A Very Honorable Mention

Escape Pod!!

I left a heartfelt comment here, and in the latest episode here, after the new story is read, at the 36:20 mark, Stephen Eley made my response the Comment Of The Week! He read a little bit of it, and now it'll be a part of Escape Pod history forever!

How cool is that? Especially when, at first shopping around with what to do with My Hero's fictional adventures, I asked Stephen if he'd consider fan-fiction for his show. He was very encouraging in his e-mail response, but told me 'no'. Then he invited me to write something that was sellable. Since then the fan-fiction has gone on into audio adventures, and I went on to write a novel in November (still out at Tor Books, sitting in the lap, I hope, of my favorite editor couple, one-half of which I discovered is up for a Hugo award as "Best Professional Editor - Long Form").

And while we're at it, here's a reference to the story that My Other Hero read for Escape Pod, which also made me cry. The fact that Alex lent his voice and his talent to it didn't hurt any. (Alex is another of those Real Men I spoke of earlier).

He Had To Beat Her Off With A Stick!!

My Hero, Feedback, had an interview with a beautiful reporter on MSNBC today about some controversial new statuette for Spiderman. The link is here.

"X-Men 2" (If **I** had written it); Prologue

X-MEN 2: “And Power Corrupts”

A Screenplay in Seven Acts by Alan White

This is a screenplay designed to create a sequel which will meet and surpass the expectations created by the first movie, “X-Men,” Directed by Bryan Singer and written by David Hayter. Many went into the first movie expecting more action from what they perceived as a superhero move. In the following story the number of mutants with demonstrable powers who have functional roles is greater, and there are more scenes of conflict between those mutants. This gives a chance for the special effects to far exceed that of the first movie, satisfying the desires of the action-craving summer movie audience. This script also seeks to stay true to the human story of our mutants, as well as provide the action that movie sequels need in order to leap ahead of their predecessor.
This story borrows several elements from earlier issues of Marvel Comics’ “Uncanny X-Men” (tm) originally written by Chris Claremont and John Byrne. Although Marvel retains the copyright of the characters of the Hellfire Club, Proteus, Moira MacTaggart, and Phoenix, the story elements, dialogue, and the usage of these characters herein owe a debt to how Mr. Claremont and Mr. Byrne first introduced them to comic fans everywhere.

(Afternote: This was written in 2000, and is at this point meant only to be a piece of fanfiction.)

CAST OF CHARACTERS

THE X-MEN
PROFESSOR CHARLES XAVIER
SCOTT SUMMERS, AKA CYCLOPS
LOGAN, AKA WOLVERINE
ORORO MUNROE, AKA STORM
JEAN GREY who will become PHOENIX
ROGUE

XAVIER’S STUDENTS & GUESTS
DANI
BOBBY
JUBILEE
KITTY
PETER aka Piotr
ILLYANA
Dr. MOIRA MacTAGGART
Other Assorted

THE HELLFIRE CLUB
SEBASTIAN SHAW, The Black King
EMMA FROST, The White Queen
JASON WYNGARDE, The Black Bishop
DONALD PIERCE, The White Bishop
CAROL DANVERS, The Black Queen
HARRY LELAND, The White Rook
REMY LEBEAU, AKA GAMBIT, The White Knight
TESSA, The Black Knight

THE MORLOCKS
NIGHTCRAWLER aka Kurt Wagner
BEAST aka Hank McCoy
CALISTO
LEECH
Other Assorted

THE SENTINELS
#1 through #6

PROTEUS

X-MEN 2:“And Power Corrupts”

OPENING ACT
Scene One-A Delivery Room
(A woman is having a difficult birth in a delivery room. She is attended by five nurses and a doctor. When finally the baby is delivered, it’s eyes glow. As it cries for food, a sudden mist comes from it and the nurses are drained of their lifeforce by the mist, they die agonizing deaths. The doctor manages to sock the child away into a containment chamber, an infant-sized cabinet in the wall, as the doctor dies from the draining effect.)
(Only the mother is left alive and untouched.)

Scene Two-Pan Out from the Delivery Room
(As the camera slowly pans back, we see a cold, sterile base surrounds this birthing chamber where automated drones are taking the baby away.)

Scene Three-The same Base; advance forward in time
(Establish an ‘aging’ of the base to impress the passage of time.)
(Pan in to a different area of the base where we see WOLVERINE on the hunt. The base is dark and haunting. WOLVERINE seems to be going on instinct alone. As he rounds a corner, he gets a flash of memory . . .)

Scene Four-Flashback, Slow Motion
(. . . We see LOGAN in the same spot in the base, only the set is better lit, LOGAN looks younger--less gruff, cleaner cut--and he is accompanied by a beautiful blonde female. They wear “espionage” clothing . . .)

Scene Five-Present day, Base
(. . . WOLVERINE is back to himself and continues forward. He comes to a catwalk overlooking the chamber which haunts his dreams; coffin-sized experimentation tanks, glass cabinets full of dissecting instruments. Again he has a flashback . . .)

Scene Six-Flashback, Slow Motion
(. . . in the past, this was the place LOGAN and his blonde fellow agent separate along the catwalk. The blonde is struck down, LOGAN gives himself away with a cry of anger, and then is struck down.)

Scene Seven-Present day, Base
(WOLVERINE is stunned by these memories, they are surfacing for the first time. )
(He is discovering that the base isn’t completely deserted. There is a patrol of four GUARDS and a young SCRUFFY-LOOKING MAN dressed in a high-collared trench coat. He has black eyes with red pupils.)
(WOLVERINE attacks without hesitation. He takes out two guards before the SCRUFFY-MAN steps in with a bo-stick. WOLVERINE chops the stick down, forcing the scruffy man to begin using his power to charge the stick pieces and throw them at WOLVERINE. They explode off WOLVERINE, knocking him to the ground.)

SCRUFFY
(Cajun accent) You’re here t’find answers, no? Killin’ me’s not gunna git ya dat, mon ami.

WOLVERINE
At this point satisfaction is all I’m lookin’ for.
(WOLVERINE charges the man again. It is hard for him to fight the projectiles, but it doesn’t incapacitate him. He dodges some of the projectiles and they hit control panels in the walls behind him.)
(The control panel begins to short out in the wall behind WOLVERINE.)
(The two GUARDS who survived WOLVERINE’S attack look panicked.)
(The SCRUFFY YOUNG MAN looks panicked as well.)
(We follow their attention to an upright, man-sized glass cylinder framed with metal. There is liquid in the cylinder which begins to drain due to the damaged controls.)

SCRUFFY
Ain’t none o’us gonna get enny satisfaction if we don’t get out of here an’ right NOW.

WOLVERINE
What the hell is that.

(The liquid has drained completely away and inside is a DESICCATED FIGURE-which begins to stir. The eyes of the FIGURE glow and the glass cylinder morphs into floating blobs, freeing the figure. Note that the metal does not morph)
(This event impacts on WOLVERINE with a markedly noticeable panic. Terror grips him and his posture reflects it.)

DESICCATED FIGURE
Humannnn . . . I . . . hungerrrr . . .

(A misty essence looking identical to the mist from the newborn INFANT in the first two scenes leaves the DESICCATED FIGURE and flows into a human GUARD.)

GUARD #1
Oh god!! Mr. Gambit help me . . . please!!!

(The GUARD’S personality changes from terror to satisfaction. The sound of the voice goes hollow abnd the eyes glow.)

Ah, but this weak human shell will not last.
(The GUARD’S body begins to age and whither.)

GAMBIT (SCRUFFY)
Party’s oveh. Run f’r your lives!

(WOLVERINE, GAMBIT, and the other guard run.)
(GUARD #2 is caught just before GUARD #1's body crumbles to powder.)
(Soon GUARD #2 eyes are glowing, but the body begins to decay.)
(GAMBIT and WOLVERINE are all that is left running until the mist catches up to them)
(The mist seeps into WOLVERINE)

WOLVERINE
(Fearfully, which is a new sound to us fans.) No! What is it . . . get this OUT OF ME . . . (WOLVERINE’S speech dissolves into a gargle of defeat, then his personality changes. His voice goes hollow and his eyes glow.)

WOLVERINE/PROTEUS
After so long. Seems the experiment is over.
(The floor and walls around WOLVERINE/PROTEUS begin to warp.)

GAMBIT
(Running and escaping.) Nuh, Proteus. It’s just begun.

WOLVERINE/PROTEUS
This body is so strong-and it heals itself! It’s wonderf-(Suddenly WOLVERINE/PROTEUS screams long and loud.)

(GAMBIT seems to know what’s happening to WOLVERINE/PROTEUS. He smiles wryly and then completes his escape.)

"X-Men 2" Act One

ACT ONE
Scene One; ROGUE’S Bedroom, shared with KITTY and JUBILEE.
(ROGUE rustles the sheets in her sleep. She’s having the same nightmarish dreams WOLVERINE had in the first movie, only, he is submerged in the upright water-tank which PROTEUS has escaped from in the Opening Act. WOLVERINE sees her standing outside the cage. His face displays terror, he speaks underwater to her but in this dream scenario his voice is heard.)

WOLVERINE
Please . . . please Carol. . . don’t let them do this to me . . .

(ROGUE wakes up with a peal of terror. She wakes JUBILEE and KITTY.)

JUBILEE
Shit!!
(Fireworks crackle from her body.)

KITTY
Aaah!
(KITTY pops through the wall.)

JUBILEE
Whatthehell!

ROGUE
Professor Xavier . . . ah gotta see him.
(ROGUE runs out of the room.)

Scene Two; STORM’S Bedroom
(From behind STORM, we see her open her door onto the hallway. We do not see STORM’S face.)
(From inside her own bedroom KITTY pokes her head out through the wall, a ways down from STORM.)

KITTY
Rogue, wait!

STORM
What is this commotion? You girls aren’t having pillow fights are you? We cannot have Jubilee blowing holes in the furniture again . . .


JUBILEE
(Comes out of her room by opening her door.)
Umm? I’m so sure Ms. Munroe! Like I got nothing better to do than wreck furni-eep!
(JUBILEE sees STORM’s face. We still don’t.)
KITTY
Nothing like that Ms. Munroe-(gasps when she takes note of STORM’S face).


Scene Three-PROFESSOR XAVIER’S study.
(PROFESSOR XAVIER is here alone, ROGUE enters; breathless, panicked.)

ROGUE
Professor Xavier, it’s Logan, he’s in trouble, I don’t know what it is but I know it’s really bad--

XAVIER
And good morning to you as well.

ROGUE
(Exhales) Good morning Professor. Wolverine needs us, right now!

XAVIER
How do you know this, Rogue?

ROGUE
I . . .well . . . I dreamed it, but . . . it was real Professor ah swear!

