Elevator Etiquette

Written by Einah26

Title: Elevator Etiquette
Author: Einah26
Rating: Teen
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Roswell, they belong to creator Jason Katims and WB/CW network.
Summary: Liz is apartment sitting for her aunt for the weekend. Maria and Liz plan on having a boy free alien-less movie night, but they never quite get there. A little mush at the end.
Category: Michael/Maria, Max/Liz
Author’s Notes: I decided to have a little fun with the whole stuck in the elevator cliché.

INT CRASHDOWN DINER-Day

Maria and Liz stand in the Crashdown diner waiting for their orders to be up near the cooks window. Liz picks up her tray with a couple malts and a basket of fries.

MARIA
So, you get to stay there all by yourself?LIZ
Yeah…

Liz sets the two Mulder Malts down on a table, smiling at the customers. Maria is trailing her as she makes her rounds.

They trust me Maria, it’s not that big of a deal.

Liz and Maria stand at the cooks window waiting for their next orders to come up.

MARIA
(sarcastically)
What do you mean, not that big of a deal?
Your parents practically had a heart attack when
you stayed out all night with Max.

LIZ
I explained to them that I made a poor decision and it wouldn’t happen again, and it won’t.

Maria grabbed her plate of burgers and fries, rolled her eyes at Liz and walked away. Liz shakes her head and laughs at Maria.

LIZ
What?

Maria smiled knowingly at her best friend.

MARIA
Oh, honey. I don’t think you could control anything about you and Max. Not even with your “try your hardest” face on.

Liz walked into the backroom. Just as Maria was serving her next plates, Max and Michael walked into the Cafê. They sat at their usual booth. Maria dropped the plates at her table, and came to ask their order.

MAX
Hi Maria-

Max smiled at her, trying to get a glimpse of where Liz was.

MARIA
Hey Max, she’s in the back right now but I’ll go get her.

MAX
(nonchalantly)
No big deal, we were just hungry…

Max blushed as his eyes dived back down to the table.

MARIA
Sure, you aren’t here to stare at Liz and make googly eyes or anything.

Michael leaned against the wall and outstretched his legs in the booth.

MICHAEL
Um, I am ready to order…unless you are too busy.

Maria looked Max directly in the eyes like a deer in headlights.

MARIA
Want just the usual Max? You, you, you look starving, I’ll bring that right out for you.

Maria turned and walked away towards the kitchen.

MICHAEL
What is her deal?

MAX
Well, you broke it off and she’s mad, what did you expect Michael?

MICHAEL
Not this…

Michael turned to watch Maria walking into the back room.

I really am hungry.

INT CRASHDOWN-Backroom

Maria bounces through the door of the backroom at the Crashdown, Liz is getting her bag out of her locker.

MARIA
So, your aunt will be gone all weekend, right?

LIZ
She is going to a seminar for divorced women, but apparently I am not supposed to tell my mom that because she’s embarrassed.

Maria chuckled.

MARIA
She should be embarrassed, sounds more like a dating seminar.

Liz looked at Maria, nodded her head and laughed.

MARIA
Max and (grunt) Michael are out there

Maria nods her head towards the restaurant.

LIZ
(happily) Really?

Liz walked over to stick her head up to the circular window in the door to peer out at Max.

Maria sat down on the dilapidated couch and started to rant. Liz is barely listening as she is preoccupied with looking at Max.

MARIA
He wants me to bring him food, what am I? A cave woman? Bringing him food whenever he wants. I am so sure that I am just going to like bring him a burger, when he can choose when and more importantly when he doesn’t want me…

LIZ
Maria, you are kind of a waitress.

MARIA
Liz, my dear, that is besides the point, he just drives me crazy

Maria pulled herself up off the couch to check on Max’s order.

INT CRASHDOWN-Diner

Max and Michael sat at their booth whispering back and forth, but by the time Maria got over with Max’s food they had stopped their secret behavior.

MARIA
Here you go Max, make sure to eat it all, you are a growing boy after all

Maria glared at Michael. Liz walked up beside Maria.

LIZ
Hi Max, hi Michael.

Liz looked at Max longingly like only those two can.

MICHAEL
(interrupting)
Hey Liz! Nice place you got here, I’d like it just a little more if the service wasn’t so sketchy.

Maria turned on her heel and walked away huffing.

MAX
So what are you doing this weekend Liz?

