THE OUTCASTS
1x12 | "Fire and Ice"WRITTEN BY Aimee Nicole Maddie Funderburg
Monica Ann
Based on characters from MARVEL COMICS.
CREATED BY Aimee Nicole EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Maddie Funderburg PRODUCED BY TheVPN (http://www.vpntv.net)
COPYRIGHT© 2011 VIRTUAL PRODUCTIONS, INC.
This script is the property of the Virtual Productions Network. No portion of this script may be performed, reproduced or used by any means, or disclosed to, quoted or published in any
“FIRE AND ICE”
MAIN CAST
MELANIE HAELSTROM / SPIDER-GIRL...MISSY PEREGRYM KRISTEN SPARKS / CYCLOPS...JESSICA BIEL JEAN GREY / MARVEL GIRL...FAMKE JANSSEN KITTY PRYDE / SHADOWCAT...EMMA ROBERTS
KARIN WAGNER / NIGHTCRAWLER...MICHELLE TRACHTENBERG BOBBY DRAKE / ICEMAN...SHAWN ASHMORE
ORORO MUNROE / STORM...HALLE BERRY CHARLES XAVIER...PATRICK STEWART MARY-JANE WATSON...KIRSTEN DUNST
GWEN STACY...BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD
REOCCURRING CAST
JONNIE STORM / SUPERNOVA...OLIVIA WILDE “GRANDMA” MAY HAELSTROM...ROSEMARRY HARRIS
SPECIAL GUEST STARS
JIANG-LI TSAO / PYRO...JADYN WONG
WILLIAM DRAKE...ALFRED E. HUMPHREYS RONNIE DRAKE...JAMES KIRK
SENATOR ROBERT KELLY...BRUCE DAVISON CAPTAIN GEORGE STACY...JAMES CROMWELL DETECTIVE JEANNE DEWOLFE...ANGIE HARMON TANDY BOWEN...TAYLOR MOMSEN LIZ ALLEN...VICTORIA JUSTICE J. JONAH JAMESON...J.K. SIMMONS
TEASER FADE IN:
INT. XAVIER INSTITUTE - DANGER ROOM - DAY
We come in facing the giant “X”-door and we’re focused on it for several seconds before the light in the center of the “X” glows a bright blue and it OPENS to reveal -- CYCLOPS.
CYCLOPS
X-Men, all eyes up here. The professor and I
jShe stops in her tracks. Her hands form fists and we
--PAN AROUND to show that the entire floor of the DANGER ROOM has been iced over and ICEMAN, MARVEL GIRL, SHADOWCAT and
NIGHTCRAWLER are hard at work -- ice-skating.
BACK ON Cyclops, her jaw clenches. CYCLOPS (CONT’D)
You have ten seconds to explain what the hell is going on in here. BACK ON the X-MEN, Marvel Girl grins.
MARVEL GIRL Just having a bit of fun.
Iceman slides to a stop and puts his hands on his hips as he mirrors her expression. He puffs his chest out.
ICEMAN
Yeah! It was all my idea. I figured we’d all enjoy a giant ice-skating rink.
(beat, to the others) Am I right, or am I right?
PAN OUT to watch them all as Cyclops puts her hands on her hips and looks straight at him.
CYCLOPS
It’s going to take Cerebro three
hours just to thaw and vaporize
this.
(beat)
That’s three hours we could be using towards something productive.
ICEMAN
C’mon Cyke, it’s not that bad. We need a break every now and then.
CYCLOPS
We don’t have time for breaks. ICEMAN
We do fine out on the field, so yes Captain Lame-o, we do have time for breaks.
Cyclops tightens one fist and presses it into her side. She stays calm.
CYCLOPS
“Fine”, Iceman? A man died last week because we didn’t act fast enough. That seems more like a failure, personally.
(beat)
We do a mildly acceptable job when we’re on the field, and it’s
because of the training we do in
here.
He crosses his arms over his chest and leans his upper body back slightly. He’s not taking her seriously.
ICEMAN
What’s pushing us going to do? I’ll tell you what it’s going to do. It’s going to make us not wanna do this anymore.
(beat)
We just wanna have fun every once in a while.
CYCLOPS
There is a time for fun, and there is a time for training. You need to learn to take this seriously,
Iceman.
ICEMAN
Yeah? Well you need to learn to lighten up. No one likes a stick in the mud.
CYCLOPS
Lighten up? Someone here has to realize what’s at stake.
Iceman narrows his eyes and strides up to her, the two standing inches apart. He gets in her face and
--ICEMAN
You’re just a hard ass. A hard ass on a power trip.
Marvel Girl steps between Shadowcat and Nightcrawler to move to Cyclops’ side.
MARVEL GIRL
Oh come on, Ice Pop, cool it. You know she has a point.
ICEMAN
Stay out of it. You’re only coming to her side because you’ve got her on a pedestal.
CYCLOPS
When are you going to grow up, Bobby? This is real, it’s not a game.
He throws his hands in the air, officially blowing her off. ICEMAN
I’m done with this. I’m done with it and I’m done with you.
(beat)
I’m outta here.
He PUSHES passed Cyclops and throws a peace sign into the air as he exits the Danger Room. Shadowcat GLARES at the leader of the X-Men.
SHADOWCAT
What do you want from us, Kristen? We’re teenagers, not soldiers. Nice going.
She follows after her boyfriend and Nightcrawler starts to follow. She stops to turn and look at Cyclops.
NIGHTCRAWLER
Zey are right. You shouldn’t take every’zing so seriously. Ve are still kids. X-Men or not.
She exits as well and the room falls silent. Cyclops fumes quietly while Marvel Girl looks between her teammate and the reflective metal floor.
--CYCLOPS Just say it, Jean.
MARVEL GIRL Say what?
CYCLOPS
That you think they’re right and I’m just a power-tripping hard ass.
MARVEL GIRL
You said it Krissie, not me.
Cyclops starts walking away from her, towards us. Without looking back
--CYCLOPS
Thanks for having my back anyway.
As she disappears from our view and the WHOOSH of the door is heard, we FOCUS ON Marvel Girl.
As she lets out a disappointed sigh, we
--FADE OUT:
ACT ONE FADE IN:
EXT. MANHATTAN SKYLINE (ESTABLISHING) - DAY
We come in on a WIDESHOT of the city of MANHATTAN. We PAN AROUND it in a slow semi-circle to fully take in the
beautiful skyline, the sunlight reflecting off the windows of the numerous buildings.
PUSH IN through the buildings, and we DRIFT DOWN towards the streets until finally
--CUT TO:
INT. 300 NY BOWLING LOUNGE - ARCADE (CONTINUOUS)
We face the backside of a blonde male as he leans over a large gaming platform that emits several electronic tones of all pitches. His hands are wrapped tightly around the twin joysticks and he is moving them rapidly. Every so often his left hand leaves the stick and mashes several of the bright, yellow buttons on the surface in front of him.
PAN AROUND him to face him and we recognize him as BOBBY
DRAKE.
BOBBY (mocking)
Grow up, Bobby. Stop playing around, Bobby. Take it serious, Bobby.
A triumphant string of tones plays from the machine and he leans away from it to throw his hands in the air.
BOBBY (CONT’D)
King Drake wins again! Take that, Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde!
He basks in his victory for only a moment or two when
--SCREAMS come from outside of the building and on his wide
eyes and the sound of gunshots, we
EXT. MANHATTAN STEETS
A group of THUGS (Thug #1, #2, #3) stand peppered across the street with their guns firing away as citizens scatter away from the bullets with their hands over their ears and their heads ducked down.
PAN RIGHT to find that the Thugs’ target is none other than --The FANTASTIC FIVE’S SUPERNOVA, fully engulfed in flames.
SUPERNOVA Boys, boys, boys.
(she smirks)
It’s gonna take a lot more than lead to hurt this hot plasma masterpiece.
We PULL FOCUS to see all of them as she extends her hand and with a snap of her fingers
--THUG #1 shouts in pain and drop his gun to the ground. He blows on his hands repeatedly and glares at her.
