EXT. RUSSIA, SOLENSKI PLAZA, 3RD FLOOR � NIGHT
Out in the outskirts, near a railroad, a still in construction
building is being occupied by GEORGI LUCHKOV, a LARGE, RUSSIAN
GENERAL along with his THUGS.
Some people were confused why they were being shown this.
TALL THUG is in the middle of a brutal beating on NATASHA
ROMANOFF, a SLEWING, FOXY, UNBELIEVABLY SEXY SPY. He BACKHANDS
NATASHA'S face. She feels the pain, but does not breakdown.
LUCHKOV, smiling, walks up to her. Dialogue is in RUSSIAN.
Some people audibly gasp. Who would do that? Why would they do that?
LUCHKOV
This is not how I wanted the evening to
go.
NATASHA
I know how you wanted this evening to
go. Believe me, this is better.
LUCHKOV
I'd like to know why they sent you to
carry out a carrier, a stained glass
and other random items.
TALL THUG rocks her chair back, balancing her off the edge of an
open floor. Natasha is now scared.
NATASHA
I thought General Soholob was in charge
of the export business.
LUCHKOV
Soholob? Your reputation is quite a
progression. THE FAMOUS BLACK WIDOW.
Nothing but a pretty face.
"Famous?" Sirius asks. His question goes unanswered though.
NATASHA
You really think I'm pretty?
There were many cries of 'yes' going around the hall, making a small smile form on Natasha's face.
LUCHKOV slowly walks over to a table filled with tools. He picks
up a pair of pliers. TALL THUG opens up her mouth wide open.
LUCHKOV
We do not need the Lermontov to
transfer the tanks. Tell him, well,...
(IN ENGLISH)
You may have to write it down.
Suddenly, WEASELLY THUG'S cell rings. Confused, he answers.
WEASELLY THUG
Ya?
(looks at LUCHKOV)
It's for you.
LUCHKOV takes the phone, pissed.
LUCHKOV
Who the hell is...
AGENT PHIL COULSON
You're at 114 Solenski Plaza, 3rd floor.
We have an F22 exactly 8 miles out. Put
the woman on the phone or I will blow
up the block before you can make the
lobby.
"Wait, how does he know that?" Asked a random first year. Fury goes to reply "It's his job to know."
HOLY SHIT. LUCHKOV places the cell phone against Natasha's ear
seeing how she's tied to a chair with her hands tied behind her
back.
AGENT PHIL COULSON
We need you to come in.
NATASHA
Are you kidding? I'm working!
"Working?! That is not a job for a lady!" Molly screams. Ana rolls her eyes, "Will you please shut the fuck up you banshee?! Not everyone is living in the Middle Ages where all women can do is stay home."
The Avengers look proud while some of the witches and wizards look offended by the outburst. The brunette just rolled her eyes at them and returned her gaze to the screen.
AGENT PHIL COULSON
This takes precedence.
NATASHA
I'm in the middle of an interrogation
and this moron is giving me everything.
LUCHKOV
I don't give everything.
Natasha gives him a look.
NATASHA
Look, you can't pull me out of this
right now.
AGENT PHIL COULSON
Natasha. Barton's been compromised.
A beat.
NATASHA
Let me put you on hold.
"Awww. You care about me." Clint coos at Nat. Said women glares at him which makes all the men, not just Clint, shrink away from her gaze.
She nods to LUCHKOV. As Luchkov comes to take the phone off her,
Natasha HITS him with her leg and HEADBUUTS him. Like a spider,
she stands up elegantly and starts ATTACKING TALL THUG by
KICKBOXING him in the face.
Still tied, she ROLLS over WEASELLY THUG after she trips him.
She then STOMPS on TALL THUG foot with peg of the chair, then
KNOCKS HIM OUT WITH HER HEAD.
Yeah, during all this Coulson is still waiting on the line. She
then FLIPS over and FALLS down hard on WEASELLY THUG, BREAKING
THE CHAIR. She sees TALL THUG stand.
Giving her momentum, she runs at him DROP KICKING him, FALLS
DOWN and FLIPS right back up and WRAPS HER LEGS AROUND HIS NECK
AND KNOCKS HIM OUT COLD.
