Int. van- day
Domino drives the stolen X-Van down a stretch of desert highway. Meltdown is in the passenger seat, and Rictor is seated behind them. In the very back are Sunspot and Warpath. Sunspot is reading a book, and Warpath is on a cell phone with his brother. All the other curtains are closed except his.
I don’t want to be like, uncool or whatever, but should we really be leaving right now?
Yes.
Um, yeah. Thanks for making me feel like my opinion counts and everything.
We’re leaving because they don’t need us.
That’s not what Alex said-
It’s not that they don’t want us, Tabby.
They just don’t need us. But there are people who do.
You mean mutants.
Of course, Tabby; mutants are people, too.
EXT. DESERTED HIGHWAY- DAY
Where’d we get the van?
Alex.
He let us take it?
We borrowed it, chica.
Run intro sequence.
INT. APACHE RESERVATION POLICE STATION- DAY
Sherriff John “THUNDERBIRD” Proudstar has his feet up on his desk, and he’s talking on the phone with his little brother, Warpath.
She’s okay. She was depressed for a while, after the hysterectomy, but she misses you. We all do.
I know.
When are you going to start school? I’ve done a little research, and as part of the treaty, there are scholarships-
INTERCUT with Warpath, in the van.
I’ll go when I’m ready.
Okay, I won’t shove. Just don’t let that be too late.
Int. van- day
There are just things I need to do right now. When I get the chance, I promise I’ll visit. Yeah. Me, too. Tell mom I love her. Bye.
Sunspot pretends he wasn’t listening, and turns a page in his book, The Once and Future King.
CUT TO Rictor leaning into the front.
We there yet?
Where?
Where we’re going.
I mean where are we going?
CLOSE ON Domino, as she remembers that morning.
INT. OFFICE- MORNING
A presidential AIDE is talking on the phone.
I’d like to speak to Mr. Summers. Or Ms. Dane. It’s urgent. The President has asked that I talk to the headmasters of the Xavier Institute.
INT. MANSION ALCOVE- MORNING
Domino is on the other end.
I’m their secretary. If you’d like to leave a message--
Whatever. Someone broke into Colonel Stryker’s files. The President will keep investigators away for a few hours. I don’t like giving this information to a civilian, but we’ve been told your Institute specializes—
We do. We’ll handle it.
Domino hangs up the phone.
Int. van- day
Rictor leans into the front seat.
We’re going where we need to be.
But what about Cable?
What about Cable?
He left us; as far as I’m concerned he can shove that metal arm of his up his--
Why is it every time you mention Summers, it sounds like you’re mad because he left you?
Meltdown punches Rictor and he falls into his seat.
Shut up, Julio.
Domino continues to drive.
CUT TO Warpath staring out the window.
EXT. XAVIER INSTITUTE- MORNING
Domino tries to lead Warpath out of the mansion.
We have to go, James.
But I was thinking. We should ask Terry. I felt bad last time we left her behind.
That’s why we can’t ask her. She might still be pissed, and she might tell Alex. We can’t risk it.
CUT TO Warpath glancing back at the mansion, then getting into the van.
CUT TO one of the mansion windows, as SIRYN watches them leave.
EXT. Guard Shack- DUSK
The van pulls up to a military GUARD, who stops them.
This is a restricted area. Turn your vehicle around.
Domino gives him Lorna Dane’s card.
We’re from the Xavier Institute.
My apologies. They’re expecting you inside. Proceed along this road to the main building. There is an agent from Homeland Security waiting for you.
INT. VAN- DUSK
Domino gets out of the van with Meltdown. Rictor reaches for the door, and Warpath and Sunspot get up.
You boys stay in the car. It won’t take long.
EXT. PARKING LOT- DUSK
A Homeland Security Agent GYRICH in a suit and tie meets them in the parking lot. He is accompanied by a tall, thin, beautiful, redheaded woman named MATHERS.
Ms. Dane.
Actually, it’s Domino.
Very well, Domino. Name’s Peter Guyrich, Assistant Secretary from the Office of Mutant Affairs. This is Special Agent Mathers with the CIA. She’s here to share intelligence by order f the White House. On behalf of the Homeland Security Secretary, can I just say—
Can we just get on with this?
INT. Van- DUSK
How long do you think she’s going to treat us like children?
