Strategy X
If you see any mistakes let me know!
anything that is underlined is telepathy
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Starts off at a football game. First we see some cheerleaders that are from Bayville, then
the football players getting ready to hike the ball.
Football player: Blue 22. Blue 22. Hut! Hut!
Number 11, Duncan, scores a touch down for Bayville and landing on his back, clutching
the football. Jean comes over, leans down and takes some pictures of him.
Duncan: Hey, Jean. Is that one for the yearbook?
Jean: No. This is for my personal collection.
Scott is in the bleachers watching them walk from the field.
Announcer: A touchdown by Duncan Matthews!
Meanwhile, Toad is underneath the bleachers, picking pockets. Three of the Bayville
players notice.
Number 77 to Duncan: Tolensky's at it again.
Bayville player (didn't see his number: Oh man. It's unbelievable.
Duncan: Someone should teach him a lesson. Hey, coach, can we be excused a minute?
Coach: looks up and sees Bayville is winning by a lot. Yeah, sure, just hurry back.
They head towards the bleachers, Duncan leading.
Back to Scott who is playing with some money. The quarter slips through his fingers.
Scott: Oh, man, my cash.
Scott: Hey, check it, looks like someone's taking up a collection.
Paul: Woah, think we should we call the cops?
Scott while standing up: Keep that option open.
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Underneath the bleachers. Toad reaches up and steals another wallet.
Toad: Got another one. Heh heh. Woooaaaw!
One of the football players yanks him down to the ground causing him to fall into the
mud, while some money falls around him.
Duncan: Well, if it isn't Toady Tolensky picking up a little spare change.
Toad: Uh... heh heh, Duncan, I can explain...
Duncan: Shut up, frog face!
Duncan slams him into the bleachers.
Football player: Let's crush him, Dunk!
Scott: (suddenly appearing) Let's not, "Dunk". Just chill. The wallets are still there. Let's
have him give back the cash, no harm done.
Toad: (nodding, holds up a handful of money) Yeah. Yeah. Here's the money.
Duncan: What do you care about this scuzzo, Summers?
Scott: Not much. But I'm not crazy about three against one, either. Let's settle this
peacefully.
Duncan: I think me and my buds are going to squash this slimeball. So you and your
stupid sunglasses at night can just bail.
Duncan throws Toad down and stamps his foot in front of Toad's face, splattering him
with mud.
Scott: I said, "Stop it"!
Scott runs at Duncan and throws him into the other two, causing them all to fall. The
other football players start to help Duncan up then notice that Toad is taking advantage
of the distraction. They drop Duncan back in the mud and run after Toad. Now the only
two left are Scott and Duncan.
Duncan: (getting up) Big mistake, Summers!
They start to fight. Duncan is bigger, but Scott seems to be doing OK until Jean shows
up.
Jean: Scott? Scott, NO!
Scott looks over and Duncan punches him. Scott is slammed back into the supports and
his glasses are knocked off. His eye beams tear up the ground under the bleachers and
Duncan goes flying. The blast gets very close to a propane tank near the field and it
explodes, causing a huge explosion. Meanwhile, Jean is standing there watching this with
a horrified look on her face
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An ambulance and police have arrived. Someone removes Duncan's helmet.
Medical person: Take it easy, son. Try not to move.
Duncan moans
Cop: What happened here?
Duncan: My head... can't remember.
Medical person: Concussion, he's been hit hard. So, what do you think happened here?
Cop: Hmmm. Well, it looks to me like...
Prof X concentrates from inside his car, changing the cop's thoughts.
Cop: Of course. There must have been a leak in that propane tank.
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Under the bleachers
Jean approaches the fire.
Jean: It's too hot to touch, At least with my hands.
Jean uses her telekinesis to lift some burning boards and lifts Scott's glasses into her
hand. Scott is sitting on the ground, legs pulled up to his chest, eyes shut.
Jean: Are you OK?
Jean puts Scott's glasses on him.
Scott: Jean! Oh, man, I...
Jean: Shh, I know. Listen, you better split.
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The field
Jean runs over to Duncan who is lying on a stretcher.
