X-Men
- Locked due to inactivity on Nov 2, '17 3:54am
Thread Topic: X-Men
-
that remains.
Through the smoke, at the center of the old torch, Pyro
lies dead, covered in a sea of white foam.
Jean starts choking on the smoke. Cyclops stands and
motions for her to get out of the smoke filled room.
EXT. TORCH - FRONT - NIGHT
The machine finally locks into place. Magneto raises a
walkie talkie to his face.
MAGNETO
Lights on.
INT. POWER STATION - NIGHT
Sabretooth grabs a hold of the lever for the Liberty
Display power breaker and pulls up. Turning it on.
INT. ELLIS ISLAND - GREAT HALL - NIGHT
The lights of the Statue come back on. The crowd of
dignitaries burst into enthusiastic applause as if it is
part of the proceedings.
INT. SECURITY CONTROL CENTER - NIGHT
The Statue now lit up in the monitors.
OPERATION COMMANDER
Roger. We see the lights.
EXT. TORCH - FRONT - NIGHT
Magneto turns and opens the hatch. Magneto sees the hole
-- Logan is gone.
EXT. TORCH - BACK - NIGHT
Magneto walks over and stares at the hole, clearly out by
Logans claws.
Magneto looks at his fingers after wiping the edge of the
hole. Logans blood. Magneto looks down and sees
Logans claw marks down the arm of the Statue, marking
his escape.
Magneto scans the island from his high perch. He does
not see Logan.
EXT. STATUE - MAIN ENTRANCE - NIGHT
The doors to the old torch room burst open -- SMOKE
BILLOWS OUT. Jean runs out coughing violently.
Suddenly, Toad lands in front of Jean, grabs her head and
before she can react, his tongue launches at her face.
His tongue covers her face with an ADHESIVE SLIME. Jean
falls to the ground. Toad looks back at the main
entrance, sees Cyclops emerging and LEAPS up, out of
frame.
ANGLE ON:
Cyclops stumbles out of the smoke filled building.
Seeing Jean lying on the ground, he runs to her.
Cyclops turns Jean on her back, ready to perform CPR. He
is shocked, the slime has now hardened to Jeans face.
She is suffocating. He desperately tries to pry it off.
ANGLE ON:
The camera quickly pulls higher and higher revealing --
TOADS P.O.V.
EXT. OBSERVATION DECK - NIGHT
Toad looks down, perched on top of the railing
surrounding the base of the Statue -- the same position
he had before crushing the Secret Service agent.
Toad arches his back ready to spring downward. He will
kill two birds with one crushing leap.
The sound of WIND.
C.U. Toads face static, his eyes slowly look to the
side. His head twists, looking over his shoulder. Storm
stands behind him.
Toad turns and hops off the railing towards Storm.
C.U. on TOADS FACE. Which is horrible.
TOAD
Dont you people die?
Suddenly the wind picks up violently. Toad moves closer
-- fighting the wind.
Storm is MAD. A face we remember seeing on a young girl
in Africa.
Toad fights the gale force winds, his webbed feet
adhering to the ground. He inches closer to Storm. Toad
bares his FANGS.
EXT. STATUE - MAIN ENTRANCE - NIGHT
On the ground Cyclops notices the wind howling with rage
above him. He frantically pulls on the encrusted slime
suffocating Jean.
EXT. OBSERVATION DECK - NIGHT
Storms eyes widen. HURRICANE force winds blast Toad.
Try as he might to use his sticky feet to hold on, Toad
is blown back off his feet, catching the deck with his
hands.
The piece of the deck TEARS LOOSE still attached to
Toads hands. He flies off the deck, past the metal
railing. Toads tongue LASHES OUT AND ATTACHES TO THE
RAILING. For a moment, Toad just flaps there like a
flag.
Storm RAISES HER ARMS.
CRASH -- A huge BOLT OF LIGHTNING strikes the railing.