THUG #2
I told both of you dipshits this was a bad idea!
THUG #3
We didn’t know she was gonna show up!
Both of the Thugs’ eyes widen as their guns begin to frost over. The ice begins to spread onto their hands, their arms -- They DROP their weapons to the ground and we
--SWISH PAN LEFT to reveal BOBBY, iced-up but still in his civvies.
THUG #1
Who the hell is this kid?! The mutant flexes arrogantly.
BOBBY
The sensational Iceman, that’s who! THUG #2
...Who?
SUPERNOVA
My new partner, that’s who. Can’t you see we belong together?
The two vigilantes exchange grins. BOBBY.
We’re awesome.
SUPERNOVA Totally.
Thug #3 reaches behind his back and pulls a switchblade from his pocket. He brandishes it at BOBBY. The mutant simply stares at him.
BOBBY Um?
Thug #2 GRABS the younger male from behind and locks his arms around his torso. #3 moves forward quickly and jabs the blade into the side of his neck
--But is HALTED by the SOLID ICE. Thin CRACKS spread around the impact point like cracks in a windshield -- but its the only damage besides a small CHIP in his form.
Supernova’s eyes widen in mock horror. Bobby mirrors the same expression.
SUPERNOVA Oh no they didn’t.
BOBBY Did they just...
SUPERNOVA
They so just chipped your flawless physique.
BOBBY It is so on.
Bobby throws his arms out, BREAKING #2’s hold on him before he KICKS #3 out of arm’s reach. He spins on his heel and PUNCHES #2 in the jaw. The impact sends him stumbling
straight into Thug #1. All three of them fall to the ground. Supernova grins, impressed.
SUPERNOVA (playful)
Well, well. Not bad.
Bobby defrosts himself to his normal form and the two vigilantes high-five one another.
Thug #1’s eyes widen suddenly as he takes in Bobby’s appearance. THUG #1 B-Bobby Drake?! Bobby cringes. BOBBY
And that’s why they tell me not to de-ice in public.
Bobby and Supernova both turn to look at the trio. Supernova cocks an eyebrow and crosses her arms.
Each of them scramble to their feet, looking defensive. THUG #2
We’re s-sorry Mr. Drake! We had no idea it was you!
BOBBY
Please, Mr. Drake was my fa-- oh.
As the three criminals scamper away from the duo, Supernova looks to her new partner. He sucks both lips into his mouth and bites down on them, then sideglances at her.
On her questioning look, we
--CUT TO:
INT. XAVIER INSTITUTE - REC ROOM - DAY
We come in on a large TV SCREEN displaying some strategic military-based video game. We watch as several things light up and move around the screen, until we
--PAN AROUND to find KRISTEN SPARKS sitting on the edge of the couch with the PLAYSTATION 3 CONTROLLER held tightly in her hands. Her eyebrows are knitted together in concentration and her fingers work the buttons like an expert.
She leans up and places one elbow on her knee as she cups her chin in her hand. She leans closer to the TV, then we
--PAN RIGHT as JEAN GREY enters the room quietly. The door shuts silently behind her with no apparent assistance as the redhead loosely crosses her arms over her chest. Her eyebrows raise just slightly, a small smile tugging the corners of her lips upward.
We FOLLOW her as she slowly makes her way to the couch. She takes a seat next to the brunette -- startling her out of her thoughts, caught off guard.
KRISTEN Jean?
Kristen puts the controller down and grabs the REMOTE from the table next to the couch. She switches it back to cable, and finally looks to her teammate.
JEAN
No, no, don’t stop playing just on my account.
KRISTEN
I was almost done anyway. Do you need something?
Jean is taken aback. JEAN
No. Did I need something to come sit with you?
KRISTEN
Well, no. I just didn’t consider that scenario after what happened earlier.
JEAN
What happened earlier was a 17-year-old girl trying to train a group of kids as if she were a colonel in the Marines.
KRISTEN
A group of kids that clearly aren’t ready for the responsibilities
they’ve been given. JEAN
Given? You think you were given this ability?
KRISTEN
That’s not what I meant, Jean. The Professor expects certain things out of us, that was clear when we got the latex and codenames. Our responsibility is to honor his wishes, even if it’s not fun, even if it’s not what we want to do at the time.
Even when it’s stressful, when it gets too much, and when it’s
dangerous. (beat)
He counts on us, Jean, and I’m not willingly to let him down. Even if the rest of you resent me for it.
JEAN (with a nod) I know.
Kristen’s jaw sets tightly. KRISTEN
I’m sick of feeling like we’re the only ones that take this seriously.
JEAN (lightly)
Maybe...maybe Bobby is sick of feeling like he’s the only one trying to still be a teenager.
The brunette tightens both of her hands into fists. KRISTEN
You don’t think I want that? The telepath smiles slightly.
JEAN
I know, but I think you’re so focused on being Cyclops that you forget about Kristen.
As Kristen considers her words, we FOCUS on the television screen again. Across the bottom of it is a red strip that reads: “GANG CRIME SPREE THREATENING MIDTOWN SAFETY”.
BACK ON Kristen, her face twists in concern and she turns the volume up. Jean leans forward on the edge of the couch and the two watch intently as
--TV REPORTER (on screen)
Gang violence has been on the rise the last few weeks, threatening the safety of residents in Midtown and spreading beyond.
(beat)
Police say that a recent turf war is the cause of the sudden surge in violence.
KRISTEN (CONT'D)
Officials are putting a curfew in place for Brooklyn, Midtown, and Queens. The list is expected to grow within the next few hours.
(beat)
No one is allowed on the streets between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM except for law enforcement officers and city maintenance crews. Stay tuned for developments and breaking news as it happens.
The TV sound becomes background noise as our FOCUS once again turns to the two mutants. They look at one another.
KRISTEN Assemble the X-Men.
(beat)
I’ve got a plan. On Jean’s nod, we
--CUT TO:
EXT. WATSON RESIDENCE - FOREST HILLS, QUEENS - DAY
We come in as the front door of the Watson house SLAMS shut.
MARY-JANE WATSON storms down the steps with her arms hugged
protectively over her chest. She looks upset, mad even. Her facial features shift slightly as she fights back tears. A male SHOUTING can be heard within the house.
The sound of a CAR ENGINE approaching distracts us and we follow Mary-Jane’s gaze to find
--TANDY BOWEN as she pulls up to the driveway in a white
CORVETTE, top down. She motions out to the redhead. TANDY
Hey you! Get in here! We got places to be and people to make jealous!
BACK ON: Mary-Jane. Her face brightens and without so much as a look over her shoulder, she quickly moves to the vehicle. She takes the passenger seat and the two exchange looks.
TANDY (CONT’D)
We’ve got a dance to plan, and then after that we’re gonna go back to my place.
(with a grin)
TV REPORTER (CONT'D)
A special someone got a tip from a friend of yours that you’ve been hanging around with me. She wants to meet us at my apartment tonight, if you’re up for it.
On Mary-Jane’s curious but excited expression, we
--CUT TO:
INT. JONNIE STORM’S APARTMENT
We come in on the view of downtown Manhattan as seen from a large, several-stories-high window. We stay focused on it, even as
--BOBBY (O.S.)
You know what blows? My team is a bunch of jerks, too.
CUT TO the couch a few feet in front of the window where BOBBY is slouched in the cushions with his arms draped over the back and SUPERNOVA sits on the opposite end with one leg outstretched and the other hugged to her chest.
SUPERNOVA
I blame aging. They get older and grouchier and take it out on the ones they’re jealous of. Which, clearly
--She motions between the two of them with one hand. Bobby grins.
BOBBY
I can’t really say that for the X-Men though. It’s like boot camp, and Kristen is the drill sergeant.
(mocking) No fun allowed.
SUPERNOVA
I say we quit and join the Avengers.
Bobby straightens himself up and turns his head to his new companion.
BOBBY We can do that?
SUPERNOVA
Why not? How hard can it be?
BOBBY
What if there is like, a superhero proficiency test?
