*We open in the King's suite where the boys have gathered.*
Blinky: Did you guys find any of them?
Sach: Not Rupert! He disappeared again!
Duke: And now we can't find the girls.
Chuck: And Danny's gone missing, too.
Sach: (Grabs Duke) Don't YOU vanish on me, Dukey! Everyone disappears at this hotel!
Duke: *Takes Sach's own hat and hits him with it* Get ahold of yourself, Sach!
Sach: (Pulls away) Oop! Sorry, Duke! It's just that...how are they gonna have the summit without Danny n' Queen Deb?
Duke: They can't.
Blinky: Where could they be? Did anyone search outside the grounds?
Myron: I looked. There's no sign of them.
Sach: (Frowns) Maybe we should see if the King is ok. He might be able to help.
Duke: Let’s go see.
(They enter the King's room. He's sitting up in bed, an ice pack on his head. He frowns when the others troop in.)
King Josef: What's going on? No one will tell me anything, other than Danny took my place at the summit. (Makes a face) I hope the poor fellow didn't blunder too badly. Frankly, I can barely keep the facts about those rocks straight, as important as they may prove to our economy.
Sach: Everyone's gone!
King Josef: What?
Duke: We can't find any of the ladies, including Queen Deborah or Danny. We also lost track of Rupert.
Blinky: Danny was shot at the summit. It's just a flesh wound, but he's somehow disappeared, along with the others!
King Josef: Shot?
Sach: By that Rupert guy.
King Josef: Rupert's still after me. I wonder who sent him? He's not the type to hold a grudge. He could barely stand my late brother.
Duke: It appears that he IS working for someone.
Duke: All we know is his boss is a woman.
King Josef: A woman?
Sach: (Shrugs) We don't know more n' that. Maybe Danny does.
King Josef: If we knew where HE was.
Rupert: (He enters the room, smirking and followed by a page carrying a packet of papers) Why hello, Your Majesty. Feeling better now?
King Josef: (Narrows his eyes) What have you done with my wife?
Sach: And our friends Danny and Kathy!
Chuck: And Rachel.
Rupert: Rachel? (Turns to Chuck with a smirk) As that the little-dark-haired chit. Pretty thing. I'd rather like to have a go at her myself, after we get those rocks, of course. Want to share?
Chuck: *Growls* You touch her, and so help me I'll tear you apart with my bare hands!
Rupert: Temper temper, little boy. I'm here to make a deal with your king.
King Josef: I'm not going to make deals with the likes of you.
Rupert: My boss says she'll trade the pretender and your ladies for the samples of the rocks you have on you and the rights to exclusively mine the mineral for her own use.
King Josef: But those mines belong to our people!
Rupert: No rocks, no wife or friends.
King Josef: I.... (frowns) ...oh, what CAN I do? I'll have to turn them over!
Sach: Don't do it, your highness!
Page: Um, your highness, that's what I'm here to tell you!
King Josef: (Raises an eyebrow) Rupert, could you leave us alone for a minute to make our decision?
Rupert: (Nods) That's fair. But only five minutes, your Majesty.
Page: (As Rupert exits) Your Majesty, call off the summit! The rocks...
King Josef: Yes?
(All of the Bowery Boys lean against the Page and the bed.)
(Cut to the parlor, where Rupert lays on the couch, reading what would appear to be "Playboy" magazine. He throws the magazine under a couch cushion when Josef comes unsteadily into the room, following the Bowery Boys and the page. They can't help the grins on their faces...except for the page, who looks worried.)
King Josef: On second thought, Rupert, I'd like to consider your offer after all. I do want my wife back, and the other two women are innocents.
Rupert: All of you look rather like the cats who ate the canary. What's going on?
Sach: Nuthin'! There's nuthin' goin' on. Right, Dukey?
Duke: Right.
Rupert: (Frowns, but then shrugs) You'll meet me at the Robber Baron's Lodge at the foot of Mount Arondack. I'll leave the directions with your page.
King Josef: No. We're going with you. I don't trust you.
Rupert: (He pulls back in "shock") Well, that cut me to the quick. How could you not trust little old me? ;)
King Josef: You're a fake, a liar, and a mercenary.
