The Fantastic Four Page #13

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BEN:

A few days in space, it'll be great,

what's the worst that could happen?

A PIGEON flutters past him, and drops a white gooey gift on

his shoulder. Ben just glares up at the heavens.

BEN (CONT'D)

Perfect. Thanks.

He hears the sound of someone SOBBING. He turns to see...a

distraught BUSINESSMAN with a briefcase. The man drops his

case, which PLUMMETS hundreds-of-feet into the RIVER.

The Businessman looks out, ready to jump. He doesn't see Ben

(or doesn't realize Ben is not a statue).

BEN (CONT'D)

You think you got trouble? Take a

good look, pal, how bad could it be?

The Businessman looks at Ben, terrified. Ben steps forward.

BEN (CONT'D)

Okay, easy there, buddy.

Backpedaling, the man SLIPS, FALLING toward the ROADWAY! His

arms flail, grabbing a narrow beam -- his fingers hold tight

while his legs thrash over speeding traffic. Cars and trucks

SKIM right underfoot. Ben shakes his head.

BEN (CONT'D)

You had to choose my spot, didn't you?

Ben steps out to help, but...his WEIGHT BENDS the beam! The

Businessman LOSES HIS GRIP! He FALLS TO THE ROAD, landing

hard on the highway! A few PEDESTRIANS see Ben. They point.

Ben looks up, deer in headlights. He sees a massive TRUCK

bearing down on the Businessman.

BEN (CONT'D)

This is really not my day.

Ben DROPS to the street. WHOOMPF! He lands in front of the

Businessman, SWEEPS him out of the way with one arm, and

turns to the oncoming 18 WHEELER CAB.

The DRIVER slams his brakes, eyes wide. The truck SWERVES,

but cannot stop! Time slows to syrup, as Ben looks a little

scared. He shuts his eyes, and...

SHOULDER-BLOCKS the INCOMING TRUCK! A football move. The

truck BUCKLES, POPPING a WHEELIE, CRUMPLING all the way to

the windshield! It looks like a metal car-compactor.

The truck SWERVES hard, its tail SMASHING into steel girders.

CARS SCREECH, SWERVE, SLAMMING INTO EACH OTHER, CAUSING A

FOUR-LANE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT! Windows shatter, fires flicker.

One of the cars in an NYPD CRUISER. COPS clamber out.

EXT. CAB ON HIGHWAY - DAY

Reed, Johnny, and Sue sit in the back. They see the action

on the bridge. Reed and Sue lock eyes, sensing the worst.

EXT. BROOKLYN BRIDGE - DAY

Ben stands in the middle of the chaos, staring at the

destruction. He sees the tow-truck DRIVER bleeding, trapped

in his cab. Ben moves to this burning hunk of steel.

He SWIPES through the shattered window, and PUNCHES the

airbag, POPPING it like a kid's balloon. He tries to grab

the seat-belt, but his fingers are TOO BIG. He struggles.

BEN:

A little help here?! You wanna hit

that button, sir?

The driver is too woozy. Ben can't get to the button.

Frustrated, he simply TEARS OFF THE DOOR, and RIPS THE

DRIVER'S SEAT right out of the cab! COPS round the corner.

They see Ben holding onto the Driver. They raise their guns.

COP:

FREEZE! PUT THE MAN AND THE SEAT

DOWN!

Ben looks at the cops. PEDESTRIANS stare, point. He

realizes how this must look -- a monster holding a bloody man

in hand.

EXT. BROOKLYN BRIDGE - APPROACH - DAY

At the back of the traffic jam, cars SCREECH to stops. The

whole bridge is FULL of bumper-to-bumper traffic. We PUSH

TOWARD one car:
three doors pop open, and out come...

REED, JOHNNY, SUE. They look through smoke and mayhem to

see...their first full look at Ben. Reed stands gutpunched.

JOHNNY:

Not even Ben deserves that.

EXT. BROOKLYN BRIDGE - DAY

Ben puts the seat down, with the Driver on it. He lunges

behind a truck. The cops try to follow, but FLAMES push them

back. Ben lurches away, head down, self-conscious.

He tries to hide from ONLOOKERS around him and PEDESTRIANS on

walkways overhead. He wants to escape, but hears SCREAMING

MOTORISTS. He grits his teeth, and moves to help them.

EXT. BROOKLYN BRIDGE - GRIDLOCK - DAY

Reed, Sue, and Johnny race toward the flames. All other

people head in the OPPOSITE DIRECTION. BRIDGE POLICE herd

the crowd away from the accident.

BRIDGE COP:

Back! We're evac-ing the bridge.

Reed, Sue, and Johnny slow down, swap glances.

SUE:

What now? Reed...? What do we do?

MOVE IN ON REED. A first test of leadership. But he is not

a leader. Not yet. Sue gets closer to him.

SUE (CONT'D)

Ben's out there. Let's go get him.

BRIDGE COP:

Maybe you didn't hear me. Those cars

are gonna blow sky high, any second.

REED:

Look, we've got a friend out there in

trouble. We need to get to him before --

BRIDGE COP #2

Nobody gets past this point.

A hard beat. Reed signals Sue with a look, a nod.

SUE:

What?

REED:

(mutters)

We need to get past them.

He motions to her body. She understands. She concentrates,

and starts to turn invisible.

BRIDGE COP #1

What the hell is this? A magic show?

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