XAVIER
I know better than to disbelieve matters of the mind, don’t worry. It may be you forged a psychic link when you borrowed Logan's powers a few months ago, and it is still remaining. Possibly you are receiving images which he is currently experiencing. If you’ll allow me, I'd like to eavesdrop on that . . .
(XAVIER concentrates, is about to place his hands aside ROGUE'S face. She jerks back.)

How foolish of me. I'm sorry Rogue, I wasn't thinking. I don't need to touch you to read your mind.


Scene Four; ROGUE’S Mind
(XAVIER enters the Nightmarish Laboratory. He is walking.)

VOICE OF PROTEUS
I hungerrrrr . . . .

(XAVIER slowly turns, terror gripping him. What he sees makes him yell with fear.)

Scene Five; Xavier’s Study
(XAVIER recoils in his wheelchair as if falling backwards from a standing position. Most of the wheelchair, however, dissolves into a cluster of floating blobs and XAVIER lands on the floor. Note that the metal frame of XAVIER’S wheelchair remains untouched.)
(ROGUE is confused as things around her begin to discorporate, turning into clouds of butterflies or melting into goo.)
(SCOTT and JEAN arrive.)
SCOTT
(Rushes to XAVIER on the floor.) Professor!

XAVIER
Rogue forgive me . . .
(XAVIER reaches out and renders ROGUE unconscious with his power.)

SCOTT
Jean, catch her.

(ROGUE falls.)

JEAN
Ahead of you on that, love.
(JEAN gestures and stops ROGUE’S body from hitting the floor with her telekinesis.)

XAVIER
Scott, take Jean and Storm and suit up. Logan is in trouble.
(JEAN reacts with interest, SCOTT notices.)

SCOTT
(Small grunt.) But what’s happening in here?

XAVIER
I don’t know Scott, but it seems the answers begin with Logan.

(STORM enters with KITTY, JUBILEE, and other young mutants trailing-name them BOBBY, DANI, PETER (a young but huge and muscular dark-haired boy) holding the hand of small, blond, 8-yr old ILLYANA. We only see STORM from behind. SCOTT and XAVIER look up as she enters.)

SCOTT
Ororo, good timing. Logan’s ass needs saving again-
(SCOOT gasps as he notices STORM’S face.)

STORM
Why is everyone doing that to me this morning?

XAVIER
Ororo, are you in any pain?

(Now we see STORM’S face. Her pupils are narrow and robin’s-egg blue.)

STORM
Why no, of course not.

XAVIER
Jean take Rogue back to her room, then join Scott in the jet, please. Jubilee, Kitty, watch after Rogue if you would. Ororo first I think a mirror, and then and a few moments of your time will explain some things.

"X-Men 2" Act Two

ACT TWO
Scene One; The X-Jet streaks across the Canadian landscape.
Scene Two; Jet Interior
(CYCLOPS pilots, STORM co-pilots, JEAN navigates.)

CYCLOPS
You certain you feel okay?

STORM
(Smiling.) That question is beginning to annoy me.

CYCLOPS
(Returning the smile.) It’s just that you look so . . . different.

STORM
They are just eyes, Cyclops.

JEAN
And the widow’s peak, Ororo. We’re not used to seeing that.

STORM
You would prefer I combed my hair down into bangs again?

CYCLOPS
Just want to make sure my team’s fit enough to handle whatever can put Wolverine in trouble.

JEAN
(After a beat.) If I didn’t know better, I’d say that sounded like you almost respected his abilities.

CYCLOPS
Yeah, I’m responsible like that. Okay, we have the base sighted. I’m going in on stealth mode. Storm . . . I think we won’t do the fog cover again. That proved to be as bad as a big black jet appearing over the horizon.
STORM
Why not land at a distance? I believe I can get us to the base a bit more stealthily than the jet or a bank of fog.

Scene Three; Mountain Pass clearing
(The X-Jet circles the Canadian base at a distance and lands.)

Scene Four; X-Jet exterior
(CYCLOPS, JEAN, and STORM disembark from the Jet.)

STORM
Jean if you can hold us together with your telekinesis I believe I can channel a jetstream to carry us.

JEAN
I thought you didn’t have that kind of control. You could smash us all into the mountains.

STORM
No . . . I'm feeling a greater affinity for the elements than I used to. Trust me.

(JEAN checks visually with CYCLOPS)

CYCLOPS
Are you sure Ororo? It’d be a shame coming this far just to end up a smear across the Canadian Rockies.

STORM
I am sure.

CYCLOPS
Okay Jean, you heard the lady. Brace us.

(JEAN concentrates, and STORM summons the wind. The three slowly lift. Gain acceleration, then rocket over the mountain range.)

Scene Five; Rogue’s bedroom
(JUBILEE and KITTY are reading various teen magazines.)

JUBILEE
Cho! BOR-ing!

(BOBBY, PETER, and little ILLYANA come in to check on ROGUE.)

BOBBY
How’s she doing?

JUBILEE
Oh, please, Bobby. Little Miss I’m-So-Important will live.

KITTY
Have a heart, Jubes. She’s been through a lot since coming here.

JUBILEE
She can take a number!

BOBBY
No need to go comparing battle scars.

ROGUE
(Waking) What happened?

KITTY
Don’t you remember?

ROGUE
Yeah, ah do. What’s the Professor going to do for Wolverine?

JUBILEE
Going to? Did. The teachers got sent as usual. Did Xavier ever consider sending one of us with? Or doesn’t he know some of our powers are just as good as theirs?

ROGUE
Where’d he send them?

BOBBY
Canada. To that funky base at Alkali Lake the Prof told him about when he left.

ROGUE
What about Fifth Avenue?

JUBILEE
Um, great shopping, cool museums, Central Park East, badass. What am I forgetting?

ROGUE
Unfinished business for Wolverine. (Begins to get out of bed.)

PETER
(Russian accent) Nyet, Rogue, you cannot go anywhere so soon.

ROGUE
Care to physically restrain me, Petey? Ah could use your powers to help me if ya want to try.

(They all step back from the bed as ROGUE gets up goes to her closet. She turns back to her friends.)

ROGUE
Ya’ll know ah wouldn’t hurt a hair on your heads, dontcha?

ILLYANA
I know you wou’int Marie! (Goes to hug ROGUE. PETER holds her back.)

ROGUE
(ROGUE looks profoundly sad, then squats to ILLYANA’S level.) Now you know ya can’t go touchin’ me or (ROGUE makes a scary face and suction noise.) Shhhlllp!!

(ILLYANA laughs.)

ROGUE
But you c’n hold onto this for me until I get back, okay? (Hands ILLYANA her teddy bear.)

ILLYANA
‘Kay!

JUBILEE
Where do you think you’re going?

ROGUE
Nuh-uh, sugah. What you don’t know, the Professor can’t read.

JUBILEE
Um, duh Rogue. Cerebro, hello? He found us all at one time, he can do it again.

ROGUE
I still get a little head start this way an’ you don’t get the guilts for ratting me out.


Scene Six; The Recesses of the Canadian Base
(STORM, CYCLOPS, and JEAN make their way through the base’s deserted corridor. Something ahead snarls.)

CYCLOPS
Jean, up ahead-what’s making that noise?

JEAN
I can’t get any organized thoughts from it. Just emotions . . . feral impressions. It must not be human.

CYCLOPS
Are we any closer to Wolverine?

JEAN
I can only scan so many things at once, hon-and I can’t determine distance.

CYCLOPS
Fair enough.
I don’t know how you two see the world, but I could use a little more light in here.
(Suddenly the corridor is lit from ball lightning dancing in STORM’S hand.)

CYCLOPS
You never could do that before.

STORM
I suppose this . . . my eyes, these new powers . . . I am still evolving. And you know-I believe that I like it.

JEAN
(Brief flash of sadness on JEAN’S face. Possibly jealousy. Then suddenly something she senses something) Heads up!

(A pack of wolves come into the corridor from both sides, surrounding them.)

JEAN
Dammit! How could I have missed them?

CYCLOPS
It’s okay, your concentration was too . . .

JEAN
No excuses, Scott. This is our asses on the line here. Unless you can shoot your optic blasts out of the back of your head, one of these wolves are going to get us.

STORM
Not necessarily. Cyclops, you handle the front. I will take the back. Jean, you may detain any stragglers.

CYCLOPS
There’s no open sky here to bring lightning down from, Storm.

STORM
I no longer need an open sky.
(STORM fans her fingers toward the rear corridor. Ball lightning encases her hands just before the electricity arcs out and blasts into the animals.)

CYCLOPS
Right.
Covering the front quarter.
(CYCLOPS pivots, dials his visor, and begins blasting the onrushing wolves.)

(JEAN successfully stops one wolf which escaped CYCLOPS’ blasts and CYCLOPS finishes it.)

CYCLOPS
Good job.
(They proceed and round a corner where, to their surprise, they find WOLVERINE huddled on the ground.)

STORM
Logan?

(CYCLOPS takes the lead, cautioning STORM and JEAN with a hand.)

CYCLOPS
Wolverine?

(CYCLOPS nears LOGAN, crouches and touches him tentatively.)

CYCLOPS
Logan, are you alr-

(LOGAN explodes with a shriek of terror and scrambles away from CYCLOPS. He goes cowering into a corner.)

JEAN
What’s . . . what is the matter with him? (JEAN approaches CYCLOPS and then goes beyond him towards LOGAN.)

(LOGAN looks like a hurt and scared. He snarls but the fear is raw on his face.)

STORM
Careful Jean. He is a cornered animal right now and very afraid.

JEAN
Meager as my talents are, Ororo, I can at least stop him if he charges. And after all, I am a telepa-!

(LOGAN charges, taking JEAN unaware. An optic blast from CYCLOPS knocks LOGAN unconscious.)

JEAN
Scott! (JEAN runs to LOGAN and cradles him. She gives an angry look back to SCOTT.)

CYCLOPS
What? You’d rather I let him tear out your throat?

JEAN
Logan would never do that to me.

CYCLOPS
(After a beat.) I’m glad you know him so well.

"X-Men 2" Act Three"

ACT THREE
Scene One; Professor Xavier’s Study
(XAVIER’S holding class for three of the youngest kids in the school. DANI is his teacher’s aid. It looks like kindergarten. ILLYANA is one of the three. Suddenly ILLYANA cries out in pain and falls to the ground, moaning. DANI runs to her, cradles her.)

DANI
Illyana what’s the matter?

(DANI inspects and find a scaly, rotted patch on ILLYANA’S arm.)

DANI
Professor, look at this! What is it?

XAVIER
I don’t know but it’s hurting her terribly.

JEAN’S TELEPATHIC VOICE
Professor, we’ve arrived safely back with Logan. He’s alive but . . . something’s wrong.

