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

ACT II


  20 INT. WEST ROSWELL HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAY - 20 MINUTES LATER

Maria, Alex and Liz are walking down the hallway, heading towards their lockers. Maria has obviously been filling them in on what happened.

MARIA
I mean, how did she even find out!? God, I am so dead when I get home today.

LIZ
Maybe it won't be so bad. Your mom is pretty in tune; she remembers what it was like to be a "teenager in love".

MARIA
That's what I'm afraid of.

They reach Maria's locker. She opens it and a paper falls out. It's a flyer for the spring dance. Maria picks it up quickly and shoves it back in the locker.

LIZ
Maria, I know there's a dance coming up.

Liz gestures at the posters advertising the "Spring Blast-Off", dotting the walls.

LIZ (cont'd)
Just because I can't go with Max, doesn't mean you have to hide the fact that you want to go.

MARIA
Are you sure?

LIZ
Absolutely. Why should your lives be ruined? I want you and Alex to go to the dance and have a great time. That way, I can live vicariously through you.

Liz smiles weakly, trying to show them she is sincere.

ALEX
In that case, we'll be sure to have a great time for you.

Liz laughs, a genuine laugh. Alex smiles, pleased to have cheered her up a bit.

LIZ
(to Maria)
So, are you and Michael going to the dance together?

MARIA
Assuming I'm still alive and not grounded or forbidden to see him? Definitely!
(beat)
He's got over a month. That should be long enough for him to notice the posters.
(pause)
I think.

ALEX
I'm pretty sure I have a good chance at going with Isabel. Did I tell you that she kissed me last week?
(beat)
Twice?

MARIA
(teasing)
Just a million times.

ALEX
Oh ... well, anyway, I think the Whitman charm is finally starting to work on her.

MARIA
(pause, concerned)
Just don't get your hopes up too high. You know how fickle she can be. She's left a trail of broken hearts throughout these corridors.

ALEX
Yeah, but that was because she couldn't afford to get close to anyone, because they might find out about ... you know. But I already know about that, so she has nothing to lose with me.

MARIA
I hope you're right, buddy. I really do.

The bell rings and they all head for class.

Cut to:

  21 EXT. WEST ROSWELL HIGH SCHOOL QUAD - DAY

Liz and Max are having lunch at different tables, gazing longingly at each other. Max is alone, but Maria is sitting with Liz, busy eating her sandwich. Alex comes upon the scene and shakes his head in sympathy. He heads for Max's table and sits down. Max turns towards Alex, and Liz turns her attention to her own sandwich and Maria. Alex places his lunch bag on the table, but doesn't open it.

MAX
Aren't you gonna eat?

ALEX
I'm having lunch with Isabel. She had to run an errand off campus, so I'm meeting her in the park in half an hour.

Alex notices that Max hasn't touched his sandwich.

ALEX (cont'd)
Looks like you don't have much of an appetite.

Max looks down at his uneaten sandwich and smiles sheepishly.

MAX
I was, um ... distracted.

He picks up his sandwich and takes a bite.

ALEX
(glancing at Liz's table, then back at Max)
I knew you should have knocked on wood when you uttered those fateful words "Our parents never bother us when we are studying."

Max gives Alex a slightly embarrassed smile and shrugs.

ALEX (cont'd)
(hesitantly, not wanting to pry)
Did they ... um ... did they explain how they found out that you and Liz were AWOL?

MAX
Yeah, it seems my mother was concerned that I might be brooding about Liz, and came by my room to talk to me about it. When she discovered I wasn't there, my father decided to find out if my “partner in crime” had also gone over the wall, so he called the Parkers.

ALEX
Ah! And they, in turn, discovered that Liz was missing.

MAX
Yeah, and invited my parents over to discuss what should be done about it.

ALEX
(wincing)
Ouch!
(beat)
But saying you can never see each other again ... that seems kind of drastic, just for skipping out on your grounding.

MAX
Our parents decided that since we were "model students and kids" before we started dating, we must be a bad influence on each other, and perhaps we shouldn't see one another.

ALEX
Bummer.

Max looks longingly at Liz again, who senses his shift in attention and turns back to look at him.

MAX
Yeah.

Maria captures Liz's attention and Max turns back to Alex.

MAX (cont'd)
But I have hope that things will get better.

Cut to Liz and Maria:

LIZ
So, I don't know why I didn't think of it before. I just have to show my parents what a wonderful guy Max really is--

Cut to Max and Alex.

MAX
Once they get to know her, they'll realize that she's warm, loving, kind, considerate, intelligent, responsible--

Cut to Liz and Maria:

LIZ
... caring, compassionate, smart, level-headed ... well, really, how can they not like him? Right?

MARIA
Absolutely! You'll have them seeing the light of day in no time.

