Added by MoonDreamer
[The story opens at the Crashdown. Liz is working an evening shift. Max is at the counter, lingering over a basket of fries and a coffee cup. There is only one other customer - a woman sitting at one of the tables. Liz is looking around the Crashdown. She sees a used newspaper with a headline about the explosion at Rogers Air Force Base.]
Liz Voice Over: I'm not religious, but I've been to church. ...I know right from wrong. And I know it's wrong to benefit in any way from someone else's passing. But I won't deny that Tess' death has freed me. Like a dark shadow passed over the sun before the light came flooding back. It's a brand new day, full of possibilities and hope. I haven't felt like that in a long... long time.
[Liz's attention falls on Max. He looks over his shoulder to see her looking at him and he smiles.]
Liz VO: It's different for Max. He lost more than his son. He lost a sense of direction to his life, a sense of purpose. He puts up a brave front, but... I know.
[Liz turns in a ticket to another waitress who is working behind the counter, and sits down a few seats away from Max.]
Liz: What're you still doin' here? Got it hot for some local waitress?
Max: (looks down for a moment, then looks over and smiles.) That's the rumor. ...Have you heard from Northwestern yet?
Liz: Still waiting...
Max: You must be nervous.
Liz: ...I'm trying to handle the whole college acceptance thing with grace and aplomb.
Max: 'Aplomb'?
Liz: Yeah... it's an SAT word that I can't get out of my head. It's slowly driving me crazy.
Max: Liz. ...What if I came with you to Northwestern?
[Max looks at her hopefully, but Liz hesitates a long moment.]
Liz: Max... if you think that's something that you seriously think you could or would do, then fine. We'll... we'll talk about it. But otherwise... please don't put me through the whole emotional roller coaster?
[Max looks down at his coffee and nods.]
Woman: Excuse me, Miss?
Liz: (smiles. Duty calls.) I'll be right back.
[Liz goes over to the customer at the table. The woman smiles and hands Liz some paper bills and her ticket.]
Woman: Thank you.
[Suddenly, as Liz touches the woman's hand, she sees a flash of the woman being held up at gunpoint in an alley and shot. The woman walks on out of the restaurant, and Liz, stunned, moves back to the counter to sit down. Max sees she looks shaken and comes over to her.]
Max: Hey. Hey, what's wrong?
Liz: That woman that just walked out of here...
Max: (looks after the woman.) What about her?
Liz: I think she's going to be murdered.
Max: What're you talking about? (Max smooths Liz's hair.)
Liz: She was walking down an alley and there was a man with a gun.
Max: Are you telling me you just saw the future?
Liz: I saw something..! We have to go after her.
[Suddenly, Liz grabs Max's hand and pulls him outside.]
Liz: Around here..!
[They stop behind one of the large dumpsters in the alley alongside the Crashdown. They see the woman walking away, farther down the alley.]
Max: Are you sure that-?
[Suddenly a robber jumps out at the woman from behind a dumpster. He grabs her purse, and levels a gun at her.]
Woman: No, please....
Liz: Max...
[Max uses his powers to knock the gun out of the man's hand and to set off nearby car alarms. The man drops the purse and runs off into the night. The woman looks back down the alley and sees Max and Liz watching her.]
Liz: yeah-- let's go... let's...
[Liz starts to go, but Max hesitates. He and the woman look at each other a moment before he turns away.]
[We see technicians sorting through the rubble at Roger's Air Force Base. They find the burned VCR cartridge which the Evanses made of Isabel.]
Liz VO: The trouble with making plans for the future... even when you can see the future... Is that fate has a way of intervening... and upsetting 'the best laid plans of mice and men.' Robert Burns, 1785. That was on the SAT, too.
[Opening titles.]
[Isabel comes home to find Jesse on the phone.]
Jesse: So... this is for real. Well, I'm going to have to get back to you on that. Yeah. Bye.
Isabel: (sees his serious look.) ...What?
Jesse: Ah... my friend, Chris Hobson. He just made partner at, ah, Langtree, Watkins and Sullivan. They're one of the top law firms in Boston.
Isabel: That's nice...
Jesse: They need someone to take over their litigation department.
Isabel: Oh... So, Boston, huh? Well... what does it pay?
Jesse: 350 to start.
Isabel: Jesse, get real, we can't live on 350 a week, especially in that city. I mean, the cost of living alone must be at least that -
Jesse: No. 350... a year.
Isabel: ...so, you ... you mean, it's...
Jesse: Yeah. Three hundred and fifty thousand.
Isabel: A year?
Jesse: (smiles and laughs.) A year...
Isabel: Oh, dear God! (She runs to give him a big hug.) Honey that is so great! Oh, my God!
Jesse: So, does that mean I'm taking it? We're going?
Isabel: Probably!
[She laughs. They look at each other again and she gives him another big hug. We see that she is excited, but has some misgivings.]
[Liz and Maria are working at the Crashdown. Michael is working the grill, and Kyle is having lunch at the counter.]
Maria: So, you're clairvoyant now?
Liz: I'm not clairvoyant. It only happened once.
Maria: All right, do you think you can tell me what's going to happen between me and Space Boy?
[The two of them stand at the pass-through, waiting for their orders. Michael sets some food up. He sees them looking at him and frowns. He shakes his head, returns to the grill.]
Liz: It's prob'ly beyond my capabilities.
