by Ian Doescher
Are yet worth ten of thee—I’ve known some such.
The records have I seen—thou fightest for
Thyself, and nothing more. Thou never wert
The man who would make sacrificial moves— 220
Lay down upon a wire and let the others
Crawl o’er thee for profounder victories.
STARK
Indeed, I would just cut the wire in twain.
ROGERS
E’er thou dost have a way out, by my troth.
Thou mayst not be a threat, this much is true, 225
Yet make no pretense thou a hero art.
STARK
I, hero, as thou art? Thou merely art
A lab’ratory trial, Captain Rogers.
Whatever special is inside of thee
Came from a bottle, like a genie’s wish. 230
[Barton shoots an arrow, which is fitted with a bomb with a timer, at the helicarrier. Exeunt Clint Barton, Pilot 1, and thugs from the balcony.
ROGERS
Put on thy suit and we shall dance awhile.
THOR
You people are so petty and so small.
BANNER
A grand team, this.
FURY
—Pray, Agent Romanoff,
Escort good Doctor Banner to his room.
BANNER
Where, Fury? For my massive cage is ta’en. 235
FURY
’Twas but in case—
BANNER
—Ye did desire to kill me.
Yet ye cannot. I know—I tried. Once, I
Was monstrously depress’d and saw no end,
And hop’d, myself, might my quietus make
With a bare bullet. Taking, then, the gun, 240
I fir’d it in my mouth and th’other man
Spit out the bullet ere I knew what happ’d.
Thus I mov’d on, and only sought to serve—
Assisting people in their time of need—
I once was good, ’til ye remov’d me thence 245
And brought me hither to this freakish show,
Which action putteth ev’ryone at risk.
[He picks up the scepter without realizing.
Wouldst know my secret, Agent Romanoff—
How I stay calm when all the world goes mad?
STARK
I prithee, Doctor Banner, set it down— 250
The scepter thou hast lifted from its place.
[A computer beeps. Banner puts down the scepter.
FURY
The signal’s trac’d.
BANNER
—Apologies, my friends—
Ye shall not see my greatest party trick.
THOR
The Tesseract? Thou hast located it?
STARK
I shall arrive there fastest.
THOR
—It belongs 255
On Asgard—ne’er was human match for it.
ROGERS
[to Stark:] Thou shalt not go alone.
STARK
—Is’t thou wilt stop
me?
ROGERS
Put on thy suit and we shall learn anon.
STARK
I’m not afeard to strike an older man.
ROGERS
Put on thy suit, knave.
BANNER
[looking at computer:] —By vast heav’n,’tis here! 260
[Barton’s arrow explodes, destroying much of the ship. All are blown to different parts of the ship, and Romanoff and Banner are separated from the rest. Exit Thor.
ROGERS
[to Stark:] Put on thy suit—a hero be.
STARK
—Indeed!
ENTER PHIL COULSON, MARIA HILL, AND VARIOUS SOLDIERS ON THE BRIDGE OF THE HELICARRIER. NICK FURY JOINS THEM.
FURY
What was it, Hill?
HILL
—External detonation.
Our engine number three is compromis’d.
SOLDIER 1
A fire in engine three!
HILL
—Canst tell me more?
SOLDIER 1
The turbine, by and large, is yet intact, 265
Yet how shall we outside to make repairs
Whilst still we fly?
HILL
—An we lose one more engine,
We shall no longer flying be. We must
Get someone to repair the engine yon.
FURY
Stark, dost thou understand?
STARK
—It shall be done. 270
FURY
Initiate defensive lockdown, Coulson,
In our detention section. Then make haste
Unto the armory. O, Romanoff?
ROMANOFF
I’m here, yet trapp’d beneath a heavy load.
Though Doctor Banner’s mood turns ominous. 275
All still is well. [Aside:] It shall be well, I hope?
ENTER CLINT BARTON AND THUGS ON THE HELICARRIER, MAKING THEIR WAY INSIDE.
BARTON
[to thugs:] Ensure the engine damagèd remains—
They must not fix the wing and fly more freely.
Ye others, unto the detention level—
Be still until their cameras are broken. 280
Still others, come with me to find the wretches.
[Exeunt Clint Barton and thugs severally.
STARK
[to Rogers:] I’ll meet thee hence, at engine number three.
[Exeunt Tony Stark and Steve Rogers.
ROMANOFF
[to Banner:] Good doctor—Bruce—pray, fight thy blacker
mood,
For its expression is what Loki wants.
We shall be well—take heed unto my words. 285
Upon my life, I swear to get thee hence.
BANNER
Thy life? The giant beast cares not for that.
[Banner resists transforming into the Hulk but fails. Exit Bruce Banner.
ENTER HULK, STAGGERING THROUGH THE SHIP.
ROMANOFF
[aside:] What have we done? How overcast our sight,
That thus was shrouded by ambition naked?
