INT. THE X MANSION - GARAGE - DAY
Rogue approaches one of the many cars parked in the mansion's extensive garage. She carries a suitcase and a few duffel bags. She points the remote key at the car, BLEEP BLEEP, it unlocks.
LOGAN: (O.S.)
You going on a trip?
She spins around. Logan slides from under one of his cars he was working on. He stands and wipes his oily hands on a rag.
ROGUE:
Um, yeah.
LOGAN:
Where to?
ROGUE:
I'm going to get another dose of the cure.
LOGAN:
You gonna spend a month at the clinic?
He motions to her luggage.
ROGUE:
I'm going home after that.
LOGAN:
Oh. Well, I guess you haven't visited your folks in a while.
ROGUE:
Wolverine... I'm not coming back.
A long, surprised pause. That cuts deep.
LOGAN:
Were you going to tell anybody?
ROGUE:
I didn't know how.
LOGAN:
Rogue...
(pause)
I could ride along, give you some company... if you want.
ROGUE:
Thanks.
EXT. THE X MANSION - GATES - DAY
The gates CREAK open as Rogue's car rolls through them and down the country lane, lined on either side by autumn trees.
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - DAY
Gambit's Caddy speeds down the road, 20 miles over the speed limit, still blasting SOUTHERN ROCK.
INT. GAMBIT'S CAR
Gambit rubs his eyes.
The car pulls to the right side, hitting the dirt and waking him up. He straightens the wheel.
He struggles to keep his eyes open and on the road.
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD
Out of nowhere, a deer walks into his path.
Brakes SQUEAL. He pulls hard to the right, off the road and into a pasture. The car comes to a stop, the engine sputters and dies.
The deer walks off as if nothing happened.
INT. GAMBIT'S CAR
Gambit turns the ignition. CLICK. Nothing.
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD
Gambit exits his car and emits a string of Frenglish curses. He opens the hood.
Rogue's car drives down that same country road, a few miles away.
INT. ROGUE'S CAR - DAY
Rogue and Logan sit in contemplative silence as she drives.
Rogue turns on the radio. A terrible POP SONG comes on.
ROGUE AND LOGAN:
(in unison)
No.
She turns it off. Logan smiles just a bit. Rogue laughs.
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD
Rogue's car passes by Gambit's. He's still working under the hood.
INT. ROGUE'S CAR
Rogue notices him, slows down.
LOGAN:
What are you doing?
She puts the car in reverse.
LOGAN:
Rogue, what the hell are you doing?
ROGUE:
I'm picking him up.
LOGAN:
Are you crazy?
ROGUE:
Just trying to be nice.
LOGAN:
"Nice."
He shakes his head in disbelief.
She stops the car next to his and HONKS.
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD
Gambit looks up from the engine to see her car. He SHUTS the hood of his.
She rolls down her window. As he approaches, she notices his oddly colored eyes.
ROGUE:
Hey stranger. Need a lift somewhere?
GAMBIT:
Probably. What's your name, girl?
ROGUE:
Marie.
GAMBIT:
Marie! That's a beautiful French name, no? Well, Marie, I guess I'm headed wherever you're headed.
She smiles at him.
EXT. THE X MANSION - DRIVEWAY - DAY
Rogue parks her car. Gambit, Rogue, and Logan exit.
ROGUE:
This is it.
Gambit whistles, impressed.
GAMBIT:
Fancy. This is a school?
ROGUE:
Yeah. For mutants. Pretty cool, huh?
GAMBIT:
It's pretty big, that's for sure.
ROGUE:
I forgot to ask... what's your power, anyway?
Gambit smiles and pulls a card from his sleeve like a magician. It s a 10 of hearts. He charges it. The white part of the card BURNS away, leaving the red hearts to fall into his hand. He blows the hearts and ash into the air.
She smiles.
ROGUE:
Neat.
Logan rolls his eyes.
GAMBIT:
Well, I showed you mine, how about you show me yours?
ROGUE:
I... uh...
LOGAN:
You missed your appointment.
ROGUE:
I know. It's ok, I'll just schedule another one.
GAMBIT:
Appointment? For what?
LOGAN:
None of your business.
Logan trudges off towards the mansion. Once he's out of earshot-
GAMBIT:
What's his problem?