LIZ
(sighs)
It's just the waiting that's the hard part.

MARIA
Well, at least you'll be able to spend time with him today. Luckily the promise you made to your parents, to stay away from each other, didn't include teacher-assigned projects.

LIZ
Yeah, I should bring Mr. Seligman an apple when we go to the lab this afternoon for our science project.
(giggling)
It's the least I can do, considering he's acting as our Friar Lawrence, without even realizing it.

MARIA
(giggling)
OK, Juliet, just remember, our project this afternoon is NOT to make a sleeping potion!

The two of them get into a giggling fit. Michael enters the quad and joins Maria and Liz.

MICHAEL
Hey.

MARIA
(smiling up at him)
Hey right back atcha!

She looks at Michael expectantly. He stares at her, nonplused, not sure what he's forgotten to do. Something dawns on him and he leans down and gives her a peck on the cheek. She's pleased with the public display of affection, but still seems to be expecting something else. Uncomfortable, Michael starts looking around self-consciously, and notices a poster for the dance. He stares at it momentarily. Now he knows for sure what she's expecting and he becomes even more nervous, bites his lower lip, and purposely avoids looking her in the eye.

MICHAEL
Um ... look ... um, I forgot, I have to be someplace. See ya.

Michael takes off. Maria looks shocked. Max, who had been watching, looks puzzled. He gets up.

MAX
(to Alex)
Um ... I'm gonna see what that was all about.

ALEX
Sure, I have to go meet Isabel anyway.

Alex leaves. Max tosses the remainder of his lunch in the trash can, then follows Michael, giving Liz a slight wave and a smile as he passes her.

MARIA
(sputtering; at a loss)
What ...? Did ...? I don't believe it! He looked right at that poster ... I know he did. And then he just takes off. That's ... that's ... a classic case of avoidance.

Liz reaches out, touches Maria's arm, and looks her in the eye.

LIZ
(reassuringly)
I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for it. Max is probably with him right now. If anyone can get Michael to talk about what's bothering him, it's Max. I'm sure he'll find out what's wrong.

MARIA
(dejectedly)
You're right. I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation. Like going to the dance is too “intense” for him.

Liz pats her arm in sympathy.

Cut to:

  22 INT. WEST ROSWELL HIGH SCHOOL CORRIDOR - MOMENTS LATER

Michael goes into the boys' room; Max follows.

Cut to:

  23 INT. WEST ROSWELL HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Michael is at one of the urinals when Max comes in. Max steps up to the empty one on Michael's left. Max and Michael look straight ahead.

MAX
Hey.

MICHAEL
Hey.

MAX
You OK?

MICHAEL
Yeah. Why?

MAX
You just seemed kind of nervous back there, and you left rather abruptly.

MICHAEL
I had to go. That's not something that can wait.

They both finish and head to the sinks to wash their hands.

MAX
Are you sure that's all?

MICHAEL
Yeah, I'm sure.

MAX
Because if something's bothering you, you know you can talk to me, right?

MICHAEL
Yeah, but nothing's bothering me.

MAX
OK.

MICHAEL
OK.
(pause)
I can't dance.

MAX
Huh?

MICHAEL
I can't dance. I know Maria wants me to ask her to the dance, but I can't dance and I don't want to make a fool of myself. That's what's bothering me. There, are you happy now?

MAX
I ... um ... Happy isn't the word I'd use.
(beat)
Why don't you just tell Maria the truth?

MICHAEL
No! I don't want her to know. And you have to promise me you won't tell her! Or Liz!

MAX
OK. OK.
(beat)
What are you gonna do?

MICHAEL
I don't know.
(beat)
You don't suppose there's any chance she'll decide she doesn't want to go?

MAX
(shaking his head)
Noooo ... I wouldn't count on that.
(pause)
Why don't you ask Isabel to teach you?

MICHAEL
Do you think she would?

MAX
Only one way to find out.

(beat)

MICHAEL
What do you think it will cost me?

MAX
Depends on what she needs at the time.

MICHAEL
(rolling his eyes)
Oh great!

Cut to:

  24 EXT. ROSWELL CIVIC PARK - MOMENTS LATER

Isabel and Alex are sitting on a bench, looking through one of the local weekly newspapers; the remains of their lunches beside them.

ISABEL
I didn't find anything. Did you find anything?

ALEX
No, nothing.

They both relax as Isabel folds the paper.

ISABEL
So, I think that covers all the weekly papers.

ALEX
Right. We checked the Roswell Weekly Record on Monday, the Bitter Lake Gazette on Tuesday--

ISABEL
(gesturing with the folded paper)
And the Hondo Reporter today. Do you think we can relax? Do you think we killed Larry's Hubble story?

