Everyone ready for the Christmas Ball?

Mike: Sure, we get to play.

Micky: Sure!

Peter: It sounds like fun!

Davy: Ready.

(We open with a familiar scene. The four Monkees surround Davy, who wears Ludlow's royal robes. Nicky is there, too, as is Wendy and the four women.)

Mike: Davy, I know it's a drag, but it's the only way.

Wendy: Please, David. My husband still hasn't awaken.

Mike: And we've gotta find that Bergier guy and question him.

Davy: I know, but still...

Wendy: It'll just be for tonight, David. He'll probably wake up while the ball is in progress!

Davy: For everyone's sake, I 'ope so.

Nicky: I'm going back down there to keep an eye on him. The other three are already there. (Frowns) Douglas is worried. He called his girlfriend Molly to ask her about Duke Bergier - she works in his shop - but she wasn't there. The Duke said she'd gone away for the holidays. She and Douglas are really close. She would have told him first!

Mike: (Looks at Micky, then at Nick) Did you say Molly?

Nicky: Yeah, Molly Porter. Nice girl. Douglas wants to ask her to marry him.

Mike: We saw her at the shop yesterday when we took the kids shopping. She was fine then, other than she wasn't much of a help with her boss.

Wendy: I hope nothing happened to that poor girl.

Emma: (She, Daphne, and Valerie all wear fine evening gowns; Lauren wears a good purple pants suit) I wonder...

Lauren: *makes a face* No...

Mike: You should have seen the get-ups Bergier had in his shop. The kids' jaws must have dropped ten feet, and that was for the toys! The gingerbread palace he made for Will's candy shop was crazy!

Emma: I wonder what else he can do. (Looks at Wendy) You said he works for your toy factories, right?

Wendy: (Nods) He creates new toys for them to distribute. He builds his own toys and even works with chemicals in the back of his shop.

Mike: I get it, Em. That might not be the only thing he's doin'.

Wendy: Come again?

Peter: (Nods) He probably did something to the wine.

Wendy: (Sighs) I'm sad to say, I wouldn't be surprised if you were right.

Mike: Micky, tomorrow you and I are going to go back to that shop and check it out. We could bring the kids again as cover.

Micky: *nods* You have to ask? ;)

Emma: Lauren and I will go, too.

Valerie: I'll talk to some of my father's cronies and see what they know about the toy industry.

Emma: Daph, stay here. You and Davy can question the servants and the locals. We'll watch Lizzie.

Daphne: Okay.

Wendy: We'd better go to the ball. You have to set up your instruments. (She takes Davy's arm) And you need to escort me, David.

Emma: (Takes Mike's arm) Speaking of escorts...

Peter: Shall we, Mrs. Thorkleson?

Valerie: (Smiles and takes Peter's arm) Of course!

Micky: *grins at Lauren* Need I ask, babe?

Lauren: Nope. ;

Mike: (Grins at Daph) Hey Daph, mind if I escort 'ya?

Emma: I'll share him, just for tonight.

Daphne: *smiles* I don't mind at all. ;)

Davy: Not gonna ask my permission, just er's?

Mike: You have one. ;)

*Davy sticks his tongue out.*

(The four guys walk out with the ladies on their arm. They enter a huge room with a massive, sparkling chandelier and a tall Christmas tree decorated with golden ribbons and glittering ornaments in one corner. The room is festooned with heavy ropes of evergreens.)

Mike: Damn, they tricked this place out, didn't they?

(Everyone claps when Davy and Wendy walk in and take to the floor. The girls spread out around the room; the boys head for the bandstand.)

Mike: (Turns to the other two as they set up) Ok, guys, we're gonna have to do all the singin' tonight, since Dave's busy. Ready for "My Favorite Things," Mick?

Micky: You bet!

Mike: (The guests finally turn to them as he sets up his microphone) Testing, one two three... (Nods at the crowd) Ok, we got your attention. We're the Monkees, folks, and we're here to play for your Christmas Ball. First on the list is a classic, done in by our own Micky Dolenz. (Nods) You're on, Mick.

Micky: Thanks, Mike! *grins to the crowd, then twirls his sticks and clacks them together as he counts off* One, two, three...

*The guys start playing "My Favorite Things.*"

(The girls wander around the room, mingling with the guests. Davy dances with Wendy, but when he tries to talk to her, a bevy of men in uniform surround her and take her away, discussing business or her new child or just how lovely she looks.)

(Duke Bergier's eyes nearly pop out when he sees Davy. Emma and Lauren note his reaction.)

(Emma goes to question the Duke, but he follows Davy, who now chats with several courtiers.)

