Ok, is everyone ready to find out what Bergier is up to?

Mike: I'd be happy if he'd just answer my questions!

Peter: I hope the kids don't end up getting hurt.

Micky: Ready!

Davy: I am!

(We open in Wendy and Ludlow's rooms. Daphne is there, reading a book. Davy makes his way into the room, looking harried. He wears Ludlow's gold uniform and crown from "Prince and the Pauper" and a page boy wig.)

Davy: I'm sorry, luv. I couldn't get away from those blasted couriers and the toy factory people!

Daphne: *sighs, closing her book* At least I got to catch up on some reading.

Davy: Wendy said she'd finish dealing with them, and I don't envy her the job. What a lot of hard-headed people!

Daphne: Doesn't surprise me.

Davy: Bloody stubborn fools. Half of them want the computers badly, the others don't want anything to do with them, and no one's changing their views. (Sighs) The computers might not be so bad for certain manufacture jobs, but Mike's right. I saw what they do for designing and larger jobs, and it isn't good.

Daphne: There has to be something we can do!

Davy: I think Duke Cromwell just got back in. I saw him storming up the stairway. Maybe it's time we had a word with him.

Daphne: *nods* Good idea.

Davy: I think I have time before I have to consult with some more of the toy manufacturers. I know where his rooms are. (Grins) Let's pay my dear cousin a visit. (Frowns) But who will I say you are?

Daphne: How about as one of Wendy's counselors?

Davy: (Nods) Wendy's a smart girl who'd have smart women around her. That's believeable. We'll just say unlike Nicky, you're out of the apprentice stage and we needed to discuss the toy business.

Daphne: *grins* And we're not taking no for an answer.

Davy: (Nods at Daphne) Let's go. If we pass anyone, we'll look like we're discussing business.

(Davy pops his head out of the door, looking right and left.)

Davy: It's clear. (Waves to Daphne; the two head down the hall, stopping at one of the rooms.)

Davy: I think this is it. (Davy knocks on the door; Bergier, wearing an apron over his uniform, pops his head out)

Duke Cromwell: Yes, what is it?

Davy: Cromwell, we'd like to ask you a few questions.

Duke Cromwell: I'm sure you would. Everyone wants questions today! (Makes a face) I'm sorry SIR (emphasizes this word), but I'm busy this evening. (Smirks) I want you to come back later. We can talk then.

Davy: All right. Seven o'clock, right after dinner?

Duke Cromwell: Fine, cousin, fine. Now, I'm very busy, so if you please... (He shuts the door again)

Davy: (Turns to Daphne) Oh, if he thinks THAT'S going to keep us out.. ;)

Daphne: He has another thing coming. ;)

Davy: He's up to something weird in there. I'll bet he either has the king and his men there or at his shop. We can't go in...but if we opened the door just a bit...

Daphne: I'm sure we could spot something incriminating.

(Davy opens the door a bit, just enough that they can both see a little. At first, we see what they see - a sliver of elaborately decorated room. Duke Cromwell brings an old wooden marionette - it looks a bit like Pinocchio, but with more clothes - to a soft little chair by a huge chemistry set that matches the one in the back of the toy shop. Another door opens in back of it; we catch small glimpses of metal and wood before the camera goes full-frame and returns to the Duke.)

Duke Cromwell: (Turns to the puppet) Blast it, Charles, what can I do? I KNOW this little long-haired muscian isn't our king, but what would I say? (Waves his arms for emphasis) "He's not the king, because I took the real king?"

Charles: *shifts in the chair on his own accord* You could send a few of our friends after him to keep him occupied.

Davy: (Cut back to him and Daphne) Did that puppet just move?

Daphne: And talk?

Duke Cromwell: (Cut back to him and Charles; frowns) I can't do that here in the Embassy. It's one thing to do it in the toy shop. Impressionable children expect magical things to happen, but how would I explain it to a lot of high officers and counselors, not to mention toy manufacturers?

Charles: You have magic. There must be some way to use it and not make it obvious.

Duke Cromwell: The kitchen! After all, it's a place where you might find gingerbread.

Charles: Perfect!

Duke Cromwell: Now, (takes Charles in his arms), why don't we head into my workshop to prepare the potion that'll make our little musician even more wooden-headed than he already is?

Charles: Let’s!

Davy: (As the two head into the workshop) Let's follow him. I want to see what he does in there.

Daphne: I do, too.

(They follow him quickly to the next door, barely making it in before he shuts it. Thankfully, he doesn't see the two duck behind a large tapestry. The room is filled with more chemicals, plus a work bench with various woods and metals, along with a large kitchen range, refrigerator, and a spice rack.)

