Everyone ready to get the devils?

Mike: Like hell.

Davy: You bet!

Peter: Wait, guys. We really need to strategize first.

Micky: I need to find Lauren...

*We open at Micky and Lauren's house. It's quiet...until there's a knock at the front door. No one comes to answer. There's another knock, and still no answer. Finally, the door slowly pushes open. Al leans in.*

Al: Hello? Mick? Lauren? Anyone home? *comes inside fully* Hello?

*He looks around and finds some decorations from the party still on the walls. Some food wasn’t put away. Dishes litter the rooms.*

Al: *Frowns* What the hell?

*Al wanders further, checking most of the downstairs rooms and still finding party litter around.*

Al: *Stops in the main hall again* Something very strange is going on here.

(There's a blue light in the living room. When it subsides, the seven remaining members of the group appear.)

Mike: (Looks around a makes a face) Boy, did we leave a mess.

Emma: (Nods) Before we do anything else, the first thing that needs to be done is cleaning up the rest of the party mess. The boys can get the decorations. The girls can get the dishes. I'll wash any dishes we didn't get to before we left.

Davy: *Nods* Good idea. Come on, Mick, you can help me with some of this stuff.

Micky: *Sighs* Okay.

Al: *Heads to the living room upon hearing voices; stops in the doorway* There you are! I was looking for you guys. *makes a face* If you were here, why didn't you response when I knocked or called out?

Mike: Sorry, Al. We didn't hear you. (Frowns) You feelin' ok, man?

Al: Yeah, I'm fine.

Peter: (As he gathers crepe paper) Are you sure, Al? Your aura...well, you seem a little off.

Al: *Sighs* Honestly, no. I don't remember most of the party. Did the punch get spiked or something?

Mike: (Smirks) Probably, but not with stuff that would cause what just happened.

Peter: I think we're going to have to tell him, guys. They did something to him.

Davy: *Nods* Otherwise this is going to be REALLY confusing.

Al: Tell me what?

Mike: Al, what we're about to tell you is to be kept in the strictest confidence. (Sighs) We think you were hypnotized or hexed by Sheila Saunders and Alex and Zelda London and made to make us disappear...and then forget about it.

Al: *Frowns* ...Why?

Peter: They've been after us for...well, for a long time. They want what we can do, not to mention two of our cars.

Mike: They collect souls, Al. The more powerful the soul, the more energy and power for THEM. And they've wanted ours forever.

Al: *Runs a hand over his spiky hair* I know I like sci-fi stuff, but this is ridiculous.

Mike: We know it sounds crazy, but it's true. Remember when your boat was attacked by pirates? Jewelry and electronics weren't the only loot they were after.

Peter: And when we first met you at the country club back in the spring. They were involved with the scheme that cost you half your work force at the club resteraunt.

Al: Oh bother. I thought it was just ME attracting all this weird stuff.

Mike: No, it's us. We're weirdness magnets, even without the devils.

Al: *Slight grin* Trust me, I'm my own weirdness magnet, too.

Micky: *Speaks up from somewhere across the room* I believe that.

Davy: *Rolls his eyes* Hush, Mick.

Al: What's...uh...wrong with him?

Mike: That's somethin' else about us. We can feel when our women are in trouble...and right now, Lauren must be in some serious trouble.

Davy: Mick's been completely out of it for a little while now.

Al: *Sighs* And I was the patsy for this whole thing. That's just great. I feel real wonderful right now.

Peter: Al, we didn't hear you because we haven't been here. We just got back from being sent across the globe.

Mike: Al, it ain't your fault. Those damn devils use everyone an' everythin' they can get their hands on. They've tried to turn every single last one of us against each other at one time or another. We almost kicked the shit outta the girls earlier this year.

Peter: I attacked Michael last fall.

Mike: Sheila once got Micky to attack me.