Warpath shoves him.
You were on my side.
Sunspot covers his nose.
Dude.
Warpath laughs.
INT. MONITOR ROOM- NIGHT
In the security room, Gyrich, Domino, Meltdown and Mathers are watching as a TECHNICIAN runs the monitors.
The intruder must not have realized that the base was still under surveillance. We checked him with the FBI and came up empty.
Reference him against Stryker’s files.
The technician draws a green square around the intruder’s picture, and the computer isolates key characteristics across his face. Pictures start running through the machine, of all the mutants profiled in Stryker’s files. It stops on one man: Rossovich.
There. Rossovich, Arkady, coded Omega Red. Released from a Supermax Prison after the collapse of the Soviet Union by the Red Mafya. He was part of the Soviet Super Soldier Program.
Like Captain America.
Yes. Only Russian. And psychotic.
Romanoff turns to leave.
Wait.
It’s too late. Rossovich’s plane touched down in Moscow this morning. He’s out of hand.
INT. VAN- NIGHT
Domino opens the door to the van and gets in. Rictor pouts, Sunspot is back in his book and a bit irritated, and Warpath is sleeping.
Don’t act like a kicked puppy. We needed subtlety and grave. When we need beerlust and fart jokes, we’ll tag you guys in.
Warpath stirs.
Did someone mention beer?
Sunspot shakes his head.
EXT. Guard Shack- NIGHT
Domino rolls the window down.
Ma’am.
That CIA woman was so like very unhelpful.
Domino glares at Meltdown.
Ma’am? No one from the CIA has come through the gate.
Domino’s eyes narrow and she drives off.
INT. CASINO- NIGHT
ECU on a spinning roulette wheel.
If she wins, can we get strippers?
Could you break his jaw?
Sure.
James.
I was only going to tweak it a little.
I hate to impede this rampant insanity with my petty reasoning, but we just put all of our money, including what we got for selling the van, on 29 black. What if Dom’s luck runs out?
First, you have like a huge trust fund, and second--
CLOSE ON the wheel as the ball comes to rest on 29 black.
My luck never runs out.
One more time, and we can all get strippers.
To BLACK.
Ah, my ja-ah!
LOUD crack.
Uh oh. I think I tweaked it too far.
INT. HOTEL HALLWAY- NIGHT
The lights are dim, and the halls are empty.
INT. HOtel Room- NIGHT
The lights are dim. Warpath and Rictor are in one bed, Sunspot is on the couch, and Domino and Meltdown are in the other bed. Rictor stares at the women’s bed, sighs, and closes his eyes.
ECU on Domino’s face, with her eyes closed. She opens them, unable to sleep. She sneaks out of bed.
INT. HOTEL HALLWAY- NIGHT
Domino closes the door softly behind her.
INT. BAR- NIGHT
Domino sits down at the hotel bar. The TENDER stands before her.
Whiskey.
What kind?
I’m sure you’ll find something I like.
You’re not from around here, are you? Put her drink on my tab.
CORTEZ is wearing a tuxedo. He has his hair pulled back in a pony tail, and stubble on his face. He smiles at her. He has a vodka martini in his hand.
The bar tender pours her drink.
I’m not looking for a friend, just a tranquilizer.
She drinks it.
I’ve been told my company has that effect.
He sits.
Pour another.
My name is Cortez.
You don’t take well to subtlety.
In my experience, men who fold under subtlety rarely succeed in life.
She downs the second one and slams the glass down.
Good night.
She gets up to leave. He follows.
INT. CASINO FLOOR- NIGHT
Domino sits down at a high stakes poker table. Cortez also sits.
CUT TO Domino, stopping a waitress walking by.
Another whiskey, please.
CUT TO Domino pushing a sizeable pile of chips forward.
All in.
ECU as Cortez peaks at his pocket aces, hearts and diamonds. On the table is the ace of clubs, and the queen and king of spades. Cortez smiles.
Call.
Domino turns over her cards. She has the ten and jack of spades. Cortez smiles wider.
I think you’ve made a mistake.
Domino doesn’t even react.
ECU as the dealer flips over the turn card, the nine of spades.
Cortez grins from behind a cigarette.
