ROSWELL: WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN - "The Witness" - ACT II - 08/28/02

ACT II


  15 EXT. WEST ROSWELL HIGH SCHOOL QUAD - NOON

Isabel is sitting alone at a table eating lunch. Michael comes by and sits with her. Kyle, sitting down at a nearby table, notices and watches them.

MICHAEL
Hey.

ISABEL
Hi. What's up?

MICHAEL
What makes you think something's up? Can't I just sit and say hey?

ISABEL
The look on your face tells me you have something on your mind. You might as well spit it out; you know I'm gonna get it out of you eventually.

MICHAEL
It's about the dance ...

There is a long pause while he gets up the courage to tell her, leading her to the wrong conclusion.

ISABEL
(shocked)
You're not asking me to the dance are you?

MICHAEL
No! Of course not!

ISABEL
Then just tell me already. What about the dance?

MICHAEL
I know Maria wants me to ask her, but I don't know how to dance.
(beat)
Would you be willing to teach me?

ISABEL
(thinks for a moment, then smiles)
I'd love to help you out.
(beat, innocently)
I don't suppose you could help me out?

MICHAEL
(under his breath)
Here it comes.

ISABEL (cont'd)
It's just that I promised the Petersons I'd baby-sit.
(ignoring Michael's panic-stricken look)
I wouldn't ask, but it's just that there's a Nelly Furtado concert coming up, that I want to go to with my friends, and it's the same night. I'd be ever so grateful if you could help me out.

MICHAEL
(desperate to get out of it)
The Petersons aren't gonna let just anyone baby-sit.

ISABEL
They trust me. If I recommend you, they'll let you sit with Lisa and Joey.

MICHAEL
(guarded)
What do I have to do?

ISABEL
Oh, it's a breeze! They're usually in bed when I get there. So you don't have to do anything but sit and watch TV and make sure nothing bad happens to the kids while they're sleeping. Even you could handle that!

MICHAEL
And if they're not in bed when I get there?

ISABEL
They're angels. You won't have any trouble with them. You just put them to bed and they'll go right to sleep. So, is it a deal?

MICHAEL
(defeated)
OK, it's a deal.

Maria comes up behind Michael and plants a kiss on his cheek. He's nonplused, thinking she would be mad at him, but glad to see that she's not.

MARIA
How's it going?

MICHAEL
Better than I thought.

MARIA
Good, then this will be a good time to tell you.

MICHAEL
(suspicious)
Tell me what?

MARIA
My mom wants you to come to dinner tonight.

MICHAEL
Thanks, but no thanks.

MARIA
It's not going to be that bad, Michael.

MICHAEL
That's what you said the last time, about the dinner with Larry and Jen. Besides, I know why your mom wants me there.

MARIA
It's not an ambush. She does want to talk to you about you having your own apartment and how that effects us, but it's not the end of the world. She says we can still see one another, just not there. She wants to make sure you understand how she feels and she wants to get to know you better.

Michael doesn't look convinced.

MARIA (cont'd)
Michael, if you don't come, she may decide we can't see each other.

MICHAEL
So. Do we really need her permission?

MARIA
Yes ... unless I become emancipated and move in with you!

MICHAEL
(shifts uncomfortably, then grudgingly)
Fine! I'll come.

Liz joins them and notices Michael's perturbed look.

LIZ
How's it going, Michael?

MICHAEL
Not as good as I thought.

LIZ
Oh, sorry to hear that.

Max approaches the table. He looks at Liz expectantly. She smiles at him, then winks. He smiles broadly. She decides to throw something away, as an excuse to brush by him on the way to the trash can. She leans in and whispers to him as she goes by.

LIZ
See you in my dreams.

Max's smile broadens even more.

LIZ (cont'd)
But you'll knock next time, right?

Contrite, Max starts to apologize but Liz forestalls him by mouthing "I know," and smiling. They move on to separate tables that are still close enough to be able to share longing looks.

MARIA
(to Michael)
Come on, sunshine, let's go discuss tonight's dinner.

Michael glares, but leaves with her. Kyle reacts when he sees everyone leaving Isabel. He's about to head over when he sees Alex approach, so he remains seated. Alex sits with Isabel.

ALEX
I picked up the tickets for tonight.

ISABEL
(somewhat haughtily)
Without checking to see what I wanted to see? What did you pick?

ALEX
(with a mischievous smile)
"Scream 3".

ISABEL
(aghast)
You didn't!

ALEX
(laughing)
You're right, I didn't.

He pulls the tickets out of his pocket and holds them up.

ALEX (cont'd)
"American Beauty".

ISABEL
(squeals with delight)
Oooh! How did you know I wanted to see that!

