Everyone ready for a two-pronged attack?
Mike: I hope...
Peter: I have things to do.
Micky: *nods* Ready.
Davy: I am, mates.
(We open at Sheila's penthouse, in the room Emma was in. She's still there, and still a rag doll.)
Peter: (He enters...and narrows his eyes at Zelda) Why did you do that to her? I wanted her human! She can't collect like that!
Zelda: *shakes her head* I can turn her right back. I didn't want her trying to escape.
*Zelda returns Emma to normal.*
Emma: (There's a black light around her; when it subsides, she's human again. She growls) Where's Sheila? I want to get my hands on her. Twisting my legs HURT!
Peter: You left her with Sheila? You know how she feels about her!
Zelda: *looks to the camera* You know there was no way I could win at this.
Emma: She's right. Zelda, I'm actually feeling a little sorry for you right now.
Peter: Emma, Zelda and I mean you no harm. We're not Sheila. We just want you to listen.
Emma: (Turns away) I'm not listening to anything you say to me anymore, Peter. I want Mike.
Peter: Why?
Emma: He's my husband.
Peter: Is there any other reason?
Emma: I love him. He's the father of my children. He's a wonderful man, when you can get under all those walls he has around his heart.
Peter: But how often do you get around those walls?
Emma: Peter, just because you and the devils hate him doesn't mean the world has to.
Zelda: Isn't it true, though, that you DO have to fight a little to get through those walls?
Emma: (Shrugs) We've always fought. That's how he is.
Peter: No, that's because he keeps putting up those walls...even for his wife, whom he should be able to trust by now.
Emma: We trust each other. He...he just doesn't show it well.
Peter: He doesn't trust anyone, Em. Not even himself.
Emma: What are you two getting at?
Peter: Em, we want you to work for us.
Emma: (Narrows her eyes) Is this a play for me?
Zelda: This is a serious offer.
Peter: I'm not attracted to you sexually, if that's what you mean. (He sighs; his eyes lighten for a second) There's only one woman in the world for me. (Shakes his head; eyes darken again) You and Daphne and Lauren are like sisters to me. I want you to be a collector.
Emma: I couldn't be a collector. What about Sheila?
Peter: Sheila will do what I say.
Zelda: Sheila's the only one who doesn't want you as a collector. We can change her mind.
Peter: Why don't we give you a chance to think it over? (He smiles) How about dinner? (Looks at Zelda) You could even dress her.
Emma: I'm not hungry.
Zelda: You've gotta be at least a little hungry.
Emma: Not really.
Peter: You will be when the handmaidens finish our meal. Zelda, attend to her. I'll make sure the ladies have dinner together on time.
Emma: But Peter...
Peter: (He turns around) Yes?
Emma: Peter, you couldn't really hate Mike. He's your best friend! What about all the happy times you spent together? What about your music?
Peter: I'm doing this because of the music, Emma. It's my music, and it'll stay mine.
Emma: But... (Peter leaves before she can stop him; she goes to the door, but it slams in her face) Damn.
Zelda: *sighs* I'm sure you know how compassionate about his music he is.
Emma: I know...but he knows Mike. He knows Mike would never intentionally hurt him.
Zelda: But somehow there's been a misunderstanding, and this is where it landed Peter.
Emma: (More to herself than to Zelda) There has to be a way to restore him...
Zelda: Listen, if you want the best chance to talk to Peter, come to our dinner. I'll help you prepare, then you can talk to him. He needs someone to talk with.
Emma: (She nods) I'll do it. (Turns to Zelda) But I'm not going to be a collector. Ever. I'd never work for Sheila.
Zelda: *holds her hands up* I'm just suggesting you talk to him, that's all. Nothing more.
Emma: Very well. (She peers into a closet) I wonder if Sheila actually has anything that would fit me that I'd really wear? I'm not getting up on her high heels. I don't know how she can walk in those things.
Zelda: Forget the closet. I'll help you out with that. *smiles* I am a version of your best friend, after all.
