Episode #308- "Behind the Music"

[Max and Liz are in Mr. Evan's office looking at the conspiracy board]

LIZ: You ok?

MAX: I can't believe this. My whole life is up here.

LIZ: Yeah. So is mine. He knows that I'm a part of this.

MAX: My own father. "Tess."

LIZ: he's got cards up here for everything... Los Angeles, Utah... The jeep.

MAX: I got rid of it.

LIZ: Yeah, because you thought you'd never need it again.

MAX: I was going home.

LIZ: Max, maybe you should tell your father. You know, let him in on the secret.

MAX: No. No, I can't. Not ever.

LIZ: Max-

MAX: these are my parents. I can't--I can't put them in this kind of danger. They can't ever know the truth.

LIZ: So, what are you gonna do?

MAX: The necklace I gave you when I thought I was leaving...

LIZ: Yeah, what about it?

MAX: I need it back.

[Liz and Maria are talking in the Crashdown]

MARIA: So he didn't take it well, huh?

LIZ: Alien Defcon 5.

MARIA: It'll be ok, I hope.

LIZ: Let Max talk to Michael.

MARIA: Right.

[Sighs]

MICHAEL: so, when does Billy get here?

MARIA: I don't know. I thought he'd be here by now.

LIZ: Billy who?

MARIA: Billy Darden.

LIZ: First-kiss Billy? He's coming here?

MARIA: Yes. He's on his way to New York.

KYLE: Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Your ex-boyfriend's coming to visit? That's not legal.

MARIA: He's not my ex-boyfriend. We kissed once 4 years ago. I was 13, and Michael knows all about it.

MICHAEL: Yeah, we're all going to dinner.

LIZ: No. No mayo on that one. Um, so, where's he gonna stay?

MARIA: At my house.

KYLE: Your mom's ok with this?

MARIA: My mom's out of town.

KYLE: What?

MICHAEL: It's fine. There's your no-mayo.

KYLE: Michael, Michael, Michael. Let me explain something to you. Here on the planet earth we have this thing called jealousy.

MICHAEL: Kyle, relax. I have nothing to be jealous about. They were 13-year-old geeks at band camp.

MARIA: Ok, first of all, it was a, uh, songwriter's workshop. And, uh... Billy wasn't a geek. He was just a little skinny. He had a little acne on the face, but-

MICHAEL: and braces.

MARIA: We all had braces. All right, fine. He was a little bit of a geek.

KYLE: And you kissed him?

MARIA: Would you shut up?

MICHAEL: Shut up.

[A young good looking guys comes into the Crashdown]

MARIA: Hello. Table or booth?

BILLY: It's me.

MARIA: Billy?

BILLY: Yeah.

MARIA: No.

BILLY: Yeah.

MARIA: Come here. Oh, my god.

BILLY: Ohh. God, look at you.

[A dozen eggs sitting next to Michael, suddenly explode]

MARIA: Oh. Um, let's go this way.

BILLY: All right.

KYLE: I guess the braces worked.

BILLY: God, last time I saw you you were like 13 going on 30.

MARIA: And you were like 98 pounds going on this. You look great.

BILLY: Now don't take this the wrong way, but have you looked in a mirror? I mean, you went from the girl no one wanted to dance with to the prom queen.

MARIA: Now how am I supposed to take that the wrong way? And shut up.

BILLY: I'm serious, really. You look great, Maria.

MARIA: Thanks. Ahem. So... Uh, how long are you staying?

BILLY: Uh, just a couple days. Uh, is it cool with your mom, me staying over?

MARIA: Sure. Yeah. And anyway, she's, uh, she's actually gonna be out of town for a couple of days.

BILLY: Oh. Well, uh, I can't wait to hear what you've been working on.

MARIA: Working on?

BILLY: Your music.

MARIA: Oh.

BILLY: God, I can still remember some of the lyrics you wrote back at band camp.

MARIA: God. Yeah, most of it was crap, anyway.

BILLY: Oh, come on.

MARIA: If anyone asks, though, it was a songwriters workshop.

BILLY: Oh.

[Max opens the back door of Crashdown and whispers]

MAX: Michael!

