Everyone ready for this month's story?

Mike: Ye....waiiiit a minute. This is the Halloween story, isn't it?

Micky: I'm leaving.

Peter: Michael, I don't think they'll attack you again, like last year. I'm ready.

Davy: I'm ready, too.

(We open at the Montgomery House, in the ballroom. Davy and Micky are working on their material for their Boyce and Hart concerts. Peter sits at a table, grading papers. Mike stands with his arms folded over Black Beauty, looking grumpily at Honeywell, who looks just as dorky as ever.)

Mike: Honeywell, what part of "no" don't you understand?

Honeywell: Don't worry, Nesmith. You'll be well-protected.

Mike: That's what you've said the five hundred other times we've let you talk us into playing James Bond.

Honeywell: I'm not even asking you to go anywhere! You're just protecting a legend overnight!

Mike: (Snorts) Just protectin' a legend overnight. The last time I "just" did somethin' for you, I got kidnapped, drugged, and brainwashed.

Peter: (Looks up) A legend?

Honeywell: (Nods) And you'd get to go to a party in the home of one of the most famous entertainers Hollywood's ever known. Have you guys heard of Mamie DeLis?

Peter: (Nods) The Delish girl. I remember my parents talking about her. She was huge in the 40s and 50s. Bigger than big.

Mike: Honeywell...

Honeywell: What about you two, Dolenz? Jones? Want to go to a costume party at Mamie DeLis' house in the hills?

Micky: Costume party, huh?

Honeywell: She's holding a costume party tonight with her family and some select friends...and she's expected to make some very big announcements.

Mike: Why do you care about some ol' time movie star, anyway? She hasn't appeared in anythin' since the 60s.

Honeywell: This is strictly confidential, boys, but...Mamie DeLis, real name Martha Delstein of San Francisco, California, is one of our top agents. Has been World War II.

Davy: Wow...

Honeywell: In fact, she left the screen in the early 60s to work more exclusively for us...and to spend more time on her philanthropist pursuits. (Rolls his eyes.) And her parties. She loves a good party. She made tons of musicals during her heyday and still has lots of contacts in the music world.

Mike: So that's what's goin' on tonight.

Honeywell: We think she has some major top secret information about certain government projects, including military weapons, hidden in her home. We just have to find out where they are and where she may have stashed them.

Mike: Oh, you think she might have top secret information.

Honeywell: I'd do it myself, but I've been called to the Soviet Union to instruct some of our men behind the Iron Curtain.

Mike: I think this is crazy. What do you guys think?

Peter: (Sighs) On one hand, these assignments we do for Honeywell often seem to cause trouble. (Shrugs) But on the other hand, how many people get a chance to attend a party held by a legendary performer?

Micky: I'll do it!

Davy: *Shrugs* I will, too.

Honeywell: That's wonderful! You can bring your wives and dress in costume.

Mike: Wait. Why do we have to keep an eye on this chick?

Honeywell: (Frowns) She's received several threatening messages, by mail and on the telephone, over the past few weeks. We're worried someone may know about the plans in her home. She's been pursued by several organizations to sell her home as well, for everything from a museum to a hotel to a parking lot. Her family isn't any more trustworthy.

Peter: If she needs someone to watch her, I'm sure all eight of us can manage it.

Mike: (Mutters) Yeah, sure. (Out loud) Yeah, we'll do it, Honeywell.

Honeywell: You will? That's great!

Mike: When is this party?

Honeywell: Tomorrow night. That'll give you time to make plans and find costumes.

Mike: Swell.

Honeywell: Thanks again, boys. I owe you a million.

Peter: A million what?

Honeywell: A million... (sighs) never mind. (Over his shoulder as he heads for the door) I'll call you tonight with more specifics on the party! (He heads out as Emma, Valerie, Lauren, and Daphne head in.)

Emma: What was Honeywell doing here?

Mike: (Mutters) Invitin' us to a party.

Emma: You don't sound happy about it.