Emma: Ok. (She sits on the bed) But nothing too low-cut. I don't know if I entirely believe what Peter said about not being interested in other women besides his wife.
(Zelda concentrates. There's a black light around Emma. When it subsides, she wears a simple red gown with a tight but not low-cut bodice and a full skirt with sequins. Emma stands and looks in the mirror in delight.)
Zelda: Well?
Emma: Oh Zelda, it's wonderful! (Touches the large, sparkling red earrings she wears) I look so glamorous!
Zelda: I told ya! Don't you feel better, too?
Emma: Yes. (Sighs) I wish Mike were here. He looks so good when he's dressed up...
Zelda: *conspiratorially* Perhaps I could fix that for you.
Emma: (She turns around; surprised) But Peter doesn't want him around!
Zelda: So? Sheila hasn't done what he's wanted. Neither has Alex. Why shouldn't I?
Emma: I don't care what Peter says. I miss him. I want him here. I think, if he could just talk to Peter...
Zelda: *goes to Emma* Why don't we do that? I'll bring Mike her for you, and the two can talk. How about it?
Emma: Please!
Zelda: Your part is very simple. Just close your eyes and think of Mike. I'll take care of the rest.
Emma: (Nods) All right. (She does so)
*Zelda smirks. A black light envelopes Emma as she begins to muddle her.*
Emma: (Eyes widen) Wha...what are you doing? (She tries to pull her head away)
Zelda: This is part of how we'll bring Mike here!
Emma: No...no, you're muddling...
Zelda: No, I'm not. Just remain calm. Mike will be here shortly.
Emma: I...don't believe you...
Zelda: It's too late to find out.
Emma: NO...let me go...want Mike...
Zelda: No can do.
Emma: Zelda, please, send me to him! Bring him to me! I don't care! I want to be with him! He's hurting!
Zelda: Too late. *snaps her fingers in front of Emma's face*
(Emma immediately stiffens.)
Zelda: Perfect.
(Zelda leads Emma to the vanity across from the bed and sits her down by it. Emma stares at herself with blank eyes. Zelda picks up a brush and runs it through Emma's curls.)
Zelda: You'll be a beautiful collector.
Emma: I...(she tries to shake her head) ...no, I...I don't know...
Zelda: You'll be excellent at it. I have the utmost faith in you.
Emma: I can't. I'm not...not a devil...
Zelda: That's the great thing, though. You don't have to be a devil!
Emma: I couldn't hurt someone. Not like that, anyway.
Zelda: You won't even know you're doing it.
(Peter enters as Zelda finishes Emma's hair. He smiles when he sees them. He wears a fancy tuxedo, without a hint of beads. His hair is tied back in a low ponytail. He takes Emma's hand and kisses it.)
Peter: You look lovely, Emma.
Emma: (She curtsies) Thank you.
Peter: (Whispers; to Zelda) Have you worked on her?
Zelda: *whispers back; nods* She is exactly as you wanted her.
Peter: Has she agreed to it yet?
Zelda: Not yet, but I just finished with her. Try her now.
Peter: Thank you. Dress yourself for dinner, then join us. She's as stubborn as her chivalrous husband. She may need more persuasion.
Zelda: I'll meet you out there. *heads out of the room*
Peter: (Takes Emma's arm) Dinner is in the main dining room, Scholar. We'll eat there. It has an amazing view of LA.
Emma: (Smiles) It sounds lovely.
Peter: Zelda will join us in a minute as soon as she dresses.
Emma: Yes, Peter.
Peter: Good girl. You'll listen now.
Emma: Yes. I'll listen.
(Peter's smirk is a mile wide as he leads Emma to the dining room.)
(Fade out as Peter leads Emma to the dining room. Fade in on the corridors of the Devil's lair in Arizona again. Lauren and Micky, still in uniform, wander around.)
Lauren: *sighs* I'm still not sure if I like this idea of us being decoys. Mick, I know you were hit hard in the head, but...
