Everyone ready for a nice, quiet tea party? ;)

Lauren: I wonder about the "nice" and "quiet" parts. ;)

Daphne: *nods* I'm ready.

Valerie: Let's go.

(We open back in Blossom Lilyfair's home. This time, the ladies are lead to a large, whitewashed gazebo that looks suspiciously like the gazebo/bandstand set from the "As We Go Along" romp in "Return of the Clone." Five chairs are set around it, along with a real china tea set with cabbage rose designs and plates of small cakes, cookies, and sandwiches. The pillows on the wicker chairs are also covered with cabbage roses.)

Blossom: (She wears a simple white silk sundress with matching heels and straw hat) Please ladies, sit down.

Valerie: (Settles down next to Blossom in her gold sundress and sandals) This is lovely, Blossom.

Emma: (She just wears good brown shorts, a tan blouse, and leather sandals) What kind of cakes are those?

Daphne: *wears a light blue sundress and white sandals* Beautiful gazebo!

Blossom: My pastry chef Pierre makes a lovely vanilla-almond cake with vanilla bean buttercream. It's really quite tasty.

*Lauren wear jean shorts, sneakers, and a deep purple t-shirt.*

Valerie: (Looks around) You did a nice job restoring it.

Blossom: Thank you, Mrs. Jones and Valerie, dear. I shouldn't take the credit for the restoration. I hired the best in the business.

Emma: (As she takes a cake) Mrs. Lilyfair, I'm here because I wanted to ask you a few more questions.

Blossom: (Pushes the cakes towards the girls) Why don't you try some, ladies? Margaret will be around with the tea in just a minute.

Daphne: *takes a cake* Thank you, Miss Lilyfair.

Lauren: *also take a cake; nods* Thank you.

Blossom: You're welcome, Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Dolenz. You're my guests.

Emma: (As she finishes her cake) Miss Lilyfair, I wanted to ask you about your company.

Blossom: My company? Moonglow Cosmetics? (She leans back with a cake) Ask anything you'd like.

Emma: How financially stable are you?

Blossom: If you mean "will the Fountain of Youth Line make or break us," no, it won't. Moonglow Cosmetics has been around for 50 years. My father began it with his own money during the 20s, when women first began to realize that things like lipstick and rouge were hardly sinful.

Emma: Do you use your own products?

Blossom: Of course I do! What kind of example would I set if I didn't? Besides, (finishes her cake), I don't like the cheap department store make-up. It makes my skin break out.

Lauren: *chin resting in one palm; looking relatively bored* Have you ever tried just not using make-up? Maybe your skin just needs time to breathe.

Blossom: I don't wear it at night, of course, or while I'm in bed. I like make-up. It makes me feel womanly.

Emma: There are other ways to be womanly, Miss Lilyfair.

Lauren: Make-up is simply superficial. Being womanly comes from inside you.

Blossom: It can help bring out a very different you. It's like putting on a mask.

Lauren: That hides the real you. *narrows her eyes slightly* Why do you hide the real you?

Blossom: What do you mean?

Lauren: You just said your make-up is a mask. What are you trying to hide from? Why don't you let the real you be seen?

Emma: What do you need a mask for?

Blossom: I like play-acting. It's fun to try on new faces. I have a different one every day. I can be anything, just with the application of a redder rouge or a different eye-shadow.

Valerie: I also occasionally wear make-up. I don't think of it as play-acting.

Lauren: So, Blossom, just who are you really? Do you even remember anymore?

Blossom: I know who I am. I always have. I'm anyone I want to be.

Emma: That's not a real answer.

Lauren: That's called avoiding the question.

Blossom: No, it isn't. (Indicates the sandwiches) Are you ladies still hungry? Why not have some cream cheese and walnut sandwiches? Or maybe watercress...

Emma: No thank you, I don't care for walnuts. Answer the question, Miss Lilyfair. What are you like under all that make-up?

Blossom: You make me sound like a cheap tart!

Lauren: *smirks* You do that fine yourself.

Blossom: (Frowns) I don't appreciate being spoken to that way in my own home.

Valerie: You know, Blossom, this IS truly a lovely home.

*Lauren rolls her eyes, sits back, and glances away.*

Daphne: When was the house built, by the way?

Blossom: 1899. It was one of the first homes built in Beverly Hills, and one of the few not replaced on this street in the years after World War II. Most people wanted something more modern. Out with the old, in with the new. (Shakes her head) I couldn't bear to buy one of those streamlined plastic angular things. This house has real style.

