Everybody ready for The Great American Chase? ;)

Peter: I don't wanna be chased! I wanna go back to the van!

Mike: I doubt there's much left of it by now, Pete. :p

Micky: This is just wonderful. :P

Davy: Let’s just find a way 'ome. :P

(We open back in the desert. The four Monkees are still running. Peter finally stops, red-faced, crying, and winded. The others join him, also red-faced and panting.)

Peter: We can't...keep running...all day!

Mike: Does anyone...see...them?

Micky: No. Not yet, at least.

Davy: I doubt we lost them, though.

Mike: This is crazy. This is just plain crazy. (Sighs) Ok, someone's gotta call the girls and tell 'em we're gonna be a little late.

Peter: A little?

Micky: That's an understatement. :P

Mike: (Ignores both) I think we ought to split into pairs. Two of us will go back to the van and see if they can get a tow truck. The other two will look for help.

Peter: In the middle of the desert?

Mike: We'll follow the road. It's gotta lead somewhere.

Davy: 'O's going with 'o?

Mike: Mick, you come with me and we'll see what we can do about the van. (Nods at Davy) Dave, you and Pete go and find help.

Davy: Okay.

Mike: And we'd better call the girls now. They're gonna wanna know we very likely won't be home in time for dinner.

Micky: I'll call Lauren.

Mike: (Indicates the cooler) We'd better split that up. We're all gonna need enough water and food for at least a few hours, since we don't know how long we'll be out here.

Peter: (Nods) Right. (Turns to Davy) We can do that.

Micky: *opens his watch* Lauren?

Lauren: Mick? *pauses* Are you guys lost?

(Mike leans against a weathered post. Peter and Davy go through the cooler, dividing the remaining food.)

Micky: How did you know?

Lauren: You wouldn't be calling if you weren't. Do you guys know where you are?

Micky: Yeah, we're still in the desert. The van is, well, kinda kaput.

Lauren: Kinda kaput?

Mike: It's dead, Lauren. Killed by cowboys and a ten-foot jump off a ravine.

Micky: Alright! I drove off the road and slammed it into the sand! It was smoking something fierce!

Lauren: Is everyone alright?

Micky: Yeah, we're okay.

Mike: Other than my neck may never feel the same again.

Micky: Okay, okay, we have a few bumps and bruises.

Lauren: *sighs* It's gonna be a while before you get back, right?

Micky: Yeah. :P

Emma: (Heard over the communicator) Lauren, is that Micky?

Lauren: Yes. He said their van broke down and it'll be a while until they can get back.

Emma: Figures. How long until they get in?

Lauren: How long, Mick?

Katie: (Over the communicator) Mama, who's dat?

Emma: It's your daddies. They're gonna be a little late.

Katie: Ohh.

Micky: *turns to Mike* They're asking how long.

Mike: (Looks up) By dark.

Micky: *grins* By dark.

Lauren: Okay. Sure, Mick. *mutters* Might be a few days.

Emma: (Mutters) Or a few years, knowing them. How do they plan on finding a tow truck in the middle of the desert?

Lauren: Do you guys really think you're gonna find a tow truck out there?

Micky: I really hope so.

Mike: We're gonna have to. I don't think any of us are up for imaginin' the thing back, and how would we explain how we moved it from here to LA anyway? :p

Lauren: Good luck, guys, and hurry back, okay? And keep us updated!

Mike: We will.

Emma: They'd better!

Mike: (As Micky switches off) We'd better separate now. Someone will head off the cowboys and get some help, and someone will go back to the van and see if they can get a tow truck.

Mike: (Nods at Micky) We'll get the van. Come on, Mick. You're the mechanical genius here.

Micky: *grins* Thank you.

Mike: (Picks up a bag with their share of the food) We'll meet back at the van in (looks at his watch) an hour. If we can't find a tow truck by then, we'll use the communicators and say we called from a car phone.

Peter: Right, Mike.

Davy: Got it.

Mike: Good. Let's go. (The four boys split into two directions. Mike and Micky go in one direction, Davy and Peter the other.)

*As the guys part, we cut to Lauren and Micky's house. Lauren crosses the living room to Emma and the kids.*

Lauren: I swear, if it wasn't for bad luck, the guys wouldn't have any luck at all. :P

Emma: (Sighs) Did he give you more details on how the van broke down? (Katie and the twins play with blocks, building high towers.)

Lauren: They were being chased, and it caused Micky to drive off the road, slamming the van into the sand.

Emma: Chased by whom? Devils? Who did they annoy now?

Lauren: I thought I heard Mike say cowboys. :P

Emma: Cowboys? Why...(sighs)...never mind. I don't think I want to KNOW why they were being chased by cowboys.

Lauren: It's probably for the best that we don't.

Emma: We should call the other girls, though the other two may have already. I think Daph's at her and Davy's place with Lizzie and Val's at work.

Lauren: *nods* Yeah.

Emma: (Joins the kids as they pile wooden blocks on top of each other) I wish there was a way we could locate the boys ourselves and find them a tow truck. We'd probably have more luck than them. We have the MonkeeMobile, your car, and Val's blue Corvette.

Lauren: Any ideas?

Emma: I wish there was a way we could track them or something!

Lauren: Mick's been working on a hand held tracker.

Emma: Like the big one in the Crystal Caves that keeps track of us and the neighborhood?

Lauren: Yes, except he hasn't even tested it yet. I don't know if it actually works or not.

Emma: Or if it'll blow up or have some kind of adverse reaction. I don't particularly want to be three inches tall.

Lauren: Uh, exactly. We could try it, I suppose.

Emma: Why don't we take it outside, in the back? (Smiles at the trio) I'm sure the kids would love a chance to run around, and Leah won't be waking up from her nap for a while.

