The Fantastic Four Page #12

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He considers, but never shows weakness. He nods.

VICTOR:

Just a little banged up. A couple

scrapes. Why?

REED:

Ben did this.

VICTOR:

Ben did this?

REED:

He's had some kind of...reaction to

exposure from the cloud. And he's not

the only one.

SUE:

We need to find him.

Victor redirects his attention to Sue.

SUE (CONT'D)

Victor, I'm sorry I --

VICTOR:

(cold)

Just find him.

Victor strides off, leaving the others.

JOHNNY:

Anybody know where the big guy's

going?

We PUSH IN on a picture of Debbie lying on the floor, Reed

knows exactly where Ben is going.

REED:

He's going home.

EXT. TRAIN YARD - NIGHT

A view from Brooklyn: Manhattan glistens in the distance.

CAMERA MOVES down to A TRAIN YARD, where we find empty cargo

trains. We PUSH IN on the main track, where...

A CARGO TRAIN has just stopped. We hear a cargo DOOR slide

open, then WHUMP! Big FEET hit the ground. Someone, or

someTHING barrels into the night.

EXT. BIG & TALL SHOP - NIGHT

A locked storefront on Flatbush Ave. SOUND of breaking

glass.

INT. BIG & TALL SHOP - NIGHT

SERIES OF SHOTS:
Ben tries on clothes, shoes. Jackets rip,

shoes split. He needs an extra extra extra large.

EXT. PAY PHONE - NIGHT

A HUGE FIGURE is huddled in shadow. It's Ben.

CLOSE ON:
The dial pad. Big fingers try to push keys but

they're too large. Ben tries for a few seconds, getting more

and more frustrated. He manages to press "0" with his pinky.

BEN:

Hello, Operator?

Ben looks up the street, into the 2nd story window of a

modest, working-class home. His eyes go soft when he sees

Debbie grab the phone.

BEN (CONT'D)

Deb... It's me. I need you to step

out front.

DEBBIE:

Out front? You home, baby? I got

a surprise for you.

He blinks hard. Sad, dark.

BEN:

I got a surprise for you too.

EXT. BROOKLYN HOUSE - NIGHT

Debbie steps out. There is "WELCOME HOME" sign over the

door. She looks out. The wind blows softly. Something

shifts in the darkness. Debbie pulls her robe tighter.

DEBBIE:

Ben?

BEN (O.S.)

Don't come any closer for a sec. This

is gonna be kind of a shock... You

remember when we said "together

forever no matter what"?

DEBBIE:

Baby, you're scaring me.

A hanging beat. And Ben...steps into the light, where we SEE

HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME: he's HUGE, easily twice the size he

once was, and AN ORANGY ROCKY SURFACE COVERS HIS ENTIRE BODY.

Debbie sees him. Fear washes over her, not sure what to

think. He reaches out, a little tentative. She flinches

back.

DEBBIE:

Oh my G-g-g. What did you...do to

Ben?

BEN:

Deb, it's me. It's still me.

He reaches out. She recoils. It's too much for her. Tears

swell in her eyes. Covering her mouth, she backs away.

He takes a step closer. She backs away faster, tripping over

her robe, falling into the street. A car screeches to a

halt. Ben instinctively steps out to help, but she scurries

back.

DEBBIE:

Don't...don't...DON'T TOUCH ME!

Her shout wakes NEIGHBORS. Lights flicker on. Ben knows he

has to go. He looks at Debbie, sensing this is the last time

he'll see her. She trembles, terrified. His eyes go moist.

BEN:

I love you, Deb.

With that, he turns away. The "WELCOME HOME" sign flutters,

falls to the ground. A tragic tableau. As more lights go on

around him, Ben picks up his pace, speeding into the dawn.

INT. VICTOR'S COMPOUND OFFICE - DAY

Victor packs a monogrammed Armani briefcase: "VDM" emblazoned

on a gold plate. Leonard waits not-so-patiently.

VICTOR:

Make sure you find Ben, bring him back

here. And keep it quiet. I don't

need this to hit the press.

LEONARD:

Yes sir. You've got the Mayor at

eight, then a nine-thirty interview

with the Journal --

VICTOR:

Front page?

LEONARD:

Top left, like you asked.

(a smile)

Today Wall Street. Tomorrow, who

knows...maybe Washington.

Victor turns to Leonard, disappointed with him.

VICTOR:

Leonard. Think bigger.

EXT. BROOKLYN BRIDGE - DAY

We swoop toward this epic monument. On a steel girder above

the road, we see...a STATUE. BEN. He sits on the edge of

the beams, staring down at the river below, brooding,

muttering.

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