The Monkees Season Three
Title: Episode 301: Power to the People!
Author: pippiehippie
Rating: G
Genre: Comedy, season three
Summary: While waiting to see a parade, The Monkees mistakenly enter a gigantic protest march.
TEASER
Exterior: Los Angeles/ Afternoon
The Monkees are shown in the Monkeemobile, with Mike at the wheel, pulling into a parking lot. Once parked, they get out of the car, taking with them folding chairs and a picnic basket. With improvised conversation they begin walking along the sidewalk until they come across some storefronts where they stop. They then decide to set up their chairs. Mike, Micky and Davy set their chairs up with no problem and sit down while Peter has difficulties in trying to unfold his chair.
DAVY
Peter you need any help?
PETER
(Struggling) No I’m fine. I almost got this.
MICKY
(Stands and walks over to Peter) You’re doing it all wrong. Here let me.
Peter hands Micky the chair.
MICKY
See Peter? It’s really simple. (Tries to unfold the chair but it doesn’t work. He keeps trying) Simple really. You just unfold it like this. (Still has trouble) Sometimes these get stuck. You just have to grab it here. (Keeps trying to unfold it but has no luck)
Mike stands next to Micky and taps him on the shoulder. Micky stops and looks at Mike.
MIKE
Allow me. (Takes the chair and unfolds it nicely right away. Then he sets it down.)
MICKY
I was about to do that.
MIKE
Uh-huh sure. (Pats Peter on the shoulder) There you go, buddy.
PETER
(Smiles) Thanks Mike. (Sits down but the chair collapses. Various “aw Peter” phrases follow from the other three)
The four of them sit there, with Peter neglecting to get up and fix his chair, and they appear excited.
DAVY
Man this should be great. I can’t wait for the parade to start.
PETER
I just love a good parade. All the floats and balloons and people in funny costumes.
MICKY
I’m surprised you can see it all from down there.
MIKE
These should be really good seats. I’m just surprised there aren’t any other people here.
Peter jumps up excited and points down the street. The other three stand and look in the direction Peter is pointing.
PETER
It’s starting! It’s starting!
Shot of a large crowd of people marching down the street. They are carrying signs and shouting various generic phrases of protest. The camera switches back to where The Monkees are. Peter remains excited while Mike, Davy and Micky appear confused.
MICKY
That doesn’t look like any parade I’ve ever seen.
MIKE
That’s because it’s not a parade. It’s a- (Gets cut off as the crowd begins to pass them)
MIKE MICKY and DAVY
(Over the crowd) Protest march! (Peter remains oblivious as he smiles and waves at the protesters as they go by)
BLACKOUT AND OPENING CREDITS
ACT ONE; SCENE A
Exterior: Los Angeles/Afternoon.
Right where the last scene left off. Mike, Micky and Davy each appear somewhere between confused and upset as they watch the protesters. Peter is still waving and smiling at the people as they go by but he is a little less enthusiastic about it than before. Davy looks at Peter and has him put his arm down.
DAVY
Don’t do that.
MICKY
How could we have confused a protest march for a parade?
MIKE
Peter you had that flyer last. What does it say?
PETER
(Pulls a folded piece of paper out of his pocket. Unfolds the paper and looks at it as the other three look on) It says the parade is today. According to the parade route on the flyer the parade should be coming right down this road.
MIKE
Are you sure you’re looking at it right, Peter? Maybe you got the date wrong.
PETER
No that’s today’s date.
MIKE
Let me see that. (Peter hands him the paper. While studying the paper) Uh-huh well that’s today’s date and the parade route. There’s only one thing wrong, Peter. You forgot to check the time for the parade. It doesn’t start for more than an hour.
PETER
Well that’s ok. I’ll just set my watch ahead an hour and then the parade will start and we will all be happy.
MICKY
(Into the camera) Isn’t that dumb?
The guys go back to watching the protesters for a second. Peter inadvertently gets pulled into the crowd. Davy turns to speak to him.
DAVY
So Peter what do you think- (Sees that Peter is gone) Peter? (Starts to look for him and steps off the curb, entering the crowd as well)
MIKE
Well I really don’t see any point in us staying here right now. Why don’t we pack up and go somewhere else to wait this out?
MICKY
(Sees that Davy and Peter are gone. Turns back and taps Mike on the shoulder) Hey Mike?
MIKE
What? (Sees they are missing) Peter and Davy are gone! Wh-where’s Peter and Davy?
MICKY
Well how should I know?
MIKE
Ok well they couldn’t have gone far. Let’s split up and look for them.
MICKY
(Nods) Right.
Mike and Micky separate, calling for Davy and Peter. While not paying attention, Micky gets pulled into the seemingly never-ending crowd of protesters. Cut to where Mike is. One of the protesters asks Mike to hold his sign while he bends down to tie his shoe. Another protester, seeing Mike with the sign, pulls him along.