Maria: Yeah. Tell me about it. Well... at least... we'll always have each other, right?
Liz: Yeah, of course we will. (sees Maria looks serious, and is a little worried.)
[They both carry their orders into the dining area. Liz passes by Kyle and stops.]
Liz: What have you been doing?
Kyle: It's called "workin' for the man"...
Liz: In a sewer?
Kyle: Close. 'Been flushing septic lines for a 1975 RV...
[Liz's dad comes into the room holding up a letter.]
Mr. Parker: From Northwestern University.
[Liz stares at the letter, not moving.]
Kyle: An acceptance letter?
Liz: Well, either that, or a dig letter.
[Suddenly the order bell rings. Liz and her Dad both turn to give Michael a look.]
Michael: ...Sorry. Your orbit rings are ready.
[Liz's dad takes a deep sigh and hands the letter to Liz. As she reaches to take it, she touches his hand and has another flash - she sees it is an acceptance letter.]
Liz: I've been accepted!!
Mr. Parker: (gives a small laugh.)You haven't even opened it yet..!
Liz: (looks cautiously at her dad, then opens the letter, reads.) I did, I got in!
Mr. Parker: Ha! Wha-ho-hoo!
[Jeff gives his daughter a big hug. She is laughing and smiling. Maria looks on, desolate. Kyle sits, slowly clapping his hands, with a strained smile.]
Kyle: (talks aloud to himself.) I gotta do something with my life...
[Kyle is having lunch with his boss (his name tag says 'Sonny').]
Kyle: Anyway. Thanks for taking this meeting.
Boss: Meeting? You just said you were springin' for lunch.
Kyle: Right. But... I thought we could talk a little...
Boss: Are you gonna complain? Look, trailer sewage is part of the job, buddy. (kind of laughs.)
Kyle: It's not about that. It's just...that I've - I've actually... I've been thinking about my future.
Boss: Oh, so it's a money thing. Well, look, all the salaries are frozen. You watch TV? I mean, we're in the middle of a recession, I can't be dolling out money just like -
Kyle: No, no, it's not that, it's not that, it's not that, not that... don't worry about it... Uhm... I think that I have a lot to offer. (We see that Kyle's father is nearby, but unseen, listening to Kyle talk to his boss.) Maybe we could expand... maybe even one day... open up a new...uh... garage. Anyway, I was just... I was wondering if you would consider... taking on a partner.
Boss: ...Partner? ...Look, I'm sorry, but that's not the way things work. You're a kid. You're not even my mechanic. You're an assistant.
Kyle: (disappointed.) Yeah, you're right. Let's just drop it.
Boss: Partner. (kind of laughing.) Sounds a little crazy...
[Jim Valenti, watching, feels badly.]
[At a motel somewhere in Roswell, three men are meeting. One is an Air Force General, the other two are plain clothes.]
1st Man: One of my men picked this out of the rubble a couple of nights ago.
[On the TV, a tape plays of Isabel surrounded by a whirlwind of flying objects.]
General: ...Is she the... thing... that destroyed our base?
1st Man: Possibly.
2nd Man: There are several candidates.
General: (restrained, but angry) Can the Special Unit... deal with this?
2nd Man: The Special Unit no longer exists...
1st Man: Neither does this meeting...
General: (smiles.) Right.
2nd Man: However, the members of the unit do remain in contact with one another.
General: Then you can take care of this...?
2nd Man: That's why you contacted us... isn't it, General..?
General: (watches the tape for a moment.) We lost a lot of good people at Rogers... (turns to face the other men.) I don't want it to happen again.
1st Man: When this is over... these creatures will never bother anyone ever again.
[At Michael's apartment, Liz is sitting on Max's lap. They are kissing and making out on the couch.]
Max: Congratulations....
Liz: You said that already.
Max: ...oh. (he kisses her.)
Liz: ...but I like the way you say it.
Max: You 'college girls'...
Liz: (mugging an attitude) Hey, we wanna be loved for our minds, not our bodies.
[Max smiles and nods.]
Liz: Are you serious? You know, about wanting to come with me?
Max: (brushes the hair back from her face) I've never been more serious...
[He moves his other hand up under her shirt to caress her waist and back.]
Max: ...what a great... mind... you have...
Liz: ohh... I don't think that's my mind... but keep looking, I'm sure you'll find it.
Max: ...Really.
Liz: ...uhm hum. (Liz shifts positions and Max's playful expression turns serious.) Remember I can tell the future? ...And tonight... your future... looks very... very... bright. (Liz slowly pushes Max back into the cushions. He closes his eyes as she bends down to kiss him.)
[As they kiss, Liz suddenly has flashes of Max, Isabel, Michael, and herself being shot. She sits up with a start, gasping. Max looks at her, concerned.]
Max: ...What?...
Liz: ...We're all going to be killed.
[Later, the gang has gathered at Michael's apartment. Jim, Kyle, Isabel, Jesse, Maria, and Michael listen as Max and Liz share what just happened.]
Liz: It was terrible. We were all killed, I saw it.
Maria: 'All', as in everybody?
Liz: Max, Isabel, Michael, and... me. (Liz crosses the room to stand by Max.)
Michael: I dream we all get whacked every other night. Why the meeting?
Max: Liz started to have premonitions... from... touching people. (Liz acts self-conscious.) Uhm... she saw a woman about to be killed in an armed robbery. We followed them, and we were able to stop it.
