Work Text:
[Establishing shot. The camera comes around a bend. Sitting among trees is a multiple-story brick mansion with a roundabout driveway in front. Next to the door, a plaque reads “Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters”. A tall Black woman with long white locs stands on the steps, grinning and waving to the camera as it approaches her.]
ORORO: Welcome home, Evan!
EVAN, off-camera: Hey, Auntie O!
[CUT]
[The same woman is now seated in an armchair, leaning forward with her hands clasped together. Behind her, the wall has several professional photographs of the sky. Text at the bottom right corner of the screen identifies her as Ororo Monroe, headmaster and class of 1994.]
ORORO: So, you have some questions for me?
EVAN, off-camera: I do, yeah. Starting with, how are you feeling?
ORORO: In general, or about the event?
EVAN: Both. Either. Probably you should mention the event, though, given that it’s--
ORORO, laughing: That sounds like a good idea. I think we’re in pretty good shape. The hardest part, really, was figuring out a weekend that worked for everyone’s schedule and was also within a month or two of the anniversary.
EVAN: Can you give us a sense of how tight the timing is?
ORORO: Well, Allison’s flight is landing twenty minutes before the party starts, and she’s headed out that night to make a business meeting in Chicago.
EVAN: That’s Dazzler, though -- we expected that from her. Who else made things difficult?
ORORO: You’re asking me for inside knowledge, aren’t you? [Her expression turns conspiratorial.] Well, surprisingly enough, Logan proved one of the hardest ones to schedule around -- Captain Steve Rogers wants him in New York around-the-clock for the next few months. Things are afoot that, maybe, we ‘regular people’ will learn about eventually. [She laughs.] Logan’s not happy with it -- don’t tease him too much when you see him, he’s still a little tender about being so difficult to schedule around. Of course many of the students had camps and things, family vacations they couldn’t miss.
EVAN: You tried to schedule around everyone?
ORORO: Of course we did! The students who just finished their first year at the Institute aren’t any less important than those who helped found the school. We are all valued members of the community.
EVAN: And how are you feeling? Personally, this time.
ORORO: I’m pretty good, I think. Scott’s been doing a lot of the legwork, which has been so helpful. I’ve mostly just had to tell him what to do, and of course make a lot of phone calls.
EVAN: I’m excited to see what you guys have planned for us.
ORORO: I’m excited that you’re here. And excited to see your finished product! Thank you again for documenting it all.
EVAN: Let’s hope my camera survives the experience.
[CUT]
[The camera is going down a corridor, jostling with Evan’s every step. Two blurs race past, rounding the corner ahead before the lights next to the camera finish rattling. The camera stops moving.]
EVAN, off-camera: Ugh, I forgot how annoying speedsters are when they’re together.
[CUT]
[A man is seated at a desk, which is covered in papers. A laptop, open in front of him, displays a colorful spreadsheet with too much text to be legible. The man is wearing red sunglasses and looks deeply stressed. Text at the bottom right corner of the screen identifies him as Scott Summers, class of 1994.]
EVAN, off-camera: How’s it going, Scott?
SCOTT: It’s, uh-- [He runs his hand through his hair and glances at the laptop screen.] It’s going.
EVAN: I heard you rescued Ororo from most of the logistical work.
SCOTT: Yeah. Yeah, I did.
EVAN: What does “logistical work” mean in this case?
SCOTT, turning back to his laptop: Well, mostly it’s that the X-Men are still a functioning team, you know? We have agreements with the other New York-based teams for what kind of situations we’ll take point on, what areas of the country we’re responsible for, that sort of thing. If the X-Men are getting a weekend off, that means everyone else has to pick up the balls we’re putting down.
EVAN: I imagine this kind of information’s pretty sensitive. Is there anything you can share with the audience, to try to give us a sense of the kind of problems involved in this?
SCOTT, looking skeptical: I can try. I don’t know how interesting this’ll be, but to be safe, let’s say from the very vaguest point of view--
[CUT]
[The screen is filled with white text on a black background, reading, “He spent ten minutes talking about shift rotations in vague metaphor and still told me to edit this part out when I showed him a preview.”]
