SPIDER-VERSE: Shatterpoint By Michael R. Salas BLACK Tapping. Slow. Methodical. Tapping.
Slow. Methodical. Metallic. Tapping. DOCTOR DOOM (V.O.) Explain.
Silence.
INT. CASTLE DOOM - NIGHT Ancient stone and flickering shadow.
Tapping. A colonially-dressed man cowers before an enthroned silhouette.
MORLUN I...I had no choice. I was outnumbered... Tapping. The imposing silhouette is veiled in thick green cloak and shadow. Glimpses of metallic armor. MORLUN It was necessary. A tactical retreat!
Tapping. A single finger of the silhouette. Tapping. MORLUN And...and what else was I to do? Your "glorious" assistance was absent!
An angry Morlun MARCHES toward the throne! The tapping stops. An ironclad hand s l o w l y curls into a fist. MORLUN Why am I sent to fight while you cower in your chair? I am not some dog to be ordered around Latverian! This is an alliance! Are we not equals?!? DOOM’s arm LUNGES out like a cobra, his iron grasp curls around a stunned Morlun’s throat! He RISES from his throne!
(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 2.
DOCTOR DOOM No. We are not.
Doom effortlessly lifts a squirming Morlun to the heavens. DOCTOR DOOM I once wondered, Morlun, how YOU of all your race managed to escape extinction.
Desperate for air, a frantic Morlun tries in vain to pry away Doom’s unyielding hand! DOCTOR DOOM Were you their greatest warrior? The most cunning strategist? Doom HURLS a limp Morlun across the throneroom! A gasping Morlun instinctively rolls over and feebly crawls for the nearest exit.
DOCTOR DOOM ...Or were you just the best at running? Beside his shadowed throne, Doom plunges his arm into the darkness, pulling out a strange bident...the STAFF OF KARN!
DOCTOR DOOM No more. Doom flings the staff across the room! It pierces the ground in front of a quivering Morlun! DOCTOR DOOM And yet, I am merciful. Morlun breathes, composing himself. He stands once more, claiming the ominous weapon for himself. Doom also removes a sheathed SILVER KNIFE and tosses it to a waiting Morlun. DOCTOR DOOM Redeem yourself. You know your job. Now finish it.
The tips of the dual-pronged staff glow a sickly crimson! DOCTOR DOOM The fate of the future rests on you. There is only one way to save the universe...EVERY universe. Morlun STABS the wall nearest him. Red energy from the staff seeps into it, carving open a portal!
(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 3.
DOCTOR DOOM ...Find and KILL Peter Parker!
Doom watching, Morlun LEAPS into the inter-dimensional portal and the OPENING CREDITS TITLE: SPIDER-VERSE: SHATTERPOINT
INT. PARKER RESIDENCE - PETER’S ROOM - DAWN 5:58 AM A digital alarm clock.
5:59 AM A digital alarm clock on a night stand. A night stand next to an empty bed. An empty bed near a window. Suddenly, a costumed hand carefully creaks open the window from outside. In climbs the wall-crawler himself: SPIDER-MAN! He stumbles onto the floor, uses his desk chair to shakily lift himself back onto his feet. Face unseen, he removes his mask, placing it on his desk. Beside the mask, articles from the Daily Bugle, some notes and sketches, scavenged electronics, a camera, homework, half-eaten pizza. Above the desk, on a shelf, science trophies. On the wall, pictures:
- Aunt May & Uncle Ben. The Parker family. Gwen Stacy. Across the room - a book case: science and math books overshadowed by a propped up funeral pamphlet for one Gwendolyn Maxine Stacy.
On the floor, another Daily Bugle: "MASKED MENACE! WHERE IS HE NOW?" A socked foot stomps across the brazen headline. A crumpled costume is messily stuffed into an open backpack. A battered teen eyes his bed longingly.
This is PETER PARKER. And he is exhausted. Peter melts into his bed. He sighs with relief and finally closes his weary eyes...
6:00 AM BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 4.
Peter forces his eyes back open. He draws a long, tired breath and... Exhales.
