Ok, is everyone ready to find out more about this magician?

Mike: No.

Micky: Sure, why not? :)

Davy: I am, too.

(We open behind the Royale Theater. Davy and Micky pull Mike over to a crowd of excited people holding papers and pens.)

Mike: This is crazy. I don't want this guy's autograph, and I don't care if he said he wanted to talk to you after the show.

Micky: Well, too bad. We're your ride.

Mike: Why would the guy want to talk to you after the show, anyway? (Grins) He must really wanna hear more about that pornography you have in your brains.

Micky: Ha ha ha.

Davy: Who wouldn't?

Mike: Guys...I didn't want to tell you in the theater, but there's something weird about that guy. My wolf senses are on overdrive.

Davy: Weird? As in 'ow?

Mike: I couldn't really smell much from where we were sittin', but I sense somethin' dangerous. Not nasty-dangerous like the devils, but...not quite right. Powerful.

Micky: He IS a magician, so obviously he has power.

Mike: Mick, that's just kid stuff.

Micky: Do you know that for sure?

Mike: (Sighs) All I know is, there's somethin' about that guy that ain't normal. I'm smellin' somethin' on him.

(Darren finally comes out, and the crowd cheers and presses around him for autographs...including Davy and Micky. Mike leans against the wall on the far side, rolling his eyes.)

Darren: (As people ask him questions) No, no, I never reveal how I do my magic. I'm a magician, after all. Don't want rivals stealing my tricks.

Mike: (Mutters) I'll bet.

Darren: (His smile becomes a bit more sly when Micky and Davy finally get to him) Ahh, Mr. Dolenz and Mr. Jones. I want to talk to you.

Micky: Sure!

Mike: (Frowns and elbows his way through the crowd) Now, hold on a minute here...

Darren: (Eyes widen; he then grins again) Ahh, Mr. Nesmith. You're invited to join us as well. This concerns you as much as them.

Mike: How did you know my name?

Darren: (Smiles in that sly way again as the crowd disperses) Simple, gentlemen. I have powers, just like you.

Davy: It's magic, Mike.

Mike: What!?

Darren: We'd better come inside. I wasn't kidding about rivals. I don't want this leaking out to the press. (Cut to a dressing room backstage at the Royale Theater. It looks like the ones seen in "Monkee's Christmas Carol" and "I Think I'm A Clone Now," but there's magic-related items - the hat, wand, scarves, coins - and costumes all over. Darren moves a pile of costumes off a chair and indicates the chair and a couch.)

Mike: Nice place. I thought Micky was a slob.

Micky: I heard that, Mike.

Darren: I'm sorry I don't live up to your cleaning standards, Mr. Nesmith, but I just got here yesterday and I haven't had the time for housekeeping.

Mike: What do you mean by havin' powers?

Darren: I was born what humans would call "super-powered," meaning I have abilities beyond what normal human beings are capable of. (Smirks) One of them is mind-reading. I've gotten quite good at it. I know all about your two friends here now. (Turns to Micky) How are those rambunctious kids of yours these days?

Micky: *eyes widen* They're great!

Darren: (Turns to Davy) Mr. Jones, how's that new horse you've been seeing at the Sunshine Stables?

Davy: She's been wonderful!

Darren: (Turns to Mike) Mr. Nesmith, your band mates are worried about you. What's with the hiding since you returned from your Canadian tour?

Mike: (Mutters) I ain't been hidin', and it's none of your business, anyway.

Darren: Another one of my powers is being able to sense powers in others. Why do you think I picked you to come up here?

Micky: Uh, I give up, why?

Darren: Micky, demonstrate the Imagination Power for me, please.

Micky: *turns to Mike* Mike?

Mike: What do you mean, Imagination Power?

Darren: Come come, Mr. Nesmith. Let's not play games. I know you possess SOME kind of power, and the power all of you share deals with your imaginations.

Mike: You're dreamin', pal.

Darren: Am I? (Narrows his eyes and brushes his fingers against Micky's forehead; Micky's eyes become vague) Demonstrate the Imagination Power for me, Mr. Dolenz.

Mike: (Growls) Get OFF him!

*Micky holds a hand out and makes his drumsticks appear.*

Darren: Ah yes, blue light and all. (Puts a finger on Davy's forehead) I believe, Mr. Jones, that you and Mr. Nesmith have a darker light. Some kind of trouble with a (raises his eyebrows) female devil?

Mike: I knew I smelled somethin' wrong about you.

*Davy makes his tambourine appear in a darker light.*

Darren: Perfect.

Mike: If you don't get off them...

Darren: I would restrain your other abilities if I were you, Mr. Nesmith. I have a hold on both their minds. They'll do what I say.

Mike: What "other" abilities?

Darren: From what I got off both of them, you transform into a black wolf when you become particularly angry.

Mike: Ok, fine, so I turn into a wolf when I'm pissed. What are you going to do about it?

Darren: I’m going to demonstrate Mr. Dolenz's other powers. (His smirk grows wider; he murmurs something into Micky's ear, then pulls the blank Davy into the chair next to him)

*Micky roars and launches himself at Mike, causing the two to go tumbling.* X(

Mike: Mick? What the HECK are you DOIN'? (He struggles with the angry Micky)

Darren: That's enough, Mr. Dolenz. I don't want to attract too much attention. (He leaves Davy in the chair and goes to Mike) Believe in me now, Mr. Nesmith?

*Micky steps away from Mike.*

Darren: Micky, put Mr. Nesmith in a chair. You may have to restrain him.

Mike: (As he gets to his feet) What? No way! (He takes Micky's arms) Mick, snap outta it!

