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Tuesday,
21 November 2000 Max and Tess are riding the elevator to the top of the Empire State Building. Max is freaking out about the upcoming summit meeting saying "What do I know about war and peace and politics. I'm gonna blow it. I'm gonna sit down at this meeting and I'm gonna meet these people and they're gonna look at me and they're gonna see this kid from New Mexico who hasn't got a clue". At the top, they step off the elevator and walk to the edge to see the view of the city. Tess says "This is where you belong, Max. Up here, with the world at your feet. Like a king". Max, admiring the view, has relaxed considerably. He smiles and says "I'm the King of the World". Tess replies "Yes, you are. Just, not of this one". On the streets below, Rath steals a sandwich off an outside café table and complains about the quality. Lonnie says "Yo, when he gets here, if he gets here, we're putting him in his place because I'm sick of getting attitude from him". Then she notices someone and says "He's here". They walk over to a subway entrance; Nicholas is coming up the stairs, reading a map. Lonnie arrogantly says "Took you long enough. Where the hell you been?" Disgusted, Nicholas replies "God, I hate this town". He asks "So, where are they?" She replies that they are doing the tourist thing. Nicholas is concerned that Max and Tess are wondering the city alone but Lonnie brushes off his concerns. He warns her that "without Max, no one at the summit is gonna give you two, the time of day". Rath counters with "We're two of the Royal Four". Sneering, Nicholas says "Royal Rejects is more like it". Rath says they are the originals and the others are the rejects. Nicholas reminds him that the others were carefully hidden away in Roswell and got custody of the granilith, whereas they were dumped in a sewer and tells him to figure it out. Lonnie tells him he's not getting the granilith without them and he reminds her that they're not getting home unless he gets the granilith. Rath sees Max and Tess approaching and Lonnie tells Nicholas to go. Annoyed, he goes back down the subway stairs, complaining about the rat infested city. When Max and Tess reach them, Lonnie asks if they are through sight seeing. Excited as a kid in a candy store, Max replies "There's a lot more to see". Tess is ready for a rest and Lonnie suggests they go to their "crib". Along the route, Rath pilfers food items from kiosks and shopping bags; Max and Tess look on with disapproval. They lead Max and Tess down a subway entrance and into the underbelly of the subway; the sewers. Rath and Lonnie run ahead and when Max and Tess arrive at their "crib", Lonnie is lounging on a couch, using her powers to play a CD and Rath is using a hockey stick to hit a ball against a wall. The "crib" is a room filled with items taken from the trash. There are four used pods attached to one wall. Max and Tess are astonished that anyone could live here. It isn't "home sweet home" but Lonnie and Rath seem proud of it. Tess asks "So, why did your protector bring your pods to New York, and why, put you in the sewers?" Lonnie counters with "What is up with you and all these questions about the shapeshifter?" Tess tells her about being raised by Nasedo and that they became close. Rath comes close to hitting Tess with the ball and Max asks him to watch were he's hitting it. Getting irritated, Max says "I want to talk about the summit. When. Where. What kind…" Rath interrupts saying "Chill, Duke. All in good time". Max tells him "The time is now". Rath hits another ball towards Max and he catches it in his hand then drops it. Rath takes that as a challenge and approaches him. Lonnie calls out "Boys! Don't make me get off this couch". Rath laughs and goes to sit next to her. Max and Tess find a place to sit across from them. Lonnie looks at the two of them then asks "You two done the deed yet? Made the beast with two backs? Well you are in for a treat". Rath concurs saying "Alien sex, baby. Accept no imitations" and howls. Max, uncomfortable with the conversation, brings it back to the summit. Lonnie tells him he has to meet the emissary before going to the summit. She explains that he has to take a test to prove he is the king. She cuts off further questions, saying "Enough, enough. We'll get you to the church on time". She and Rath start to make out on the couch and Max and Tess look on, even more uncomfortable than before. That evening at the Crashdown, Isabel is telling Michael that it's been two days without a word. She tells him that her parents think he is off camping but don't understand why he'd do it during Thanksgiving. Isabel can't believe he left without saying goodbye. Michael thinks Max took off because of Liz. He and Isabel get up to leave and Maria sarcastically thanks Michael for helping to close