PART 4
XT. MAGNETO¨ªS LAIR - NIGHT
THROUGH THE TURRET ATOP THE LAIR, the light beams up into the
night sky, shinning like a beacon for miles.
Then the white light obscures all. Fueled by this tiny piece of
metal, the light extends like an ever growing bubble, out and up
over the ocean.
PULL BACK FROM THE SMALL ISLAND
The bubble of white light is easily five miles across.
INT. MACHINE ROOM - NIGHT
Kelly grits his teeth, barely visible in the whiteness.
Then it is gone. He hangs his head in exhaustion.
Magneto himself is a bit overwhelmed. He looks at his own skin
- no apparent change. He shakes his head, blinks his eyes.
Sabretooth and Pyro are also a bit struck by the display and they
also seem a bit dazed.
Magneto walks over and reaches into the still steaming metal device.
His hand comes out holding the dog tag actually its remains.
A frazzled, blackened wire, warped and spent. Nothing more. And
this turns to dust in his fingers.
Magneto has amazed even himself this time.
The silence is shattered by a phone ringing. Sabretooth picks
it up. He listens, then hands the phone to Magneto.
SABRETOOTH
We¨ªve found him.
Magneto puts the phone to his ear. He smiles.
MAGNETO
Where?
ANGLE on Kelly, his skin glistening slightly, almost luminescent.
Pinker (healthier?) then it was when he came in.
KELLY
Oh... Oh God... what have you done to me?
Magneto hangs up the phone. He crosses to Kelly, leans in and
whispers in his ear.
MAGNETO
Welcome to the future... brother.
Magneto stands, looks at his machine, then back at Kelly.
MAGNETO (cont¨ªd)
Now if you¨ªll excuse me... I have a train to catch.
EXT. TRAIN - NIGHT
The silver Amtrack moves speedily through the dark countryside.
INT. TRAIN - NIGHT
A CONDUCTOR makes his way through a half filled car of
commuters taking tickets. He passes a restroom and exits the car.
He takes a seat.
Logan emerges from the restroom, having avoided paying his fare.
A few seats in front of him, in a grouping of seats that face
one another, sit four large guys, early twenties -- They¨ªre
the guys from your college named Brad that used to get drunk and
try to drown freshmen in the toilets. We¨ªll call them
BRADS 1, 2, 3, and 4. They are drinking from beer cans in paper
bags.
Across the aisle from them sits a lone oddly pretty twenty year
old girl. Her name is ROGUE -- a dark-eyed and somewhat distant
creature. From the shawl around her head to her boots, layers of
odd clothing wrap every inch of her body, except her face and hands.
She looks worn, it is the face of a runaway. Next to her, a dirty
duffle bag.
The Brads are staring at Rogue, making lewd comments about her.
They have obviously been drinking for awhile.
BRAD 1
Hey.
Rogue looks at him, then quickly looks away.
BRAD 1 (cont¨ªd)
Hey... Hey I¨ªm talking to you.
The Brads laugh amongst themselves at her reaction.
BRAD 2
(looking at her duffle bag)
Where are you going?
BRAD 1
Awww... look guys she¨ªs shy.
BRAD 3
Maybe that¨ªs why she¨ªs alone. Is that why you¨ªre
alone?
Brad 4, who is closest to Rogue, leans toward her.
BRAD 4
I¨ªll keep you company.
Rogue is silent and turns her back on him, trying to ignore him.
BRAD 4 (cont¨ªd)
Hey... I¨ªm talking to you.
Rogue continues to ignore him. This gets Brad 4 angry. The other
Brads watch his failure and laugh.
BRAD 4 (cont¨ªd)
(louder)
I said I¨ªm talking to you!
ANGLE ON: Logan, his ears picking up everything.
Rogue looks down trying not to look at them.
Brad 4 will not be ignored. He reaches out to the one place which
is not covered by clothing that he can reach--Rogue¨ªs
hand lying at her side.
BRAD 4 (cont¨ªd)
(louder still)
I said...!
He grabs her hand.
Suddenly, Brad 4¨ªs eyes open wide as if he¨ªs
in shock, an
instant later, he COLLAPSES.
Rogue reels back.