[CUT]
SCOTT: --and the ice cream guy knows his territory, you know, he knows what kind of flavors the locals like, so if the other ice cream truck is going to take over for him he needs to explain about--
[CUT]
[New text reads, “Yeah, most of the metaphors were about ice cream.”]
[CUT]
SCOTT, looking up: And of course you remember the arrangement with-- I drilled you on these rotations when you were on the team, right?
EVAN, quickly: Oh hey, look at the time!
[CUT]
[New text reads, “Always our fearless leader.”]
[CUT]
[A man is standing in front of a stove, apparently filming himself. He has blue skin and darker blue hair, and as he speaks, a tail curls up behind him. He has a friendly, if tentative, smile. Text at the bottom right corner of the screen identifies him as Kurt Wagner, class of 1997.]
KURT: Hello, all! Evan sent out an e-mail asking if we could record ourselves in the few days before the reunion for the documentary he’s making. It sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun! Well, I guess you all know that, since if you’re seeing this you’re probably watching it.
[He shifts the camera to show the stove, upon which is a pan with three eggs in it.]
KURT, off-camera: I’m just making my breakfast now! It’s Wednesday, and the reunion is on Saturday, so I haven’t really started preparing for it yet. We don’t really have to worry about travel, since I don’t live too far from the mansion...
[The sound of the eggs sizzling has grown steadily louder.]
KURT: Actually, let me finish these up and then I can walk you guys around.
[CUT]
[The camera is pointed at the floor of the apartment, swinging as Kurt walks. He’s walking in a sideways manner, implying that he’s trying to get to the table while balancing the plate of eggs on top of the camera.]
KURT: Just as long as I can get to the table...
[A fork falls to the ground. Kurt’s tail tries and fails to catch it. He sighs.]
[CUT]
[Kurt is now sitting on a couch, holding his plate and hopefully-fresh-fork close to his face. The camera appears to be propped on a low surface in front of him. Behind him, a window looking out on a city is visible.]
KURT: Like I was saying, I don’t really have a lot of planning to do for the reunion. I’m in L-- my apartment in New York City -- most of the team lives in the mansion most of the time, but those of us who... have been around for longer, know that having a separate place to crash is always appreciated. It’s maybe a three hour train ride from the mansion, or an hour by car if I can catch a ride.
[He finishes his eggs, chewing thoughtfully.]
KURT: I should probably get a haircut.
[CUT]
[Kurt is holding the camera very close to his face as he walks down a sunny sidewalk. He is wearing a clearly home-printed baseball cap that reads “ze size of a dinner plate” in text surrounding a very grainy picture of Captain America’s shield.]
KURT: Now Kurt, you may be asking, why are you walking to the barber? [His voice deepens.] Surely it’s easier to use your other method of transportation? The one that’s much faster and less likely to get you lost? Involves going briefly into another dimension where the rules are different and it feels like everyone around you is a demon?
[He tilts his head to the side and wrinkles his brow.]
KURT, in his normal voice: Well, I would, but I forgot my MetroCard on the Shi’ar homeworld.
[CUT]
[Kurt’s on a different street now. The light has changed and he’s clearly had a haircut.]
KURT: That was pretty successful, I think? What do you all think of my hair today?
[He strikes a half-pose while still walking.]
KURT, smiling: I’m going to assume that was praise and admiration and react accordingly. Thank you, thank you all. Alas, now it is time for me to head home-- [He starts to look a little distracted.] Hopefully it’s not covered in blood. Well, I’ll see you all tomorrow! Hopefully Evan can cut to someone else’s video for a little while.
[CUT]
[The screen is filled with white text on a black background, reading, “Kurt’s the only one who sent in a video, which is why he’s my favorite.”]
[CUT]
[Kurt is standing outside in the sunlight outside an apartment building where, presumably, his apartment is. He’s squinting through the bright sun on his face -- it’s clearly morning. Text on the screen says, “Thursday”.]
KURT: Good morning, all! Luckily, there was a minimum amount of blood in the apartment. I’m all dressed and ready to head to the mansion--
[The camera pans down his body to show his bright yellow pants and patterned blue-on-black shirt. He appears to regard himself in the viewer, then he rolls his eyes.]
KURT: Okay, yes, I went for the traditional colors. Can you blame me?
