Elana and Vanessa are carrying their lunches to a table. Kyle spots them and heads right for them, deliberately, but not too obviously, bumping into Vanessa, causing her to spill her drink.

Kyle walks off. Elana and Vanessa look at each other puzzled.

Cut to:

Maria and Liz are walking down the hallway in between classes. Other students are milling about. They see Kyle at the end of the hallway. He slides his finger along his nose a la the movie "The Sting", signaling Liz and Maria that they are "on". They respond in kind. He continues on his way and they continue their conversation.

Before Liz can respond they both notice Elana and Vanessa going into the girls' bathroom. They wait, conspiratorially, for a moment outside.

Liz and Maria enter the girls' bathroom. The camera follows them. They appear to be alone and they see Elana's and Vanessa's feet under the stalls. Maria gives Liz "the signal". Liz nods and returns it. They each go to the sinks and mirror. Liz pulls out a lipstick from her backpack and Maria pulls out a brush from hers.

They both smile and leave the bathroom. Elana and Vanessa flush their toilets and exit their stalls. It's obvious they have overheard. We stay a moment to note their calculating looks.

Cut to:

Max is walking down a hallway alone. The expression on his face tells us he's "sensing" something. The camera angle shows that there are a few students and teachers, etc. at the other end of the hallway behind him, some familiar, some new; among them is the new girl introducing herself to Mr. Seligman. The camera focuses on Max who stops in his tracks, trying to figure out what he is feeling. He turns to look behind him. Everyone who was behind him is now gone and the janitor's closet door is closing. Max hesitates, then approaches the door slowly. When he gets to the door he reaches out, hesitantly, then flings the door open. The person inside turns quickly at the sudden opening of the door and there is a blast of fire. Max reacts by putting out his hand in a protective stance and unwittingly puts up a "shield", which shimmers green, between him and the person in the closet. Within milliseconds he realizes it's just the janitor wearing a welder's helmet and holding a lit welding torch. Max immediately puts his hand down and the shield dissipates. The janitor raises his helmet. It's apparent he didn't see Max's shield because of the shield of his helmet and the fire, and it happened so quickly even Max isn't really sure it happened. He's looking at his hand strangely when the janitor breaks into his confused thoughts.

Cut to:

Max, Michael, Isabel, Liz, Maria, and Alex are walking towards the Jeep and the motorcycle. In the background we can see Elana and Vanessa going up to other students, separately, talking to them before they can get into their cars (not always to the pleasure of the student), then rushing to the next student. Max, Isabel, Liz, and Alex stop at the Jeep; Max stops Michael and Maria from continuing to the motorcycle.

Cut to:

Isabel, Alex, and Liz are sitting on the couch. Michael and Maria are sharing an arm chair. Their eyes are wide in wonder. Max is standing before them. It's apparent he has just shown them something. Alex is the first to speak.

Max does the same gesture he did in the janitor's closet and the green shield appears again.

Liz gets up from the couch and hesitantly reaches out to touch it. It's impenetrable, but does not harm her.

Liz walks around the shield examining it closely. She stops next to Max.

Max and Liz both nod. Max adjusts his stance to brace for an impact. Liz studies the shield closely to watch for changes. Alex bolts from the couch and rushes the shield. He bounces off and lands, unharmed, in Isabel's lap. Everyone looks astounded, then Isabel starts laughing.

Cut to:

Isabel goes through her closet, pulls out a semiformal dress and puts it on. She looks at herself in a full-length mirror. She doesn't like what she sees. She flashes back to the dress she was wearing in Alex's dream, then waves her hand over the dress she is wearing. It turns into the sexy red dress from the dream. Isabel smiles, liking what she sees. Then, a look of consternation crosses her face.

Isabel looks at herself in the mirror with a critical eye. She waves her hand over the dress, modifying it slightly--removing the black border at the top, the gold and black thread print--changing it to a Jacquard weave, and changing the color of the straps from black to red. She debates about changing the spaghetti straps to another style, and removing the slit in the back, but decides to keep them. She eyes it critically again, smiles and nods in approval. As she puts on her shoes, she changes their color to match the dress. She does the same as she puts on her shawl and as she picks up her purse. She takes one final look in the mirror, then opens her bedroom door and exits.