[The guys that speak to Max and Liz each pace across the room as they talk.]
Jesse: You believe it? You think this could really happen?
Max: I think we should all take this seriously...
Michael: Okay, so, where do we get popped, when do we get popped, and who pops us?
Liz: I don't know. The flashes were sort of impressionistic.
Jim: We need more information.
Isabel: Where were you? Where were you when you had the flashes?
Max: Here.
Kyle: You said you got these flashes from touching people.
Liz: We were-- ...I was... 'touching people'... (Liz rolls her eyes, embarrassed, and they all get the picture.)
Maria: ...How cozy.
Isabel: (trying not to smile.) I... think we should just focus on what we do next.
Max: Right. We should all stay on guard. Ah... Liz and I will attempt to... ah...
Kyle: ...achieve another flash?
Max: (shrugs, a little self-conscious himself.) It seems like the thing to do...
Maria: So... I, ah... I take it I have no homework, right..? Okay. (to Michael.) So, uh, I gotta speak to you, Space Boy. We have an appointment tomorrow.
[Michael walks off after Maria, casting a final look towards Max and Liz.]
[The next morning at Madame Vivian's.]
Madame V: So, what d'you want out of this relationship? I mean, where do each of you see yourselves... say, five years from now?
Michael: The current theory is, I'm gonna to be dust.
Madame V: 'Dust'?
Michael: Dead. Kaput. Finito, Michelito. (Madame V just stares at Michael, puzzled and concerned.) ...No offense, 'could we get to the part where you take out your crystal ball an'.... I wanna get back in time for WWF.
Maria: I apologize for him. Michael, please, I really just... I need for you to try 'n help me figure this out, alright?
[As Maria and Michael exchange words, Madame V is studying the Tarot cards with deep concern.]
Michael: You're the one who broke up with me two seconds after you sucked face with your ex-boyfriend.
Maria: What about that thing with Courtney last year?
Michael: Those were extenuating circumstances. She was a Michael-worshipper -
Maria: There are always extenuating circumstances, aren't there? You know what? I'm just sick of it. I am sick of it, Michael...
[The two of them look over to see Madame V staring at them.]
Maria: uhm... I apologize. I... I... ahm... See? We're hopeless.
Madame V: Maria... would you mind if I speak to Michael alone for a few minutes?
Maria: Why... I wanna hear everything you have to say, though...
Madame V: This is not about you and Michael. This is... much bigger than your relationship.
Maria: ...of course it is. Everything always is, isn't it? [she gets up.] Okay.
[Michael looks skeptically at Madame V as Maria leaves.]
Madame V: Michael. Something bad is about to happen. (she turns over cards as he frowns at her skeptically.) Very bad. And there's only one way to keep it from happening. ...You must believe in the love.
Michael: 'Believe in the love.' I have no idea what that means.
Madame V: I know you don't. But try to. It could save your life. And others.
Michael: I think you're a fraud.
[Madame V pulls up a card dramatically and holds it out towards Michael.]
Madame V: So you don't forget.
[He takes the card and looks at it. It is The Lovers.]
[Michael walks out of Madame V's house.]
Michael: Come on, she's a flake. Let's go.
Maria: I... don't believe it!! You are not going to tell me what she said!! (Maria slaps him across the sleeve.) You know, this is so indicative-
Michael: --shut up!
[Michael uses his powers to explode a clay pot sitting on the front step.]
[We see that the Special Unit men we met earlier have taken photos of Michael in the act. Spread out on their table, we see other pictures as well; Michael talking to Max, Isabel walking down a hall. They are studying these pictures.]
[Max and Liz are lying together on Liz's bed, kissing and making out, trying to spark another one of Liz's prescient flashes.]
Liz: Tough job...
Max: Yeah... somebody's gotta do it...
[she laughs, and they continue to kiss.]
Liz: So what's happening to me, Max? (He stops suddenly, concerned, and caresses her hair.) I mean, what does this mean? Am I becoming one of you?
[He answers her breathlessly then begins kissing her again.]
Max: I don't know, but whatever is happening, we're together now...
[Suddenly Liz again has flashes of them being killed, and more. A man at a podium, speaking.]
Max: ...Did you see something?
Liz: I saw you get killed again... oh, wait, wait a second, there was someone there. I've seen him before...
Max: Who was it?
[Liz gets up to go to her dresser, sorts through some things for a book.]
Liz: That face! I know I've seen that face before... Where is that... This is him. He was there the moment that you got... the moment that you got killed. I mean...he was giving a speech or something.
[She brings the book back over to show the author's picture to Max.]
Max: ...Bryce McCain..? ...He's going to be the guest of honor at the UFO convention. We die June 12th.
Liz: That's less than two weeks.
Max: We have twelve days to figure out how to stop it.
[The group all gathers near the ruins of the pod chamber - Max and Liz, Michael and Maria, Isabel and Jesse, Kyle and Jim.]
Michael: So, who's this Bryce McCain?
Liz: He's a science fiction novelist, and he'll be at the UFO convention.
Max: So we have less than two weeks before we're all killed.
Maria: God... how does this happen? And why now?
Liz: Well... it probably has something to do with Tess destroying the base.
Michael: Maybe they found your mom's video tape.
Isabel: So, what, now it's my fault?
