X-Men Page #6

The volume on the television drops, though no remote is

in sight.

Magneto notices Sabretoothís apparent exhaustion, his

torn clothing, including the slashes in his side. His

look asks ìwhat happened?î

Sabretooth crosses the room and places the shining dog

tag on the table. The one he ripped from Loganís neck.

He sits at the desk, puzzling over it.

MAGNETO (contíd)

Your expression tells me the news is

not good, brother.

SABRETOOTH:

I lost him.

MAGNETO:

How?

SABRETOOTH:

It was Xavierís people. They knew.

Frustrated. Magneto inspects the dog tag.

MAGNETO:

I want him. That is all they know

because that is all you know.

Nothing odd about the tag at a glance, military dog tag,

weathered and beaten, but certainly plain, Canadian

Military, Loganís name, rank, and a faded serial number.

His thumb feels the indention of the word at the bottom

of the tag that does not seem to fit here.

WOLVERINE:

We hear the voice of Senator Kelly on the TV. Kelly is

on the screen giving good face.

As he turns up the television, and again, we donít see

how, he places the dog tag on his desk, thinking.

KELLY:

I think the Presidentís pre-occupation

with international affairs has drawn

his attention away from this problem.

Americanís deserve the right to decide

whether they want their children to be

in school with mutants. To be taught

by mutants. They also have the right

to know the dangers. Thatís the

purpose of registration. And mark my

words, if the President isnít strong

enough to do what needs to be done...

As the Senator continues we PULL BACK and see Magneto

watching this. He begins speaking over Kellyís diatribe.

MAGNETO:

And you may mark my words, Senator

Kelly. All your plotting, all your

hatred. I have plans for you. Iíve

seen you come, and I will see you go.

As Magneto turns Loganís dog tag between his fingers, we

canít help but notice FADED PURPLE SERIAL NUMBERS

TATTOOED IN HIS ARM.

He then drops the dog tag on the desk, Magneto stands and

heads for the door, Sabretooth follows. The television

shuts off and Magneto waves a hand as though beckoning

someone to follow. Or some thing.

He stops and looks back at the dog tag on the desk and

waves again. A paper clip just next to the dog tag skips

off the desk and into Magnetoís hand. He drops it,

annoyed and tries again.

A slight rattle, then nothing more, as though the dog tag

were held down by an unimaginable weight.

He walks over and picks up the dog tag, inspecting it,

then trying to bend it. Nothing.

MAGNETO (contíd)

Can it be..?

He puts it back on the desk. Now Magneto concentrates -

sending a wave of magnetic force that ripples the air

around it.

The tag trembles, but does not budge. He looks at

Sabretooth and smiles.

SABRETOOTH:

Is that what youíre looking for?

MAGNETO:

A piece. Only a piece.

SABRETOOTH:

Is it enough?

MAGNETO:

Enough for a test.

And as Magneto looks up at Kelly on the television we:

PAN OVER TO A BULLETIN BOARD on the wall beside him.

To a periodic table, smaller than the first.

But still with that red square and added letter ìAî.

EXT. WHITE HOUSE - PARKING LOT - DAY

Kelly and Guyrich walk out of the White House on their

way to their limousine.

KELLY:

I canít believe the President canít

see it. I wouldnít be surprised if he

has a mutant on his staff.

Kelly and Guyrich climb into the limo and slump back in

their seats.

INT. LIMOUSINE - DAY

GUYRICH:

Have you thought of a demonstration of

some kind? Maybe use the UN Summit to

our advantage. The whole world will

be watching.

KELLY:

Iím not interested in the whole world,

Henry... Iím interested in America.

Let the rest of the world deal with

mutants their own way.

GUYRICH:

Where to?

Kelly rubs his eyes.

KELLY:

Home.

Guyrich leans to address the driver.

GUYRICH:

Dulles Airport.

INT. LABORATORY - DAY

Medical monitors beep, keeping track of the vital signs

of -- Logan, who lies in a bed in the middle of a medical

lab.

In the wall beside Loganís bed is a light board on which

hang Loganís X-rays. Loganís skeleton seems to be more

the creation of a Deco architect than of nature.

Streamlined, refined... almost manufactured.

He is asleep, recovering.

Jean Grey enters the lab. She walks over and examines

the X-rays, fascinated by their unique structure. She

notices what appears to be an unusually complex network

of bones in the forearm. Jean looks down and runs her

fingers over the traces of three incisions on the backs

of Loganís hands. Jeanís eye moves across his body. His

rippling muscles.

Jean uncaps an IV needle and moves to the middle of

Loganís arm. We cannot help but notice a diamond ring on

her left hand.

Jean starts to put an IV in Loganís arm.

Just as she is sticking the needle in his arm HE JOLTS

VIOLENTLY.

SNAP:

Loganís hand reaches up quickly, breaking the needle off

in his arm. He grabs a startled Jean by the throat.

He is out of bed. She is unable to speak, choked silent

by his grip.

He places his fist near her face. We see the three faint

scars just above his knuckles.

Hesitation. Logan looks at her for a moment. Taken by

her beauty. Then he is on his feet.

Jean is on the floor, gasping for breath.

Logan realizes something is missing. He reaches to his

chest and feels for the dog tag. Gone. He stifles a

curse.

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