ECU as the dealer turns over the river card, the ace of spades. This completes Domino’s royal flush, beating out his four aces.
Cash me out.
That’s the luckiest pull I’ve ever seen.
I have a talent for gambling
I wonder what else you’ve got a talent for.
Domino drinks her whiskey, and stands to leave.
Good night.
INT. ELEVATORS- NIGHT
Cortez follows her to the elevators.
That wasn’t an invitation.
No, but I would be remiss as a gantleman if I did not escort a lady to her room.
The elevator doors shut.
INT. HAllway- NIGHT
Cortez stands behind Domino as she slides her key card in.
I leave for Moscow in the morning. We don’t have to exchange names. Could I come in?
No. Honestly, you come off as a date-rapist.
The door closes in Cortez’s face. He adjusts his tie, and smiles, and his eyes narrow.
INT. HOTEL ROOM- NIGHT
Domino drops onto the edge of the bed. The room is almost black.
You didn’t have to sneak out. You Could have watched Magnum, P.I. reruns on mute.
She can barely make him out in the room, standing near the open balcony.
Roberto?
I couldn’t sleep either.
She walks out onto the balcony with him.
They don’t understand; I’m not sure I do, for that matter. Do you? What we’re doing... it’s big. It might be too big. Rossovich is a Russian mobster, and it looks like he’s moving into mutant terrorism on a global scale.
Who should we leave it for? Alex? The X-Men aren’t prepared for this, either. And they’re busy dealing with New York. But there are scary things happening in the rest of the world. Rossovich stole data on mutants. Whatever he has planned—
I trust you. I’ve trusted you since we met in Brazil. You saved my life that day, and you seemed to know what you were doing. I just hope you know what you’re doing now.
He pauses as the wind picks up.
You should go to bed. Our plane leaves in a couple hours.
Yeah.
She goes back inside, while he leans out on the balcony, looking at the city, and listening.
FADE TO BLACK.
EXT. MOSCOW- DAy
Aerial view of the city.
TITLES:
MOSCOW
EXT. AIRPORT- DAY
A plane lands at the Moscow Airport.
INT. AIRPORT- DAY
Cortez watches from far away as Domino grabs her duffel from the baggage carousel.
INT. AIRPORT REstaurant- day
Let me be the first to go on record saying I don’t like this.
Shut up, Julio.
Stryker’s files are how old? And if Rossovich knows that his location is in the files, it’s likely he won’t be there, or that he’ll have set a trap for any law enforcement types coming after him.
Shut up, Julio.
Damnit, will you people stop telling me to shut up? I have the same right as every other member of this group to be heard.
You’re right. But what I didn’t want to have to explain to you, and what I didn’t have to explain to anyone else, is that my power means that even if something bad happens, this location will eventually lead us him.
Yeah, but will your luck powers keep any of us from getting hurt along the way?
If you’re worried about getting hurt, Rictor, you can use your return ticket to go back to the states on the next flight, call Alex and ask if you can pretty please come back to the school for gifted pansies.
Guys. We shouldn’t do this here.
No. We need to do this here. Because I’m not making another trip to drop his useless ass off back here.
Domino leads Meltdown off. Warpath glances back at him, but follows them. Sunspot waits for him.
Dude, you coming?
Rictor smiles.
She totally kicked your ass.
EXT. Alley- Day
A Red Mafya guard walks between their building and an adjacent one. Domino sneaks into the alley as he leaves it.
She jumps onto the fire escape ladder, and swings onto the escape.
EXT. Roof- Day
Domino runs from the one roof and leaps onto the Red Mafya building. She peaks over the front ledge. From her POV, there is a guard with an automatic rifle posted at either corner of the building. She kneels by the corner of the roof, and starts setting an explosive.
INT. CAR- DAY
Warpath and Rictor are parked in the alley across the street.
What do you think she meant by ‘wait for the signal?’
They hear a loud explosion, look at each other, then run from the car.
Ext. Building- day
The explosion loosened a piece of the stone façade of the building. It crumbles off, and lands on the guard on the right side. His rifle arm is not covered by the debris, and his gun fires off a round as the other guard walks over to check on him, and he falls flat on his back.
Int. Building- day
Warpath runs through the front door, and it flies into the building, taking out several enforcers. A guard posted on either side of the door rises from a chair, raising a gun. Rictor shakes them both off their feet.
