Ok, everyone ready to party?

Peter: I am!

Mike: Not really. Not with a buncha snobs.

Peter: Mike, it's for Valerie!

Micky: I'm ready!

Davy: Me, too, mate.

(We open in the ballroom of the Montgomery House about three weeks after the Mexican tour. The ballroom is elegantly decorated with tables with damask tablecloths and napkins, fresh flowers in crystal vases, fine silverware in all the right places, good china, soft lights, and quiet music played over a loudspeaker. People in good suits, dresses, and gowns mill around, chatting. Valerie, dressed in a simple gold suit, is in a circle that includes several older men in impeccably tailored suits.)

(Cut to Mike, Micky, Peter, and Davy on one side of the room, near the bandstand. Mike wears a white suit with a black tie and his glasses. Peter wears a simple black tuexdo, though we see a hint of paisley and beads under the jacket.)

*Davy wears a dark red suit with the usual pair of black boots. Micky is wearing black pants, but his suit jacket is a shade of green that hasn't been named yet. His poncho is draped over the stool at the drum kit.*

Mike: This is the most borin' party I've ever been to. They ain't even playin' poker out there!

Peter: Mike, you know how important this party is! Valerie is trying to sell our movie idea to the major studios!

Micky: It may be important, but it's also a big snore!

Mike: These guys don't know nuthin' 'bout havin' a party. All they're doin' is talkin'!

Davy: You're bloody right, Mike. They need to learn a thing or two about partying.

Mike: I'll bet the other groups Val has at this party are all just as bored as we are...and aren't Jack and Nyles around here somewhere?

Micky: I saw them at one of the food tables. They've been making the rounds.

(Valerie comes over to the guys, grinning.)

Mike: Val, can we go yet?

Valerie: No, the party's barely started!

Mike: Oh yeah? Where?

Davy: I don't see any party. :P

Valerie: (Shrugs) So it isn't some wild shindig. These people aren't the Who and Creedence Clearwater Revival, you know. They're very rich, very powerful owners of very large movies studios, music companies, and corporations, some of the largest in the world!

Micky: How about just a little *holds a thumb and index finger an inch apart* fun? Is that too much to ask?

Valerie: (Crosses her arms) I've seen your idea of "fun" at parties. The last time we let you guys have "fun" at a party, we spent the rest of the week finding your drunk friends in places I didn't know humans could fit...and food in places food shouldn't be. :p

Mike: Val, quit bein' a square. We're goin' crazy here!

Davy: Stir crazy.

Valerie: I'm not being a square! Do you think I'm having fun? Do you want to get your movie sold?

Peter: Valerie, all we're saying is we want to mingle with the guests. We all do.

Valerie: I don't think the guests are ready for you yet.

Micky: *quirks an eyebrow* They're not ready for us, or WE'RE not ready for THEM?

Mike: (Leans against the bandstand) Who's appearin' in this movie, Val, you or us?

Valerie: They just...it's just...well, you know how these stuffy types are about, um, the younger generation...

Mike: You're afraid they'll jump ship if a bunch of long-haired hippies, musicians, and nutcases go out and drink cocktails with them.

Valerie: No..yes...

Peter: (Puts a hand on his wife's shoulder) Valerie, you're nervous. You want to make a good impression. We do, too. We'll be on our best behavior. (Looks at the others) Right, guys?

Mike: (Mutters) Sure.

Davy: *adjusts his lapels* Of course, mate.

Micky: You bet we will. :D ;)

Valerie: (Sighs) All right. You can all come out and mingle with the guests. (Puts up a hand) But that's IT. The moment I see any of you, and that includes the other Headquarters bands and your family and friends, doing anything to alienate any of these executives, you're going back to just being the music. Got it?

(Mike just harrumps.)

Peter: Sure, Val!

Micky: *puts up a hand* I promise!

Davy: Cross my heart, hope *jerks a thummb at Micky* he dies. ;)

Micky: Hey...

