Ok, while I'm doing happy dances, everyone ready for the Holiday Tag Sequence? :)

Mike: (Grins) Sure, darlin'. :)

Davy: I'm ready.

Lauren: Yeah!

Peter: (Dreamily) Uh-huh.

Micky: Sure!

*We begin Christmas morning at Micky and Lauren's house. All of the lights are on. Decorations and unwrapped gifts are everywhere. Everyone lounges in the slightly more furnished living room.*

Mike: (Leans back in the couch) That was a great Christmas.

Bob: Looks like you had a nice haul there.

Micky: I love Christmas!

Emma: (Nods, grinning, as she pages through sheet music) I do, too.

Lauren: Me too!

Mike: After everything that's happened this year, it's nice to just sit back and relax.

(Peter sits dreamily on the chair, holding the book Mike gave him Christmas Eve on his lap, but really just staring into space.)

Davy: (Nods at Peter) 'E's been like that ever since 'e proposed to Valerie.

Emma: I think it's sweet.

Mike: Hey, where's the kiddies? The little kiddies, that is.

Lauren: Upstairs, still sleeping.

Micky: I'll go check on them in a little bit.

Bert: How did it feel to do your first holiday specials?

Emma: Cool. Didn't turn out quite like I'd hoped, especially the second story, but still pretty good.

Mike: And non-damaging. Things got a little scary with Pete for a while, but we did get Barnaby to change his mind about the orphanage.

Micky: That's what matters most!

Mike: I still don't think he was too happy about Valerie or us, but the kids will still have a place to live.

Emma: Not only that, but if Barnaby takes Valerie's suggestion, there will be a smaller mall made up of one floor of larger chain stores, and one of her dad's older grocerias will be renovated.

Davy: Everybody wins. :)

Bob: Here's an easy one: What was your favorite part?

Mike: Flyin' that little plane.

Davy: The Benefit concert. That was so groovy, especially to help the kids.

Lauren: Thw snowball fight, even though it made me homesick for Massachusetts.

Emma: Mike, Peter, and I doing "Hark the Herold Angels Sing" on the KLAC Christmas special.

Micky: Driving that tank, man! *crows* :D

Davy: (Chuckles) Figahs. I STILL think we must 'ave been off our birds for lettin' you in that!

Mike: (Nudges Peter) What about you, Pete? Pete? (Snaps his fingers in front of his best friend's face) Peter!

Peter: (Looks up) Huh?

Micky: We've lost him.

Mike: What was your favorite part of the story?

Peter: Oh. Um, proposing to Valerie.

Emma: Naturally.

Micky: Imagine that... ;)

Bert: This was your second time doing a "variety show"-type format. How did it feel, and how did this one differ from your last "variety show?"

Peter: I liked this one better. There were no devils, no "wind-up men," and we didn't end up in the 50s!

Mike: Oh, man, these two specials were like night and day!

Lauren: Yeah, this one wasn't evil.

Emma: Well, for one thing, the KLAC show was intended for families. Even if "33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee" was intended for families, it's NOT the sort of thing I'd show a family audience today, even in our version. The differences between the two specials are a good example of how far the "variety" format can be taken. The worst that happened in the KLAC special was we confused some of the staff when the guys invaded the "Nutcracker" skit.

Davy: I 'ope those folks invite us back sometime. They ended up bein' nice people, and good performahs.

Micky: *grins* That was fun!

Mike: Yeah, it wasn't bad. The staff just needed to warm up to us, that's all.

Emma: (Sighs) There was something else we wanted to do with the first story. The staff reacted badly to you guys, especially Arthur Rupert, because they felt threatened by you, and they didn't understand your ways or the kind of music you play.

Peter: We didn't want to hurt anyone! We just wanted to play music and have fun!

Emma: Your idea of fun is different from theirs, Peter. The variety show story is our first story to really discuss a topic that was on the minds of many people of all ages in 1969 in real life - the generation gap.

Lauren: It won't be that last, either.

Mike: Yeah, we're lucky most of the old folks in the neighborhood like us and understand that we're different than them, but a lot of people ain't like that.

Emma: We're going to cover the generation gap and the changes in show business more thouroughly in an upcoming story, likely in the early spring.

Peter: Changes?

Mike: Man, Pete, ten years ago, TV didn't have color! Now half of everyone has color TV!

Davy: Ten years befoh THAT, there weren't no TV at all, and everyone listened to people like Arthur Rupaht and Prissy Green on the radio.

Emma: Don't forget the musical changes. In 1959, rock was just getting started!

Micky: That's right. What we do is still new.

Mike: Yeah, Pete, you forget, rock as you and I know it ain't been around long.

Peter: Like with the circus performers a few years ago. They were upset because they thought all the rock groups and discoteques were taking their business.

