The Fantastic Four Page #3

---

She shakes her head -- same old Reed. He looks at her --

what did he say wrong? Ben smiles, patting Reed on the

shoulder.

BEN:

Way to not overthink it.

(to Sue)

So when do we leave?

SUE:

I'll schedule the launch. Call me in

the morning to talk about resources

and crew.

She offers a business card. Reed doesn't take it.

REED:

I, uh, think I remember the number.

SUE:

It's been changed.

Beat. Ben grimaces. Reed takes the card, his eyes down.

REED:

As far as crew, I was hoping Ben could

pilot the mission --

SUE:

Well, he's welcome to ride shotgun,

but we already have a pilot on our

payroll. You remember my brother

Johnny...

Off Ben's curdling smile, we DISSOLVE TO --

EXT. LAKE LAUNCH FACILITY - DAY

A helicopter shot through trees. We soar over timberland,

and find something massive looming on the horizon:

A SPACECRAFT. A sleek take on a space shuttle. Modern tech

combined with industrial design that NASA could never afford.

The craft's nose is pointed straight up, ready for launch.

WORKERS IN JUMPSUITS are scattered around the two-hundred

foot tall scaffolding, performing routine checks.

EXT. GANTRY OVERLOOK - DAY

Ben stares up at the craft. A sneer on his face.

BEN:

Can't do it. I cannot do it.

REED:

External SRBs, orbital system engines.

Its just like the shuttles you flew

in --

BEN:

No. I cannot take orders from that

underwear model. That wingnut washed

out of NASA for sneaking two Victoria

Secret wannabes into a flight

simulator.

REED:

Youthful high spirits.

They walk toward the base of the scaffolding.

BEN:

They crashed it into a wall. A flight

simulator.

REED:

I'm sure he's matured since then.

CLOSE on JOHNNY STORM, leaning over to kiss a hot redhead.

PULL BACK TO REVEAL he's riding a MOTORCYCLE, and she's

driving a red CORVETTE with license plate: FRANKIE. PICK UP

Reed and Ben, watching through binoculars.

REED (CONT'D)

When have I asked you to do something

you absolutely said you could not do?

BEN:

Five times.

REED:

I had it at four.

BEN:

This makes five.

INT. LAKE LAUNCH FACILITY LOCKER ROOM - NIGHT

Reed and Ben unpack gear into lockers. Suddenly --

JOHNNY (O.S.)

Captain on the bridge!

Ben goes to attention on reflex: Johnny snaps a picture with

a digital camera. Then advances, as Ben realizes who it

is...

JOHNNY (CONT'D)

Digital camera:
$254. Memory stick:

$59. The look on your hard-ass former

CO's grill when he finds out he's your

junior officer:
priceless.

Ben eyeballs Johnny, suddenly reaches up as if to grab him.

Johnny flinches. But Ben just reaches for Johnny's zipper,

adjusts his uniform.

BEN:

I can handle the ship. I can even

handle Mr. Blonde Ambition. But I

don't know if I should be flying or

playing Vegas in these suits. Who the

hell came up with them?

SUE:

Victor did.

Sue enters, wearing her blue, wetsuit-like uniform, carrying

a stack of flightsuits. She hands them out to the guys.

SUE (CONT'D)

The synthetics act as a second skin,

adapting to your individual needs to --

JOHNNY:

Keep the hot side hot, and the cool

side cool!

REED:

Wow. Fantastic.

Reed stares at Sue in the skintight outfit. She wonders,

maybe hopes -- is he actually checking her out?

REED (CONT'D)

Material made from self-regulating

unstable molecules. I've been working

on a formula for this.

SUE:

Great minds think alike.

VICTOR (O.S.)

Guess some think faster than others.

Victor enters, wearing his custom-tailored flightsuit.

VICTOR (CONT'D)

I hired Armani to design the pattern.

These colors will look great on

camera.

A DOOR OPENS. Leonard enters, in a sharp suit.

LEONARD:

They're ready for you, sir.

VICTOR:

Showtime.

EXT. LAKE LAUNCH FACILITY - HALLS - NIGHT

Leonard leads Victor through the halls. Victor checks

himself in mirrors as he walks, fixing his hair, his uniform.

LEONARD:

Our numbers are through the roof. The

IPO's tracking at fifty, sixty a

share. The bank's five times

oversubscribed --

Rate this script:2.0 / 3 votes