Valerie: Yes, it does. Dad felt the same way. Our house is from the teens. Not quite as old as this one, but not a 50s plastic just-off-the-factory-belt model, either.

Emma: (Smiles) I'd love to see your home, Miss Lilyfair, especially these lovely gardens. They're so tranquil.

Blossom: (Nods) Yes. My father loved his gardens. They were his favorite part of the house. He was especially proud of the small rainforest surrounding the waterfall.

Valerie: How lovely!

Emma: Why don't you give us the grand tour of your house and gardens?

Blossom: I'd be delighted! But first (she stands and pours tea for each woman) why don't you ladies have some more tea?

Valerie: Thank you, Blossom. (Sips hers) This is a really lovely tea.

Emma: What kind is it?

Blossom: A special Chinese blend I had imported from the East. Quite aromatic and soothing.

Daphne: *sniffs hers* Mmm. It's wonderful!

Blossom: While you ladies enjoy your tea, I really must use the bathroom. Excuse me. (She walks out towards the house. Emma frowns)

Lauren: *plays with her cup; she hasn't drank any of the tea* Boy, she sure avoided most of our questions like the plague.

Emma: She's hiding something, and isn't doing too good of a job of it. (Growls) We HAVE to wangle an initiation to that factory! I know something's going on over there!

Valerie: (She's watching something over her shoulder) Blossom's talking to someone in a police uniform.

Lauren: *glances over* Ten bucks she's gonna try to have him kick at least me out.

Daphne: *grins* Only ten dollars?

Lauren: Ha ha, Daph.

Emma: (Frowns; peers over Val's shoulder) Lauren, Daph, is that one of the security guards you tussled with last night?

Lauren: Why do you think I just offered the bet?

Daphne: *looks again* I didn't realize that's one of them!

Emma: I hope he can't recognize you in the light of day.

Daphne: Better not.

Blossom: (As she returns) Sorry, ladies. My head of security wanted to talk to me. (She leans back) He has this odd idea he saw Mrs. Dolenz and Mrs. Jones upstairs last night, prowling around in my room, along with another fellow with glasses. (Chuckles) Strange, isn't it? What would you ladies be doing up there with some poor nerdy fellow?

Lauren: It sure wouldn't be showing him a good time. *snorts*

*Daphne turns away to hide her grin.*

Valerie: I wouldn't know, Blossom. Perhaps he only thought he saw them?

Blossom: No, he definitely recognized them. (Shrugs) Oh well. Would you like that tour now?

Emma: (Nods) Certainly.

Daphne: Sure!

Lauren: *shrugs* What the heck.

Valerie: We'll meet up with you in a minute, Blossom. I have to talk to the other girls for a minute. (She turns to the other three as they stand) Damn it, they know. I wouldn't be surprised if Blossom asked them to keep an eye on us.

Emma: How are we going to search while she's around?

Valerie: We'll get her to do it for us.

("Mary Mary" begins as Blossom leads the girls through the gardens. Emma admires an exotic-looking orchid, but jumps away when a massive bee flies out of it!)

*Lauren lags at the back, looking around.*

(Emma asks Blossom which of the plants she uses in her company's products. She gives Emma a length description of each plant and their uses for skin, hair, and nail care.)

(Valerie is about to nod off until she sees Emma gesture at her. She turns to Lauren and Daphne. Emma is going to keep Blossom busy while they search the house and gardens for papers and the ingredients for the Fountain of Youth skin care line.)

*Lauren and Daphne nod.*

(Valerie tells the girls she'll search inside. They'd better stick to the gardens. The indoor security guards may recognize them.)

(Valerie slips inside a set of French doors and into a parlor room. She can see Emma and Blossom, Blossom still chatting about her house and flowers while Emma takes notes.)

(Daphne and Lauren appear in khaki outfits and pith helmets as they push aside flora. They finally stop and ask a friendly and rather bewildered gardener for directions.)

(Daphne peers into a rose bush...and her hair gets stuck in the thorns. Lauren has to help her out.)

(Cut to Valerie indoors. She's going through a drawer in the parlor. She sighs. Nothing there. Suddenly, she hears voices. It's the security guards! She looks frantically for a place to hide. When the guards pass through the room, they see nothing. Valerie steps out from under the desk when they leave.)

