Everyone ready to get to the bottom of this mystery?

Mike: That would be nice.

Peter: Um, when do I get lines?

Micky: Ready!

Davy: I am!

Mike: Ok, who's next?

Daphne: Okay, that was a fun brawl, but we've really got to move along the plot. I'll take over from here.

Mike: Uh, sure.

Emma: Go ahead, Daph.

Valerie: What do you have in mind?

Daphne: *narration* The next morning, Babbitt went to the nightclub to prepare for opening that day. *switch to the nightclub as Babbitt enters. Every so often, we notice a shadow slide by...*

Babbitt: (Takes off his coat and makes a face) Darn it, how's a guy supposed to get any sleep when he had to spend half the night before cleaning up after some brawl started by a bunch of musicians?

*The shadow slides by behind Babbitt.*

Babbitt: (Looks at his watch) I'd better call them, before the boss shows up. I think she's onto me. I don't know why they sent those two private dicks, but somethin's wrong. (He picks up the phone) Hello? Yeah, I know. Why did he start that brawl last night? Is that your idea of distraction?

*As Babbitt turns his back on the telephone, there's a few moments before the phone goes dead.*

Babbitt: Darn operators... (he pushes on the dial) Hello? Hello? Anyone there? Hello?

Voice: I'd say she's definitely onto you. And so am I.

Babbitt: Hello? (He tries to dial something else) Hello, police? Hello...(he turns around, his eyes wide) You!

Alex: *grins* Me!

Babbitt: I...I...why...you're here early!

Alex: I have something I need to do before we open.

Babbitt: Well, if you're so inclined, could you fix the phone?

Alex: There's nothing wrong with the phone other than the fact that I unplugged it.

Babbitt: Well, why did you do a fool thing like that? (Narrows his eyes) What is it that you have to do? And where's Sheila?

Alex: *grabs Babbitt in a headlock, with one arm wrapped around his neck* Because I don't need you screwing up any more of our plans.

Babbitt: Alex, what are you doing? (Gasps and tries to pry off his arms) I thought we were in this together!

Alex: You're no longer of use to us. *tightens his hold, choking Babbitt*

Babbitt: No..call cops...Alex...(gasps harder)...

*Alex grips tightens as Babbitt coughs and chokes, trying to get air.*

Babbitt: No...Alex...don't..

Alex: You're dead, Babbitt.

Babbitt: Noooo...

(Babbitt struggles for a few moments before finally sliding onto the floor, blue-faced.)

*Alex lets go and dust off his hands, smirking widely. He grabs Babbitt's feet drags the body out the back door leading to the alley. Alex hefts the body and leaves it in the nearest dumpster, then closes the lid. Alex's grin widens as he heads back inside.* >:)

*It's several hours later. We're in the alley behind the nightclub again. We see Micky, Davy, and Emma appear at the mouth of the alley.*

Emma: There's gotta be SOMETHING here! We just have to break in and investigate!

Micky: There may be something out here. It's amazing how much evidence gets thrown away carelessly by guilty parties.

Emma: Ok, then. YOU boys play in the trash. I'LL think of a way to get in there. If we get in now, no one will know!

Micky: Come on, Dave...

Davy: Wait, I didn't say I wanted to go scrounging through garbage!

Micky: It's part of our job!

Emma: Let's see. (She pulls out the hat pin again and this time sticks it in the lock)

Micky: Fine! I'll do it myself! *Goes to the dumpster and opens the lid.*

Davy: You do that, Mick.

Emma: (Click) I've got it! Nancy Drew, eat your heart out! (Looks over her shoulder) If Cagney and O'Brien are QUITE done...

Micky: Umm...I think we've got a little problem here.

Davy: It's empty? *chuckles*

Emma: Yeah, your head is in a dumpster. Found any dead fish yet?

Micky: *looks back at them; frowns* Dead is the operative word. *gulps* I found Babbitt.

Emma: You...found Babbitt?

Micky: Yeah. I did.

Davy: Oh no...

(Emma returns her hat pin and joins the two at the dumpster.)

Emma: How dead is he?

Micky: *leans in a bit, then turns back* Very dead.

Emma: Oh, THAT dead. (She leans in...and comes out, very white but trying to compose herself) It...doesn't look like he's been dead for very long. No flies or anything.

Micky: Not yet, at least.

Emma: But he will if we don't call the cops. (Shaky smile; opens the door for them) Shall we go in? Or do you want to spend a little more time with Babbitt?

Micky: No way! *hops down from the dumpster and does a body shudder* Dead bodies REALLY give me the creeps.

Emma: (As they enter) I'll call the police. (She picks up the phone, but frowns) That's funny. There's no dial tone.

