Ready to really rock the 50s? ;)
Mike: You'd better believe it!
Peter: Yeah! :D
Micky: YEAH!
Davy: Let's go!
Daphne: All RIGHT! :D
Lauren: Groovy! ;)
Valerie: Let's get those devils!
(Micky and Lauren hurry out onto the stage. Two of the dancers hold Davy, who struggles. Peter and the girls are being cornerned, despite Emma and Daphne holding their fists out. Two more male dancers fight Mike for the guitar. Zero and Shelia run out at the same time.)
Emma: If any of you try anything funny...
Daphne: We're no cute little Debbie Reyonlds!
Peter: (Holds Valerie tightly) I'm sure we can talk this over!
Mike: (Tugs at the guitar) Hey, give me that!
Zero: Oh, good grief. This is getting completely out of 'and.
Davy: (Struggles furiously) LET ME GO, YOU BASTARDS!
*Micky grabs a microphone and gets closer to the group. He waves, grinning, holding up the microphone.*
Emma: (Grins; she knows what he's doing) Go for it, Mick!
Mike: (Eyes widen; he finally relinqushes the guitar and runs over to his friend) Mick?
Micky: We're gonna sing, Mike. *grins widen* We're gonna sing our stuff!
Mike: (Grins) I started. Did one of my new numbers. (Grins at Micky) Ok, Mick. Your turn. Make your OWN kind of music. (He grabs another male dancer as he launches himself at Micky)
Micky: Thanks, Mike! *goes into a nicely raucous version of "I'll Be Back Up On My Feet," dancing and moving around other dancers that try to catch him.*
Zero: (Screams) Get him away from that microphone!
(Zero runs after Peter, who does his best to duck away, followed by Valerie.)
*Micky makes his way over to where Lauren is sitting and dances around her chair, giving her a kiss before he goes back to center stage to finish the song.*
Emma: Awww! (She's distracted by Micky and Lauren. One of the dancers take this opportunity to grab her and twist her arms behind her. Mike goes over and decks him. She hugs Mike) Thanks, honey!
Mike: Oh, darlin... (kisses her)
Daphne: Davy! (She runs over as he manages to pull away from one of the dancers; she stomps on the foot of the other)
Davy: (Kisses Daphne) Good work, luv!
*Micky finishes and takes an exaggerated bow, then decks a dancer who runs at him.*
Davy: Mick, toss the microphone this way! (Holds out his hand as Daphne pushes away another dancer)
Micky: Incoming! *tosses the microphone to Davy*
(Mike and Emma hold off stagehands while Valerie confronts Sheila and Zero continues to chase Peter around the stage.)
Davy: Got it, mate! (Catches it and launches into "Love To Love.")
*Micky goes to the side of the stage where Lauren sits and watches over her like a hawk...or is it a vulture?* ;)
(Davy and Daphne dance around the fracas, sometimes intentionally "bumping" stagehands ;) )
(Sheila tries to make her way over to Mike and Emma, but Valerie is still after her. She finally tackles her.)
Valerie: Don't you even try to hurt them again, Devil Woman! I wasn't the captain of my prep school's basketball and softball teams for nothing!
(Zero grabs Peter and yanks his arms behind him, clamping his hand over the frightened musician's mouth. Mike and Emma hurry over.)
Zero: (Snarls) There'll be no more of this...this...LOVE...this MUSIC...and certainly not from your precious little Bard! (Releases his claws again, carressing Peter's cheek with his thumb)
(A guitar hits Zero over the head; he falls on the floor unconcious, revealing a beaming Emma, at the same time Shelia manages to turn Valerie over.)
Emma: Oh, but there will be music, Zero.
Peter: (Looks across the stage towards the two women) NO! VALERIE! (He, Mike, and Emma run over to the women on the floor as "Love to Love" comes to its conclusion)
(Cut to Valerie and Sheila wrestling on the floor. Sheila finally manages to pin Valerie.)
