Ok, so, everyone ready to be a Musketeer? ;)

Mike: Sure.

Peter: Yeah! :D

Micky: I am!

Davy: So am I.

Peter: (Narration as we cut to a large room decorated with fancy, upholstered furniture. Sheila, wearing a fine dark red gown trimmed with gold and black braid and a large gold tiara with red and black stones, enters, followed by Alex and several other guards) Queen Sheila of Hades was evil incarnate. She was beautiful to look at, but deadly to know. Many a Musketeer and spy had lost his head...among other things...to Queen Sheila's wiles. Her head guard, Sir Alexander, was just as deadly, and rumored to be a warlock, with many strange potions hidden deep in Queen Sheila’s stronghold.

Queen Millie: (It's Millie all right, in a long blue and white gown and simpler white and silver tiara) Sheila, you witch, what are you doing here?

Queen Sheila: Nice to see you, too, Millie. I'm interested in the kingdom. More specifically, I’d like to buy it.

Millie: And I'm interested in telling you no, nada, forget it, not in a million years, now go away.

Larry: (Raises his eyebrows as he joins his wife, looking as royal as he can in a white and blue suit that doesn't quite fit) Millie, what's going on? Is that any way to talk to a guest?

Sheila: I'm prepared to make you quite the handsome deal.

Millie: She's not a guest, she's a pest. (Turns to Sheila) I know what you want. You don't care about the people who live here and are quite contented to go on doing so with their property and lives intact, or their crops and animals, or even that the best cheesecake stores in the world are here. All you want is our fertile land and our treasury.

Sheila: That isn't all that I want.

Larry: What DO you want?

Sheila: Perhaps we could share amenities.

Millie: (Narrows her eyes) No, Sheila. The Musketeers are good boys, and they're good guards for Larry, me, and our little girl. I don't want you invading THEM, either. If some of them want to join you, that's on them, but I'm not breaking them up just so YOU can have your pick.

Larry: Break up the Musketeers? But they're our best fighting men!

Princess Daphne: *enters* What's going on in here? I could hear you down the hall!

Peter: (Narration) Princess Daphne was Queen Millie and King Larry's only child, and they doted on her. She was tough, smart, beautiful, and never backed down in a fight - ANY fight.

Millie: Nothin', honey. Just doing some pest control. (Juts a finger at Sheila)

*Sheila hmphs.* :P

Larry: (Puts his arms around Daphne and tries to turn her around) Why don't you get ready for the ball next week? I'm sure Lady Maxina and Lady Kimberlina could help you with your gown and give you all the latest gossip...

Daphne: But Dad...

Millie: Sheila, that's my final answer. I don't care if you offer me all of the Cheesecake in Europe! Larry: Maybe we could discuss this another time.

Millie: (Looks around) Hey, where's that...(waves her hand in the direction of the now-gone guards)...um, guy with the scars of yours? (Thoughtful) And he's kinda familiar, too...

Sheila: Hm? Oh, they had other pressing business to take care of.

Daphne: Yeah, I'm sure they did.

Millie: (Looks around) Will someone go find that guy? I don't want him getting into the cheesecake, among other things.

Sheila: I must take my leave now, but I will be back, and I'll have an offer you CAN'T refuse.

Millie: I doubt it.

Larry: Please, your Majesty, another time. Perhaps at the ball...

Sheila: Ah, perhaps.

Millie: Go now, or do you want me to call my boys to bodily remove you?

Sheila: I'm leaving, I'm leaving. *heads for the door*

Millie: (Frowns) Someone go get some of the boys from out front to follow her. I wouldn't trust her any further than I could throw her.

Larry: (He's eyeing Sheila's bouncing bosom in her tight dark-red gown) And I wonder how far I could...

Millie: (Rolls her eyes) Don't try it, dear. You may strain something. (She takes off, grumbling)

Larry: Millie, it's not what you think! (He follows her. Daphne watches them, then goes in the opposite direction)

*We cut to one of the larger courtyards. We follow one particular young man, a tad on the short side. He seems to be looking for someone or something.*

(Cut to a shadow slinking around the courtyard, also looking for something...and three more shadows discreetly behind him...and another shadow behind THEM.)

Mike: (Growls) What is that asshole UP to?

Peter: I'm not sure, Michael. Spying for his terrible queen, no doubt.

Micky: Among other things, I bet.

Mike: Damn it! He and Sheila are up to somethin'. Half the kingdom heard Millie tell Sheila she'd rather eat dirt than let her rule Belgravia.

Peter: He’s probably after the treasury, or Queen Millie's prize jewels.

Mike: Yeah, well, he's gonna be worryin' for HIS prize jewels when we get through with him. :p

Peter: But he's not wearing jewelry!

Mike: No, not the rock kind. (He makes a vague gesture in...ahem...that direction)

Micky: You know, Peter...

Peter: (Looks at Micky with those big, innocent brown eyes) Yes?

(Mike just shakes his head.)

