Everyone ready to be evil again? ;)

Mike: No. :p

Peter: I'm not sure. :o

Lauren: Sure, why not? ;)

Davy: (Shrugs) Why not? Some of them lady monstahs ain't so bad. ;)

*Micky snores.* :P

Lauren: He's had his eyes closed too long. ;)

Mike: Mick, get up. We're gonna need you for this part. :p

*Micky rolls over. Lauren rolls him onto the floor.*

Micky: I'm awake...

(We begin in a small, dark little town surrounded by thick fog. Monsters, ghouls, and ghosts of all kinds walk, waddle, and ooze around old-fashioned stone and thatch structures. Some even push carts selling everything from apples to stuffed animals. As the mist separates, we see Micky walking in, leading Mike on his collar. Mike is a bit cleaner, but is back in simpler clothes and boots. He seems confused and unfocused.)

Micky: *sighs, walking down the street; to himself* Man, how do I get into these jams? :P

(Mike just bumps into him, not paying attention and unable to see where he's going. He makes a face and puts his hand on his back.)

Micky: *frowns* Careful, Mike.

(Mike shakes his head, trying to clear it.)

Micky: *rubs the back of Mike's head and neck* Man, I can't believe what they've done to you here, Mike. :(

(Mike closes his eyes, a few tears squeezing out as he tries to straighten and only slumps again, cringing.)

Micky: Take it easy, Mike. Don't strain your back any worse than it is. :P

(Mike gestures to ask where they are...then tugs at the leash and collar and makes a face. :p )

Micky: Um... *glances around* I'm not really sure where we are, other than in town. All the buildings look kinda the same to me. :P *pauses, looks closer at the collar* And I have no idea how to get this thing off of you.

(A vampire pulling a cart passes by.)

Vampire: (Cockney accent) Get your pints of blood and guts here, get your fresh animal blood, made especially for vegetarian vampires! (Indicates one of the glass vessals filled with reddish liquid) Want some genuine animal blood for vegetarians, guvn'ah? ;)

Micky: *puts his free hand out* No, thanks, trying to cut back. :-&

(Mike shakes his head, also making a face. :p)

Vampire: Suit yourself. (Goes on down the street, calling out his wares)

Micky: Gross! :P

(Mike indicates a rolled-up parchment in Micky's jeans.)

Micky: Oh, yeah, the errands list. *pulls it out and unrolls it; it's VERY long* ;)

(Mike touches the long parchment, which extends to the ground and beyond. He wants to know what their first chore is.)

Micky: First up is the bank. (Groans) Oh, why do I think this is gonna be a BLOOD bank? :P

(Mike makes a face as well as they walk over to a huge stone building. It's a wide granite square supported by tons of pillars and fancy stone scrollwork. The words "First National Blood Bank" are written on the top.)

Micky: Gee, how did I know? Great, just great. :P

(Mike steps behind Micky, a bit afraid. :o )

Micky: I know, Mike. It makes me nervous, too, but we don't have much choice. *they both enter warily*

(The bank looks rather like any other...but there are bored witches, vampires, and ghosts behind the counter and several massive wooden desks, and the whole place is covered in cobwebs like a Halloween Haunted House in someone's basement. Micky goes up to a female vampire teller in a red dress and a fancy red spiderweb cape)

Vampiress: (Cracks gum; bored nasal tone) Can I help you?

Micky: *glances at the list again* I need to withdraw a hundred dollars and *makes a face* two pints. :P

Vampiress: Sure. (Goes down under her desk and brings up dark-looking bills; as she counts them) Is Mr. Alex plannin' somethin' special with a special lady at the castle? Last time he withdrew this much money, he was entertainin' a whole gang of human chicks from the topside. (Grins) Hey, you wouldn't be...(grins and shows her fangs)...avalible, would ya? You look like Mr. Alex, except for not havin' any lines on your face... ;) :X

(Mike's eyes widen. :o )

Micky: *gulps* Sorry, no, I'm not available, and I'm only visiting. I'm not really sure what Alex has in mind for this.