*Shelia grins evilly.*
Valerie: (Struggles) You...you...witch!
Sheila: You are so complimentary! *grins* ;)
(Shelia puts her claws over Valerie's heart...as Peter and Mike pull Shelia back and Emma takes her arms. The three finally pry the black-dressed female devil off of the panting heiress.)
Peter: No! Don't hurt her! (Pulls her so hard, he, Shelia, and Mike crash into the steps near the pianos)
Shelia: No!
(Mike holds Shelia as Peter scrambles away and Emma helps Valerie to her feet.)
Peter: Davy, the microphone!
Davy: Right, mate! (Tosses Peter the microphone, and he launches into an energetic "Long Title: Do I Have To Do It All Over Again?")
Zero: (As he comes to) What in the... (sees Peter singing happily, playing air guitar with a big sunshine smile) Noooooooooo!!!! Not again!
Mike: (Snarls at Shelia) You were gonna keep us singin' those 50s ditties forever, weren't ya, bitch?
Sheila: *sneers* Of course!
Zero: You were all going to be such wonderful collectors!
Mike: (Frowns) Collectors?
Zero: I would have used you to hypnotize every silly screaming teen in that audience! It would be so easy for you to get them to give up their souls to the new sensations on the block...
Mike: Shoulda known this was all 'bout usin' us, bastard. It's like Pete said, music IS magic. (Closes his eyes...and is surprised when his broadsword appears in his hand.)
Emma: (Closes her eyes - her hockey stick appears as Zero shrieks bloody murder) Wha...
Daphne: (Closes her eyes - a sharp, short knife appears) The music must be breaking their hold over our powers!
*Micky makes his dagger appear and waves it over his head, grinning.*
Mike: Good. (Holds his sword to Zero) Get us out of this nightmare, Zero-poo, before I use this.
Emma: (Holds the hockey stick over Sheila) Before I hit a far more sensitive spot than her ankles!
Zero: (His head is in his hands) I...have...no...choice....music...killing me....
*Micky and Lauren join the others.*
Davy: (Runs over to Daphne with his rapier) Take us 'ome, Zero.
Emma: (Frowns at Sheila) What about you, Devil Woman?
Daphne: She's giving in, too. We're all getting out of here as soon as Peter finishes his number.
Shelia: *growls* The music is dulling my powers...
Zero: (Looks at Shelia) One of us must escape this! (Screams again)
Mike: Not this time!
*Sheila's eyes close. It takes a moment, but she disappears in a faint black light.*
Emma: (Throws her stick in Sheila's direction, but it hits the floor) DAMN!
Mike: (Growls; turns to Zero as "Long Title" finishes) Yeah, well, the one who survives this ain't gonna be you, Evil One!
Zero: (As he fades) No, it isn't. Farewell, White Knight! (Screams as Mike sticks his broadsword into him; he bursts into a million tiny black sparkles that spread over the set. When he subsides, the stage is empty. The only people left are the eight kids.)
Peter: (Turns to the others and is surprised to see them holding weapons) W...what happened?
Micky: Whoa!
(Mike only pulls his sword away from where Zero knelt, satisfied.)
Lauren: That was kinda gross.
Valerie: Oh, my god...
Mike: (Shakes his head) No blood, Lauren. He was already on his way out. I guess the sword sealed the deal.
Peter: So...we did it? We defeated him?
Valerie: Yes! (Takes Peter in her arms and hugs him)
(But even as Valerie embraces Peter, the whole building starts to shake. The elaborate sets crack; the stage buckles under the kids)
Micky: Oh, man...EXIT STAGE LEFT!
Zero's Voice: (Cackles; Voice-over) One more thing, children. Call it a parting gift. This building is about to come tumbling down...trapping all of you in this time period forever!
Mike: Oh, man! How are we gonna get outta here?
