Birds in a Gilded Cage

Part 3

STEVE: We'll just have to split up. Valerie…

VALERIE: …I know. Let's go, Fitzhugh.

STEVE: (smiles at her) Barry, you go with Dan.

BARRY: Right, Captain.

STEVE: Meet back here in two hours.

Splitting up, Steve and Mark take the farthest door. Though it is closed, from underneath they see the yellow brightness of a light. Steve cocks his head, listening intensely for any sounds.

STEVE: I don't hear anything.

MARK: Then let's go.

They slide under the door and scan the area for any signs of a cage, box, Betty, or anything that might lead them to her. Seeing the doll house on the table, Steve taps Mark's shoulder, pointing to it.

STEVE: Jackpot.

They run to the table and are about to discuss how to get up there when suddenly they hear a loud sigh, causing both men to jump. Freezing, they look around for an approaching giant, but see none. However, they do see the sleeping Gale on the couch, a long dark coat covering her as she turns over. Relieved, they let themselves relax. Then spot the glass and empty wine bottle next to the couch.

STEVE: I think she's drunk.

Approaching, Steve keeps a cautious eye on the giant as Mark samples the liquid.

MARK: It's wine all right, the imported kind. Yup, she's going to be out of it for a while.

STEVE: Mark, take a look at her, a good look.

The engineer strains to see the woman's side-turned face. Recognizing her, he glances at his friend, amazed.

MARK: If It wasn't for the hairstyle and her being a giant, I couldn't tell her from Betty.

STEVE: Neither could I. Scary, isn't it? Let's go.

Standing under the table, he tosses up the grappling hook, which catches on the edge of the little house.

STEVE: Why don't you wait till I make sure she's there.

Not about to argue with logic, Mark watches him climb up the rope.

Reaching the top, Steve goes to the house and looks in, but he doesn't see anything. Lifting up the giant latch on the front door, he cautiously goes in, carefully searching the rooms. Going upstairs, he finds the stewardess passed out on the bed.

Standing next to the bed, he gives her a gentle shake.

STEVE: Betty, wake up, it's Steve.

When she doesn't move, he shakes her again; she still doesn't stir. He sits down next to her, lifting her into a sitting position.

STEVE: Come on, snap out of it.

Her eyes flicker open, but only for a second.

BETTY: What?

STEVE: Come on, we're leaving.

BETTY: Where we going?

STEVE: Home. (he helps her, swaying and swerving, to her feet) It's Steve. Mark's waiting below.

BETTY: Steve who?

STEVE: Burton!

With his arm around her, he half leads, half carries her to the rope. Holding her up, he leans over the table edge.

STEVE: Mark! I found her, but I need your help. Get up here!

Betty, still half conscious, unexpectedly swings her arms around his neck, kissing him. Momentarily stunned, Steve pulls her arms away. The woman then rests her head against his chest, promptly passing out and sinking to the floor.

STEVE: Betty!

Similar to trying to hold a bag of sand, Steve finds himself sinking to the floor with her.

STEVE: Betty, wake up!

Mark climbs over the top of the table, amused at the sight.

MARK: What the matter with her?

STEVE: She's drunk!

Mark gives the captain a hand lifting the unconscious woman to her feet.

MARK: You know, from the angle at which I was watching, it looked like she kissed you.

STEVE: You're right, it was the angle. Any way we can tie the rope around her and lower her down?

MARK: Not if she stays this way -- too dangerous.

STEVE: What if we…

Footsteps in the corridor cause them to freeze. Looking around, Steve nods towards…

STEVE: The house!

Half dragging Betty between them, they start for the structure when Steve suddenly remembers…

STEVE: The rope!

As Mark runs back to get it, Steve picks up their companion and carries her inside. He sets her down on the couch just as Mark comes in and the dressing room door opens. Both dive to the floor.

MILLO: Hey, the two most beautiful women in my life! Have I got…

Mark and Steve glance at each other uneasily as they hear the giant's approaching footsteps.

Millo stops, staring at his sleeping client on the couch.

MILLO: …ah, Gale! I guess the big news is gonna have ta wait. Betty, are ya in this evening?

Hearing this, the two little men move as close to the wall as they can get. They hold their breath; the light is momentarily blocked out as the giant looks in. He sees the little lady peacefully asleep on her couch.

MILLO: (straightening up) Nope, ya aren't either. Maybe I can get some work done while I wait.

The small men strain their necks to see out the side window. From there they watch their giant counterpart pull a notepad and several telephone books out of the desk drawer, setting himself up directly in front of the doll house. The engineer points to the radio, but Steve shakes his head no. Peeking at the giant, the two exchange futile looks.

MARK: (whispering) Looks like we're going to be here a while.

Steve nods, trying to get as comfortable as he can. Out in the hallway, the four remaining teammates are uneasily waiting. Obviously, none have had any success in their search.

VALERIE: It's been two and a half hours, Dan. If they were all right, they would have been here by now.

DAN: I agree. Anyone know which door they went in?

FITZHUGH: The farthest one, the one with the light under the door.

DAN: Okay, let's all check it out.