MICHAEL: What are you doing in here?

MAX: When do you get off work?

MICHAEL: 10 minutes. But I've got plans with Maria and Billy bob Thornton out there.

MAX: Something came up. Cancel them.

[Maria and Billy are talking in front of the restaurant]

BILLY: That is so funny.

MICHAEL: Hi.

BILLY: Hey.

MICHAEL: I'm the boyfriend.

BILLY: Hey. Billy. Nice to meet you.

MARIA: Ready to go?

MICHAEL: Gotta cancel.

MARIA: Wait a minute. I was gonna cook.

MICHAEL: Something came up.

MARIA: What?

MICHAEL: It's work-related.

MARIA: Oh. Of course.

MICHAEL: Steve's wife, Cheryl, she got the flu on my other job, so I gotta cover for her...

BILLY: Oh. Him.

MICHAEL: Yeah. Sorry, Billy.

BILLY: Oh, no. You gotta do what you gotta do, you know?

MICHAEL: I'll make it up to you. I promise.

MICHAEL: Nice meeting you.

BILLY: Yeah. He seems nice.

MARIA: Oh, yeah. He's a peach.

[Isabel and Jesse are moving into their new apartment]

ISABEL: Oh, no-no-no, honey! Those go in the bedroom. Those boxes go in the bedroom.

JESSE: Uh-huh.

ISABEL: Oh, you know what? I'm sorry. You were right. Kitchen.

JESSE: I just remembered. We forgot something.

ISABEL: Oh, jeez! Wow! You're really strong.

JESSE: Ok, it's tradition...

[Jesse picks Isabel up and walks her over the threshold]

JESSE: Mrs. Ramirez, welcome to your new home.

ISABEL: Thank you, Mr. Ramirez. I love you so much.

JESSE: Me, too.

[Telephone rings]

ISABEL: I should get that.

JESSE: And I should get more boxes. But we should...

ISABEL: Continue this later?

JESSE: Yes.

[Ring]

[ring]

ISABEL: hello?

MAX: Did you find your healing stone?

ISABEL: Yes, i did. It was in the box that i said it was gonna be in. You are way overreacting to this whole thing.

MAX: No, I'm not, Isabel. Dad is on the warpath.

ISABEL: He's our father, not the enemy. Listen to me-

Mr Evans: Isabel?

ISABEL: Oh, my god!

Mr Parker: Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. The door was open.

ISABEL: Oh, can I call you back? I'll call you back. Ok, bye. Hi, dad. Um... What's up?

Mr Evans: I just wanted to see your new place. It's nice. Cozy. Uh, from your mother and me.

[Mr Evans hands a plant to Isabel]

ISABEL: Ooh, thank you so much. Thank you. Um, you really should have waited, though, until, you know, we got a little more unpacked and situated.

Mr Evans: Nah, that's all right. Where's, uh, Jesse?

ISABEL: He's outside by the truck, I think.

Mr Evans: I can't believe how grown up my kids are. You with your new house, Max with his new car.

ISABEL: Yeah. Grown up.

Mr Evans: I guess I have to get used to my new role. I didn't get the chance to help you find this place. I didn't even know Max was getting a new car.

ISABEL: Yeah, it all just happened really fast, you know?

Mr Evans: Do you even know when he got rid of the jeep?

MARIA: I can't believe you're doing it. Moving to New York, huh?

BILLY: Yeah. Greenwich village.

MARIA: Playing seedy bars and coffee shops.

BILLY: Well, that was the plan.

MARIA: Yeah, but there are plans and then there are plans.

BILLY: Well, I guess this was the plan.

MARIA: Yeah, I guess so. So, what are you gonna do for money?

BILLY: As long as I make enough to get by, I'm fine, you know?

MARIA: Oh, god, that is so romantic, I could just scream.

BILLY: Come on. It was your idea.

MARIA: I know, but I mean, I was 13 and talkin' about going to the big city. Even then I knew it was just talk. Here. Taste.

BILLY: That's pretty good. That's not how I remember it. I mean, even back then you were pretty dead serious about your music. I mean, you're the one that gave me the bug. If I hadn't have met you, I'd still be playing stairway to heaven in my mom's garage.

