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Sunday,
21 January 2001 The same evening that the kidnapped girl, Laurie Dupree, was found, Jim, Max and Isabel return to the Sheriff's Station to be debriefed on their involvement. Max and Isabel are being questioned by Deputy Hansen, and Jim by Dan Lubetkin and Judge Lewis. Their stories do not match. When they are finished, Judge Lewis tells Jim that there will be a hearing of the City Council to discuss it. In the meantime Jim is to be suspended and sent home. He hands over his badge to Judge Lewis. Monday, 22 January 2001 The next morning, at the hospital, a nurse attending to Laurie, injects something green into her IV and places the syringe in her pocket. Laurie awakens and the nurse tells her that people from the Sheriff's office would like to talk to her. Still weak from her ordeal, Laurie seems disinclined so the nurse says it can wait. She leaves to get Laurie some juice. In the hallway, Tess comes up to Michael, who is holding flowers, and tells him that according to her x-rays and blood work, Laurie is human. Michael asks why Isabel got a flash from touching Laurie if she's human. Tess replies "I don't know. Look we got the info Max wanted. Let's just get out of here". Michael ignores her and heads for Laurie's room. When they get there, they find it empty. FBI Agent Suzanne Duff, visits Jim at home. She walks in likes she owns the place, helping herself to a cup of coffee. She tells him Laurie Dupree is missing again, she has been assigned to the case and Judge Lewis has agreed to let him assist her, although he will still be suspended. Jim isn't thrilled at the prospect of being her "gofer". Duff tells him "You know, I appreciate honesty, so I'm gonna be straight. This is my second case. My first was an interstate kidnapping, that went off without a hitch. I like to catch criminals and I want to make Assistant Director by the time I'm 35. That means busting my butt and asking for help when I need it." Jim replies, "That's honesty!" She responds "And here's some more, you make a horrendous cup of coffee". He smiles and says "Wait till you taste what we make down at the station. Come on, we have a girl to find". At school, Alex comes up to Maria speaking Swedish. She is all excited that he has just returned from his one month visit to Sweden as an exchange student. Liz joins them and tries out the Swedish she learned on the web. They want to hear all about his trip and Maria asks if the Viking guys are hot. He tells her she can judge for herself when she sees his slides. The paper reported that Sheriff Valenti was suspended and the girls start discussing Laurie's kidnapping, to Alex's confusion. Maria notices Max approaching, looking forlorn and suggests to Liz that he needs her. Liz goes to talk to Max and Maria promises to fill Alex in on all that he has missed. Liz asks Max how he and Isabel are doing and he tells her they are fine but he is worried about Sheriff Valenti. Kyle walks by and ignores Max's attempt to speak to him. Kyle visits his father at the Station during his lunch break. He is very upset that they can't tell Judge Lewis the truth. Jim replies "As you kids say 'It sucks, big'". Duff comes in looking for a report and Jim introduces her to Kyle. Kyle leaves for class and Duff goes over the latest info on Laurie. They have a shoe print from the crime scene and fibres from the duct tape on her mouth. Jim tells her that Laurie's last address was the Pinecrest Psychiatric Hospital, Brownsfield Texas, paranoid schizophrenic, no parents or guardians on record and she ran away from there one week before the kidnapping. Her doctors are faxing her records. Duff abruptly says "cc those to me" and leaves. Jim gets a message on his pager: "Frazier Woods, something you have to see. M." Michael and Jim are at Laurie's shallow grave. Jim is placing a fist sized green blob that he found in the grave in an evidence bag. He says "What the hell is this? This wasn't here last night". He asks Michael if he was sure he wasn't followed and tells him that the FBI is involved and he can't go poking around the crime scene because that's how trouble starts. That night at the Crashdown, Liz is trying to close up but Max seems reluctant to leave. He finally admits that he doesn't want to go home because there is someone dangerous in town and she realises he wants to protect her. Sean knocks on the locked door and, when she opens it, tries to convince her to let him in for some chilli orbit rings or asteroid pie. She tells him that the kitchen is closed and they sold the last of the pie. He leaves and she tells Max that she needs to go upstairs to study but "there are two pieces of asteroid pie left in the fridge, you can stay as long as you like". Jim is at home, putting his jacket away in his closet when Laurie, in her hospital gown, jumps out and says "Stop looking for me! Please". Liz has invited Isabel and Maria to come over to watch Alex's slides. They are all on her balcony, shivering from the cold, waiting for him to set things up. Isabel thanks Liz for the invitation, saying she really needed it. Maria is serving Swedish appetisers to get them in the mood. Laurie is extremely distraught and anxious and Jim suggests she sees a doctor. She replies "No, no, no. They get into hospitals". Jim, trying to calm her, says "Don't be afraid. A lot of people want to help you". She freaks at the mention of others saying "No! No! No one can know I'm here. Just you. You found me. If you were working for them, you wouldn't have saved me. Can I trust