We have unleash’d the beast—heav’n save us all. 290
[Exit Natasha Romanoff, pursued by a Hulk.
ENTER LOKI ASIDE, IN HIS CELL.
LOKI
I hear the din of massive, roaring Hulk,
Whose fearsome strength deliverance shall bring.
These little humans shall soon taste regret.
[Exit Loki.
FURY
[to soldiers:] Change ye the heading of the carrier—
Degrees one eighty, turning south at once! 295
Fly us unto the water.
SOLDIER 1
—We fly blind.
The navigation still recalibrateth
Since engines fail’d.
FURY
—Canst see the rising sun?
SOLDIER 1
Yea, sir.
FURY
—Then put it on thy left, thou fool.
Put us above the water presently— 300
For if another turbine fails, we fall,
And if we fall, I’d rather dive than crash.
[To Hill:] We need t’evacuate the lower bay.
[A grenade rolls onto the bridge.
HILL
Grenade, take cover all!
ENTER SOME THUGS TO THE BRIDGE.
FURY
—Not on my watch—
This mighty ship shall not fall unto ye.
305
SOLDIER 1
[on speaker:] Breach of perimeter! The hostiles wear
The uniforms of S.H.I.E.L.D. to hide themselves!
[Fury and Hill kill some thugs as more approach.
ENTER HULK CHASING NATASHA ROMANOFF.
ROMANOFF
In my worst nightmares, in the darkest hours,
Ne’er did my soul imagine such a beast.
The dangers, toils, and snares through which I’ve come 310
Are nothing next to this horrendous thing.
He strikes me, and I fall! Is this the end?
Natasha Romanoff, by Hulk, is slain.
ENTER THOR, TACKLING HULK.
THOR
God versus beast—the battle doth commence.
[Thor and Hulk begin to fight. Romanoff hides.
Pray listen, Banner, we are not thy foes! 315
Think thou with sense instead of instinct mere.
[Hulk knocks Thor aside.
I almost do enjoy this little fight.
I’ll call to Mjölnir, that the match be fair.
[Thor extends his arm to call his hammer, which flies to his hand.
A-ha! The battle’s mine. Lay on, thou Hulk!
[Hulk charges and Thor hits him with the hammer. Hulk falls. Thor throws the hammer at him, and Hulk cannot lift it.
SOLDIER 1
[on speaker:] Both Hulk and Thor engage in mighty
battle 320
On research level four, whilst levels two
And three are dark. Beware—stay on your watch!
HILL
[to Fury:] The Hulk shall tear the ship to pieces, sir.
FURY
Make him attend us by a heavy blow.
HILL
[in radio:] Ye pilots, fly! Engage the hostile brute. 325
ENTER PILOTS IN PLANES OUTSIDE THE HELICARRIER.
PILOT 2
I see the target, and shall boldly strike.
[The pilot begins shooting at Hulk. Hulk jumps at the plane.
Alas, I’ve made the target passing angry!
[Hulk tears the plane apart. Exit Pilot 2 in parachute. Exit Hulk severally, falling. Thor runs toward Loki’s cell.
ENTER STEVE ROGERS ABOVE, ON BALCONY, NEAR THE DAMAGED HELICARRIER ENGINE.
ROGERS
Stark, art thou here yet? I have hither come!
ENTER TONY STARK ABOVE, ON BALCONY, IN HIS IRON MAN SUIT.
STARK
Investigate we now the damag’d engine.
This coolant system must be fix’d at once. 330
These rotors I must access to dislodge
The large debris that blew its way therein.
Canst thou unto that panel of control
And tell me which of th’relays do o’erload?
ROGERS
A leap, a bound of strength, and I may do’t. 335
[Rogers jumps to the control panel.
STARK
Inside, how doth it look?
ROGERS
—The board doth use
Some type of electricity, no doubt.
Curse all those years that I in slumber lay!
STARK
Indeed, thou art not technically wrong.
[Stark makes repairs.
ROGERS
Thou hast done well—the relays are intact. 340
What next for us, Stark?
STARK
—If I clear the rotors,
The engine yet will not engage without
Some burst of energy to spark its gears.
I shall inside and push the spokes myself.
ROGERS
Should it reach full speed, thou shalt shredded be. 345
STARK
It did cross my mind, too. The stator unit
May yet reverse the gears’ polarity,
Just long enow to maglev disengage—
ROGERS
Tut, English speak!
STARK
—Inspect the lever red.
It shall reduce the rotors long enow 350
That I may make escape. Wait on my word.
ROGERS
Another jump that I may make it so.
ROGERS JUMPS TO THE LEVER. ENTER THUGS ON BALCONY. ONE THROWS A GRENADE.
Nay, cease thy nonsense, thug—I’ll swat it hence.
Now punch and shoot, each tool within my pow’r
I’ll use to safeguard S.H.I.E.L.D. and its pursuits. 355
[Rogers overtakes many thugs.
ENTER CLINT BARTON, HIDDEN, TO THE BRIDGE.