Vampiress: (Nods at Mike) How about your buddy on the leash? He's kinda cute. ;)

(Mike shakes his head velhemently. :o )

Micky: Uh, no, he isn't, either. Alex said we couldn't mix business with pleasure, anyway. ;) :P

Vampiress: (Shrugs, disappointed) Shame. There's a summer garden party at Thurm the Mummy's sarcophagus tonight. You two would make really hot dates. ;) (Goes in back for the pints; returns with two large beakers of reddish fluid) You be careful with those. They're glass, and if you break 'em, we ain't replacin' them. :p

Micky: *nods, taking the pints* Oh, I will! Thank you. *wary smile*

(Mike grapples for Micky's arm, trying to get him to leave. He shivers as two vampires in long capes and the typical pale makeup take an armful of pints out of the bank, chatting to each other as they pass the human pair.)

Micky: *mutters so only Mike can hear* Let’s get OUTTA here. *normal; to vampiress* Thanks again.

(They duck out...and Micky stops, as he immediately realizes he's stepped in something gooey.)

Micky: *looks down* Oh, gross! What the heck is that!? :P

(Mike slowly and painfully leans over and touches the greenish slime Micky stepped on. Two eyes on stalks pop out of the top, and it pulls away. As it leaves, it blows a raspberry at Micky and grumbles. Mike wipes his hands, frowing and making a face. :p))

Micky: Did that thing just razz me?

(Mike nods. :p)

Micky: Oh, man, I hate this. This stinks! I wanna go home, but, no, I'm the Devil's errand boy! :P X-(

(Mike groans and indicates his back, pointing out that things could be worse. :p)

Micky: I know, Mike, but where I'm from, you aren't at all like this. You're...you. I can't stand seeing you like this.

(Mike frowns. He wants to know what he's like where Micky is from.)

Micky: Well, you know how you were before all those awful things the devils did to you. Just like that, with a wife and a little daughter. *pauses, staring out at nothing in particular* God, I miss Lauren and the twins and the others. :(

(Mike frowns, shaking his head. He doesn't remember those things. His head is still hazy from his time with Shelia.)

Micky: *sighs* My you isn't injured. He can do whatever he wants, within reason. Plays music, has a family. I had that, too. :(

(Mike gently puts his hand on Micky's shoulder to comfort him, then indicates Alex's list. If they don't finish the list, Alex will be angry.)

Micky: Thanks, Mike. *looks at the list again, trying to compose himself* This list is gonna take forever... :P *glances at the next item* Laundry? Yuck! :P

(Mike makes gestures like wringing and scrubbing clothes, then makes a face. :p)

Micky: You got it. :P

Micky: I hope this turns out better than the bank.

(As the two walk across the square, they hear chattering. There is a crowd gathered around a band in the square, playing what sounds like "Daily Nightly." Mike perks up a bit; this music is familiar to him. The band is made up of a bunch of monsters in bright "mod" clothing playing guitars and such.)

Micky: *also vaguely recognizes the song* Wow...

(Mike's eyes slow uncloud as he recognizes the tune. Some of the people in the square recognize him and point at him, leaning over their friend or co-worker and whispering. One of the wolfmen in the band stop playing.)

Micky: Uh oh.

Wolfman: (Understandably gruff, deep voice) Hey, man, aren't you Michael Nesmith?

(Mike nods slowly.)

Vampiress: I thought he was dead!

Ghost Woman: Well, more dead than some of us. ;)

Wolfwoman: (She wears fashionable gypsy-like garb) Hey, man, he's awesome! He wrote some of the greatest protest songs in the history of the Underworld! We were just playing one of his hits! :D

*Micky's eyes widen.*

Wolfman: Man...and I do mean man...(gently hands Mike the guitar)...you should be playin' this. It's your song.

(Mike pulls back, shaking his head. He can't see to play, and he can't remember how.)

Micky: *looks at Mike; sighs* He can't play. To him, it's the same thing as being dead. :P

Wolfman: Dude, it ain't hard. Hell, I can do it, and I've got fur and claws! ;) (Gently pushes the guitar into Mike's hands) I want you to play it. Play it like you used to in the Salem's Roost Inn. :)

(Mike shakes his head, frightened. He can't play when he can't see...but it's obvious he wants to as he runs his fingers over the instrument.)