Toad is blown off the railing in a flash of electricity
and --
EXT. HARBOR - NIGHT
Toad lands in the water. He disappears below the surface
leaving nothing but bubbles.
EXT. OBSERVATION DECK - NIGHT
Storm moves to the railing. She looks down at Cyclops
and Jean. Suddenly, the metal railing on which her hands
rest BEGIN TO BEND TOWARD HER.
EXT. STATUE - MAIN ENTRANCE - NIGHT
Cyclops continues to pull on the slime. Jeans struggles
are becoming more panicked.
Cyclops stops and puts his hands on Jeans shoulders,
pinning her down.
CYCLOPS
Jean. Jean stop. Stop moving.
Jean continues to struggle for a moment. She starts to
calm down, her chest still hitching involuntarily for
air.
CYCLOPS (contd)
Jean, trust me. Dont move.
He takes a hold of her chin and grips it tightly. He
FIRES A THIN, FOCUSED OPTIC BEAM INTO THE ENCRUSTED
SLIME, splitting it in half. He pulls the remains away
from her face.
Jean GASPS for air. Then she looks up. Her face turns
to horror. Behind Cyclops, towering over him is --
Sabretooth.
WHAM! Sabretooth smashes down.
BLACK
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE THE MUSEUM - NIGHT
Rogue turns the corner of the hallway and trips, tumbling
to the ground.
Rogue watches from the floor as the shadow of her pursuer
bends around the corner. The sound of their footsteps
get closer. The shadow is upon her, turning the corner.
It is LOGAN. -
LOGAN
I didnt mean to scare you.
ROGUE
Thank God. Logan... we have to help
Storm we have to.
Logan looks around to make sure its clear.
LOGAN
Ill go back, but first let me find
you a safe place.
Logan extends his hand.
LOGAN (contd)
Here, take my hand.
Rogue looks at Logan confused. Logan grows impatient.
LOGAN (contd)
Take it!
ANGLE ON: Over Logans shoulder. On the back of his neck
we see some BLUE SCALES. Logan is not Logan, Logan is
MYSTIQUE.
INT. STATUE - HEAD - NIGHT
E.C.U.-on Magnetos belt, which is lined with METAL
STRAPS. Magnetos hand comes into frame holding CYCLOPS
VISOR and places it against one of the straps. The strap
WRAPS ITSELF BACK AND AROUND, pinning the visor to the
belt. He brings a radio to his mouth.
MAGNETO
(into radio)
Mystique... Mystique, where are you?
Magneto turns to Sabretooth.
MAGNETO (contd)
Find Logan.
Sabretooth exits as Magneto turns to reveal --
Jean and Cyclops, without his visor, are trapped in a
hideous tangle of metal (taken from the Statues steel
bracing) forcing the two to face each other. Two sharp
points of metal rest on either side of Cyclops head,
locking it in position. Cyclops is close enough to feel
Jeans breath -- if he opens his eyes, he will destroy
everything in his path, including Jean.
Storm is also encased in a myriad of sharp metal bands,
pinning her to the wall. Razor sharp pieces of metal
warp and close on her throat.
All in all, they are completely disabled.
Jean struggles to free them with her telekinesis, to no
avail.
CYCLOPS
(whispering)
Jean... can you?
JEAN
(whispering)
Im sorry. Im not strong enough.
Magneto stands next to Storm. Close.
MAGNETO
(whispering)
If the temperature changes a single
degree...
(looking at Jean)
I only need one hostage.
Magneto stares icily at Storm.
As if to accentuate the threat, a piece of metal pokes
ever so slightly into the side of Storms throat.
MAGNETO (contd)
(raising his voice)
Now if you can hear me Logan...
EXT. SEAWALL - NIGHT
We find Logan -- The real Logan. He has made it off the
Statue and is about to jump off the seawall. He stops
suddenly.
E.C.U. of his ear. His powerful hearing enables him to
hear Magneto.
MAGNETO (V.O.)