MARIA: Well, I guess for me music was just more of like a passing thing.

BILLY: Well, I find that very hard to believe.

MARIA: What are you doing?

BILLY: The sauce is just a little thin, so I'm gonna show you a little family secret.

MARIA: In my sauce? You're putting creamer-

BILLY: shh. Come on. Try it. Try it. Try it.

MARIA: Ok. Mm-hmm.

BILLY: Mm-hmm.

MARIA: Not bad.

[Back at Jesse and Isabel's apartment]

JESSE: Your dad introduced me to some new clients as his son-in-law.

ISABEL: This floor is way too hard.

JESSE: Do you think i should start calling him dad? Ha ha! That is too weird. I won't do it.

ISABEL: We could use a blanket. I'll be right back .

JESSE: Hey, where are you going?

ISABEL: To get a blanket.

JESSE: Why?

ISABEL: So we can have sex.

JESSE: In here?

ISABEL: Yes. It's tradition that when a couple moves into their new place, they make love in every room of the house.

JESSE: Ok. Can I finish flossing my teeth? Oh! Before I forget, your dad-

ISABEL: please! Could we just not talk about my dad for a second here?

JESSE: Yeah, sure.

ISABEL: Oh, ok. What'd he say?

JESSE: He's bringing up Utah. Utah? Yeah, Max's little crime spree. He keeps asking me what I think really happened.

ISABEL: What did you say?

JESSE: That I think Max is hiding something. Damned if I know what it is. What do you think?

ISABEL: You wanna know what I think? I think that as long as my father and Max continue to invade my life with you, tradition is gonna have to wait.

JESSE: What did I just do?

[Isabel storms out]

[Billy and Maria are talking]

MARIA: No! Oh, my god! No!

BILLY: There she is. Right there.

MARIA: Look at my hair and my eyes. Ugh!

BILLY: Come on. It was your late 90s retro Annie Lennox phase. You know, you were experimenting. I think it was cute.

MARIA: Right. Burn those now.

BILLY: Oh, no--oh, no. These are goin' to the big apple where they'll be prominently displayed in my guitar case where people will be throwing money.

MARIA: Look at that! Look at-- this hair spray alone could choke a horse.

BILLY: Ok. Well, look past the somewhat flammable hair and see what I see.

MARIA: Which is what? Bad eyeliner?

BILLY: Nah. Dreams. Look. This girl... Has beautiful dreams. And she makes beautiful music. So, what happened to her?

MARIA: Nothing. She just grew up.

BILLY: Right. Right.

[Max and Michael are digging a hole in the dessert]

MICHAEL: Is this deep enough?

MAX: Almost.

MICHAEL: Max, we've been up all night collecting every conceivable alien artifact that ever crashed in this god-forsaken planet, including all of Tess's stuff. I'm tired.

MAX: All right. That's deep enough. We still need your healing stone.

MICHAEL: I think it's at Maria's.

MAX: You think it's at Maria's?

MICHAEL: Yeah. I don't know. Most likely.

MAX: I bet if it was one of your Metallica cds you'd know where it was.

MICHAEL: Hey! You wanna bring that up again? The reason I got pissed is you put and justice for all before master of puppets.

MAX: Yeah. Alphabetical order.

MICHAEL: They go in order of the release date.

MAX: And you don't know where your healing stone is?

MICHAEL: You still wanna sleep on my couch?

[Cell phone rings]

MAX: hello?

ISABEL: Jesse is asking all kinds of questions about you, Max. You're right. Dad is out of control. We have to do something.

MAX: Isabel, calm down. Just tell me what happened.

MICHAEL: What's going on?

MAX: My dad's recruited Jesse into this crusade of his.

MICHAEL: Ok, Max, you need to talk to your father. Keep your friends close...

MICHAEL: And your enemies closer.

ISABEL: Our father is not the enemy, Max.

MICHAEL: Talk to him. Make nice. Get close. Find out what he--

[The camera pans back. A man is hiding behind some rocks taking pictures of Max and Michael]

[Later, Michael is knocking on Maria's door- Billy answers]

MICHAEL: you haven't left yet.