Jean: Duncan, are you all right?
Duncan: Sure, Jean. You know me, skull like concrete. (taps the side of his head)
Owwww!
Jean: Aw, You poor baby.
Jean is walking by the stretcher going to the hospital.
Scott is watching from beside the bleachers. His shoulders are hunched. Toad
approaches.
Toad: Thanks, Summers. I mean really. Y'know?
Scott: Sure. (leaves)
Toad crouches down. A fly buzzes around him. He eyes it for a moment then Scccclup!
No more fly.
Prof X talking to Storm, also in the car: Things are under control here. But we'd better
hurry. We have a train to catch.
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At the Bayville train station.
Prof X waits with Storm. A blond kid gets off.
Storm: Kurt?
Prof X: That's not Kurt. (Looks toward a different exit) This is.
Kurt gets off the train. He is wearing a robe that covers him completely.
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Mountains somewhere.
Logan is on his motorcycle and stops at a gas station. Looks at a newspaper. The headline
reads, "Explosion at high school. Student barely escapes injuries in freak accident."
Logan: Hmmm, Trouble at home.
Logan grabs the paper and heads toward the counter.
Elderly clerk: Yo... Uh... gonna buy that paper?
Logan: 'S why I'm holding it, bub. Bottle of water, too. Cold.
Clerk: (getting the water) Warm weather we're having, for this time of year.
The clerk sets the bottle down. Logan gets it, slices the top of the bottle off with his
claws, downs the entire contents and slams the empty bottle onto the counter.
Logan: Recycle that for me, will ya.
The clerk stares, having missed it, only seeing that the upper half of the bottle is sitting
on the counter next to the bottom half. Beside it is a twenty.
Logan gets back on his motorcycle. Sabretooth is watching him from a nearby peak.
Sabretooth: Grrrrrrr...
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The mansion.
Scott is waiting by the bathroom, waiting for Jean to get out so they can leave.
Scott: Give it up, Jean, it's hopeless.
Jean is brushing her hair and using her telekinesis to hold up mirrors.
Jean: Just a second!
Scott: C'mon, we're going to be late!
Jean: Almost done!
Scott: Do you want me to blow this door...
Jean opens the door and looks at him.
Scott: down?
Jean: So, are we going or what?
Jean touches his chin as she goes by, Scott smiles a little and walks her direction.
Scott: We're heading out, Professor!
Prof X: Just a minute you two. Come here. There is someone I want you to meet.
Jean and Scott go into the study where Prof X, Storm and Kurt are waiting. Kurt is still
wearing his robe with the hood still pulled up.
Prof X: This is Kurt Wagner. He arrived on the train late last night.
Scott: Hey, Kurt. This is Jean. I'm Scott. How ya doing?
Scott offers his hand. Kurt looks at it and backs away toward the Professor.
Prof X: It's all right, Kurt. You're among friends here.
Kurt steps forward and shakes hands with Scott. He shows that his hand only has 3
fingers and is blue.
Kurt: Hello.
Scott glances down and starts slightly, raising an eyebrow. Kurt quickly withdraws his
hand.
Prof X: I was just telling Kurt how I made this institute for gifted youngsters. Youngsters
whose gifts are not always an asset, right, Scott?
Scott: So, Uh, you heard about last night?
Prof X: It was hard not to, it was on all the news channels. Fortunately no one was badly
hurt in last night's incident and the true cause was not discovered but you must be more
careful, Scott.
Scott: Come on, Professor, I'm packing a bazooka behind each eyeball. What do you want
from me?
Prof X: Control, Scott! (to Kurt) Scott's eyes project an optic force beam.
Kurt: (lowers hood Showing that his head is blue too) Cool.
Jean: So what about you, Kurt? Got a special gift that brought you here?
Kurt teleports across the room and swishes his tail around.
Kurt: Maybe.
Jean and Scott: Woah
Prof X: I'll show Kurt around while you two are at school.
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in the principal's office at Bayville
Toad is sitting in a chair, moving his feet. The principal's door opens and she calls him
in.
Ms. Darkholme: Mr. Tolensky?