... and I know you can -- It is a five
minute run from the furthest distance
on this island. If you are not back
in this time... I will kill these
friends of Xaviers. Including the
young lady from the gymnasium. I
think they came here to rescue you.
INT. STATUE - HEAD - NIGHT
Magneto looks to his hand -- the CHIP from Cerebro.
MAGNETO (contd)
I also have a small piece of Cerebro
that might be of interest to you, if
you hope to save Charles Xavier.
EXT. SEAWALL - NIGHT
MAGNETO (V.O.)
Xavier is dying you know. Five
minutes Logan.
Logans face shows the frustration. Again, he is forced
to make a decision.
INT. STATUE - HEAD - NIGHT
Magneto pulls out the chip taken from Cerebro and walks
over to Jean.
MAGNETO
Here -- Xaviers life.
He tucks it in an exposed part of her uniform.
MAGNETO (contd)
If I get what I want, you can try and
save him... for old times sake.
Magneto turns to Storm.
MAGNETO (contd)
Now... shall we talk about the
weather.
INT. ELLIS ISLAND - MAIN ENTRANCE - NIGHT
The President addresses the audience. We move across all
the worlds leaders sitting with their families. Men,
women and children of every race, color and creed that
the planet Earth has to offer.
INT. STATUE - HEAD - NIGHT
JEAN
Magneto. Ive seen the results of
your machine. Ive seen Senator
Kelly.
MAGNETO
Ahhhh, so the good Senator survived
his fall? And the swim to shore? He
is stronger than I ever could have
imagined.
JEAN
The experiment was a failure. Kelly
didnt make it. Yes, you were
successful in activating his mutator
gene, but you failed to take into
account the rest of his body -- it
wasnt ready for the strain.
Kelly was dead within hours. Your
machine kills.
MAGNETO
Quiet...
Magneto pauses. Shock registering on his face that he
could be wrong. Thinking. Considering what Jean is
telling him. His mind races and calculates the
possibility. Then:
MAGNETO (contd)
I dont believe you.
JEAN
You dont understand.
Magneto gets angry -- squeezing the metal surrounding
Jeans head. Jean gasps. This drives Cyclops crazy, but
he is helpless to stop it.
CYCLOPS
(yelling)
Stop it!
MAGNETO
Why cant you see what I am trying to
do? Why do you stand in my way?
Magnetos anger is boiling over.
THUD -- the sound of footsteps, then another and another.
The faces around the room look at the stairs as the
footsteps get closer and louder.
MAGNETO (contd)
Check and mate. -
PAUSE.
SUDDENLY: SHOOK -- Logans claws shoot up through the
floor, and through Magnetos feet. Magneto howls. The
claws retract and Magneto falls.
Magneto, writhes in pain, rolling onto his stomach.
Logan quickly comes up the stairs and into the Statues
head. He stands over the crippled Magneto.
Logan turns to Jean who is still pressed eye to eye with
Cyclops. He is relieved to see her alive.
ANGLE ON: Storm. She sees something. Several of the
steel bands that support the top of the Statues head
begin to move.
STORM
Logan!
THREE METAL BAND peel off the ceiling, coming to life
with magnetic energy. They leap across the room and wrap
around Logan. Forcing his fists to press against his
chest.
Should he so much as extend his claws, he will rupture
his own vitals. The metal bands wrap behind his back.
Magneto raises his hand and MAGNETIC WAVES RIPPLE. Metal
groans as Magneto peels open a gaping hole in the top of
Lady Libertys head. Magneto looks up at the torch. The
wind howls.
The AIR RIPPLES again as Magneto levitates the steel
bands holding Logan, lifting Logan off the ground and out
the hole in the Statues head.
EXT. STATUE - HEAD - NIGHT
MAGNETIC WAVES thrust Logan through the air and --
INT. TORCH - NIGHT
WHAM -- THROUGH the metal skin of the flame. Logan lands
in the center of the sphere on top of the machine.
Inside the sphere is a metal structure resembling the
model of an atom. Its rings expand as it receives Logan.