Michael slid the plate away from in front of Max and started to devour his burger.

LIZ
Um, I am actually house-sitting for my aunt while she is at a seminar. Actually I guess it would be apartment sitting.

Liz stared intently at Max. Max’s face turned a little red, he hoped against hope that she did not see what he was thinking. Alone with Liz, all weekend. A smile crept across his face.

INT CRASHDOWN DINER-later that day

The hustle and bustle continued in the Cafê until it was closing time, Liz and Maria were cleaning up and getting ready to go. Maria sings while she mops the floor, her song is a made up one and its subject is Michael.

LIZ
(yelling)
Maria, you almost ready?

MARIA
You better believe I am, just a sec-

Maria continued yelling not realizing Liz had walked into the front section of the diner.

Do you want to watch a movie tonight?

Liz laughed behind her back. Maria jumped and swung around with the mop in her hand

MARIA
(clutching her chest)
You scared the crap out of me.

LIZ
(laughing)
Sorry Maria, I thought you would have heard me, what do you feel like watching?

MARIA
Something oozing with romance, not this plausible ending ruin my life kind of movie, a movie where the geek gets the girl, or the princess falls for the pauper. I need a little distance from real life.

Liz nodded in agreement.

LIZ
We do deserve a night off from all this…

Liz points up towards the sky.

MARIA
(nods in agreement)
Do you want me to swing over to the video store?

LIZ
Yeah, if you could and then I’ll start making some food.

INT APARTMENT BUILDING-evening

Liz walked into the apartment building just as the landlord was hanging up a sign that the elevator was broken.

LIZ
(under her breath)
Great, my feet are killing me. 4 flights here I come.

Liz smiled at the landlord and pulled open the door to the stairs. The landlord’s cell phone started to ring.

LANDLORD
Hello?

She rolled her eyes at the phone call.

Yes, I can be over there in a minute, I just need to finish some things over here.

The caller on the other ends starts to yell incoherently

Okay, okay I am on my way.

She hurriedly sticks the out of service sign on the elevator and walks out of the building. A second later the sign falls down the shaft leaving the elevator looking in perfect working condition.

INT LIZ”S AUNT APARTMENT-Evening

Liz throws a pan of readymade lasagna in the oven. She shuts the over door and puts her hands on her hips.

INT EVANS HOUSE-Max’s Bedroom

Max picks up the phone, pretending he talks into the phone.

MAX
Hey Liz, do you have the assignment for Chemistry?

Max presses the talk button and dials Liz’s cell phone number.

INT LIZ’S AUNT APARTMENT

Liz wipes her hands on a dish towel and her phone rings. She answers.

LIZ
Hello?

MAX
Hi Liz, it’s Max

Liz jumps a little while standing in the kitchen.

LIZ
Oh, hi Max. What are you up to?

MAX
I don’t have the assignment for chemistry, I didn’t bring it home.

Liz’s shoulders slump in disappointment.

LIZ
Yeah I have it, did you want me to re—”

Liz stops herself from finishing her sentence. I could read the assignment over the phone or he could come pick it up.

Urr did you want to pick it up?

Max was silent on the other end of the phone. A large smile spread across his face.

MAX
I’ll be over in a minute”

LIZ
Max

MAX
Yeah.

LIZ
Remember I’m at my aunts on 5th Street not at home, take the stairs the elevators out, apartment number 403.

MAX
Okay, Thanks Liz. I’ll see you in a minute.

Just as Max hung up the phone it rang again, he answered it slowly.

MAX (cautiously)
Hello?

MICHAEL
Max, it’s Michael, I just saw Valenti talking to a man in a black suit, can I come over?

MAX
I’m heading over to Liz’s aunts house to pick something up.

MICHAEL
Ooh so sorry. Is our existence getting in the way of your very busy social calendar?

MAX
Okay, she lives on 5th we could talk on my way back here—meet me there in twenty.

MICHAEL
Gotcha

Michael answered into the phone. He pulled up the army green collar of his jacket, hung up the pay phone and headed towards 5th street.

EXT APT BUILDING-NIGHT

Maria had picked out a couple cheesy chick flicks and was rounding the corner to Liz’s aunts apartment building, she parked and got out. At the very same time Michael was coming from the opposite direction. They reached the door at the same time.

MARIA
What are you doing here?

MICHAEL
Not looking for you.

Michael stares at Maria, as if to say that he needs no one.