(Everyone chuckles, even Valerie.)

Mike: Ok, then, come on guys. Let's go party. ;)

(The guys step out among the guests, followed by the Martians, the Abbies, and a few other Headquarters groups.)

(Cut to a room upstairs. It's the nursery that was first seen in "Don't Give Up the Ghost," but there's now two two small beds in addition to the two cribs, a big box and shelves filled with toys, and a record player and a shelf of books and children's records. Jordan and Katie are snuggled in the cribs. Little Mick and Shelly lay under the covers on the beds. A large older woman with gray-streaked brown hair sits in the rocking chair. Chrissy, now twelve years old, sits in the overstuffed chair, reading a story.)

Chrissy: ...And Cinderella married the handsome prince and lived happily ever after. The end. (Smiles at the kids in the various beds) Did you guys like that story?

Katie: (From her crib) Yeah! Nice stowy!

Jordan: (From his crib) Yay!

Little Mick: *makes a face* Not enough action!

Shelly: I liked it!

Chrissy: You get to pick the story next time, Mick.

Little Mick: YAY! :D

Matilda: (Australian accent) But for now, me litt'l mates, we go to bed. It's gettin' late.

Katie: No-no! One more!

Matilda: You've said that for the last three stories, Miss Kate. Enough. Time for sleep.

Little Mick: I'm not tired yet!

Shelly: Me neither.

Katie: Me either.

Jordan: No!

Chrissy: Aw, Matilda...

Matilda: I'm sorry, little ones, but it's very late, and I don't think your parents and guardians will be too happy if I let you stay up any longer.

Little Mick: Daddy lets us stay up much later than this!

Matilda: Your father is currently downstairs, helping Miss Valerie entertain some very, very important people. He HAS to stay up late. Good little children, on the other hand, need their sleep, so they can be fresh and awake in the morning.

Chrissy: Matilda, I'M not a little kid!

Matilda: You too, Miss Christina. You're also not an adult yet, and you also need your sleep.

Chrissy: But...

Matilda: No buts! Come along, dear. We'll get you some warm milk and settle you down for the night.

Chrissy: Can I say "good night" to the kids?

Matilda: Well, yes, but don't take too long. I'll get your milk ready. (She leaves. Chrissy flops in the chair and makes a face)

Chrissy: It isn't fair! I'm a teenager...well, almost...and Matilda STILL won't let me do anything! Valerie and Peter are almost like my mom and dad! I should be able to go to the party, too!

Katie: Party?

Chrissy: That's where the grown-ups are. They're downstairs in the ballroom, at Valerie and Peter's big party for all the fancy movie studio people, so the movie people will put your daddies in a movie.

Little Mick: Wanna go to the party!

Katie: Me too! Party!

Jordan: Huh?

Chrissy: Why don't we ALL go to the party? Just for a few minutes. I'm sure no one will notice if we just watch at a door or something.

Shelly: Yeah! :D

Jordan: Par'ty?

Katie: Party! Party! :D

Chrissy: Shh! (Puts a finger to her lips as she helps Katie down, then picks up Jordan, who is just learning to walk) We can't make too much noise. If the grown-ups or Matilda find out we're at the party, they'll make us go upstairs and probably ground me.

Katie: Oooh!

Chrissy: (Looks at the twins) Are you two ready?

Little Mick: *puts an index finger to his lips* Shh. Be very, very quiet...

Shelly: *grins, quietly* ...We're hunting a party!

(Katie and Chrissy giggle. Jordan doesn't get it.)

Jordan: (Over Chrissy's shoulder to the twins and Katie, who follow behind as the five sneak across the hall and down the long staircase) "Hey, guys, what's a party?"

Katie: "Parties are when you get together to celebrate something, like a birthday!"

Jordan: "Like when we all had cake and ice cream for the twins’ birthday?"

Little Mick: "Yeah, like that! Oh, I hope they have cake and ice cream!"