Micky: *puts a hand on Mike's shoulder* Mike, CAN you play? I know you can't see it...

(Mike closes his eyes, trying to remember all the chords. He strums, rusty and a bit scratchy at first, but finally starts the opening to "Daily Nightly." His eyes and face grow less confused the more he plays. :D)

(The monsters and other gruesome creatures in the square start to dance, fly, slither, crawl, and spook each other. ;) )

*Micky's grin slowly grows very wide.* :D

*One particularly ugly looking witch wearing a purple dress pulls Micky into a dance with her. He keeps trying to pull away, but she keeps pulling him to her.* ;)

(Micky ducks away from the witch and into a big building...but ducks out again when the blob comes out, throwing green slime at him. ;) :p)

(Micky joins the Wolfband, which offers him sausage sandwiches the size of skyscrapers, huge chunks of both raw and cooked beef, massive cooked chickens, and gallons of water and juice. :D)

(There's a sudden poof of smoke, and they're joined by a Vampire couple who gnaw on the raw meat for the juice. ;) :p)

(Micky ducks into a laundromat where several tons of sheets and linens are being washed seemingly by themselves.)

(Micky goes into a music shop filled with gorgeous instruments. At the back of the shop a man in a long cape and a half-mask, with slicked back hair, plays an organ. Micky is entranced by the music and listens. When he finally draws up the courage, he talks to the man, who produces music sheets with a flourish and a poof of smoke. As Micky leaves, he notices the chandelier shake and rattle... ;) )

(Micky's next stop is a bookshop. He picks up a bunch of VERY interesting, simple-looking pamphlets before going to the desk. A ghostly woman in a Victorian gown and a severe bun hands him several stacks of books...but Micky's hands go right through the ghostly books. He makes a face. :p)

*Micky ducks into a furniture shop next, which happens to specialize in coffins. He goes up to one that has its own TV and kitchen. Micky gets in and tries it out. To his surprise, there's actually food in the fridge. However, the food is moving on its own. Micky quickly closes the fridge door and jumps out of the coffin.*

(Micky next stops at sarcophagus where a bunch of mummies, some still in Egyptian dress, play jazzy tunes while shuffling to the beat.)

Alex: *appears in a large black light right near where Mike is playing; looks pissed* What is going ON here!? X-( :P

(Mike just goes on playing, sitting on a dark red fountain in the middle of the square as monsters and ghouls pass him, sometimes complimenting him on his music. The song ends as Alex pushes his way through the crowd listening to Mike's playing and Micky's singing.)

Alex: Enough! *grabs hold of the front of Mike's shirt, the guitar sliding from his grip; dips Mike into the fountain water, then pulls him back up again*

Micky: Hey!?

(Mike winces and tries to grab his back, then pull away, still cringing. :o :( :p)

Vampire: Hey, what was that all about?

Vampiress: He was playin' good music!

Wolfman: I ought to bite you in the important parts! :p X(

Alex: *sneers* The problem is that he should NOT be playing at all. :P X-(

Micky: *low, but even* The real problem is that he SHOULD be playing. :P

(Mike gulps and gestures at Alex, then the guitar, then Micky, confused and scared. :o :( )

*Alex glares at Micky.*

Wolfwoman: Let him go, before we decide to add YOU to tonight's meal!

Vampirress: I've been DYING for a good bite all night! ;)

Ghost Man: It would be spook-tacular. ;)

Alex: Except that if you did that, then everyone around here would be deader than they already ARE, because I have a special...IN...with the Devil herself. ;) >:)

(Alex pulls Mike from the fountain and throws him on the ground.)

Micky: Watch his back! :P X-(

(Mike opens his mouth to scream, but can't. He grabs his back, then his legs, in pain. :o :( )

Wolfman: I don't care if you've got in with Boris Karloff and Vincent Price! You shouldn't go around treatin' a great musician like that! :p

Alex: *sneers* You want a place to go on "living?" Then I'd suggest keeping your comments to yourselves. *turns to Micky* And you have no place to talk. :P

*Micky's fists clench at his sides, but he makes no further remark, nor does he advance.* :P

(Mike tries once again to reach for the guitar. :o )

*Alex slides the guitar away with his foot.* :P X-(

(The crowd in the square finally dissolves, some to the Salem's Roost Inn. Mike finally and painfully gets to his knees and gestures to Alex to ask him why he doesn't like it when he plays guitar, as he now knows he can, even when blind.)

