ROSWELL: WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN - "Damage Control" - ACT II - 04/20/02

ACT II

  8 EXT. LIZ'S BALCONY - SAME

Liz is sitting in her lounge chair, writing in her journal.

LIZ (VO)
I can't believe how close I came to having sex with Max; it was like I was someone else, but still me. A me that was totally out of control. It was scary and exhilarating at the same time. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I like being in control of what happens to me, but at the same time, it was very freeing to not care; to let my emotions lead the way. At first I thought it was just the orb and the flashes that were causing these incredible sensations going through my body, but today, just being near Max brought it all on again. I feel so empty, being apart from him, that I don't think I can last two weeks of separation, even with occasional reprieves at school.

Liz closes her journal, climbs through her window, and places the journal behind the loose brick in her bedroom wall. There is a knock on her bedroom door.

LIZ
Come in.

Liz walks over to the wall calendar by her desk and checks off another day, until her grounding is over. She lifts the calendar page to reveal the month of March. March 8th is enclosed in a heart with the word Max in the middle. Nancy comes in, holding some papers, and sees her checking off the days.

NANCY
Hi Honey. Can we talk?

Liz remains in her desk chair, Nancy sits on the bed.

NANCY (cont'd)
I want you to do some thinking while you are grounded, so that you and Max don't just pick up where you left off. I went on the Internet and printed off some information about teen pregnancies and AIDS--

LIZ
Mom!

Nancy tries to hand her the papers.

NANCY
Just look over the information.

LIZ
Mom, we haven't even slept together! I swear, we just fell asleep.

NANCY
That's good to hear, but I just ... I want you to slow down and be careful. I don't want you to do anything you'll regret.

LIZ
I'm not going to have any regrets. Not with the way I feel about Max. I ... It's just too hard to explain; you won't understand.

NANCY
What won't I understand? That the mere touch of his hand can send sensations through your body that you never dreamed existed? That you spend every waking moment thinking of him, wishing that you could spend every waking moment with him? That when you are apart, every fiber of your being aches to be with him? Is that what I won't understand?
(beat)
Liz, what you are going through is normal.

Nancy raises her hand to stop Liz from interrupting.

NANCY (cont'd)
I'm not saying that what you feel for Max is not special, because I know it is; I had those same feelings for your father. But, as you know, your body is going through many changes right now. Raging hormones may be a cliched expression but it does, pretty much, describe what is happening. Sure, you've heard and understand all the lectures about the perils of unsafe sex and how just one mistake can ruin the rest of your life, but there will be times when your hormones are in charge of your brain and rational thought will desert you. The question is, how will you handle it? Or maybe I should say, how are you handling it?

Liz has gone through a myriad of emotions during her mother's narration, which register on her face and in her body language: shock (my mother has such feelings!?), suspicion (has she been reading my journal?), interest (she's never talked about her feelings for Dad before) and finally the realization that her mother is right. She needs to be careful; she can't let her hormones guide her decisions.

LIZ
Um ... well ... as I said, we haven't done anything yet.

NANCY
"Yet" being the key word here.

(pause)

LIZ
How did you handle it?

NANCY
I'm not gonna kid you, it's not easy. But, whenever I was tempted to throw caution to the wind, I tried to stop, take a breath, and ask myself "How will this effect all the plans I have for myself?"

Liz nods knowingly.

Cut to:

  9 INT. CRASHDOWN - EARLY MORNING

Jeff is preparing an order of pastries and muffins for delivery.

LIZ
Good morning. Do you want some help with those?

JEFF
(startled)
No, I've got this under control.

LIZ
Okay, then I'll start the coffee.

JEFF
Uh, thanks.

Liz sees Jennifer through the window to the back room.

LIZ
Oh, and Dad?

JEFF
Yes?

LIZ
When Jennifer is ready, do you want me to continue training her?

JEFF
Sure, that would be a big help, Lizzie.

Jennifer comes in and we see scenes of Liz pointing out various things behind the counter. Jennifer is asking questions and Liz is answering them but we don't hear the dialogue. Instead we hear this.

LIZ (VO)
Last night I made a decision. I'm going to follow my parents' rules and just ride out this grounding; it's the most logical choice. Thirteen more days feels like forever but I can stay in control that long. Then things will be back to normal. Well, normal for Roswell, at least.

Maria comes in as the voice-over ends. She takes a tiny bottle out of her apron pocket and starts to hand it to Liz.

MARIA
(to Liz)
Here, I brought this for you. It helps with anger.

Jeff walks toward the back with supplies for the order. Liz goes over and opens the door for him.

LIZ
Let me get that for you.

Maria looks at the bottle.

MARIA
Usually you have to sniff it first.

JEN
Are you interested in aromatherapy?

MARIA
Absolutely. Some people don't believe in it but I know it works.

JEN
Me too. I wouldn't have made it through my wedding day without cypress oil.

MARIA
I have to take you to my Mom's shop. She has the best supplies in Roswell.

JEN
That would be great.