Peter: (Gathers party hats) Al, we need your help now. We think we can finally get the devils under arrest. Every time we've gotten the police on them in the past couple of years, they've wiggled out of the sentence or gotten it lightened. With your testimony, I think it'll be harder for them to do that this time. Even if they don't end up in jail, I think they can get them a tougher sentence.

Al: Gladly. I'll do whatever I need to do to help you guys out.

Mike: After we finish cleanin' up this mess, we want you to go to the Malibu Beach police. Ask for Sergeant Nielson. He knows us. He'll contact the cops in Arizona.

Al: *Grins* I know Nielson... more than you know.

Mike: What, you cater the policemen's balls?

Al: No, though I wish it were that easy. My brother Brian likes to "bend the law," as he'd put it. I bailed him out so much, Nielson and I were starting to consider creating a poker night so we could wait for Brian to get hauled in. *sighs* He moved to New York. I don't hear much other than the occasional post card from jail.

Mike: (Exchanges looks with Davy and Pete) Actually...I think we ran into your brother just about ten minutes ago or so. You might wanna call him when you get home to make sure he's still alive. His gang was rumblin' with two other gangs when we left.

Al: You're kidding? *rubs the bridge of his nose and almost chuckles briefly* Well, doesn't that just beat all.

Micky: *Speaks up again* I wondered why that guy said he had a chef's knife.

Peter: He said he, uh, sends his regards.

Mike: And thinks you're a ner...ow! (Peter elbows him)

*Davy grins slightly.*

Al: Nerd? Yeah, I know that. He's only called me that about a zillion times. *shrugs* That's okay, I call myself a nerd, so it doesn't bother me.

Mike: Good. You'll fit right in here. We've all been called nerds at one time or another.

Al: That would explain why I like you guys.

Mike: Your brother is the head of a gang called the Skulls. If he's still alive tonight, you might want to have a nice, loooong talk with him.

Al: *sighs* And maybe even figure out how to get out there. He makes me so mad sometimes... *shakes his head* I'll go see Nielson and tell him what happened, then ask if he can ring New York. I'm willing to bet he's in custody already.

Mike: They were rumblin' in the subway terminals durin' the day. That's bound to attract attention.

Peter: After you ring Brian and make sure he's still among the living, get the cops out to Arizona. We'll give you directions.

Al: Consider it done.

Mike: That's where the devils have their main headquarters.

Peter: It's a ghost town in Arizona. They have a huge complex of buildings under the ghost town, but I'm hoping that they've kept Lauren in the main town.

Emma: (Rushes downstairs, her eyes horrified) Mike, the kids are gone, too! All of them!

Mike: (Growls) Shit! They must have them, too.

Peter: Damn it!

Davy: Bloody hell.

*Micky just groans.*

Emma: As soon as I finish the dishes, we HAVE to get out there! Our babies are in trouble!

Mike: (Takes Emma's shoulders) Em, hold on. We can't go out there without whippin' up some kind of strategy. Every time we go out there half-cocked, we just get caught.

Peter: Micky, how are you feeling now? Do you need any aspirin or anything?

Micky: Took some while you guys were talkin'. I don't feel quite so...drunk right now. I'm just...numb.

Mike: Numb?

Peter: Micky, do you think the devils have hurt Lauren, or tried to?

Micky: I don't think she's hurt. I haven't felt any pain, but... she's numb, unmoving.

Mike: Shit. Do you think they might have taken her soul?

Emma: They'd better not have! If they've touched her soul, I'll...

Peter: Micky, did she feel limp and listless? Like she didn't care?

Micky: *Eyes close* Uh huh.

Davy: Those bloody...

Peter: Oh god. And Lauren's pregnant.

Mike: Fuck those bastards!

Emma: Damn it! Damn them!

Mike: Micky, can you feel where she is, besides Arizona? Is she above-ground or underground?

Micky: *Opens his eyes again, they appear dull* Above ground.

