Jackpot walks into Anna Watson's home through the back door. She has flown from downtown Manhattan to Forest Hills in the rain. She takes off her visor and leaves it on the kitchen table in a puddle of rainwater. Mary Jane slowly walks up the stairs to the master bedroom where Paul is reading a book in bed.
PAUL
Hey. How was night three? Oh, let me get you a towel.
Paul gets up and opens a cupboard and offers a towel to Mary Jane. She wanders into the room and rubs the back of her neck seemingly despondent. The rain hides the tracks of her tears.
MJ
I'm gonna sleep in my old room.
PAUL
Hm? Everything ok?
MJ
I just—I want to be alone tonight.
PAUL
What's up?
MJ
I don't wanna talk about it. I just need to be alone.
PAUL
Did something happen? Is it the suit?
MJ
Paul just—please just—I want to be alone.
Please let me be alone.
PAUL
…Ok. Talk in the morning?
MJ
Sure.
Paul walks over to hand her the towel. He leans over to kiss Mary Jane but turns her head away.
MJ
Please just—
PAUL
…Ok.
Paul climbs back into bed as Mary Jane leaves. She showers and changes into nightwear in her old room. She sits on the edge of her old childhood bed, staring at the rain on the window. Her focus shifts further back and she looks across to the house next door—formerly the home of the Parker family. She sees Peter's old bedroom window where she first saw him emerge as Spider-Man what feels like several lifetimes ago. Tears begin to roll down her cheeks. She curls up in bed and her head comes to rest next to an old Spider-Man plushie. She looks at it sadly, then holds it close to her chest as she softly sheds tears into her pillow.
It's early in the morning before New York has woken up. The dawn light enters Peter's bedroom around the edges of the shades and curtains. He is lying in his bed, staring at the ceiling fan that is slowly turning on its lowest setting. He rolls over onto his side with an expression of dissatisfaction at where his life is.
He eventually sits up and swings his legs out of the side of his bed, revealing to our view the big white hair of Felicia Hardy on the other side. She is curled up and facing away from Peter. There are several moments of silence which feel like several minutes.
PETER
…I'm sorry.
Felicia doesn't respond.
PETER
I'm going to go out.
Can you let yourself out?
FELICIA
...Yeah.
Peter showers, dresses himself in his suit, and prepares to leave out of the living room window. Felicia hasn't moved from her same position. Spider-Man tries a joke to lighten the mood.
SPIDER-MAN
Don't steal anything!
Felicia remains silent and unmoved. Spider-Man looks over for a moment and leaves through the window.
Felicia gets out of bed wearing Peter's clothes. She walks into the kitchen. On the fridge some alphabet magnets spell out the words, "DONT STEAL ANYTHING." She explores the cupboards in search of food.
FELICIA
Nothing but cereal. Just as well for this time of day.
She leans on the counter as she eats a bowl of Froot Loops. After one mouthful she spits them out and pours them into the sink. She walks over to the couch and sits. She notices Peter's photo album, picks it up and begins looking through it from the beginning. She sees a picture of Peter and Uncle Ben. She turns the page to a picture of Gwen and pauses, wondering who it might be. She turns through the pages slowly. Photos of Aunt May cooking wheatcakes, newspaper cuttings of front pages of Spider-Man credited to Peter Parker, a shot of New York from the top of what Felicia works out is the Empire State Building, people playing chess, a staff photo from the Daily Bugle, a man walking his dog through Central Park, Peter and Doc Connors in an ESU lab, May and Jay's wedding. She turns another page and finds a loose photo face down. On the back is written, 'Sorry it's blurry! Robbie.' She turns it over.
FELICIA
Why does he have an out of focus photo with his
ex-girlfriend in an airport terminal? He is so weird.
Cute leggings though, MJ.
She continues looking through the album. Photos of Peter's friends and family in restaurants, at Coney Island, at weddings, parties, Flash's send off when he joined the army, and a few photos of Peter and Harry. They are interlaced with photos of New Yorkers in everyday situations. Still-lifes mixed in with more newspaper cuttings and landscape shots of New York.
FELICIA
He's really got a good eye.
He should do more with this.
She continues turning the pages and sees one of Spider-Man and Daredevil squatting down on a rooftop, throwing up gang signs at the camera like the cover of a rap album. She lets out a small giggle as Peter's funny side is expressed through the picture. She turns the page to see a photo of Peter and Mary Jane. She notices an engagement ring on Mary Jane's finger.
FELICIA
…No #$% way.