Thanks. I thought I was going to have to— wait, am I bulletproof?
EXT. BUILDING REAR- day
At the back of the building is a roll-up door for truck deliveries. Meltdown lobs a timed grenade at it, and it explodes. Sunspot runs through the smoking opening.
INT. BUILDING- DAY
Two of the soldiers are staggering on their feet, trying to raise their weapons through the smoke. Sunspot roasts their guns, and they drop them.
A third soldier eyeballs him from the ground. Sunspot eyes him back. The soldier goes for his sidearm, and Sunspot burns him.
CUT TO Sunspot and Meltdown running down the hall. They meet up with Rictor and Warpath.
Lower floor’s secure.
Meltdown nearly falls over. Rictor catches her.
The ladies always swoon for me.
Jerk.
She pushes away from him, and stands.
Are you okay, Tabby?
Yeah. Fine. Whatever. Let’s go.
They run up the stairs.
INT. ROSSOVICH’S OFFICE- DAY
A dart attached to a zip line breaks through the window from a building across the street.
ROSSOVICH shuffles a few papers on his desk, then looks up. The Black WIDOW rides the line through the window. She is Agent Mathers from earlier, in a black leather cat suit.
She lands, rolls and puts a gun in Rossovich’s eye in one smooth motion.
EXT. ROOFTOP- DAY
Domino grabs onto the roof ledge and swings herself into the window, just moments behind the Widow.
INT. ROSSOVICH’S OFFICE- DAY
Domino pulls out her Ultra CDP II, and points it at the Widow.
Who were the files for, Arkady?
Sunspot, Rictor, Warpath and Meltdown burst into the room.
Meltdown stumbles, then vomits.
Rossovich pauses a moment, waiting for the other shoe to drop. But it doesn’t. And he starts to laugh.
This is all? I was told that when the U.S. learned of my theft, they would send their great Sentinel of Liberty, the Captain of America. I have been paid to detain him, but I would kill him gladly for free, for that is my reason for being.
What did you do to her?
The Soviet scientists called it a death factor. I’m killing you with my presence.
Rossovich smiles. Everyone but the Widow is sweating, and having trouble standing.
Widow pulls back the hammer.
Natalia, it’s a shame to see KGB resources whored out to the world.
Rictor and Rossovich’s eyes meet.
Everybody into the hall while we have words.
And what makes you think I’ll speak with you.
Not yet.
Rictor points at Rossovich.
You I don’t know, but anyone with a gun in his eye is probably good people. You won’t like taking orders, but Dom has the drop on you. Get in the hall.
INT. HALL OUTSIDE OFFICE- day
Domino leads the Widow, followed by Warpath, and Sunspot helping a sickly Meltdown.
INT. ROSSOVICH’s OFFICE- day
They reenter. Widow points two guns at Rossovich.
I have not been paid to fight any of you, and I see no sport in it.
Rossovich slides a file across his desk.
The man who bought Stryker’s files is named Cortez, and I believe he is still here in Moscow.
Where is he now?
Rossovich writes an address down on a yellow post it.
There is a Russian electrokinetic named Katu. Him I know from old. He was hitter for Obshina, until I adjusted his outlook.
Rossovich sticks the post it onto the Widow’s gun.
He resides at this address. Now please vacate my offices through the existing holes. Farewell.
EXT. Building- day
Widow leaves with the note, with Domino on her heels and the others limping behind them.
What did you do?
My father’s an arms dealer. We speak a similar language.
Mexican?
No... and it’s Spanish.
CUT TO Domino and the Black Widow.
We’re coming with you.
Nyet.
We’re coming. We would have gotten the information from Rossovich without you.
Yes, you were doing excellent, with the vomiting and all.
You’re going to work with us, Natalia, because you don’t have time to lose us and save the kid.
The Widow sighs, hops onto her black motorcycle and roars off. The rest of them rush towards their parked car. To BLACK.
EXT. City Street- dusk
FADE IN as the Widow pulls her bike to the curb and parks, and Warpath parks the rental car behind her.
EXT. Duplex Apartment- dusk
The Widow knocks heavily on the front door. A kindly WOMAN in her early fifties answers the door.
We are looking for Katu. Is he in the home?