I’m meeting Max here, we’re going to back to his house after he picks something up from Liz, if you have to know.

Maria opened the door.

MARIA
Was that so hard?

MICHAEL
As a matter of fact it was

They both walked through the doors and pushed the button to the elevator for up.

MARIA
She lives on the 4th floor and I don’t feel like walking

MICHAEL
Fine, whatever.

MARIA
Uhhhh

Maria let out the gasp showing her annoyance. The elevator door opened and they got in, Maria pushed the button for the fourth floor. The doors shut and Maria continued.

You don’t have to be such an ass all the time, you know.

MICHAEL
Don’t I?

MARIA
You are so frustrating, you know that though don’t you. Cause you’re Michael king of… wherever you are from.

MICHAEL
You’re just upset that I dumped you

MARIA
Excuse me?

Maria turned towards Michael, her angry growing fast. The elevator came to a hault, neither one of them noticed.

INT APT BUILDING-

As Michael and Maria continued fighting in the elevator. Max entered the building pressed the up button, and then remembered that he needed to take the stairs. Max walked up the fourth floor, paused before knocking on the door. He straightened his already straight jacket, rolled his eyes at himself and knocked.

INT LIZ’S AUNT APT
Liz nervously stood up from the half-sitting half-standing position on the edge of the couch. She opened the door and there he stood.

MAX
Hey Liz

LIZ
Hey Max

They stood in the doorway for a moment before Liz realized she would have to invite him in.

LIZ Oh, come in. Sorry.

Max walked into the apartment, it was decorated very stylishly and had a nice living room with two big couches. He tried not to look at them.

MAX Thanks, sorry to bother you but I totally spaced out and forgot to bring my assignment home.

LIZ
Oh no problem. I’ll just grab it.

Liz walked into the bad bedroom where she threw all her stuff. Max continued to talk to her.

MAX
It smells great in here, are you making something?

LIZ
Yeah, Maria and I were going to watch some movies- if she ever gets here with them-and eat lasagna my aunt left.

MAX
That sounds like fun, what movies are you watching.

Liz came walking back into the room with the assignment. She hands it to Max.

MAX
Do you have a pen and paper and I’ll copy it down?

LIZ
Sure

Liz walks into the living room to grab some paper.

MAX
Anyway, what movies is she bringing over?

LIZ
Girlie movies, Maria has kind of been in a mood since the whole breakup…

MAX
I kind of picked up on that.

LIZ
I think she just wants things to either go forward or back to the way it was before all this

Max looked at Liz, he couldn’t help reading between the lines. Liz handed him the pen and a piece of paper.

MAX
Thanks.

Max started to write down the assignment as slow as possible.

LIZ
What are you going to do this weekend?

MAX
I am going to try and get some homework done tonight so I don’t have to do it on Sunday like I always do.

LIZ
That’s a good idea, I hate that panicky feeling.

MAX
Michael is going to meet me outside in a little bit to talk about some stuff.

LIZ
( nodding her head)
Some stuff, huh?

Max smiles at her.

MAX
Yeah. Stuff.

INT APT ELEVATOR-Night

Michael and Maria are in the elevator standing facing forward.

MARIA
I can’t believe how rude you are?

MICHAEL
Really? Because by now I would think you could believe it.

MARIA (turns her head to the side) There are just no words…

They stop arguing and stare straight forward at the doors.

They stand there for a few minutes in silence.

MARIA
What is with this elevator?

MICHAEL
I don’t know, did you press the button right?

MARIA
How exactly could I press it wrong?

Michael presses button number 4, the elevator does not move. He presses the open door button, nothing happens. Maria lunges forward towards the buttons and presses all of them. Nothing happens.

MARIA
(yelling) You have got to be kidding me! I am not going to be stuck in here with this lunatic.

MICHAEL
Thanks, thanks for that.

MARIA
You pick now to get offended? I am sorry, I am not familiar with the elevator etiquette for this particular situation.

Maria and Michael start to bang on the doors to try and get someone to hear them and help. Maria starts scraping against the metal by the button.

MICHAEL
What are you doing?

MARIA
I am looking for a box with a phone in it.

MICHAEL
Do you think they would keep it that hidden?

Maria shoots Michael a look of death. She slumps down on the floor of the elevator.

MARIA
My feet hurt, Liz is waiting for me with dinner, and I am here with you. How much does my life suck!

They sit in silence for a few minutes.