Micky: Mendrek thought the same thing.

Emma: That's happening to a lot of older show buisness troupes. Radio had to completely change how it formats its time and does buisness, and the big movie studios no longer have their own movie chains and lots and contracted stars.

Davy: Same deal wit' the folks at KLAC. They liked 'ow they did theih special befoah, and saw no need to do it any othah way, even though it no longah fit the times.

Mike: (Shrugs) That's survival. You either adapt, or you die out. The circus people and Mendrek found that out.

Emma: Captain Crocodile did too, the hard way.

Mike: Yeah, he couldn't adapt to the changes in his show and ended up gettin' HIMSELF booted.

Lauren: Unfortunately, that's the way showbiz goes sometimes.

Peter: I hope KLAC survives long enough for us to do another Christmas special. I want to play "Christmas Is My Time of Year" on TV again!

Micky: Me too! :D

Mike: That Nutcracker skit was kinda fun.

Bert: How did it feel to do the second story, with the elaborate snow and shrinking special effects, not to mention dance with toys?

Davy: Groovy!

Lauren: That was fun! :D

Micky: Fun, if a little tiring. ;) :D

Emma: The computer work on the Barbie doll party was amazing. (To the audience) Yes, Francie, Truly Scrumptious, and Skipper were all Barbie dolls of 1969. Ken, Barbie, and Christie dolls are still being sold today, not to mention GI Joes and variations on the plastic cowboys and army men. Crissy was also a real 1969 fashion doll, according to the research I've done, sold by Ideal.

Lauren: (Nods at the boys) There's dolls of you guys, too.

Mike: I THOUGHT I saw somethin' like that!

Emma: We read somewhere that minature doll versions of late-60s celebrities were made, and yes, they did all four of you. ;)

Micky: Aw man, I missed them!

Bob: Speaking of "Crissy," how did it feel to work with a kid? :)

Peter: It was so much fun! Chrissy's a great kid. Valerie adores her.

Lauren: Not much different from dealing with Mick. *Micky sticks his tongue out at her.*

Lauren: No, I'm sorry, Chrissy was better behaved.

Peter: (As everyone laughs) Valerie called earlier this morning. She told her grandparents, dad, and Chrissy about our engagement. Chrissy's already planning our wedding. She wants to be flower girl, she wants huge roses for our flower arrangements, she wants a poofy dress with a lot of petticoats, and she wants a BIG chocolate cake!

Mike: When are you guys gonna get married?

Peter: (Absently) Sometime in June. We haven't worked out all the details yet.

Davy: That's really romantic, Petah, gettin' married in June.

Peter: Mike, you'll be my best man, of course, and you'll all play at our wedding.

Mike: (Grins) Wouldn't miss it, buddy.

Micky: All right! :D

Peter: (Sighs and settles back in his chair) I can't believe it...she really likes me...

Bob: There's a question, Peter. How do you feel, now that you're engaged?

Peter: Oh, man, like I'm walking on air! I've gotta write a song about this.

Micky: I knew he was gonna say something like that.

Mike: He's Pete. Music always comes first.

Peter: Not anymore. (Sighs dreamily) Valerie comes first. She says she's going to get people working on the Montgomery House as soon as the holidays are over. (To the others) You're all going to help me move in when the House is done, right? Maybe we can even give it a better name than "The Montgomery House."

Micky: *makes a bit of a face* ANYTHING but that name.

Emma: Too many nasty memories connected to that name.

Lauren: No kidding.

Peter: That's why I want to change it, Valerie too. It has too many negative associations for us and the neighborhood.

Micky: *thinks* "Belgravia?"

*Lauren rolls her eyes.*

Peter: I'm sure we'll come up with SOMETHING before the house is done!

Bert: What's next? Any major changes in sight between sets?

Emma: (Shakes her head) Not this month. All we'll be doing is adding a few prose stories. It's just too busy for both of us in December to do much more.

Lauren: I've already added one.

Emma: Hey, why didn't you tell me?

Lauren: I posted it late last night and I forgot until you just mentioned it. ;)

Emma: Ahhh. I just read it, since it's very short. Cute. (Smiles at Micky) Don't feel bad, Mick. It only snows in southern New Jersey on Christmas once in a very blue moon. We're lucky if we get a white Valentine's Day, much less a white Christmas!

Mike: And it NEVER snowed in the part of Texas I grew up in.

Peter: Connecticut ALWAYS had white Christmases! I know how you feel, Lauren. Sometimes, I miss it, too.

Lauren: It was REALLY nice of him to make it snow, even if it DID totall wipe him out. :D ;)

Micky: *smiles and shrugs* Just the kinda guy I am.

