Everyone ready to learn the fine art of flower arranging? ;)

Peter: Normally, I'd say yes, but someone has to watch the kids. :o

Micky: *knowing grin* You bet. ;) :D

Lauren: I'm ready! :)

Davy: Ready here.

Mike: As ready as someone who knows nothin' 'bout flowers will get. :p

(We open in a truck on the streets of Tokyo. It's a large delivery truck with Japanese lettering and flowers painted on either side. Micky, Lauren, Mike, and Emma are squeezed in the front. All wear khaki uniforms.)

Mike: Ok, guys, you know what you gotta do. Let Keiko do the talkin'. Drop the flowers, take the pictures, and get outta there.

Lauren: Right.

Emma: (Points at a small, non-descript store-front with a large grouping of exotic flowers in the windows) There it is!

Micky: Hm. Looks unassuming enough. /:)

Mike: Yeah, well, you can't judge a shop by it's windows. (Drives the car around to an alley between buildings) Ok, everyone, all out. Remember, we're supposed to be American and British workers for an popular international flower shop in town. (Goes around front, where Davy, Daphne, Keiko, and the flowers Mr. Desmond discussed in the labs are. The two young women and the young man also wear Khaki uniforms.)

Davy: (Rubs his red cheek) Daph, we wern't doin' anythin'! Honest!

Daphne: *arms folded over her chest* Uh huh. :P

Davy: Keiko, tell 'er I didn't touch you!

Keiko: He did not. He was not close enough.

Davy: Thank you! Daph, stop overreactin'! :p

*Daphne grumbles.* :P X-(

Mike: Ok, guys, enough. Just let Keiko do the talkin'. All we're doin' is the haulin' and the photography.

Davy: (Micky, Mike, and Lauren haul out the flowers; Davy hands everyone chopsticks) Ok, folks, we gotta catch them in the act. 'Oneywell thinks they may be filmin' their porn movies here, then sellin' them. :p

Micky: Gotcha.

(Everyone enters the flower shop. A young woman stands behind the counter; there's three more people, two men and a woman, arranging flowers in the shop. Keiko goes to the counter as the others haul in their flower containers.)

Woman Behind Counter: (Waves at a door in the back) Put flower in back, please.

Mike: Ok. (They take the flowers through the door she indicated and into the back room. Mike drops them in a corner) Ok, guys, let's split up. Davy, Daphne, go back out front with Keiko and create a distraction. The rest of us will look for the entrance to wherever their makin' this stuff.

Daphne: Gladly. ;) :P

(Davy and Daphne head back out; the others start looking around.)

Mike: Ok, guys. Look for hidden entrances, trap doors, the usual spy movie stuff.

Micky: *runs his hands over a wall* There HAS to be something.

Lauren: And Mick will probably find it the hard way. :P ;)

Emma: You know, honey, we could always try the obvious. (Points to a somewhat darkly-lit staircase)

Mike: In a spy movie? ;)

Emma: Even James Bond has to use common sense now and then. (Sighs) Besides, this building was probably only built a few years ago. I doubt it has any trap doors or secret entrances. This is modern Tokyo, not the house in the "Clue" game. ;)

Micky: Damn. :P ;)

Emma: Come on, guys, and keep quiet. Someone might get suspicious.

Mike: Right. (They start climbing upstairs. As they get further and further up, they hear some rattling and squeaking noises)

Emma: What IS that?

Mike: Probably my teeth.

Micky: Or worse. :P

Emma: Given what we're looking for, I'd say "or worse" is probably putting it mildly. :p

Lauren: And in general terms. :P

Mike: If we get killed, Honeywell is completely responsible. :p

Emma: How do we get involved with these things?

Micky: We're suckers, plain and simple. :P

Lauren: *rolls her eyes* Let’s face it, we can't say no when it comes to helping others.

Mike: Yeah, well, from now on, when I say "no," I mean "no, don't bother asking, don't even THINK about it." :p

Micky: Works for me. :P

(They finally make it to a brighter, white-washed, boxy hallway at the top of the stairs. The squeaking and rattling is getting louder, and there's a lot of moaning and screaming before it's finally silenced. Mike pulls everyone into a room as a group of people come down the hall, all wearing khaki uniforms and carrying large white boxes with the name of the flower shop on them in Japanese on carts.)

Mike: Ok, this seems normal enough...

Micky: That must mean we're getting really close, then.

