Ok, everyone, ready to find out more about the manor and its inhabitants? ;)

Peter: (Head in hands) Yeah...

Micky: You bet!

Mike: As long as they're all livin', sure.

Davy: Do we 'ave to? ;)

(We open in the library, a dark-panneled room with latticed windows streaked by rain. The group follows Mary into the room, where she serves ginger ale and cherry soda. They spread out and inspect the many volumes on the shelves.)

Emma: Mary, what's all this about needing a treasure?

Mary: (Sighs) I might as well tell you. Lance n' I are broke. We put all our money and me fathah's money into developing this place. If we can't turn a profit soon, we may 'ave to sell, which neither of us want.

Mike: Man, after everything that's happened...

Mary: (Nods) I sure as 'ell don't want to sell to the likes of (spits) 'ER, and I'm sure Lance don't, eithah.

Maxine: (Frowns) Her who?

Mary: I dunno if any of you evah 'eard of 'er. You may 'ave if you've evah bought antiques. Julia London.

(Mike growls. Emma sharply draws in a breath. Maxine narrows her eyes. Kimberly makes a face. Chris sticks his tongue out. John groans. :p X( )

Mary: I see you 'ave met 'er. :p

Micky: *folds his arms* Unfortunately. :P X-(

*Jack and Nyles exchange confused looks, Nyles not recognizing the name.* ;) :P

Mary: I don't like that woman, pure and simple, and I sure as 'ell don't like 'er bein' 'ERE, but what can we do? (Puts out her hands) It's a free country, and she says she wanted to be with 'er friend. (Makes a face) I don't like 'im, eithah. 'E looks like Micky, but 'e acts like an ass. Tried to grab me rear before 'e found out I was married. (Looks at Micky) 'E ain't a reletive of yours, luv? At least, I 'ope not. :p

Micky: *shakes his head* No, he isn't a relative. *eyes narrow* Just an unfortunate coincidence he resembles me. :P

Mike: (Growls; Emma puts a hand on his shoulder) We've encountered her more times than we've wanted to, Mary.

Chris: (Pouts) She wouldn't give me her phone number!

John: Chris, that's the last chick I'd want across the table from me at Millie's. :p

Maxine: The stuff she did to me n' my roommates would have her sent to the funny farm if we could get anyone to believe it. :p

Mike: (Eyes raise) You said she's here?

Mary: (Nods) Since two days ago. Said she's on a "buisness vacation," scoutin' land. (Grumbles) If you ask me, she's aftah the treasure, though I can't imagine why. She's loaded. You should see the cah she and 'er friend showed up in. :p

Mike: Was the car a big-ass black Mustang?

Mary: (Nods) Very much so.

Mike: Yeah, that's them. (Slams his fist down on the desk) Damn, how do they manage to follow us?

Emma: Honey, I'll bet Mary was right. She's not after us this time...at least, not entirely. (Looks at Mary) Tell us more about this treasure.

Mary: No one's sure that there IS a treasure. (Goes to a shelf and pulls a large, very old-looking book off of it; blows on the dusty cover, then opens it) According to the books and to many of the local rumors, Paul of Lancastershire was a thief who used his status as a nobleman's relation to hide his criminal activities. He stole from many of the nobles in Northern England and hid the loot on his uncle's estate. 'E 'id it so well, no one's been able to find it to this day. There was said to be thousands of dollars worth of gold, jewels, silver, armor, and weapons in that cache. Paul died before 'e could reveal it's location, and his men scattered aftah 'is death.

Maxine: Wow. Poor Paul.

Mary: I wouldn't feel sorry for the likes of 'im. 'E was a thief and maybe a murderer.

John: But you don't know that. It might 'ave been his uncle or the chick.

Mary: Not much is known about Lady Violetta, but supposedly Sir Donald was no prize, eithah.

Micky: Paul sounds more like Robin Hood to me.

Mary: I wouldn't have been surprised if Paul 'ad gone aftah Violetta. They must 'ave been bored, they were said to be rovers, chasing anything in a skirt they could get their 'ands on.

Emma: I'm feeling more sorry for Lady Violetta myself. It sounds like she got caught between the whole thing.

Mary: And worse yet, she was an outsidah. The books say her family was in dire straights and needed the money a rich man would provide...like Sir Donald, no matter 'ow much of a cad 'e was. :p

Emma: Not the best ruler?

Mary: A cad, a womanizer, and an ass who used the villagers' money to further 'is wars against the rest of England...and to fill 'is love for fancy things, includin' 'is wife.

