and down Valerie's arms.*

Valerie: Oooh...stop... (She tries to wiggle again, but Alex takes her feet and Zelda takes her head)

Alex: Do you think you're going somewhere?

Zelda: This isn't your office, Aristocrat. (She wraps the black scarves around Valerie's head, until only a bit of nose and ears can be seen, then pulls her arms up over her head and ties them there wit the Goo Rope. She runs her brush over her arms as the woman shudders.)

*Alex grins as he drags the feather across Valerie's chest.*

(She squeals, trying to thump her legs. Zelda runs her brush over Valerie's upper legs and knees, then drags her fingers lightly under her knees, laughing at her spasm.)

*Alex drags the feather lower, down then up one leg, across her abdomen, then down and up the other leg.*

Zelda: (As she gasps, then giggles again) I think she likes that, Alex. Do more. (Zelda holds Valerie's upper body firmly)

(Valerie moans under the scarves on her head.)

*Alex repeats the process, but moves lower on her abdomen.*

(She shudders and whimpers, squealing and wiggling her feet again. Shelia smirks as she enters the room and leans against the door.)

*Alex repeats the process again, but lingering a few seconds on her lower abdomen.*

(She squeals helplessly, then lets out a long moan.)

Sheila: You're really enjoying this, aren't you?

Alex: *glances up, a glint in his eyes* Who, her or me?

Sheila: I wouldn't get to into it. The Boss will expect there to be some left for him.

Alex: *smirks* Oh, we know.

Sheila: I'd just leave her for now. If the Boss hasn't come back in the morning, you can have more fun.

Alex: All right.

(Sheila concentrates. There's a dark light around Valerie. When it subsides, she's now bound with scarves, though they're no longer on her head, and is wearing her yellow gown.)

Sheila: I'll leave her in the living room. Has she been muddled?

Alex: Yes, she has.

Sheila: Good. The Boss won't have any problem with her, then.

Zelda: (As Alex picks Valerie up) We certainly didn't!

Alex: *smirks* Nope.

Sheila: Very, very good. (We fade out as Alex carries Val to the living room and the door to Sheila's room closes)