(We open in a saloon in Junctionville. It's near closing time. The Monkees and their ladies still sit at the bar and the booth nearest to it.)

Mike: Yeah, I remember those stories. I used to hear my cousins talk about the story of Brian McCaunnagh all the time. They say he started out with nuthin' when he left Ireland, then suddenly, just a few months after arrivin' in Texas, struck an oil gusher and became one of the richest men in Houston...and one of the most corrupt. You name it, and ol' McCannaugh delt in it. Graft, vice, bribery, an' worse. He was a handsome sucker, though. Was said to have had three wives and who knows how many kids. Died a broken man, though. According to the story, some mistress or the other shot him just hours after he discovered his oil well ran dry.

Emma: Wow. And I thought the politicians in New Jersey were corrupt.

Micky: Wow...

Mike: To this day, there's some folks who claim he sold his soul to the Devil to be able to find that oil well. Everyone else who tried to find gold or oil on the land thought it was dry. He was the only one who ever found anything. The well ran dry just as mysteriously as it was found, too. They say he's burried in a graveyard in Junctionville's Old City, not far from here, and that his soul still roams the town at night, trying to corrupt the souls of innocents, just the way he was corrupted.

Lauren: That's just...creepy.

Mike: There's a lot of stories like that around here. You wouldn't believe some of the things Jake and Fred used to tell me on campin' trips.

Emma: Yes, I would. I grew up in a town that's over two hundred years old.

Bartender: (Comes up to the bar) Sorry, folks. We're closin'. You're gonna have to go home now.

Davy: Well, we've been 'ere long enough anyway.

Mike: Yeah, it's time we headed home. We've got kids who are gonna want to get up bright and early to help Aunt Kate with farm chores tomorrow.

Peter: And we have our second day of that gig at the fair.

Mike: Here's a little somethin' for your troubles. (He slaps some money down on the table)

Bartender: (Grins) Thanks, Mr. Nesmith! Have a great night!

Mike: You too, Joe. (The eight head out into the night.)

(Cut to a wooded area. The group walks along a path. It's very dark outside. There's barely even a moon in the navy-blue Texas sky. Peter clings to Valerie, whimpering. Mike and Emma stay together.)

*Davy and Daphne have their arms wrapped around one another. Micky and Lauren hold hands.*

Emma: Mike, are you SURE you know where we're going?

Mike: Sure I'm sure, darlin'. I used to take this shortcut all the time when I lived in Texas.

Micky: Well, I think I speak for everyone when I say this shortcut is really spooky!

Peter: I don't like it here! The aura is really freaky.

Mike: Aw come on, Pete! I know this place!

Emma: Mike, it's the middle of the night. Who knows WHAT kind of murderers and muggers and rapists are out there at this hour?

Peter: I'm more worried about ghosts!

Mike: Pete, come on. You aren't scared of those stories we were tellin' back in the bar, are you?

Peter: N...no. Of course not.

Emma: They didn't help, dear.

Micky: I think our minds are just playing tricks on us because it's dark. It's mind over matter and... *suddenly falls to the ground; groans* ow...

Lauren: Mick? What happened?

Micky: *sitting on the ground* Tripped over a broken branch I didn't see. It rolled under my foot, and down I went.

Peter: Micky, are you all right?

Micky: *pulls his sneaker off and rubs at his ankle* My ankle's a little tender.

Lauren: Maybe we should stay put for a few minutes and see if it feels better.

Mike: Good idea.

Emma: Bad idea. I don't want to stay here another minute!

Peter: But Micky's hurt!

Micky: *shakes his head* I'm sorry, guys, but I don't wanna do any further damage to it.

Mike: Maybe we could carry him... (His head suddenly whips up, ears almost seeming to prick) What's that sound?

Emma: What sound?

Mike: That rustlin' noise.

Valerie: Mike, I'm sure it's just the wind.

Mike: No, Val. For one thing, there ain't no wind tonight.

Davy: Maybe it's just a small animal.

Emma: Yeah. Maybe it's a raccoon or something.

Mike: That don't sound like no animal, either.

(That's when something seems to fade into view. It starts soft, and gradually becomes clearer and clearer, finally revealing a handsome, slender middle-aged man in a slick-looking, old-fashioned, expensive cowboy outfit. He leans against a tree, smirking at the group.)

Man: (Texas accent not unlike Mike's) Well, what do we have here? I haven't seen a finer group of pretty ladies since the last time I went to McGonigan's Saloon.

Mike: (Narrows his eyes) Who are you, pal?

Peter: (Eyes widen in horror) M...m...m...m...

Man: Name's Brian McCannaugh. I used to own this town (mutters) until Zero thought I was playin' with the ladies I brought in too much...

Mike: (Growls) Zero.

Peter: YOU'RE Brian McCannaugh? But you're...

Brian: Dead. Really dead. Bullet wound right through here. (Points at a round hole on his vest) Wanna see the bullet hole?

Mike: No.

Valerie: That's disguisting.

Lauren: Ugh!