XAVIER’S TELEPATHIC VOICE
Meet us in the laboratory Jean.

Scene Two; The Medilab
(PETER, DANI, XAVIER, CYCLOPS and STORM are with ILLYANA, who is on an examination table. JEAN and a now-conscious LOGAN are off to one side. LOGAN still seems skittish, unsettled.)

JEAN
(Tenderly) Logan, what happened over the last few months?

(Logan remains withdrawn.)

You can talk to me, Logan. You’re among friends again.

LOGAN
Am I? I don’t know what to believe anymore Jeannie. Something’s wrong. It . . .it’s as if a part of me’s missing. As if I’ve gone blind or deaf. Something in me has shut down.

(They are joined by CYCLOPS and XAVIER.)

XAVIER
Logan, what did you find?

LOGAN
(Giving XAVIER a look.) Nothin’.

CYCLOPS
Something up there had you pretty spooked.

XAVIER
(Impatient.) Logan, here, let me . . . (reaches out with his telepathy)

LOGAN
No!! (LOGAN slaps his hand away.) Stay the hell outta my head!! (He pops his claws and prepares to impale XAVIER.)

(A small tornado whips LOGAN around and bashes him into a wall. He falls in a heap.)

DANI
Ms. Munroe, you could never . . !

STORM
“. . .do that before.” Yes I know.

CYCLOPS
Logan, what the hell’s the matter with you? You know the Professor’s trying to help you.

LOGAN
(More frightened than angry.) No I don’t . . . I don’t know anythin’ right now, I told you! I . . I’m worse off than I've ever been . . .

XAVIER
Whatever happened to you Logan, Rogue seems to have picked it up through the link she has with you. You found something-someone in that base, and somehow, she absorbed a brief sample of it’s power without even being in the same country as it was. Now I’m afraid that what she absorbed may have caused young Illyana’s illness.

PETER
Do you mean, like a contagion?

JEAN
I’m afraid so, Piotr. What’s happening to your sister is very like a virus, triggering her mutant chromosomes, causing a cancerform corruption. If we can’t isolate it . . . it could take her life.

STORM
If you cannot isolate it, could it not also spread?

XAVIER
Yes, it could.
You must tell me everything you’ve learned, Logan. And it would help if I could have Rogue down here with us-(brief moment of telepathy, then actual amusement) she’s gone again.

DANI
Now you know why she calls herself “Rogue”.

Scene Three; Fifth Avenue, New York City
(ROGUE climbs the steps of a colonial facade townhouse. It is on Central Park East, we can see the Park across the street. Aside each door is a brass plaque bearing the image of a pitchfork and flames.)

Scene Four; Hellfire Club Interior, Foyer
(ROGUE is admitted into the foyer where she’s greeted by a HOSTESS. All the decor is Early English as are the costumes on the hired help.)

ROGUE
Hi, I’ve an appointment? I was told to use the phrase, “Inner Circle.”

HOSTESS
Just a moment.

(HOSTESS departs. Moments later, a woman dressed in a black parlor maid’s uniform comes out and extends a hand in greeting.)

TESSA
Hello, Rogue. I am Tessa and I screen our third-level applicants.

(ROGUE, who is wearing her customary long gloves, returns the handshake.)

TESSA
(Smiles.) That’s all it took actually. You’ve qualified for the Inner Circle interview. Follow me please?

(TESSA leads ROGUE into the back corridors and through a secret wall panel, up a flight of stairs into the Inner Circle.)

Scene Five; Hellfire Club Interior, Inner Circle
(It looks very much like an eighteenth century courtroom, with a ceiling skylight. In the judge’s spot is Sebastion SHAW, the Black King. To his left and right are Jason WYNGARDE, The Black Bishop, and Donald PIERCE, the White Bishop. Next to Pierce is Emma FROST, the White Queen, and next to WYNGARDE is Carol DANVERS, the Black Queen. Their colonial dress implies their rank with all except crowns. FROST and DANVERS are wearing revealing laced bodices, fur lined capes, and thigh boots with stiletto heels.
(DANVERS is someone we’ve met before. She is the blond woman who was with LOGAN in the Opening’s Flashback scenes. She is different, however, age and experience taking it’s toll.)

SHAW
Greetings to the Hellfire Club. I am the Black King, flanking me are my Black and White Bishops, and my Black and White Queens.

ROGUE
(A bit timidly), What position are y’looking to fill-not a Pawn ah hope?

SHAW
(Laughs) No, my dear. We leave those slots open for humanity. As you’ve no doubt read in our literature, we espouse the ‘mutant politic’. This is something you are interested in?

ROGUE
Well I’ve tried the pro-active version of dealing with humanity. Cain’t say I liked it a whole lot.

SHAW
How so?

ROGUE
If y’all are about politics, then you should know about the near flash-frying of Ellis Island a few months back. A madman was using me as the fuse.

SHAW
Only Magneto was found when that was all over. You don’t mean him?

ROGUE
The one an’ the same.

SHAW
How ever did you survive?

ROGUE
Some friends helped me. Saved mah life really.

SHAW
Emma, who were these friends?

FROST
(Reads ROGUE’S mind, causing some pain to ROGUE.) Xavier’s people. This girl’s a student up at his school.

ROGUE
Rude! I’d have told you.

FROST
Sebastian, she has quite the agenda for coming here today.

SHAW
For us or against?

FROST
(Smiles slyly.) Come girl, confess. There are no secrets from the White Queen.

ROGUE
I . . . I have a friend that you all might know. His name is Wolverine. You gave him this (Produces LOGAN’s dogtags from a pocket.) . . . among other things.

DANVERS
Logan!

FROST
(Almost spitefully.) Yes, Logan. Seems he’s been out winning hearts again, Black Queen.

(DANVERS launches from her seat, literally flying, and hovers before ROGUE. She makes to snatch the dogtags but ROGUE steps back.)

DANVERS
Where’d you get those?

ROGUE
Why don’t we trade information? A piece from me for a piece from you. Logan only wants to know who he was before you . . . experimented on him.

DANVERS
Oh there will be a piece taken from you, alright!

PIERCE
(To WYNGARDE) Are you going to let your Queen maul our new applicant?

WYNGARDE
Well, there is the matter of an entrance fee.

ROGUE
(Stripping off her gloves easily, which are velcroed on.)
(To DANVERS,) Ah wouldn’t if ah were you.

Scene Six; Hellfire Club Exterior, Fifth Avenue
(The Xavier Bentley arrives and parks across the street from the club, on the Park side.
(Inside are SCOTT, ORORO, JEAN and LOGAN.)

SCOTT
Ororo, we’ll need you to stay here. We may need a powerhouse to bail us out.
Logan, can we be sure Rogue picked up the name “Hellfire Club” from your subconscious memories?

LOGAN
(Subdued, as if dreading) I dunno, bub, that’s why they call it a subconscious. I can only go by what Charley said when I finally let him into my head. But I do know this . . . they’re mutants. Just like us. Knowing that, I don’t even care why they did this to me as much as how. How could they run experiments . . . (voice begins to reflect his hurt) . . . torture . . . their own kind?

ORORO
You sound as though you've forgotten something, Logan. We're all human, but humans have been doing this to one another since ever they crawled out of the primordial ooze.

SCOTT
And now they’ve got Rogue. Let’s move out.

(SCOTT, JEAN, and LOGAN move across the street to the Club. ORORO gets out of the car and stands on the sidewalk. She doesn’t notice a flash of pink light and a puff of dark smoke behind Central Park’s wall. In that cloud of smoke, we see two glowing yellow eyes gazing at her.)
(She does, however sniff something pungent in the air.)


Scene Seven; Hellfire Club Interior, Foyer
(SCOTT is stopped in the foyer by the HOSTESS. LOGAN seems almost timid in the background.)

HOSTESS
May I help you sir?

SCOTT
Yes, we’re here looking for a female friend of ours. A little shorter than me, medium-length brown hair with a thick white streak in the middle.

HOSTESS
Ah, I’m sorry sir, the Club has a strict policy of confidentiality. I couldn’t confirm or deny anyone who may have entered today.

JEAN
(Reading HOSTESS’ mind.) She’s seen her, Scott.

HOSTESS
(Surprised, then blows the whistle which hangs around her neck.)

SCOTT
Hey lady, we’re not looking for any trouble, we just want . . .
(Several modern-looking, sleek-suited soldiers enter the foyer coming through sliding wall panels, holding technological rifle-weapons.
(They make the first move, shooting LOGAN. The shot throws him into the wall but he is not knocked out. However, he only remains crouching, almost cowering.)
(JEAN uses her TK to throw off the aim of the remaining soldiers’ guns and SCOTT blasts them back into the walls with his optic blasts.)
(An immensely fat man enters the foyer, dressed in colonial wear, and raises his hand.)
(JEAN, SCOTT, and LOGAN are suddenly flattened to the ground. SCOTT cannot even lift his head or his arm to use his visor.)

FAT MAN
I’m Harry Leland. If you continue to struggle, I’ll make you so heavy your bones will crush.

JEAN
(Telepathically into LOGAN's mind) Logan-your bones are unbreakable-can you-fight against-him-?

LOGAN
(We here his rambling, panicked thoughts reflecting the look on his strained face) I’ve got to get out of here . . . they’re going to . . . I can’t let them do this to me again . . !

Scene Eight; Hellfire Club Interior, Inner Circle
(ROGUE is doing her best to escape The Black Queen, DANVERS, who can not only fly but is super strong, as shown by DANVERS’ ability to crush and throw slabs of courtroom furniture at ROGUE. Finally ROGUE rolls forward under the thrown objects, closing in on DANVERS, and plants her bare palms against DANVERS’ exposed skin. DANVERS hasn’t even a chance to scream as she falls.)

Scene Nine; Hellfire Club Interior, Foyer
(The guards are trained on SCOTT, JEAN, and LOGAN again as they remain flattened to the floor. LELAND stands over them, using his power. TESSA rushes in.)

TESSA
Harry, bring them, quickly.

Scene Ten; Hellfire Club Interior, Inner Circle
(At techno-rifle point, SCOTT, JEAN, and LOGAN are brought into the Inner Circle courtroom. SHAW, WYNGARDE, and FROST are standing in the midst of the fight debris, PIERCE remains seated in the judges’ chairs.)

SCOTT
(Whispering.) Jean, call Storm.

JEAN
(Whispering.) Something is blocking my telepathy.

FROST
That would be me, Ms. Grey. No need to whisper. To me, your thoughts are like shouts.