BILLY: Oh, no, man. Late night. Sorry. I'm leaving later today.

MICHAEL: How was dinner?

BILLY: It was good, man. It was good.

BILLY: How's Steve's wife?

MICHAEL: Who?

BILLY: Steve's wife, with the flu. You covered for him. Remember? Yeah. She's great. She's fine. Is Maria around?

BILLY: No, man. You just missed her. Just missed her. Can I leave her a note or a message or something?

MICHAEL: No. I'm here to pick something up.

BILLY: Can I help you look?

MICHAEL: No. That's ok.

BILLY: What are you looking for?

MICHAEL: Something I need.

[Michael puts the healing stone in his pocket]

BILLY: Hey, when did Maria stop writing music?

MICHAEL: She messes around with it once in a while.

BILLY: Well, how often does she mess around with it?

MICHAEL: Is this goin' somewhere?

BILLY: No. I mean, maybe. I mean, I don't know. I'm just... I'm just wondering if she's given up on writing and singing altogether.

MICHAEL: I really wouldn't know.

BILLY: Well, listen, man, she's really good. I mean, she's really good.

MICHAEL: Yeah, I'll keep that in mind.

MICHAEL: I guess what I'm looking for isn't here.

BILLY: Well, I'd tell her you stopped by, but I got a bus to catch.

[Later, Michael is making sauce at the Crashdown]

MARIA: Hmm, you know what? That sauce looks a little thin. You should put half and half in there.

MICHAEL: It's not coffee.

MARIA: It works. Billy showed me. It gives it heft.

MICHAEL: I don't put dairy products in my meat sauce. It's not kosher.

MARIA: Ok. I said no cheese in the nebulua salad.

MICHAEL: Forgot. Listen, I was thinking about skipping out on bowling tonight, and maybe we could make up for last night.

MARIA: That is so sweet, but I kind of had plans. Just...

MICHAEL: Plans with who?

MARIA: It's nothing...Big. Just me and Billy were gonna go and...

MICHAEL: Billy? Isn't he on the bus?

MARIA: He missed it. He's staying another night.

MICHAEL: Another night?!

[The salad bowl explodes]

MARIA: What did you do that for? You could've hurt me.

MICHAEL: Sorry. I'm not sure what happened.

[Max is waiting in his father's office]

Mr Evans: Max.

MAX: Hey, dad.

Mr Evans: What are you doing here?

MAX: I think we need to talk.

Mr Evans: I agree completely.

SECRETARY: Your 11:30 is here.

Mr Evans: Gimme 10 seconds. I'm sorry, I've got a meeting waiting.

MAX: No, it's ok. Why don't we go fishing, like we used to, away from all these interruptions?

Mr Evans: Sounds good. When?

MAX: Tomorrow.

Mr Evans: Great. I'll pick you up early. Got to get a jump...

MAX: On those fish. Excuse me.

[Mr Evans meeting is with the photographer who was taking pictures of Max and Michael]

PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR: Saw him and that friend of his out in the desert.

Mr Evans: What were they doing?

PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR: Couldn't really tell from where I was standing, but I got some pictures.

Mr Evans: What else you got for me?

PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR: A receipt from the last time your son filled up his jeep. First week in may.

Mr Evans: That's when Tess disappeared. Do you think these 2 events are connected?

PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR: There's only 3 reasons a person gets rid of a vehicle-- 1--they sell it. 2--they ruin it in order to bilk the insurance company. Or 3--they destroy it to hide something.

Mr Evans: What do you think my son's trying to hide?

PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR: We better find that jeep, Mr. Evans.

[Maria comes home and finds Billy playing Alex's guitar]

MARIA: Billy, I hope you're ok with hamburgers 'cause that's you're getting.

BILLY: Hamburgers are fine.

MARIA: Why is that out?

BILLY: Michael stopped by today. This ended up on the bed, so I am tuning it for you.

MARIA: Why?

BILLY: It's out of tune, darlin'.

MARIA: Put it back.

BILLY: In just a second.

