HUGE Cut Scene from “Monsters”
As we make our way through this period of reruns, here are some cut scenes for your reading pleasure. Some help clarify plot points. Some are just cute. These are scenes that were in the final shooting script, but never aired. Whether or not they were ever filmed is unclear.
Right now, these are exclusive to “Crashdown”. If you see these someplace else, please let me know. If you’d like to use these on your own site, CONTACT ME first.
This is the scene where Liz is preparing Maria for her meeting with Valenti, but in the shooting script the scene started earlier, and went on much longer. The part that aired is in yellow [blue], the cut sections are in white. Check out Liz’s meltdown, and more on the colored charts! And it has a great last line.
INT. CRASHDOWN CAFE - KITCHEN/BACK ROOM - MORNING
Liz prepares a glass of Alka-Seltzer for Maria who looks
about twelve years old in the conservative clothes
and hairstyle that Liz has made her wear. No make-up either.
LIZ
Okay, one more time.
MARIA
I feel like a nauseated nun.
She drains the glass.
LIZ
Exactly the image we want to portray.
Here.
Liz hands her some papers.
MARIA
What's this?
LIZ
Your script. I thought you might need
some help with the questions Valenti
might ask you.
MARIA
How about, "Is your best friend a couple
sandwiches short of a picnic?"
LIZ
Please, just stick to the story we came
up with the night of the Crash Festival,
and I know you'll get through this.
You got tapped by that car, blacked out
and didn't see a thing that happened
after. Now let's pretend I'm Valenti.
What did you see in the parking lot that
night?
MARIA
(reading)
Nothing, just headlights.
She burps, hands the glass back to Liz.
LIZ
Perfect. And how did that handprint get
on you?
MARIA
(reading)
I don't know, I was unconscious.
LIZ
Right.
MARIA
Wrong. This is ludicrous. The sheriff's
smart, Liz. He's going to find out the
truth.
(beat)
And maybe that wouldn't be so bad.
He's Kyle's dad. He said he was here
to protect us.
LIZ
Do you really think we need protection
from Max and Isabel and Michael?
MARIA
(serious now)
Yes. Maybe. I don't know. . . I just
wish you'd stop trying to control the way
I feel. I'm not you, Liz.
(beat)
I have to do what I think is right.
Off Liz as she suddenly realizes that Maria might tell
Valenti everything.
MARIA (cont'd)
I have to go.
Maria stops at the schedule board on her way out and erases
her name.
LIZ
What are you doing?
She writes her name in another slot, changing things around.
MARIA
Patty and I switches shifts in case I end up
in prison for the rest of my life.
Liz grabs the pen and eraser from her, a little more upset
than she ought to be.
LIZ
The schedule is here to keep things under
control. If people just go around
changing the schedule whenever they feel
like it, then we've lost control.
(she starts erasing)
I mean, we might as well all go through
life blindly, never knowing what's going
to come next, just waiting to have the
rug pulled out from under us any second.
One minute, everything's fine and the
next minute, I've put everyone I care
about in danger and I can't do anything
to help them and their whole lives could
just disappear, just like that, because
I couldn't keep everything under control!
She looks at the empty board, realizing what she's just done.
Maria is suddenly calm after watching her friend lose it.
MARIA
You're just as scared as I am, aren't
you?
Liz finally realizes it herself.
LIZ
You're my best friend, Maria. And look
what I've done to you.
(beat)
You're right. I can't control what you do.
But if I thought for one second that Isabel
or Michael or even Max could hurt you, I
would march into Valenti's office myself
and turn them in.
(beat)
They're not monsters, Maria. They're kids.
And they're just as scared as we are.
Off Maria, the decision before her.