LOGAN
(Sees past the Hellfire members and into the rubble of ROGUE’S fight behind them.)
No!
(LOGAN tries to rush past the Members but LELAND drives him to his knees. LOGAN fights and is able to crawl to where ROGUE stands petrified, and DANVERS is laying still with her eyes open.)
(LOGAN crawls past ROGUE to cradle DANVERS body as ROGUE looks on.)
She isn’t breathing. She’s not breathing! What have you bastards done to her?!!

SHAW
Wasn’t us, Logan. It was your young friend there.

LOGAN
No! It was you-fifteen years ago-whatever you did to make her stay with you-you as good as killed her back then!

ROGUE
(No trace of her Mississipian accent, she sounds like a different person.) Logan, you knew it was always a matter of finding out how to best survive in a world that hated us. I joined them because The Hellfire Club offered what we were looking for-that best way.

LOGAN
(Pops his claws as he addresses ROGUE, without seeming to realize who he is speaking to.)
You call this (his claws) the best way, Carol? Leaving me . . . to them . . . was the best way?

SCOTT
(Giving a poignant look at LOGAN and what he’s experiencing.)
(JEAN leaves SCOTT’s side and goes to LOGAN.)

JEAN
Logan, we’re here-we won’t leave you behind. Not like this. You aren’t in the past anymore. That’s Rogue, Logan. It isn’t . . . Carol . . . it's Rogue.

FROST
True, but what you hear is the memory-the personality if you will-of the woman she just killed.

ROGUE
(Blinking, ROGUE comes back to herself and realizes what FROST has just said. She sees DANVERS’ lifeless body in LOGAN’S arms.)
(With a shriek of terror, she launches into the air and through the ceiling skylight.)

Scene Eleven; Hellfire Club Exterior, Fifth Avenue
(ORORO sees ROGUE bash through the Hellfire Club’s roof and hears her scream. ORORO lifts her arms and whooshes herself up into the sky after ROGUE on a tight wind. ORORO catches up to a hovering ROGUE.)

ROGUE
I really did it this time, Ms. Munroe . . . I really did it . . . I . . . killed her . . . I killed her!
(Breaks down sobbing.)

(ORORO can only look. She reaches to hold ROGUE and comfort her, but she knows she cannot.)

Scene Twelve; Hellfire Club Interior, Inner Circle

SHAW
You can tell your young murdering friend that her application has been formally denied.

WYNGARDE
Although we do have a sudden new opening for a Black Queen. (Eyes Jean hungrily.)

SCOTT
Look, I’m . . . sorry for what happened here, but Rogue came looking for answers to what you people did to Logan fifteen years ago.

FROST
Now that she’s sucked Carol Danvers’ brain dry, you’ll find she has all the answers Logan will ever need. That is, if you can restore enough of the little skunk's sanity to get a coherent response.

SHAW
Which is nothing compared to the price we have paid for your answers. I want you out of my court, X-Men. Your debt will be settled at a later date, rest assured.

(JEAN coaxes LOGAN away from DANVERS’ body. He enfolds her, full of hurt, needing comfort. JEAN gives it.)

SCOTT
Let’s go Jean. We’re done here.

(SCOTT leads JEAN, who is supporting LOGAN, out of the courtroom.)
(TESSA closes the door behind them.)

SHAW
(To TESSA) Do you still retain their mutant signatures?

TESSA
Like a sweet memory, my Black King.

SHAW
Attend the White Bishop then, Black Knight.

(TESSA approaches the bench, PIERCE stands in his seat and glowers down at her. He raises his arms and cybernetic tendrils extend from his arms, wrapping TESSA’S head. Bioelectric charges snake along the tendrils and PIERCE receives “messages” from TESSA.)
(GAMBIT appears from the side chambers, dressed in white colonial array.)

GAMBIT
Shaw, you don’ really plan to do any spite to the X-Men, do ya?

SHAW
They have drawn first blood, White Knight.

GAMBIT
It was an accident. You know that girl had no control.

SHAW
A long time ago, Remy, when I crushed your pickpocketing hand in New Orleans, I told you that we are all responsible for our own actions.

GAMBIT
She was bein’ used, Shaw, an’ you know that. You as much as fed the Black Queen to her!

WYNGARDE
You sacrifice a piece for a new vantage. Have you learned nothing while being with us?

GAMBIT
(Resentful.) Yeh. Mebbe too much.

PIERCE
(Withdraws his cybernetic tendrils from around TESSA’S head.) I have what I need Shaw.

SHAW
Then let us begin.

"X-Men 2" Act Four

ACT FOUR
Scene One; Xavier Institute Interior, Medilab.
(ORORO has returned to the Medilab, finding a new person has arrived who is standing with XAVIER and PETER. She is a smallish woman, short, straight brown hair, round-rim glasses, speaking with an Irish brogue-this is Dr. Moira MacTAGGART. Also, ILLYANA’s condition has worsened, the “infection” has spread across her upper body.)

ORORO
Dr. MacTaggart! I’m so glad you could join us.

MacTAGGART
Storm. I understand your powers have b’come more acute?

ORORO
And not mine only. Professor . . . Rogue has . . . there’s been a terrible accident and Rogue killed one of the mutants of the Hellfire Club. She insists that it was only a brief touch and then-it was all over.

XAVIER
(Pauses for a beat.) Which one was it.

ORORO
I’m sorry? You know them?

XAVIER
They have made . . . offers in the past for my membership.

ORORO
It was Carol Danvers, their Black Queen. Who are they Professor? If we would’ve known we were facing dangerous mutants we could have been better prepared.

XAVIER
I don’t know the Hellfire Club to be overtly aggressive, Ororo. Subtlety is more their strength. I wasn’t as concerned for your welfare as much as I am for Illyana.

(We see ILLYANA’S prone body.)

Scene Two; Mansion Interior, Large stark metal room.
(A door opens and LOGAN enters. SCOTT is just behind him. He also enters and closes the door behind them, sealing them in. Scott crosses the room, leaving LOGAN by the exit.)

LOGAN
(Subdued.) What is this, Cyke? What’d you bring me here for?

SCOTT
Consider this a debriefing. I want you to tell me what the hell you thought you were doing back there?

LOGAN
(We seem to see LOGAN’S age weighing on him here.) You petty-ass little boy. Is this about Jean, again?

SCOTT
(Laughs to himself.)
(SCOTT lets go a small optic blast which tags LOGAN in the shoulder, spinning him around and landing him on his knees. The pain forces him to growl, but his face looks more hurt than angry.)

It’s about the team, Logan. We needed you back there. In case you hadn’t noticed, the Hellfire Club handed us our heads.

(SCOTT looses another blast, slamming LOGAN against the metal wall.)

SCOTT
(To the air) Activate protocol Summers-Alpha. Bypass target Scott Summers.

(Suddenly metal tendrils whip from the ceiling to ensnare LOGAN and suspend him. LOGAN hangs helplessly, seeming to be defeated already.)

What a waste it was to go to Canada and get you.

(SCOTT discharges a small blast which pongs off LOGAN, swinging him in the air.)

All you’ve ever cost this school was a lot of heartache.

(SCOTT discharges another small blast which pongs off LOGAN, swinging him in the air.)
(LOGAN cries out in pain, but the sound is more like despair.)

If you can’t get your shit together Wolverine, then steal my motorcycle again and get the hell out of the mansion.

(SCOTT discharges another small blast which pongs off LOGAN, swinging him in the air again.)

LOGAN
Damn you, leave me alone! You don’t understand!

(LOGAN has had enough. He unleashes his claws and goes berserk on the tendrils.)

NOBODY FUCKING UNDERSTANDS ME!!

(LOGAN frees himself, leaping to the ground.)

SCOTT
Activate Summers protocol Beta.

(A metal firewall slides in place to stop LOGAN. LOGAN slices through the wall and advances on SCOTT.)

Activate Summers protocol Delta

(A few robots clatter into the room from sidewall panels. LOGAN beheads them as they reach him and he continues advancing. Nothing seems to stop LOGAN, he is all snarls and fury, a primal, terrifying force.)
(When he reaches SCOTT, LOGAN plunges his claws into SCOTT’S stomach. JEAN’S voice cries out over the speaker system.)

JEAN
NOO!!

SCOTT
(SCOTT is wrapped around LOGAN’s fist.) Hhrnnn . . .

Scene Three; Mansion Interior, Danger Room Control Booth
(JEAN is listening to SCOTT’S voice coming from the speakers.)

SCOTT’S VOICE
No Jean . . . it’s okay. He didn’t . . .

Scene Four; Mansion Interior, Danger Room
(SCOTT trying to straighten up from LOGAN’s blow.)

SCOTT
. . . didn't. . . use his . . . claws . . .(coughs)

(LOGAN steps back, huffing with his exertion. The claws had been withdrawn in the nick of time. SCOTT falls to his knees, though. LOGAN’s punch evidently hurt.)

Welcome back . . .Wolverine. For better or . . . worse.
And . . . don’t think . . . no one knows what you’re going . . . through. We both know it doesn’t matter . . . one damn . . . what society thinks of us.
Its what . . .our family thinks of us . . . whatever family we manage to get along the way.
It’s all about losing that love.

Scene Five; Mansion Interior, Danger Room Control Booth.
(JEAN listens to SCOTT’s voice and realizes he’s speaking to her.)

SCOTT’S VOICE
. . .Or about losing the love of the one woman who has ever really known you.
It hurts like hell opened up and swallowed you. It hurts.
But family will always be there to help you pick the pieces up Logan.

Scene Six; Mansion Interior, Danger Room.
(LOGAN stands over SCOTT as SCOTT finishes his statement.)

SCOTT
We weren’t created just to shelter only young, lost new mutants like Rogue, Logan. We’re your family too.
If you want us to be.

(SCOTT offers his hand, still in pain. LOGAN takes it and helps him up.)
(LOGAN has gained a new respect for Scott. We also see by his posture that LOGAN has regained himself-his confidence and his personality.)

LOGAN
You really are a dick.
(LOGAN clamps SCOTT in a buddy hug.)
(SCOTT winces in pain, his gut still hurts.)

Scene Seven; Mansion Interior, Nighttime, ORORO’S Bedroom
(ORORO is sleeping.)
(Nearing her bed is a FIGURE cloaked in shadows. All we can see are the eyes, which are yellow.)
(ORORO reacts, lancing a bolt of lightning from her hand.)
(The FIGURE disappears in a puff of smoke. The stench makes ORORO gag. The FIGURE appears in another puff of smoke, clinging to the ceiling .)

FIGURE
You have nothing to fear, beauteous damsel, from a mere admirer.

Scene Eight; Mansion Interior, Nighttime, SCOTT and JEAN’s Bedroom
(SCOTT is on the bed, shirtless, his ribs taped. JEAN is in the bathroom with the door closed.)

JEAN (From inside the bathroom)
Scott, are you sure you’re okay?

