AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I made some additions, changes, and format revisions to the entire script today (09/03/02), even to the prologue, so you may want to read it from the beginning… or at least skim it from the beginning.
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X-Men: Redemption
Act One – Part Two
By Randi M. Kosiewska-Short
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FADE INTO:
SCENE 21
INT. XAVIER'S SCHOOL -- HALL OUTSIDE HANGER -- 3 PM
XAVIER, JEAN, SCOTT, STORM, JOHN, PIOTR, BOBBY, JONO, BETSY and ROGUE exit the hanger and are on their way to the last stop of their tour.
FOLLOW as they move through the halls.
BOBBY
When do we start training on that?
XAVIER
Slow down, Bobby. One thing at a time.
BETSY
That means you don't get to fly it. I might, John might, but not you.
ROGUE
Well, you're welcome to it. I hate flying. Don't much like trains anymore, either.
XAVIER
That so? I would've thought you'd be begging to fly it since you've held the high score on the simulator for the past year and a half.
BESTY
You're RiverRat?!
JONO (telepathically)
She did grow up on the Mississippi.
BETSY
But I'm a telepath. A good one. I should've known.
XAVIER
That just show's how well Rogue has done in her training. She has excellent control of her own psyche.
ROGUE
Or it could be that having Logan's and David's and Magneto's own pysche's in my head makes it difficult for even you or Jean to do much more than locate me.
STORM
It is more than that, Rogue.
ROGUE
But ah don't have more than that. The others, I anticipated them becoming X-Men. They're all heavy-hitters with powers that'll do good in a fight. Betsy even knows martial arts. And Bobby can at least freeze someone in place or lob snowballs at them. I still can't touch anybody without the risk of killing them or loosing my own sanity.
XAVIER
That's it exactly.
ROGUE
That's not an answer, Professor. I'm afraid you're asking 'cause I have no where else to go.
XAVIER
You know that's not true. Even if you didn't join you are more than welcome to stay.
ROGUE
Then why?
XAVIER
You anticipated who would join. You know your allies, and will likely know your enemies as well. And because of your bravado. You're eagerness to question others, to accept your weakness and your fears and move forward despite them. I ask you, Rogue, because of your sass, as Jubilee would put it, for your strength of character.
ROGUE
Lot of good that'll do against Mystique or, heaven help me, Magneto.
They step up to the last set of doors in the hallway.
XAVIER
And that's a perfect introduction to our last stop on this tour. This is where we train to fight.
JEAN
Scott has nicknamed it the Danger Room.
SCOTT initiates the security check.
COMPUTER VOICE
Welcome, Cyclops.
BOBBY
I've already picked mine out. "Iceman."
The doors open. It leads to a small hallway with stairs leading up to a control booth. FOLLOW them inside.
BETSY
Don't you mean, "Snowman."
STORM
Up there's the control booth.
PIOTR
I can't decide between "Armorman" or "Collossus."
BETSY
Choose Collossus, please!... I could just see it, "Armorman... Come in Armorman..." I don't think so.
BOBBY
What about you? What awe-inspiring name have you come up with?
BETSY
Psylocke.
JOHN
Wow!
BETSY
See?
JOHN points to the room they are about to enter.
JOHN
No. Wow!.
The walls, ceiling and floor are all shining metal. It is several times the size of a basketball court in height, width and length. High on the wall adjacent to them is a large plexi-glass window, behind which is the control booth. WOLVERINE (who has surprisingly returned) is also inside.
ROGUE
Logan! You're back!
ANGLE on WOLVERINE as ROGUE rushes to him and hugs him.
WOLVERINE
How you doing, kid?
ROGUE
I'm not a kid anymore.
WOLVERINE
Compared to Chuck and me, you are.
PULL OUT to include some of the others as they get a sense of the size and design of it.
JEAN
Hello, Logan.
WOLVERINE
Jeannie.
WIDE VIEW to encompass the room. The new X-Men space out, checking it out. JEAN points out the things she describes.
JEAN
It has an interactive hologram system. It's controlled from up there.
ANGLE on Control Room window. NIGHTCRAWLER, inside, waves.
WIDE VIEW of DANGER ROOM, FOCUSING on JEAN.
JEAN
It can create in fine detail any environment, any obstacle, any adversary in its database.
