Everyone ready for the Interview?
Mike: Yup. ;)
Micky: You bet! :)
Davy: Of course. :)
Peter: Yeah! :D
Lauren: Yeah! *the babies make cooing noises* They are, too. ;)
Emma: Awwwwwwwwww!
*The group is gathered in Lauren & Micky's living room. Emma sits on the floor by Mike's feet. Mike, Davy, and Peter are on the couch. Micky lounges in a somewhat-battered easy chair he found at a yard sale, with Lauren crammed next to him. The babies sleep in an extra-large crib just behind the easy chair.*
Bert: (Smiles) Ahh, what a charming family scene.
Mike: Yeah, nice to have these now.
Lauren: *sighs; one arm draped over Micky* Nice find, Mick.
Bob: Emma, how did you end up on the floor?
Emma: No room on the couch, (grins) and I prefer the floor anyway. More room to stretch out, and besides, when I was a kid, my sisters would hog all the chairs and I got used to the floor.
Lauren: We ran outta furniture.
Bert: The big question, Lauren and Micky - how do you two feel about being parents?
Emma: Lauren's probably just happy she doesn't need help to move anymore.
Micky: *grins at Lauren, who returns it* It feels amazing!
Lauren: *nods* Yeah, I don't need a forklift anymore, AND I can see my feet! *wiggles her feet* :)
Lauren: It's the greatest feeling. Words really can't describe it.
Bert: This is a really nice place, Mick. You did a great job on it. How did you all react to Micky's little "surprise?"
Peter: (Grins) I was REALLY surprised!
Lauren: Does "thud" cover it?
*Micky grins widely.*
Davy: Micky told me a while back. 'E kinda 'ad ta. 'E borrowed the plans from me grandfathah.)
Micky: And Dave kept it secret. Good job, man.
Davy: It's your 'ouse. I knew 'ow important it was that it surprised Lauren. :)
Mike: Em and me kinda figured it out a long time ago.
Lauren: And was I surprised!
Emma: We figured Micky would want to tell her himself, and that it would be more fun AS a surprise.
Bob: Speaking of surprises, the kids themselves ended up being something of a surprise.
Micky: *grins at Lauren* That's for sure.
Emma: Oh man, that was scary, even more than the last story set in some ways.
Lauren: *shrugs* Hey, I didn't know they'd choose to want out while the storm was going on.
Mike: Yeah, that storm was wicked, and none of us are exactly doctors.
Peter: I'm just glad the babies are ok.
Micky: Babe, you told me you could feel that they were getting ready since the night before.
Davy: Yeah, Micky was bloody amazin'! 'E got them both out all right!
Micky: Hey, I did what had to be done.
Mike: Yeah, but you didn't pass out or freak like Babbitt did.
Micky: Not as badly as Babbitt.
Davy: Wot was wrong wit' 'im, anyway?
Emma: I don't think he's used to handling the miracle of birth, Dave.
Micky: No kidding. I only went incoherent because of shock.
Peter: He can't even handle big kids, much less newborns!
Micky: I knew we weren't getting out of the Pad and the likelihood of getting a doc to the Pad was slim to none.
Peter: The girls were very good for Val and me, other than being excited over their new niece and nephew.
Bob: How did things go in the hospital? I assume the kids are ok?
Lauren: Everything went fine. Stayed a few days to make sure they were okay and that I was okay, and then we just went home.
Emma: And I was glad to support Lauren. It couldn't have been easy to bear TWO children in one body.
Lauren: Oh, yeah, I'm sorry about crushing everyone's hands.
Micky: *waves it off* I regained feeling in it.
Emma: Understood completely, Lauren. The bruises are already gone, and you needed SOMETHING to hold.
Lauren: *shakes her head* It was amazing. It's all kinda a blur now.
Mike: We were just glad to be able to do somethin' for you and the kids.
Peter: Especially after everything that's happened.
Micky: It's nice to have a REALLY happy ending every once in a while. ;)
Bert: This story was different than your others in a variety of ways, speaking of REALLY happy endings. How were they different, and how long have you planned these?