Logan looks through the hole in the frame, down into the
hole in the Statues head, at Magneto.
INT. STATUE - HEAD - NIGHT
Magneto struggles to his feet, pulling himself up by his
hands. Magneto stares at Logan, impatient.
Magneto stands with a hand raised up toward the machine.
Then a slight motion of his wrist --
INT. TORCH - NIGHT
The rings start revolving just as it did with Kelly, back
at the lair. Spinning slowly, then gaining in speed.
The air around it RIPPLES, gaining in intensity.
INT. STATUE - HEAD - NIGHT
MAGNETIC ENERGY POURS from Magnetos hands toward the
machine, behind him Jean and Storm watch helplessly.
INT. TORCH - NIGHT
The rings are spinning around Logan at such a speed, the
rings themselves are no longer visible -- merely a blur
around the stationary Logan.
Logan yells. Unthinkable pain, his skeleton beginning to
glow through his skin.
His eyes look down, through the hole in the torch, into
the Statues head, searching for Jean.
The deafening whine builds louder and louder.
INT. STATUE - HEAD - NIGHT
Magneto looks at the incredible displays as MAGNETIC
ENERGY flows from his hands continuing to charge the
machine.
Mystique emerges from the stairwell behind Magneto. Her
eyes widen in awe.
MAGNETO
Ahh, there you are.
Mystique walks slowly toward magneto. Storm and Jean
watch the torch in horror. -
JEAN
(to Mystique)
You have to stop him, the machine...
it kills people...
Mystique ignores Jean. She stops behind Magneto. She
looks up and sees Logan staring back in agony.
JEAN (contd)
... Please do something.
Magneto tilts his head slightly, acknowledging Jean, but
not moving from his task.
MYSTIQUE
Dont listen to her... its a trap.
Magneto turns.
MAGNETO
What is?
MYSTIQUE
This is.
And she grabs the sides of his face and kisses him
deeply. There is an awkward moment. Until:
MAGNETO CONVULSES. Once, then again. Then he struggles
to be set free.
And MYSTIQUE TRANSFORMS INTO ROGUE.
It has been her all along, using SHAPE SHIFTING powers
borrowed from the real Mystique.
Magneto fights to get free, but his power is being
drained from him.
JEAN
ROGUE, DESTROY THE MACHINE!
Rogue goes to pull away, BUT MAGNETO WONT LET HER GO.
Magneto grabs hold of Rogues throat -- CHOKING HER.
INT. TORCH - NIGHT
Logan looking down, through the hole in the Statues head
for Jean, sees Rogue and Magneto struggle.
Logan watches helplessly as MAGNETO STRANGLES ROGUE.
LOGAN YELLS -- THE WHITE LIGHT BEGINS TO EMANATE FROM HIS
BODY. His flesh starts to SMOLDER.
INT. STATUE - HEAD - NIGHT
Magneto is strangling Rogue, who clings to his face --
drawing his powers.
The walls GROAN as magnetic energy RIPPLES through the
Statues head.
ANGLE ON:
Rogue, choking to death, looks frantically at Cyclops for
help. She raises one of her hands and uses Magnetos
stolen power to BEND BACK THE METAL POINTS so that
Cyclops is able to move his head again. Without his
visor however, he is still unable to open his eyes.
Magneto, feeling the last of his power draining from him,
grabs Rogue tightly and SLAMS her into the wall. Rogue
slumps in Magnetos arms and the two collapse to the
ground.
INT. TORCH - NIGHT
The sound from the machine is DEAFENING. SUDDENLY --
SILENCE.
ABSOLUTE SILENCE.
At the silence, all eyes turn to the torch.
It is too late -- THE MACHINE IS FULLY CHARGED.
Logans eyes tense. He clenches his teeth. Logan does
the unthinkable.
SHOOK.
The glowing white claws extend through Logans chest and
out his back cutting three metal straps binding him.
Logan ROARS in pain as he --
Pulls his claws from his chest.
