LOGAN: "Rogue?"
Rogue is hovering above her bed and lying on her front against the ceiling. Logan walks over to Rogue's bed and stops, as he looks up at her.
LOGAN: "Rogue? Rogue, wake up."
Rogue turns her head and her face is pressed against the ceiling. Rogue awakens, slowly opening her eyes. Rogue looks at the ceiling pressed against her face and lets out a startled GASP. Rogue looks down and she looks at Logan, stunned.
ROGUE: (gasps) "Whoa!"
Rogue suddenly falls and collides onto her bed, breaking it down to the ground with her upon impact. Logan crouches to Rogue and holds his hand down to her own gloved hand.
LOGAN: "Here, kid. Lemme help you up."
ROGUE: "No, I'm all right."
Rogue stands up and looks at herself sadly. Logan stands up and looks at Rogue.
ROGUE: "Oh, my..." (beat) "It didn't hurt a bit."
Being unhurt makes Rogue even more uneasy. She looks at Logan nervously and he steps closer to her.
LOGAN: "We'll help you through this, kid. I promise." (beat) "Come on. Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes. And there're two other guys upstairs waiting to make sure you're okay."
Logan offers his hand out to Rogue. She looks at Logan and steps back. Logan holds his hand out to her closer.
LOGAN: (softly) "Come on, darlin'. I'll take care of you." (beat) "I promise."
Rogue looks at Logan and then at his hand. Rogue nervously takes Logan's hand and walks with him to the doorway.
In a dining room in the board room, the President sits at a table for two, with Trask seated before him. Three bodyguards stand watch nearby, as the two men eat their food off their plates - hash brown, eggs, strips of bacon, etc.
PRESIDENT: "Have you heard from the other Senators?"
TRASK: "They'll be leaving for the hearing this afternoon. We meet at the secured building downtown to vote on the proposition."
PRESIDENT: "I still don't think we should have excluded Hank from the meeting, Trask."
TRASK: "That's not up to either of us, sir. We took a vote. He was voted out."
PRESIDENT: "Something isn't right about this. What if we choose wrong today?"
TRASK: "All we can do is make the choice we think is right, Mr. President. Whatever happens next happens."
The President pauses and then nods.
In the cafeteria of the X-Mansion, Logan sits at a table for four, with Storm seated beside him. Seated on the other side of their table are Xavier and Moira. Logan looks at Xavier, as he eats his bowl of oatmeal.
LOGAN: "Heard you were on Cerebro most of the night. What'd you find out?"
XAVIER: "Nothing much, I'm afraid. I wasn't able to detect any trace of Apocalypse, Essex or his henchmen. I'm not sure how they're shielding themselves from being detected."
STORM: "How is Rogue feeling, Logan?"
Logan turns and looks at a table for six. Rogue sits at a table, with Gambit seated to her left and Bobby seated to her right. Piotr, Kitty and Jubilee sit on the other chairs at their table.
LOGAN: "She's hanging in there. She's got us to help her through this."
XAVIER: "I'm going to work with Rogue over the next few weeks, to help her suppress the thoughts and memories in her head after yesterday."
LOGAN: "So, any idea how long until Rogue has Carol's powers fade from her?"
Xavier pauses and glances at Logan.
MOIRA: "Logan... when I treated Rogue, I did a scan on her to see if there was anything I could do for her. The results show that the transfers after touching Carol and the others is permanent."
STORM: "You mean she's going to keep these powers and memories?"
MOIRA: "I'm afraid so."
Logan looks away, upset.
LOGAN: "Damn it. The kid feels bad enough as it is. Does she know?"
MOIRA: "She knows."
STORM: "But like you said, Logan, she has us to help her through this. I'm also going to be helping with Rogue, helping her train and catch up on her work."
LOGAN: "Sounds like you're softening up to helping her again."
STORM: "I'll always help her, Logan. That's what we're here for."
Logan shakes his head and turns to another table for six. Lorna sits with Alex and Warren on one side of the table, while Beast, Scott and Jean sit at the other side.
LOGAN: "What about Jean? How is she?"
XAVIER: "She'll be all right. There's no sign of the Phoenix persona or of her Phoenix powers in her anywhere. It seems that Essex had altered Jean's D.N.A. when he had her resurrected."
LOGAN: "But does it mean there's a chance they'll come back eventually?"
XAVIER: "I doubt it. It's strange. It's almost like they were never there."