She turns the pages to see more and more photos of Peter and Mary Jane. Photos from their life together in Soho and later Bedford Towers. The ring is gone, but they are happy in every photo, and there is seemingly no end to them. She turns the pages with increasing speed with her face becoming more alarmed as she starts to realise with new appreciation just how important Mary Jane is to Peter. She lands on a photo which features Mary Jane with big, curly red hair and an enormous baby bump. Her jaw drops. She stares into space with the photo album open on her lap, mouth still agape.
FELICIA
Oh my god.
…OH MY #$% GOD!
Mary Jane exits a cab with a large handbag over her shoulder and walks into a skyscraper. She enters the lobby of the Baxter Building and walks up to the receptionist.
MJ
Hi, I'm Mary Jane Watson, I'm here to see Reed Richards.
ROBERTA
Good morning, Miss Watson. Dr Richards is
expecting you. Please make yourself comfortable.
Mary Jane takes a seat in the waiting area and waits quietly. She takes her phone out showing a lock screen with Paul and her two adopted children. She unlocks the phone to an old photo of her and Peter—she has been looking at photos of the two of them. She closes the photo app and locks the phone. Sue Richards walks out of the elevator in civilian clothes and walks towards her.
SUE
Mary Jane, it's so good to see you. How have you been?
MJ
Sue, hi! I'm good thanks, how about you?
SUE
We're doing well. Still trying to juggle the
life Fantastic with the domestic.
MJ
Hopefully you can give me a few pointers.
SUE
Of course. I'm glad you came. Shall we?
They head up the elevator to the laboratory of Reed Richards. He is stretched up to the ceiling examining a high tech device with goggles on.
REED
Welcome, Mary Jane! Please, come in!
MJ
Hello, Dr Richards, it's good to see you again.
Reed swoops down to meet MJ as his legs start walking over to join the rest of his body.
REED
Please, MJ, we're way past Dr Richards. You used
to come here regularly with Peter years ago.
Sue clears her throat. Reed's legs catch up to his torso and he returns to normal proportions.
REED
Please, call me Reed.
MJ
Hi, Reed.
REED
I'm glad you decided to accept my invitation. When
Johnny told me about your device and I spoke with
Peter about it I have to admit I was pretty curious.
It sounds like interesting technology.
MJ
It is. I'm still figuring out how to control it perfectly,
and when Johnny said you'd invited me here I
thought the responsible thing to do was to accept your
invitation.
Reed smiles at her warmly.
REED
Well we've got the lab ready to go. Has anyone
said the immortal words to you yet?
MJ
What words?
Spider-Man drops down from the corner of the lab's ceiling.
SPIDER-MAN
Suit up.
MJ
Peter! What are you doing here?
Spider-Man removes his mask.
PETER
My responsibility as your friend.
I can go if you want me to.
MJ
No it's—-I'm just surprised to see you after—
I'm glad you're here. I'm happy to see you.
PETER
I, um—I also wanted to say I'm sorry for last night.
MJ
Yeah me too.
Sue and Reed catch each other's eye. Mary Jane adjusts the bag strap on her shoulder.
MJ
Sue, is there somewhere I can change?
SUE
Of course, right this way.
Sue and Mary Jane leave the room. Peter starts to walk around the lab looking at hardware while Reed examines a clipboard.
REED
So Peter, what's new with you?
PETER
I know about the Illuminati.
Reed looks at Peter with an alarmed expression.
PETER
I was watching a documentary on YouTube.
They're based in the Ural Mountains.
Reed returns to his clipboard and exhales a sigh of relief.
PETER
All this time people said it was Rome, but it was
Russian Orthodox. The perfect cover. Exactly
what they'd do.
Peter examines some heavy machinery and reaches a hand out to it. Reed's head appears in front of his face, looped over him with his elastic neck.
REED
Peter you're here as a courtesy as a member of the
superhero community and an old friend. But if you
think I'm going to let you touch any of my inventions
after you stole one and gave it to Oscorp—-
PETER
Of course. I'm sorry.
Reed's head returns to his body.
REED
How is Osborn these days? Still aping my work?
PETER
I try to throw him off the scent sometimes but he's
got a great mind. Troubled but great. I'm pretty
sure I'm in breach of my employment contract.
I guess I'm still suspicious of him, despite wanting to see
the good in him.
(In everyone.)
REED
Well I'd be lying if I said I didn't appreciate
the sentiment.
PETER
And I appreciate you helping MJ.
Reed looks up over the edge of his clipboard.
REED
Everything ok between you too?
PETER
We're friends. We'll always be friends.
