BY KAL-EL

DOUBLES
ACT 1

Rating: PG-13

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

Cut to New York City. Liz is standing by the window of her hotel room, looking out at the rain-filled night sky.

I�d like to tell you a story.

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there lived a beautiful princess. She had everything her heart desired. It was promised her that, one day, she would marry the handsome prince, thereby becoming queen of the entire land. But one day, tragedy struck. The enemy attacked the royal palace, forever separating the princess from her prince.

Her heart was broken.

The princess traveled the land, until a miracle occurred. Her price was alive, hidden in an unexplored far-away place. A place filled with dangerous creatures, who destroyed all they touched. These savages disgusted the princess, but her love cared for them. He treated the monsters with kindness, attempting to learn their ways and live among them.

This infuriated the princess to no end. To think, her handsome prince cared for those creatures more than his own people. Still, she loved him, and wished to stand by him�whatever he wanted. Hopefully, soon, he would return with her to their kingdom, where they would rule together and never have to worry about the savages again.

Yet, one of the creatures was crafty. The females always were. She wanted to keep the prince for her own. She used tricks to cause him to grow more and more fond of her and her tribe each day. The longer he stayed, the more the prince fell under her spell�slowly becoming part of her tribe.

Once the princess saw what she was doing, she lashed out in anger. She slew one of the she-devil�s brethren�a fatal mistake. For the prince had adopted the savage woman�s tribe as his own, and now cared for the monsters more than for his own kind. Heartlessly, he banished the broken-hearted princess from the land. Once again, her heart was broken.

However, this time she made a vow. That she would make that creature pay for stealing her beloved away. Even if she had to save him�by killing him as well.

My name is Tess Harding�and I am that princess!

Suddenly, Max appears behind her.

MAX: Liz?

Liz turns and smiles at him.

LIZ: Hey Max. I didn�t hear you come in.

MAX: I tiptoe.

He smiles in return.

MAX: So, how did things go with Maria?

LIZ: Oh, you know her. She�s just being Maria.

Max chuckled.

MAX: I wish I had as much luck talking to Michael. I swear, sometimes I think he goes looking for trouble.

LIZ: Well, she told me she was going to go look for him.

Max looks at her, concerned.

MAX: Are you sure that�s such a good idea? What if she runs into Zan?

LIZ: Don�t worry about it. Michael will take care of her.

Max looks at her doubtfully.

MAX: Are you ok? You seem�different.

LIZ: I hope you mean that in a good way. Relax Max�I�m fine.

She turns back towards the window and smiles.

Her eyes glow, blocked from Max�s view.

LIZ: Just fine�

Max leaves the room, and we see Liz�s point of view.

Her reflection in the window is Tess.