MARIA: You know what? Forget it. I'll put it back.

BILLY: Hey, what's wrong?

MARIA: I invite you into my house and you go through my stuff?

BILLY: Where's all this coming from? It's a guitar baby.

MARIA: No, it's not.

[Michael and Liz are closing the Crashdown]

MICHAEL: Pretty busy night, huh?

LIZ: Mm-hmm.

MICHAEL: How much money do you think we'd pull in on a night like tonight?

LIZ: You know that you really suck at small talk? Why don't you just tell Dr. Parker what's on your mind?

MICHAEL: Hey, tell me--do I need to be worried about this Billy guy?

LIZ: No, you don't. He's completely harmless.

MICHAEL: But you think he's good-looking right?

LIZ: Uh, well, yeah, if you like that sort of thing, I guess.

MICHAEL: The good-looking sort of thing.

LIZ: Michael...

MICHAEL: Do you really think he missed his bus?

LIZ: Yes, i do. Haven't you ever missed a bus before?

MICHAEL: No, 'cause I don't take the bus, and I don't write songs. And I don't cook with freaking half and half.

[The sugar dispensers explode]

LIZ: Hey! Hey, Michael!

MICHAEL: Sorry. My powers are out of control.

LIZ: Would you look at this mess! My dad is gonna freak.

MICHAEL: Relax. I'll fix it.

[Michael tries to fix the mess, but his powers don't work]

LIZ: Please. Michael, you need to calm down, ok? Everything's gonna be fine between you and Maria, trust me.

MICHAEL: She cooked him Italian food last night.

LIZ: Oh.

MICHAEL: I knew it. That's a problem.

LIZ: No, no, it's not a problem. It's just, um... It's food.

MICHAEL: No, Liz. It's Italian food.

LIZ: Michael, please don't do anything stupid or alien or both, please?!

[Billy strums guitar in adjoining room]

MARIA: try going to an f major 7th, please. I can't listen to you anymore. Just trying going to an f major 7th.

BILLY: Not bad.

MARIA: Oh, please. I totally fixed it for you.

BILLY: Ok. Now let's see if you remember this one... So what about earlier?

MARIA: Yeah, I'm sorry that I went off on you.

BILLY: Gonna tell me about it?

MARIA: That guitar belonged to a friend of mine. His name was Alex. He died last year.

BILLY: I am so sorry. I am so sorry. I had no idea.

MARIA: His parents wanted me to have this guitar, but I just couldn't bring myself to play it.

BILLY: Bad memories.

MARIA: He was only 17. He had his whole life. His whole life.

BILLY: Did you and Alex write songs together?

MARIA: Not really. We tried once, but I just don't partner well. I don't know, you're, like, the only person that I've ever trusted in that way.

BILLY: So if you guys were writing songs, then that means you were singing up until...

MARIA: Until his funeral. Yeah, that was the last time.

BILLY: Well, then I guess tonight's a special night.

MARIA: (Singing) I wish I could read your mind - words don't mean a thing - I've given you all my time - all you do is leave - and if you were standing here in front of me - I know you would say - there's nothing oh, so precious - as something that's gone away - and if there is a reason - i just don't want to know - why you feel the need to love me so - only when you go - only when you go-

[Michael is watching thru the window- He gets upset and walks off- his powers are out of control and setting off car alarms- He slams the door as he walks into his apartment]

MAX: what happened?

MICHAEL: It's over.

MAX: What, my dad found something? What?

MICHAEL: No, it's not that. I saw Maria and what's his name, Billy, together.

MAX: Oh, together as in... Together?

MICHAEL: Worse.

MAX: What could be worse?

MICHAEL: They were singing together.

MAX: So you're jealous.

MICHAEL: I'm not jealous!

[A lamp explodes]

MICHAEL: My powers are slightly out of whack.

MAX: "Out of whack"?

MICHAEL: I've been blowing things up all day.

MAX: Get them under control.

MICHAEL: I can't.

MAX: Michael, get yourself together. What if this happens in front of my father?

MICHAEL: I don't care about your father or his stupid investigation.