Lauren: This one was planned for a LONG while, or at least the major points of it. ;)
Emma: Not long after we planned the LAST one, in fact. The warm-up came a little later. In fact, I'd originally planned it for the October story set but moved it to November when we came up with the costume party story and thought it would be more appropriate for both Halloween and as a lead-in to the dark "Devil and Michael Nesmith."
Mike: Yeah, we tried a lot of stuff on this story we ain't done yet. For instance, with the exception of the beginning and the end and the one part with Davy and Micky at the house, this is the first main story to be set largely in and around the Pad.
Emma: Probably the most noticeable difference was this being our first main role-play story where the only "villain" was Mother Nature.
Peter: Thank goodness! She was scary enough! :p
Micky: Definitely. :P
Davy: Yeah. Aftah the devils adventure and that freaky nightmare, we figahed we were up for anothah "quiet" story.
Lauren: This was quiet?
Mike: Compared to the last one, yes!
Emma: This was natural, Lauren. Not always pleasant, but natural. Zero...was not.
Lauren: Coulda fooled me.
Peter: Maybe "quiet" isn't the right word. I guess it would be "homey." There was a lot of talk about family in this story.
Bert: Speaking of unpleasant, how did you guys feel about doing your first variety show?
Micky: That was one weird-ass show. I still think the 50s songs were fun... ;)
*Lauren rolls her eyes, smirking.*
Emma: That was also a challenge. If the challenge for "Ooh Baby Baby" was to keep the story going as long as possible without getting boring or redundant, then the challenge for "Nightmare Revolutions" was to make use of a part of Monkees history that tends to be neglected by fanfic writers as it's...well, the original is FAAAAARRR more bizarre than even OUR version!
Bert: What did you change to be able to use "33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee" as a role-play story?
Bob: In other words, who made it and who didn't?
Lauren: What DIDN'T we change?
Emma: First of all, anyone who knows the special may have noticed we cut all references to the "evil-lution" concept that had Brian Auger dressed as Charles Darwin and made up a significant portion of the second half of the show. It brought up too many questions neither of us can answer, it didn't relate to the "Dream World" series, and it made no sense whatsoever.
Mike: And no ape suits.
Emma: Even WE are not THAT evil.
Micky: Thank goodness. ;)
Emma: Some of the numbers were shortened, including the "Listen to the Band" finale and Julie Driscoll's "Come On Up" number. We also moved "Wind Up Man" to AFTER "I Go Ape"/"Come On Up," where it seemed to make more sense with the reconstructed plot.
Mike: Yeah, our version had it as what happened to us when we ate the damn apple.
Lauren: And we got rid of the "interpretive dancers."
Emma: (Nods) The dancers were part of the "evil-lution" concept and frankly had some of the most boring and least cohesive parts of the original special. We dropped the dance sequence entirely and moved the dancers to Davy's fantasy number.
Lauren: You know it's bad when even the RL Micky complains about it. ;)
Davy: (Scratches his head) I THOUGHT my numbah seemed a bit busiah than it was originally...
Emma: "I Go Ape" was originally the infamous "White Ape Suits" number. Let's face it, that's just stupid...but the song and Micky's recording of it is pretty cool. So, we dumped the original concept, kept the song, and did a TV show-style "fight romp." (Grins) In fact, my idea for the "fight romp" to "I Go Ape" is what inspired "Nightmare Revolutions" in the first place.
Micky: *grins* Nice job, Em.
Emma: (Grins) Lauren and I were discussing "33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee" on one of our weekly "phone chats" and I told her my idea about how "I Go Ape" would have been done if I were running the show. Then, we started coming up with other things we would do, and we realized that the special, despite popular belief, isn't really THAT bad. It just needed some trimming and focusing. For instance, you'll notice that the fantasies and the opening with the glass tubes are more-or-less intact.
Lauren: We just took the best stuff and worked with that.
Mike: Not THAT bad? (Raises an eyebrow)
Emma: Let's just say it's a half-hour show that got stretched unmercifully to an hour. ;)
Micky: *grins* I looked ripped!