Michael: I'm just saying they put it together pretty quick.
Jesse: Look, it's not going to help to point fingers, okay?
Jim: He's right. We need to come up with a plan as a team.
Michael: A team? Look at us. It's ridiculous.
Maria: Michael, you're not helping...
Max: She's right.
Michael: Okay, fine, then, help. What's the plan?
[They all look towards Max, who sits on the ground with Liz. He gives no answer for a moment, staring grimly off into nothing. Finally, he shakes his head.]
Max: I won't make this decision for everyone. I'm givin' up the throne. (He rises, addressing Michael and Isabel.) I'm not a king. And you're not my second in command. And you're not a princess. We're just fighting for our lives.
Isabel: Well, then, we need to start planning on how to fight back.
Michael: I've got a better idea. Why don't we get outta Dodge before they land on us? We leave.
Kyle: ...and where do we go?
Michael: Anywhere but here. I mean, let's face it... they know who we are. It's over. ...We leave Roswell, we leave fast, and we leave as quietly as we can... We all go separately. (He looks down at Maria, troubled.)
Maria: 'Separately'??
Michael: Right now we're safer as individuals than we are as a group. I mean, what're we all gonna do if we go together? Get a van? ...We go quietly into the night, each of us on our own. ...If they get some of us... maybe they don't get all of us.
Jim: Wait a minute... we all go?
Michael: Right now, the only ones in danger, according to the crystal ball here, are... me, Max, Isabel, and Liz. So, the rest of you are safe. You can stay here.
Maria: Oh, what... so now I'm not invited??
[Agitated and angry, Maria stands up to confront Michael.]
Michael: ...Maria...
Maria: Hah... you're just... you're just gonna leave me here?? I mean, y'know, this is incred- this is perfect. This is just a perfect way to end this entire... stupid thing. Forget it. Fine. Good bye, good luck. (she walks off into the desert, leaving Michael at a loss. He starts to call after her.)
Liz: (to Michael.) Hey. ...Let me.
[Liz walks off to catch up with Maria.]
Max: If we're going to go, we shouldn't hesitate. We should start leaving right after graduation. One at a time. And we don't look back.
[The three aliens come to stand together, leaving Jesse, Kyle, and Jim standing a short distance away from them.]
[Liz tries to catch up to Maria, who is still walking away, angry.]
Liz: Maria...
Maria: What??
Liz: No, wait!! Wait - Maria, what is your problem? What's your problem??
Maria: (stops and turns.) I have risked my life! I have given up everything! I mean, every other friend I've ever had, I've completely blown off. My mother doesn't even know me anymore!! And now that it's all over... you're one of them. You're part of it. You're gonna go off with them and leave me in Roswell, and I'm gonna be stuck here as a waitress for the rest of my life-
Liz: Can you really look at me and say this?? I am most likely about to get killed, in twelve days, and what are you saying? You are saying that you are pissed off because you're not getting killed too.
Maria: (almost tearful.) I just... I don't...I am falling apart here, Liz. I know I'm ridiculous right now. I know I sound crazy-
Liz: It's just that all I have heard for the past five months is how you want out of the alien chaos. And now... what..? you want back in? Maria, Maria - which one is it? Do you want in, or do you want out?
Maria: I don't know... I don't know... which one is better for me? You can see the future. Liz, please, tell me - hold my hand ...maybe you'll have a flash... just tell me... which one is better for me??
Liz: Maria, Maria... Maria... Maria... Listen to me. You've got to stop. (Liz takes Maria's face in her hands, smoothing her hair.) Okay? Who knows? Alright? I can see the future... and I have no idea. Look... maybe you just... you need to try and decide what you want, and then go get it. ...Okay?
[Liz kisses Maria on the forehead, then hugs her.] [Kyle and his father walk back to their truck.]
Jim: So, I guess we stay here, huh?
Kyle: Yeah. This'll be fun. We can take bets on when they're going to repossess our house.
Jim: I made a call on your behalf.
Kyle: What're you talkin' about?
[Jim hands Kyle a badge.]
Kyle: What's this?
Jim: (proud, smiling.) Deputy's badge. Sheriff Hanson wants to give you a shot in the Sheriff's office.
Kyle: ...Dad. This is the last thing I wanna do with my life. Being a cop like you and grandpa, that's my worst nightmare.
Jim: Hey, you can do whatever the hell you want, but this badge is an honor. And being a law enforcement officer is not a nightmare, it's a dream!
Kyle: It's your dream! And why the hell are you callin' in favors to get me a badge, anyway, when all this time you haven't lifted a finger to get your own badge back?
[Kyle pushes the badge back to his father, and Jim stops, in grim thought for a moment.] [Jesse and Isabel talk as they prepare to get in their car.]
Jesse: I'll call Boston and tell them to give the job to someone else.
Isabel: No. Take the job. We'll go to Boston. We'll figure out a way. I'm just not gonna let this stop us any more.
Jesse: Isabel, are you sure?
Isabel: Yes. Take the job.
[Jesse smiles and kisses Isabel, and they hug. Isabel smiles at Jesse, then goes around the car, speaking under her breath.]
Isabel: I can't believe it's all ending this way.
[Max leans against his convertible, watching Isabel with Jesse, then he looks over to see Michael on his motorcycle. They look at each other a moment and Max starts toward Michael, but then hesitates. Michael stands down off his cycle and walks towards Max.]