Supernova rolls her eyes and scoffs arrogantly. SUPERNOVA
I’ve slept with the chairman. BOBBY You -- really? SUPERNOVA (grinning) Jealous? BOBBY (sarcastic)
Totally. I’ve always wanted to jump in bed with a big metal dude.
SUPERNOVA
Not sure how he’d feel about a strapping hunk of ice like you, either.
(beat)
I’ll do the persuading. You just stand there and look pretty.
Bobby smirks and runs his fingers through his hair. BOBBY
Easy. This handsome mutant marvel is the king of pretty.
SUPERNOVA
I think you need to hang in the big city for a while. We’ll show those oldies how it’s done.
Bobby puffs up his cheeks and then blows the air out slowly. BOBBY
I can’t exactly afford a place out here.
Supernova cocks an eyebrow and grins. SUPERNOVA
Well, pretty boy, you happen to be lucky enough to know someone who has a spare room or two.
BAM
--SWISH PAN LEFT to the front door of the apartment that has been KICKED off its hinges and lays flat on the ground. Standing in the doorway is an Asian woman decked in all black, save for the dark orange beanie and matching SAFETY GLASSES on her face. A smirk is on her face. She is PYRO (Jiang-Li Tsao).
BACK ON Supernova and Bobby, the two stand on the offensive. SUPERNOVA (CONT’D)
That awkward moment when Halloween busts down your door.
BOBBY That was a good one.
SUPERNOVA I know.
Pyro silently walks towards them. She stops just a few feet shy, and they watch her carefully. She raises an eyebrow, testing.
SUPERNOVA (CONT’D)
There are two general reasons for breaking into homes. Robbery and non-consensual sex, neither of which are happening today.
(beat)
But, out of curiosity, I’d like to hear what you thought you were about to do.
Pyro tips her head to the side. When she speaks, it’s with a thick AUSTRALIAN ACCENT.
PYRO (simply) Neither.
Supernova tightens her fists and flames begin to swirl around them and her forearms. It doesn’t phase the intruder.
SUPERNOVA
Then you should probably show yourself out before things get
heated.
PYRO
That won’t be a problem. You can say I...specialize in heat.
Pyro lifts her hand and clenches it into a fist in front of Supernova’s face. She jerks her hand back, as if readying a punch, but she PULLS the FLAMES with her instead.
Supernova’s eyes widen in shock right before
--A gloved fist SL--AMS into her face. She staggers back and Bobby’s hands begin to collect frost as he prepares an icy attack. Pyro erects a SHIELD OF FIRE that holds him at bay as she shoves a TASER against Supernova’s neck. She spins around and produces a syringe from a pocket in her jacket. She stabs it into the same spot she tased.
A sadistic grin takes over the new woman’s face as the
vigilante’s body convulses violently. Pyro watches her drop to the ground and turns to the male.
The shield shifts into a winding swirl that circulates around her fist. She aims it at the incapacitated superheroine and Bobby’s eyes narrow.
BOBBY
What did you do to her? PYRO
Maximum non-lethal electric jolt, and a special time-released formula that’ll keep her out for a good while.
(beat, with a smirk)
Nothing she won’t recover from, mate. That is, if this whole Drake Family Reunion goes off without a hitch.
Bobby looks between his fallen companion and the intruder. His eyes set on Pyro.
PYRO (CONT’D)
If I wanted to kill you, I would’ve
killed her. But if you don’t come
with me, I will.
He swallows hard, and on his contemplation, we
--BLACKOUT:
ACT TWO FADE IN:
INT. XAVIER INSTITUTE - LOCKER ROOM
We come in on a pair of black fingerless FISHNET GLOVES being pulled on to a feminine hand. The hand is balled into a fist, and her fingers squeeze and release a few times before we --PULL BACK SLOWLY to reveal JEAN as she pulls them all the way to her elbows. She’s dressed in a black tank with white
skulls on it, a denim miniskirt and ankle-boots. On her head, she has a dark green, flat top ARMY CAP.
KITTY
This is going to be so awesome. To bad Bobby’s missing it.
PAN RIGHT to find KARIN WAGNER, IMAGE INDUCER ACTIVATED, and
KITTY PRYDE. Kitty is in loose jeans, sneakers, and an
over-sized hoodie with the hood over her head and a baseball cap over it. Karin is in tighter jeans with a small chain through the belt loops, a cut-off white tank that exposes her midriff and a blue and white FEDORA.
Karin grins.
KARIN
Kristen, zis is ze best idea you have ever had.
PAN RIGHT further to find KRISTEN as she stands in front of a mirror to look at the mess she’s made of herself. She wears loose khaki cargo pants held up by a brown belt, studded leather boots, a lightweight grey torso, black sleeved
hoodie. A black bandana is wrapped around her head, tied in a knot over her brown hair that she has left down. She has
chains looped around each wrist in makeshift bracelets. KRISTEN
I...am not so sure.
BACK ON Jean, she raises her eyebrow as her emerald eyes glide up and down Kristen’s body. An amused look crosses her face and she struts straight up to the leader of the X-Men. She grabs Kristen by the shoulders and spins her around so the two face each other.
PUSH IN on the redhead’s hands as she grabs the buckle of the brunette’s belt.
She yanks on it several times and pulls Kristen closer each time until it finally comes UNDONE. She strips it from the belt loops and drops it to the ground.
PULL BACK to see Karin and Kitty looking on, amused, while Kristen looks relatively shocked.
Jean grabs the thighs of her teammate’s pants and TUGS them down passed her hips, leaving them to sag and flash the top of her dark blue, boy-cut underwear.
She gives her another quick look over, then Jean looks right into Kristen’s sunglasses and smirks. The brunette looks down at herself, then back at Jean.
KRISTEN (CONT’D) Okay, what was wrong before, exactly?
JEAN
You looked like an art student getting ready to paint, not a thug getting ready to rob someone.
Kristen crosses her arms loosely and shifts uncomfortably. KRISTEN
I can’t walk around with my pants around my knees. Look at this mess. Jean shrugs.
JEAN
I didn’t say it made sense, I just know that’s how they
--(air quotes with her fingers)
Roll.
KARIN
I zink it vill be funny. KITTY
C’mon, Kristen. Look at us. We’ll be like, home girls.
Kristen shoots the phaser a look, but it turns into a small grin. Kitty holds her fist out towards the leader.
KITTY (CONT’D) Bros?
Kristen bumps her fist against Kitty’s lightly, her grin widening.
KRISTEN Yeah, sure.
On Kitty’s excitement, we
--CUT TO:
EXT. DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN - DAY
The distinct THWIP sound that sees a thick string of webbing SHOOT passed us. We’re
--THROWN BACK as SPIDER-GIRL uses her fresh webline to toss herself higher into the air, far above the city streets.
SPIDER-GIRL (unenthusiastic)
Woo-hoo, skipping school again!
She reaches out and grabs the corner of a nearby building and drops her webline. She clings to the side of the brick
structure and scans the area around her. SPIDER-GIRL (CONT’D) I should at least be doing my
homework. Or hanging out with Gwen. (beat)
Damn gangbangers. Not all superheroes are successful businessmen and playboy billionaires.
She shakes her fist at the air.
SPIDER-GIRL (CONT’D) Some of us are still in high
school, making colorful tights in our basement and dealing with our
first girlfriend!
The screen SOLARIZES for a split second and we --
ANGLE DOWN TO find a handful of THUGS (#4, #5, #6, #7) spilling into the alleyway just below.
BACK ON Spider-Girl, she peers closer and watches silently. We DRIFT DOWN, watching with her.
The men are carrying what appears to be a large WEAPONS CASE of some kind. They set it down on the ground without much mind for the contents within. #4 and #5 lean down and undo the latches on the side of the case and the remaining two grab on to the top. They pull it back to reveal a
--BACKPACK FLAMETHROWER. We notice that instead of a “gun” attachment, it has two GLOVES.
Thug #6 tilts his head. THUG #6 Huh.
Thug #4 crosses his arms and lightly kicks the side of the case -- disappointed.
THUG #4
Must be for the Aussie.