ANGLE on BETSY who bounces slightly on the floor.
BETSY
The floor's springy.
ANGLE on JONO who's pushing on a wall.
JONO (telepathically)
So are the walls.
ANGEL on JEAN. NIGHTCRAWLER teleports beside and above her and falls to the floor, landing with a slight bounce.
NIGHTCRAWLER
A safety feature. Zey absorb impact.
BOBBY
Can we try it?
XAVIER
Scott, Storm, get them some uniforms. Kurt...
NIGHTCRAWLER
I'll load her up.
NIGHTCRAWLER teleports away.
CUT TO:
SCENE 22
INT. XAVIER'S SCHOOL - LIBRARY COMPUTER ROOM - 3:45 PM
JUBILEE, popping her gum, sits on the desk leaning on the computer monitor. She is restlessly kicking her legs around.
JUBILEE
How long is this going to take?
KITTY sits at the computer. She is on a secured FBI site, specifically a secretary's desktop. She clicks on the trash can icon.
KITTY
A while, probably.
JUBILEE groans. The trash directories pull up several recently deleted documents and files, mostly mundane things. But there is one that stands out. It's titled Research Grant Approval. KITTY opens it.
It is a letter from the appropriations committee to a Dr. Boliver Trask. It is regarding Mutation Detection Research.
KITTY
Listen to this. Dear Mr. Trask, I am pleased to inform you that your grant has been approved. We would like to wish you luck on this endeavor and to extend to you our guidance in it.
JUBILEE
Boring!
KITTY
Shh! (cont. reading) ...Please submit monthly reports on the progress of this computerized module, which you predict will distinguish whether a person is a "flatscan" or "mutant", as you describe it… Blah, blah, blah… incorporate detection of the Legacy Virus.
JUBILEE
Another registration thing. Big deal. Been there, done that. Let's get ready for the party.
KITTY
It's only... Oh. I didn't realize it was that late.
JUBILEE
C'mon, let's go.
KITTY
I can't. I have a few more sites I want to check on before I run the security diagnostics.
JUBILEE
Can't you skip it just this once? Professor doesn't even look at those printouts you always give him.
KITTY
I like to do it, Jubilee. You get started. I'll catch up as soon as I'm done.
JUBILEE hops off the desk.
JUBILEE
Fine.
JUBILEE, YELPS, as she practically lands on LEECH, who had been moving closer and closer each time he followed them and had finally decided. He points to KITTY and JUBILEE as he refers to them.
LEECH
You made the lights. You became a ghost. But Gambit still beat you silly.
KITTY
You're not a student here, are you?
JUBILEE
Duh! We better take him to the Professor.
KITTY
Could you...
JUBILEE
No. No! You're not sticking me with this midget so you can play on the internet.
KITTY
Please... You wouldn't want a security glitch to cancel the party, would you?
JUBILEE
Ugh! You owe be big time, shadow-kitty! C'mon, brat. Let's go find Charley.
CUT TO:
SCENE 23
EXT. XAVIER'S SCHOOL -- 4 PM
GAMBIT sits in a tree about a block from the school's entrance, but still easily within sight. He's reading ROGUE'S journal. CLOSE UP on Journal page.
JOURNAL
July 18 Dear Wolvie, I still haven't heard from you. I'm beginning to think you won't ever come back. I can only guess that you can't stand to be around Jeannie so long as she's with Scott. I don't hold it against you. I just miss you. I do have friends. Bobby's great, so's Kitty and Jubilee, when she isn't being a brat, that is. But I can't talk to them like I do to you. Not even the Professor. I haven't told anyone this, not even you, but I still have some residual power from Magneto -- like with yours, how my hands itch where your claws come out, but nothing happens. With his, it's a tug. I can feel it every time I pick up a fork. I can't really do anything with it, not that I've tried, not that I want to. It just makes me remember that night I almost died if it weren't for you and the X-Men. Like I don't remember enough as it is. Remember those dreams I told you about, about being in a concentration camp, I had another one last night...
Leaves RUSTLE below GAMBIT. He pulls a card, charges and throws it down. It hits and ... nothing. He'd never really charged it, just thought he did. MALICE is below.
MALICE
You didn't think I'd let you do more than imagine you attacked me, did you?
GAMBIT
Can always hope.