Cut to:

Diane, Phillip and Max are there. Phillip is taking Max's picture, who is looking exceptionally handsome in a black suit, white shirt, and black tie. They all glance towards Isabel, as she enters the living room from the hallway, and smile broadly in approval.

Isabel smiles radiantly, basking in all the attention.

A look of guilt passes over Isabel's face, but she quickly covers it with a beaming smile. The doorbell interrupts before Isabel can respond.

Max picks up the box with Liz's corsage and heads towards the door. Phillip calls after him.

Max turns to look over his shoulder.

Max opens the door to Alex, who steps into the entry hall. He also looks very handsome in a similar black suit, white shirt and black tie.

Max leans in and whispers.

Alex is nonplussed, having no idea what Max is taking about. He smiles and nods at Max.

Max leaves and Alex proceeds into the living room. When he sees Isabel, he momentarily forgets to breathe.

Alex holds up the box with her corsage.

He takes it out of the box and places it on her wrist.

Diane positions them and Phillip starts taking pictures, as we cut to:

Liz is equally stunning in her outfit--a form-fitting, silky, midnight blue sheath with cap sleeves and a sweetheart neckline. Max is speechless, mesmerized. Jeff notices and leans over to Max.

Michael and Maria enter the gymnasium. We see that Maria chose to change the color of the dress to match the shoes. She looks beautiful and Michael looks amazing, having bitten the bullet and donned a black suit and shirt. The camera pulls back to reveal the school gymnasium, which is decorated for the Spring Blast-Off (with such things as paper rocket ships leaving a trail of paper flowers in their wake), and is filled with students and chaperones enjoying the festivities. The Alienettes are up on the stage, playing a fast song. They are doing a mediocre job of it, but some students are on the dance floor, enjoying it nonetheless, while others are seated at tables, talking. Kyle and Vicky are at the refreshment table. Kyle is busy eating; Vicky, who is facing the gymnasium notices Michael and Maria's entrance.

She starts playing with his tie, being kittenish. The camera pans away from Vicky trying to make up for her faux pas, passing Chris, Marcos and Nicky, who apparently found dates in time, then by Amy and Valenti at one of the tables, observing the activities, acting as chaperones. Amy waves to Maria and Michael. Maria gives a tiny wave back looking embarrassed. She walks quickly towards Alex and Isabel who are sitting at another table together. Michael speeds up to match her pace. The band, which has switched to a slow song, hits a sour note and Maria and Alex exchange pained looks, as do Chris, Marcos and Nicky. The camera continues to pan and stops when it finds Max and Liz on the dance floor.

Max moves one of his hands from its place on her lower back and begins gently stroking her long hair. She smiles. He takes her closer in his arms and strokes the side of her face. She tilts her head toward his hand and kisses his open palm.

Young Liz is playing rock, paper, scissors with her friends. She looks up from the game to see young Max staring at her. He and young Isabel are standing by the school bus. Young Isabel pulls young Max away. Young Liz watches young Max for a long moment as he walks away.

Young Max is sitting alone under a tree. In the background young Liz and some other children are playing some game involving a ball. The ball rolls away and young Liz runs after it. It stops near young Max. She invites him to join the game. Young Max looks like he wants to accept, but then shakes his head and looks down. Young Liz waits a few seconds then walks away with the ball. Young Max does not see the hurt look on her face.

A young teen Liz is sitting at a table in the lunchroom with some other young teen girls. A number of young teen boys at a nearby table, a young teen Kyle among them, are showing off for the girls' benefit. Most of the girls are giggling, but not young teen Liz. Her attention is caught by young teen Max, sitting alone at another table. He appears totally isolated from what's going on around him. Absent-mindedly she is drawing a heart in her notebook.

Max looks at Liz, astonished.

Max nods.

They kiss, the passion building. The camera moves back to show Valenti watching them, an unreadable expression on his face.

Valenti and Deputy Owen have pulled off the road and are searching the area, as if for clues. In the distance we can see the old radio tower.

Close-up of Max and Liz, still kissing. Suddenly a hand appears on Max's shoulder. Startled Max breaks from the kiss and turns to see Valenti standing beside him.

Cut to commercial.

Return to Act II

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