Emma: Come on! (Everyone runs off the stage, down the eisles, and out into a huge, carpeted lobby as large pieces of plaster fall. The lobby is beautiful and fancy, with a big desk and large glass doors.)
Davy: We've got to get back to 1969.
Mike: If we're gonna go back (grins), let's do it in style.
Micky: Is there any other way?
Davy: For once, I like the way you blokes think.
(Mike closes his eyes; his motorcycle and the MonkeeMobile appear.)
Mike: All aboard! :D
*Micky helps Lauren into the Monkeemobile, then launches himself in the driver's seat.*
(Mike climbs onto his motorcycle, tossing the sword in the back of the MonkeeMobile. Emma throws her hockey stick with it and gets on in back of him, holding him tightly. The other four climb into the back seats of the MonkeeMobile.)
Mike: (Points at the glass doors as more plaster starts falling, one almost hitting the motorcycle) Ok, everyone, all out for 1969!
Micky: We're outta here!
(Mike starts the motorcycle and Micky starts the MonkeeMobile. There's a bright blue light as the motorcycle crashes through the glass doors in slow motion, followed by the MonkeeMobile. When the light subsides and we see both vehicles again, all eight occupants are back in the clothes they wore in the beginning of the nightmare sequence. The vehicles finally come to a stop in the front of what looks like a junkyard. Strange objects of all kinds are strewn around the large area.)
Emma: (Gets off the motorcycle) Where are we?
Lauren: I don't know, but it's a mess!
Mike: (Nods as a large van driven by several young people in bright clothing not unlike Peter's beloved paisley shirts pass by) Well, I don't think we're in the 50s anymore, for one thing.
Valerie: Thank goodness! (Brushes off her dress) From now on, the only 50s I want to be involved with is "I Love Lucy!"
Lauren: Or "The Honeymooners!"
Davy: (Looks around) I think we're in the junkyard in Malibu Beach, neah the train station.
Peter: (Shrugs) Well, wherever we are, we're safe. No devils here! :D
Davy: (Turns to the others with a grin, nodding at the young people passing the junkyard) Why don't we celebrate, mates? ;)
Mike: In a junkyard?
Peter: Groovy! :D
Micky: Sure, why not?
Daphne: (Grins) Why don't you all do what you do best?
Davy: Right, luv!
Valerie: (Smiles) Sure!
Emma: After what we just went through, I think a little celebrating is in order. :)
Micky: Gladly!
Lauren: All right!
Mike: Well...(crooked little grin)...we just beat the Devil...again. Why not?
(The eight kids pile out of the vehicles. Davy climbs to the top of a platform, tugging some rope along with him. He sings "String For My Kite" when he gets to the summit, followed by Daphne, who joins him. When they finish, Davy throws Peter the rope as he wanders over to the area where Davy is.)
Peter: Thanks, guys! (Smiles and closes his eyes. His red and white keyboard appears, and he sets some of his beads across it. He plays Bach's "Two Part Invention In F Major." Toward the end of the song, Valerie comes out, pulls up a stool teetering to one side, and joins him.)
Valerie: (Smiles at him) Hi, honey. That sounded really nice. Would you like to do another one with me?
Peter: (Beams) Sure!
(Peter and Valerie perform another Bach number, this time a duet. As they finish, Mike, Emma, Micky, and Lauren wander out to the center of the junkyard.)
Mike: Hey, guys. (Closes his eyes; his beloved guitar Black Beauty and a microphone appear) Ready?
Emma: (Nods and closes her eyes; another microphone appears next to Mike's) Right, honey.
Micky: *nods as his drumset, sticks, and a tambourine for Lauren appear* You better believe it! *grins*
Mike: Well, how about "Listen To the Band?" Seems appropriate, after what we just went through.
Micky: *twirls his sticks* Sure!