ROGUE:
He's very... protective.
GAMBIT:
Ah, I see. You two got a thing?
ROGUE:
What? No! No, it's not like that.
GAMBIT:
Good to hear.
He gives an irresistible smile. She tries not to fall for it.
ROGUE:
Hey, let's go inside.
INT. THE X MANSION - HALLWAY - DAY
Professor X watches Gambit and Rogue from a window. His brow is furrowed in concern.
ROGUE: (V.O.)
I'll introduce you to the Professor.
INT. THE X MANSION - CENTRAL FOYER - DAY
Rogue and Gambit enter. Logan is waiting. He lights a cigar and watches Gambit suspiciously.
The Professor rolls up and greets them.
PROFESSOR X:
Back so soon, Marie?
LOGAN:
She had to pick up some trash on the side of the road.
ROGUE:
Logan!
Gambit feigns a smile. Logan continues to glower.
ROGUE:
Professor Xavier, this is Remy. You probably knew that already.
Gambit holds out his hand and shakes the Professor's.
GAMBIT:
Remy LeBeau. Friends call me Gambit.
PROFESSOR X:
Nice to meet you. What brings you here, Mr. LeBeau?
GAMBIT:
Remy's fine, sir. I'm just a wanderer. Going to see the country,
you know? My car broke down a few miles down the road. I only need a place to stay til I can get it fixed, if it's all right with you.
PROFESSOR X:
Logan here knows his way around an engine, I'm sure he could help.
Couldn't you, Logan?
Logan continues to glare silently.
GAMBIT: (to the Professor)
Thank you, sir.
Storm enters.
PROFESSOR X:
Ororo! We have a guest. Remy, this is Ororo Monroe, one of the teachers here.
STORM:
Hello.
GAMBIT:
Hello, ma'am.
PROFESSOR X:
Would you show Remy to a room,
please?
STORM:
Sure. Follow me.
Storm leads Remy down the hall. He nods to Rogue as he passes her. She smiles.
Rogue leaves down a different hallway.
LOGAN:
I don't trust him, Professor.
Nobody comes down Graymalkin Lane unless they're looking for the school.
PROFESSOR X:
I'm aware of that.
LOGAN:
But you know whether he's telling the truth or not.
PROFESSOR X:
Logan... I can't read his mind. I wouldn't want to turn down a mutant in need,
but I want you to keep a very close eye on him, nonetheless.
Logan nods.
PROFESSOR X:
I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, for now.
INT. X MANSION - GRAND BALLROOM - DAY
Rogue sits at a table, tutoring a 16 year old Chinese American girl, JUBILEE.
ROGUE:
-so matrices are just like, a whole bunch of algebra problems you solve at once, it's easy once you...
Jubilee...
She is not paying attention at all. She's staring wistfully through the window behind Rogue. Rogue turns around to see-
EXT. X MANSION - DAY
-Gambit, practicing with his staff on the lawn.
Gambit catches a glimpse of Rogue. He removes his trenchcoat and shows off a particularly impressive move, ending it with a smile directed at her.
INT. GRAND BALLROOM - DAY
Rogue smiles back and golf claps. Jubilee giggles a little.
EXT. X MANSION - DAY
Gambit shivers and puts his coat back on.
GAMBIT: (to himself)
Damn! How do these Yanks stand the cold?
LOGAN: (O.S.)
This ain't cold.
Gambit turns around. Logan has appeared quite suddenly on the terrace.
LOGAN:
And you better watch who you call a Yank. I'm Canadian.
GAMBIT:
You north of Tennessee, you a Yank.
LOGAN:
(beat)
Frogs ain't meant for the cold, I guess.
Gambit stops practicing and climbs up on the terrace. He sits on the stone guard rail.
GAMBIT:
Call it a hunch, but I don't think you like me, mon ami.
LOGAN:
One, I ain't your ami, bub. Two,
you're right, I don't like you.
GAMBIT:
And why's that?
LOGAN:
You know why. If you know what's good for you, you'll keep away from her.
Gambit scoots off the rail and walks to the door to go inside.
GAMBIT:
You know what's good for me, huh?
You ain't a doctor.
LOGAN:
No...
He SLIDES out his adamantium claws slowly and puts them between Gambit and the door.