Peter: Micky, you're really feeling this, aren't you?

Micky: Yes.

Mike: More than I felt it with Em. You and Lauren are just so attached to each other.

Emma: You're so close to each other, you feel things more than the rest of us do.

Peter: We have to figure out a way to find Lauren, her soul, and the children, without losing anyone else's souls.

Mike: Anyone have any suggestions on how we can get in without gettin' caught?

Peter: The disguise thing is too obvious.

Davy: How about animals?

Mike: I'd rather stay human. Animals can't do use weapons.

Peter: (Turns to Al) You need to call the cops now, before the Devils try anything else with Lauren's soul. (Sighs) Don't mention the devil thing with Nielson, though. Just tell him we have clear evidence that could arrest Sheila Saunders and Alex and Zelda London. He'll understand.

Al: *Nods* Going right now. Good luck! *heads out quickly*

Mike: Thanks! (Turns to Peter) Good thinkin', Pete. We don't want to have to explain anythin' else about our powers to him. The fewer people who know exactly what we can do, the better.

Peter: (Nods) Thank you, Michael. (But he shakes his head) But the fact remains that we need a plan for getting into the Arizona Ghost Town complex.

Mike: I say we stick together and cover each other's backs. Every time we split up on one of these little jaunts, even into smaller groups, they catch us. There is literal safety in numbers here.

Davy: *Nods* We'll just go in all together and be sneaky about it. How often do they expect the direct approach?

Mike: Exactly.

Emma: (Nods) I'll get Val and Daphne. We'll finish the dishes, you guys toss or put away the decorations, and we'll head out.

Mike: Don't worry, Mick. We'll find Lauren and the kids.

*Micky just nods.*

(Fade out on the group as they continue gathering the last of the debris from the party. Fade in on the outside of the above-ground buildings of the Arizona Ghost Town Complex. The camera moves slowly into the bordello...and the two people under the sheets.)

Alex: *Pulls the sheet off his head* And you said I couldn't be gentle.

Lauren: Pardon me for being leery.

Alex: *Runs one hand gentle over her stomach* I wouldn't dare harm this little one.

Sheila: (She walks in...and grins) I see it's going well. Zelda's still with the brats. They've been awfully quiet. She must have finally caged them or tied them up or something.

Alex: *Grins* She's as good with kids as you are, Milady.

Sheila: Then she's probably glued to the ceiling or something by now. I hate those brats.

*Lauren chuckles.*

Alex: Oh, you think that's funny, do you?

Sheila: How on earth do you handle those little monsters of yours?

Lauren: They aren't monsters.

Sheila: You haven't seen what they did to the walls of Alex and Zelda's suite in the rooms above the general store yet. We're going to send YOU the cleaning bill.

Lauren: Just put it on my tab.

Alex: Milady, she still has too much of a smart mouth. I think we should do something about it.

Sheila: Sounds good to me. Why don't we take that soul of hers? Wouldn't that upset your brother?

Lauren: *Eyes widen* What!? No!

Alex: It certainly would.

Sheila: You've been so good lately, Alex. Would you like the pleasure?

Alex: I would! *grins as his claws appear*

Lauren: *Screams* NOOO!

*Alex swipes down at her chest, swiftly removing her soul. He then holds it up in his hands.*

Alex: That was fun.

Sheila: Nice work, Dark Savage.

Alex: Thank you.

Sheila: Now, put it away, and we can have some more fun with our little Mother.

*The soul disappears in a black light as Alex's continues to grin.*

Sheila: (Goes to Lauren and rubs her head) Now, Mother...

(But as she says this, there's a small blue light in the middle of the room. When it subsides, it reveals all of the kids...and one small black wolf cub.)

Shelly: (Points) There's Mommy! She's in that bed with the Bad Man!

(Katie the Wolf runs at Sheila and bites her in the rear.)

Sheila: (Shoves Katie away) YEOWWW! Get off me, you little mutt! Alex!

