The Fantastic Four Page #4

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VICTOR:

It's not just the money. I could make

money in my sleep.

LEONARD:

Then what is it?

VICTOR:

History, Leonard. History.

Everything else is conversation...

(a beat)

How's the other matter?

Leonard pulls out a BOX. Opens it: a TEN KARAT DIAMOND RING.

LEONARD:

Harry Winston sends his regards.

They hit a set of big doors. Victor stops and looks into the

reflective, metallic surface on the wall. He fixes one last

strand of hair. Perfect. Then he opens the door to...

SNAP!SNAP!SNAP! WHIP-PAN a row of CAMERAS snapping shots of --

EXT. LAKE LAUNCH FACILITY - NIGHT

Retrofitted into a makeshift press area. Victor sits on a

platform, with reporters stretched out below him.

VICTOR:

Today we stand on the edge of a new

frontier. In the furthest depths of

outer space...we will find the secrets

to inner space. The final key to

unlocking our genetic code lies in a

cosmic storm...

BEHIND THE ACTION: Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben walk past. News

crews barely notice, passing without even taking a picture.

Our "Fantastic Four" are not exactly big news. Not yet.

BEN:

Isn't that your speech?

REED:

He's made a few changes.

BEN:

This is your dream, Reed. You should

be the one up there.

REED:

Victor's better at these things.

Just past the press area, they see...one woman standing,

waiting. This is DEBBIE, Ben's fiancée. And for the first

time in the entire film...Ben SMILES. They hug, kissing.

Johnny and Reed watch. Reed glances at Sue, who walks ahead.

Debbie slips a photo into Ben's flightsuit. A tender beat.

BEN:

I'll be watching over you.

DEBBIE:

Just get back soon, or I start looking

for a new groom.

Ben looks at the little ENGAGEMENT RING on her finger.

BEN:

Soon as I'm back, I'm gonna trade that

in for a bigger rock.

DEBBIE:

I don't care about rocks, I care about

you.

(to Reed)

You bring him back in one piece, or

you can forget being Best Man.

Reed nods, smiles. Debbie gives Ben a last kiss. Ben turns

to Johnny, who gives a cocky smile.

BEN:

What the hell you smiling at? Just

keep your mouth shut, and your mind on

those SMBs --

JOHNNY:

Actually, the engines are SMEs.

Hydrogenbase, carbon propellant.

Couple generations past your last

ride.

(at the threshold)

I'm not as dumb as you look.

Ben just glares at Reed. This is going to be a long trip.

As they follow after Sue, we CUT BACK TO --

VICTOR ON STAGE:

Mid-speech. Playing behind him is REED'S HOLOGRAM: stars

give way to a pulsating red cloud...

VICTOR:

Think of a world without genetic flaws

-- no asthma, allergies, baldness,

breast cancer...

Ben and Reed hear the speech. Ben bristles.

BEN:

What's wrong with being bald...?

Victor smiles at the crowd, commanding. A true leader.

VICTOR:

Darwin discovered evolution. Now we --

I -- will define it. Only in America

could...

The red cloud of cosmic rays wash over the Earth.

VICTOR (V.O.) (CONT'D)

...a little country boy from Latveria

build one of the biggest companies in

the world, and truly reach the stars.

Now if you'll excuse me, history

awaits...

On those words, the HOLOGRAM TRANSFORMS TO...Von Doom's

SHUTTLE on the launch pad. BOOM! THRUSTERS FIRE WHITE HOT.

Smoke billows across the pad. Ready for take off.

Victor walks past the hologram and exits. His departure

perfectly timed with the shuttle LIFTING OFF.

We push in on the shuttle, and follow the ship as it leaves

Earth's atmosphere. BOOM -- booster rockets fall away and

the shuttle fires its thrusters. The hologram transitions

to...

A shot of the SPACE STATION high above the Earth. The

shuttle enters from the top, lighting up the hologram with

engines afire. As the shuttle approaches the station we CUT

TO --

EXT. DEEP SPACE - SAME

THE SPACE STATION in the distance, rotating in orbit above

Earth. THE SHUTTLE eases in and docks.

INT. SPACE STATION - COMMAND CENTER - SAME

Victor and Sue lead the others into the command center.

JOHNNY:

(a "dad voice": to Ben)

If you behave, maybe next time

daddy'll let you drive.

BEN:

Keep talking, there won't be a next

time.

Reed is focused on THE EARTH.

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