Everyone ready for dinner...and a murder? ;)

Mike: Yeah...huh?

Peter: I don't know if this is a good idea.

Micky: I heard dinner! :D

Lauren: *rolls her eyes* The mention of food... ;) :P

Davy: *shrugs* Sure, mates. Could be fun.

(We open back in Malibu Beach a couple of weeks after the finale of "Monkees On Ice." Lauren and Micky drive down a row of fancy mansions set back on hills. The camera cuts to inside Lauren's purple

Chevy Bel Air.)

Micky: *driving; tapping his fingers on the wheel in tune to the song on the radio* Man, I'm starving...

Lauren: Mick, you had a snack before we left. *glances out the window* Besides, we may not even eat right away. *smirks* We might get to witness a murder first. ;)

Micky: *grins* Yeah, that'll be me, keeled over from

hunger!

Lauren: I'd slug you if you weren't driving. ;)

Micky: That's why I said I'd drive, babe. I can tell all the corny jokes I wanna! ;)

Lauren: *points out the window as the house comes into

view* There it is. You think you can curb your comedy for a few moments?

Micky: I'll try. *pulls up and parks*

*They get out of the car and look around the grounds*

Micky: *nods* Not a bad looking place. Lotsa greenery,

too.

Lauren: Yeah. This should be fun. *stops* Oh, Mick, you forgot your hat. ;)

Micky: *eyes widen* Oh crap! *runs back to the car;

returns with a normal black hat with a purple feather sticking out of one side* Can't forget this. ;)

Lauren: Maybe we should've asked Em where she got her red boa. We could've gotten you a purple one. ;)

Micky: *a slightly evil grin appears* You think I should have a boa? We haven't gone inside yet? ;)

Lauren: *dull glare* Mick, I was being facetious.

Micky: *sighs* Oh, all right. :P

Lauren: Come on. Let’s go inside already.

*The walk up to the door and knock.*

(The door is answered by a middle-aged woman in a maid's costume. She has red hair and a perpetually sour-looking expression. She carries a feather duster in her right hand.)

Maid: You here for the "Dinner and a Mystery" party?

Micky: Uh, yeah, we're the Dolenzes. *grins* ;)

*Lauren rolls her eyes again.* ;)

Maid: You're the first ones. Come on in. We're expectin' ya.

(She nods in the door. Micky and Lauren follow her into a long, soft yellow hallway. The mansion is Art Deco, with curving metal trim and a long, sweeping staircase. The maid takes their jackets and hats, staring oddly at Micky's feathered fedora. A tall man in a black tuxedo with curly hair joins them.)

Man: Hello. You are Mr. and Mrs. Michael Dolenz?

Micky: You bet we are! *Lauren elbows him* I mean, yes, we are. And you can call me Micky. *jerks a thumb at Lauren* This is Lauren. :)

Man: (Nods at them) Very nice to meet you. My name is Curry, and this (nods at the maid) is Ida. I'm the butler, and she's our head parlormaid.

Ida: (Mutters) Also the ONLY parlormaid at the moment. :p

Micky: Oh. :|

Lauren: Nice to meet you. :)

Curry: Thank you, Lauren. We're to adjourn to the study for

coffee and spirits. You'll be able to meet our hosts and the rest of the

guests. Did Valerie Thorkleson tell you anything about your hosts?

Lauren: *shakes her head* No, she didn't, as a matter of fact.

Curry: This will be a sort of "catch-up" time, as it were. The hosts are great afficiandos of the mystery novels and films of the 30s and 40s, which is why they chose this theme for their 10th anniversary party. They've known Mrs. Thorkleson and her father for years, and she told us all so much about you.

Ida: And we've heard your albums. They're good to keep you moving when you dust upstairs rooms. ;)

Micky: Thank you! *buffs his knuckles against his chest*

*Lauren mutters something about an inflated ego.* ;) :P

Ida: Gee, he's humble. ;) :p

Curry: Let's be moving along, shall we? (He leads Lauren and Micky to a room down the hall.)