LOGAN: "And what about Cyclops?"
XAVIER: "It's going to take time for me to get Scott to trust me again, as well as Jean."
LOGAN: "Can't imagine why."
XAVIER: "I'm going to make it up to them, Logan. No matter how long it takes. I want to show them they can trust me again."
LOGAN: "What about Warren? Heard he's still in his room."
XAVIER: "Warren needs time to adjust to what he's been through, Logan. We'll do what we can to help him, too."
Later that afternoon, Rogue walks down the main hall, wearing a turtleneck sweater, jeans and gloves. Rogue walks down past a few students. The students move away from her and Rogue stops, turning to them. The students move along down the hall quickly and Rogue continues forward. Rogue approaches her locker and two students nearby quickly move aside. Rogue turns and watches the two teenage boys nervously back away. The teenagers run off down the hall and Rogue turns to her locker, her lower lip trembling.
BOBBY: "Rogue?"
Rogue turns around and Bobby walks over to her, dressed in an open jacket over his T-shirt and denim jeans. Bobby stands before Rogue.
BOBBY: "Can I talk to you?"
ROGUE: "Sure."
Bobby turns and walks over with Rogue down the hall.
Bobby walks into the living room and shuts the door behind him. He walks over to Rogue, as she stands waiting by the couch.
BOBBY: "I tried to see you last night."
ROGUE: "Sorry. I went to bed early. I was exhausted."
BOBBY: "I know. I'm sorry."
ROGUE: "I'll be all right. Dr. MacTaggert said the welts should heal up in a few..."
BOBBY: (interrupts) "That's not what I meant."
Bobby walks to Rogue and stands before her.
BOBBY: "I mean, I'm sorry. About everything. About not being there for you when you needed me, when it mattered. It's just... I thought I was the one who forced you into this. Like I pressured you into taking the cure."
ROGUE: "It was my choice."
BOBBY: "I know that now. Even when you told me before, I just thought... I messed up. I'm sorry for that."
Bobby pauses and looks at Rogue in concern.
ROGUE: "You mean it, don't you? You want to make it up to me." (beat) "We can start fresh, Bobby. We can make this work."
BOBBY: "What about Remy?"
ROGUE: "What about him?"
BOBBY: "I saw how Remy looked at you last night. The way he looked at you when he found you, when you got hurt... he cares."
ROGUE: "But I care about you."
BOBBY: "Rogue, the way he looked at you... it's how I should have looked at you. How I used to look at you."
ROGUE: "We can get that back, Bobby."
Rogue reaches her gloved hand back to Bobby and he steps back. Rogue looks at Bobby, hurt.
ROGUE: "You're breaking up with me?"
BOBBY: "Isn't it what you want?"
ROGUE: "I choose you, Bobby. I have to make a choice. We can make this work out."
Rogue steps forward to Bobby and again he steps back. Bobby looks at Rogue, as she takes a step back. Bobby shakes his head.
BOBBY: "I'm sorry. I can't. I can't do this. I can handle how he looks at you. It really doesn't bother me. But I can't take how you look at him. How you feel about him..." (beat) "You already chose between us, Rogue."
Rogue looks at Bobby sadly, as he turns to walk away. Bobby opens the door and Rogue steps forward.
ROGUE: "Bobby, please!"
Bobby pauses a moment, his head lowered. After a few seconds, Bobby walks out and shuts the door. Rogue looks at the doorway a moment and then she turns her head aside, as tears go down her face and she starts SOBBING.
In the board room in Washington, several Senators sit at a round table, with the President and Trask seated with them. One seat is left vacant.
SENATOR DONNER: "I see everyone is here. Shall we get started?"
SENATOR HAYTER: "I still think Dr. McCoy should have attended this meeting. It's not right to proceed without him."
TRASK: "We already took a vote, Senator Hayter. He was voted out. Let's focus on the matter at hand."
PRESIDENT: "Well, in light of what happened yesterday, I think we all saw what would happen if we make the wrong vote. Let's make sure we make the right choice."
At 5 p.m., in the X-Mansion's living room, Rogue sits by the window with her arms wrapped around her knees. Rogue sadly stares outside, watching several teenagers in the back yard playing on the basketball court. The door opens and Gambit looks into the room.
GAMBIT: "Rogue? Don't y' wanna join us in th' cafeteria? I saved you a few slices o' pizza."