MALICE
You're here early. You thinking about warning her? Wouldn't be a good idea. He's expecting that, you know.
GAMBIT
Why would I? She's not on de list.
MALICE looks at him in consideration, more curious over his concern than sympathizing for his position.
GAMBIT
She's not on de list! He wouldn' do dat.
MALICE
It's not him that owes you, Gambit. She would've been on it eventually. They all will. But if you'd like to make a bargain with me, I'm sure I could find reason to help her enjoy the ride at least. Let me know before we go in.
CUT TO:
SCENE 24
INT. DANGER ROOM -- JUNGLE SIMULATION -- 4:30 PM
BOBBY ice-slides past BETSY. A butterfly like image forms around her face and BOBBY goes left, when his ice slide goes right. He tumbles to the ground.
BOBBY
Ow!
JEAN (booth intercom)
Watch out, Bobby. It's hard light. You can be hurt as if it were the real thing.
SCOTT (booth intercom)
And this is the lowest setting.
ROGUE, who is loosing a sparing battle with PIOTR, falls back beside an enormous leaf just as JONO blasts his fiery psionic energy (by holding open the bindings) at it to see his effect on it.
ROGUE
Hey! You almost hit me!
JONO (telepathically)
Sorry, Rogue, I didn't see you there.
SCOTT (booth intercom)
Careful, Jono!
PIOTR steps up behind him and transforms his skin into bio-organic armor.
PIOTR
You can test it on me. Just stop when I say....
BOBBY scoops PIOTR up with his ice slide. JONO gives chase, followed by JOHN, who ignites a lighter and turns the flame into a flying dragon heading for BOBBY'S ice slide. JONO blasts at the ice slide, but BOBBY maneuvers out of the way just in time.
STORM (booth intercom)
That's the way, BOBBY.
BOBBY
This is too cool.
ROGUE takes a deep breath and heads in once more. Two snowballs knock her in her face.
ROGUE
That's it!
ROGUE spins around to leave when a hand, protected by a piece of cloth, grabs her and pulls her into the brush. ROGUE is terrified.
WOLVERINE
Not giving up, are you, kid?
ROGUE
What are you doing here? Xavier said it's just us.
WOLVERINE
Sometimes you gotta fight dirty. Take hoc in your advantages.
ROGUE
You going to team with me?
WOLVERINE
I'm going to give you a chance to fight on your own.
ROGUE
I can't fight!
WOLVERINE
Then use what you do have, Rogue.
ROGUE
I won't take them out like that.
WOLVERINE
Don't have to. Just give them a surprise is all... Use my stuff.
ROGUE
Borrow your... your what? You're fighting skills, your healing ability, your claws, your thoughts? Which one? Oh, yeah, I don't get to choose. No, Wolvie! I won't do that! I won't ever do that!
ROGUE leaves. The opening of the door, releases a safety mechanism that shuts the system down. The jungle scene melts back into the Danger Room. The new X-Men are disappointed.
SCOTT (booth intercom)
What did you do, Logan? Why did she leave like that?
WOLVERINE
I did what I was told. She ain't having it, Chuck. Like I told you, she ain't ready for that.
XAVIER
And she won't ever be if she refuses to even try it. Talk to her. She can only gain control with practice. You know it as well as I do. Convince her of it.
CUT TO:
SCENE 25
INT. LIBRARY COMPUTER ROOM -- 4:45 PM
KITTY reads a saved mutant chat room discussion that occurred several days ago, revealed by a title of the saved file. ANGLE on Computer Monitor. As in most anonymous chat rooms, the screen names are of people unknown. The Discussion reads as follows.
PEASOUP
I'm not a mutant, but my sister is. So, when I suddenly get an A on a test, my teacher accuses me of being telepathic and now I've been expelled for cheating.
COULDITBE
You were expelled for suspicion of being a mutant.
RAWDEAL
Mutants are missing! Kidnapped? Help!
PEASOUP
What can we do? Notify police? What would they do?
COULDITBE
Probably some relocation plan. Mutant Reservation thing, like with the Indians.
A message POPS on the screen.
MESSAGE
Reminder: 4:45 PM Diagnostic Check.
PULL back to show KITTY typing on the keyboard. She initiates the Diagnostic Check on the Security System. She gets up and leaves.