Peter: He wants us to make sure nothing happens to Mamie DeLis at her party tomorrow night.

Emma: (Eyes widen) THE Mamie DeLis? One of Mammoth Studio's biggest musical stars of the 40s and 50s? Star of "Hi There, Holly," "Dancing in the Storm," and "Come Along to Old Philly?"

Mike: Yeah, her.

Valerie: Wow, she hasn't been on the screen since I was a kid!

Mike: Yeah, that's 'cause she's a secret agent.

Emma: A WHAT?

Peter: She works for the CIS. That's why we have to keep an eye on her.

Lauren: Never would've seen that coming.

Valerie: How are we supposed to do that?

Mike: We're supposed to show up at her costume party tomorrow and find out where she keeps her hidden stash of secret information.

Emma: We?

Mike: Yeah.

Peter: We were hoping you girls would be our dates.

Valerie: I'd love to go. I've never been in the house of a legend!

Emma: A chance to meet Mamie DeLis? I love her movies!

Mike: Eeeemmmm...

Emma: I'm not about to turn down an invitation from a great musical star!

Mike: What about the rest of you girls?

Daphne: I'm all for it.

Lauren: I'm not crazy about it, but...what the heck?

Peter: Wonderful! Lauren, do you think Micky's mother would watch your children and Lizzie Jones? We could probably leave our boys and Mike and Emma's children with Chrissy and Matilda at the Cartwright mansion.

Lauren: Positive.

Micky: Mom loves every opportunity to watch them.

Valerie: And Chrissy loves every opportunity to practice being a teacher. She's really interested in teaching now.

Peter: Val, do you think that costume shop that made our MonkeeLeague uniforms would have anything we could use on short notice?

Valerie: They provide costumes for all the local movie studios, TV studios, and legitimate theaters. They're used to strange requests at odd hours.

Mike: (Sighs) Well, looks like we're goin' to a party.

(Cut to the entire group sitting in Ursula, driving up a dark hill. Emma and Mike wear their matching cowboy and cowgirl costumes from "Monkee Masquerade.")

Ursula: I don't like the sound of all this myself. Why would Honeywell ask you to watch this woman?

Mike: 'Cause we're musicians, an' apparently, she's still got a thing about musical-types from workin' on musicals at Mammoth Studios.

Peter: (He's dressed as what looks like a cross between a lion and a boar in a prince's costume; Valerie wears a huge pink dress trimmed with roses) Honeywell said she'd be more likely to trust us than someone like him.

*Davy and Daphne follow. Davy wears his original orange MonkeeMen costume. Daphne is dressed as Wonder Woman.*

*Micky and Lauren are in the back. Lauren wears cat ears, whiskers, and has a fuzzy tail. Micky is dressed in a chef's uniform.*

Ursula: I want all of you to be careful. We don't know who's after Ms. DeLis.

Mike: Probably some weird foreign agent like Dragonman.

Emma: Attending what sounds like a fairly intimate party at a elderly woman's hillside home? Not unless he's coming as Fu Manchu.

Micky: So say no if someone offers you sushi, unless it's me.

Davy: In that case, it's an emphatic no.

Mike: (Pulls up to a large wrought-iron gate) This must be the place.

(Ursula stops, giving us a good shot of the mansion as clouds gather behind it. It's not your typical Gothic-looking monstrosity. Actually, it's an Art Deco 20s Spanish-revival, stucco-roofed mansion, complete with lush gardens, a tennis court, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool.)

Peter: At least the house isn't scary.

Mike: Yeah, could be worse. (He takes Ursula down to the main house, winding around a flower-lined path to the front door. A tall, black-haired woman greets them. She wears an amazing outfit - a tight black gown trimmed with sequins, with a peacock feather train and a huge peacock-colored collar. She waves her sequined, peacock-feather-trimmed mask as the group arrives.)

Woman: Darlings! (She almost jumps down the marble steps) I'm so glad to meet you!

Mike: Yeah, ma'am.

Emma: You're Mamie DeLis!