Emma: (Eyes widen) Um, honey...maybe it's just me...but did those boxes look like they were moving?

Mike: That means one of two things. Either they're selling Venus Fly Traps here...

Emma: Or those aren't flowers in those boxes. :o

Lauren: *groans* Great. :P

(Moaning starts again, quieter this time, then uncontrollable giggling. Two more people in khaki uniforms, these decidedly Western-looking but speaking Japanese, walk out. After they go, Mike lookes both ways in the hall, then pulls the others out.)

Mike: Looks safe enough. Let's go get our pictures and get outta here. :p

Lauren: And as quickly as possible. :P

Emma: I hope they didn't clear everything out before we can get the photographic evidence.

Mike: All they were carryin' were the boxes. I didn't see any cameras or anythin'.

(The group tip-toes across the hallway to the door the people with the boxes came out of. Mike tries it, but it's locked.)

Mike: Oh darlin', would you be so kind as to... ;)

Emma: Of course. (Pulls out a hair pin and jimmies the lock. It takes a while, longer than normal, but Emma finally gets it open) Darn Japanese efficency. :p

Lauren: I love it when you do that. ;)

Emma: Thank you. ;)

(They enter a plain, white-washed room. The only furnishings are two straight-backed chairs, a long, black laquered table filled with odd plastic and metal instruments, cords, rope, silk scarves, and feathers, and a huge bed with laquered headboards and simple silk sheets. A young Japanese man lays on the bed, bound, gagged, and blindfolded. He wears only a pair of very brief boxers and alternately moans and giggles through his gag. He is tied so tightly, he cannot move.)

Mike: (Whistles) Someone's gotta find a new hobby. :p

Emma: Wow, look at this! There are flowers EVERYWHERE!

Micky: Holy crap! :P

(Indeed, most of the room is covered with flowers. Emma pulls a camera and director's chair from behind one very tall plant.)

Mike: (Holds up one of the metal instruments) Anyone got any guesses what the HELL this is used for? :p

Lauren: Uh, don't know, don't wanna know. :P

Emma: I'm going to say it's not for making fried donuts. :p

Mike: This is weird. Where are the drugs?

Emma: (Closes her eyes) They're in the flowers. Everything is in the flowers.

Mike: Huh?

Emma: Mike, where else would someone hide them? Either the flowers have drugs in them...or they ARE the drugs, like the sleeping gas flowers Desmond showed us yesterday. :o

Mike: Ok, everyone start snappin' pictures. Get as many of this as you can. This is really nasty, man.

Micky: Time to get picture happy.

Emma: I'll untie this poor guy. (She goes about untying the young man while the others snap as many pictures as they can) Are you all right? (He stares at her, then starts giggling again and rambling incoherently in Japanese)

Mike: Oh, man, Honeywell's gonna flip when he sees these!

Lauren: I think he's gonna flip multiple times.

Mike: Mick, go see if they're comin' back. Lauren, you n' I are gonna help Em try to make sense of the guy in his underwear who's laughin' like somethin' funny's goin' on. :p

Lauren: Well, we can try.

Micky: *salutes* Right-oh! *goes to the door*

Mike: (As they join Emma on the bed) You guys speak any Japanese?

Emma: I barely speak English half the time. :p

Lauren: Not a lick. I'm with Em. I stumble over English as it is. :P

Mike: If this guy knows English, he doesn't seem to know it at the moment. (Shakes the man; his laughter stiffles into giggles) Hey, buddy, what's so funny?

Emma: It must be whatever they gave him.

Lauren: *puts her hands on either side of this head & takes a look at his eyes* Eyes are bloodshot, too. I don't think we're going to get very far with him. :P

Mike: (Frowns) Didn't Honeywell say that Keiko was supposed to meet someone in that coffee shop in LA? The one she mistook Davy for? He never showed up, did he?

Emma: (Eyes widen - she knows what he's saying) No, I don't believe he ever did. Baby, do you think this is him?

Mike: They musta grabbed him before he could meet Keiko.

Lauren: *low whistle* Man... :P

Mike: Ok, everyone got their pictures?

Lauren: *nods* Got 'em.

Mike: I'm afraid we can't bring this guy. They'd notice he's gone. Come on. Let's get out of here, before they decide to make us their next stars. :p

Emma: We just can't leave him like this!

Mike: Darlin', we'll send Honeywell after him.

Lauren: I agree. Let’s just get outta here while we can.

