BY KAL-EL

ROLE REVERSAL
ACT 5

Rating: PG-13

Spoilers: Everything up until the end of 'Chant Down Babylon'.

When Liz opened her eyes, she immediately noticed things were different.

The yellowish-brown walls of Michael�s apartment had been replaced by cold, gray metal walls. Lights flashed on the walls, and she could hear clanging as footsteps ran down the halls.

Amazed by what had happened, she walked down the hallway, testing her theory.

LIZ: Let�s see�

She reached out to touch the wall�and saw her hand pass right through it.

Then jumped right through it.

Cut to another hallway. Liz jumped out of the wall, into another corridor.

LIZ: I�m intangible. I must be�I�m just mental energy right now. My senses work, but I can�t directly interact with what�s around me. My body�s still at Michael�s.

She continued wandering down the hall, poking her head through each one of the locked doors, peering inside.

Max put his hand in front of his, as a green flash filled the room, knocking the guards back a few feet.

Surprised himself, Max took off towards the stairwell.

NICHOLAS: SHOOT HIM!

The guards complied. Luckily, Max was already on his way down. The bullets narrowly missing him by inches.

NICHOLAS: Go after him. Shoot on site. I�m going to check out security and see if his friends are here.

Nicholas stormed off, as the guards went down the stairs after Max.

Michael heard footsteps coming down the stairwell. He put up his hand, preparing to use his power.

Then, he saw who it was.

MICHAEL: Max?

Max, out of breath, ran over to him.

MAX: Michael�guards�

Understanding, Michael focused his power above the doorway. With a white-hot flash, the metal came loose and collapsed, blocking the door.

Then they started running down the hall.

MICHAEL: We got problems, Maxwell.

MAX: He knows us.

Michael looks at him, confused.

MICHAEL: Who does?

MAX: Someone at MetaChem. He doesn�t just know who we are, he knows us personally. I didn�t recognize him.

MICHAEL: I heard some of the eggheads say that the �new boss� might be an alien. K�Var?

MAX: He didn�t say.

Michael tossed him the floppy disk from earlier.

MICHAEL: Here. You�re going to want to see this.

Liz had arrived at the penthouse, hearing a voice coming from the main office.

She phased through the door, seeing Nicholas staring at a group of computer screens.

NICHOLAS: Where are they?

On the screen, he sees Max and Michael walk into a storage room.

Smiling, Nicholas hits a button on the intercom.

NICHOLAS: They�re in storage area D. Kill them!

LIZ: NO!

Liz attempted to cover her mouth, realizing that she just let him know she was there.

NICHOLAS: Who?

Nicholas turned around and saw her there.

He grinned.

NICHOLAS: Hello.

Cut to the storage room. Max and Michael walk in, looking around.

Suddenly, they see something in the corner, labeled �high security�. It looks like a safety deposit box of some kind.

MICHAEL: Hold it! What would that be doing in a broom closet?

Michael walks up to the box and uses his power on it. It glows for a moment, before a hole melts into it.

Max reaches inside and pulls out a manila envelope. On it is the label �crash: 1947�.

MICHAEL: Open it!

Max doesn�t listen. He just turns to face Michael.

MAX: We have to get out of here. Where�s the quickest exit?

MICHAEL: I destroyed all the evidence. They can�t�

Max looked at him angrily.

MAX: That doesn�t make it any better, Michael. What were you thinking? Coming back here?

MICHAEL: I was thinking maybe I�d prefer actually doing something instead of sitting around Valenti�s waiting for one of these guys to come after us. Forgive me for wanting to fight back, Max�

MAX: (yelling)How?! By going off alone? By risking all our lives on some misguided vengeance scheme? BY THREATENING LIZ?

MICHAEL: I think sending me through a window means she can protect herself.

Michael�s attitude just makes Max angrier.

MAX: If you EVER so much as lay a hand on her again, I will take you down myself! Powers or no powers.

Michael is taken aback by the last comment.

MICHAEL: What do you mean �no powers�?

Cut back to the penthouse. Nicholas slowly walked towards Liz, as she stood her ground.

NICHOLAS: Liz, right? Liz�Porter?

LIZ: Parker.

NICHOLAS: Ah�Parker. I don�t think we�ve ever been properly introduced. The name�s Nicholas.

LIZ: That�s impossible. Nicholas couldn�t have been over twelve. The skin suits couldn�t grow older.

NICHOLAS: Now, at what point did I ever say I was a skin?

LIZ: You�re not, are you? That explains why Tess didn�t kill you with the others. You�re something else, aren�t you. A shape shifter of some kind?

NICHOLAS: Not exactly, but close enough. I have to say, I am impressed. You�re the first.

LIZ: The first what?

NICHOLAS: The first warrior. Do you remember what Nasedo said about Max�s powers?

LIZ: I know what you�re getting at. This is something to do with my alien powers, right?

Nicholas begins to laugh.