[He brings the camera up closer to his face, then turns it around so the street is visible instead.]
KURT: Now, I know I said it wasn’t a terrible train ride, but I’m hoping I can... ah, yes! That looks promising!
[He points the camera at the end of the block, where a beaten-up blue Toyota Corolla has just turned onto the street he’s standing on. He tracks it as it drives up to him, until it slows next to him and the driver pokes her head out of her window.]
KITTY, loudly: Hey, you! You look kinda familiar! Are you part of the Avengers?
KURT, off-camera: You seem annoying! Are you a Guardian of the Galaxy?
[Kitty grins.]
KITTY: Jerk. Get in the car.
KURT: Oh, are we heading the same way? I’m going to a weirdo school in the middle of nowhere -- ever heard of one of those?
[The white, red-haired butch woman sitting in the passenger’s seat leans her head forward so she can be seen from behind the driver. She’s smiling too.]
RACHEL: Are you coming or not, blue man?
[The camera jostles violently and fuzzes out for a split-second. When the fuzz clears, it appears to be pointed at Kitty and Rachel from the backseat of the car. Kurt turns it to face himself.]
KURT: I’d like to see an Avenger do that.
[Kitty’s laughter is broken off halfway by the CUT]
[Three young adults stand in front of a wall. One is a teenager wearing a pink jacket, text labeling her as Hisako Ichiki, class of 2013. Next to her is a pink, human-shaped blob of goo and a green, lizard-like teenager with pink hair, identified as Glob Herman and Victor Borkowski, both class of 2016.]
GLOB: Yeah, I mean, of course it’s an exciting time. We’re still students here--
[Hisako bites her lip to contain a smile.]
GLOB: --but just because we already live here doesn’t mean it’s a different mood around. To see so many people around... the Institute’s been around for twenty years. Man, I haven’t been around for twenty years!
HISAKO: It definitely isn’t as strange for me to be ‘back’ -- [she uses air quotes] -- as I think some of the older alums are feeling. But, yeah, for sure there’s a different mood around. Of course we remember the core teams, the ones who’ve stuck around, but there’s a lot of people who haven’t been back since they graduated.
ANOLE: Yeah, like Josh! He was around when I joined the school, but I haven’t seen him since he graduated.
GLOB: Oh wow, Josh is here?
HISAKO: I’m just really enjoying seeing all of us safe in one place. It’s a reminder that no matter who hates or fears us, we can survive and we can thrive. This school’s been here for twenty years and it’ll be here for a lot longer.
[CUT]
[We’re back in Ororo’s office. Next to her sits Jean Grey, a tall white woman with red hair, class of 1994.]
ORORO: We’ve gotten a couple of questions about it, yeah. His presence can be felt everywhere.
JEAN: He was -- he is, I should probably say -- such an important part of the community.
EVAN, off-camera: Did he not want to come?
ORORO: No. [She gives a half-laugh.] No, he would’ve been here in a heartbeat if we’d asked him to.
JEAN: I think it’s that... we all know how easy it would be to turn this event into a ‘We Love Professor Xavier’ party. [She uses air quotes.] But that’s not what the anniversary is supposed to be about.
ORORO: I think it’s undeniable that our world would look very different without Charles.
JEAN: Absolutely. And it’s not about diminishing his impact-- I think it’s just... important to remember that this isn’t just his school anymore. It belongs to all of us, even though his name’s still on the front door.
[Ororo nods.]
[CUT]
[The camera is mobile, closely following a sandy-blond man as he walks down the hallway. He is identified as Bobby Drake, class of 1995.]
BOBBY: I feel like you want me to give you the usual ‘Oh wow, this place has changed so much and yet not at all’ spiel.
EVAN, off-camera: You can give me whatever spiel you’d like, as long as it’s honest.
BOBBY: I was here last Tuesday, okay? It’s not exactly weird to be back.
EVAN: Is it weird to see all the people you haven’t seen in a long time?
BOBBY: I guess? My boyfriend still contracts with the Avengers sometimes. I think my standards for ‘people it’s weird to run into’ are pretty high these days.
EVAN: Oh, that reminds me, do you think Hank would wanna talk to me about the labs?
