Alex substitutes his own blood for Max's in a hospital, leading to questions and FBI scrutiny.
(original air date: November 24, 1999)
| Quotable Moments |
Maria: Relax. God, you guys act like I've never tailed someone before.Isabel: So he'll never notice us going backwards. |
Maria: This is the second time you have dragged me into some cheap motel.
Michael: Yeah, well don't spread it around. You'll ruin my reputation. |
Topolsky (to Alex): I used to peel the marshmallow off so that I couldget straight to the cupcake inside. |
Teleplay by Barry Pullman
Written by Breen Frazier and Barry Pullman
Directed by David Nutter
ADDITIONAL CREDITS
Julie Benz -- Ms. Topolsky
Mary Ellen Trainor -- Mrs. Evans
Jonathan Nichols -- The Doctor
WHAT HAPPENED
Wanting to spend some normal time with
takes advantage of a teacher's absence and takes her out for a drive along a scenic highway.
The two share their love of a song on the radio, and Liz comments to herself that they are sharing a "perfect moment." They exchange meaningful looks.
Fate intervenes as a wild horse runs into the road. Max swerves to avoid it, landing the Jeep in a ditch.
Liz is OK, but Max's head remains against the Jeep's steering wheel. He's out cold . . . (more
is thrust into the middle of the secrecy problem.
While it is breaking Liz's heart to keep him unaware of the truth, she cannot break her promises to Max and the others.
The scope of her request, though, is daunting -- Liz asks much and offers Alex little in return. Friends tell friends why they are donating blood on the sly.
But what is striking is the way that relationships work in this loosely formed circle.
Liz trusts Maria implicitly. Liz will do anything that Max asks her. Max trusts the other aliens implicitly. He will sometimes do what Liz wants him to do.
This says nothing about the others, though.
continue bumping up against each other -- is it lack of trust? Lack of commitment? Or simply not enough of a relationship to rely on each other?
Topolsky's swan song
This appears to be the end of Agent Topolsky's involvement. After being exposed to the Sheriff and the teens, she can no longer function as an effective undercover operative.
Before she leaves, though, Topolsky introduces some questions. Is this conflict really only two-sided, as Liz would have us think? Are there deeper shades of gray or black? What other forces will the FBI send in?
Topolsky also opens up the question of friendship for Alex. She plants the seeds of questions: can he trust his so-called friends?
While Alex helps Liz on two occasions here, she doesn't reveal her secrets to him. Topolsky threatens to drive a split between Alex and Liz, but perhaps it's her intervention that ultimately allows the others to see Alex as an insider.
If Alex continues to be a valuable ally and can keep from revealing the aliens' secrets, the agent may have ultimately helped them more than harmed them.
WHAT WE LEARN
The aliens do not get sick.
Both Maria and Liz carry cell phones.
DANGLING PLOT THREADS
Who will replace Topolsky? Will they be as bad as she suggests?
Alex eventually gets brought into the secret, but he has more trouble keeping it than Liz and Maria do. Will getting him involved blow the aliens' cover?
REALITY (OR ROSWELL) CHECK
Nothing is said about the fact that Liz and Max get into an accident while they should be in school.
Should Alex be able to break FBI encryption and add a new password so quickly?
TUNE IN NEXT WEEK
Michael seeks out the wise River Dog on the Mescalero Reservation in a rerun of "The Balance."
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