Woman: Last time I checked, honey. (Grins) And you're the Monkees! I saw all your specials! You're the funniest guys who make music I've known since I made movies with Phil Harris and the Marx Brothers.

Mike: Uh, thank you, ma'am.

Micky: *Grins* Thank you!

Mamie: I love your costumes! They're so creative! (Grins at Micky) I'd hire you as my chef in an instant, but I think Andre might get jealous.

Micky: *Smirks* I had a little help with this.

Mike: Mamie, we heard somethin' 'bout your life possibly bein' in danger.

Mamie: (Frowns) We'll discuss that inside, darlings. Very hush-hush, you know.

(She leads them inside. The main hallway is airy and wide, with checked floors and a huge, sweeping marble staircase.)

Emma: Wow. It reminds me of the one you danced on in "The Berkleys of Hollywood."

Mike: This place is somethin' else.

Mamie: Oh, it's just my little home. I make do.

Valerie: (Eases her huge gown into the room) The architecture is amazing. :)

Mamie: (Nods) I had one of my boyfriends design it in 1938, right after I made my first big picture. He was an architecture student at UCLA. Went on to design quite a few celebrity homes and many famous city buildings.

Peter: I'm not surprised.

Mamie: Most of my other guests have already arrived. Do come along and greet everybody. I love seeing people mix and mingle.

(The group follows Mamie to the ballroom. Unlike the elaborate ballroom in the Montgomery House, this one looks more like a 30s night club, with mirrored walls, an orchestra in tuxes playing big band and jazz music, and people in costume dancing in the center of a circle of tables and chairs. The tables are covered in orange and black tablecloths, with pumpkin centerpieces.)

Mike: Wow. This is real classy.

Peter: It's very atmospheric.

Mamie: Now, all of you go mix it up. Have fun. (Softer, to Mike and Micky) And keep an eye on my relatives. I know they want this house....and ALL its secrets. I have a lot of things hidden in these walls, and they'd love to get their hands on them. Not to mention, this is prime real estate. Developers have been after me to sell since the 50s.)

Mike: (He and Micky head out to the buffet table) No wonder Em adores Mamie. She seems like a real nice gal.

(Indeed, Emma has remained by Mamie's side, chatting happily with her about musicals and her career.)

Micky: *eyes widen as he looks over the buffet table* Mike, would ya get a load of the food! :D

Mike: (Nods; there's a huge spread of pumpkin cheesecake, huge spice cakes, nutty home-made crackers, fluffy rolls, pecan-coated cheese logs, spicy meats, and a huge bowl filled with a strange, colorful slaw, along with several bowls of steaming punch and hot apple cider) Yeah, there's enough here to keep even you happy for maybe five minutes.

Micky: Mamie don't spare no expense.

Mike: No kiddin'. This chick sure knows how to live. (He goes to a collection of beer kegs) Whoa, it's imported!

Micky: Man, I don't know who she hired for the food, but I'd like to make them my new best friend.

Mike: Yeah. (Stuffs a handful of crackers in his mouth; between bites) I think these are real, not somethin' out of a box.

Familiar Voice: *Coming from the kitchen* That's really nice of you, fellows.

Micky: *Turns to Mike* I'm hearing things, Mike.

Al: *Shakes his head as he joins them* Mick, you're a nut, you know that?

Mike: Hey Al! I thought this looked like your handiwork.

Al: Thanks. Yeah, I wasn't about to pass on this job.

Mike: No wonder. She spares no expense for these blow-outs, doesn't she?

Al: Not at all. This food is barely the tip of the iceberg.

Mike: Actually, Al, we're here for a reason. Somethin' really hush-hush. Government stuff.

Al: You mean that Mamie a spy the she has a hidden stash of secret information?

Mike: (Frowns) Now, how did you know....

Al: *Grins* Wouldn't you like to know?

Mike: Yeah, I would! We were told it was top secret!

Al: I've worked with Mamie before. I've done a lot of catering for her, too.