MICHAEL
What kind of food?

Maria doesn’t answer him, she just slumps her head in disgust.

INT LIZ’S AUNT APT-Night

Liz and Max are in the living room. Liz laughs at something Max said. The timer to the oven dings.

LIZ
Alright, it’s done!

Max watches her as she takes the lasagna out of the oven.

I wonder where Maria is, she was like 5 minutes behind me.

MAX
I should probably get going, I told Michael to meet me a little while ago downstairs.

The two are both saddened that this can’t be the way the whole evening goes.

LIZ
Okay, well maybe I’ll talk to you later?

MAX
Yes, maybe you will.

They both smile like idiots at each other. Liz opens the door, and Max walks out. He heads for outside.

EXT APT BUILDING-NIGHT

Max is standing outside waiting for Michael. He has been out there for a few minutes. He sees a man in a black suit drive by very slowly. Max walks around the building to the alley, he pokes his head back out. The car is backing up. Max hides behind a dumpster. The car drives by. Max heads back inside the building, running up the 4 flights of stairs.

He knocks on the door.

INT APT BUILDING-Hallway/ apt

Liz looks out the peephole and is surprised to see Max again. She opens the door. Max walks in.

MAX
Hi, sorry. Can I come in?

LIZ
Yeah, what’s going on? Have you seen Maria?

MAX
She’s not here yet?

LIZ
No, which is really weird.

MAX
I was outside waiting for Michael, and a guy in a black suit drove by and paid special attention to look at me. I walked around the corner and he followed . Michael has mentioned something on the phone but I thought it was just a weird Michael thing.

LIZ
Did he ever show up?

MAX
No, and I called him before I came here the first time.

LIZ
Oh, no Max, This is really weird.

MAX
Don’t get worried, there could be an explanation for all of this.

LIZ
What if they took Maria? Or Michael? Or both of them?

MAX
I am sure they are fine, Michael is probably eating somewhere and Maria is probably having a hard time picking out a movie.

LIZ
You’re probably right, I just get nervous with all this new stuff.

MAX
Me too, I’m used to lying to my parents but having to look out for people following me is all new.

Liz laughs a little.

LIZ
Do you want to eat some lasagna? It’s going to get cold, and Maria isn’t here yet.

MAX
Yes. I am starving actually. Michael ate my dinner. Liz smiled and walked into the kitchen to dish them up. Maybe you should try calling the video store.

LIZ
Ooh, that is a good idea. I am just going to throw this in the microwave cause it’s cold now.

Max walked over behind Liz in the kitchen. He put his hand over the pan of lasagna and heated it up.

LIZ
(smiling)
Wow. That works too I guess.

Liz dished up two plates of food for them and sit them down on the breakfast bar. Liz picks up the phone to call the video store. She looks at the phone and then at Max and sets the phone back down.

MAX
This is really good.

LIZ
It is, huh?

MAX
So, are you going to stay here all weekend?

LIZ
That’s the plan, my aunt gets back on Sunday night.

MAX
That’s going to be so nice, just to be away from everything.

LIZ
Yeah. There has been a lot lately.

Max turns towards Liz and looks at her.

MAX
I’m sorry, that’s kind of been my fault.

LIZ
No it hasn’t, if it weren’t for you I wouldn’t have a crazy life to complain about at all.

MAX
But… you kind of had things figured out.

LIZ
I kind of like having them not…figured out.

Liz looks at Max, sets down her fork and pulls her hair behind her ear. Max can’t help but look at her. Just then they hear a loud noise coming from outside the apartment door. Max stands up and walks to the door. Liz follows close behind him. Max looks out the peephole and sees nothing. He turns around to Liz and raises his shoulders in confusion.

LIZ
(whisper)
Do you want to check it out?

MAX
(whisper)
Yeah, wait here.

LIZ
(whisper) No.

MAX
(whisper) What?

LIZ (whisper) No I will not wait here and be left out again.

MAX (in regular voice) Okay.

Max opens the door and sticks his head, there is nothing in the hallway. Liz and Max both come out into the hallway. Liz is following close behind. They get halfway down the hallway and they hear the noise again, Liz jumps forward and stands as close to Max’s back as she possible can. They freeze and listen. There is a muffled noise coming from straight ahead. They start to slowly move forward. Max grabs Liz’s hand. They get closer and closer to the noise.

MAX
(whisper) I think it is coming from the elevator.