MAX: All right, look, I'm sorry. We're part human. We're supposed to have feelings. You keep them bottled up like this, they're gonna get out somehow.

MICHAEL: What should I do?

MAX: Talk to her.

MICHAEL: That's it? Just talk to her?

MAX: Yeah.

MICHAEL: Ok, sure.

[Max and his father are fishing on the lake]

Mr Evans: I've missed this.

Max: Yeah, me, too.

Mr Evans: So why did you get rid of the jeep?

MAX: Got sick of it. Plastic doors, the roof took forever to get on and off.

Mr Evans: Yeah. I hope you got a good price for it.

MAX: Blue book.

Mr Evans: Huh. So who bought it?

MAX: This guy at school. Drove it cross-country to college. Cornell, I think.

Mr Evans: It was a fun car. Remember the guy we bought it from?

MAX: Yeah. Now, he was scary.

Mr Evans: I thought he was gonna shoot us.

MAX: You wouldn't meet his price.

Mr Evans: I did when the gun fell out of his boot. How old were you?

MAX: 15.

Mr Evans: Yeah. I'm just surprised that you would sell it without telling me first.

MAX: It was sort of spontaneous.

Mr Evans: And you say this guy who bought it-- he was gonna drive it all the way to Cornell?

MAX: Yeah. He was planning on fixing it up first.

Mr Evans: Right.

MAX: I saw the board in your office. I know what you're doing.

Mr Evans: And what am I doing?

MAX: It isn't right to spy on your own son.

Mr Evans: I'm not spying. I'm trying to figure out what's going on. Is my concern for you a threat?

MAX: Do I threaten you?

Mr Evans: You frighten me, Max. I don't think I know who you are anymore. I'm beginning to think I've never known.

MAX: I'm your son.

Mr Evans: With secrets. And my biggest fear is that they're terrible secrets, that you're in trouble and I can't help.

MAX: You can't help because I'm not in trouble.

Mr Evans: Not in trouble? Max, if it weren't for me, you'd be rotting in jail right now. I put my reputation on the line for you, and I still don't know why.

[Cell phone rings]

Mr Evans: what? Yeah. Wait there. We're done. Let's head in.

MAX: Dad...

Mr Evans: We're done.

[Michael comes up behind Maria in the Crashdown]

MICHAEL: hey.

MARIA: "Hey" back.

MICHAEL: Can I say something?

MARIA: Back room.

MARIA: Do we have a problem?

MICHAEL: No, we don't. I do.

MARIA: How can I help?

MICHAEL: Be patient with me.

MARIA: Always.

MICHAEL: Don't say it like that, like I'm a kid.

MARIA: That's not what I meant. What are you worried about, really? What can I do?

MICHAEL: Tell your friend to leave. He shouldn't be here. It's not a good time.

MARIA: Not a good time? Let me ask you a question, Michael.

MICHAEL: Here we go...

MARIA: No, don't do that.

MICHAEL: You ask "what can I do," and I tell you.

MARIA: When is it a good time?

MICHAEL: To step out with an old boyfriend?

MARIA: He is not an old-- ooh, would you just-

MICHAEL: where's your patience now?

MARIA: When is it a good time for me to take a small step back from this nonstop alien hootenanny?

MICHAEL: We're in danger. Max's father-

MARIA: I know.

MICHAEL: Yeah, and you don't care because that Billy guy--

[Michael's powers cause things on the shelf to fall]

MARIA: Michael...

MICHAEL: You're gonna leave me for him.

MARIA: No. No. Ok, I'll tell him.

MICHAEL: Thank you.

MARIA: Hey, it's what I do. It's what I always do.

[Kyle is talking to Max on the phone]

KYLE: Max, I think we got a problem.

MAX: What is it?

KYLE: Your dad just called for a tow truck.

MAX: Where?

KYLE: Mile marker 16 out on route 7.

MAX: They found the jeep.

[Maria comes home. Billy is playing the guitar]

BILLY: Hey.

MARIA: I have to tell you something.

BILLY: What?

MARIA: You have to go.

BILLY: Right this second?

MARIA: Yeah.

BILLY: I'll get my stuff. Is this about Michael? Am I in the middle of something?