Rogue doesn't look at him. Gambit walks to Rogue, as she wipes the tears from her eyes. Gambit sits next to her and Rogue turns to face him. Gambit sets his gloved hand down on Rogue's shoulder, as she sadly lowers her head.
GAMBIT: (sighs) "Oh, cherie."
Gambit drapes his arm around Rogue and gently pulls her closer. Rogue leans back, nervous, but Gambit keeps hold and rests Rogue's head down on his shoulder. Rogue puts her arms around Gambit, as he rubs the back of her head. Rogue continues SOBBING as Gambit rocks her gently, keeping his hands away from her back. Logan stands in the doorway and watches Rogue and Gambit, his arms folded over his chest.
In Xavier's office, Logan stands before Xavier's desk. Xavier sits back in his wheelchair as he notices Logan's upset look.
LOGAN: "He did it. He actually broke up with her. And now, of all times..."
XAVIER: "I know you're concerned for Rogue, Logan. I sensed Bobby's mind when he passed by the hall. He's genuinely upset over rejecting Rogue, but he did what he thought was right for her."
LOGAN: "That doesn't mean it was right. The kid's got a lot to deal with as it is."
XAVIER: "I know. We'll get her through this. I'm going to see Rogue later tonight to help her suppress the other memories in her mind, to help her deal with this. She was sent to the clinic twice already because of the other voices in her head. When I went down and helped her quiet them, the voices were so loud in her mind, Rogue couldn't even hear herself think."
LOGAN: (sighs) "Damn it."
XAVIER: "We will make this right, Logan. I promise you, I will help her cope with these new changes. I won't make the same mistakes twice."
LOGAN: "Good to know you're not keeping any other secrets from us."
Xavier pauses a moment and nods.
XAVIER: "I suggest we get to the cafeteria. Otherwise, dinner's going to get cold."
LOGAN: "Right. Come on, Charlie."
XAVIER: "Logan, don't do that."
Logan looks at Xavier, puzzled.
LOGAN: "What?"
XAVIER: "Don't call me 'Charlie', Logan. Call me 'Professor', 'Professor X', 'Professor Xavier', or even, if you must, 'Charles'. But not 'Charlie'. Is that understood?"
LOGAN: "Sure..." (grins) "Chuck."
Logan turns and walks off. As Logan walks out of the room, Xavier raises an eyebrow.
XAVIER: "'Chuck?'"
In the X-Mansion's cafeteria, Rogue walks away from a soda vending machine, holding a Coca-Cola Classic can in her gloved hand. Rogue walks by, as the blue-haired boy bumps into her. Rogue turns around to look at him.
ROGUE: "Excuse me."
The blue-haired boy eyes Rogue nervously and quickly hurries off down the room to his table. Rogue looks away, upset, and walks off to a table for two, with Gambit waiting for her. Gambit smiles at Rogue, as she sits before him. A tray with two extra large, pepperoni pizza slices and a bowl of salad are set down on a tray before Rogue's chair. Gambit bites into his own forkful of salad and glances at Rogue in concern.
GAMBIT: "You okay?"
ROGUE: "I will be."
Rogue sips her drink and then she sets it down on the table. She looks at a nearby table and notices Piotr seated with Kitty. Kitty smiles at him and holds Piotr's hand. Rogue smiles and looks back at Gambit, as he eats another forkful of salad
ROGUE: "Looks like Kitty's got a new lunch date."
GAMBIT: "Colossus is a nice guy. A guy the size of a grizzly bear, but nice nonetheless."
Rogue grins and takes a bite out of her slice of pizza. Rogue looks over at one table, noticing Scott and Jean seated at a table with Alex and Lorna. Rogue looks at the other side of the room, noticing students seated together and Logan at a table with Storm.
ROGUE: "You seen Warren around anywhere?"
GAMBIT: "I think he's still upstairs."
Warren sits on his bed in his room, looking at his window leading outside. There is a knock on the door.
WARREN: "Come in."
The door opens and Beast walks into the room.
BEAST: "Do you want to come down for dinner, Warren? You've hardly eaten all day."
WARREN: "I'm not hungry." (beat) "I'm sorry I didn't teach class today. I just..."
BEAST: "Don't. It's all right, really. Scott took over for you and Jean is handling classes for Carol now. Needless to say, the students had quite a surprise when they saw two thought dead teachers back again."
Warren doesn't respond. He still glances outside.