ALEX
(smiling)
I have my sources.

ISABEL
(curious)
Wait, this is an R rated movie. How did you get tickets?

ALEX
(proud of his ingenuity)
I just went when Mr. Tyler was working the booth. He never checks for ID.

ISABEL
(impressed)
Clever. You thought of everything, Alex!

Alex beams at her praise. Kyle frowns, stands, and walks away.

Cut to:

  16 INT. SCOTTY'S BAR & GRILL - SAME

Larry is sitting at a bar where the local cops hang out, finishing his lunch. In the background there are several booths and tables occupied by law enforcement officers. Picking up his beer, Larry swivels around on his bar stool, surveying the crowd and trying to pick up on some of the conversations around him, but the din from the jukebox and multiple conversations makes eavesdropping difficult. Larry turns back to his fries. The song on the jukebox ends and before the next one begins, there's a lull in which a conversation from the booth directly behind him between two deputies--Deputy Blackwood and the new deputy on the force--can be heard. Larry perks up and listens in.

NEW DEPUTY
He just seems a little out there.
(beat)
I heard he actually had a task force out in Frazier Woods, investigating a sighting like it was for real!
(chuckles)
Must've of been embarrassing when he had to admit it was nothing but dry lightning.

OWEN
He takes all citizen complaints and reports seriously. The full investigation helped to calm down the citizens who believed it was real.

NEW DEPUTY
(looks at Owen thoughtfully)
How long have you been working with Valenti? What do you think of him?

OWEN
I've been with Valenti for many years and I have a great deal of respect for him.

NEW DEPUTY
Don't you think his methods are somewhat ... unconventional?

OWEN
(losing his patience but keeping it under control)
He has his own way of doing things but he gets the job done, and done well, without stepping outside the boundaries of the law.

NEW DEPUTY
I've always been a strictly by the book kind of guy.

OWEN
You'll adjust. You've only been at the department a week.
(out of patience)
Look, I have some errands to run before my lunch break is over, so I'll catch up with you back at the station.

Deputy Blackwood leaves. Larry waits a moment, finishing his burger and fries. Then he picks up his beer and wanders over to the new deputy.

LARRY
You're new in town, aren't you?

NEW DEPUTY
Yes, but how did you know? Do you work with the Sheriff's Department?

LARRY
No, I'm just very aware.
(takes a beat, then candidly)
Besides, I overheard you and Deputy Blackwood talking. I too have noticed Sheriff Valenti's "unconventional" methods, and I'd like to share information, if you're interested.

Larry puts out his hand.

LARRY (cont'd)
My name is Larry Trilling.

The deputy shakes his hand.

NEW DEPUTY
Pleased to meet you. My name is Green--Deputy Ethan Green--and yes, I am interested.

Cut to:

  17 INT. UFO CENTER MUSEUM EXHIBIT ROOM - DAY

Larry and Milton are discussing the exhibit they are arranging. Max arrives. During the following exchange, Max and Larry stare at each other distrustingly.

MILTON
Ah, Evans! Just in time. I need you to help Trilling with the Foo Fighter exhibit.

MAX
The Foo Fighter exhibit? What does a rock band have to do with UFOs?

MILTON
(shakes his head)
Evans, Evans, you have so much to learn.
(beat)
But Trilling and I will be happy to teach you.
(to Larry)
Won't we?

LARRY
(gives Max a fake smile)
Absolutely!

MILTON
(to Max)
You be sure to pay attention to Trilling; you can learn a lot from him.

MAX
(sarcastically)
I'm sure I can.

LARRY
And vice versa.

MILTON
(to Larry)
You think Evans has a lot to teach you?

LARRY
Yes, I do.

MILTON
OK, well I'll leave you two to teach each other, while I get some more supplies for the exhibit.

Milton leaves. With just Larry and Max in the room, the tension is thick enough to cut with a knife.

MAX
So, what do I have to learn about the Foo Fighters and UFOs?

Larry unfurls a poster showing an old fighter plane being chased by what look like balls of orange and green fire.

LARRY
These glowing balls supposedly followed ships and planes during World War II, and moved extremely fast, like fighter planes. At the time, there was a cartoon character - Smokey Stover - who had a catchphrase: Where there's foo, there's fire, so the sailors and pilots called them Foo Fighters. The rock band took their name from these.

MAX
Ah, I see.
(grudgingly)
Thanks.

Larry hands him a tape dispenser.

LARRY
Here, help me hang this.

They reluctantly work together to put up the exhibit. Neither trusts the other; neither will turn their back on the other, making working together somewhat awkward. In the background we see Ty Appleton enter the exhibit room and surreptitiously signal to Larry to join him.

