Act 3, Scene 7

The light is beginning to fade from New York. We fade through a succession of images showing a city degenerating into increasing lawlessness; muggings, robberies and carjackings are rife. We follow the little girl who lost her balloon as her mother and father scoop her up from outside her home and bring her indoors. Before her front door shuts she turns to look up at the rooftops one last time.

LITTLE GIRL: Bye, Peter.

A group of Spider-slayers walk up one of the working-class streets. Every man and woman is armed, most with crude two-by-fours, some with bats, some with guns. We see the fearful faces of the little girl's parents watching from inside their homes as they pass.

Inside the house, the television is still on, and coverage of the day's events is still ongoing. Amateur footage of the two helicopters' pursuit of Spiderman from earlier that day is playing.

ANCHORMAN: Since then we've had only sporadic and rumoured sightings of Spiderman throughout the city. But with much of the city's police and a huge number of self-proclaimed 'Spider-slayers' roaming the streets searching for him, that's hardly surprising.

LITTLE GIRL: But Daddy, he's nice. He got me my balloon.

DADDY: Rosie, dear, what have I told you about your stories?

She pouts.

LITTLE GIRL: I hope he stays lost. You're all so mean to him. He's a nice kind man!