(As Curry leads Micky and Lauren to the study, we cut to the inside of a fancy limosene. Valerie and Peter sit together in the back. Valerie wears an elaborate cream and gold gown that looks like something out of a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film. She sports a gold wrap and white silk gloves, her hair done up in auburn curls piled on top of her head. Peter wears a simple, double-lapled brown suit and fedora.)

Valerie: Isn't this exciting, Peter? I haven't been to a dinner party with Carol and Reggie Charrelston in years. (Looks him over) And I must say, holding a "Golden Age of Mystery" party was the best idea Carol's ever had. You clean up VERY well, dear. ;) :D :X

Peter: *blushes* Thank you, Val. *shifts somewhat uneasily* How much farther is it?

Valerie: Oh, just a few minutes. I wonder if the others have arrived yet?

Peter: Maybe. I think I remember Micky mentioning

something about Lauren dragging him there as early as they could since he's known for being late all the time. ;)

Valerie: And he'll want to eat as soon as possible. ;)

Peter: That, too. ;)

(They finally pull up in front of the large house. The night is becoming darker; it starts to sprinkle as Peter and Valerie dart for the front door.)

Valerie: Why is it, every time we hold or go to a party, it rains? :p

Peter: *shrugs* Bad timing?

Valerie: (Smiles at Peter as she rings the doorbell) You've probably heard of Carol under the name Carol Jennings. She worked in B-films, mostly mysteries, during the 30s and 40s. She moved to TV after most of the B-movie studios shut down and still occasionally appears on soap operas. Her husband runs Public Eye Mystery Publishing. They've collected mystery-related films, books, and memorbillia since I was a little girl. :)

Peter: Oh, yes, I have heard of her. :)

Curry: (Opens the door) Ahh, you must be Mr. and Mrs. Peter Thorkleson. It's so nice to meet you again, Miss Valerie, and to finally meet your very talented husband. (He leads them in; Ida is sweeping up the front)

Ida: Hey, kid! (She gives Valerie a hug)

Valerie: Hi, Ida. How are you? How's your daughter?

Ida: Same as ever. Still unmarried, still dating that guy who works at the sewage plant in Bakersfield. ;) :p

Valerie: Ida, this is my husband, Peter.

Peter: *smiles* Hello. :)

Ida: (Grins) I gotta send my girl to you for advice. He's a real beaut. ;)

Valerie: (As Peter blushes deeply) Peter, Ida's been with the Charrelstons since I was six. I used to play with her daughter when Dad would visit. :)

Peter: That's wonderful. :)

Ida: Yeah, Carol's a good woman. Wouldn't know which was was up if it weren't for me. ;)

Valerie: (As they follow Curry to the study) How are Carol and Reggie these days, Ida?

Ida: (Sighs) Not great, to be honest. Reg's attention has been wandering, and he's been going to so many publishing conventions lately, I can't remember the last time he was home for more than two weeks.

Valerie: Oh, dear. And they always seemed so happy together.

Ida: His ex-wife's been calling, too. Says she wants her alimony payments increased. (Snorts) Probably wants more money for the child-protegy who shares her bedroom this week. :p

Valerie: That doesn't sound good.

Peter: Oh, my...

Ida: It doesn't even smell good. I don't know why Carol dragged her shrink over here. Said she needed her advice for this party.

Valerie: They're all in the study and they haven't committed any murders yet?

Ida: If we don't get a move on, they may just do that.

Curry: Now, Ida, don't encourage them. Blood is beastly stuff to clean out of the carpets. :p

*Peter pales slightly at the comment.* :P

Valerie: (Takes Peter's hand and squeezes it) None of that talk! It's going to be a lovely party. Maybe it'll even help Carol to be around friends and people who know her well. :)

Ida: Well, let's get to the study. If there's gonna be a murder, I wanna see it first. ;)

Valerie: Ida... :p

(They follow Ida and Curry to the same door Lauren and Micky went through.)

(Cut to the inside of the MonkeeMobile. Mike wears a black suit with white trim and huge shoulder pads and a black fedora with a wide white band. Emma wears a sequin-trimmed, flame-red gown with shoulder pads and a zig-zag hem. Her loose curls are puled back with red clips, and she wears chunky earrings glittering with fake red "gems." She's putting on her red lipstick as we join them.)