Katu is becoming quite the popular young man, but I’m afraid he is out with his other friends.
Other friends?
Yes. I believe he said his name was Cortez. Very handsome. And charming.
Domino rolls her eyes. The Widow gives the woman her card with a phone number on it, and nothing else.
When Katu gets back, have him give me a call.
Yes.
INT. BAR- NIGHT
The Widow enters with Domino close behind.
Rictor, Sunspot, Warpath and Meltdown sit down in a booth. A waitress walks over to them.
Bring me enough beers to choke a horse. Then bring a few for my friends.
CUT TO Domino following the Widow to the bar.
What are we going to do now?
The Widow sits down at the bar.
Nothing. I’m drinking vodka. Always buy expensive in Russia to avoid drinking bootleg poison.
Domino sits next to her, and nods at the bar tender, who pours each of them a six-shot shooter.
Widow raises her glass and tips it to Domino.
Now we see if you drink like a little girl.
The television above the bar flickers from a rerun of a Russian football game (soccer). The bar collectively grumbles and hollers, and the picture comes back, only now it shows Cortez standing inside a power station.
INT. POWER STATION- NIGHT
Cortez is still dressed in a tuxedo.
Good evening, Moscow. My name is Cortez. I represent the Mutant Liberation Front. Mutants are tired of being your lapdogs, of having to remain quiet and polite for fear of being persecuted. We will no longer grovel for our liberties. We are the new masters of the world, and we demand respect. A copy of the document in my hand is being couriered to Russia’s leaders. It contains a Mutant Bill of Rights. Until that legislation is signed into law, Moscow and its surrounding area will be without power. As time passes, the black out will expand across the Russian territory, causing extensive damage to the power grid in the process. I suggest you cooperate while we’re still willing to be reasonable. Cut the transmission, Katu.
FRENZY, a young, slender African American woman, enters from the right.
Mutant Bill of Rights? Ain’t never going to pass.
Of course not. But this is the beginning of the public relations war. When the Russian government refuses our equitable proposal, we’ll be granted further latitude in our next actions.
Cortez looks to Katu, off screen.
Kill the power, Katu.
CLOSE ON Katu as he strains.
INT. SUBWAY- NIGHT
The power dies, and the only light in the tunnel is the sparks given off by the breaks as the train stops.
INT. OPERATING ROOM- NIGHT
A surgeon is bent over a patient, about to start cutting with a scalpel. The lights go out. A few seconds pass, and battery-powered torches light.
INT. BAR- NIGHT
The bar is dark. There is a clink as the Widow slams her glass down. The bar tender gets a flashlight, and shines it at Domino, then at the Widow, whose glass is empty, with red lipstick on the rim.
CUT TO Sunspot standing over their booth, with his hand on fire to light the room.
Domino and the Widow approach.
We’re leaving.
Warpath leans over the table, putting his arms around the many beers on the table.
But there’s so many delicious beers.
The others get up and leave. Warpath leans closer to his beer.
Don’t worry, little ones. Daddy will be back for you very soon.
He kisses the nearest bottle.
Ext. Bar- NIGHT
Widow stops, and gets out the keys to her bike.
You ride?
Sure.
Widow throws her the keys, then points to Warpath.
You drive. They’re in Chagino. We must hurry to beat the military there.
EXT. GUARD STATION- NIGHT
There is a high fence around the power station. The guard has an OC 14 Groza on a strap, and points it at the Widow as she gets out of the car, quickly.
Halt. No one enters.
Widow grabs the gun and pulls forward. The strap yanks him toward her, and she smashes him in the face with the butt of the gun.
CLOSE ON the guard, unconscious, with his ID badge gone. The car is already driving away, and the motorcycle screams past his body.
INT. POWER STATION- Night
Domino and Widow lead the way into the room Cortez was broadcasting from. The room only has emergency lights running. Widow points to Rictor and Warpath, and tells them to go right, as Domino points to Meltdown and Sunspot, and directs them to go left. They take the center.
Widow and Domino stop, as around the corner they can see Cortez watching news footage on the TV.
I’ll give it to the Russians, they certainly are resourceful.
Cortez, an illusion, flickers.
A red energy grenade rolls to their feet, and they both leap as it explodes. Widow is slammed into the wall, and Domino is thrown across the floor.
