(We open with a sweeping shot of the beach near the Pad after dark. We see the outlines of four figures, laughing and chasing each other.)

Lauren: *laughing and puffing* Can we play something other than Tag now? I've been It about two dozen times.

Micky: But you're so cute when you're it, babe!

Lauren: What difference does that make, Mick?

Micky: None, really...but you are cute!

Lauren: Yeah, cute...and tired.

Mike: (He comes into the light, wearing his brown suit and carrying his shoes and socks) Why don't we do somethin' else?

Emma: (She huffs and puffs, carrying her good white shoes; she wears a red-and-white swiss dotted sund dress) That's fine by me! I did enough dancing at the band we went to see tonight! I'm worn out!

Lauren: I say we park it on the beach for a while.

Mike: I say I like that.

Micky: Sure! I've already got sand in my shoes, anyway.

Lauren: That's why the rest of us took OFF our shoes, Mick.

Micky: I thought something seemed different.

(Emma spreads a blanket she was carrying on the sand and lays down on it, dropping her shoes next to her.)

*Micky spreads out another blanket, which he and Lauren then occupy.*

Mike: (Flops next to her) Whew! I'm glad Davy and Daph took the kids and Jordan over to see Mrs. Marion. This is the first time we've had time to ourselves in ages.

Micky: *turns to Lauren* I can't remember the last time we had any real time to ourselves.

Lauren: Seems like it's been forever.

Mike: Actually, I'm glad. There's a lot goin' on that we need to talk about.

Micky: *nods* Yeah.

Lauren: Where shall we start?

Emma: How about with Sheila? (Looks at Mike) Honey, you and Mick really should stop falling asleep in front of the TV.

*Micky shudders involuntarily.*

Mike: After the other night, I ain't never fallin' asleep in front of the TV again. Ever.

Micky: Wish I could say the same, but I've yet to figure out a pattern to my nightmares.

Emma: You said she went after you in the Cave, too. What's she after? She always has a reason when she goes after us. Alex is usually the one who randomly decides to be annoying.

Micky: She's after what Alex usually showed up for: the crystals.

Mike: I think everything that's goin' on revolves around the crystals. Sheila wants them real bad, and Alex was after them for a while, too. What's their game?

Micky: *shrugs* Well, we know it isn't because they're pretty to look at.

Emma: I'm more worried about this "boss" Sheila keeps talking about. Micky, didn't you and Davy actually hear him at the fair the other day?

Micky: Davy heard him and thought he saw his shadow. I kinda heard him, but didn't see him.

Mike: Damn it! This guy has to be someone we know. Why else would he hide?

Emma: Maybe he's a fellow-demon of Sheila's.

Mike: No, he'd let us know. Sheila would probably boast about it.

Micky: It's definitely someone we know.

Emma: Maybe Sheila got to one of the members of another Headquarters group?

Mike: (Frowns) The Martians are on tour. Those guys won't be back in this area until the fall.

Emma: (Thinks) The Jolly Green Giants are on tour, too.

Micky: *sighs* We know A LOT of people.

Mike: (Groans and throws his hands up in the area) Between the eight of us, it could be anyone in the entire southwest!

Emma: Not necessarily, Baby. It's someone who knows us intimately.

Micky: That narrows it slightly.

Emma: Really intimately. Intimately enough to know how our powers work, which one of us Sheila's after...and how to get to our vulnerable sides.

Micky: Well, it ain't one of us!

Lauren: *looks close into Micky's eyes* You sure about that, Mick?

Micky: *laughs* Don't look at me like that, babe!

Mike: (Grins) You HAVE gone evil on us before.

Emma: Aw, leave the poor boy alone! He had enough trouble last year!

Micky: Don't make me go evil on you right now.

Mike: Couldn't be any worse than what I've been through the past few weeks. (Makes a face) Whomever this is, they sure as hell don't like ME. (Grumbles) Tarnishin' my reputation...

Micky: *snorts* You do that fine on your own sometimes, Mike.

Lauren: Mick... *shakes her head*

Mike: Mick...