INT. PARKER RESIDENCE - PETER’S BATHROOM A groaning shower sputters to life. Water cascades over a blank-faced, statuesque Peter. He stares off, past the shower wall, into the void. The warm shower fills with steam, slowly enveloping him. Peter disappears into the haze.
INT. PARKER RESIDENCE - PETER’S BATHROOM CONTINOUS A hand wipes the hazy condensation off a bathroom mirror, revealing Peter brushing his teeth. Brushing slows...he’s starting to...fade...
BLACK No! Eyes jolt back open! Peter shakes himself out of it and spits his toothpaste into the sink. Water spews out of the faucet.
INT. PARKER RESIDENCE - KITCHEN Coffee spews into a coffee pot.
Zombie-Peter shambles past, yawning. He slumps into a chair with his toast and a tablet. There’s a news video on criminal activity last night. The noise alerts a nearby AUNT MAY.
AUNT MAY (O.S.) Peter? May enters the kitchen. Peter mumbles a response.
AUNT MAY NEWS REPORT Come on! You need to hurry, (V.O.) you can’t be late again! Last night saw the execution of a large scale, highly coordinated heist across several...
(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 5.
Peter half-heartedly nods. May examines him. AUNT MAY NEWS REPORT(V.O.) Peter, are you alright? ...but thanks to the intervention of Spider-man, all six heists were thwarted...
PETER I...uh...just had trouble sleeping. Peter shuts off the video. May sighs. AUNT MAY Thinking about Gwen again? PETER What? AUNT MAY It’s okay. I miss her too Peter. Peter shifts silently in his chair. AUNT MAY You should talk to someone. I know what happens when you let these things build up. I remember the last time... May stops herself. Peter avoids eye contact at all costs.
AUNT MAY I’m just saying we all deal with this stuff differently...but you have to deal with it, okay?
Peter suddenly LEAPS to his feet! PETER You’re right... He swipes his tablet and a banana.
PETER I am gonna be late. He dashes away from May.
AUNT MAY Hold on, Peter! He’s already down the hall.
(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 6.
AUNT MAY Peter!!! A door abruptly closes. Aunt May is alone. AUNT MAY Peter...
EXT. QUEENS - PETER’S NEIGHBORHOOD - MORNING
Golden hour. The morning sun warms a waking city and a drowsy superhero. A backpacked Peter darts down a sidewalk, weaving around pedestrians. He glances ahead. There’s too many people. He glances to the side. There’s an empty alleyway across the street. Peter smirks. Perfect.
EXT. QUEENS - SKETCHY ALLEYWAY - MORNING
Peter briskly jogs down a lengthy alley. He opens his maw to release a casual yawn...just to be cut off by a nearby yell! Surprised, Peter freezes and glances down an adjacent alley. A group of THUGS are dragging a struggling man toward a car! Peter unloads a long sigh and glances ahead, then behind. He yanks a mask and web shooters out of his backpack before running out of sight.
EXT. QUEENS - SKETCHY ALLEYWAY - CONTINUOUS
The 4 THUGS stuff a still wriggling MAN into a car trunk. THUG #1 You shouldn’t have talked Duane. Boss doesn’t appreciate you talkin’. Especially not to cops, and especially not in court. "Duane" tries in vain to yell through his gag. THUG #1 Save your breath. You’re gonna need it where you’re goin’. SLAM! The thugs close the trunk. THUD! Startled, the thugs look to the car roof, revealing...
(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 7.
SPIDER-MAN (PETER) ’Sup ladies! Are you my Uber?
THUG #1 THUG #2 What the...?!? Where’d he come from?
Half-costumed Spider-man taps on the car trunk. SPIDER-MAN (PETER) You didn’t tell me I’d be ride-sharing. THUG #3 Who are you suppose’ to be?
SPIDER-MAN (PETER) Seriously? Mask too subtle for you? Man, I need a new publicist... THUG #4 THUG #3 Is that Spider-guy? He doesn’t have the real costume, it’s just some kid in a mask!
THUG #1 If you’re Spider-man, then where’s the rest of your costume?
SPIDER-MAN (PETER) Left it at your mom’s. THUG #4 THUG #1 Oooooooooohhhh snap! You little rat!!!