Brian: You know, I'm in the mood for some fun tonight, and since ya'll are passin' through my woods, I thought we'd play a little game.

Davy: No thanks, mate.

Mike: First of all, asshole, this ain't your woods anymore. It's belonged to the city of Junctionville for years. Second, like the kid said, we ain't gonna play any games.

Brian: Oh, but I'm in the mood for games. (He narrows his eyes at Mike. Mike suddenly stops and closes his eyes right where he is) That's one.

Emma: No! (She gasps and holds her chest) What did you DO to him? (She grabs him and holds him) Mike! Mike, come on, baby!

Micky: *trying to get up* Oh, this isn't good.

Brian: I'm gonna try to stop all of you in your tracks, like I did him. If I can get all of you by the time the moon's gone, you're all comin' with me, an' I get to keep the ladies. If even one of you can escape, the whole group goes free.

Emma: Let him go! Please!

Brian: Hardly, pretty one. He's mine now...or at least, until the moon's light has ended. (He runs his faint fingers over Emma's cheek) You're a not a bad lookin' chit. What'cha doin' with that bony little bastard?

Emma: (Pulls away from him, shivering with revulsion) He's a better man than you ever were!

Brian: (He takes her arm) And the game begins, my friends...now. (He looks at Emma, but she kicks at his shin...and much to her surprise, connects. She takes off into the woods. He rubs his shin, then turns to the others) Let's see here. Who else do I want to add to my collection?

Valerie: Oh no, you don't! (She grabs Peter's hand) Let's get out of here!

Peter: But Val, what about Michael?

Valerie: We'll come back for him later! (She concentrates; they both disappear in blue lights)

Davy: *turns to Daphne* I think they've got the right idea, luv. Let’s go! *there's a blue light around him and Daphne*

Brian: Damn it to hell! (He turns to Lauren and Micky with a smirk) Well, well, what do we have left? Another bony bastard, and his cute little chit.

Micky: *shakes a fist* I'll give you bony! *tries to get up, but slips back down* Dammit!

Lauren: *wraps her arms around Micky's neck* Leave us alone!

Brian: No way! You're the only ones who can't run. (He strokes Lauren's hair) I could have some fun with you, little chit.

Lauren: Back off, before you die again!

Brian: What do you want that skinny little jerk for? I could give you your own palace, gorgeous dresses, every jewel in Texas...

Lauren: That'd be fine if I wanted any of that, but I'm happy as is!

Brian: (Pulls Lauren closer to him) Come on, sweetheart. Look into my eyes.

Lauren: Nooo! Mick!

Micky: Babe! *pulls his good leg under him & pushes up, trying to launch himself toward Lauren, but touches down with his hurt ankle and crumbles immediately* Don't touch her!

Brian: You know you want to come with me, little chit.

Lauren: *tries to push away* No, I don't!

Brian: (Puts his hand on her chest) Oh yes, you do.

Lauren: Noooo, Mick!

*Micky reaches for Lauren, but it's too late.*

(Brian kisses her...and Lauren stops dead in her tracks, her eyes closed and her lips pursed where she was kissed.)

Micky: Damn you!

Brian: There's two. Now (turns to Micky), number three...

Micky: No way! *blue lights himself away*

Brian: Blast it to all hell! (Turns back to Lauren and Mike) At least I have these two. (He concentrates and makes a white, bubble-like object and a purple one appear. Mike is in the white bubble, his eyes still closed; Lauren is in the purple one) Much better. (He makes the bubbles fly to a tree and hover there) Now, to catch the others...

("The Crooked Lion" begins as Brian disappears in a black light. Cut to Peter and Valerie first. Peter whimpers, clutching Valerie's shirt sleeve. She stays close to him.)

(Brian appears behind them, reaching for them. Valerie manages to avade him; Peter's not as lucky. He pulls the shivering blonde close to him, staring into his whiskey-brown eyes. Peter finally freezes, his eyes closing. He waves his hand around Peter, and he appears in a green bubble.)

*A blue light appears in a nearby tree. An apple goes whizzing through the air, past Brian.*

(Brian looks up, but sees nothing in the dark. He makes a face and plows on ahead.)

*Another blue light in the same tree...*

(Brian sees Emma hiding behind a tree. He makes a jump for her and is just about to grab her arm when he's pelted with a bagful of nuts...including the bag they came in. This is followed by a few hungry squirrels, who run all over him. Emma manages to get away, and Brian's left cursing the squirrels and their dinner.)

*There's a chuckle, followed by a blue light from another tree.*

*We cut to Davy and Daphne running along. They stop for a breather.*

(Brian appears next to Daphne and takes her in his arms, stroking her hair. He pulls her to him and kisses her, much like he did Lauren...and she too stiffens, her eyes closed and her lips puckered. He waves his arms around her, and she appears in a pink bubble.)

*Davy jumps at Brian and tussles with him. Acorns rain down on the two, more of them hitting Davy than Brian.*

(This allows Brian to grab Davy and look right into his eyes. Davy's eyes close, and he stiffens. Brian makes a blue bubble appear around Davy, then disappears with both bubbles.)

