(We open backstage as people bustle around. Emma, Daphne, Lauren, and Valerie stand together as people bring on the set and props for the Inn.)

Emma: So far, so good. The crowd looks like it's really eating this up. (She wipes her hand across her forehead) I'm glad this is just a one-time-only charity show. I don't know how Broadway actors do it night after night, some for years!

Lauren: I don't know, either.

Valerie: We're not on for a while. The boys have to explain what Mike's going to do next and do their whole macho bar fight thing. Why don't we go back to the dressing rooms and have a drink and rehearse our lines?

Lauren: I like that idea.

Daphne: *nods* Yeah, and we'll be able to stay out of the way of the others.

Emma: I have the suspicion that the liquor they brought for the Inn scenes may not have been as watered-down as it should have. I knew I should have told them to use soda!

Lauren: They had a sale on Ginger Ale last week, too.

Emma: Where's Micky? He's not on for a long time!

Lauren: Where else? He's gotta be with the others, telling them what to do.

Emma: And I'm sure they're thrilled. Should we rescue him, before Mike uses his sword on him? That IS Mike's real sword, you know. He has a cover on the blade to keep it from hurting anyone.

Lauren: Perhaps we should at least check on him.

Emma: Yeah. Maybe we'd better do what my characters do in the story and keep an eye on him all night.

Valerie: I agree. You know he takes this sort of thing to heart. He'll start getting out of control and ordering the others around like he really IS a despotic nobleman.

Daphne: I thought he seemed to be enjoying his role a bit too much.

Emma: (Points towards the curtain) There he is, and Mike, too.

(The four women join Micky, Mike, and several other people near the curtain. Mike has his arms crossed and is shaking his head.)

Micky: Don't shake your head at me, Mike! I'm the Director!

Mike: You're the director, but I'm the leadin' man.

Micky: *folds his arms* What the Director says, goes!

Emma: What's going on, you two?

Mike: (Turns to Emma) Darlin', tell him he's gotta be more careful when he's usin' his powers!

Emma: What do you mean?

Micky: Yeah, what DO you mean?

Mike: Micky, what were you doin' to Pete? Your "controllin'" him didn't look that realistic in rehearsal, and I don't remember him passin' out like that, either. Cory told me he really was out! He had to dump him in the dressin' rooms!

Micky: I talked to Peter about it, and he said to make it look realistic! So I did! I didn't hurt him, if that's what you're asking.

Mike: Micky, please remember that this is just a PLAY. You ain't really controllin' Pete. He wasn't supposed to pass out!

Micky: The audience loved it. He's gonna be just fine! I don't understand what's wrong with that.

Mike: Micky, just remember that this is only a play. Try not to make it look too realistic, ok?

Valerie: Micky, is Peter really ok? (She puts a hand on her heart) He feels woozy.

Micky: *frowns* I said he's fine.

Valerie: I'm going to check on him.

Mike: And I have to get on stage with the other guys. Hey Mick, have you seen Nyles and Jessie? We're gonna need them for this scene.

Micky: *sighs* I think I saw them making out by the dressing rooms.

Mike: (Blushes) Uhh, maybe someone should try to break 'em up and get 'em out there. This is the first big bar brawl scene, and I'm sure Nyles ain't gonna wanna miss that!

Daphne: I could go get them.

Mike: Uh, yeah. I gotta get on stage. (He makes a quick get-away)

Emma: (Grins) I'll go with you. (Whispers) Lauren, keep an eye on Micky. You two share most of your scenes anyway.

Lauren: *whispers back to Emma* I'll try.

(The camera follows Mike as he heads on stage. Cut to the Inn set. Jack stands behind a long wooden bar, wiping the top. Tilly and Micky's sister Coco wait tables. A few men in peasant outfits similar to the Martians' sit at tables. Mike, Davy, and the Martians enter.)

Mike: Hey, this is a nice little place here. Very rustic. I like it.

Davy: *nods* I like it, too.

John: Jack! (He waves at Jack as they all sit at the bar) I want a round of ales for me, my buddies, and...

Jack: *waves in return* You got it!

Mike: (Before John can call him "Your Lordship") My name is, um, Mike of Arcadia, Goodman Jack. (He fingers his mandolin) I'm a traveling minstrel. This is my apprentice, David of Britannica.

Jack: *nods* Nice to meet you, fellas. What brings you around these parts? Just checking out some new land and audiences?

Mike: Uh, yeah. We were in Belgravia and kinda had some trouble with a few high officials there.

Jack: They didn't like you soliciting?

Mike: Yeah. That Lord George ain't got no sense of humor. We were banished before we were even able to state our case.

Jack: *shakes his head* That's awful.

Mike: We both had nice girls there, too.

Jack: Ouch. That's even worse.

Mike: I'm gonna get back at him somehow. (He looks at Jack) You must hear a lot of information, runnin' an Inn and all.

Jack: You wouldn't believe how much I hear.

Mike: Anythin' bend your ear 'bout goin's on in Belgravia lately?

Jack: *leans on the bar* Anything in particular you're curious about?

Mike: Yeah. The King was actin' very strange when we were there. Seemed to be takin' all of his orders from Lord George an' his lady. (Growls) Accused two innocent nobles of treason.

Jack: *snorts* Lord George ain't all he's cracked up to be, anyway. *shakes his head* Too bad. Used to be a pretty decent guy. Came in here all the time. I don't know what happened. *motions with a hand* The KING is taking orders from HIM? That's very odd.

Mike: (Nods) It is odd. King Peter never had trouble makin' his own decisions before the war. I mean, he was always a little quiet and didn't like fightin', but he never had to turn to anyone besides his wife and his advisors for help.