Brad¨ªs 1, 2, and 3 stand up, they are angry.
BRAD 1
Hey, what did you do?
ROGUE
Don¨ªt touch me.
Rogue stands, frightened and confused. Brad blocks her in.
BRAD 3
Hey Brad, she¨ªs a mutant!
Rogue moves to get away, but Brad 1 shoves Rogue. Rogue
falls to the floor of the train, right next to Logan¨ªs
feet. Brad 1 moves toward her.
Suddenly, Logan steps in front of Brad 1.
LOGAN
How about you sit down and leave the kid alone, alright?
BRAD 1
She¨ªs a mutant.
LOGAN
Yeah, well, nobody¨ªs perfect.
ANGLE ON: Rogue, she gets up and huddles toward the rear
of the train.
BRAD 1
(who is considerably larger than Logan)
I think you should take a seat little fella.
He shoves Logan backward. Logan gathers himself. Brad 4 is very
weak but regaining consciousness.
Brads 2 and 3 stand to back their friend against Logan.
It¨ªs now three against one. All the passengers are watching
--
LOGAN
Listen -- I don¨ªt want any trouble.
BRAD 1
Well you got trouble.
Brad 1 slams his fist into Logan¨ªs stomach. Logan grabs
the man¨ªs fist and lifts him up and over, slamming him
into the train floor.
Brad 2 grabs a commuter¨ªs briefcase and smashes it on
Logan¨ªs head. Bursting open, its contents fly everywhere.
Logan turns. Brad 2 stares wide-eyed as the gash on Logan¨ªs
head starts to heal.
Suddenly, Brad 1 is up. He grabs Logan around the neck
from behind. He holds Logan in his head lock while Brad
2 and 3 start punching him in the stomach and face. Logan is taking
quite a beating and naturally the entire train of people are doing
nothing.
ANGLE ON: Logan¨ªs eyes, his pupils are getting smaller.
His brow furrows like a wolf. A low guttural GROWL.
Suddenly rage -- PRIMAL RAGE
Logan¨ªs feet kick out, his left foot strikes Brad 1
in the face knocking him backward, while his right foot hooks around
Brad 2¨ªs head dragging him forward. With his left hand
Logan grabs Brad 2 by the throat, squeezing the esophagus.
Brad 2 is paralyzed. His eyes roll up as the oxygen is cut off.
Brad 2 collapses.
ANGLE ON: Brad 3 running out of the car with the other
passengers. A TRANSIT COP pushes past the fleeing passengers, into
the car.
Brad 1 still bear hugs Logan from behind. Logan reaches
pushing his knuckles against Brad 1¨ªs leg. Suddenly:
SHOOK -- the sound of metal extending. Brad 1 howls in
pain. SHOOK -- the sound of metal retracting.
Brad 1 releases Logan and stares down at three punctured
holes in his leg. Logan wheels around, kicks him to the
floor, and punches him.
All eyes in the train are on Logan, as he raises his fist.
SHOOK -- Logan extends his claws.
Logan is at the peak of his rage. The passengers stare in disbelief.
Even Rogue is astonished.
TRANSIT COP
Freeze... transit police. Drop your weapon.
Logan pauses, only for a second. Brad 1 is wailing for his life.
But rage has taken over. Logan raises his blades to finish what
he started.
Suddenly, THE TRAIN LURCHES VIOLENTLY. Logan goes flying
backward.
EXT. TRAIN - NIGHT
The train has been brought to a sudden stop -- but the wheels
are still turning. Finally, they are shut down.
INT. TRAIN CAR - NIGHT
The lights are out. Everyone gathers themselves. Then comes a
low grinding creak. The sound of metal bending. Rivets popping.
EXT. TRAIN - NIGHT
Like the top of a sardine can, the entire side wall of the train
car is peeled off. Revealing the terrified passengers inside --
and Magneto, Sabretooth, Mystique Toad and Pyro on the outside.
With a final thrust, the air RIPPLES and Magneto tosses the car
wall to the side.
Passengers from the other cars stare wide-eyed out their windows.
The train has stopped at a railroad crossing, the gates are down.
MAGNETO
You can come out now, Logan. You¨ªre among friends.