BOBBY: What do the labs have to do with a documentary about the Institute?
EVAN: If I’m being honest, I wasn’t really sure how else to get Hank in here.
BOBBY: Just wait for the baseball game. I’ve never seen anything get in the way of him playing catcher.
[CUT]
[A wide shot of the school’s foyer. A group of five people, all carrying bags of varying sizes, are coming through the door, joining a group of almost twenty people. Many are hard to recognize, but the arriving group features a blond man with a yellow circuit board-like texture around one arm, a walking pile of rocks, and a woman wearing a blindfold. Off to the side, Scott embraces a green-haired woman.]
[CUT]
[A wide shot of the school’s kitchen, the morning sun shining on the warm blue-tiled countertops. Three people are clustered around the central island: Kurt is sitting in a chair, eating something; Kitty is leaning on the counter next to him; and a third person is sitting in the chair next to Kitty. They’re all chatting quietly. Text on the screen tells us it’s Friday.]
[CUT]
[A much closer shot of the same three, this time from the other side of the kitchen island. Text identifies them as Kurt Wagner, class of 1997; Kitty Pryde, class of 1999; and Danielle Moonstar, class of 2001.]
KITTY: For the record, I really don’t enjoy being reminded that I graduated like fifteen years ago.
[Kurt groans.]
KURT: Don’t remind me.
DANI: Heh, old people.
KITTY: Hey, we’re in the same age bracket now. There’s only three groups of X-Men: current students, current team members, and alums.
KURT: There’s overlap between those!
KITTY: Yeah, but the kids now don’t care that Dani and I have never been on a team together.
DANI: We were so much more delineated back then. And everyone was considered eligible for combat.
KITTY: Yeah.
EVAN, off-camera: What do you guys do now that you’re not part of the team itself?
KURT, instantly: Look pretty.
[Kitty and Dani laugh.]
KURT: I do actually have a job. I’ve been working for the Brooklyn Public Library, liasoning with the Sorcerer Supreme’s collection of primary sources, for a few years now.
DANI: Still in the superhero industry, per say.
KURT: Not sure where else I can find stable work.
KITTY: It’s weird to think about us as people who make livings. It’ll probably get bad again -- we’ll have to go insular at some point. But things are pretty good right now. [She reaches up to rub at her necklace.] Better than even pre-2005, and that’s when I was helping organize the Mutant Studies program at UChicago.
DANI: Yeah, we’ve had a pretty good run of things recently.
[Kurt raps his fingers on the counter.]
DANI: I’m involved in advocacy for Native kids in the Bay Area. I also still do a lot of logistical work for the team, even though I’m not an active member these days. Sorry, Evan, before you ask, I don’t think I can share a lot of details.
KURT: You were always one of Scott’s favorites.
DANI, laughing: That’s fair.
EVAN: Kitty? What about you?
KITTY, rueful: Well, you know me. Right now I’m teaching at a high school in the city -- taking a break from the Institute for a few years, while we’ve got enough teachers here that I can afford to. But Ray and I will be back eventually.
DANI: Won’t we all?
[CUT]
[The camera is positioned to face an ornate armchair in the school library. A white, blonde woman is arranging herself into a perfect sitting position. Unlike most of the people we’ve seen, she’s wearing what is clearly a costume: an all-white outfit that includes a cape.]
EMMA: I suppose I’m one of the only people in this documentary without a graduation year.
EVAN, off-camera: Yeah, I wasn’t planning on listing people’s positions with the school, but for you I think I have to.
EMMA: What, ‘former villainess’ isn’t descriptive enough?
[CUT]
[The woman is sitting calmly. Text identifies her as Emma Frost, dean of school.]
EMMA: Twenty years. God, don’t ask me how old I was when this place was founded.
EVAN: What are your feelings on the anniversary?
EMMA: Frankly, I’m shocked it’s only been this long.
EVAN: Why do you say that?
EMMA: The mutant world...
[She chuckles, shaking her head.]
EMMA: I was going to say, the mutant world has been changed forever by the Xavier School. That’s a lie. There was no mutant world before the Xavier School. There were-- select groups, yes, but none of us thought we had any common interests, and we certainly didn’t think about each other very often.
EVAN: And Charles Xavier changed that?
