ROSWELL: WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN - "Don't Tell Mama" - ACT I - 06/20/02

ACT I


  6 INT. BITTER LAKE GAZETTE OFFICE - MORNING

Larry is seated in the visitor's chair by a reporter's desk. The reporter is perusing a file. He looks up with a perturbed look on his face.

REPORTER
I can't believe I came in early for ... this! I thought you had something.

He closes the file and tosses it back to Larry.

LARRY
I do! Didn't you read this thoroughly? It's obvious there is a cover-up going on here. I know Hubble didn't leave alone that night.

REPORTER
I need more than supposition to run with a story like this; I need hard evidence.
(beat)
Maybe you can get a deputy to corroborate your suspicions, like--has the sheriff ever done anything else that seemed off. You know what I mean? Get me some real evidence or an eyewitness; then we can talk.

Larry opens his mouth to argue then stops as the reporter's words sink in. He pauses then nods, deep in thought.

Cut to:

  7 INT. LIZ PARKER'S BEDROOM - 15 MINUTES LATER

Liz is packing last minute items into her backpack for the school day ahead. She stops in front of the mirror to adjust her Crashdown uniform collar and put a few stray strands of hair back into place before she puts the packed backpack onto the desk chair. As she hurriedly leaves her room to head downstairs and start her early morning shift, the camera pans in on the list of Max's good qualities that lies on her desk next to a picture of Max in a heart-shaped frame.

Cut to:

  8 INT. CRASHDOWN CAFÉ -CONTINUOUS

Nancy is behind the counter, filling sugars. Liz comes in from the back. She goes up to the counter and stops opposite her mother, crossing her arms and resting them on the counter.

LIZ
I'm reporting in.

Nancy glances up and notices the determined look on Liz's face.

NANCY
You look like you have something to say.

LIZ
I do. I came to a decision and I'd like to discuss it with you.

NANCY
(smiles wryly)
And what might that be about ... as if I didn't know?

Liz looks down as she reaches into her apron pocket. It is obvious she cannot find what she is looking for.

LIZ
(disconcerted)
Shoot! I must have left it upstairs.

NANCY
Left what upstairs?

LIZ
My li--

Liz is interrupted by the sound of the front door opening. Both she and Nancy turn to see Amy entering, carrying several pie boxes.

AMY
(enthusiastically)
Morning!

Amy carries the boxes to the counter and deposits them there.

NANCY
Morning, Amy. How's it going?

AMY
Very well, actually. There is a store in Albuquerque that is interested in some of my little trinkets. I'll be driving up there this weekend to meet the owner, which of course gives me and Maria an excuse to go shopping!

LIZ
Shopping in Albuquerque? What fun!

AMY
Liz, why don't you come too?

Liz glances at her mother, then back at Amy. Her demeanor changes dramatically.

LIZ
(sadly)
That's not an option.

AMY
(realizes her faux pas)
Oh, that's right, you're grounded! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to flaunt our trip in your face. Here, let me give you something to make you feel better.

She starts looking through her purse.

LIZ
That's okay, Mrs. DeLuca. Maria's already offered me aroma--

Amy pulls a chocolate bar out of her purse and hands it to Liz.

AMY
(triumphantly)
Here!

Liz smiles at this unexpected twist. As she reaches for the chocolate bar, her attention is caught by the sight of Max driving slowly by in his Jeep. Amy turns to see what she is looking at. As Max disappears from view, Liz heaves a big sigh, and takes the candy bar.

LIZ
(despondent)
Thanks, I can really use this right now.
(to Nancy)
I need to run upstairs. I'll be back in a few minutes.

Liz exits out the swinging door.

AMY
Why did seeing Max drive by make her so sad? Did they have a fight?

NANCY
No, she's not allowed to see him.

AMY
Oh, right, while she's grounded.

NANCY
No, she's not allowed to see him anymore.

AMY
Why don't you want her to see Max, or is that too personal? I don't mean to pry.

NANCY
No, that's OK. I'm sure you'll understand. Jeff got all bent out of shape when she skipped out on her grounding with Max. Until she started seeing Max, we always could trust her, but now ...
(sighs)
Jeff thinks Max is a bad influence; I think it's just that she's at that age when your emotions are making your decisions for you. A cooling off period will do her a lot of good.

Amy nods, understandingly.

NANCY (cont'd)
(enthusiastically)
Now, let's see what you brought today!

Nancy opens the pie boxes.

NANCY (cont'd)
Oh good, you brought an extra Men In Blackberry; we're always running out of that one.
(beat)
I guess we're all set then. We agreed that you would invoice us on a monthly basis from now on, right?

AMY
Right, it just makes it so much easier. Oh, by the way, the alien-head picks you ordered should be in today; I'll bring them by this afternoon.

They both turn at the sound of the front door opening. Larry comes in, looks around quickly, then looks towards Nancy with a questioning expression on his face.

NANCY
(to Larry)
Jen is in the kitchen.

Larry hesitates.

NANCY (cont'd)
You can go back there to see her.

LARRY
Thanks.

Larry heads out to the back room to get to the kitchen. Amy turns her attention back to Nancy.

AMY
Jen? Who's Jen?

NANCY
Our new waitress; that was her husband Larry.

The look on Nancy's face gives away her opinion of him.