CUT TO:
SCENE 26
INT. DANGER ROOM -- 4:55 PM
The hologram setting is a fantastical space scene. The power drones down, the lights dim out, and the hologram setting disappears into the actual Danger Room Interior (from the diagnostic check). The power comes back on (without the hologram setting) in the middle of BETSY'S line.
BETSY
You guys really have to talk to Kitty about this. Every day is a little much.
XAVIER (booth intercom)
I will, Betsy. But it's just as well, now. We should break so you can get cleaned up. You wouldn't want to miss your own graduation, would you?
CUT TO:
SCENE 27
EXT. OUTSIDE XAVIER'S SCHOOL -- 4:55
GAMBIT shuffles playing cards. MALICE stands on guard beside him. MYSTIQUE and TOAD wait near some bushes, nearly blending into them. SABERTOOTH crouches near them, ready to pounce. CHROME, bored from so much waiting, encases and un-encases the bush. STROBE huddles, trying to shield as much of her luminescence as she can. Lights in various sections of the school go off and then on again in no obvious succession.
GAMBIT
Dat our doing? Thought we weren't hittin' 'til de party started?
MALICE
It's a security thing. Some sort of diagnostics. When it ends, we go in.
GAMBIT
Why not now? Security goin' in an out like that -- perfect camouflauge.
MALICE
Don't you mean, snagged in a web of sweeps? Another try at sabotage, Remy?
GAMBIT
Wouldn' wan' t' disappoint y'.
CUT TO:
SCENE 28
DANGER ROOM BOOTH -- 5:00 PM
XAVIER, JEAN and SCOTT analyze and discuss the results of the new X-MEN's first exercises in the Danger Room.
JEAN
Do you really think she can gain control of her power with practice?
XAVIER
It is the most logical assumption. Which we can't determine unless we try.
SCOTT
But why push her into active duty? Her scores aren't even that good.
An intercom light blinks on.
STORM (via intercom)
Professor. We have a situation up here. A small child, named Leech, followed us from the subway.
XAVIER (to Storm)
Bring him to my office. I'll be there in a few moments.
CUT TO:
SCENE 29
GIRLS DORMITORY -- 5:30 PM
JUBILEE waits impatiently outside a bathroom. ROGUE is inside.
JUBILEE
You're not the only one who needs to get ready!
The door whips open.
JUBILEE
Whoa!
ROGUE stomps out, not even trying to avoid JUBILEE who jumps out of the way. ROGUE is wearing a slinky, spaghetti strapped dress and a graduation cap.
JUBILEE
Watch it!
ROGUE
Watch yourself, Brat!
KITTY phases through JUBILEE on her way into the bathroom in a hurry.
KITTY
What's with her?
JUBILEE
Hey! No way, Kitty! I've been waiting.
KITTY (phasing the door) pulls the door closed, passing it right through JUBILEE.
KITTY
I'll be quick.
JUBILEE
You'll do better than that! You'll baby sit the squirt during the party for me!
CUT TO:
SCENE 30
XAVIER'S OFFICE -- 5:45 PM
STORM, XAVIER (both dressed up for the party) and LEECH converse.
LEECH
You wanna meet Gambit? I'll take you. C'mon.
XAVIER
Not right now, I'm afraid, we have a previous engagement. But I would like to meet these Morlocks you reside with. Tomorrow, maybe. Would you stay with us until then?
LEECH
I don't know... Subway sewers or mansion?
XAVIER
It's settled then.
STORM
I have one request, Leech. Your power...
LEECH
I can't. It's automatic.
XAVIER
It's okay. We understand. We will have to get by with our powers being weakened while you are here.
CUT TO:
SCENE 31
DINING HALL -- GRADUATION BANQUET -- 6:00 PM
It is a formal affair but an informal graduation. With only a couple dozen or so graduates, the celebration is intimate, with only a few parents (of those lucky mutants whose family still participate in their lives) attending other than X-Men, other students, and the graduates themselves. XAVIER is positioned front and center to address the small well-dressed audience. Graduates, wearing caps, but no gowns, are seated at tables directly beside XAVIER. X-MEN and audience sit at the tables arranged facing the graduates. Buffet tables line the side walls, a dance floor follows the tables, and French doors lead to a veranda just outside the room. Attendants are finding their seats as the banquet is about to begin. ROGUE enters, divining a clear path through the attendants with her bared skin, as she heads to her seat with the other graduates. WOLVERINE blocks her path.