Emma: (Sighs and puts her lipstick in a red silk purse) Mike, I don't know about this party. I mean, I love the idea of us dressing 30s/40s style for a party. I feel so glamourous. It's just...something's

weird here.

Mike: Yeah, I know. My wolf's intuition is actin' up

big-time. Somethin's goin' on.

Emma: I just feel...creepy. The Charrelstons are well-known for their love of mystery and the unknown, but other than that, what do WE know about them? (Sighs) Do I look ok for this? I haven't worn this outfit since my senior prom. :p

Mike: (Looks at her out of the corner of his eyes as he pulls up to the Charrleston mansion) Em, you ain't never looked more beautiful. You look so good in red. :X

Emma: (Grins) You're looking pretty nice yourself, Mr.

Nesmith. (Sighs) I ought to call the Cartwright mansion when we get in. Chrissy's nurse has her, Jordan, and Katie tonight, and I want to make sure

the kids are all right.

Mike: (Puts his arm around Emma) Em, they'll be ok. Matilda's watched Val and Chrissy for almost 30 years. I'm sure she'll be able to handle Katie and Jordan. Besides, Chrissy's there, too. She loves watching the kids. :)

Emma: I guess you're right. (They dart out to the front vestibule; it's now pouring. Emma puts out an umbrella and tries to shield her red feather boa from the wet weather) What a mess!

Mike: Not the most pleasant night for a little get-together with friends, is it?

Emma: Mike, we barely KNOW these people! What are we doing here?

Mike: We're here 'cause they invited Val to bring

friends...and because we get to dress up in fancy suits and outfits and eat dinner in long gloves. ;)

Curry: (Opens the door as Mike knocks it; he accidentally knocks on Curry's chest) Don't do that, sir. :p

Mike: Oh, yeah, we're here for the party.

Emma: Mr. and Mrs. Michael Nesmith, Mr..

Curry: I'm Curry, Mrs. Nesmith. I'm the butler for the

Charrlestons. (He opens the door and Ida takes the boa and Mike's coat and hat) Follow me. We're having spirits and coffee in the study before dinner.

Mike: (As a burst of noise is heard from the study) Sounds like spirits of all kind.

Emma: Don't let me catch you imbiding spirits, Mr. Nesmith. You don't handle liquor well. :p

Mike: I'll imbide what I imbide.

Emma: Fine, but if you put your hole through any wall in this house, we're NOT paying for it. :p

Mike: I only did that once! :p (They continue to argue as Curry leads them into the study)

(Cut to a dark road. Davy and Daphne are walking down the street, huddled under umbrellas. Davy wears a dark blue, double-lapeled suit and fedora.)

*Daphne wears a form-fitting black gown, with a loose skirt that comes just below her knees. A black silk scarf is draped over her shoulders.*

Daphne: I'm really glad I decided to wear my flat shoes to this. :P

Davy: Sorry about the jeep, luv. I thought I got that spark plug fixed. :p

Daphne: *sighs* It's okay, Davy. It figures, though. We were actually going to be on time for once.

Davy: And I rented this suit just for this pahty! Now I'm drippin'. :p

Daphne: If I wrung out my skirt, I could probably fill a bucket. I hope they've got an industrial strength hair drier we can use.

Davy: (Points up the hill at the silohette of the huge

mansion) That must be it. (Davy stops as lightining and thunder is seen and heard behind the house)

Daphne: Why'd you stop?

Davy: I'm...uhh...I lost me contact lense?

Daphne: *slight grin* You don't wear contact lenses. :P ;)

Davy: We're gonna be eatin' in THAT place? We'll be lucky if we drive out in 'earse! :p

Daphne: Don't say that. I think I'm creeped out enough as it is.

