Everyone ready for some more mystery?

Mike: Yeah.

Peter: I think so.

Micky: No, because I know whose turn it is...

Davy: Mick, I doubt she'll 'ave you knocked off. ;)

Micky: Ha ha ha. :P

*We start in the Rainbow Room once again.*

Lauren: Em, excuse me for interrupting. That part was fun, but I think we can skip the research.

Emma: But we need to find out what's going on!

Mike: (He's nodding off) Yeah, um, uh-huh. (Emma elbows him)

Emma: Anyone have any better ideas, then?

Lauren: We're losing the guys and Daph...and me a little bit. We can say that we did the research, but I'd like to use my turn to take us back to the nightclub and get us moving so we can finish this story before dawn, so the guys can sleep off most of their hangovers.

Mike: I ain't got a hangover. (He almost pitches himself off the bandstand; Emma rights him)

Emma: Sure you don't.

Mike: Ok, Lauren, got any ideas?

Valerie: I like going back to the nightclub, and I REALLY want see inside that Secret Room.

Lauren: Okay, so we head back to the nightclub. It's later that evening... *fade back to black and white and the nightclub.*

(Lauren sits with Emma as Davy sings "We Were Meant For Each Other" onstage. Peter looks very nervous. Mike eyes him with suspicion.)

Emma: As soon as I finish my next number, I'm going to head out really quick to get dressed. I'm meeting Mr. Nesmith after the last band's last song. We're going to talk business.

Lauren: Suuuuure you are. ;)

Emma: He said he had some information to give me, and I thought we could trade. (Grins) How's things going for the boys? Has Micky caught Alex doing something scandalous yet?

Lauren: Not yet, but he really wants to.

Emma: So, what did you find out? Anything interesting? (She makes a face) I know Mr. Nesmith worked for Mr. Zero right after the Stock Market crash, and it was alleged that he was involved with Miss Saunders, but they broke it off and he formed his band.

Lauren: Not much, really. But then, most of my time is spent with the fellas.

(Valerie eyes Peter, who avoids her gaze and Mike's, too.)

Emma: And Mr. Tork has had some interesting associations over the years. He'll blindly join any cause. (Grins) Here comes Davy! I want to find out how that breakfast date with the chorus girl went.

(Davy joins Lauren as Emma goes onstage. He eyes the chorus girls as they dance the opening vamp and Emma takes over the vocals.)

Davy: (Sighs) Ain't she somethin'?

Lauren: *makes a face and slugs his arm* Would ya quit drooling on the table!?

Davy: Oh, sorry luv. (Nods at Micky) How's he comin'? Find out more about that hidden room?

Lauren: He spent most of the day sleeping off his hangover. The hidden room is still as much of a secret as before.

Davy: So you nevah got down there.

Lauren: Nope.

Davy: That MUST be where all that counterfeit money's comin' from, but the only way to prove it is to get down there and see it for ourselves!

Lauren: The question is, how?

(Davy returns to eyeing Daphne. Sheila slinks around in the background, watching Mike and Emma onstage.)

Davy: We could try getting in there after the place has closed.

Lauren: That may very well be the only way.

(Emma and Mike join for a duet on "Magnolia Simms" as the girls dance. Sheila narrows her eyes.)

Mike: (As the song ends) Than you, darlin'.

Emma: You're welcome.

Mike: (As she walks offstage) And that was Miss Emma Redmer, a darn pretty songbird, join' me for one of my own tunes.

Sheila: (Goes to Alex; hisses) Now. We have to get that meddling little brat NOW.

*Alex nods, frowning.*

Sheila: You saw her, Michael, and your brother's secretary today. She's been writing down every single thing that's gone on here for over a week. She must have figured it out by now. She'll send us all up the river and write every word for that miserable rag she calls a newspaper.

Alex: They couldn't possible know everything. They didn't make it into the secret room, though that leaves everything else up in the air.

Sheila: No, not everything. Just enough to incriminate us. (Growls) There must be a way to find out what she knows!

(Sheila growls when she sees Mike take Emma's hand as they walk off-stage together and the chorus girls dance to an instrumental "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)." )

Alex: We could use someone else to try and get her to talk.

Sheila: Bait. (Smirks) It has possibilities. Have anyone in mind?