Alex: *smirks* Come now. I don't like your kind of music. Too much heart. :P

(Mike shakes his head. HE likes the music. It makes him feel better, more like...well, like himself. He sighs and gestures at some of the female vampires and ghosts - it also makes him miss Emma.)

Alex: You are with us now. Forget all of that. Seems I'll have to ask Shelia to try harder with you. ;) :P >:)

(Mike shakes his head as Alex yanks him to his feet.)

Alex: You will do as I SAY!

(Mike gulps and tentatively but decidely takes a few steps back from Alex. Micky puts a hand on his shoulder comfortingly.)

Alex: *to Micky* You have more errands to run. Do them. Do NOT Let me catch you goofing off again. :P X-( *disappears in a black light*

(Mike sticks his tongue out in what he thinks is the general direction of the light. :p )

Micky: *sarcastic* That went well. *sighs* Looks like we have to continue on with the list. :P

(Mike indicates the fountain. He doesn't understand why Alex refuses to allow him to play music, which he loves doing more than anything.)

Micky: He won't let you play because Alex know that the music can heal you, Mike. It works that way in my world.

(Mike indicates his back, then his legs and his throat. When he played, they felt...better.)

Micky: That's part of the healing, Mike. He doesn't want you healed. He wants to use you as a slave and a play thing for Shelia. That's why he won't let you play the music.

(Mike gulps and shakes his head. He doesn't want that anymore. He puts a hand on Micky's shoulder. He wants to help him...and both of them.)

Micky: I know, Mike. The others are working on a plan to free all of you and somehow get me home.

(Mike gestures in the general direction of the town and moves his hands as if he's drinking. He's thirsty, and he thinks they could get something to drink at the Inn. :) )

Micky: Wanna drab a drink at the Inn? ;) :)

(Mike nods, smiling. :) )

(Micky and Mike walk over to the Salem's Roost Inn. It's an old-fashioned bar and restaraunt, with vampiress waitresses and a ghostly bartender in an old-fashioned outfit. In fact, it's the bar from "Big Apple Monkees" and "Bandstand Boys" redressed with a few more cobwebs and pumpkins.)

Micky: *mutters* Well, doesn't this look inviting? :P ;)

(A vampire plays the piano on a small stage in the back of the bar. Mike is instantly drawn to the sound. He limps over to it.)

Micky: Oh, man... *follows after Mike*

Vampire: (Grins) Well, hello there, gentlemen. (Shows off his nice, white fangs) Any requests? ;)

(Mike shrugs as Micky hurries up to him and takes his arms.)

Micky: *warily* Something upbeat? Your choice? :)

(Mike sits down at the piano next to the vampire and, after several minute, works out the first few notes of "Writing Wrongs.")

Vampire: (Sighs) Ahh, a Michael Nesmith tune. I often get requests for those.

(As Mike and the vampire play, some of the monsters get up and dance. Other chase each other around, trying to bite someone's neck or spook each other. ;) )

*Another vampire gets up from a table and makes his way over to Micky, who'd been watching Mke and the vampire play. He gets spun around and around and around. He eventually makes a rut in the floor.* :P

(A vampiress grabs Micky, sticks a rose in his mouth, and tangoes across the room with him.)

(Micky looks up...and up....and up....at the Big Foot who now shares the bar with him. ;) )

(The ghosts of two ballroom dancers, complete with her in a feathered and sequined gown and him in a tux, take the stage, dancing over, around...and through...bar customers.)

*Micky slides away from the bar and runs into a wolfman. The wolfman sniffs at Micky's hair, makes a face, and keeps going. Micky shrugs.* :P

(A witch in a long, elaborate gown turns Micky's plain water into a dark-looking liquid with small blue things floating in it. Micky takes a sip and discovers it's a pleasant blueberry beer. :D)

(Another vampire looks over Micky and pushes aside his curls to..um, nibble...before Micky realizes what he's doing and hurries off. Big Foot gets annoys and stomps on the vampire. The vampire, now squashed, waddles off. ;) )

(Micky returns to Mike with a ghost and a fish woman on each arm as the song ends. ;) )

Vampire: Hey, you're not a bad player there.