you?" Jim replies "Yes, you can trust me. Are you talking about the person who did this to you? Was there more than one?" Laurie shakes her head in frustration and spits out "Everyone keeps asking me about the man who took me. Is he tall or short or fat or thin? But it wasn't a man, it was a them! They're not from here". Jim's phone rings, it's Duff reporting that she has set up some interviews with construction workers who were in the area of the crime scene at the time of the kidnapping. She wants Jim to come right away and he cannot get out of it without giving away that Laurie is with him so he agrees. Laurie is upset that he is leaving so he says "Listen, if you can trust me, than you can trust the people that I say are OK, right?" On her balcony Liz answers her ringing phone, then tells Isabel the Sheriff wants to speak to her. Isabel listens, then says she'll be right there. She tells the others she needs to help the Sheriff with something and apologises to Alex for leaving. Alex is very understanding and agrees to her suggestion that they do it again sometime. She tells him "Well I think your trip really agreed with you. You look great". In a laid back, casual manner, Alex replies "Thanks. Yeah, I feel great. See you around". Isabel seems intrigued by this new, more confident Alex. Alex asks Liz for an extension cord and she goes downstairs to get one. She encounters Sean in the back room, who is eating some crackers. She asks what he is doing there and he replies "I was hungry". While she looks for the extension cord he asks her if she would like to go to the car show with him. Before she can reply, Alex comes down saying he needs Windex to clean the lens. He politely acknowledges Sean, who replies "Alice". Alex sarcastically replies "That's funny. I haven't heard that since they put you away". He goes into the kitchen for the Windex. Liz thanks Sean for the invitation but says she doesn't think she can go. He asks if it is because of the guy she was with before and she replies "Max, um, yeah. It's just that we're semi involved. And it's not that it's romantic right now but it has been in the past. I just don't know about the future. We're friends. You know, we're friends plus". Referring to the crackers, Sean thanks her for "dinner" and leaves. Alex, who has returned to the balcony, calls down for Liz to hurry up. Then the lights go out and he swears in Swedish. Kyle and Tess are getting snack foods at a convenience store, when they overhear two women discussing the Sheriff. The townswoman says "Two minors in the Sheriff's patrol car and I heard one missed taking a bullet by inches". The clerk replies "It's crazy behaviour, plain and simple". The townswoman responds "Well his Dad was a loon and that type thing's hereditary". Kyle and Tess are distressed at the tone of the conversation. The townswoman continues "And am I the only one wondering why he's escorting children through a deserted wood in the middle of the night?" The cashier replies "Well, have you seen the Evans girl? Looks like a super model. Trouble written all over her!" Amy overhears this as she is approaching the register and says "Well Nancy Ann, you'd be the expert on statutory rape. I mean, you must have done a ton of research when you found out your husband was sleeping with the baby sitter. Right?" Shocked by Amy's input, the townswoman deserts her friend. Kyle and Tess look on in amazement as Amy continues "Well, one thing you obviously know nothing about, is Jim Valenti. Otherwise, you wouldn't be talking such trash!" Nancy Ann has no reply. At the Valenti home Isabel suggests Laurie stop biting her nails as they are bleeding. Laurie says "No, I have to get them out. They put them under there". She walks over to a table with laundry on it and starts putting on sweat pants and a sweat shirt over her hospital gown, muttering "I'm so cold". She says "That's what they do to me". Isabel asks "What did they do to you?" Laurie replies "Put needles in me. Put stuff inside". She shows Isabel her arm and says "See?" Isabel says "I don't see anything", which distresses Laurie. She tells Isabel "It's there! I'm not crazy. They put me in a mental hospital. But I don't belong there". There's a knock on the door. Isabel tells Laurie to go into the bedroom until she tells her it's safe. Max and Michael are at the door. Jim had contacted them. Isabel tells them Laurie is there. She knocks on the bedroom door and Laurie opens it a crack and peers out. Isabel says "You remember Max, he was there that night. This is our friend Michael". Laurie totally freaks out when she sees Michael, screaming "You stay away from me! You're dead! You're dead!" She slams and locks the door, then heads for the window. Michael uses his powers to force the door open but Laurie has already escaped out the window. Laurie is running through backyards and banging on doors, screaming for someone to help her. Michael and Max give chase, Isabel calls Jim on his cell phone. As Isabel is telling him about Laurie running off, Duff gets a call about a disturbance in Jim's neighbourhood. Michael catches Laurie and tries to calm her down, saying "Don't worry, I'm not gonna hurt you". Laurie goes ballistic, kneeing him in the groin. She runs into the street in front of a car which is unable to stop in time. She hits the windshield and rolls off the hood onto the street. The driver rushes to her and she pleads with him to help her, saying "The aliens are coming" over and over. Isabel, Max and Michael watch helplessly as a crowd gathers around them. Sirens announce