NICHOLAS: There�s nothing �alien� about you, Ms. Parker. You are one hundred percent human. Just a little more advanced than others. The next step in your evolution. You�re the first, and definitely not the last.

LIZ: Those kids in Phoenix�

NICHOLAS: Just the beginning. Did you ever stop to wonder why we sent the royal family here, of every planet in the galaxy? As backwards as you humans might be, you have the potential to become the most powerful race in the cosmos.

LIZ: More powerful than Antarians, you mean? Your real bodies couldn�t even compete with ours on a genetic scale. That�s why you keep possessing people whenever you come here, right?

NICHOLAS: Smart, aren�t you? I have to wonder how many times Max survived because he had you coaching him?

Liz doesn�t answer, she just backs away.

NICHOLAS: Humans are unpredictable. However, given the right price, some will sell their souls.

LIZ: What are you going to do?

NICHOLAS: Well, here�s the thing. You won�t be able to do any more �coaching� now. I can�t wait to see the look on Max�s face when his girl�s a vegetable.

With incredible speed, Nicholas reaches his fingers towards Liz�s skull. Liz, forgetting for a moment she�s intangible, looks on in horror.

Then, Nicholas� jaw drops as his fingers go into Liz�s head.

NICHOLAS: What�?

Liz grins.

LIZ: You called me a �warrior�, remember?

Liz closed her eyes, beginning to concentrate�

�until her eyes glowed a bright green�

�and a current of energy shot through Nicholas, pushing him back.

LIZ: Ever since I found out about Max, I�ve been scared�

She focused the energy through her hand now.

LIZ: People like Pierce, and like you, trying to hurt Max�to kill him�and me, just because I wanted to be with him. People like Tess telling us we can�t be together� Well, this is where I stop running!

The blast becomes so intense that it knocks Nicholas out.

Momentarily surprised at what she�s done, Liz takes off running. She had to get to Max and Michael.

Cut back to the store room�

MICHAEL: So, that�s it then? You�re human?

Max took a deep breath.

MAX: Yeah, I am.

MICHAEL: And your powers�

MAX: Like I�m getting them for the first time.

MICHAEL: If you�re not like me anymore, then who the hell do you think you are bossing me around? You�re not even �Max� anymore. Just his ghost.

Max was hurt by that, but he hid it.

MAX: I am one of you, Michael. So is Liz, and Kyle, and�

MICHAEL: Don�t say it�!

MAX: And Maria is too. This isn�t about �aliens� and �humans� anymore, Michael. Don�t you see that. It�s about us. All of us. We are in this together.

MICHAEL: Do not mention that name to me. Not now�

MAX: Maria. Maria. Maria�

Michael put up his hand, creating a force blast that sent Max flying to the ground.

Max picks himself off the ground, and grabs Michael by the wrists. Green energy begins to crackle around his hands.

Max punches him, then they struggle�

�until a blast of invisible force separates the two of them.

LIZ: Stop it! Both of you! Leave it until you get out of here.

They look up to see Liz standing there.

MAX: Liz?

MICHAEL: How did you?

Max runs up to her, but passes right through her.

MAX: What? How did?

LIZ: I�m astral projecting myself.

MAX: But�I felt something when I passed through you. Something�

LIZ: I don�t know. For some reason, I can still access my powers when I�m like this. Only they�re increased. A lot. There�s an exit past the left corridor.

All three begin running.

Cut back to Michael�s bedroom. Kyle watches Liz, worriedly, as she begins sweating. As if she�s struggling or something.

KYLE: Hold on there�

Cut to MetaChem. Max and Michael, followed by Liz, see an exit a few feet away.

MICHAEL: We�re home free.

But he doesn�t see a guard appear in the corridor, behind him, arming a gun.

Everything begins moving in slow motion, as the guard fires. Max turns and sees it�

MAX: Michael�NO!

Instinctively, Max reaches his hand out towards Michael�as a green shield forms around all three of them. The bullets deflect, until the guard�s weapon is empty.

Max stares in shock.

MAX: They�re back�they�re back�

Michael grabs him by the arm.

MICHAEL: Come on!

They race out the door, escaping into the night.

Back in Michael�s apartment, Liz slowly opens her eyes.

KYLE: Well?

LIZ: (quietly)They�re ok.

Kyle grins, as Liz sighs in relief.

Cut to the license bureau. Valenti sits at a table with an unidentified man.

MAN: You�re lucky that the right people gave the recommendation for you, Jim. Considering how you lost your previous job in the sheriff�s office, you�re very lucky.

VALENTI: Well�

MAN: Just sign here�

He slid Valenti a piece of paper, which he quickly signed.

On it were the words �this license permits Mr. James Valenti to operate as a private investigator within the state of New Mexico�

Cut to Michael�s apartment. Max puts the envelope they had found at MetaChem on the table, next to the disk.

Sitting around the table were Max, Liz, Michael, Isabel, Kyle, Jessie, and Valenti�all waiting for someone to speak.