Davy: (Whispers to Daphne) I thought he was a magician, not a baker!

Duke Cromwell: (Smirks) I found another one snooping around today in my workshop. I wish my employees at the store would really learn to listen and not go looking around where they aren't supposed to.

(He wheels in a young man, bound to a chair. His eyes are wide and angry, and he's gagged.)

Duke Cromwell: What shall we make this one? A soldier? A teddy bear?

Charles: Gingerbread man?

Duke Cromwell: Ahh, yes. (Takes a container of gingerbread cookies off the top of the refrigerator) Now, dear boy, these may look like ordinary gingerbread men to you. Some of them are real cookies, while others...(his smile becomes quite evil)...are not. All are as alive as you are. (The young man's eyes grow wider; he struggles.) You don't believe me?

(The Duke takes a large china pot from the spice rack. He removes the lid and sprinkles something on the cookies that dissolves instantly. After a few seconds, the cookies actually seem to move! They get up and do a little dance, to the tune of the "Dance of the Toy Flutes" from "Nutcracker.")

Duke Cromwell: Yes, this is my army. Such a small army, but so valuable. (Turns to the young man) How'd you like to be part of my army?

(The young man shakes his head and squeals in horror.)

Duke Cromwell: You'd be so very tasty. Wouldn't he, Charles? We could give him to my neighbor to sell.

Charles: A delicious idea!

Duke Cromwell: (As the young man struggles, he pulls the chair over to his lab table) Yes, you would! You'll be quite yummy when I'm through with you!

Davy: (Cut to him and Daphne; his eyes are pretty wide, too) What's that bloomin' nut doin' to that kid?

Daphne: I have no idea!

(Davy and Daphne see Duke Cromwell rub the young man with brown and tan powders and a heavy cake-like potion. Then, there's a sparkly, psychadelic-esque flash, and when the camera returns to the Duke and Charles, a gingerbread man lays in the chair.)

Davy: Oh my god!

Daphne: My goodness!

Duke Cromwell: Let's bring you and your men downstairs. (He sweeps the newly created "gingerbread man" into the container with the others, then takes Charlie in the other arm) We'll tell Their Majesties we have something to discuss with them in the kitchen. Then, when they come downstairs...

(The duke's evil laugh can still be heard as he and Charlie leave the room.)

Davy: (Jumps out from behind the curtain) Well, now we know what he must have done with Ludlow and his men. (Goes over to the table) I wonder what he turned them into?

Daphne: Could be anything!

Davy: (Picks up a half-finished toy soldier) Doesn't this kind of look like the Moravian uniforms?

Daphne: It does, kind of.

Davy: We HAVE to get down to that kitchen! I'll bet he's going to do to Wendy what he did to that kid! (Gasps as he remembers) Wendy...and her child!

Daphne: Let’s go!

(They rush through the door to Duke Cromwell's laboratory, then to the door to the outer chamber. Davy yanks it as hard as he can, but it won't budge.)

Davy: Damn! (Turns to Daphne) You wouldn't have a hair pin or something, would you? I don't have me nail file.

Daphne: *runs her fingers through her hair and reveals a hair pin* Here you go.

Davy: Thanks. (As he works on the door, we cut to a large, spotless modern black-and-white kitchen. Wendy sits in a chair at the breakfast island, nibbling on Christmas cookies.)

Wendy: Yes, Cromwell? What's going on? You said it was urgent.

Duke Cromwell: Yes, my dear. (He puts the container on the kitchen table) Now, your highness, we'll discuss business.

Wendy: If this is about the toy business, you know my feelings and Ludlow's.

Duke Cromwell: Oh, but are they your husband's feelings?

Wendy: Of course they are!

Duke Cromwell: I'm wondering about that. Your husband hasn't seemed quite...himself...lately. (He pulls a small packet out of his pocket)

Wendy: He's been worried about this toy business, that's all.

Duke Cromwell: Oh, that isn't all, Your Highness. You're going to see your husband again. (Opens the container and sprinkles the packet over the cookies) Because you're going to join him.

Wendy: What?

(The Duke moves towards Wendy with some of the brown goo he used on the young man as the Gingerbread Men begin to come to life. Wendy screams, but the Duke clamps his hand over her mouth.)

Duke Cromwell: Oh no, my dear. None of that. We're going to find you a nice place in my shop. Did you know I sold your husband today? I could sell you just as quickly. You’d make a pretty little doll...

Davy: (As he and Daphne burst into the kitchen) NO! Unhand her, you wretch!

