X-MEN: INSURRECTION #3
ENTRADA
We see a wide 1/3 page shot of the mansion’s infirmary. Amid a mass of medical technology lies Bishop, still in an unstable state. Beside him sits Xavier, hunched in his wheelchair. We see only his back view, and assume he too is asleep. The lights are dimmed and the furthermost corners of the room are almost in darkness.
1. CAPTION: One might wonder why Charles Francis Xavier – founder, leader and mentor of the outlaw superhero outfit known as the X-Men – sits here. Alone. Silent. Half awake, half-asleep. He hasn’t slept in hours.
2. CAPTION: He sits by the bedside of a man who, until a day ago, he didn’t even know. Technically, anyway.
A close up of Bishop – he is unconscious and a tube is protruding from between his lips.
3. CAPTION: His name is Bishop. Yesterday, he was inexplicably transported from one universe and into another. Where his counterpart is a woman. Where her memories are now his.
4. CAPTION: He is two people in one. And even though both of these entities is alien to Professor X…
5. CAPTION: Still he waits by his side. Not because he is family. Not because he is friend, or even a strange mutant in need.
In the shadows someone opens the door and Xavier starts.
6. CAPTION: But because he is human.
PANEL
1
At the door a boy of about 5 years of age gingerly pokes his small form through.
1. JAMES: Daddy? You ‘wake?
With a tired smile Xavier looks back over his shoulder at his son.
2. XAVIER: How did you know daddy was down here?
3. JAMES: Mommy said you were here all yesterday, so I…thought you’d be here.
Xavier gently brings the boy up into his lap.
4. CAPTION: Sometimes, he wonders whether his son is a telepath, just as he once was. There are days when both that hope and that fear seem a very real possibility.
5. CAPTION: He does not know what he wishes for his son. The security of a normal life, or the wisdom one gains from living through adversity.
James looks down at Bishop.
6. JAMES: Is the man…Is he very sick?
Close up the boy’s face, innocent.
7. CAPTION: In the end, it doesn’t matter.
8. XAVIER [off-panel]: No…
Xavier hugs the boy close, as though gaining comfort from the action.
9. XAVIER: Because daddy is going to help him. He’ll make sure of that.
10. CAPTION: Whether mutant or not, even if he cannot spare him from the bigotry and discrimination of others…
11. CAPTION: He will spare him the blight that such notions inflict upon the souls of humankind.
Jubilee, Wolverine and Rogue are up late, watching TV in the Rec Room. Jubilee is fiddling with the remote control, casually blowing gum. Rogue is in her pajamas, eating chips. Wolverine is staring at the TV, bored. In a corner, Sage is working away at her laptop computer.
1. WOLVERINE: Do you ever put that thing away, Teresa?
2. SAGE: Not when I have work to do, Logan.
3. WOLVERINE: Thought that’s what daytime was for.
4. ROGUE: Sounds like they keep you workin’ 24-7 down in Unit X. Yah’ll need to take a break, Tessa. All work an’ no play makes…
5. SAGE: Tessa a dull girl. I know, Rogue.
Jubilee turns to the others.
6. JUBILEE: So what’s with that bozo that Team Omega picked up this morning? Didn’t I hear something about him saying he was Bishop?
7. WOLVERINE: Yeah. Kinda weird, huh. The Prof’s been with him all day. Dunno why I’d bother, personally. The guy’s obviously a nut.
Rogue digging inside her bag of chips.
8. ROGUE: Well, the Professor seems to think he’s worth it.
6. WOLVERINE: Hmph. You know Charlie. He thought Erik was worth givin’ the benefit of the doubt. An’ we all know how that turned out.
7. ROGUE: Yeah. Hundreds died at his hands. An’ it was all we could do to stop him.
Wolverine snorts derisively.
8. WOLVERINE: We didn’t stop him, Rogue. Charlie did. An’ if y’ ask me, he still ain’t got over the guilt it left him with.
Jubilee is staring intently at the TV.
1. JUBILEE: Yeah, well I would have done it if…Hey, look! It’s that singer! What’s her name – Dazzler!
2. WOLVERINE: What, y’ mean that synth-pop star?
TV shows a screenshot of Dazzler talking to a crowd of reporters.