BACK ON Spider-Girl, she crawls down the wall and stops halfway to the ground. She looks down at the group.
ANGLE ON the ground, over Spider-Girl’s shoulder. SPIDER-GIRL
What’cha doin’ down there, little rascals?
THUG #4 (startled) Holy shit!
They grab for their concealed weapons. THUG #7
How’d she find us?! SPIDER-GIRL
You silly goose, magicians never reveal their secrets!
The men fire at her and she LEAPS across the gap and clings to the wall adjacent to her previous spot.
SPIDER-GIRL (CONT’D)
Rude.
She throws both of her hands out and fires weblines from her wrists. They fray at the ends and attach to the firearms. One quick JERK sends the guns towards her, which she quickly webs to the wall beside her.
SPIDER-GIRL (CONT’D) Are we done misbehaving or do I need to lay a smackdown or two?
THUG #5
Mind your own business sweet cheeks.
SPIDER-GIRL
Was that the lunch bell I just heard?
As confusion sets into the group, she drops from the wall and lands between them in a crouch.
SPIDER-GIRL (CONT’D) Knuckle sandwiches for everyone!
She UPPERCUTS Thug #4 in the jaw and SWEEP KICKS the other three down to the ground. She grabs #4 and #5 by the front of their shirts and SLAMS them together. She holds her wrists side by side and fires what appears to be a WEB NET that traps them and binds them together almost instantly.
Thug #7 grabs her from behind and squeezes his arms around her neck. She takes hold of his sleeves and successfully THROWS him over her. He hits the brick wall with a grunt and slides to the ground. She webs him to it and spins around to face Thug #6.
He charges at her with a two-by-four and SWINGS it at her. She throws her arm up and the wood SNAPS over her forearm. She PUNCHES him in the stomach, twists, and ROUNDHOUSES him straight into #7. Another quick web job and she stands in the middle of the alley with her hands on her hips triumphantly.
SPIDER-GIRL (CONT’D) You know what that was? That was mad skills.
She closes the WEAPON CASE and fastens it shut again. She grabs it by the handle and lifts it with ease.
SPIDER-GIRL (CONT’D) Now to drop this bad boy in the Hudson. I don’t know what it is, but it doesn’t look like anything pleasant, and I don’t like
unpleasant things.
She throws a webline off screen and disappears from our view. FOCUS ON the ground by Thug #6’s foot where a piece of WHITE PAPER lands gracefully. It reads: “DEAR NYPD: YOU’RE WELCOME. COURTESY OF YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-GIRL.”
Off that, we
INT. SENATE HEARING ROOM, WASHINGTON D.C. - DAY
The large, circular room is filled to the rim with men and women in professional attire. It’s like a courtroom with a jury like spectators at a football game. On the floor are a few desks where men in suits sit, and everyone has their eyes on a white-haired woman in front an inactive PROJECTOR
SCREEN.
CLOSE ON the woman that we quickly recognize as ORORO MUNROE. She is dressed just as professionally as everyone else, and her face is serious yet still mild and gentle. In front of her is a simple placard that reads: ORORO MUNROE. GENETICALLY ENHANCED RIGHTS ASSOCIATION.
ORORO
How can we say that one mutation is worse, or more disgusting, than another? Mutation is a broad term and on some level, we are all mutants.
(beat)
Baldness and color blindness are mutations, and there is an ongoing debate that blue eyes may be, also. To penalize a person for their
genetics is inhumane and against what this country stands for.
(beat)
Take me, for example. My blue eyes and white hair is seen as odd, but some cultures in Africa consider it as something special -- something worth celebrating.
An older man with big-rimmed glasses and white hair stands from his desk in blatant opposition. He is SENATOR ROBERT KELLY.
SENATOR KELLY
Here, Miss Munroe, we do things
differently than where you come from.
BACK ON Ororo, she narrows her eyes slightly. Her lips press together, but she remains as calm as possible, but
--A loud RUMBLE OF THUNDER is heard from outside that almost startles everyone in the room. Ororo smiles to herself. Another dark-haired SENATOR (#1) stands, his attention on Senator Kelly.
SENATOR #1
That may be true, Senator, but don't forget our country is forged on the idea of melting pots -- let Dr. Munroe finish before you make comments.
On Senator Kelly’s obvious disapproval, we
--CUT TO:
EXT. STREETS OF BROOKLYN - NIGHT
AERIAL SHOT of an abandoned block. A dark-colored vehicle sits idly by the sidewalk, and suddenly
--The lights CUT OFF, leaving the block mostly in the dark
except for the sparse street lights, most of which don’t even work. The buzzing of the bulbs on their last legs fills the air and soon the light breeze carries the sound of two car doors opening simultaneously.
Two FEMALE FIGURES emerge from the vehicle the correct way, but we notice another PHASES THROUGH the side like a ghost.
BAMF. Another appears on the opposite side in a cloud of dark
smoke.
PUSH IN closer to the four figures to find
--KITTY, JEAN, and KRISTEN fanning their noses while KARIN grins sheepishly.
KARIN
Sorry. Zat vas my bad. KRISTEN
Yeah your bad. That smell is going to take weeks to get rid of.
She coughs and locks the vehicle, the horn BLARING through the night air.
KITTY
I have some Febreze you can borrow. I keep it around because Bobby’s room always has that funky boy smell in it.
Kristen, Jean and Karin wrinkle their noses and look at her. KITTY (CONT’D)
Kristen shakes her head and motions towards an old brick building with her hand.
KRISTEN (whispered)
Remember, stick to the plan and no
powers. If you have to use names we
go by colors. Jean is Red, Karin is Blue, Kitty, you’re Pink and I’m Green. Got it?
KITTY
Why do you get to be Tommy?
Off the LOOK Kristen shoots at Kitty, we
--ANGLE ON: The rooftop of the building as SPIDER-GIRL drops down. She perches herself on the edge, peers down and we watch over her shoulder as the four mutants come into view. She props her elbow onto her knee and sighs as she drops her cheek against her hand.
SPIDER-GIRL Oh look, more.
(grumble)
So much for my “date” with Gwen.
BACK ON the group of mutants, Kristen reaches for the door’s handle. She starts to twist it
--TWHIP. A thick rope of WEBBING attaches itself to her back
and she’s YANKED backwards.
We’re THROWN BACK as Kristen hits the ground hard and her sunglasses are KNOCKED off her face from the rough impact. An unrestrained OPTIC BLAST rips from her startled eyes --
OBLITERATING an unsuspecting street light and breaking the entire top corner off another building.
Kristen squeezes her eyes shut to contain the blast and as the sound of BRICK HITTING CONCRETE rattles the previously still night
--Spider-Girl is forcefully SHOVED against a brick wall and held there but an UNSEEN FORCE. She wiggles, kicking her feet as Jean steps into the frame with an outstretched hand.
SPIDER-GIRL (CONT’D) What -- what the blazes? What is this, Mutants Gone Wild: Telepathic Hooker Edition?
JEAN
Mutants Gone Undercover: Telepathic Hooker Edition, thank you very
much.
Kristen’s glasses float up to Jean’s hand and she kneels down as Kristen sits up with her eyes buried in the crook of her elbow. The redhead peels her arm away from her face and carefully slides the glasses in their rightful place.
KRISTEN (shaky) Thanks. JEAN (softly) Anytime.
The two rise to their feet again, and Kristen reels on the colorful superheroine. She points her finger at her
aggressively, her muscles tensing. KRISTEN
(angrily)
Do you have any idea what you could have done just now?! Our cover
could be blown because of you!
The UNSEEN FORCE drops Spider-Girl to her feet and she stays in a crouch.
SPIDER-GIRL
Explain the part to me again where I’m required by X-Law to check all my thugs to make sure they aren’t secretly my teammates.
Kristen balls her pointed finger up into a fist and places it back at her side. Her jaw clenches tightly.
KRISTEN
Didn’t you say you can tell who a person is by your spider-sense?
SPIDER-GIRL
Good observation Sparky, but it only works if I’m actively using it.
(beat)
Unless I’m supposed to be tracking every move you guys make like
JEAN
Girls, rulers away now. Problem’s been solved.