up. When they leave, she goes over to Liz and tells her that there are nasty rumours flying around school that Liz slept with Kyle, in the carnal sense of the word. Liz tells her it's true and when Maria tells her she can't believe she didn't tell her, she explains that she was embarrassed. She tells her that she was feeling bad about Max and Kyle was there for her and one thing lead to another and it just happened. Maria still can't believe that she wouldn't tell her best friend something as important as losing her virginity, no matter how it happened. Liz is in the alley behind the Crashdown throwing trash in the trash bin. Ava complains about the noise and Liz discovers her trying to sleep back there. Back in New York, Rath and Max enter a large, empty, basement room and approach a man sitting at a small table. Max sits in the only other chair at the table. The man gets up and passes his hand over Max's head. A beam shoots out from Max's head and projects a hologram of the V shaped 5 star system. Rath looks on, astonished, and Max seems stunned. The man smiles enigmatically. The hologram disappears and he sits back down. He removes a piece of paper from his briefcase and asks Max to "Sign here, your highness". Max does and the man gives him a copy, keeps the original and then leaves. Rath approaches Max, excited, saying "So, you, you really are the king!" Max looks down at the paper and, incredulous, comments that it's a time card from a temp agency. Rath explains that the man they saw was not the actual emissary but a human that the emissary was controlling with his mind, from afar, like a puppet. Max asks if it's like being possessed. Rath says yes but the human doesn't even know what's happened; he thinks he's been abducted. Rath decides they should celebrate that Max passed the test and tells him he's treating him to a slice of pizza. Wednesday, 22 November 2000 At three the next morning, Liz calls Maria on the phone, tells her she has to speak with her in person and asks her to meet her in town. Maria is not happy about the early morning call but agrees to meet her. By the City Hall fountain, Liz tells Maria about her meeting with Future Max. She explains that Future Max told her that the world comes to an end because they get married and Tess leaves, and that he asked her to make his former self fall out of love with her. Maria realises that that is why Liz slept with Kyle and Liz explains that nothing actually happened, it was just for show. Liz apologises for lying to her and Maria tells her she understands and that she is relieved that they are both still virgins. Later that day, Maria delivers Brody a Galaxy Sub, even though he didn't order one, and is surprised to find he is missing. Rath is using a mock up of the V shaped star system to explain about the Royal Seal of their family. The star at the bottom of the V represents home. Rath says "That's how the emissary knew you were the real deal. You got the Royal Seal, stencilled on your brain". He also explains that there will be human puppets being controlled by representatives of each of the other four worlds at the summit meeting. Tess asks why they don't come themselves and Rath and Lonnie say it's too far to travel and that no one will be coming back until it's time to take them home. Amazed, Tess asks "We can go home?" Rath and Lonnie tell them that they can go home if Max cuts a deal during the summit meeting. The rulers of the other worlds are all fighting with Kivar, who took over their world. Tired of all the fighting, Kivar called the meeting to discuss the possibility of peace and is willing to let them come home. Max is amazed by this news, saying he didn't realise it could happen so soon. Max and Tess ask about Michael, Isabel and Ava. Lonnie tells them it's the Royal Four, not the Royal Seven. Max says he's not leaving Michael and Isabel behind. Lonnie approaches Max and replies "Look, Max, Max. They seem so happy, in that cute little town. Chill, chill. It'll all be OK, you'll see. It'll all fall our way. Unless they bring up the granilith again". Surprised Max says "The granilith?" Rath says it's a "stupid religious thing" and Lonnie adds "Our protector told us it's like the holy grail. You know, some piece of junk people on our planet worship for some reason. You ever heard of it?" Max replies "No". Rath and Lonnie say it's too bad because it would have made a good bargaining chip. Lonnie adds that it's no problem, they probably won't even bring it up, but Max looks concerned. Hearing Ava screaming from a nightmare, Liz rushes downstairs to the back room of the Crashdown. Crying uncontrollably, Ava explains that in her dream she saw Zan die again. Liz tries to comfort her, telling her it was just a dream but Ava is inconsolable saying she should have prevented it. However she will not explain what she means. Ava is says "Zan was stubborn, strong. He'd put up a wall, and you just couldn't get through. He always tried to do everything right, to be perfect. He was like that, right up until…" Liz says "You must have loved him a lot". Ava replies "Yeah. I'm not sure he ever really loved me back, though". Liz asks "Why?" Ava replies "Just a feeling. I always felt like he was waiting for someone else to walk into his life". She asks how Liz found out about Max and Liz tells her about the time she was shot and Max saved her. Stunned, Ava says "He brought you back?" Liz replies "Yeah" and is somewhat uncomfortable from the strange look she gets from Ava. Thursday, 23 November 2000 From a pay phone, Max calls home, tells Isabel he's still in New York, asks how everything is and how Thanksgiving went. Isabel replies "It was great. Mom cried all the way from the cranberry sauce to the peach cobbler." Max asks "Isabel, how would you feel…about going home?" She clarifies which home he is referring to and asks "Is that even possible?" She is hesitant, not sure she wants to leave her parents and all she knows. He tells her he needs an answer from her and Michael soon. She says "You can't do this" and starts attacking him about leaving without even discussing it with them. He interrupts saying "I guess I was being a self indulgent, little boy again". She has no idea what he is talking about and he says "I don't want to rehash the entire thing, Vilandra." She says "That's not fair". He counters with "Neither was letting me hear the real story from Lonnie". She apologises. He says "It's a little late for apologises, don't you think? You should have said that the first time I confronted you". Clueless, she replies "The first what?" He tells her he has to go and hangs up. She stands there, thinking about what he told her. At the Crashdown Isabel confronts Ava with "Why did Lonnie impersonate me?" Ava replies "I don't know". Isabel asks "Why don't I believe you?" Ava offhandedly replies "That's your problem". Michael uses his powers to break some glasses and says "Don't piss us off". Not impressed, Ava rolls her eyes and says "Ooooh". Getting angrier, Isabel grabs her and says "Fine, we'll do this the hard way". Liz steps in saying "OK, OK, wait, wait". She takes Ava aside and tells her "Look Ava, you told me that you had a secret that you couldn't tell anyone but, if Max is in danger, you have to tell us. You lost Zan, please don't let me lose Max. I love him, you know and…I love him just as much as you did Zan. Please Ava, don't let me lose him, please". Ava replies "Lonnie and Rath…killed Zan…and they're probably gonna kill Max". Liz is shocked. On the way to the summit, Rath tells Max "Now, you get in trouble, you look to us and we'll help you out". Tess says "I think he'll handle it". Rath derisively responds "Hey, is someone talkin' to you, retard?" Angry, Max stops and confronts Rath saying "All right, that's it! Let's get something clear, right here, right now. I'm the one who passed the emissary's test. And that means, from now on, I'm the one in charge here". Lonnie says "Understood, Duke, you're the king". Max adds "And for your information, her name is Tess". Lonnie tells Rath to take Tess inside, she wants to speak to Max. She tells Max "I'm proud of you Max. You're everything I loved about Zan and more. You're the brother I never knew" and hugs him. They follow the others inside and see two women and two men beside a conference table and chairs. Max recognises one and, incredulous, says "Brody?" Brody responds "Actually my name's Larek. Are you Zan?" Max replies that, that was his name, but it's now Max Evans. Larek introduces the others as Kathana, Sero and Hanar and explains that they will speak for their respective worlds and that Max will speak for his. Nicholas walks in and challenges that last statement saying "Actually, Kivar speaks for his world and I speak for Kivar". Dripping sarcasm, he addresses Max and says "Nice to see your genocidal girlfriend again". He asks Tess "Killed anyone today?" Tess smugly replies "Day's not over". Surprised, Lonnie whispers to Max "You know him?" Max replies "Long story". Rath tells him to be careful, Max replies that he knows and sits at the table like the others. At the Crashdown, Isabel is frantic, saying they have to find a way to warn Max. Michael asks Ava where the summit is being held but she doesn't know it's exact location. Liz suggests to Isabel that she try dreamwalking Max to warn him. Isabel is not sure she can reach him from so far away but they have no other alternative. At the summit, Larek is saying "We're here in the spirit of reconciliation. We're not here to rehash the past, point fingers and assign blame". Angry, Hanar cuts in with "Can we get to it? We're here to end 50 years of misery and suffering among our worlds. Kathana attacks Kivar, Kivar attacks Sero, Sero