A/N: Before we begin, I'd like to say sorry if the next song isn't exactly accurate - I had to do it by memory. ^_^

Scene 2: [We come back from commercials with a view of the castle exterior. Cut to interior castle corridor. Dib is hurrying down the corridor next to Zim, trying to dress him in his Prince attire.]

Dib: Why do you do this to me, Your Highness?? [he struggles to button up Zim's vest as Zim squirms uncomfortably]

Zim: Do what??

Dib: Run off like that – without a warning! It's risky!

Zim: [waves a hand dismissively] I was in no danger. You worry too much, big-head-boy. [the pair stop before a red velvet curtain at the end of the hall]

Dib: I'm not worried about you, I'm worried about me!! [puts both hands on his chest for emphasis, and then wrings his hands nervously] I can't keep lying to the Queen! They've got laws against that!! [Zim acts as if he hasn't heard, and walks through the curtains. Dib sighs exasperatedly and shakes his head. Then his head jerks up as a thought strikes him. He calls through the curtains] And my head's not big!!

[Cut to the other side of the curtains as Zim brushes through them]

Zim: You wanted to see me, Mother?

[Cut to a view of the rest of the room. Membrane is seated in a high-backed chair, going over some star maps, dressed in his normal lab coat, but it's been spruced up with gold trimming and his black gloves have fur on the rim. Sam is standing next to him, in an elegant green dress with white gloves and a gold tiara. She looks up at the sound of Zim's voice.]

Sam: Darling! Where have you been? We were just talking about you! [she crosses the room and kneels down to put her hands on his shoulders. She looks back over her shoulder at Membrane] Weren't we, dear?

Membrane: [not looking up from his work] Yes, yes, of course. Whatever you say, dear.

Sam: [frowns] Anyway, [turning back to Zim and standing up] your birthday's coming up soon, isn't it, Zimeriah?

Zim: It's tomorrow, Mother.

Sam: Exactly! [crosses to the table where Membrane is seated, followed by Zim] So we thought we'd through a little get together!!

Zim: Uh huh… [nods, pretty much knowing where this is going]

Sam: Yeah! You know, immediate family and close friends only. [she picks up a scroll and lets it unroll. The scroll rolls across the table, off the table, across the floor and out the door on the opposite side of the room]

Zim: [jaw drops and he snaps it shut. Looks up at Sam, shocked and indignant] Mother!!!

Sam: We're thinking…maybe a few thousand at most. [presses a button on the scroll and it zips up like a measuring tape]

Zim: You can't keep doing this, Mother!! [as he talks, he gets more excited and flails his arms frantically] Last week you threw a ball because I had my wisdom teeth pulled!!

Sam: [kneels down to hug him] And I know how hard that was for you, honey.

Membrane: [proving that he'd been listening to the conversation] And the week before that, you threw one because his favorite TV show was cancelled.

Sam: Oh, go back to tuning us out. [Membrane just shrugs and goes back to his work. Sam turns back to Zim] What you don't seem to realize, son, is that you'll be coming of age tomorrow and–

Membrane: And your mother wants to marry you off.

Zim: Marry me off?? Mother, what for??

Sam: [stands up, sighing dramatically] Isn't it obvious, darling? Your father and I aren't going to live forever and I – I mean we – want to make sure you have an heir to the throne waiting to follow after you! [she puts a hand to her heart and leans against Membrane's chair] Dear, tell him. [Membrane doesn't seem to hear, so she cuts the 'drama queen' act and smacks him upside the head. He winces and stands up]

Membrane: Son…you're mother and I just want you to be happy…

Sam: Exactly! [takes hold of Membrane's arm] And what could make you happier than a ball??

Zim: Mother – I don't want another ball, and I most CERTAINLY don't want to get married!! [he storms out of the room]

Membrane: [looks at Sam] Well…that went well, don't you think?

Sam: [slaps his arm and then calls] Lionel!!

Dib: [peeks his head in between the curtains] Yes, Your Majesty?

Sam: [gestures to him] Come in here. I have a Proclamation from the Prince for you to write.

