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"It's April 27th, I'm Liz Parker, and I think I've figured out why
I haven't written in this journal for nearly a year". Liz is sitting
on her balcony in casual clothes, writing in her journal. "It's just
ironic that I would figure something out really deep, from like the
least deep guy in America". Tuesday, 24 April 2001 Liz and Sean are sitting at a restaurant booth sharing French fries. Sean is waxing philosophic about polar bears, Liz is listening like she cares about what he has to say. Outside the Crashdown in his VW Bug. He asks "Do you want to go bowling?" She points out that it is after hours and he replies that he can manage to get them in. She laughingly says "Yeah but it's a week night so I probably shouldn't, you know, commit a felony". He laughs and says "Yeah, that's cool. Maybe some other time". Liz tells him that despite what people say, she thinks he is a nice guy. He tells her that she's special. She seems at a loss for what to say so she thanks him then says "Goodnight". He responds "Goodnight" then leans over and kisses her. She returns his kiss, then pulls away, feeling guilty. Wednesday, 25 April 2001 The next day at school, in the girl's restroom, Liz tells Maria "One minute I was letting him down easy and the next minute he was kissing me. What was I suppose to do?" Laughing, Maria replies "I don't know. A swift kick to the huevos comes to mind". Liz continues "You know what the most annoying part of all of this is? I can't stop thinking what Max would think . I mean why? Right? We're not even together. God, I have spent two years of my life involved in this THING with Max and I don't even have a date for the prom. And now I feel guilty. Why should I feel guilty?" Maria replies "You shouldn't feel guilty, it was a non-kiss. It's not like you would kiss Sean back". The look on Liz's face tells her otherwise. Grossed out, Maria says "Ewww. I'm gonna be sick" and leaves. Max and Michael enter school. Michael asks "So you actually remember our planet?" Max replies "Yes" and Michael asks "What are the chicks like?" Max responds "If you are not gonna take this seriously…" Michael interrupts with "I seriously want to know what the chicks are like". Max tells him "It's not that literal. They're just these images. In one way I have this really clear feeling about everything and in another way everything seems so ephemeral. You know, um…" Michael interrupts with "Transient, fleeting, impermanent. I know what ephemeral means Maxwell. It's my life". Max continues "Michael, I remember everyone. You, Isabel. (He sees Tess, laughing, in a conversation with Kyle) For some reason Tess is the clearest". Isabel is in the school library and overhears a young man awkwardly asking a girl he knows to the prom. She smiles and seems both happy and sad when the girl says yes. Michael and Maria are standing in front of the sign for the Junior/Senior Prom. Michael says "Just kill me now. I don't do proms, I don't believe in them". He tells her they are bogus, unnatural. She says "You know what I find to be really unnatural? That you're half alien warrior and half Grandpa Dupree, but I make do." Michael replies "I knew you were gonna make this thing into a whole issue". Exasperated, Maria says "Oh my God! This is potentially one of the five greatest nights of my life. And if you're not gonna do your part in providing that for me, then…[sniffs to prevent tears from starting] I'm just gonna…I'm gonna seek other options. That's what I'm gonna do". Michael replies "So what are you saying? That we're seeing other people?" Maria responds "Oh my God, you are so annoying!" Michael snaps back "Fine! Then we're seeing other people". Maria comes back with "Fine!" then looks on in disbelief as Michael walks away. Kyle is sitting in the school lobby, reading "The Buddha Advises on Relationships". Malamud, a jock, sits next to him and asks "Still reading this Hinduism crap?" Kyle sarcastically replies "It's Buddhism, and if you're asking about my spiritual journey, I'm touched". Malamud responds "Well, no, actually I was wondering if it's gonna help you get into Tess Harding's pants". Distrusting him, Kyle says "Right" and Malumud replies "No, I'm serious, man. How long are you gonna let that blonde little hottie live under your roof before you're gonna make your move?" Kyle thinks about what he said. Liz is working on her homework at a table outside school. Max comes up to her and says "There's something I've been