SPIDER-GIRL
Hey, she started it. I know mine’s b-- heeey now, I know Storm’s in DC, but aren’t you missing one? Off that, we
--CUT TO:
INT. ABANDONED BUILDING - OFFICE ROOM
TIGHT ON the crossed arms of an angry BOBBY, a sign that he doesn’t seem to be enjoying himself. Travel up to his face, we see that his knitted eyebrows and his lips pressed into a solid line only confirm our suspicious.
PAN AROUND as the door to the office CLICKS open and two men come in to view.
One is somewhat heavyset, dressed like a casual businessman in slacks and a button up shirt. He is WILLIAM DRAKE (Father
of BOBBY DRAKE).
The other is dressed much the same, but his clothes are looser and less professional. He is RONALD “RONNIE” DRAKE
(Brother of BOBBY DRAKE).
WILLIAM (delightful)
Well son, I knew one of these days you’d come around and make the right choice.
BOBBY
If by “right choice” you mean “forced at my friend’s expense”, then I sure did.
WILLIAM
About that -- I’m sorry Robert, but some people need to be persuaded.
Bobby leans forward and digs his elbows into his knees. BOBBY
How did you even know where I was?
Ronnie shoves his hands into his pockets and grins. He shrugs his shoulders arrogantly.
RONNIE
Most of the guys know their boss’s kids, Bobby. If they don’t, and they hurt one of us, they get offed.
(beat)
They know dad wanted you in, so they tailed you. It wasn’t that hard -- half the city’s population with a vagina knows where Jonnie
Storm lives. Then they brag about
it to their boyfriends, and --BOBBY
(sing-song)
Sounds like someone’s bitter! RONNIE
Shut your
m--William GRABS Ronnie by his arm and shoves him to the side. WILLIAM
(irritated)
Ronnie, sit down and shut up, please.
Ronnie angrily complies and William grabs the rolling chair from behind his desk. He positions it in front of Bobby and takes a seat, looking directly at his son.
WILLIAM (CONT’D)
We could really use you, son. The Kingpin’s been making some really hard demands and it’d be much easier with you and Jiang-Li helping us out around here.
Bobby slouches back against the seat, uncaring. BOBBY
I don’t know who that is, but the answer is a big fat no. The same answer I gave you the first time, only fatter.
(beat)
Because daddy-o, I don’t wear a big “X” just to make myself feel
better, y’know. I am a certified X-Man.
(beat) In training.
(beat)
But still an X-Man, just haven’t
grad--William stands up from his chair so quickly it falls
backwards and hits the ground with a CRASH that makes both Bobby and Ronnie JUMP.
BOBBY (CONT’D)
Oh man, better watch out Boomer, you don’t want wee-wee stains on your
co--William SLAPS Bobby roughly and the impact THROWS his head to the side, leaving a visible red mark on his face.
BOBBY (CONT’D)
For a big bad gangsta’, you sure do hit like a little girl.
(beat)
And I mean the kind that plays with Barbies and glittery lip gloss.
RONNIE
You mean, little girls like you? BOBBY
I had Ken dolls and I ate the glittery lip gloss. That sounds pretty anti-girl to me!
RONNIE
Dad was sure you were gonna grow up to be a
fa--BOBBY
Fabulous young man? As you can see..
(runs his fingers through his hair)
I am quite fabulous.
William points at the door, his body shaking in anger. WILLIAM
Let’s go Ronnie. We’ll have someone with much better persuasive skills deal with him.
The two other men approach the door and as Ronnie opens it, William snaps his fingers twice. They disappear from our sight and in steps
--PYRO.
TIGHT ON Bobby’s face as he grins, a challenge to his captor. His eyes, however, tell us he isn’t entirely sure what the outcome will be.
Off his uncertainty, we
--BLACKOUT:
ACT THREE FADE IN:
EXT. CAPITOL BUILDING, WASHINGTON D.C. - NIGHT
A mob of people is gathered outside the building. They shout obscenities and rude comments, all in hatred of mutants and their supporters. Very few mutant supporters are scattered in the crowd, easily overpowered by their opposers. Some of both sides even raise signs, blatantly expressing their views.
ORORO moves down the steps, her gaze set straight ahead. REPORTERS gather around her, but she ignores them and keeps walking. They mercilessly shove microphones in her face, but she pushes through.
MAN (O.S.)
Do not worry, these abominations will not be allowed to walk among us much longer, my friends.
Ororo can’t help but cast her eyes towards the voice and we follow her gaze
--To the backside of a WHITE-HAIRED REVEREND standing in front of a crowd of people holding religiously-fueled signs in the air, damning mutants. We can’t see his face.
WHITE-HAIRED REVEREND The wrath of God is coming, I assure you.
BACK ON: Ororo. She looks unsettled as she opens the door to the black ROLLS-ROYCE waiting for her by the street. As she slips inside, worried, we
--FADE TO:
INT. HAELSTROM RESIDENCE - KITCHEN - NIGHT
The steam rising from a pot on the stove swirls around the elderly hand that stirs the hot liquid held within.
DRIFT UP to find MAY HAELSTROM as she watches the contents of the pot. Satisfied, she turns around and we follow her gaze to
--GWEN STACY. She sits at the kitchen table, bent over a
textbook. Her hand scribbles on a sheet of paper while her eyes scan the text.
MAY (playfully) You too, I see.
Gwen raises her gaze from the book to the elderly woman. GWEN
(confused) Huh?
May smiles and moves to the kitchen table. She sits beside the blonde and nods towards the textbook.
MAY
Melanie always has her nose in a book.
(jokingly)
Sometimes I wonder if she ever sleeps.
GWEN (quiet laugh) Oh.
(beat)
Yeah I...well, I haven’t been studying as much as I should and I’ve got a test in two days.
MAY (teasing)
Do I need to get on to Melanie for keeping you out this last week?
GWEN Oh, no, no!
Gwen laughs and places her papers in the book before she closes it. She leans back in the chair.
GWEN (CONT’D)
I haven’t had this much fun in forever. Between all the studying and band practice, I didn’t think it was even possible.
May smiles and folds her hands on the table in front of her. MAY
Are you two planning anything for tonight?
GWEN
Well, we have this project coming up and we wanted to see if someone at Stark Industries would talk to us.
May’s eyebrows raise slightly, intrigued. MAY
Stark Industries, huh? (playfully arrogant)
You know, I once knew that boy’s grandfather.
Gwen’s eyes widen in amazement and she grins from ear to ear. GWEN
Oh my God! Really?! (excitedly curious) How?!
May looks thoughtful for a moment and a gentle smile forms again.
MAY
It’s such a long story, but he was a fine and respectable man.
GWEN
That’s so cool! Who else do you know, Miss Haelstrom?
MAY (grinning)
You’d be surprised, my dear.
May’s gaze lifts up to the CLOCK hanging on the wall over the threshold to the living room.
MAY (CONT’D)
That new curfew goes into effect in two hours, doesn’t it? I wonder where that girl has gotten off to this time.
Off her words, we can’t help but to
--CUT TO:
INT. ABANDONED BUILDING - BROOKLYN STREETS
SPIDER-GIRL crawls through it with silence and ease, careful to make sure it doesn’t creak.
Over her shoulder, we watch the grated hatches she moves over and we can see to the floor below. KITTY and KARIN walk
through the hallway, both of them adding a quirk or two to their step to add to their experience.
KITTY
Spidey, are you really gonna stay up there the entire time?
KARIN
Do you vant me to come up zere viz you?
SPIDER-GIRL
Yes, and no. You’re too noisy. KARIN
Vhat?!
SPIDER-GIRL
You’re like a cute blue monkey -- and monkeys are noisy.
KARIN
Vell, spiders are quiet and you are loud! Vhat does zat say?
SPIDER-GIRL
Not all of them. Haven’t you heard of the camel spider? Rumor has it, they scream.
KITTY
While camel spiders are arachnids, they aren’t spiders, Spider-Girl.
KARIN
Ja! Zey are just bugs viz creepy eyes and legs!