Peter: Ok! :D
Emma: That's my favorite song of yours, honey. :)
(Mike tunes up and starts to play and sing. As he does, Davy and Daphne come down, both holding tamborines. Other young people, and even some older people, gradually join the group as "Listen to the Band" gets longer and longer. It turns into a whole party, with people bringing guitars, maracas, and tamborines, dancing on high pieces of junk, and making drumsets and bongos out of old pots and pans and machine parts. Peter closes his eyes - Zero's paisley organ appears. Valerie sits at it and plays it.)
(The party gets even noiser and crazier, with tye-dye special effects and people dancing everywhere while all eight Monkees and ladies play and sing. The ringing music just gets louder and louder. It's starting to sound more and more like a clock. We finally fade out on the party and fade in on Lauren and Micky's appartment again, as the ringing music becomes the ringing of an alarm clock. Micky is still tossing and turning; Lauren turns over and touches him gently.)
Lauren: Mick?
Micky: (Murmuring in his sleep) "Listen to the band...listen to the band..."
Lauren: *gives him a shake* Mick, wake up!
Micky: (Eyes flutter open) Listen to the... (Looks up at Lauren and smiles) Oh, hi, babe. God, I just had the FREAKIEST nightmare in the history of dreams!
Lauren: *eyebrows arch* You too?
Micky: (Eyes widen) You...you had a nightmare, too?
Lauren: *nods* With special guest appearances by Zero and Sheila. *makes a face*
Micky: (Jaw drops) They were in mine, too! Did they turn us into (shudders) wind-up dolls and send us to the 50s?
Lauren: *eyes widen* Yeah, they did! They wouldn't let you guys sing your own songs, either!
Micky: Yeah, we had to fight to sing them! And we got out of there in the MonkeeMobile and Mike's motorcycle just as the theater was gonna fall down, and there was a really groovy party in a junkyard!
Lauren: With all of us singing "Listen To The Band."
Micky: (Nods) Right! Oh man, you had the exact same dream? (Takes her hand) Glass tubes and challenges and all?
Lauren: *nods* And it all seemed so real!
Micky: Yeah! I've never had a dream that intense, even the night after Lady Plaisir used her TV on us.
Lauren: I don't know whether to say that's a good or bad thing. *quirks an eyebrow, then grins*
Micky: And you...(takes her hand)...had to save me from Sheila and myself.
Lauren: And I'd do it all again. :) ;)
Lauren: I hopefully won't have to save you from yourself that much. ;)
Micky: (Laughs) Nahh, me? (Thoughtful) I wonder if all the others had the same dream?
Lauren: I don't know. It's weird enough we had the same dream.
Micky: Everyone was in my dream. The whole gang. Pete and Val, Mike and Em, and Davy and Daphne. All you girls had to rescue us guys from ourselves. Two of ourselves, in Mike's case.
Lauren: And everyone was in mine, too.
Micky: Man, that's too weird. (Grins) Hey, babe, why don't you call Em and see if they all had the dream, too, while I try to make myself get out of bed?
Lauren: *chuckles* And we know how long that takes! *grins & starts to get up* Man, this used to be A LOT easier. *heads for the phone*
*Lauren picks up the receiver and dials, waiting for someone to pick up.*
Emma: (Picks up, yawning) Hello?
Lauren: Hey, Em. Did you have a nightmare last night?
Emma: Yeah. It was a doozy, too. Why?
Lauren: Uh huh. So did we. And it was a little too real, too.
Emma: (Surprised) You both had a nightmare? Did it involve Zero and Shelia and glass tubes and challenges and the 50s and the guys being turned into wind-up toys?
Lauren: All of the above. *frowns* Any of the others up yet? Did they have the same nightmare?
Emma: Mike was tossing and turning in his sleep last night, that much I know. Peter went over to Mr. Bennett's house, but he should be back soon. Davy's still in bed. Mike went to early work, but he should be back soon, too. I'm making orange pancakes for breakfast if you want to come over and eat.
Lauren: You just said the magic words. We'll be right over. Maybe we could find out if the others had the same nightmare.