Micky: Just gettin' you back for the crack at me.

Mike: What do you mean by that crack?

Micky: Geez, forget I said anything!

Lauren: *warningly* Guys.

Emma: Mike, what's been WITH you lately? You've been acting like a child! Buying everything in sight, blowing up at everyone, then taking it all back...

Mike: I'm SCARED, ok? "The Monkees Present" is doing NOTHING in the charts, the "Head" soundtrack just barely made the top 50, "Head" flopped so bad, Columbia has banned us from the lot, and...and... (lays back again) ...an' I don't know what to do about any of it.

Micky: So you take it out on anyone that says something you don't like. Yeah, sure, that's fair. *rolls his eyes*

Lauren: Mick, knock it off.

Micky: *folds his arms* I call 'em as I see 'em.

Mike: What have YOU been doin' about it?

Emma: Guys, this is neither the time nor the place...

Micky: What IS there to do? We can't force people to like what we put out there!

Lauren: Micky...

Mike: That's not what I mean! What I mean is...

Emma: ...We're running low on funds.

Mike: Don't panic. We ain't broke. We're just not...

Emma: We're fairly in debt. We're close to broke. (Glares) You had to go and buy that boat!

Mike: You wanted a red one.

Micky: Then what're you yelling at me for? I'm not the one spending your money!

*Lauren slaps her forehead.*

Mike: What about you guys? Or Davy?

Micky: *shrugs* We're doing alright. I guess Dave is, too. He hasn't really said anything.

Mike: (Looks at Micky) Maybe we could do a special as a trio, or try to get into more movies...

Emma: I'd forget the movies if I were you. After "Head," you'd be lucky to get into a drive-in cheapie explotation flick.

Micky: Well...

Lauren: Mick, no.

Mike: I just...I just want to play my songs and make a little money, but things ain't workin' out that way.

Micky: That's all any of us wanna do. *pauses* Well, I can think of a few other things I'd like to do. *waggles his eyebrows in Lauren's direction*

Lauren: What a segue.

Mike: Has ANYONE heard from Peter and Val?

Micky: Nope.

Emma: Even Val's been scarce lately. Lauren and I have been watching Jordan a lot.

Lauren: *nods* Yeah.

Micky: Guess I wasn't enough of a party animal for him and his buddies.

Emma: I feel terrible for Jordan. He loves us a lot, and he adores Katie, but he misses his parents so badly, especially his father.

Micky: Besides, if we wanted another kid... *Lauren clamps a hand over his mouth*

Lauren: Micky, stop.

(Emma giggles; Mike snorts.)

Micky: *removes Lauren's hand* What? I'm being honest!

Lauren: But your entire side of the conversations have been resting comfortably in the gutter! Just stop it already!

Micky: *folds his arms and pouts* You used to like that.

Lauren: *aggravated sigh* Yes, I still do when it's used in the right context! We're trying to have a serious conversation here!

Micky: *pauses; seriously* So, then when was the last time you joined me in the gutter, hm?

Lauren: *rubs the bridge of her nose* This is really giving me a headache.

Mike: Mick, maybe while your mind is in the gutter, you could help figure out something else. What's with Sheila and her suddenly very active libdo, and why did Alex and Zelda suddenly defect?

Micky: How would I know?

Mike: Alex IS your clone, and you and Lauren DID read their souls.

Lauren: I only read enough to find out if they were telling the truth.

Micky: And I did the same. Would you like me to let Sheila seduce me, then I could ask her, then you could rescue me and I'll give you the answer? I don't know! :P

*Lauren just motions that she gives up and props her chin in one hand.*

Micky: *nudges Lauren* What?

*Lauren ignores him.*

Mike: Sheila's already tried seducin' you, remember? (Grins) I owe you one for gettin' rid of her, Mick. In the Cave AND in our dream.

Micky: I'm gonna hold you to that.

Mike: Yeah, well, it ain't you she's after. (Groans and flops back on the blanket; Emma joins him) She's still got a thing for me.

Emma: I can't say I blame her, really.

Mike: You can say that. You haven't had the Devil try to seduce you in and out of your nightmares.