WOLVERINE
What do you think you're doing?
ROGUE
Exactly as ya'll asked. Don't you like Rogue, the X-Man?
WOLVERINE
We get your point... Now, go put on...
XAVIER (telepathically)
Let her go, Logan. She needs to get it out of her system.
WOLVERINE steps to the side. ROGUE continues to her seat. The graduates seated beside her move away just a little to better protect themselves from accidental skin-to-skin contact. XAVIER begins.
XAVIER
Good evening! It is my pleasure to present to you this year's graduates...
CUT TO:
SCENE 32
ABBEY -- AFTER 6 PM.
BEAST completes finishing touches on pens and restraints specifically designed for those mutants ESSEX has asked MALICE, GAMBIT, and other henchmen of sorts to borrow from the school. A table is lined with several devices designed to turn on and off a mutant's power by ESSEX'S command. ESSEX himself inspects the devises, specifically a set of three high tech dentist chairs (by look only) that are side by side of each other. Several medical gizmos dangle above and around the chairs.
ESSEX
Sometimes you amaze even me, McCoy. Merely three hours and you've managed to fulfill all of my specified requirements.
BEAST
Not like I had to whip them up out of thin air, Essex.
PULL BACK to reveal the entire room filled with similar devices, some in use, some not. It is a cross between a medical classroom and torture chamber, all slick and high tech, yet crude and makeshift at the same time.
ESSEX
Indeed, so.
He eyes BEAST with a warning.
ESSEX (cont.)
Take care not to show me your worthlessness, McCoy.
CUT TO:
SCENE 33
INT. LIBRARY COMPUTER ROOM -- 7:15
KITTY, at the computer terminal, clicks on the print icon.
LEECH
Girls always like Gambit. He knows just what to say and do. He's going to teach me. He promised.
KITTY
How do you know him? Was it like us?
LEECH
He saved me and Sarah and Callisto when the first Morlocks got killed. You don't know them, but the Professor says we'll go there tomorrow.
KITTY
So he's a good guy, huh?
LEECH
He's the best. He brings me stuff that he steals.
KITTY
Steals, huh? A regular modern-day Robin Hood.
LEECH
Who's that?
KITTY
You don't know who Robin Hood is?
LEECH
Never heard of him?
KITTY
How can you not? I get that you didn't watch much TV, growing up in the sewers and all, but someone in your group has to at least read. You do call yourselves the Morlocks. It is a HG Wells reference from The Time Machine, right?
LEECH is absolutely baffled. KITTY is in awe of his ignorance. The printer starts spitting out its report and then everything goes haywire. A warning alarm goes off on the computer and the monitor blinks an error message. KITTY immediately addresses the problem. She types frantically on the computer and the annoying alarm shuts off, but she can't stop the problem. She inspects the printout, discovering the odd garble of numbers and threatening words like "X-MEN ARE DOOMED!"
KITTY
It's a virus...
KITTY returns to the computer and types away. Several screens appear on top of each other, one is a virus scan that comes up positive, but with no explanations or specific definitions. A chart shows the extent of the growing corruption.
KITTY (continuing)
The whole system's crashing...
KITTY tries to phase into the computer, but smacks her and into it. She looks to LEECH.
KITTY
I forgot about your power.
KITTY returns her attention to the computer. The chart shows that the corruption has moved beyond security system and is nearing the network main frames.
LEECH
I'll leave so you can try again.
KITTY
It's okay. Stay here, don't follow me.
FOLLOW KITTY as she runs out of room, down the hall, down some stairs, then half way down the stairs she phases through the wall.
CUT TO:
SCENE 34
INT. COMPUTER NETWORK ROOM
Four small supercomputer network blocks surround a much larger central core forming a diamond shape. KITTY phases through the wall/ceiling and 'air walks' to the floor. OVERHEAD VIEW as she unphases, chooses a particular smaller network, takes a deep breath and phases into it. It immediately drones, smokes, and sparks. SABRETOOTH enters the room. KITTY phases out the other side of the small unit. SABRETOOTH sniffs the air and rounds the room towards her. KITTY takes another breath and phases into a second smaller system. SABRETOOTH sniffs the air… confused… he passes where she just was. The unit drones, smokes and sparks. She phases out the second one. ANGLE on KITTY. She rounds the corner, and SWIPE!