THUG #1 pulls out a concealed handgun and starts shooting! Spider-man anticipates and dodges the shots with ease. SPIDER-MAN (PETER) Whoa! Hey! It’s just a prank bro!
THWIP THWIP! Spidey webs up the handgun. Now it’s useless. THUG #3 THUG #2 Yo, it IS Spider-man! I knew this was a bad idea!
THUG #1 Get him!!! The thugs lunge, but Spider-man is WAY too quick.
(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 8.
SPIDER-MAN (PETER) Look guys, I’d love to do this all day... He dodges each incoming attack, while smattering each thug with some webbing. SPIDER-MAN (PETER) ...but actually, no, I wouldn’t. I’m so tired and so late right now, it would be great if we...
Spider-man flips in mid-air and rapid-fire blasts webbing at all four thugs! SPIDER-MAN (PETER) ...could just wrap this up.
Spider-man nails the landing. The webbed up thugs try to struggle and yell. Spider-man catches his breath, then glances to the thug’s car. CREAK! Spider-man pops the trunk and retrieves a confused Duane. SPIDER-MAN (PETER) You okay? You doing alright? DUANE Uh... SPIDER-MAN (PETER) Great! Perfect! Listen, I gotta go. Spidey swipes a phone from a thug and tosses it to Duane.
SPIDER-MAN (PETER) Here, call the cops, testify in court, get these creeps locked up, all that great stuff!
DUANE Well... Spidey is already running down the alley.
SPIDER-MAN (PETER) Do it for us Duane! I believe in you! And he’s gone. Duane hesitates, then dials 911.
RING RING 9.
EXT. QUEENS - MIDTOWN HIGH - MORNING RIING RIIING The deserted entrance of Peter’s high-school. A worn but regal concrete arch, adjoined by bushes.
RIIIING RIIIING That was the late bell.
From parts unseen, a half-costumed Spider-man swings directly into one end of a bush, and a beleaguered Peter Parker tumbles out the other end. Like a clumsy stork he stumble-runs into his school.
The golden warmth of a fresh morning surrenders to the ugly green of flickering florescent. Cue the next 8 hours of Peter Parker’s own personal hell.
MONTAGE - PETER PARKER’S LOUSY MORNING AT MIDTOWN HIGH -- Peter’s late for class. That’s another tardy. -- There’s a pop quiz. Peter forgot a pencil. He borrows one. It breaks.
-- Peter wanders the halls with his pop quiz paper. He got an F. -- Down one hall, Peter passes a memorial to Gwen. He hesitates, then hurries to continue walking to class.
-- He starts to fall asleep again in history... BLACK A memory of Gwen.
No! He’s awake! Peter jolts up nosily! The history teacher thinks he’s screwing around. Peter gets a reprimand. Back several seats behind Peter, a red-head looks to him with concern.
-- He falls asleep during lunch, misses lunch, and arrives late to his first afternoon class. Today really sucks. 10.
INT. MIDTOWN HIGH CLASSROOM - AFTERNOON Physics class. Peter teeters on the edge, fighting to stay awake. PHYSICS TEACHER Now we’ll get to the homework momentarily, but I thought we could start class with some exciting new physics news!
That’s all he needed to hear. Peter perks up! PHYSICS TEACHER Just today, a team of physicists in a lab right here in New York reported the detection of particles that could indicate the existence of a multiverse! Peter stills listens, but he’s now gazing off into nothing. PHYSICS TEACHER (O.S.) Just imagine, the possibility of parallel worlds, even parallel you’s with different lives... Peter still stares off into the abyss. The noise of the class around him fades away...
FLASHBACK - EXT. CENTRAL PARK - GOLDEN HOUR BLACK
Peter and Gwen on a date. It’s a bright warm evening. She’s beautiful. Peter has his camera. He takes a picture of her. The same picture from her funeral pamphlet and memorial. He shows her. She opens her mouth to speak. PHYSICS TEACHER (O.S.) PETER! 11.
