(After a period of several months, the four guys would work odd jobs to pay the rent and still find time to practice in-between. The more they practiced with each other, the better it got. The only problem was, Micky and Peter's personalities were clashing...)
Peter: Micky, it's one-two-three; not one-one-two!
Micky: If you don't like the way I'm playing, Peter, you come over here and do it! It's not as easy as it looks!
Peter: It's not as easy as it looks because you won't try. It's one-two-three, bang; one-two-three, bang!
Mike (To Davy): Here we go again. Think we should put a muzzle on them both?
Davy: I think we should tie them up in the same room and not let them leave 'til they talk nicely to each other.
Mike: Nah; I like my idea better. (Davy just laughed along with Mike; to Micky and Peter) Look, you two, our first gig is tonight and we can't have you fighting on stage about whether it's one-two-bang or one-two-three ring! We gotta have it perfect. Let's try it again; only this time, Peter, let *me* do the lead guitar and you try the bass. (Peter picked up the bass guitar) I think it gives it a much edgier sound.
Davy: Does anybody care what I think here? (They looked at him) Micky, can I have a one-two-three beat for a few minutes? (Micky began to hit the stick to the drum so Davy could get the feel of it with his tambourine) Thanks mate. (To Mike) Start us off! (Mike started them off and Peter got mad) Now what's the matter?
Peter: I can't do it! I cannot play if he doesn't listen to the beat! He is throwing me off!
Micky: I'll throw you off all right; right off the stage! You can't keep that bass in tune and you're throwing your *own self* off!
Peter: Maybe if you would learn to practice instead of eating we'd have this down already!
Micky: Ya know what...? This just isn't worth the fuss. We don't even have a name for this group yet and our playing stinks. (Micky stood up and walked off the landing to the couch)
Davy: Will you two please settle yourselves?
Mike: Davy's right. You two have to put aside your differences and start working with each other instead of fussing about who is doing what. This gig tonight is paying the four of us $200 a piece and if you blow it, I'm going to sue your hides!
Micky: And what are you going to sue me for, Mike...? The shirt off my back?
Mike: No; wouldn't want that since you've no style.
Davy: Okay, boys, that is quite enough! Now listen here! I put this group together and therefore *I* am the one who calls all shots here. Micky, will you come back and try again? (Micky grumbled, got up off the couch and walked back to the drums) Peter, leave Micky alone and follow Mike. Mike, start us off!
Mike: One, two...a one-two-three-four! (They began to practice without fighting)
&&&
(Later on that night, the boys got to their gig at the country club and Micky was showing nervousness...)
Peter: Hey, man; calm down!
Micky: Calm down...?! *You* calm down! You don't have stage fright!
Mike: Micky, you're going to be just fine. Ya finally got the beat down during our last few practices. You're gonna be great!
Davy: You can do this mate. You've just got to imagine yourself on a deserted island with a bunch of pretty girls.
Micky (Smiling and easing up as he imagined it): Ah, yes; girls! (He sighed) Okay, let's do it!
Announcer: And now for your dancing pleasures tonight, I present to you a new group…The Monkees!!! (Claps rang out to welcome them)
Micky: The Monkees...? Who decided *that* one?
Davy: Me! You can all thank me later for it! (The curtain went up and without much trouble the boys began to play)
&&&
(After the show was over, a man approached them...)
Man: Duke Bellington; manager of the Topping Boxes. I think you boys have talent. Are you interested in a little bit of a contract?
Mike: What *kind* of contract?
Duke: Well...my buddy and I have an opening for a new TV series. It's about a group of boys living together in a pad trying to pay rent and becoming a rock band in the meantime.
Peter: Hey, that sounds just like...us.
Davy: Well now isn't that just a coincidence?
Mike: Thanks for the offer but...
Micky: We're interested! How much does it pay?
Duke: Boys, you'll be making more money than a bell hop does; and when the checks roll in, you won't believe the outcome.
Davy: Are you really Duke Bellington?
Duke: Yes.
Davy: Let me talk to the boys before we make a decision. (Davy took them over to a small corner) This could be our big chance. You up for it?
Mike: I don't know, man. That's a lot of talk coming from a guy in a suit. You trust him?
Davy: Mike, he's the manager for the Topping Boxes. If we don't take this chance, we may never get one.
Peter: That's a lotta work though; a TV show? I mean, when will we have time to practice?
Davy: We'll figure it out.
Micky: I say we go for it!
Davy: We all in?
Mike: Yeah I guess so.
Peter: Okay; let's do it!
Chapter 2
Chapter 4
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