wanting to tell you". Their attention is distracted by an ecstatic girl throwing herself into the arms of her boyfriend. Liz smiles sardonically, glances at Max, and says "The Prom". Max sighs "Yeah" and Liz adds "It seems like Michael and Maria aren't going". Max smiles and says "I think that one might be a little too early to call". Liz despondently replies "It's really weird. You know, a year ago I was so certain that the four of us would go together. I always pictured that moment. You know, walking in through those double doors together. I even bought a dress". Max is pleasantly surprised by this information. As he sits at the table, he smiles and says "You did?" Liz replies "Yeah. Well, you know, it was around that time last year, when we first kissed, and everything just seemed so…" Max finishes her thought with "Simpler". Liz agrees, pauses in thought then says "Max, I know that we're not seeing each other and I accept that. I do. But this is my prom. You know, It really means a lot to me. I've put all this thought into it". Max thoughtfully responds "Well, you know, we can go". Pleased, Liz replies hopefully "We can?" Warming to the idea Max says "Yeah! I mean, OK, fine, we're not together. But we're also not with anyone else". Liz agrees and adds that it doesn't have to change anything, they can just go to have a good time. Max replies "I would love that". Liz smiles and says "Me too" then reminds Max that he had something to tell her. Max looks around, then conspiratorially replies "Right. I'm starting to remember things…about my planet, my life…my other life". Surprised and impressed, Liz says "Wow!" Max warms to her reaction and says "Yeah! Yeah…it's weird, like…for the first time I can remember things. You know, like what it smelled like, what it felt like to be there". Liz says "Yeah, that's great" but under her smile is an underlying look of concern. Max replies "Yeah, I've been dying to tell you". Liz responds "Yeah, yeah, that must be really exciting. Wow. So, um, do you remember, like, actual people? You know, like Michael and Isabel?" Max replies "Yeah. More like their energy than what anyone actually looks like". Liz distractedly responds "Right" then asks the question really on her mind "What about Tess?" Max replies "Yeah. I remember her too". Liz forces a smile to come to her face and half-heartedly says "That's great". Thursday, 26 April 2001 The next day, Liz misses her bus to school and Sean offers her a ride. She's reluctant, at first, so he apologises for the other night saying "I totally misread my cards. I thought I caught a vibe". She tells him he didn't. He convinces her to accept the ride because there won't be another bus for half an hour. He stops ten blocks from the school and she asks why. He responds that he has to stay 1000 feet from the school as a condition of his probation. She rolls her eyes, not totally surprised. As she's about to get out, he stops her to apologise again, then adds "But, I just want to say that when we kissed, it was the first time that I ever felt at home in this town". She tells him she's going to the Prom with Max and he replies "Oh, well you should have just told me you guys were back together. I mean, I don't feed off another man's taco platter". She says they are not back together, they are just going to the Prom together. Sean replies "Right. Hey, my hat's off to the guy". Liz asks "What is that supposed to mean?" Sean replies "Nothing, it's just a nice operation he's got going". Liz counters with "An operation?" Sean explains "Yeah, I mean, you know, he's free to play the field and yet he's keeping you off the market". Liz firmly replies "That's not what's happening, Sean. You have no idea who Max is, OK? Because if you knew him, you would know that he is above and beyond that way of thinking. He is an incredibly, incredibly honourable guy". Sean nods, unconvinced. In the school, Maria approaches Michael at his locker and says "So, missed your shift last night". Michael replies "Alien business". He does not give her his full attention as she says "Well, we're both off tonight so I'm willing to let you take me to dinner and a movie so you can make up for your asinine comments yesterday which, by the way, I think is very big of me". He replies "I can't make it tonight". Incredulous, Maria says "Can't make it?" Without looking at her he replies "No, I got plans" and walks away, as Maria looks on in disbelief. In the school library, Isabel and Alex are studying together. She glances at