INT. MIDTOWN HIGH CLASSROOM - AFTERNOON
Holy $#*% Peter jumps up!!! PETER No, I’m awake, I swear, I’m sorry!!! He’s in an empty classroom. There’s a detention slip on his desk. The physics teacher packs the last of his things into a bag, and begins to leave.
PHYSICS TEACHER Too late Mr. Parker. Too late. Peter deflates in defeat. His teacher walks out the door.
INT. MIDTOWN HIGH DETENTION - LATE AFTERNOON The door to detention. Inside, Peter has accepted his fate and is dead asleep.
FLASHBACK - EXT. CENTRAL PARK - GOLDEN HOUR BLACK
FLASH. Peter’s taken the picture. The same picture from Gwen’s funeral pamphlet and memorial. He shows her. She opens her mouth to speak.
GWEN Peter! It looks perfect! PETER Yes you do.
GWEN UGH. You gotta save the dad jokes for work, I’m gonna puke over here. PETER I regret nothing. We don’t get to do this enough. He snaps a picture of the sky, set aflame by the setting sun. They linger in the moment.
(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 12.
PETER Do you ever just...wish...you could freeze the sun in the sky? Ya know, just kinda "click" and it’s there. No night, just this golden glow all night? BEAT GWEN Serious question: are you high?
PETER I’m just saying, I want to remember this. GWEN Aw. You are disgustingly cheesy. BEAT GWEN I love it.
They cuddle. Gwen takes the camera. GWEN One more time. Together.
FLASH. Instinctively, Peter checks the photo. PETER Aw, nice! Look at that! What do you think?
GWEN Oh yeah, we look like...it’s time to go kid. PETER Wh...what? The park begins to darken. Gwen stiffens up. GWEN (DETENTION SUPERVISOR V.O.) Time to go kid! Come on! GET UP!!! 13.
INT. MIDTOWN HIGH DETENTION - NIGHT Peter groans himself awake. Detention is empty, the sky is dark, and the supervisor is slurping the last of his Big Gulp.
PETER WHOA! Dude, what the...It’s dark out!
DETENTION SUPERVISOR Yup. Slurping intensifies. PETER Detention ended like an hour ago!!! DETENTION SUPERVISOR Yup. PETER Everyone’s gone!!! Why didn’t you let me out?!? DETENTION SUPERVISOR You were asleep.
No words. Peter glares in disbelief. DETENTION SUPERVISOR You need to go now though. I can’t leave until you leave, and it’s $5 wing night at Stanley’s. Soooo...
The Detention Supervisor hefts himself up, staring at Peter. Peter.exe has stopped working. Detention Supervisor continues staring until Peter reluctantly rises to his feet. DETENTION SUPERVISOR Close enough.
INT. MIDTOWN HIGH HALLWAY - NIGHT SLAM! Peter vents his frustration by passionately closing the detention room door.
(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 14.
Already halfway down the hall, Detention Supervisor doesn’t even notice. Off he blissfully waddles to the promise of $5 wings. Peter huffs, shoulders his backpack, and wanders off the other way down the barely lit and empty hall. His visible anger begins to waver as he approaches Gwen’s memorial in the hall. He’s drawn to it like a moth to the flame.
A single buzzing fluorescent separates the makeshift memorial from the darkened hall. Condolence letters and wilted flowers surround the photo Peter took of her in the park. He tries to speak. No words come. BEAT
Suddenly, the lights flicker. Every single light in the building shuts off. PETER Oh. Of course. That’s just typical. He storms off down the hall and approaches a 3-way intersection with another, darker hall. PETER Can’t even have a minute. Peter crosses in front of the other, darker hall. PETER Could this day possibly get any...
Wait. Something’s off. Peter stops. PETER ...worse.
Peter looks down the adjacent, darkened hall. Two red dots look back at him. Pupils.
THEY’RE GLOWING RED PUPILS. MORLUN Peter. Parker.
(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 15.
PETER Uh...who’s asking? MORLUN Or should I say...SPIDER-MAN.
FLASH! A lone hall light flickers on and off again, just enough to reveal the silhouette of a long haired, almost vampire-esque looking man holding some sort of bident. Peter tenses up.