Alex: *smirks* Maybe.

Sheila: I have to go across town to meet the new gold shipment. You handle the annoying Miss Redmer.

Alex: Gladly.

Sheila: Ta-ta, darling. (She sashays off)

(The two men Alex sent after Emma, Lauren, and Mike that morning join him at the bar. Alex wrinkles his nose at their smell.)

Man 1: Gots somethin' for us to do, Mr. Alex?

Alex: *groans* A shower would've been appreciated.

Man 2: We don't have no other suits!

Alex: Forget it, just get that nosy reporter and put her in one of the empty rooms. We'll figure out what to do with her later. *pinches his nose* And get away!

Man 3: Uh yeah, sure, Mr. Alex! (They head off)

Alex: *waves at the air in front of his face* Idiots.

(We see a short montage. Mike sits at a table with Lauren and Davy, then Lauren, Davy, and Daphne. Davy and Daphne finally walk off together. Mike is still sitting at the table with a glass of whiskey as Micky comes up to Lauren with their coats.)

Micky: Time to head out, Laur. I'll give you a lift home.

Lauren: *smiles* Okay, thanks. *turns* You gonna hang around, Mike?

Mike: Yeah. Em hasn't shown up yet. She was supposed to meet me here almost an hour ago! Mick, you didn't see her at the door, did ya?

Micky: *thinks a moment* Nope. Matter of fact I haven't seen her for a while. Then again, I was using the men's room for a while at one point to relieve myself. ;

Mike: Ok, TOOO much information there. You two crazy kids go home. I'll stay here and wait a little longer.

(Micky and Lauren head out. Mike sighs and leans back. He and Alex are practically the only ones left besides a few bus boys.)

Mike: (Goes to the bar) I want the strongest whiskey you have, on the rocks, and make it a double.

Mike: (Growls) I can't believe she'd...she CAN'T have! She said she had INFORMATION!

Alex: Coming right up, my good man. *grabs a glass from under the counter, then pulls a bottle from the shelf behind the bar; fills the glass with ice & pours the whiskey, then puts two shots of vodka in it; puts the glass in front of Mike*

Mike: (Sips the whiskey) Good stuff. Top of the line?

Alex: Of course!

Mike: Yeah. Good stuff. (He's quiet for a few minutes before pounding his fist on the bar) DAMN IT! Damn her! I thought...aww, I don't know WHAT I thought. (Slugs it and pushes it away) Gimme 'nother one.

Alex: You got it. *repeats the process and puts the fresh drink in front of Mike*

Mike: Thanks. (Slugs the second drink) You seen her? Pretty little thing, voice like an angel, mouth like a sailor? She's a reporter for some paper or the other, some writin' Nancy Drew...

Alex: I saw her, but that was a long while ago, I'm afraid.

Mike: Thought she loved me. (Slams the drink down) Probably just loved what I knew. She smelled a story. (Looks at Alex with bleary eyes) 'More. (Slams the bar again) Damn her!

*Alex repeats the process for the drink again, but this time adds a drop from a bottle just beyond where the other bottles are collected. He sets the drink in front of Mike.*

Mike: (Looks at Alex) You ever found a girl like that? I ain't had anyone I really wanted since....well, in a REAL long time. (He lifts his glass) To all the chicks who stand you up. May they fall down on their faces. (He slugs it again and grins) Hey, this ain't bad. Good stuff. I have to...find...her... (He starts to stand, but he wobbles) What's wrong...with...me...head...room spinnin'... (He tries to move shakily across the room before collapsing against a table, unconscious)

(Alex gets out from behind the bar as two of his men join him next to Mike.)

Man 2: This the guy?

Alex: This is the guy.

Man 3: What you want with him? He's the bandleader guy!

Alex: I just need him to talk to someone for me.

Man 1: (Pulls Mike into his arms) At least he ain't heavy.

Man 2: (Pulls away from Mike's face) Whew! What did you give him? He smells like my old lady's liquor cabinet. :p

Alex: Yet he stills smells better than you idiots!

Man 2: He's gonna be fun to get to talk. And he sings good, too!

Man 3: Let's bring him in the secret room! (We see Alex rolling his eyes as the men carry Mike to the back of the nightclub)