Domino starts to stand, but Cortez puts a Desert Eagle to the back of her head.
We might have had some fun.
ECU on the trigger as Cortez pulls it. The gun jams.
A jam?
Domino trips him as he goes for his secondary gun, a Walther in an ankle holster. She leaps behind machinery as he fires several shots as he falls.
MOONSTAR is a Native American woman dressed in red. She pulls the Widow up by her hair, and creates a red energy 1911 and puts it to her chin.
Widow headbutts her, and does a backflip, drawing her two MP-443s. She has 19 shots in each, and she pours all of them out as Moonstar fires back, trying to get behind cover.
CUT TO Rictor and Warpath, suddenly stopped, listening.
Hear that?
The report from the Widow’s guns echoes through the halls.
Gunfire.
No...
The wall of machinery collapses toward them in a wave as AVALANCHE slides down atop it.
Warpath covers Rictor, so he takes the brunt of it. Rictor knocks Avalanche off the top of the debris with a focused shockwave.
Avalanche stands, and smiles.
Oh yeah.
Warpath is trying to pull himself out of the rubble. Frenzy grabs onto his shoulders, and pulls him out.
Joanna.
I’m sorry, Jim.
Frenzy kisses him, and he closes his eyes and kisses back. Then she throws him by his shoulders.
Ext. Power station- night
Warpath flies through the wall and into a parked car, setting off its alarm.
INT. Power station- Night
Sunspot and Meltdown are frozen, having just heard the sound of Warpath thrown through a wall.
This so does not bode well.
They find CARMELLA guarding Katu, who is standing before a large breaker, concentrating. Katu only has one arm.
Meltdown creates a timed bomb, and lobs it at Carmella. It explodes, but doesn’t penetrate her personal force field.
Sunspot tries to get the attention of Katu.
We’re here to rescue you.
Katu turns. An arm made of electricity, mimicking the nerves of a human arm, grows out of the stump (where Rossovich tore off his arm), and fires an arc of electricity at Sunspot. Sunspot gets out of the way.
Berto!
Carmella shoves Meltdown in the back.
Meltdown punches Carmella in the face, but her face is also covered by the force field, so it just hurts her hand.
You suck.
CUT TO the Black Widow, as she slides a clip into her MP-443, and chambers the first round.
Moonstar sneaks around the corner. Widow points the gun at where her head will be. Moonstar leans around, lower than Widow expected, and they start firing wildly.
Cortez is sneaking up behind the Widow. Domino leaps on him, pinning him underneath her.
So you like to be dominant.
Cortez pushes her off, and pins her. They fight to aim their guns at one another’s heads.
That’s unfortunate, because I insist on being the man.
Domino fires the gun, and the bullet ricochets twice before hitting him in the shoulder.
Cortez knocks her gun away, and backhands her with his pistol. His wound bleeds heavily, and he touches it, and sighs.
You hit an artery. I suppose there isn’t much point in remarking how unlikely that was.
Cortez kicks her on the ground, and leaves in a hurry.
Widow and Moonstar have their guns to one another’s temples.
Who do you think will hit first, Dani?
You’d be lobotomized, but I’d be dead.
ECU as the Widow smiles.
CLOSE ON the ground as Moonstar’s energy gun dissipates when it hits the floor. PULL BACK TO REVEAL Moonstar running away.
Widow holsters her guns.
EXT. POWER STATION- NIGHT
Frenzy runs out into the parking lot, where Warpath is laying after hitting the car.
Oh my God, Jimmy, are you okay? I forgot how strong I—
Warpath grabs her by the ankle and flings her at the wall. Frenzy slides to the ground, but gets her footing.
Playing opossum, Proudstar? When did you go and get all dishonorable on me?
Warpath smiles as they circle each other.
First rule of hunting, Joanna, is knowing when to strike.
They both charge, with their arms pulled back to punch.
INT. Power Station- Night
Frenzy flies through the wall beside Warpath’s hole in the wall, and hits the machinery beside Avalanche. He helps her up.
Come on, girly.
They run off. Warpath enters. Rictor tries to push himself up off the ground. He falls back down.
Come on, Julio.
Warpath helps him to his feet, and leans Rictor against him.