Michael: Well, I'm not graduating, so I guess I'll be the first to leave.
Max: (walks towards Michael now.) Michael, look...
Michael: Ahhh... I'm travelin' light, so you can have my Metallica CDs.
Max: I know things between us have been a little, uh...
Michael: Yeah, well, Maxwell... don't... 'cause... I can't.
[Max draws Michael into an embrace and they hold each other for a long moment, surrounded at a distance by Maria, Liz, Kyle and Jim, Jesse and Isabel.]
[At the motel, the two Special Unit men have detained the woman whose life Liz and Max saved. She is sitting at a table covered with surveillance photos of the aliens and their friends and family. The 1st Man is standing over her, looking at her expectantly.]
1st Man: The sooner you help us, Mrs. Mills, the sooner you can return home.
Mrs. Mills: (stares, shaking her head slightly.) ...They helped me. ...They saved my life.
[The 2nd man has been looking out a curtained window, late afternoon light on his face. He pulls out a piece of gum to chew on.]
2nd Man: I'm sure your two children will be very happy to see you... It's getting late.
[She looks up at the 1st Man, intimidated by their veiled threats. Hesitantly, she points to a picture of Liz, then of Max.]
1st Man: Thank you.
Mrs. Mills: Can I go now? (she stands shakily, gathering her purse.)
1st Man: You were never here. (she nods.) You never saw us.
[She nods. He smiles coldly, and she hurries out the door, escorted by the 2nd man.]
[The 1st man sorts the stack of photos. As he selects certain ones, we see they have collected photos of Michael and Max arguing, of Max and Liz together playing miniature golf, of Isabel and her father at the restaurant where she met with Jesse, and of Maria. He blocks together four final photos: Michael, Max, Isabel, and Liz.]
1st Man: These four. This is everyone. Now we can move.
2nd Man: Where?
1st Man: Some place where they're all together. Indoors. A facility we can lock down. Someplace where they won't expect it to happen.
[Maria is outside her house when she sees Michael sitting out by the curb on his motorcycle. She walks over to him.]
Maria: I thought you were leaving.
Michael: I am... but I just wanted... I dunno.
Maria: --t'say goodbye?
Michael: (struggles to form words, then speaks.) ...I wanted to say that this thing has been screwed up from the beginning. You and me. Us. Just the whole long, stupid story...
Maria: ...Thanks...
Michael: But I wouldn't trade it for anything. It's meant so much to me, y'know. From day one, from the moment I kidnapped you and stole your car... I knew you were the girl for me. I never wanted anyone else...
Maria: Michael... (takes a step towards him, sad, but touched.)
Michael: I still don't. Just... Wherever I'm goin', whatever I'm doin', just know I'll always love you.
[Abruptly, Michael puts on his helmet and starts his bike.]
Maria: Wait. No... wait. You - you can't just say that and then---
[Michael rides off, leaving Maria standing in the street, stunned and lost.]
[That evening, Max and Liz are together out on Liz's balcony. She is lighting candles, he is unfolding and laying out a colorful red patterned sheet on the floor.]
Max: Liz, I've been thinking about what happened before. ...We saved that woman's life.
Liz: (smiles.) I know...
Max: I just... I have this weird feeling about it.
Liz: Oh? ...well, what do you mean?
[Concerned, she walks over towards him, but he crosses the balcony away from her, walking over to the cooker, and does not face her.]
Max: I...I've just been feeling like I have no path... you know? Nowhere to go. ...Maybe... maybe that's why I've been put here... to help people. ...Maybe that's what I should do with my life after I leave Roswell.
Liz: Like... Tom Joad in Grapes of Wrath... doing good deeds and avoiding the law.
Max: (smiles, then turns to look at her.) The thing is... I can't do that without you.
[Liz and Max exchange a long questioning look. Liz takes a few steps closer to him.]
Liz: ...I would do anything... if it means being with you...
[Max smiles. After a moment, he turns back to take the lid off the cooker.]
Max: ...A trick I learned from Superman. Let's see if it really works.
[Liz half way smiles, and is watching him, curious. He picks a charcoal briquette out of the cooker and encloses it in his hand. With great effort he squeezes it, and bright white energy emanates from his fist. After a moment, he wipes the object in his hand on the bottom of his shirt.]
[Max slowly turns back to face Liz, then walks over to her. Holding her gaze, he gets down on one knee, and holds out the diamond he has just made.]
Liz: Oh my g...
Max: Liz... they're taking our home from us. ...They want to kill us... and... they might. ...But when I look in your eyes, I... I don't feel angry... or... deprived. ...I feel like the luckiest half-human on the planet. (Liz smiles.) You're pure... you're... you're true... and... you're real. And right now that seems like the only thing that's important. ...I want to be with you Liz... forever.
Liz: ...Forever may only be twelve days...
Max: --Then we'll take those twelve days... (He places the diamond in Liz's palm and closes her hand around it.) ...and we'll live twelve life times.
[Finally, he makes his tender appeal.]
Max: ...Liz Parker... will you marry me?
[Holding his gaze, Liz slowly kneels down in front of Max and smiles.] Liz: ...Yes.
[Max smiles, and half laughs with joy and relief, then somberly pulls Liz towards him and gives her a brief, soft kiss. He pulls back for a moment.]
