Everyone ready to really race?

Mike: Hell yeah.

Peter: I'm ready.

Micky: You betcha!

Davy: I am.

(Fade in on the windows surrounding the ballroom of the Montgomery House, which show the full moon outside. Peter smiles and leans back on the bandstand.)

Peter: (Yawns a little) And that's my part.

Mike: (Yawns himself) Not bad, not bad at all. Ok, who wants to go next?

Micky: I'll go next.

Peter: Go ahead, Micky. You're probably more qualified than the rest of us to take this story into the Wild West, anyway.

Mike: Yeah, you're wild enough.

Micky: Thank you! (Leans back) So the cars are back on the road...

(Fade out on Micky telling the story...and fade in on him driving the Van Dyke. The cars are now in the American Heartland. Prairies, cattle, and buffalo graze all around them, and we can see cliffs and tumbleweed in the distance.)

Mike: Damn Abernathy for gettin' ahead!

Peter: Micky, isn't there any way we can get back in the lead?

Micky: There's always the secret weapon.

Mike: What "secret weapon?" The girls have their "secret weapon," but I ain't...

(And that's when something purple "whooshes" by them! Emma waves out the passenger-side door as the girls go around them and down the street.)

*Lauren waves as well.*

Micky: Super speed, which we're gonna need to catch up with the girls.

Mike: How do you propose we do that? We only have so much...

(That's when the car backfires and sputters to a stop.)

Mike: ...Gas, which we appear to be out of.

*Micky thumps his head on the steering wheel, groaning.*

Peter: Is there still some in the trunk?

(That's when we hear familiar whooping and hollering. The hillbillies, in their rusty Tin Lizzie, drive up to the guys at a fair clip.)

Hillbilly #1: Need some help there, sonny?

Micky: *Looks up* We're out of gas.

Hillbilly #1: You know what, sonny? You seem like nice boys. We're gonna let you in on a little secret. (Turns to the younger man in the car) Kaleb, get me the jug.

Kaleb: THE jug, Pa? The SECRET jug?

Pa: Just do it, boy! (Kaleb hands his father a huge brown-and-cream earthenware jug. Pa hands it to Micky)

Pa: You pour that in your tank and let 'er rip!

Micky: You're kidding...

Hillbilly #3: We ain't needed gas the entire trip!

Mike: So THAT'S how you guys have avoided Abernathy.

Kaleb: He can't keep up with our secret weapon!

*Micky takes the moonshine and pours it into the gas tank.*

Peter: (As the Van Dyke suddenly gives a huge belch and backfires a cloud of odd-smelling smoke) Thank you, gentlemen!

Pa: Any time, sonny! Anytime! (They head off. Mike turns to Micky as he climbs into the car.)

Mike: Ok, Mick. Let's see if those boys were tellin' the truth.

Micky: Here we go... *touches the gas...and the Van Dyke takes off like a shot!*

(We get a view of the car speeding across the plains as "Seeger's Theme" begins. Mike grins as the girls' purple car comes into view.)

(Emma looks behind her...and sees the boys and the hillbillies coming up on them! Faster, Lauren!)

*Lauren nods. She pulls a lever, and the car takes off once again.*

(Abernathy and Max snicker as they pour a container of hot tar out of their car. Lauren swerves around it, as do the hillbillies. Mike points to a certain lever; they can go OVER it. The Van Dyke immediately goes up, and it's wheels go around the tar. The black men's car isn't as lucky. They get stuck in the tar and can't get unstuck, no matter how hard they try.)

Mike: (As "Seeger's Theme" ends) We've gotta watch out for more of Abernathy's tricks. He might try somethin' else out here.

Peter: We'll have to send someone back for the black men when we arrive at the next stop. (Frowns) Where IS the next stop?

Mike: I think it's an Indian reservation. We are in Oklahoma Territory.

Micky: *Smiles* I wonder who we'll run into?

(They drive into what looks like a typical Indian encampment; actually, it looks like the Indian camp set from "Wild West Monkees." Mike stops the car by some serious-looking Indian scouts who stare at the car with serious looks on their faces.)

Mike: Um, hi, folks. We were just wonderin' if we could shack up with ya'all tonight, seein' how we ain't nowhere near a town... (But the warriors pull out their bows and arrows instead) Hoo boy. I'll bet Abernathy's been through here. Probably picked these folks clean.

Peter: Micky, you're an Indian! Could you talk to them?

Micky: *Realizing* Oh man, they probably don't recognize me under my hair! *sits up above the others to the warriors can see him clearly; waves* Hi!

Indian Warrior #1: (Squints) Running Water? Is that you?

Micky: Last I knew, it was me!

Indian Warrior #1: I didn't recognize you under all that hair. I thought you were gonna keep it straight.

Mike: You really know these guys?

Micky: Of course I know them! They're practically family! *turns to the Warriors* I got lazy.

Indian Warrior #1: Who are they? (Indicates the other Monkees)

Micky: These are my friends, Mike, Davy, & Peter.