The transit cop rises to his feet, brandishing his pistol.
TRANSIT COP
Freeze!
With a turn of his finger, Magneto draws the pistol to him. The
cop holds tight and is yanked off the train, onto the ground. With
another twist of his hand, Magneto makes the gun leap from the cop¨ªs
grasp and HOVER, pointing at the cop¨ªs head.
MAGNETO
You Homo Sapiens and your guns.
The gun cocks.
XAVIER (O.S.)
That¨ªs enough, Max!
All turn to see Xavier, seated in his wheelchair --
flanked by Cyclops, Jean and Storm. All, save Xavier, are in uniform.
THUNDER RUMBLES ACROSS THE SKY
ANGLE ON: Storm, a GUST OF WIND.
MAGNETO
I¨ªll never understand your regard for them, Charles.
XAVIER
And I¨ªll never understand terrorists.
MAGNETO
I am trying to save our kind, Charles.
You should do the same.
XAVIER
Not at the cost of lives, Max.
Xavier¨ªs metal chair is gripped by magnetic forces.
It shakes and begins to inch towards Magneto.
MAGNETO
Magneto.
The chair is pulled closer to Magneto. Cyclops steps forward.
Xavier need not turn to know help is coming.
Magneto sees and respects Cyclops¨ªs power. The chair
stops moving.
XAVIER
(to Cyclops)
It¨ªs alright... it¨ªs alright.
Magneto glances at Storm, then Cyclops.
MAGNETO
The two in Alaska. Just how do you people manage to be in the right
place at the right time? Still tinkering with Cerebro?
XAVIER
(referring to Logan)
What do you want with him?
Magneto smiles now, tapping his METAL HELMET.
MAGNETO
Can¨ªt read my mind?
Xavier¨ªs expression falters. It appears as if the helmet
has been made to block Xavier from doing just that.
MAGNETO (cont¨ªd)
I¨ªll tell you something, Charles, we are more alike now
than we were when we started.
XAVIER
Is that so?
MAGNETO
Still trying to make the world safe for our kind. Still trying to
find a way to introduce ourselves --
definitively.
XAVIER
You definition of definitive was always a bit extreme for me, Max.
What is it like these days?
MAGNETO
Let¨ªs just say that I am out to make some radical changes.
Now come on Charles. For old times sake, for your sake... Leave
him to me.
Logan slowly rises from the huddled passengers. Sabretooth fighting
the urge to move on him. Logan glares back at Sabretooth.
MAGNETO (cont¨ªd)
Ahh... there you are brother. I believe you possess something I
am very much in need of.
Just then, SABRETOOTH ROARS UNCONTROLLABLY and punches Toad in
the stomach, doubling him over. Oddly - Toad is laughing. He stands
upright.
TOAD
Do it again.
Another roar and another punch. Toad is crying and laughing at
the same time.
TOAD (cont¨ªd)
Oh God it hurts. Do it again.
Magneto watches this, momentarily stunned.
Suddenly, Pyro grabs hold of his face.
PYRO
I¨ªM BLIND.
And Mystique MORPHS into a small child and begins tugging
at Magneto¨ªs pant leg.
MYSTIQUE
I have to go to the bathroom.
Magneto looks at the cause of it all: XAVIER, HIS EYES
CONCENTRATING, HAS ALL OF MAGNETO¨ªS MINIONS UNDER HIS
PSYCHIC CONTROL.
Cyclops cannot help laughing. Storm and Jean smile.
Magneto is furious.
MAGNETO
If I could make you understand. If you could just be made to see
it the way I do. The way it¨ªs going to be.
XAVIER
The way what is going to be?
MAGNETO
I¨ªm going to change the world with or without you as a
witness, Charles.
(Points to Logan)
And this one gets a front row seat.
XAVIER
What do you mean to do?
And Magneto steps back a little further. His oddly behaving consorts
follow.
MAGNETO
This checkmate goes to you. I didn¨ªt want to hurt anyone.
But you leave me
no choice.
XAVIER
WHAT DO YOU MEAN TO DO?
Sabretooth and Toad walk away, still with the punching and asking
to be punched.