She grabs LUCHKOV, wraps his leg around with a hanging chain and
drops him down the open floor, dangling. She picks up the phone
and her heels, like a boss.
"That was so hot." Ginny Weasley says, ignoring the glare sent her way by her mother. Many students murmur in agreement.
NATASHA
Where's Barton now?
AGENT PHIL COULSON
We don't know.
NATASHA
But he's alive.
AGENT PHIL COULSON
We think so. I'll brief you on
everything when you get back. But
first, we need you to talk to the big
guy.
NATASHA
Coulson, you know that Stark trusts me
about as far as he can throw me.
AGENT PHIL COULSON
No, I've got Stark. You get the big
guy.
NATASHA
Bozhe moi.
"Sorry about that, Bruce." Nat says with an apologetic smile. Bruce just smiles at her and waves it off.
EXT. INDIAN SLUM � NIGHT
A LITTLE GIRL runs through the crowd, trying to force a way
through.
INT. SHACK � NIGHT
A tiny shack. The LITTLE GIRL runs up the steps, only to be
stopped by an attending woman. Then, the LITTLE GIRL spots him.
BRUCE BANNER, their LOCAL doctor.
ATTENDING WOMAN
What are doing here?! Get out! You
shouldn't be here!
LITTLE GIRL
I have to see the doctor! It's my
father!
BANNER
Calm down. What's wrong?
LITTLE GIRL
My father...
Banner looks behind him seeing how the girl is staring at a few
people, lying down, looking very sick.
BANNER
Is he like them?
The LITTLE GIRL holds out all the money she has in the world.
LITTLE GIRL
Please.
"You have to help her!" Molly screeched. Many of the other mothers in the hall looked worried for the girl, while Bruce looks sort of annoyed.
EXT. SLUMS � CONTINUOUS
Banner and the LITTLE GIRL hastily run nearly to the edge of
town. The LITTLE GIRL gets ahead of herself. Banner spots local
government car, he turns around, blocking any view of him.
EXT/INT. LITTLE GIRL'S SHACK � NIGHT
Banner quickly follows the LITTLE GIRL inside her house. As he
walks in, the LITTLE GIRL ESCAPES THROUGH THE WINDOW. Banner is
left standing there like a dumbass.
BANNER
Should have got paid up front, Banner.
Some of the people in the hall laugh at that.
Natasha then appears from behind the curtains. Banner turns
around, quietly.
NATASHA
You know, for a man who's supposed to
be avoiding stress, you picked a hell
of a place to settle.
BANNER
Avoiding stress isn't the secret.
NATASHA
Then, what is it? Yoga?
BANNER
You brought me to the edge of the city,
smart. I uh... assume the whole place
is surrounded?
NATASHA
Just you and me.
BANNER
And your actress buddy, is she a spy
too? Do they start that young?
Banner is still wondering if she was a spy or not, he never got an answer.
NATASHA
Me and my sister did.
Some people look confused at that. What did that mean? And who was her sister? They had so many questions but knew that no one would answer them.
BANNER
Who are you?
NATASHA
Natasha Romanoff.
BANNER
Are you here to kill me, Miss Romanoff?
Because that's not gonna work out for
everyone.
"Why would she be there to kill you?" Sirius asked, gaining no reply.
NATASHA
No. No. Of course not. I'm here on
behalf of SHIELD.
BANNER
SHIELD. How did they find me?
NATASHA
We never lost you, doctor. We've kept
our distance, even helped keep some
other interested parties off your
scent.
BANNER
Why?
NATASHA
Nick Fury seems to trust you. But now I
need you to come in.
BANNER
What if I said no?
NATASHA
I'll persuade you.
BANNER
And what if the... other guy says no?
Other guy? Remus thought, was this Banner guy like him?
NATASHA
You've been more than a year without an
incident. I don't think you wanna break
that streak.
BANNER
I don't always get what I want.
NATASHA
Doctor, we're facing a potential global
catastrophe.
BANNER
Well, those I actively try to avoid.
NATASHA
This is the Tesseract. It has the
potential energy to wipe out the
planet.
She shows him a photo of the Tesseract on her cell phone. Banner
takes a closer look.
BANNER
What does Fury want me to do? Swallow
it?