Shelly: "But it's a grown-up party. *pauses* They'll have cake"

Katie: "A party with no cake and ice cream or presents?"

Jordan: "Aw!"

Katie: "What do grown-ups do at parties? I know Papa likes to play cards and drink funny-smelling stuff Mama says he shouldn't be drinking."

Jordan: "Will they play 'Pin the Tail on the Donkey,' like at the twins’ party? That was funny!"

Shelly: *shakes her head* "I don't think so, Jordan."

Little Mick: "Daddy likes to dance at parties!"

Jordan: "I don't know how to dance! I can't even walk all that well yet! :o"

Katie: "Don't worry, Jordan! I'll dance with you!"

Jordan: "Will there be music?"

Katie: "Of course! All our daddies and mommies are there!"

Jordan: "Then I'll like the party. I like music!"

Shelly: "Yeah!"

(The kids sneak over to the ballroom's open doors and peek in...and their eyes widen at the scene before them as "Bye Bye Baby Bye Bye" begins.)

(The room is filled with a mix of dark, conservative suits and gowns...and bright tuexdoes, dresses, gowns, and glittering outfits. A very pregnant Daphne is working on her fourth plate of food and snags a fifth from a passing maid.)

(Mike stops by the punch, making sure no one's watching him. He then dumps a bottle of liquor in the punch and quickly returns it to his suit jacket.)

Older Woman: (Over the music) What are you doing, young man?

Mike: Washin' my hands. (Puts on his sunglasses and quickly hurries off)

Micky: *catches up to Mike* Didja do it?

(Mike nods as the music resumes and juts a thumb at the punch, which the guests are sampiling...and liking a great deal.)

*Micky nods, grins, and leaves Mike, passing the table where Lauren and Daphne sit. Lauren works on her second plate of food.*

(Peter blathers to guest at the punch about astrology and meditation and mysticisim. The man in the fine Itailan suit keeps dunking his cup into the punch in an attempt to ignore Peter.)

(Marcus grabs Tilly, dips her, and proceeds to make love with her in front of everyone. They ultimately fall on the ground and roll under a table.)

*Nyles and Jack finally appear, a plate for both. Both wear light blue leisure suits.*

(Chris chases a couple of good-looking secretaries. He wears a light green leisure suit. :X)

(Emma sits at a table, bored out of her mind. She jumps up from the table when John and Maxine fall into it; they were kissing. They continue to kiss; Emma makes a face and goes to find Mike.)

(Mike waves cards in the face of anyone who's interested.)

(Valerie takes one sip of the punch, spits it out, puts the cup down hard, and goes to find those she KNOWS are responsible for spiking the drinks.)

*Davy dances by himself to non-existant music.*

*Micky gives Lauren a kiss on the cheek and goes to dance with Davy.* ;)

*Lauren rolls her eyes and watches the guys dance.*

(Peter is still talking to the man in the Italian suit, who is on his sixth cup of punch; the cups are all around the punch bowl. In the middle of Peter's sentence, he sways, burps loudly, and collapses right next to where Tilly and Marcus emerge from under the table, dazed. Peter shrugs, steps over the man, and goes off in search of Valerie.)

(Tilly and Marcus step over the man, take some punch, and go in search of another table.)

(Peter gets onstage and plays the piano, so Davy and Micky will have something to dance to.)

*Jack and Nyles now hold cups of punch. Nyles also has a lampshade in his other hand.* ;)

(Emma ducks a blur in a tuxedo flying over her head. Cut to Kimberly, dusting off her hands and looking annoyed. Cut to the man, who is now cross-eyed and missing a few teeth; he tries to get up before falling back down again in a heap and out of camera-range.)

(Jenny taps a woman on the shoulder. She turns around, and Jenny paints a mustache and goatee on her before taking off.)

(Valerie finally finds Micky and Davy on the dance floor as the music comes to an end.)