Everyone ready to finish the story?

Mike: Hell no. I had a great time.

Peter: For once, I agree with Michael.

Micky: Nope, not really.

Davy: Me either.

(We open in Micky and Lauren's house. Everyone is sitting around the table, chatting and sipping tea or coffee.)

Bob: Hey, everyone. Did you just get back in?

Mike: (Nods) Yeah. We're takin' a breather before we pick up the kids.

Bert: Did you guys enjoy your vacation?

Mike: More than you can ever guess.

Peter: We needed that badly.

Micky: Very much so.

Emma: We did a lot more than what you see in this story, too. (Grins at Lauren) Maybe we could even get some extra stories out of this one.

Lauren: We just might.

Mike: This is one of the very few stories we've done that I can really claim to have enjoyed.

Emma: This is one of the occasional "villian-less" stories we like to do every now and then to mix things up a bit. Not every story has to be a life-and-death struggle. (Looks at Lauren) And you know, that's not a bad idea. Maybe every February can continue to be our "villianless story" month. We've done a villianless story on February for the last three years now.

Mike: If nothing else, it makes for a nice breather for us. Hell, I'd rather end up on a mostly deserted island like we did last year than tangle with the Devils or Belavarg again!

Peter: You said it, Michael.

Mike: It was nice to do somethin' as a group that wasn't tryin' to kill somethin'.

Emma: That's really what we were aiming for here. We wanted to do a simpler, more comic story with the group and the couples before the next big four-parter. (Smiles at Lauren) And I think this is probably the best thing we've ever done for Valentine's Day and the closest we've ever gotten or probably will ever get to a pure romance story.

Peter: I'm glad you thought of it, Val. We really did need this trip.

Valerie: I know I did.

Bert: Lauren, you're probably tired of hearing this, but...how do you feel?

Lauren: Ready to have this kid.

Bob: It should be coming out any day, right?

Lauren: If I'm lucky.

Bert: Hey Micky, are you really going to quit some of your jobs after this?

Micky: Yes, I am.

Mike: And he's going to work for me. I'm going to put myself into my videos starting as soon as we settle in from this trip.

Bert: You're really confident this is going to work, aren't you, Mike?

Mike: It's better than the sheet music we've been tryin' to peddle to this point. It wasn't sellin'. Music videos are the wave of the future. We were doin' them in our specials, really. Hell, Disney was doin' them in "Fantasia," and what do you think all those musical shorts they used to show before movies in the 30s and 40s really were?

Bert: How do you plan on sellin' them?

Mike: Once we have enough made, we'll sell them to the studios. Heck, we could even make our own TV show, if we could find the right person to produce and sponsor it.

Peter: I wish all of you luck. Like I said, I'll contribute songs, but I think I've had enough of show business for now.

Valerie: And I'll contribute songwriters.

Mike: Daph, we'd love for the Abbies to make our second video after Davy.

Daphne: And so would we!

Valerie: I have no problem with that. It would be great publicity for Headquarters artists, too.

Bert: And Micky could show that he can do something else besides be a wild and crazy drummer.

Micky: That's right.

Mike: We'll all show that we can be more than some kiddie TV band...and do it in a far more professional way than the movie was. We're really going to take charge of our own destinies this time, not just let a bunch of people tell us where to stand, what to write, and how to present our music.

Emma: (Nudges Mike) Um, honey, don't forget that we're being interviewed by the director and producer of that movie.

Bob: (Smirk in his voice) Yeah, Mike.

(Mike grumbles, but says nothing.)

Bert: Let's get back on this story. What was your favorite part of the vacation?

Emma: Shopping.

Mike: Going motorcycle ridin' with the guys.

Peter: Having dinner with all my friends and my wife at that lovely outdoor cafe.

Valerie: Being able to spend time with everyone, especially Peter, and get away from work for a while.

Bert: Micky, Lauren? What were your favorite parts?

Micky: *Shares a smile with Lauren* Spending time together.

Emma: I bet I know what Daphne's is - catching that huge fish!

Mike: And it tasted good, too.

Daphne: Exactly.

Peter: We're all jealous of that one, Daph. I used to go fishing with my father when we lived in Connecticut and Wisconsin, and we never caught a fish that size!

Mike: My cousins and I never caught anythin' like that in Texas, either.

Emma: Or my brother and dad.

Bert: So, now that you've all had your vacation, what do you have planned for next month?

Emma: (Exchanges an evil grin with Lauren) Oh, so many things.

Mike: I don't like the look of those grins one bit.

Peter: Me either. I thought this story was too easy.

Emma: Next month will begin our next four-part story. I wanted to do something darker than last year's mostly comic four-parter...so I turned to real life.

Mike: I don't get it. (Turns to Lauren) What does she mean, man?

Lauren: You'll find out.

Mike: Please tell me this won't interfere with our videos. I'm really looking forward to this.

Peter: (Sees Emma's evil grin widen) Something tells me that's exactly what this is all about, Michael.

Emma: Let's just say that sometimes truth really IS stranger than fiction.

Mike: It would explain why I've been sensin' danger, though.

Emma: We thought it was about time we brought back some characters that haven't been seen in literally years...and are only seen during times of extreme danger.

Peter: (Blanches) It's going to get that bad?

Emma: Oh yeah.

Mike: I guess hidin' for the next decade is out.

Emma: Yes, yes it is.

Mike: Lauren, please tell me no one dies or gets permanently turned into a pickle or somethin'. I don't trust her with that stuff.

Emma: Please. No one dies...but things are going to get turned inside-out. Right, Lauren?

Lauren: Right.

Peter: The last time you said that, I almost killed Michael.

Emma: We're still working on the details of the spring stories, so all I can really say at this point is "you'll see."