BEAST: "I must confess, I didn't come here to see you alone. You have a visitor."
Warren turns around and looks at the doorway. WARREN WORTHINGTON SR. - late-50s with gray hair - steps into the room and looks at Warren in concern. Warren Sr. is dressed in a business suit. Warren stands up and looks at his father, stunned.
WARREN: "Dad?"
WARREN SR.: "Hello, son."
Warren Sr. steps forward, but Warren steps back, nervous. Warren Sr. stops for a moment and then he walks to his son.
WARREN SR.: "I was so worried about you. After what happened..." (beat) "I'm so happy to see you."
WARREN: "You are?" (beat) "Why? After all the things that I did..."
WARREN SR.:(interrupts) "I know. Hank told me. I can't imagine how you must be feeling after all this. But I want you to know that I'm here for you if you need me, son."
Warren Sr. steps forward again, but Warren sadly takes a step back. Warren Sr. stands before Warren and sets his hand on his shoulder.
WARREN SR.: "I'm here, son. I'll always be here for you."
Warren pauses a moment and lowers his head. Warren Sr. puts his arms around Warren and Warren hugs him back, setting his head down on his father's shoulder. Warren closes his eyes and starts to CRY.
WARREN SR.: "Always."
Warren Sr. holds onto his son gently, as Warren continues SOBBING. Beast watches them for a minute, as father and son hug. Beast lets out a soft smile and he turns. He walks out of the room and shuts the door.
Later that night, in the X-Mansion's living room, Logan stands behind the couch, with Scott and Jean seated on it. Alex and Lorna are seated on chairs nearby, with Xavier, Moira, Storm, and several students are gathered around, watching the TV screen. Rogue sits on the floor nearby, with Gambit seated beside her. Warren and Beast walk into the room and join the others.
BEAST: "Did we miss it?"
XAVIER: "Not yet. They're about to announce the results."
The TV screen shows a news REPORTER on the screen, seated behind his desk in a news room.
REPORTER: "We take you now live to Washington, with an official statement made by the President himself about the decision the Senate has made about the new mutant proposition."
The TV screen now shows the President standing at a podium on a stage. Trask stands beside him with his arms folded over his chest.
PRESIDENT: "As many of you know, last week's attack at the Senate building had a lasting impact on those who had attended and those who watched it live from TV. The effects of the attack also left an impact on our decision over mutant registration."
The President pauses a moment and then he looks ahead.
PRESIDENT: "After much thought and consideration on the subject, with a win by only a single vote, I'm announcing the approval of Project Wide-awake and three other projects attached with the registration plan."
The X-Men, Moira and students stare at the screen, stunned.
XAVIER: (whispers) "My God."
PRESIDENT: "After the events of the largest and most well-known mutant attacks, such as the Liberty Island, Alcatraz and recent Senate hearing incidents, we will do what we can to protect our citizens, human and mutant alike. We will not go hunting for mutants, only to bring in mutant terrorists and attackers as we do for normal criminals."
Beast lowers his head, heaving a SIGH, as Logan looks away with a sneer.
LOGAN: "Why that rotten..."
BEAST: "I can't believe it's come to this."
Rogue looks away, upset, and Gambit sets his hand down on her shoulder. Scott turns to Jean, as she lowers her head nervously. Scott holds her hand. Jean looks at Xavier, looking nervous.
JEAN: "Things are about to get worse now, aren't they, Professor?"
XAVIER: (sighs) "I'm afraid so."
Later that night, in a small town in Canada, a lone old cabin stands atop a snowy mountain outside an old part of town. A person dressed in a bulky hooded jacket, pants and snow boots walks down to the cabin and stands before it. The person knocks on the door and pauses, waiting. The door opens and SABRETOOTH answers the door, dressed in a gray shirt and pants under his long brown, tattered trench coat. Sabretooth stares a moment at the person with his cat-like eyes and he sniffs. Sabretooth lets out a low GROWL, which sounds more like an animal than a man. Sabretooth steps back and the person walks inside.
SABRETOOTH: "How did you find me? What're you doing here?"
The person grabs the hood with her gloved hands and pulls it back, showing the blue-skinned face of MYSTIQUE.
MYSTIQUE: "We need to talk, Victor. I have a proposition for you that you might find intriguing."
Sabretooth pauses for a moment, considering whether to let her stay inside. Sabretooth grins and shuts the door.