Act 2, Scene 28

Dawn is breaking over Manhattan, and Spiderman watches the light spill over the buildings from his vantage point on one of the highest corners of the Empire State Building. He runs his fingers over the forearms of his suit.

SPIDERMAN: Ready?

With that, he springs free of the building, his body a perfect gymnastic arrow. Gravity takes its toll and he plummets, the ground rushing up to meet us at a stomach-lurching rate. With the ground a fraction of a second away, a webline is snaked and snags, and he's off, rocketing down the New York avenue in huge looping arcs. This is Spiderman revelling in his powers as we haven't seen him in a long time.

A voice carries to him. It's a little girl, crying.

LITTLE GIRL: My balloon! My balloon!

Spiderman arrests himself in mid-swing and tracks the rising red balloon, which is already some distance above him. With one precision leap of over a hundred feet straight up, he clasps his hand around the string and web-zips to the side of a building, descending more slowly so as not to burst the balloon.

When his feet touch the ground, the little girl is waiting for him. She's about four years old, and currently jumping madly up and down in excitement.

SPIDERMAN: Somebody lose a balloon?

LITTLE GIRL: Me me me me me me!!!

Kneeling down, he hands it over. The girl hugs him.

LITTLE GIRL: Thank you, Peter.

Spiderman stands up quickly, unable to believe what he has just heard.

SPIDERMAN: What did you call me?

LITTLE GIRL: That's your name isn't it? Pe-ter Par-ker. Pe-ter Par-ker.

SPIDERMAN: Where did you hear that?

LITTLE GIRL: My Daddy was reading it to me this morning. And it was on TV when I left the house. I live just over there (she turns to point) and my Daddy-

When she's turned back, Spiderman has gone. We stay on the little girl for a moment as she pouts, and then her face clears with the air of someone having a fantastically good idea. She lets go of her balloon. It begins to rise into the air.

LITTLE GIRL: (hopefully)My balloon...my balloon...