EMMA: He did. None of us thought he was right about anything, but the fact that we even disagreed with him meant something. The school-- how can I describe it. Whether or not you agreed with Charles’ policies, he was the first one working for mutants, as a group. By having an opinion on him, you had an opinion on the cause. That was when it became real.
[CUT]
[We’re outside, next to a fountain and beneath the shade of several very old oak trees. Two people are sitting at a bench, facing the camera. The text identifies them as David Alleyne, class of 2012, and Idie Okonkwo, class of 2016.]
DAVID, grinning: Oh, the baseball game, of course. There’s always something that happens. Then we all talk about it until the next game.
IDIE: Oh, like the time Professor Rasputin threw Kurt straight up to catch the ball?
DAVID: Yeah! [He laughs.] Kurt really isn’t used to the fastball special.
EVAN, off-camera: What about you, Idie?
IDIE: What I’m most excited for? [She frowns.]
DAVID: Do you think Hope will stop by?
IDIE: She hopes to, I think.
EVAN: I’m guessing it’s shaping up to be a really overwhelming weekend.
[Idie breaks out into a relieved smile.]
IDIE: Yeah. It’s already been an overwhelming week. Everyone who’s already here to stay -- how does the school have enough empty rooms?
DAVID: Aside from the fact that it’s summer break, I think the school purposely tries to keep empty rooms for anyone who needs a place to crash.
IDIE: What does anyone mean? Any graduate?
DAVID: The theory is that it’s for anyone, and especially any mutant, although of course it gets complicated when someone like Mystique asks to stay for a while.
[Idie laughs.]
EVAN: Hey, don’t doubt the possibility. Mystique showed up to a party we threw once.
DAVID: Oh my god, is that why we’re not allowed to invite outside friends to parties?
[Evan’s laughter is heard from behind the camera.]
DAVID: See, that’s why the reunion is good, it means I get to hear the stories behind all the super-specific rules we have here.
EVAN, still chuckling: Something like that.
IDIE: I guess that’s been the best part of the week so far. It’s still hard for me to think of myself as... as a mutant. But it’s-- it’s been nice to see other people, of every age. To see that this isn’t the worst thing in the world.
DAVID: You have a community, you know that? We have your back.
[Idie smiles.]
IDIE: It’s a good feeling.
[CUT]
[The camera is in a hallway, facing two parents, one visibly Hispanic and the other white, and their child, who is glowing green and clearly inherited his smile. Text identifies the kid as Manuel Frias-Baker, class of 2017, and his mothers as Blanca and Jess Frias-Baker.]
MANUEL: Me? I’m most excited to see Wolverine. He’s almost never around, but he’s a really good teacher.
JESS: We’re just happy we could be here.
BLANCA: We were anxious when he first manifested -- our society doesn’t treat mutants super well, and neither of us knew what he’d go through. But the existence of Xavier’s... its history... he’s gained so much confidence here.
JESS: They didn’t need to invite us, but I’m glad we could be here. It’s nice to spend a little more time here, see everything he wants to show us.
MANUEL: It’s nice to see my friends without having to do homework! And to see people who graduated last year, or people I only see when something bad’s happening.
BLANCA: I didn’t realize how much of a community there was. I mean, it makes sense, but the idea that there’s twenty years-worth of people who love this place, who care about the other students, who want to see it succeed... it’s really beautiful to see.
[CUT]
[A shot of the area near the basketball courts near dusk. There’s easily more than a hundred people milling around at least five barbecues, which are going strong. Many can be spotted eating hamburgers or hot dogs. Lil Nas X is playing.]
[CUT]
[It’s visibly darker outside -- most of the people left are familiar faces, former X-Men members or prominent alums. The camera is now in the picnic area, in the middle of a circle of people, spinning around as the circle chants “ALEX, ALEX, ALEX.”]
ALEX, next to the camera: Oh my god.
[The chanting picks up speed.]
EVERYONE: Alex, Alex, Alex--
BOBBY, his hands cupped around his lips: IT’S AN ALEX CHANT!
EVERYONE: ALEX, ALEX, ALEX--
[CUT]
[A white, sandy-haired man is sitting on the couch in the common room. He’s got a bottle of water in his hand. The text identifies him as Alex Summers, former institute mentor.]