LIZ
(whisper) Really? Do you think they are on their way up here?

MAX
(whisper) I thought it was broken?

LIZ
(whisper) Yeah, it was when I got here.

MAX (Whisper) Me too. And it’s not moving. Do you think someone is stuck?

Max and Liz walk closer to the elevator doors. They can hear yelling from inside the elevator. Max and Liz both press their ears right up the elevator door to get a better listen in. At first, they only hear jumbled words. And then…

MARIA
(yelling)
Friggin Spaceboy IDIOT!

MICHAEL
(yelling)
I’m the idiot? Who is the one who HAD to take this friggin elevator cause her feet hurt.

MARIA
(yelling) Don’t talk to me! Don’t look at me! Don’t even think about me!

MICHAEL
No problem.

Max and Liz step away from the elevator.

LIZ
(chuckling) I think I might know who is in there.

Max laughs.

MAX
Should we get them out?

LIZ
Probably. I wonder if they have been in there the whole time.

MAX
(laughs) Poor Maria.

LIZ
Poor Michael.

LIZ
You know, maybe now that they are quiet we should leave them in there to work this out.

MAX
You think?

LIZ
Definitely. What’s the worst that could happen? They already hate each other, maybe if they stay in there they will have to talk about what happened.

MAX
Does this mean we can go finish eating?

LIZ
That’s exactly what it means. Liz and Max walk back into the apartment and shut the door behind them.

INT ELEVATOR-Night

Maria is sitting with her back to Michael who is carving his name into the elevator with a key.MARIA
Do you have to do that? It’s making an awful noise.

MICHAEL
I thought you weren’t talking to me.

MARIA
(huffs) You’re right, I’m not. Sorry.

Michael looks at the back of Maria’s head. He goes to say something and then closes his mouth. Maria is leaning over her bag and digging it through it.

MICHAEL
What are you looking for?

MARIA
My chap stick. It’s really dry in here.

MICHAEL
I have some.

MARIA
That’s okay, I know mine is in here somewhere.

MICHAEL
Maria-just use mine.

Michael is holding out a tube of chap stick towards her back.

MARIA
No thanks Michael, I can find my own.

MICHAEL
Don’t be stupid, mine is right here.

Michael tries to pull on her shoulder to get her to turn around and she resists.

MICHAEL
Come on, Maria.

MARIA
NO! I like my chap stick, and I don’t need to use yours.

MICHAEL
Fine.

Michael leans back against the back of the elevator. And kicks the front doors of the elevator, it makes a loud noise.

MARIA
Hey!

MICHAEL
What?

MARIA
Instead of kicking it, why don’t you use something else.

Maria makes the I Dream of Jeannie head bob to indicate to Michael to use his powers.

MICHAEL
I can’t.

MARIA You can’t or won’t?

MICHAEL
I can’t, you know I’m not that good at it.

MARIA
Maybe you should try harder.

MICHAEL
GOD! What is with you?

Maria turns around to face him for the first time in more than an hour.

MARIA
You know what is with me.

MICHAEL
Well, when is this going to stop?

MARIA
Seriously? I don’t know Michael. I don’t have a timeframe on how long I am going to be mad at you for making me feel like an idiot.

MICHAEL
What?

MARIA
You think that this whole Czechoslovakian thing doesn’t affect anyone but you but you’re so wrong. It affects me, it affects Liz. And you and Max just get to do whatever and use this higher purpose as your excuse.

MICHAEL
Okay. Yep. That’s it. You’re right Maria.

MARIA
Don’t do that, don’t agree with me.

MICHAEL
You don’t know how it is.

MARIA
THEN TELL ME!

MICHAEL
Ugh.

MARIA
Exactly. Man of many words.

Maria turns back around to face the wall. Michael stands up and starts to pound on the doors.

MICHAEL
Come on! We’re stuck in here!

INT. LIZ’S AUNTS APT

Liz is washing dishes and Max is sitting at the breakfast bar taking to her while she cleans up.

MAX
Is she really that mad?

LIZ
Oh yeah, Maria is so passionate about everything, she gets more upset about things than anyone I have ever met. How’s Michael?

MAX
You know Michael, he acts like he couldn’t care less. But he does.

LIZ
Can I ask you a question?

MAX
I guess.

LIZ
(smiles)
If you weren’t, you know, would that make things different for me and you?

Max looks at Liz and smiles bravely. He stands up and walks around the bar to her.