SCOTT
No, it hurts. Fair warning-it’ll take me forever to get to sleep tonight.

JEAN
(Comes from the bathroom wearing a sexy red negligee. Her voice is almost a purr.) Damn right it will.
(Approaches the bed.)
Scott, I think there’s something you need to know.
I made a promise to you a while ago and I have no intention on breaking it, no matter who comes to this school. Logan may need us, but Scott . . . I know that you need me.

SCOTT
(While his emotions are welling, we hear SCOTT’s dependance.) Ah, God . . . I do Jean..

JEAN
(Sits on the bed, places a finger to his lips.)
And I need you. I need your inner strength and your courage. You bring stability to my life that I’ve never had. Never.
I’m not letting that go for some hairy Canadian with an attitude problem.
Do you hear me?

SCOTT
Yes Jean. Loud and clear. Ow! Watch out for the ribs!

JEAN
No, you watch out for them.
(JEAN places her hands on the bandages. There is a warm glow, SCOTT hisses with pain, then with sensation.)

SCOTT
(Amazed. SCOTT prods his own ribs. The pain is gone.)
Jean . . . what’ve you done?

JEAN
Just a little first aid.

SCOTT
But how . . .

JEAN
Shh. Now, let me see your eyes.
(Jean begins to remove the ruby Oakleys.)

SCOTT
Jean! Are you crazy-! (Catches her hands.)

JEAN
I said hush. (With a little concentration, JEAN causes SCOTT’S hands to flutter away.)
(She removes the glasses.)

SCOTT
(SCOTT’s eyes are red, boiling with energy. Slowly they go solid, then normal, with brown pupils.)
(SCOTT looks at her like a newborn.)

Oh my God. Jean. How are you doing this?

JEAN
I guess it’s my turn to evolve.
(JEAN crushes SCOTT in an passionate, deep kiss.)

Scene Nine; Mansion Interior, Nighttime, LOGAN’s bedroom
(Smoke alarms go off, waking LOGAN.)
(He jumps out of bed, stalks out of his room using his nose to lead him down the stairs and into the living room.)

Scene Ten; Mansion Interior, Nighttime, Downstairs Livingroom
(LOGAN finds STORM suited up in the living room, summoning wind to clear away the smoke which had billowed around their guest--The FIGURE-who is now in the light. It is a slim being, blue-black with a velvety fur covering him. His teeth are fanged, his hair curly, his ears pointed. Twitching behind him is a shimmery tail ending in a spade-like point.)

LOGAN
What the hell is that?

STORM
Logan, allow me to introduce Kurt Wagner. He likes to be called Nightcrawler.

LOGAN
I wonder why.

(NIGHTCRAWLER disappears in a black explosion of smoke and appears before LOGAN in another explosion, extending a two-fingered-one-thumbed hand to shake.)

NIGHTCRAWLER
Schon nacht, Herr Logan.

LOGAN
(A cough wracks LOGAN. He pops his claws instinctively. NIGHTCRAWLER hops back.)

NIGHTCRAWLER
(NIGHTCRAWLER backflips to his original position in the living room beside STORM.) I’m terribly sorry, Logan. I should think before I act-I know my appearance could tend to . . . startle people.

LOGAN
(Fanning the air) It ain’t that--those smoke bombs of yours stink like hell. Literally.

NIGHTCRAWLER
(Smiling at the metaphor. Fangs glistening.) Just so. As I was telling your associate, the perfect Storm here, I’ve been watching the Hellfire Club for some time now.

LOGAN
We don’t want no part of the Hellfire Club.

STORM
It’s much more than that, Logan. Kurt, tell him.

NIGHTCRAWLER
Ah, yes. You see, I represent a faction of mutants the world doesn’t normally come into contact with, that is, if we can help it. And we have found out something about the Hellfire Club that should very much interest you.

STORM
He was going to take me to his people and explain more fully.

LOGAN
Are you crazy? You can’t just go off somewhere in the middle of the night with some guy who looks like he escaped from Dante’s Inferno.

NIGHTCRAWLER
Ah ah, Logan. Haven’t you learned yet not to judge a book by it’s cover?

LOGAN
(Speechless for a beat.) Then I’m coming with you. Gimme a minute to get my suit on.

STORM
Oh really? Willingly?

LOGAN
Everybody’s a comedian in this damn place.

Scene Eleven; Mansion Interior, Night, Medilab(XAVIER and MacTAGGART are keeping a late night vigil over ILLYANA. PETER is also there, napping by her bedside.)
(An alarm goes off, PETER awakes. The monitors hooked up to ILLYANA’s ravaged body indicate that she has just died. MacTAGGART does her best to revive ILLYANA, but it is no use. PETER collapses across her body, wracked with grief.
(In slow motion, ROGUE’S teddy bear falls to the ground.)

MacTAGGART
We have to begin testing everyone in the mansion, Charles. See if ennyone else has this damned disease afore it’s too late.

XAVIER
It already is. (XAVIER’S eyes start to glow. His voice becomes deep, resonant-we’ve heard it before-it is PROTEUS.)

(The mist that is PROTEUS seeps from XAVIER’s body and enters into MacTAGGART.)
(MacTAGGART/PROTEUS cackles as her eyes go white, and reality begins bending and warping around her. XAVIER and PETER begin screaming.)

Scene Twelve, Mansion Interior, SCOTT and JEAN’s Bedroom.
(SCOTT and JEAN are basking in a literal afterglow. JEAN suddenly seems to sense something. She sits up, naked.)

SCOTT
What is it?

JEAN
I think it’s an intruder . . . the images are all jumbled. Wait here.
(Gets out of bed, goes to the door, still nude.)

SCOTT
Hey, you can’t go out there like that!

(JEAN turns, grins. Then with a flourish, visual energy shaped like a flamebird enfolds her, “costuming” her, covering up her nudity.)


Scene Thirteen; Mansion Interior, Nighttime, Downstairs Hallway below the stairs
(ROGUE is crouched by a phone which she cradles against her ear.)

ROGUE
(Her voice again has no Mississippian accent.) Gambit it’s me. You have to come and get me . . . something’s wrong with my body. I’m in Xavier’s mansion.

(The energy talons of a flamebird reach into the scene and snips the phone wire.)
(ROGUE looks up and recoils.)
(In midair, descending slowly from the stair balcony, is JEAN with the flamebird effect shrouding her. Her eyes are flame.)

ROGUE
Get the hell away from me! What are you?!

JEAN
You know me, Marie. I’m Jean.

ROGUE
No you’re not and my name is not Marie! Why the hell does everyone call me that?! I’m Carol! Carol Danvers, dammit!

(The commotion has students all coming around to investigate. JEAN and ROGUE have gained an audience. In their eyes we see awe at what JEAN has become. JUBILEE comments “Like WHAT the HELL is happening to everyone around here, okay?”)

JEAN
(To ROGUE) No honey, you aren’t. You’re a girl named Rogue. Listen to me . . .

ROGUE
NO!

JEAN
(A beat.) Rogue hurt you, Carol. She didn’t mean it. She killed you. Now, you’re a memory, hon. A memory of a woman who needs to move on.

(ROGUE launches into the air, seizing the bannister and tearing it free for a weapon.)

ROGUE
I’m the Black Queen! I’m Carol!
Rogue couldn’t do this!

JEAN
Well obviously she can now.

(Grabs and holds ROGUE with one firebird talon and affects ROGUE’S consciousness with the other.)

Sorry, Carol, but there only ought to be one person in there at a time.

(What PHOENIX does causes ROGUE to go unconscious.)
(JEAN remains in the air , on the same level with the upstairs railing, with the flamebird manifestation holding ROGUE’S unconscious body.)
(SCOTT approaches the broken bannister. He is level with the floating JEAN. He has replaced his ruby Oakleys. They can’t hide his fear as he witnesses the change in JEAN.)

SCOTT
Jean . . . what is happening to you?

(Downstairs, the elevator to the belowground laboratories slowly opens. PETER is carrying an unconscious XAVIER. PETER is now a steel-skinned giant. Carrying XAVIER is no problem for him, but he looks drained. He stumbles forward.)

PETER
Comrade Summers . . . Illyana is dead . . .and Dr. MacTaggart has . . . has been . . !

(PETER turns back to flesh and collapses with XAVIER.)

(The whole mansion begins to tremble as if there is an earthquake.)

Scene Fourteen; Mansion Interior, Montage
(Students all over the mansion are quaking in the tremors, and panicking. Powers are going off everywhere.)

Scene Fifteen; Mansion Interior, Hallway
SCOTT
Jean, can you sense what’s happening?

JEAN
There’s no intelligence behind it, Scott- not for miles around. It must be an earthquake!

SCOTT
(To the students around them.) Everybody, get into the sub-levels NOW! And I emphasize: NO heroics!

Scene Sixteen; Mansion Interior, Various
(The students scramble. We see KITTY using her power to take others with her through the floors.)
Scene Seventeen; Mansion Exterior, overhead.
(Six SENTINELS come down on boot jets. Each one is about twenty feet tall. The rumbling bass of their bootjets are causing the tremors.)
Scene Eighteen, Mansion Interior, Hallway.
(The ceiling crashes in and a massive metal hand reaches down.)
(JEAN stops the rain of all debris with her left telekinetic flamewing. With the other flamewing, she releases ROGUE and attempts to hold the giant mechanical hand back.)
(SCOTT blasts at the hand with his optic blast. Pieces of the hand dislodge, but it is not enough. More of the roof collapses over SCOTT. JEAN uses her other TK wing to shield SCOTT, leaving the giant hand free to blast her with a ray of power out of its’ palm. She falls, and so does the rest of the debris. SCOTT, XAVIER, PETER and ROGUE are buried in rubble.)
(Standing staring down into the broken open ceiling are the SENTINELS.)

SENTINEL #1
(Booming metallic voice) Targets Four of Six sighted and suppressed.

SENTINEL #2
Acquire the available Four targets. Relay for further initiatives.

Scene Nineteen; Mansion Exterior, The SENTINELS
(The eyes go red on one SENTINEL. That one speaks.)

SENTINEL #6
Targets Four of Six acquired. Genoscan for remaining two reads negative within a minimum five mile radius. Waiting for initiatives.

Scene Twenty; Unknown Control Station.
(PIERCE is fully plugged into a bank of controls by the tendrils that come out of his own skin.)

PIERCE
Bring who you have back to us Sentinel Six. We’ll worry about the missing two later.

Scene Twenty-One; Mansion Interior
(Four of the SENTINELS unspool their capture coils and each pick up a victim; SCOTT, ROGUE, XAVIER, and JEAN.)
Scene Twenty-Two; Mansion Exterior, the SENTINELS
(Each SENTINEL places their captive into their transparent chest cavity, self-seals them in, then launches off into the night.)