ALEX: Honestly? The Alex Chant... is one of the most humiliating things--
[A woman who was passing along the back of the couch through the shot stops walking abruptly, then bends so her face can be seen in the frame. Text on the screen pops up, identifying her as Xuân Cao Mạnh, class of 2001.]
XUÂN: I missed the Alex Chant?
ALEX: It already happened!
XUÂN: Fuck!
[Alex cracks up.]
[CUT]
[A shot out a second-floor window, with the morning sun shining on a nearby garden. Text on the screen reads, “Saturday”.]
[CUT]
[We’re outside on the grounds, in a giant tent with hundreds of chairs set up. The place is packed with people. At the front stands Ororo, with a microphone, and Scott next to her.]
ORORO: Welcome to the 20th anniversary of the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning!
[Loud cheer.]
ORORO: Scott and I are so glad you could join us today. We’ve got a lot planned -- yes, including the traditional baseball game -- and we’re hopeful nothing will go wrong.
JUBILEE, from somewhere in the crowd: Knock on wood!
[Scattered chuckles from around the crowd.]
ORORO: Before we get started, I just wanted to introduce a few people, who maybe you’ve seen before but you’re not sure what our actual jobs are. My name is Ororo Munroe, though you may know me as Storm, and I serve as school headmaster.
[She puts her hand on Scott’s shoulder.]
ORORO: This is Scott Summers, one of our professors and the Institute’s team liaison, meaning he’s the one who coordinates X-Men activities as they involve the school.
[She gestures at a line of people standing at the edge of the tent.]
ORORO: Over there we have Emma Frost, head of school; Hank McCoy, professor and head of curriculum; and some of our other professors: Rahne Sinclair, Armando Muñoz, Mạnh Cao Xuân, Jean Grey, Piotr Rasputin, and Angelica Jones.
[The people in the line all wave as the crowd applauds.]
SCOTT: Although the Institute and the X-Men are separate entities, I’d also like to acknowledge the current leader of the X-Men, Hisako Ichiki, who’s somewhere in this crowd.
[The crowd applauds as Hisako stands, showing off one arm’s worth of her signature pink armor. Several people cheer obnoxiously. She rolls her eyes as she sits back down.]
SCOTT: We’d also like to acknowledge those who couldn’t make it here today: Professor Charles Xavier, the Institute’s founder. Dr. Moira McTaggert, who put a lot of work into making it a feasible institution.
ORORO: Erik Lehnsherr, former headmaster.
SCOTT: Yes.
ORORO: This institution -- this school -- has been an important place for twenty years. The impact it’s had for the mutant community cannot be overstated, and so much of that impact comes from all of you. We’d like to ask... if you’re a student at this school, can you please stand?
[The crowd stops murmuring. After a moment’s hesitation, several kids stand up; then many more.]
ORORO: If you’re a graduate of this school, please stand.
[The camera jostles as Evan stands, along with about thirty percent of the crowd.]
ORORO: If you’ve ever taught here, if you’ve ever mentored here, if you’ve ever stayed with us: please, stand.
[Most of the room is now on their feet.]
SCOTT: You are what makes this institution so special. All of you -- this was Professor Xavier’s dream, twenty years ago. A community -- our community -- alive, thriving, proud.
[The applause starts again, louder than before, and stays strong for several long minutes.]
ORORO, clearing her throat: Thank you for coming to our anniversary celebration, everybody!
[She grins.]
ORORO: Let’s party!
[CUT]
[A montage of scenes from over the course of the day, set to Dazzler’s 2004 hit “Young Hope (Hope Young)”.]
[Bobby freezing a six-pack of beer, to the amazement of a group of parents standing around him, and then beginning to hand them out.]
[Jean-Paul and Kyle Jinadu-Beaubier in conversation with the Frias-Bakers.]
[A group of young-looking kids learning the Electric Slide from Xuân and Dani, who are holding hands as they demonstrate the steps.]
[Anole, Idie, Illyana, and Jean discussing a historic team photo on the wall of the headmaster’s office.]
[Logan walking through the front door and just barely dropping his bag in time to receive hugs from five different kids at once.]