SLASH -- his claws rip through the inside of the machine -
- cutting apart the rings spinning around him.
The translucent torch of the Statue is CUT TO PIECES BY
THE FLYING METAL.
INT. ELLIS ISLAND - GREAT HALL - NIGHT
The President and the dignitaries turn. Secret Service
rush to the window. A wave of panic sweeps the crowd.
INT. SECURITY CONTROL CENTER - NIGHT
The flaming torch lights up one of many screens.
OPERATION COMMANDER
Liberty one this is Horizon... I
repeat... do you copy? Liberty one
this is Horizon ... I repeat... do you
copy?
EXT. STATUE - TORCH - NIGHT
Where the flame of the torch once stood, now stands
Logan, his skeleton cooling down.
Logan leans on the torchs railing, his chest bleeds from
the six claw wounds. Logan is exhausted. He looks down
at his comrades still trapped by the metal bands. And
Magneto lying powerless on the floor. SUDDENLY, from
below --
A MASSIVE CLAWED HAND strikes Logans chest. The blow
sends Logan sailing back to the far end of the torch.
Logan lies against the railing. Opening his eyes he sees
--
TWO CLAWED FEET following upward to a very angry, very
large Sabretooth, towering over him.
Sabretooth leaps at Logan. Against the New York skyline
THEY GO AT IT, SLASHING AND HOWLING.
EXT. MANHATTAN HARBOR - NIGHT
Several Coast Guard cutters head full-speed toward
Liberty Island.
ANGLE ON: Their decks covered with armed Secret Service.
EXT. TORCH - NIGHT
Sabretooth picks up Logan over his head and throws him
like a rag doll into the railing on the other side of the
torch.
Logan struggles to his feet -- dazed. Suddenly,
Sabretooth, running at full steam, tackles him. Slamming
Logan into the railing.
The metal railing bends.
Sabretooth holds Logan by his wrists, trying to push him
over the edge. It is several hundred feet to the ground
below.
Logan is weakening. Sabretooth is in complete control,
he leans down near Logans ear.
SABRETOOTH
(whispering)
Your girlfriend is next.
With all his might, Logan pushes his clenched fists as
close to Sabretooths face as he can. SHOOK! The claws
pop. Sabretooth springs back to protect his face.
LOGAN KICKS WITH ALL HIS MIGHT AND SABRETOOTH flies back
to the other side of the torch.
LOGAN leaps up and running at full speed, tackles
Sabretooth -- like a train plowing into a stalled car.
The metal railing snaps and they both go flying through
the air. -
EXT. STATUE - HEAD - NIGHT
CRACK.
Sabretooth and Logan slam onto the top of the Statues
head.
Logan rolls off the back of the Statues head and falls.
Sabretooth stands and looks over the edge - nothing. All
he can see is the Statues body curving away towards the
ground. He smiles, and turns back to the hole.
EXT. STATUE - HEAD - NIGHT
ANGLE ON: LOGAN - Hanging from the ear of the Statue, the
claws of his right hand embedded in the lobe at the end
of three sets of long claw-marks.
He looks up. A look of brutal determination crosses his
face. Straining, he pulls himself up by his right arm.
The cords stand out on his neck as he tries to get to
shoulder level. He aims his left claw a little further
up on the ear and --
THUNK.
He drives it in.
INT. STATUE - HEAD - NIGHT
WHAM -- E.C.U. Sabretooths feet as he lands on the metal
floor. He quickly takes in the situation, Magneto and
Rogue are still unconscious. He walks towards Storm.
The air in the room starts to CRACKLE and Sabretooths
hair begins to stand on end as it did when these two last
confronted each other.
SABRETOOTH
I dont think so.
Sabretooth backhands Storm across the jaw, knocking her
out. As her head drops, he draws his claws and slashes
it down. It STOPS, just before tearing open Storms
throat, HELD BY AN UNSEEN FORCE. He turns and sees that
Jean has focused her power in his arm. He smiles.