Micky: THOSE kinda jewels.

Peter: (Eyes widen - he does know) Ohhhhhhhhh. :o

Mike: (Rolls his eyes; points to Alex, who makes his way across the courtyard) There he goes! Come on, guys!

Davy: *joins the trio* Um, excuse me?

Mike: Not now, we're followin' a spy!

Davy: Yeah? I could help you!

Mike: (Looks Davy over) Yeah...if you stood on a tall crate.

Davy: Just because I'm small doesn't mean I can't fend for myself.

Micky:*shrugs* Come on, Mike. If he wants to help, let him help.

Mike: Fine. We need to catch up with (points at the shadow ahead of them) THAT jerk.

*Daphne runs to Alexander across the courtyard.*

Daphne: Hey, you jerk!

Alexander: *is working on a safe* Go away, girl. :P

Daphne: *tries to pull him away* You can't play with that! Leave that safe alone!

Alexander: *pushes her* Get AWAY from me! :P

Daphne: *latches onto him again* This is not your property!

Mike: Shit! Princess Daphne? What's SHE doin' here?

Peter: Stopping Alexander!

Mike: Yeah, but that ain't her job. That's OUR job.

Alexander: *grabs hold of her wrists* I guess I'm just going to have to do something with you!

Mike: The Princess!

Daphne: Let me GO!

Davy: Let ME at him! *charges Alexander*

Mike: Hey!

Davy: *comes up behind Alexander and unsheathes his sword* Let her go!

Peter: Maybe we'd better help him. It IS our job to defend the kingdom!

Micky: Let’s go, guys!

("All the King's Horses" begins as the three Musketeers join the young man. They surround Alexander.)

*Alexander whistles. His men surround the others.*

(Mike nods at Peter and Micky; they've tackled Alexander's boys before. Mike goes for the first one, carrying his sword rather heavily, as if it were much larger.)

*Micky and Peter play a form of "patty-cake" and end up punching out two of Alexander's boys.* ;)

(Mike duels another guy over to a fountain. He says "Look, there's Marilyn Monroe!" and when the guy's head turns, punches him. The guy lands in the fountain. Mike sheathes his sword and struts off.)

(Peter picks a bouquet of flowers. He hands it to one of the guards and sneaks off as he admires them. Mike takes one of the flowers and eats it.)

(Peter and Mike duel two men who get them up against a doorway. Peter and Mike grin at each other and duck away, allowing the other two to fall through the door. Mike shuts the door and locks it, and he and Peter shake hands.)

*Micky duels with one of the men. He disarms the man, then does a Zorro, which in turn ends up dropping he man's pants.*

(Everyone titters as the man shuffles off, trying to pull his pants back up.)

*Meanwhile, Davy duels with Alexander while Daphne watches.*

(One of the guards falls near Daphne, dropping his sword.)

*Daphne eyes the sword, then grins. She picks it up and starts a double team on Alexander.*

(Mike grins and joins them, then Peter, then Micky. The music ends with five swords trained on Alexander.)

Mike: Ok, Alex. What were you up to? Is safecrackin' one of your usual duties for the Queen of Hell?

Alexander: Maybe it is. What's it to you?

Mike: Did anyone ever tell you safecrackin's illegal in this kingdom? If we told Queen Mildred what you're up to, it could get you a one-way ticket to a couple of nights in the dungeon.

Peter: With dinner and room and board free of charge.

Alexander: She'd have to catch me first!

Mike: Um, Alex, you're surrounded, and you have five witnesses.

Alexander: And you think that's going to stop me?

Mike: Alexander, as captain of the Musketeers, I place you under arrest for attempted grand theft robbery.

Alexander: *scoffs* Really. You can't possibly think it's that easy. *pulls out several small round objects* Time to take my leave. *throws down the objects, which turn out to be smoke bombs*

Mike: (As everyone coughs) Smoke bombs in Europe in 1674?

Micky: Marilyn Monroe? ;)

Peter: (Shrugs) How else was he gonna get out of there?

(Cut back to the prop room. Davy gives Peter a weird look.)

Davy: Smoke bombs? Petah, you've been 'anging around Micky too much. :P

Peter: (Shrugs) I didn't know how else to get Alex...um, Alexander...out of there without getting arrested!

Mike: Maybe someone else should take a turn now. I seem to remember that's how these round-robin episodes work.

Davy: I'll go next.

Katie: Unca Davy tell story! :)

Jordan: Ok! :)

Micky: This should be good. ;)

(Elizabeth does the closest thing she can to clapping.)

Davy: Now, where were we? Oh, right, saving the princess... *fade back into the story*

Davy: Are you okay, Princess?

Daphne: Me? Oh, I'm fine. I'm quite educated with th sword. First in my class, you know.

Mike: Yeah, not bad for a chick. (Sheathes his sword; the others follow suit) And you ain't bad either, shorty.

Davy: Thank you, I think. Was it good enough to join you fellas?

Mike: Sorry, kid. You're gonna have to take a rain check on that.