MAX
Liz, you know that I don’t want it to be like this but what if something happened?

LIZ
I get that, I’m just asking if it were different.

MAX
Then, yes it would be different for us.

LIZ
Okay. Well….

MAX
What?

Liz’s brow furrows as she is thinking about something intently and washing the dishes very hard.

LIZ
Well, that sucks big time. Because how can I compete with who you are?

MAX
You don’t have to compete.

LIZ
Yes I do, I like you Max-do you like me?

MAX
Yes, you know I do.

LIZ
Than what is the problem?

MAX
What if something happens to you?

LIZ
Like what? I get shot? That already happened Max and I am still here. I don’t think I want to live my life thinking about what could have been.

Liz throws the dish in the drying rack and walks into the living room. She sits down on the couch, obviously upset. Max walks over and sits down next to her.

MAX
Liz, this isn’t how I wanted it to be. Believe me, I want to be with you and I hate that I can’t.

LIZ
Than be with me! What in your life is for sure-right in front of you everyday that you want? You don’t know where home is, you don’t know who you are. But I am right here and it seems so stupid to avoid what we both want.

Max leans forward, grabs Liz’s face. Looks at her and pulls her into him and kisses her with everything he has. They finally pull apart and Max leans back a little to look at Liz’s reaction.

MAX
Please don’t ever think that I want anything more than you.

Liz smiles and moves the pillow in between them and inches closer.

LIZ
I understand that you have this like whole other part of your life, and I don’t want to get in the way of that. But I also don’t want to be sad all the time. And I see you looking at me and I know you are thinking the same things.

MAX
Am I that obvious?

Liz laughs at him, holds onto his face and leans into kiss him.

LIZ
Yes, you are.

INT ELEVATOR-Night
Maria and Michael are leaning against the back wall of the elevator with their feet stretched out.

MICHAEL
I’m bored.

MARIA
You could try banging on the door again for the 18th time.

MICHAEL
You don’t know who is going to be walking by and hear me. I didn’t exactly plan on spending the night in an elevator with you.

MARIA
Not what I planned either, I am supposed to be watching movies and eating junk food with Liz-you remember her don’t you? Someone I like and can stand to be in the same room as.

MICHAEL
(mocking) Ha ha, very funny. What were you going to watch?

MARIA
Nothing.

MICHAEL
Do you have the video store bang with nothing in it?

MARIA
Yes, that is exatly right.

MICHAEL
Let me see.

MARIA
No.

MICHAEL
Let me see.

MARIA
No.

MICHAEL
Maria, come on. Let me see. Is it that bad?

Michael starts to grab the bag from her. They go back and forth but eventually Michael wins out. He slides to the side of the elevator and begins to open the bag. Maria tries to go for it again and he holds her off with one hand. She gives in and leans against the opposite side so they are facing each other.

Michael starts to open the bag again.

MICHAEL
This should be interesting… your taste in movies leaves a little to be desired.

MARIA
Is that right? Sorry, it’s not a Metallica video-

MICHAEL
Don’t knock Metallica, they have no part in this.

Maria covers her face as he looks into the bag. Michael looks up at her and decides not to embarrass her. He hands the bag back to her.

MICHAEL
Here, I won’t look.

Maria grabs the bag from him and sticks it behind her.

MARIA
Thanks.

A moment goes by.

MICHAEL
Maria-

MARIA
Yeah.

MICHAEL
I really am…sorry.

MARIA
That’s okay, it’s just embarrassing chick flicks.

MICHAEL
No, not about that.

Michael moves a little closer to Maria and crosses his legs in the middle of the elevator.

About everything. I didn’t think it would change everything.

MARIA
Well, it did. I wish that I could just shut it off and not care. But I do. I just wish that you cared half as much as I did.

MICHAEL
I do, but it’s just so heavy.

MARIA
Sometimes that’s what it is when you like someone. And don’t try to deny it, I know that you like me.

Michael smiles at her.

Dear God, is that a smile from Michael Guerin? I don’t think we have seen this rare of a site in decades.

MICHAEL
(jokingly)
Shut up.

MARIA
Seriously though, I just feel like you got to start this and finish it and I don’t get any say. And as you may know, I usually get at least a say in things.

MICHAEL
I just can’t get close to someone and then when the time comes I might have to make that decision to stay or go, and I don’t know if I could do that.