Lauren: *slaps her forehead* Mick...
Emma: Something else we retained from the original productions, pretty much at the last minute, in fact - the stacked piano sequence. It's a short, barely minute-long scene in the original, but Micky's RL counterpart is right. It's worth the price of admission. We HAD to keep it. You really WON'T see something like that again.
Micky: Even though NO ONE believed me about it. :P
Davy: (Eyes widen) You mean 'e WEREN'T crazy?
Lauren: Nope.
Mike: Evidently not.
Lauren: At least, not when it came to the pianos. Normally is another story... *grins at Micky's pout*
(Everyone laughs at that, including the producers.)
*Micky's pout turns into a grin as he starts tickling Lauren, who has nowhere to go.*
Peter: Get 'er, Mick!
Emma: Retaliate, Lauren!
Lauren: *gasping* I'm tryin'!
Micky: Ha HA! I gotcha right where I want ya! ;)
Mike: Now, now, we had enough of that LAST month!
Bob: Speaking of next month...what's on tap for the last month of the year?
Mike: Holiday stuff, what else?
*Micky finally stops tickling Lauren.*
Lauren: *gasping* Another variety show, of sorts.
Emma: The warm-up is also going to be about a variety show, but a very different one than "Nightmare Revolutions." It's intended as a simple, warm little holiday tale on the lines of "It's a Wonderful Life" or "Going My Way." It's also planned as our first story to address a big 60s issue we haven't discussed in the series yet - the generation gap.
Mike: We're lucky Millie and Mr. Bennett are nice people and more or less accept us for what we are, but let's face it, not everyone is like that.
Davy: Most oldah folks are more like Babbitt, wit'out the need to spy on everyone in the neighbor'ood.
*Micky makes a face.*
Emma: The main story will be an action comedy on the lines of "Orgins of the MonkeeMen" with some fantasy and crazy stuff, but nowhere close to as dark as "Devil and Michael Nesmith."
Micky: Thankfully.
Emma: We're going for extremely, blantantly conventional on both stories, as our minds will likely be elsewhere by the time we write them.
Mike: Yeah, you guys said something about orphans and a toy store.
Emma: We're going to sing for orphans...and help them fend off a nasty miser in a toy store. (Grins) With some help from the toys themselves.
Peter: Oooh, a "toys come to life" story!
Micky: Oh man, I can't wait for that!
Davy: (Grins) Yeah, I'll be dancin' wit' REAL dolls this time!
Bob: Any changes on tap for between stories?
Emma: Only major changes are going to be site additions and a couple of major prose stories planned.
Mike: We're gonna try to get the profiles up soon.
Lauren: And hopefully atleast start on the glossary.
Emma: We've also started working on the first stories of 2005.
Mike: Why does that scare me?
Micky: I'm not even gonna ask if I can leave because I know what the answer is.
Emma: (Smacks Mike's leg) We're going back to the concept of a story for each guy...with an interesting gimmick. ;)
Peter: Gimmick? Oooh!
Mike: (Crosses his arms) What "gimmick?"
Davy: And 'ow damagin'?
Micky: Uh oh.
Emma: (Winks at Lauren) Should we tell them?
Lauren: Sure, why not?
Emma: Each of you will go up against a villain you fought (or at least encountered) in the original show. The first one in particular is going to be fairly dark, as it deals with Mike and his "split personality." We're also going to dive further into the reaches of Micky's powers.
Mike: Oh, man, like I don't have enough problems feelin' torn all the time! :p
Micky: *eyebrows raise* How far of a dive?
Lauren: Beyond the deep end. ;)
Micky: Goody...
Bob: How did it feel to do Lauren's story, since it was completely unlike your other role-plays?
Emma: A little strange, but fun. We actually did this one like a radio soap opera of the 1930s and 40s - kept the story sliced as thin as possible.
Mike: Hense the reason we kept playin' all those games.
Micky: I loved it, despite feeling like a bit of a heel for thinking everyone forgot my birthday.