Mike: You have, have ya? Heard anythin' good at any of these parties of hers?

Al: Anything in particular you're looking for?

Mike: We were told half her family wants to get this house away from her. Either they're lookin' to do somethin' with the house, or they're after the military secrets, name your pick.

Al: That's what I've heard as well.

Mike: (Points out a blond woman dressed as Alice In Wonderland and a man in a Mad Hatter costume) Who are they?

Al: They're her granddaughter and her boyfriend. I heard that they want to turn the house into a museum on Hollywood history. They're history buffs that work for the city.

Mike: (Points to a very fat man dressed as King Henry the Eighth getting a drink from a man in a plain suit) How about those two?

Al: King Henry is the owner of a local company who'd like to demolish this house, but keep the grounds to use as an exclusive residential neighborhood. He wants to cater to trendy LA citizens who are looking for something less gritty than the Valley. The other fella is the butler. He's a nice guy.

Mike: (Makes a face) I don't like either of those ideas. This place is too out-of-the way for a museum. And it seems like it's still in pretty good shape. Why tear it down?

Al: Money, what else?

Mike: Yeah, but there's got to be somethin' you could do with it that don't involve tearin' it to bits.

(A woman in a tight black French maid's costume, with big...jugs...walks up to Alton. She wears stilettos and carries a feather duster.)

Woman: (Brooklyn accent) Hi, Al. You got more of that sweet popcorn ready yet?

Al: Yeah, there's a big bowl prepped sitting on the table in the kitchen.

Woman: Thanks, Al, you're a peach. (She turns to Micky and Mike) Ain't I seen you two somewheres before?

Micky: You probably have.

Woman: You're the Monkees! (Points to Micky) And I think I saw you in the park with the cute short guy a while back...

Micky: Yes, we were out in the park.

Woman: You were playin' with those two guys! Boyce n' Hart, or somethin'.

Micky: Yeah, that's them. Good friends of ours.

Woman: You really had somethin' goin'. (She grins) I'm Regina Delstein Astley, the niece of Ms. DeLis. I'm here on part of my third husband. I'm supposed to be askin' Aunt Martha if she'd think of sellin' him this place for his hotel chain. My man and my dad have been tryin' to get Auntie to move in with them in New York, but she says she likes LA and her house and wouldn't sell it for all the Oscars in the Academy.

Mike: The Astley hotel chain?

Regina: Yeah. Heard of it?

Mike: It's one of the biggest luxury hotel chains in the world!

Micky: Whoa...

Regina: Maybe I could consider askin' you guys to play at the openin' if I can talk Auntie into sellin'.

Micky: We're there!

Mike: Yeah, but...isn't this place out of the way for a hotel?

Regina: No way! People like a quiet, secluded vacation. The house is a great size, and we could always add on. Al could tell you how big the kitchen is.

Al: Huge.

Mike: Still...

Mamie: (She joins the boys at the buffet) Al, fabulous food as always, my boy, just fabulous. No one makes a better spread than you.

Al: Thanks, Mamie. I always appreciate a good word from you.

Mamie: You're welcome, dear boy. (Grins) Ready for my big announcement?

Mike: You mentioned that earlier.

Emma: (She's still with Mamie) What about?

Mamie: (Grins) You'll see, darlings. (She steps on the bandstand as the instrumental jazz number ends) Attention! Attention, everyone!

(Everyone in the room turns to her. She grins and claps.)

Mamie: Thank you all for attending my grand Mischief Night Costume Ball! Beats throwing eggs at houses!

(Everyone claps, some more enthusiastically than others.)

Mamie: I told you we'd have some special surprises in store tonight. Now, I've given you the treats...so how about the tricks? We're gonna go on a scavenger hunt!

Mike: (Looks at Emma as we cut back the the group; the others rejoin them, drinks in hand) A scavenger hunt? That's her big announcement?

Micky: There has to be more to it than that.

