Act 1, Scene 3
Space. A shuttlecraft's engines burn toward Earth. Inside are three astronauts; two men and one woman. The commander is Colonel John Jameson, son of that quiet unassuming newspaperman J. Jonah Jameson. He speaks into the onboard camera.
JOHN JAMESON: Houston, our engines show good burn.
We cut to JJJ's office in the Daily Bugle. A huge screen has been erected and is currently showing the camera feed from the shuttle.
JAMESON: Did you hear that! Good burn!
There are about ten people assembled behind him. They watch with polite interest.
JAMESON: I said, did you hear that?
There is a sudden explosion of 'great!' 'yes!' 'brilliant Mr Jameson!' 'that's quite a son you got there Mr Jameson!'. It's sufficient to make JJJ harrumph with pride. He's clearly the proudest father imaginable.
One of the secretaries pops her head in the door.
SECRETARY: Mr Jam-
JAMESON: Don't wanna hear it!
SECRETARY: But Mr Jam-
JAMESON: Are you new here?
SECRETARY: Well…yes, Mr Jameson.
JAMESON: Well now you're fired here. GET OUT!
The girl blinks and begins to tear up. Robbie steps over to comfort her.
ROBBIE: Just slip back to your desk and keep on working. He's watching the beginning of his son's space mission.
SECRETARY: Okay. Thank you.
Robbie winks at her as she turns to go. She remembers something however and turns back.
SECRETARY: What will I tell them?
ROBBIE: Who?
SECRETARY: NASA. They want to know how Mr Jameson got access to their top-level classified video feed.
ROBBIE: Wrong number?
He shows her out as kindly but as quickly as possible. JJJ is still enraptured by the feed, and has quite clearly forgotten all about the naïve secretary.
HOUSTON: Roger that good burn, Praetor.
JOHN JAMESON: On course for intercept with target object. ETA sixty-two hours fifteen minutes.
We're back in space, and we see the target object – a large asteroid tumbling end over end in the infinity.
HOUSTON: Roger that. Stand by, Praetor – we're receiving reports of a security breach in this transmission…
At this, JJJ reaches over and calmly pulls a plug from the wall. The video link dies. He stands up and seems surprised to see the group assembled behind him, blinking like rabbits in the headlights..
JAMESON: What do I look like, a magic eye picture? Get back to work!
They file out and prevent Peter Parker – who's just arrived - from entering the office. Eventually he gains access, still holding the Sentinel under his arm. He sits down opposite JJJ, who lights a cigar and notices him for the first time.
JAMESON: Parker! What do you want?
PETER: You asked to see me?
JAMESON: Course I did! Big society ball coming up tomorrow night, some infectious disease's birthday or some pianist died, who cares. Since you love that kind of thing, you're my photographer for the event. Got it? Good. Get out.
His intercom buzzes.
JAMESON: What?
SECRETARY: Mr Brock here to see you, sir.
JAMESON: Who?
SECRETARY: Your showbiz correspondent?
JAMESON: Send him in!
PETER: Mr Jameson, have you seen this?
JJJ makes a 'give it here' hand motion. He snatches the Sentinel from Peter and scans it. His lip curls with disgust. Eddie Brock enters the office behind them. He's a few years older than Peter and a good deal broader.
JAMESON: Two-bit hack journalism!
PETER: They're telling the truth!
JAMESON: What are you, an echo? Get out!
Peter gives up in exasperation. As he leaves the office Eddie Brock puts a hand on his chest.
EDDIE: You're the one takes the pictures of the webhead, aren't you?
PETER: Yeah.
EDDIE: Can't you get him doing something a little more in the public interest than wall-crawling or webslinging?
PETER: Like…?
EDDIE: I don't know. Exiting a starlet's hotel room at 3am. Throwing a tantrum at a hot-dog stand because someone messed up his order. Taking off his mask.
PETER: (coldly)I don't think so.
EDDIE: Hey I got nothin' against the freak. I just think he could sell a few more newspapers than he does.
JAMESON: Now there's a man with a future at the Bugle!
PETER: So nice to meet you, Eddie.
Outside, Peter bumps into Robbie.
ROBBIE: They'll never change their tune about Spiderman, Peter. You know that.
PETER: I know that.
Robbie regards him keenly. There's a hint that Robbie, genial assistant though he seems to be, knows a great deal more than he's letting on, and that Peter is not unaware of this.
ROBBIE: I don't think Spiderman cares what people say about him anyway. He knows he's a hero. He knows there are enough people out there who are glad to see him doing what he does.
PETER: I think you're right. But I'm sure he was glad to see this.
He displays the Sentinel's headline.
ROBBIE: Wonder if they have a job going?
He and Peter share a wry smile. Robbie re-enters the room and we hear JJJ's familiar bellowing before the door shuts on it once again. Peter stares after him thoughtfully.
PETER: A job…