PETER I think you’re mixed up pal. This is a school, I’m just a... MORLUN Don’t bother. I know your secret Peter... PETER Look, this is getting a little weird so...
MORLUN ...A secret you will take to the grave!!!
Morlun SCREAMS and hurls the Staff of Karn down the hall, right at Peter’s head!!! Instinctively, Peter leaps onto the wall, narrowly dodging the whistling Staff! It zips past and lodges itself in a row of lockers! Morlun just cackles. MORLUN As I said...Spider-man. I always know my prey. Peter calmly hops off the wall and loosens up for a fight. PETER Okay. New rules.
Morlun reaches down and unsheathes his SILVER KNIFE. Peter whips off his backpack and begins to open it up, but is interrupted by Morlun, RUNNING at him and SHRIEKING like a crazed banshee, knife held high!!!
Panicking, Peter fumbles, and only gets one web-shooter out of his bag before Morlun reaches him! SWIPE! Morlun swings! He’s fast, Peter BARELY dodges the knife before slapping on his web shooter!
(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 16.
SWIPE! Peter gets his web shooter on and fires a stream of...nothing at Morlun?!?! The web shooter’s jammed! SLASH! PETER PARKER Agh! Peter stumbles back! He’s got a small cut! Morlun smirks and goes for the kill!
Morlun swipes but Peter catches his arm mid swing. With his other arm, Peter throws a punch at Morlun...that Morlun narrowly blocks by catching Peter’s fist! Stalemate.
Peter and Morlun strain, Peter’s strong...but Morlun’s stronger. Peter’s s l o w l y getting pushed back toward the wall. Peter strains and...releases Morlun’s arm. The knife sinks into the wall as Peter dashes aside and gives his webs another shot.
PETER PARKER Too slow! THWIP! A net of webbing plasters Morlun’s face! He roars with anger and lets go of the knife, trying to rip the webbing off.
THWIP! THWIP! THWIP! THWIP! Peter webs both of Morlun’s clawing hands to his face, and his legs to the floor! Peter dashes to his backpack amid Morlun’s muffled yells. RIIIIIP. Morlun is breaking free! Peter grabs what he needs and jumps out of sight... Morlun TEARS the webs off his face, revealing an...empty hallway?
Plop. A pile of clothes fall from the ceiling. Morlun looks up to see SPIDER-MAN in full costume! MORLUN Ah, there he is. The Insufferable Spider-man!
SPIDER-MAN (PETER) Huh. That’s a weird way to pronounce "amazing!"
(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 17.
THWIP! Peter tries to web Morlun’s face again, but Morlun blocks the shot, grabs the strand of webbing, and yanks Peter off the ceiling! Peter lands on his feet and finally punches the still immobilized Morlun square in the jaw!
CRACK! SPIDER-MAN (PETER) AAHH!!! Morlun face is fine but Peter’s hand is throbbing.
SPIDER-MAN (PETER) Man, how do you manage to have both the most punchable AND unpunchable face ever? That’s just not fair!
In response, Morlun breaks free of his webbing and tackles Peter! They tumble down the hall, nearing the embedded Staff. Morlun pins Peter down, yanks out the Staff, and immediately tries to impale him! Pinned on his back, Peter barely manages to catch the the dual-pronged Staff before it sinks into his head! Summoning all his strength, Peter holds off the sharp prongs mere inches above his face! Morlun growls...then grins. PETER PARKER Uh...
Suddenly, the prongs begin to glow a hellish red. Peter’s hands sizzle in the growing heat! He yells in pain! Thinking fast, Peter thrusts the Staff past his head, plants his foot on Morlun’s abdomen, and FLIPS Morlun head over heels!
The Inheritor tumbles but quickly recovers. As Peter tries to stagger back to his feet, Morlun WHACKS the back of his head with the blunt end of the Staff! Peter collapses. Morlun leaps on top of him!
Peter squirms, but it’s no use! He is again pinned under Morlun’s heel! The crazed Inheritor reaches down to choke Peter with one hand and wield the glowing Staff of Karn with his other! MORLUN Alas. All good hunts must come to an end! He raises the staff and... THWIP.
(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 18.
