Rating: PG-13 for language and sexual situations

Category: Other Stories

Disclaimers: The characters of Roswell belong to the WB, among others, but apparently I need to keep borrowing them.

Summary: “There are two tragedies in life. One is not to get your heart’s desire. The other is to get it.” - George Bernard Shaw …and so continues this author’s version of ‘Sexual Healing’…

Author’s note/soapbox: May I suggest you read these before traveling to my alternate Roswell universe: “Dealing”, “Lost Treasures”, “Prepare Yourself” (Dealing trilogy); “Attitude”, “Plan C”, “The Spin Cycle” (Tess trilogy); “Nuts”, “Wraiths of D’Spayre”, and “What’s Your Favor?” (Revelations trilogy); “…and The End is linked to The Beginning” (a cliffhanger); “!”, “?”, and “…” (Choices trilogy), and finally “Ready or Not” (Awakening trilogy, part 1).

***

(Scene: School, Geometry class. The class is taking a test, with the exception of Max - who is staring blankly down at the one on his desk. He closes his eyes and takes in a deep breath.)

-------Flashback to that morning------

(Scene: Liz’s Hospital Room. Liz is asleep in the bed, looking very peaceful. Max is sitting in the chair pulled close to the bed, staring at her. She starts to stir a little and Max leans over her and starts lightly blowing on her face. She turns her head and brings her hands to her face to fight off the imaginary tickler. Max, amused, continues to blow on her ear and neck until she finally shakes her head and wakes up rubbing her face and ear.)

Max (smiling silly): Good morning.

Liz (looking over at Max’s amused face): Apparently. Having fun?

Max: Actually...(he smiles mischeviously) I can think of some other ways to have fun. (Liz playfully hits him on the arm)

Liz (smiling): Oh really? And what might those be?

Max (as he leans in to kiss her): Something like this.

(He’s just about to kiss her when she puts her hand on his chest and stops him from moving forward. He looks at her hand and then slightly frowns up at her.)

Liz: Are you gonna tell me what happened last night?

Max (sighs to himself and then sits back down in the chair looking away from Liz): I don’t really know what happened.

Liz: Max…

Max (looking over at her): I don’t know…maybe I’m just tired. Yesterday was a little…

Liz (looking down at her hands and finishing for him): Overwhelming.

Max (looking at her, softly): Yeah.

Liz (after a pause and still looking at her hands): I can’t control how I’m feeling - I don’t even know what I’m feeling. (She steals a sideways glance up at Max, and continues shyly) It’s like an emotional kaleidoscope - all these different feelings combining to form these patterns I’ve never seen…emotions I’ve never felt before…and even when the feelings change and the pattern is different…it’s still beautiful. (She swallows and looks up at him) I don’t want to control how I feel.

Max (struggling to control the giddiness within him): Liz…I…I have to…to try anyway. You’ve always made me feel…feel normal…like being here wasn’t so bad. If I could just see you everyday and see you smile - it made being here okay. You’ve always been my weakness, Liz…(sort of mumbling to himself and smiling) control sort of goes out the window. (He looks up at her) But I’m not normal, Liz. I don’t want to do anything to hurt you and we don’t know…I have to try and stay in control…I have to think about…

Liz (gently interrupting him): Don’t think, Max. (Max stops mid-sentence with mouth open) We think about everything…and when we’re done we think about it again. For a few moments…(wistfully under her breath) or more…can’t we just feel?

Max (stuttering): Liz…I…I

Liz: I’m not talking about…(She stops and immediately blushes at the thought of the word she was about to say - ‘sex.’ It has yet to be uttered between them and she doesn’t want to be the one to say it. She looks up at Max for help but he looks a little confused.) You know…

(Max looks at her blankly and then - OH! The thought of hearing that word come out of her mouth is enough for his imagination to create a few visual aides. Stop it! He quickly shakes his head and then looks down at her and then away.)

Max (embarrassed from where his mind went): Oh…right.

Liz: I’m just taking about this (she reaches out and slides her hand into his and he looks at her)…about enjoying how we make each other feel. (She gently pulls him toward her.)

Max: Liz, I don’t know if I can…um…control…

Liz (as he gets closer to her): Don’t think, Max…just feel.