Peter: Hello!

Mike: Nice to meet 'cha.

Indian Warrior #1: We thought you were with those two men in black who passed through here just a few hours ago! They told us there were bandits coming who wanted to attack us!

Mike: Abernathy. Figures.

Peter: Did one have a mustache and the other wear a derby hat?

Indian Warrior #2: (Nods) Yes, he did. We let him put gas in his car...and he and his man stole a lot of our supplies and food!

Indian Warrior #3: That's why we were jumpy when you arrived. (Claps Micky on the back) Sorry about that, Laughing Water. We know you'd never steal from us!

Mike: Nahh, we have our own supplies.

Indian Warrior #1: Laughing Water, if you have the time, would you like to join us for our night meal? We were about to smoke some buffalo meat and eat cornbread and beans over an open fire, and our chief is holding a ceremonial pow-wow in honor of our other guests.

Mike: I dunno, we really have to get back to the race...

Peter: Micky, what do you say?

Micky: Can we at least stick around for dinner?

Mike: Well...

Peter: I say we accept!

Mike: But Peter...

Peter: I wouldn't want to turn down these nice people's hospitality, Michael. (Whispers to him) Or wind up with an arrow in our backs, no matter how well they know Micky.

(Mike just nods, making a face.)

Indian Warrior #1: I'll take you to my father's tent. You can freshen up there. There's already some guests who arrived by car there.

Mike: Thanks, man. (Turns to Micky as they're lead to the teepees) You said these guys were family. Whose side?

Peter: You're Indian on your mother's side, right?

Micky: Right.

(Cut to inside the teepee. It's a basic leather construction seen in movies. Mike pulls aside the flap first...and is surprised that the first person he sees is Lauren. Emma and Valerie are right behind her, eating what looks like dried meat.)

Mike: Girls? What are you doin' here?

Emma: Oh, hello, gentlemen. (Grins) We're getting a great story, that's what!

Lauren: Chowing down, what's it look like?

Mike: When did you guys get in?

Emma: About an hour ago. Why?

Mike: They didn't mention anyone else showin' up!

Emma: (Makes a face) They probably didn't consider females to be anything worth mentioning.

Peter: Did they almost attack you with their arrows, too?

Valerie: No. In fact, once we told them we were in a race, they were nothing but nice to us.

Emma: Savages, my fanny! If these are savages, I'm not sure I want to go back to civilization. These are some of the sweetest savages I've ever met.

Mike: They almost skewered us, until we found out they know Mick.

Emma: You know these people, Micky?

Mike: We mentioned back in New York that Mick's an Indian.

Micky: They're practically family.

Emma: That's fascinating! You must tell me the story tonight at the pow-wow!

Micky: *Shrugs, smiling* Sure.

Mike: We'll stay for the shindig, but we leave first thing in the mornin'. (Turns to Micky) You know, maybe your family could help us.

Micky: How so?

Mike: We're gonna need help with Bela. I know he's up to somethin' if his boys are stealin' from Indians, and we lost the black guys back in the desert.

Micky: *nods* Okay, I'm sure they'd be willing to give us a hand.

Mike: In that case (grins), you girls ready to share some grub?

Valerie: (Shrugs) Sure. There's plenty.

Emma: Davy, Daphne is getting photographs of the cliffs in the back - some of them are striking - if you want to talk to her.

Davy: I think I will. I'll be back. *heads out to find Daphne*

Mike: So girls...what do you have there that's good and fillin'?

Emma: (Grins) Oh, so many things.

Lauren: Everything!

Peter: Then pass it around!

*Lauren does so.*

(We fade out on the group enjoying their meal and fade in on a nighttime scene. The group now sits around a large bonfire. Everyone now wears more relaxed cowboy-style clothing; Mike wears his fringed shirt from the first and early second season of the show.)

*Micky wears beads and a tunic.*

Mike: (He sits with a man in a huge headdress) Thanks for inviting us, Chief White Eagle.

Chief White Eagle: Think nothing of it. We don't often have such pleasant guests. Ever since my tribe learned your language, we've enjoyed sharing our culture with those who are interested. (Frowns) Most people just want to rob us blind, though, like that fellow who came through here earlier. Made off with much treasure, including supplies and food.

Mike: (As Micky joins them) Hey, Mick. Have a good time? ;)

Valerie: (She and Peter join them; we see Emma and Daphne in the background, taking pictures of the dancing and interviewing Indians) Hello, everyone. This is a wonderful pow-wow, Chief. So fascinating!

Chief White Eagle: I'm glad to hear of that. It's not many who can accept our tribal rituals. I'm afraid our way of life seems to be slipping away.

Micky: It just ain't right.

Chief White Eagle: We agree to give you whatever help you desire. If this man is anything like you say he is, you'll need all the help you can get.

Mike: (Nods) Micky and I have a plan.

Micky: You bet we do.

(And we fade out as Micky begins to explain his plan...)