CUT TO:
SCENE 35
INT. GIRLS DORM ROOM – NIGHT
PIOTR reads a story to ILLYANA, who is tucked in for bed. He closes the book, hands her a NIGHTCRAWLER stuffed animal, and kisses her forehead.
PIOTR
Goodnight, Snowflake.
He leaves. ILLYANA rolls on her side, clutching the NIGHTCRAWLER doll.
PIOTR (off camera)
Snowflake?
ILLYANA (sitting up)
Da?
PIOTR enters frame, crossing to her bed.
PIOTR
Just one more thing…
PIOTR clamps a hand over her mouth and sticks her with a syringe. Slowly, her panicked eyes flutter closed. PIOTR chooses another occupant, pulls out another syringe, and morphes into MYSTIQUE as she goes to her next victim.
CUT TO:
SCENE 36
INT. LIBRARY COMPUTER ROOM
ANGLE on LEECH (from behind) as he's inching out the door, looking down the hall where KITTY had gone.
KITTY (off camera)
Leech!
LEECH spins around. LEECH POV of KITTY, clutching a bleeding arm, phasing, barely, through the floor into the room. CLOSE in on her to mimic LEECH moving to her.
KITTY
No, stay back.
HOLD on KITTY until she's through the floor. LEECH enters frame, rushing to her. KITTY crumples to the floor, but is awake.
KITTY
Get help. Hurry!
LEECH tries to pull KITTY with him, but she has passed out. LEECH runs out of the room.
CUT TO:
SCENE 37
EXT. POOL – NIGHT
NIGHTCRAWLER, perched on the back of a bench, enjoys the cover of darkness. Bushes RUSTLE. NIGHTCRAWLER POV of bushes just TOAD launches at him. ANGLE to see both. NIGHTCRAWLER teleports away just as TOAD goes past, landing on the other side of the bench. NIGHTCRAWLER appears (teleporting) behind TOAD. They fight, tumbling off screen.
CUT TO:
SCENE 38
INT. GRADUATION PARTY
ANGLE on LEECH as he runs frantically through the room, looking for XAVIER. He passes PSYLOCKE and SCOTT, talking and sipping punch. HOLD on PSYLOCKE and SCOTT, as LEECH continues off camera. PSYLOCKE wipes SCOTT's cheek with a napkin. They laugh. SCOTT looks away. SCOTT POV of JEAN as enters room, looking for SCOTT. She sees him, motions him over, and SCOTT re-enters frame going to her. They leave the room.
ANGLE on PSYLOCKE, watching in concentration and confusion. She sets down her punch and follows after them. She passes LEECH tugging on XAVIER's hand. HOLD on LEECH and XAVIER.
LEECH
Kitty cut herself! She needs help!
XAVIER
Calm down, Leech. Now tell me, how is she hurt and where is she?
LEECH
She with the screen things. Her arm's bleeding.
XAVIER tries to contact JEAN with his telepathy, but it doesn't work.
XAVIER
Well have to do it the old fashioned way, won't we. Let's go get Jean. She's a doctor.
They leave.
CUT TO:
SCENE 39
INT. HALLWAY
PSYLOCKE reaches a juncture. PSYLOCKE POV examining the hallways leading to the left and then to the right, spotting JONO on his way outside. PSYLOCKE enters frame, catching up to JONO.
PSYLOCKE
Jono! Have you seen—
JONO (telepathically)
Nope. Haven't seen anyone.
PSYLOCKE (grimacing)
Fine.
PSYLOCKE leaves. FOLLOW JONO outside.
CUT TO:
SCENE 40
INT. HALLWAY
XAVIER and LEECH speak with JEAN.
XAVIER
Jean, Leech says Kitty cut herself. Could you…
JEAN
Of course. C'mon Leech. Let's go fix up Kitty.
They leave.
CUT TO:
SCENE 41
EXT. NEAR VERANDA – NIGHT
SOUNDS from the party can be heard in the background. JONO is finishing a cigarette. LOGAN moves into frame
JONO
Crikey! Yer not gonna lecture me too, are ya?