LARRY
A visitor. I better go help him.

Larry leaves Max and goes up to Ty, out of earshot from Max. Larry's body language seems tense. Max is observing them; a look of consternation crosses his face when Ty abruptly leaves. Larry returns to Max to help with the exhibit.

MAX
(suspicious)
That was a short visit.

LARRY
He just needed some information on a book he's writing on the crash.

MAX
(skeptical)
Right.

Cut to:

  18 INT. MICHAEL'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Michael is watching TV when there is a knock on his door. He opens it and finds Max on the other side. Max's expression shows that he's not in the best mood.

MICHAEL
Hey. What's up?

MAX
I'm not sure. I hope nothing.

Max steps in, Michael closes the door and they move towards the couch.

MICHAEL
What is it now?

Michael sits on the couch and Max follows suit.

MAX
Larry. Who else.

MICHAEL
(concerned)
What happened? What did he do?

MAX
Remember how you told me that Ty Appleton gave you a lift close to Pepper's Cafe, the night Hubble tried to ... kill me?

MICHAEL
(with trepidation)
Yeah ...

MAX
Ty came into the UFO Center today, and was talking to Larry.

MICHAEL
No way! How did he find out!?

MAX
Relax, Michael. Larry may not know anything. Ty comes in all the time; he has a season pass. It may just be a coincidence.

MICHAEL
(skeptical)
You wouldn't be breaking your grounding rules by coming here if you thought it was nothing.

MAX
I might just be using it as an excuse. Maybe I just needed to vent. It's not easy working next to someone all day, who you know is out to get you.

MICHAEL
(sympathetically)
Yeah, I'll bet.

MAX
He's just so ... smug ... and smarmy.

MICHAEL
(joking)
Would you like me to take care of him for you?

Max laughs.

MICHAEL (cont'd)
(still joking)
No, seriously, just say the word and poof he's gone.

MAX
(teasing)
And just how do you plan on doing that? Do you have some new, magical power I don't know about?

MICHAEL
(turning serious)
Magical? No. New ...? Maybe.

MAX
(curious and slightly concerned)
Are you serious? Have you been holding out on me?

MICHAEL
No, I'm not holding out on you, it's just ... I think I've discovered a new ... ability.
(beat)
Actually, I'm not sure it's new ... maybe different is a better description.

MAX
Different than what?

MICHAEL
I think it's a form of telekinesis ... you know, like when I moved Hank's gun with my mind and you did the same with Hubble's gun.

Max nods.

MICHAEL (cont'd)
Only this was more like pushing an object rather than just moving it; it felt as if a burst of energy came out of me. I don't remember feeling that with Hank.
(beat)
Of course I could've imagined it. It's probably the same thing. It's not like I've had a lot of experience with it. I haven't been able to duplicate it, or even come close, since that time with Hank, until yesterday at the Crashdown--

MAX
(interrupting)
You used your powers at the Crashdown! Did anyone see you!?

MICHAEL
(defensively, but not looking Max in the eye)
Not intentionally and, NO, no one saw!

MAX
(feeling he overreacted)
Sorry, go on; what happened?

MICHAEL
A box of baking soda was about to fall off the shelf over the grill. I couldn't get to it in time to keep the box from spilling all over the burgers and I just automatically reached out to grab it, like this ...

Michael stands up and demonstrates.

MICHAEL (cont'd)
I never expected it to help ... but it did ... or sort of did; it was like I said, an energy burst, or something, hit it and deflected it.
(pause)
I've been trying to make it happen again, but I haven't succeeded. What about you? Have you tried duplicating what you did with Hubble?

MAX
Yes.

MICHAEL
And?

Max stands up. He looks around and spots a plant on the counter. He raises his arm, concentrates and makes it move a few inches to the left.

MAX
That's about the best I can do, so far.

MICHAEL
(disappointed in himself)
I haven't even been able to do that much, at least not whenever I want to.

MAX
(supportively)
Try again. On the plant.

Michael steps forward and reaches out in the direction of the plant. Nothing happens. Michael looks at Max and shrugs.

MAX (cont'd)
When I do it, I clear my mind of everything else and concentrate on moving the plant. Try it again, but this time, really focus on moving it.

Michael raises his hand, aims it at the plant, and focuses his full attention on it. They both jump when it suddenly explodes. They continue to stare at the broken shards of the pot and uprooted plant for a beat, in awe.

MAX
Whoa!

MICHAEL
Yeah.

They both turn and look at each other, at a loss for words, then turn back to look at the broken shards.

MICHAEL (cont'd)
Man!

A smile of satisfaction plays at his lips.

Cut to commercial.


END OF ACT II


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