They follow Dan to the room. A little past the doorway is a fire extinguisher.

DAN: (nodding towards extinguisher) Go wait for me over there.

He waits till they've reached safety before going in. Slipping under the door, he peers around the room and sees the giant and the doll house. Recognizing the man and making the logical deduction, he returns to the others.

BARRY: Did you see them?

DAN: No, but the man who took Betty is in there, and so is a doll house. Barry, Fitzhugh, I need you to go create some noise while Valerie and I hide. Think you can find something?

FITZHUGH: Well, I…

BARRY: …The first door is a broom closet.

DAN: Great! Go to it and make it LOUD!

Barry scurries for the door, Fitzhugh reluctantly following after him. Walking inside the slightly open door, they see the broom leaning against the wall, directly opposite a shelf.

BARRY: Think we can swing the broom to hit the shelf?

FITZHUGH: No, but if we can't, we'll find something which will make an even louder distraction, won't we, boy?

The two grab hold of the bristles and pull on the broom with all their weight. After what seems like an eternity of pulling, the item starts to swing. When it gathers enough momentum, they let it go. The wooden handle hits the shelf, knocking a steel bucket off. Frightened at the racket, Fitzhugh lets out a yell, running into the hallway; the yell and crashing bucket echo loudly throughout the building.

Dan and Val look at each other, stifling laughter.

DAN: One thing for Fitzhugh, he sure is resounding!

VALERIE: Yeah, he'd be great at New Year's Eve party.

Inside the room, Millo has heard the noise and decides to check it out. Stepping into the corridor, he listens carefully. As he starts slowly down the hall, Dan dashes into the dressing room.

Reaching the table, he finds Steve already waiting for him.

STEVE: Dan!

DAN: (looking up) Steve! Are you all right?

STEVE: Yeah! Betty's here, but we can't leave. No time to explain -- we'll meet you at the edge of the woods tomorrow.

DAN: Are you sure…?

Millo, coming to the closet door, finds the fallen broom and bucket. Smiling at himself, he uprights the two then returns to the dressing room.

STEVE: …we'll radio if we have trouble. Now go!

Unsure, Dan obeys as his friend retreats into the house. He rejoins Valerie just as Millo walks past, shutting the door after him. Leaning against the wall, the co-pilot lets out a sigh of relief.

DAN: That was close! Come on.

They go down the hallway, joining up with the last two.

DAN: Betty's there, but for reasons Steve couldn't explain, he said not to wait.

FITZHUGH: Not wait?

DAN: That's right. He'll meet us at the edge of the park tomorrow.

FITZHUGH: Why don't you just use… (reaches for radio) the radio to…

DAN: (blocking the man's hand) If it had been safe to call, he would have. Now, he knows what he's doing; we're to wait at the park.

VALERIE: That means all of us, Fitzhugh.

FITZHUGH: I didn't think it meant anyone else, Miss Scott!

Turning, he takes off in a huff.

The sun is high over the trees as Gale finally begins to stir. Hearing her moan, Millo looks over from his work.

MILLO: Good morning. How ya feeling?

GALE: Like every energy cell from my body has been sucked out.

MILLO: Well, ya better get it back real quick because you and the little lady have an audition at three o'clock. (looks at watch) And by the hour of it, ya don't have much time to get ready.

GALE: Audition? With who?

MILLO: Only the biggest producer of shows in the country.

GALE: (dreading) Are you serious?

MILLO: Absolutely. Don't ya want to become rich and famous?

GALE: Right now I just want a glass of water.

Getting up, she goes over to the sink. Holding a glass under the faucet, she turns it on but nothing happens.

GALE: This is going to be one of those mornings.

MILLO: Try the club's kitchen. Tell ya what. Get dressed and I'll take ya out for breakfast, ah lunch.

GALE: Oooh, please don't mention breakfast.

MILLO: Is Betty awake?

GALE: (opening refrigerator) Why don't you go look?

MILLO: What do I look like? A peeking pervert? (knocks on door) Time to get up, my little lady. - She must still be asleep.

GALE: (closes refrigerator door, empty handed) I need a drink of water.

As she heads for the kitchen, Millo follows her out, automatically closing the door behind them.

On the miniature couch, Betty slowly wakes up. Still blurry-eyed, she focuses her eyes enough to see Steve and Mark sitting on the floor before her. She blinks several times, not believing what she's seeing.

MARK: Morning.

STEVE: Sleep well?

Groaning, she buries her head back into the pillow.

BETTY: Ohhh, I thought you weren't coming!

Climbing to their feet, they each take hold of an arm.

MARK: Time to go home, Cinderella.

At the table edge, they throw over the rope with Mark climbing down first. Betty, on the other hand, takes one look over the side and walks in the opposite direction.

BETTY: I can't!

Grabbing her arm, Steve turns her around.

STEVE: Go!

She swallows, getting set to climb down when they hear the singer and her manager coming down the hallway.

STEVE: (calling down) Mark! Hide!

The engineer hides behind the table leg as Steve pulls up the rope. They return to the house where Betty collapses onto the couch as her senior officer hides in a closet.