him, contemplating how to bring up a topic of conversation. She opens with "So, I think Billy Saroyan's gonna ask me to the Prom". Alex, still concentrating on his schoolwork, disconnectedly replies "Billy, huh? Are you sure? Because I heard he was taking Amy Green". Slightly miffed, Isabel says "Well, the point is, I would have said no". Alex raises an eyebrow, nods, says "Oh" then turns back to his books. Isabel asks "What about you, Alex? Anyone special?" Alex replies "Not right now". Isabel responds "Really? Maybe someone special from your past? Who's ready now and before she wasn't?" She has his full attention now. He sweetly and gently replies "Isabel, it would be my dream to take you to the Prom but then we'd wake up the next morning and you'd be on to the next thing and I'd be right back where I was before Sweden…you know, obsessed, pathetic and love sick. So I think, amazingly, my answer's no, I'm not gonna take you to the Prom". Isabel is clearly disappointed by his reply. Kyle knocks on Tess's open bedroom door. Tess, sitting on the bed in her PJs doing her homework, looks up and says "Oh, Kyle, hey. What's up?" Nervous, he replies "Last year I went to the Prom with Trudy McIntyre…" Tess interrupts with "Oh, Trudy, she's cute". Kyle continues "Yeah, and so, we went, and everything was OK, but I didn't really know her, so we didn't really have much to talk about, much to say to each other. And so I realised that, I feel like I really know you, which is unusual for me with girls, and uh, anyway, I just…" Really flustered at this point, he blurts out "Feel free to say no or laugh or be outraged or whatever, but…would you want to go to the Prom? You know, with me?" She thinks for a brief moment and then replies "You know, I'd really like that Kyle". Taken totally by surprise he says "Oh!".. She smiles and says "Thank you". Using a credit card, Maria breaks into Michael's apartment. Liz cannot believe she agreed to accompany her. She feels they will regret it and Maria says only if they don't find any evidence. Liz asks "Of what?" Maria replies "That he's seeing someone else". Liz points out this all just came up yesterday, so how could he already have another girlfriend. Maria, her voice quivering from emotion, replies "That's exactly my point, Liz. He obviously already had this bimbo on the side and was just looking for an excuse to break up with me". Liz thinks she is overreacting. Maria finds a writing pad and uses the side of a pencil to outline the indentation. The words "Juanita 360 Glenwood Rd 8pm" are outlined. Heartbroken, she holds up the pad for Liz to see who, shocked, says "Oh". Maria adds "Bastard!" Maria is watching the living room window of 360 Glenwood Road through binoculars. Incredulous, Liz says "I cannot believe that Michael is seeing another woman, I just won't". Maria, like a drill sergeant, says "Snap out of it, sister! [pointing to window] Juanita! Home wrecker!" Despondent Liz continues "I can't believe what is going on with you and Michael and me and Max". Whining, Maria replies "Liz what are you talking about? You and Max are going to the Prom!" Liz responds "I don't know. I just feel Max and I are going in two different directions, it's like we are not able to just separate". Maria sees a pretty girl appear in the window, then Michael appears and Maria drops so she won't be seen. Liz, seemingly oblivious to what is going on in the living room, continues "It makes you realise, like how easy things change. [Maria is stricken when Michael goes to the girl, puts his arms around her and she smiles] Because people meet other people. I could meet another guy, or Max could meet another girl…" Despondent, Maria interrupts "Or Michael could meet another woman". Max and Tess are facing each other, sitting cross-legged on his bed. The lights are dim and candles are lit. Tess says "OK, just think about everything that you remember. What did it look like, feel like, smell like?" She pauses then says "You're not concentrating". Protesting, he replies "Yes, I am!" She shakes her head and says "Something's getting in your way. What's going on with you?" Max confesses "Actually, there is something I should probably tell you. Liz and I are going to the Prom". Unaffected by this information, Tess replies "So?" At Max's surprised look from her non-reaction so she explains "Max, I don't care about that stuff. That's not what's important here. This is what's important and we can do it. Let's try again". Maria is driving up to Max's