Micky: They're expecting us to come barging in for a rescue. I figured that if we just do nothing, we'll throw off the devils, and maybe pick THEM off one at a time. And all I've got left from the shot to my head is the bruise and the headache.
Lauren: That still doesn't settle my nerves.
(Four demons pass Micky and Lauren as they go by in the corridor. The largest demon does a double-take.)
Micky: *groans* Oh no, not HIM again!
Demon #1: Master! What in the heck are you doin' out here? I thought you were workin' on the car lady!
Lauren: *eyes widen; mutters* Play along, Mick. They think we're Alex and Zelda!
Demon #2: Ya don' look like youself!
Demon #3: (Sniffs Alex) Don't smell like youself, either. You not been playin' with chemicals lately?
Micky: I've been busy with other stuff. *waggles his eyebrows and throws an arm around Lauren*
Demon #2: (Wiggles his own eyebrows) Oh, yous been makin' noise!
Demon #3: Yeah, THAT kinda noise!
Lauren: Yeah, so what's it to ya?
Demon #2: Nuthin'! (He pulls back) Yous can make all da noise ya want!
Demon #1: And ya do, too.
Demon #2: Want us to let you go at it?
Demon #1: Are ya gonna broadcast it?
Micky: Only if you behave.
Demon #1: (Looks at the others) Oooh, are WE in for a treat!
Demon #3: We're gonna be good!
Demon #1: Wanna go to lunch with us, before you (wiggles his eyebrows) have fun?
Micky: Wanna get some food first?
Lauren: Well, I am a little hungry.
Demon #2: Come with us, Master and Milady! We're eatin' in the big dinin' room today!
Demon #3: Don' worry. Some of the food's even cooked!
Micky: Lead the way, my good demons!
Demon #1: Sure! (Puts an arm around Micky) You're sure more fun when you ain't blowin' stuff up!
Micky: Thanks. I think.
(The camera turns away from them as they lead them into a nearby room. When the camera turns back, they're all walking out, laughing and chatting and carrying bowls of ice cream. Well, Micky and Lauren carry bowls. The demons have buckets the size of a minor planet.)
Demon #2: Geez Master, I dunno why you didn't want pickle and scorpion guts ice cream! It's real good with a little garlic sauce!
Micky: That's all right. I like to stick to the classics. Fudge ripple really hits the spot.
Demon #1: Yous fun, Master! You tell good jokes!
Lauren: *leans over to Micky* A little too fun. I saw how much you drank in there.
Micky: Didn't wanna look suspicious.
Demon #2: How come you ain't usually this fun? You usually jus' yell at us.
Demon #1: I like it better when you ain't yellin!
Micky: I get loose when I have me a few good drinks.
Lauren: *snorts, muttering* A few?
Demon #3: We gotta get you to drink with us more often! I really liked the green stuff you made!
Micky: *flings an arm around the demon* So did I!
Demon #3: (Flings his arm around Micky) Let's go find more drinks!
*The small group rounds the corner and finds Sheila coming towards them.*
Sheila: (Growls) What's going on here? What are you doing with those two? Shouldn't you be eating them?
Demon #1: (Scratches his head) But this is Master an' Milady! You ain't been mad at them lately!
Lauren: *leans over to Micky* I think we got a problem here, Mick...
Sheila: No, they're not. That's the Savage and the Mother. (She indicates behind her) And we found another one wandering around. (Mike cowers in the arms of two of the demons, his face pale with fear.)
Micky: Mike!
Mike: Don't TOUCH me! Don't touch! (He wrinkles his nose) And take a bath. You smell like stale beer and uncooked meat.
*Lauren groans.*
Demon: #4: How come no touch?
Mike: 'Cause you're dirtier than the entire desert floor.
Sheila: Demons, I want you to get them!
Demon #2: Do we gotta?
Micky: Yeah, do they gotta?
*Lauren pinches the bridge of her nose. SHE'S getting a headache.*
Sheila: Yes, they have to! Milady's orders! (Glares) And all of you KNOW what Milady does when she's really angry.