Davy: Mate, you didn't know. Don't feel bad. I'm not sure anyone else would 'ave been any bettah in your place. I certainly wouldn't 'ave.
Micky: Yeah, but I shouldn't have been getting on your back, Dave. *shrugs* Guess I just needed someone to let my anger out on.
Davy: I weren't no 'elp. I kept raggin' ya 'bout that damn Monopoly game.
Lauren: I swear you two are NOT allowed to play Monopoly anymore, or at least not together.
Emma: And I thought my DAD got competitive over that game. Yeesh!
Micky: I'm not usually THAT bad.
Mike: Next time, we'll play somethin' simple, like Candy Land.
Lauren: We'll probably end up playing that game with the kids, anyway.
Emma: (Laughs) My sisters and I played it until we were about five or six years too old for it...and played it for another five or six years after Keefe was born.
Micky: I could go for some candy right now.
Emma: (Closes her eyes - there's a blue light, and a small orange package appears in her hand) Want the last of my Cocoa Cats Peeps? I'm not really a Peeps fan, but they're chocolate and I liked the Cocoa Bats they did last year, so I HAD to try these.
Micky: *eyes widen* Oooooh, can I?
Emma: (Offers the package to Micky) Go right ahead.
Mike: Already tried it. Too sweet for me.
Micky: All right! *grins like a kid on Christmas morning*
Emma: The Cocoa Bats nearly killed me last year...but these are more bite-sized.
*Micky munches happily as Lauren rolls her eyes, grinning.*
Lauren: Like he needs more sugar.
Emma: Just wanted to get rid of my leftovers!
Bob: What was your favorite part of this story set?
Mike: The "Listen to the Band" number in the junkyard. What a party, man!
Lauren: I can't decide between having the kids and seeing the house.
Peter: I liked it when we finally got the microphone in the 50s and got to sing our OWN music, even if Zero DID try to skewer me. I liked painting the Rainbow Room, too.
Micky: Springing the house on Lauren was great, but doing the delivery was my favorite part.
Davy: When Mick took me 'round to see the 'ouse before the pahty. We 'ad a nice man-to-man talk.
*Micky grins.*
Emma: A toss-up between the miracle of birth and watching these four (indicates the boys) goof off in the pool. That was cute.
Micky: That WAS fun in the pool.
Mike: You guys love attacking me, don't you?
Davy: Mike, you're just an easy tahget. ;)
Micky: *shrugs* You're fun to attack. ;)
Peter: And fun to save! :D
Bob: Hey, Mick and Lauren, are you guys all moved in yet?
Lauren: *sweeps her free arm around the room* What you see is what you get for now. Everything's been moved from the apartment.
Micky: We've already added this easy chair to what we had.
Lauren: We'll be checking out a lot of tag sales.
Emma: And THAT was a job and a half, even with what little stuff they had!
Micky: Mainly because they wouldn't let me blue light it.
Mike: Too obvious, Mick.
Lauren: *shakes her head* Sorry.
*Micky sticks his tongue out.*
Emma: Remember, the only people besides us who know the full story of our powers are Mr. Bennett, Daphne, Valerie, and Ursula the Crystal...and that's the way it's gonna have to stay.
Mike: We'd NEVER be able to explain this to almost anyone else, and we don't need word gettin' out.
Micky: *sighs* Yeah... it's just torture knowing there's an easier way.
Mike: Easier way ain't always the BEST way, Mick. Ain't that how you got into trouble with Shelia?
Micky: *frowns* Hey! :P
Micky: Man, I THOUGHT I was helping...
Emma: Ooooh! (Growls) If I NEVER hear that woman's name again, it will be TOO soon!
Mike: Oh, man. (Elbows Micky and whispers) Should we tell them she's still...around...or would it only upset everyone for no reason?
*Micky shakes his head, his eyes closing.*
*Lauren glares at both of them, but says nothing.*
(Mike just nods.)
Bob: Something else I noticed - this was a very musical story. We had a record 26 songs between the two sets.
Lauren: Wow! :D
Emma: One's a variety special, the other was based around a big party. It only seemed natural to use a LOT of music. (To Lauren) I've been making a list of all the songs in each story set.