(Emma "accidentally" spills her drink on the floor...right in front of the Duke. He slips and ends up on his rear.)

*Lauren chuckles.* ;)

(Valerie spies people she knows from her childhood boarding school days and chats with them.)

(Emma eyes widen when she sees a familiar older couple. He has a beard and a big belly and looks awkward; she's a lovely, white-haired creature and is more at ease in her simple yet elegant gown. They know them!)

(Emma goes to Lauren and indicates the Duke. He's putting something in Davy's drink!)

*Lauren sticks a whoopee cushion on the Duke's chair.*

(As the Duke sits down, he hears a very loud...and very impolite...noise. Davy backs away from him and the drink he's offering.)

*Lauren snickers.*

(We cut back to Davy and Wendy as the song comes to an end. The guys pick up another song, this time an instrumental "The First Noel." The two join the others on the floor.)

Wendy: It's nice to see you again, David. (Makes a face) That is your name, right? It's so hard to tell when people aren't telling you the truth.

(The Duke watches them suspiciously as they pass by. Emma, Valerie, and Lauren watch HIM.)

Davy: *nods* Yes, but call me Davy, everyone does.

Wendy: All right. (Makes a face) You know, I do love Ludlow...now. But when we first began...(frowns)...well, there's a reason we're only now having a child. I didn't know him, Davy. I knew YOU.

Davy: That's undahstandable. I'm glad to 'ear you two are doing well.

Wendy: He's still a very shy man, though not as bad as when we first met. He can be a real charmer when he wants to be. (Nods at Daphne with the other girls) Is that your wife?

Davy: Yeah, she is.

Wendy: She's pretty. Nicky told me you have a daughter. Congratulations.

Davy: Thank you. 'Er name is Lizzie.

Wendy: If she's anything like her father, she must be lovely...(grins)...and a handful.

Davy: *chuckles* Yeah, but not nearly as bad as one of the other guy's kids.

Wendy: They're all married now? (She smiles) To the other women there. They seemed nice.

Davy: Every single one of them, believe it or not.

Wendy: Nicky's not the only one who followed your career. I have all your albums. The last one wasn't bad. Some of the songs were pretty strange, but I loved "Daydream Believer."

Davy: Glad to 'ear you liked that one.

Wendy: Ludlow and I wanted to see one of your concerts in England, but we couldn't get away from our toy business.

(As the music ends, Mike turns to Micky and frowns.)

Mike: Mick, I don't see the Duke anywhere.

Micky: I don't, either...

Peter: Or me.

Mike: (Leans into the microphone) We're gonna take a ten-minute break here, folks. Don't nobody go nowhere. (The three hop off the bandstand, joining the girls.)

Mike: Have you girls seen the Duke?

Emma: We were about to ask you the same thing. (Frowns) And we have something to tell YOU, too.

Micky: What's that?

Valerie: We saw some old friends wandering around the ballroom. Remember the Basses from last year?

Mike: (Grins) How could I forget those two?

Valerie: Well, they're here again.

Mike: Why would they be here? I thought they lived in Canada.

Valerie: We have no idea.

Mike: Maybe we'd better follow the Duke. All of us. We'll bring Davy, too, if he can get away.

Emma: I don't trust him.

Valerie: I don't, either. He's after something, and I think it has to do with those toys.

Mike: Let's get Davy and get going.

(Cut to the hallway, where all four guys rush for the basement. Mike stops dead in his tracks; the other two run straight into him.)

Mike: Damn it, the door's open! We told the kid to lock it!

Peter: (Looks out from behind Mike, rubbing his nose) Maybe he forgot.

(Mike has already barreled ahead. The others follow him into the dark basement.)

Mike: Damn it! Damn! Look! (He points at the rope and scarves on the floor) Someone let the maid loose!

Peter: (Looks around the room - there's no one there) Hello? Ludlow? Nicholas?

Mike: Damn, the Duke got here before we did!

Peter: (Checks under furniture, including items too small to fit humans, like plants and people's hair) I can't find them!

Mike: (Looks at Davy) I think you're gonna be king just a little bit longer, kiddo.

Davy: This isn't good.

(The four girls and Wendy join them in the basement.)

Wendy: What's going on?

Emma: What happened?

Mike: Ludlow's gone, and so are his men and Nicky.

Wendy: (Her eyes widen) WHAT? I thought you said he was just drunk!

Peter: No, he's gone!

Mike: And I'll bet I know who did it.

Wendy: Please, we must find him! Christmas could be ruined if you don't!

Mike: What's this got to do with Christmas?

Wendy: (Frowns) Come. We're going to return to the ball. We'll discuss this afterwards.

(And everyone does so as we fade out.)