[Evan Sabah Nur and a reluctant-looking Quentin Quire leading a tour of the grounds for parents.]
[Jean and Ororo sitting on a bench outside eating hamburgers, talking quietly as they watch the festivities unfold.]
[A shot of the signature X-Men baseball game, with Laura Kinney pitching, Megan Gwynn batting, and Hank McCoy catching. The shot freezes for a second so helpful text can pop up onscreen -- the offensive team, the “X”s, have blue-themed uniforms, and the defensive team, the “Men”s, have yellow-themed uniforms. A note in the corner states that the team names were chosen especially for the anniversary and were originally Dazzler’s idea.]
[CUT, accompanied by a record-scratch sound]
EVAN, off-camera: Of course, this IS an X-Men party!
[The camera is jostling a lot, like Evan’s running, and it’s pointed at a giant Godzilla-like monster that’s standing in the wooded area of the school’s grounds.]
DAVID: We can’t do things the normal way!
[The camera shifts to show David, keeping up with Evan. All around them, people are also running: some screaming as they try to get away from the monster, but most running towards it. Rogue passes close by at a sprint, still in her baseball uniform with a mitt on her left hand.]
EVAN, slowing down: It’s been a long time since I’ve been in the field.
DAVID: Well-- it’s like riding a bicycle. At least that’s what people tell me.
EVAN, laughing: I guess we’ll find out, kid.
[The arcs of energy raining down from the creature are starting to hit closer and closer to David and Evan.]
DAVID: Uh oh.
EVAN: Not the camera, not the camera--
[The camera is jostled violently, like it’s been knocked out of Evan’s hand. The feed cuts out halfway to the ground.]
[CUT]
[A quick shot of the meme “Technical Difficulties” screen.]
[CUT]
[A selfie-style shot of Evan sitting on a couch, very close to a white-haired man around his age. Evan’s wearing a clean white tank top. The text in the corner of the screen identifies him as Evan Daniels, class of 1999.]
EVAN: And that, kids, is why you always carry a spare camera.
PIETRO, grinning: And a spare change of clothes, huh?
EVAN: Well, yeah, that too. How else are you gonna keep celebrating when the monster’s defeated?
[Pietro leans his head back onto Evan’s shoulder, so Evan rests his chin on Pietro’s forehead.]
EVAN: You know, this is the first time I’ve been on-camera for this whole documentary. Maybe I shouldn’t keep this footage, try to keep it professional.
PIETRO: Nah. Keep it. Don’t deprive the world of a nice view.
[Evan swats at him, laughing.]
[CUT]
[A shot inside the giant outdoor tent, where two people are sitting at a table: an Aboriginal man with a tattoo over his eye and the butch white woman from earlier. Both of them are wearing jeans and polo shirts; the man has a can of Sprite and the woman has a beer. The text in the corner of the screen identifies them as Lucas Bishop and Rachel Summers, both former professors.]
EVAN, off-camera: So, tell us, time-travelers. We’ve had twenty years of the Institute. How’s the future looking?
[Rachel shrugs.]
EVAN, after a long moment: Come on, guys, this was gonna be a good clip!
[Bishop laughs.]
BISHOP: Rachel, we’re finally blown.
RACHEL, grinning: Only a matter of time.
EVAN: Explanations for our curious audience?
RACHEL: It’s 2014. The latest I saw in the other timeline was 2013. And Bishop--
BISHOP: --I’m from later, but things have diverged so much it’s literally impossible for my future to happen.
EVAN: So...
BISHOP: So we know as much as you do.
RACHEL: Amen to that.
[They clink cans.]
RACHEL: The future of mutantkind... it’s unwritten again. We’ve beaten my apocalypse, Bishop’s apocalypse-- actually, he and I sat down one night and we couldn’t find meaningful probabilities for any of the bad futures that the X-Men are aware of.
EVAN: ...well, I stand corrected. This is an even better clip than I expected. How do you guys feel about the future, then?
[Rachel grins.]
BISHOP: Honestly? For the first time in a long time, I’m excited to see what comes next.
[CUT]
[Special thanks to Ororo Munroe, Scott Summers, and the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning.]
[© Evan Daniels, 2014. All rights reserved.]