Emma: (Nods) I'll get Davy up and have him call Daphne. Peter can call Valerie when he gets home.
Lauren: Okay. We'll be over as soon as Mick can haul himself out of bed.
Micky: (Off-camera) I'm movin', I'm movin! (We hear something move around in the apartment)
(Emma chuckles)
Lauren: Geez... *groans* We'll be over shortly, Em.
Emma: Right. See you then! (Puts down the reciever)
Micky: (Goes over to her, now wearing pajama pants) So, what's the word, babe? :)
Lauren: *hangs up* It sounds like Emma had the same nightmare we did. Don't know about the others, but Mike was tossing and turning just like you were.
Micky: This is too much. How could all of us have the same nightmare?
Lauren: *shrugs* I'm not too sure I want to know. :P
Micky: There's a quicker way of getting dressed. (There's a dark blue light, and he's wearing his poncho, turtleneck, pants, and sneakers.) Much better. Want me to dress you, too, babe?
Lauren: *grins* Would you?
Micky: (Grins) It would be my pleasure! Did you have anything in mind?
Lauren: Anything that'll fit.
Micky: (There's a dark blue light, and Lauren is now wearing a long purple tunic and dark pants) There you go, babe! Beautiful as always! :D
Lauren: *blushes* Aw, Mick!
Micky: Ok, Lauren, how do you wanna get there? Wanna take the car or (winks) the other way?
Lauren: The other way would be nice. *winks*
Micky: The Micky-way it is! (Takes her hand. There's a dark blue light. When it subsides, they're standing in front of the door to the pad.)
Micky: Ok, babe, last stop, 1334 Beechwood!
Lauren: That's soo much easier on the feet, and everything else!
Micky: Definately useful these days. (Knocks on the door; Emma opens it)
Emma: Hi, guys! (Grins) Used Mick's powers? I thought I saw a dark blue light.
Lauren: Naturally! ;)
Micky: It's the only way to travel! *grins*
Emma: (Nods inside) Well, come on in. Peter and Mike should be in soon, and Davy's getting dressed.
*Lauren and Micky go in and settle at the table.*
(Emma returns to flipping pancakes flecked with oranges as Davy emerges in his green velvet "Head" sweater and gold pants, yawning.)
Davy: Wot a nightmare! It were so intense! I ain't nevah 'ad a dream like that!
Emma: (Looks at Micky and Lauren) There's another one.
Davy: Anothah one wot?
Micky: Yup. Another one of us who had a nightmare.
Lauren: That makes four.
Davy: No! You guys, too?
Lauren: We had the same one. Em might've, too.
Emma: I know I had something last night, and Mike was tossing and turning, murmuring something about "Wind-Up Men, programmed to be entertaining..."
Davy: (Eyes widen) Oh, God! That's the song we sang when we were...mechanical.
*Micky and Lauren exchange looks.*
Micky: Ditto here.
Davy: Ok, this is just bloody odd.
Emma: (Nods) Zero turned you guys into toys in my dream, too. Shelia made you each eat an apple, and Zero sent this black light over you, and the next thing we know, you're all walking like zombies and singing some weird song.
Davy: That's exactly wot 'appened in me dream!
Micky: That was awful! *makes a face*
Emma: We could feel you. We knew your human souls were locked up in those mechanical bodies somewhere.
Lauren: And we used kisses to bring you guys back to yourselves.
Davy: (Nods) And then we all ended up in the 50s, and Zero stripped us boys of our powahs and threatened Lauren and 'er children's souls if we tried to fight.
Micky: But the ladies talked us into performing our own music to defeat Zero, despite the threat. *drapes an arm around Lauren's shoulders*
Davy: (nods) And we all ended up in a junkyahd, havin' a party and singin' "Listen To the Band."
Micky: Freaky, man, just freaky!
(Mike steps in at this point, a bit greasy in overalls.)
