X-Men Page #3

JEAN (O.S.) (contíd)

Only in the last few thousand years

did mankind begin to make clothes for

himself, build shelters, use heat and

grow food in large quantities. With

this man-made environment remaining

relatively stable, the X-factor became

dormant.

QUICK SHOTS:
early huts, early clothing; then early

homes, later homes, air conditioning, cars, modern high-

rises, etc.

PULL BACK WIDER:

JEAN (O.S.) (contíd)

Until now.

On the room, the reactions, and on JEAN herself.

A strong, attractive woman in her early 30's. A simple

placard before her:

JEAN GREY. GENETICALLY ENHANCED RIGHTS ASSOCIATION.

The screen shows the words "PRESENT DAY," where the

"evolution line" has resumed its rise.

JEAN (contíd)

For reasons still not known to us, we

are seeing what some are calling the

beginnings of another stage of

evolution -

A MICROPHONED VOICE interrupts. Bearing down is the

flamboyant SENATOR SCOTT "FRANK" KELLY, a conservative

from Florida, and the hearing's Chairman.

Just behind him sits his aide HENRY GUYRICH - mid 30's,

typical government cog.

KELLY:

You're avoiding the question I posed

to you at the beginning of the

hearing, Ms. Grey. Three words: Are

mutants dangerous?

JEAN:

I am avoiding a question that is

decidedly loaded, Senator. The wrong

person behind the wheel of a car can

be dangerous.

Another SENATOR (LUCINDA ROWEE) speaks into her

microphone:

SENATOR ROWEE:

Well, we do license people to drive.

JEAN:

But not to live.

Kelly raises a hand, continuing his tirade.

KELLY:

Ms. Grey -- you work at a school for

mutants in Westchester, New York. Can

you tell the members of this committee

what exactly you are teaching these

mutants?

JEAN:

Math. History. Science. English.

Athletics --

KELLY:

You wouldn't happen to be teaching

them how to use their powers to --

JEAN:

Control, Senator... we teach them

control.

Kelly raises a blown-up photograph: a grainy, super-

zoomed, somewhat obscured image of a CAR ON A FREEWAY

which appears to have "melted." Now he's really playing

to the crowd.

KELLY:

This was taken by a state police

officer in Secaucus, New Jersey. A

man in a minor altercation literally

melted the car in front of him. I

don't know where you come from, Ms.

Grey, but where I come from, you don't

go melting people's cars when they cut

you off. You do it the old fashioned

way -- you give 'em the finger.

(laughs from the crowd)

But what you presume to tell this

committee -

JEAN:

I presume nothing, I am here to tell

you that in time, the mutator gene

will activate in every living human

being on this planet. Perhaps even

your children, Senator.

KELLY:

I can assure you, there is no such

creature in my genes.

The room LAUGHS. Kelly mistaken thinks it is for him,

until the double meaning occurs to him. He is

momentarily embarrassed, but he quickly recovers.

KELLY (contíd)

Ms. Grey, we are not here to weed out

mutants. The Registration Act is

designed merely to assess their

potential threat - if any - to

national security.

The crowd reacts loudly in support of the Senator. Some

cheer, some roar, some yell obscenities at Jean.

Jean stands and walks out, pushing her way through

reporters now moving in for her response. All the while,

Kelly is delivering his last words.

KELLY (contíd)

Mutants are very real. They are among

us. We must know who they are. And

above all, we must know what they can

do.

AS THE SHOUTS OF THE MOB RISE AND GIVE WAY TO:

EXT. CAPITOL BUILDING - WASHINGTON D.C. - DAY

An angry mob outside the Senate hearing. Voices roar in

dissent when Jean emerges, coming down the steps without

hesitation.

She sees signs condemning mutants, a scarce few

supporting them.

A group of reporters are behind her and more meet her in

front, closing her in. Microphones are shove in her

face.

REPORTERS/VARIOUS

Dr. Grey, how do you feel about the

Senator's Statement / How is the

mutant community reacting? Is it true

that mutants are dangerous? / Is there

a mutant plot to overthrow the

government?

She ignores them all, trying to push through.

ANGLE ON:

A KID IN THE CROWD holding a full can of Coke. Smiling

to his friend beside him. He fires it over the heads of

everyone toward Jean. Perfect trajectory. Closing fast.

Suddenly:

Silence falls over the crowd. A total silence. An

absolute silence.

All eyes watch in awe at the can and its liquid trail,

frozen in mid-air a few inches from Jean's face. It

simply hovers there.

JEAN:

Weíre not the ones to be afraid of.

Using telekinesis she slowly lowers the can to the

ground. She shakes her head, almost ashamed of the

display. Almost as if to say ìI didnít want to do that.î

The can rolls down the steps. People move away from it

as though the can itself were dangerous.

The crowd steps back in genuine fear. Jean simply moves

ahead now, unimpeded, still shaking her head.

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