Rupert: And here I thought those were the things you liked about me.
Duke: Those are your high points.
Rupert: I knew you liked me, Mr. Coveletske.
Sach: We don't like you! You're a jerk!
Rupert: Thank you, Mr. Jones. That's quite a compliment. (Nods at the door) Shall we leave, gentlemen? Your ladies and the pretender await.
Sach: (As they head for the door) Do you think this is gonna work, Dukey?
Duke: I hope so.
(Cut to Sheila's mansion. Sheila sits in her living room, reading a book and smirking.)
Sheila: Enjoying yourself, dear?
*Zelda is on the couch. Danny’s there, too. He's laid out next to Zelda, wrists tied together and over his head. Zelda lays on him, cuddling him. The look on Danny's face is a mixture of fear and pain, with his shoulder wound protesting it's current position.*
Zelda: I certainly am! *nuzzles into his neck*
Sheila: Don't hurt him too badly, dear. I think Rupert did something to his shoulder. We'll get a doctor up here to re-wrap it later.
Zelda: I'm being gentle!
*Danny mumbles something into his gag.*
Zelda: Shh. You have my full attention, sweetie. *kisses his neck*
Sheila: I suppose you'll want to keep him after this is all over.
Zelda: I'd like to.
Sheila: I don't know what we're going to do with the women. Any suggestions?
Zelda: *Shrugs* Let Rupert have them?
*Danny's eyes widen. He shakes his head.*
Sheila: If he wants...but I must admit, I'm reluctant to share him. He's quite a dish, isn't he?
Zelda: He's all yours, Sheila.
Sheila: I like that. I haven't had a good man in...days.
(That's when Rupert comes in, followed by King Josef and the Bowery Boys. King Josef carries what looks like a small, locked metal box.)
Rupert: I brought a few gifts for you, Sheila darling!
Sach: So that's the lady boss!
Blinky: Who's she?
Zelda: *Her eyes widen* What's with the sudden party?
Sheila: Allow me to introduce myself for new gentlemen and (turns to the camera) those of you who are just coming in for this part. My name is Sheila Saunders, owner of one of the largest furniture manufacturing and retail business in the United States. (Nods at Zelda) That's Zelda London, my secretary and second-in-command.
*Zelda gives a little wave.*
Blinky: Why is Zelda sitting on Danny?
Sach: That's those chicks’ way of saying they like us.
Blinky: I hope she doesn't like me.
*Danny hollers into his gag.*
Duke: We're not here for games. Let’s make our trade and be done with it.
King Josef: (Nods and hands Sheila the box) Here's what you wanted, Sheila. The rock samples, and the papers that'll sign the mines over to you.
Sach: But we wanna see the chicks first!
King Josef: (Narrows his eyes) Unharmed.
Chuck: That's right.
Sheila: Boys, you can bring them out. (A group of about four or five gangsters push the three women out of the next room. They're all bound and gagged, but yes, they're unharmed...if angry.)
King Josef: Deborah! (He starts towards her, but one of the men pulls out a gun and points it at her. Kathy sees Danny and tries to go to him, but another man holds her back.)
Sheila: The minerals, Josef.
(King Josef nods, unlocks the metal box, and hands it to Sheila. She grins as she looks into the box...but her grin fades quickly as she pulls out an obviously fake brown stone.)
Sheila: (As the Boys burst into laughter) What's this?
Rupert: We were tricked!
King Josef: Did you think I'd give you the real stones and that deed?
Duke: He wouldn't, but I would! *reveals that he has the stones*
Rupert: (Pulls out his sword) Give those to us, Coveletske, before I make you into barbecue.
Duke: Nah, I'd rather play a round of hot potato! *tosses then to Chuck, who tosses them to Myron, who tosses them to Blinky*
King Josef: You Boys keep those rocks away from Sheila. (Grabs a sword from the wall) I'll handle Rupert.
(Blinky tosses them to Sach, who tosses them back to Duke. The men try to catch them, but they keep going over their heads.)
*Duke tosses them to Myron, Myron to Chuck, Chuck to Sach...*
Sach: (Catches the rocks) Chuckie, you an' Myron get the girls!
