Max, Maria, Isabel, and Alex are watching the Congressional Hearing about the Secret Unit of the FBI. We'll skip the boring talk about Nasedo and Camdian X...Maria turns off the TV.

Maria:(standing up) All right the show,s over. I gotta change into my uniform. My shift's starting.

Everyone leaves except Max.

Maria:Girlfriend, (placing her hand on his shoulder) I know that we bonded over the summer, but I’m not quite ready to show you the bod just yet.

Max:(looking around to see if anyone else can hear him) No I was just wondering if you’d heard from Liz yet.

Maria:Not since you asked me an hour ago. No.

Max:I heard you on the phone with her.

Maria:Max, a little advice. The girl goes off to some aunt in Florida for the entire summer and barely says goodbye to you. In lay man’s terms, she blew you off big time. I mean, and look at you. Look, you’re like a groveling dog. (doing a little dog impersonation) Have you heard from Liz today? Did Liz call?(shaking her head) No that’s no good. Look, you've gotta play it cool, all right? Let her come to you.(she walks away)

Max:(doubtful) Let her come to me

Max:(looking at her skeptically) Wait, didn’t you just tell me that you left like 5messages for Michael in the past two days?

Maria:What’s your point?

1. From the conversation it is implied that Max and Maria spent a lot of time together “bonding” over the summer.

2. By the way Max was looking around to see if anyone would over hear him ask about Liz, it is obvious that he’s only comfortable talking to Maria about it. This would be evidence that Max is closest to Maria right now.

3. From their conversation it appears that they have talked a lot about Michael and Liz, sharing their heartache, and helping each other deal with it. They understand each other.

4. They tease each, other a sure sign that they are close and comfortable with each other.

5. Maria said she wasn’t ready to show him the bod JUST YET. Just yet, implying that maybe down the road she'll be ready and willing to show him the bod.

Maria is looking out the window, but turns around to talk to Liz who is looking at a file.

Maria:Hey, I think I know why Max and Tess were, you know, together last night. He was just playing bodyguard. He was walking her home in case the killer was following her.

Liz:(pushing by Maria) You know you don’t have to make excuses for him.

Liz sits at the desk.

Maria:Who’s making excuses? I’m just trying to help him. Help you. You know, help the situation.

Maria sits on top of the desk.

Liz:Did he send you here?

Maria:No.

Liz:He did, didn’t he?

Maria:Not this time. I mean, no, no of course not.

Liz:Maria, I thought that you were my friend.

Maria:(sighing) This is so unfair. I care about you both. I just want you guys to be happy, and together.

Liz:Maria, would you do me a favor? (Maria nods) Would you keep your big fat nose out of this?

Maria:Message received. Man!

Liz:Look I have a lot of work to do so just... (Liz points to the door)

Maria:Fine fine. You weren’t...you weren’t serious about the big fat nose...

Liz:(pointing to the door again)Good-bye.

Maria:Bye.

1.Maria says she’s just trying to help Max, and then adds help Liz, and the help the situation. It can almost be construed as an afterthought to mention helping Liz and the situation. At the very least, she thought about helping Max first.

2.Liz telling her that she thought Maria was her friend reveals that even Liz can see that Maria and Max have their own thing going on. Liz felt that Maria was pleading Max’s case, and putting his feelings above her own. A little jealousy maybe.

Max and Maria are sitting at a table outside.

Max:How did he know? How did Kennedy know to be tough with the Russians early but later to hang back and play it safe? Even after they shot down the U2.

Maria:I don’t know.

Max:I don’t either. That’s the problem. I’m supposed to be this this great leader, but I don’t know how to make these kinds of decisions. I don’t have that kind of insight.(pausing, he looks at Maria) How am I supposed to know what’s the right course of action.

Maria:Hmm. I have a thought. (hitting him with a book repeatedly. Max grabs the book from her) What are you talking about? Here you are giving me this history lesson, you haven’t even told me what the hell’s going on, Max.

Max:I know I’m sorry.I’m just trying to figure out how...

Maria:(hands on her forehead thinking) Yes yes you are trying to figure out how to be a leader. All right here’s a little insight. JFK he’s not so great. He cheated on his wife with tramps. Ohhhh...now there’s something you and Jack have in common you’re both involved with tramps.(resting her hand on her knuckles) How is Tess by the way?

Max:(confused) I’m not involved with Tess

Maria:Just taking midnights strolls with her?

Max:You saw us.

Maria:Yeah we saw you. As in Liz and I saw you together. (Max flinches, and lowers his head) It looked like a pretty romantic evening to me maybe a little patty cake on the front porch before you said goodnight

Max:(upset) No, it’s just...it’s a long story.

Maria:Well I certainly don’t want to hear a long story unless there’s a Kennedy involved.

Max:I love Liz.

Maria:I know you love Liz, Max. You’ve been telling me that the entire summer, but now that she’s back I’m the one who’s doing all the work here.

Max:(frustrated) What am I supposed to do?

Maria:I don’t know. Do something. Show her how you feel and please please do it now.(standing up)Look I’m sorry I know that you are dealing with this Roswell missile crisis or something. Just try and follow your heart. I mean isn’t that what the great leaders always do?

Maria walks away and Max thinks about what she said.

~Subtext~