Everyone ready for a parade?

Peter: I am!

Mike: I ain't so sure.

Micky: I'm ready!

Davy: Me too.

(We open on the streets of Malibu Beach the day after the girls' shopping excursion. It's night, and the lights the Monkees and Micky's buddies strung shine brightly all over Main Street. There's people everywhere, lining the sidewalk in warm clothes, sitting on beach chairs and lawn chairs. Children chase each other across the blacktop and beg their parents for balloons from balloon sellers and hot chocolate and hot dogs from men pushing carts. On one quiet side street, we see groups of various people dressed for parades. There's marching bands with baton-twirlers, dancers in huge, billowing red and green skirts, string bands, people in costume, fire trucks, and huge floats decked out in various holiday decorations.)

Valerie: (She hurries out to one of the larger floats, covered in silver and gold tinsel garland, with children dressed as angels in white robes covered with glitter and feathered wings) Where is everyone? (Grins when she sees the twins run up, both in angel costumes) Oh, hello, you two. Where's your mother? I know your father was with the other Monkees...

Katie: (Drags her mother over) We're here!

Emma: (Holds Robbie) Hello, Head Angel. (Leans over the twins and grins) And the little angels. Where's the big angels?

Shelly: Mommy's already on the float. Daddy's trying to get the rest of our uncles into their costumes.

Katie: My papa wouldn't wear his. He made so much noise!

Emma: He's complained about that costume all day.

Valerie: Tough. I couldn't get anyone else. Brian and Al are riding with the motorcycle group, the Angellettes are with the African choir group, Daphne and the other Abbies are on the 50s-themed float, the Martians agreed to be on Millie's float, the Jolly Green Giants are playing elves on Santa's sleigh, Nyles is Santa, Jessie is Mrs. Claus, and Jack, Matt, and Coco are walking with the float from elementary school.

Emma: How did Nyles and Jessie get the prime roles?

Valerie: I was wondering the same thing. Do you or Mick know, Lauren?

Emma: (Sighs) Val, she went on the float, which is really where you should be, too.

Valerie: Emma, didn't you say you were going to help out the library float?

Emma: (Nods) Yes, but I want to find the guys first. I'm just glad you and Lauren have the kids on the Headquarters float. Keep most of them in one place.

Valerie: (Smirks) That was kind of the idea, along with other kids from their school, not to mention Chrissy and Sarah, whom they adore. I like it better when they're all in one place.

Emma: (She helps Valerie into the float) Well, I wish you luck. Al and Brian's motorcycle group is behind you if you need help.

Valerie: How did Brian rope Al into appearing with a motorcycle group?

Emma: (Shrugs) I imagine a lot of carefully-orchestrated bribes.

Valerie: (As her float lurches ahead) Go find the boys, before they ruin those costumes! (As the float disappears around the corner) And tell them to be careful with them! They're rented!

Emma: (Sighs and turns to her son) Why don't we go find your papa and uncles and see if they've actually gotten their costumes on yet?

Robbie: 'Kay, Mama.

Little Mick: Yeah!

Emma: (Turns to the twins) How did you get your mommy and Aunt Valerie to let you walk with your daddies, instead of in the float?

Katie: 'Cause we're real 'portant.

Little Mick: *Shrugs* We looked at them like this... *puts on a pouty face*

Katie: That only works with your daddy. It don't work with Papa. He just says "do it anyway, Cowgirl."

Emma: (As she takes Shelly's hand with the one that isn't holding Robbie) At any rate, let's go find them. I think they were dressing at Millie's, since it's near the parade route.

(They walk over to Millie's. The bakery/cafe is mostly dark...except for one light where four silhouettes can be seen. Emma knocks on the door.)

*The door opens to reveal an angel wearing tennis shoes and a wide grin on his face.*

(Our next one is a huge Frosty the Snowman, complete with hat, broom, and jaunty red and white striped scarf.)

Emma: (Grins) Hi, guys. I don't care what Mike says. Those costumes look great.

Katie: You make a funny angel, Uncle Micky!

Robbie: You weely Frosty, Unca Peter?

Peter: (Takes off his Frosty head) Well, let's just say I've borrowed his outfit for a while.

Emma: Where's Davy and Mike?

Peter: They should be out in a few minutes. (Mutters) I hope.

*A short Rudolph appears next.*

Robbie: Wudolf!

Katie: That's Uncle Davy, Robbie! The real Rudolph is at the North Pole right now!

Davy: Hi, mates.