Tony turns to Bruce, "Could you actually?" He asks. Bruce just shrugs "I don't know." Ana looks to Fury, smirking. "I know something else that swallowed it once." Fury looks at her and raises his eyebrow, but she just looks away, smirking. Many of the people in the Hall didn't notice the interaction, but the ones who did stared at the twin curiously.
NATASHA
Well, he wants you to find it. It's
been taken. It emits a gamma signature
that's too weak for us to trace.
There's no one that knows gamma
radiation like you do. If there was,
that's where I'd be.
BANNER
So Fury isn't after the monster?
Many of the people in the hall are confused, what monster?
NATASHA
Not that he's told me.
BANNER
And he tells you everything?
The avengers all grumble, mumbling 'no he doesn't' while once again, Fury just rolls his eye.
NATASHA
Talk to Fury, he needs you on this.
BANNER
He needs me in a cage?
NATASHA
No one's gonna put you in a...
BANNER
STOP LYING TO ME!
The THUNDEROUS TONE in is voice makes Natasha QUICKLY grab her
gun and point it at him, but something is now OFF in the
atmosphere.
Many of the people in the hall jump, not expecting the outburst.
Banner stands straight up, smiling.
BANNER
I'm sorry, that was mean. I just wanted
to see what you'd do. Why don't we do
this the easy way, where you don't use
that, and the other guy doesn't make a
mess? Okay? Natasha...
Natasha, still wary, doesn't lower her gun. She lowers her gun
and speaks into her earpiece.
NATASHA
Stand down. We're good here.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE LITTLE GIRL'S SHACK � NIGHT
Amazingly, DOZENS OF SHIELD AGENTS are surrounding the shack
outside.
"That's a lot of people." A first year states the obvious.
INT. LITTLE GIRL'S SHACK � NIGHT
Banner looks at Natasha, charming a smile at her.
BANNER
Just you and me?
Natasha fidgets now that she exposed her guard down.
Walking down the street we see the back of a brunette woman's head, she seems to be following someone. The person turns into an alleyway and the woman follows.
"You know, with you being one of the world's greatest assassins, you're really not that good at tailing someone." The man says, the woman who is now revealed to be Anastasia Ivanova scoffs and rolls her eyes. "If I didn't want you to know I was following you, you wouldn't Ward."
The man, Ward, asks "What're you doing here?" Ana rolls her eyes once again, "I'm here to give you your next mission. Lucky you, you're going to Paris." She says, handing him a folder. He takes it and looks it over. "Well thanks, I'll get right on this." Ana rolls her eyes again and walks off.
"You really seem to not like him" Harry points out. "No shit Sherlock." Ana says. James wants to say something to defend his son when he is cut off by the movie starting again.
Ana is walking down the street when she gets a call. "Hello?" She asks. "Agent Ivanova, we need you to come in." Fury's voice come out. "Wow, no hello or anything? Even after you sent me to Grant Ward?"
"Ward needed his next mission, you were bored." Fury retorts. "Just because I was bored doesn't mean I wanted to see that asshole." Ana says while rolling her eyes. "Look, I know you don't trust him, and I respect your judgment, but right now there are bigger things to worry about."
"I didn't trust him and with good reason too. Look how things turned out." Ana said, directing it at Fury. Said man just huffed and turned back to the screen.
Ana sighed, "What d'you need?" She asks. Fury replies, "There's a threat. I'll explain everything once you're here. You have twelve hours." "I'll be there in six." Ana said, and then hung up.
The Marauders couldn't wait to see what part their old friend played in all of this. But they couldn't figure out why she wasn't talking to them. What did they do? Did she find out about the bet?
INT. SHIELD ANALYTICAL ROOM � NIGHT
Fury is facing several LARGE MONITORS as he as a conference with
members of the WORLD SECURITY COUNCIL.
WORLD SECURITY COUNCIL #1
This is out of line, Director. You're
dealing with forces you can't control.
NICK FURY
You ever been in a war, Councilman? In
a firefight? Did you feel an
overabundance of control?
WORLD SECURITY COUNCIL #1
You saying that this Asgard has
declared war on our planet?
"Asgard would never!" Thor bellows out. The people closest to him wince and cover their ears. "We know buddy, we know." Tony pats his shoulder.
