Everyone ready to figure out what's going on?

Mike: My nose...goin' crazy...

Peter: It's so darn DRY here.

Micky: I'm freezin' my butt off!

Davy: If this volcano decides to blow it's top NOW...

*We open with Al heading up the staircase. He goes down the hall, stops by a closed door, and knocks on it.*

Lauren: (She comes to the door, wearing a robe and yawning) Oh, hello, Al. Do you need anything? Micky should be able to help you if you need to know where something goes.

Al: I need you to come with me. *his eyes flash*

Lauren: Al, what in the hell was that?

Al: You should really come with me.

Lauren: Not when you're scaring me like that.

Al: You're the only one left here. I was told to not hurt you and to only use force if absolutely necessary.

Lauren: What do you mean? How...

(Lauren tries to pull away from Al, but he grabs her hand.)

Al: I don't want to hurt you. *his eyes flash again*

Lauren: Al, what's wrong with your eyes?

Al: There's nothing wrong with my eyes.

Lauren: You've never done this before! Al...did someone...do this? Some devils?

Al: *Smirks* Maybe. *gives her a tug* Let’s go.

Lauren: Are you crazy? What have you done with the others?

Al: They're all visiting different regions.

Lauren: But...how? What's going on? (He gently pulls her down the hall) What about the kids? I can't leave them here all alone! (Makes a face) I shudder to think of what the twins would do to the kitchen if left in the house alone.

(Lauren tries to double back to the twins' room.)

Al: We're bringing them with us.

Lauren: Where are we going?

Al: You're going to Arizona.

Lauren: (Growls) The Arizona Ghost Town Complex? No way!

Al: Yes, you are.

Lauren: Al, how did they do this?

Al: You ask too many questions.

Lauren: You usually don't drag me around, threaten my family and friends, and have strobe lights for eyes, either!

Al: Get the kids.

Lauren: I will...but I want to know what's going on after I do.

(After a few minutes, Lauren emerges, carrying a sleeping Robbie. The others are awake, rubbing eyes, yawning, and propping each other up.)

Lauren: This is all of them but Austin. Valerie left him with her nanny at the Cartwright Mansion.

Al: Let’s go.

Katie: What's goin' on?

Jordan: Is that Mr. Al?

Lauren: I'll...I'll tell you later.

Jordan: Mr. Al, your light is funny! It's dark!

Al: We need Ursula, too.

Katie: Aunt Ursula?

Jordan: What do you want a car for?

Lauren: You're still trying to get her out?

Al: Yes, they are.

Lauren: Al, if you do anything else, so help me I am going to knock you black and blue. Yes, in front of the kids. (Sets Robbie down)

Shelly: Uh-oh! Mommy's really mad!

(Lauren's fist strikes out for Al's chin.)

*Al dodges and grabs her wrist. He twists her arm behind her back.*

Al: Don't push me.

Shelly: (Wails) Mommy!

Leah: Don't hurt our Mommy!

Little Mick: (He rolls up his sleeves) You let her go! You're being mean!

Katie: Yeah!

Al: Tell the kids to back off and come along willingly.

Lauren: (Growls, but nods) All right. Kids, we...we have to go with him.

Shelly: Just don't hurt Mommy!

(Leah starts to cry.)

Al: I don't want to hurt her.

Katie: But you are hurting her!

Lauren: Al, let me go. The kids are scared to death.

Al: *Lets her go* Then cooperate.

(Katie takes Robbie, who is now laying on the floor, into her arms as well as she can.)

Lauren: I have no choice. I can't take you on in my condition with the kids around.

Al: Good. Let’s go get the car.

*Al's eyes glow again. Everyone is surrounded by a dark blue light. They disappear, and we fade out on the empty hallway.*

(Fade in on the Arizona Complex. The sun is just starting to appear over the sky. The camera slowly zooms in on one of the rooms over the General Store building. This room has been transformed into a large office, furnished with heavy Victorian chairs, rugs, and desks, and with large shelves filled with rare old books. A tall, slightly heavyset middle-aged woman with dark hair in a severe bun sits in one of the seats opposite Sheila. Alex sits in the other.)

Alex: *Yawns; mutters* It's too damn early for this.

Lillith Staffer: I concur. Why did you call me out here in the middle of nowhere at this ungodly hour?

Sheila: I'll be honest, Miss Staffer. I wanted to make my offer before anyone else could.

Lillith: At 4AM?

*Alex leans forward, propping up his head, using the table to keep him upright.*

Sheila: Miss Staffer, Past, Present, and Future Inc is ready to pay you a very handsome sum for Dark Star Records.

Lillith: It's not for sale.

Sheila: We're very interested in it. We'd like to move into the music business.

Lillith: Ms. Saunders, I know nothing at all about music, other than I like jazz and some of the milder rock groups. What I do know about is running a business...and what businesses turn a profit. And Dark Star Records turned a very handsome profit last year before the owner sold it. Something about a scandal...

