Ok, everyone ready to finish this story?

Micky: I am!

Mike: No. I kind of liked this one.

Peter: I am. I can't eat another bite.

Davy: I'm full, too.

(We open back at Millie's. Everyone is sitting around the tables in the middle of the room. It's dark, and the store is closed. Everyone but Micky and Sach are sitting back in their chairs, rubbing their stomachs.)

Mike: I can't eat another bite.

Peter: Me either. I don't know how you two do it, Mick.

Micky: Practice makes perfect.

Jessie: (Grins) Wasn't that a great milkshake, Surfer Boy? Millie even gave us two straws!

Nyles: That was the best milkshake I ever had, babe.

Sach: I would've eaten more but the Chief wants me to cut back on being a glutton.

Mike: Mil only has so much ice cream, Sach.

Bert: Hey, everyone. Enjoying the rewards of your successful rescue mission?

Emma: And how!

Bert: What happened after you guys left the factory?

Mike: Nothin'. They questioned us, and we came over here for ice cream. To our knowledge, Frazzlemeyer and his boys are cooling their heels in the city jail. They'll probably go on trial next week.

Valerie: Or even faster, if my father has any say in it. Frazzlemeyer wanted to press charges against us for trespassing...and while I will admit he had a good point, Dad countered that by reminding him of the charges against him for kidnapping, unlawful use of chemicals, larceny, and fraud.

Peter: Turns out Freddy Rogers never sold him the place. He wanted to open a smoothie store and surf shop. He brain-drained Freddy, forged his signature on the deed to the building, and covered Freddy in his own ice cream to hide him. That worked out so well, he brain-drained a few more employees and covered them with the ice cream to scare them away from the chemicals and the formula.

Bob: So he really was brain-draining everyone.

Mike: Apparently, unless you were covered with ice cream like Freddy, it was only temporary...but enough for Frazzlemeyer to make you buy a lot more ice cream and other things from his store.

Peter: He was going to sell it and drain brains across the country. If he could drain everyone's brain, he had it in his head that he'd be the smartest one around...smarter than the Sealtest lab workers who fired him for messing around with their chemicals.

Mike: Micky, you had a look at that formula. Any ideas on why it didn't work on us?

Peter: I'm wondering if our powers reacted badly with whatever he used...

Mike: That's what I'm thinkin'. Everyone else who has had it liked it.

Micky: That's the only thing I could figure on. It had some particular chemicals in it, but I'm familiar with all of them and know of nothing wrong with them.

Peter: I talked to Ursula about this on our way over here. She says she thinks our powers may have protected us from the brain drain that effected everyone else...and our taste buds reacted by making it seem too sour to eat.

Jessie: What about us? We didn’t like it, either!

Mike: (Leans over Micky and whispers) They don't got nuthin' to drain.

*Micky grins.*

Bert: Micky, what happened with that ice cream you were making? Did you really put it in the vat?

Micky: I sure did.

Mike: (As Millie comes out to get the plates) Apparently, whatever Micky did counteracted the effect of Frazz's ice cream, makin' it harmless.

Valerie: And safe for my father to eat. He said all he felt was the usual slight brain freeze when he tried that sample, nothing like what happened to Slip.

Slip: *He's seated at the counter* Som'en which I would just as soon forget.

Mike: I thought that was pretty funny. You and Sach sure seemed to enjoy yourselves.

Slip: I couldn't help myself.

Sach: Chief, you're just mad because I won the game.

Slip: I'd belt you, but I don't feel like getting up.

Bert: What's going to happen to Frazzlemeyer's Ice Cream Shop and factory?

Mike: Sounds like both are goin' out of business. Freddy Rogers is gettin' his shop back. Ain't sure about the factory.

Valerie: I heard Dad say Sealtest is probably going to buy the factory back and continue to manufacture ice cream there...without the added ingredients.

Bob: What I'd like to know is...who gave Frazzlemeyer the money to buy the factory in the first place?

Mike: We've been wonderin' that ourselves. His story 'bout inheritin' money sounded real fishy.

Peter: He refuses to mention how he got the money. He's been sticking to his original inheritance story, though he seemed to be confused as to weather it was an aunt or a cousin or his parents.

Bob: Hey Slip and Sach, how are you enjoying your new jobs?

Sach: I'm having a great time! Millie's wonderful! *Leans over and hugs her.*

Millie: (Laughs) Sach, you nut! (Grins) I'm just glad I was able to find someone who knows the business so well.

Slip: She's obliviously talkin' about me.

Sach: We did learn from the best.

Millie: Aw, cut it out, you guys. You're gonna make an old lady blush.

Mike: (Looks around) Old lady? Where? I don't see an old lady.

Peter: You'll never be old, Millie.

Millie: You boys are just saying that.

Sach: No, we ain't.

Mike: Millie, you're kind of like our ma...and the mom to every kid in this area who eats at this place.

Valerie: And my father worships your chessecakes. There's a reason he sells them in his grocery chain.

Millie: (Smiles) That's all I ever wanted. Just to take care of people and make sure there's enough cheesecake for everybody.

Slip: Louie was the same way.