MARIA: No. It's complicated. It's just my life. I can't have more than one thing going on. It's not you. It has nothing to do with you.

BILLY: That's too bad.

MARIA: What's that supposed to mean?

BILLY: Truth? Maria, i missed my bus on purpose.

MARIA: Why?

BILLY: Because I was given some advice one time... Decide what you want in life and live it.

MARIA: That's terrible advice.

BILLY: You gave it to me.

MARIA: That explains it.

BILLY: 4 years ago, our last night at camp.

MARIA: I was 13.

BILLY: That night stuck with me. You stuck with me. That kiss stuck with me. It was my first one.

MARIA: You told me that you kissed tons of girls.

BILLY: I lied. I don't know. I was just... I was hoping that-

MARIA: I'm with someone.

BILLY: Yeah, I met him.

MARIA: Look, you don't understand. Michael is just-

BILLY: stopping you?

MARIA: Stopping me from what?

BILLY: from I don't know. From life. From this.

[Billy kisses Maria- she doesn't respond at first, then kisses him back]

[The scene switches to the jeep being pulled up from the ravine. Michael, Max, and Isabel are watching]

ISABEL: This is bad.

MICHAEL: What are you gonna tell your father, Max?

MAX: I'm not gonna tell him anything. He doesn't trust me anymore.

MICHAEL: Who does he trust?

[Max looks at Isabel]

[Scene switches to Liz and Maria talking]

LIZ: and then you kissed him?

MARIA: Yes, I did.

LIZ: Where is he right now?

MARIA: At my house.

LIZ: Ha! What were you thinking?

MARIA: I don't know.

LIZ: And that's all that it was. It was just a kiss.

MARIA: Maybe. You know? Maybe not.

LIZ: Let's just talk about the kiss for one second. Was there any passion?

MARIA: Tons.

LIZ: Oh...

MARIA: I know. But it's not that kind of passion. It's like it woke me up.

LIZ: Like sleeping beauty.

MARIA: Yeah, I guess.

MARIA: Do you think I've been asleep this whole time?

LIZ: Well... I think you've been trying to remember who you used to be for a long time. Say it.

MARIA: I just-- sometimes I just feel like I've paid this huge price for knowing Michael and knowing these aliens. It's like... God, I didn't think I'd end up here dealing with this crap every day. I mean, I love Michael, and I do sort of love this ridiculous soap opera, but... I just...I can't take it anymore. I feel like I'm trapped and I'm never gonna get out.

LIZ: I know.

MARIA: I mean, I... I didn't sign up for this.

LIZ: Yes, you did. We all did.

MARIA: I know. It's just, I had this dream once... I mean, maybe I still do. I don't know.

LIZ: Maybe sometimes you have to go after your dreams. And who am i to tell you just give them up, because without your dreams, you're just me.

MARIA: Liz.

LIZ: I'm sorry. I'm sorry. That sounded way too self-pitying, and this isn't about me. It's just that, um... I'm committed to going down this road with Max. Good, bad, indifferent, I'm committed. And I've given up a lot along the way, so unless you're sure that's what you want to do with Michael, don't be so quick to give up your dreams.

[Maria comes home. Billy is packing to leave]

MARIA: Hey. I have this insane idea.

BILLY: What?

MARIA: That we do what we planned, that I go to New York with you.

BILLY: Wow.

MARIA: Yeah.

BILLY: What about your mom?

MARIA: Well, I know that she'll want me to finish high school.

BILLY: Not a bad idea.

MARIA: No, so after I graduate.

BILLY: Great.

MARIA: Maybe.

BILLY: Maybe.

MARIA: No, I just don't know if this is what I wanna do-

BILLY: hey, hey, hey. You don't owe me an explanation. I screwed things up.

MARIA: No, you didn't.

BILLY: Yes, I did. I should have known better. I changed the whole flow between us. But I been wanting to kiss you for about 4 years, and I'm a guy, so I took a shot.

MARIA: I just think I may have given you the wrong impression.

BILLY: No, you didn't. We're fine. And if I did anything to make you feel bad, I'm sorry. I just wish you hadn't of...

