A/N: This chapter is based on the Mike Nesmith and Frank Zappa tag interview from The Monkees Season 2 episode "Monkees Blow Their Minds" where Mike and Frank talk about joining The Byrds. Shortly afterward, Mike actually plays pedal steel guitar with The Byrds for a show in Berkeley, CA. He also was slated to play the Newport Folk Festival, but he couldn't get permission from Screen Gems and Colgems in time. This chapter is a fictionalized account of how Mike ended up playing with The Byrds.
"Hey Pete, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure, Michael. What's up?"
"It's about Mona."
"What about her?" asks Peter, concerned.
"I think she's losing her muse."
"Losing her muse? How so?"
"She's having doubts about her abilities. She no longer remembers the licks she creates. Remember that lick she composed for "Hangin' 'Round?"
"Yeah." How could Peter forget? He still feels a twinge of pain whenever anyone brings it up, especially Mike.
"Well, I had to record her playing it so she could notate it out."
"So? What's so unusual about that?"
"Well, she didn't always need that."
"Maybe she was just wanted to make sure she got it right."
"Maybe so, but it's not like her."
"Have you talked to her about it?"
"Merciful heavens, no!"
"And why not?"
"I'm afraid it would crush her. She already feels inferior. Me bringing it up would just make her feel incompetent."
"What do you want to do?"
"I have an idea. I want to set up a live gig for her at the Troubadour."
"Wow, Michael. Do you think she'd go for that?"
"I dunno. I think she'd need some convincin'."
"Would you like me to talk to her?"
"Would ya do that for me?"
"Sure. She might respond better if she hears it from me."
"That's what I was thinkin' too. Thanks, Pete."
"You're welcome, Michael."
Now Peter has a mission. He needs to convince Mona that she's still a great musician, and that she should share her gifts with the world or at least the audience at the Troubadour.
Peter thinks to himself, This must be serious if Michael felt he had to talk to me about it. He never opens up about Mona to anyone. Hell, until a few months ago, he'd rarely acknowledge that she's his wife. Who knows Mona better than Michael?
Peter dashes to the Make-up Department to go find Susie Lyndell, Mona's childhood best friend and confidante. She and Mona came out to California together right after they finished high school. Until Mona and Mike moved to their own place, she and Susie shared an apartment.
"Hey, Susie!"
"Hey, Peter! How are you?"
"I'm fine. Hey, can I talk to you privately?"
"Sure. What's up?"
"It's about Mona."
"What did Snide do now? I swear, one of these days I'm going to slap the smug right off his face. I don't know what she sees in that boy."
"No, it's nothing like that."
"Then what is it?"
"It's about her music."
"What about it?"
"Snide... er... Michael is concerned that she's losing her muse."
"Losing her muse? What do you mean by that?"
"She's losing her passion for playing music."
"Oh. Yeah, she's mentioned that to me once or twice. Something about feeling inferior to..."
"To whom?"
"Promise not to get mad?"
"Yeah, I promise."
"You and Snide."
"Me and Michael?"
"Yes. She no longer feels confident playing around you guys."
"Did she say why?"
"Something about being out of practice because of this damn job. She misses being a session player. Her sessions with Stu aren't enough for her to keep her skills sharp. Sometimes she wishes she could just work with Stu full-time and forget the rest of this shit. But she won't give it up because she likes being close to Snide."
"Three Emmys for composing TV scores and she feels inferior..."
"How many gold records do you have?"
"Those don't really count..."
"Not in Mona's head. To her, they count more than her own awards, if that makes sense."
"So, how can we fix this?"
"Fix what?"
"How can we convince Mona that she's the incredible musician that she truly is?"
"You've got to build her confidence. She also needs a vacation, but that ain't happenin'."
"I think I know what she needs."
"What's that?"
"A jam session."
"A what?"
"She needs to play with Michael and I."
"But you all are the problem."
"See, back when we first started this thing, all of us guys would jam together and sometimes Mona would join us. We had a blast. Those jams inspired Mona to write the third part for 'Dueling Banjoes.' She wrote it so that both Michael and I could join her."
"Really? You know, I think you may be onto something. Mona has mentioned something about a 'cosmic connection' she once had with you and Snide. Do you think she may have lost that connection?"
"You know, I think you're right. Thanks, Susie. By the way, please keep this conversation between us, okay? Michael didn't tell me not to tell anyone, but I don't want to take any chances, ya dig?"
"Peter, your secret is safe with me."
"Thanks, you're the best!"
After his meeting with Susie, Peter runs into Mike.
"Hey, Pete! Have you figured anything out yet?"
"Actually, I'm glad to see you because I think I have an idea."
"Well, spill it!"
"We're going to have do this a bit slowly."
Mike narrows his eyes at the blonde bassist. "What do you mean 'slowly?"
"We're going to have to work up her confidence before we can get her on-stage."
"How do we do that?"
"By jamming with her."
"With our current insane schedules?"
"Michael, it's the only way. We'll just have to make time. Anything worth having is worth making sacrifices."
"Pete, you're right."
"You must have patience. Please, trust me."
"I trust you, Pete. When do you wanna come over and jam?"
"Hmm... I was gonna get together with Steve and his buddies from the Springfield, but I can move that to another night if I need to."
"Tonight should work, if you don't mind."
"I'll let Steve know. He'll understand. I promise I won't go into details. I'll just tell him that a musical emergency came up."
"Thanks, Pete."
"You're welcome, Michael."
The two musicians part ways. Mike can't wait to jam with Mona and Peter like old times. Truth be told, he misses their jam sessions too. Between the stress of the show and Michael's continued frustration with the music side, even he's worried about losing his own muse.