Davy: I'm only doin' this to be nice to Val (grins at Daphne), and because I get to see you in that classic gown. You look like a regular Ava Gardner, luv. ;) :X

Daphne: You sweet-talker, you. :x :">

Davy: (Takes Daphne's arm) Shall we drip on their rug, luv? ;)

Daphne: Let’s! ;)

(Cut to the study. It's a small room with several large plants, shelves of books, and tables of drinks. Ida and another young woman in a maid's costume pass around drinks and coffee. Valerie talks to an

attractive older woman in a peacock-blue suit with heavy shoulder pads and bead trim. She wears white gloves and has hair done up in large curls on her bangs, like a 40s starlet. A smaller, balding man with

glasses in a fine green suit chats with Emma and Mike. Micky and Lauren are joined by a plump older woman in a fancy pink floral gown and huge curls in her bright red hair. Peter sits on a couch, sipping coffee and chatting with a young man in a plum-colored sweater and slacks who is barely out of his teens.)

Woman In Pink: Nice to meet you! I'm Sybil Trent, Mrs.

Charrelston's psychologist. What's your names?

Micky: I'm Micky Dolenz, and this is my wife, Lauren.

Lauren: *smiles* Hi.

Mrs. Trent: I've heard of you, Mr. Dolenz. I love your music. There's so many psychological implications! Do you know what "Randy Scouse Git" means in plain English?

Micky: *grins* Of course, I do. ;)

Lauren: *smirks* He was called that once and liked it, even after its meaning was explained to him. ;)

Mrs. Trent: I've been undertaking an attempt to evaluate your last three hits psychologically. It's so facinating, Mr. Dolenz.

Micky: *quirks an eyebrow* Fascinating? *scratches his

head*

*Lauren groans.* /:) 8-|

(A red-headed woman in a tight red gown gets between Sybil and Micky. She carries a glass of brandy.)

Woman: Sybil, go bore Reggie with all your blather. The kids WROTE the songs. They know damn well what they mean. :p

Sybil: But Annie, I wanted to tell Mr. and Mrs. Dolenz about my project...

(Annie's hand quickly steals to the back of Sybil's dress. She nudges her, and Sybil drops her purse.)

Sybil: Oh, how clumsy of me! I'll just... (but we hear a loud riiip as Sybil goes down. Annie titters; we can just barely see Sybil blush)

Annie: I told you that old dress was too tight, Sybil. You have to lay off the chocolate truffles.

*Micky and Lauren snicker.* ;)

Sybil: I guess I HAVE been relying a bit too much on them for comfort these days. I'll just...um...fix this... (she walks out, still hunched over, trying to hide the back of her dress)

Annie: Sorry about that, kids. Annie tends to ramble when it comes to her pet projects. :p

Micky: Uh, yeah, I guess so.

Annie: I'm Annie Masters Charrelston. I'm a costume designer, and, I'm sure Carol will tell you, alcoholic dilittante.

Lauren: *nods* Nice to meet you.

Annie: I'm working on the soap Carol's currently on, "The Light of Love." It's not a happy relationship. She says I'm only doing this because I want to worm my way back to Reg. (Makes a face) I'm doing this because it beats doing kiddie stuff. :p

Micky: That's fair reasoning.

Lauren: Hm. Annie, you wouldn't happen to have more info on our evening ahead, would you?

Annie: Not much. Something about "dinner and a murder." Probably Reg's idea. He was always mystery-obsessed, even when we were married. You should have seen the snit he got in when I accidentally threw

one of his precious mystery novels in the trash! (Gets another drink) How was I supposed to know it was a first-edition Dashiell Helmet, or whomever? :p

Micky: And the mystery remains a mystery. ;)

(The lights flicker as thunder crashes and lightning flashes. Suddenly, the door to the study is flung open...and Davy literally falls in on his face, looking a bit pale.)

Valerie: Davy! :o

Daphne: *follows in after Davy* Davy! I told you to watch where you were going! :P

Annie: Nice entrance. ;)

Micky: *laughs* Real smooth there, Dave! ;) :))

Davy: (Gets up) Sorry luv. Me foot got caught in the carpet. :p

Woman: (In the blue suit) Curry, I told you to get the carpet in the study fixed. I'm surprised no one's tripped on it before. (Turns to Davy) Are you all right, young man?

