by Ian Doescher
ROGERS
A message. Ultron hath foul Strucker slain.
[Rogers shows Stark the picture.
STARK
Indeed, a Banksy at the crime scene, too—
The robot is an artist, is he not?
ROMANOFF
A smoke screen ’tis, our mission to obscure. 30
Why send a message after one hath giv’n
A speech in loudest terms and harshest voice?
ROGERS
’Tis likely Strucker kneweth something that
This Ultron hop’d our gang would overlook.
[Romanoff checks the computers.
ROMANOFF
The dark deed hath been done; all that we had 35
On Strucker—ev’ry record—is expung’d.
STARK
Impossible. It is not ev’rything.
[Stark pulls out paper files and they all begin looking through them.
ROGERS
Lists of his known associates—this Strucker
Had many friends in places low and high.
BANNER
This list is like a massive dump, wherein 40
The refuse of the earth is cast away.
These people are most horrible, in sooth.
[Stark studies one file with interest.
STARK
I know this one, this man, from days of old—
The coast of Africa. Black-market arms.
[Rogers gives Stark a withering glare.
There are conventions, Captain, it is true. 45
One meeteth people, yet I sold him naught.
He wanted something new, game-changing. ’Twas
Too much like Ahab for my Ishmael heart.
THOR
What are these marks upon his body here?
STARK
It is a tattoo, which he had not then. 50
THOR
Upon his chest there is a tattoo, yea,
Yet on his neck—methinks that is a brand.
[Banner looks up the mark on a computer.
BANNER
’Tis writ in dialect that’s African,
And meaneth thief in far less friendly terms.
Belike this man’s not big in Africa. 55
ROGERS
What dialect doth the computer say?
BANNER
Wakandan—a great name I’ve never heard.
STARK
If he escap’d out of Wakanda with
Some of their trade goods—
ROGERS
—Yet methought thou said’st
Thy father did acquire the last of it. 60
BANNER
I follow not upon this trail of yours.
What is the big thing cometh from Wakanda?
STARK
It is the strongest metal found on earth,
From which the Captain’s shield was once created.
ROGERS
Where is this errant man now? Dost thou know? 65
STARK
In the direction Afric we must go.
[Exeunt.
SCENE 2
A salvage yard on the African coast and a city nearby.
ENTER ULYSSES KLAUE, SPEAKING ON THE PHONE, AND SEVERAL OF HIS UNDERLINGS.
KLAUE
Say not to me that thy men swindl’d thee—
I sent thee six short-range heat seekers and
Receiv’d a boat replete with rusty parts.
Thou shalt set all aright, or I shall send
Another missile faster than before. 5
[He hangs up, then switches to another call.
Good minister, I prithee, where were we?
[A large noise is heard and the power shuts off. Klaue’s underlings shout and exeunt. He grabs a gun and fires it.
ENTER PIETRO MAXIMOFF, DODGING AND MOVING QUICKLY. HE DISARMS KLAUE. ENTER WANDA MAXIMOFF.
A-ha, they have arriv’d—the two enhanc’d!
Priz’d pupils come from Baron Strucker’s lair.
Would ye like candy, children? Ha! I was
Bereav’d to hear about the death of Strucker. 10
Yet he knew well the kind of world he help’d
To bring to being. Human life is no
Growth market. What? Did ye not know his plan?
Is’t your first time intimidating someone?
I am afraid that I am not afraid. 15
WANDA
Yea, ev’ryone afraid of something is—
Each soul will itch if one knows where to scratch.
KLAUE
Ah, cuttlefish—a frightful deep sea fish,
Which maketh lights, an ’twere a disco ball,
To hypnotize their prey and munch them whole. 20
I saw a document’ry—terrifying.
Of them am I afraid, and nothing more.
[Pietro runs at super speed, opens a candy, and runs back, eating it.
[To Wanda:] If you shall fiddle with my smuggler’s brain,
And make me view a giant cuttlefish,
Then I shall know you’re not for business made, 25
And that you’re not in charge. I only deal
With th’man in charge.
ENTER ULTRON, ATTACKING KLAUE AND THROWING HIM TO THE GROUND.
ULTRON
—There is no man in charge.
Let us talk business, as thou wishest, Klaue.
KLAUE
[aside:] A second thing exists now which I fear.
[Klaue directs his underlings to show Ultron his stores of vibranium, a strong metal.
ULTRON
Upon this rock I shall my church construct. 30
Vibranium.
KLAUE
—I’d have you know it came
At massive pers’nal cost to me—my neck
Doth bear the burn by which a thief is branded.
The stuff’s worth billions.
[Ultron presses several buttons, instigating an electronic funds transfer to Klaue.
ULTRON
—Now thou art as well.
’Tis found in dummy holdings thou possess’st— 35
Is not the world of finance passing strange?
Yet as I say, “Keep all your friends most rich,
And keep thine enemies most rich as well,
Then find out which is which when both are rich.”