house. Speaking out loud she repeats "I'm, OK…I'm OK". Losing it, she hits the steering wheel repeatedly and cries in frustration "Why!? Why, Why!!? Why? I just don't understand, I wish that I hadn't seen that, I wish that I hadn't figured it out, I wish that I wasn't so smart". Liz tries to calm her down saying "We don't know for sure that anything happened. You know we could be reading into this whole thing". Maria turns to Liz and says "That's why you have to go and ask Max". Liz is reluctant but Maria begs her to do it. Tess and Max both have their eyes closed. Tess says "I see you. You're swimming on your back. The water's much…thicker, than the water here on Earth. Heavier. It's not quite liquid, but not quite solid. [she takes his hands in hers] As you swim through it, the water forms around your body, and it feels like you're swimming in…" Max completes her thought with "Jello". His eyes open, hers do too. Incredulous he says "I remember! I remember it. I remember the water". Excited he says "Oh my God! You did it! You made me remember!" Liz arrives at his bedroom window, just in time to see him put his arms around Tess in gratitude. Liz runs into Sean outside the Crashdown. Sean says he's going to figure something out for her, she says she's not interested. He says "It might fix your problem". She replies "Who's says that I have a problem?" He responds "Well look at you. You look like you're about to puke at the very least". Liz lashes back "Hey, do you know what? I do not need this right now, OK? I do not want to hear anymore of your stupid, inane comments. I do not want to hear anymore of your little theories on life and I do not want to write my friggin' name in mustard! OK? My life is falling apart!" Taking this all in he asks "Do you want to go somewhere?" Her anger spent, Liz replies "Yes". In the bowling alley Sean gives her step by step instructions as she throws the ball down the alley. It ends up in the gutter anyway and she turns and says "I suck". He replies "No, that was definitely an improvement". She smiles, until he asks if she wants to split a beer, so he immediately changes the subject. He asks "So, can I tell you my theory?" She replies "Can I stop you?" Sean says "You and I are really different people. But the thing is, that if we're so different, then why do I feel so much, every time I look at you? It's not completely one sided is it? This town…everybody's always looking at me like, there's Sean, just got back from juvie. What's Crazy Sean gonna do next? And that's when I figured out about you. You're not that different. I mean, this whole arrangement you have with Max. It's like you're not together, but you're not apart. I mean, I bet you can't even talk to me, without wondering what Max is gonna think about it. But meanwhile, you're not getting what you need from him, are you? You're suffocating Liz. We both are". Liz takes all this in but does not reply. She gets up and bowls a strike. Excited she says "Oh my God! How was that?" Sean compliments her and tells her she's a real prospect. She smiles and thanks him. He starts to take his bowling shoes off and she asks what he's doing. He tells her he's going "lane walking" and explains that because of the many coats of oil on the lanes, sliding down them in stocking feet is a lot of fun - freeing, like you could slide forever. It was something he did when he worked there. He asks her if she'd like to join him but she declines. Tess says "What else do you remember?" Max replies "Three moons, burnt orange, no clouds. Very surreal, like a painting". Tess prods "What else?" Frustrated, Max says "I need a break" and gets up to pace the room. Tess says "It takes time. You know, everything's blurry at first but eventually the images just get clearer and clearer". Max asks "How clear are your memories?" Tess says "Most are still blurry but a few are clearer and more real to me than anything here in this world". Max asks "Do you remember me?" Tess replies "Yeah". Max asks "What was I like?" Tess replies "I remember when you used to reach over and touch me in the middle of the night. And when you used to hold me". Alex is practising on his guitar when someone startles him by knocking on his bedroom window. He approaches it with trepidation, having no idea who it could be. He quickly pulls up the blinds, relieved to see Isabel standing there. He lets her in. Isabel tells him that she learned last semester that she only needed to take one more class to graduate, so she took it. She also