Mike: (Opens the door and starts pulling everyone out as the sounds of people speaking Japanese drift upstairs) Holy SHIT! They're comin' back! (Opens another door) Everyone in here, guys!

Micky: Oh, this is REAL fun. :P

(They run into the other room just as the people come back upstairs, this time with empty boxes. Mike peers out of the door as the voices fade.)

Mike: (We see pitch dark) Ow! Who stepped on my leg?

Emma: Sorry, Baby. You've just gotta watch where you put that leg. :p

Mike: Can I help it if I've got a lotta leg? :p

Micky: Man, I can’t see a darn thing. :P

Lauren: I don't like this. :P

Emma: Maybe this will help. (The screen suddenly brightens. The four stand in an office. Like the previous room, it's sparsely furnished, with just a desk, a file cabinet, two chairs, and the ubquitious exotic plants and flowers.)

Mike: Just a normal executive office.

Emma: That's awfully fancy for a flower shop. This is top-of-the-line office equipment, Baby.

Lauren: Very posh.

Micky: How do I get an office like this? ;)

Mike: It would help to be an executive first. ;)

Micky: *grins* Smart ass. ;)

Lauren: *groans* Guys... :P ;)

Emma: This must be an office for another company. Most small-time flower shops don't exacly require executives.

Mike: I'll bet I could tell you what company it's for. :p

Micky: And you ain't gonna like the answer. :P

Mike: (Whips out his chopsticks) Time for more pictures, guys. I'll bet they have some interestin' papers layin' around here. ;) :p

Emma: (Nods) Everyone grab a drawer or a file cabinet and start looking. Remember to put anything you photograph back where you found it and to make sure it doesn't look like it was moved.

Micky: On our way! ;)

(Everyone starts going through the desk and file cabinet. We see the group shuffle through papers for a few moments before Emma grabs several files and makes her way to the desk where the others are.)

Emma: Oh...oh god...guys.... (she drops the first file on the desk, spilling the contents...photographs of people in various stages of illicit sexual games) :o

Lauren: Ewww. :P

Micky: *tilts his head to one side, loking at one particular picture* Daaaamn, I didn't know that was possible! ;) :P

Mike: (Sweeps the pictures back into the file) Man, Mick, you're the last person who needs to be tryin' this shit! :p

Micky: What? Why? :P ;)

Emma: It gets worse. (She drops the next file, which spills typed memos and order forms onto the table) Looks like order forms for flowers, don't they? Read what they're REALLY selling.

Micky: Ho-leee shit! :-O

Mike: (Growls softly as he grabs the papers) People. They're sellin' videos, books, magazines, drugs...and people. X(

Emma: Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we've not only found a pornography ring, we've run smack into a white slavery ring as well. X( :p

Micky: *punches a fist in a palm* Man, some butt should be seriously kicked. :P

Mike: (Reads the papers, his face growing darker and darker) No shit, Mick. Come on. Let's put this crap back and kick some rears to the Soviet Union and back. X(

Emma: Guys, we can't do that! We'll give ourselves away!

Mike: Em, these sick assholes DESERVE to be kicked. X(

Lauren: Or we can at least find someone to do the butt-kicking for us. X-( :P

Mike: Let's get the others out of here and call Honeywell to round these sickos up and shove them where the sun don't shine. X(

Micky: I am all for that. X-(

(Emma, the only one with any pictures left, whips out her chopstick cameras and takes pictures of the papers and the photos, then carefully returns them to the file cabinet. Mike peeks out the door and waves to the others. They head out, Emma turning the light off and locking the door again as they leave.)

Mike: We've gotta tell the others what's goin' on, then get a hold of Honeywell. This is the most disgustin' thing we've been involved with since Alex seduced thirty women, and I for one don't wanna be a part of it anymore. X( :p

(The four return downstairs to find Keiko arguing with the woman behind the counter and Davy and Daphne trying to help the other employees clean up the various shattered glass vases and broken flowers strewn around the room. Emphasize "trying"; what they're really doing is making as much of a mess as possible.)

Woman: (A western-looking woman with an Australian accent in a khaki uniform) This is ridiculous! It's obvious you don't know what you're doing. In fact, I wonder if you're even florists. :p

Davy: We're florists! We know flowahs inside and out!

Woman: (Narrows her eyes and picks up a vase of blue flowers) What are these, then, young man, and how are they arranged?

Davy: They're pretty blue flowers with an interestin' smell, and they're arranged nicely? ;)

Woman: You don't know what they are, do you?