Emma: Where's Mike?

Davy: Still back there and still complaining.

(That's when a figure all in green turns up. Mike holds his Grinch head and looks annoyed.)

Mike: Do I really have to go through with this?

Emma: (Sighs and straightens his costume) Yes, you do. Come on. The parade's already started!

Katie: (Grabs her father's hand) Yeah, Papa! I wanna be an angel!

Robbie: Me too!

Emma: (Shakes her head and pulls Robbie close to her) Sorry, but you and I are throwing candy for the Library float.

Mike: (As they follow Katie to the parade route; the sounds of crashing cymbals and string bands playing a tinkly "Jingle Bells" is loud and clear over the roar of the crowd) Micky, how did you get the easy job? You just have to stand on the Headquarters float and sing Christmas carols with the kids and the girls!

Micky: *Shrugs* I was the only one willing to wear the Angel costume.

Emma: (Points) Hey gang, there's Al and Brian's motorcycle group! We're almost at the Headquarters float!

(Indeed, as we make our way through the crowd, we see Al, Brian, and several other men on motorcycles. Some men have stuffed animals or Christmas ornaments on the back of their vehicles, but Al and Brian have the women we saw them with earlier. They zoom around in circles and do small tricks for the crowd, delighting children and motorcycle enthusiasts.)

Katie: Look at 'em go!

Mike: (Mutters) Wish I was on that, 'steada doin' this.

Emma: (Sees the Headquarters float right in front of them as the parade stops) Look! There's your float! You can catch up before they stop at City Hall to play for the Mayor and City Council.

Mike: Do I...

Emma: Yes, you have to. Stop whining like a five-year-old.

Katie: I'm not whining, and I'm five years old! I like being an angel!

Mrs. Marion: (She appears, dressed in a Victorian outfit and carrying a bucket) Shouldn't you all be on the float by now?

Emma: Micky, hand the twins and Katie up to Val and Lauren. Robbie and I have to go back to the Library float. They were one of the last groups before Santa. They may not even have started yet.

Peter: (He lifts Katie up and into the float) Ok, Mick. You can get the twins.

*Micky lifts the twins into the float.*

Mike: Ok, we're just gonna be wanderin' along the parade route, talkin' to guests and whomever and handin' out candy.

Valerie: What took you so long to show up?

Mike: Costume trouble.

Emma: (Takes Robbie's hand) I need to go find the library float. Good luck, guys! We'll all meet at Millie's after the parade for dessert.

Mike: Yeah, we're gonna need it.

Peter: (Kicks Mike's ankle lightly) We'll be fine.

(An instrumental "Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree" begins as Emma and Robbie hurry behind the boys. Mrs. Marion takes the arm of a grumpy-looking Mr. Babbit, also in Victorian dress. They follow Emma to the Dickens-themed Library float.)

(Cut to a dance group in huge red and green dresses. Emma and Robbie find themselves caught with the group. Robbie's delighted. He gets to dance with the ladies in the pretty dresses! He loves trying to do the same moves as them. Emma's just confused. They finally get through the group...but not before we see Robbie is now wearing one of their pairs of cat's-eye glasses.)

(Cut back to Mike. He and Peter shake the hands of people in the crowd. One big guy shakes Mike's hand so hard, he nearly winds up flat on his face in the sidewalk.)

(Katie and Little Mick both try to get in the front of the float with Micky as he sings along.)

*Shelly ends up being the one in the front. She sticks her tongue out at her brother.*

(Valerie grins and pats her head. Good girl.)

(Cut to Millie's float. It's a huge Gingerbread House, with massive paper-mache lollypops and candy canes on each edge. Millie and Larry, dressed as Christmas bakers, wave to the crowd. Four "gingerbread people" walk around the float, throwing candy to the crowd and waving. John finally pulls off the head of his gingerbread woman outfit and makes a face. Whew, that thing is hot! A gingerbread man elbows him. Hey, the kids are watching! He grumbles and puts his head back on.)

*The Malibu Beach Elementary School float is up next with kids from the school on it, wearing pajamas with pillows and candy around them. We see Coco and Matt holding the banner that reads "Visions of Sugar Plums."*

(Jack walks behind them, throwing candy for the kids.)

(The Library float is behind them. A tired Robbie is now sitting on the Christmas Carol-themed float with Mrs. Marion while his mother throws candy and waves to the crowd. Babbit just rolls his eyes and makes sure no one takes his candy.)