A single strand of webbing sticks to the Staff, suddenly YOINKING it from Morlun’s hand, down the hall, and into the hands of...
SPIDER-WOMAN Nice glowstick! Mind if I snap it? MORLUN You!!!
SPIDER-WOMAN "Me!?" MORLUN How dare you desecrate the honor of my ancestors with your filthy mongrel hands! Return the Staff immediately or I will... SPIDER-WOMAN Oh, you want it back? Catch.
Spider-Woman HURLS the Staff directly at Morlun’s head! He yelps and instantly leaps aside, freeing Peter! Spider-Woman THWIPS two strands of webbing onto Peter and drags him down the hall, to her side.
SPIDER-WOMAN You okay? SPIDER-MAN (PETER) Been better. Do I know you?
Morlun recovers the Staff and turns his attention back to the Spiders. SPIDER-WOMAN You do now! Fight first, talk later, deal? SPIDER-MAN (PETER) Yes. Good plan. Why use many word when few word do trick?
MORLUN YEEEEAAAAAARRRRGGGGGGHHHH!!!! SPIDER-MAN (PETER) He gets it!
Morlun charges, wildly swinging the staff, but Peter and Spider-Woman stay one step ahead! The three have a dance of dodges down the hall.
(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 19.
Finally, Morlun takes a mighty SWING at the Spiders, but Peter and Spider-Woman CATCH the pole of the staff! Morlun tries to wrestle the staff away but it’s no use! Frustrated, Morlun’s eyes begin to glow red again.
SPIDER-MAN (PETER) Uh, what’s he...? Suddenly, Morlun channels a JOLT of red dimensional energy through the staff! Peter and Spider-Woman get BLASTED down the hall! The two stagger back to their feet. SPIDER-MAN (PETER) Cool. Guess he can do that now. What else is...
BEEEOOOWWNNN! Peter gets knocked out of sight by a beam of red! SPIDER-WOMAN Peter!
She rushes over to his limp body. Peter groans, then frantically points back at Morlun! SPIDER-MAN (PETER) How did you know my... Look out!
Catching both Spiders off-guard, Morlun hurls the staff right at Spider-Woman’s head! MORLUN Catch.
The staff whistles right toward her head and...... stops in mid-air inches from her head? Morlun’s face contorts in confusion.
SPIDER-MAN (MILES) (O.S.) ’Sup bro! Suddenly, a black suited Spider-man de-cloaks, seemingly appearing from nowhere in the middle of the hall! SPIDER-MAN (MILES) Remember me?
(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 20.
MORLUN She brought you?!? SPIDER-MAN (PETER) You brought who?
SPIDER-WOMAN Took you long enough! SPIDER-MAN (MILES) Hey, I was just waiting for the right opening! You gotta admit, that was kinda on-point. Miles twirls the staff and stabs it into the floor, eying down Morlun.
SPIDER-MAN (MILES) What now bruh? Morlun grimaces...then closes his eyes. He thrusts his arm in the direction of the Staff. The prongs glow red, carving a portal in the floor!
The staff falls through, out of a portal above Morlun, and into his waiting hand. SPIDER-MAN (MILES) ...Oh.
MORLUN Foolish boy, my powers are... SPIDER-MAN (MILES) Think fast!
Miles THWIPS a strand of webbing at Morlun that he catches with ease. MORLUN I will not fall for the same tricks twice. SPIDER-MAN (MILES) No problem bro! I’ve got plenty of new tricks you can fall for.
ZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPP!!! A huge jolt of bio-electricity SHOOTS through the strand, launching Morlun to the opposite end of the hall!
(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 21.
SPIDER-MAN (MILES) (weakly) Worth...
He collapses as Peter and Spider-Woman rise. SPIDER-WOMAN Miles?
SPIDER-MAN (MILES) (weakly) I’m good! I’m good. Did we get him? Down the hall, Morlun GROWLS and drags himself out of the wall.
SPIDER-MAN (MILES) Seriously? SPIDER-WOMAN How soon can you zap him again?
SPIDER-MAN (MILES) It’s gonna be a few before I’m charged up enough. SPIDER-WOMAN Crap. We’re gonna need an extraction. SPIDER-MAN (PETER) You’re going to need a what now?