NICK FURY
Not Asgard. Loki.
WORLD SECURITY COUNCIL #2
He can't be working alone. What about
the other one? His brother.
NICK FURY
Our intelligence says, Thor is not a
hostile. But he's worlds away, we can't
depend on him to help. It's up to us.
WORLD SECURITY COUNCIL #1
Which is why you should be focusing on
phase 2, it was designed for exactly...
NICK FURY
PHASE 2 isn't ready, our enemy is. We
need a response team.
WORLD SECURITY COUNCIL #1
The Avengers Initiative was shut down.
NICK FURY
This isn't about The Avengers.
WORLD SECURITY COUNCIL #1
We're running the world's greatest
covert security network and you're
gonna leave the fate of human race to a
handful of freaks.
"We are not freaks!" Ana yells out. The Avengers all shout their agreements while some of the witches and wizards agree with the councilman.
NICK FURY
I'm not leaving anything to anyone. We
need a response team. These people
maybe isolated, unbalanced even, but I
believe with the right push they can be
exactly what we need.
WORLD SECURITY COUNCIL #2
You believe?
WORLD SECURITY COUNCIL #1
War isn't won by sentiment, Director.
NICK FURY
No, it's won by soldiers.
"We are not soldiers. Well most of us aren't." Tony says, glaring at Fury.
INT. BROOKLYN GYM � NIGHT
Somewhere in an old, almost WWII-esque boxing gym, STEVE ROGERS,
a man out of time, THE FIRST AVENGER, FUCKIN' CAPTAIN AMERICA is
PUMMELING a punching bag. With every swing, it's like a memory
he's trying to fight off and repress.
EXT. HYDRA BASE � DAY (FLASHBACK)
Captain America is running through the forest, dodging mortars,
gunfire and the Tesseract's energy firearms.
STEVE (V.O.)
There's not enough time! I gotta put
her in the water!
INT. BROOKLYN GYM � NIGHT
Steve's rage keeps building as he punches the bag. It gets
harder...
INT. HORTEN H.XVIII, RED SKULL'S SHIP � DAY (FLASHBACK)
Steve places his COMPASS with an image of PEGGY CARTER. The time
is here for him to crash the plane.
INT. BROOKLYN GYM � NIGHT
Steve closes his eyes. Goes at the bag harder.
PEGGY (V.O.)
You won't be alone.
INT. HORTEN H.XVIII, RED SKULL'S SHIP � DAY (FLASHBACK)
The RED SKULL picks up the TESSERACT.
INT. BROOKLYN GYM � NIGHT
Steve opens his eyes and fuckin' tears the bag as the last
memory kicks in. I don't think he can physically stop...
SHIELD SCIENTIST (V.O.)
Oh my god!
INT. PROJECT P.E.G.A.S.U.S, ANTARCTICA � DAY (FLASHBACK)
A half frozen Steve Roger is lying down on a medical slab. Two
SHIELD SCIENTISTS run over hi-tech devices to see if his vitals
are up. And it seems...
SHIELD SCIENTIST
This guy is still alive!
Everyone is looking at the screen in awe, not knowing what to say.
INT. BROOKLYN GYM � NIGHT
Steve FUCKING tears the bag open, off its chain, spilling out
the sand. He stands, breathing hard, letting out 70 years of
over repressed feeling.
After taking a few breathers, Steve picks up another punching
bag, which is laying next another DOZEN BAGS. He hooks the bag
up and starts punching again. Fury walks in.
NICK FURY
Trouble sleeping?
STEVE
I slept for seventy years, sir. I think
I've had my fill.
"SEVENTY YEARS?! How is that even possible?!" Shouts were heard throughout the Hall. Dumbledore looks at Steve, "How is that possible my dear boy?" Steve looks to Ana, who is slightly shaking her head no, telling him not to trust Dumbledore. "Science." is all he says before turning back to the screen.
Some of Dumbledore's supporters are outraged, how dare he not give Dumbledore answers?! Before they can say anything about it the screen lights up again.
NICK FURY
Then you should be out, celebrating,
seeing the world.
Steve stops punching and walks over to the bench, unraveling the
tape off his hands. He sits down.
STEVE
I went under, the world was at war, I
wake up, they say we won. They didn't
say what we lost.