(Cut to the end of the float. Jessie, wearing a ruffled red dress with a white apron and a matching ruffled cap, is trying to help Santa Nyles, complete with beard, hat, and bushy eyebrows, into the sleigh.)

(The Jolly Green Giants wear green tunics with little pointed hat, shoes with turned-up toes, and green stockings. They're playing cards as Jessie struggles with Nyles.)

(Cut back to the parade. The next float looks like a 50s diner, complete with guys in leather jackets and girls in poodle skirts. The Abbies, including Daphne, sing along with the song in the center of the diner. The two saleswomen and their boyfriends, also dressed to be themed with the float, give out candy and occasionally dance along with the music.)

(Cut back to the motorcyclists. Al and Brian seem to be in a circling duel with each other in front of City Hall, each trying to outdo the other with tricks and noise. Their girlfriends now stand in the crowd, shaking their heads.)

(Frost: Those two nuts! They said they wanted to put on a show for the mayor and it would be too dangerous for us to ride with them.)

(Cut back to Santa's sleigh again. Jessie tries to shove Nyles into the sleigh, but he somehow goes right over it. The Jolly Green Giants are now rolling dice.)

(Cut back to the Headquarters float as the music ends. Valerie joins Shelly and Micky in the front of the float.)

Valerie: Having a good time up here?

Katie: Can I go up there now?

Valerie: After we perform for the City Council, Katie.

Shelly: Yeah! Lots of fun!

(The float stops right in front of City Hall. We see Mayor Motley from "Monkee Mayor" and several other City Council members sitting in a large box on the steps of the light-covered City Hall.)

(Micky and all of the kids step out of the float. The other three guys gather around them...at least, once Peter has pushed Mike into the group. Valerie pushes the button of a tape player in the bottom of the float, then leaves Lauren to tend to the music. She picks up a microphone and joins the others.)

Valerie: I'm Valerie Thorkleson, and on behalf of all of us from Headquarters Records, we want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of holidays! And without further ado, here's one of our best performers, Micky Dolenz, with the Headquarters Angel Choir to perform "I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas!" (She hands the microphone over to Mick.)

(Micky starts singing as all of the kids launch into the song, doing simple jumping and kicking dance movements as they follow Davy and Micky. Peter spins Shelly around and around, grinning as she giggles.)

(Valerie pulls Jordan down from the float and dances with him. He's shy at first, but he loosens up a bit as he and his mother awkwardly perform.)

(Mike goes over to Leah and sighs. You wanna dance with a Grinch, Little Leah Who, who is no more than two?)

*Leah nods happily.*

(Mike dances a little stiffly with the little girl. She gets far more into the music.)

(Davy dances right out front with several of the kids who are the best dancers.)

Valerie: (As the song ends and Peter, Mike, and Davy help the kids back in the wagon) And that's one of the songs you'll hear from our artists in Headquarters Records, your headquarters for all the best music! (Micky continues bowing to the crowd, soaking up the adulation.)

Mike: Micky, get up there! (He grabs Micky and pushes him into the float head-first just as it starts rolling again)

(Cut to the end of Main Street, near where the Club Fairview set used to be. Here, the parade route ends as the floats turn into the parking lot for the now-dark Fairview building. Peter helps Valerie and Lauren down from the float, and they help the kids.)

Emma: (She holds a tired Robbie) Hey, guys. We should be just in time to see Santa on the last part of his route.

Lauren: I wonder how he's faring.

Katie: Yay! (She tugs on Mike's sleeve) Come on, Papa! Let's go see Santa!

Mike: (As Katie drags him down the street) Whoa, cowgirl! Don't pull my arm out of the socket. God, you're such a strong kid!

Peter: (He takes off his Frosty head) I wonder how the Bluetons fared?

*They walk past the motorcycle group. The whole group is off their bikes. Brian is in the middle of the group, making a face and holding his arm to his chest. Al talks quietly to him. Brian just keeps shaking his head.*

(They finally make their way to the last float in the parade. The Santa Sleigh is now in full view, and it's impressive, a wood sleigh with realistic-looking reindeer. Santa Nyles leans against Jessie Claus, snoring heavily. Jessie tries to wake him up, while the Jolly Green Giants wave and try to cover for the snoring Santa.)

Peter: (Laughs) Well, would you look at that?

Katie: This parade is so big, even Santa got tired!

Mike: Sure looks like he did, Cowgirl.

(We fade out on the face of the group as the sleigh with the snoring Nyles continues down the street and is eventually enveloped by the crowd.)