Davy: (Nods) Yes, ma'am. Just feel a bit silly, that's all. I don't usually enter a room like that. :p

Lauren: Yeah, that's how Mick enters a room sometimes. ;)

Micky: Hey! :P

Carol: (As Lauren, Davy, and Daphne laugh) Thank goodness! I thought for a second...well, I thought you were dead! :o

Davy: Not yet, Mrs...

Carol: Charrelston, young man. Carol Charrelston.

Davy: What's all this worry about someone dyin'?

Carol: (Gulps) I have reason to believe that someone in this room may be trying to kill me. :o

Davy: Someone in this room? (Grins) Micky, you been feedin' this nice woman your five-alarm chili? That would kill a moose. ;)

Micky: Funny, Dave, real funny. :P

Valerie: (Joins them) Carol, you're imagining things.

Carol: Valerie, I recieved word that someone is going to die at this party! I got it in the mail and on the telephone! :o

Valerie: Now, Carol, calm down. I'm sure someone is just playing a prank.

Lauren: I'm sure there's some reasonable explanation.

Micky: For instance?

*Lauren glares at Micky.* :P ;)

Micky: What?

(There's more lightning and thunder. Peter joins them with his coffee, looking a bit nervous.)

Peter: Valerie, I don't like this. I just talked to Annie's friend Bobby, and he says our dinner is going to be murdered! :o

Valerie: No, dear. I think he means there's going to be a murder AT dinner.

Peter: Couldn't they wait to murder someone tomorrow, after we already ate? :o

Micky: Well, depending on what's for dinner, there might be a murder beforehand, anyway. ;)

Lauren: Mick... :P

Peter: Could we not talk about murder at all?

Micky: I'm just saying...

Lauren: *clamps a hand over Micky's mouth* Good idea, Peter.

Carol: Well, we could always discuss my work on my new soap opera. I play Letty Lemar, the beautiful boutique owner whose husband is plotting to kill her with his mis...(realizes what she's saying when Peter turns snow-white) Um, on the other hand, why don't we not talk about my soap opera? :p

(Suddenly, we see Ida hit a gong. Everyone jumps; Peter spills coffee on Annie.)

Peter: Um, sorry, miss, but I'm a big klutz, and I... (he tries to wipe her off)

Annie: Watch it, Blondie. :p

Ida: (Pokes her head in) Hey folks, soup's on! ;)

Lauren: *blinks* I'm getting a strange sense of deja vu here. ;)

Peter: (Joins Micky and Davy as they follow Ida and Curry down the hall again) Micky, do you really think someone is going to be murdered tonight? :o

Micky: *shakes his head* Nope, I don't. I think it's just a big schpiel to get us all scared and everything. It'll probably get very boring once dinner is over. *waggles his eyebrows* Which means someone will have to bring the party back to life. (Grins) Someone like me, that is. ;)

Mike: (Joins the guys) Don't make things TOO lively, Mick. This is a fancy dinner party, not the backroom of Paul McCartney's place. ;)

Micky: I know that. Besides, I don't think they have any lamp shades in this place. ;)

Mike: Didn't Lauren give you your rules when you left the house? By the way, who did you end up turning the twins over to? Is it Nana Jannelle's turn to go crazy this time? ;)

Micky: Rules? I don't need no stinkin' rules. *nods* Mom's watching them, but she loves chasing them around, especially since she's got the girls to help her out, too, or at least Debbie and Gina. Seems Coco had a date tonight. ;)

Davy: Wot, she finally got to second base with Jack? ;)

Micky: I think he just gave in. They went to the movies. Not the drive-in, a regular theater.

Mike: Wow, he's going all-out. ;)

Micky: Are you kidding? I think he was afraid of what Coco might do to him at the drive-in. ;)

Peter: (As the other boys chuckle) Do you guys REALLY think everything is going to be ok? (Gulps) I don't want to die, and I don't want any of you to die! :o

Mike: Everything will be fine, Pete. This is just some big joke.

Micky: Yeah, man. Nothing's gonna happen.

Davy: So stop worryin'. This is just going to be a nice, quiet dinner.

(Even as Davy says those words, we hear thunder and see lightning in the window behind the boys. Their faces are briefly silohetted before they exchange looks and scurry off after the others.)