(Mike smiles in the vampire's direction. :) )

Micky: This actually turned out kinda fun. :) ;)

(Mike stands and gropes around, finally making his way to the bar. He smiles and gestures at the ghost bartender.)

Bartender: And what'll you have, son? :)

(Mike gestures to Micky's blueberry beer.)

Micky: Good choice, Mike. He'll have one of these. ;)

(The bartender nods and brings a blueberry beer for Mike, too.)

Fish Woman: (Grins) You boys wanna go spook some ocean documentary filmmakers with us? ;)

Ghost: You've never lived until you've seen how fast a guy can run in a wet suit! ;)

Micky: Wish we could, but we're on an errand run for Alex. :P

Fish Woman: THE Alex?

Micky: *nods* Yeah.

Ghost: The Devil's apprentice? (Grins) I heard he's dishy. Shame he's all living. The good ones never die soon enough. :p

Fish Woman: Ok, now you're spooking ME. :p

*Micky just makes a face.* :P

(Mike smiles as another song begins, an instrumental version of "Goin' Down." He indicates his back; it feels better since he's played music. He can sit up a bit straighter, too. :) )

Micky: *grins* We've definitely got to keep you around the music, Mike. Any chance we get, you're gonna play some music. :)

(Mike nods and smiles widely. He then indicates the two female monsters, who have now turned their backs to chat amongst themselves. He wants to renew the search for Emma when they return to the castle.)

Micky: Yeah, we'll search for Emma again when we get back.

(Mike finishes his beer, jumps a bit like he's hiccuping, and smiles. He indicates the parchment in Micky's jeans; they unfortuantly still have errands to finish.)

Micky: *pulls the parchment out, frowning* Yeah, more errands. Yay. :P Come on, Mike, might as well get going again.

(Mike makes a face and joins Micky. As they head out, the vampire at the piano goes to a small group of monsters and ghost gathered around the bar and whispers to them. They all stand and go to the wall...and seemingly disappear behind it.)

(Cut to the misty, gloomy road to the castle. We see a quick montage of Micky leading Mike down the road, across the drawbridge, and into the rose-laden courtyard. Micky carries a large pile of boxes. Mike tugs a smaller pile on a wagon.)

Micky: I don't mean anything rude by this, Mike, but I think my back is gonna end up looking like yours by the time we're done. :P

(Mike indicates the wagon. He wants Micky to put his packages there. He's feeling strong enough to pull it after his session at the piano in the bar. :) )

Micky: *shakes his head* No, Mike, you've got enough in the wagon already. I can handle this.

(They finally arrive in the courtyard. Alex is there, looking impatient. Mike gulps, but stands firm and as tall as he can next to Micky. Davy and Peter are on either side of Alex, smirking.)

Micky: Uh oh...

Alex: Well, boys, look who finally decided to grace us with their presence.

Davy: Only took them all bloody day! :p

Peter: Why didn't they just sleep in town?

Alex: And I bet they STILL didn't finish all the errands. :P

Micky: We did them as fast as possible! We kept getting stopped by different characters wanting something of us or just decide to sidle up to us. :P

Alex: I don't want excuses! I want results! I wanted ALL of those errands done!

(Mike pulls the wagon up to Alex and gropes around, finally coming up with some packages that he hands to him.)

Alex: What have we here?

(Mike tries to draw Micky away while Alex is distracted, but Davy and Peter block them.)

Davy: Where are you boys goin'? ;)

Micky: Heh. Uh, I guess no where, huh? :P

Peter: The party's just starting! ;)

Davy: I think they ought to be punished, Mastah.

(Mike shakes his head and narrows his eyes. He pulls Micky behind him.)

Peter: You can't do anything about it, Michael. You can barely stand.

Alex: *puts the packages down* Nice try, guys, but I think a punishment would be perfect right now.

Micky: *looks around and down at Mike* Mike, let me handle it.