Max (as they’re about to kiss): Feel.

(Their lips meet and there’s a whole lot of feeling going on. Liz hooks her left arm around his neck and after a moment he starts to pull away. He doesn’t get very far as her arm holds him about an inch away from her.)

Liz (looking up at him breathless): Feel more, Max.

(He smiles at her and then lowers his mouth to hers. Feel…that’s all he can do…feel her mouth, her face with his hands…feel her everywhere inside of him. And just as she slides her hand up his neck so her fingers are playing with his hair it happens again. Except this time the train isn’t moving so fast - it’s almost like he’s floating through it…stars…lots of stars and…unfamiliar…planets?…with…moons?…it gets a little faster…more stars…asteroids…more stars…that *is* Saturn…and the Sun…and Earth…he can see it coming closer…North America…the speed picks up…it’s dark…nothing…the desert…too fast…then flames…and a scream…and faint tapping - wait, there wasn’t any tapping.)

(Max shakes his head and his Geometry test comes into focus in front of him. He sees a hand tapping a pen on his desk and he raises his eyes to meet those of the teacher staring down at him.)

Mr. Singer: Planning on starting this test today, Mr. Evans?

Max (quickly trying to gain composure): Um…yes, Mr. Singer…I’m sorry.

(Mr. Singer looks down at Max and then continues walking down the aisle. Michael looks over at Max questioningly.)

(Scene: Liz’s Hospital Room. Liz is sitting up in bed chewing on her pen as she stares down at the blank piece of paper resting on the tray covering her lap. She closes her eyes, smiles, and softly shakes her head.)

Voice over: How is it that ‘feeling’ and ‘thinking’ have become competitively exclusive processes? I mean, they should be compatible…shouldn’t they? One can think and feel at the same time - right? Isn’t it normal to think about what you’re feeling while you’re feeling it…and what happens when you can’t? Like you really *can’t*…because I can’t anymore. When I’m ‘feeling’ Max I lose all thinking capabilities…okay, well not all capabilities just the rational ones…and…aren’t those kind of the important ones? Shouldn’t I be thinking of consequences or something instead of how soft his hair is or his lips are…or…his stomach - I wonder if his skin is soft and smooth (she swallows hard) - oh boy. And the problem - one…of many - is that I told Max for a few moments we should just feel…not think…just feel. And the problem with that is…(she pauses)…those few moments - I don’t want them to end. We are headed down a one way road and…(she pauses again)…I don’t think either one of us is coherent enough to be driving. That can’t be good…but God it feels good…

Sheriff Valenti (from inside the door): Miss Parker? (Liz looks up from the paper at the sound of his voice and immediately blushes - for no visible reason.)

Liz (surprised): Sheriff.

Valenti: Am I disturbing you?

Liz (looking down at what she was writing and quickly folding it up): No…no you aren’t.

Valenti (coming farther into the room): I need to ask you some questions about the shooting.

Liz: I don’t know how much help I’ll be, Sheriff, I don’t really remember anything.

Valenti: Did you see the car…or maybe anything peculiar throughout the evening?

Liz (thoughtfully): No, Sheriff…I just remember Max.

(The Sheriff slightly smiles at her answer and then grows serious and looks at her intently.)

Valenti: Miss Parker, I believe you were shot intentionally…(Liz sort of squirms a bit and looks away from him)…but I think you already knew that. (Liz looks up at him) These people are dangerous and I can’t protect you if I don’t know why they’re shooting at you. (He pauses) And it’s not just you, Miss Parker…they’re after him.

(Scene: School Quad. Michael is sitting at a table thoughtfully eating and watching Maria across the quad. Max approaches the table looking a little disheveled.)

Max (as he sits): We need to talk.

Michael (with a tiny hint of sarcasm): And this is a good time for you?

Max (looks at him and then away): Something’s happening.

Michael: What are you talking about - and don’t get descriptive with the details.

Max: Michael, I’m seeing things.

Michael: Maxwell, we’re all seeing things.

Max: No, Michael, like things I shouldn’t be seeing from Liz.

Michael: Like what?

Max: When I kiss her…

Michael (interrupting): Are we talking ‘kissing’ like the way the rest of us do it or ‘kissing’ as in your new method of suck-face soul searching?