3. JUBILEE [off-panel]: It’s called drum and bass, Wolvie! Geez, when was the last time you went out into the real world?
4. WOLVERINE [off-panel]: Hey, I’ve been around a helluva lot longer than you, kiddo…
5. JUBILEE: Hey, I have a great idea, guys! It says she’s arriving in New York for her Homecoming Tour. Let’s go see if we can get some tickets at the door, and have a major night out on the town!
6. WOLVERINE: What, see her? No thanks. Why don’t you ask Sage?
Sage looks up with a smile from her corner.
7. SAGE: No thanks, Logan. I’m otherwise engaged.
8. JUBILEE: Aw, Wolvie, it’ll be fun! Let’s go, please!
9. WOLVERINE: …
10. JUBILEE: Oh, c’mon! She has the wickedest light effects this side of space! Tabitha went to one of her gigs last year and said it was really happening! Pretty please!
Rogue grins slyly at Wolverine.
1. ROGUE: How can you resist that pitiful whine, Logan?
Jubilee sticks out her tongue at Rogue, and Wolverine rolls his eyes.
2. WOLVERINE: Why do I get the feeling regret this?
3. ROGUE: Aw, poor ol’ Wolvie caved in.
4. JUBILEE: Hey, you’re coming too Rogue! You gotta stop moping round the mansion and have some fun, girl!
5. ROGUE: Mopin’?! Why the hell’d I be mopin’?!
Close up of Wolverine looking self-satisfied.
6. WOLVERINE: Heh.
A close-up of Dazzler’s face, dead center in the panel. She is shouting at someone, the expression on her face half angry and half fearful.
7. DAZZLER: I will NOT play!
PANEL
1
We pan out to see Dazzler pacing the floor in a first-class hotel room, her tiny, bespectacled agent attempting vainly to placate her.
1. AGENT: You can’t cancel now, Daz baby! The gig’s only a week away! If you don’t play the press’ll eat you alive!
Dazzler slumps into a settee in front of a glass coffee table.
2. DAZZLER: I can and will cancel! Can’t you see how this whole…thing is freaking me out?!
We see a close-up of several letters strewn across the table. Written in cut-out newspaper letters is written: - ‘WE KNOW WHAT YOU ARE, MUTIE.’
3. DAZZLER [off-panel]: Do you see how many of these I’ve got in the past week alone?! What if it’s death threats next? What if the people who wrote these are stalking me?!
4. AGENT: Daz, this is probably just some freakin’ weirdo. I mean, you’re no mutie, you know that and I know that! Daz, you’re a babe!
5. DAZZLER: Heh…yeah.
6. DAZZLER (cont. From panel 4): Whatever that’s worth, Tony. You seen those chicks, those ‘X-girls’ or whatever they’re called? They’re not exactly sprouting horns and tails yet, are they. Not like that…y’know…Nightcreeper?
7: AGENT: Look, Daz, you’re not a mutie, you’re not an X-girl, and you’re certainly not this Nightcreeper. You’ve got nothing to fear from these psychos.
8. DAZZLER: S’pose…
PANEL
1
Dazzler sits in her chair, head bent forlornly. Her agent kisses the top of her head.
1. AGENT: Look, get some rest, Daz. We leave for Chicago tomorrow. Need’cha in good shape, ‘kay?
2. DAZZLER: Yeah…whatever.
The agent leaves and Dazzler is left alone.
Same shot of Dazzler alone in the chair; she looks up to see the dim room is suddenly filled with circles of strange glowing lights.
Same shot, but the lights have slowly faded away. Dazzler hangs her head again.
3. DAZZLER: You have no idea, Tony…No idea…
PANEL
1
It is mid-afternoon in the Gibson Desert. A view of the blue cloudless sky shows large carrion birds circling overhead, shining in the light of a sweltering orange sun.
Looking down over the barren, sandy hills, black figures are advancing towards a fire in the distance. A thin trail of smoke exudes lazily from the flames. These are the silhouettes of Mystique, Astra, Blob, Phantazia, Sabretooth and Quicksilver.
Pan-in to see only the shadowed face of a hooded Magneto. The flames of the fire dance before him.