CUT TO Sunspot as he fires a blast at Carmella’s back, to stop her from choking the life out of Meltdown. Carmella drops Meltdown, who’s passed out.
Katu looks on, preparing to try to electrocute Sunspot again.
Cortez sneaks up on Sunspot from behind, and brains him with his pistol butt.
He shows his back to Katu.
Cauterize the gunshot. It won’t stop bleeding.
Cortez turns and glares at him.
Burn it shut.
Electricity leaps onto Cortez back, and he screams. Smoke rises up off his back.
Frenzy limps up with Avalanche. Cortez is not pleased. He pulls out a phone.
Things aren’t going to plan, and we may require emergency extraction.
Cortez’s face contorts in anger, and he throws the phone. In an instant, he’s calm, and collected.
We may have to do without. Tie up the loose ends.
Cortez pulls his Walther from inside his jacket, and points it at Sunspot’s head where he lies.
Gunshot. Cortez’s weapon flies out of his hand as the Widow runs out of the dark connection tunnel toward them. Domino is right behind her, and so is Warpath.
Moonstar drops to one knee, creating a red energy rifle, and aiming. A small energy grenade rolls beneath her feet.
Bye bye.
Boom! Cortez gets himself up.
Can anyone here act competent for even a—
The Widow pistol whips him across the face. Domino kicks Avalanche in the kidney, and then smashes his face into the wall. Warpath picks Frenzy up in a bear hug, and they try to squeeze the life out of each other.
Widow picks up Cortez, and shoves her gun up under his chin. Carmella sneaks behind her, but Rictor grabs her head from behind, at the ears, and shakes her head. She folds over, and vomits loudly.
Barf... she filled her force field.
Widow pulls the hammer back on her pistol.
Moonstar grabs Domino by the ankle. Domino kneels down to push her off.
Do not trust SHIELD.
CLOSE ON the Widow, very close to Cortez’s face.
What did you give Rossovich for Stryker’s files?
Cortez laughs at her.
She shoots him in the thigh, and puts the gun back against his jaw.
We gave him a suitcase nuclear device stolen from the Soviets. Apt, no?
She drops him, hard.
There’s a flash of light near the breaker, and the Widow and X-Force turn, but can’t see through the blinding light.
Katu.
Katu electrocutes all of them.
You’re done here.
Cortez gets up.
Widow absorbed most of the arc that also his Domino. Domino is struggling to her feet, and has her gun. Cortez takes it from her and pistol-whips her. Then he puts it to her head.
No. You’re done.
The whole room is engulfed in a flash like the one moments ago.
Close on Rictor, smoking still from the electrocution.
Does anyone else feel like bacon?
Silence. Followed by more silence.
Ow...
Ext. Parking Lot- dawn
The Black Widow is on her bike, about to ride off. Domino stops her.
Wait. We still have to stop Rossovich.
Nyet.
Widow drives off.
So do we go after her?
No. There’s a madman with a bomb.
Sunspot smiles.
INT. Building- MOrning
The Red Mafya building is more beaten up than when they were there last.
Did we do this? Cause I don’t remember doing this.
I might have done that.
Someone picked up a man by the collar and shoved him into the drywall so that there’s a man-dent in the wall.
Whoa, I wish I’d done that. That’s just cool.
INT. ROssovich’s office- morning
Domino pushes the door into Rossovich’s office open. Rossovich is slumped over the front of his desk. Someone beat the crap out of him.
She checks for a pulse, and she finds a business card in his hand. On it is a circular shield with a white star in the center ringed with red and white. There is no text on the card, but hand-written on it are the words, “You kids did a nice job.” And it’s signed, “Steve”.
We’re not kids.
A blonde woman with short hair enters, wearing a uniform similar to the U.S. Air Force. Her name is Captain Carol DANVERS.
Pardon the Captain, but when you’ve been fighting for your country since World War Two, everyone’s a kid. He still calls the boss ‘sport.’
Who are you?
Captain Carol Danvers, United States Air Force and SHIELD Special Liaison to covert new mutant force.
And what does that mean, exactly?
SHIELD is a United Nations force. We have to get clearance from the Security Council before we wipe ourselves, and about a billion signatures before we can actually do anything. And the boss is tired of that. The President and his acronyms are fighting terrorists that are mutants, but nobody seems to give a damn about the ones that target mutants. My boss does. We can’t officially offer you support or intelligence, but if I were to accidentally drop this folder—
Danvers drops a folder.