tells him he is now the only one who knows she's graduating. He asks if she's going to college. She's not sure about that but what she is sure of is that since she is graduating, this is her last chance to go to the Prom and she does not want to miss it. Begging, she says "Alex please don't make me just sit here". Alex responds "Isabel Evans, go to the Prom with me?" Elated she hugs him. Friday, 27 April 2001 The night of the Prom, the Crashdown is holding a pre-prom gathering. As Maria does last minute touches on Liz's hair, she asks her if Michael, in the back cooking, is "looking". Liz tells her to concentrate on what she's doing, as Maria curses Michael and hopes he is "lonely tonight". Kyle and Tess come in. She goes to a booth and he offers to get her "a beverage". Liz goes to check on her hair and Kyle sits next to Maria. They both notice their parents sitting together in a booth. Kyle says "I caught 'em making out on the couch". Maria counters "Dude, I caught them making out in the pantry closet in the kitchen. It's just so embarrassing". Kyle replies "I know but there's just nothing we can do about it. It's just raging hormones. And they're are chaperones". Maria switches subjects and says "Hey, so are you and Tess, uh…you know?" Kyle replies "I don't know, actually. She's hot, but I feel really resistant for some reason that I can't quite put my finger on". Kidding, Maria says "Maybe you're just gay". Kyle shakes his head and replies "No. No". Max enters the Crashdown just as Liz steps out from the back room. Their eyes meet across the room and they approach each other. Max tells her she looks beautiful and she tells him he looks very nice too. She asks if it's OK if Maria tags along with them, since she is alone. Amy gathers them all together, including Michael, to get a group picture. She asks Sean to take it so she and Jim can be in it too. They are all smiling and happy. As Sean is taking the picture, Liz's voice over says "And there we were. All together. With everything we had all been through over the last two years. The battles we'd fought, the relationships that were formed, the feelings for each other, stronger than any feelings we'd ever known could exist. And somehow, in this moment, I had this really strong, really upsetting feeling, that this was the last time we'd all be standing together". At the Prom, Alex and Isabel have their picture taken and then head for the dance floor. Admiring Isabel, in her red gown, Alex says "You know I gotta say, objectively speaking, you are incredibly beautiful this evening". Isabel responds "You don't have to say that". Alex says "I know I don't". Isabel says "Alex, thank you. This means so much to me and I know you didn't want to come, so thank you". Alex replies "Well, you just got to promise not to be any more beguiling, otherwise I'll be right back where I was". Isabel laughs and Alex adds "I'm serious". They continue to the dance floor. Kyle leaves Tess at a table to get her some punch. Malamud approaches him and, looking at Tess says "I envy you Valenti. Look at that compact little body". Kyle sends him a warning "All right". Malamud ignores it and says "I bet she's a fire cracker in the sack". Kyle tensely says "I wouldn't know". Oblivious, Malamud continues "Yeah well, you will soon. What do you say you throw her to me for a couple of hours, after you're done with her". Furious, Kyle grabs him and says "Don't you ever talk about my sister like that!" Malamud looks at him with fright and confusion and replies "What?" Kyle realises what he said and, stunned, walks away. Max and Liz head for the dance floor. As they are dancing, Liz tells Max that she feels really weird because she saw him with Tess. He's not sure what she means so she explains about coming by his house and seeing them together. He says "We were just trying to find out things about where we came from, that's all". Liz replies "I know, I know, you keep saying that but you keep on leaving out this really pertinent fact - that you were married to her. I feel like my whole life, for the past year, has been waiting for some really bad news. 