(Mike tries to reach in Peter's direction, but only ends up wincing. This time, however, he looks angry instead of defeated. X( )

Micky: *frowns* Mike, let me handle this!

Alex: *folds his arms* I need a good punishment for these two.

(Mike looks angrily at Alex...then gropes for Micky. He gestures at Alex. He wants to do SOMETHING...but is a bit afraid, and his back still hurts somewhat. :( X( )

Micky: No, Mike.

Alex: How about this. Let’s have these two clean the drawbridge... *makes two toothbrushes appear in his hand* with these. >:) ;)

(Mike reaches for Micky...and squeezes his arm hard, trying to keep from lunging for Alex in anger. X( )

Davy: I think that's fittin', Mastah. ;)

Peter: Then, they can help the staff clean up after dinner and clean our suites. ;)

Alex: Excellent idea, Peter. ;) >:)

Micky: *sighs lightly* Fine, we'll do it. :P

Alex: *hands over the toothbrushes* And you'd better do a good job!

(Mike shakes his head and gives what he hopes is an angry glare in Alex's direction. He reaches for the toothbrush.)

Micky: *grabs the toothbrushes and puts one in Mike's hand* Here, Mike.

(Mike smiles briefly at Micky, then shakes his fist angrily at Alex, wishing he could take him on. X( )

Davy: Look at 'im! 'E thinks 'e’s some overlord or somethin'! ;)

Micky: *groans* Mike! :P

(Mike gropes for Alex, waving the toothbrush. :p X( )

Alex: *laughs; smacks Mike's right arm, knocking him onto the ground* I wouldn't push it, White Knight. *laughs; he, Peter, and Davy walk back toward the castle*

(Mike pounds the ground in anger and frustration...then reaches back and puts a hand on his aching back and legs. :p X( :( )

Micky: Mike... *kneels down and gently places a hand on Mike's back* I told you to let me handle it. :(

(Mike gestures like he's holding a sword, then indicates himself...and just pounds the ground again. X( :( )

Micky: I know you want a piece of him and it's perfectly understandable, but physically, you're not ready, Mike. *sighs* I'm not even sure if you're truly mentally prepared. :(

(Mike runs his fingers over the toothbrush and makes a face, then indicates the ground under them. :p)

Micky: I REALLY don't wanna clean the drawbridge. That's just plain GROSS! Maybe we could use this opportunity to go look for Emma.

(Mike grins and nods. :D)

Micky: I knew you'd like that. ;)

(Mike puts a hand over his heart. He frowns, trying to remember something. He then grins...but frowns again. He runs his fingers over Micky's body, indicating curves and glasses.)

Micky: *chuckles* Man, Mike, that tickles! *makes a face, trying to figure out what Mike's thinking of* Em wears glasses...

(Mike then sticks his fingers downwards like he's sticking them in a honey pot, then makes "horns" on his head.)

Micky: *makes a face* Heh? Mike, I may be pretty good at playing Charades, but you've got me totally baffled. :-/

(Mike makes ears like a bear's, then cuddles the toothbrush. He then makes the curves and glasses again, this time over his own body so he tickles himself. ;) )

Micky: A ticklish bear wants to hug a toothbrush?

(Mike grabs a stick and writes words in the dirt where the roses are planted - "Em," "Shelia," and "teddy bear.")

Micky: *eyes widen* Shelia turned Emma into a teddy bear! *pauses, then makes a face* Why didn't you say so in the first place? :P ;)

(Mike just rolls his eyes and shakes his head. :p)

Micky: What?

(He then writes "Shelia put Em away. Do not know where.")

Micky: Oh, man. I guess we'll be playing a game of hide and seek, then. :P

(Mike nods. He angrily throws the toothbrush across the courtyard. X( )

Micky: Come on, Mike, let’s go look for her.

(Mike nods, and the two men head down the hall. He once again tries to get the collar from around his neck. :p)

Micky: *tries to help get the collar off Mike* As much as I'd like to get out of here, I'd prefer to help you guys out as much as possible. I don't wanna run out on all of you, but I miss home. The others must be so worried about me. :(

(Mike nods and tugs at the collar. He sighs. He knows how much Micky must miss his family, as he misses Emma terribly. :( )

Micky: *also continues to tug at the collar* We just have to help each other as much as we can.