(Sach and Blinky toss the rocks back and forth. They toss them so fast, the guy watching them gets dizzy and passes out.)
Sheila: (Watches Josef and Rupert duel in the background) If any of you carve your initials into my furniture, you're paying for it!
Sach: Hey Duke, go under! Hike! (He tosses the rock under his legs.)
*Chuck and Myron go to help the girls.*
Kathy: (As Myron unties her) Thanks. You take care of the other two. I'm gonna get Danny.
Myron: Yes, ma'am.
Kathy: (She goes right to Zelda and bodily yanks her off of Danny) That's MY man, sister!
Zelda: I saw him first.
Kathy: He doesn't like you. I don't, either.
*Danny mumbles and nods in agreement.*
Zelda: That hurts.
Kathy: (Pulls the gag off of Danny's mouth) Dear, do you like her?
Danny: Not particularly. *wiggles his fingers* Untie me?
Kathy: You bet. I like you when you move. (She unties him) How's your arm? Is it ok? :O
Danny: It's sore.
Zelda: No!! *pitches a fit*
Kathy: (Glares at Zelda) Two words - GROW UP.
Zelda: And what if I don't want to?
(Kathy decks her as hard as she can on the chin.)
*Zelda goes down like a sack of potatoes.*
(Deborah and Sheila are cheering on Josef and Rupert as they parry and slash their way across the living room.)
*Duke tosses the rocks to Sach.*
Sach: I got it! I got it! (It goes right between his hands...and into the lit fireplace.) I don't got it.
Blinky: (As the rocks begin to smoke in the fireplace) Are they supposed to do that?
Myron: That does not look good.
Sach: Uh-oh. (His eyes widen; at the top of his lungs) EVERYONE OUT!
Duke: LET’S GO!
King Josef: (His eyes widen) Oh, that's the wrong place for those to land. (Turns to the room at large; the goons are already on their way out) Everyone, please leave. The rocks are about to explode.
Sheila: WHAT?! (But we hear a large "boom" and more smoke coming from her fireplace)
Rupert: Don't ask crazy questions! (He grabs sheaths his sword and grabs Zelda) Just go! (Shoves both women out.)
(Cut to the hillside. Everyone stands on the edge of the cliff, holding on for dear life as a noisy explosion goes through Sheila's chimney.)
Sheila: (Wails) MY HOUSE! MY BEAUTIFUL SUMMER HOUSE!!!
Sach: Well...I think most of it is still standing.
Duke: But now you've got free air conditioning.
Sheila: What happened?!
Rupert: I didn't think those little rocks were supposed to do that!
Queen Deborah: I didn't, either. (Turns to her husband) Josef?
King Josef: That page brought information from our top scientists, who had been working on discovering the properties of those rocks in the laboratories in the Ostrania University in downtown Zarinda. (Grins sheepishly at Deborah) Remember how we were talking about taking out the side of the science buildings at Ossie U and adding an addition? Well, um, we don't have to hire a wrecking crew to do it anymore.
Deborah: Those rocks...
King Josef: Seem to be highly unstable. They explode under even the smallest pressure.
Deborah: Like a fire.
Sheila: WHAT ABOUT MY HOUSE?!
King Josef: (Sighs) I do feel badly about this... (small smile) ...but I do hope it's taught you a lesson. How about, in exchange for not telling the police about your little plot to kidnap my wife and two innocent women and have me and a popular nightclub singer assassinated, I aid you in the repairs on your house? It was our rocks that did the damage. You didn't know.
Sheila: Well...
King Josef: It's that or jail, Sheila.
Sheila: (Sighs) I have no choice. I'll take it.
King Josef: It's settled. (Turns first to Rupert) You, however, we can happily take back to Ostrania for crimes against the crown.
Rupert: Oh, not today, Josef old chap. I think I rather like America. (Grins at Sheila, who gives him a sly smile in return) I have no desire to return to the Old Country. There's too many lovely things to see here.
King Josef: Get him, boys!
Rupert: (Kisses Sheila's hand) Farewell, my darling. (Bows to Josef and Danny) Until we meet again, King and pretender! (With that, he steps off the edge of the cliff!)
Sach: (He and Blinky run to the edge) He's gone! He ain't even splatted in the valley!