Reed's face opens into a kind smile as he returns his gaze to his notes. Sue and Mary Jane walk in, both in their superhero costumes.
REED
So this is the device. Does it come off or is it
connected to your suit?
Jackpot slides it off and removes her visor.
MJ
It slides off. Here, take a look.
She hands the device to Reed.
REED
Thank you, thank you.
He puts it on an examination table and everyone gathers around it.
SUE
How does it work?
MJ
Originally it was a small watch. It uses symbology science.
REED
Symbology? Meaning what exactly?
PETER
In the universe it comes from scientists theorized
they could use a higher form of symbology to
store more information. In other words they created
a means of using glyphs to store and convert energy.
That's not how they explained it but it's pretty clear that's
what it was.
REED
Still whip smart as ever, I see.
Reed and Peter have all attention on the device while Mary Jane quickly smiles at Peter. Sue notices.
REED
So what does it look like when it's in use?
MJ
The original design was built to work like a slot
machine. I'd reach out and pull the energy around
me into the watch, and the symbols would appear.
SUE
So you're saying it would convert the energy
based on the combination?
REED
How many symbols are there?
MJ
Seven in total.
PETER
So there are 343 different combinations.
REED
And what happens when they combine?
MJ
In the original model the powers would be random.
REED
So the energy conversion process wasn't stable.
MJ
So it would seem. The newer version was
designed to give me more control. There's a switch
on the device so it can operate like the old method,
but the new approach lets me use the energy how I want.
PETER
She's like Captain Marvel, but—
Mary Jane cocks an eyebrow at Peter.
PETER
But cooler.
Sue smiles.
REED
So you have more control over the energy, but
you're still dependent on drawing the energy from
somewhere.
SUE
That may help us explain why your mood changes how
much energy you harness. When you're in a better mood
you roll matching glyphs. There might be a psionic connection.
REED
Right, the glyphs are a depiction, quite literally, of
how much power you've harnessed. So it's not that
random at all.
Peter smiles at Mary Jane. Sue notices.
MJ
That—that actually makes a lot of sense. I hadn't
thought of it that way.
REED
Why don't we run some tests? Would you mind?
MJ
Sure.
Mary Jane puts on her slot device and visor.
JACKPOT
Where should I stand?
SUE
Right over here please, MJ.
Jackpot walks into the middle of a testing area surrounded by all manner of electronic equipment. Peter points at one.
PETER
What's that one called?
REED
Nice try, Peter.
Ok, Mary Jane, please can you show us how the
device works?
JACKPOT
Do you have something I can attack?
Peter walks over and puts on his mask. Jackpot and Sue laugh.
REED
Why don't you show us how you use it to hover?
SPIDER-MAN
That's a better idea.
Spider-Man walks back to stand next to Reed. Sue gives Reed a knowing smile. Jackpot spins three triple bars. She glows in bright light. Reed looks at a computer screen of energy readings.
REED
Thank you. Please can you hover and we'll start a timer?
JACKPOT
Sure.
Spider-Man leans in to Reed.
SPIDER-MAN
(I'm just gonna keep my eyes on MJ so I'm not accused
of corporate espionage if that's ok with you, Reed.)
Jackpot hovers in the air for several minutes while Sue and Reed take readings.
SUE
These energy readings. They don't look the way
they should.
SPIDER-MAN
What do you mean?
SUE
I've seen energy readings from all over the
galaxy and from other dimensions too. Something
about this is wrong. Reed, what do you think of these
theta readings?
REED
That's interesting. They should be inverted to sigma,
but they're not.
Mary Jane, how are you feeling?
JACKPOT
I feel fine.
REED
How would you describe your mood right now?
JACKPOT
Same. Fine. Why?
SUE
It's nothing, MJ, this is the first test so we're just
collecting data.
More time passes until Jackpot's energy starts to fade. She lowers herself to the floor.
The day continues with more tests. The Thing enters with a platter of sandwiches and announces lunch.
BEN
Who wants baloney?
PETER
I always love your baloney, Ben.
BEN
Heh.
Sue, Reed and MJ share a table and enjoy a warm conversation. Peter and Ben wander off to a corner of the room and share sandwiches together. Peter perches on the wall.
BEN
So how you been?
PETER
You're not trying to kill me so I'd say things are on the up.
BEN
Well we had to try and stop you. And Reed was furious
that you gave that thing to Osborn. But we knew something
was wrong and that it was big. You got a real knack for
yankin' our chains.
PETER
Ha. Yeah I guess I do. I still think we should have been
the Fantastic Five.
BEN
Trust me buddy, with the stuff we do, you'd be squashed
like a bug.