MARIA
God Michael, I am not asking for you to stay here forever, I would just like to see you now. For all I know, I might hate you in a month.

MICHAEL
I don’t think I would hate you in a month, though. And that’s the problem.

MARIA
I think that is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.

MICHAEL
Well, you need to get out more.

Maria laughs and meets Michael half way in the middle of the elevator. She grabs his hand and twists his ring around his finger. She looks at his eyes.

MICHAEL
Maria, I…

Just as he is about to say something that they can’t go back from the elevator starts to move. Both of them jump up to their feet, anxious to get off the elevator.

MICHAEL
Finally!

MARIA
Finally? Oh, was it really that bad?

MICHAEL
No, I just meant that I want to not be stuck in this elevator.

MARIA
With me?

MICHAEL
No, just not at all.

MARIA
(defeated)
Oh. Okay. Because it sounded like you didn’t want to be stuck in this elevator with me anymore, not just anyone but specifically me. But if that’s not the case then, okay, fine.

MICHAEL
Maria, honestly.

MARIA
Well, excuse me. But you broke up with me not that long ago, forgive me if I am a little sensitive about people not wanting me. So, just be nice or something because-

Michael looks up to the sky, the elevator is moving at a snail like speed. He looks over at Maria, who is still ranting on and on. He grabs her waist, she drops her bags, he pulls her close, she raises her toes to reach his face. He leans in and interrupts her with a kiss. A whopper of a kiss. The elevator starts to move again, they break apart. They both look straightforward at the door. The elevator doors start to open, a woman is standing there holding some tools.

LANDLORD

How long have you two been in there?MARIA Awhile.

LANDLORD
I am so sorry, I put a sign up but it must have fallen down.

MARIA
That’s okay. We’ll just take the stairs now.

Michael and Maria walk towards the stairs to head up to the apartment.

LANDLORD
(calling after them)
Sorry, again.

Michael and Maria are walking up the four flights of stairs, before they open the door to the fourth floor Maria steps in front of the door and puts her hand against Michael’s chest to stop him.

MICHAEL
What? Did you forget something?

MARIA
No, I just don’t want to walk in there and not know where we stand.

MICHAEL
(whining)
I don’t know.

MARIA
You know how it will be, we will go in there and it will be all weird and I won’t know what to say so I will be mean to you, and you’ll be mean cause you are mean and-

MICHAEL
I’m not mean.

MARIA
Yes, you are. It’s fine, I like it. But you are mean. But I don’t want this all weird. So are we or aren’t we…

MICHAEL
What?

MARIA
ARGH! Don’t make me say it, really it’s just too embarrassing.

MICHAEL
I don’t know what you’re talking about.

MARIA
You just kissed me, like 5 minutes ago. Do you remember that?

MICHAEL
Yes, I do. That was a shut up kiss.

MARIA
Oh my God, I hate you.

Maria pushes him back, she turns and swings open the door to walk towards the apartment. Michael laughs and walks after her to catch up. Maria walks up to Apt 403 and knocks on the door. Michael comes up behind her.

MARIA
I swear if you even say one word to me, I will find a way to kill you.

Michael grabs her face and she resists for a moment and then gives in to the kiss. Michael stops for a moment.

MICHEAL
We are.

Michael kisses her again. Maria pulls away for a second.

MARIA
What?

MICHAEL
(mocking her) Don’t make me say it, it’s too embarrassing.

Maria and smiles and lifts up on her tippy-toes and continues to kiss him. Inside Liz wakes up with the knock on the door, she has fallen asleep on the couch with Max. She stumbles over to the door and opens it to see Michael and Maria kissing.

LIZ
Hi guys, come in…whenever you’re ready.

Michael and Maria stop kissing and turn and walk in the door. Liz and Max are both laying on the couch, waking up slowly from the knock on the door.

MARIA
Hello? No-where have you been? Are you okay?

LIZ
You were stuck in the elevator with Michael.

MARIA
Why didn’t you try and get us out? I can’t believe you, we could have run out of air or something.

MICHAEL
Or committed murder.

Maria slaps his arm.

MICHAEL
What have you guys been doing?

MAX
Not much. She doesn’t have any movies and the channels don’t come in.

MARIA
Hmm, how ever did you pass the time?

LIZ
Maria! You two are the ones sucking face at the door.

Max turns around to face Michael and Maria from his spot on the couch.

MAX
Sucking face, huh?