Toad gets up and follows her into the office. She makes a face and waves her hand in
front of her face, trying to get the awful smell to go away.
Ms. DH: Uggg, Excuse me while I open a window.
While she is opening the window, Toad hops onto a chair.
Ms. DH: Ahh. There. So, Toad, (he smiles at the name) shall we have a talk about your
new friend, Scott Summers?
Toad: What about him? He's cool. If it weren't for him those jocks would have stomped
my skull flat.
Ms. DH: Hmmm, yes. As you have noticed, Scott has special powers. There are other like
him. We need to know more. (comes up behind him) Much more.
Toad: Uh, well, I don't know...
Ms. DH: (in a voice that isn't her) SILENCE! You'll do as you're told!
She grips his shoulder and her hand turns into blue claws. She changes into the
sharp-toothed monster.
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The mansion, Kurt's room
Kurt: Wow. This bedroom... is mine?
It's a huge room with bed, stereo, mirror, chairs, desk, all the things you would expect in
a bedroom at an expensive boarding school. Kurt is still wearing his robe, with the hood
down.
Prof X: Of course, Kurt. That's why your parents sent you here. Because they knew you
would be happy.
Kurt: Happy? (walks toward Prof X, looks into the mirror) How can I be happy when I
look like this? I scare people.
Storm puts a small box on the bed.
Prof X: Mm, I have a surprise for you, Kurt. (hands him a watch) Put this on.
Kurt puts on the watch/image inducer and his appearance changes to the human
appearance.
Kurt: I don't believe it!
Kurt looks into the mirror, checks behind, for his tail, then flexes his fingers.
Kurt: I... I'm normal!
Storm: Of course you're normal, Kurt. But not because of that machine.
Prof X: Storm is right, Kurt. Normal is what you truly are. Never think otherwise. (turns
off the image inducer) This is just a disguise, so you will not be persecuted by those who
do not understand your gifts.
Kurt: I understand, Professor. But nonetheless, (turns it back on) you RULE!
Storm and Prof X leave. Kurt looks into the box Storm put on his bed and finds his
X-Men uniform.
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Bayville High, Scott's locker
Students are moving around the halls, talking to friends, getting stuff from their lockers,
and going to lunch. Scott stops at his locker.
Paul: You coming?
Scott: Just grabbing my lunch. Save me a seat! (gets his lunch, closes his locker)
Toad: Hey, Summers.
Toad does a little spin than backflips up onto Scott's locker.
Toad: What's up?
Scott looks around; the hallway is deserted.
Scott: That's quite a jump.
Toad: Like it? I'm surprised you could see it through them smokies of yours. Here, let me
help.
Toad spits out his long, slimy tongue and grabs Scott's glasses.
Scott: Hey! (covers eyes with his arms, drops his lunch)
Toad: Whatsamatta, Summers? (shakes slime off the glasses) Afraid to, heh heh, open
your eyes?
Scott: Obviously, we both know what will happen if I do. (hold out his hand) Now give
me back my shades before I go nuclear on you.
Toad: You got it!
Toad throws the glasses into the air, catches them with his tongue and smacks them into
Scott's outstretched hand.
Scott: Ugg!
Toad: So you and me, we got somethin' in common.
Scott: Yeah. (wipes at the ooze on his glasses) Now we're slimy.
Toad: (leaps down) Nope... I mean we ain't like other people.
Scott: And your point is...
Toad: (leaps so he's hanging onto the locker next to Scott) I just wanna talk. Get to know
each other better. You know, maybe (Scccclup-snatches Scott's lunch from the floor and
eats it, bag and all) do lunch.
Scott: I'll think about it. (walks away)
Toad: Yeah, you think about it. Me, I got better things to do. (backflips out an open
window)
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Prof X is in his study reading a book. Red lights start flashing and the wall opens up to
show Cerebro, a big pile of technology with various buttons and keypads and monitors.
He look at one of the screens which has a map of the high school. There is a blinking red
light, indicating a mutant.
Prof X: Hm. So, out in the open.
Phone rings.
Prof X presses a button on his chair.
Prof X: Hello, Scott.
Scott: (from a payphone at school) Man, Professor, you know it always weirds me out
when you do that.