Lauren: *steps forward* Aw, cool off, Sheila!
*A waterfall suddenly appears over Sheila's head, constantly dumping water over her.*
Sheila: OOOOOHHHHHHH!!!! I HATE bein' wet!
Mike: Uh oh. She's mad now.
Micky: Pfffft!
Sheila: I wish I could just MELT you! (She makes a bucket appear and dumps a pinkish liquid on Lauren...and she quite literally seems to melt before our eyes) So there!
Micky: *eyes flash* HEY!? *grabs a bucket from one of the demons* Gimme that!
*Micky turns the bucket’s contents into normal water and dumps it over Lauren, returning her to normal.*
Lauren: Wow. That was freaky!
Sheila: Darn it! (She grabs her staff) Boys, take the Knight to my rooms. I'll handle these. (Glares at the other demons) And you're all traitors. You're grounded. No beer and no broadcasts for a week!
Demon #1: That no fair!
Sheila: That's the breaks.
Micky: Don'tcha think yer bein' a li'l rough on 'em?
Sheila: They disobeyed orders.
(Two of the demons behind Sheila drag Mike down the hallway and out of sight. The rest turn to Mick and Lauren, growling and snarling.)
Micky: *frowns* 'Ey, you liked my drinks!
Lauren: Mick, I think we're in trouble.
Demon #2: (Taps Micky's shoulder) Uh, Master, that not us. Milady Sheila left some of her guys.
Lauren: What does he know anyway? He's got a headache, and now he's drunk!
Demon #4: Let's get 'em!
Demon #1: Hey, these guys ain't so bad! They make good drinks!
Demon #2: An' they look like Master Alex and Milady Zelda!
Micky: *pumps a fist* Yeah! *almost falls over, but one of the demons keeps him upright*
Demon #3: They're kinda nice!
Demon #4: But Milady say we get grounded if we don't attack!
Lauren: *looks to the camera* Don't you just hate a decision like this?
Micky: *slurred* Babe, do'n talk to the cam'ra.
Demon #2: (Points to the camera) Hey, what's that thing?
Lauren: That's the camera. It records everything we do.
Micky: Yeah, it follows us around and around and around!
Demon #4: You mean...people can see us?
Demon #1: Hi Mom!
Demon #3: (Elbows his buddy) Cut that out!
Micky: *grins widely* Yeah! There's a whole bunch out there, watching and listening! Look!
Demon #1: People! There's PEOPLE out there!
Demons: (All in unison) PEOPLE? Ahhhhh!!!! (They scream and run off, some through walls or doors, until the hallway is empty of everyone except for Lauren and Micky.)
Lauren: *makes a face* What a bunch of maroons.
Micky: *scratches his head* Maroon? Nah, they weren't maroon.
Lauren: *turns to Micky* Alright, Mr. Wants to Drink The Demons Under The Table, time to sober you up. Boy, are you gonna feel AWFUL when all of our healing wears off.
Micky: Huh?
*Lauren puts her hands on Micky's cheeks, careful of her fingers on his left side where the bruise is. She concentrates on him. We see a blue light almost fizzle off of him.*
Micky: *blinks* Oh wow. That was kinda like instant caffeine.
Lauren: Feel better?
Micky: Yeah, I do. *grins* Let’s go get Mike!
*They run down the hall, following the direction the demons took Mike in. They skid around a corner and find a lone room.*
Micky: *presses an ear to the door* I can hear Mike whimpering. They're in there, all right.
Lauren: Shall we just barge in?
Micky: Might as well. I doubt they'd send us an invitation.
Lauren: Good point.
*They slam into the door and find that it was unlocked. They tumble inside the room, landing on the floor.*
Lauren: *groans* Next time, we check the knob first.
Micky: *also groans* Yeah...
Sheila: (She's only half-dressed in a long, silky nightgown, leaning over an unconscious Mike who, thankfully, is still dressed except for two unbuttoned buttons on his white 8-button shirt; falls off the bed at their arrival and looks around, annoyed) Ouch! Damn it, who was that? Alex, if you...