MICHAEL
Whatever. Is there anything to eat?

Michael doesn’t wait for an answer and walks into the kitchen and opens the fridge.

MARIA
I have to pee so bad.

LIZ
Me too.

The girls walk back towards the bathroom and shut the door. Max peels himself off the couch and walks into the kitchen to talk to Michael. Michael is eating cheese out the fridge, he grabs the pan of lasagna.

MAX
Sorry, we didn’t call anyone to get you out.

MICHAEL
It’s cool, I think she won’t be so mad at me now.

MAX
Are you back together?

MICHAEL
I guess so.

MAX
Does she know that?

MICHAEL
You know, I am not a total idiot. Yes. We are together and yes she knows, and I know too.

MAX
Okay, okay. I am just checking cause sometimes you think something is happening one way and it’s not.

MICHAEL
Yeah, yeah.

Michael starts to heat up the lasagna with his hands.

So, what did you and Liz Parker do tonight?

Michael lifts his eyebrows up and down to indicate funny business was afoot.

MAX
We talked about if it could work for us to-

MICHAEL
Blah, blah, blah. No, I am saying what did you do?

MAX
I am not telling you that.

MICHAEL
Made out huh? Us too.

Michael walks over to the living room, grabs the movies that Maria rented and flops down on the couch.

MAX
What movies did she rent?

MICHAEL
I don’t know, she wouldn’t let me look.

Michael tosses the bag of movies at Max.

MAX
Should I not look?

MICHAEL
No, she only said I couldn’t look.

Max pulls out the two movies in the bag, the first one is The Matrix and the second one is Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Michael has a look of pride on his face, Max is confused.

MAX
These aren’t chick flicks, right?

MICHAEL
The Matrix isn’t but Crouching Tiger is pretty weak.

Max throws the copy of The Matrix at Michael and puts Crouching Tiger into the VCR.

Hey, we should get to watch mine first.

MAX
I want to stay awake so we have to watch this one first.

MICHAEL
Fine, fine. Let’s just watch it.

INT APARTMENT BATHROOM-Night

Maria is going to the bathroom while Liz looks at herself in the mirror.

LIZ
So, are you back together then?

MARIA
Yeah, I guess.

LIZ
You guess?

MARIA
Yes, we are. I mean he didn’t say ‘we’re back together’ but he kissed me and said ‘we are’. That counts right?

LIZ
Totally. I’m so happy for you Maria, Michael is a good guy.

MARIA
No he’s not, but he’s the one that I want.

Maria flushes the toilet and walks up to the sink to wash her hands. It’s now Liz’s turn to use the toilet.

MARIA
What about Max? Did he really use that lame excuse to come over here?

LIZ
What excuse? He just needed to write down an assignment?

MARIA
On a Friday night? He needed homework and had to come over here to get it?

LIZ
I kind of suggested that part.

MARIA
Saucy minx! Did you talk or did you just stare at each other longingly.

LIZ
Maria, we do not do that.

MARIA
Whatever, you do too but go on.

LIZ
I asked him if we could be together if it weren’t for all this-

MARIA
Czechoslovakian-

LIZ
Stuff, right? And he was like yeah. And I told him that sucks

MARIA
Which it does.

LIZ
Thank you, and then I told him that we have to think about now and not the future and then he kissed me

MARIA Ay!

LIZ
Maria, it was so sweet. I just hope that something won’t happen and he will go back into this self sacrificing mood again.

MARIA
Is it a full moon tonight?

LIZ
I don’t know.

MARIA
I heard my mom talking to her psychic on the phone, and she was talking about a full moon in line with something and that people say things they don’t mean and will cause strife when things go back to normal.

LIZ
Well, is that tonight?

MARIA
I don’t know.

Liz flushes, washes her hands and the girls run out the balcony and unlock the balcony door and stare up at the sky.

MARIA
Phew! That was a close one.

The moon is not full, almost but not quite.

LIZ
(laughs)
How pathetic are we?

MICHAEL
(yelling from the couch)
What are you doing?

THE GIRLS
Nothing!

MICHAEL
Come watch the movie.

Liz and Maria come back into the living room, Maria walks over to Michael and sits down on the floor in front of him while he eats. Liz sits back on the couch next to Max. They settle in and watch the movie.

MARIA
What’d we miss?

Michael and Max answer at the same time.

MICHAEL
Nothing!

MAX
Everything.

FADE TO BLACK

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