*Alex snorts, giving a tired smirk.*

Sheila: (Waves it off) Everybody's forgotten about it by now. I want to revive Dark Star Records. I was a singer in my younger years. I know something about the music business.

Lillith: Past, Present, and Future is already buying up at least three different hardware chains west of the Mississippi.

Sheila: Yes, but we'd like to expand our horizons into other areas.

Alex: Yeah. That's hardware. This is music.

Lillith: I won't be selling Dark Star, but I will to restructure the company. It's previous owner left it in quite a shambles after he took off last year. I was told you knew him.

Sheila: He was a crony of my uncle's, but they parted company long before he died and left PPF to me.

Lillith: I've heard of your uncle. Lucian Zero was ruthless, but he was shrewd. My father admired his business acumen...when he wasn't cursing his dirty deals.

Sheila: (Smirks) That was Uncle, all right.

Lillith: I'm sorry, Ms. Saunders, but I'm just not going to sell Dark Star Records. Records are raking in millions of dollars right now.

Sheila: Yes, but you know nothing about running a music company.

Lillith: I know I can afford to hire the best music experts in the business.

Sheila: Mr. London and I have both been in the music business before.

Lillith: (Squints at Alex) Do I know you from somewhere, Mr. London?

Alex: Nah, I just have one of those familiar faces.

Lillith: I suppose you do.

Sheila: Miss Staffer...

Lillith: (Shakes her head) Ms. Saunders, Dark Star Records just isn't for sale, at any price.

Sheila: But...

Zelda: *Knocks on the door, then pokes her head in* Sorry to interrupt, but... *grins* they're here.

Sheila: Ahh. (She stands) Excuse me, Miss Staffer. We just had some...visitors...arrive.

Lillith: It sounds important.

Sheila: It's very important. Zelda, if you would be so kind to lead Miss Staffer out and make sure she gets a ride back to Los Angeles...

Zelda: Certainly, Milady. *holds the door for Lillith* Right this way, please, Miss Staffer.

Lillith: Thank you, young lady. (She follows Zelda out the door. Sheila turns to Alex)

Sheila: Shall we greet our guests?

Alex: I've been waiting for this. Lets go meet them.

(Cut to the blacksmith's shop. The kids are still in Ursula. Most of them are either asleep or something close. Al and Lauren are getting out of the car.)

Al: Here we are.

Lauren: *Frowns* Lovely.

*Sheila and Alex walk into the blacksmith's shop.*

Sheila: (Smirks) Good work, Mr. Blueton. You got all of them?

Al: All but the littlest one.

Lauren: *Folds her arms* What did you do to Al?

Sheila: Oh, we just hypnotized him. All good fun, really.

Lauren: I know what you're idea of fun is. Why did you do this to him?

Alex: Because we could.

Sheila: And we had a marvelous time, too.

Lauren: *Frowns* I don't like the way that was phrased.

Alex: He put up a little fight, but it wasn't anything we couldn't handle.

Sheila: (Pats Al's shoulder) I think he eventually enjoyed it.

Lauren: Listen, you have us where you want us now. At least let the poor guy go.

Sheila: Oh, we have no real interest in him. We weren't going to keep him. (Mutters) Much to Zelda's disappointment. We'd better get rid of him before she gets back.

Alex: *Nods* Quickly.

Sheila: (She concentrates) Al Blueton, we release you from our powers. (She puts a hand on his head) Return to your deep slumber.

*Al's head falls, his chin resting against his chest. Lauren watches, still frowning.*

Sheila: We're going to send you back to the place you were last in. When you awaken, you will remember nothing of what happened tonight.

(There's a black light around Al. When it subsides, he's gone.)

Sheila: That gets rid of him. (Sighs) It's too late to do anything with you now, and those brats of yours really are going to need some sleep if they're to be of any use later.

Lauren: Where are the others? Al said something about sending them to different places...

Sheila: We sent them to places where they won't be able to cause us any harm.

Alex: Pretty smart, huh?

Sheila: And now, I think it's time we all went to bed, including you, Mother. We'll go further into our plans for you, the children, and my sister in the morning after breakfast.

Alex: *Yawns again* Sounds good to me.

Lauren: *Sighs* Fine.

Sheila: (Concentrates; there's a black light around Lauren and the children) We'll send you to the hotel and bordello. It's the most comfortable of the restored buildings. (When the light fades, Lauren and the kids are gone.)

Alex: Good. Now I can go back to bed.

Sheila: Yes. And please leave the Mother alone until tomorrow. You can play with her after we've dealt with her.

Alex: *Waves it off* I'm too frickin' tired for that right now.

Sheila: (She takes Alex's arm) Let's go to bed, shall we? It's been a very interesting start to what should prove to be a most momentous day.

Alex: Definitely.

(We fade out on Sheila and Alex as they walk arm-and-arm to the entrance to the below-ground levels.)