attacks me. The situation is intolerable!" Sero agrees and says they have to find a solution. They all stare at Max, who remains silent. Finally Nicholas says "And Kivar has a solution. Kivar will abdicate the throne and allow the Royal Four to return home, under the following conditions: 1 Max becomes king only in name. All real power, and government, remains in Kivar's hands, 2 Max calls upon his followers to lay down their weapons and support the new government, and 3 most importantly, Max returns the granilith to us". Shocked, Kathana exclaims "The granilith?" Nicholas calmly continues "No, it's no longer on our worlds, yes, we've known about it for a long time, no, Kivar decided he didn't need to tell you and yes, we know where it is. It's with Max". Larek turns to Max and asks "Is this true Max?" Max replies "It's here". Shocked, Lonnie exclaims "What!" Nicholas says "So, there you have it. Max comes home with the granilith, all is forgiven. Do we have a deal?" Hesitant, Max says "I…need to think about this". Larek says "I'd be surprised if you didn't. But be quick about it. Holding on to these bodies isn't easy. In fact it's chewing up huge amounts of our resources. Twenty minutes, Max, then I need an answer". Max tells him he will have it. Max and Tess are walking down the street. Max is mulling the whole situation over. He tells her he doesn't trust Nicholas; he can't believe Lonnie and Rath have the same DNA as Isabel and Michael, and that Liz warned him that the granilith could be dangerous in the wrong hands. Tess asks him how she would know, saying she's never even seen it. Max says he knows but the way she said it, she seemed so sure. He tells her he doesn't know what to do. Being supportive, she tells him that whatever decision he makes will be the right one. She feels it, in her bones, that he was a great king in his former life. Appreciating her support, he replies "All you've ever done, is trust me, been there for me, whenever I needed you. I've never done anything to deserve that kind of loyalty". She responds "I think in that other life, you must have been one great husband". In the room where Max previously met the emissary, Nicholas meets Lonnie. She is being very seductive, asking if he missed her. He tells her yes and that he can't wait to see more of her. She says that will have to wait until they get home. He responds "Let's be clear, Lonnie, you don't get home unless I get the granilith". Less friendly, but still leaning in close, she replies "Let me be clear, Nicholas. I don't give a damn whether or not you get the granilith, I'm going home". He responds "Big talk for a woman with no cards to play". She counters with "I've got cards. I just haven't shown them to you yet. You know, I'm not like the others, I remember our world. I remember Kivar and I remember what it was like to be Vilandra. I want that life and I'll do what I have to, to get back. Be on my side and you'll benefit. Be against me and…well it would be a mad, crazy idea to be against me. Don't worry about Max, he's a cornball, he'll go for the deal. He'll go for the deal because millions of lives hang in the balance. Besides he wants to go home and give Mommy a kiss and get fitted for his crown". Nicholas replies "He won't live long enough to wear it. Kivar wants him dead". Nicholas adds "If he takes the deal, there will be a nice public execution to attend. If he doesn't take the deal, Kivar still wants him dead". Lonnie says "I can arrange that. What's in it for me?" Nicholas replies "Passage home, but just you. The freak with the mohawk stays here". Lonnie responds "Yeah, I can live with that. See you at the summit" and leaves. Nicholas sighs and says "What a woman!" At the Crashdown, Isabel is not having any success reaching Max and is very frustrated. Ava suggests that Liz give it a try. Liz asks what she is talking about. Ava responds that she doesn't have time to explain fully but that, when Max brought her back, he changed her, and that she is different now. Liz is stunned by this information. Max and Tess are returning to the summit meeting. Lonnie, meeting them outside the door, asks for a moment alone with her brother. She confronts Max saying "You lied to me. I don't like it, but there it is. But what's about to go down in there is a hell of a lot bigger than you and I, Max. OK, millions of lives hang in the balance. Millions of people may die if we don't stop this fighting. So this is not about whether you and I go home. We are nothing in the scheme of things. This is about the greater good. After you, your highness". Max walks towards the door. Isabel tells Liz to take her hand. Liz is frightened, and unsure that she will succeed. Isabel reassures her saying "I know my brother and I know that, if there's one voice that he will hear, no matter where he is, no matter what he's doing, it's