Max (just looks at him blankly and hesitantly): The last one.

Michael: Figures. So what’d you see, Maxwell? She cheats on tests or some other deep dark terrible secret?

Max (a little hesitantly): You remember the beginning to the movie Contact?

Michael (confused): Yeah.

Max: That - only backwards. Like it was moving toward Earth instead of away.

Michael (now a little more confused): What are you talking about?

Max: I don’t know what I’m talking about. Twice…last night and then this morning I’ve kissed her and seen it…it’s like I’m moving through space toward Earth and then…(he looks up at Michael)…and then crashing. Michael, I think I’m seeing the crash.

Michael: What!

Max: I saw the desert and then flames, bright flames and screaming - I heard it, Michael.

Michael (total defensive disbelief): How? No, it doesn’t matter, it’s impossible.

Max: I thought so last night…I thought maybe I was tired or something, but this morning, Michael…it was real and it was coming from her.

Michael (in the same anger/disbelief tone): Maxwell...

Max (cutting him off): Michael, it’s like that symbol. How did she know that…how did it get…‘inside’ her?

Michael (shaking his head): I don’t know. (He pauses and then looks up at Max’s flustered eyes) Nasedo.

Max (letting out a shaky breath and then frantically): He wouldn’t, right? I mean he wouldn’t do what I’m thinking he did…(looking up at Michael almost pleadingly) Michael? He wouldn’t, would he?

Michael (slowly): Max…what are you thinking?

Max (still frantic): It doesn’t make any sense…I don’t even know what I’m thinking…

Michael (a little firmly): Maxwell, what are you thinking?

Max (now talking to himself): No…he wouldn’t…he couldn’t…

(He gets up from the table and hurriedly walks off toward the parking lot.)

Michael (calling after him): Max! Maxwell!

(Scene: Denny’s Restaurant. Agents Banks and Jones are sitting in an isolated booth in the back corner.)

Banks: It’s gotta be the Sheriff.

Jones: Why wouldn’t he have turned it in - it’s the proof he’s been looking for.

Banks: I don’t know. He’s the only one that makes sense though. None of her friends would have taken it…and the ex-boyfriend turned out negative according to Topolski’s report.

Jones: You’re sure it wasn’t in the room?

Banks: Unless it’s invisible. I was gonna try the boyfriend. Maybe he took it for safe keeping…not too happy about her writing it all down.

Jones: He sleeps at the hospital with her - I think tonight’s the night. We need something, and we need it soon.

Banks: What’ve you got planned?

(Agent Jones leans across the table and their conversation continues in whispers.)

(Scene: Liz’s Hospital Room. Liz is attempting to do some studying. She’s got her Geometry book open and her calculator out but she’s not getting very far. She stares at a couple of problems - attempts them and then erases them. This happens a few times before she realizes that she has company in the room. She looks up and sees Max watching her quietly from the doorway.)

Liz (smiling): Hey.

Max (quietly): Hey.

Liz (looking at him closely): Max, are you okay? Is everything okay?

Max (letting out a breath and shaking the thoughts of Nasedo from his head): Yeah…(he walks toward the chair) I just didn’t do to well on that test today.

Liz (playfully): Maybe I should find another tutor.

Max (looks at her and smiles): My failure was entirely your fault…it had nothing to do with my grasp of complementary angles.

Liz: My fault…looking for scapegoats, are we?

Max: If I hadn’t been thinking about you…

Liz: Thinking? I told you no thinking. I’ve decided at times it’s entirely overrated…and besides it seems I can’t do much of it myself - especially with you around.

Max: What was that about scapegoats?

Liz (reaching out to take his hand and changing her tone): I was worried about you.

Max (surprised): Me?

Liz: Sheriff Valenti was here earlier.

Max: Valenti. What’d he want?

Liz: To talk about the shooting. I told him I didn’t remember anything but…Max, he knows it wasn’t an accident. And I think he knows who did it.

Max: How? What’d he say?

Liz: He said they were dangerous…and that…that they’re after you.

Max (trying to convince himself along with Liz): He’s just trying to scare you…to scare us. (He moves from the chair to the bed and gently strokes her hair) Nothing’s going to happen. I won’t let anything happen to you again.