KLAUE
Stark.
ULTRON
—What?
KLAUE
—’Twas once a phrase of Tony Stark 40
The axiom that falleth from thy mouth.
Quoth he those words to me a hundred times—
Thou art of him.
ULTRON
—False brigand, I am none!
[Ultron grabs Klaue.
Think’st thou I am a puppet held by Stark,
With strings hung fast, sans mine own will to move, 45
A hollow fellow fashion’d for control?
Look thou on me—seem I like Iron Man?
[Ultron angrily strikes Klaue, severing his arm in twain.
Nay, Stark is naught! Alas, apologies.
That shall be fine, I’m certain. Sorry, sirrah.
’Tis simply that I do not understand— 50
I would not be compar’d with Tony Stark.
[Ultron strikes Klaue again, knocking him down.
Stark is a parasite, an illness he!
ENTER TONY STARK, STEVE ROGERS, AND THOR.
STARK
Imprudent junior mine, thou soon shalt break
Thine old man’s heart.
ULTRON
&
nbsp; —Yea, if I must, I shall.
ENTER NATASHA ROMANOFF AND CLINT BARTON, IN HIDING.
THOR
There shall be none of breaking, verily. 55
ULTRON
You never made an omelet, it is plain.
STARK
I would have said the same, one second hence.
PIETRO
Yea, Ultron hath a quick and pleasant wit.
O Master Stark, are thou most comfortable?
’Tis like old times, with all thy missiles here. 60
STARK
In no way, knave—this never was my life.
ROGERS
[to the Maximoffs:] You two may still decide to walk
away.
WANDA
We will, thou varlet.
[Ultron laughs.
ULTRON
—Cap’n America.
The righteous man of God, from heaven come,
Pretending you could live without a war. 65
My body physical doth not allow
My gorge to rise and vomit to erupt
Within my mouth, yet truly, if it did—
THOR
If thou believ’st in peace, then let us keep’t.
ULTRON
You are confusing peace with quiet, Thor. 70
STARK
I prithee, why dost need vibranium?
ULTRON
How wonderful you happen’d thus to ask,
For long have I awaited the occasion
To bare mine evil plan before your eyes.
[Ultron pulls Stark toward him, then shoves him back immediately.
ENTER TWO ROBOTS OF THE IRON LEGION. ALL FIGHT. ENTER ULYSSES KLAUE SEVERALLY WITH HIS UNDERLINGS.
KLAUE
Shoot them!
UNDERLING 1
—Which one?
KLAUE
—Thou rascal, shoot them
all! 75
[The underlings begin firing on the others.
ROMANOFF
Our hope to hide in shadows is upset.
BARTON
Let us then peck the bandits while we may!
[Romanoff and Barton enter the fracas.
ROMANOFF
A kick, a dive, a shake—one bleak fool falls!
BARTON
Mine arrows fly upon the wings of eagles!
[Rogers throws his shield. Pietro, moving at lightning speed, strikes him.
PIETRO
Thou mayst be fast, yet I am faster still! 80
[Thor throws his hammer. Pietro grabs it midair and is dragged aside.
[Aside:] Alas, I was not worthy of this last!
[Rogers uses his shield to trap a robot in a choke hold.
ROGERS
I’ve pinn’d it, Thor, make thou the final slice.
THOR
With pleasure, Captain. Feel my hammer’s blow!
[Thor strikes off the head of the robot. Rogers throws his shield and knocks down several underlings, then catches the shield and hits Pietro with it.
ROGERS
Stay down, thou enhanced of unruly speed.
ULTRON
[to Wanda:] Play, then, some mind games with our
visitors. 85
ENTER BRUCE BANNER ON BALCONY, TALKING INTO RADIO NEAR THE QUINJET.
BANNER
This battle large ye face, friends—is’t code green?
[There is no response. Wanda plies magic on Thor’s mind. She then slips aside.
ROGERS
I bid thee, Thor, report thy status now.
THOR
The girl made her attempt to warp my mind.
Take special care—a human could not keep
Her pow’rs at bay. Yet I’m the mighty Thor. 90
[He begins hallucinating a party in Asgard. Pietro knocks Rogers over, and Wanda plies magic on Rogers’s mind. She then plies magic on Romanoff’s mind.
ULTRON
This scene proceedeth better than expected—
My compliments unto the playwright, ha!
[Wanda sneaks up on Barton, who whips around and places an electric arrow on her forehead, stunning her.
BARTON
Such games of mind control I once did play,
Which turn’d me to a brainless dodo head.
I would not so again—’twas not my joy. 95
[Pietro knocks Barton aside at quick speed, then grabs Wanda in his arms and removes the arrow from her head. Exeunt Pietro bearing Wanda. Exeunt all others except Banner on balcony, Stark, Rogers, Thor, Romanoff, Barton, and Ultron.