SPIDER-GIRL They’re not bugs!
KITTY
How did you get spider-powers, anyway? Are you a mutant too?
SPIDER-GIRL
Kitty and Karin both stop in their tracks and look up into the ventilation shaft.
KITTY You’re lying.
SPIDER-GIRL
I am not. Right on my hand, it bit me.
Kitty put her hands on her hip, testing the wallcrawler. KITTY
What kind was it? SPIDER-GIRL
Unidentified species. A special little snowflake, only one in the world!
KARIN
You are so lying! Zat is not even possible!
KITTY
Yeah! What are the odds of that happening?
SPIDER-GIRL You want the real number?
KITTY
Oh my freaking God!
N--The distant sound of GLASS SHATTERING catches their attention.
KARIN Vhat vas zat?
SPIDER-GIRL
All indicators point to: somebody being bad.
(beat)
You guys go check it out, my own genius just slapped me in the face.
As Kitty and Karin look off in the direction of the sound and we realize Spider-Girl is GONE, we
INT. ABANDONED BUILDING - OFFICE ROOM
TIGHT ON a SHATTERED VASE. The water soaks the carpet and the flowers lay in the debris.
ANGLE ON: PYRO as she holds BOBBY’S hands behind his back and restrains him. He doesn’t look all that concerned, however. She leans in and puts her lips to his ear.
PYRO
C’mon, be a good Iceboy and obey daddy.
(beat, with a grin)
Father knows best, after all.
Bobby THRUSTS his arms out and BREAKS her hold on him. He grabs her arm and slings her away from him. She smirks.
PYRO (CONT’D) That the best you got?
BOBBY
I’m not the kinda guy to put out on the first date.
Pyro cocks an eyebrow. She accepts the challenge. PYRO
Give me twenty minutes and I’ll have you screaming.
He tilts his head.
BOBBY
Screaming what? Because I can’t pronounce your name.
She grabs him by his neck and throws him against the wall. She hikes her leg up and holds him to the wall with her one knee at his hip and her hands against his shoulders.
PYRO
This really doesn’t have to be this difficult, mate.
BOBBY No means no.
Pyro trails her hand down his chest and stops at the waist of his pants. He squirms uncomfortably.
PYRO (smirking)
Fire and Ice. It’d be perfect and you know it, Iceman.
KITTY (O.S.) (appalled)
You -- you trollop!
Bobby and Pyro both snaps their heads in the direction of the voice and
--We find KITTY and KARIN stand just inside the door. Both of them look rather disgusted at what they are witnessing.
BOBBY
Kit uh, wait, where is your --PYRO
-- Who’s this bitch? KITTY
The girl who’s about to phase your lungs out of your own body if you don't step off, ho.
Pyro smirks.
PYRO Oh, this’ll be fun.
Kitty PUNCHES Pyro straight in her goggles and knocks her back. Her fists clench tightly and she bares her teeth.
Pyro fixes her eye accessory’s position on her face, smirks, then
--KARIN
No, don’t! Ve are not supposed to
--An ARM OF FIRE is thrown in Kitty’s direction, but she PHASES through it. She comes out undamaged and smirks at her
opponent.
KARIN (CONT’D) (with a sigh)
-- Use our powers.
An ICY HAND grabs Pyro by the shoulder and spins her around. He’s in SOLID ICE FORM.
BOBBY
I know all about cool, and that was
He HEADBUTTS her and throws her back at Kitty. She shifts into INTANGIBILITY and Pyro FALLS through her and hits the ground with a THUD.
KITTY
Oops. Was I supposed to break your fall?
Pyro CLICKS the lighter in her hand as she stands. The flame IGNITES and she turns it into a deadly RING OF FIRE that circulates around her body.
PYRO
Didn’t think you’d play this hard to get.
(she grins)
Good thing I came prepared.
She throws her hand out and the ring of fire is forced into a large ROPE OF FIRE instead. She swipes the air in front of her and the fiery rope barely misses Bobby’s chest.
PYRO (CONT’D) You really wanna do this?
KITTY
Do you really wanna do this?
Karin suddenly JUMPS onto Pyro’s back and wraps her legs around her waist. Her arms latch around the Asian woman’s shoulders and she KICKS the lighter from her reach.
The fire DISPERSES
--Kitty catches the lighter and Karin uses her feet to SHOVE the woman forward as she propels herself into a BACK FLIP. She lands safely on the ground in a crouch.
KARIN Vell, zat vas fun.
Kitty tosses the lighter to Bobby. He squeezes it in his hand for a few seconds, and then
--It FALLS to the floor ENCASED IN ICE. All eyes are on Pyro for a brief moment as the realization hits her. She’s
DEFENSELESS without the fire-generating tool. BOBBY
How does Cyke do this? Uh...
He looks between Kitty and Karin, then he points at the latter.
BOBBY (CONT’D)
Hold her. No more funny business with her.
(to Kitty) And
y--Before he can finish, Kitty closes her eyes and GRABS him by his face. She brings their mouths together roughly and his eyes widen in surprise. Silence falls on the room as they kiss and he finally relaxes into it, kissing her back. ANGLE ON: Pyro as she rolls her eyes, arms restrained by Karin. The teleporter grins at her two teammates.
BACK ON: Kitty and Bobby. She pulls away from him and takes him by the hand. She shoots a dangerous look in Pyro’s
direction before she pulls her boyfriend behind her, towards the door.
KITTY
Let’s blow this joint.
CUT TO:
INT. UNKNOWN LOCATION
We come in on a room lit only by numerous television screens stacked one on top of the other. The screens show us LIVE SECURITY FOOTAGE. A large man sits in front of the screens. We watch in one screen as BOBBY, KITTY, and KARIN exit the OFFICE ROOM with Pyro forcefully in tow. One footage reel a few screens over shows SPIDER-GIRL as she drops out a broken window. She looks around, then WEBSWINGS out of our view. The man picks up a corded telephone from his left and places it against his ear. It’s quiet until we hear a muffled voice speak from the other end of the line, then
--BALD MAN
The list I gave you earlier, get on that now. Tell him I have a very generous offer he won’t be able to refuse.
(beat, sadistically)
Tell him he won’t be alone, either. Off that ominous message, we
--BLACKOUT:
ACT FOUR FADE IN:
INT. ABANDONED BUILDING - BASEMENT LEVEL - NIGHT
PAN AROUND a large room filled with people. Some stand around while others sit, all of them are doing varied activities: smoking, drinking, and chatting it up.
PUSH IN on an “L”-shaped couch that fits perfectly into one corner of the room. JEAN and KRISTEN sit side by side, both of them with a slouch. Jean crosses one leg over the other and Kristen looks at her. Her eyebrows knit.
KRISTEN
That smell is going to give me a headache.
JEAN
Which one? The alcohol, the cigarettes, or the mary-jane?
KRISTEN
All of it. And that guy over there needs to learn what deodorant is.
Jean crosses her arms over her chest and wrinkles her nose. JEAN
Let’s just hope he stays in his corner.
Kristen leans her elbow against the arm of the couch. She leans her forehead against her hand.
KRISTEN
I’m never going to get this smell out of my clothes.
Suddenly
--Three SHADOWS loom over the two women and both shift their gazes up to find three young men (Thug #8, #9, #10). They stand in front of them and their eyes shamelessly check Kristen out. She raises an eyebrow.
KRISTEN (CONT’D) (puzzled)
THUG #8
Yeah baby, you can help me more than you think.
(smirks)
If you know what I mean.
She doesn’t physically let it off, but we know she’s mildly disgusted.
KRISTEN
You wanna try that again? THUG #8
I said c’mon baby, let’s have a little fun.
Then
--Jean throws one leg over Kristen’s thighs and mounts her lap. Her arm slides behind the brunette’s head and her fingers rest at the base of her neck. Her fingernails scrape lightly against the skin and Kristen’s back arches slightly. Her hands grip on to her teammate’s thighs.
JEAN
Sorry boys, this one’s taken and that’s not an offer for both of us. That’s me and her off the market.