Davy: That's odd.

Emma: (Puts the phone down) We'll have to find a phone booth. We can't leave Babbitt in there forever. (Looks at the boys) Maybe we'd better check the (shudders) body for clues.

Micky: Unfortunately, that's a good idea. Maybe we can figure out how he died.

Emma: I'll lock this place again and find a phone booth. You guys see if you can get Babbitt out without leaving fingerprints.

Micky: Alright, Dave, I went in the dumpster already. It's your turn.

Davy: No way! Mick, you agreed to doing the dirty work!

Emma: (Groans) I'll just find a phone and let the two of you settle this one. (She heads down the block to find a phone booth)

*The boys continue to argue as we start to fade out. Micky's narration then picks up.*

Micky: *narration* After must deliberation as to who would take care of Babbitt, we went back to the office to comb over notes and include our new information about Babbitt's death.

(The boys walk in to find Emma chatting with Lauren, who still sits behind her desk in the front office.)

Emma: Hi there! (Grins) Just chatting with my best friend.

Micky: You two know each other?

Emma: (Grins) We've known each other for years, since college!

Lauren: *shrugs* Yeah. You guys just never asked.

Emma: So, how did the interrogation go? I hope the cops weren't too hard on you. They didn't take too long with me.

Micky: Nah, they're used to us by now.

Emma: Lauren tells the niece of Lucien Zero hired you to find a swindler. Did you find out anything about him?

Micky: That's actually what we're still trying to piece together.

Emma: Boys, I'm onto a big story. In the last few months, there's been a lot of counterfeit bills traced to the Malibu Beach/LA area...and they've all come from the waterfront area or the area around the Club Headquarters.

Davy: I wondah if there's a connection?

Emma: That's what I'm hoping to find out, and why I wanted to get into that nightclub this morning. There's something big going on over there.

(The door opens as they chat. Sheila, this time in a fashionable black gown with elegant gloves and a wide black-and-white picture hat, enters.)

Sheila: Hello, gentlemen. (Glares briefly at Emma, who glares back, but neither says anything) I'm terribly sorry you had to find that reprobate's body this morning.

Emma: What are you doing here?

Sheila: Just giving the boys their checks. (Hands Davy and Micky envelopes) You did what you could, gentlemen.

Micky: Hm. Looks that way.

Sheila: I have no more need of you. You'll find a little something extra in your envelopes. Anyone who finds a dead body deserves a little something extra. (Chuckles)

Micky: How incredibly kind of you.

Davy: Thanks.

Emma: Why are you firing them? Aren't you the least bit interested in why the poor guy died?

Sheila: (Narrows her eyes) He deserved what he got.

Emma: No one deserves what HE got.

Lauren: That hardly seems like a fair comment.

Emma: You know, your uncle owned a lot of those houses where that counterfeit money's being found.

Sheila: I don't know what in the world you're talking about.

Emma: Your uncle was involved in shipping, right?

Sheila: That was one of his businesses...

Emma: Just what WAS he shipping?

Sheila: What ARE you implying?

Emma: I'll bet there was a lot more than paper coming out of those deals.

Micky: It'd go a lot easier if you just answer the question. ;)

Sheila: This is ridiculous. I didn't come here for an interrogation, and certainly not by a fourth-rate hack reporter.

Emma: FOURTH RATE HACK? Look, I don't care how much money you have. I know there's something phony here! You're up to something, just like your uncle was!

Sheila: You can't prove it.

Emma: I WILL prove it. I know you're up to something, and your uncle was, too. I just have to find out WHAT.

Sheila: You'll prove nothing. (She smiles flirtatiously at both boys as she leaves) Thank you again. I know who to call if I ever need detective work done again.

Micky: You do that.

Sheila: Ta ta! (She smirks at Emma, and continues smirking as she heads out)

Emma: OOOH, that woman makes me SOOO mad!

Lauren: I wasn't liking her all that much, either.

Emma: I investigated her uncle a few years ago. I would have gotten the goods on him, too, if he hadn’t died before I could write the story.

Micky: If only we could figure out if there's a connection. There has to be a clue to link them to the counterfeit bills...

Emma: A lot of the bills have been seen in the area of the nightclub lately, and Sheila and her partner Alex DO work there. (Frowns) Mr. Dolenz, what was with you and Alex last night? You two look an awful lot alike for plain old relatives.

Micky: *glances at Lauren, who shrugs; sighs* He isn't my cousin. He's my brother. He's the reason I became a private eye. I wanted to put him behind bars where he belongs. *shakes his head* Somehow, he always figures out how to outsmart me at the last moment and manages to get away before the police can get him.

Emma: Black sheep of the family?

Micky: About as black as you can get.