PETER
What about a street division? The Phat-tastic Floor?
BEN
I liked you better when you were funny.
PETER
Me and MJ could head it up.
BEN
Hrmph.
I don't envy you right now.
PETER
What do you mean?
BEN
Look, kid. I know what it means to love someone and
not be able to be with 'em. It was me and Sue who
talked sense into Reed and Johnny about whatcha did.
PETER
—
BEN
Time was if someone had told me that stealin' a
device would let me be with Alicia the way we both
wanted back then, I wouldn'a hesitated.
PETER
—
BEN
Love's a kick in the stones, huh.
PETER
—
BEN
I thought you were a talker.
PETER
I—she—it's nothing. Thanks.
Thanks, Ben.
BEN
So I guess you don't wanna talk about it, huh?
PETER
Is the Fantastic Four trying to repair mine and MJ's friendship?
BEN
Well it would give us a new pile-a rocks to climb.
So you don't wanna talk about it?
PETER
There's not a lot to talk about.
It wouldn't be a fun talk.
BEN
...Ok.
You're gonna be ok, webhead. Lotta people care
aboutcha. Anyway, I gotta go. Looks like you guys
have a busy afternoon.
Ben collects the platter and sandwich wrappers and leaves the room. Peter looks across to see Sue, Reed and MJ have moved back to the testing area of the room.
REED
Peter, will you be joining us?
PETER
I—uh—I've got to go help my Aunt with some
errands.
MJ
Oh, ok.
PETER
Fancy going on patrol tonight, MJ?
MJ
Yeah!
I mean—yeah that'd be good. Then you can
show me the ropes.
PETER
The webs.
Peter and MJ share a gentle, cautious smile.
PETER
Sounds good. Let me know when you're free
and we'll set up a rendez-vous.
MJ
Can't wait!
Peter leaves the room. MJ smiles and turns back to Sue and Reed. Sue smiles at her with wide eyes and raised eyebrows as MJ tries to hide her blushes.
MJ
Sorry.
SUE
For what?
MJ
I—
REED
Let's get to work. MJ let's see if you can
pinpoint what you want the symbols to be.
The tests continue until the afternoon is over. The sun begins to set across the Manhattan skyline through the window. Reed stretches by spinning his neck around several times and letting it loose to spin back to normal under the force of its own elasticity. Jackpot takes her visor off and shakes her hair loose.
SUE
Reed, can you take care of the data backups?
REED
Of course.
SUE
How are you feeling, MJ?
MJ
Pretty good all things considered. I thought I'd be more
tired than I am but it's no more draining that callisthenics.
I'm just posing and pointing, the energy does the rest.
SUE
You keep that up and you're going to make me jealous.
REED
Mary Jane I wanted to talk to you about the skull symbol
we saw. What does that mean?
MJ
I know that it's in there but so far I've been lucky not
to roll three of them at the same time. It has a negative
effect on what happens next. In the old model it brought
bad luck. I once turned into pudding.
REED
What flavour?
SUE
Reed!
MJ
Lime.
REED
That is unlucky.
SUE
I'm sorry about him, MJ.
Really, Reed?
MJ
Haha it's fine, really. I'm actually interested to know what
you learn about the symbol.
REED
Initial readings show it has a far more powerful energy
signature than the other six symbols but the frequencies
are peculiar to say the least. It almost looks like energy
we've encountered in the Phantom Zone but we'll need a
closer look.
In the meantime, enjoy your patrol with Peter.
MJ
Oh, right! Yeah. That.
She crosses her eyes and blows a raspberry.
MJ
Haha! I'd completely forgotten about that! Haha!
MJ leaves the room and gets her things.
REED
You really think she forgot? I always thought she was
brighter than that.
SUE
You are hopeless, Reed Richards.
Sue follows MJ and shows her up to the roof. On the way up she calls Peter and they set a rendez-vous.
SUE
Mary Jane, leave the bag with me. You don't need
to take that with you. Just come get it in the morning.
MJ
Thank you, Sue. Thank you for today, it was great.
SUE
Our pleasure. Be safe tonight. I don't envy you.
MJ
Maybe in a few weeks we'll be able to see each
other again.
SUE
Much sooner, I hope! We'll be in touch as soon as we
have a solid analysis. Take care.
Jackpot takes off into the sky and heads into the night. As she flies across the rooftops we see the photo of her with a baby bump. The Black Cat watches her trail through the sky.
BLACK CAT
Training with the Fantastic Four, MJ? Well, make
sure to be careful when you bell the cat.
