(We open at the hunting lodge. The men are sitting in the living room. The General is pacing. Everyone else sits on chairs or couches. Sach eats a bag of peanuts.)

General: Where could that messanger be? What could be keeping him?

Duke: I'm sure he's on his way.

Sach: (There's a knock on the door) Oop! There he is! (Leans over Danny with the bag of peanuts) Want some? I'm always willin' to share!

Danny: *Shakes his head* No, Sach, I don't want any.

Duke: I'll get the door. *Opens the door* Yes?

Rupert: (He comes in, wearing a simple suit and smoking a cigarette and grinning) Hello, pretender.

Sach: (Frowns) We don't want any.

General: What are you doing here?

Rupert: I came to bargain with Kaminsky.

Sach: Who?

Duke: *Folds his arms* We don't know anyone by that name.

Rupert: Come now, gentlemen. I know who he is...and that if he's the real king, I'm Joan of Arc.

Danny: Hello, Joan.

Rupert: Can we talk alone? I want to make a bargain with you.

Danny: Fine. We'll talk alone.

(Cut to the two moving into the kitchen. Duke, Charelton, and Sach all run over to the door, Sach still eating peanuts.)

Rupert: (Turns to Danny) I think we could work with each other.

Danny: How so?

Rupert: You want the princess. Don't deny it. Half the kingdom saw you together at the ball.

Danny: *Sighs* Yes...

Rupert: And we both want Michael out of our hair for good. What if I arranged those conditions?

Danny: What of the King?

Rupert: I know friends who could get rid of him.

Danny: But I don't want you to get rid of him.

Rupert: You'd get it all - the princess, the throne, the glamour.

Danny: *Shakes his head* No deal.

Rupert: Why not? You'd have everything you could ever want.

Danny: I don't want it at the King's expense.

Rupert: The king, the king. You barely know him! And anyway, it isn't him that Deb loves. It's you.

Danny: But...

Rupert: You love the woman, don't you?

Danny: *Nods* Yes.

Rupert: Do you want to see her marry the King, a man she doesn't love? She loves you!

Danny: She doesn't even like him.

Rupert: Exactly! I could get rid of the King and his brother for you, and you could keep the throne and the lovely lady. And I, of course, would work for you under your leadership.

Danny: I...I don't know what to do...

Rupert: (Smirks) Think it over, my good man.

Sach: No way! (He and Duke burst into the room, with Charelton behind them) Danny, you have another life at home!

Charelton: And what about our king? Not to mention, you and Deborah live two very different lives.

Duke: Or did you conveniently FORGET about that again?

Danny: *Bows his head* I want the King to be safe.

Rupert: (Narrows his eyes at the others) You stay out of this. It's his decision.

Sach: Danny, what about Kathy? Don't you love her, too?

Danny: *Nods* But what else do I have there? Nothing! All I have back at home is Kathy!

Sach: Ain't she enough? (Frowns) And you do have somethin'. You have us.

Duke: This isn't your life, Danny! If you stay here, you're going to mess with other people's lives. I know you don't want to do that.

Sach: Yeah. You were just startin' to get things together at home. Besides, we need someone to help us get things together, too. We need to find a new hang-out. Louie just closed, and they're tearin' down the buildin' with the basement we used as kids.

Danny: *Turns to Rupert, but he has very little conviction* No deal. *sulks against the wall*

Sach: (He puts his hand around Danny's shoulder) You're doin' the right thing.

Danny: Good, because it hurts.

Rupert: You're making a mistake, Kaminsky.

Danny: *Loudly* YOU GET OUTTA HERE!

(Rupert narrows his eyes and takes off. But when he gets to the turn, he turns around...and in the blink of an eye, throws a knife right at Danny's head! It misses by an inch and lands in the wall next to him. Charelton chases him, but he's already taken off.)

Sach: (Eyes widen) Wow, he's a good shot.

*Danny's eyes go to the side with the knife, then roll upwards as he slumps in a dead faint.*

Duke: Dammit!