Jack: Disgusting. :P

Mary: (Holds up the book) 'Ere. This is a reproduction of a picture done of the three shortly before they died. The real thing is in the East Wing 'allway.

(Shows them a yellowed photograph of a painting of three people - a tall, older man with a battle-scared face, thick gray hair, a heavy gray mustache, and a smirk in ruffles and doubloons. The younger man next to him has a face that's a bit softer, but still somewhat worn. He is extrordinarily handsome, with long, pale-blond waves framing a heart-shaped face and deep blue eyes. His figure is smaller than his uncle's, but still reletively muscular. The woman is tiny and dainty in a huge lace gown, her black hair and emerald eyes setting off her pale skin and small, slender hands.)

Chris: Man, no wonder they both fell for her. She's HOT. :X

Emma: He's not bad, either, if you like blondes. (Mike nudges her)

Chris: She married the old guy? Man, that should have been counted as a crime or somethin'! :p

Nyles: No kidding! :P

Mary: 'E weren't that old at the time. 'E just lived a bit.

Chris: And her ghost still haunts this place? :D :X

Mary: Don't look so interested! There ain't no such things as ghosts! :p

Chris: If they look like her, I hope there is. ;) :X

John: I wouldn't drool so hard, Chris. For one thing, she's taken, by two guys, if what Mary says is true. For another thing, she's been dead for hundreds of years. :p

Chris: Sure, take away ALL my fun! :p

John: You don't seem to believe this, Mary.

Mary: I don't. Lance does, though Fathah and I both think 'e burned a few too many brain cells back in 'is drunkard days. :p

Mike: What if the story was true, and there's a treasure in this very manor?

Mary: If there was, we would 'ave found it by now! :p

Emma: Not if it was hidden in some unknown corner of the manor.

Micky: Or buried under tha floor, or something.

Kimberly: (Grins) Or in a secret passage, like all those gothic novels! ;)

Jack: *nods* It's very possible. There could be hidden passages right under our noses!

Micky: Hidden as clear as day. ;)

Mary: But Lance n' I know ever cornah of this place!Mike: I think we ought to search the manor. I'll bet Shelia and Alex are already doing it.

Mary: Well, they can't do any searching outdoors on a day like this! All they'll find is mud and moles. :p

Mike: Yeah, but this place is huge and old.

Emma: Lots of places to hide something for five hundred years.

John: And I don't think we know the whole story, either. Mary, what else does the book say about Paul? He doesn't sound like a cad to me.

Mary: Lance says that, too. I say 'e stole from people...and tried to steal 'is uncle's wife.

Kimberly: What if Violetta liked him first?

Maxine: Yeah, the old romance-novel shit. Liked him, but had to sacrifice her love to get money for her family.

John: Well, at least it'll be something to do on a rainy day.

Maxine: I'll bet Paul never intended harm. You said yourself he was into peace.

Mary: A regular 1500's 'ippie, from what the books say.

Chris: Let's go look for ghosts! :D

Maxine: Forget ghosts. Let's clear a man's name.

Mike: (Makes a face) I don't know about this.

Emma: Mike? (Puts a hand on his shoulder)

Mike: (Mutters) Em, I can't shake my "wolf's intuition" that there's somethin' wrong here. If the treasure is a fake, what's Shelia and Alex after?

Emma: I guess we're going to find out. (Looks back at the others) I vote for at least looking more into this. If it can help Mary and Lance...

Mary: I'm willin' to do anythin' that will 'elp at this point.

Mike: You guys wanna go look around? I wanted to explore this place, anyway, and (ahem) talk to a few people. :p

John: Might as well.

Micky: Looking around sounds good to me.

Kimberly: And if we run into a few people, (grins) I know a few moves that will keep them at bay. ;)

Maxine: (Mutters) If they don't turn you into a fox first. :p

Kimberly: Touche'. :p

Mike: Ok, folks, let's move 'em out. (Looks at Mary) Mary, do you need...

Mary: No, thank you, I'm all right. (Gets up with little difficulty) I'm used to bein' the size of 'ouse by now. ;)

Emma: Wish I could have been that graceful when I was pregnant. :p

John: Let's head out, then. We'll go in twos.

Emma: We'll leave the others with the kids for now. Don't need the kids getting lost, and I don't think they'll understand a lot of this.

Mike: We might be able to rouse Dave and Daph to help out, though. (Looks at Micky) Wanna give it a shot? ;)

Micky: *grins* Sure, why not. ;)

Chris: Come on! There's a damsel in distress out there who needs us! :X

John: (Rolls his eyes) Him and his hormones... :p (They head out as the camera fades out on the library. We cut to main hallway of the manor. Valerie and Peter walk down the hall, admiring all the antiques and what little is seen of the view outside the rain-spattered windows.)

