It was the strangest thing Chea had ever seen. The Beatles and the Monkees in the same room at the same time. She looked at both groups. All four of the Beatles and three of the Monkees. Peter had not returned from bolting from the room. He had seen Livvie, who he thought would eventually become his girlfiend, holding hands with none other than Ringo Starr.
Chea knew from reading tons of bios about the beatles, and of course Mickys own auto-biography that in the real world that the two groups met. It was like a huge music summit type event. At least thats the way it was hyped. It would be the same result if 'Nsync and the Backsteet Boys met in her time. But Chea knew from history, they got along great, and partied together, and were friendly for a long time. Then Chea reminded herself, this was the tv world, things could be a lot different here.
A loud voice brought Chea from her deep thinking.
"It's about time you scrubs got here!" The pubs managed bellowed. He reminded Chea of Mr Babbitt back at home, only british. "I almost hired another band."
"That would be a tragic mistake." John muttered. "25 pounds and all the stale mozzerella sticks a mate could eat, down the drain."
"Hey watch it." Paul said. "If we're ever gonna make it anywhere, this is where we have to start, the bottom."
"Would you like a seat?" Ringo asked Livvie. "You're looking a little peaked.
"I'll be fine. I'm sure its the hospital medication wearing off." She replied. George was putting his coat on a hanger.
The gang looked on at this odd scene.
Brianna looked around. "Isnt someone gonna do something about Peter?" She asked.
Karen sighed. She might as well be talking to her! "I'll go get Peter."
As Karen was about to go, Livvie looked up at her from the door. "Karen?" She called out. "Karen is that you?"
"Uh oh, bus-ted." Micky chuckled.
"Shut up." She said. "Livvie?" She asked as though it was the first time she was seeing her in many years. "What are you doing here?"
"I should ask you the same thing." Livvie said. "Everyone is here." She said happily. She let Ringos hand go. She ran over to their table, and hugged everyone. "Its so good to see you."
"It's only been a few days." Mike said.
"I know but with what I've gone through....I am so glad to see you." She smiled. "Wheres our dear Peter?"
Everyone looked at each other.
"Hes here, well not in this room." Davy said. "He saw you with that man, and he left."
"Man?" Livvie asked. "Oh Ringo!" She said. "He's just a friend. Hes my hero in fact. I got here, and I was going back to my hotel and I was mugged."
"Oh my god, are you all right?" Chea asked.
"I'm fine, now." She said. "The thief tried to steal that big poodle purse. The one I got at the flea market. Anyway he scared the thief away and took me to the hospital when I passed out." Livvie finished. "In fact they just discharged me."
"If you're just friends with Ringo, why were you holding his hand?" Mike asked.
"He invited me to the pub to see his band play." Livvie said. "They're called the eatles. He said they were just starting out and hoped to make it big some day."
"Hmm." Chea said. Livvie looked at her.
"What?" She asked.
"Where we come from, the Beatles were more than just a local band hoping for better times." Chea said. "In fact they were one of, possibly the, biggest bands of our age." She said. "They influenced tons of artists, still do in fact."
Livvie looked surprised. "Wow."
The band walked over to the Monkees table.
"Old fat man there says you were gonna cover for us." John said.
"We were." Mike said. "But since you're here, you can continue your gig now." Micky and Davy looked at him like he was crazy. "I am not stealing another bands gig just to get some money. Plus we're a member short."
"Not anymore." Peter said as he came out.
"Great." Mike said. "One mystery solved."
"Whats the other?" Paul asked.
"Who are you guys? Other than the Beatles." Mike asked.
"I'm John, I sing. John said. "This is Paul, he also sings. This fellow here is Ringo, I'm sure you know. Hes the drummer. And this is George."
"What do you do?" Davy asked.
"Take the leftovers." He deadpanned.
"Okkkay." Micky said. "What are we gonna do?"
"I tell you what." Paul offered. "We have a small band competition. We each play two songs. The audience..." Paul said looking in back of him. "Okay the two guys and Earl....judge us. Whoever wins will play the gig."
"Hey!" They heard the manager yell to them. "I aint playing two groups to sing!"
"Then don't." John said. "Consider tonight a free concert. Then, whoever wins plays a gig tomorrow. That gig you play for."
"That sounds strangely sensible." Mike said. "What do you think guys? We have to be together on this thing."
"I'm all for it." Davy said.
"Me too." Micky said.
"Thats three. Peter?" Mike asked. Peter stared at Livvie. She stared back. "Peter? Whoo hoo." Mike waved his hand in front of his eyes.
"I'm in." Peter said after a minute.
"We are too." Paul said. "Give us a few minutes to decide on what to sing, okay mate?"
"Okay." Davy said.
The Beatles went to their own table. The guys brought a few extra chairs to the table.
"Okay what are we gonna sing?" Mike said. "We have a limited amount of songs. Who knows what those guys have."
"True, since they've only started as Livvie said, they might not have any more material than we do." Davy said.
"What do you think we should play Peter." Micky asked him. "Peter?" He tapped him. Peter stared at Livvie who stared back.
"Okay, I've had enough." Karen got up. "You two go talk in a different room. You gotta resolve whatever the heck is going on here." She said to them both. She grabbed Livvies hand and Peters hand with her free hand. "If you don't, we're not gonna be able to pick two songs till we have all our heads in this."