NICK FURY
We've made some mistakes along the way.
Some very recently.
STEVE
You here with a mission, sir?
NICK FURY
I am.
STEVE
Trying to get me back in the world?
NICK FURY
Trying to save it.
Fury hands Steve a file on the Tesseract, along with other files
on HYDRA'S projects.
STEVE
Hydra's secret weapon.
"Hydra?" Ron asks. "It's a bad organization. That's all you need to know." Ana answers him.
NICK FURY
Howard Stark fished that out of the
ocean when he was looking for you. He
thought what we think, the Tesseract
could be the key to unlimited
sustainable energy. That's something
the world sorely needs.
STEVE
Who took it from you?
NICK FURY
He's called Loki. He's not from around
here. There's a lot we'll have to bring
you up to speed on if you're in. The
world has gotten even stranger than you
already know.
STEVE
At this point, I doubt anything would
surprise me.
NICK FURY
Ten bucks says you're wrong. There's a
debriefing package waiting for you back
at your apartment.
Steve turns and picks up a punching bag. Starts walking out of
the gym.
NICK FURY
Is there anything you can tell us about
the Tesseract that we ought to know
now?
STEVE
You should have left it in the ocean.
INT. OCEAN � NIGHT
Out in the Atlantic Ocean, TONY STARK, in his IRON MAN suit, is
cutting a PIPELINE TRANSPORT with a laser cutter coming from his
hand. He then places a STARK ENERGY REACTOR. It lights up. IRON
MAN rockets out of the water and flies towards STARK TOWER.
"Woah! That's so cool!" And other shouts of praise went around the hall. Nat smacked Tony in the back of his head, making sure his ego doesn't inflate too much.
TONY
You're good on this end. The rest is up
to you.
PEPPER POTTS
(on the other line)
You disconnected the transition lines?
Are we off the grid?
INSIDE THE SUIT -- PEPPER APPEARS ON HIS HUD MONITOR.
TONY
Stark Tower is about to become a beacon
of self-sustaining clean energy.
PEPPER
Wow. So maybe our reactor takes over
and it actually works?
TONY
I assume. Light her up.
As IRON MAN flies to the STARK TOWER BUILDING, the power is
switched on and the STARK sign LIGHTS UP.
PEPPER
How does it look?
TONY
Like Christmas, but with more... me.
"Seriously Tony?" Steve asks the man, slightly annoyed with his ego. "What? It's true?" Tony raises his hands in a mock surrender sort of way.
PEPPER
Gotta go wider on the public awareness
campaign. You need to do some press. I
can do some more tomorrow. I'm working
on the zoning for the next billboards.
TONY
Pepper, you're killing me. Remember?
Enjoy the moment.
PEPPER
Then get in here and I will.
TONY arrives at his skyscraper penthouse and is in the process
of taking off his IRON MAN suit through a hi-tech gauntlet of
gadgets.
JARVIS
Sir, Agent Coulson of SHIELD is on the
line.
TONY
I'm not in. I'm actually out.
"He's not lying." Says the Weasley twins and James and Sirius.
JARVIS
Sir, I'm afraid he's insisting.
TONY
Close the line Jarvis. I got a date.
INT. TONY'S PENTHOUSE � NIGHT
PEPPER POTTS stares up at the monitors of the reactor device.
PEPPER
Levels are holding steady... I think.
TONY
Of course they are, I was directly
involved. Which brings me to my next
question: how does it feel to be a
genius?
PEPPER
Well, ha, I really wouldn't know now,
would I?
TONY
What do you mean? All this came from
you.
PEPPER
No. All this came from that.
Points to the energy in his chest plate.
"What's that?" Someone stupidly asks. Ana just rolls her eyes and say "You wouldn't get it." And turns back to the screen.
TONY
Give yourself some credit, please.
Stark Tower is your baby. Give
yourself... twelve percent of the
credit.
"Twelve percent? I bet you paid for that later." Ana says. "I sure did." Tony replies.
PEPPER
Twelve percent?
TONY
An argument can be made for fifteen.
PEPPER
Twelve percent? For my baby?
TONY
Well, I did do all the heavy lifting.
Literally, I lifted the heavy things.
