(We open backstage. A door creaks open, and a light is switched on. Everyone troops into a long, narrow room filled with mirrors surrounded by lights, drawers, hangers, and chests. Everything is dusty and a little bit cobwebby, but it's not as bad as the main part of the building.)

Sach: (Looks around) Nobody here but us New Yorkers.

Marsha: This musta been one of the dressin' rooms.

Slip: Sach, let’s put Chuck down fer a minute.

Sach: (Nods at the rows of chairs) I think they look sturdy enough.

(They both settle Chuck down on the first chair they find.)

*Chuck's head lulls to one side. His eyes turn to Sach.*

Slip: *flips the corner of Chuck's cape* Wonder what happened to his real clothes?

Butch: They're probably wherever Zelda is.

Sach: Do we wanna know where she is?

Marsha: Not really, if ya ask me.

Butch: Chuck, do you know what happened to Rachel and Sally? Sally wandered through here like a ghost!

Chuck: Necklace...swing... *makes a face* Couldn't stop...

Slip: What?

Butch: They swung a necklace, and that's how they hypnotized you?

Chuck: *Looks at Butch* Yeah.

Slip: Hm. *folds his arms*

Butch: Is that how they hypnotized the girls, too?

Chuck: Uh huh.

Slip: That's just great.

Butch: Chuck...do you remember where they were?

Chuck: Mmm...think so... *starts to push himself up; Slip grabs his arm*

Slip: Guess we're movin' again.

Sach: (Grabs his other side) Could you take 'em to us?

Chuck: Try. *they head back out into the hall*

(As the group heads out into the hallway, something white glides out from behind a panel.)

Marsha: (Gasps) G...gh...ghost!

Slip: Not again.

Chuck: *Looks up* Rachel... *pulls away from Slip and Sach*

Marsha: (She goes up to Rachel) Hey, what happened to you? You look terrible. You never did make a good blond.

(Rachel ignores her and goes to Chuck.)

*Chuck pulls Rachel into a deep kiss.*

Slip: I don't think we're here any more.

Sach: (He throws his hands over his eyes) I don't think I should be seein' this. This ain't for kids.

Slip: Shit.

(Rachel lets Chuck go, then wanders off towards the stage.

Marsha: Come on, Whitey! Let's stop her!

*But Chuck blocks their way.*

Marsha: We've gotta get to her. I hate to do this to ya, Chuckie, 'cause you're my roommate's man, but... (She stomps on his foot with her high heels and grabs Whitey's hand) Come on!

*Chuck nearly stumbles, letting the two get by him.*

Slip: Chuck, let us go get her!

Butch: Chuck, do you want me to belt you again?

*When Chuck looks up, the grin is back.*

Chuck: *Straights* No.

Butch: If you don't let us through, I will.

Sach: (Gulps and jumps behind Slip) He has that crazy look in his eyes again, Chief!

Slip: I noticed that.

*Chuck moves toward Butch.*

Butch: You want another fat lip?

*Chuck swings at Butch.*

(Butch ducks and swings at Chuck...but Chuck grabs his hand.)

*Chuck tightens his grip on Butch's hand.*

Slip: Chuck!

Butch: (Winces) Chuck, stop! You were fine a minute ago. How did this happen?

Slip: *Grabs Chuck's hand and pries it off Butch* Get off him! X(

Butch: (He shakes out his hand) How did you get so strong?

*Chuck laughs mirthlessly and tries to grab at Slip’s neck.*

Slip: Dammit! *pushes back against Chuck as hard as he can* He's off the deep end this time!

Butch: Lay offa him! (He jumps on Chuck's back)

*Chuck tries to swing him off. Slip tries to punch Chuck, but Chuck sees it coming and ends up falling backwards onto Butch.*

Butch: (Rolls out from under him) God, you are getting heavy! What's Louie been feeding you?

*Chuck starts to get up, grinning again.*

Slip: We gotta do som'en or he's just gonna keep comin' back at us.

Sach: (He runs behind Slip again) Chuckie please, don't hurt nobody! I'm young! I have my whole life to live!

*Chuck jumps at Butch, now going for his neck.*

Slip: Damn!

(He bites into Butch....who gasps, then passes out in his best friend's arms.)

Sach: Butchy! (Grabs Slip and hugs him) Oh, don't you leave me, too!

Slip: *his eyes are wide with disbelief* Shit...

*Chuck grins at them as he hoists Butch into a fireman's carry.*

Sach: Chuckie, where are ya goin' wit' Butch?

*Chuck just laughs, walking away from them with Butch in tow.*

Sach: Chuckie, stop!

*Chuck is about to round a corner when we see Jane appear...and stop abruptly. Her eyes widen. She presses herself against the wall as Chuck passes, carrying Butch and chuckling evilly.*

Slip: Shit, Jane...

Sach: Oh, poor Butchy an' Chuckie! Chief, we've gotta save them!