Davy: It always snowed in Manchester for Christmas. I kinda miss it, too.

Peter: You made it snow in Woody's Toyland for Chrissy, too, Mick, and you girls. That was really sweet of you. Valerie says she's only seen snow once or twice on skiing trips. :)

Emma: Kids should be happy at Christmas. (Grins) Hey, guys? (Goes in the kitchen - returns with a plate of cake-like bread slices studded with dark red and dark brown bits) Would anyone like a slice of cranberry-chocolate-chip bread? I baked it yesterday evening and warmed it up in Mick and Lauren's kitchen. :)

Micky: ME! :D

Mike: I was wonderin' what you were tryin' to hide yesterday, darlin'.

Emma: If I hadn't hidden the bread and the batter, you and Peter and Davy would have snitched so much, we wouldn't be eating it now!

Peter: We wouldn't do that!

Micky: Oh please!

Peter: Oooh, cranberry bread, just like in Connecticut! :)

Lauren: That sounds yummy!

Davy: Sounds good ovah 'ere.

(Emma hands out small plates and puts the platter of cranberry-chocolate bread slices on the coffee table.)

Emma: Grab it and growl, folks.

Mike: Oh, man, darlin', that smells good. (grabs a slice and munches on it)

Peter: (Between bites) Just like my grandma used to make!

Davy: (Swallows his) Very nice, luv.

Micky: Lemme at it! *grabs a slice and takes a big bite; mouth full* Oh, man! :D

Emma: (Blushes) It meets with your approval?

Mike: Many times over.

Micky: Always! :D

(Two suited hands reach out and take slices. There's sounds of munching from offstage.)

Bob: (Audible munching) Hey (munch-munch), these are (munch) pretty good!

Bert: We should have you (gobble, yum!) do office parties.

Davy: Even the producahs are impressed!

Lauren: There you go!

Emma: (Blushes) Oh, man...

Bob: (As the hand reaches for another slice) So, what's on tap for the first story set of the year?

Emma: (Grins) The return of two major villians, one from the "Dream World" series, one from the original "Monkees" show.

Mike: (Nearly chokes on his cranberry bread) Oh, man, darlin', it's not who I THINK it is.

Micky: Uh oh.

Emma: You'll see.

Peter: I hate it when they say that.

Lauren: It won't be THAT bad.

Emma: We have a little fun with body-switching on tap for the first story, and and some playing with, ahem, spit personalities in the second. ;)

Mike: (Eyes nearly hit the celing) Oh, man, honey, you WOULDN'T...

(Emma just grins.)

Micky: Sounds like she would.

Emma: As we mentioned in the last set, the next four stories are going to cover a gimmick. You four guys are each going to encounter a villian you met in the original show done "Dream World" style.

Mike: Meanin', we're in for a lot of deep shit in the next four months.

Peter: I don't like the sound of that.

Micky: *eyes widen* Oh, crap.

Emma: Our readers should expect the next set sometime in mid-late January. These last two sets have been early due to the holidays.

Mike: How bad is it gonna be?

Emma: Just bad enough, honey.

Mike: Oh MAJOR crap.

Micky: *frowns* I'm not even gonna ask if I can not be here. I already know the answer. :P

Davy: You asked that LAST month and got the same answer! You KNOW we cahn't 'ide from the girls! :p

Micky: I've asked that EVERY month.

Bert: Something else that got discussed a lot in the later story especially - limits. We found out the limits of your powers in the second story.

Emma: We've been able to do just about EVERYTHING up to this point, but there are some things even us girls and Micky can't do without getting really worn out.

Micky: No kidding. :P

Mike: Everyone has limits. It's just a matter of knowing yours and respectin' them.

Micky: *looks sheepish* I knew that was my limit. *shrugs* I wanted the snow.

Peter: (Nods) I can feel everything, even things I don't want to feel from people. Shelia was so evil, I almost felt sick around her from her horrible vibes. I only get a real good feel for a person when I put my hand on them, though.

Davy: I'd like to know where that power of Petah's came from.

Peter: I asked Ursula. She says she had nothing to do with it. I was apparently born with it, and so was my ancestor.

Mike: No wonder you're so sensitive and cryin' and everythin'.

Lauren: That's neat.

Peter: I don't know about the crying, (smiles) but I think that IS a big part of the sensitivity.

Davy: I'm kinda glad we ain't 'ad any major villians in these last few stories.

Peter: (Nods) Barnaby was mean at first, but I think being locked in the Lincoln Log cabin gave him a chance to think a lot of things over.

Mike: And the staff at KLAC weren't bad people, just out of step.

Micky: The only thing about no major villains is that the girls are gonna make up for this lack.