Mamie: (Grins) And the winners will get an extra special surprise! It's a big one, folks! A lot bigger than a jack o lantern or a witch's hat or a cauldron for mixing ghoulish potions! (Wiggles her fingers and makes a scary face, then laughs) But you won't find out what the surprise is until you find everything on your team's list!

Peter: I guess we're a team, then.

Mike: I wonder what's on her list?

Mamie: Everyone form four teams. The objects you want are hidden everywhere - outside, inside, in the basement, in the attic, on the grounds, on all three floors. You have an hour to find everything. The people who find the most things on their list in in an hour that's the closest to what's on their list will be the big winners!

Mamie: (She joins the Monkees and their wives) That should shake up my relatives but good.

Mike: (She hands him their list) What's with the big surprise, Mames?

Mamie: Oh, you'll find out. It's very big surprise.

Regina: (She has a handsome young man on her arm; he's dressed as a vampire) Hi, guys! My buddy and I are part of team two. I guess you're team 1.

Mike: (Leans over Al) You gonna stay here and watch over the ballroom for us? ;)

Al: *Shrugs* I can't go far anyway, so, yeah.

Mike: Keep an eye on all the guests. If anyone says anything to Mamie, or does something even the least suspicious, call us on the house phone.

Al: You got it, Mike.

Mike: (Turns to the others) Ok, gang, let's go.

(The camera follows the group as they make their way back into the foyer and up the wide stairway.)

Emma: (Looks at her list) First up, a rare volume of first-edition plays and musicals, some going back to the turn-of-the-century. (Points ahead) That would be in the library, down the hall.

Lauren: This is fun.

Emma: Yeah. I love Mamie. She's full of fascinating stories! She's been everywhere, seen everything. She runs three different charities for feminist and enviormental causes.

Mike: (Points to a room just off the main hallway) I think this is the one.

Peter: (Nods) I picked up a map from Mamie on the way out. The library's on the first floor. :)

(They all enter the room. It's done in soft tones of mauve and off white, with soft armchairs and a huge marble fireplace. Orchids bloom on the mantel and on tables. The shelves are stuffed with books, papers, playbills, scripts, and boxes stored any-old-place.

Emma: Is this a library or her paper storage area?

Micky: Paper storage area.

Mike: (He takes a book off the shelf and blows the dust off) Man, this is incredible! A first edition of Winnie the Pooh! Our kids would love this.

Emma: Scripts of musicals...some of these were flops. I wonder where she got these from?

Micky: I can't help but think of all those movies with the old houses and hidden passages and stuff when I'm in one of these older houses. *grins as he starts pressing, moving, or shifting stuff*

Mike: You think the book might be hidden somewhere?

Emma: (Nods) If it's a rare volume...

Micky: You never know with these places. *He leans against the side of the fireplace. Something shifts, causing a doorway to reveal itself. Micky falls in.* I'm okay! Groovy! Look at what I found!

Mike: What did you find?

Emma: Did you find the book?

Peter: Or a headache?

Micky: *Comes up with a short sword in a sheath* No, a groovy sword! *whips it around* Just call me Zorro!

Lauren: Uh, Zorro, you're wearing the wrong clothes.

Micky: Picky.

Mike: Wow! What else is in here? (He pops his head in)

Peter: (He and Emma join Mike. It's dark and dusty in the passageway. There's piles of what looks like old props and more crates like the ones in the library) We must have found her storage for all the special memories she didn't want anyone poking around in.

Emma: (She pulls out a pair of sparkly shoes) Oooh, these look like the shoes she danced in when she was the kind-hearted sorceress in "The Sorceress of Neb!"

Peter: (He's digging around in the crates; frowns) These definitely are not scripts.

Mike: (He picks up another sword; this one is more of a Japanese kantana) I wonder where she got this from?

Valerie: (She walks in, carrying a large book; has to pull to get her huge dress through) I found the book we need for the scavenger hunt. (Kneels next to Peter) What is it, honey?

Peter: Val, I think we found something big.

Mike: What do you mean, buddy?

Peter: Michael...I think we found those government plans.