At a small diner, a few blocks from Roy's Pizza Parlor, Jessica and David are seated at a table for two. Jessica looks at David with a smile.
"Thanks for going to lunch with me," said Jessica. "It's better to have lunch with company in this part of the city, if you know what I mean."
"Yes, I do," said David.
Jessica looks on in concern as David looks out the window. She frowns.
"They're gone now, David," said Jessica. "They won't bother you."
"I know," said David, looking at Jessica with a forced smile. "I'm just not used to almost getting robbed at -"
"I wasn't talking about the robbers," said Jessica.
David looks at her and looks confused. She keeps her eyes on David.
"Spider-Man took care of the robbers, David," said Jessica. "I meant the press."
"I'm not sure that I -" said David.
"Don't bother," said Jessica. "My uncle Bob was the same way. I know what it's like to see someone scared of being found out."
David froze, a bit surprised.
"I don't know what's wrong," Jessica said, "and I'm not going to pry. But as your friend, if you ever need to talk to me about anything, anything at all, I want you to know - you can trust me. Okay?"
David looks at Jessica, not sure of what to say.
"I'm not, uh - I don't -" David stammered.
Jessica smiles sweetly at him. "Forget about it," she said reassuringly. "That's what friends are for, right?"
Jessica hands David a menu.
"Here," she said. "Pick out whatever you want for lunch. I'm buying." She gives David a smirk. "But if you think you're getting dessert, that's coming out of your own pocket, pal."
David smiles, relaxing a little. He looks at the menu and opens it up.
In his office, Walter Burke is seated at his desk. Two tall, muscular men in suits with red neck ties, RODNEY HILL, 43, with dark brown hair and eyes, and LENNY WELLS, 45, with green eyes and wavy brown hair, are standing in front of his desk.
"You wanted to see us?" asked Rodney.
"Yes, I did," Walter frowned. "Roy's turned down my offer and is partnering with Fredericks. When that happens, both of their restaurants will triple their profits. I'm going to lose a bundle if they do."
"So what do we do?" asked Lenny.
"Talk to Roy," said Walter. "Don't hurt him. He's a friend. But be as persuasive as you want. And he does have plenty of male employees for you to rough up to get him to cancel his deal with Fredericks."
Rodney grins. "We'll bring in Sam and Dave," he said. "We'll make sure Roy cancels that deal tonight."
Walter smiles and nods.
At 5 p.m., in the living room of his apartment, Peter Parker is seated at his desk and is doing his homework. He is writing the answers to his science test. Peter writes in the answer to his last question and he smiles. Peter drops his pencil and reaches for his science book. Peter looks at the Index and sees the list of contents. Peter turns to page 3 and it reads Radiation - Page 0918.
Radiation.
Peter's eyes widen as he reads it. Peter gets up from his chair and moves quickly to his bookshelf. He knew the man at that pizzeria looked familiar. Peter grabs a tall, slim book with a green cover, looks at the back cover, and then he puts it back on the shelf. Peter grabs a larger book with a gray cover and he looks at the back cover. He shakes his head in frustration and sets it back on the shelf.
"Where is it?" Peter asked himself.
Peter grabs a book with a red cover and pulls it out. He looks at the back cover and his eyes widen. The description of the book had a photograph beneath it. Peter grabs the book and turns to the back cover. The photograph is of the man from the pizza parlor - Dr. David Banner.
Peter slowly lowers the book, stunned, and he looks up in stern realization. Peter quickly sets the book back down on the shelf and he walks to the front door.
At fifty thirty at Roy's Pizza Parlor, David is hard at work in the kitchen with Wendy, Dawn and Vince. David is making a pizza as Wendy walks up to him.
"Hey, David," Wendy said. "Have you got plans tomorrow night?"
"No, I don't," David answered. "Why do you ask?"
"Tomorrow is Jessica's birthday," said Vince with a smile. "We've got a big surprise party planned and we'd like you to join us."
"I'd be delighted to," said David. "I wish I'd known. I would've bought her a gift."
"Jess is the easiest lady in the parlor to please," said Dawn. "Just get her some red roses or any kind of clothes in pink and she'll love it."
Ben is at the door to the main dining hall and he turns to the others.
"Can it, guys!" Ben snapped. "She's on her way!"
The pizza parlor is packed and there is a long line at the register. Jessica walks down the pizza parlor and to the door to the kitchen, when Peter runs to her from behind.
"Miss Cassidy?" Peter called out.
Jessica stops and turns to Peter.
"Oh, hi," Jessica said. "Parker, right? Did you find anything out?"
"I'm afraid I did," Peter said. "But it's not about the police case. It's about one of your employees."
"What do you mean?" asked Jessica.
"When I was here earlier today," Peter explained, "I saw a man in the kitchen and heard someone call him David."
"David?" Jessica asked. She looks a little upset. "What about David?"
"How long has he been an employee here?" asked Peter.
"Long enough to be a huge help to us," said Jessica firmly. "David's a close friend of mine."
"Miss Cassidy," Peter went on, "there's something about your friend you need to know -"
"I know all I need to know," Jessica said, standing between Peter and the kitchen door. "And if you are going to say anything bad about my friend, you can just leave now!"
"I'm trying to help you," said Peter. "Your friend David is a -"
"Is a what?" asked David, cutting Peter off.
Peter and Jessica look over and sees David approach. He looks at Peter sternly.
"Is everything all right, Jessica?" David asked.
"If you call talking to a dead man all right," Peter said sternly, looking at David's face.
David tries not to look upset by the comment and he narrows his eyes at Peter. Jessica notices David's stern look and she looks puzzled.
"And this is -?" David asked.
