Disclaimer: This revision is based on the episode "Livin' Large" by Mark Drop.

Act I Scene 1

Those were no ordinary house sparrows twittering in the trees that shaded Condescension Lane, but rare Golden-Throated Warblers and Blue Buntings. Jewel-toned hummingbirds hovered above the flowerbeds in front of number 7, busily harvesting the sweet nectar from the honeysuckle and trumpet vines, totally indifferent to the hectic comings and goings as delivery truck after delivery truck after delivery truck cycled through the semi-circular driveway:

Antiques-R-Us
Town and Country Couture
Lord Leopold's House of Lighting Design
No-Sweat Home Gym Equipment

Jack emerged onto the veranda, the remains of a smashed flat-panel television tucked under one arm as he waved good-bye to the delivery truck from Care-Less Hi-End Electronics. "Thanks for everything, fellas! And don't worry about the one you dropped, we'll just buy another one. Or maybe six. We're rich!"

Just as the electronics delivery truck was leaving, the moving van rolled in. Jack tossed what was left of the television into a boxwood hedge as he lumbered across the lawn to meet it. "Finally! I was beginning to think you guys had gotten lost, or sucked into a black hole or something. That lab equipment is our life's work, and totally irreplaceable!"

The burly mover in the passenger seat leaned out his window and spat a glob of tobacco juice at the silver-plated mailbox. "Yeah, sure. Whatever. Where d'ya want it, Mac?"

"Straight across the grand foyer, then downstairs to the billiards room. Or, as I like to call it: FentonWorks II!" He struck a melodramatic, action hero pose. "This time... it's personal."

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me!"

Danny rolled his eyes at his father's over-the-top behavior, then turned away and slumped sullenly on the upholstered window seat. He and his friends had been watching the parade of delivery trucks all morning from the wide windows of his new bedroom. His furniture had been delivered more than an hour ago, but he hadn't shown much interest in his new digs.

Tucker shrugged and tried to lighten the mood. "What's with you, man? Cheer up! I mean, look at your new room. You've got three—count 'em—three big screen TV's! The hugest stereo speakers I've ever seen, hooked up to the tiniest digital music player known to man. And this video game chair?" He sat down in the luxurious high-tech chair, bristling in game controls and surround-sound speakers, and took a spin. "It's heaven in Naugahyde!"

"I know I'm lucky," Danny sighed. "It's just... I'm worried about accessing the Ghost Zone."

"Finally" Sam jumped in eagerly. "I thought I was the only one freaking about your folks selling out."

"What I don't understand—what's driving me crazy—is that none of this makes any sense!" Danny reached around and rubbed the back of his neck, telegraphing his stress and frustration. "Why would any sane person pay that kind of money for an old house with a freaky high-tech Ops Center stuck on top? And a Ghost Portal in the basement? And even if they wanted all that stuff, why would they want us out in less than twenty-four hours?"

Sam sat up straight, suddenly alert. "Hey, Danny? I think I may have just spotted a likely suspect." She pointed over Danny's shoulder and out the window, toward the stately, Romanesque manor right next door.

Danny craned his head to see what she was pointing at—and his heart sank. There was Vlad Masters, standing on his front lawn in his silk pajamas and monogrammed velvet bathrobe, holding his rolled-up Wall Street Journal in a death-grip, glaring sourly at his new neighbor. Of course the fruitloop had to live somewhere! But it had never occurred to Danny to wonder just where the town's new mayor had settled down. Big as his house was (and it was actually just a little bit bigger than theirs) it was definitely a major step down from the Dairy King's castle in Wisconsin. For one thing, it only had about an acre of land, with another mansion (theirs) right next-door. The two homes were only a stone's throw apart, in a juxtaposition that just screamed rivalry.

And speaking of rivalry, Jack was already bounding across the lawn toward his old college chum. From their vantage point in the second floor windows, the kids strained with little success to hear the conversation between the two men. From body language they could guess that Jack was relaying the story of his remarkable good fortune, and Vlad was barely suppressing the urge to blast him into next month.

Tucker whispered, "But why in the world would Vlad want to buy your house?"

"Because he wants the Portal," Danny whispered back. "He's been living in Amity Park for what—almost two months, now? That's two months since the Guys in White demolished his castle in Wisconsin, two months without a Ghost Portal, which means two months without ready access to the Ghost Zone."

Sam nodded. "Buy the house, get control of the Fenton Portal. And if he controls the Portal, he can stop you from using it!"

Danny glowered. "Not if I get there first."

Meanwhile, down on the lawn at the dividing line between two properties, Jack was making plans. "...cozy backyard barbecues, and pool parties, and crab feasts, and ice cream socials, and... hey! How about a luau?"

Vlad muttered with disgust, "This was such a nice neighborhood before the riff-raff moved in..."

Suddenly Maddie burst from the front door of her new home. "Jack! You won't believe it! I got lost... in my walk-in closet! She giggled. "I finally got a ride out on my automated shoe rack."

Vlad's expression brightened. "...and neighborhood beautification is i such /i a worthy civic virtue!" He beamed at his beloved as she jogged across the lawn to join them. "Maddie, my dear... how lovely to have you as a neighbor. I had forgotten for a moment... ah, yes. I'll drop over a little later with a 'Welcome to the Block' bundt cake."

"Ooooo!" Jack and Maddie cooed in unison.

"Grrrrr." From his window Danny watched the drama unfold, even though he couldn't quite hear what they were saying—every muscle tensed, fists clenched, eyes glowing green.

Author's note: Well, the biggest change is that Danny suspects Vlad of being behind the sale of FentonWorks. This goes hand-in-hand with my earlier decision to not reveal the Guys in White in the episode's teaser. Vlad will be our Red Herring.

Note that Danny does not realize that Vlad has already installed a Portal in his new home.

In order to set up the Red Herring, I allowed Danny to observe the interaction between Vlad and his parents; at the same time, it was necessary to hide some of what was said. This is easily accomplished by cutting back and forth between the scene on the lawn and the scene in Danny's room. And I have to say: what good is it to introduce Vlad to the story if he and Danny aren't going to interact?

I have also switched around the identities of the delivery trucks. In the episode, the moving truck with their personal possessions delivered a broken lamp, followed by a fancy truck full of brand-new lab equipment. I've replaced that with delivery trucks full of brand new possessions, followed by a moving van full of old lab equipment.

Little things: Hobson does not appear in this scene. He will appear later, as will the milkshakes.

Deepest thanks to all who have reviewed so far. I was pleasantly surprised at the positive response to the first installment, which wasn't all that hugely different from the episode. The changes will be much more significant as the story unfolds!