(Mike makes a "ring" around his finger. When he finds Emma, he is going to ask her to marry him. :) )

Micky: Oooooohhhhh, you wanna ask Em to marry you! :)

(Mike smiles, his clouded eyes lighting up. :) )

Micky: That's wonderful, man. :D

(Mike nods and puts a hand on his heart. He closes his eyes, trying to feel where she is, or at least something close to it.)

Micky: Getting anything?

(Mike nods. He points towards some steps. They make their way upstairs, Mike slowly. He leads them to a suite of rooms at the end of the hall that are dark, dim, dusty, and cobwebby. They look like they haven't been used in a while...except for a plush velvet ottoman that is less musty than the rest of the furniture and a dust-less spot in the middle of the carpet where something heavy was.)

Micky: *whistles* Not a bad room. Little dusty, but still nice.

(Wispy bits of whitish mist with smiling faces dart around the room. Some moan, others giggle. They stick their tongues out, cross their eyes, and make crazy faces with psychadelic lights backing them, to the tune of "I Never Thought It Peculiar.")

Micky: *over the music* What the... :P

(The ghosts are rather annoyed with Mike, who can't see them and shows no interest whatsoever. They moan around him and go through him, but he only makes a face and tries to reach for them...which he can't, of course. :p ;) )

(The ghosts dark in, out, and around the room, singing along with the song, sometimes disappearing...only to reappear behind Micky, Mike, or furnature.)

*Micky starts swatting at the ones circling him. Of course, everytime it looks like he'll actually swat one of them, it goes right through his hand.* :P ;)

(The ghosts run through each other, laughing and whispering as the song ends.)

Ghost 1: Whaatt dooo you waaannnttt heeerrre, Maassstterr Aaaallleexxx?

(Mike shakes his head and indicates Micky, trying to explain that this isn't Alex.)

Micky: *aggrevated* I'm not Alex, and you're really annoying me! :P X-(

Ghost 2: Annnoooyyyinnnnggg...not sssscarrrinnnggg? :(

(Mike shakes his head. :p)

Micky: ANNOYING! :P X-(

Ghost 3: Weeee waaannttedd to ssscccarrreeee youuuu! :p

Micky: Well, tough, it ain't workin'! :P

Ghost 1: If youuuu arrreeennn'ttt ssscarrredd, whaaaatt doooo youuu wwannntt?

Micky: We're looking for a teddy bear. Have you seen it?

Ghost 4: Nnnnooo ttttedddyy. (Dips and brushes the floor) Wwee dddiiiidddd rrrreeeecenttly see a llliivvvingg ggirrrll hereee innnn a ccagggeee.

(Mike nods frantically, trying to ask what happened to her. :o )

Micky: *eyes widen* Really? *places a hand on Mike's arm* Have you seen her lately?

Ghost 2: Mmmmiiiiiiiisssstttreessss Sssshhhheeellliiiaaa cccaaammmeee andddd tooookk herrr awaaayyy yyyesssterrdayyy. Sssommethingg abouttt ssshooowwwinnggg heerr kkknniggghhhtt...

(Mike frowns and looks at the dusty carpets sadly. :( )

Micky: So you don't know where she is now? Oh, man. :P

Ghost 4: Ooohhhhh, I mmmaaayyy! I sssawww Mmmmiissstressss Sssshheeellliiiaa innn the dddunngeeeonnn thiss mmoorrrninngg! Shheee wassss reeellllyyy agggitttattted!

Micky: The dungeon...

Ghost 1: Sssshhheee usuallllyyy doesssnnn'ttt gooooo thhheerrreee!

Micky: What do you think, Mike?

(Mike puts a hand on his heart...and nods. Then writes the word "honey" in the dust and indicates his stomach sheepishly. He's craving honey. ;) :">)

Micky: *rolls his eyes, but he's grinning* Silly. Alright, let’s check out the dungeon, then.