Mike: Had the early mornin' shift today...(looks around) Man, did I miss somethin'? Is it someone's birthday or somethin'?
Emma: (As she puts plates of pancakes out for Davy, Micky, and Lauren) Honey, did you have a...bad dream last night?
Mike: (Shrugs and sits down) Yeah. Why?
Micky: Did it involve Zero, Sheila, and the 50s? *quirks an eyebrow*
Mike: (Frowns) Yeah, and I was split into two people, and Micky was singin' "I'm a Believer" like James Brown, and Davy was dancin' with these real dolls, and Pete sang "Prithee" in some kind of tent.
Lauren: That's five of us.
Mike: (Frowns) Wait a minute. You're telling me you guys dreamed about the same thing? All that "Wind Up Man" stuff, and Jerry Lee Lewis and Fats Domino, and the 50s and the glass tubes...
Emma: Exactly, honey.
Mike: How could five people have the same dream at the same time?
Micky: *grins* Did anyone else see the stacked pianos?
Emma: Stacked pianos? You mentioned them in the dream.
Lauren: And kept going on about them.
Micky: *shrugs* Well, I thought that's what I saw.
Davy: (Nods) Maybe I ought to call Daphne and see if she 'ad the dream, too. (Goes to the phone and picks up the reciever) 'Ello, luv? It's Davy. (Smiles) Yeah, we're still on for Saturday night, but I've got to ask you somethin' important...
Emma: (Puts a plate of pancakes in front of Mike and joins him) I don't get it. How did we all have the same dream at once?
Micky: *eyebrows raise* You don't think it might have something to do with my powers, do you? :-/
Emma: Your powers? Why would your powers cause us to have nightmares?
Mike: (Softly) Because they're stronger than ours.
Micky: *shrugs* It's just that I still don't know the extent of them. I dunno. It's the only thing that kinda makes sense. *nods at Mike*
Mike: (Makes a face) Even in death, Zero still controls us.
Emma: Maybe your powers are telling us something, Mick.
Micky: *scoffs* I wish they'd shut up sometimes.
Lauren: No, I think it's something good, Mick. *grins*
Davy: (Puts down the phone) Oh, yeah, and Daphne 'ad the dream, too. Glass tubes 'n all. She's on 'er way ovah 'ere.
Lauren: Six.
(Peter steps in at that moment, looking a little tired. He flops down next to Mike.)
Peter: Hi, guys. (Shakes his head as Emma gets up to make him pancakes) No thanks, Em, I ate at Mr. Bennett's. I had a few morning tutoring sessions, but I have some time before the afternoon ones and I thought I'd come home and rest. I didn't sleep too well last night.
Micky: Don't think anyone did, Big Peter.
Mike: Seems we all had a fairly nasty nightmare, buddy.
Peter: (Eyes widen) Oh man, you guys too?
Emma: (Nods and goes to make herself pancakes) Yes, Peter. All of us.
Lauren: I'm willing to bet Valerie did, too.
Peter: (Nods) I'll call her.
Davy: I just called Daphne. She 'ad the same nightmare.
Peter: (As he picks up the phone) It was really psycho-jello. The guys and I all had these crazy fantasies, and I had to get up from the divan and save Valerie in mine. Mike was two people in his! (Dials Valerie's number)
Mike: Yeah, I was split in my dream, too.
Emma: And I had to pick which one was the real Mike.
Lauren: I had to make Mick stop singing to that Devil Woman! *Micky blushes*
Emma: (Nods as Peter gets off the phone) Yeah, I remember that. You had to get his attention, make him turn his passion to you.
Micky: I didn't know what I was doing. *makes a face*
Lauren: That was obvious, Mick.
(Everyone chuckles as Peter turns to them.)
Peter: Val's coming, too. I just said something about a dream, and she said "I'll be right over."
Mike: (Sighs) Sounds like all eight of us had that damn nightmare.