Millie: (Pats Slip's shoulder) Your Louie sounds like he was a good man, whether he extended your tabs or not.

Slip: Thanks, Mil. *nods* He was a good man.

Millie: Well, I'm glad you're here now. You're good, hard workers (shakes her head as Sach finishes his fifth banana split) and hungry ones!

Slip: You ain't seen nutin', yet, Mil.

Sach: We'll hafta introduce you to some friends of ours, Millie. You'll love 'em!

Millie: Sure! I could always use more help around here. Can they bake and sling ice cream?

Sach: Whitey can bake. Chuck and Butch can sling the ice cream.

Slip: They can... but how well do ya want them to do those jobs?

Millie: Well, I could hire them on a trial basis and see how well they do.

Sach: Thank you, Millie! *hugs her again*

Millie: (Smiles) Sure, Sach. You boys have both been huge helps for me. I don't want to try to run everything myself again. I know I wore myself out the last time that happened. (Turns to Lauren) You and Micky, too.

Lauren: Anytime, Millie.

Micky: Absolutely.

Jessie: Yeah, man! Anything for the maker of the best cheesecakes in the whole wide world!

Millie: (Grins) Thanks, guys. Thanks for helpin' me get rid of that phoney Frazzlemeyer.

Mike: No sweat, Millie. That's kind of our side job.

Bob: Which reminds me, how's your other job coming, Mike?

Mike: If you mean the videos, not well. (Nods at Herman) We did finish a few with him, but we need to make money for more.

Peter: And the rights to our music are still caught in litigation with Belavarg.

Valerie: My lawyers are working on that.

Mike: Which reminds me, Herman, we're hopin' to start another one within a few days.

Herman: Great.

Mike: Yeah. We're all workin' on this one. We're thinkin' maybe a comic thing, like an old Bowery Boys movie.

Sach: Oh, that's great! I love those guys!

Mike: Yeah. Just a bunch of goofy guys runnin' around and gettin' in trouble.

Micky: Sounds familiar.

Mike: No kiddin'.

Bob: So, what was your favorite part of this story?

Emma: Unmasking the ice cream monsters in the end. That was so Scooby Doo!

Mike: The first stake-out.

Peter: Definitely.

Valerie: Saving Dad.

Micky: Yeah, the first stakeout.

Lauren: Spying.

Sach: Playing Jacks with the Chief.

Slip: *Shakes a fist at Sach* Deckin' Sach.

Jessie: Getting to run around that factory and seeing Nyles in the ice cream monster costume. He looked kind of cute.

Nyles: That was my favorite part.

Davy: The rescue at the end.

Millie: I'll side with Davy. Unmaskin' Frazzlemeyer for the fraud he was.

Daphne: The rescue.

Mike: In fact, this is one of the best stories we've done in ages.

Emma: I will second that emotion. I don't think I've had as much fun with a story in ages. We've been doing so much better with these than we were at this time last year. Maybe we just needed the right vibe.

Slip: My favorite part was bein' IN the story.

Bob: Which reminds me...so this is your new "Rescue Crew?"

Mike: Looks like it at the moment.

Bob: In that case, welcome to the madness, everyone.

Sach: Thank you!

Jessie: I'm liking it! We get to save ice cream shops and stop bad guys!

Mike: We figured it's time to evolve again, and that includes addin' new characters.

Bert: Where did you come up with the idea for this one, anyway?

Emma: Came out of brainstorming chats in the late spring-early summer. We wanted to do a MonkeeLeague story that was much lighter than the stories earlier this year. The ice cream thing didn't come up until very recently...and a lot of ideas, like the stakeout, were pure improv.

Bert: It sure seemed to work out well.

Mike: Are you kiddin'? This is the most fun I've had doin' one of these stories in a while.

Peter: Actually, I liked the whole comic mystery vibe in this one. It was really enjoyable.

Bob: How about you, Mick? You have a good time?

Mike: He got to do a stake-out and mess with the chemistry set. I'd say "probably."

Micky: Of course I did!

Emma: There are times when all the eclectic things we both love just manage to converge and actually work together. The styles of both the original "Scooby Doo" cartoons and "The Bowery Boys" movies work very well with "The Monkees." (Chuckles) In fact, in 1976, all three probably would have been Saturday kid fixtures. They would have watched "Scooby" and "Monkees" re-runs in the morning, then "The Bowery Boys" during the afternoon movie matinee.

Mike: (Grins at Slip and Sach) No wonder I like you guys.

Slip: Natterally.

*Suddenly, there's a knock to the tune of "Shave and a Haircut" at the front door.*

Slip: Want me to get that, Millie?

Millie: Yeah. I have to get Sach's next banana split.

Sach: Priorities, y'know.

Mike: Who could be here at this hour? This place is closed!

Peter: Maybe it's someone selling something?

Slip: We'll find out as soon as I get to the door. *Slides off his stool and heads for the front door; looks through the curtains on the door* Well, I'll be an old, fat soda jerk...

*Slip opens the door and lets in three young men whom are dressed similarly to Slip and Sach.*

Slip: About time you fellas got here.

