It’s the next day Isabel, Michael, Tess, Maria and Liz are sitting in the Crash Down discussing Max.
They are all crowded in the Kitchen area; Michael is making an order, the rest are standing around.
Isabel
To Michael
Michael, where is Max?
Michael
I don’t know.
Isabel
He didn’t come home last night. I’m worried.
Michael
Placing the food in the order window. And walking back to the grill.
Order up!
Liz
With her arms crossed and turning to follow Michael.
Well, you were the last one to see him.
Michael
I told you, he left and I didn’t see where he went.
Tess
Well, we can’t just stand around.
He couldn’t have gone too far.
Liz
Tess is right.
Maria
Maybe you guys should just leave him alone for a day or two.
Michael
To Maria
Thank you.
Maria
No problem.
Isabel
No, I don’t like the idea that there could be something wrong with him.
He needs our help.
Michael
There’s nothing we can do, Maxwell isn’t stupid, and maybe disappearing for a day will help him.
CUT
Max is in the cave, he is sitting leaning against a rock, his eyes are closed and he is twitching back and forth rapidly. We again see white flashes;
suddenly he lets out a loud scream...
FADE INTO
Liz is sitting at her desk doing some homework; she hears a knock at her window and looks out to see Max, he’s in bad shape, he is sweating and
shaking. She closes her book and gets up to open it.
Liz
Helping him in.
Max, what’s wrong?
She helps him stumble to her bed.
What is it?
He sits.
Max
It’s getting worse…
Liz
What is?
Is this what Michael was talking about?
Max
He told you?
Liz
She sits next to him.
Yes, what’s going on?
Max
It’s….
He shivers.
Liz
Touching his hand.
God you’re freezing.
Max
I’m fine.
Liz
No, Max you’re not.
Get under the covers.
She pulls her quilt back Max lays back. She props his head up with some pillows and covers him keeping her hands on the quilt.
Now, what’s going on, maybe if you tell me, I can help.
Max
I don’t know what it is…
More flashes, he throws his head back and forth.
Liz help me.
Liz
Panicked
I’m going to call Isabel and get Michael.
She turns to leave but he grabs onto her wrist she winces in pain.
Max
No.
Liz
Ouch, Max.
She pulls at her wrist but he pulls her back towards him.
Max
Tightening his grip.
Liz, listen to me…
Liz
Frightened
You’re hurting me Max.
We see some more flashes in Max’s head; he tightens his grip until Liz whimpers in pain. Suddenly he flashes out of it.
Liz
Struggling.
Ouch.
He let’s go. Liz pulls her wrist back into her body, it’s badly bruised.
Max stands up.
Max
Liz, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…
She steps forward.
Liz
It’s okay.
Max
I didn’t mean to…I…
She steps forward and touches him with the other arm.
Liz
It’s just a bruise don’t…
He steps back and looks around the room rapidly, his vision is blurred.
Max
Liz…I…
He takes a shallow breath.
Liz
I’ll put ice on it don’t worry.
She puts a calming hand on his shoulder. He relaxes for a minute.
It doesn’t hurt.
Max
I didn’t mean to…I don't know what's wrong with me.
Liz puts her arm around him and hugs him he embraces he, he sees more flashes and Liz has a red halo around her head the picture is blurry Max
falls pushing her back on the bed.
Liz
Frightened
Max what are you doing?
He gets another flash and pushes her down harder.
Liz
Max stop it.
We again see flashes, this time they are more rapid and edged with red. Throughout the flashes Liz’s voice can be heard echoing.
Liz
Max please stop.
We cut out of the flashes and see Liz struggling, Max accidentally rips the sleeve of her shirt.
Max!
We cut to more flashes and then back to Liz and Max-Max pulls away quickly clutching his head.
Max
No, no, I shouldn’t be here. I’m sorry, I…I
He goes to the window.
Liz
Standing up and cradling her arm.
Max wait, let me get Michael, we can help you.
He looks at her and then crawls out onto the veranda.
Liz follows him.
Max wait.
He continues down the ladder and runs down the street. Liz turns and crawls back in to her room, then down to the restaurant. She goes into the
kitchen.
Liz
To Michael
Michael, it’s Max he was just here.
Michael
What?