"X-Men 2" Act Five

ACT FIVE
Scene One; Underground In Brickwork tunnels.
(STORM and WOLVERINE are following NIGHTCRAWLER, who continues to disappear in the shadows ahead of them.)

WOLVERINE
Good thing you got a distinctive smell, elf, or I’d think you was tryin’ to ditch us.

NIGHTCRAWLER
Just the opposite Wolverine. I can’t help what shadow does to my body, but I am with you all the way.

Scene Two; The Tunnel opens to a large cavern of Brickwork with many levels.
(NIGHTCRAWLER leads WOLVERINE and STORM in. They discover themselves surrounded by several small shapes and hulking large ones, which stand behind the bannisters of these different walkway levels. We get glimpses of disfigurements, multicolored skins, odd limb placements, extra or missing organs.)
(WOLVERINE and STORM are led to the center court, where sits CALISTO, a thin, haggard woman with an eye patch.)

CALISTO
Nightcrawler what y’ be bringing me?

NIGHTCRAWLER
A gift, Calisto. A new friend.

CALISTO
I’z usually sure it’s me what lead the Morlocks. Was me who say what come and what go.

NIGHTCRAWLER
But Calisto, my maiden, I tried to explain to you how serious the Hellfire Club situation is. We cannot afford to ignore it any longer.

CALISTO
(Leaps from her seat and roundhouse-kicks NIGHTCRAWLER to the ground.)

(WOLVERINE gets between NIGHTCRAWLER and CALISTO who does a martial kick and sends WOLVERINE flying backwards. He lands to the ground, rolls, unsheathes the claws, and is ready for a tussle.)
(Another FIGURE detaches from the rabble overhead and blocks WOLVERINE from CALISTO)
(This FIGURE is very near the shape of a gorilla. It is huge and blue and it’s fur is far more shaggier than NIGHTCRAWLER’S. It has a male voice which is surprisingly smooth and well-dictioned.)

FIGURE
Now see here my impetuous little friend with your sextet of phalli . . . has your mother never taught you manners when you pass through the doorpost of your neighbor’s demesne? First, introductions are in order. I’m the Beast. The hundred or so misfit mutants virtually surrounding you are the Morlocks. You will need to beat us all before you will reach Calisto.

WOLVERINE
Actually, I din’t have anything else on the agenda for tonight.

BEAST
But we do. Multitudinous activities. Now play by our rules or we’ll send you home in a shopping bag.

STORM
Calisto, tell me why Nightcrawler brought us here. Is there some way we can help?

CALISTO
Lookit she pretty uplander want to help us poor muck-dwelling Morlocks. It sweet, don’t it?

(The tiers of MORLOCKS jeer and caw around them.)

(STORM begins to feel the turning tide against her. The close ceiling and the atmosphere, the horrific faces of some who peer out from the shadows above begin to make her extremely uncomfortable . . . almost frightened.)

STORM
Very well, Calisto. If you feel the need to treat this and these people here like some tribe of animals, that is your prerogative. My friend and I will leave you to it.

NIGHTCRAWLER
Storm, please no, please don’t leave . . .

CALISTO
Hai! (Leaps to attack NIGHTCRAWLER again.) Is who you beggin’ Nightcrawler?

(A wind tumbles CALISTO in place, created by STORM’s hand. CALISTO does not reach NIGHTCRAWLER this time)

STORM
You wait until we leave, woman. I will not again stand idly by while you mistreat these people.

(The wind suddenly dies away. STORM doesn’t not understand how. At her feet, a misshapen little green boy stares up at her.)

GREEN BOY
Leech no want you hurt mama.

CALISTO
(Landing back to the ground, free from the wind drafts, CALISTO lashes STORM across the face with a backhand blow.)

WOLVERINE
Alright, dammit, that’s it! (Charges BEAST.)

(BEAST is as acrobatic as he is loquacious. He leaps and clamps the overhead pipes with his toes. From that vantage point he swings WOLVERINE into the air, disorienting him. Then after series of blows while WOLVERINE is midair, BEAST slams WOLVERINE to the hard brick floor. WOLVERINE is unconscious.)

CALISTO
(To STORM) News for you, sweet-meat. That there Leech. He meant to make it a level field tween me an you. See, I don’t fit into the upworld, but ain’t cause me am any mutant. Hahah! Ya face! Look how it crease so! Right, I is no mutant, but I rule the Morlocks-and I is the one thing stand between their hatred of yuh pretty-pretty.

NIGHTCRAWLER
Calisto please, no disrespect was meant by bringing her here. If you would only please . .

STORM
(Giving herself some room.)
Calisto. If it is an equal match you are looking for, then let us do this . . . I am from Africa, I know something about neighboring tribes. Let me challenge you, fair to fair. If you win, we leave and never trouble your realm again. If I win, you let Nightcrawler speak his peace and grant him his wish.

CALISTO
OHAHAHAH!! M’pretty-pretty ya do know a thing or three!

(CALISTO unbuckles a hip holster, and tosses one of two machetes to STORM.)

I will even take the small of the two . . . and spit your head ‘pon I’s blade--go make a pillow of that fine fine cotton-so hair!

(The two square off in the court, which now seems to STORM to have been designed as a perfect arena. Above them, the MORLOCKS cheer.)

Scene Three; A Courtyard of flowers, wreathing a gazebo.
(The sky is unseen, as is anything beyond the courtyard. This has a very unreal quality to it. Sitting in the gazebo is JEAN. She is dressed in eighteenth century noblewoman clothing. Her hair is done up in a colonial coif.)
(Jason WYNGARDE comes into the courtyard, joins her in the gazebo.)

WYNGARDE
Lady Grey. How are you this fine morning?

JEAN
Confused, sir. Where am I? Where is this place?

WYNGARDE
Why, this is your estate, Lady Grey. Do you not recognize your own rolling meadows and lush farmland?

JEAN
I have an estate?

WYNGARDE
Of course you do. You are a very powerful woman in this country. The very power your heart has always longed for, you have achieved it, my Lady.

JEAN
I have?

WYNGARDE
You will never go hungry again, milady. Never begging scraps of sustenance from miserly tyrants such as Xavier. You are your own woman now.

JEAN
I am? (A wicked grin splits JEAN’S face.) I am!

(The flamebird signature of her power flares from her, consuming the gazebo and WYNGARDE.)
(The flamebird’s fire consumes all the unrealness of the courtyard, leaving only reality.)

Scene Four; The SENTINEL Bay.
(JEAN is a living prisoner in the chest cavity of a SENTINEL. WYNGARDE is in the same SENTINEL, only he is free. Her power has flushed his illusion away.)

WYNGARDE
Pierce! Shut her down!
(PIERCE is still linked with the SENTINELS.)

PIERCE
Idealistic simpleton.
(PIERCE only has to gesture in virtual space and the suppression of JEAN occurs within her SENTINEL.)
(The flamebird signature dies out.)

SCOTT
Jean!

(This large vaulted chamber contains the six SENTINELS, four of them each containing XAVIER, ROGUE, SCOTT, and JEAN. They are all conscious. On a suspended surrounding ramp is SHAW, FROST, LELAND, TESSA, and GAMBIT.)

SHAW
She is fine, Cyclops. Evidently we cannot afford to let her powers out of their cage for too long.

WYNGARDE
But she is weakening, Mr. Summers. This time when I started my illusory landscape, she didn’t know where she was.

SCOTT
Just leave her alone you son of a bitch!

WYNGARDE
Oh, no no. I told you before, we need a new Black Queen. Power like hers is too exquisite to relinquish.

ROGUE
Ah’m the one who killed your Black Queen, why don’t you take me? Or do you only need a brainwashed mutant to fill that role?

SHAW
Everyone wants to believe poor dead Carol joined us against her will. Carol wasn’t a fool. She knew that anyone privileged enough to become one of us would finally know true safety.
But to extend that privilege to a swamp-rat like you and risk you accidentally stealing any more of our lives? I think not.

XAVIER
What I hope is that you aren’t holding us here out of any intention of safeguarding your lives against Proteus. Proteus doesn’t care what mutant he consumes. He’ll go through us easily to get to you.

SCOTT
Who is Proteus?


XAVIER
Proteus is what Logan found up at Akali Lake, along with clues to his own past. Proteus is a mutant who can warp the very fabric of reality. It seems the Hellfire Club has been keeping Proteus prisoner there all these years, and he has one hell of a vendetta he wants to settle with them.

SHAW
How do you know all this Xavier?

XAVIER
I was Proteus’ host for the last thirty-six hours. When it tried to possess Logan in Canada it found itself severely wounded in it’s weakened state.

Scene Five; (As XAVIER voiceovers, superimpose the possession scene of WOLVERINE in the OPENING ACT, Scene Seven. Extend the scene to show PROTEUS’ mist form fleeing WOLVERINE immediately after GAMBIT escapes.)

XAVIER
You people knew that would happen--that’s why you coated Logan’s skeleton with adamantium fifteen years ago, to make him the perfect weapon against Proteus. Any metal is anathema to Proteus--adamantium even moreso.

But when Proteus nearly perished inside Logan, he was able to escape through the mental link Logan shares with Rogue.

Scene Six; As XAVIER voiceovers, superimpose ROGUE’S dream in ACT ONE, Scene One.

XAVIER
When he found it was me who would be of most benefit to him, he quickly took me over.

Scene Seven; As XAVIER voiceovers, superimpose Xavier in ROGUE’S mind, ACT ONE, Scene Four.)

XAVIER
Eventually he would have consumed me, but after taking me, he discovered I was the only one who could help him get Dr. MacTaggart to come to the school. So he accelerated Rogue, Storm, and Jean’s powers in order to make an excuse for "me" to invite my old collegue to come.

But accelerating them cost him energy, and then he had to feed.

Scene Eight; As XAVIER voiceovers, superimpose the teddybear that Rogue gave Illyana falling slowly to the ground from the child's limp hand.

Scene Nine; Back to realtime and Xavier

XAVIER
(A tear rolls down XAVIER’S face) Illyana was the fuel Proteus used for his manipulations of the others' powers.

Scene Ten; Widen the angle to include the prisoners inside their Sentinel prisons.

ROGUE
But why, Professor? What did Proteus want Dr. MacTaggart so badly for?

FROST
A mutant will last Proteus’ energy needs for only a finite number of hours until we are consumed. Eventually, he will run out of mutants. However, he would never run out of the energy which his own mother’s body provided him while he was an embryo. Proteus wants a means to survival and Dr. Moira MacTaggart is that means.

SCOTT
Did Dr. MacTaggart came up with some kind of food for this mutant?