Katie: We go outside? :D

Emma: Just for a little while. Aunt Lauren and Mama want to test something Uncle Micky made.

Lauren: Good idea. I don't feel like having to clean up in here from another of Mick's experiments, anyway.

Emma: That's what I figured. (Grins at the twins) And when was the last time you two were on the swing set?

Little Mick: Too long ago!

Shelly: Let’s go!

Katie: Swing set!

(The girls heard the trio into the backyard. The kids immediately run for the swing set. Katie climbs up the slide, then goes down, squealing "Wheeeee!" :D)

*Mick & Shelly swing back and forth, one goes forward as the other goes back. They go higher and higher!* :D

Emma: Ok, where is it, and who wants to take a crack at it first?

Lauren: I'll get it. It's in the tool shed, which, of course, doubles for his experiments. *goes to the shed and returns with what looks like a remote control with a screen on it* Here it is. I'll give it a try.

Emma: Been nice knowing you. (Stands way back)

Lauren: Thanks a lot, Em.

Emma: Anytime. ;)

*Lauren presses some buttons and turns a dial. The device takes a few moments before it begins to hum, then comes to life.*

Lauren: So far, so good!

Emma: You mean, it works? (Leans over her shoulder) Mick made something that WORKS?

Lauren: Look! *presses a few more buttons; we see four blips appear on the screen*

Emma: Ok, they're in Nevada, near the Nevada/Arizona border.

Lauren: Well, they could've been stuck in a worse place.

Emma: Yeah, like a certain ghost town in Arizona. I'm so glad the Devils are concentrating on renovating Mammoth Studios for the CIS and out of our hair for the moment! (Raises her eyebrows as they watch the screen) Is it me, or does it look like the little dots are going in different directions?

Lauren: They are. I wonder if they've split up to find help? *pauses* Either that, or they fought and don't want to be around one another.

Emma: Both are entirely possible. I think this movie is getting to them. Mike's been a real pain lately, when he's been home and not sequestering himself in the studio.

Lauren: I'm willing to bet Mick may've gone with him if they simply split up.

Emma: (Nods) Davy and Mike would kill each other if left alone for five minutes, as would Micky and Davy.

(Looks at Lauren) Let's call the other girls. Even if they've heard from the guys, they're probably worried about them, too.

(That's when the ladies hear a scream from the swing set. Little Mick lays on the ground, wailing. He fell off the swing from a very high position and bumped his head.)

Lauren: Oh geez. Mick!

Katie: Mama! Auntie Lawen! Lil' Mick got a booboo!

Emma: (Turns to Lauren) I'll get him some ice. You kiss it and make it better.

Lauren: *runs her fingers gently over his head* After he's cleaned up, I'll kiss the booboo. No cuts, so that's good. Just a little bump. *sits him up* You'll be just fine, Mick.

Little Mick: *sniffs, making a face* I want Daddy.

Lauren: So do I, Little Man.

(We cut back to a shot of Micky and Mike from the side as they track across the rocky Mojave Desert, past mountains in strange formations, cacti in stranger formations, and little skittling insects and animals who watch them before running off.)

Mike: Mick, we should have been at the van already. I TOLD you to go north!

Micky: It wasn't north! It was east!

Mike: Do you think I don't know where I'm goin'?

Micky: Do you think I don't?

Mike: Do you see a van anywhere?

Micky: No... *sees something in the distance, pauses and cocks his head to one side*

Mike: (Squints) I guess that's it. Hard to tell in the glare.

Micky: No, not the van... *points* Look way out there...

Mike: (Raises his eyebrows) Is that a swimmin' pool?

Micky: With a high dive!

Mike: Well, what are ya waitin' for, Mick? Let's get over there, NOW! I'm dyin'! (They take off for the "swimming pool." However, as they continue to run, the "swimming pool" fades and disappears. Mike finally stops and leans against a weathered old fence, panting.)

Mike: Damn it, Mick, I think we've been had.

Micky: No pool? *drops to his knees* ...No pool...

Mike: Our minds are playin' tricks on us. I think we saw a mirage.

Micky: Stupid mind! *slaps the side of his head, then leans forward on his arms*

Mike: Is this a private party, or can anyone play? (Slaps the side of Micky's head) ;)

Micky: *glares at Mike* I know that pool was here! I know the van is around here!

Mike: Ok, then, where's the van, and where's the pool, George Michael Columbus?

Micky: *looks around, panting* I don't know...it's all...hazy... *wipes his forehead with the back of his hand*

Mike: Mick, are you ok? I mean, you're actin' weird, even for you. (Opens the cooler and grabs a soda) Here, have some of this. Don't drink too much, though. You'll get sick, not to mention we need to save it.

Micky: *takes a sip, hands it back, and groans* Heat stroke... *shakes his head* :p

Mike: We've gotta get you outta the sun somehow. (Takes off his jacket) Here. (Puts it over Micky) At least you'll have some shade. It ain't that warm. I wore a real light-weight suit.

Micky: Thanks. *half grin* You'd think I'd be used to the sun.

Mike: When was the last time you were outside, workin' on a circus set? We didn't spend that much time workin' on the desert scenes in the movie, and none of our specials were shot outdoors. We ain't exactly Grizzly Adams.

Micky: I've lived in LA all my life! I lived outside for days on end sometimes! Some days Lauren practically has to drag me inside!

Mike: Yeah, but you're usually in a backyard under shady trees, not in the middle of the desert.

Micky: *shakes his head* We gotta keep moving. *stands & starts past Mike* I'm gonna get us outta here if I have to dig a tunnel under the sand!

Mike: With what? We don't exactly have shovels or anythin'.

Micky: My hands! *stomps away*

Mike: Damn it, Mick, come back with that soda and my jacket!

(He storms after Micky as the camera fades out on their retreating rear ends.)