1. CAPTION: A gathering.
A wide profile shot. On the left the acolytes are advancing towards the fire. On the right, Magneto sits before the flames, cross-legged. Behind him stand the Toad, Scarlet Witch, Pyro and Avalanche.
2. CAPTION: Of leader…And acolyte.
3. CAPTION: But more than that, of brothers and sisters in grief, rage and pain.
Bottom 1/3 of the page is split into 6 panels, each showing the faces of the arriving acolytes. Mystique, Astra, Blob, Phantazia, Sabretooth, Quicksilver. Captions with their names are above each face.
PANEL
1 - 5
The top 1/3 of the page is split into 5 panels, showing the faces of Avalanche, Scarlet Witch, Magneto, Toad and Pyro. Captions with their names are above each face.
Quicksilver steps forwards and takes the hand of his now standing father in a warm grasp.
1. QUICKSILVER: Father.
2. MAGNETO: You have travelled far?
3. QUICKSILVER: Both physically and emotionally. The former concerns me little as opposed to the latter.
4. MAGNETO: I understand, my son. Our hearts are with you, as our prayers are with Revanche and Luna.
Quicksilver turns to Scarlet Witch.
5. QUICKSILVER: Wanda…
The two siblings embrace.
5. SCARLET WITCH: We have missed you, Pietro. It is good to have you back at last.
PANEL
1
Night has now fallen. A close-up of Magneto’s hand poking the fire.
1. CAPTION: Later…
The group are now sitting outside by the small fire – enough to give off light, but not too much heat. The glow of the flames play upon the faces of those gathered.
2. QUICKSILVER: It is good to see you have regained your strength, father. Until we received Avalanche’s summons, we were not even sure you had survived Genosha.
3. MAGNETO: I might not have were it not for your sister.
Magneto turns to Astra, suspicion in his eyes.
4. MAGNETO: I did not think to see you in my presence again, Astra.
5. ASTRA: There comes a time when one must bury old grudges, Erik. Especially after the wholesale slaughter of one’s race…as well as one’s own family.
6. MAGNETO: We have all lost family. I will not begrudge you your grief, Astra. But neither will I tolerate another betrayal.
7. MYSTIQUE: You sound as if you’re going to make us pledge our allegiance to you, Magneto.
8. MAGNETO: Should I not, Mystique? We have shared ideals in the past, however tenuous our association has been. And that you are here…Well, does that not speak for itself?
9. MYSTIQUE: …
10. MAGNETO: These past six months, the only thing that has kept me alive…is vengeance. Vengeance, and the rebirth of a dream. A dream turned nightmare.
PANEL 1
Magneto stands, turning away from the group, his hands behind his back.
1. MAGNETO: Genosha was a failure. But a poignant one. One that taught me that the fears I had always held from the first were real. That I had allowed myself to be blinded by hope.
He looks up to the starry sky.
2. MAGNETO: I lost my daughter-in-law and my grandchild. I lost a nation. But more unforgivable…I lost my people.
3. MAGNETO: For two years I lived my dream. But as with all dreams…I awoke to cruel reality. Little did the humans realise that their indiscriminate slaughter of my kind would reacquaint me with my true calling. A calling forever destined to be bathed in the blood of the oppressor.
He turns in a rage.
4. MAGNETO: The time is come when the humans shall taste the flesh they have burnt, the blood they have spilt, the destruction they have wrought upon one another in their pettiness!
A shot of the gathered acolytes listening intently.
5. MAGNETO: God has given us this chance that we may seek rightful retribution! And he has bestowed us with a united power that will crush these murderers, these butchers!
6. MAGNETO: The Brotherhood shall rise once more as defenders of mutantkind!
A close-up profile of Xavier’s face, with a hand to his forehead; his expression is one of a man in agony.
A close-up profile of his creased brow.
Xavier remembers a scene of the final Fall of Genosha. A close-up of two dead people, half-buried in rubble. They are Revanche and Luna, wife and daughter of Quicksilver.
Pan-out shot of an already- wounded Magneto kneeling beside them, weeping, his helmet held underneath his arm in respect.