He walks to Jean and tears off her bonds. He reaches out
to grab her neck but his claw is stopped again in mid-
air. Sabretooth just smiles wider and forces his hand
forward. The outcome never really in doubt, the claw
wraps around Jeans neck. She begins to choke.
CYCLOPS
Jean!
Sabretooth lifts Jean by the neck and walks away from
Cyclops as he chokes her.
SABRETOOTH
Sorry about this sweetheart, but I
made Logan a promise.
Jean struggles desperately against Sabretooths
unbreakable grip, the life draining from her. Then --
LOGAN (O.S.)
Hey, ya big p---- .
Sabretooth whips around, still clutching Jean to see -
LOGAN -
Bleeding, beaten and panting, and yet still standing
defiantly over Magnetos unconscious body.
LOGAN (contd)
I aint finished with you yet.
Sabretooth looks at him, disbelieving that this man can
still be standing, let alone challenging him... and he
starts to laugh.
SABRETOOTH
You?
Logan grins.
LOGAN
Not just me.
And with that: he extends ONE CLAW from his right hand,
squats down, and cuts the piece of metal holding Cyclops
visor to Magnetos belt. He lifts it up and it slides
down his claw to his hand. He casually throws it in the
air.
LOGAN (contd)
Jean?
Logan looks at the visor and it freezes in the air.
It flies across the room, right past Sabretooths head.
He lunges at it with his free claw but just misses it.
The visor lands square on Cyclops eyes, and attaches
itself to Cyclops face.
He turns.
BOOM!
A focused OPTIC BLAST hits Sabretooth like a FREIGHT
TRAIN. He drops Jean and SLAMS THROUGH THE WALL.
EXT. STATUE - NIGHT
We see the side of the Statues head. Suddenly,
Sabretooth BLASTS THROUGH THE EYE.
For a moment Cyclops beam continues to fire through the
eye as if the Statue itself is imitating Cyclops power.
EXT. SEAWALL - NIGHT
Magnetos boat still sits quietly next to the seawall.
CRASH.
Sabretooths body SMASHES THROUGH THE ROOF of the boat.
The tarp flies up and drifts back down to rest over
Sabretooths body.
INT. STATUE - HEAD - NIGHT
Logans breathing is strained, a blood stain in the
middle of his shirt, but he is in control. Logan looks
up, his eyes met by Jeans.
He walks over to Storm and Cyclops and SHOOK! cuts them
loose. Jean and Cyclops catch Storm, who begins to come
around.
Cyclops smiles. Logan kneels down beside Rogue. He
wants to comfort her but cannot touch her. She opens her
eyes and sees Logan. -
ROGUE
Hey... There you are.
(sudden apprehension)
Is it really you?
LOGAN
(not quite sure what shes
talking about)
Yeah, its really me.
CYCLOPS
Come on, lets get out of here.
Logan stands. He takes a couple of steps before
collapsing in Cyclops arms.
LOGAN
(sliding to the ground)
Im o.k. Im o.k.
CYCLOPS
Sure you are, sport.
EXT. LIBERTY ISLAND - DOCK - NIGHT
Several Coast Guard cutters and police boats reach the
island. Men run across the dock as we pull up --
EXT. LIBERTY ISLAND - NIGHT
The Coast Guard, Secret Service, and FBI descend upon the
island.
INT. OLD TORCH ROOM - NIGHT
Security enters the smoldering remains of the old torch
room. The walls blackened by a past inferno. At the
center, Pyro lies motionless in a sea of foam.
INT. MUSEUM - NIGHT
Push in on MYSTIQUE who is tied up. Across her feet a
crack of light as the door begins to open. Swish pan
over to the NYPD entering the room. Swish pan back.
Mystique has taken the form of a Secret Service agent.
AGENT/MYSTIQUE
Hey, could somebody untie me!
EXT. SEAWALL - NIGHT
A Secret Service spots the wreckage of Magnetos boat and
the large tarp which covers it. He pulls his gun.
SECRET SERVICE MAN #3
(to other agents)
Hey! Over here.