Emma: No wonder he's involved with Sheila, then. She's even worse.

*The phone rings. Lauren picks it up.*

Lauren: Dolenz and Jones Detective Agency. *listens* Yes, they are. *nods* Yes, okay. I'll tell them. Goodbye. *hangs up* Valerie asked us to head over to the nightclub for the show. She says she has something to share with us.

Emma: I wonder what?

Lauren: It's gotta be big if I'm going, too.

Emma: (Grabs her purse) We'd better get going, then. Don't want to keep the owner of one of Malibu Beach's biggest nightclubs waiting!

Micky: I'm hoping it's a paying job.

Davy: Yeah, these checks we got from Sheila aren't really worth the papah they're printed on.

Emma: What she give you for a bonus, an invitation to the jelly of the month club?

Micky: *turns his check for the ladies to see* How'd you guess?

Emma: That's what she gives all her employees.

Micky: *sighs* If the potential conclusion of this job wasn't huge, I wouldn't have taken this gig.

Emma: When I write this story, I'll make sure to give you lots of free publicity.

Davy: Thank you.

Emma: (Grins) Well, why don't we head out?

Micky: Good idea. *narration* I had no idea of what Valerie wanted us for. Perhaps hazard pay for finding Babbitt... *as the foursome steps into the nightclub* It wasn't nearly as busy this time. Valerie had a table to herself. The orchestra played an upbeat tune as we crossed the room to the table.

*"I'm A Believer" is heard in instrumental form as the group sits down at Valerie's table.*

Valerie: (Smiles; this time, she wears a deep blue suit that shows off her figure and auburn hair well) Hello, everyone. It's so nice to see you again. (As they sit down) Look, I don't have much time. I'll be brief. I want to hire you two.

Micky: *Higher pitched; dollar signs can practically be seen in his eyes* Really?! *clears his throat; smiles* Thank you.

*Lauren rolls her eyes.*

Valerie: I want to find out why my matre 'd was murdered. Not only will it effect my business, but it's not going to be easy to find another matre 'd so quickly.

Lauren: *turns a grin at Micky* Actually...

Davy: *picks up on Lauren's train of thought* I think we've got a maitre d' for you, Valerie.

Micky: *raises an eyebrow* What are you two thinking?

Davy: We could use someone REALLY on the inside.

Valerie: That's exactly what I was thinking. When I said I wanted to hire you, it wasn't just to detect. (Grins) How'd you like to be matre 'd and part of the house band?

Davy: I'll sing. Mick can maitre d'.

Micky: Why do I have to maitre d'? Why can't I sing?

Lauren: If you maitre d', you'll be working closer to Alex. Maybe you can finally catch him in the act.

Micky: *thinks a moment* Good point. I'll maitre d'.

Valerie: Wonderful! (Smiles) I could set you up as a singer, and you as well, Miss Redmer. I've read your stories in the "Register." I admire your spunk, even while I question how you must have gotten some of that information.

Emma: (Blushes) Well...

Valerie: Perhaps your lady friend would like to be a waitress, or in the stage show?

Lauren: *frowns a bit* I'm really more of a behind-the-scenes type. I take care of the secretarial work for the guys, as well as their books.

(The "stage show" continues. The dancers are the Abbies, the Angellettes, and Daphne. Davy eyes Daphne with interest.)

Valerie: Hmm. How would you like to take care of our books, too? Maybe find out what's going on behind the scenes. You can work in our offices, or even take the books with you to their office.

Lauren: *smiles* I'd like that.

Micky: *elbows Davy* Quit staring, Davy.

Davy: I can't 'elp it.

Valerie: (Grins) Interested in the scenery?

Davy: Very much so...

Valerie: (She eyes Peter) I don't blame you. (Turns to the group) I want you to find out what's going on here. I think it goes beyond Babbitt and his death. I've heard the rumors, and I want them to end. My establishment will not be used as a hideout for criminals.

Micky: We'll get the good name of your establishment restored.

Valerie: Please. I'll pay you handsomely. Whatever Sheila gave you, I'll triple it.

Emma: Pay them. I just want my exclusive story.

Micky: Three years worth of jelly... *shudders*

Davy: Money, no mattah the amount, will be greatly appreciated.

Valerie: (Smiles) Well, why don't you folks head for the office, and my secretary will get you signed up?

Valerie: (Stands) Please excuse me, but I'm late for an appointment downtown. I'll want a full report from you in three days. (She shakes everyone's hands, then heads out)

Emma: (Beams) I can't believe our luck!

Lauren: This is wonderful!

Davy: *still staring at Daphne* It sure is...

Micky: *nods* This is great, but I can't help but wonder what we might be getting into.