SHAW
You didn’t think any mere human would became so prominent in her field because she likes mutants, did you boy? She only wanted to help her own. Proteus is MacTaggart’s son.

XAVIER
If you truly believe that then I can see how cooperating with you was the worst mistake she ever made. Did you actually promise her that you would help her and her child those many years ago?

SHAW
We had the means Xavier! If we hadn’t lost Wolverine we could have done it.

ROGUE
At Logan’s expense!

GAMBIT
Finally I’m beginnin’ t’ see dis for what it is. Proteus would’ve fed off Logan’s healing ability forever, nuh? While dis adamantium would have kept him trapped in Logan’s body? ‘Ventually it would have driven Logan insane, cus I think Proteus’ powers are to Logan what his skeleton is to Proteus. Eventually Proteus would’ve ate what was left of his mind.

(Whispering to self) You call that helping somebody, m’sieur?

SCOTT
I’ll confess to some ignorance of my own, over here. How the hell do these robot bastards figure into all this?

SHAW
Oh the Sentinels have only one thing at all to do with Proteus. They have the ability to deal with Proteus the same way they will deal with all the dangerous mutants in this world.

SCOTT
Besides yourself?

SHAW
Yes, besides me. We have very powerful friends who worry about you and I more than you do, Xavier. Believe it or not.

Scene Eleven; The MORLOCK Tunnel
(STORM and CALISTO are in the thick of the fight. After a few moves, it seems bad for STORM. CALISTO even hacks off half of STORM’S white hair.)


CALISTO
HAHAA! Where your pretty go so quickly, uppity-up?

(But STORM will have none of it. STORM gains enough advantage to defeat CALISTO with the ram of her blade into CALISTO’S gut.)
(At first STORM is horrified at what she’s done. Then she looks around. With half her hair gone, she looks a brutal sight-in a neo-punk way.)
(STORM throws down the machete.)

STORM
It is settled. Which ever one of you is a healer should attend to her, unless her death is what you all secretly want. Nightcrawler, tell me what I had to do this for, and it had best be a good reason

NIGHTCRAWLER
Fraulein, I try to be as loyal a Morlock as I can, but Calisto didn’t understand the threat the Hellfire Club poses to us.
They are known by us as “the beautiful mutants” They are able to fit into society, and that is just what they intend to do-but at all our expense.

(WOLVERINE wakes up.)

BEAST
My friend is attempting to say that the Hellfire Club seeks to make peace with humanity, but for itself only.
They will offer the United Nations instruments called the Sentinels to subjugate all of mutantkind in exchange for their own personal immunity.

WOLVERINE
Hiding away down here in the deeps, what d’you care?

NIGHTCRAWLER
The Hellfire Club knows all about me. I was their . . . mascot. (Full of self-loathing) Am I not perfect for the part? But when they hatched this plan of theirs, I became a liability to them. They couldn’t deal with humans and have something like me hanging around.

STORM
Were you down here hiding from them, Kurt? Are you even a Morlock?

BEAST
We have accepted him.

NIGHTCRAWLER
And I will only bring you trouble. I assure you, in order for Sebastian Shaw to demonstrate his sincerity and the power of his Sentinels, he’s going to use them to wipe us out first. The ugliest, scariest mutants. The mutants who make the humans feel the most fear.
Calisto wouldn’t believe me. She wouldn’t send anyone to investigate, possibly stop Shaw.

STORM
Why didn’t you simply ask this of us back at the mansion?

NIGHTCRAWLER
Calisto and the Morlocks had given me shelter. I . . . I wanted to be loyal. And now that loyalty has been rewarded. God has smiled on the backside of His creation.

WOLVERINE
We haven’t agreed to anything yet.

NIGHTCRAWLER
(Confused.) I thought you understood. Our perfekt Storm has defeated Calisto.
She now leads the Morlocks. We are yours to command!

Scene Twelve; The SENTINELS Bay
(The scene is the same, except, FROST has changed from her colonial outfit into modern business attire.)
FROST
Are the envoys ready to receive our little care package, Sebastian?

SHAW
I’ve just broke connection, Emma. They’ll be expecting you within the hour.

SCOTT
This is insane! You actually think the United Nations is going to trust mutants to give them a safety measure against other mutants?

SHAW
They will when we deliver the famed Charles Xavier to them, signed, sealed, and regulated by our Sentinel. Miss Frost, if you will take your place we will have the White Bishop launch you and Xavier to your destination.

(FROST ascends the scaffold to the head of the SENTINEL which imprisons XAVIER. FROST enters a control booth in the head and straps herself in.)
(PIERCE tweaks cyberspace and the SENTINEL containing XAVIER and FROST lifts off, disappearing through a roof port into the night.)
(Suddenly GAMBIT whips a pair of supercharged playing cards across the room, and they land within the cavity of the SENTINEL which is imprisoning ROGUE.)
(Explosions go off around ROGUE and she finds herself with her new powers.)

ROGUE
(While breaking her bonds.) Me? It’s me you break out first? Are you crazy? (Flies free of the SENTINEL.)

GAMBIT
(Jumping from the walkway, swinging across the bay to reach PIERCE) Oui, m’petite, I am crazy for believin’ I should be wit’ dese peoples! So if you got da Black Queen’s powers, Rogue, then is you I want coverin’ my ass when I try to stop the White Bishop!

ROGUE
I got a better idea! How ‘bout ah get some help for the both of us!
(ROGUE spins in flight and bashes herself missile-like into the SENTINEL that contains JEAN.)

JEAN
(JEAN flies free of the SENTINEL shrouded in the firebird manifestation of her powers.) Excellent call, Rogue. You get an “A”.

Scene Thirteen; Mindscape
(Suddenly for JEAN, the world changes, and WYNGARDE looms over her as big as any SENTINEL.)
(With a gilded golden cage, WYNGARDE entraps her.)

WYNGARDE
No, my pet. I’m not prepared to let you go just yet.

Scene Fourteen; SENTINEL Bay
(From SCOTT’s point-of-view, we see WYNGARDE standing on a SENTINEL platform, only gesturing at the aloft JEAN, both of them normal-sized. JEAN is reacting as though she is caged.)

SCOTT
(To himself.) Fight it Jean! Fight it!

Scene Fifteen; PIERCE’S Control Platform
(GAMBIT has reached the platform where PIERCE is. PIERCE is occupied by his cyberspace manipulations, which control the SENTINELS. GAMBIT charges up cards to throw and suddenly he is flattened to the deck. LELAND is behind him.)

LELAND
You haven’t heard what the Hellfire Club does to traitors? We squash them flat!
(LELAND presses down, GAMBIT cries out.)

GAMBIT
You’re . . . the bigger traitor . . . you’re . . . sellin’ out . . every mutant on de planet . . ! (GAMBIT cries out again, we hear bones break, and blood pours from his mouth.)

(ROGUE swoops into view, and kicks LELAND over the rail. LELAND falls and makes a loud impact.)

ROGUE
Oh God, ah’m killin’ people left and right.

GAMBIT
A fall won’t kill dat fat man . . . m’petit-he got. . . a lotta bounce to him. Alla my ribs . . . dey got to be crushed . . .is you . . . gotta stop Pierce now . . .

(SHAW comes from a leap, down onto the walkway between ROGUE and PIERCE. He is now shirtless and is obviously a powerhouse.)

ROGUE
You sure you want to face me with all that skin showing?

SHAW
Yes I’m sure. You’ll have to kill me too if you’re going to get to Pierce. A little girl like you prepared to do that?

ROGUE
(Thinks a minute, then strips off her gloves real slow.) It’s your own policy. Traitors have to die.

(SHAW grins. He then scrapes up GAMBIT as a living shield. GAMBIT screams in agony.)

Scene Sixteen; Mindscape
(In JEAN’S mindscape, WYNGARDE is reaching into his cage and pulling her out. We can hear SCOTT distantly in the background. Suddenly, SCOTT appears in the cage with JEAN.)

SCOTT
Jean, snap out of it! It’s an illusion-Wyngarde’s an illusionist!!

(WYNGARDE uses his huge hand to smash SCOTT flat against the inside of the cage. His broken body twitches then lies still. JEAN shrieks in horror.)

Scene Seventeen; The SENTINEL Bay
(The illusion fades. JEAN sees blood running out of the nostrils of SCOTT who is still captive, and now unconscious. )
(She looks back at WYNGARDE with pure sparkling hatred. Her eyes go fiery yellow.)

JEAN
You petty, ignorant little pissant. Did you really think watching him die would bind me to you?

(The flamebird talon of JEAN’S manifestation grabs WYNGARDE.)

Wyngarde, you have only begun to inherit sorrows.
You want power? I’ll give you power.
(The existing scene fades for the both of them. It becomes the universe, surrounding them.)

You thought you were dealing with a simple mutant. I’m am no longer the woman you knew.

(JEAN and WYNGARDE begin to expand, grow until the stars around them cluster into galaxies.)

I am fire and light.

(The galaxies become pinpricks.)

I am life incarnate.

(The universe of pinpricks becomes a black shell spheroid, with other spheroids in a white void.)

Now and forever, I am PHOENIX.

(WYNGARDE’S escalating scream becomes the background noise as the visuals become a reflection in WYNGARDE’S iris. When we pan back, we see the iris belongs to the eye of a man who has utterly lost his sanity.)

And your petty mind cannot handle what . . . I . . . am . . .

(JEAN is obviously drained from that effort and begins to fall. The SENTINEL which had her captive catches her with it’s huge hand. We see PIERCE had been waiting for his chance, controlling the capturing SENTINEL through his cyberlink.)

Scene Eighteen; The SENTINEL Bay, PIERCE’S Control Platform
(ROGUE is still held back from PIERCE by SHAW, who is using GAMBIT as a shield.)

(There is suddenly a blast of black smoke behind PIERCE. NIGHTCRAWLER and WOLVERINE appear in it. WOLVERINE is disoriented from the trip.)

WOLVERINE
Ah geez. Y’need to work on yer takeoffs, bub.

ROGUE
Wolverine! Get Pierce!

(Wolverine needs no more coaching. Out come the claws. WOLVERINE slashes PIERCE’s guts, exposing the fact that PIERCE’S body is full of electronics.)

(PIERCE becomes livid and machine tendrils come sprout out of the electronic panels to ensnare WOLVERINE. Electricity arcs from the connections and we have WOLVERINE “sizzling on the grid”)

(SHAW dives over the side of the walkway with GAMBIT, aiming to crush GAMBIT beneath him.)

(ROGUE is torn between who to help first. She dives over the side and reaches GAMBIT. She uses her grip on GAMBIT to swing both GAMBIT and SHAW in a loop, then crashes SHAW to the ground harder than he’d anticipated. SHAW bounces back, invigorated.)