Valerie: This is really a very nice place. I'm glad Lance changed his mind about selling it. It would have been a crime for some developer to come along and destroy it. (Runs her finger over an ornately curved table) Look at this! This is real 16th century work! Some of this is priceless!

Peter: *nods* It is a very beatiful place. :)

Valerie: I wonder if there's any truth to the story of the nephew and his uncle?

Peter: I don't know, Val. I just hope the story about the ghosts isn't true. :-O

Valerie: A few years ago, I would have agreed with Mary about there being no such thing as ghosts...but after the deal with the ancestors, I'm starting to doubt that.

Peter: And I just don't feel like coming face to face with a ghost right now. *slight whimper*

Valerie: (Puts a hand around him) Peter, are you ok? Do you want to lie down? You've looked pale since we got here.

Peter: *gulps, but shakes his head* No, I'm okay. Let’s keep looking around. It'll keep my mind off the possible ghosts.

Valerie: Ok. (Frowns) I wonder how much of the story Mary told us about Paul and Violetta and his uncle is true? I mean, it happened in the 16th century. Mary, Lance, and the villagers probably heard so many rumors by now, they don't know what's gossip and what's the real story.

Peter: Yeah.

Valerie: For instance, Paul and the treasure. Mary called him a thief, but what if he was doing something with the money? Like giving it away? Mary did say Paul was the opposite of his uncle.

Peter: Kind of like Robin Hood. *nods* It's possible.

Valerie: And where does Violetta fit into all this? Sir Donald must have kept her in the dark...or maybe she was working with Paul.

Peter: And each kept the other in the dark. There's so many questions...

Valerie: (As they climb a steep, carpeted stairway) Lance seems to think Violetta lured both men, but Mary blames Paul. It's interesting neither points fingers at the uncle.

Peter: I'd take a guess, then, that the uncle is to blame. *slight chuckle* ;)

Valerie: It wouldn't surprise me. He was a warlord, and an all-around ass, from what Mary says...although she claims Paul was little better.

Peter: It would be interesting to see what else we could find out about them.

Valerie: Yeah, I don't entirely buy what Mary said about Paul, and I have the feeling that a whole other layer of this story was lost to history with the people who participated in it. :p :(

Peter: *nods* Whether by choice or by influence.

Valerie: It's a bit difficult to sort out facts from gossip at this extremely late date. (Stops at the top of the stairs; it's dim and a bit dusty, with more antiques) Here we are! Not the most pleasant place, is it? No wonder the others opted to stay in the den and play games with the kids. :p

Peter: *makes a face* It isn't the searching that bothers me. It's wondering what we might FIND.

Valerie: Honey, if you want to go back with the others, you can.

Peter: *shakes his head* No, I'll be okay. *grins weakly* I think. :) ;)

Valerie: (Walks down the hall) Is it me, or does it feel sort of chilly around here?

Peter: It's definitley gotten cooler. :P

Valerie: (As something brushes her hair, stirring it) What's that?

Peter: What's what?

Valerie: I thought I...(sighs)...never mind. Must have felt a breeze or something.

(Suddenly, there's noises coming from one room, noises that sound like people talking...and a woman's scream.)

Valerie: Oh, my GOD! What was that? :o

Peter: *eyes widen* Ummm, do we really want to find out?

(More noises are heard...followed by the thump of an arrow.)

Valerie: Um, I'd say YES! Someone could be in trouble! :o

Peter: *whimpers* I was afraid you'd say that! :-O

(Valerie pulls him into a large room. The room is decorated with heavy 16th century furniture, and a bed covered with lavish pillows and quilts. A young woman lays on the floor, blood soaking the front of her dress. Two men run through a doorway. Valerie follows them while Peter kneels by the woman. She looks like the picture of Violetta from the book, long black hair and all.)

Valerie: Hey, come back here! X( (Chases after the men while Peter kneels by the woman)

Peter: Miss? Oh, dear... :-O

(There's another scream...and Valerie comes back in, dead white.)

Valerie: Holy SHIT! Peter, I saw a murder! One guy killed the other, then a hand came out of nowhere and shot the other guy...and then they ALL vanished! :o

Peter: *frowns* Something very strange is going on here. :-O :-/

(Valerie looks down at her husband, frowning. We see him still holding the unconcious girl...but Valerie doesn't.)