Sheila: (She smiles) Rupert's too clever for that. He likes dramatic exits. He'll be back again when the heat dies down.
Sheila: I like men like that.
King Josef: (Stands on a ledge, Deborah by his side) I suggest we all return to the Lodge. Miss Saunders, I'll pay for yours and Miss London's room and board while you're there and we work out the logistics involving the repairs on your mansion.
Kathy: (Frowns) What about the summit?
Sach: Yeah! People can't have this stuff! It'll blow everyone's houses sky-high! I don't think a lot of people can live that far up. They'd get nose-bleeds!
*Duke just shakes his head.*
King Josef: We'll continue the summit. We could discuss other sources of energy...and perhaps figure out some ways to stabilize this metal. I still think this element could revolutionize the fuel industry, if we can keep it from "blowing everything sky high," as Mr. Jones put it.
Blinky: What about us?
King Josef: They still need performers at the night club, and they're going to need managers and stagehands. (Turns to Chuck) And how would you like an exclusive interview and a discussion of our new explosive compound?
Chuck: I'd love it, Your Majesty.
Kathy: (Grins at Danny) Do you think you'll be up to this job, with that arm and all?
Danny: *Waves it off* Awe, it's just a little scratch. *glances at it; the bandage is red; he frowns* A NASTY little scratch. *shrugs his unharmed shoulder*
Kathy: We'll see that doctor again as soon as we get back. In the meantime (she kisses him) here's a little something to make it feel better.
*Danny's left grinning dazedly when Kathy pulls away.*
(We fade out on Danny's dazed grin. Fade in on that dazed grin now performing "A Fine Romance" with Kathy. We're in the nightclub that's clearly the same set used in "The Bowery Boys and the Nightclub Nocturne" without the merry-go-round trappings. The Boys all sit at one large table. They clap when the number ends, Sach the loudest.)
Sach: (Stands) Bravo! (Whistles)
Duke: *Hisses and grabs the back of Sach's jacket* Sach!
Sach: Aw, they were good!
Duke: You're too loud.
Danny: *To the crowd* Thank you, everyone! We're gonna take a short break and be right back! *takes Kathy's hand. They leave the stage together and head for the table.*
Kathy: Hi, everyone! (Smiles as Chuck and Rachel join them) Did you get your interview?
Chuck: I did.
Kathy: That's great!
Sach: Is it going to go into the next edition?
Chuck: We'll see.
King Josef: (He and Deborah, now in their royal clothes, join them) Hello, everyone!
Deborah: Enjoying yourselves?
Sach: Oh yeah! I love seein' Danny sing!
Blinky: I know I am.
Danny: How about you? Enjoying the show?
King Josef: Immensely. I regret that you were unable to sing for us last time. Perhaps I'll invite you for a grand performance for the King and Queen of Ostrania?
Kathy: Danny, we just got a royal invitation!
Danny: *Eyes widen* Really!?
King Josef: (Nods) Certainly.
Queen Deborah: You deserve it, for all you've done. All of you. (She smiles at Danny) We're really very proud of you.
Blinky: What about the summit?
King Josef: (Nods) We are continuing it...this time with emphasis on finding a way to stabilize the mineral compound. If it can't be done, we'll discuss other sources of energy.
Queen Deborah: As for Sheila, we talked it over with her, and we are going to pay for the repairs to her mansion. (Makes a face) Starting with she no longer has a stone fireplace, unless she has a need for a very large gap in the back of her house.
Sach: (Makes a face) That ol' Sheila deserves it. She's got other places to live.
King Josef: I think she was really rather upset.
Queen Deborah: You're being too kind-hearted to that woman. She only cared about the money the repairs would cost her.
Danny: Maybe he is being too kind, but I think he's that type of person. *half grin at Josef*
King Josef: Thank you. (Grins) I think that makes two of us.
Queen Deborah: (Kisses Josef) And I wouldn't have it any other way.
Kathy: (Kisses Danny) Me either.
Danny: *Grins at Kathy* Could you repeat that? I think I missed a little bit at the beginning...
Kathy: Sure! (We fade out on Danny's still-dazed grin as Kathy kisses him again.)