*Lauren just grins.*

Emma: Next month, fellas. We wanted to give you guys and our readers a break for the holidays. That's one of the main reasons these were just nice, light stories.

Micky: *unenthused* Yay. Something to look forward to.

Emma: Don't worry, Mick. You won't get it too badly next month.

Micky: Wonderful. *pauses* I think I have twins to check on. *heads for the stairs*

Peter: (Whimpers) Valerie and I are going to be able to get married, right? I really am looking forward to THAT! :o :(

Emma: Don't worry, Peter. You and Valerie will be able to have your wedding.

Mike: But not before some nasty chick goes after you and sends a nasty guy after Valerie first.

Lauren: Something like that.

(Peter whimpers and hides under a blanket hanging on the chair.)

Peter: (Peeks out from under the blanket) She wouldn't try to do to me what Shelia did to Mike and what Lady Plaisir did to Micky, would she?

Emma: All I can say is the usual, Peter. You'll see.

Mike: I wish you'd say somethin' else.

Emma: Well, you will!

Lauren: You'll find out? ;)

Emma: The other reason these stories were short and lighter in tone was to give Lauren and me a break. The last two story sets have been fairly heavy, and we both figured our minds would be elsewhere by the time we did this one.

Lauren: And it gave us a chance to work on stories to come later, too. ;)

Emma: This is another story we came up with along with the last two story sets in mid-late summer, although we didn't come up with the particulars until the last few weeks. I guess it's kind of obvious, especially in the second story, that these weren't quite as well-planned as the last few sets.

Lauren: It still came out well.

Peter: I had fun in the toy store. (Makes a face) Except for when Barnaby and the GI Joes were holding those scissors over me. If Mike and the rest of you hadn't shown up when you did, they might have cut me in half!

Davy: I liked it best when we all sat down for that Christmas dinnah in the doll 'ouse. That was really groovy.

Peter: And Chrissy, Valerie, and I got to play for you guys! :D

Lauren: The doll house was great!

Emma: That was a last-minute improv, based after some photographs of a doll house collection I saw in one of my mom's "Christmas With Southern Living" books. (Smiles) And that DID turn out well, for a last-minute idea. It brought a bit of warmth and hominess that was missing from the second story at that point.

Micky: *as he returns* And a great place to take a snooze!

Mike: (Gets up and stands under a sprig of green and white in the archway between the living room and dining room) Hey, darlin', guess what this is? ;) :X

Emma: (Joins him under it) Asparagus and a red shoelace.

Lauren: As long as it isn't poison ivy.

(Mike gives her a deep kiss. They both look a little dazed afterwords.)

Peter: That's so sweet!

*Micky elbows Lauren.* ;)

Davy: I thought we forgot the mistletoe.

Micky: *grins* It's OUR house.

Lauren: You wouldn't seriously think that Mick would forget the mistletoe, would you? ;)

(Mike just jerks a thumb at the mistletoe before sitting back down on the couch, joined slowly by a breathless Emma.)

Mike: Mick, your turn.

*Lauren snickers.* ;)

Micky: Gladly! *pulls Lauren up and drags her over to the mistletoe; he dips her and plants one on her*

Davy: (Grins at Micky and Lauren) Woo HOO! Get 'er, Mick!

Peter: Wow! (Turns a little red)

Emma: Reminds me of something ELSE we have planned for next month.

Mike: Should I ask what, honey?

(Emma smiles and rubs her middle.)

Mike: You hungry, honey?

Emma: (Sighs) Never mind.

Lauren: *after they come up for air; fans herself* What were we talking about? *Micky just grins*

(The other four almost fall over laughing.)

Emma: (Turns to the camera, fanning herself) I think this would be a good place to say good-bye.

Lauren: *a bit dazedly* Huh? Oh yeah...

Mike: (Nods; to the camera) We at the "Dream World" series would like to wish all of our readers out there the warmest and happiest of holidays.

Davy: Whether you live in New England, Northern England, New Jersey, Texas, California, or anywhere in between or ovah or undah, we all 'ope you 'ave a safe and 'appy 'oliday season wit' your own families.

Micky: And don't forget the mistletoe! ;)

Emma: We've had a great time this year writing these stories...and we hope to keep entertaining you in the coming months with more.

Lauren: Thanks everyone!

Peter: Christmas is a time of loving and caring and giving (makes a peace sign), and here's hoping that we all have a little peace on earth this year.

All Six: Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all!

(The six sing "We Wish You A Merry Christmas," and as they stand, members of the "crew" gradually wander in and join in. The credits are imposed over the waving cast and "crew" as "Wish You a Merry Christmas" is gradually replaced by "Christmas Is My Time Of Year," followed by the still of the entire group from "Ooh Baby Baby" and the "A Raybert Production" credit.)