1. MAGNETO: No! NO!!
Xavier watches on in his hoverchair, grief also upon his face, as Magneto powers up. Magneto’s eyes are closed, tears spilling down his cheeks, raw electromagnetic energy crackling around him. About him both UN and Genoshan soldiers stare on in awe and dread.
1. MAGNETO: No! Not again! Not again!!
2. XAVIER: Magnus…no!!
Magneto swings round to face the UN soldiers, his expression ugly in rage.
1. MAGNETO: YOU WILL PAY!!
Close-up of Xavier’s panic-stricken face.
2. XAVIER: NOOO!!
UN soldiers scream in agony as the iron in their blood is ripped out of them.
A psychic aura glows about Xavier’s head as he begins to power up.
3. XAVIER [think]: No! This cannot happen!
Xavier imprisons Magneto inside a psychic bolt; Magneto buckles in sudden agony.
4. MAGNETO: Charles…?! You will not…do this!!
With a great force of will Magneto simultaneously unleashes his own magnetic powers on Xavier.
PANEL
1
First 1/3 of the page shows the two both trapped in one another’s attacks, unable to break free.
Xavier screams in agony as his powers are shut down by the tremendous electromagnetic force.
PANEL
3
Magneto also screams as his synapses are burnt out by Xavier’s telepathic power.
PANEL
4
Suddenly Xavier is woken up out of this recurring nightmare, his haunting memory of Genosha. Two hands rest lightly on his shoulders.
1. MOIRA: Charles?
PANEL
5
Xavier looks back, rests his head on her shoulder, trying to catch his breath.
2. XAVIER: Moira…
Moira looks at him in concern.
1. MOIRA: Aye. Who else?
2. XAVIER: I…
3. MOIRA: Charles, y’ look awful. And James is worried ‘bout you. Come to bed, dear. Get some rest.
Xavier looks down at Bishop, as though reluctant to leave him out of his care.
4. XAVIER: He is dying. And I can do nothing.
5. MOIRA: You are doing as much as you’re able, Charles. Don’t take his life into your hands alone. Together, we’re all doin’ the best we can.
6. XAVIER: Yes, but I feel I should do something. That I can do something. If only I had my powers back…
PANEL
5
7. MOIRA: You would still need your rest. Let Jean deal with it. You know she’s more than capable.
8. XAVIER: Yes. Of course. You’re right, Moira.
9. XAVIER: I won’t be long up.
Moira kisses his forehead tenderly.
10. MOIRA: All right. You’d better not be.
PANEL
1
Moira leaves and Xavier is left alone.
His face is tired – it is as though he wants to give up.
1. CAPTION: He still feels he should do something.
2. CAPTION: It is more than just an age-old sense of duty towards his own kind.
3. CAPTION: It is an imperative, a clarion call from deep within him. There is nothing righteous about the need anymore. He must cure this man. But he has no idea how.
A bright light suddenly bursts into existence behind him, and Xavier whirls round, shocked.
4. CAPTION: And then – although he doesn’t know it – an answer comes to him.
The light begins to swallow Xavier up.
5. CAPTION: Like a flash of light in the darkness.
A wide shot of the infirmary room – Xavier is no longer in it. There is only a flash of fading light where he once was sitting.
PANEL
1
The X-Men are training in the Danger Room, except for Jean Grey, who is looking down from the control center.
Cyclops is battling against the Juggernaut.
Cyclops is slammed against a wall. The Juggernaut swings a massive fist at him, nearly hitting him.
But the Beast grasps him from above just in time.
Beast puts him down, out of harm’s way.
1. CYCLOPS: Thanks, Hank. I owe you one.
2. BEAST: In that case, do you think you could ask your lovely wife to tone this down a little? I do want to get out of this session alive.
Jean is looking at a close-up shot of Cyclops on the camera screen.
3. CYCLOPS [through intercom]: Jean, think you could turn the level down a bit?
Jean puts her hand on the lever, pulling it down to a less demanding level.
4. JEAN: Oh Scott! I’m sorry!
A close-up of Jean’s face, frowning.
1. JEAN [thinking]: I can’t seem to think straight lately. Not since walking into the alternate Bishop’s mind.
She puts her chin in her hand.