Ghost 1: Ttthhhaaaaannnkksss fffooorrr vvvviisssittingggg! :D

Ghost 3: Cccooommmee aggaiiinn fffooorrr a frrriiiggghtttenninggg ggoooddd tiiimmmeee! ;)

Micky: *waves* Sure thing! And thanks! :D

(Mike nods, smiling, as he follows Micky out the door and we fade out on the ghosts wailing and singing and having a ghost of a good time. ;) )

(Fade in on the Pad's basement room. Emma is downstairs with Micky. She's trying to write down everything he's been muttering.)

Micky: *muttering again* Get away...ghosts...bear...dungeon... :P

Emma: Oh man, I KNEW we'd been letting him watch too many horror movies. :p (She scribbles away as Lauren and Mike come downstairs.)

Mike: Any changes, Em?

Emma: No, but he's been having a very nice little one-sided conversation with himself. ;) (Hands them the pad she was holding. ;) )

Lauren: Great. I wonder what's going on? :P

Mike: Offhand, I'd say Micky's being chased by ghosts and bears in a dungeon of some kind, and according to this, I'm involved somewhere, too, and vampires and Big Foot and devils... (eyes widen) DEVILS?

Emma: (Nods) He's mentioned that a couple of times. (Frowns) You don't think...

Lauren: Oh no...

Mike: I won't be surprised if Shelia and Alex DID have somethin' to do with this. This is just the kind of demented scheme they'd concoct.

Emma: But WHY? WHY would they do this to Micky?

Lauren: Why not?

Mike: Who knows? Maybe Alex felt like flexing his muscles. Maybe he's just the type who likes creating car wrecks. :p

Emma: Lauren, did you call Jack and ask him about Micky and the car?

Lauren: Yeah. He said Micky left the station as usual. He said goodbye and headed out. They joked a little bit about being careful driving in the rain, but nothing to tip off anything unusual.

Emma: Has anyone called the police?

Mike: Yeah. No one reported a car accident in that area at that time last night, or anything stranger than...(frowns as he realizes something)...a few black lights. :o

Lauren: Black lights? (Eyes widen) Damn! :P

Emma: That must have been Alex coming and going. :p

Mike: Yeah, but it still doesn't explain WHY he did this...and where Micky is now.

Emma: How's Emilio getting along with the twins, Lauren?

Mike: Katie's upstairs, taking a nap. She knows there's somethin' weird goin' on, and I don't think she quite trusts Emilio, but as long as the twins are cool with it, she's cool. :)

Lauren: Just fine. He's settled in with them for the most part. *grins* I think they actually like jumping on him more than Mick. They like the *clang* sound they get with Emilio. ;)

Mike: (As she and Mike chuckle) Do they know he's...well, he ain't human?

Emma: I hope they haven't asked him to go swimming. :p

Lauren: I don't think they understand that aspect. No, they haven't asked him to go swimming. Actually, I told them that he wasn't feeling very well, hense anything he might get wrong and why he wouldn't want to go in the water. ;)

Mike: Lauren, did you check out that spot on the way back from your place?

Lauren: *nods* Nothing. It's clean. It was so clean, I went up and down the whole neighborhood. :P

Mike: (Whistles) Dang. :p

Emma: Alex did his job TOO well. :p

Lauren: Yeah. Apparently, he's getting a lot better. :P

Mike: Well, what do we do now? We know Alex and Shelia did something to Mick, but not WHAT, or how they're keeping him like this, or where he is. (Looks at Lauren) Do you think Davy could babysit the twins and we could try to have you and Emilio get through to Mick again?

Emma: If he really IS in some kind of Hell, that may be risky.

Lauren: I don't think Davy would mind babysitting. *sighs* Risky or not, we have to try something. I'm doing all I can as is to keep it together for the twins. :P

Mike: Yeah. We've got to get him out of this somehow.

Emma: Ursula. (Looks at Lauren) You could go to Ursula and ask her. She might have some idea of what's going on.

Mike: And, more to the point, how to get him out.

Lauren: *nods* I'll do that.

Mike: I'll go call Emilio and Dave and see if we can get him over here to work on Mick again.

Emma: (Strokes Micky's reddened, muttering, worried face) Don't worry, Mick. We'll get you out of whatever Alex and Shelia have done to you. We promise.

(Emma squeezes Micky's hand again as he tosses and turns and we fade out on the scene.)