Valerie: Peter, where did she go? (The girl groans as Valerie kneels next to him)

Peter: *confused look* Where did she go? *looks right at the girl, then back at Valerie* She's right here.

Valerie: Peter, you're holding air.

Girl: (Looks at Peter) Wh...who are you, sir?

Peter: *smiles at the girl* My name is Peter. What's your name? :)

Girl: I...I am (looks at herself), or I was Violetta of Yorkshire, the wife of Sir Donald the Strong and lady of Kibbee Manor, Sir Peter.

Valerie: Peter, you're talking to nothing. What's going on?

Girl: (Looks at Valerie fearfully) Who is she? One of my husband's spies? He has informers everywhere! :o

Peter: *shakes his head* No, miss, this is my wife, Valerie, who, apparently, can't see you at the moment. *turns to Valerie* You really can't see her anymore? :-/

Valerie: No.

Violetta: (Sighs) I should explain myself. (Sighs) I don't know how long we've been repeating this, but unless someone can stop it and help Paul and me, we'll repeat it forever...and I'll never see my Paul again. I miss him so much... (she starts to sob) He wanted to save me, I know he did, but Donald... :((

Valerie: (Shudders) I feel...a soft sigh, like someone's crying. I guess it's her, isn't it?

Peter: *sniffs* Oh, you poor thing. *to Valerie; nods* Yes. She said that they keep repeating the murder, and unless someone can stop it to help her and Paul, they'll repeat it forever, and she'll never get to see him again. She really misses him. :((

Valerie: Oh, my goodness. I wish I had something I could give you...(looks around; grabs a handkerchief off of the desk) Here. See if you can hold this.

Violetta: (Sniffles and takes the handkerchief) Thank you, good Miss Valerie. (We see the handkerchief go up and down in the air with nothing but wires holding it)

Valerie: Ok, this is really weird.

Peter: *nods* It is.

Violetta: I know, it must seem terribly strange. It is quite strange to me...but it's true. This has happened every day, the same hour, since the day it occured. Unless it is stopped, I will not be able to see Paul, and he is unable to see me. I think Donald is keeping him away from me. He frequently separated us in the last few months before our deaths. :(

Valerie: (Puts her arm around Peter and hands HIM a handkerchief) Oh, honey...

*Peter sniffs and blows his nose.* :((

Violetta: Donald accused Paul of doing horrible things. He knew he stole from him and from his minions. (Shudders) And that woman...I know she was Donald's mistress, but I could nary prove it... :p :(

Valerie: (After Peter translates) I don't believe I'm talking to air, but...is there a way we can stop this?

Violetta: Find proof that my Paul was a hero, not a killer or a thief. Find out who Donald's mistress was...and find a way to stop the murder. They say he killed both of us, or someone else did, but I know he would never harm me! He's gentle and kind and caring...all the virtues Donald detests, especially in a man.

Valerie: (Looks at Peter as he translates Violetta) I know somewhat how you feel, Violetta. I'd die...um, ok, I wouldn't be happy if Peter was hurt the way both of you were.

Peter: And I would never harm anyone! :-O :P

Violetta: I am not allowed to leave this room, but Donald and Paul roam the house. I was seldom permitted to leave this room when I lived. Donald liked me where he could find me. You could find them, talk to them, maybe see what they know. (More urgent) Please prove Paul isn't a killer! I loved him! I loved him more than I ever loved anyone. :( :((

Valerie: (After Peter translates) Well, I feel sort of silly, but...how can I say no, after that earlier demonstration?

Peter: *nods* We'll do all we can to help out!

Violetta: (Hugs Peter; we see him fall over a bit...and put his arms around the air) Oh, thank you, kind Sir Peter! Tell your good Lady Valerie I thank her, too! :)

Valerie: Is this a ghost love-in?

Peter: She says thank you! Um, here, I can help you shake her hand. Maybe you can feel her hand. :)

Valerie: Uh, ok... /:)

*Peter take Valerie's hand and aims in for Violetta's. They meet in a handshake. Peter smiles widely.* :)

Violetta: Thank you, Lady Valerie! You are a good woman. :)

Valerie: I can't believe I'm saying this to a ghost but...we'll do whatever we can, your Ladyship.

(Violetta gives Peter a kiss on his cheek. :) )

Valerie: (As her husband blushes) Ok, why don't we go into the next room and see who else we can find around here, before you get any redder? ;)

Peter: *nods* Okay, Val. :) ;)

Violetta: Farewell, goodman and lady! (She waves and fades out as they head into the next room)