Three other agents pull their guns and aim at the tarp.
The first agent pulls it back to reveal... nothing.
Sabretooth is gone.
INT. STATUE - HEAD - NIGHT
NYPD and Secret Service rush up the stairs and into the
head. Magneto lies unconscious on the floor.
The lead guy, an NYPD OFFICER in a flak jacket, holding a
shotgun, stares up at the ceiling. He peers out through
the gaping hole. Beyond the damaged torch the star
filled sky is momentarily eclipsed by a aircraft -- the X-
Jet.
The officer turns to say something, but stops --
wondering if his eyes were merely playing tricks on him.
INT. MANSION - DAY
Cyclops, Jean, Storm, Rogue and about two dozen students
all sit in front of a wide screen TV watching the Special
Report on the Mutant Registration Act vote.
As the Anchorman speaks we move over the concerned looks
on all of their faces.
ANCHORMAN (O.S.)
Even after last weeks terrorist
vandalization of the Statue of Liberty
by an unidentified mutant
organization, the outcome of the vote
was 51 to 49 in opposition to the
Mutant Registration Act.
A LOUD CHEER as the room erupts into celebration.
CYCLOPS
Quiet. Quiet everybody.
ANCHORMAN
This narrow defeat was probably due in
large part to the surprising last-
minute reversal by Senator Scott
Frank Kelly, who until today
provided the loudest voice in the cry
for Mutant Registration. Earlier
today, Kelly had this to say:
The TV cuts to a shot of Kelly being grilled by reporters
as he walks down the Capitol steps.
KELLY
(struggling to get through)
If we can not go into the future
together, the divisions of fear and
prejudice will tear this country
apart.
As he is speaking, we cut to:
INT. CAPITOL BUILDING - WASHINGTON D.C. - DAY
Kelly pushing past reporters.
KELLY
No more questions. Please, no more
questions.
E.C.U. The back of Kellys neck as he passes. A BLUE
SCALE is visible above his collar.
INT. LOGANS ROOM - DAY
The FAINT CHEERS are heard through the walls.
HAZY THEN FOCUS INTO -- light pushes through blinds. A
gentle breeze moves them slightly.
Logan sits up in his bed, his chest bandaged.
VRRRIP -- the sound of blinds being pulled open. Bright
sunshine fills the room, washing across a box and a card
sitting on a bureau.
ANGLE ON: the card as Logan reads it.
LOGAN -- WELCOME HOME. It is signed simply, X.
Logan reaches in the box, pulling out -- a UNIFORM. He
lays it on the bed. He pulls on one of the gloves,
stretching his fingers in it. Perfect fit.
SHOOK -- He pops his claws through THREE METAL RINGLETS
on the back of the glove -- clearly it was made
specifically for him.
Logan looks down into the box for him.
INT. LOGANS ROOM - LATER - DAY
From behind Logan we see him finish putting something on
over his head. Logan turns into frame, he is wearing a
dark blue MASK.
It fits his head neatly. The sides arch up shadowing his
ears, giving him a wolf or fox-like appearance. The
shape is reminiscent of Logans sketch -- the wolverine.
Logan stands facing a mirror. The mask looks good on him
and he seems to know it.
Xavier is in the doorway.
Logan pulls off the mask, embarrassed. -
LOGAN
Dont you knock?
XAVIER
Theyre all asking how youre doing.
Are you feeling up to saying hello to
everyone?
LOGAN
(pulling the glove off)
Actually Im feeling up to leaving.
Logan walks over to the closet and pulls out a shirt. He
puts it on.
XAVIER
(surprised)
Why? You have a home here now, if you
want it. Everyone will...
LOGAN
What?... miss me? Charley, Im gonna
walk out the front door and trust me,
it wont be soon enough for everyone
here.
Logan pulls a duffle bag out of the closet.
LOGAN (contd)
Can I, umm?
XAVIER
Of course. Everything in this room is
for you.