Liz: I’m not worried about me, Max…I’m worried about you.

Max: Nothing’s going to happen to me. He’s just trying to scare you into saying something.

Liz: Well, the scaring part worked.

Max (brushing back a loose strand of her hair, softly): I promise…nothing…

Liz: Max, someone tried…Max, I think…

(Max cuts her off by putting his thumb over her lips as he holds her face with the rest of his hand.)

Max: None of that, remember?

(Liz smiles and, looking into his eyes, forgets the other semi-important thing she was supposed to tell him. How does he do that? She couldn’t remember her name right now if someone asked her.. He glides his thumb over her lips and then replaces it with his own lips. Thinking…thinking is definitely overrated. As the kiss is about to deepen Max reluctantly pulls back, afraid that another vision might come. Liz looks up at him with a small pout.)

Max: I’m here to help you study…school - not me.

Liz (frowning): But that’s thinking.

Max (sitting back in the chair and pulling out his books from his backpack): I know but we have to keep up appearances. (He looks at her and smiles) Otherwise the principal might not be so generous with letting me be here. (He looks down to the books) What do you want to start with?

Liz (frowning and looking at him wistfully, pouting): Biology.

(Scene: Liz’s Hospital Room…various scenes of Max attempting to help Liz with her homework, while Liz makes every attempt to thwart Max’s concentration. Music: David Mead - Sweet Sunshine.

…Max pulls out his Biology lab notebook with photocopies of the notes he’s taken for Liz. He opens the book and sets it on the tray table in front of her and starts talking about what they did. Liz just stares at the side of his face. He gives her a sideways glance and points to the notebook. She pouts and reluctantly looks at it, bending over it so her head is just slightly touching Max’s. He readjusts so it’s not so close and then starts passionately describing the intricate workings of Evolutionary Biology. Meanwhile, Liz pretends to be looking at the notes instead of memorizing every detail of his hands...

…half an hour later…Max is trying to show Liz how to do the Geometry problems she was working on. He’s now, unfortunately for him, sitting on the bed so she can watch how he does the problems. Liz is leaning unnecessarily close to him, pretending to be concentrating on the problems and not reveling in his scent. Max keeps glancing at her to make sure she’s following what he’s doing, but catches her looking at him every time. She gives him innocent looks and then quickly turns her attention to the problems. He finishes and it’s her turn to try and do them so he moves back to the chair with a sigh of relief. But as soon as he sits down, she turns to him and asks him a question, very innocently. He lets out another sigh and then sits back on the bed. He answers the question and then makes a move for the chair but Liz puts her hand on his leg, abruptly stopping any movement, and tells him he should stay, she might have more questions. He readjusts and stays put...

…over an hour later…Max is now leaning back in the bed, asleep, while Liz finishes up her Geometry problems. She quietly closes her book and puts it on the chair to her left. She gently pushes the tray table off to the side and then turns to look at Max’s sleeping face. How does he sleep in the most awkward positions and still look peaceful? She leans back so she’s only inches away from his face, and lightly begins to trace the curve of his chin with her finger. She moves, as slowly and quietly as she can, and gently kisses his forehead. When she pulls away she can see the smile on his lips and she slowly lowers her head and kisses him. Max, forgetting the reason why he was trying *not* to kiss her, brings his hands to her face and pulls her into him, deepening the kiss. As they begin to shift positions on the bed so that Liz is leaning back and lower than Max, Max remembers just why he didn’t want to kiss her...

…It starts as a burst of light…flames…smoke…searching through the smoke…and metal…shiny silvery metal. Then four pods…picking them up one at a time…running…looking backward…smoke in the sky…resting…running…setting the pods down and then returning to the crash. Searching…picking things up…can’t see what they are…rocks?…something else…voices…running…hiding…watching…

…There’s a part of Max that knows he should pull out of the kiss but he can’t, because another part of him wants - no - needs, to know what more he can see. And it doesn’t help that Liz’s hands and arms are firmly grasping his back…she sure is strong for being so tiny…Liz…her mouth…her lips…her tongue - where’d that come from!...her ear…her neck…it all just tastes so good…a bright light flashes…flood lights?…voices…soft crying…running…falling on the ground…running…the pods…searching for a place…a cave…the cave…the pods…a blinding blue light filling the cave…the symbols…the boulder sliding into place.)