Davy: Of course I do! Give me a minute!

Woman: You should know off the top of your head.

Daphne: So he forgot. Sue him. :P

Woman: You've ALL been nothing but incompetant! You can't even sweep up a pile of glass without knocking something ELSE over! X(

Daphne: Okay, we're a little clumsy.

Davy: Yeah. Lots of people break things.

Woman: Yes, but look at this shop! Half our vases are on the floor in pieces! I ought to make you pay for that! X(

Keiko: We mean no harm!

Davy: Don't put your vases so close to klutzes, then. ;) :p

Mike: (Off-camera) Ok, here we are, ma'am. (The others step into the main shop; Mike hitches up his pants and saunters over John Wayne-style) What seems to be the trouble?

Woman: You want to know what the trouble is? Your people are the most incompentant, clumsy fools this side of Mount Fuji! X(

Mike: What did they do this time? ;)

Woman: (Flings her arms around, indicating the mess) Look around you! They knocked over half of my best crystal vases trying to help me clean the boxes of very fragile orchids they dropped! X( :p

Micky: Really? This is one of their good days. ;)

(Davy swats Micky. :p)

Woman: What hot house did you say you came from?

Mike: (Bows) Good Clean Fun Flowers, at your service, ma'am. ;)

Woman: Well, it's been neither good, nor clean, nor much fun. I'm going to report you to your superiors! :p X(

Mike: (Crosses his arm) You're already doin' that, ma'am. I can report them.

Woman: No, I want YOUR superior.

Micky: Why? He didn't do nothing. :p ;)

Lauren: Besides, *jerks a thumb at Micky* he's his superior. ;)

Mike: (glares at Micky briefly before turning to the woman) You know, you speak English like a native and you don't look like everyone else around here.

Woman: I inherited this shop from my father, who married an Australian woman shortly before World War II. I was raised in Australia and only recently came back here to take over the shop. I don't hear any of you but the woman at the counter speaking Japanese, either.

Mike: We're new here. Haven't learned the language yet.

Woman: (Narrows her eyes) There's something I don't like about this. I don't think any of you know anything about flowers.

Mike: (Narrows his back) Prove it.

Woman: (Points to a bunch of flowers by one of the remaining vases) Someone organize those flowers, then.

Micky: Lemme do it. ;)

*Micky goes over to the remaining vase and grabs flowers. He stands directly in front of the vase. The others only see him reaching for flowers. When he's done, he steps away from the vase. ALL of the flowers are crammed into the vase helter skelter.* ;)

Micky: Ta daa! ;)

Woman: I said ARRANGE them, Japanese-style. I didn't say jam them in any old way. :p

Davy: That IS how Micky arranges things. ;)

Micky: I thought it was a nice arrangement. :(

Lauren: It's beautiful, Mick. :)

*Micky grins at Lauren.* :) ;)

Woman: None of you are florists, are you?

Mike: Maybe. ;)

(Several men rush downstairs and speak rapidly in Japanese. She frowns.)

Woman: What? How did he...it...get undone? (Sighs) Never mind. Tie them back up and put them in the vase behind the plant until we're ready to ship them.

Mike: What was that?

Woman: (Her eyes are still narrowed) Someone was upstairs and untied a shipment of new flowers we've been working on. We're going to put them back in their boxes. :p

Mike: Like hell you are. X(

Woman: WHAT did you say? (Her eyes narrow even further)

Mike: Your...shipment...ain't goin' anywhere.

Micky: Damn right!

Davy: And you won't be able to see anythin' if you keep squintin' your eyes like that. ;)

Woman: What do you mean?

Mike: We ain't gonna let you take that so-called shipment. X(

Woman: Just how do you plan on stopping us?

Mike: We have our ways. X(

Woman: As do we. (She pushes a bell on the counter. The men who were upstairs run downstairs, joined by more workers. The woman behind the counter comes out front and points a sharp florist's knife into Keiko's side) You won't be going anywhere. X( >:)

*Keiko squeaks, surprised.* :-O

("Star Collector" begins as the men surround Mike, Davy, and Emma. Lauren and Micky duck in the back room.)

*Lauren and Micky return with flowers of their own. They hand them out to the others.* ;)

(Mike grabs a flower and sticks it under the nose of the woman holding the knife on Keiko. Her eyes close, and she collapses, asleep. Mike and Keiko drag her behind the counter and tie her up with florist's wire. I-) )

(Emma grabs a rose and throws it at an oncomming florist. The roses catch on his clothing and he ends up stuck to the walls.)