Sach: Danny! Danny! (He shakes his friend) Speak to me!

General: Damned cheeky bastard.

Charelton: (He rejoins them) He's gone. Took off on horseback. He rides like a highwayman.

Duke: I'd love to get my hands on the jerk.

General: Get in line, Mr. Coveletske. I'd love to do some damage to that young rascal myself.

Charelton: He probably went off to complain to Michael about how his little ruse didn’t work.

Duke: I hope he does.

*Danny gives a slight groan as his eyelids start to flutter.*

Sach: Danny! Danny, are you ok? (He slaps his face a little)

Danny: Owwwww...I'm awake...

Sach: Oh Danny! That guy could have killed you! I'm so happy you're alive! (Gives him a very big hug)

Danny: Sach...I can't breathe...

Sach: Sorry! (Lets him go; he lands back on the floor) Oops.

*Danny just groans.*

Duke: *rolls his eyes* Knock it off, Sach.

General: I wonder if he actually meant what he said, or if it was just a ruse to get you in line with Michael?

Duke: I have the feeling he has his own agenda, and it doesn't involve him being Danny's underling.

General: And it probably doesn't involve Michael, either. He may be after the kingdom himself.

Duke: That's what I'm thinking.

Charelton: I wish you'd had the chance to ask Annette about him, Dan. She may know more about that agenda of his.

Danny: *Pushes into a sitting position* I wish I did, too.

(That's when we hear another knock on the door.)

Voice: Hello? Your Majesty?

Danny: *Groans as he gets up* Oh, I hope this one's real.

Sach: Who wants to get it?

Duke: I'll get it again. *goes to the door once more* Yes?

Messanger: (This time, a small, thin man in a simple suit stands on the other side of the door) Hello? (He smiles) Are you the men Miss Astor told me about?

Sach: Well, at least this guy seems friendly.

Duke: Thankfully. Yes, I believe we are they.

Messanger: (He takes his hat in his hand) My name is Darrin Harpsburg, and I'm one of Miss Astor's pages.

Duke: Hello, Mr. Harpsburg. Do you bring a message from Miss Astor?

Messanger: (Nods) Yes, and it's rather urgent. She found out that the King is to be killed by Michael's men tonight.

Sach: Yipes!

Danny: No!

Duke: Holy cats. What else do you have for us?

Messanger: She managed to copy a map of the fortress from an older book on buildings of Ostrania Michael had in his study. (Spreads the map out on the coffee table)

Sach: Wow, this place is big!

Duke: Well, this is a good start...

Sach: Are there any alligators in the moat?

Darrin: (Grins slightly) Not to my knowledge. Some goldfish, a lot of muck, but nothing that will eat humans.

Sach: Maybe one of us could swim the moat an' get the drop on Mike!

General: (Nods) That might not be a bad idea if it can be done under the cover of darkness. We could make it a sneak attack.

Sach: I volunteer Danny!

Danny: Me!?

Sach: Yeah, you're a good swimmer, an' I've seen you use a sword. You could shish-kabob those guys!

General: We'll surround the tower with our troops.

Darrin: Someone is going to have to go downstairs and open the drawbridge. It's very likely that Michael will hardly do it on his own, and everyone can't swim the moat.

Sach: How 'bout Dukey n' me? (Turns to Duke) You can handle knots, right?

Duke: Sure I can. The tighter, the better.

Sach: So we'll go with Danny an' help him open the drawbridge while he finds the king.

General: (Nods) We'll call out our troops and surround the fortress. When you lower the drawbridge, we'll bring 'em in.

Sach: (Hugs Danny again) This is gonna be great! I've never really rescued a king before! I've helped one out, but he wasn't locked in some dungeon. I can't wait!

Danny: *Groans* Sach, will you let me GO!?

Sach: Oop! Sorry! (He drops Danny on his feet this time. We end as the other men chuckle and everyone leans in closer to the plans.)