Maria (standing in the door, a little more than shocked at the sight of her best friend necking on the hospital bed…and where are his hands!): AHEM!

(Max and Liz immediately pull apart. Liz sits up and looks to the door while Max just looks at the wall trying to collect himself.)

Liz (blushing is an understatement): Maria! Um…what…are…um…what time is it?

Maria (shocked and amused): Time for a study break.

(Scene: School Parking lot. Isabel is looking around for the jeep but doesn’t see it. Alex walks up to her shaking a pair of keys.)

Alex: Need a lift?

Isabel (doubting him): You?

Alex: Roswell, beware…Alex Whitman has arrived - on four wheels.

Isabel (surprised): When’d you take the test?

Alex: Yesterday. I already had the appointment before everything happened.

Isabel: Why didn’t you tell anyone?

Alex: What, and have you know if I failed? I think I do quite well with self-humiliation - without help from the DMV.

Isabel (looking around the lot): So which one’s yours?

Alex (he nods and they start walking toward a brown truck - hunting rack included and visible): Bambi.

Isabel: What?

Alex: It’s Dad’s, he calls it Bambi…there’s irony there you don’t want to be a witness to. (Unlocking Isabel’s door) Where to?

Isabel: Home. Mom can take me to the Crashdown.

Alex (getting in): I can take you there. I have to go anyway.

Isabel (suspiciously): A little early for dinner, isn’t it?

Alex: I’ve gotta get something for Liz from her room...and do a little cleaning while I’m there.

Isabel (surprised): Cleaning? Don’t tell me Liz Parker’s not the ‘Little Miss Tidy’ she appears to be.

Alex (letting out a laugh): No, that she is. (He pauses, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. His tone is serious when he continues) Actually, Isabel…Um, someone broke into her room the other day.

Isabel: What!

Alex: She thinks they were looking for her journal.

Isabel (panicky): Alex…

Alex: Don’t worry - she’s not. She’s got a pretty good hiding place for it…it’d be pretty impossible for someone to find.

Isabel: Oh my God, Alex.

Alex: You know I wasn’t even surprised? I think I’m damaged for life…

(Scene: Liz’s Hospital Room. Maria shuts the door behind Max and turns to look at Liz - who’s straightening her gown and her hair.)

Maria (bluntly): What was that?

Liz (sheepishly looking up): What?

Maria (exploding): What? What!…(pointing to the bed)…that!

Liz: Maria…it was…um…(thinking about it and looking up at Maria’s not quite patient gaze)…well…I guess it was what it looked like.

Maria: What it looked liked? Do you have any idea what it looked like? You were being ravished on your hospital bed…on your hospital bed! You…Liz Parker…ravished…and where were his hands - no don’t tell me…(Liz opens her mouth to speak but Maria continues) No, tell me, I want to know exactly what I just saw.

Liz: Maria…

Maria: Tell me! Now - and can you explain to me the whole process by which Max Evans gets from shy step-backer to total mac-attacker please!

Liz (now completely flustered): Maria…it just happened.

Maria: Just happened? Bad hair just happens, this does not just…happen.

Liz (lost in remembering): He touched me.

Maria: Yeah…clearly…he was touching a whole lot of you.

Liz: No, Maria, he…(looking at her, almost dizzy)…he touched me.

Maria: What are you talking about?

Liz: The nurse was showing me what the doctors did and Max came and he…touched me.

Maria: Okay, Roma Downey, what are you talking about?

Liz: Maria, he was touching the area around the wound…(she pulls her gown straight so Maria can see where the bandage is)…and it was so warm…and so gentle…Maria, he was so gentle and I didn’t want him to stop…(blushing a little) and I didn’t want him to be touching just my stomach.

Maria (mouth dropping open): Who are you? Are they giving you drugs?

Liz: Maria!

Maria: What’s my favorite flavor?

Liz: Maria.

Maria: Say it!

Liz: Mint chocolate chip…

Maria: Oh my god. Lizzie, what are you saying?

Liz (bringing her hands to her head): I don’t know…I just…(she looks up at Maria) I don’t know.