Davy: Which must mean somethin'.
(Emma is cleaning up the breakfast dishes and the others are around the bandstand, tuning up the instruments, when Daphne comes in.)
Daphne: Sorry I couldn't get sooner. I couldn't get the van. Had to take the bus. (Looks at the others) You guys had that freaky dream too?
Davy: Yeah, luv. Did it involve glass tubes and us boys havin' fantasies and bein' turned into dolls and sent to the 50s?
Daphne: (Nods) Yes, it did.
Lauren: Welcome to the club.
Emma: (As Daphne steps into the living room) Daphne, we all had it.
Daphne: WHAT?
Mike: Every single one of us seem to have had that nasty little dream last night.
(Valerie steps into the Pad at that moment, and Emma joins everyone in the living room, around the bandstand.)
Valerie: Good morning (eyes widen in surprise at the crowd in the living room)...everyone.
Peter: Valerie, you had that freak-out dream, too?
Valerie: (Sighs and nods) Yes, I did. Glass tubes, 50s, fantasies, and everything.
Mike: Sounds like we all did.
Valerie: How could we all have the same dream at the same time?
Micky: Oh, man...
Mike: It must have been that arguement last night.
Davy: Wot's that got to do wit' anythin'?
Lauren: That's what the dream was based on.
Valerie: (Nods) You were all arguing over your music, and how you want to do it one way or the other...and how different all of you are.
Daphne: How could an arguement lead to a dream like that?
Mike: With our powers, especially Micky's, and given recent events, we're probably lucky it wasn't worse.
Micky: We made it out alive. *shrugs sheepishly*
Emma: Even in death, Zero and Shelia are using our fears and dislikes to control all of us.
Mike: Yeah. In my dream...and it seems, in all our dreams...Zero tried to control us first by controlling our negative sides, then by not letting us show our love through our own music.
Peter: Zero kept hurting us! He didn't want us to sing our own songs, just the 50s music!
Micky: *quietly* I kinda like doing those songs.
Mike: (Sighs) Micky, we know that's your music, but it isn't Peter's or mine or Davy's. We weren't happy that way.
Micky: I know. *small shrug*
Peter: Didn't you have just as much fun singing "I'll Be Back Up On My Feet" as when you were doing "At the Hop?"
Micky: *grins* Yeah...more! I liked doing "...Back Up On My Feet" like that.
Peter: (Nods) That's what made you happy.
Davy: Made me 'appy to dance durin' "Love To Love."
Mike: I liked playin' the guitar and singin' "Oklahoma Backroom Dancer."
Peter: (Smiles) I always love singing "Long Title."
Emma: Didn't you enjoy playing with each other in the junkyard?
Davy: Oh, man, that was somethin' else!
Peter: Way beyond groovy! :D
Micky: That was fun! Man, all those people!
Mike: Yeah. We had half of LA in that junkyard. It was really swingin'. :)
Daphne: There you go, guys. That's what important.
Emma: Yeah. You've got to love what you're playing...and love doing it together.
Valerie: (Nods) We're a team.
Lauren: Darn right! *grins*
Emma: And that, in the end, is what counts. We're together and happy being together.
Valerie: (Softly) Maybe you all owe each other apologies for last night. That's how all this really began.
Mike: But...
Emma: You too, honey.
Mike: (Sighs and turns to Mick) Mick, look, I...I'm sorry I blew up last night over the song. Probably shoulda asked first. I just ain't used to askin'. Ain't used to all this family business.
Micky: I wasn't exactly helping things, Mike. Sorry about that. *grins* Should've just listened and kept my trap shut for once.
Mike: Buddy, I've got to learn to listen, too. You were right. I'm just as bad. The damn city-slicker-rock-and-roller side of me speakin'. (Turns to Davy) Dave...
Davy: (Puts up a hand) Mike, I undahstand. I should 'ave been payin' attention to the band last night instead of the phone.
