The Fantastic Four Page #16

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Reed, Sue, and Ben get up to go. The press waits a beat,

then surges. Ben spins, holding up one finger. A giant.

BEN:

Be nice.

The press step back, intimidated. Flashbulbs POP, and Ben's

FACE FREEZES. It goes BLACK-AND-WHITE on a NEW YORK POST in --

EXT. BANK - DAY

Establishing shot of a historic New York building.

INT. BANK - CONFERENCE ROOM - CONTINUOUS

BANKERS sit around a table. LAPTOPS hum. The lead banker is

power-broker NED CECIL. The men keep their eyes on Victor.

NED CECIL:

Well, Victor, the bank would like to

congratulate you. On the fastest

freefall since the Depression. We

can't even give your stock away.

VICTOR:

Ned, you know I can turn this around.

Ned motions to the paper, the picture of BEN.

NED CECIL:

You promised a cure-all, and came back

with this. Who the hell's going to

invest in a biotech company that turns

its workers into circus freaks?

Victor's grip tightens around the table, and...the LAPTOPS

FLICKER, losing feeds.

Victor looks down at his hands -- a private beat (did I do

that?) He lets go of the table; screens go back to normal.

VICTOR:

(pointed)

I really appreciate all your support.

NED CECIL:

You've got a week, Victor. One week

to turn this around. Or we pull

out...

(a beat)

This meeting is over.

Victor looks at him, blood boiling, and we CUT HARD TO --

INT. BANK - HALLWAY - DAY

Victor and Leonard stride out. Victor is writhing.

VICTOR:

Goddamn book-keeper doesn't know

preferred stock from livestock.

Leonard is thinking all business.

LEONARD:

Sir. Reed's comments at that press

conference killed us. How are we

going to turn this around?

Victor considers. His mind races, eyes narrow.

VICTOR:

Very simple. I cure them. If I can

cure these freaks, then I can cure

anyone. What better way to restore my

reputation?

Leonard nods, impressed. Victor is a man in motion. As they

step into sunlight, we cut to...CLICKCLICKCLICK in --

EXT. BAXTER BUILDING - DAY

REPORTERS snap pictures. A POLICE CONVOY drives up, stopping

in front of a towering HIGH-RISE. Sue, Reed, and Johnny and

get out of a police-car. Ben steps out of a BIG PADDY-WAGON,

which immediately bounces back up to the normal axle

position.

COPS hold back the surging press. Ben keeps his head down,

self-conscious. He passes Johnny, smiling for the cameras.

JOHNNY:

Smile, Ben. They want to like you.

Give 'em your good side. Or your less

bad side.

Ben turns to a group of LITTLE KIDS. Stiff, tentative:

BEN:

Uh...don't do drugs.

The kids FLINCH. Ben trudges on. Johnny smiles bright,

doing hand-signs for F4. Sue pulls him toward --

INT. BAXTER BUILDING - LOBBY - DAY

The Fantastic Four enter. They are greeted by JIMMY

O'HOOLIHAN, an old-time doorman with a kind smile.

O'HOOLIHAN

Welcome back to the Baxter, Dr.

Richards. All that for you?

He motions to the flashing cameras outside.

REED:

I'm afraid so...

He searches for the name. Sue steps up.

SUE:

Jimmy. Good to see you again.

He smiles at Sue, then at Reed.

O'HOOLIHAN

Good to see you too... Don't worry,

sir. I know how crowded that head of

yours is.

REED:

Any visitors while I was away?

O'HOOLIHAN

Just the usual. Told 'em you were

circling round outer space.

He opens a drawer full of LETTERS from the BANK. Reed looks

sheepish. He shuts the drawer, looks to Johnny and Sue.

REED:

We had a tough year.

BEN:

Yeah, nine years straight.

Reed looks at Ben. Thanks a lot. DING. Elevator doors

open.

INT. BAXTER BUILDING - ELEVATOR - DAY

They enter. Reed hits the top button, for the 20TH FLOOR.

JOHNNY:

Twenty? From outside the place looks

a lot taller.

REED:

Oh, it is.

The doors close, but...the ELEVATOR does not move. A beat.

JOHNNY:

Either we're moving really fast...or

not at all.

A digital readout on the panel: EXCEED MAXIMUM WEIGHT. A

sign reads:
MAXIMUM CAPACITY: 2000 pounds. They turn to Ben.

BEN:

I'll take the stairs.

Doors open. He lumbers out. As the doors close behind him,

he looks back over his shoulder, locking eyes with Reed.

INT. BAXTER BUILDING - ELEVATOR - DAY

The elevator rises. Reed roils with guilt.

SUE:

How come Ben can't turn it on and off

like us?

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