"Peter Parker," he answered. "I'm a photographer. For the Daily Bugle. And my paper's always on the lookout for a big story."
"You're leaving empty handed," Jessica said. "And you leave my friend alone! David's a good man and an old friend."
"With all due respect," Peter said, keeping his eyes on David, "I find 'old' friend hard to -"
Peter suddenly pauses, his spider-sense going off. Peter turns to the hallway to Roy's office. A faint THUD is heard.
"Now what?" asked Jessica.
"What was that?" asked Peter.
"There's nothing going on," Jessica said, angry. "Get out of here before I -"
A distant CRASH catches their attention.
"Something's wrong," Peter said.
"You think so, Columbo?" Jessica scoffed, upset. "David, go back to the kitchen. Mr. Parker, get out of here!"
Jessica rushes off and to the hallway. Peter watches as David goes to the kitchen and Peter looks back at the hall. He quickly runs after Jessica.
In the kitchen, David walks into the kitchen and frowns. He didn't expect to see a photographer back here so soon, especially one who seemed to know who he was.
"Hey, David," he heard Vince call out.
David looks over to see Vince at the cash register.
"Go on and take those pizza boxes to Table Four for me, please," Vince said.
"Right away," David said, walking to the counter where two extra large pizza boxes are set. David walks back around to the door and opens it. He freezes as he sees two muscular men - SAM EDWARDS, 31, with sandy blond hair and blue eyes, and DAVE BAXTER, 33, with a goatee and black hair and eyes - standing outside. They are staring right at David angrily. Dave knocks the pizza boxes out of David's hands and Sam grabs him by the throat, dragging him out into the hall. Vince notices and looks on in shock.
"David!" Vince screamed.
In his office, Lenny holds Bobby by the throat and has him pinned to the wall. Rodney stands in front of Roy's desk and has a gun aimed at Roy. Bobby's left eye is bruised and swollen shut and he has a split lip.
"Leave him alone!" said Roy.
"You haven't finalized the contract, right?" asked Rodney. "Give him a call. Cancel the deal."
"How do you know about the deal?" asked Roy. "Why are you doing this?"
"It doesn't matter to us why," said Rodney. "It doesn't matter to us. We're just the messengers. And if you don't make that call..."
Lenny punches Bobby in the stomach and he spits out blood, grimacing from the hit.
"... then my friend gets to send your friend to the hospital," Rodney said. "Do we have an understanding?"
The door opens and Jessica walks in, followed by Peter.
"Roy, what's -?" Jessica started.
Jessica and Peter freeze as they see Rodney aim his gun at their direction.
"We don't need an audience," said Rodney. "Get out of here."
Bobby uses the distraction to knee Lenny in the groin and he lets go. Rodney aims his gun at Bobby, but Roy struggles to grab the gun.
"NO!" Roy shouted.
As the two men struggle, Rodney's gun aims at Jessica just as Peter's spider-sense goes off. Peter pulls Jessica aside as the gun fires and the bullet goes into the hall. Rodney knocks Roy off of him and Peter charges at him. Peter tackles Rodney to the floor, while Lenny grabs Bobby by the collar and draws his gun.
"ENOUGH!" snapped Lenny.
Peter, Roy and Jessica all freeze. They slowly raise their hands up as Rodney gets to his feet and grabs his gun.
In the back storage room, David is shoved against a stack of supply boxes. Sam walks over and grabs David by the collar.
"Please," David grunted. "The money's in the register."
"We're not here for the cash," said Sam.
Sam punches David in the stomach and then he shoves him over to Dave. Dave holds David by his arms and Sam stands in front of him.
"We're not thieves, pal," said Sam. "We're messengers. And we've got a message for your boss."
Sam punches David in the stomach again and David YELLS in pain. His pulse was quickening.
A memory flashes in David's mind, back to when he was in his old laboratory, years ago. He was sitting on the chair of the radiation machine, his head strapped in place, and was pushing a button on the control pad. He was about to start his gamma ray experiment.
Another punch hit David, hard. His heart beat was getting faster.
Another memory flashes, back to the experiment. David's face was caught in the crosshairs of the machine, waiting for the fifteen seconds on the timer to finish.
Another punch hits David across the jaw, harder. DAVID SCREAMS from the pain. David hung his head, closed his eyes tight, and tried to keep calm.
Flashing back to the lab, the green light of the radiation machine lit up, starting the experiment, starting the gamma rays...
A punch to his stomach knocked David back to the present and he GRUNTS. David opens his eyes and looks up, his body starting to shake.
Flashing back to the lab, the radiation counter on the control unit in the next room continued to count upwards, as a lone DANGER icon glows with red light.
DANGER. DANGER. DANGER.
Before Sam and Dave could react, they saw Ben and Vince run in and the two men grab Sam by his arms.
"Get the hell off of him!" Vince yelled.
Dave throws David to the ground and he landed on his side, hard. He felt as if his shoulder had been dislocated. DAVID SCREAMED from the pain.
At the same time, there is a flash back to David Banner on a deserted road in the rain, trying to change a flat tire of his car. David smashes his hand on the ground while attempting to change his tire. DAVID SCREAMED from the pain.
As Dave rushes over to fight off Vince and Ben in the storage room, David rolls onto his back and out of their sight. David widened his eyes and they were now white with green irises. David's body curled into a ball and his eyes shut tight, just as the change began to take hold over him.
The muscles of David's left arm grow and split his sleeves open, showing his green skin beneath.
David's right foot starts to grow, breaking his shoe open and his sock breaks off his green foot.
David's shirt splits down the middle, showing his muscular green-skinned chest.
As Ben and Vince struggle with Sam and Dave, all four men freeze in place as they hear a LOUD GROWL of anger.