'Oh, you know, by the way Liz, I remember Tess, and I love her'. It's really paralysing". Max responds "I know it's not easy". Liz interrupts saying "No, Max. It can be. It can be really, really easy. You know, if we both just stop pretending". Troubled Max says "What do you mean?" Close to tears, Liz replies "You know, maybe we're both just holding on to something that'll never be. Max, maybe we should just let go. I've been in so much pain this whole year. It's like I'm suffocating". Max softly says "Liz?" but doesn't have anything else to say. Liz shakes her head, then notices Maria standing alone and tells Max she is going to be with her. Kyle takes Tess to the janitor's closet. He's nervous and fidgety, he has something to tell her which makes her nervous. He says "Tess, you…you're beautiful". Tess tries to stop him but he continues "And the thing is, you're not just some girl. I care about you". Once again she tries to stop him but he continues "I think of you as family. As a sister. I don't think it could be a romantic thing". Tess replies "I understand. You know, I'm disappointed, but I understand" but there is a look of relief on her face when they hug. On the dance floor Maria and Liz are dancing with total abandon, being carried away by the music. Liz shows no sign of her former depression when she was talking to Max. Max watches them for a moment then walks away. Suddenly Maria notices Michael walk in, all dressed up in a suit, looking very dashing and she stops dancing. Liz stops too and tells her to go to him. Maria is reluctant but Liz insists. Maria asks Michael "What are you doing here?" He replies "I came here to dance". She counters with "Well you should have brought Juanita?" Puzzled, he asks "How do you know about her?" Maria replies "I followed you to your love pod". Michael informs her that Juanita was his dance teacher. He adds "I can't dance and I knew this was a big deal for you, so I was taking dancing lessons". Pleased and embarrassed Maria says "Oh my God". Michael interjects "Wait, did you think Juanita was some chick I was boffing, or…?" Maria repeats "Oh my God". Michael demands "How the hell did you find out about her in the first place?" Shaking her head in disbelief, Maria says "Oh my God, I'm like the stupidest person alive". Surprised at this admission, Michael nods and says "OK" then adds "Juanita declared me unteachable, but if you want to risk personal injury…" Maria smiles at him with immeasurable pleasure and they walk onto the dance floor. Max is sitting in the lobby alone, holding his boutonniere, looking like he just lost his best friend. Tess and Kyle are return from the janitor's closet. She tells Kyle that she'll meet him inside in a minute and then goes over to Max. She says "You look sad". His voice choking with emotion, he replies "I think it's really over". She responds "You mean with Liz?" He says "Yeah. I mean, I realised, I guess on some level, that things were headed in that direction. I think it's really, actually over". Alex and Isabel are dancing. Isabel, looking lovingly at Alex says "Alex, I'm going to do something I said I wouldn't do". Knowing what she's about to do, he half-heartedly says "Don't". She kisses him lightly on the lips and he teasingly says "I asked you not to do that". They kiss again, more passionately. Max says "I remembered something else. I don't know how to feel about it". Tess asks "What do you remember?" Max looks at Tess and replies "Our first kiss". A slight, almost imperceptible tremor of pleasure runs over Tess. Max continues "It was at a party, late at night. And you…" Tess puts her hand on Max's shoulder and finishes his thought "I leaned in". Tess leans in, whispering, as she continues, "and whispered in your ear". Max puts his hand on her cheek. Tess continues "and then you touched my cheek". Max whispers "And then we just…" They kiss, lightly at first, then more passionately. Liz sees them and is devastated seeing them kiss, she is frozen in shock, then heads for the door. Tossing her corsage in the trash as she passes it, she literally runs out the door and up the stairs. Tess and Max are oblivious as they continue to kiss. Sean is in the bowling alley. He is pleasantly surprised to see Liz and asks why she is there. She replies "I guess it's kind of an addictive sport". They are lane walking. Liz is slipping, sliding, giggling, and enjoying herself as her voice over is heard to say "We try to live responsible, logical lives, but we can't tell our hearts what to feel [Alex and Isabel]. Sometimes our hearts lead us to places we never thought we wanted to go [Max and Tess] and sometimes our hearts can be the sweetest gentlest things we have [Michael and Maria]. Sometimes our hearts can make us feel miserable, angry, excited and confused, all at once [Liz and Sean]. But at least my heart is open. And I'm writing again and feeling…and breathing". |