Oops.
Can we get handcuffs? Dental? Badges?
Everyone ignores him. Rictor turns to Warpath.
You were supposed to say, ‘we don’t need no stinking badges.’
Warpath doesn’t get it.
What happens if we’re caught, by local police or a terrorist cell?
If an extraction can be carried out in secret, we’ll try. The moment your capture is out in the open, SHIELD will disavow any knowledge and deny any link.
Why us? Why not recruit someone else. Why not talk to the X-Men, or that family of four mutant scientists in New York?
Actually, they aren’t mutants, and they consult with us on other matters. And there are three reasons the boss wanted you. One, each of you has a juvenile record; Proudstar’s is locked on the reservation, but we do know that he stole a few cars. Two, you’ve already been trained by a mutant terrorist.
Cable wasn’t a-
Three, you’d be doing this with or without our help, and in all likelihood, it’s only a matter of time before the Security Council demands that the boss closes up our end of this. He wanted people who would stay on mission even after they were cut off.
So you wanted a group of mutant terrorists you could plausibly deny, or arrest if our mission was compromised.
Basically. Is that going to be a problem?
They look at each other a moment. Danvers gets to sweat, because they all look like they want to kick her teeth in.
Not at all. Can I have a moment with our liaison?
Sure. Holler if you need us.
Warpath leads the others into the hall. Sunspot gives Danvers the stink eye as he leaves.
INT. Hall- Morning
Rictor starts to cough.
You okay, Ric?
I don’t feel too good.
INT. rossovich’s office- morning
One of them, a Native American woman dressed in red—
Dani Moonstar.
She told me not to trust SHIELD.
Danvers pauses a moment.
I don’t know why she’d say that.
Okay. I’ll drop it. But there’s something else. You don’t have to say anything, because you’ll help me or you won’t. I want to find my mother. Officially she doesn’t exist, but with SHIELD connections you might-
I’ll look into it.
INT. Hall- Morning
Domino closes the door softly behind her.
So. Do we trust the spook or keep freelancing?
She has resources and information we don’t. Either we agree to work with her, or we wait around and hope terrorists call a press conference.
INT. ROSSOVICH’s Office- morning
They reenter the room.
What’s the verdict? We in business?
Rictor doubles over and vomits.
Oh, come on, he’s not even conscious this time.
Rictor? Ric?
Is that blood?
To BLACK.
Int. Hospital Hallway- day
FADE IN on Warpath, Meltdown and Sunspot, sitting outside Rictor’s room.
If he dies, we’ll never hear the end of it.
He won’t die. He’s already out of surgery.
Yeah, but if he did, Dom’d never let us live it down.
I think we should pray.
INT. Hospital Room- Day
Rictor is eating his applesauce from his hospital bed.
You know, next time you’re coughing up blood, it’s okay to ask us to drop you at a hospital.
He keeps eating.
Are you not talking to me?
She sighs.
I guess I deserve that. I was so gung ho about what I thought was right, I ignored what it might cost us. And when you were lying on the ground—
Rictor speaks his line with a spoon and applesauce in his mouth.
In a puddle of my own vomit.
Yeah; all I could think was it was my fault. You were right. If you were hurt, it was because of me. I’m such a jerk.
Yeah. But you got my useless ass where it needed to be. And you were right about that. The ‘where I needed to be’ part, not the useless part. I’ve found many uses for it.
Rictor slides his spoon hand under his blanket and squeezes his own butt.
Stop that.
How can something so wrong feel so right?
I hate you. I hope next time you injure your butt.
INT. DARK ROOM- NIGHT
A door is slightly ajar, casting a single slice of light across Cortez. Exodus sits in the dark.
You should have let me shoot the girl.
She is your mutant sister, Cortez. I’d sooner let her shoot you.
You haven’t been inside her mind. She won’t go away. She’s going to keep interfering in our plans.
Then your plan should be to convert her. She is formidable, and our cause is right. Show them the righteousness of our case, and they will follow.
And what if they won’t listen to reason?
Then they’re as good as human.
Cortez smiles.
END.