LOGAN:
... but I could be a surgeon.
Gambit backs off just a bit. Logan - SHNKT - sheathes his claws and leaves.
Gambit shakes his head and enters the mansion.
INT. GRAND BALLROOM - DAY
Rogue sits, continuing to tutor Jubilee, when Gambit's hand appears in front of her from over her shoulder. He produces a flower magically from his sleeve.
GAMBIT:
For you, mon cherie.
She takes the flower. He sits down next to her.
Jubilee smiles at him coyly across the table.
GAMBIT: (to Jubilee)
Why don't you go... do something else, eh petite?
Jubilee's smile fades. She looks to Rogue. Rogue subtly motions for her to leave. Jubilee sighs, gathering her books.
JUBILEE:
Whatever.
She exits.
Rogue smells the flower and leans her head in her other hand.
GAMBIT:
What's that line in Romeo and Juliet... oh yeah... "That I were a glove upon that hand-"
He moves the back of his unprotected hand to her face.
GAMBIT:
"-that I might touch that cheek."
She gently grabs his hand and moves it away from her before it touches her.
ROGUE:
You lay it on thicker than cement,
don't you?
GAMBIT:
It usually works.
ROGUE:
It can't work with me.
GAMBIT:
You like to be a little hard to get, no?
ROGUE:
No. You don't understand. I can't be... you know... with you.
GAMBIT:
Why? Because of Logan? I ain't scared of him.
ROGUE:
It's not him. It's me.
GAMBIT:
I'm getting "the talk" and I ain't even done nothing yet. I thought you liked me.
ROGUE:
I do like you. But I can't do anything with you. I can't touch you, I can't do anything. Not until I get a dose of the cure.
GAMBIT:
The cure? That's what your appointment was for? Girl, you don't need that!
ROGUE:
You don't know me. I'd be better off not being a mutant at all.
GAMBIT:
So would every other mutant in the world, cherie!
ROGUE:
You wouldn't say that if I touched you and put you in a coma.
She gets up and exits, leaving the flower on the table. He looks after her for a moment, stunned.
GAMBIT:
Wait!
She doesn't turn around.
INT. X MANSION - BOY'S BEDROOM HALLWAY - DAY
A muffled TOILET FLUSH. A boy comes from the communal boy's bathroom and runs down the hallway, late to class, past-
-Gambit, who walks idly down the hall, feeling dejected.
He stops and leans on a large wooden wall panel. It begins to move inward.
Gambit backs away, startled. The panel slides back into place.
He pushes in on it again, slowly.
The panel slides inward, then off to the side. Behind it is what appears to be an elevator.
He looks behind him. Both ends of the hall are clear. He steps in.
ELEVATOR
The door SHUTS behind him and it descends automatically, to his surprise.
It opens again to-
INT. X MANSION - UNDERGROUND FACILITIES - DAY
Gambit very cautiously walks along the gleaming metal hallway. He comes to the door of the-
INFIRMARY
Inside is an operating table with a sheet on it, an x ray backlight, and a computer with a huge screen built into the wall.
Gambit surveys the room, eyeing the computer with interest.
He presses the on/off button. The computer BEEPS and HUMS.
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
The Professor rolls down the hallway in his wheelchair,
towards the infirmary. He holds his medical file in his hand.
INFIRMARY
Gambit hears his WHEELCHAIR coming closer.
He looks around frantically for a place to hide.
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
Professor X rolls to the door of the Infirmary. The door slides open to reveal-
INFIRMARY
-nothing, except what's usually there. The computer HUMS.
The Professor rolls right past Gambit, hiding, squeezed tightly in an opening between the wall and the computer. He shuts it off with a CLICK as he passes.
He goes to the x ray light and takes out the x ray of his back. He fastens it against the light. He observes it for a moment, then puts his thumb on the tiny horizontal break in his spinal cord.
A look of complete despair overwhelms him. He sighs, takes the x ray down, and turns off the light.
A RUSTLE OF FABRIC from behind. He turns to look.
The sheet has fallen off the operating table.
As the Professor bends to pick it up, we see Gambit is gone from his hiding spot.
Sound of the DOOR SLIDING OPEN. The Professor looks up.
The door SHUTS.
The Professor pauses a moment, then drapes the sheet back on the table.