Maria: Have you guys like…done anything?

Liz: No…just what you saw.

Maria: Which was plenty.

Liz: Maria, it’s not like we were going to have…you know…(she blushes and Maria just looks at her)

Maria: Say it.

Liz: No.

Maria: Elizabeth Anne Parker, if you’re even thinking about it you have to say it.

Liz (totally embarrassed at this whole conversation): Sex…(Maria gasps and covers her mouth with her hand) Satisfied? Sex, sex, sex…

Maria (covering her ears): Enough! I can’t take anymore!

(Liz stops and brings her hands to her head. She peeks through them at Maria, who looks shocked. They make eye contact and then burst into laughter.)

(Scene: Michael’s Apartment. Max, looking upset, knocks on the door.)

Michael (opening the door and eyeing Max’s distraught appearance): Maxwell.

Max (entering the apartment): I used her.

Michael: What are you talking about?

Max (looking up at Michael upset): Michael, I used her…I knew I should have pulled back but I couldn’t…Michael, I couldn’t I…I had to see it.

Michael: See what? What’d you see?

Max (almost frantic): The crash…there was smoke and flames and the pods and the cave…I saw the cave and this blue light that created the symbols and…(looking up at Michael) Why, Michael? Why would he do it?

Michael (dumbfounded): I don’t understand…

Max: Don’t you see…he gave her his memories.

Michael: What?

Max: I’m seeing what he did…what he saw.

Michael (processing it all): What…

Max (distraught): Why…

Michael: Maxwell, it doesn’t matter…if she’s got the answers you’ve gotta get them from her.

Max (getting angry): I can’t just get them from her, Michael. Don’t you get it? I only see them when we’re…when we’re kissing.

Michael: It doesn’t matter, Max, you have to.

Max: Are you listening to me?

Michael: Are you listening to you? You not only get the answers to our past, our lives, you get to fuckin’ make-out while doing it. What are you complaining about?

Max (disgusted): How can you say that, Michael? I have to think about Liz.

Michael (passionately): You have to think about us, Max…this is *our* past.

Max (in disbelief): It’s HER body…(disgusted) He’s using her and he’s trying to make me use her too.

Michael: Enough with the sensitivity shit…Maxwell, it’s not using her when you know she wants it. (The callousness with which that statement was made was enough for the punch to be thrown, and before Michael can react he’s sprawled on the couch behind him holding his face.) What the…

Max (standing over him): Don’t ever talk about her like that.

Michael (seriously angry): I know what I saw and felt…he’s giving you a goddamn gift.

Max: You tell that to Liz.

(He looks angrily down at Michael, shaking his head, and then slams the door on his way out.)

(Scene: Liz’s Hospital Room, a little later that evening. Maria is curled up on the bed next to Liz.)

Liz: Where’s ice cream when we need it?

Maria: It would have melted when I walked through the door.

Liz (playfully hitting her): Stop.

Maria: I can’t help it. This conversation was not supposed to happen for like a couple more years…I mean, with Kyle I figured we were pretty safe…And then Max is…Well, I didn’t think a viable candidate due to his…you know.

Liz: Maria…I know we can’t…and that’s not really what it’s about.

Maria (giving her a sideways glance, very doubtful): Oh really?

Liz: It’s the feeling…it’s amazing…(biting her lip) I don’t know…it’s just the way he makes me feel.

Maria: As long as his hands are visible at all times.

(Liz hits her again and they both start as Alex enters the room.)

Alex: Ah, Houston, we have a problem.

Maria: You mean besides Liz being ‘touched by an alien.’

Liz (shocked): Maria!

Maria (looking at her): Okay, maybe it can’t go all the way but you are definitely headed for a ‘close encounter of the third base kind’.

Liz: MARIA!

(Liz pushes her off the bed and covers her head with a pillow while Alex blinks and tries to process exactly what he just heard.)

Alex (fumbling): Um…I…I think um…I’ve missed part of this conversation…and please *don’t* fill me in.

Liz (throwing her pillow at Maria): Don’t listen to her, Alex, she’s…um, delusional. Everything she says…all lies!

Maria: Delusional? You wanna talk delusions...