Magneto takes the little girl/Mystique by the hand and the blind
Pyro by the arm and leads them away, humiliated, to their waiting
helicopter.
Xavier turns back to Logan, still standing in the train car, amidst
all the huddled passengers. Suddenly, all the passengers except
Rogue lay on the floor and seats and go to sleep. A few of them
even snore.
XAVIER (cont¨ªd)
Now will you come back with us?
A look crosses Logan¨ªs face. Uncomfortable.
LOGAN
Look, I appreciate your concern. But, I do better on my own.
Xavier indicates the wreckage of the train.
XAVIER
You got less than sixty miles today. I¨ªll make you a deal.
Two days. If we haven¨ªt figured out what Magneto wants
with you by then... I¨ªll bring you back myself.
Logan looks up at Xavier suspiciously, hating that he is making
sense. Xavier moves closer.
Logan looks over at Rogue, covered in her layers of clothes. Storm
is helping her off the train, yet taking care not to touch her skin.
LOGAN
What are you going to do with her?
Xavier looks to Rogue. A warmth comes over his face. An
look of understanding. At a glance he has read her mind. He knows
her pain -- her struggle. Rogue looks to Xavier. Their eyes meet.
XAVIER
Rogue is a beautiful girl, with an extraordinary power. One that
even her own family isn¨ªt able to accept. She¨ªs
been on her own for weeks now, searching for a home. A place to
belong.
Xavier turns to Logan.
XAVIER (cont¨ªd)
-- We¨ªre going to give her that.
Logan looks at rogue, contemplating this. Then to Xavier.
LOGAN
Forty-eight hours, old man. But if you cross me, I won¨ªt
feel any guilt about what I do to you.
XAVIER
Deal.
Logan eyes the rest of the gang until he settles his gaze on Jean.
He offers a faint seductive smile. This is not lost on Cyclops.
INT. MAGNETO¨ªS LAIR - CELL - LATER - NIGHT
A cell with bars, but no visible door.
Kelly is hunched over his toilet, heaving. His suit is rumpled
and dirty, showing signs that time has passed.
There is a television just outside the door:
We see SEVERAL NEWS HELICOPTERS circling a platform built against
the backdrop of the main entrance to Ellis Island. We see massive
security measures, the likes of which have never been attempted,
being prepared.
(Voice plays over the rest of the scene)
NEWSCASTER (V.O.)
Is there such a thing as too much security? A possible complication
adding to the United Nations Anniversary is the sheer number of
security personnel for what will be the largest single summit in
the history of the planet.
He walks towards the cell and tries to look down the hall, pressing
his face to the bars.
NEWSCASTER (V.O. CONT¨ªD)
While the Secret Service has never had difficulty handling one or
even several world leaders, it has never had to handle the daunting
task of watching over all of them.
It is only then that he hears a slight crack and his head squeezes
between the bars like a soft-shelled egg. He gasps in pain, but
more from shock. He pulls his head back with some difficulty and
POP, it squeezes right back through.
KELLY
What have you bastards done to me?
Kelly is horrified. Disgusted. He paces the cell, unable to comprehend
what has happened to himself.
It is only when he hears the sound of a HELICOPTER IN THE
DISTANCE that he reacts. He starts to panic, then collects himself.
Then he goes over to the bars again. He pauses,afraid... then:
He pops his head through again. He turns his shoulder toward the
bars and begins to push. His feet slip in the floor and his fingers
stretch and crack inside, then his ribs begin to pop one by one
with the brittleness of undercooked spaghetti. It is agonizing,
but Kelly finally manages to pull his horribly-altered body through
the bars.
INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
Kelly¨ªs whole chest and pelvis are slightly flattened
beneath his clothes, but with a hideous crunching sound, they seem
to inflate again back to normal.
Kelly looks at his body with a mixture of fascination and disgust.
VOICE
HEY.
Kelly turns and screams. Blob has just walked into the room and
lunges, grabbing him by the arms. Kelly is enveloped in this fat,
hulking mass. He manages to keep one hand free and all he can do
is push it against Blob¨ªs face. It is futile. Until...
Steam begins to come off Blob¨ªs face. And Blob SCREAMS
IN PAIN.
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