BY KAL-EL

I'LL TAKE MANHATTEN
ACT 1

Rating: PG-13

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

It�s just that I expect to know how the people and things in my life are going to react to different stimuli. Like concrete variables that you know will always have the same reactions. So that you can predict and expect the same thing every time. Like a safety blanket.

Cut to the Crashdown Caf�. Liz brings Max his order, giving him a smile.

Her smile fades as she sees Maria exit the kitchen.

MAX: Liz?

Liz snapped out of her reverie, looking towards Max.

MAX: You ok?

Liz sighed.

LIZ: Not really Max. It�s�it�s Maria. She said some things.

MAX: Like what?

Liz looked around to make sure no one else was watching. Then, she took Max�s hand in hers.

LIZ: I want to try something.

FLASH

A quick jumble of images flashed through Max�s mind, showing Liz�s heated argument with Maria a few days earlier.

FLASH

Max looked at her, curiously.

MAX: (quietly) That was�it was easier this time.

Liz smiled.

LIZ: Yeah, the more I use my powers, the easier it gets. I�m starting to even sense your feelings without even touching you.

MAX: You don�t think that she meant any of those things she said about us, right?

Liz looked downwards, her eyes filled with doubt.

MAX: (muttering) Why am I asking you that. I know for a fact that you believe she meant it.

LIZ: I�m�I�m scared, you know. Me and Maria never had a fight that intense before. She believed everything she said.

MAX: Just because she believed it, doesn�t make it true.

Liz smiled at him.

LIZ: I know.

She kisses him on the forehead and goes back to her work.

The second she leaves, Kyle enters the Crashdown. He makes a beeline towards Max and sits down across from him.

MAX: Hey Kyle.

KYLE: He�s evil. Pure, unadulterated evil. I�ve got proof.

Max raised his eyebrows.

MAX: Who?

KYLE: My proverbial �roommate�.

Kyle made air quotes while saying �roommate�. This caused Max to chuckle.

MAX: I take it you and Alex had a disagreement.

KYLE: Half my paycheck spent on comic books, Evans. Half!

Max held back more chuckling.

KYLE: Hey, this isn�t funny. Look, I get that he has to occupy himself since he can�t exactly socialize. One of the problems with being presumed dead. But what�s wrong with TV? I watch TV. All he has to do is tell me what he wants, and I�ll set the VCR, no problem.

MAX: Well�

Kyle cuts him off.

KYLE: The worst thing about it is this whole invasion of privacy thing. Alex sees everything that I see. He hears everything that I head�even think. I can never have sex again, you realize that? The ick factor is just too grotesque.

MAX: Too much information, Kyle.

Max starts laughing again, but his attention is soon averted. A middle-aged, mustached African-American walks into the Crashdown. He is followed by two other men, as they head straight towards Liz.

MAN: Liz Parker?

Liz, who is talking to her father just then, turns towards him.

LIZ: Hello. Can I help you with�

MAN: Detective Roland, Elizabeth. Can I ask the whereabouts of Max Evans from you?

Max gets up, walking over to Detective Roland.

MAX: I�m right here.

JEFF: What seems to be the trouble, officer?

Roland looks at first Max, then back to Liz.

ROLAND: I have a warrant for your arrest. Both of you!

Liz�s eyes go wide, and her mouth hangs open.

MAX: What?

Furious, Jeff steps forward, as the other two slap handcuffs on both Max and Liz.

JEFF: On what charge?!

The detective turns towards him.

ROLAND: Murder, Mr. Parker. The murder of Merris Wheeler.

Liz gives Max a horrified look.

Meanwhile, back in the corner, Maria is watching the entire scene take place.

MARIA: Oh, this is going to be good.

You know, sometimes you just have no idea what to expect, do you?

Maria walks into the bathroom, and looks in the mirror. She adjusts her lipstick.

The face of Tess Harding stares back at her.

No idea at all