Alex: Great. *yells* ZELDA!

Little Mick: She's not coming! We tied up Fake Mommy.

*Alex grumbles. He black lights some clothes on him and slides out of bed.*

Jordan: She wasn't very nice! She yelled at us and wouldn't play games!

(Katie tries to tug the blanket off of Alex's bed.)

Robbie: (He latches onto Alex's leg) Oooh, fun!

Sheila: (Leah grabs her leg) Get off, you little crayon-eating bugger!

Little Mick: You can't call my sister names! *charges at Sheila and knocks her over!*

*Leah laughs, clapping and cheering.*

Sheila: (Her eyes widen) How on EARTH did you do that? You can't be more than five or six!

Jordan: Wow, you just knocked the Bad Lady down! You're so strong!

Little Mick: You're a bad lady!

Sheila: Thank you. I'll take that as a compliment.

Jordan: (Helps Leah out from under Sheila) Are you ok? Did she squish you?

Leah: I'm okay.

Robbie: I gots Bad Man!

(Katie leaps onto Sheila and sits right in her middle.)

Sheila: Get off me! The only fur I like is on coats!

Lizzie: I like that! (She sits on Sheila's legs)

(Jordan goes over to Alex and tickles his other leg.)

Alex: Stop that!

Jordan: Are you ticklish? I am! Right under... (tickles under Alex's knees) here!

Alex: *Laughs* Stop...that!

Jordan: No! You're laughing! (He moves to his thigh as Robbie lets his leg go and tickles him, too.)

Robbie: Tickle tickle!

Shelly: I'm gonna get his tummy! (She runs his fingers over his bare chest)

*Alex just laughs hysterically.*

Jordan: He's having fun!

(The wolf nods from on top of Sheila.)

*Alex falls over from laughing so hard.*

Jordan: We got him! Do you still have rope, Little Mick?

Sheila: (Groans) Oh no. You are NOT going to tie us up, you naughty children!

Lizzie: No, you're naughty! You're mean to us!

Shelly: And our mommies and daddies!

Sheila: Naughty is our job.

*Little Mick joins them with the rope and starts tying up Alex.*

(Shelly and Leah tie up Sheila. Katie returns to her human form as they finish.)

Katie: Oooh, I feel weird. I wonder if Daddy feels weird when he's not fuzzy anymore?

Sheila: (Narrows her eyes) So, the Knight's brat takes after him in more than just looks. You're a feral, too.

Katie: I'm a wha?

Sheila: You turn into an animal. Just like your father.

Katie: (Puts her hands on her little hips) Yeah? So what?

Sheila: You do take after your father. You have his attitude problem, too.

Shelly: (She climbs on the bed and tugs her mother) Mommy? Mommy, are you ok? I feel funny. Like I'm tired or something.

*Lauren just stares back at her.*

Leah: *Climbs on the bed next to Shelly* Mommy, I don't feel good... *lays down next to Lauren*

Katie: What's wrong? I feel fine. Papa's mad, Mama's upset, but...they're not sick or anythin'.

Jordan: (His eyes widen) Guys! She has no light!

Little Mick: *Eyes widen* No light!?

Katie: What do you mean?

Jordan: She doesn't have any light. Everyone has a light...but hers is gone. She doesn't have it anymore. I don't see it.

Sheila: Of course not. We took her soul.

Katie: Her soul?

Jordan: Her light?

*Little Mick cries out loudly. He crashes through one wall and returns through another part of it.*

Katie: Wow, Mick! I think you're stronger than I am!

Jordan: (Ducks behind Katie) I think he's stronger than anybody is!

*Little Mick starts throwing things around.*

Shelly: Micky! (She hops off the bed and runs over to her brother) Throwing things isn't going to make Mommy feel better!

Katie: (Grins; goes over to a fancy lamp) Is this made of stuff that breaks?