2. JEAN: The Phoenix came…and I couldn’t control her. What does it all mean? Why did she come into Bishop’s mind? And why did she call Fitzroy the Technomancer?
Moira suddenly barges into the room.
3. MOIRA: Jean! Thank God you’re here!
Moira is distraught, almost launching herself into Jean’s arms.
4. JEAN: Moira, what’s wrong?
5. MOIRA: It’s Charles! He didn’t come to bed last night!
PANEL
5
6. JEAN: He spent the whole night at Bishop’s bedside?
7. MOIRA: No, it’s worse than that! I can’t find him anywhere!
Close-up of Moira’s face
8. MOIRA: He’s vanished!
Close-up of Xavier’s face, eyes closed, brow furrowed.
1. XAVIER: Urgh…
2. CAPTION: Meanwhile…
Xavier sits up in his hoverchair groggily and opens his eyes.
3. XAVIER: What…what happened?
Wide shot from behind Xavier, looking out onto a strange room. It is a large white chamber, almost glowing in its brightness, and encircled by tall, imposing columns. Between the pillars are looming windows that show a panoramic view of space.
3. XAVIER: Where on earth am I?
4. XAVIER: If I am on earth at all…
PANEL 1
1. ROMA [off-panel]: That would be a certifiable no.
Xavier turns to see the figure of a beautiful, statuesque, raven-haired woman standing in the frame of a previously indiscernible door.
2. XAVIER: And you are?
3. ROMA: I am Roma, daughter of Merlyn the Supreme Omniversal Guardian, Protector of all Time.
4. ROMA: I am glad to see that you are awake and well, Charles Xavier. I hope my time-jaunt did not startle you too much.
Charles nears her in his hoverchair.
5. XAVIER: Time? Are you responsible for the chronal anomaly Bishop was talking about?
Roma smiles softly, but it is a wry smile with no humour in it, as though she is in the presence of a child with little understanding.
6. ROMA: No. Not I. But I am responsible for bringing Bishop to your reality.
7. XAVIER: My reality. What do you mean?
Roma turns away slightly, her voice matter-of-fact.
8. ROMA: There are many realities, Charles Xavier. Yours is merely one of thousands, millions. Perhaps I should explain. Many of your scientists have accepted the theory that any single event has any number of conceivable possibilities, do you not. Each moment breeds another skein of reality, ones that break off from the original fluid mass of time to another, unoccupied space of physical existence. Where you are now is the Starlight Citadel, the center of all Time, all reality – the Omniverse. And it is I who guards the Omniverse from the threat of those who would disrupt it.
PANEL
1
Roma turns back to Xavier, her face solemn.
1. ROMA: You hold in your possession several volumes of a most important series of books. Six are in your hands. Another six are in the hands of the one they call Magneto. And one is missing.
2. XAVIER: The Libris Veritatus? Destiny’s Diaries?
3. ROMA: Yes. They are the window’s to your reality’s future. And Bishop is one of several keys. Your Bishop was in mortal danger, so she sought the help of her alternate – the Bishop that you now find in your infirmary. But she was almost too late. As she died, she would have pulled her double down with her.
4. ROMA: But I was able to save him before he too was destroyed.
5. XAVIER: In order that he take Laura’s place.
6. ROMA: Exactly. And in order that he fulfil Laura’s destiny.
7. XAVIER: But the trauma of the merge must have severely psychically injured Bishop. Because now he is dying.
8. ROMA: Precisely why I have brought you here, Charles Xavier. You must save him and recover his mind.
9. XAVIER: To save Bishop and restore him to his true fate? You presume much, Omniversal Guardian. How am I to save this man, without my powers?
10. ROMA: How little faith you have, Xavier, for a man so full of dreams. You will save him because it is your future, your destiny.
Xavier is shocked.
1. XAVIER: My destiny?
2. ROMA: The future of your reality is in danger, Xavier. You are only one of seven who must save it. But you cannot do so without Bishop. And you cannot do so without your powers.
3. XAVIER: And how am I supposed to regain my powers and fulfil this so-called destiny?
On the rest of the page we see another Xavier coming through the door – but this Xavier is standing and no longer crippled. The first Xavier looks at him in shock.
4. ALTERNATE XAVIER: With a little help from me.
End of Entrada
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