Prof X: Sorry, Scott. What are you calling about?
Scott: This guy at school... well, he's kinda like us.
Prof X: Hmm, yes. Todd Tolenksy.
Prof X presses a button and a little compartment opens. He takes out the headset and puts
it on.
Scott: You know him?
Prof X: Cerebro just picked up a reading on him. He must be using his powers openly
now.
Scott: Well, he's not the kind of guy I'd really like to share a room with. To put it bluntly,
he has the personal hygiene of a dead pig.
Prof X: We cannot turn our backs on anyone, Scott. You know that.
Scott: Yeah. I know. Bye.
Kurt walks in, wearing his uniform.
Kurt: What's that thing, Professor?
Prof X: That "thing" is Cerebro. It detects the manifestation of special powers, which is
how I found you.
Kurt: (points to picture of Toad on the big screen) So this guy is one of us?
Prof X: That remains to be seen. Storm?
Storm is in her room, watering her plants with a miniature storm cloud.
Storm: Yes, Professor?
Prof X: There is someone I'd like you to audition for me.
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The mansion, evening
Storm throws open the glass doors on her balcony. She has changed into her uniform. She
soars into the air.
Toad hops up to the fence surrounding the mansion grounds. He grips the bars and looks
up.
Toad: Heh. Cake.
He jumps over the fence and bounds toward the mansion. He stops to look up at the
developing storm and sees Storm flying through a break in the trees and the clouds
gathering after her. It starts to rain. Toad makes a face.
Toad: Whoa. Now that is just freaky.
Storm starts to fire lightning bolts at Toad.
Toad: eeeeek!
She fires, he jumps, fire, jump, fire, jump.
Inside the mansion Kurt is wandering around. He looks up at the sound of thunder then
continues down the huge staircase to the entrance. He gets to the bottom and approaches
the door. The doors slams open and Kurt has to brace himself against the force of the
wind.
Toad: eeeekkkk!
Toad comes flying through the open door and hits Kurt. They roll across the floor until
Kurt manages to fling him off. They come up facing each other and pace in a circle.
Toad: Whoa! What are you? Some kind of ratty plush toy?
Kurt: (sniffing) Ugg, the name's Nightcrawler. And at least I don't reek like unwashed
lederhosen.
Toad: You blue-furred freak!
Toad leaps for Kurt who 'ports away. Toad makes a face at the smoke and tries to wave it
away.
Kurt: (hanging from a huge light two stories up) As you say in America, Neener, neener,
neener!
Toad: That ain't gonna help you, boy!
Toad leaps up to the light. Kurt jumps off just before he reaches it, and lands on the wall.
Kurt: You're so slow! (winks)
Toad: grrrr...
Kurt: You couldn't catch flies on a windshield!
They go down a hallway, clinging to the walls, hopping from one side to the other.
Storm flies in through the still open door. Prof X comes down a hall.
Prof X: Tolensky is indeed gifted. He could be one of us.
Storm: Sometimes, Professor, I feel your good heart blinds even you from the truth.
Kurt and Toad come down a different hallway, knocking things over.
Kurt: Over here! No, over here! Over here!
Toad: I'm going to rip out your pointy tail you fuzzy gecko!
They are back at the big staircase. Or another big staircase.
Toad: Monkey boy! Come here!
Toad tries to get Kurt with his tongue. Kurt jumps away and Toad hits a window.
Kurt: Ha!
Prof X: This test is over. Todd Tolensky does indeed have the X gene. He may stay here
if he so desires.
Toad: The only thing I Desire is blue boy's fuzzy head!
Kurt is on another of those giant lamps and Toad leaps for him, catching Kurt's arm with
his tongue before Kurt can jump away. They struggle on the light for a moment then fall
off. Kurt 'ports before they hit the ground, to the surprise of Storm and Prof X.
They reappear in midair in the Danger Room.
Kurt: Woah, where are we?
Toad: You're asking me, foo? You're the one who brought us here.
Kurt: I think I am going to regret it!
Kurt points at some giant weapons which are coming out of the walls to aim at them.