Jane: *Turns as Slip and Sach join her* What happened!?

Slip: We found Rachel. Chuck kissed her and reverted back to...that again. *sighs* Butch passed out, hopefully from fear. Chuck picked him up and walked off with him. We couldn't stop him.

Sach: We're sorry, Jane. We don't know where they went. Marsha an' Whitey chased after Rachel.

*Jane frowns, on the verge of tears.*

Slip: We gotta figger out what the hell's goin' on here.

Sach: (Puts his arm around Jane) Yeah. Let's go find the others.

*Jane nods, still frowning. Slip puts an arm around Jane from the other side, and the three start down the hall.*

(Cut back to the same room Sheila and Zelda used before. Sheila's and Zelda are there. Sheila's admiring a long, glittery gown that looks like spider's webbing with a huge standing collar in a floor-length standing mirror.)

Sheila: Whomever used to own this theater had smashing taste.

Zelda: Looks like something was smashed all right. *sighs* I wonder how they're fairing?

*That's when Chuck walks in, still carrying an unconscious Butch.*

Sheila: Well well, what do we have here?

*Chuck sets Butch in there chair he had been in earlier.*

Zelda: Isn't this nice? A present!

Sheila: It's the little musician, the one who’s Mahoney the Younger's best friend.

Zelda: How very interesting. *goes to the side of the chair and turns Butch's head, revealing the bite marks*

Sheila: You really bit into him? (Makes a face) I can't imagine he tastes very good.

Zelda: Looks more like a pinch to me. Maybe I did go a little too far with the vampire suggestion, though I was sort of hoping he'd use that on me.

Sheila: Please. (She runs her fingers over Butch's red-gold hair as he starts to moan) Now, dear boy, how would you like to have fun with your victim? (Makes a face) Without biting him again.

*Chuck grins again.*

Zelda: *Sighs at Chuck* He has such a nice smile.

Butch: (As his eyes flutter open) Where am I... (frowns) ...Chuck?

Chuck: *Grins at him* Hi, Butchie.

Butch: Chuck, what's going on? (He tries to stand, but Chuck pushes him back down)

Chuck: You're staying put.

Butch: Chuck, what's wrong with you?

Chuck: Nothing's wrong with me. Why do you ask?

Butch: Um, because you bit me and threatened to hit your brother.

Chuck: *Shrugs* You're asking too many questions. *grins in his face* You need to be silenced.

Butch: (Clutches his fists) Chuck, you don't know what you're saying.

Chuck: Yes, I do. *puts an index finger to Butch's lips* Shh.

(Butch bites Chuck's finger.)

Butch: See how you like it! (Spits it out) Incidentally, you do taste terrible.

Chuck: *Cries out and holds his finger, and then slaps Butch's face with his other hand* You ass!

Butch: (Winces; then) Chuck, snap out of it! This isn't you! (He starts to stand again) If I can hit you once...

*Chuck shoves him back down into the chair.*

Sheila: (Comes over with what looks like old silk ropes used to haul curtains and some old curtains as well) You may restrain your victim with these.

Butch: (Starts to stand again) What? Chuck, don't listen to her!

Chuck: Gladly.

*Chuck first wraps the ropes around Butch's wrists, grinning all the while.*

Butch: Chuck, come on. You don't want to do this.

Chuck: Why not? *continues wrapping the rope around him*

Butch: Because we're friends!

Chuck: Are we?

Butch: Yes! Chuck...what about the others? And Sally and Rachel?

Chuck: *Shrugs* Rachel tastes good.

Butch: That's not what I mean! You're not a vampire, Chuck. You're a good guy.

Chuck: *Shakes his head* That wasn't what I meant.

Butch: (Blushes furiously) We're too young for that!

Chuck: *Shrugs again* Never too young.

Butch: You mean...that kiss? (Grins) Can you teach me how to do that with Jane, preferably without the leaving puncture wounds?

Chuck: *Snorts* You talk too much.

Butch: Nahh, that's Sach.

Chuck: Shut up.

Butch: Not as long as you keep talking.

*Chuck glares at him, his eyes staring deeply into Butch's, almost daring him to do something.*

(Butch just stares back, keeping his end of the bargain.)

Sheila: This friend of yours is a little brat!

Butch: Takes one to know one, lady!

Sheila: (Sputters) Why, you little...

*Chuck wails a hard slap against Butch's cheek. Zelda smirks proudly.*

Butch: (Winces; then) You can do what you want, Chuck. I'm not a baby.

*Chuck slaps him again, just as hard.*

Butch: What are you tryin' to do, take my head off?

*Chuck grins.*

Sheila: Perhaps it's time to silence him. He'll be easier to control that way.

Butch: NO!

Chuck: I agree.

Sheila: (Hands him a silk scarf) You can do what you wish with him.

Chuck: Gladly. *ties the scarf tightly over Butch's mouth*

(Butch glares at him, growling through the gag.)