Micky: *standing; sing-song voice* It ain't Alex!
Sheila: Savage! Mother! Can't you let a girl alone for five minutes to have some fun? I thought the demons took care of you!
Lauren: We sorta scared them a little.
Micky: *steps forward; fists clenching* Get off of him NOW!
Sheila: No. Absolutely not. I have him where I want him, and I'm not letting him go. He's mine now.
Micky: *starting shake; eerily low voice* Do not make me make you part of the wall. Permanently.
Sheila: (She leans over Mike and strokes his hair) I don't care about your little tempter tantrums. I want him, and I get what I want. I've wanted him for decades...for centuries. He's mine now. He won't struggle or run away. He's too scared to. To scared to fight. I like him that way.
*Micky advances, steam almost coming out his ears. He grabs Sheila's wrists and pulls her completely off the bed. He ends up shoving her across the room. Sheila tumbles over a chair in the corner as Micky advances again.* X(
Sheila: Not this time. (She lets loose with a piercing whistle that brings in a hoard of demons)
Demon #1: Yes, Milady?
Sheila: Get rid of these two. I don't care what you do to them. (She concentrates. There's a black light around Micky and Lauren. When it subsides, Micky and Lauren are both bound with black crystal chains)
Demon #1: Ok, Milady. Where do you want them? (He picks up Lauren and swings her over his shoulder; another does the same to Mick)
Sheila: Alex's rooms, I suppose. He'll know what to do with them.
Micky: *moans* Noooo...
Demon #1: Yes, Milady. (They carry Mick and Lauren out. Sheila turns to Mike with a rather nasty grin on her face.)
Sheila: Now, since we've gotten rid of THAT little interruption...
Mike: (Moans; eyes flutter open) Sheila...
Sheila: *goes back to Mike, leaning over him once more* Yes, my Knight?
Mike: Sheila...I can't...I have to save them...
Sheila: And just HOW do you expect to do that? *brushes her lips against his cheek*
Mike: I can do that! (Eyes narrow) I've ALWAYS saved Mick, an' Lauren, too! I'm just...just...a little nervous about it.
Sheila: *amused* Then show me.
Mike: (He tries to concentrate, but Sheila rubs his head) I...can't...may get hurt...
Sheila: And you don't want to get hurt. *smirks* Don't worry. My demons and Alex will take VERY good care of the Savage and the Mother.
Mike: No, they won't. Alex...don't like...Mick..
Sheila: My mistake, then. Alex will take EXCELLENT care of him.
Mike: No! I gotta help them...(he struggles, then falters) but the fear...I could hurt them, like I hurt Mick...
Sheila: I know you don't want to hurt anyone. Alex will watch them. You know how much he loves the Mother.
Mike: Too much. Micky loves her.
Sheila: Certainly. They can share her.
Mike: No share...just Mick... (He's sweating, visibly upset) Don't touch me...dirty...don't touch...
*Sheila drags her finger tips along his neck.*
Mike: (Shudders) N...no, Sheila...Em...Mick...don't touch...I didn't mean it...no hurt...don't hurt...
*Sheila kisses Mike, still dragging her finger tips along his neck.*
Mike: Sheila...Em...bring her back...don't hurt...
Sheila: *whispers* The Scholar is ours.
Mike: NO! NO! I...love...her...let her go...bring her back...don't let her hurt! DON'T LET HER HURT!
*Sheila backs off at Mike's sudden fierceness.*
Mike: (Pushes Sheila off) Get OFF! DON'T TOUCH!
Sheila: *dumbfounded* You're supposed to be fearful!
Mike: I don't want you touchin' me. I've gotta go. I gotta save Mick n' Lauren! (He runs off.)
Sheila: Come back here! *sighs* Dammit.
(And we fade out on Sheila on the floor, drumming her fingers on a bright red and black shag rug and looking annoyed.)