yours. Take my hand, Liz". Liz takes her hand. Larek asks if Max has made a decision. Max replies "Yes, I have. And the answer is no. I will not give up the granilith to you. Not to you, not to Kivar, not to anyone. It was entrusted to me". Nicholas replies "You're all witnesses. Kivar tried to be reasonable, tried to extend a hand of peace and had it slapped away. Our business is at an end here. Our offers are withdrawn". Kathana tells Max "You made a lot of enemies here today". Nicholas says "You ever wonder why your predecessor was killed? He made bad decisions". Everyone leaves except Max, Tess and Larek. In a kindly manner, Larek tells Max "You don't remember any of this, I'm sure, but our families used to be very close. You and I practically grew up together. I was there at your father's funeral, at your coronation, your wedding. We were friends. It was so painful to watch you fall. To see you trying so hard to make a better world for your people. And then to watch you have it all taken away by a man like Kivar. I told you, you were trying to do too much too soon, that change takes time, but you wouldn't listen. You just kept… What's the point, it's all ancient history now. It's a shame to see history repeat itself". He leaves. Their arms around each other, Max and Tess follow. In the streets of New York, Rath is confronting Max saying "What's up with you, huh? You just threw away our only chance of ever getting home. Who do you think you are, making big time life decisions for Lonnie and me? You think you're the man, is that it?" Max replies "That's right! I am the man". Rath relents and says "Screw Nicholas, screw 'em all" they'll find another way home. He suggests they go for pizza and Lonnie says she would prefer Chinese. Liz is attempting to reach Max. She appears across the street from him. In the meantime, Rath has grabbed Tess, putting his hand over her mouth to keep her from screaming. Lonnie sees a window washer's stand hanging above Max and uses her powers to release it. As it is falling towards Max, he sees Liz, but the others do not. She is screaming at him to look out but he can't hear her. He steps towards her and the stand hits the ground, where he had been standing. He jumps in alarm and realises he was almost killed. Then he looks around, Liz is no longer there and neither are Rath, Lonnie and Tess. He starts running, searching for Tess. He finds her sitting on the floor, alone, in the room where he met the emissary. She seems stunned, not totally aware of her surroundings. He rushes to her and asks if she is all right. She says "I don't know". He asks what happened and she says "They tried to get inside my head. To find out where the granilith is. I didn't want them to, so I fought back". Caressing her to comfort her he asks "How?" She replies "I don't know". He helps her up and she says "I'm ready to go home now. Home to Roswell". Saturday, 25 November 2000 At home, Isabel asks Max why he didn't take the deal. Max replies "I was going to. I was gonna take the chance that Nicholas was telling the truth, but in the end, I realised that any deal which meant leaving you and Michael behind was something I couldn't do. You're my sister Isabel. Isabel, Vilandra, whatever your name is, it doesn't matter to me. You're my sister and I love you, and that comes first…always". Crying but relieved, she hugs him and says "Thank you". Liz is saying good bye and good luck to Ava. Ava is startled when Liz gives her an affectionate hug. She laughs, shyly, and says "So cornball". She and Liz share a laugh and she leaves. Brody asks Maria "Why…why would they take me again?" Maria says "Well, maybe you're special" then offers to get him a Galaxy Sub. He says it sounds great because he doesn't think they fed him. He starts to say "Don't forget the…" and she teasingly finishes "Pepperjack. Who do you think you're dealing with here?". She goes off to get it and he watches her, smiling enigmatically. Liz is looking in the mirror saying "I keep looking for some sort of change". Max, standing behind her, says "You mean like…" and puts his fingers behind her head like two antennae. Liz laughs, and Max smiles, both enjoying this moment of normalcy. She tells him it's nice to see his smile again. He thanks her for saving his life. She smiles and says it makes them even. He adds "And, I'd like to start again. Our friendship, that is. I mean…I miss it". She responds "Yeah, I miss it too". He starts to leave then says "There's just one thing I have to say, one thing I have to ask, and I promise I'll never ask it again". She tells him to go ahead. He asks "Did you…sleep with Kyle?" She freezes, then nods almost imperceptibly. He stoically says "OK" then smiles slightly, says "I'll see you tomorrow" and goes out her bedroom window. Liz closes her eyes, shakes her head, frustrated that things have to be this way. |