Yea, thou shouldst run indeed. O, I am sore.
[Into radio:] Whoever doth remain, we must escape!
[Exit Clint Barton. Romanoff hallucinates.
ROMANOFF
A vast, dark hall, and I am stuck within.
This is a place where lasses learn to dance,
A place of excellence—refinement, too. 100
They dance in careful, perfect unison,
Whilst their instructor bids them to repeat.
I see my younger self, and here beside
Approaches Madame B. “You’ll break them, ma’am.”
Such are my words, and she in turn retorts, 105
“Those breakable we shall, but only they.
You, though, are made of marble, shatterproof.
We two shall celebrate once graduation
Hath pass’d, with all its pomp and circumstance.”
Her words tweak ev’ry nerve of mine. I ask, 110
“What if I fail?” The images then come,
Unbidden, fore mine eyes—when I was train’d,
The shooting and the exercises both.
Quoth she, “You never fail,” as if by words
She could my fate, from start to finish, seal. 115
Recall I how they made me shoot—first targets,
Then humans shrouded underneath a hood—
In training, fighting men more fierce than I,
When Madame B did call me, “Sloppy lass,”
And call’d my failure pretense, nothing more. 120
“The ceremony necessary is,”
She says, “for you to take your place in th’world.”
A place of death and darkness this portends.
“I have no place within the world,” I answer.
“Exactly,” she replies, and I am led 125
Into a chamber where I am eras’d,
Natasha Romanoff becomes Black Widow.
[Exit Natasha Romanoff. Rogers hallucinates.
ROGERS
What country, friends, is this? What era, too?
Methinks I am transported unto wartime,
When first I serv’d my nation and its cause. 130
The soldiers gather round on ev’ry side,
Whilst bulbs are flashing from each camera.
Wait, wait—though all do laugh in happiness,
Beneath this glad veneer lies something foul.
Two allies scuffle, others bleeding lie. 135
What is this scene, both joyous and alarming?
My Peggy—she is here! My arm she toucheth
And asketh, “Art thou ready for our dance?
The war is over, Steve—home we’ll return.
Imagine such a destiny as this!” 140
Thus speaketh she, but as I turn around
The hall is empty—uninhabited.
Would that I still might dance the dance with her!
[Exit Steve Rogers. Thor hallucinates.
THOR
A hall, with people writhing all about.
A voice I recogni
ze calls out to me: 145
“Is’t he? The firstborn son of Odin true?”
’Tis Heimdall, my confederate and friend.
His eyes are chang’d from golden hue to white.
“They witness ev’rything,” quoth he to me,
“They see you leading us to Hel! Awake!” 150
Thus saying, chokes he me with hands robust—
“I still can save you, though we all are dead!
Can you not see the anguish we have borne?”
I push him hence from me, yet as I do,
He says, “You’re a destroyer, Odinson.” 155
Then lightning floweth from me, striking those
Within the hall and burning them to bits.
“See whither leads your power,” Heimdall says.
[Exit Thor.
ENTER WANDA AND PIETRO MAXIMOFF ON BALCONY, ASIDE FROM BANNER BUT SEEING HIM.
PIETRO
What can I do to swiftly bring thee aid?
WANDA
Alas, the pain within my head is great. 160
PIETRO
I shall destroy him speedily, I swear—
Remain thou here, I shall return anon.
WANDA
Nay, stay. E’en now the pain begins to switch—
I shall be well. The plan I would complete.
The big one—he’s the target I desire. 165
BANNER
[aside:] I see the two enhanc’d beholding me—
There may be trouble vast unleash’d anon.
[Wanda and Pietro approach Banner swiftly, and she plies magic on his mind. Exit Banner. Exeunt Wanda and Pietro severally. Stark pursues Ultron swiftly, finally knocking him down.
ULTRON
Whilst you chase me, vibranium escapes.
STARK
Indeed, yet thou shalt not go anywhere.
ULTRON
Of course. Already I am with it now. 170
You, soon enow, shall catch my meaning, Stark.
For now, ’tis Doctor Banner you must catch.
[Stark fires at Ultron’s robot, destroying it.
ENTER HULK, ASIDE, WALKING INTO A CITY AND SMASHING BUILDINGS AND VEHICLES. ENTER CITIZENS AND POLICE, RUNNING FROM HIM.
HULK
Rawr! Rawr!
[Stark flies about, searching for Hulk but not seeing him.
STARK
[to computer:] —Investigate for keyword “Hulk”
In any news or footage you can find.
ENTER NATASHA ROMANOFF AND CLINT BARTON ON BALCONY. HE HELPS HER RECOVER FROM HER HALLUCINATION.
[Into radio:] Natasha, art thou there? A lullaby 175
Would be most useful an thou canst provide.
BARTON
[into radio:] Such shall not happen, Stark, not for some
time.
Our team is down, like eggs in broken shells.