MARIA: What?

BILLY: I wish you hadn't hidden yourself away with that guitar.

BILLY: You gonna come see me in the village?

MARIA: Yes.

BILLY: I'll get you front row seats.

MARIA: And I will throw my underwear at you.

[Sighs]

BILLY: bye, Maria.

MARIA: Bye.

[Billy leaves]

[Isabel and Jesse are having dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Evans]

Mrs Evans: It's newly upholstered. It has a dark print with big, uh... Pink cabbage roses.

JESSE: Wow. I don't know if that would really, uh-

Mr Evans: hey, hey, hey.

Mr Evans: You can't beat the price.

[As Isabel sits down, she is remembering what Max told her. We hear his voice and the conversation she had with him]

MAX: They trust you, Isabel.

ISABEL: I'm sick of lying to our parents.

MAX: There's no other choice.

ISABEL: Yes, there is. The truth.

MAX: It's too dangerous for them and for us.

ISABEL: Max, you're wrong I want to tell them...

[Voice over conversation ends]

ISABEL: The truth.

Mrs Evans: What, hon?

ISABEL: What?

Mrs Evans: Did you say something?

ISABEL: The truth. I... I want to tell you the truth about what's been going on with Max.

ISABEL: It's about Tess. Max got Tess pregnant, but she left before the baby was born, so Max may have a child out there somewhere.

Mrs Evans: Oh, my.

ISABEL: That night that she left, he was so angry that he just drove all night and pushed his jeep off a cliff because he... Was so crazy.

JESSE: God, Isabel. I'm so sorry. If I had known, I wouldn't have-

Mr Evans: I'm sorry, too, Isabel, for asking you those questions, for putting Jesse in the middle.

ISABEL: He would have told you himself. He was just so afraid to disappoint you.

Mr Parker: Thank you for finally telling us the truth.

[Isabel is talking to Max on the phone later]

MAX: Did they buy it?

ISABEL: Yeah. They bought everything.

ISABEL: You're safe for another day.

MAX: Thanks, Iz. I owe you.

ISABEL: Maybe now we can get back to normal.

[Mr. Evans is in his office looking at a picture of Isabel. He pins it to his board under the conspirators section]

[Michael meets Maria in the park]

MICHAEL: You wanted to talk, which usually means you're gonna kick my ass, so I brought some friends.

MARIA: Thank you. I guess.

MICHAEL: Ha. Is he gone yet?

MARIA: Yeah.

MICHAEL: good!

MARIA: Feel better?

MICHAEL: Getting there. What are we talking about?

MARIA: I wanna break up. I want out because I love you so much. I love you more than you could possibly know.

MICHAEL: I'm lost.

MARIA: No, I'm lost. And you've been there the whole time to help me through all of it.

MICHAEL: All of what?

MARIA: This whole thing-- this alien, human, the scary stuff, the bad stuff.

MICHAEL: And there was fun stuff, too.

MARIA: Yeah, but I haven't been honest in any of it.

MICHAEL: Listen, if you're trying to tell me that you're a bisexual or something, I'm--I'm cool with that. I'm...

MICHAEL: Why do you want out?

MARIA: Because, Michael, I don't think I've ever been in. I mean, this girl you've known for the past 3 years-- Maria-- it's just not me.

MARIA: Of course it's you.

MARIA: No, it's not the me I used to be.

MICHAEL: Things change.

MARIA: Yeah, things change.

MICHAEL: Just like that. Will you come back to me?

MARIA: I don't know.

[Maria hands the flowers back and walks off- she goes home and picks up Alex's guitar- we see Isabel looking out the window, Mr. Evans taking a drink, and Michael remembering his relationship with Maria]

[Song plays in the background] Breathe again - I'm livin' on your air tonight - never knowing when you'll cut it off - oh, you have a way - that makes it hard to sleep alone - and just when the dream gets good - you always seem to have to go - so - here I am - alone again - waiting for the story - to finally end - while the world spins around - it's out of my hands - don't even try - to understand - and I guess it's time to tell you - what you should already know - oh, you know - I'm better breathing on my own - all alone -