*Another blue light from a tree, accompanied by faint cursing.*

(Emma and Valerie finally make their way into the clearing as the song ends. Emma is very winded, Valerie less so.)

Emma: Val! Are you ok?

Valerie: Yes, I am, but that bastard got Peter!

Emma: Oh shit. Have you seen any of the others?

Valerie: No. I hope he didn't get all of them!

Micky: *calls out* Not quite all.

Emma: Micky?

Micky: Up here, in the tree! *waves*

Valerie: (Camera shot looking down on the girls from Micky's point of view) Micky, how did you get up there?

Micky: Blue light. My ankle's bothering me too much to walk.

Emma: Well, do you have any ideas of how to get around this guy? He must have the others by now!

Micky: *sighs* Yeah, he got Lauren right in front of me. *pauses* The only think I can think of is to elude him using out powers.

Emma: How have YOU kept from letting him get you?

Micky: I disappeared on him before he had the chance to grab me. I've been kinda following him and throwing stuff at him.

Emma: YOU must be the one who threw that bag of nuts earlier! You saved my hide!

Valerie: I'll bet you threw the apple, too.

Micky: *half grin* Guilty as charged.

Emma: (Thinks) I think you have the right idea, Mick. There HAS to be a way to get the others back...and avoid being caught ourselves.

Micky: I'd be more than happy to keep throwing stuff at him, since I can't do much else at the moment.

Emma: Matter of fact (grins), I think we ALL will. (Looks up) Make room in the tree, Mick!

Valerie: What?

(Cut to the clearing where we began. There are now five bubbles hovering around the tree. Brian makes his way into the clearing, grumbling.)

Brian: Damn it! Where do those nuts keep comin' from? (He looks at the bubbles) At least I have these. Her ladyship is gonna be real happy with all these souls I found for her. I hope she's willin' to let me keep my pick of the chits.

(Suddenly, he's pelted with a whole mess of fruit. Pineapples, oranges, apples, strawberries, bananas, and grapes come raining out of the trees.)

Brian: What in the...

(As he's distracted, Emma makes her way out to the branches, trying to figure out how to break the bubbles without hurting anyone.)

Brian: (The fruit finally starts slowing down) Where...ow! (He's hit on the head with a basket!)

Emma: Just a little more...

*There's a faint chuckle.*

Valerie: (She turns to Micky and grins) Got more bags of nuts laying around?

Micky: *raises his arms to reveal his ammunition* What do you think?

Valerie: (Takes a bag) This could be fun. (She looks at the sky) We just have to keep him going for another few minutes. The moon's almost down!

Micky: This WILL be fun.

Emma: Just a little more... (She reaches for the bubbles, but loses her grip on the branch as she takes a swipe at the white bubble) Mike, I'm here...whoooaaaa! (She tumbles onto the ground, landing with a thud on her rear) Ow.

Brian: What do we have here? (He grabs Emma's arms) Number six, and she's that pretty chit, too.

Emma: No! No! (Turns away, her eyes tightly shut) I won't let you trap me like you did the others!

Micky: Oh no, Em!

Brian: You don't have a choice now, pretty one. Look at me.

Valerie: Micky, throw everything you've got at them! I think Em will understand.

*Micky starts heaving everything he can. At one point, it even looks like the kitchen sink goes flying by.*

Brian: What the... (The kitchen sink finally knocks him to the ground as Emma ducks out of the way)

Emma: (Looks up - the sky is lighter and the moon has faded away) Look! The moon's gone!

Brian: No! NO! (He tries to grab Emma again, but he goes right through her) God DAMN it! Milady promised me my pick!

Emma: Milady. You're one of Sheila's people?

Brian: Is that her name? I thought she was Lady Julia London.

(The bubbles are all fading, too.)

Emma: What'll happen to the others?

Brian: My powers don't work between dawn and dusk, darlin'. Those bubbles will break the moment I'm gone.

Micky: *calls out* Then it's time for you to get lost, pal!

Brian: (Roars) DAMN IT! MILADDDDYYYYYY... (but the "Milady" fades out as he vanishes in a blast of black sparkles. The bubbles float to the ground, depositing all five of the captured Monkees unharmed)

Mike: (Opens his eyes) What in the...

Lauren: What happened?

Emma: Baby! (She throws her arms around him) I'm so glad you're ok!

Valerie: Peter! (She scrambles down the tree) Are you ok?

Peter: (Nods) I think so. I'm really scared, though.

*Micky blue lights himself next to Lauren, arms wrapped around her. She helps him stand.*

*Davy and Daphne hug and kiss...and kiss...and kiss some more.*

Mike: Let's get out of here. We'll blue-light to the cars. We need to get medical attention for Mick's ankle, and I don't want to run into any more urban legends roamin' around in the night.

Emma: Right.

Micky: Fine by me.

Mike: Everyone concentrate on the cars and the parkin' lot.

(There's a series of blue lights in various shades. When they subside, there's nothing left in the woods but the flickering shadows of early morning.)