Lauren: Well, maybe not her...

Mike: (Frowns and nods) You have the Devil's apprentice.

Lauren: Whoopee.

Micky: *grins* Don't mind if I do! *tries to tackle Lauren but she doesn't play along* Babe, come on!

Mike: (Rolls his eyes) Get a room, you too. Or at least get under the boardwalk, where all the kids are doin' it, too.

Micky: She won't even play along!

Lauren: Let it go, Mick.

Micky: Great, another nightmare. *makes a face at Lauren*

Lauren: I'm not in the mood, Mick. Besides, we're not alone!

Mike: Mick, at least hold in the libido until you get home, ok? Look, I'm doin' it!

Emma: Yes, but how well and for how long?

Micky: And I've BEEN holding it in.

Lauren: Gee, I hope you're not saying it's my fault.

Micky: Nahhh.

Mike: Maybe that's the signal for us to get home. (Eyes Emma)

Emma: Don't you start, Michael Nesmith!

Mike: Em, come on! It's not like Robbie doesn't still wake us up occasionally anyhow!

Micky: It doesn't matter anyway, because I'll get turned down there, too!

Mike: I thought your room was soundproofed.

Emma: Michael! (Swipes his head; he chuckles)

Micky: Ha ha ha. Haven't needed it lately. :P

Lauren: We have had A LOT going on, Mick, and it isn't completely my fault. Part of it's yours too, you know.

Mike: What ARE you guys doin'? Still workin' at the radio station?

Lauren: What aren't we doing is a shorter list.

Micky: Yes, we are still at the station.

Mike: Tell us when you're on. The kids wanna hear their Uncle Micky and Auntie Lauren on the radio again.

Micky: *sighs* They split us up.

Lauren: They said we were pushing it with our banter and Mick's one track mind.

Emma: Oh dear. I had the feeling something like that might happen.

Mike: No wonder you're mad.

Lauren: That's a good part of it.

Micky: All right. Enough beating around the bush. We haven't... *considers* been together in weeks. It's driving me nuts!

Lauren: Well, it isn't just my fault.

Micky: I know that, but it doesn't help any!

Mike: Would you like us to take your kids for a day or two?

Lauren: *eyes Micky* He's wound tighter than a spring. It could take a week or two.

Micky: Fine, it's my fault. There, I said it!

Emma: A few days could get you started.

Micky: *turns to Lauren* Babe, please? :)

Lauren: *turns to Emma and Mike* Could you take the kids for a couple days?

Mike: (Shrugs) Sure. Why not?

Emma: We're not doing anything, and Katie loves having the twins over.

Micky: Thank you!

Lauren: Thanks, we really appreciate it.

Mike: Hey, what are friends for?

Emma: You've had Katie and Robbie lots of times. Let us return the favor.

Micky: You have no idea how much this means to us.

Mike: Let's just say this is my way of thankin' Mick for savin' me from Sheila.

Micky: So, uh, how quickly are you going to thank me?

Mike: We'll take the kids tomorrow afternoon. It's too late to get them up now.

Micky: Damn... *sighs*

Lauren: Tomorrow, Mick.

Emma: You've waited this long. I think you can wait a little longer.

Micky: I guess so.

*Lauren chuckles.*

Mike: Speaking of (looks at his watch) I think it was time we started gettin' home to reclaim our kiddies.

Lauren: Yeah, we should.

Emma: (Kisses Mike) Thank you for the lovely night, Baby.

Mike: (Shudders) Sure, darlin'. Just...do that again. I might get to likin' it.

Emma: (Laughs and takes his hand) Oh Baby...

Micky: *groans* Oh man...

Lauren: Just look away, Mick.

(Emma and Mike laugh and kiss again, this time a bit more passionately.)

Mike: I liked that even more.

Emma: Baby! (They take each other's hands again and head up to the path that leads to the street.)

Micky: Well, we might as well follow them.

Lauren: *nods* Let’s go. Tomorrow, we'll try to sort things out.

Micky: Right. *grabs the blanket as they follow after Mike and Emma*