Mike: Yeah, well, I didn't have to get nasty about it.
Davy: I'm kinda glad you did, though. Made me think 'bout a lot of things. (Sighs) I'm not exactly ready for settlin' down, the way you and Micky did, but maybe if I 'ad some practice...
Mike: (Nods) Sure. If we're gonna buy this place, there will be lots to do, and we'll find you plenty of chores in the meantime.
Micky: *shakes his head* And tying you up didn't work, Dave.
(Everyone chuckles.)
Mike: (Turns to Peter) Pete, man...
(Peter just leans over and gives his friend a wordless hug.)
Peter: I understand, Michael. I can be a baby sometimes, and I do hide from things. I'll try to be better. I don't want to always be scared of everything, and I want to help, too.
Mike: You ain't scared of everythin', Pete. Man, the way you went up against Zero a few weeks ago just blew me away, and you helped Valerie in 50s in the dream. You can be brave, buddy. You just gotta find the right time.
Peter: Really? :D
Mike: Really. :)
Davy: We want more say in the band, Mike. We're all part of it, not just you.
Micky: *nods* Equal say.
Peter: After all, we're a team, and in a team, everyone helps out.
Mike: (sighs) Ok, guys. From now on, we're equal. We all write music, we all play whatever instruments we can, we all make decisions about bookings and the songs we perform at the gig and HOW we perform them. (Small crooked grin) Guess the Papa Wolf ain't used to lettin' his cubs grow up.
Emma: (Softly) Maybe it's time he did.
Micky: I've known that for a while now.
Davy: We're not children anymore, Mike. (Grins) Even me. ;)
Peter: (Squeezes his friend's shoulder) We like it when you're a dad for us, Mike. We know we can always talk to you when there's problems, and sometimes it IS nice to have you take care of us.
Emma: But not all the time.
Peter: Especially now that we're all getting older.
Emma: Honey, you've got to learn to curb that temper of yours.
Mike: Oh, believe me, darlin', I'm tryin'. It ain't easy. Sometimes, I just wanna squeeze the life outta somethin'.
Emma: You get so torn, Mike. You have to figure out how to make your country side and your city side work together, instead of against each other and against US.
Mike: It's just (puts a hand on his heart)...sometimes, I really do feel like two different people are havin' a war in there.
Micky: There's gotta be some type of peace treaty you can come up with. *grins*
Emma: And you have all of us to help you write it.
Mike: (Sighs) I'll see what I can do...(looks at the others)...if all of you work on your "little habits," too.
Peter: I'll try to face bad things more instead of hiding. I don't want anyone ELSE getting hurt!
Micky: *nods* I'll leave my James Brown impersonations at home and keep my passion directed at Lauren.
Davy: And I'll spend more time wit' the band and tryin' to get jobs and less runnin' around with' me othah friends, especially girls.
Daphne: You'd better! (Puts up her fists) Chase another girl, Davy Jones, and I'll break a bone.
Davy: (Raises his eyebrows) Wouldn't do any important ones, would you, luv?
Daphne: Try me.
Valerie: I think she's serious, Dave.
Micky: Those threats sound vaguely familiar.
Lauren: Well, the bodily harm part. *grins* ;)
Peter: Hey, since we're all here, why don't we play something?
Micky: Yeah!
Davy: All right!
Mike: How about...(sighs as Emma gives him a Look)...well, what do you guys want to play?
Peter: (Grins and sits down at his keyboard) How about "Listen to the Band?"
Emma: Seems rather appropriate.
Micky: *picks up his sticks and twirls them* Sounds good to me!
Davy: (Picks up his tambourine) I'm all for it.
Mike: Really?
Peter: Come on, Mike. Let's play. Together. :)
Mike: (Grins) Ok! (Counts off, and we fade out as the boys launch into "Listen to the Band" as the girls watch from assorted places around the living room, all happy to be together and doing the one thing they all love...making their own music.)