"Okay." Livvie said. "I have no objection to this. Peter?"
"Sure." Peter said.
"All right." Karen said. "I care about you guys, ok? Something weirds going on here. Uh, yeah, come back when you're done." She let go of Peter and Livvies hand. They looked at each other and went into a side room.
"Nice work mama kar!" Chea called.
"Don't call me that!" Karen said going back to the table. "Maybe once they figure things out, we can figure out how to beat the Beatles."
"Thats like impossible." Chea said.
"Nothings impossible." Karen said.
"How about eating spaghetti underwater?" Micky asked.
Chea nodded and smiled.
"Okay, maybe not everything."
Other room
"I don't know about you but I think Karens suffering from Jet lag." Peter joked as they found a seat. "I'm sorry you got mugged. If I came with you, I would have protected you."
"I know." Livvie said.
"What were you doing out at that time of night anyway?"
"I was looking for a gift shop of some type. Believe it or not, I was thinking of you." Livvie said. "I wanted to send you a post card to tell you that I was all right and that I missed you."
"Why did you come here?" Peter asked, finally deciding to ask what he had had on his mind during the whole trip. "If you were really so unhappy, why didn't you tell me?"
"I don't know. It was hard for me to understand what I was thinking myself." Livvie said. She got up. "You don't know how it feels, to be in a different time and place than you were used to. And that fact that I am actually older than you really blew my mind. The party was a nice effort, I knew you guys meant well, but it was just another reminder of where I came from." She sighed. "I came to England cause I knew my family came from here so long ago. I had a feeling this place would be like home for me. I was here once when I was very young, and I hadnt been here for along time, but everything seemed familiar to me. The smell of the air, the sights. I was feeling pretty good, right up till I got mugged. Then Ringo, he saved me."
"Are you and he...uh....you know." Peter asked.
"Involved with each other?" Livvie asked. He nodded. "He saved me, I was coming to see his band. He was nervous so he held my hand. Thats what you saw."
"Oh." Peter said. "Oh!" He said as it sunk in.
"Ringo was my hero, but only one person is my true hero." Livvie said.
"Who?" Peter asked. Livvie pointed at him. "Ohhhh." He said. "Do you want to go back?"
"Well, I'd have to think about it." She said mulling it over. "How long are you going to stay?"
"A day or two." He replied. "You said that you are older than me. You should know that in 2001, the girls are the same age they are right now, but us guys, are in their 50's! I am almost 60 myself." He said pointing at himself. "If that makes you feel better."
"I will, especially since that means ignoring the fact that when you are sixty, I'm probably the closest thing to being a living mummy!" She thought about it and laughed.
"That doesnt matter to me." Peter said. "As long as you are with me, age doesnt matter. Age only matters when you are wine and cheese. Micky says that I think." Peter stood up. "Let's go back to the room. The guys are waiting for us to help them with the songs." He extended his hand. She took it with a small smile and rose. "What are you gonna tell Ringo?" He asked.
"Nothing." She said. "He's engaged, I think his fiancee' would be a little put out if he hung out with me. She would have been here too, but shes at work, he says."
"Ah jeez what did I have to worry about?" Peter asked.
"You had no idea." Livvie said. "I don't blame you. I love the idea of you being jealous over me."
"Let's hope this is the last time, jealousy is icky." Peter said as they left the room.
Karen looked up as they duo left the other room hand in hand.
"Hey, you did it." Mike said.
"Course I did. I'm Mama Kar, arent I?" Karen said. "I have a rep to maintain." She smiled.
"Hope we didn't miss anything." Peter said. They both sat down.
"Not much." Micky said. "As usual Mike wants to pick the songs."
"And they're all songs we play every day." Chea added. "We might want a little something different."
"I had an idea too." Brianna said. "And no one is listening to me. It's cause I'm short, I know it."
"Well whats your idea?" Micky asked.
"Who says we have to play our songs? Why not just play some songs from 1968? I mean songs that are out now?" Brianna proposed.
Everyone looked at her.
"Thats not a bad idea." Mike said. "But wouldnt they be doing their own songs?" He said referring to the other band.
"They don't have to know they arent ours." Brianna said. "I have two songs picked out in my mind, and one we can all sing together." She said.
"What?" Davy asked.
"You'll see." Brianna said.
It was time to perform and the Monkees were first. The manager of the pub started charging half a pound for admission. Even though it wasnt an official concert, he was hoping to make some money. There was suddenly a two drink minimum too. The guys first chosen song was "Scarborough Fair" which was by Simon and Garfunkel. Right after the first song was performed, the guys noticed that the pub had filled up a bit since they arrived. It was almost half full. Their attention was focused on Brianna who had yet to tell them their second song.
"Creeque Alley." Brianna said. "We'll sing the girl parts and the guys will sing the rest."
"Oh I know that one." Micky said.
"All right, we'll share mikes." Mike said.
They started to play the opening notes while the girls found a place in front of every microphone that was available.
They paused after they finished. The audience stood up and applauded wildly. The pub manager got up on the stage as they guys got off.
"All right, you've heard one, heres the other. Ladies and gentlemen, a local band....the Beatles!"
The gang found a seat as the band started to tune up.
"Now what?" Mike asked.
"We sit here and wait, and hope we win." Karen said.
