ACT ONE

Scene 4

EXT. VALENTI HOUSE - DAY

Start on a hand tapping in a distinct rhythm. Pull back to reveal this is AMY who taps on her coffee cup as VALENTI works on a trailer. He looks at AMY, vaguely annoyed.

VALENTI: You're doing it again. The tapping.

AMY: I am not.

Amy stops tapping.

VALENTI: Sure you're not nervous about something?

AMY: No.

The Jeep pulls up. Max and Tess jump out. Michael and Isabel wait.

MAX: Sheriff, I need to talk to you.

Amy stands for a moment then, getting it --

AMY: I'll go get a refill.

She exits. Max looks at Tess.

MAX: I'll talk to him. Go rest.

Tess exits into the house. Max takes a beat then just launches onto it.

MAX(cont'd): Tess is pregnant. With my child.

VALENTI What?!

MAX: Sheriff --

VALENTI: You've got to be kidding. Tess is living her under my roof. She is a seventeen year old --

MAX(cutting him off):He's dying. Our son is dying. The fetus can't survive on Earth. We found a way to go home. You know, home. We're leaving tomorrow morning.

Valenti just takes this in for a minute.

VALENTI: Max, slow down a second.

MAX: There's someone out there. An Alien. She killed Alex.

VALENTI: She killed Alex? I thought --

MAX: There's no time to explain now.
(beat)
Sheriff, I can't express to you how much you've helped us. Now I need you to do one more thing for me. I have to find her. Alex's murderer. And I need you to take care of Tess until I get back. She's....weak.

VALENTI: Yeah...Of course.

MAX: Thank you.

They walk into the house:

Scene 5

INT. TESS' ROOM - CONTINOUS

Max enters. Tess looks terrified, sits on a chair.

MAX: You should lie down.

TESS: I think I'm losing my powers. I couldn't flip the CD on from across the room. I do it every day of my life without a second thought. What's happening to me?

MAX: It will be okay.

TESS: Max. I've been thinking...what if you didn't go.

MAX: I'll be back before dawn.

TESS: No. I mean, home.

MAX: What are you talking about?

Tess grows thoughtful.

TESS: Nothing, just Leanna's out there and...

MAX: I'll find Leanna. Don't worry.

TESS: (sadly) Right.

He's about to leave, remembers this is essentially his wife now. He moves to her and kisses her good-bye. On Tess -- having a flash(we don't need to see this, just the white flashes and sound effects). She looks at Max, distraught.

TESS(cont'd): I don't believe it.

MAX: What?

TESS: After all this. After all that's happened between us. You're still thinking about Liz.

Max shakes his head, no, but of course she's right. He also can't stop to have this conversation.

MAX: I have to go.

Max picks up Tess' cellphone.

MAX: I'll take this. Call me if anything happens. Anything at all.

He exits, hold on Tess, looking in the direction he just exited.

Scene 6

EXT VALENTI HOUSE - DAY (MOMENTS LATER)

Isabel and Michael wait in the Jeep. Max comes out of the door, breaks into a run, jumps in and hits the gas. The Jeep screeches out.

Scene 7

INT. JEEP - SAME

Michael, Isabel and Max.

MICHAEL: Has anyone considered the fact that we're not going back to Pleasantville? Our world is at war.

MAX: We'll be okay.

Isabel: Max, what does this all mean?

Max turns, faces her. Michael listens.

Isabel(cont'd): What will we look like? What will our lives be like? Will we be able to taste food? Will we have feelings -- joy, sadness, hope... Will we feel anything?

On Michael, silently wondering the same thing.

MAX: Isabel, I know you're scared. I'm scared too. But we belong there. (then) We always knew this day would come.

There's another beat then:

Isabel: What will we tell Mom and Dad?

MAX: (beat) I don't know.

On Max, the thoughts of this pains him.

Vicki
Las Vegas Crew Member

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Edited by: Vicki LVCM  at: 3/8/02 4:05:03 pm