*Lauren holds her flower like it's a dagger. She ends up dueling with one of the men.* ;)

(Davy ducks around one of the men. He finally grabs a vase filled with flowers and dumps it over the man's head before taking off.)

*Micky holds two flowers and starts swings them around like nunchucks. He swings at one man, hitting him in the ribs. He swings at another, clocking him in the side of the head.*

(Mike pulls two flowers out of his belt like six-shooters and shoots seeds. The men coming at him slip on the seeds and crash into the floor.)

(The Australian woman takes one of the sleeping gas flowers and presses it under Daphne's nose. She falls into the woman's arms. She and another man pick up the girl and carry her into the back room.)

(Davy nudges Mick and pulls a bowl of explosive noodles from behind his back. ;) :D)

*Micky grins and helps Davy throw noodles at the men.* ;)

(The noodles let off small fireworks all around the men, making them dance. Mike ends up playing the guitar in time to their dance steps. ;) )

*Lauren claps her hands, keeping time to the beat.* ;)

(Emma organizes flowers. One man comes up to help her. She lets him organize the flowers and takes off. ;) )

(Mike nods at a phone booth outside. He grabs Emma and they go outside to call Honeywell.)

(The woman grabs the bowl of noodles from Micky and Davy and throws it over her shoulder...knocking everyone across the room. When the dust clears, there's a huge hole in the side wall. :p)

(Davy grabs Micky again. They leapfrog over two of the men. Davy grabs an armful of the smoke bomb flowers and winks at Micky. ;) )

*Micky returns the wink.* ;)

(They throw smoke bombs here, there, and everywhere. Keiko ducks behind the counter. :p)

*Lauren turns on a small fan, sending the smoke towards the men.* ;)

(Two men duck behind the counter as the smoke starts to clear and grabs the Asian girl. One clamps his hand over her mouth. The other grabs a roll of florist's tape and binds her wrists. The other winds cloths tightly around Keiko's eyes and mouth. They drag her outside.)

(The remaining men cough and sputter and stagger around. Davy's eyes widen as he squints, seeing three figures, one resembling Keiko's, stumbling out of the shop.)

(He tries to go after them, but is pushed back by more figures as the smoke clears and the music ends.)

Honeywell: (Coughs and swats at the fog) Ok, folks, you're under arrest...what's with all this fog?

Mike: Who let Micky play with the fog machine again? :p

Davy: 'Oneywell, we threw the smoke bombs. (Growls) They got Keiko! I saw them take off with 'er! X(

Micky: Aw, great! *swats at the fog* :P

Emma: (Frowns, counting heads as the smoke drifts out the door and gaping hole in the wall) We're missing Daphne, too.

Davy: (Growls) WOT!? X( :o

Lauren: *groans* Wonderful. :P

Honeywell: We'd better follow them.

Mike: And you won't have a problem doin' it, either. (Smirks) I dropped that bugged magnet into one of their trucks earlier when we were callin' Honeywell. ;)

Emma: Nice thinking, Baby. :)

Davy: (Growls) Well, what are you waitin' for? We've got to go aftah 'er! (He storms out)

Micky: Ever the clear-headed thinker. :P ;)

Mike: Actually, I agree with Davy. We found some shit that'll give you fifteen different versions of the heebie-jeebies, Honeywell. Those guys aren't just into pornography. They're traffickin' in people, too.

Honeywell: White slave ring?

Emma: Looks like it.

Honeywell: (Nods at the door...or might nod at the door, since it's still fairly smoky) Let's get going. We'll follow them. They may lead us to the head of their organization.

Mike: (Grins) Does that mean we get to use the car n' motorcycle? ;) :D

Honeywell: They were created for surveilence.

Mike: Good. I get the cycle. ;) :D

Micky: Yes! I'll drive the car! :D ;)

Lauren: Oh, God. ;)

Emma: (Nods at Mike) I'll go with him.

Honeywell: I'll meet you there with my men. (Hands them regular walkie-talkies) The moment you see them, contact me on these.

Mike: Right. (Nods at the others) Let's catch up with Davy, compadres, before he damages something.

Micky: Good idea.

Emma: (Nods) Let's go.

Honeywell: I'll meet you there. (As they head out of the smoky room) And will someone turn off the damn fog machine? :p

(We fade out on the smoky room as the outline of the door shuts. ;) )