*Little Mick just cries out.*

Katie: (Points to the lamp) Get this one, too! It's ugly!

Sheila: Stop! These are priceless antiques, including that lamp!

Shelly: (Takes Mick's arm) Micky, what if our parents found out that you were breaking things that didn't belong to you?

Little Mick: *Yells* I JUST WANT MOMMY TO BE OKAY!

Shelly: We do, too, but breaking things isn't going to make things better!

Katie: We need to find out where they put this soul thing!

Robbie: Where da soul ting? (He pokes Alex)

Jordan: Aunt Lauren needs her light!

Alex: Not a chance, kid.

Jordan: What if we said please?

Sheila: No.

Shelly: The prisoners aren't talking!

Katie: Maybe we could, um, jump on them or something!

Jordan: That would hurt!

Robbie: (Jumps on Sheila) Jump! Jump!

Sheila: Stop that! I'm not a bloody trampoline!

Katie: Little Mick, why don't you jump on the Bad Man? I'll bet he's bouncy!

Shelly: Yeah, maybe he throws good.

*Little Micky jumps right on Alex and keeps jumping.*

Robbie: (Bounces on Sheila) Yeah! Yeah!

Sheila: My back is never going to feel the same.

Lizzie: (She bounces on Sheila, too) Yeah! She's really bouncy!

Sheila: Alex, do something!

Alex: Ooof! *Little Mick keeps jumping* I'd...love...to!

Katie: (Sighs) Ok, Mick. We have to help your mommy now.

Jordan: We need to find her light!

Shelly: Mick, you can stop.

Sheila: Knock it the hell off, you bloody brats!

*Little Mick stops, then hmphs. He wasn't done.*

Katie: We'll come back and jump on them again later after we've found your Mama's light.

Robbie: Wanna jump too!

Katie: You too, Rob.

Robbie: Yay!

Shelly: Mick, don't you want to help us find Mommy's light? She's not our Mommy anymore?

Little Mick: I want these bad people to leave us alone! They hurt Mommy!

Shelly: So do we! But don't you want to make Mommy feel better?

Katie: Yeah, I don't think these guys are going to move anytime soon. (Growls) Or I'll bite them.

Sheila: I'm so scared. (Rolls her eyes)

Shelly: (Takes Micky's arm) Look at Leah! She's so sad. I don't think running into things will make her happy.

Leah: Mommy sad.

Jordan: We have to find your mommy's light!

Shelly: (Goes to Leah and Lauren) Come on, Leah and Mommy! We're going to find Mommy's light!

Sheila: Please. A bunch of children?

Katie: We can do anything! We're Little Guardians!

Jordan: Yeah! (He takes Leah's hand) Don't worry! We'll make your mommy feel better! (Pats Leah on the back)

*Leah smiles the best she can.*

Shelly: (She tugs on Lauren's sleeve as Jordan helps Leah down from the bed) Come on, Mommy! We're going to find your light and make you happy!

*Lauren shrugs and goes along.*

Katie: (She takes Robbie's hand) Let's go! Everyone big has to take a little kid. Jordan already has Leah. Little Mick, you can help Lizzie. Shelly, you stay with your mama.

Lizzie: I'll stay with you! (Grins) Can you run into the Bad Man again?

Robbie: Dat funny!

Little Mick: I'd like to.

(Jordan squeezes Leah's hand more tightly. Everything's going to be all right.)

Sheila: Come back here! You're all being very bad!

Katie: (Ignores Sheila) Ok, Little Guardians, everyone march! (They all troop out of the room)

Sheila: Damn those brats! (Turns to Alex) If they find her soul...

Alex: We'll be laughingstocks.

Sheila: Not to mention out a soul. (Struggles) It can't be too hard to get out of knots tied by children who aren't older than five or six years old. (Frowns) Can it?

(We fade out on Alex and Sheila struggling in their bonds amid the smashed antiques and rumpled bedclothes.)