Max: ...After... graduation.
Liz: (smiles.) ...okay...
[They share a long, tender kiss.]
[That evening, in the auditorium at West Roswell High, the graduating class of 2002 sits in their bright red robes, smiling, laughing, and applauding as a couple of graduating seniors leave the dais.]
[We see Liz, Max, Maria and Kyle each in their robes, sitting in various places around the auditorium. Max looks a couple rows back, smiling at Liz, and she lowers her eyes. Kyle sees their brief exchange, and his brow knits for an instant. Further back, Isabel and Jesse sit with her parents, just in front of where Liz's dad, Jeff Parker, is sitting. Jeff Parker gives a quick whistle as he claps.]
[Everyone is excited, laughing and smiling, all cheerfully suffering through the long ceremony.]
MC: (as the cheering dies down.) Congratulations... Congratulations.... And as we continue to honor our senior class, we'd like to give them a few of our own words of wisdom... before we send them out into the world as High School graduates. (Maria rolls her eyes, then smiles.) So now, it's my pleasure to introduce our special guest for this evening. A three-time Hugo Award winner for excellence in science fiction, and an international best-selling author... Bryce McCain!!
[As everyone else applauds and cheers, the author walks out on stage. We see Max, Liz, Maria, Isabel, Jesse, and Kyle staring, stunned as the man's identity sinks in. They exchange desperate, frightened looks with each other.]
[Bryce McCain begins to speak. They continue to look to each other as he is talking, not knowing what to do.]
McCain: Much of my work is about the possibility of alien life. Of course... that's fiction. But the truth is... that we're all aliens, really, in our own way... especially in high school...
[They look around to see if they can find the gunmen, but it is futile - the gunmen are beyond their sight in the darkness above the main floor. The snipers are in radio contact with each other.]
1st Man: [on radio] This is Viceroy. All shooters report in, please.
Bulldog: [site on Max's back.] This is Bulldog. My target is in the clear.
Terrier: [site on Liz's back] This is Terrier. My target is in the clear.
Pointer: [site on Isabel.] This is Pointer. My target is in the clear.
1st Man: This is Viceroy. All shooters stand by. Do not fire until the rest of the unit has arrived. Repeat, do not fire until the rest of the unit has arrived to provide crowd control and secure the facility.
[Meanwhile, outside of Roswell, Michael is sitting on his bike by the side of the road when he sees a convoy of black cars heading into town through the night. He pulls something out of his back pocket and looks down at it - it is The Lovers Tarot card. He stares after the convoy for a moment, frowning, then dons his helmet and starts the engine. The card lays on the ground.]
[Back at the auditorium, Bryce McCain continues to speak.]
McCain: When I sat down to write this speech... I was struck by the similarities... between what I do... and the situation that you find yourself in now.
[Max looks painfully back towards Liz, and she returns his look with a brave smile.]
McCain: ...believe in what could be. About having faith... okay, that life and the universe holds more than what we perceive. As you contemplate...
[Max suddenly resolves to a course of action. He gets up, works his way to the aisle, and walks toward the podium. Puzzled members of the crowd watch his progress.]
Bulldog: We've got movement. Target is active. Target is active.
1st Man: Bulldog, maintain target. Keep the kid in your sites.
Bulldog: What the hell is he doing?
[Max steps up next to McCain and puts his hand over the microphone, interrupting him in mid-sentence. He talks in a low tone, just to McCain.]
Max: You need to leave the building right now.
McCain: ...What??
Max: It's for your own safety.
[Max waves his hand and changes McCain's printed speech into a message that says "LEAVE NOW FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY."]
Max: Just walk away...
[Flummoxed, the author stares at the message, then at Max. He glances at the dignitaries on the dais, then turns and walks quickly down the stairs.]
[Max looks up into the darkness. We see that a sniper still has a gun trained on him. Max steps up to the podium and begins to speak to the crowd. Liz, Kyle, and Maria watch him, wondering what he is going to do.]
Max: Hi. I'm, ah, I'm Max Evans. I'd like to take this opportunity to, ah... to say a few things on behalf of myself... and the graduating class...
[As he is talking, Max holds his hand over the microphone connector and uses his powers to send a jolt of energy through the electrical system. Suddenly, the room goes pitch dark except for a single spotlight on his face. There are gasps and murmurs from the crowd.]
Terrier: I've lost target.
Pointer: So have I.
Bulldog: Bulldog still has a lock.
[Max says a few words to the crowd as Liz, Maria, and Kyle begin to leave their seats and move towards the aisles. Straining to see in the dark, Jeff Parker looks towards Liz, wondering what is happening. Isabel is listening intensely to Max.]
Max: ...Some of us are here tonight to walk across this stage, get our hard-earned diplomas and toss our caps in the air. But there's another group here... tonight... a group of people who are here for another reason altogether. ...They're here to say goodbye. Goodbye to their high school lives...
Isabel: [tearfully whispering to Jesse.] This is it. Maybe in my next life... (she desperately takes his hands, presses something into them. He looks at her intensely, shaking his head no.)
Max: ...goodbye to their family... and friends...
Phillip: What's going on?
[They are all whispering to each other.]
Isabel: Max and I have to leave. There's no time to explain, but Jesse will give you the details.
Diane: Oh, Isabel, no...
Isabel: Mom and Dad, I love you so much! ...I am so grateful that you know the truth.