Sach: Whitey! *Jumps up and hugs the one with the bleached-looking hair*

Millie: Friends of yours?

Mike: Where have I seen those guys before?

Slip: I guess friends is the word for them.

Millie: (Gives Sach his banana split, then goes to the others) Normally, I'd say we're closed, fellas, but this is a party, and you seem to know my clerks...

Sach: This is my pal Whitey!

Slip: *Sighs and motions to the one with the medium-dark hair* That's Butch. *motions to the one with black hair* And this is Chuck.

Chuck: Who happens to be your brother.

Millie: (Squints at Chuck) I thought I saw the family resemblance.

Chuck: Except I got the good looks.

Slip: Funny.

*Sach laughs.*

Mike: So, what brings you guys here at this time of night?

Chuck: Our train got in late.

Millie: And you want to ask your buddies for a place to stay.

Butch: Exactly.

Millie: Well, they're renting the apartment above here, and I own this place...so...if you don't destroy the joint, you can stay. If they don't mind, of course.

Slip: Well...

Chuck: *Raises an eyebrow* Come on, Slip.

Slip: Alright, you guys can stay.

Whitey: We're gonna be roomies, Sach!

Sach: Oh boy!

Mike: It ain't that bad, Slip. I used to share a place with these guys. (Indicates the other Monkees)

Peter: We survived.

Valerie: Barely. At least you have steady jobs.

Chuck: We didn't always.

Slip: It's bad enough sharing with the maniac. *motions to Sach*

Sach: You're welcome!

Millie: So, you boys hungry?

Butch: Starved!

Chuck: You bet!

Whitey: I am!

Sach: I am, too!

Mike: We're celebratin' dustin' a bad guy who was takin' Millie's business.

Millie: Do you like cheesecakes?

*The trio all give affirmative answers.*

Millie: I'll get you some, then. I should have a few that aren't in deep-freeze. (She goes over to the kitchen)

Peter: Welcome! I'm Peter Thorkleson. (Nods at the others) You might recognize some of us as the Monkees from the specials on TV a few years back.

Emma: And some of us are married to them.

Jessie: And the rest of us are here for the food.

Nyles: That's what I'm here for!

Bob: And we're the directors. Hey, are you all going to be around next month?

Emma: I sure hope so. We'll have quite a story to tell. Next month is when we're telling the female ancestors' story.

Jessie: The wha?

Emma: The lights we saw last month. It's a very long story...in more ways than one.

Mike: Yeah. Urse did say there was more to that than the boys' side of things.

Jessie: Are we gonna get to hear it?

Emma: (Grins) Maybe.

Millie: (Comes out with the cheesecakes) Ok, boys, here you go. I'll just put it on their tab.

Slip: Millie, that's music to my ears.

Millie: Just pay me every now and then, ok? Sach told me what you did to Louie over the years.

Slip: We didn't do it purposely. We just took it for granted that we thought he'd stick around...y'know...longer than he did.

Millie: No one's here forever, Slip. Just don't take me for granted.

Peter: Honestly, Millie, I don't think any of us will ever do that again.

Mike: Yeah, we'd really miss you and this place if it were ever gone.

Chuck: Besides, we just got here.

Mike: You're kind of like one of our mentors. We need your guidance.

Jessie: And your cheesecake.

Millie: Thanks, everyone. That means a lot to hear that.

Sach: Millie, do ya got any more chocolate syrup?

Slip: *Belts Sach over the head with his hat* Here we are tryin' to have a nice moment & you go & ask for chocolate syrup!

Millie: (Laughs) Sure, Sach. And don't beat him, Slip. He's just hungry.

Slip: If I didn't beat 'im, I wouldn't know what to do wit' myself.

Butch: Besides, Sach is always hungry.

Whitey: I ain't never seen him full!

Millie: (Looks at Micky) Sounds familiar. You two related, Micky?

Micky: Not that I know of.

Slip: So? Me and Chuck are brothers but we ain't got as much in common as these two.

Mike: We ain't related...but we sure all feel like it after over ten years together.

Jessie: (Pulls Nyles over to her) We're really tight.

Slip: *Smirks* Well, most of us been friends since we was rugrats playin' ball in the street.

Sach: I'd think som'en was wrong if the Chief didn't belt me with his hat at least a bunch of times a day.

Millie: Well, I'm glad to have you.

Mike: So are we. (Turns to the other three) See, we get into these crazy little jams from time to time, and occasionally, it'll be too much for us to handle. When that happens, we call for help.

Jessie: Like us!

Millie: (Snorts) From time to time?

Chuck: That sounds vaguely familiar.

Peter: This was one of those times.

Mike: Ok, folks. I think it's time to head out and pick up our kids.

Millie: And I really do need to close up shop.

Emma: (Nods) You can find more mysteries and tales of horror and laughter online and at your local library. See you next month!

(We fade out on everyone waving...with Millie and the last of Sach's banana split getting the final shot.)

(Cut to the end credits. We hear "Rosemarie" being played over scenes from the "production." We end with a shot of the entire crew, including Millie, sitting in the center tables with their ice cream and the words "A Raybert Production.")