Logan seems genuinely touched by the gesture.
LOGAN
Thanks, Ill pay you back.
Logan shoves some clothes into the bag, but not all.
XAVIER
Well if youre going to leave then you
at least owe them a goodbye.
Logan smirks. He picks up his bag. They exit the room
together.
INT. MANSION - DAY
The celebration continues unabated. The newscaster on
the defeat of the Mutant Registration Act muted, in the
background -- Storm, Jean, and Cyclops all sit around a
table chatting. Rogue sits on the couch with other
students, trying on a new pair of leather gloves.
XAVIER (O.S.)
Excuse me.
(louder)
Excuse me.
Xavier is in the doorway.
XAVIER (contd)
Everyone, Logan would like to say...
Logan steps into the doorway. Everyone can see him now.
Before Xavier can finish his sentence he is interrupted
by --
APPLAUSE -- simple, genuine, applause.
Students slowly stand up. Proud of Logan. For he is one
of them. He is a mutant. And he is a hero.
As the unconditional applause echoes around him, Logan
seems sincerely touched by their spontaneous outpouring.
He is almost choked up -- almost.
The applause quiet.
XAVIER (contd)
Well, Logan.
All eyes are on Logan. Logan pauses. He looks to
Xavier, then back to the room.
LOGAN
Whats a guy gotta do to get a beer
around here?
Logan puts his duffle bag down. He walks over to the
table with Storm, Cyclops and Jean. Jean smiles at him,
so does Cyclops -- his arm around the back of her chair.
Logan sees them together, they are happy, and finally he
offers a smile.
Xavier holds for a moment at the door. A look of pride
on his face, the pride a father has for his children.
INT. PLASTIC PRISON - DAY
A CLEAR PLASTIC HALLWAY
Thats right, PLASTIC. Everything we can see -- walls,
ceiling, floor -- is made, entirely, of thick, clear
plastic.
DOWN THE HALL TO:
A THICK PLASTIC CELL
There, in the middle, at the clear plastic desk, with two
clear plastic cups filled with the only thing of color
other than the two men in the room.
Xavier and Magneto.
They play a friendly game of chess.
Magneto is notably without his trademark helmet. Two
casts encase his legs from his Logan-inflicted injury.
Xavier is on a modified plastic chair with plastic
wheels.
MAGNETO
I wouldnt really have let you die,
you know. I just needed...
XAVIER
(interrupting)
I know.
Magneto thinks for a while; then:
MAGNETO
Doesnt it ever wake you in the middle
of the night? The feeling that some
day, some day very soon, they will
pass that foolish law - or one just
like it - and they will come for you
and your children? Take you all away?
XAVIER
It does indeed, Max.
MAGNETO
And what do you do when you wake up to
that?
XAVIER
I feel a great swell of pity for the
poor soul who comes to that school
again looking for trouble.
He stares right at Magneto.
Xavier makes a move, Magneto counters. Xavier moves
again. -
But you know that it is a war, old
friend. And to win a war it takes the
will to fight it at all costs, by any
means necessary. And for that reason,
I will always have the advantage. No
matter how you trap me, how I am
contained -
Chess pieces seem to visually mimic their conversation
Xaviers white pieces slowly surrounding Magnetos Black
King.
MAGNETO (contd)
- I will always find an escape.
XAVIER
And I will always be there, old
friend.
And with that, Xavier places his queen gently down,
taking away a knight.
XAVIER (contd)
Check.
Just then, the door to the cell opens. A Guard waits.
Magneto and Xavier stare at one another before Xavier
turns and wheels himself out of the room.
The door closes behind him, leaving Magneto alone with
his plastic chess set in his plastic cell.
And Magneto looks at the pieces before him. Something
occurs to him. He smiles a wicked smile.
And his rook LEVITATES, despite its properties, moving
across the board and toppling Xaviers king.
MAGNETO
And mate.
BLACK -
brilliant copy and pasting skills
but can I ask why tf you're posting that in the stage, much less at all?
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