Jack: I'm afraid I'm not aware of anything different about King Peter. No one's said anything.

Mike: What's Lord George like when he comes in here?

Jack: Like I said, he used to be a pretty decent guy. The last time he was in here, we kicked him out...bodily. He was pissed! *grins* And not to mention piss-drunk! *shakes his head* There's something really weird about that guy. I can't quite put my finger on it...

Mike: I think he may be controllin' the King somehow.

Jack: Like blackmail...or something else?

Mike: I don't know. That's what I want to find out.

Jack: Hmm. Well, if you want a tip, and this may very well just be a rumor, I have heard that George was hexed, and that he has some sort of magical powers. *puts his hands up* I have NO proof of this. It's only what I've heard, and not from overly reliable sources.

John: (Shudders) Hexed? By a witch?

Jack: Yes. I have no idea if that’s really what happened, but it’s what I’ve heard.

Davy: Wow.

Mike: (To himself) That would explain the king's actions this morning in court. (He looks up at Jack) Does anyone know what happened to the nobles who were banished? Davy and I only heard about it this evenin' from our friends here. What will become of the people who live and work around Lone Star Manor? And the king's advisors? Who will take on their roles in their absence?

Jack: *shakes his head* All I know is that it isn't a very good time to be around Lone Star Manor.

Mike: (Growls; pounds his fist on the bar) I wish there were some way I could help them. Lord George doesn't care about the people who live and work around the manor. He only wants it's treasury and fertile land.

Davy: Maybe we can think of something.

John: Someone should do somethin'. I know there's a lot of people who are gonna need money and food if the taxes continue to increase.

Mike: (Closes his eyes) We'll do somethin'. (He opens them again) We'll help them.

Danny: What do you mean?

Marcus: He has an idea brewing.

Mike: We'll help the poor people. We'll bring them food, free wood, toys for their kids, money.

John: How do you propose we do that, sire...uh, Mike? We have no more money than they do, and considerably less than most of them.

Mike: There are many nobles who wouldn't mind divesting themselves of their pocketbooks for the poor. (Grins) They won't know about it, of course.

Davy: *grins* Of course.

Danny: (Frowns) I don't know about this. Stealing's wrong...and what's more, it's illegal.

Chris: Only if people know about it.

Mike: It is equally unlawful to take a king's rightful throne and strip people of their very way of living and of accusing innocents of treason and turning their own people against them.

John: How are we going to do this?

Mike: People have to pass through this area to get to other lands. When they do, we'll get the drop on them. (Looks at Jack) You could give us a heads-up on when important carriages pass through.

Jack: Sure thing.

Mike: We'll protect anyone - peasant or noble - who looks like they may be threatened by the Lord's guards or other aggressive gangs of thieves on the highway.

John: Speaking of the Lord's guards, look what the cat FINALLY dragged in!

Mike: (Grins as Jessie and Nyles stumble into the Inn, followed the Jolly Green Giants and several of the other guards and says in a whisper inaudible to the audience) Took them long enough. Their cue was about two minutes ago. (Nyles buttons his shirt; Jessie quickly pulls her stockings up) Guess they REALLY got into makin' out back there.

John: I just hope they can adjust on stage. You know what Nyles can get like sometimes.

Mike: Yeah. (Out loud) Oh no, it's the Captain of the Guard! If he recognizes us...

John: Maybe he's too far gone.

Davy: We can only 'ope.

Mike: Jack, do you have any place we can hide?

Jack: *points around the side of the bar* There's a back room through that door. It's employees only so that's probably your best bet.

Mike: Thanks.

(The guys are about to take off when Nyles and his men pony up to the bar and hem them in.)

Nyles: *to Jack* Hey, man, where's the party at?

Jack: *shakes his head* How is it that you're drunk BEFORE you enter the bar?

*Nyles just shrugs.*

Mike: (Mutters) Only you, Nyles. (He tries to keep his face turned away from Nyles and Jessie)

John: (Pulls away from Nyles) Could you possibly turn your mouth somewhere else? Man, your breath REEKS!

Nyles: *breathes out purposely* Sooooorry!

John: Damn! (He nearly falls off his chair) You could stun a yak! What the HELL did you drink?

Nyles: Lotsa stuff!

Mike: (Under his breath) No shit. (Out loud) Good sir, could you please take your breath and yourself to the other side of the room, where we cannot smell you?

Nyles: What if I don't wanna? Georgie made me one-a his adv...ad...helpful people, and I wanna celebrate!

Jessie: Yeah, me too! We're advisors, and we can do what we want!

Mike: (Eyes widen) You? You're advisors? Is that (grabs Nyles' blue talisman) how you got these?

Nyles: You bet your sweet bippy!

Mike: But...but...how? Why? You two couldn't advise a cow on how to give milk!

Nyles: Cuz we're his best buddies!

*Davy frowns.*

Mike: Being his friend has nothing to do with being able to advise the King of how to handle his duties.

Nyles: So?

Jessie: Georgie said we could, and what Georgie says, goes!

Mike: What did the king say?

Nyles: *shrugs* Kingie-poo was too busy snoring.

Mike: Peter was sleeping? He looked fine when we...uh, when we played for him.

Nyles: Nope, he was out like a light!

Mike: (Grabs Nyles by the tunic) Did Lord George do something to him? The Peter I...uh, the king the people of Belgravia knew would never have fallen asleep during a court session!

Nyles: *makes a face* Georgie was rubbing Kingie-poo's head. He must've had a headache.

Mike: I'll bet he was hexing him! (Shakes Nyles)

Nyles: *eyes widen* Don't shake!