Peter: It's not that we don't like you, young man. It's just, well, none of us may have our jobs soon!

Micky: There's been talk of possibly disbanding the Musketeers. :P

Mike: Yeah. Queen Sheila of the nearby Kingdom of Hades wants Queen Mildred and King Laurence to use her guards, and she wants us to...fiddle around with.

Peter: I don't know if you've heard of her in your kingdom. She's a horrible woman!

Mike: Yeah. I've had...dealings...with her before. Trust me, she's not a chick you wanna mess with.

Peter: You seem like a nice guy, though.

Mike: And you're pretty good with that sword. Where are you stayin'?

Davy: I actually don't have a place to stay yet.

Mike: You can stay with us, at least until you find a place of your own.

Davy: Thank you. I really appreciate it!

Peter: We have a room at the Cabot Inn in town. It's not the nicest place, and the owner Master Babbitt gets a little grouchy about overdue rent, but it's clean and there's plenty of room in the back courtyard for practice! :)

Mike: Yeah. The Inn serves half-way decent food and drink. All the Musketeers hang out there.

Micky: Home sweet home away from home.

Mike: (Bows before Daphne) We're sorry about all the ruckus, your ladyship. We won't allow that nasty ruffian to touch you like that again.

Peter: What were you doing out here, anyway? Did you get lost? This place is so big!

Daphne: *shakes her head* I was following him! I wanted to find out what he was up to!

Peter: (Puts his hand on Daphne's shoulder) I understand your curiosity, Your Highness, but it's our job. If you got hurt, we'd never forgive ourselves!

Daphne: I know, I just couldn't help myself.

Davy: Perhaps, since she's already handy with the sword, we could help her out with defending herself in other ways, as well.

Micky: Well, we do have several tricks up our sleeves.

Mike: Look, Alex and Sheila are up to something. (Turns to Davy) Here's an idea. Why don't you join us at the ball in a few weeks? We're gonna be the security guards, so to speak.

Peter: IF we're still around by then.

Davy: I would be proud to help out!

(Queen Millie and King Larry come out at this point. Millie immediately goes to her daughter, worried.)

Millie: Daphne, are you all right? What happened here? (Looks at the Musketeers) Fellas, what happened? This place looks like the finale of an Errol Flynn movie.

Mike: Just a little dust-up with the Hades Guard.

Millie: I TOLD Sheila not to let her jerks wander all over my clean castle. Who knows where they've been? (Indicates Davy) Who's that guy?

Davy: David Jones, at your service.

Millie: (Grins) My kind of service. I thank you for helpin' the guys save my little girl.

Larry: What happened to the rest of the guards?

Mike: We had, um, a little problem with smoke, and they got away.

Millie: Damn it! One of these days, we're gonna prove Sheila's after the treasures of the kingdom. This is the third time this has happened when she's been here!

Mike: I know, your Majesty. We just can't catch her or Sir Alexander in the act.

Peter: I wish there was a way we could set a trap and catch Sheila and Alexander!

Mike: (Thoughtful) There is. Your Majesty, you mentioned jewelry. Were you going to wear any at the ball?

Millie: Just my heart-shaped diamond necklace and earrings, the 24-carrot-ones. I received them as gifts from the Sheik of Araby last year.

Larry: You didn't tell ME that!

Millie: It was a business trip, dear.

Mike: Yeah, that'll do.

Peter: That'll do what?

Millie: I think I'm catching on. Sheila will come after my diamonds?

Mike: Yeah. You want a reason to keep us, right?

Larry: (Nods; he understands, too) If Millie is still wearing her diamonds by the end of the night, well, we'll know how good you are at your jobs.

Davy: Perhaps we could keep watch over the Princess as well. ;)

Mike: (Nods) They may try somethin' on her.

Peter: Like kidnapping!

Larry: (Gently takes Daphne's arm) Never! :o

Millie: (Eyes Davy) And I'm guess you want to guard my daughter.

Davy: May I?

Larry: (Nods) It will be your first test to prove you worthy of being a Musketeer.

Millie: (Looks at Daphne) If my daughter agrees to it.

Daphne: *nods, smiling* I agree. ;)

Millie: (Frowns at Daphne's obvious interest in Davy and vice-versa, but shakes her head and puts her arm around Daphne's shoulder) It's settled. We'll see you boys at the ball.

(Millie and Larry steer Daphne into the castle, Daphne waving and swooning at Davy the whole time.)

Mike: (Sighs) Why don't we head to the Cabot Inn? I could use a drink and a rest after this. Besides, I want to discuss our course of action. We have to find out what Sheila's up to!

Peter: Why don't we rest first, have a drink or two?

Micky: Sounds good to me!

Davy: ...Sure...

(As the four leave, they don't notice another person in the background. She steps briefly out of the shadows, revealing Emma in a heavy brown cloak and simple but elegant red gown. She pulls the cloak's hood back over her head and returns to the shadows, watching Mike the whole time.)