Act 1, Scene 13

An office, much like Jameson's, but with a few more 'homey' touches; family pictures on the walls, a few flowers etc. A banner across the top of one wall reads THE NEW YORK SENTINEL – THE TRUTH, AND PROUD OF IT.

Peter sits across a desk from a middle-aged man with a comfortable stomach. We see a golden nametag on the desk proclaim him as 'Lynas Stewart, Editor-in-Chief'. The man is thumbing through a portfolio of Peter's photographs, much like Jameson did in Spiderman 2, but where Jameson was cruelly dismissive, this man is positive and complementary.

LYNAS: These are excellent! You have an eye for the human angle, Mr. Parker!

PETER: (slightly disbelieving) You…like them?

LYNAS: Yes, yes I do. Now Mr. Parker as you know we're a new paper and New York is a hard market to crack. That being the case I want the best people possible, and you strike me as a valuable asset. I'd like you to work for us – we have a vacancy in our-

PETER: You're offering me a job?

LYNAS: (laughs) Mr. Parker you seem to delight in repeating the obvious. So would you be interested? What are you making currently, salary-wise?

PETER: I'm…I'm not actually salaried. The Bugle gives me freelance work.

LYNAS: The Bugle? Jameson wouldn't know talent if it smacked him in the jaw – and now there's a photograph New York's media would love to see. Tell you what Mr. Parker, how does $40 thousand dollars a year to be our assistant photographic editor sound to you? Obviously you'll need time off for your studies but that should be fine.

Peter's eyebrows raise. He tries to speak and finds he can't. He tries again, and still he can't. We see Lynas frowning quizzically at him. Finally Peter clears his throat and says very calmly-

PETER: Fine.

LYNAS: So it's settled! We'll get the paperwork out of the way in the next few days. You'll work out of your camera mostly but you'll have an office in the building when you need to work here. I'll get one of the runners to show you.

PETER: Okay.

LYNAS: Are you alright, son? You look a little dazed.

PETER: Fine.

LYNAS: Oh – you're quite famous for your close relationship with Spiderman, aren't you?

This wakes Peter up a little. He's unsure how to react.

PETER: Yes…

LYNAS: Well obviously we'll be wanting you to continue your coverage of him as much as possible. We need to get the message out there that he's been misrepresented, by The Bugle in particular – that damn Jameson, he may sell newspapers but he is to journalism what Skin-e-max is to Citizen Kane.

PETER: You think Spiderman's a hero?

LYNAS: Oh I know he is. Now I am incredibly busy so if you'll excuse me Mr. Park-

PETER: Peter. Call me Peter.

Lynas stands to shake Peter's hand warmly.

LYNAS: Peter, good to meet you. Hope you'll enjoy working for us.

PETER: Thank you. I think I will.

We cut to Peter being shown around his office by a young intern. He can barely believe his eyes, or his luck. When the intern leaves he sits back in his chair and opens the window blinds. A glorious New York afternoon spills into his office, bathing him in warm sunshine. He basks in the glow for a second…

…and then his spider-sense tingles. Through the crowds below he picks out a car pulling up outside a jewellers. He leans against the window to get a better look…and finds that it has a central pivot, allowing him easy access to the street outside.

PETER: (pleasantly impressed)Hmm. Handy…

He closes his office door and pulls the blinds shut, tugging off his shirt. Unusually for Peter Parker, life is good, and it shows – he has a smile on his face as he sheds his clothes and pulls on the mask.

SPIDERMAN: Work is fun.