SPIDER-WOMAN Webb? Can you get us a portal? SPIDER-MAN (PETER) Are...you just talking to the wall or...? Almost on cue, a brand new red and murky portal opens on the other far end of the hall. Spider-Woman motions to Peter and Miles.
SPIDER-WOMAN We need to go. SPIDER-MAN (PETER) Last I checked, there’s no "I" in "we" sooooooo, thanks but pass. Morlun staggers to his feet and shambles toward his dropped staff.
(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 22.
SPIDER-WOMAN There’s no time to argue or explain! You’re just going to have to trust me.
SPIDER-MAN (MILES) We don’t bite. Promise. SPIDER-MAN (PETER) Listen, I appreciate the assist, but despite your shockingly similar spider-themed look, I don’t know you people!
SPIDER-MAN (MILES) Bro, you’ve gotta get a handle on the bigger picture here and...
BEEEOOOWWNNN! Miles is blasted by Morlun, loses his footing and tumbles into the portal!
MORLUN That felt good. Morlun plants the Staff in the middle of the hall, both prongs subtly flickering.
SPIDER-WOMAN Oh no. The portal slowly shrinks. SPIDER-WOMAN He’s interfering with the portal, it’s going to collapse! SPIDER-MAN (PETER) Good! Go already! Get out of here! I can take him! Morlun leaves the staff and clasps his SILVER KNIFE. SPIDER-WOMAN You can’t do this alone! Come with me! SPIDER-MAN (PETER) I was better off alone! Give me one good reason why I should...
The Spider-Woman rips off her mask.
(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 23.
It’s Gwen Stacy. GWEN Peter. Please. Silence.
SPIDER-MAN (PETER) Gwen? BEAT.
Peter steps forward to join her in the portal. SHINKT! Suddenly Morlun’s silver knife sinks into Peter’s back! Peter tumbles through the collapsing portal into...
BLACK
INT. ZERO POINT BASE - LAB - NIGHT BLACK
Echoes in the darkness. Voices emerge. PROFESSOR PARKER (V.O) ...and Morlun nailed him after you took off your mask?
GWEN (V.O.) Yeah. He just sorta tumbled through the portal. PROFESSOR PARKER (V.O) Guess you could say he really "fell" for you, huh? GWEN (V.O.) Stahp. Just tell me he’s not gonna die on us.
PROFESSOR PARKER (V.O) He’ll pull through. I’ll go let Webb know we need to... The voices trail off, soft and hazy...until...
Eyes. Peter Parker’s eyes JOLT open! He gasps for air! He’s in some sort of lab, on a cot, out of costume, and sitting right next too...
(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 24.
GWEN Whoa! Take it easy! Breathe! Breathe. PETER Gwen? GWEN That’s my name. PETER Gwen, am I...is it really you? GWEN Last I checked. PETER I mean, you’re...are you okay? GWEN Are you? Peter stares in awe at a living, breathing, slightly uncomfortable Gwen Stacy. BEAT Suddenly, Miles de-camouflages right next to both of them.
MILES I’m okay too, by the way. PETER HOLY SH...!
MILES In case you were wondering. GWEN Miles...
PETER Okay, seriously, WHO is chameleon boy over here? MILES Oh! Right! Name’s Miles Morales but, uh, you can call me Spider-man! PETER Or maybe I can call my lawyer and get you busted for copyright (MORE) (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 25.
PETER (cont’d) infringement ’cause that name’s taken pal! You’re gonna need to get a bit more creative.
MILES ...Nice to meet you too? Peter deflates a little. PETER Nothing personal man, it’s just been a wild day, and someone else with my identity is kinda weirding me out. PROFESSOR PARKER (O.S.) Oh, you think that’s weird? A man in his late 50s-60s, dressed in white lab coat and black turtleneck strolls into the lab. PROFESSOR PARKER Wait til you meet me. He winks at Peter. Peter notices a red name tag sticker on the man’s lab coat. There, in permanent marker: PETER PARKER PhD
The man extends his hand. GWEN Peter Parker, meet Peter Parker.