FURY
[aside:] The bridge they’ll not reach by their current route,
Thus, wherefore do they still attempt the deed?
[Barton fires an arrow, killing some soldiers behind Fury, and another arrow that plugs into the S.H.I.E.L.D. computers, disabling them.
Alack, the threat of Barton just behind!
The ship malfunctions by his perfect aim.
[Exit Clint Barton.
SOLDIER 1
[on speaker:] Our engine number one hath been shut
down. 360
FURY
The ship shall plummet from the very sky.
SOLDIER 2
We’ve fallen into uncontroll’d descent.
FURY
[into radio:] Beware of Barton, all—he headeth for
The level of detention. Copy, any?
ROMANOFF
[into radio:] Yea, Agent Romanoff heard thy bleak
words. 365
[She runs to the detention level.
FURY
Stark, prithee, we are losing altitude!
[Exeunt Hill and soldiers. Fury leaves the bridge and heads toward the detention level.
STARK
Indeed, I had so notic’d. I’ll attempt
The rotor to engage and make us fly,
Once more to roam the skies in safety, sirrah.
[Stark begins spinning the rotor, flying behind it. A thug shoots at Rogers, who loses his balance.
ROGERS
I’ve fallen, hanging on by but a string, 370
A cable that shall break asunder soon!
ENTER LOKI AS HIS CELL DOORS OPEN. THOR MEETS HIM AS THEY DO.
THOR
Nay, brother, thou must never discharg’d be!
[Thor leaps at Loki, who disappears. Thor tumbles into the cell.
LOKI
Now I am free—’tis thou who shalt be bound.
Wilt thou e’er not fall for such ruses, Thor?
The humans think we are immortal, brother. 375
Shall we test that, as I drop thee below?
ENTER PHIL COULSON, HOLDING A LARGE GUN.
COULSON
I prithee, move you from the panel, Loki.
Do you admire this weapon in my hand?
We started working on the prototype
Just after you did send the vile Destroyer. 380
E’en I know not, precisely, what it doth.
Shall we find out together, you and I?
[Loki disappears and reappears behind Coulson, stabbing him.
This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die.
[Coulson falls.
THOR
Nay, knave! Thou villain born of Asgard’s depths.
LOKI
Down, down, thou goest, Thor! From heav’n to hell. 385
[Loki presses a button, which releases the cell so it drops from the ship. Exit Thor in cell, through the trapdoor.
COULSON
You shall lose, villain.
LOKI
—Verily? ’Tis tho
u
Who liest on the ground—thou falsely speak’st.
COULSON
’Tis in your nature, losing—ever was.
LOKI
Thy heroes hath been scatter’d, even whilst
Thy floating fortress falleth from the sky, 390
O’ercome by we few villains. Tell me, prithee,
Where is my disadvantage?
COULSON
—Lack of strength—
You’ve no conviction that shall spur you on.
LOKI
Nay, thou think’st I—
[Coulson fires his gun at Loki, which knocks Loki aside.
COULSON
—Ah! Such is what it doth. 395
ENTER CLINT BARTON TO ANOTHER PART OF THE SHIP, MET IMMEDIATELY BY ROMANOFF.
ROMANOFF
My onetime colleague, turn’d dark-hearted traitor!
BARTON
I know thy flits and flutters, and shall best thee.
[They fight. He shoots arrows at her, which she dodges.
ROMANOFF
Thine arrows black shall not catch me today!
[She knocks him into a rail. He comes to his senses.
BARTON
Natasha, is it thou who clipp’st my wings?
[He passes out. Exeunt Natasha Romanoff, dragging Clint Barton.
STARK
I’ve got the rotor spinning, Captain, now 400
The lever thou must speedily engage.
[Rogers still struggles to climb the rope to the ship.
ROGERS
One moment need I, ere such deeds achieve.
STARK
I need the lever now, or I am gone!
[Rogers climbs back onto the ship and pulls the lever. Exeunt Tony Stark and Steve Rogers from balcony.
ENTER THUGS, HELPING LOKI.
LOKI
[aside:] That monstrous weapon Coulson fir’d hath giv’n
A shock to me, yet still I shall prevail. 405
This scene upon the helicarrier
Hath not transpir’d exactly as I hop’d.
Yet let me count the assets: I am free,
This massive ship is sorely damagèd,
My brother hath but little chance of life, 410
And I releas’d the Hulk upon them all.
Not perfect, nay, but better than a loss—
A little more than wan but less than won.
[Exeunt Loki and thugs in a plane. Fury rushes to Coulson’s side.
COULSON
Apologies, Director Fury, sir.
The god hath rabbited into a burrow. 415
FURY
Stay thou awake, and keep thine eyes on me.
COULSON
Nay, I prepare myself to take my leave.
FURY
’Tis not an option, Coulson—thou must stay.
COULSON
’Tis well, sir. Our plan never would have work’d
Unless they had some matter to— 420