Liz
He came to my window; I let him in, Michael it's bad…
Maria
Coming in from the restaurant.
What’s going on?
She catches sight of Liz’s wrist and sleeve.
Liz, what happened?
Liz
Max, he didn’t mean to. What ever he’s got, it’s getting worse.
Michael, do you know where he is, we have to help him.
Michael
Yea,
He undoes his apron and hangs it on a hook.
I know where he is. Liz you come with me, Maria call Tess and Isabel. Meet us at the cave.
Maria
Right.
Liz and Michael leave the restaurant.
CUT
Michael and Liz run up to the cave, but when they reach it they can’t go any further.
Michael
Running and stopping.
What the?
Liz
Racing up behind him.
What, what is it?
Michael pounds on the invisible wall.
Michael
He put up some kind of shield.
Liz
What? Can he do that?
Michael
Apparently.
Liz
Looking in.
Well, where is he?
Michael
I don’t know.
Pounding on the wall again.
Maxwell?
Liz
Pounding as well.
Max!
She stops.
To Michael
Can’t you just, you know zap it.
Michael
I can try.
He holds up his hand and tries to break through the wall, but can’t.
Liz
Why isn’t it working?
Michael
I don’t know, you try.
Liz
Speaking into the cavern.
Max, it’s Liz and Michael, can you let us through.
Max
Faintly from the other side.
Go away.
Liz
Why?
Max
Something is happening to me, I…I can’t control it.
Liz
We know. We want to help you.
Max
I don’t want to hurt anyone.
Liz
Can you just come where we can see you, please?
He timidly steps into view matted against the blue light of the cave.
Max, let us help you.
Max
You can’t.
Liz
But we can try.
Michael
It’s not going to work.
Liz
Max, come on. Let us in.
Max
No.
Maria, Tess, and Isabel coming running up behind them.
Isabel
Running up.
Oh god Max…
Max
Isabel, go away, all of you go!
Isabel
No, Max.
Maria
Hitting the invisible wall.
What’s going on, what is this?
Michael
He’s put up some sort of wall.
Maria
Well, did you try zapping it?
Michael
Yes.
Isabel
Desperate.
Max.
Tess
Maybe if we all try.
Isabel
Right.
They all put their hands up and concentrate on breaking through the wall Max mimics their motion a white blast increases the power of the wall
and tosses everyone backwards. They all stumble, Max walks away.
Isabel
Oh god.
She is frightened.
Michael
Calm down. We’ll get in.
We have too.
CUT
We re-open on everyone sitting outside of the cave trying to figure out a way to get through to Max.
Isabel
Looking down with her hands in her lap.
There’s got to be a way.
Tess
What about Larick.
They all look at her.
Maybe he could tell us what’s wrong with Max.
Liz
You heard what he said the last time we contacted him.
He can’t prepare Brody’s body right; one more time could kill him.
She leans her head back against the cold rock of the cave.
Isabel
If we only knew what this was…
Tess
Liz, have you ever heard of anything like this in other creatures?
Liz
Looking at Tess
What do you mean?
Tess
Well, like animals or something.
Liz
She looks at the through the invisible wall at Max who is pacing back and forth.
There’s something kind of like it, it's called Distemperment.
Tess
What does it do to them, the animals I mean?
Liz
It kind of drives them insane; they start attacking for no reason, becoming irritable…
Tess
Well, how do they fix it?
Maria
Dryly.
They gas them.
Everyone falls silent.
Isabel
There has to be another way.
Michael
Yea, well there better be.
He gets up, everyone looks at him.
Maria
What are you doing?
Michael
He looks at them all in turn.
The only way to find out about this is through Larick.
Liz
Yea, but what if…
Michael
We have to take that chance.
Maria
Well, take my phone; I’ll call if we have any breakthroughs.
CUT
Isabel, Michael and Tess are walking into the museum that Brody owns.
Isabel
She stops walking.
Michael, I’m not so sure about this.
Michael
Turning to her.
Do you want to help Maxwell?
Isabel
Yes, but, I don’t want to hurt anybody else.
Tess
If we don’t do this we could lose him.
Isabel
I know I just…what right do we have to mess with Brody’s life?
Michael
We don’t have a choice. |