Kristen’s body relaxes, but we know her mind’s racing. Her hidden eyes lock with Jean’s and she swallows hard. Jean smirks at her.
The three thugs stare at the two with no regard for anything she said, the gears in their heads turning.
JEAN (CONT’D)
We’re going to have to remove them, aren’t we?
KRISTEN
They seem pretty intent on finding out where this is going.
JEAN
Too bad this show is not for them. She winks and subtly flicks her visible finger
---- SUDDENLY, the three men are KNOCKED DOWN like bowling pins. Thug #8 gets to his feet quickly, only to have his pants telekinetically DROPPED to reveal his SPIDER-GIRL BOXERS. He scrambles to pick them up.
Kristen grins at Jean, then
--JEAN (V.O.) (CONT’D) (telepathically to
Kristen) Do it.
The brunette tips her chin up to meet the other girl’s gaze. KRISTEN (V.O.) (telepathically to Jean, unsure) Do what? JEAN (V.O.) (telepathically to Kristen)
Oh c'mon you know what. You're practically shouting it. Just grab my ass -- I give you permission.
KRISTEN (V.O.) (telepathically to Jean) How do you know
th--Kristen is cut off when her hand slides up Jean’s thigh ON ITS OWN. It cups one side, over her skirt, and the redhead grins down at her.
Kristen’s face remains unfazed by the movement, save for a light pink hue, but her uneasy grip tells us everything. Jean shifts down slightly and Kristen subtly bites down on the inside of her bottom lip. Her eyes travel over the telepath’s shoulder and she looks directly at the men that are still looking on with creepy looks on their faces.
With a smirk, she finally SQUEEZES and Jean JUMPS slightly. JEAN
(with a giggle)
Baby let’s wait to start the foreplay when we’re more...
(suggestive)
Secluded.
Kristen’s expression doesn’t change even as the men finally begin to step away from them.
PAN to see over Kristen’s shoulder, we face Jean’s back. A small, square mirror reflects the redhead’s face back to us. At first it looks normal, but then
--FIRE. It licks everything in the reflection. Jean’s features darken slightly, her eyes aglow. Fiery, evil. She’s
HALLUCINATING.
A small, indistinguishable sound escapes her lips. KRISTEN
Jean?
The fire in the reflection is suddenly GONE. It’s back to normal. Jean lets out a breath and smiles down at the brunette.
JEAN Sorry.
Kristen opens her mouth, but then her face DROPS suddenly. We watch as WILLIAM moves into the frame, right behind the Jean.
WILLIAM
Well, look who decided to crash in on the party.
KRISTEN (uneasy)
Hey....Bobby’s Dad.
Without looking over her shoulder, Jean gives Kristen a questioning look and we
--CUT TO:
INT. MIDTOWN HIGH SCHOOL - AUDITORIUM
We come in on MARY-JANE sitting crossed-legged on the performance stage at the head of the room. Next to her is TANDY. She mimics Mary-Jane’s pose.
Crumbled balls of paper with words and ideas are sprawled acround them. As we PAN LEFT we see LIZ ALLEN and a few other girls we do not recognize.
TANDY
Alright, we have to decide on
something! I mean, so far we have
Cindy Lauper, Paris and back to the
eight--LIZ
(interrupting)
Everyone and their mother does back to some terrible era. There is a reason we call it the past and cannot time travel...
TANDY
Right.... Either way, we have yet to agree on something. So let’s try this one more time. We will go
around the circle and each person will come up with their own idea for the theme for homecoming.
(beat)
Liz you start.
Mary-Jane looks down at her clip board. We focus in on the colored paper sticking out from her scratch paper. She thumbs through it and retrieves a purple sheet. She sets her clip board down beside her, and slowly starts folding the paper into triangles.
LIZ
I am still sticking by my Paris idea. Something exotic and
romantic. We can have the Eifel tower carved into an ice statue.
GIRL #1
But other than the Eifel tower, there is noting else we can do to make people think of France. At least with a back to the eighties thing, we can decorate in bright colors and all kinds of stuff.
GIRL #2
But that is snoresville! And do you know how many girls are going to be wearing their hair the exact same way? Gross!
GIRL #1
No one cares about your hair... GIRL #2
And no one cares about the ugly dress I am sure you were going to wear to try and pass it off as French made.
TANDY
Girls! It’s not helping! Homecoming is coming up and we don’t even have a theme. So please, stop talking about your damn hair and focus!
Tandy looks over at Mary-Jane, who has finished folding her paper. It’s now a very decorative paper lantern. The blonde smiles at the redhead’s handy work, and Mary-Jane looks up in surprise. She didn’t know she was being watched. She quickly hides the paper behind her back and blushes at Tandy.
TANDY (CONT’D) That’s beautiful MJ.
(beat)
I know something is buzzing in that beautiful head of yours.
Mary-Jane looks over at the group of girls sitting in the circle. They stare back at her, waiting for her response. Liz taps her pen against her clip board impatiently.
MARY-JANE
Well, I was thinking. We could do a French Quarter theme. Hang paper lanterns across the room.
(holding up the paper lantern she just made) Create fake planter boxes with hanging flowers. Lots of masks and beads. A kind of bayou theme.
Liz claps her hands together and tosses her piece of paper to the side.
LIZ
Like seriously girls. Masked ball!
All the girls in the group begin to talk and giggle amongst themselves.
TANDY
MJ, you are a genius as usual. So it’s settled, French Quarter theme!
LIZ
We can decide who is doing...
Her voice fades off as she walks off stage with the rest of the girls in tow.
Mary-Jane and Tandy stand behind and pick up the loose pieces of paper left by the others.
TANDY
Great idea MJ. I’m kinda jealous I don’t get to go just so I can see it.
MARY-JANE
Bummer. Why don’t you get to go? TANDY
(laughing)
Someone has to contain the beast. My mother has an after party she doesn’t want to attend alone. And guess what lucky girl got to take up the job?
Tandy points to herself with both of her thumbs, a big sarcastic grin on her face.
TANDY (CONT’D)
And what about you? Have you put in any thought on who you are gonna go with?
MARY-JANE Well...
(beat)
I do have someone in mind...
Her gaze drifts down to a cloth SPIDER-GIRL wristband on her left wrist. As we close in on the eye-pieces of the
embroidered mask, we
--CUT TO:
INT. ABANDONED BUILDING - BASEMENT LEVEL
We come back to KRISTEN and WILLIAM standing off. JEAN stands just behind her teammate, her eyes on the older man.
WILLIAM
We’d wondered where you’d ran off to after you wrecked Midtown’s softball field and drove your parents out of town.
Kristen gives a sarcastic smile as she cocks her head to the side.
KRISTEN
So nice of you to care.
He smiles and crosses his arms over his chest. WILLIAM
Of course I care, Kristen. You’re the only one who chose to put up with my son.
She puts her hands on her hips and shifts all her weight on to her right leg.
KRISTEN
That’s odd, because you never really showed him that.
WILLIAM
(knitting his eyebrows) Excuse me?
KRISTEN I didn’t stutter.
WILLIAM
Are you trying to imply that I don’t care about my own son?
KRISTEN
I’m saying you suck at showing it. You can’t possibly tell me you think you did the right thing.
WILLIAM
You have to understand -- living with a mutant isn’t easy.
KRISTEN
Really? Because I live with six of them and it’s not that hard.
(beat)
It wasn’t about him being a mutant and you know it. You were butt-hurt because he wouldn’t join your
little gang here. He starts to speak out, but
--KRISTEN (CONT’D)
No, don’t even. If you actually cared about your son, Mr. Drake, he wouldn’t have had to spend those last few months at my house because
you kicked him out of his.
(beat)
He needed his family more than
anything and you abandoned him. But
you know what? Maybe it was a good thing.
William’s eyebrows knit together, angry. KRISTEN (CONT’D)
Because guess what? He has us now. He has a family who appreciates him, and friends who love him and stick by his side even if he screws up sometimes.