(Emma's eyes widen when Blossom brings her out into a clearing. In the middle of the clearing is a large waterfall surrounded by gorgeous, exotic flowers and plants. Blossom pulls Emma over to show her the beds where real oysters lay, creating mother-of-pearl...the same kind used in her new Fountain of Youth Skin Cream. Emma perks up and starts writing in her notebook.)

(Cut back to Daphne and Lauren. Daphne is looking around for clues...and almost falls into another shallow pool! She points out the strange shelled creatures inside. Oysters!)

*Lauren shrugs. "So?"*

(Daphne looks around at the rest of the area. Look at all these fancy plants! She accidentally breaks the leaf off one of them. The juice runs a strange orangey-green and smells sweet. Daphne's surprised when a small wrinkle in her elbow disappears in a minute...and then reappears a minute later!)

(Cut to Valerie inside. She's searching through another desk. This time, she sees something that looks interesting in a bottom drawer. She hears voices again and finally blue-lights out before the security guards arrive.)

(Cut back to the garden as Blossom and Emma approach the main house. Valerie joins them.)

Valerie: Hello, Blossom. I'm sorry about that. I had to use your powder room inside.

Blossom: That's all right, dear, but I should have told you that there's a bathroom by the pool you can use when you're outdoors.

*Lauren and Daphne wander over, Lauren playing with the leaf Daphne broke off earlier.*

Blossom: Hello, ladies. Couldn't keep up with us older women?

Lauren: Something like that.

Blossom: Ahh, you found one of my newest additions, and one of the secrets behind the Fountain of Youth Line. (She takes the leaf) This plant was just discovered in South America. It has amazing regenerative properties.

Lauren: So we noticed. You managed to get it pretty quick for having been just discovered.

Blossom: The horticulturist who discovered it is an old friend of mine and my father's. When he saw what the plant could do, he promised me first dibs on it. (Smiles) That's where the seeds of the Fountain of Youth Line came from, so to speak.

Emma: What's with all the oysters?

Blossom: The ones here are just for show and for Margaret's delightful oyster stew. There's more at the factory. We're cultivating the pearls to mix with the juices for our Fountain of Youth line. Helps give skin that pearly glow. (Laughs at her own joke. She's the only one.)

Emma: I'd like to see it for myself.

Blossom: Why don't you? How would you like to see the Moonglow Cosmetics factory just outside of Los Angeles?

Emma: Could you? It would add so much to my story! (Mutters to Lauren) And our investigation.

*Lauren gives a quick, sharp nod.*

Blossom: We do public tours every now and then. We're doing one tomorrow. How would you like tickets?

Valerie: (Nods) We'd really like that, Blossom. Thanks!

Blossom: Anything to help out the press. (Looks at her watch) Speaking of work, I have a meeting for the board of executives for Moonglow Cosmetics.

Valerie: I have a meeting with my own board. (Mutters) Both members.

Emma: And I have to work on writing this story.

Daphne: Thank you again for the tea, Mrs. Lilyfair.

Blossom: (As she brings them to the entrance again) You're welcome, Mrs. Jones. It's not often I have such charming (looks at Lauren) and unusual company for tea! (Nods at a young woman in slacks) Elaine will bring your car around. See you tomorrow. Ta-ta, ladies!

*Lauren makes a face in the direction Blossom went in.*

Emma: (As they follow the female valet to Rosemarie) Ok girls, spill it. What did you find?

Daphne: Oysters and the leaf that Lauren had the rejuvenating juices. I got a little on my elbow and it cleared up a wrinkle briefly.

Valerie: I wasn't able to get a good look at them, but I saw some papers on her desk in what's likely her office on the ground floor. It was a huge ad campaign for the Fountain of Youth Line - more posters, magazine ads, newspaper ads, TV ads, the works!

Emma: Sounds like she's really invested herself and her company into this.

Valerie: And we know why. She has to. That juice must not last for very long, if she has to use 20 jars of it.

Emma: (Nods as Rosemarie pulls up) Come on, ladies. We have a date with Desmond and Inspector Honeywell. I think they'll be very interested in all this.

Valerie: (Grins wickedly) And Desmond will be able to help us do something about it.

Lauren: *matches Val's grin* I can't wait.

Valerie: Let's go, MonkeeWomen! (They all climb into Rosemarie and pull out of the driveway as we fade out.)