AMY
(assessing the situation)
Not one of your favorite people?

NANCY
(not meaning to be that obvious)
Oh ... no ... it's just that he's so ... intense. I don't mean to imply that there is anything wrong with him; he just rubs me the wrong way.
(beat)
But Jen is real nice.

Amy glances towards the pass-through window into the kitchen and sees Jen with Larry.

AMY
(musing)
I've seen her before. Where have I seen her?
(thinks for a moment)
Oh, I remember. It was during the Convention, when I came in here to drown my sorrows in milkshakes. We got to talking about men and their obsessions.

NANCY
(smiling)
I bet that was an interesting conversation.

AMY
(remembering)
Yes, it was. I wonder if Larry is the guy who she said was obsessed?

Nancy glances in the direction of the pass through window at Larry, then back at Amy.

NANCY
(with assurance)
I'm guessing ... yes!

Cut to:

  9 INT. CRASHDOWN KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

LARRY
So he says if I can get a deputy or eyewitness to corroborate my suspicions, then he might run with the story.

JEN
That's great, Larry. See, I knew someone else would be interested.

LARRY
He's not interested yet; not until I get more information.
(beat)
And do me a favor--don't jinx it this time by telling anyone what I'm doing.

JEN
(frowns, hurt by his accusation)
What should I say if anyone asks how your newspaper story is going? As you just pointed out, I've already mentioned it to others.

LARRY
Tell them... tell them I'm working on a book about life in Roswell. That the newspaper industry is just too fickle for my taste.

Cut to:

  10 INT. CRASHDOWN CAFÉ - SAME

AMY
By the way, where's Maria? I thought she was working this morning.

NANCY
Did she tell you she was?

AMY
No, she doesn't tell me much of anything lately.

NANCY
Trust me, I can relate.

AMY
It's just that when I got up this morning, she was already gone and her bed was made. She never gets up early if she doesn't have to go to work.
(beat)
Where could she have gone? I can't imagine her getting up early for school work.

NANCY
(chuckles, then turns serious)
Michael probably knows where she is. Nowadays, their boyfriends know more about them than we do. If you're concerned, you could try calling his apartment.

Nancy notices Amy's stricken look.

NANCY (cont'd)
What? What's wrong?

AMY
Did you say his apartment?

NANCY
Yes.

AMY
He has his own apartment now? When did this happen? How do you know about it?

NANCY
We just hired him last week as our part-time cook. He starts this afternoon actually.

AMY
(surprised)
He seems young to be a cook.

NANCY
Yes, and we would have preferred someone with more experience, but when Liz heard that Jose was moving out of state, she practically begged us to give Michael a chance. She told us he was recently emancipated, so he has to provide for himself, pay for his apartment, etc.
(smiling)
She promised us he knows enough not to burn the place down.
(beat)
I take it that Maria didn't tell you that her boyfriend has his own place?

AMY
(sarcastically)
No, she didn't. Must have slipped her mind.

Cut to:

  11 INT. MICHAEL'S APARTMENT - 10 MINUTES LATER

Michael is sitting at his kitchen counter, eating from a cereal bowl. The phone rings and he reaches to pick up the receiver.

MICHAEL
Hello.

AMY (VO)
May I speak to Maria please?

MICHAEL
Hold on, let me see if she's out of the shower yet.

Cut to:

  12 INT. DE LUCA KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

Amy holds the receiver away from her and looks at it in shock.

MICHAEL (VO)
(shouting)
Maria! Telephone!

Cut to:

  13 INT. MICHAEL'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

Maria comes into the kitchen, from the bathroom, in a robe and with a towel wrapped around her hair.

MARIA
Who is it?

MICHAEL
(abruptly)
I don't know.
(unsure)
Was I supposed to ask?

Maria picks up the receiver that Michael left on the counter.

MARIA
Hello?

AMY (VO)
Maria! Kitchen! NOW!

MARIA
(shocked)
Mom!?
(looks at Michael in panic, points to receiver and mouths to him)
It's my mom.

MICHAEL
(to himself)
I was supposed to ask.

AMY (VO)
Get home THIS MINUTE!

MARIA
Mom, I have to be at school in 20 minutes, and I'm not even dressed yet.

Maria bites her tongue, realizing she has just released way too much information. The silence on the other end of the phone is deafening. Maria gestures toward her purse. Michael hands it to her. She pulls out her cypress oil.

Cut to:

  14 INT. DE LUCA KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

Amy is inhaling cypress oil. There's a pause, as she lets it take effect. It doesn't; she's still upset.

AMY
I want you to come home straight from school!

Cut to:

  15 INT. MICHAEL'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

MARIA
Um ... Mom, I have to work on a school project after school.

Cut to:

  16 INT. DE LUCA KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

Amy realizes she is losing her advantage here.

AMY
Well then right after that! Do you hear me!?

Cut to:

  17 INT. MICHAEL'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

MARIA
(meekly)
Um ... I have the dinner shift at the Crashdown tonight.

Cut to:

  18 INT. DE LUCA KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

AMY
(defeated but still trying to put up a good front)
Fine! Then right after work!

Cut to:

  19 INT. MICHAEL'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

MARIA
Yes, Mom, right after work. I'll be there!

Cut to commercial.

END OF ACT I


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