*Micky pushes Mike into the chair and continues to hold him.*

Darren: Good, Micky. Use your powers to silence him. We'll restore his voice when he cooperates.

Mike: WHAT? Micky, stop! Don't listen!

Darren: Mr. Nesmith, I should have known you wouldn't behave. I don't want to hurt you, but we don't seem to have much choice. I don't really want your wolf teeth attached to my rear end.

*Micky runs his fingers across Mike's throat, silencing him.*

(Mike struggles as hard as he can under Micky's arms, his eyes wide and angry.)

Darren: That strong will of yours is going to get you into trouble, Mr. Nesmith.

(Mike finally kicks Micky in a sensitive spot. He concentrates, and there's a blue light...but Darren raises his hand, and the blue light vanishes.)

Darren: Mr. Nesmith, if you continue to act this way, I WILL have to restrain you. Micky, bind him and make sure he stays in that chair.

*Micky makes rope appear and ties Mike's arms, then ties the rope around the chair.*

(Mike shakes his head, struggling angrily.)

Darren: Come along, Michael. We're not here to harm you. All I want to do is read your mind.

(Mike's eyes widen and he turns his head away.)

Darren: You're not going anywhere, Michael. I can short out your powers in an instant. (Turns to Micky) Help me convince your friend that he should stay for a while.

*Micky makes Mike's sword appear.*

(Mike's eyes narrow.)

*Micky uses the sword to pick his teeth.*

Darren: (As Mike lunges for Micky) Enough, Michael. (Turns to Micky) That's yours now, Micky. While we are in this theater, you are the master.

*Micky grins.*

(Mike shakes his head and tries to kick at Micky, but Darren snaps handcuffs over his ankles, attaching them to the legs of the chair.)

Darren: Now, Micky, tell us what you know about our leader, including how to show him that we mean to help him.

(Darren puts his hand on Mike's forehead, but he still struggles.)

Darren: He's a strong one, Michael. Very strong. No wonder you regard him as your leader. Micky, please talk to him.

Micky: *almost monotone voice* Mike's a control freak. He hates that he can't control us, but he tries to. Even when something is the best for him, he fights it.

Darren: (Gently brushes his fingers against Mike's forehead; Mike struggles a little less) Yes. He's doing it now. Control means a great deal to him, doesn't it? (Frowns) And to his wife, too.

Micky: He feels he's losing control because things aren't working out the way he envisioned them.

Darren: Michael, that's life. Not everything happens the way we want it to. (Strokes Mike's forehead; he's struggling far less now) Yes. You realize I don't mean to harm you. You have extraordinary powers. (Turns to Micky, his fingers still on Mike) You were born with these powers, weren't you? Passed down, dormant until a benign demon in the form of a crystal released them. I read that in all your minds.

*Micky nods.*

Darren: Michael, while you are here, you will be calm. You will listen to me and to Micky and do what we say.

(Mike just barely nods.)

Darren: I'm going to have a chat with David on the stage. It should be empty now. Micky, you are in complete control of Michael. Keep him calm.

(Mike nods again. Darren walks out the door with the blank Davy.)

*Micky checks out the sword, then uses it to pick his teeth again. When he's done, he makes it disappear.*

(Mike mouths "What did you do with my sword?")

*Micky shrugs. He isn't really sure.*

(Mike tries to struggle a little. He's not sure if he likes this.)

*Micky holds up an index finger, then goes over and sits on the floor in front of Mike, just out of reach.*

(Mike frowns. Mick, what ARE you doin? He pulls at one bound hand. Can't ya untie me?)

Micky: *shrugs* Can't. I need a few words with you. This is the easiest way to make you listen.

(Mike raises his eyebrows. What do you mean?)

Micky: You don't listen. You never did. That's why Pete took off. You may think you care about the group, but it weighs the most on you and what you want from the group. What we want only matters if it's what you want. Michael, YOU are the reason the group is falling apart. You've always wanted more than we could ever give. We were going to split up sooner or later. I'm surprised the three of us are still together.

(Mike shakes his head, frowning. How could Micky say this? They've been friends for years!)

Micky: I know we're friends, but friends do disagree. That's the risk you run in forming a group. You being a major control freak doesn't help anything. You can't control us, and you never could, even though you thought you could. Pete wised up. I've been tending in that direction. So has Davy. We don't want to see the end of the group, but, ultimately, it may work out for the best.

(Mike's eyes get big. But...what about him? He wants the guys to be happy, but he's worried about him and his family, too.)

Micky: Don't you think we're just as worried? We want you to be happy as much as we want it for ourselves. Nothing we do seems to make you happy lately.

(Mike shrugs. He wants the best for them.)

Micky: If you really wanted the best for us, you'd actually take our suggestions at times.

(Mike nods. He'll do anything he says.)

Micky: *frowns* You say you will, but you won't. I know you, Mike.

(Mike nods again.)

Micky: *sighs* You just don't get it, Michael.

(Mike shakes his head, pulling back. He's still confused and under Darren's control.)

Micky: *frustrated* It takes so much to get something so easy through your thick skull! *stands and slaps Mike hard across the face*

(Mike nods again, a little scared now.)

Micky: This is for your own good. *turns Mike into a small puppy*

(The little black puppy looks up at Micky with large, moist brown eyes. It tries to howl, but he's still silent.)

*Micky turns and walks away.*

(The puppy attempts to follow, but it's arms and legs are still bound. It collapses on the seat of the chair, barely able to move. Tears run down its smooth, furry cheeks as Micky heads out the door and we fade out.)