Scene Nineteen; The SENTINEL Bay floor
SHAW
The more punishment I take, the stronger I get!

ROGUE
Then there really is only one way to stop you.
(ROGUE rushes him, clamps her hands aside his head. SHAW screams and then falls to the ground. ROGUE stands over him in the grip of his memories and power.)
(At her feet, however, we see SHAW is not dead, but he is out.)

Scene Twenty; PIERCE’S Control Platform
(Above, WOLVERINE is fighting the electric torture from PIERCE.)
(NIGHTCRAWLER appears in a brimstone flash behind PIERCE, wraps his arms around the cyborg, then disappears with PIERCE in another brimstone flash. NIGHTCRAWLER has left PIERCE’S arms behind and their sudden broken attachments sputter madly.)
(The electricity from the cables which entrap WOLVERINE stops. WOLVERINE cuts himself free.)

Scene Twenty-One; The Sentinel Bay, Near Exit
(TESSA is sneaking away, sensing the Hellfire Club’s imminent defeat. She is stopped by the BEAST.)

BEAST
While I would not expect such a dainty lass as yourself to overflow with bravado, you could at least remain for the conclusion of the matter.

TESSA
Which is what?

BEAST
Well, this is the part where you get the other X-Men out of the Sentinels for me.

TESSA
You do know that I am merely a mutant hound? I have no other overt powers except providing Pierce with the mutant imprint to specify the Sentinels’ suppression abilities. I can’t help you get the delivery Sentinel back that still has Xavier.

BEAST
Kind of you to be concerned, but don’t you worry your pretty Elizabethan-coiffed head about that. We have someone working on it.

Scene Twenty-Two; Exterior, Night Sky, SENTINEL-Head control booth.
(FROST sits and finds the SENTINEL falling out of control.)

FROST
Oh what the hell? Pierce, are you there?

XAVIER’S TELEPATHIC VOICE
What’s the matter Emma? Finding yourself with no control?

FROST
(Suddenly unable to move, she struggles.) Why do you think . . . they sent . . . a telepath
(FROST breaks free of XAVIER’S control)
. . . to accompany a telepath!?
(FROST activate a switch in her cockpit.)
I don’t feel like plummeting to my death today, Xavier. Do you?

Scene Twenty-Three; SENTINEL inner chest cavity
(XAVIER squirms under the clampdown of his powers.)
(Outside of the clear chest covering, XAVIER sees STORM flying after them.)
(STORM has modified her hair to even-out the impromptu haircut CALISTO gave her. She looks lethal.)

XAVIER
(Whispering to self.) Be careful, my X-Men.

Scene Twenty-Four; Night Exterior.
(The SENTINEL speaks with FROST’S voice)

FROST
What are you going to do, Storm? Blast us with electricity? Fry your mentor along with me? Maybe use a tornado to smash us all out of the sky?

Scene Twenty-Five; The SENTINEL Bay, PIERCE’S Control Platform
(BEAST is studying the controls, WOLVERINE stands with him.)

BEAST
Damnation and blast. Most of this design has no manual interface. Pierce controlled it all from inside himself.

WOLVERINE
What say we just slice this shit to ribbons? Fine tuning’s not my cup a’ tea.

BEAST
Well it is mine. Before I wound up a refugee from the Blue Zoo Review, Mama McCoy’s baby boy was riding a full scholarship to MIT, and that mutated grey matter of mine tells me that there has to be some kind of control apart from Pierce.

(ROGUE flies up into view from below the walkway.)

ROGUE
The Sentinels have manual controls in their head cockpit.

WOLVERINE
How do you know, kid?

ROGUE
Because Shaw knows and now . . . I know Shaw.

BEAST
Serendipity!
(BEAST bounds off the control platform and comes to rest on the head of a SENTINEL.

Scene Twenty-Six; The SENTINEL Bay, Sentinels
(BEAST climbs into the head-cockpit of the SENTINEL upon which he landed.)

(Just below him, NIGHTCRAWLER is checking the vital signs of both JEAN and SCOTT, as TESSA takes them out of their SENTINEL prison. They are both still unconscious from their ordeals. He is satisfied that they are both okay. WYNGARDE, beside them on the floor, is a babbling idiot.)

Scene Twenty-Seven; The SENTINEL Bay, the Head-cockpit

BEAST
(Singing) Am I blue, what’ll I do, I’m loo-ooking for you . . .

Scene Twenty-Eight; The SENTINEL Bay, PIERCE’S Control Platform
(ROGUE joins WOLVERINE, who stands guarding.)

WOLVERINE
You doin’ all right?

ROGUE
Yeh. Ms. Grey . . . well I guess I should call her Phoenix . . . helped me sort mah own mind out from Carol’s.
How are you doin’?

WOLVERINE
M’okay.

ROGUE
I . . . I know what Carol meant to you. I’m sorry . . . I’m so sorry.

WOLVERINE
Well, you know more than I do, kid. Can we just leave it at that?

ROGUE
Sure. Welcome back, Logan.

Scene Twenty-Nine; Night, Exterior.
(STORM courses alongside the flying SENTINEL)

STORM
Can’t you see, you’re only giving the humans what they want? If they fear you enough, they will use these robots against you as well. None of us will be safe!

FROST’S VOICE from the SENTINEL’s Exterior Speakers
Who’s the telepath here, Storm? Me or you? I’ll tell you what the humans are thinking, thank you very much.

(The SENTINEL turns in air and attacks STORM. She begins dodging techniques which save her.)

Scene Thirty; Night, Exterior, SENTINEL-Head cockpit
(FROST pilots the SENTINEL.)

FROST
Then again Storm, I won’t bother. You won’t live to see that day anyway.
(The control toggle suddenly become unresponsive in FROST’S hand.)

What is this! Pierce, what’s the matter now!?

BEAST’S VOICE on the Cockpit Speakers
I’m sorry, Donald Pierce is no longer in one piece and cannot come to the phone. May I take a message?

Scene Thirty-One; The SENTINEL Bay floor.
(The SENTINEL bearing XAVIER lands again. STORM is accompanying it.)
(XAVIER has already rendered FROST unconscious, BEAST and NIGHTCRAWLER assemble the unconscious SHAW, FROST, WYNGARDE, LELAND and PIERCE’S remains together in a heap. TESSA remains conscious.)
(JEAN and SCOTT are awake now too.)
(WOLVERINE supports GAMBIT while ROGUE accompanies them.)

SCOTT
What are we going to do with all these guys?

XAVIER
I was the world’s leading telepath before Emma Frost was born. I’ve seen to it that she and her ‘brethren’ will be asleep for some time to come.

GAMBIT
If dey never wake up, dat would be fine wit’ me.

WOLVERINE
Heh, you’d sleep easier at nights, I’m sure.

XAVIER
Gambit, you know you’re welcome to stay at our school. We’ll keep you as safe as we can.

ROGUE
Professor, reg’lar cops won’t be able to keep them prisoner for long. What are we supposed to do with them,?

XAVIER
Why, nothing. They have their philosophy and we have ours. Let’s show them what it means to live and let live.

WOLVERINE
(After a beat.) Bullshit! What about these big freakin’ machines of theirs? If the United Nations get so much as a whiff of these, they’re gunna use them and then we’re all dead.

PHOENIX
Leave that up to me Logan.

(PHOENIX lifts into the air and her flamebird wings begin to slice the heads off the SENTINELS. She doesn’t stop there. She explodes them, pounds them to dust, utterly destroys the whole SENTINEL Bay.)
(Her face is predatory and the joy she gets in destroying is our most prominent image.)
(It is haunting.)
(As she lands, no one notices the bodies of the Hellfire Club begin to decay and rot until TESSA screams. Note that PIERCE’s cybernetic remains are intact, and his eyes are blinking-to be resolved in a later movie.)

(The assembled X-MEN scramble back. MOIRA/PROTEUS rises up from within the corpses of the Hellfire Club. Reality becomes surreal, taking on fluid shapes which morph and bind SCOTT, ROGUE, STORM, BEAST , GAMBIT and XAVIER.)
(PHOENIX remains free, telekinetically readjusting the warped reality that tries to bind her. WOLVERINE is untouched. NIGHTCRAWLER teleports away.)
(MOIRA/PROTEUS consumes TESSA. Her death is grizzly.)
(MOIRA/PROTEUS turns to WOLVERINE. We see clearly now, MOIRA’S body is showing signs of decay.)

MOIRA/PROTEUS
So you’re the little mutant designed to contain me.

WOLVERINE
(Only in WOLVERINE’S eyes do we see the terror he feels. His body is poised, his claws are out.) Leave me alone.

MOIRA/PROTEUS
I’d leave you alone if I could. But I want to live. That’s all I want. You all wanted to live-why can’t I?

(PHOENIX bats MOIRA/PROTEUS to the ground with her flamebird manifestation.)
(MOIRA/PROTEUS makes the direction of “up” into “down”, and lands feet first. WOLVERINE goes sprawling because of the gravity change. PHOENIX only twists in air to re-orient herself. MOIRA/PROTEUS’ captives are now upside down.)

XAVIER
Proteus, we want to help you, but not at the expense of other lives.

MOIRA/PROTEUS
(Petulantly) It will only take one more. (Fixes on WOLVERINE. The mist begins to leave MOIRA’s body.)

XAVIER’S TELEPATHIC VOICE
Jean, you know what you must do.

(PHOENIX picks up WOLVERINE with her flamebird talon, aiming him like a dart at MOIRA/PROTEUS.)

(MOIRA/PROTEUS sees this threat and lashes out at PHOENIX, changing her very body into a cluster of globules. PHOENIX breaks apart, shrieking, WOLVERINE falls to the ground.)

SCOTT
JEAN!!!!

(MOIRA/PROTEUS advances again on WOLVERINE.)

WOLVERINE
Oh God. Somebody help me.

(A series of lightning quick“bamf-clouds” -NIGHTCRAWLER’S teleport signature- approach WOLVERINE. NIGHTCRAWLER snatches WOLVERINE up, and in the last bamf-cloud, NIGHTCRAWLER flings WOLVERINE straight at MOIRA/PROTEUS.)
(Like a dart, WOLVERINE is shot into MOIRA/PROTEUS’ heart, claws first. The metal plunges into PROTEUS’ misty essence and goes off like an explosion. WOLVERINE howls as the energies discharge through him.)
(PROTEUS gives his final death scream and dissipates.)
(WOLVERINE is left with MacTAGGART impaled on all six of his claws.)

(As the energies of PROTEUS dissipate, a clot of them coalesce and JEAN reforms and falls to the ground. SCOTT runs to her.)

(The mutants can only stare in horror at how this has all ended. We see XAVIER is taking it the hardest. He breaks down in wracking sobs.)