Bob: Who's idea was this one, anyway?

Emma: Mostly mine, derived from Valerie's comment about needing a vacation in the "It's a Small Monkee World" story and from a lack of ideas for this year's Valentine's Day story. We wanted to do something overtly romantic after last year's came out great but not all that related to the holiday. Lauren had already come up with the idea of us going on vacation; it didn’t take much to think to connect it to the most romantic holiday of the year.

Valerie: I was happy to inspire you.

Emma: And Valerie, since it was your idea, why don't you end this story and take us to the skit?

Valerie: I would be happy to. (She turns to the camera) We here at Dream World hopes everyone has a very safe, happy, and warm Valentine's Day with the ones they love. We'll see you next month, folks! (Turns to the others) Ok, I really want to pick up the kids now.

Emma: We need to pick up our kids, too.

Peter: (Turns to Micky) Why don't we stick things out a little longer? Maybe we can go to the cave and have that chat.

Micky: Sure.

(Cut to the Beach Cave. Micky and Peter appear in a blue light. Peter turns to Micky.)

Peter: (Sits on the couch) Micky, how are you feeling now?

Micky: Well... *shrugs* I guess I'm okay...

Peter: Are you sure?

Micky: *Paces in front of the couch* I don't know, Pete.

Peter: I believe that. Your aura is very tired and confused. You need to slow down and think for a minute.

Micky: Slow down... *laughs* yeah, right.

Peter: Micky, you can do it. You need to learn how to focus.

Micky: How many times have you known me to focus?

Peter: You're trying to do too much at once, Mick. (Pats his shoulder) There's only one of you.

Micky: This is what I've always done. I don't know anything else.

Peter: Just because you've always done it doesn't mean you have to keep doing it. I've always played music, Mick, but it wasn't working for me anymore...so I'm doing something else now. Maybe I'll go back to music someday. Maybe I won't. You have to do what feels right to you at the present moment...and what I'm seeing on your aura is telling me that what you've always done isn't working for you.

Micky: I don't know what I want anymore.

Peter: Have you talked to Lauren about it?

Micky: *Nods* She's behind me in whatever I choose. I just can't choose, because I don't know what to choose.

Peter: Micky, have you ever seriously considered becoming a cameraman or a director? This is one place where I fully agree with Michael. Maybe it's time you went behind the camera.

Micky: *Shrugs* I guess so...

Peter: You could keep doing the radio station gig. It is flexible. Maybe one construction gig, too. (Sighs) But maybe you need to do what I did and step away from things for a while, before you burn out. It nearly killed me. I don't want you to almost lose Lauren and the kids the way I almost lost Val and Jordan.

Micky: *Runs a hand through his mop of curls* I guess I could. I'm just...scared. I don't know how to...not do...stuff.

Peter: You won't be "not doing stuff." You'll be trying something new. (Grins) And really only semi-new for you. You've been around cameras for as long as you've been alive, haven't you?

Micky: Yeah, I have.

Peter: Who knows more about making videos than someone who's been around show business their entire life? There's more to television than starring in and playing on specials.

Micky: *Sighs* I'm just unsure of myself right now.

Peter: Maybe it'll help to be in an enviorment you understand. I was feeling exactly the same way you were two years ago, after I left the group. I had no idea of what to do, and nowhere to turn after the band I tried to create didn't work out. (Smiles) But you have something I didn't, Mick - support. (Makes a face) And enough sense to not cart drugs around where cops can see them.

Micky: You've always had my support.

Peter: Thanks, Mick. I think that's why I couldn't bring myself to turn on you or Davy. You two have always been my friends.

Micky: Because I know that I have your support. *glances around the cave and sighs heavily* I'm just afraid that I won't feel the same about working behind the cameras as I did before. I'm afraid it'll feel like everything else has lately. It'll feel like just another thing I HAVE to do.

Peter: Maybe it won't be. You'll be working with Michael and Davy, for one thing. Not to mention, it's something different. (Shrugs) And if you drop a few things, you might have time to try some other things that could interest you more.

Micky: I know...

Peter: I don't know how much longer I'll be continuing with the school, either. I love the children, but I'm not getting along all that well with the staff. They're just so stuffy! (Smiles) But now that I know I can do something besides play music and wash dishes, I'm sure I'd be able to find another job in the school system, or doing something else with kids. (Thoughtful) What about Davy? Have you talked to him, too? Maybe he can help you. He doesn't know about cameras, but he does know almost as much about show business as you. He could be your assistant.

Micky: *Shakes his head* No, I haven't talked to him. He may be my best friend and all, but I don't always feel like he really understands me the way you do.

Peter: Thank you, Micky. I understand because I've been there...WAS there two years ago. Difference was, I didn't have the sense to try to get help then. I know better now. (Smiles at Micky) And I'm proud of you for talking this through with me, instead of just letting it keep making you crazy.

Micky: *Shrugs* It's kinda hard to go crazy when you're already sorta there, anyway.

Peter: (Chuckles) I'm not going to argue with that one. (Looks at his watch) Maybe I'd better get you back to your house, before Lauren returns with the kids. (Pats Micky on the shoulder) Feeling better now? Your aura seems a little brighter.

Micky: I do feel better. I'm still a little unsure of how I'm going to feel behind the camera, but I'm ready to take it on.

Peter: Good. (Puts an arm around Micky's shoulder) I think you're going to be just fine.

(Peter leads Micky out the door as we fade out on the duo and the lights go out in the Beach Cave.)

(Cut to the credits. "I'll Be True To You" plays over scenes from the "production." We get a shot of the backs of all eight couples sitting together on the beach with the sun setting in front of them under the words "A Raybert Production.")