Phillip: We love you...
[Isabel gives her Mom a hug, then stands, gives her Dad a hug. Jesse looks after her, grieved.]
Max: ...you see, this... this group has been through a lot... and tonight is the night... they've decided to call it quits.
[Jesse opens his hands. He is holding Isabel's engagement and wedding rings.]
Max: It's been a long... hard road for them. They have a lot of... wounds...
[Liz opens the door, looking back. Max watches as she leaves the auditorium.]
Max: They've lost people... people that were close to them.
[Isabel turns for one last look before she walks out the door.]
Max: They've had each other to cling to... (he looks up into the blackness.) ...but tonight, that's all coming to an end...
[The 1st Man of the Special Unit is moving down a dark hallway of the high school with several men marching behind him.]
1st Man: (speaking to his radio earpiece.) What's going on? Do you have them or not?
[The snipers are now searching the crowd with infrared sites.]
Pointer: This is Pointer. I don't see her.
Terrier: This is Terrier. I've lost my target, too.
Bulldog: Bulldog still has a clean shot. Should I take him?
1st Man: Wait one. We're almost in position.
Max: I'm a member of that group of... outsiders. I always knew I was different... and for a long... long... time, all I wanted was to be another face in the crowd... but in the end... it wasn't possible. ...I guess it never was. So from now on, I'll just... concentrate on being who I really am. ...Some of you might not like that. ...Some of you might even... find that frightening. (He looks up into the darkness again, an edge of anger in his voice.) But that's not my problem any more. I have to be who I really am... and let fate take care of the rest. So... thank you, Roswell... Thank you for... for letting me live among you. (Max looks out into the audience at his parents, and is now on the verge of tears.) Thank you for giving me a family... Thank you for giving me a home... (Max's mother puts a hand over her mouth, and Phillip comforts her.)
[The Special Unit men burst in through the door of the auditorium.]
1st Man: (radios to Bulldog.) We're in position. Take him.
[The sniper begins to squeeze the trigger, but suddenly the auditorium is flooded with blinding bright light. A motorcycle roars down the aisle and bounces up the stairs onto the dais.]
Bulldog: --what? Lost my target. Lost my target! 'can't see anything! What the hell's going on??
1st Man: (on radio.) Maintain target. Maintain targets!!
Michael: Let's go!!
[Max jumps onto the motorcycle behind Michael, and they roar off down the aisle, bowling over the Special Unit group, breaking open the doors of the auditorium, and racing off down the dark halls into the night.]
[One last time, the group gathers near the ruins of the pod chamber. Michael and Max have just arrived, and are walking together towards the others. Liz, Isabel, Kyle, and Maria are all leaning against the cars. All are back in plain clothes. Maria is standing at a short distance away from the others, unseen at first.]
Michael: Modesty prevents me from taking a bow.
[Max and Isabel both smile at him, then Max walks over to stand by Liz.]
Liz: They probably don't know anything about you, Kyle. You could still go back.
Kyle: (sighs.) Even if by some miracle they haven't put me together with the rest of you guys, there's still the little matter of my latent alien powers. Some day I'll be buzzing and crackling like tin foil in a microwave, and I'd just as soon be with my own kind when it happens.
Michael: Does he really get to start referring to us as his 'own kind'?
[Max opens his mouth to respond, but cannot find words.]
Maria: I'm not going back, either.
Liz: No..? (smiles, but wonders...)
Maria: No... my future's here.
Michael: Maria... think about what you're saying...
Maria: (walks slowly over to Michael.) ...I have, and... this is my choice. This is what I want. And... whatever that is in the end, that's what it'll be... but... we're doing it together.
[Michael studies her and finally smiles, pulling her to him and kissing her tenderly on the forehead.]
Max: So now we're six.
Michael: Like I said, we're gonna need a van.
[Suddenly they see the glare of headlights as an old VW van comes roaring up to where they're standing. It screeches to a halt in front of them. Immediately, Michael, Max, and Isabel put up their hands, ready to use their powers to defend the group. The others stand back.]
Jesse: (scrambling out of the van, puts his hands up defensively, talks fast.) Look, just wait -wait!! Don't - don't shoot, or, or blast, or whatever it is you do, o-okay?
[Isabel runs up and wraps Jesse a tight embrace.]
Isabel: Jesse...
Jesse: I'm goin' with you.
Isabel: (tearfully) No... Jesse, you can't.
Jesse: To hell with Boston, an' - an' to hell with... a career and a normal life! ...whatever that is. ...I love you. That's all that matters to me...
Isabel: (Looks at him with sad tenderness.) The fact that you would... come here... and you're willing to do this... it means more to me than you will ever know... but I can't let you do it.
Jesse: Isabel...
Isabel: No..! I dragged you into this whole thing without ever telling you the truth, and it was wrong... And the only way to make it right is to let you go... (Jesse shakes his head no.) So, go. Go to Boston. Start over. Just... have the life that you were supposed to have before you met me...
Jesse: I'm not going without you.
Isabel: You have to.
[Jesse stares at her intensely, but finally sees she is resolved.]
Jesse: ...Will you come back to me?
Isabel: I will keep praying... that someday it will be safe enough...
Jesse: Well... I'm going to count on that.
[He takes her hand and puts the rings back on her finger, then kisses her hand.]