Duke Cromwell: You! The little musician!

(The "Russian Dance" from "The Nutcracker" begins as Davy and Daphne make their way into the kitchen. Wendy pulls away from the Duke as Davy grabs a pair of salad tongs from a drawer and brandishes them like a sword. The Duke grabs another pair, and they duel.)

(The Gingerbread Men on the table leap onto seats, and then onto the floor, swarming over to Wendy!)

Davy: Daph, you take care of the gingerbread men. Don't crush them! (Ducks a swing from the Duke) Some of them may be human!

Duke Cromwell: And I'm not going to tell you which ones are! So there! (Sticks his tongue out at Davy)

Davy: Oh, THAT was mature.

*Daphne goes around trying to "collect" the gingerbread men, but some run off when she gets near them.*

(Wendy, seeing what Daphne's doing, goes to help her. She accidentally drops one in her milk as she does. He bobs to the top, spits out milk, and gives her a cross glare.)

*Eventually, we see a plastic container with several gingerbread men inside trying to jump out to escape.*

(Wendy tightens the lid and shakes her finger at the Gingerbread Men.)

(Davy ducks around the Duke's feints...but he doesn't see Charles.)

(The crafty little puppet runs for Davy's legs.)

(Davy trips up and lands on the floor. The Duke tries to pounce on him, but he rolls out from under his feint.)

Davy: (Finally knocks the tongs away from him as the music ends) That's enough, Duke!

Duke Cromwell: What can you do to me, musician? I have your king.

Davy: You can't expose me without exposing yourself.

Wendy: And what is going on with this? (She indicates the plastic container where Daphne now drops the last of the animated gingerbread men)

Duke Cromwell: Oh, that's just something I cooked up for my neighbor.

Wendy: (Crosses her arms) I don't think your neighbor sells moving gingerbread men.

Davy: Some of them are humans, Wendy. We saw it.

Wendy: Humans? But how...

Duke Cromwell: NO! We won't allow you to ruin a perfectly good plan! (He throws more brown dust and sparkles on them; when it clears, they're in a huge cage made from peppermint sticks and taffy) Get out of THAT, you little brats, if you can. I, on the other hand, have work to do. (He grabs the plastic container and Charles and waves) Ta ta! (he runs off)

Davy: DAMN IT! DAMN!

Wendy: Well, what do we do now? He has my husband!

Daphne: Oh, good grief. *sighs, then concentrates*

*There's a blue light. When it dissipates, the three are free once again.*

Wendy: How...

Davy: The same way he made those gingerbread men come to life. Magic.

Wendy: But you...in the weeks we were...together...you never said...

Davy: We only do it around others in an emergency or in costume.

Wendy: How...

Davy: We'll explain later. Right now, we have to contact the others. (Blushes) Daph, could you do it? Mine is in my other pants.

Daphne: *pulls out her communicator* Come in.

Micky: Hey, Daph, what's up?

Daphne: Gingerbread men come to life, thanks to our Magician.

Micky: I'm not so sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing... ;)

Daphne: We think that Duke did something to Ludlow. He might've turned him into something. We just watched him turn some kid into a gingerbread man.

Micky: Ouch. What a way to go.

Davy: Micky. Great. Now we can eat our way through the Duke's army.

Micky: If I have to.

Davy: Mick, if you can hear me, we have Wendy here, and she's safe. We're going to contact the police, then join you at the toy shop. We think Cromwell fled there, with a plastic container of gingerbread men and a dummy he somehow made move.

Micky: Gotcha, Dave. *pauses* I'm gonna guess the gingerbread men probably aren't edible?

Davy: A few aren't, but I think most of them are, from what the Duke said.

Micky: Can you tell the difference?

Davy: That fellow who got, um, biscuit-ized in the lab moved a lot less stiffly than the other ginger biscuits...

Micky: Just hang onto all of them. I'll sort through them.

Davy: Daph, tell him that's the problem. The cookies are at the shop.

Wendy: (Slight edge to her voice) I just want to find my husband!

Micky: I heard. Well, we'll figure something out.

Davy: We'll join you at the shop as soon as we can.

Micky: Okay. Bye. *the connection ends*

Davy: (Turns to Wendy) Wendy, call the police and tell them a kidnapping has took place and to meet us at the toy shop in Malibu Beach. Ask for Seargent Nielson. He knows us.

Wendy: I don't understand any of this, but if it'll get Ludlow back...

Davy: It will. And Wendy... (He gives her a kiss quickly on the cheek before he and Daphne hurry out. Wendy blushes and goes to the phone.)