LOGAN (lighting a cigar)
No, not really.
LOGAN sniffs the air. He puts out the cigar and sniffs the air again, looking towards the veranda in the distance. SKINT, the claws pop out.
LOGAN
Go get help. Don't follow me.
LOGAN leaves. JONO watches for a moment, puts out his cigarette and heads inside. MALICE steps up to block the doors.
JONO
Why didn't he sense ya?
MALICE
'Cause I didn't want him to.
CUT TO:
SCENE 42
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE LIBRARY COMPUTER ROOM
LEECH excitedly pulls JEAN along.
LEECH
This way!
SABRETOOTH jumps out at them. JEAN shoves LEECH away. She holds up a hand to stop SABRETOOTH with her telekinesis, but it doesn't work. SABRETOOTH knocks her into the wall and she falls to the floor.
JEAN (to Leech)
Run! Get help! Go!
SABRETOOTH hits her again, knocking her unconscious. LEECH runs.
CUT TO:
SCENE 43
EXT. VERANDA -- NIGHT.
ROGUE sulks by herself. Through the French doors behind her, people can be seen mingling and dancing and having a wonderful time celebrating the graduation. GAMBIT is concealed in the shadows in the corner.
GAMBIT
Why y' so sad, chere? Y' miss me?
GAMBIT gives her a rose, freshly picked from XAVIER'S own bushes.
GAMBIT
Perhaps dis make y' smile.
ROGUE is amazed and flustered, she shakes her head and refuses the flower.
ROGUE
I can't...
GAMBIT raises a gloved finger to her lips, smiles, and his eyes glow (he's using the charm power).
GAMBIT
Oui, I know all about it.
ROGUE, dazed, accepts the rose.
GAMBIT
Y' wan' ta get out of here for a while?
ROGUE breaks the charmed hold.
CUT TO:
FLASHBACK [1]
EXT. INSTITUTE GROUNDS – DAY
ROGUE and BOBBY sit on the bench.
BOBBY
You should go.
END FLASHBACK
CUT BACK TO:
SCENE 43 (cont.)
ROGUE
I can't leave.
His smile widens at the challenge, and his eyes glow again.
GAMBIT
Y' sure about that, chere?
ROGUE's momentarily dazed, then shakes her head and backs towards the doors.
WOLVERINE (OC)
She's not interested, Gumbo.
ROGUE
Logan!
OPEN to include WOLVERINE on the other side of the veranda's railing. ANGLE on GAMBIT. He fans out three cards, charges them, and tosses them. FOLLOW cards to WOLVERINE, who swipes a claw at them. They explode with no damage. ANGLE on GAMBIT, who whips out a short staff, telescopes it out to 8 feet in length with a tri-point tip, and jumps the railing to fight WOLVERINE.
ANGLE on ROGUE who runs around the railing. ANGLE on fight. GAMBIT alternates throwing charged cards with attacks with the staff. Eventually, WOLVERINE stumbles to land on his back. CLOSE UP on tri-point tip of bo-staff pressed into WOLVERINE'S throat. WOLVERINE's claws reach for the staff. CLOSE UP on GAMBIT, grinning.
GAMBIT
I wouldn't.
OPEN to include the staff, which begins to glow with a charge. The charge travels down to the tip, where it stays, growing brighter. WOLVERINE grins. ANGLE on ROGUE's bared hand reaching for GAMBIT'S face. Liquid metal flows over ROGUE's hand. FOLLOW the liquid metals traveling over ROGUE, encasing her fully, and hardening. OPEN to see CHROME.
GAMBIT (grimacing)
What about him? He's not on de list, oui?
CHROME moves to WOLVERINE.
CHROME
So he's a bonus.
The liquid metal spreads over WOLVERINE, encasing him and hardening.
CUT TO:
SCENE 44
EXT. XAVIER'S SCHOOL – NIGHT
PSYLOCKE exits a side door and stops short. OPEN to see MALICE, MYSTIQUE, SCOTT and JONO standing there waiting for her. SCOTT and JONO are entranced (MALICE's doing).
MALICE
We've been waiting for you.
PSYLOCKE
Bloody hell.
FADE OUT.
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Continued in Act Two
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FOOTNOTES:
[1] This is taken from the first movie.
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