ROSWELL: WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN - "Limited Options" - TEASER - 05/14/03

TEASER

For a reminder of previous episodes see: previously on Roswell and Roswell: What Might Have Been.


  1 INT. CRASHDOWN - MAIN DINING AREA - MORNING

It's pre-morning rush; Liz starts the coffee then walks over to the back booth where Maria is sitting with Alex. There's a band audition flyer and some sheet music on the table and a heated discussion going on. Liz sits down next to Alex.

ALEX
You have us doing too many pop songs! Life isn't just a top ten tune you know.

MARIA
Trust me, I'm very aware of that.

Maria shifts slightly so that she faces the kitchen pass-through window. In a practiced move, Michael pretends to check for new orders without acknowledging anything past the boundary of the kitchen, then heads for the grill.

MARIA (cont'd)
They don't make top ten tunes about my life.

ALEX
No, I think you'd have to go to the Country Western charts for what we go through ... "I Can't Fall in Love With You Darlin', Cuz An Alien Abducted My Heart."

Liz smiles to herself, clearly thinking that this isn't always a bad thing, then looks sympathetically at her friends.

MARIA
Why do we care? Why do we let ourselves get sucked into that alien abyss?

ALEX
(thoughtfully)
Because they've touched a part of our hearts that no one else can reach.

Liz nods.

MARIA
(sighs)
It figures. Michael touches my heart, and his goes cold. How can he be so stoical about this? I know, deep down, he misses me.
(beat)
God, he just makes me so angry sometimes!

She hits the table with her fist for emphasis. Then her anger turns to determination.

MARIA (cont'd)
If he would just stop ignoring me, then maybe I could get through to him. I've got to find a way to make him notice me.

ALEX
(thinks for a moment, then half in sympathy, half in jest)
You could try the aquabra again.

Maria looks thoughtful, then without a word she gets up and goes out the swinging door towards the back.

ALEX
(calling after her)
I was only joking.

Cut to:

  2 INT. CRASHDOWN - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

Michael is stacking plates near the grill. We hear someone moving near the entry to the kitchen. Michael tenses slightly but doesn't look up.

MARIA (OS)
(with authority in her voice)
The grease trap needs cleaning; make sure you do it this week.

Michael freezes.

Cut to:

  3 INT. CRASHDOWN - BOOTH - CONTINUOUS

ALEX
(attempting nonchalance)
Has Max said anything to you about Isabel and Kyle--

Alex stops at the sound of the front door opening. Amy comes in and hurriedly walks over to Liz and Alex.

AMY
Liz, is your father around? I need to discuss an order.

LIZ
He's in the storeroom.

AMY
Thanks.

She exits out the swinging door towards the storeroom.

ALEX
So, about Isabel and Kyle--

Alex is interrupted once again, this time by Michael bursting through the swinging door and heading straight for Liz; Maria follows.

MICHAEL
Tell me she's lying!

LIZ
Huh?

MICHAEL
Maria's trying to tell me she's my boss. Tell me she's lying.

MARIA
(to Alex)
Did you hear that? He remembers my name.

Michael glares at Maria.

MARIA (cont'd)
(triumphantly)
And eye contact! That's the first time in a week!

Michael looks at Liz again.

MICHAEL
(to Liz, impatiently)
Well?

LIZ
Well ... technically ...

MICHAEL
(horrified)
No! Damn it! How can she be my boss? She's just a waitress. Your dad and mom are the owners.

LIZ
Whenever my dad and mom both have to be away, they put me and Maria in charge, which technically makes both of us your bosses.

At Michael's shocked expression, Liz quickly adds:

LIZ (cont'd)
But only when they're out of town and that hardly ever happens.

MICHAEL
How often is "hardly ever?"

LIZ
A couple ... three ... maybe four times a year.

MICHAEL
(exasperated)
Man, this job thing just keeps getting worse and worse.

Before Maria can reply, Amy comes through the swinging door and notices her and Michael.

AMY
Oh good, I'm glad I caught you. I was thinking it would be nice to find out what Kyle's favorite pie is so we can bring it next week for dinner at Jim's. Would you mind asking him? Thanks. Have a good day at school.

She gives Maria a quick hug and Michael a slight frown, then exits out the front door. Michael glares at Maria with suspicion. In the background we can see Jeff and Nancy in the kitchen through the pass-through window; the kids do not see them.

MICHAEL
Why are you having dinner with the sheriff?

MARIA
He and my mom think it will be a good way for them to reconnect with Kyle and me; to know what's going on in our lives.

MICHAEL
(suspicious)
Don't you mean to know what's going on with Max?

In the background we see Jeff and Nancy exchange glances at this remark; they turn towards the kids with a puzzled look to eavesdrop on the conversation.

LIZ
There's nothing for him to learn from her; Maria's already proven that.

MARIA
Thank you.

ALEX
Besides, I doubt this has anything to do with Max; I think Valenti really just wants to get to know Maria's mom better.

MARIA
(shudders at this)
Please! Do you have to remind me?

ALEX
Sorry.

MICHAEL
And I think you all have your heads in the sand. Valenti has it in for Max. He'll do anything to get the information he wants.
(to Maria)
You better make sure he doesn't succeed.

In the background Jeff and Nancy exchange worried looks, then exit the kitchen towards the back room. Maria does a quick scan to see if anyone heard Michael but just misses seeing Jeff and Nancy. Satisfied that no one heard, she turns back to Michael.

MARIA
(stage whisper)
And you better lower your voice before someone hears you.

Michael glares at Maria. Behind them Jeff and Nancy are looking at them with concern through the window in the swinging door. The camera pulls back to just outside the Crashdown front window. We sense someone is watching them.

END OF TEASER

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Original contents copyright (C) 2003 by Roswell: What Might Have Been