ALEX
I can't imagine any of the daily papers being interested; I've been checking them just in case, but haven't seen anything. So I'd say it's looking good.

ISABEL
(sighs)
God, I hope so.
(beat)
I just want things to get back to normal.

Alex decides this would be a good time to mention the dance to Isabel.

ALEX
So, did you notice the posters advertising the "Spring Blast-Off"?

ISABEL
Yeah, they're hard to miss. I think they have them on every wall in the school.

ALEX
Guess they want to make sure they get a good turnout.

ISABEL
I guess.

ALEX
Are you planning on "turning out" for it?

ISABEL
I hadn't given it much thought.

ALEX
Because I was thinking it might be kinda nice for us to go to it ... you know ... together.

ISABEL
Oh.

ALEX
(disappointed at her lack of enthusiasm)
It's just that ... when you kissed me last week ... I thought that meant you liked me. So I thought you'd like to go to the dance ... together. Guess I was wrong. Sorry, I didn't mean to create an awkward situation.
(under his breath)
I should have listened to Maria.

ISABEL
No, I'm the one who should apologize. I'm sorry, Alex, I didn't mean to confuse you, or to make you feel awkward. I do like you. I really do. It's just that ... I need to take this slow. I'm not ready to make a commitment or long range plans. The dance is over a month away. I don't know how I'll feel, or even where I'll be a month from now. Do you mind if we just start with going to the movies--
(smiling)
for real this time?

Alex is disappointed, but understands. He manages to smile back.

ALEX
(nodding)
Sure ... A movie sounds good.

ISABEL
Just no Fellini films.

ALEX
(laughing)
I promise, no Fellini.

ISABEL
And I'm not saying no to the dance. I just need time to think about it, OK?

ALEX
(smiling; there's still hope)
Take all the time you need.

Alex's attention is drawn across the street. Isabel notices and turns to see what he is looking at. It's Larry Trilling; he's going up to people, talking to them briefly and then moving on to the next.

ALEX
What do you suppose he's up to?

ISABEL
I don't know, but something tells me he's not running for mayor.

One of the people Larry was talking to heads into the park in their direction. Alex knows him and calls out.

ALEX
Hey, Chris.

Chris looks in his direction; Alex waves him over.

ISABEL
Isn't that the drummer in your band?

ALEX
Yeah, so we should be able to find out what Larry is up to.

Chris reaches them.

CHRIS
Hey.

ALEX
Hey.

CHRIS
What's up?

ALEX
(trying to sound casual)
Nothing. Saw you across the street and just wanted to say hey.
(beat)
So, how long have you known Larry Trilling?

CHRIS
Who?

ALEX
Larry Trilling. The guy you were talking to.

Chris turns to look across the street and sees Larry still talking to people.

CHRIS
(pointing to Larry as he speaks)
You mean him? The guy with the tape recorder?

At the mention of the tape recorder (not having noticed it before) Isabel and Alex turn their heads quickly to look at Larry. A concerned look briefly crosses Isabel's face, but fades quickly when she turns back to look at Chris as if nothing is wrong. Alex too, tries to remain casual about it.

ALEX
Um ... Yeah.

CHRIS
I don't know him at all.

ISABEL
(innocently)
So what were you talking to him about?

CHRIS
Oh, he's doing research for a story on living in Roswell. He asked me how long I've lived here and did I ever notice anything strange here?
(rolls his eyes)
You know, the usual crap. I told him I didn't have time for that and that he's whacked if he thinks he's the first person to write a story about strange things happening in Roswell!

Chris laughs and Isabel and Alex join in.

CHRIS (cont'd)
I've gotta go. I'll catch up with you later, man.

ALEX
Yeah, see ya.

Chris leaves.

ALEX
Do you think Larry has moved on to other stories?

(pause)

ISABEL
No. What do you think?

Alex collects their trash and brings it to a nearby trash can, talking as he walks.

ALEX
I'm not sure. I think, to be safe, we should have Liz and Maria question Jen, to see if they can find out for sure.

ISABEL
(under her breath)
Yeah, safe. Wouldn't it be nice if we could be safe?

Alex does not hear Isabel's comment. He finishes throwing away the trash, brushes off his hands, and looks at his watch.

ALEX
Time to head back.

He holds out the crook of his arm.

ALEX
(smiling)
May I escort you to class, my lady?

Isabel smiles back. She gets up and takes his arm.

ISABEL
Thank you, kind sir.

Isabel laughs lightly and they head back to school. As they exit the park, the camera pans over to the sheriff's police cruiser. Valenti is sitting in the cruiser, sipping coffee from his thermos. He watches Alex and Isabel exit the park, then turns to watch Larry interview people as they pass by.

Cut to commercial.

END OF ACT II


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Original contents copyright (C) 2002 by Roswell: What Might Have Been