LIZ: It was Nicholas. I know, I didn�t believe it either. He�s older�and he changed himself under his own power.

ISABEL: So he�s a shape shifter?

Liz shook her head.

LIZ: No�something else. Something more powerful. I wouldn�t have been able to even fight him if I hadn�t been there in astral form. My best guess is that, since I was just mental energy, it increased my powers. Sort of like how a blind person�s other senses are enhanced.

Michael opened up the envelope, and pulled something out. It was two sheets of copper. On them were holes in the sides, like on line paper. In the center of each one was an alien symbol.

The same one that was on the destiny book.

KYLE: Now that�s interesting�

Max turned towards Kyle, then Michael handed the �pages� to him.

MAX: See what you can find out.

Kyle took them, and headed over to his bag, by the couch. Meanwhile, Max took the computer disk.

MAX: Let�s just see what this is.

Max opens up a laptop on the table, and inserts the disk in the drive. Meanwhile, Michael pulls Liz to the side.

MICHAEL: Hey, can I talk to you for a second?

LIZ: Is there something wrong?

Michael took a deep breath.

MICHAEL: Yeah�yeah there is. And it�s me.

Liz looked at him, confused.

MICHAEL: About before�I was messed up. Thinking Max was dead, it scared me. It really scared me. It just reminded me exactly what I was, and how much danger I�m in all the time. When I had Maria�it seemed worth it. Now, I don�t know�it�s like I don�t have anybody. Just me. And I hate that. So, if I took it out on you, I�m�I�m sorry.

Liz smiled.

MICHAEL: So�you really kicked Nicholas� butt, huh?

LIZ: Of course.

MICHAEL: Wow! Beaten up by a girl�that guy�ll never, ever live that down.

Over at the table, Isabel gave Michael a dirty look

MICHAEL: I�m just saying�.

MAX: Liz�you�d better come see this�

Liz, followed by Michael, walked over to Max�s computer, looking at the screen.

Liz�s eyes went wide as she saw what was on screen.

LIZ: That�s DNA sequencing.

ISABEL: Which means�?

LIZ: It�s�they�re genetically engineering people. Restructuring them.

MAX: It�s like what they do to chickens to make sure they grow bigger. The only difference is that, according to this, MetaChem is planning to do that to people. To change them.

VALENTI: Into what?

Max points to the screen.

MAX: Look at that�it�s cross-referencing Michael�to Liz�to their test-subject. An alien�

LIZ: �to a human with alien powers�

MICHAEL: To a human. That�s what they�re doing, isn�t it? They want to recreate what happened to Liz when you healed her scientifically, right?

ISABEL: (whispering)Oh my god�

Max turns to face them all.

MAX: Think of it this way. Imagine a soldier with our powers, but not our ethics or self-control. A living, breathing weapon.

JESSIE: Why stop there? Why not an entire army.

VALENTI: This is not good.

MICHAEL: I destroyed my blood sample. They can�t do it anymore, right. And they�d need Liz.

Max sighs.

MAX: Yeah, they can�t go through with it now. But Nicholas is in control now. They will come after us.

At that moment, Kyle comes running back in the room.

KYLE: Guys�you gotta see this�

They all walk up to him.

LIZ: What is it?

Kyle puts the destiny book on the table and opens it. Then he takes out the two copper pages.

He attaches the pages to the bindings in the book. Suddenly, the entire book begins to glow.

The new pages start to flow like liquid metal, reforming patterns and symbols and pictures onto it.

Liz noticed something�it was turned to the page with the faces of Max, Tess, Michael, and Isabel. The new page suddenly stopped forming�

�leaving four new faces on the opposite side. One of which looked very familiar.

LIZ: It�s�ME???

Kyle points to the three remaining faces.

KYLE: Yeah, and me�and Maria�and Alex Whitman.

MICHAEL: I�m lost here. What are you doing in the destiny book? You�re human. Well, you used to be.

Isabel takes a deep breath.

ISABEL: Alex is dead�why is he�?

KYLE: If I knew that, I�d tell you. All I know is this looks like Nasedo and Tess played us for chumps. Look�

He points to Max�s face, then to Liz�s. They are both on the same position of their respective pages. He then does the same to Michael and Maria�s faces.

KYLE: This whole thing makes sense now. Max is across from Liz, Michael is across from Maria, and Alex is�

MAX: Tess saw this. She knew!

KYLE: Four aliens�four humans. I don�t think this whole �giving me and Liz powers� thing was an accident, Max. I think it was supposed to happen.

Max turns over the page, looking at a whole list of symbols.

KYLE: I�ll need some more time to translate it. But I�ve identified two symbols so far.

Kyle reaches over and points at two symbols.

KYLE: Human�and death.

Liz reaches over and grabs Max�s hand.

KYLE: One of us is going to die.

They all look at each other in silence, as the camera pans up.

Fade To Black

End Credits