They bounce around, avoiding the blasts.
Toad: eeeekkk!
Cut to Scott and Jean who are getting into their uniforms.
Prof X: Scott, Jean! Nightcrawler and Toad have teleported into the Danger Room.
Scott: Oh man, the Danger Room has automated defenses!
Jean: It'll attack them with everything it's got!
Prof X: Hurry!
Kurt and Toad are jumping around, trying to avoid the machines. Jean and Scott run in.
Scott: I'll take care of the cannons. You keep them away from the tentacles.
Jean: (takes off) On it!
Jean lifts Kurt up just before he's hit.
Kurt: You are an angel!
Jean: *laughs* On occasion. How about you, are you a demon?
Toad is being squished between metal panels. Scott blasts him out.
Scott: Tolensky, over here!
Prof X and Storm finally reach the control room.
Prof X: Automatic override. Voice print- Charles Xavier.
Computer: Confirmed. Shut down in 5 seconds.
Kurt: (still held by Jean's telekinesis) Now I get it! It's a training area. Watch. ('ports to a
cannon) I just pull the plug and... woooooahhhw!
The cannon shakes Kurt off and begins firing in all directions. One blast hits Scott and
Toad and slams them into a wall. Storm hits it with a lightning bolt. Everything else turns
off.
Toad: Man, I've seen enough. I am out of here! (hops away)
Scott: Tolensky! I'm sorry, Professor. I couldn't stop him.
Prof X: That's all right, Scott. He wasn't ready to be one of us.
Kurt: I blew it, too, Professor. I'm sorry. You've been wonderful but I guess I just don't
belong here. ('ports away)
Prof X: Nightcrawler, wait!
Scott: No sweat, Professor. I'll handle this.
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Outside the mansion
Toad jumps out a window and lands on a outdoor table. It breaks and he tumbles up to
Logan, who just got back.
Logan: Going somewhere, bub?
Toad puts up his fists like he's going to fight and Logan pops his claws. Toad cringes.
Prof X: Logan, NO! Let him go.
Toad: (scared look) Heh heh....
Logan: Hmmm...
Logan retracts his claws and steps aside. Toad hops away, mumbling to himself.
Logan: *sniffs* I came back because I thought I smelled trouble. *sniffs* Of course, it
could have just been stink boy over there.
Prof X: I'm afraid not. Welcome home, old friend.
Logan smiles
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Kurt appears in the hanger.
Kurt: Vas ist das?
Scott: The SR-77 Blackbird. Twice as fast as the SR-74 and with four times the
firepower.
Kurt: Sehr gut. Is it yours? Please tell me you get to fly it.
Scott: It's ours. And if you stick around a while, I'll show you how to pilot this bad boy.
So what do you say? Want to be a member of our team?
Kurt: Me? I almost got you killed a few moments ago.
Scott: Yeah... don't do that again. But look, we all make mistakes sometimes. I know I
do. That's why we're here. To learn not to make mistakes like that.
Kurt: And you don't mind... the way I look?
Scott: *laughs* Dude, just don't hassle me about my shades and we'll be fine.
Kurt: (smiles) We have a deal then.
Scott: Come on. I'll show you where they hide the sodas.
They walk away
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Ms. Darkholme's office
Ms. Darkholme is very mad
Ms. DH: I don't believe it! You were actually inside and you RAN AWAY!
Toad: So I freaked.
Ms. DH: And no doubt, the good professor wiped your mind so you don't remember
ANYTHING!
Toad shakes his head.
Ms. DH: GET OUT!
Toad leaps out, knocking over his chair.
Ms. DH slams the door.
Ms. DH: AAAARRGH! RRAAARGH!! (shifts into Mystique, her natural self)
Mystique goes to pick up the chair. Some metal things on her desk start moving around.
Magneto is there but we only see a vague outline of him
Magneto: Don't be so hard on the boy, Mystique. We don't want to thin our ranks now do
we?
Mystique: No, sir. I'll be more careful.
Magneto: See that you are.
Paper clips fly into Mystique's face.
Mystique: ahhh!
Magneto: Remember, this is only the beginning.
Magneto shadow in the window.