MARIA
So, where have you been for the past month?

LIZ
Yeah. You were gone for so long I thought you might have changed your minds about settling in Roswell.

JEN
(brightens)
Oh, we did some travelling after the wedding, which was wonderful, by the way. Larry's really changed. He only wanted to go to a few UFO-related places.

LIZ
Oh.

JEN
He's still into investigating though, gathering information. He's so interested in Roswell; he says that it's full of untold stories.

MARIA
And he wants to tell them?

JEN
(nods)
He has some notes to show a reporter at the local paper.

Liz and Maria speak almost simultaneously.

MARIA
Notes?

LIZ
What's the story about?

JEN
I don't know. He doesn't want me to see it until it's in the paper. I think it's great that after all that time on the road he's so focused on our new home.

Liz looks at Maria nervously.

LIZ
Yeah, really great.

Jeff comes in from the kitchen.

JEFF
Maria, since Liz is training Jennifer, I'll need you to come with me to deliver these to the First National Bank for their breakfast meeting.
(to Liz)
Don't worry, we should be back before the morning rush.

Jeff and Maria leave for the errand. Liz goes behind the counter to get some cleaning rags. She hands one to Jen, who moves to the tables in the middle of the Café and starts wiping one of them down. Liz starts cleaning the counter.

LIZ
(hesitantly)
You know, Jen, Roswell's really like this ordinary place. When you've lived here a while you'll see the truth--

Liz stops in mid-sentence when Valenti comes in. He approaches Liz.

VALENTI
Could you fill my thermos, please?

LIZ
Sure thing, Sheriff.

Valenti looks around while Liz is getting his coffee and spots Jennifer.

VALENTI
(to Jen)
You're new here, aren't you? But you look familiar. Oh, I remember, you were here with Larry Trilling, the day of the shooting. I just saw Larry yesterday.

Cut to Liz's concerned look when she learns Larry has been talking to the Sheriff.

VALENTI (cont'd)
So, you two have moved here?

JEN
Yeah, Larry was finally ready to settle down, and this is where he wants to be. I would have liked some place less connected to his old alien obsession, but ... I'll take what I can get.

Valenti wanders over to the area where Liz was shot. Liz nervously watches him out of the corner of her eye. He looks around and we flashback to Larry asking Valenti about the bullet (from the Pilot).

VALENTI
So, you think he's lost interest in ... what happened here?

Valenti is being purposely vague, but Liz can read between his lines; she knows he and Larry didn't talk about the weather and she is chomping at the bit to tell Max, already calculating how she can get out of the Café. Jen is less aware.

JEN
You mean the shooting? Oh yeah, that's ancient history. Besides, everyone here has been so nice to me, I'm not gonna let him keep bothering them about that.

Jen turns and smiles at Liz, who forces herself to smile back.

LIZ
Here's your coffee, Sheriff.

Valenti takes the thermos.

VALENTI
Thank you. Just put it on my tab, please. You two have a nice day now.

The Sheriff leaves. Liz spots an envelope by the cash register and gets an idea.

LIZ
Jen, I just remembered, I have to mail this check before the morning pick-up. Do you think you'll be okay alone here for a few minutes?

JEN
(pleased that she trusts her so soon)
Sure, no problem.
(beat)
You'll be back before the crowds are due, right?

LIZ
Promise!

Cut to:

  10 INT. UFO CENTER MAIN EXHIBIT AREA - A FEW MINUTES LATER

Liz sees Milton and approaches him.

LIZ
I'm looking for ...

Milton points to an exhibit toward the back.

MILTON
Max. He's over there.

LIZ
Thanks.

Liz rushes over to Max. Max looks surprised to see her and smiles.

MAX
Hey. On the lam already?

LIZ
Can we talk somewhere more private?

MAX
(with a touch of laughter in his voice)
You're not gonna tell me you lost your journal again, are you?

LIZ
No.

Max stops smiling at the look on her face and tone in her voice.

MAX
Okay, let's go to the supply room.

Cut to:

  11 INT. UFO CENTER SUPPLY ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

MAX
So, what's wrong. Did something happen with your parents?

LIZ
No, that's under control. It's Larry. And Valenti. Max, Larry is investigating something and he went to talk to Valenti about it.

MAX
The shooting?

LIZ
I don't know. Jen told Maria and me that Larry was investigating something in Roswell and that he had a reporter interested. Then the Sheriff came in and made a point of saying he'd talked to Larry.

Max is silent for a moment as this sinks in.

MAX
It'll be okay, Liz. We'll figure out what to do.

Max holds Liz. Liz reluctantly pulls away.

LIZ
Max, I'm sorry, I have to go before my father gets back.

Max watches, with a wistful look in his eye, as Liz opens the supply room door and exits.

Cut to:

  12 INT. CRASHDOWN - A FEW MINUTES LATER

Liz enters the Crashdown and finds her father standing there.

JEFF
I don't believe this. I trusted you, Liz. Were you just playing games before?

LIZ
(sounding miserable)
No, I wasn't.