ANGLE ON: The doorway. BOBBY stands just behind the threshold and he grips the wooden door frame in his hands. KARIN and KITTY stand behind him, restraining a now-gagged PYRO. Stuck between surprised and touched, he watches the scene in front of him with a small smile on his face.
KRISTEN (O.S.) (CONT’D) A man like you shouldn’t be able to take credit for raising a guy like Bobby.
(beat)
He may be immature and careless sometimes, yeah, but he’s one of the best people I’ve ever known. More than that, he reminds us that we’re not just mutants -- we’re
kids.
(beat)
And none of his flaws can compare to the good he does every day.
BACK ON: Kristen. Jean’s eyes travel between her teammate and the man before them. She stays quiet, letting Kristen have it out.
KRISTEN (CONT’D)
You don’t deserve to call him your son.
William shoves his finger in her face, his burning red --WILLIAM
Listen here, you b--WOMAN (O.S.) (authoritative)
Everybody on the ground, now! NYPD!
CUT TO: A woman in dark slacks and a maroon dress shirt. There is a gun in her hands, aimed at them, and her badge is clearly visible on her belt. Her long, dark and curly hair falls over her shoulders. She is DETECTIVE JEANNE DEWOLFE. Behind her is a small army of police in riot gear, all on the offensive. In the mix are Bobby, Karin, and Kitty.
DETECTIVE DEWOLFE
You kids -- step over here with me.
PAN OUT: On everyone. They’re all laying flat on the ground. A few of the thugs begin to stand and she halts them with
--DETECTIVE DEWOLFE (CONT’D) Uh uh, no. Not you.
(pointing)
You.
Kristen and Jean look at each other, then at the DeWolfe. DETECTIVE DEWOLFE (CONT’D)
Yeah, you guys and your friends hiding in the doorway. Let’s go. Leave the weirdo in the stupid goggles and come on.
The police filter into the room and grab several of the thugs off the floor as Kristen and Jean stand.
As DeWolfe reaches out to them, we --
FADE TO:
EXT. BROOKLYN STREETS - NIGHT
The five mutants stand by the dark blue MAZDA RX-8, police lights flashing and illuminating the darkness with quick, constant flashes of red and blue.
BOBBY sits on the hood above the left headlight with his arms crossed. He looks out at the ground. KITTY leans her backside against the other headlight and doesn’t look at him.
DETECTIVE DEWOLFE approaches them with one hand in her pocket. She extends her free one towards Kristen.
DETECTIVE DEWOLFE
Detective Jeanne DeWolfe. You guys okay?
Kristen takes her hand and gives it a firm shake. The
detective does the same to Jean and offers them both a polite smile.
JEAN Just peachy.
Kristen looks at Jean a moment, then back to the officer. KRISTEN
We’re fine, just a little confused. DETECTIVE DEWOLFE
What’s there to be confused about? We busted a gang operation we’ve been trying to put down for a while.
MAN (O.S.)
And we owe it to you kids and Spider-Girl.
PULL FOCUS TO: A tall man in the distinctive uniform of a police captain. We recognize him quickly as CAPTAIN GEORGE STACY (see “Legacy (Part One)”).
CAPTAIN STACY
If you’re wondering how we knew who to arrest and who to leave out of it, it was all Spider-Girl.
He smiles at them and crosses his arms over his chest. CAPTAIN STACY (CONT’D)
She dropped a tip for us with all the details.
Bobby looks up at the two officers. For once, he seems somewhat mellow.
BOBBY What about me?
Everyone looks at him questioningly. BOBBY (CONT’D)
I wasn’t with them. How’d you know I wasn’t a part of it?
DETECTIVE DEWOLFE
We’ve had tabs on your dad for a while now. We knew both of his kids, and we knew only one was involved.
(beat)
Wasn’t hard to figure out it was Ronald once you left home.
Bobby nods and accepts the answer. Kristen looks at him, and while she doesn’t necessarily show it, we know she’s
concerned by his behavior.
DETECTIVE DEWOLFE (CONT’D) We’ll let you guys get going if you don’t have anymore questions, but next time leave it to us. You guys could’ve gotten hurt, or worse.
(playfully)
Hanging out with Spider-Girl
doesn’t make you superheroes, you know.
The two NYPD officers leave them to their own devices and the other for finally turn to Bobby.
KARIN (amazed)
Your dad is ze gang leader? BOBBY
(shaking his head)
A gang leader. Not the. There are
like, zillions of them. KITTY
So why didn’t you tell us? BOBBY
Your dad being a huge scumbag isn’t something you usually flaunt.
KITTY (mumbling)
Would have been nice to know.
Kristen steps in and puts her hand on Bobby’s shoulder. KRISTEN
Give him a break, okay? He’s been through a lot tonight.
BOBBY
It doesn’t bother me, really. I mean, this whole criminal thing like, runs in my family or
something. (jokingly)
DETECTIVE DEWOLFE (CONT'D)
I’m surprised I’m not the Notorious I-C-E by now.
KRISTEN
What do you mean? I thought it was just your dad and your brother?
Bobby shakes his head and hops off the hood of the car. BOBBY
Nope. My cousin Valentina is in some gang thing called the
“Nightstalkers” or something. (beat)
She used to always talk about this chick that leads it and how she’s kind of a hard-ass sometimes but she’s really awesome.
(beat)
Her name is Abigail or something, and when Val talks about her, I always picture Kristen with a bow and arrow.
(beat)
I think it’d be pretty cool. You in your shades, shooting Magneto in the butt with your arrows.
Kristen crosses her arms, amused and Bobby grins. He elbows Kristen in the side playfully.
BOBBY (CONT’D) You missed me. Admit it.
KRISTEN (grinning) Not a chance.
(tips her head to the car)
Come on. We need to get back to the school.
As they all move to get in the vehicle, we
--FADE OUT:
END OF ACT FOUR
ACT FIVE FADE IN:
INT. XAVIER INSTITUTE - MAIN ROOM - NIGHT
We come in on the PLASMA TV SCREEN that displays the NIGHTLY NEWS. It shows the crime scene where they all were
previously, more of the GANGSTERS being hauled off in handcuffs behind DETECTIVE DEWOLFE and CAPTAIN STACY.
REPORTER (on screen)
How do you feel about Spider-Girl and these kids helping bust the case? With all the hard work you guys put into it, that has to be pretty frustrating.
DETECTIVE DEWOLFE (on screen)
Are you kidding? We may have never found these guys if it hadn’t been for them.
CAPTAIN STACY (on screen)
The popular belief is that the police despise these vigilantes -- especially Spider-Girl, and people like the X-Men.
(beat)
The sad part is the popular belief might be true, but Detective
DeWolfe and I actually appreciate what they do. Does it bother me that I can’t see their faces? Sure, sometimes. But as long as they’re
lowering the crime rate and not adding to it, I say go for it.
REPORTER (on screen)
Captain, you do remember that Spider-Girl is to be indicted on murders charges by a grand jury soon, don’t you?
CAPTAIN STACY (on screen)
To them I say: Good luck convicting her.
REPORTER (on screen)
The evidence against her is --DETECTIVE DEWOLFE (on screen, irritated)
Lady, we’ve got things to do. Take your cameras and get out of here. As the TV shifts back to the NEWS ROOM, we
--CUT TO: The fine leather couch where JEAN sits with one leg crossed over the other and arms crossed loosely, with KITTY and KARIN on the other end.
KITTY
Well that’s pretty cool. That’s like, the first time we haven’t gotten bashed on national
television. JEAN (playfully)
Who knows, maybe one day we'll be getting a metal.
KARIN
Ja, and carnivals in ours and Spidey’s names!
Kitty opens her mouth to speak, but --BOBBY (O.S.)
Yo Fuzzball! Think fast!
SPLAT. A SNOWBALL hits the back of Karin’s head. Her eyes
widen with shock.
KARIN
Bobby! Do you not remember anyzing from zis morning?!
BOBBY
Blah blah, take it seriously, blah blah grow up. Boooorrrriiing.
(beat)
You just gonna sit there and take it?
JEAN
It depends on what I’m taking. Honestly, all I hear from you is “blah blah blah”.