Lauren: Ah.
Emma: And we won't be using a ton of music next month. Unfortunately, the guys' RL counterparts only did one Christmas song together. We'll use that, some of your solo holiday stuff, and traditional carols sung by other cast members and done as instrumental numbers.
Lauren: I'm still hoping for ONE RL counterpart to do a Christmas album. *elbows Micky* ;)
Emma: He's done kids' albums.
Lauren: True, but it isn't the same.
Bob: How is having babies around going to effect the stories?
Micky: We're going to be VERY tired.
Emma: They'll be with neighbors or their nana a lot, I suspect.
Lauren: *nods* Their Nana can't get enough of them.
Mike: We now have even more of a reason to be a family, and more of a reason to protect one another, especially Micky and Lauren.
Davy: Your mum is going to spoil them kids so bad, Mick!
Micky: Hey, she did pretty much the same with me, and look how I turned out!
Lauren: Now THAT'S a loaded statement.
(Everyone cracks up.)
Micky: What?
Emma: (Laughs) No comment.
Bert: Hey, Mike, Emma, when are you guys gonna start a family?
Micky: The $64,000 question...
Emma: (Blushes) Not for a while, Bert.
Mike: Give us time. We've only been married for a few weeks!
*Micky tries to keep from laughing.*
Davy: Wot, you ain't gonna 'ave twins right away?
*Lauren elbows Micky again.*
Emma: No. Not that the twins aren't adorable and I'm not glad Lauren had them, but we want ONE child...and we're going to take our time about it.
Mike: Some of us ain't jackrabbitts.
Lauren and Micky: Hey? :P
Peter: I can't wait until you guys have a baby, too! More babies to cuddle!
Emma: I hope I can handle it. I haven't taken care of a baby since Keefe was born, and I don't know what kind of a mother I'd make.
Mike: And I DEFINITELY don't know much about babies or being a father.
Micky: And we've written the book on all that?
Davy: (Elbows Mike) Then wot do you call wot you do to us?
Mike: Yeah, but you guys are grown-ups. You've got to remember, I'm an only child. I don't know nuthin' 'bout kids.
Emma: And I could barely handle my siblings, much less children of my own.
Micky: I'd suggest you two watching the twins for a day, but you'd think I've turned evil again.
Emma: Micky, I'd LOVE to babysit the twins!
Mike: They couldn't be THAT bad! Look at them now, sleepin' peacefully, like a pair of little angels!
Davy: You SURE they're Dolenzes?
Lauren: *nods* Positive. This is when they're asleep. We'll see when they start snoring.
Peter: Babies snore? :o
Micky: You still won't let that go, Babe.
Lauren: *rolls her eyes* IF they snore as they get older...
Emma: She only sleeps NEXT to you, Mick.
Emma: Mom's endured Dad's snoring for years, Lauren. You'll survive.
Micky: *slight evil grin* It isn't always NEXT to.
Lauren: MICK!!! :">
Davy: (Elbows Micky as the others laugh) So, are you usually on top or 'er?
Mike: DAVY! That's private!
Lauren: You say ANTYHING, Mick...
Peter: Oh, boy... :">
*Micky just grins.*
(Everyone but Peter, who's blushing, nearly falls over in laughter.)
(That's when a pair of little voices make themselves known, one after the other.)
Peter: (Grins) Shelly and little Micky are awake!
Mike: Think they want their folks, too.
Lauren: I knew it was too quiet for too long. *wiggles her way off the chair & goes to check on the babies; comes back with them in her arms. Micky takes Little Mick*
Micky: I think they're already ganging up on us. One wails, and the other follows right after.
Bert: Ahhh, our new little stars.
Peter: Hi, guys! Guess you wanted to see what's going on.
Lauren: They couldn't stand being out of the spotlight. *grins at Micky*
Davy: Somethin' ELSE that runs in the Dolenz family.
Micky: Funny, Dave. ;)
Peter: Do they need to be fed or changed?
Mike: Nahh, they just wanted to be with their aunties and uncles.