JEFF
Where have you been!? How could you be so irresponsible to leave Jen here, all alone, when it's just her second day? Not to mention that you are grounded, so you are not allowed to leave for personal errands.

LIZ
But it wasn't personal. I saw the check for the paper goods supplier by the register, and I knew you wanted to get it into this morning's pick-up, so I took it before it was too late. Jen said she would be okay, and I was back before it got too busy.

JEFF
I didn't need to get it in this morning's mail, just today's mail.

LIZ
(looks truly sorry)
Oh. I'm sorry, I misunderstood.

JEFF
That's okay, Honey. You meant well. No harm, no foul. Let's get back to work before the rush.

Jeff heads for the back. Liz breathes a sigh of relief, walks over to Maria, pulls the envelope out of her pocket, and surreptitiously hands it to her.

LIZ
(quietly)
Maria, can you make sure this gets in the mail today?

MARIA
Sure, and you'll fill me in on what really made you take off, right?

LIZ
Right.

Liz turns at the sound of the front door opening, as the morning regulars start to pour in.

Cut to:

  13 INT. WEST ROSWELL HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM - DAY

Another empty classroom at school. Max is sitting on the teacher's desk; Liz is sitting beside him, leaning against him. Michael is sitting in one of the student chairs, Maria is sitting on the attached desk; Isabel is sitting in a student chair across from Michael and Maria. Alex enters and heads for the desk next to Isabel, trying to make it look casual, although the desk on the other side of Michael and Maria would have been closer.

ALEX
I'm having definite déjà vu feelings. What's today's crisis?

MARIA
Larry, Valenti, and a reporter separately and together. Take your pick.

ALEX
(seriously)
None of the above.

ISABEL
I don't believe this. How did a reporter get involved?

LIZ
Larry is looking into something--Jen didn't know what--and has notes for a reporter. He's also talked to Valenti.

MICHAEL
It has to be the shooting. He's always been stuck on that.

ISABEL
How did he get anyone to listen to him?

MAX
I don't know about the others but he convinced Milton to hire him by saying he wasn't himself at the Convention.

MICHAEL
What do you mean? Did he tell your weird boss he'd been abducted by an alien?

MAX
No, he said that he had a bad reaction to allergy medicine. Made him act crazy.

MICHAEL
Damn. I gave him an excuse.

ALEX
Huh?

MAX
Larry was about to publicly accuse me of being an alien. Michael touched him and made him ... very itchy. He looked pretty foolish.

ALEX
(to Michael)
Remind me not to get you annoyed.

Michael half smiles.

LIZ
We can't do anything about what happened there.

MAX
Right. We need to find out what Larry knows now.

ALEX
Well, if you have any special powers for that, this would be a good time to share.

Michael, Max, and Isabel look at each other.

ISABEL
I could dreamwalk Larry.

ALEX
Dreamwalk?

ISABEL
I can visit people in their dreams, to see how they feel about things.

ALEX
(slightly suspicious)
Really?

MAX
I don't think that will tell us enough. We need to know what he intends to tell this reporter, not how he feels about it.

MICHAEL
Guess we'll just have to do it the old-fashioned way.

Everyone looks at him quizzically.

MICHAEL (cont'd)
Breaking and entering.

ALEX
Getting to know you guys has been so educational.

(pause)

MAX
We should do this as soon as possible.

LIZ
Yeah, from what Jen said, Larry's almost ready to hand over his notes.

ALEX
We need to make sure their place is empty.

ISABEL
(to Liz and Max)
Are Jen and Larry working tonight?

LIZ
No.

Isabel turns to Max, who shakes his head.

MARIA
We can ask them to come out--

MICHAEL
Ask them to leave so we can search the place? Great plan.

MARIA
(sighs)
No, Michael, ask them out to dinner. You know the whole welcome to Roswell thing. Being friendly to newcomers.

MICHAEL
Oh.

ISABEL
Well, it'd have to be you, since Liz and Max are grounded and I don't know them at all. Alex?

ALEX
Met Jen once.

MARIA
Fine. I'll say ... that Liz can't make it, but in the spirit of being co-workers and ... and ... waitressly camaraderie, I really want to do this.

(She ends triumphantly.)

MICHAEL
"Waitressly camaraderie?"

MARIA
(glares)
Do you have a better idea?

MICHAEL
No. That should work. Just take them somewhere where the service sucks, so we have enough time to search the place.

Maria exchanges glances with Liz and Isabel.

LIZ
Um, Michael, you're not going to be searching Larry and Jen's apartment. You'll be at the restaurant with them and Maria.

MICHAEL
What? Why do I have to come!?

MARIA
Michael, we're a couple, they're a couple. Couples do that kind of thing.

MICHAEL
Who says?

Maria looks at Isabel.

ISABEL
It's how things work, Michael. You have to be there.

Michael looks at Alex and Max for support. First Alex, then Max, nod in agreement with the others.

MICHAEL
No way.

Cut to commercial.


END OF ACT II


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