[They share one last desperate hug. She is crying.]
Isabel: I love you...
[She kisses him and they walk away from each other.]
[As the group is driving away in the van, they see a police vehicle with its lights flashing, blocking the narrow dirt road. They stop the van, looking at each other worriedly, trying to see what's happening. Finally, Kyle gets out of the van and hesitantly walks towards the officer standing beside the police car. As Kyle gets close, the officer tips his hat and we see that it is Kyle's father, Jim Valenti.]
Jim: I hear I missed quite a ceremony.
Kyle: (laughs, scratches the back of his head.) I don't...think they're gonna... forget... the class of 2002. ...That's a nice outfit. ...Deputy.
Jim: Yeah... Yeah, well, when you're startin' over, you've gotta start somewhere, right?
Kyle: Right.
Jim: I, ah...I won't ask you where you're goin', so I can honestly say I don't know... but I can tell you there are a lot of people looking for you... An' right now they think you're headed south to Mexico.
Kyle: Why do they think that?
Jim: I guess they got an anonymous tip. (smiles.) I can get you to Arizona, then you're on your own... (Kyle nods.) I mean, you're really on your own.
Kyle: ...Thanks, Dad.
Jim: (choking up.) It's the least I could do.
Kyle: I mean... thanks for... (he cannot find words.) Just... thanks.
[Jim takes off his hat and moves forward to give Kyle a tight hug. They are both choking back tears, crying.]
Kyle: I love you, Dad.
Jim: I love you, too.
[Jim kisses his son, and Kyle finally steps away to walk off.]
Kyle: ...gh... all right.... (nods, and turns to go.)
[Jim watches, grieved, as his son goes back to get in the van.
[Voice Over. As Liz talks, we see her father sitting at a counter in the Crashdown Café. He is reading a hand-written journal, which he has received by delivery service.]
Liz VO: ...I can't tell you much more than that. It wouldn't be safe, for you or for us. ...I can tell you that we're far away, and that we're all trying to avoid the law and do good in the world...
[We see a small white wooden church flanked by pine trees, with buildings in the background.]
Liz VO: Oh, and I guess I should tell you that... Max and I did eventually tie the knot.
[We see Max and Liz come out of the church first. Liz is dressed all in white, with a long hip-hugging peasant skirt and waist-length off-the-shoulder long-sleeved peasant blouse, with white flowers twined in her hair. Max is wearing a black suit and no tie, with a white shirt open at the collar, a white rose boutonniere in his lapel.]
[Max and Liz run down the church steps smiling, hand in hand, and stop a short distance down the sidewalk. Maria, Kyle, Michael, and Isabel come out of the church behind them. Max bends down to put his arm around Liz's waist and draw her into a long, sweet kiss as they are showered in white rose petals by their friends. Max and Liz smile at each other as their friends run forward to embrace them, each in turn. As we see Maria hug Liz and Michael hug Max, the scene fades back to Liz's Dad reading the journal and crying.]
Liz VO: Give my love to Mom. Let her read this journal, too. Then, give it to Maria's mom. And after that, take it and burn it out in the desert by the ruins of the pod chamber... where my husband was born.
[The scene fades back to the church. We see Kyle congratulating Liz and Max, and Isabel hugging first her brother, then Liz. Isabel is happy for them, but Max is sober as he hugs Isabel. Finally, Max smiles at Liz and takes her hand. He leads them as they run off to get in the van.]
Liz VO: So that's the end. Our life in Roswell. What a long strange trip it's been. Will we ever go back? ...I don't know... Even I can't see everything in the future.
[Liz follows Max into the van, then reaches over to slide the van door shut, and we see her looking out the window, radiant, smiling brightly.]
Liz VO: All I know... is that I'm Liz Parker... and I'm happy.
["Shining Light" by Ash begins to play*** ]
[As the van drives off down the road, we see the bumper sticker that says, "Thank you for visiting! ROSWELL" (with a small picture of a flying saucer on it).]
***
... lone candles that burn in the night
yeah, you are a shining light
an' little torches that lit up the night
yeah, you are a shining light
yeah, you light up my life ...
Writer: Ronald D. Moore, Jason Katims
Max: A trick I learned from Superman. Let's see if it really works. (Max turns a piece of coal into a diamond, then gets down on one knee)
Maria: I thought you were leaving.
Max: Hi, I'm Max Evans. I thought I'd take this opportunity to say a few things on behalf of myself and the graduating class. Some of us are here tonight to walk across this stage and get our hard-earned diplomas and toss our caps in the air. But there's another group here tonight, a group of people who are here for another reason altogether. They're here to say goodbye. Goodbye to their high school lives. Goodbye to family and friends. You see, this group has been though a lot. And tonight is the night they've decided to call it quits. It's been a long, hard road for them. They have a lot of wounds. They've lost people. People that were close to them. They've had each other to cling to. But tonight that's all coming to an end. I'm a member of that group of...outsiders. I always knew I was different. And for a long, long time, all I wanted was to be another face in the crowd. But in the end...it wasn't possible. I guess it never was. So from now on, I'll just concentrate on being who I really am. Some of you might not like that. Some of you might even find that frightening. But that's not my problem anymore. I have to be who I really am and let fate take care of the rest. So thank you, Roswell. Thank you for letting me live among you. Thank you for giving me a family. Thank you for giving me a home.