Dib: [as he fumbles with a scroll and quill] You Highness, I couldn't help overhearing and I really think that–

Sam: Just take this down. [Dib nods and she begins]

"The Prince is Giving a Ball"

Sam: His Royal Highness, Prince Zimeriah Boramir Aragorn Tom Euchariah Francis Sauramon Legolas Frodo–

Dib: [looks up] Frodo??

Sam: [nods] Frodo. Peregrin James – he'll thank us for this later – is giving a ball!!

[Cut to Dib, riding into town on the back of a carriage, scroll in hand as a crowd of villagers gather around him. Dib opens the scroll and begins reading/singing.]

Dib: His Royal Highness, Prince Zimeriah. Son of her Majesty, Queen Samanthia Arwin Athina Genevieve Lilo–

Tak: Lilo??

Dib: [shrugs] Lilo. Is giving a ball!!

Crowd: [cheers] The Queen is giving a ball! The Prince is having a cow!!

[Cut to Tak making her way through the crowd to a snack shop, where Red and Purple are inside, admiring the goodies. As Tak comes in and begins to sing, they both jump in alarm and then become excited (or mock-excited)

Tak: They spread the message through the streets!

The Queen is giving a ball!

She wants to marry off her son and rain doom on us all!

Purple: I'd make the best Queen, wouldn't you say?

Red: He won't give you the time of day!

Tak: Who cares?? We're all doomed anyway!

All Three: The Prince is giving a ball!!

[They leave the shop. Purple sticks his head & torso back in the door, grabs and big lollipop and then disappears again.]

[Cut to the square again. Dib is on the streets now, scroll still held open. He is followed by a squad of servants who are listening intently as he reads from the scroll. It's easy to tell from his expression that he's grateful he didn't have to remember all these upcoming lines.]

Dib: Now listen up, guys. We've lots to do,

And not much time, you see.

The Queen will be pleased. Let's get what we need.

Keep up and follow me.

[Dib leads them to the butcher shop where the roadies start gathering up meat products.]

Dib: Surely we'll need a ton of spam,

And hamburgers to spare.

Order some steaks – fillet mingon,

To have our cooks prepare. [checks off something on the scroll as they move on]

[Next he has them lead him to the vineyard/brewery. The roadies pick up barrels of wine on one side of the street, while a few others dart off and come back with wheelbarrows full of cheese.]

Dib: Next on the list are wines and cheese,

Have plenty for all the guests.

Roll in the kegs in by noon today.

We're sure to have extras left. [makes another mark on the scroll]

[Next stop is the bakery.]

Dib: [pressing his nose against the display case, eyeing it all hungrilly]

Bakery goods are always nice,

Load up the carts with those.

His Highness likes the little ones,

The chocolate donut holes. [makes another check mark and heads out into the streets.]

[He is instantly swept up in the roaring dance number that's going on outside!! He gets spun around by girls with flowers, trampled on by guys with meat, gets a barrel of wine rolled over him, and ends up (as the music get louder and faster) back on the top of the carriage he'd come it. He looks over his scroll wearily as the crowd dances around him.]

All: The Queen is giving a ball!

The Prince is having a cow!!

Dib: [unrolling his scroll trying to read over everything, but he gets confused, which results in the mess of words you see here]

His Royal Highness – 200 tangerines, 300 plums –

Prince Zimeriah – 500 violets, 400 mums –

Boromir Arogorn – strawberries, raspberries –

Son of Her Majesty Queen Samanthia –

Lilies and poppies and roses and daisies –

Son of His Majesty Maximus Membrane –

Cheddar and Blue cheese, and port wine and Swiss –

Tom Euchariah Arwin Athina Sauramon Legolas Peregrin Freida –

All: [stop what they're doing and turn to look at him] FREIDA????

Dib: [exasperatedly] Freida!!

All: Is giving a ball!!!!!!!!!!! [Dib tosses the scroll over his shoulder helplessly as the crowd finishes their dance.]

[The camera cuts to Gaz, standing on her own off to one side of all the commotion. A girl and her father walk by.]

Girl: [in a high-pitched, whiny voice] Need to go to the ball, Daddy!!!

Gaz: Pht. Whiner. [Cut to Commercials.]