Lauren: Thankfully. If they were hungry, I'd be leaving the room.
Bert: They're beautiful children, you two. Congradulations.
Lauren and Micky: Thank you. *grin at each other*
Mike: (Makes little Micky wave to the "cameras") Hey, little Mick, say "hi" to the readin' audience and the producers. ;)
*Micky laughs.*
Peter: (Does the same with Michelle) You too, Shelly!
Lauren: Might as well get used to the "cameras."
Bob: They're cute.
Emma: Of course they are! Micky and Lauren made them!
*Lauren blushes, while Micky beams proudly.*
Davy: We ought to be gettin' along.
Mike: (Nods) Yeah, we have to get dinner on, and it looks like there may be another storm on the way.
Peter: Call us if you ever need anyone to watch the kids!
Micky: We're gonna hold you guys to that invite, you know that.
Lauren: I already told you, Mick, don't abuse the privilige.
Emma: He's not abusing it, Lauren. We'd be GLAD to watch them. There's always SOMEONE at home.
Lauren: If you knew the ulterior motive, it WOULD be considered abusing.
*Micky attempts to look innocent, but fails miserably.*
Mike: Wanna free up time to be with Lauren?
Davy: Mick, we all know you bettah than that.
Micky: Man, all I have to do is give a look, I don't even hafta say anything. *grins*
Mike: You can't look innocent to save your life.
Davy: You've gotta work on that, Mick.
Micky: That's the only look I have yet to pull off.
Lauren: Because it is NOT in your repertoire. *grins*
*Micky sticks his tongue out.* :P
(Everyone chuckles again as they pick up their coats.)
Mike: Want to come eat with us?
Emma: I'm making roast beef and bean and broccoli casserole for the vegetarians.
Micky: *glances at Lauren* Nah, it's okay. Thanks anyway.
Davy: Ok, guys. We'll see you latah.
Lauren: See you!
Micky: Bye guys! :)
Peter: Bye! (Waves) Bye, kids!
Emma: Lauren, I'll call you later.
Lauren: *nods* Okay.
Mike: See you around, guys. (Grins) And congradulations, all of you.
Micky: Thanks, man.
(Mike pulls Peter away from the kids and finally gets him out the door.)
Lauren: That was nice.
Micky: Yeah. (Cradles little Micky) You know, for all the trouble we went through to give birth to and keep these kids, it was worth it.
Lauren: Definitely. And I wouldn't trade ANY of it. *smiles down at Shelly*
Micky: Me either. (Makes a face) Except for the gangsters and the devils and the nightmares. (Grins) But the birth...
Lauren: Yeah, you know what I mean. *smiles at Micky* I know I've said it before, but thanks again for doing the delivery, Mick.
Micky: You're welcome, babe. Someone had to do it, and I know...that part...better than almost anyone but you and our doctor, so...
Lauren: *smirks* I guess I should've said something earlier about feeling them, but I was hoping to get through at least the party.
Micky: You didn't know they'd want to join the party, too.
Lauren: They didn't wanna be left out. (Smiles) Talk about making a grand entrance, though.
Micky: They're MY kids! Would they make their entrance any other way?
Lauren: Nope. Not awfully surprising.
Micky: (Cuddles little Micky) You may not understand this now, little Micky, but your mommy and daddy love you and your sister with all our hearts. We're going to be the best parents we can be for both of you. (Smiles at Lauren) Right, Mommy?
Lauren: *smiles* Absolutely right, Daddy!
*Lauren cuddles Shelly, smiling at her.*
Micky: We're going to give you kids everything we can, including the best family possible. Your uncles and aunts and nanas and granddads all love you, too. We'll be there for you, one way or another.
Lauren: No matter what. We've made it through some tough situations, and we're still here.
Micky: (Has one arm around his son and puts the other around his wife and daughter and draws them all together gently) No matter what! (Kisses Lauren as the camera fades out)
*The end credits roll while "I'll Spend My Life With You" plays over a still shot of the ENTIRE group, & end with the caption "A Raybert Production."*