RANDOM PROTESTER 1
Let’s go, man.
MIKE
(Tries to resist) But I- Wait there’s been a mistake!
RANDOM PROTESTER 1
Of course there was! A big mistake! That’s why we’re protesting, man! (Drags Mike along)
CUT TO
SCENE B
Exterior: Los Angeles/Afternoon
Davy is shown ducking and dodging people and their signs as he tries to wriggle his way through the crowd without much luck.
DAVY
Excuse me. Little British guy coming through. (Accidentally bumps into a sign-wielding protester) Sorry, didn’t mean to knock your sign over.
Davy ducks down and attempts to crawl through the crowd of people.
DAVY
Pardon me! Down here! (Crawls through the people until he bumps into the curb) There you are! (Pats the curb) Now I can get out of this mess. (Stands up on the curb and dusts his clothes off) Now to find the fellas.
Davy silently debates which direction to go before he walks away. Cut to Peter in another part of the protest crowd. Momentarily he hops in place in hopes of getting a better view of where he is. Giving up he tries to get the attention of some people nearby.
PETER
(Taps a protester on the shoulder as he walks beside him) Excuse me, mister. Hey mister? I’m trying to get back to the sidewalk. Could you help me out?
Realizing he is being ignored, Peter tries pushing his way through towards the sidewalk.
RANDOM PROTESTER 2
Come on, man! Quit pushing!
PETER
But I’m only trying to get back to my friends.
RANDOM PROTESTER 2
Hey, man, if you’re in this march with everyone else, we are all your friends.
PETER
But you don’t understand!
RANDOM PROTESTER 2
Does anybody really understand anyone?
Cut to another part of the protest march. Micky is heard, but not yet seen, amongst the protesters.
MICKY
(Unseen) Coming through! Outta my way! (Makes it through some protesters and into view next to their neighbor Niles) I’m free!
NILES
(Tossing flowers into the air as he walks) Hey man I dig that.
MICKY
Hey Niles! So glad to see a familiar face. Are you protesting too?
NILES
What protest, man? I’m in the parade! (Puts a flower in Micky’s hair)
MICKY
Yeah a parade of one in your mind it seems. Listen, Niles you wouldn’t know how to get out of here, would you?
NILES
Right on, man. Just head that way. (Points toward the sidewalk)
MICKY
Great. Thanks a lot, Niles. (Pushes his way through the crowd in the direction Niles pointed. Makes it to the sidewalk) I’m free at last! And for real this time.
Micky starts walking along the sidewalk towards where they were once all standing. Cut to where Mike is. He is still carrying the sign and is looking a little frustrated as he walks amongst the protesters. He turns to speak to someone next to him, swinging his sign and nearly hitting the other people with it.
MIKE
Oh I’m sorry. (Turns again, swinging his sign like before) Excuse me! (Starts to turn again but the other people stop him) I’m just trying to get through here, if you guys don’t mind.
Mike tries to squeeze his way through while swinging the sign. Some people dodge his sign as it swings while others get hit. Mike apologizes as he passes people. When he finally reaches the sidewalk, he tries carrying the sign tucked under his arm before walking away.
CUT TO
SCENE C
Exterior: Los Angeles/Afternoon
Peter is shown still in the crowd of protesters trying to get out. He appears unsure about talking to other people around him. After making a few attempts at trying to get their attention, Peter gives up, feeling discouraged. He continues walking alongside the protesters for a few seconds then the tries again at getting someone’s attention by tapping on their shoulder.
PETER
Hey excuse me. (Taps his shoulder again) Hey mister?
RANDOM PROTESTER 3
(Looks at Peter) What do you want?
PETER
I was just trying to get back to my friends. Could you help me?
RANDOM PROTESTER 3
What? Now?
PETER
Well, yeah if you don’t mind. I’m just lost right now.
RANDOM PROTESTER 3
Sorry, man, but I’m not the lost and found. Maybe someone else will help you.
PETER
But… (pouts. Turns to another person) Excuse me, miss. My name is Peter Tork and I need help.
RANDOM FEMALE PROTESTER
(Looks at him up and down)Sorry, man. But I can’t help you.
PETER
No you don’t understand! I lost my friends and I’m trying to get back to them.
RANDOM FEMALE PROTESTER
Well what do they look like? Maybe I’ve seen them.
PETER
Well Mike, you see, he’s kind of tall and has long wavy dark hair. Davy’s short and good looking and British. Pretty mod. Then there’s Micky and he’s about as tall as Mike and he has fuzzy brown hair. And, well, they were all wearing really groovy and colorful clothes.
RANDOM FEMALE PROTESTER
(Briefly looks around) Well based on your descriptions… your friends could be almost anybody here. Good luck finding them, man. Sorry I couldn’t be more help.
PETER
Yeah thanks any way. (Frowns and makes his way to another part of the crowd)
CUT TO
(continued in next post)