And sorry, but the security snafu? That
was on you.
PEPPER
Oooooh.
TONY
My private elevator...
PEPPER
You mean OUR elevator?
"That's kinda kinky" Ginny points out. Ana gestures wildly at her "That's what I'm saying!"
TONY
...was teeming with sweaty workmen. I'm
going to pay for that comment about
percentages in some subtle way later,
aren't I?
Pepper pours herself and Tony a glass of champagne.
PEPPER
Not gonna be that subtle.
TONY
I'll tell you what. Next building's
gonna say 'Potts' on the tower.
PEPPER
On the lease.
TONY
...Call your mom, can you bunk over?
Sirius laughs, "Well that's one way to ask someone to stay the night."
JARVIS
Sir, the telephone. I'm afraid my
protocols are being overwritten.
AGENT PHIL COULSON
Stark, we need to talk. Tony picks up
his phone and looks into it at Coulson.
TONY
You have reached the life model decoy
of Tony Stark, please leave a message.
AGENT PHIL COULSON
This is urgent.
TONY
Then leave it urgently.
At that moment the elevator door opens and Coulson appears.
TONY
Security breach.
(TO PEPPER)
That's on you.
AGENT PHIL COULSON
Mr. Stark.
PEPPER
Phil! Come in.
TONY
Phil? Uh, his first name is Agent.
"I smell jealousy." Ana sings out. Tony just huffs, "I was not jealous." "Hm, sure you weren't." The girl replies.
PEPPER
Come on in, we're celebrating.
TONY
Which is why he can't stay.
AGENT PHIL COULSON
We need you to look this over.
(he holds out a file towards
STARK)
Soon as possible.
TONY
I don't like being handed things.
PEPPER
That's alright, 'cause I love to be
handed things. So, let's trade.
She passes her glass of champagne to Coulson and takes the file
from him, then takes her champagne glass back from Coulson and
passes the file over to Stark.
PEPPER
Thank you.
TONY
Official consulting hours are between
eight and five every other Thursday.
AGENT PHIL COULSON
This isn't a consultation.
PEPPER
Is this about The Avengers? Which I...I
know nothing about.
TONY
The Avengers Initiative was scrapped, I
thought. And I didn't even qualify.
PEPPER
I didn't know that either.
TONY
Yeah, apparently I'm volatile, self-
obsessed, don't play well with others.
PEPPER
That I did know.
Some laugh at Pepper's commentary.
AGENT PHIL COULSON
This isn't about personality profiles
anymore.
TONY
Whatever. Miss Potts, got a minute?
Pepper walks over to Tony who places the files into his own
databases.
TONY
You know, I thought we were having a
moment.
PEPPER
I was having twelve percent of a
moment. This seems serious, Phil's
pretty shaken.
TONY
How did you notice? Why is he Phil?
"Jealousy, Jealousy" Ana starts to sing. Tony just rolls his eyes while people in the hall laugh.
PEPPER
What is all of this?
TONY
This is, uh...
Tony EXPANDS his arms and different profiles appear in
holographic form floating in the air in front of Tony and
Pepper.
TONY
This.
Screens appear of CAPTAIN AMERICA IN ACTION, the HULK ROARING AS
HE ATTACKS THE ARMY AT CULVER UNIVERSITY, THOR FIGHTING THE
DESTROYER and another is of Loki and the Tesseract, to which
Stark and Pepper look on in awe.
PEPPER
I'm going to take the jet to D.C.
tonight.
TONY
Tomorrow.
PEPPER
You've got homework. You've got a lot
of homework.
TONY
Well, what if I didn't?
PEPPER
If you didn't?
TONY
Yeah.
PEPPER
You mean if you finished?
(Stark nods his head)
Well, um...then...
She whispers something in his ear. Tony GASPS. Coulson looks
away in embarrassment.
Some of the people are with Coulson and look away, while Tony just smirks to himself.
TONY
Square deal. It's the last date.
Pepper kisses him.
PEPPER
Work hard.
As Pepper leaves with Agent Coulson, Tony grabs the Tesseract in
holograph form, worried.
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A/N:
Another chapter out. What d'you think so far?
Hope you have a good day/night, drink some water, and don't forget to vote and comment.
Thx for reading, The Author