the approach of Jim, Duff and deputies. When Laurie sees Jim she screams at Duff "At his house! The aliens came to his house! The aliens are at his house! He held me there so they can come get me. He said I'd be safe. That I could trust him". Duff looks at Jim and he says "She doesn't know what she's talking about". Laurie says she was hiding in his house and starts describing it. Although she is paranoid and rambling, Duff knows she has the details right and asks Jim "Is this true?" Jim does not reply and she tells him "Our arrangement is over Sheriff". Back at the station, Duff asks Jim "How did you find her?" and he replies, "I didn't; she came to me". Duff wonders aloud why he didn't contact his office or her. He does not respond. She turns on a tape recorder and asks "What's your relationship with the kids in this town, Sheriff?" He tells her "You had your chance to ask questions when my lawyer was here". She turns off the recorder and says "You hindered an investigation, you will lose your job!" Tortured that he cannot reveal the truth, he replies "Agent Duff, I understand why you're coming down like this. And, if I were in your shoes, I would do the same. But don't beat yourself up for trusting me. It may not look like it now, but I am one of the good guys". Tuesday, 23 January 2001 The next night, Alex and Liz are on her balcony looking at his slides. When they get to one with his arms around a very attractive young lady, Liz says "OK, spill!" He replies "That's Leanna. Me and her have a long distance thing going". He asks her if there is anything going on between her and Sean, saying he saw a "twinkle". She says that's gross and there was definitely no twinkle. She tells him his "playing it cool with Isabel" the night before has peaked Isabel's interest. He replies "Yeah, well, you want to know what? Isabel is great but lusting after her is something the old Alex Whitman would do". He clicks to a slide of a mountain and proudly says "The new Alex Whitman snowboarded on that very mountain. Almost broke his wrist!" Liz replies "Do I know you?" He understands because sometimes he looks in the mirror and doesn't recognise himself. An absolutely amazing slide of the northern lights comes up. Liz is mesmerised as Alex explains "Basically what it is, as you're looking up there, and you're actually seeing electrons from the sun colliding with our atmosphere, in every colour you could possibly imagine. It really makes you realise what a big world is out there. All these possibilities, all these new experiences. It's all just there, waiting for us. You've really got to travel, Liz. It's the most amazing thing". Tears are coursing down her face and there is sadness in her voice as she says "Yeah, some day". Alex realises he's hit a chord and replies "Right. When there's not so much going on". Wednesday, 24 January 2001 At school the next day, Max asks Kyle "Can we talk?" Kyle says "No" and tries to walk away but Max pursues him saying "Look, I'm sorry about what's happening". Kyle responds "There's gonna be a hearing. They might take away his job!" Max tells him that his father has evidence in his office that he found at the burial site and it's alien. Kyle realises that if it's found they may be found out but he doesn't care. Max gets his attention by saying "Your father could be nailed for withholding evidence". Kyle says "So take care of it". Max explains that they are suspicious of him but they won't be suspicious if Kyle goes to his father's office. He says "Kyle, we need your help". Max meets Liz in the janitor's closet at her request. Liz asks him if he ever wanted to travel to Sweden, or any other country. He replies "Sure, but the closest I'm gonna get right now is the granilith chamber. Why?" She replies "Watching Alex, I just realised that it's our right to see the world. To live our dreams…" Max interrupts with "Liz, that can't happen". She asks "why?" He replies "Because it doesn't work that way for us. You know that". She says that he and the others are getting cheated on a lot of things and it's not fair. Max replies "Liz, you should get to see Sweden. We…I, hold you back". She disagrees but he continues with "Everyone we touch gets hurt in some way or another. Five years from now, I don't want you to open your eyes and realise that you missed out. You're a part of the group, you always will be. But, you need to be allowed to grow". Tearing up, she hugs him and forlornly says "Why can't you come with me?" Still holding her and with tears in his voice he replies "Because I can't. But I'll be watching you Liz Parker. Wherever you go. And I'll be here when you get back". That night, Kyle goes into his father's office, looks through the drawers, finds a package of Chewing Tobacco in one drawer and opens it. Inside is the green blob. Just then Duff comes in, turns on the light and, surprised to see him, asks what he is doing there. He pockets the package without her noticing and tells her his father left his report card there and he came in to pick it up. Seeing a blank piece of paper on the desk he grabs it saying "Here it is, right in front of me". Not believing him, she asks to see it. He hands her the piece of paper and waits for the axe to fall. He's surprised when she hands it back saying "I didn't like trigonometry either". As he leaves the office he looks at the paper and sees a report card (with a D in trig, a C- in Basic Science, a C in College English, an A in Phys Ed, a B in U.S. History and a B in Metal Shop). When he reaches the hallway, the "ink" on the paper dissolves and he sees Tess standing there. Upset, he says to her "What are you doing here?" She replies "Well, you know, I figured you might need a little help". He warns her "Don't ever use your mind freeze". She corrects him saying "Warp!" He continues with "Whatever; your creepy powers on me again. All right?" Pointing to his head he says "Off limits!" Feeling he is ungrateful, she sarcastically replies "You know, a simple 'Thanks for saving my butt' would be quite sufficient!" He grabs her arm and leads her out of the station. Jim is sitting in the darkened, empty council chambers. In a voice over, Judge Lewis is saying "A town's reputation is made by those entrusted to enforce it's laws and maintain order. Sheriff Valenti has shown, of late, that he can do neither. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the council, that he be removed from office, effective immediately. All those in favour?" There is a chorus of "Ayes". Judge Lewis continues "Opposed?" There is no response. Judge Lewis says "So be it". There is a resounding sound of a gavel. Kyle, Tess, Michael and Liz are waiting in the Crashdown after hours, as Max and Isabel walk in. Max apologises for being late and seeing their downcast looks asks "What's wrong?" Liz tells them "They fired Sheriff Valenti". Max and Isabel are both distressed at the news. Kyle removes the green blob from his pocket, now in a plastic ziplock bag. Addressing Max he says "In the! past year, my dad and I've been put through an amazing amount of your crap. You and your Martian friends move in, take over and obliterate any shred of normalcy. Our lives are no longer ours. Now promise me you're gonna stay away from my family. Promise me this is the last time we are gonna have to put our lives on the line for you". Max replies "I can't". Kyle hands the bag to Max and, as Max reaches for it, Kyle deliberately lets it drop to the ground and walks out. The others are stunned and speechless. In Max's bedroom, Michael is holding the bag containing the green blob, asking how they'll figure out what it is. Max and Isabel are not paying attention, they are brooding about Jim because "he gave up everything" for them. Michael flippantly replies "He gave up a crappy job with low pay and long hours". He adds "We were born into this cause, Valenti chose it. Let's what he did, be worth something". Max remembers he has an old microscope in the closet and, pulling it out says "We know what our cells look like. If this stuff isn't from here and it's from out there, there should be some similarities. Using a cotton swab they remove some of the green blob, place it on a slide and examine it under the microscope. The blue crystal like forms are pulsating. They look just like the ones Isabel saw when she touched Laurie's hand the night they found her. Thursday, 25 January 2001 The next day, Amy visits Jim, who is hibernating, feeling sorry for himself. Not taking no for an answer, she convinces him to spend the day with her. At the Crashdown, Liz delivers Sean's burger to him. He tells her "You look like road kill". She tells him she is having a bad day and he asks her to sit down with him. She declines and starts to leave. He stops her saying "You need to write what's bothering you in mustard". Bewildered, she replies "Excuse me?" He convinces her to sit and explains "It's my Aunt Amy's trick. You squirt it right there on that beautiful ground beef patty. Chow down…problems gone!" She asks if he did it while in juvie and he says it was a little more difficult with the packets. He encourages her to try it out on his burger and she writes out the word "Grow", then takes a bite. He asks "Better?" As best she can, with a mouth full of food, she laughs and says "A little bit" then returns to work. Sean smiles, as if he feels he scored some points. Amy and Jim are in the Jetta saying goodnight. He thanks her for adopting him as her charity case. She assures him it had nothing to do with charity and tells him "I came to your house today because I wanted to spend the day with a really good man". He is really touched by her statement. He leans towards her and they kiss. She adds "And a really good kisser". They kiss again, a little more passionately. Kyle is looking for something to eat and Tess tells him there is meatloaf in the bottom drawer. She then tells him "Well, my stuff's packed. I'll be gone after school". Shocked, Kyle says "What?" Tess replies "Last night, when you said we'd moved in and taken over your life, I realised you were talking about me. I'm sorry I overstayed my welcome". His voice cracking with emotion, Kyle begs "Tess, don't leave". She replies "No, it's OK. You know, you have the right to protect your family". Kyle responds "You're a part of the family I was trying to protect. As far as I can see, you're the only good thing about having an alien in my life". Tess is touched by his sentiment and says "Kyle…you're definitely my favourite human". He replies "Yeah, well, you're my favourite Martian", then laughs. Saturday, 27 January 2001 Michael and Isabel break into the basement of the Pinecrest Psychiatric Hospital to investigate Laurie. Michael finds an empty file folder with her name on it in the file cabinet. Isabel finds some of her belongings in a plastic trash size bag, with a tag marked Laurie Dupree. Inside they find some photographs. One is of a young man, in farmer's overalls, who looks exactly like Michael. At the bottom of the photo is "Grandpa 1935". Gasping, Isabel says "My God, that looks just like you". Incredulous, Michael replies "That IS me!" |