Alex (interrupting them): Um…as much as I’m not enjoying this conversation…We have a serious problem.

Liz (looking at Alex): What’s wrong, Alex?

Alex: The journal…it was gone.

Liz (completely panicky): What? That can’t be…Alex, there’s no way someone would have found it…Are you sure…did you reach in far enough?

Alex: Liz, believe me I looked…it wasn’t behind the brick.

Liz (getting physically upset): Oh my God…Max. What do I tell him? Oh my God, Alex…what do we do?

(Scene: Hospital Parking Lot, later that evening. Max reaches for his bag in the backseat of the jeep and when he turns around the Sheriff is standing next to the car.)

Max (startled): Sheriff… you startled me.

Valenti: Son, we need to talk.

Max: I told you I didn’t know anything…

Valenti: That shooting was intentional, we both know that…I don’t want to play games here, I don’t think there’s time for that. You have some very dangerous men after you, Mr. Evans…You’ve seen what they can do.

Max: Why are you telling me this?

Valenti: I don’t know what your secret is, son…and at this point it doesn’t matter. My job is to protect you. I’m not denying that knowing why these men are after you wouldn’t help but right now I’m just trying to make sure this town doesn’t have another movie-theater shooting. (Max just looks at him cautiously) I’m telling you that you need to be careful and that I’m doing what I can to make sure they don’t hurt you. (Valenti looks at him intently and then puts his hand on his shoulder) Be careful, son. (And he walks away with Max watching him.)

(Scene: Hospital Hallway. The Parkers are standing in the hallway waiting for the elevator. After they enter and the doors close Max steps out of the waiting room and heads down the hall. When he turns to enter the room he can tell that something’s wrong by the look on Liz’s face.)

Max (concerned): Liz? What’s wrong?

Liz (looking up at Max and trying not to breakdown): Max…something happened.

Max (sitting down next to her and taking her hand): What? What happened?

Liz: My journal, Max…it’s gone.

Max: Your journal?

Liz (clearly upset): Max, somebody broke into my room the other day and…and I don’t know how but they found my journal…I’ve been hiding it in this hole behind a loose brick…I didn’t think anybody could find it there but…Alex went today and it’s…it’s gone.

Max (pulling Liz to him): Shhh…we’ll figure this out…I don’t know how but…we’ll figure this out.

(They sit there quietly with Max just holding Liz and stroking her hair. His mind racing and hers finally slowing down.)

(Scene fast forwards a few hours later. Max and Liz are both sleeping in the room. Agent Jones enters the room dressed as a nurse. He closes the door and then quickly shuts the blinds. He pulls out a cloth and silently walks over to Max. He covers Max’s mouth and nose with it and holds it there for a few seconds. Setting down the cloth he then pulls out a syringe. Rolling up Max’s sleeve he proceeds to draw blood from a vein in Max’s right arm…

…The scene switches to black and white - as it is seen through a small 13” monitor in a van somewhere. Pulling back from the black and white image, more monitors can be seen - each showing a different angle of Liz’s hospital room. There’s an open book on the floor and the contents of a spilt drink seeping into the carpet as the van reverberates from the car door slamming shut. The monitor shows Agent Jones re-buttoning Max’s sleeve, labeling the vile of blood and grabbing the cloth. He quietly exits the room…

…Back at the hospital…Agent Jones walks down the hallway, heading toward the stairs. As he turns a corner he’s knocked down by a janitor hurrying down the hallway. Jones goes sprawling and drops the plastic container of Max’s blood. The janitor apologizes profusely and picks up the blood to hand it to Jones. Jones is seriously pissed and too busy dusting himself off to notice the janitor. He grabs the blood from him and angrily walks off….

…The janitor smiles that slightly sinister smile as he watches Jones enter the stairwell. Turning down the hall the janitor walks toward Liz’s room. After checking to make sure the hall is empty, he enters. He walks over to Max and checks the spot where the blood was drawn. Then walking around the bed he looks at Liz for a few moments. He leans down and whispers something in her ear.)

Liz (jerking up in bed and looking around the now empty room): The key…(Max jerks awake at the sound of Liz’s voice and quickly reaches out for her hand. Liz swallowing hard and looking at Max) I’m the key!?

Back to Area 51 (Section III)